Reds

 

Reds 1981

• Director: Warren Beatty
• Cast: Warren Beatty. Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson·     
•  Why? Great film. Now in memory of Diane Keaton who died yesterday.
• Seen: Once or twice before. Now 12 October 2025 

       This is an account of the socialist ant-war movement during WWI, the Bolshevik revolution and the splintered left after the war. It is also a great love story of John Reed (Beatty) and Louise Bryant (Keaton, both journalists renowned for their eye-witness reports from the early revolution. Beatty and Keaton are outstanding but I really don’t like Jack Nicholson in the role as Eugene O’Neil. What a sleaze. Loses the film a *. 

4 * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Papicha

 

Papicha 2019

• Director: Mounia Medour
• Cast: Lyna Khoudri, Shirine Boutella·     
• Why? Good reviews
• 10 October 2025 

       Algerian film about the oppression of women. Four young university students defy the laws, dress in skimpy Western clothes and go dancing. Girls just wanna have fun? I expected something deeper, and at times it does show the grimmer side of the oppression but it’s still not as good as I expected. 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Sixteen

 

Sweet Sixteen 2002

• Director: Ken Loach
• Cast: Martin Compston, Michelle Coulter, Annmarie Fulton, William Ruane·      
• Why? Loach
• Seen: Once before. Now 9 October 2025 

       Liam (Compston) scrounges to make money so he and his mum will have somewhere to live when she gets out of prison. Meantime, his stepdad beats him bloody for not smuggling drugs into the prison.

       It’s grim, desperate, tragic, heart-warming. It’s Ken Loach. 

4 * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

# Alive

# Alive 2020

• Director: Il Cho
• Cast: Yoo Ah-In, Park Shin Hye·      
•  Why? Recommended by fellow zombie nerd SJJS
• Seen: 7 October 2025 

       Young Jun-u (Ah-In) is trapped in his flat in Seoul while outside in the streets zombies carry out their murderous rampage.

       It becomes more a study on how to survive a siege, isolation and loneliness.

       Are there holes in the plot? Of course but never mind. I care about Jun-u and his fellow survivor Yu-bin (Shin Hye) in the flat across the street. And it’s visually stunning. 

4 * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Civil War

 

Civil War 2024

• Director: Alex Garland
• Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Caely Spaeny, Nick Offerman, Nelson Lee, Stephen McKInley Hederson·       
• Why? Curious
• Seen: 6 October 2025 

       In the near future the US has collapsed after a civil war but this is more about journalists covering the evidence than the causes of the war itself. Some viewers object to this but I find it to be the film’s strength.

       It’s low-key with very dramatic moments with possibly Kirsten Dunst’s strongest performance. 

4 * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

 

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf 1966

• Director: Mike Nichols
• Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal, Sandy Dennis·       
• Why? A classic
• Seen: Once or twice before. Now 4 October 2025 

       Martha (Taylor) and George (Burton) have an alcohol-poisoned vicious marriage which they don’t mind displaying for the young visiting couple (Sega, and Dennis). The young couple, too, become inebriated and the situation deteriorates.

       The acting is superb, especially Sandy Dennis. Both she and Taylor won Oscars. Segal and Burton were nominated, as was the film. Unfortunately my DVD jammed in the middle and I couldn’t watch the whole thing. Enough, though, to see and remember how completely depressing and impressive it is. 

4 * of 5

 

 

 

 

Soft and Quiet

 

Soft and Quiet 2022

• Director: Beth Da Araujo
• Cast: Stephanie Estes, Olivia Luccardi, Cissy Ly, Jon Beavers·       
• Why? Possibly good
• Seen: 3October 2025

       A group of Aryan women meet to spout their racist outrage. They call themselves Daughters of Aryan Unite. Racist violence against two Asian sisters ensues.

       It’s a very strong and disturbing film. 

 3 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

I Came By

 

I Came By

• Director: Babak Anvari
• Cast: Antonio Akeel, Percelle Ascot, Hugh Bonneville, Kelly McDonald, George McKay·       Why? Kelly McDonald
• Seen: 1 October 2025

       Toby (McKay) breaks into rich peoples’ homes and graffitis ‘I Came By’ on the wall. He lives with his mother Liz (McDonald) with whom there is constant conflict.

       When he breaks into a respected Judge’s (Bonneville) home, it doesn’t go as expected. He discovers the Judge’s dark secret.

       It’s confusing but quite exciting. 

 3 ½ * of 5