Cold Comfort Farm

 

Cold Comfort Farm 1995

• Director: John Schlesinger
• Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Eileen Atkins, Ian McKellan, Rufus Sewell, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley
• Why? The cast
• Seen: 4 July 2026  

 

          Flora (Beckinsale), a young society girl in financial straits, seeks out relatives in the countryside to gain life experience so that she can become a writer. She finds herself on a farm near ruin, populated by several eccentric individuals.

          With this cast one expects great things. Sadly, this is only somewhat entertaining.

 

2* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Superintelligence

 

Superintelligence 2020

• Director: Ben Falcone
• Cast: Melissa McCarthy, James Corden, Bobby Cannavale, Brian Tyree Henry
• Why? McCarthy
• Seen: 2 July 2026  

 

          Carol (McCarthy) is the most average person in the world and a super AI chooses her to help it decide if it should destroy the human race or not.

          It’s silly but fun. Sort of. So much more could have been done with the idea.

 

2* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apex

 

Apex 2026

• Director: Baltasar Kormákur
• Cast: Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, Eric Bana
• Why? Maybe OK
• Seen: 25 June 2026                     

           Sasha (Theron) loses her lover Tommy (Bana) mountain climbing in Norway. Grieving, she goes to Australia, Tommy’s homeland, for a new adventure. She is pursued by smug male chauvinists, but then she’s hunted by the nice guy, psycho Ben (Egerton).

          Unlikely but exciting and the Norwegian and Australian views are beautiful. Good acting too.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amelia

 

Amelia 2009

• Director: Mira Nair
• Cast: Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor
• Why? The subject
• Seen: 23 June 2026                   

           Earhart was my mother’s hero so I’ve heard about her all my life.

          Amelia (Swank) loves flying, hates doing adverts to finance her flying, deals with the fame, pomp and circumstance, demands an open marriage and complete freedom of her husband (Gere).

          It’s a straight forward, low key, somewhat tame, even trite, biopic but it’s fun to see.

 3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thrash

 

Thrash 2026

• Director: Tommy Wirkola
• Cast: Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak, Djimon Hounsou, Aleya Browne, Stacy Claeson, Danti Ubaldi
• Why? hurricane
• Seen: 20 June 2026                     

 

          Heavy rain becomes a hurricane. Evacuation. Disaster.

          Impressive hurricane visuals. Then the sharks some and there’s a lot of blood.

          Many viewers hate it. Me? Let’s say, I’ve seen better. But it’s kind of entertaining.

 

2 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beautiful Game

 

The Beautiful Game 2024

• Director: Thea Sharrock
• Cast: Bill Nighy, Michael Ward
• Why? Nighy
• Seen: 17 June 2026                     

 

          Mal (Nighy), a retired scout, coaches a football team of homeless guys and they’re going to the Homeless World Cup (a real thing) in Rome. They’re all homeless for a reason.

          Vinny (Ward) is newly homeless, new to the team, and reluctant to take part in the camaraderie.

          Yes, it’s feel-good, but it’s a good feel-good, and especially now when FIFA and the US are being such jerks in the currently on-going Football World Cup, this film is heart-warming, trite at times, but heart-warming. 

 

3 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus Christ Superstar 1973

 

Jesus Christ Superstar 1973

• Director: Norman Jewison
• Cast: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Eliman, Barry Dennan, Larry Marshall, Josh Mostel
• Why? A favourite musical
• Seen: Many times. Now 13 June 2026             

           After the less than successful version of 2000 seen a few days ago, I feel the need to see this, the ‘real’ film version, again. I’ve seen it many times but the last time was before I started this blog so there’s been no review.

          Now there is.

          Jesus (Neeley) has a weak, shrill and reedy voice but otherwise he’s good. Judas (Anderson) is the strongest character, angry and sorrowful at their losing their way, and pain over his betrayal.

          The visuals are both strong and minimalistic. The anachronisms like 20^th century pound notes, postcards, military tanks and machine guns work in the context.

          The apostles, the extras, the dancers are all very good. Herod (Mostel) and Pilate (Dennan) are terrific.

          I’ve been an atheist since childhood but I’ve long been fascinated by the story of Jesus the man, whether such a person ever existed or not. That’s what Jesus Christ Superstar is about. The man who was caught up in a situation that grew out of his control.

 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rez Ball

 

Rez Ball 2024

• Director: Sydney Freeland
• Cast: Jessica Matten, Kachani Bratt, Amber Midthunder, Julia Jones, Kusem Goodwind
• Why? Navajo nation
• Seen: 11 June 2026                     

           Teen-aged Navajo boys are desperate to win the basketball championship. For their coach Heather (Matten, Bernadette in Dark Winds) is even more desperate because her job is on the line.

          ‘No matter how we try, we always find a way to lose,’ says the mother of one of the boys when the team is hit by tragedy and they try to get back the will to play, to win. They don’t only have strong opponents to face but their own culture and history of defeat in a racist society.

          It’s a good film, even if you don’t like sports films.

 4 * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus Christ Superstar 2000 update 2026

 

Jesus Christ Superstar 2000 update 2026

• Director: Gale Edwards
• Cast: Glenn Carter, Jerome Pradon, Renee Castle, Fred Johanson, Rik Mayall, Frederick B Owens, Tony Vincent, Cavin Cornwall
• Why? A favourite musical
• Seen: 16 May 2025 now 9 June 2026              

           I don’t know how many times I’ve seen the 70s film. This one is a filmed theatrical production. They are certainly enthusiastic and Rice and Lloyd Weber’s texts and music are as clever and stirring as ever but the whole thing is ruined by Carter in the role of Jesus. He is altogether too white, blue-eyed, flashing white teethed and American jock handsome. Judas’s voice is shrill and he’s just nasty.

          Only 2 ½* this time. I think I’ll have to watch the 1973 version again.

        

 3½ * of 5

2 ½* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

500 Days of Summer

500 Days of Summer 2009

• Director: Mark Webb
• Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
• Why? JG-L
• Seen: Once before. Now 8 June 2026              

           Tom (Gordon-Levitt) meets Summer (Deschanel). Passionate love affair. Then she ends it.

          We flashback to when they meet and go on from there. Almost everyone loves this film. Lots of 10* of 10 and 5* of 5.

          I’m not thrilled. I’m a big fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and have been since The Third Rock from the Sun but this is far from his most interesting film. It’s just kind of boring.

 

2½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Chaos Walking

 

Chaos Walking 2021

• ·       Director: Doug Liman
• ·       Cast: Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Demián Bichir, David Oyewolo, Cynthia Erivo, Mads Mikkelsen
• ·       Why? Sci fi
• ·       Seen: 6 June 2026

             It’s the year 2257 AD. Todd (Holland) lives on a planet in a colony with only men. The women have all been killed. The men’s thoughts can be heard by everyone. They call it Noise. Viola (Ridley) is in a scout shuttle sent from the mother ship to see what happened to the colony. The shuttle crashes. She is the only survivor.

       The men plan on taking over the mother ship when it comes to rescue Viola, then they plan on taking over the whole planet and the other colonies.

       Todd and Viola flee together, chased by the bad guys.

       It’s quite exciting and entertaining.      

3* of 5

 

Sunshine 1999

 

Sunshine 1999

• ·       Director: Istvan Szabo
• ·       Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Rosemary Harris, Rachel Weisz, Jennifer Ehle, Molly Parker, Mark Strong, Miriam Margolyes
• ·       Why? The cast
• ·       Seen:  Once before. Now 31 May 2026. 

       Sunshine (Sonnenschein) is the name of three generations of a Hungarian Jewish family. Fiennes plays the men of each generation.

       In the first he’s a judge, loyal to the emperor and empire. It’s boring.

       In the second, the judge’s son converts to Catholicism to become a member of the Officer’s Fencing Club. It’s boring. Then the Nazis take over.

       After the war his son joins the Communist party and hunts his father’s murderers and then leaves the Party and becomes a rebel. It’s boring.

       Three stupid love stories too. What a waste of good actors. It’s plodding, stiff and dutiful. And boring. 

1 ½ * of 5

 

        

 

 

Speak No Evil

 

Speak No Evil 2024

• ·       Director: James Watkins
• ·       Cast: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough
• ·       Why? McAvoy
• ·       Seen:  30 May 2026 

       Ben (McNairy) and Louise (Davis) meet Paddy (McAvoy) and Ciara (Franciosi) on holiday in Italy and become friends. Ben and Louise with their daughter Agnes (Lefler) visit Paddy and Ciara and their son Jack (Hough) on their Devon farm.

       Paddy and Ciara are lively, jolly, full of jokes and affection. Louise doesn’t like them. She and Ben fight over it, and other things.

       Things get weird. Ben and Louise try to leave but…

       McAvoy is outstanding as the charming, jovial murdering psychopath.

       It gets really creepy, folks. 

3 ½ * of 5

 

        

 

The Bride!

 

The Bride! 2026

• Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
• Cast: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Annette Bening, Penelope Cruz, Peter Saarsgaard, Jake Gyllenhaal
• Why? Buckley and Bale
• Seen: 26 May 2026

             Mary Shelly (Buckley) is long dead but is now trying to write the story that has been trying to get out since Frankenstein. She takes possession of Ida (also Buckley), making her behave oddly at a party.

       1936 Chicago. Frankenstein’s creation (Bale), now called Frank, seeks out Dr Euphronius (Bening) for help in creating a bride. His loneliness is agony.

       By now Ida is dead. They dig her up and…

       Many viewers hated this film. A few loved it. I’m one of them. It’s intelligent, tender, funny, sad, wild, feminist, quite a brilliant spin-off of the Mary Shelley classic. It’s much more entertaining than del Toro’s 2025 Frankenstein. Buckley and Bale prove once again that they can do anything. 

4 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

Four Lions

 

Four Lions 2010

• Director: Christopher Morris
• Cast: Riz Ahmed, Adeel Akhtar, Kayvan Novak, Preeya Kalidis, Julia Davis
• Why? Good reviews
• Seen: 25 May 2026      

       A comedy about four British Muslims who are planning a terrorist attack. Only they’re completely incompetent.

       It’s actually quite funny, especially the water pistol fight, but also sad.  The acting is very good. 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

Let Them All Talk

 

Let Them All Talk 2020

• Director: Stephen Soderbergh
• Cast: Meryl Streep, Gemma Chan, Dianne Weist, Candice Bergen, Lucas Hedges, John Douglas Thompson·       
• Why? The cast
• Seen: Four or five times before. Now 3 January 202022 May 2026      

        Award-winning author Alice (Streep) invites two friends from 50 years ago, Susan (Wiest) and Bert (Bergen), as well as her young nephew Tyler (Hedges) to sail to England on the Queen Mary 2. Alice’s agent Karen Chan) is also on the ship.

       It’s talky and meandering but the characters are engaging and the actors are, of course, well, they’re stars for a reason.      

4* of 5