Leave the World Behind

 

Leave the World Behind 2023

• Director: Sam Esmail
• Cast: Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Kevin Bacon, Myha’la, Farah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans·       
• Why? The cast
• Seen: 4 April 2026      

       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

 

Delirium 2018

• Director: Dennis Illadis
• Cast: Topher Grave, Patricia Clarkson, Genesis Rodriguez, Callan Mulvey, Robin Thomas
• Why? Possibly interesting
• Seen: 31 March 2026

       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

 

Pet Sematary 2019

• ·        Director: Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer
• ·        Cast: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow, Jeté Laurence
• ·        Why: Stephen King
• ·    Seen: 27 March 2026

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

 

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

 

The Secrets We Keep

 

The Secrets We Keep 2020

• Director: Yuval Adlar
• Cast: Noomi Rapace, Joel Kinnaman, Chris Messina, Amy Seimetz·       
• Why? Noomi Rapace·       
• Seen: 14 March 2026      

       Maja (Rapace) is a Holocaust survivor. One day she sees the man (Kinneman) who raped her and killed her sister. She seeks revenge. But is it really him? Or is she crazy?

       The acting is strong, the tension high. It got very mixed reviews but I am gripped by it.  

4 * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

A Quiet Place Day One

 

A Quiet Place Day One 2024

• Director: Michael Sarnoski
• Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, Schnitzel and Nico the cats·       
• Why? Sci fi
• Seen: 26 May 2018      

       Samira (Nyong’o) is a cancer patient living in a hospice. She’s on an outing in NYC with other patients and her cat when aliens attack.

       It’s atmospheric, well-acted and existential. You can be dying of cancer but still not want to die from an alien invasion, at least not without getting a pizza first.

       It’s a prequel to Emily Blunt A Quiet Place films. Now I want to watch them again. 

3 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

An Education

 

An Education 2009

• Director: Lone Scherfig
• Cast: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Olivia Williams, Cara Seymour, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Emma Thompson·       
• Why? Originally, Emma Thompson
• Seen: Once before. Now 10 March 2026      

       The film, and especially Carey Mulligan, were highly praised by most reviewers but if I remember correctly, I didn’t much like the film or Mulligan (though I have liked her a lot in other films).

       London 1961. Sixteen-year-old Jenny (Mulligan) falls for a smooth gut (Sarsgaard) in his 30s. I find the whole idea unsavoury and therefore, still have trouble liking the film. 

2* of 5

 

 

 

Miracle at St Anna

 

Miracle at St Anna 2008

• Director: Spike Lee
• Cast: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, John Turturro, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Valentina Cervi·       
• Why? Originally, Spike Lee
• Seen: Once before. Now 9 March 2026      

       What I remember is that this is not like other Spike Lee films. It got a lot of negative reviews and to be honest, I don’t think I liked it much myself.

       Four Afro-American soldiers in WWII end up in Italy and they help a little boy, making friends with the villagers.

       The narration is cumbersome and slow and what should have been an important contribution to the history of racism meanders from one point of view to another. It’s far too long and often boring.

       Sorry, Spike Lee. 

2* of 5

 

 

 

The Carer

 

The Carer 2016

• Director: János Edelényi
• Cast: Coco König, Brian Cox, Emilia Fox, Karl Johnson, Anna Chancellor·     
•   Why? Recommended by A-KE
• Seen: 7 March 2026      

       Sir Michael (Cox) is a renowned but now aging and ailing actor. Dorottya (König) is also an actor but now she has been hired to be his carer, which he loathes. He’s foul-mouthed and furious but she laughs at him, talks back and quotes Shakespeare.

       Of course it turns out well and the film is thoroughly enjoyable, especially the ending which raises it to

 4* of 5   

 

 

 

 

Sinners

 

Sinners 2025

• Director: Ryan Coogler
• Cast: Michael B Jordon, Jack O’Connell, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Yao, Li Jun Li, Delroy Lindo, Jayme Lawson·       
• Why? Sounds interesting. Music.
• Seen: 5 March 2026      

       Twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both Jordan) spent time in Chicago working for Al Capone but now they’re back in Mississippi where they’re from and they’ve opened a juke joint with the best blues music around.

       And then there’s vampires.

       And it works. It’s a sprawling, wild conglomeration of history, racism, electric guitars, African roots, violence, break dance, love.

       I hope it wins lots of Oscars. 

5* of 5   

 

 

 

The Creator

 

The Creator 2023

• Director: Gareth Edwards
• Cast: John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney
• Why? Sci fi
• Seen: 4 March 2026      

       War between AI and humans. Who’s a robot? Who’s human? Who’s both? Who are the good guys, the humans or the AI?

       It should be good but it’s boring. I slept through most of it. 

1* of 5   

 

 

My Summer of Love

 

My Summer of Love 2004

• ·        Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
• ·        Based on novel: No
• ·        Cast: Emily Blunt, Natalie Press, Paddy Considine
• ·        Why? The cast
• ·       Seen: Once before. Now 27 February 2026 

Rich girl (Blunt), poor but feisty girl (Press), ex-con fanatical Christian brother (Considine).

The actors are among my favourites but sadly, the story doesn’t work for me. A pity. 

2* of 5

 

 

 

Absolute Beginners

 

Absolute Beginners 1986

• ·        Director: Julien Temple
• ·        Cast: Patsy Kensit, Eddie O’Connell, David Bowie, James Fox, Ray Davies, Tony Hippolyte
• ·        Why? London
• ·        Seen: Once before. Now 26 February 2026 

If I remember correctly, I didn’t much like it the first time but I’m willing to give it another chance.

London 1958. Hot jazz. Cool jazz. Teenagers. Rock’n’roll. Fashion.

Could’ve should’ve worked but it doesn’t. The story is trite and boring. Kensit’s little girl voice is irritating. But I’ll stick with it for Davies and Bowie.

They lift it slightly. As does dealing with racism towards the end. 

2* of 5

 

 

 

 

The Wonder

 

The Wonder 2022

• ·        Director: Sebastián Lelio
• ·        Cast: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Toby Jones, Ciarin Hinds
• ·        Why? The cast
• ·        Seen: 25 February 2026  

1862. An English nurse, Mrs Wright, (Pugh) has been summoned to a job in Ireland to determine if a girl (Lord Cassidy), who hasn’t eaten in four months but remains healthy, is a miracle or a fraud.

It’s a beautiful and grim story of the madness and cruelty of religion. 

4* of 5

 

 

Black Crab/Svart Krabba

 

Black Crab/Svart krabba 2022

• ·       Director: Adam Berg
• ·       Cast: Noomi Rapace, Jakob Oftebro, Dar Salim, Ardalan Esmaili
• ·       Why? Noomi Rapace
• ·       Seen: 9 February 2026      

       Sweden in the near future. Sweden at war with bombed out cities, ruthless soldiers, desperate refugees.

       Caroline Edh (Rapace) and four other soldiers are sent across a frozen archipelago behind enemy lines on a mission that could end the war. She is told that her captured daughter has survived and they will be reunited if this suicidal mission succeeds.

       The visuals are stunningly beautiful, if grim and sometimes even grisly. It’s exciting as well and Rapace is always good.      

3 ½* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finian's Rainbow

 

Finian’s Rainbow 1968

• ·        Director: Francis Ford Coppola (believe it or not)
• ·        Cast: Fred Astaire, Petula Clark, Tommy Steele, Don Francks, Al Freeman Jr
• ·        Why? It’s a musical
• ·        Seen:  Once or twice before. Now 7-8 February 2026 (I fell asleep halfway through on the 7^th) 

Finian (Astaire) and his daughter Sharon (Clark) leave Ireland to plant a pot of gold stolen from the leprechaun Og (Steele) near Fort Knox to grow more gold. The music is as silly as the story, the whole tone is loud and slapstick. The only thing saving this turkey is the sub-theme of black and white sharecroppers fighting racism and corruption to for a workers’ co-op. 

2* of 5

 

 

 

Kingmaker/I maktens skugga/Mörkeland

 

King Maker/ I maktens skugge/ Mörkeland 2024

• ·       Director: Mikkel Serup
• ·       Cast: Anders W Berthelsen, Nicolas Bro, Charlotte Munck
• ·       Why? Recommended by LH, and sequel to King’s Game/Kongekabale/Tredje makten
• ·       Seen: 4 February 2026      

       Twenty years later an election in Denmark is imminent. The ultra-right racist party is gaining support. The same journalist as in the first film is back, investigating the murder of a government employee, a young immigrant. Almost as good as the first film. 

3 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King's Game/Tredje makten/Kongekabele

 

King’s Game/Den tredjemakten/Kongekabele 2004

• ·       Director: Nicolaj Arcel
• ·       Cast: Anders W Berthelsen, Nastja Arcel, Nicolas Bro, Lars Mikkelsen, Charlotte Munck
• ·       Why? Recommended by LH
• ·       Seen: 2 February 2026      

       Political intrigues and journalistic scoops in film don’t usually interest me but Danish films are often good so I’ll give it a try.

       It’s actually quite exciting, the acting is very good and it deals with the importance of independent journalism.      

3 ½, possibly even 4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sleeping with the Enemy

Sleeping with the Enemy 1991

• ·        Director: Joseph Ruben
• ·        Cast: Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin, Kevin Anderson
• ·        Why? Roberts
• ·        Seen: Once before. Now 31 January 2026   

Laura (Roberts) and Martin (Bergin), rich, white, with a fab house on the shore of Cape Cod, perfect marriage. Except he beats her and is insanely jealous and controlling.

She fakes her own death and starts a new life in Iowa. He finds her.

It’s a bit too melodramatic and romantic but exciting and I like Julia Roberts. 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Light Between Oceans

 

The Light Between Oceans

• ·        Director: Derek Cianfrance
• ·        Cast: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz
• ·        Why? The cast, and recommended by LH.
• ·        Seen: 30 January 2026   

WWI veteran Tom (Fassbinder) seeks isolation as the keeper of a remote lighthouse. He marries Isabel (Wikander) who joins him on the island.

They suffer two miscarriages and then a baby washes ashore in a dingy with a dead man. They bury the man and keep the baby.

The acting is superb, the visuals lovely, but the story is too farfetched for me and baby films do not thrill me. 

3* of 5