News of the World

 

News of the World 2020

• Director: Paul Greengrass
• Based on the novel by Paulette Jiles
• Cast: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel·       
• Why? The book
• Seen:  14 June 2025      

       Civil War veteran Captain Kidd (Hanks) travels around reading newspaper articles to communities in Texas. He encounters a white girl Johanna (Zengel) who has been been raised by the Kiowa but who has been left alone when her family is murdered by whites and the tribe banished from their land. She is to be brought to an aunt and uncle but there is nobody who will do it. Reluctantly he does. She is frightened and all she wants is to return to the Kiowas.

I liked the book a lot. The film does a decent adaption. 

3½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

Another Earth

 

Another Earth 2011

• Director: Mike Cahill
• Based on the novel: no
• Cast: Brit Marling, William Mapother·       
• Why? Sci fi
• Seen: 13 June 2025      

       A planet remarkably like Earth has been discovered. Meanwhile Rhoda (Marling) is released from prison where she has served time for vehicular manslaughter while drunk, in which a woman and child died. She discovers that the husband John (Mapother) has now come out of his long coma. She seeks him out but doesn’t dare to reveal who she is. He is a wreck.

A most unusual sci fi film. More a study of grief and guilt with a cosmic background, a parallel universe?

An unexpected existential gem. 

4* of 5

 

 

Rent update June 2025

 

Rent 2005 update 12 June 2025

• Director: Chris Columbus
• Seen by this director: Harry Potter and the Chambre of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,
• Based on the novel: no
• Cast: Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Jesse L Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Tracie Thoms, Taye Diggs
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Anthony Rapp – A Beautiful Mind, Six Degrees of Separation
• Adam Pascal – School of Rock
• Rosario Dawson – Jessica Jones
• Wilson Jermaine Heredia – Flawless
• Adam Beach – Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Smoke Signals

·       Why? Came on a double DVD with Across the Universe

• Seen:  Once before. Now 25 September 2020

      

       A group of young musicians, actors, filmers and other cultural workers in a NY slum struggle against eviction, drugs and AIDS. Loosely based on La Bohème it portrays poverty, illness and creativity in the form of a rock opera.

       There are echoes of Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair without coming close to their power. The story has its heart in the right place, but the acting and singing aren’t more than adequate. It seems too long. I remember it as better than this.

 

2 ½ * of 5

 

https://rubyjandsfilmblog.blogspot.com/2020/09/rent.html

 

Update 12 June 2025

Why 2 ½*? It’s hard to pinpoint what’s lacking. One problem is that the two roommates Mark (Rapp) and Roger (Pascal) are completely bland in their roles, and none of the actors is really convincing. Some of the songs and lyrics are clumsy. Some work well, though, and there are gripping moments. Third time a charm? Or better understanding after Tick Tick?

 

3* of 5

Tick Tick...Boom

 

Tick Tick…Boom 2021

• Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Cast: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Skipp, Robin de Jesus, Vanessa Hudgens, Joshua Henry
• Why? Andrew Garfield
• Seen: 10 June 2025 and again the next day 11 June 2025     

 

Jonathan Larson wrote the Broadway super-hit Rent then died. This is a biopic film based on the play he wrote before Rent, in which he tells about a rock opera he wrote that never quite made it.

Andrew Garfield is a magnificent Spider-Man. He is also a magnificent singer.

It’s very much a theatre piece about a theatre piece, which doesn’t always work, only this works.

 

5* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tommy

 

Tommy 1975

• Director: Ken Russell
• Cast: Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner
• Why? A classic
• Seen: Two or three times before. Now 8 June 2025              

 If you want to analyse symbols it’s all about blind faith, commercialised religion, traumatised salvation and all that. If you’d rather just see it as a rock opera extravaganza with mostly mediocre music and idiotic lyrics with lots of colour and flash, that’s OK too. Or maybe just a pretentious self-indulgent acid trip. Or a brilliant break-through in innovative rock music and film making. Or all of the above. Or none of the above. Whatever. You should probably see it, even though it goes on far too long and loses focus, if it ever had any. Because it’s quite often entertaining between the boring parts

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Straw

 

Straw 2025

• Director: Tyler Perry
• Cast: Taraji P Henson, Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, Ashley Verser
• Why? Recommended by friend AJ
• Seen: 7 June 2025

 Janiyah (Henson) is a single mother with a sick daughter, a rotten job, a nasty boss, a nasty landlady, trouble at her daughter’s school, trouble with the social services. She is fired, evicted, harassed by a white male cop.

Then there is a robbery and the film starts having a Dog Day Afternoon feeling. It’s very dramatic, a bit too melodramatic and hammy at times, but Henson gives a sterling performance.

 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trap

 

Trap 2024

• Director: M Night Shyamalan
• Cast: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donaghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Alison Pill, Hayley Mills, Jonathan Langdon
• Why? M Night Shyamalan
• Seen: 6 June 2025

 Cooper (Hartnett) takes his young daughter Riley (Donaghue) to a concert with the popular Lady Raven) (Shyamalan). We soon learn that something weird is going on. The place is crawling with cops, there to capture a serial killer called the Butcher.

Never mind that the story is ridiculous, though rather clever, and different from anything else Shyamalan has done. It’s entertaining and quite suspenseful.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Unforgivable

 

The Unforgivable 2021

• Director: Nora Fingscheidt
• Cast: Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis, Vincent D’Onofrio, John Bernthal, Richard Thomas, Linda Emond, Aisling Franciosi, Emma Nelson, Will Pullen
• Why? Sandra Bullock
• Seen: 5 June 2025

 Ruth (Bullock) is released from prison after serving years for killing a cop. Life outside is difficult. She searches for her little sister as the sons of the dead cop seek revenge. The film is grim, Bullock is outstanding but the film is a bit of a mish-mash, trying to cram the original British series into one film.

 

3½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dark Harbor

 

Dark Harbor 1998

• Director: Adam Coleman Howard
• Cast: Alan Rickman, Polly Walker, Norman Reedus
• Why? Alan Rickman
• Seen: 3 June 2025

 Quarrelling couple Alexis (Walker) and David (Rickman) encounter a mysterious young man (Reedus). Psychological thriller. Though made in 1998 it has the feel of an 80s, or even 60s, film. It’s creepy, but mostly weird. I’m bored. But of course Rickman is good.

 

2* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 2004

• Director: Michel Gandry
• Cast: Jim Carey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Elijah Woods, Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst
• Why? Can’t remember if I liked it.
• Seen: Once before. Now 2 June 2025              

 Outgoing kooky blue-haired Clementine (Winslet) and neurotic socially inept Joel (Carey) meet on a train to New York. And then they’re together. And then they’re not. And then she doesn’t recognise him. Then he learns that she has erased him from her memory. So he tries to erase her from his memory. Despite the strong cast it’s not as interesting as it thinks it is. Maybe it seemed more ground-breaking when it came out.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bastille Day

 

Bastille Day 2016

• Director: James Watkins
• Cast: Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Charlotte Le Bon, Kelly Reilly
• Why? Idris Elba
• Seen: 31 May 2025                     

 

Oh the films one puts up with for the sake of a beloved actor in the lead. Implausible story, CIA in Paris, way too much running, chasing fighting, Paris and the world being once again saved by macho Americans. It all adds up to -5*. Let’s see if we can bring the rating up to above zero. Kind of exciting: 1 ½ *. Some clever dialog: 1*. Idris Elba: 5* as always. Do the maths.

 

2 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aquaman

 

Aquaman

• Director: James Wan
• Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson
• Why? Jason Momoa seems cool
• Seen: 30 May 2025                     

 

Oh Jason is definitely hot. I don’t mind looking at him. But really, it’s just same-old, same-old, only in water. So boring! And endlessly long as well as sexist. But the lavish visuals, a nod to environmental issues and Momoa’s hunky cuteness make it 

2* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come True

 

Come True 2020

• Director: Anthony Scott Burns
• Cast: Julia Sarah Stone, Landon Liboiron, Carlee Ryski
• Why? Possibly good.
• Seen: 29 May 2025                     

 Teen-aged Sarah (Stone) spends her nights in the playground and her days trying to stay awake at school. She signs up for a sleep study in a clinic where, she discovers, the staff have an agenda.

The visuals are eerily captivating, the acting strong, the story itself almost Kafkaesque in its oddness.

 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Half Nelson

 

Half Nelson

• Director: Ryan Fleck
• Cast: Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie
• Why? I remember it as good
• Seen: 28 May 2025                     

 Dan (Gosling) teaches junior high school history and coaches the girls’ basketball team. He is well-liked by the students and his colleagues. He is also a drug addict.

One of the girls on the team, Drey (Epps), discovers this. She also has problems. Her brother is in prison and she’s in danger of heading in the same direction. They help each other in an odd kind of friendship. It’s low-key but strong and sad.

 4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reign of Fire

 

Reign of Fire 2002

• Director: Rob Bowman
• Cast: Christian Bale, Matthew McConnaughy, Isabella Scorupco, Gerard Butler, Scott Moutter
• Why? The cast
• Seen: 27 May 2025                     

 As a child Quinn (Bale) survived the invasion of the underground dragons that emerged in London and destroyed most of humanity. Now he and a group of survivors do everything they can to protect their children. If you can accept the dragon premise and the male dominance, it’s not a bad dark fantasy.

When bald super-dude American McConnaughy shows up it becomes obnoxious. Or is it a sly parody of war-mongering violence-loving Americans and their insane leaders? Hmmm. Maybe the film is a masterpiece. Or not. But I kind of like it. 

2 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fundamentals of Caring

 

The Fundamentals of Caring 2016

• Director: Rob Burnett
• Cast: Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez, Donna Biscoe, Jennifer Ehle, Megan Ferguson
• Why? Possibly interesting
• Seen: 26 May 2025                     

 

Ben (Rudd), in the process of divorce and grieving for his dead son, takes the job as carer for the mouthy, bitter, sex-mad teen-ager Trevor (Roberts), newly moved to the US from England with his mum (Ehle). Ben is spectacularly unqualified and Trevor delights in making his life miserable.

Of course they become friends. We’ve seen it all before but the leads do a good enough job and a few quirky, if clichéd, supporting characters make it worth watching. 

 

2 ½ * of 5