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