Can You Ever Forgive Me?

 

Can You Ever Forgive Me? 2018

• Director: Marielle Heller
• Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Richard E Grant, Jane Curtain, Dolly Wells, Anna Deavere Smith
• Why? Recommended by LH
• Seen:  27 December 2025      

       Lee (McCarthy) is an author whose agent (Curtain) no longer calls her or listens to her ideas. Whose books no longer sell, whose cat is ill, who has no money and who hates and is rude to everybody.

       She resorts to forging letters from famous authors to make money.

       McCarthy is almost unrecognisable in this serious role. She’s as good here as in her zany comedies. Those of which I’ve seen I like.

       Unfortunately I find this story less good than the acting. True story, by the way. 

3½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

Mermaids

 

Mermaids 1990

• Director: Richard Benjamin
• Cast: Cher, Winona Ryder, Bob Hoskins, Christina Ricci, Michael Schoeffling·       
• Why? I remember liking it.
• Seen: Once before. Now 25 December 2025      

       Fifteen-year-old Charlotte (Ryder) is a devout Christian (though her mother Mrs Flax (Cher) insists that they’re Jewish non-believers) and suffers dreadfully from her impure thoughts, especially after meeting the hunky neighbour guy Joe (Schoeffling).

       Mrs Flax likes men, stylish clothes and having a good time. Every time things get complicated they move. Which happens often.

       Charlotte prays that her long-gone father will find them.

       It’s the early 60s. ‘Johnny Angel’ and ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ are on the radio.

       They meet the local shoe salesman, Lou (Hoskins). And he becomes a part of their lives.

       It’s funny, sad, melancholy, filled with anger and longing and love. The cast is terrific, especially Ryder. Even tiny Ricci is good as the precocious little sister.

       I still like it. A lot. 

4 * of 5   

 

 

 

Steve

 

Steve 2025

• Director: Tim Mielants
• Cast: Cillian Murphy, Tracy Ullman, Jay Lycurgo, Roger Allam, Emily Watson·      
• Why? The cast and the subject
• Seen: 23 December 2025      

       Steve (Murphy) is head teacher in a reform school for troubled rejected teenaged boys. He fights demons of his own but is devoted to helping the boys.

       A film team is there making a documentary, interviewing both students and staff.

       It’s chaotic, gripping and depressing. And very good. 

4 * of 5   

 

 

Haywire

 

Haywire 2011 

·        Director: Steven Soderbergh

·        Cast: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Michael Angarano, Channing Tatum, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas

·        Why?  Ewan McGregor

·        Seen: 19 December 2025 

Oh dear. A sort of spy revenge action thriller. Yawn. The main character is a tough chick (Carano), anyway.

Half the film is fist fights and chases. Booooooring!

But in between there are moments of human interest. 

2* of 5

 

 

 

 

Mary Poppins Returns

 

Mary Poppins Returns 2018 

·        Director: Rob Marshall

·        Cast: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Colin Firth, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, Joel Dawson, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Dick Van Dyke

·        Why?  The cast

·        Seen: 18 December 2025 

Mary Poppins returns as nanny to Michael’s (Whishaw) children. They are about to lose their home to the evil banker Firth.

 Blunt and Miranda are lovely and the music is fun. Every bit as enjoyable as the original, and when ancient Dick Van Dyke shows up it gets even better. 

3 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

Mary Poppins

 

Mary Poppins 1964 

·        Director: Robert Stevenson

·        Cast: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber

·        Why?  A classic and I want to see the new one

·        Seen: Once before. Now 16 December 2025 

It’s been decades since I saw this but I remember the songs. My parents had the soundtrack LP.

It’s far from my favourite musical and it’s much too long. Many of the songs feel like fillers. Still, it makes a few digs at the banking world and Dick van Dyke – now 100 years old! – is charming despite the accent. 

3* of 5

 

 

 

Girl with a Pearl Earring

 

Girl with a Pearl Earring 2003 

·        Director: Peter Webber

·        Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson, Cillian Murphy

·        Why?  The cast. The art.

·        Seen: Once before. Now 15 December 2025

 

1665. Holland. The artist Vermeer (Firth). A maid in his household Griet (Johansson). A painting ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’. Complicated love stories.

The attention to detail is admirable, but also boring. As are the intrigues and nastinesses.

Johansson is good but it might be Firth’s weakest role. 

2 ½ * of 5

 

 

We Need to Talk about Kevin

 

We Need to Talk about Kevin 2011 

• ·        Director: Lynne Ramsay
• ·        Cast: Tilda Swinton, John C Reilly, Ezra Miller, Jasper Newell, Rocky Duer
• ·        Why?  Interesting subject
• ·        Seen: 13 December 2025 

Eva (Swinton) has a teen-aged son Kevin (Miller, Newell and Duer). In a series of flashbacks, which are confusing, it must be said, we learn that he was a difficult child, hostile, unloving, even cruel. We see Eva in despair.

And in the present time she is in despair. Teen-aged Kevin has done something terrible and she visits him in prison.

A very grim film with an excellent performance by Swinton. But I’m not sure what to think of the film. It’s not a film to love. 

3½ * of 5

 

Sahara

 

Sahara 2005 

• ·        Director: Breck Eisner
• ·        Cast: Steve Zahn, Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz, William H Macy, Rainn Wilson, Lennie James, Delroy Lindo
• ·        Why?  Steve Zahn
• ·        Seen: 12 December 2025 

Comedy and action. Not my cup of tea, exactly. It got some negative reviews, but also quite a lot of very positive ones. So let’s see.

Right. Unlikely story. Treasure hunters McConaughey and Zahn join forces with WHO doctor Lopez.

Too bad it’s so boring. I realise too that McC’s macho cockiness is very irritating and I’m not fond of Cruz. Time to fast forward.

I like Zahn and William H Macy and Delroy Lindo and camels so not 0* but 

2* of 5

 

 

Carrie

 

Carrie 1976

• Director: Brian De Palma
• Cast: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, John Travolta·       
• Why? It’s a classic
• Seen: 9 December 2025      

       Believe it or not I’ve never seen it, or read the Stephen King novel. For a fanatical reader and film lover that’s embarrassing.

       You know doubt know the story so I won’t bother with that. Is it good, though?

       Almost everyone thinks so. And you know what? I agree. I like it. It’s very sad, though. 

4* of 5   

 

Weapons

 

Weapons 2025

• Director: Zack Creggar
• Cast: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin·       
• Why? Many recommendations
• Seen: 3 December 2025      

       At 02.17 17 kids disappear from their homes. All from the same class. Only one kid doesn’t. The teacher of that class, Justine (Garner) comes under suspicion, under attack from the parents.

       It’s a little scary, a little spooky, but it’s taking it’s time getting anywhere.

       And then there’s a lot of screaming and running and it doesn’t make sense and I doze off. Sorry. Not at all what I expected. 

2* of 5   

 

 

Empire of Light

 

Empire of Light 2022

• Director: Sam Mendes
• Cast: Olivia Coleman, Michael Ward, Colin Firth, Tobey Jones, Tom Brook
• Why?  Recommended by LH
• Seen:  1 December 2025 

Hilary (Coleman) works in a cinema in 1981. She is under a psychiatrist’s care for mental illness. Her married boss (Firth) ‘invites’ her often to his office.

Stephen (Ward) is a new ticket taker, a good-looking, affable young man, a victim of racism and the Thatcher era.

They become friends, then lovers. But they live in different worlds. And she’s mentally ill.

It’s a sad film, but also tender, filled with friendship and love. And hate, in Thatcher’s racist England.

Coleman is, as always, phenomenal.  

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

Frankenstein 2025

 

Frankenstein 2025

• Director: Guillerma del Toro
• Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Christoph Waltz, Mia Goth
• Why?  I love the book
• Seen:  29 November 2025 

There have been many film versions. The best, that I have seen anyway, are the Karloff version of 1931 and Kenneth Branagh’s of 1994. Let’s see how this one compares.

It’s certainly lavish with some spectacular visuals, not the least Elizabeth’s (Goth) frocks. Isaac is not bad as Victor Frankenstein, and Elordi as the monster is appealing.

I actually doze off during the big lightning scene but otherwise it’s quite good. Branagh’s is much better, however. 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

Babylon

 

Babylon

• Director: Damien Chazelle
• Cast: Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Diego Calva
• Why?  Margot Robbie
• Seen:  27 November 2025 

The elephant is fun. But, oh dear, it’s over three hours long. I’ll have to do it in two evenings.

It seems to be about debauchery in Hollywood in the 1920s. Not very interesting.

Robbie is fantastic and there are moments of interest but it’s not going to take two evenings because I fast forward all the excesses. 

2 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

Late Night

 

Late Night 2019

• Director: Nisha Ganatra
• Cast: Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, John Lithgow, Hugh Dancy, Amy Ryan
• Why?  Emma Thompson
• Seen:  25 November 2025 

Katherine Newbury (Thompson) is a much celebrated TV host. She’s known for her harshness to her writers. Then Molly (Kaling) shows up to deal with the all-male except – for - Katherine staff.

Katherine is, in fact, being fired. Molly does unexpected things.

Thompson is, of course, terrific, and the film is funny and makes some pithy points. 

3 ½ * of 5

 

 

A Slipping Down Life updated

 

A Slipping-Down Life 1999 update November 2025

·       Director: Toni Kalem

·       Based on the novel by Anne Tyler

·       Cast: Lili Taylor, Guy Pearce, Irma P. Hall, John Hawkes, Veronica Cartwright, Marshall Bell, Shawnee Smith,  Sara Rue

·       Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

o   Lili Taylor  – Public Enemies, Six Feet Under, High Fidelity, Ransom, I Shot Andy Warhol, The Addiction, Arizona Dream, Born on the Fourth of July

o   Guy Pearce – The King’s Speech, The Road, Factory Girl,

o   Irma P. Hall – Beloved, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

o   John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone, The Miracle at St. Anna’s, The Perfect Storm

o   Veronica Cartwright  – Six Feet Under, Alien

·       Why? Lili Taylor

·       Seen:  Once before. Now May 18, 2014 with Hal and YW in our read-novel-watch-film group. And now a third time 22 November 2025 

Now I’m confused.  I liked this film the first time, mainly because of Lili Taylor, and when I later discovered it was based on a novel by Anne Tyler I was happy.  I like her novels very much. But somehow I don’t like this one so much.  Her characters are always oddball misfits but warm and likeable.  In this novel Evie and Drum are definitely oddball misfits but not warm or likeable, they’re just kind of duds.

In the film, however, they are warm and likeable.  But not really believable. Granted, the whole premise is hardly believable – Evie carves rock singer Drum’s name in her forehead and they end up getting married, not your standard romantic comedy – but at times she’s too sweet and he’s too loving and the feel-good happy ending, while it makes me feel happy and good, is somewhat of a disappointment. So maybe the book was better after all.  Or maybe not.

I guess you’ll have to read the book and see the film yourself if you want to know. 

3 * of 5

November 2025 - 2* of 5 

PS The music is good

November 2025, not that good.

 

http://rubyjandsmovieblog.blogspot.se/2014/05/a-slipping-down-life.html

Scott Pilgrim vs the World

 

Scott Pilgrim vs the World 2010

• Director: Edgar Wright
• Cast: Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ellen Wong·       
• Why? I seem to remember that I liked it
• Once before. Now 17 November 2025 

       The same director as Shaun of the Dead, Last Night in Soho, and Hot Fuzz. One can expect great things of this film.

       Scott (Cara) is 22, in a heavy metal band and has a high school girlfriend Knives (Wong). Until he falls for the mysterious Ramona (Winstead) with pink hair and a bunch of ex-boyfriends that Scott has to fight to win her love.

       It’s based on a comic book and looks like it. Nothing wrong with that as such but I must have been in a different mood when I first saw this since I liked it then, but this time I’m bored. It certainly can’t compete with the above-mentioned. 

2 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Batman

 

The Batman 2022

• Director: Matt Reeves
• Cast: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell (why cast him then disguise him into unrecognizability?), Paul Dano, John Turturro·       
• Why? It’s Batman
• 15-16 November 2025 

       It must be said. No one can be a better Batman than Christian Bale. With that said, Pattinson does a decent job as the brooding burdened Bruce Wayne/Batman. There are some good visuals, some dramatic moments, some emotional moments. But it’s too long and at times boringly slow. 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dogma

 

Dogma 1999

• Director: Kevin Smith
• Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Linda Fiorentino, George Carlin, Chris Rock·       
• Why? I remember liking it
• Once before. Now 13 November 2025 

       Two exiled angels, Loke and Bartleby (Damon and Affleck) find a loophole that will get them back into heaven. Meanwhile, a branch of the Catholic church, headed by George Carlin (nice touch, that) wants Jesus to be a pal, not hanging on a cross. Meanwhile, an employee at an abortion clinic, Bethany (Fiorentino), struggles with her loss of faith. Meanwhile the voice of God, Metatron (Rickman) summons Bethany to a mission to stop Loke and Bartleby because if they enter heaven the world will end.

       It’s clever and pokes delightfully vicious fun at organised religion.

       The Catholic church tried to stop the release of the film. Others regard it as deeply religious. As an atheist, I just think it’s funny and we should take the jokes about religion seriously. 

4* of 5