The
Kindness of Strangers 2019
A series of vignettes about losers in New York, who through acts of kindness of strangers get by. It’s gripping and sad and unusual. It doesn’t hurt that Bill Nighy is in it.
4* of 5
Kingsman
the Secret Servilce 2014
Oh dear,
a spy story. But what a cast. ‘Funny and violent’ are words often used in the
reviews.
Young,
tough working class Eggsy (Eggerton) is recruited into the posh, violent,
gentlemanly, upper class spy organisation Kingsman. Violent, yes, funny, not
so.
Fun to see the actors though.
2 ½ * of 5
The
Society of the Snow 2023
A plane
crashes in the Andes. Among the passengers is a young team of Uruguayan rugby
players with friends and relatives..
The few who
aren’t killed outright face impossible odds. Freezing temperatures, injuries,
almost no food. How can they possibly survive?
Harrowing
moral questions, madness, despair, the cruellest of nature, and yet 16 of them
lived to be rescued.
The
visuals are absolutely stunning.
True story.
4* of 5
Leave
the World Behind 2023
Executive producers: Barack Obama, Michelle Obama!
Amanda
(Roberts) and Clay (Hawke) take a spontaneous holiday in a rented house near
the sea. Late the first evening the owner George (Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la)
show up saying they need a place to stay because there has been a blackout in
New York and they can’t get back. Amanda thinks it’s a con and is hostile.
However,
something weird is clearly going on.
It’s thought-provoking, eerie, atmospheric and too realistic for comfort. The acting is excellent.
4* of 5
Delirium
2018
Tom
(Grave) is released on parole after twenty years in a mental institution. His
father has committed suicide and left him the family mansion. He is convinced
his father hated him for what he and his brother had done when they were
children.
He’s
alone in the mansion and scary ghostly things happen. Either the place is
haunted, or he is still mentally ill, or it’s all really happening.
Not completely logical but spooky and entertaining.
3 * of 5
Pet Sematary 2019
Having recently read the book, and since films based on King can be
good, I thought I’d give it a try.
A family moves to a remote home in a Maine forest. It’s Stephen King. It
gets scary. The cat gets scary.
I haven’t seen the earlier version but this is a decent adaption. John
Lithgow is good. Moral of the story? Don’t move to a house in the forest.
2 ½* of 5
Paris 2008
·
Director: Cédric Klapisch
·
Cast: Juliette Binoche, Romain Duris
·
Why: Binoche
·
Seen: Once before. Now 26 March 2026
Pierre (Duris), in his 30s, has a heart condition and even with a heart
transplant he probably only has months to live. His sister Elise (Binoche), a
single mother, moves in with him. We’re also told the stories of other
Parisians.
I’m one of the few people in the world who doesn’t love Paris. I’ve been
there three times and have no desire to go back.
Or even watch the rest of the film, actually. But I will, because I like
Binoche.
2* of 5
