45 Years

 

45 Years 2015

·       Director: Andrew Haigh

·       Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtney, Geraldine James

·       Why? Rampling and Courtney

·       Seen: 10 August 2025 2025      

       Kate (Rampling) and Geoff (Courtney) have been married for 45 years. They are planning a party to celebrate. Then he receives a letter from Switzerland. The body of his first fiancée Katya, killed in a fall in the Alps 50 years previously, has been found in a glacier.

       Very low-key, very intense and dramatic, brilliant acting. 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

Vesper

 

Vesper 2022

·       Director: Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper

·       Cast: Raffiella Chapman, Eddie Marsan

·       Why? Dystopia

·       Seen: 25 July 2025      

       Earth’s ecosystem has collapsed. Young Vesper (Chapman) experiments to find a solution to starvation.

       Slow, gloomy, depressing and though I slept through much of the film, it was intelligent and mesmerising. 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

Van Helsing

 

Van Helsing 2004

·       Director: Stephen Sommers

·       Cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, Alun Armstrong

·       Why? Hugh Jackman

·       Seen: 21 July 2025      

       Count Dracula kills Dr Frankenstein to use the monster for his own nefarious purposes but the monster escapes.

       Vampires and other nasties plague European capitals. Vampire et al hunter Van Helsing (Jackman) fights the evil.

       Yes, it’s ludicrous. It’s not meant to be taken seriously. But how fun is it? Not very. Not even gorgeous Hugh Jackman can arouse much interest. Still, for his sake 

2* of 5