Review: The Wonder

This is certainly a film that brings in a lot of varied ingredients to the table.

It opens up with a strange peak behind the curtain introduction that felt similar to how Lionel Jeffries ends his films. It did contain a beautiful transition into the film itself which got me hooked in.

After that, we're straight into an interesting ideas driven story that clashes religious belief and medical science. It showed that we as a species particularly from the chosen period setting want to suspend our disbelief and that we can't help but get swept away by fictional stories and wanting them to be true.

There was also a political edge to it as the story gave us something else to think about it. So while it is first and foremost a period drama, it's easy to see that it flirts between multiple genres. There is a mystery to solve, it's tense and hints at elements of fantasy and even horror.

With all of that to deal with, this film is definitely open to interpretation. There's several routes you could go down to summarise this.

As you would expect with all of her performances, Florence Pugh was great in this. It depends on her to carry the film and she accomplished that with great ease. Pugh's on-screen authority with Kila Lord Cassidy helped elevate the youngster that gave us a solid character for Pugh to bounce off.

It was nice seeing Tom Burke be part of this as I always feel he fits this particular time period perfectly.

The whole atmosphere is quite immersive. Plus, the really strange score that should feel out of place with the time period. But it managed to fit the tone and is a real standout.

I must mention that until the credits, I had no idea that the film is based on an Emma Donahue book. I became aware of this author after seeing the incredible 'Room'. I was pleased to see that on this occasion, Donahue is also part of writing team.

It's hard to explain that even though I'm not giving it an exceptionally high rating, I didn't really have any issues with it. 

It does like to take its time. So from a personal point of view, it did take me a while to be fully on board with it. I think it's one of those films that is better to talk about afterward rather than watch it.

That's probably why I was surprised at how much I got out of this. This is a story that messes with your senses and brings up a lot of interesting topics and clashes them in an effective way. It's not for everyone as it is a peculiar story and the pacing is slow. While it does lack in action, it makes up for its drive in its own ideas.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Strange World

When Disney is one of my favourite studios, a new animated release will always get my bum in a seat at a cinema.

But the marketing for this has been odd by Disney's standards. It wasn't until the very end of its campaign where we got a better picture of what to expect. Before that, it was only really the hardcore Disney followers that knew this was coming. It almost felt as if the studio didn't know what to sell this film.

After seeing it, I can kind of see why.

The first two-thirds of the film are full so many story aspects that Disney can create in their sleep. It plods along and with the amazing visuals keeping me interested, it thankfully still gave some entertainment.

I didn't feel get into the film until the final act. This is where I felt the fun really arrives, and the story has an interesting twist that could've easily been the actual concept rather than a reveal. It's kind of the same feeling I had with Pixar's 'Onward'. The potential is there. But it never dared itself to fully explore its own creation.

But I was enjoying the old school adventure vibe to it and the landscape and creature designs felt like something Jules Verne would have made if he was around today as a filmmaker.

The voice acting is pretty solid all-round. Dennis Quaid makes great use of his range, it's always nice hearing Jake Gyllenhaal, the casting choice of masterful voice actor Allan Tudyk was well utilised and it was also great hearing Lucy Liu's voice.

As mentioned, the visual effects are the films biggest strength. It deserves plaudits and it would be to see animated to recognition in the 'Best Visual Effects' category. While the score isn't exceptional, it fits the tone of the genre nicely.

So while I don't feel it made of the most of its ideas, I still enjoyed enough of it to make it a decent watch.

It's most definitely a visual spectacular and the visual effects team should proud of what they have given to us on screen. If it wasn't for them, the whole experience would have been instantly forgettable. A lot of this felt generic and played to certain tropes and themes you have seen countless times in previous Disney animations. Particularly the script and the characters.

It did win me over in the end as there is a fun vibe and I like the old school adventure vibe to it similar to that of Indiana Jones or any Jules Verne classic. But all of it is done to a required level and gives nothing exceptional to make it stand out from the crowd.

It's miles behind the studio's best works. But it is also far from its worst. It's passable for me. However, I can see other fans not being as lenient. I hope this isn't the beginning of a series of middle-of-the-road releases as I've felt some of the studios recent animated releases have been saved by its songs. As this one isn't a musical, it's going to get forgotten quickly I feel.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Aftersun

It's not often that a directing debut can change the game of the film industry. Recent examples in the horror genre particularly are Ari Aster with 'Hereditary', Robert Eggers' 'The Witch' and Jordan Peele's 'Get Out'.

For this new release, it is Charlotte Wells offering us what she has to offer. It's clear that this story is coming from a personal memory as it covers themes of how we remember our childhood and the holidays during that time.

The late 90's time period was making this very relatable as I was around the same age as one of the lead characters. On the surface, it looks like not much if anything at all is happening. But it's the subtle nuances in the performances and stylish directing that makes this work and effect you emotionally. The coming-of-age of one character clashing with the mental struggles of another made for a very engaging on-screen partnership.

That is thanks to Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio. Their chemistry together was subtle and incredibly authentic that will remind you of those slightly rubbish childhood holidays. While Mescal is the one driving this, it's Corio's performance that is the more astonishing considering she has never acted before. I'm not sure how Wells and her casting team managed to discover a non-actor like her and feel she was the one. There was a striking presence that made her instantly engaging and that natural innocence worked really well. I hope this isn't a one and done for Corio.

The design is surprisingly atmospheric. From the naturally messy hand-held camera footage to the eerie use of sound, this gave the film an unexpected and effective extra dimension.

For me personally, this was a film I was appreciating more than loving. I was moved by it up to a point. But I think the narrative wasn't as emotionally impactful for me compared to similar dramas. However, I was a fan of Well's directing. It felt refreshing, tested my senses and worked for the themes it was covering.

This was a very moving and intimate portrait of coming-of-age, loneliness and mental health.

It's not for everyone as it's slow in its development, unconventional in its narrative and style and will seem unclear. But there is certainly an audience that will love this. Wells' direction is confident, has clear purpose and that of an auteur. It's rare to find directing talent that goes against the grain and gets this much backing. I hope this is the start of a long and successful career for this new filmmaker on the scene.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Loving Highsmith

While I was aware of the name Patricia Highsmith and the industry she was part of. I didn't know anything else about her.

This film documentary certainly gave me a solid insight into the person as well as made he realise how many iconic films are from her own novels.

There is a solid flow to it, and it moves back and forth with its archive and interviews seamlessly.

I will say that it is broad in its approach which might not appeal to the hardcore fans that know every inch of her life. But there is nothing wrong with playing to the biggest audience possible and I think this will a solid crowd-pleaser. It's light in its tone and like the title, it is more of an appreciation of the subject rather than being a thorough study into what we don't know.

This is a nicely made straightforward documentary. It has a nice mix of content that will give more to general fans of the subject as well as introduce this person to non-fans.

Both the archive footage and interviewees were engrossing, and it kept me interested throughout.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Return To Seoul

As an audience member, films that cover the topic of adoption, there are expected themes of identity involved. But instead we get more of a random style of set-pieces within the conventional moments that represented identity in a unique way.

For the most part, it worked for the character and the story. But there were some that I just couldn't get on board with and some were even so random they were unforgivable.

I really liked Park Ji-Min's performance. I enjoyed the attitude that she gave to the leading character and the spontaneous moments that she orchestrated were largely memorable and one of the strongest parts of the film.

I liked the overall look. It was able to give us some effective imagery in different environments and never feel like different films.

The pacing was gentle. There were some purposeful lingering shots which worked well for the most part. Also, the camerawork was respectful with its wide shots as it let the pictures do the talking instead of taking over and turning it into something that wasn't intended.

As mentioned, I wasn't invested with every decision made. Some of the choices in the narrative in the second half made no sense to me. There were others I appreciated, but just wasn't a fan of them.

Despite that, I thought this was still a good enough drama that was worth my time. It's got a solid leading performance that you're willing to invest in. It also poses some interesting representations on the themes of identity that I've not seen before.

I cannot forgive some of the random moments in the second half. But nevertheless, there was enough engrossing moments to keep me guessing how this would end.

Rating: 7/10

Review: My Imaginary Country

While I am aware of the Chilean protests, my knowledge was barely surface level.

As soon as I saw this film documentary, I am fully aware of not just how it all happened. But also how pivotal this is for the country in every way.

This is my first experience of director Patrizio Guzman's work and I have heard good things and it shows how much they love their country. Especially when they've making documentary films about their country for the last half century.

From the word go, you are already into the action, on the frontline and hearing directly from the people involved.

There is a lot of energy coming from both the interviewees and the filmed footage. Along with a well structured narrative, you get a pretty thorough look at the many things the whole is fighting for.

There are also some astonishing images caught on camera that will stay with you.

I would have liked an aspect that saw the other side contribute to the documentary. But considering the circumstances was never going to make that possible, it wasn't a major gripe.

This was a very raw viewing experience and felt like a definitive look at this event. The first-hand account of the action makes the imagery striking and the interviews are compelling. It further shows how passionate this part of the world is and makes any outsider truly understand what is happening over there.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Karaoke

This was certainly the type of film I needed right now.

While it is billed as a comedy drama, I just wasn't expecting this much of a fun vibe to it.

It's a very grounded story with charismatic characters and memorable situations.

There are themes of our addiction of wanting to be accepted, still finding the positives in life at an old age, learning to love the life you already have and the importance of music.

The performances were great value. Both Sasson Gabay and Rita Shukrin had real sweetness and charm to their performances that felt highly engaging and very natural. Both by themselves and together, this was a lot of fun to watch and develop.

A couple of parts on the technical side surprisingly stood out. The lighting was effectively moody and the score and soundtrack was very memorable.

While I feel some parts could have been explored more and certain sub-plots didn't feel fully resolved, this ended up being a very pleasant watch. There's engaging characters and a good amount of comedy that had me laughing fairly regularly.

Whilst it is also funny, there is also an interesting story about old age and recognition. A crowd-pleaser that sadly will probably not get much notice for a mainstream audience. I hope not.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Holy Spider

Films from Iran or featuring stories from the same country have grown exponentially in the film industry over the last several years.

The majority have been pretty serious drama's about the tough life in this part of the world. This one is more of a crime drama that is based on a true story.

I did notice that director Ali Abbas was at the helm, who did 'Border'. While that was a strange and weirdly compelling fantasy drama, this latest project was a bit more straightforward.

I enjoyed the opening and how certain pieces of the story were being set-up and hinting as to where it could end up.

But it turns out that's where the film peaked for me. It was starting to feel noticeably ploddy in its development and pacing.

Then by the final act, I was starting to lose interest in parts of the story to be brutally honest. It was just doing the basics to keep moving along with a script that became more and more uninspiring.

I wasn't believing in what I was seeing and the quality in storytelling dropped in my view.

One positive that keeps a lot stable is the leading the performance by Zar Amir-Ebrahimi. I believed in her character and her expressions gave a natural confidence.

I also enjoyed how it wasn't afraid of showing the violence and brutality. It gave real tension and the foundation needed to entice you into the story.

As well as the script and story I mentioned earlier, there were some other particular gripes I had. I wasn't into the idea that they made the antagonist clumsy. Plus, some decisions made in the final act felt strange and never fully explained. Those issues just downgraded the stakes for me.

After that, I was more or less taken out of the story and just saw actors rather than characters.

Even with the negatives, it remains a perfectly functional film. However, I did feel somewhat disappointed by it considering the story used and people involved.

It based on a true story that is interesting and it will definitely make you want to know more.

But it felt plain in its narrative and gradually weak in its script.

Thankfully, there's enough tension and brutality to do the content justice and Amir-Ebrahimi's performance is pretty good and kept me invested.

It's passable enough to recommend. But I was expecting more.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Sick Of Myself

For someone, narcissism has been a theme that I have always been interested portrayed on film.

One that I always love watching is the psychological horror 'The Neon Demon' that uses narcissism fairly effectively to levels of a fairy tale like structure.

With this one, it went to levels I never thought would be attempted.

Early on, I could tell that it was being done for comedic effort. Once I realised that, I just sat back and enjoyed how far they were going to go with this idea.

While it's never afraid to go overboard, the underlying theme of mental health is also covered well to give the story some layers.

The performance of lead Kristine Kujath Thorp. The look of needing that much attention felt very natural to her and pulled it off perfectly as the lead.

The support from debutant Eirik Saether worked well as well, especially in the first act. His chemistry with Thorp built the foundations of the story as well as Thorp's story arch.

I must also give props to the make-up team as one aspect of the story does require effective prosthetics and they did a strong job with that.

If you can suspend enough of your belief, you'll have a blast watching this.

I had an unexpected amount of fun with this one. The story is totally ridiculous and takes the narcissism theme to the extreme and the brutal.

I found it consistently funny with some sharp editing to keep at a fluid pace. There are times where it does overstay its welcome. But it plays around with its themes well and has enough depth for me to give it a strong rating.

This is a film that challenges what situations can be made into a comedic situation and for me it worked really well.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Corsage

Period dramas usually have an unexpected look and structure to it.

With this one however, we have a character that goes against the era she was born in as well as the duty that she has been given.

That mix of tradition and revolt are there in both of the lead character and certain style choices. There is a modern careless attitude to society in the tone and it has comedic and dramatic results.

The mix of those tones work for the most part and the timing of the release is right as well.

I don't think many including myself will be aware of the historical figure at the centre of this story. But Vicky Krieps'performance certainly will make you want to know more. I remember first seeing Krieps in 'Phantom Thread' and she had immense talent. The way she can control a screen shows experience beyond her years and the portrayal of a woman out of time fits into the drive of the films message.

It was nice to see Colin Morgan have a role this as well as mentions of particular famous figure that paved the way for the technology of the moving picture.

It's beautifully shot, the costumes are pleasing to the eye and are pretty much given their own sub-plot.

The only gripe I had was some of the purposeful glitches in the production design. There were several modern additions that were noticeable and almost took me out of the film as well. But considering that was the whole point of them. I'm a bit unsure that style choice.

In the end, I had mixed feelings with this one. The story of this historical figure is interesting, Krieps' performance is great and the style is conflicting for me but will work well with others.

The small modern additions for me felt like both a purposeful rebellion against the traditional period drama aesthetic. But it also felt like a hint at the audience that this person was ahead of their time.

It looks great, the performances are strong and it's interesting to see the story develop. But I didn't warm to the style choices. I may do over time. But for now, I'm on the fence with that aspect.

 

Rating: 7/10

Review: Broker

No matter how many films you've seen. You can discover some that surprise you in the best way possible.

On paper, you see an strong cast with popular leads and a plot that involves controversial topics like human trafficking. While it may start like you think it will, it certainly doesn't do that the way it ends. You think it's going to be quite serious. But over the course of the story, it gradually let's lighter, funnier and then it manages to to blossom in a very satisfying way.

I was getting similar vibes to Little Miss Sunshine. With the dysfunctional characters, dynamic chemistry between them all and a roadtrip structure. It made for a winning recipe.

The cast is great. It has stars like Song Kang-Ho and Donna Bae leading the way. Song's natural charm works well for his character and still manages to find moments of emotional drama.

His support gave us a strong stable of characters that blended well perfectly. However, there were some that I don't think as memorable as they should have been.

This turned out to be a moving, heartfelt and joyful drama about family, parenting and forgiveness.

It's impressive to make a film about human trafficking and have the people involved likable and sympathetic. It's certainly a sideways view on families. But it really worked. The cast do a great job with the script and it ended up being a surprisingly joyful viewing experience.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Thunder

Doing a feature film for the first time can be tricky for many reasons.

One personal goal is having that commitment to your ideas and seeing it through to fulfill your vision.

That is what I felt director Carman Jaquier managed to do. After being part of a collaboration, Jaquier has gone solo with quite a visionary piece of work.

On paper, the story does lack originality as it's something we've all seen before. But it's the atmosphere that Jaquier creates that gives it some freshness.

The dreamlike state, out of body experiences and feeling like you have discovered something new to life that you didn't know was out there.

The leading performance of Lilith Grasmug worked well with Jaquier's style. Her striking presence is constant in this and she has a power of telling so much without seemingly doing anything.

Another performance worth mentioning is their choice of location in the form of the Alps. The way it was shot gave it so much life that it managed to feel like Grasmug's main support. That vast beauty and openness clashing with the themes of of being in a mental enclosure worked really well.

So while to some it may look like a simple coming-of-age story. The time period and tone gives you more than just that. 

Jaquier's choice of staying with certain shots showed a lot of confidence in the thrmes driving this story.

That fear of being a free-thinking individual in a God-fearing society and the openness of the Alps landscape whilst still feeling trapped and enclosed. All of that along with the dreamlike atmosphere that makes it look like a Terrence Malick feature gives us a pretty solid drama with an immersive atmosphere that gives it a lot of life.

Rating: 7/10

Review: We Might As Well Be Dead

It's not often when your debut feature not only gets in the festival circuit, but is also officially a student project.

After seeing it, you would never see this as at. Firstly, it's beautifully shot. There's a lot of fixed wide shots and it gave a great scale to the story even though most of the film is set inside a high-rise building.

As for the story and ideas, it felt topical and there was an noticeable influence to Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, who is known for having a dystopian look with a dialogue close to a black comedy.

Leading the way was Ioana Iacob, who did a great job carrying this film. While there is a solid ensemble, Iacob showed great authority in her role and felt very measured.

What I got out of it what was a social satire that shows the power of paranoia and fear.

Not only it is really well shot, there's a haunting score to it as well.

It commits to its ideas and gives some sequences that certainly reflect moments that most of us will have experienced.

Some bits to get repetitive, but for what it was, this was pretty impressive. They made the most of its small budget, has interesting ideas and managed to get a very capable cast that utilised what was given to them.

This is a strong debut from Sinelnikova and her team and I hope this has given everyone involved the foundation for a major breakthrough into the industry.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

This was never going to be an easy installment for the MCU.

With the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman, plans did have to change for of the Black Panther character. One thing is for sure, this was going to be emotional.

It's obvious that there was going to be tributes for Boseman in this story. But it seemed grief and healing would be the main theme for the story.

It was touching and heartfelt and the opening was extremely fitting. However, I know this is a film where it almost feels immune to criticism given the circumstances. But I did have issues with it.

Outside of the grief aspects, there are some genuinely interested additions to this world of the MCU. But I just felt the execution didn't make them that exciting or give me the urge to show investment.

Plus, the duration did not help either. It's over 2hrs 30mins and it has no right to be that long. The length did not help with the pacing and it therefore lacked a bit of energy for me.

In regards to the performances, they were pretty good overall. With their star sadly no longer with us, this felt more like an ensemble piece. The standout for me turned out to be Angela Bassett. Her presence and power was noticeable and it certainly helped elevate everyone else's game.

While Letita Wright has been thrown in at the deep end, she did a solid job with all the content she was given.

Danai Gurira and Winston Duke were good value in their roles once again.

There were some promising new faces in the form of Tenoch Huerta and Dominique Thorne. While I didn't feel they were given much that interesting to deal with, I'm up for seeing more of them.

One big surprise for me was the quality of the visual effects. The designs were eye-catching. But I noticed a few ropey moments that didn't feel seamless with the live action.

The costume design was of a high quality as expected and the general look of it was pleasing.

I will agree that it was an emotional watch and they did a decent job with what they had to deal with.

But I genuinely felt this was one of the weaker entries in the franchise. The duration does make it lag, a lot of the content felt empty and even had me thinking if anything of any significance happened in the story.

I know they were in a tricky situation. So I applaud the approach they went for and they managed to put something out there in the end. There is enough entertainment to be had and the emotion of the story is really well put together for me to give it a respectable rating.

But I still left feeling somewhat short-changed.

Lastly, I must mention that there was just a mid-credits scene. But nothing more then that. I think given this was a glorified tribute to Boseman, it felt right to not have anything to turn our attention away from the film itself 

Rating: 7/10

Review: Love Life

When a film starts as joyously as this one, I was all set-up for something totally charming.

Everyone's happy, there's some sweet sequences and everything seems too good.

Then we get something truly terribly and gut-punching, and that is where the themes of this story start to develop.

We see topics of grief, isolation, the importance of communication and the complexity of family life.

However, there were some decisions made both in the casting and narrative in the second half that didn't work for me.

The introductions of certain characters seemed to conflict with how they were being talked about. Plus, some choices in the story felt out of place to me and made no sense as to why they would be happening. 

While I appreciate the unexpectedness of the events of the second and final acts, they just didn't sit well with me for one reason or another.

The performance of lead Fumino Kimura is a particular highlight. There was great emotion coming from her even at her most subtle.

Even with those issues I had with it, this was still a pretty solid drama.

It brings out genuine heartbreak with added complexity in character development. It got a bit too contrived for me at times. But the good certainly outweighs everything else.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Pacifiction

While this is my first experience of seeing an Albert Serra film, I was partly aware of his style.

I heard he likes his films to be immersive and likes to linger on his scenes where a lot of them are seemingly uneventful.

Knowing a style is one thing, experiencing it is something different 

It was honestly a slog to get through. I got that it was portraying political paranoia and the constant threat of dread with the French Polynesia as a backdrop. On paper, that sounds genuinely interesting. But it took almost three hours to say that and it didn't need to do that at all.

There are some decent moments including one extraordinary sequence involving nature that was amazing to watch.

But there plenty of moments that I just couldn't explain its purpose.

They do make the most of the location. So there is some gorgeous imagery and colour to help entice you back in whenever doubt creeps in.

But this was a really bizarre watch. It does have a way of reeling you in as it is great to look at and has a hypnotic vibe. But I don't think it needed 2hrs 45 mins to tell the story it did.

Most will see it as the type of film mainstream audiences hate and critics gush over. I'm more with the former on this one unfortunately.

Rating: 6/10

Review: Myanmar Diaries

It's not often that a making a film is such an achievement that literally everyone involved is not credited in the film to protect their identities. That's the situation we're in for this one.

I'll admit that I knew very little about the Myanmar military coup. But I was aware there are big conflicts happening in several South East Asian countries right now.

There are some powerful moments captured on film here to show how resistant the public are being to these current events. There are also some accompanied symbolic and poetic reconstructions of particular people's stories.

But for a documentary lasting around 70 mins, I didn't feel we got enough content worthy of a film.

I admit it's a harsh criticism and while I felt it was lacking in fundamental elements of a film documentary, what they managed to get out there still deserves recognition.

The footage and reconstructions explained the situation enough to give you an idea of what's happening and it makes you want to know more.

I'm not sure if it needed to be a film though. It would have done better as a TV special I reckon as it would get the word across the better. An important piece nonetheless.

Rating: 7/10

Review: America

For a film called 'America', I was not expecting what I got in the end.

The narrative is certainly a melodrama. But the choices in its structure gave me a bit more sense of grandeur and scale.

It's quite poetic in its imagery at times to help enhance the themes a bit more.

But even though some of the content that was happening was dramatic and emotional, something felt off in its execution.

It's hard to pinpoint the negatives. But even though what I was seeing was an interesting  melodrama, I wasn't blown away by it emotionally.

It does some unfamiliar choices in its story structures. But the result is something in so many drama's similar to it.

The performances from the main cast were solid for the most part. They felt like a strong trio all contributing in carrying this film and selling the story. But I also might be being a bit harsh on the performances here, but I felt they were lacking that look to help transcend their emotions to the audience.

There's a strong use of flowers in this story and this gave he film a lot of colour which was pleasing to see.

This is a strange one to sum up for me as there's nothing really wrong with it. The story has solid development, three central characters all pull their weight and it has enough emotion to make it worth your time.

Maybe I was in the wrong frame of mind, but it lacked that spark to be an exceptional drama for me. It's as if the film wasn't allowed to let loose and really go for it. It almost felt restricted in what it could do.

I've seen similar drama's done much better and also much worse. It's definitely above average. But I felt like something was missing to be what it should have been.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Hello, Bookstore

When an independent local bookstore is chosen for the sole location of a film documentary, you know it's going to contain a lot of character and enjoyment.

It certainly helps when the shop owner loves talking to people and telling stories, whether it be from his own life or from a book he has read.

That's what we have here. Everything about the viewing experience is joyful whether it be seeing the smiles on the customers or the stuff that is being said by the shop owner.

The strength of the community is there for all to see and the stories dropped in to give the story some depth were nicely timed.

The 'fly on the wall' style of camerawork made it feel even more real and we got a more natural response from everyone on screen.

Some bits did go over my head as it referred to particular authors that I have no knowledge of. But I could tell that avid book readers understand those particular references.

This was an enjoyable watch that only needed one completely engrossing central figure and that was all the content they needed.

While it may have been supposed to be about a bookstore, it really is about the owner.

The amount of stories and quotes that were coming from him was constant and made for captivating viewing. It certainly got a healthy amount of laughs from me.

Plus, the environment of a local bookstore is a winnable choice of location for so many people.

This is like a real life version of 'It's A Wonderful Life' with it's own George Bailey. The town love him and I am confident the audience will as well.

Rating: 8/10

Review: A Bunch Of Amateurs

I think we all know the art of movie-making is tough.

So when you see a documentary about amateur film-makers, you can certainly appreciate the art a lot more.

But that's not what this film is about. It's about the people and the love of film. With the amount of comedic moments happening early on, it almost hints as if that we're making fun of the people on screen.

That is far from the truth. It shows their love for the art and their strength in their community that has plenty of large characters.

It certainly felt relatable to me as amateur/volunteer social clubs have a special chemistry that perfectly symbolises Britishness.

There is a great sense of determination throughout and a couple of people in particular will warm your heart.

What makes it work, is that you can tell that they are being themselves. They're not putting it on for the cameras and it's just great seeing how they all behave and work together.

This was an absolutely charming and joyful watch full of British grit and determination that makes it a strong crowd pleaser.

It almost has the recipe of a mockumentary or a Ricky Gervais series. But the passion the people have in this story almost becomes overwhelming, inspiring and makes you grateful for the hundreds of volunteer social clubs that we have in this country. For so many people, it has a thrill that has can't be matched. This documentary shows you why.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Unicorn Wars

It's not often when you see a film that you just weren't prepared for.

This one is certainly one. It's strange that it's initial vibe was closer to a black comedy. Then it decided to be serious with its ideas and almost get philosophical. It also seemed to take pleasure in its gruesome violence which may put off some viewers  It was strange at first. But I think them being fully on board with this creation shifted the tone in an effective way.

I did have an inkling as to how it would end and it managed to do exactly what I thought. That's always comforting as it certainly makes me feel like that I'm on the directors wavelength.

Throughout the film, I was seeing influences of Princess Mononoke, Full Metal Jacket, Bambi and 300. Those are the type of combinations that shouldn't even really be thought about and yet here we are.

I think what made it work for me the most was the mix of animation styles used. The colour palette is also very vibrant to the point where it's almost like you're in a fever dream. But I did notice the constant use of purple in every scene.

The whole thing ended up being weirdly captivating. The number of animation styles on show was great to see, the commitment to its ideas was much appreciated and it's themes of the horror of war, our ignorance with nature and competitive siblings were well presented.

I certainly won't be forgetting this one anytime soon.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Alcarras

I was surprised it was only until after the film that I found out the entire cast were non-actors.

It actually makes sense given what I saw in the end.

There is a strong 'fly on the wall' documentary vibe about it. It's like we're walking on a particular way of life and at crucial point in their history.

It may look like nothing eventful is happening. But there's a spark the characters have that transfixes you. From all generations of the on-screen family, there is plenty of options of favourites to get invested with.

It then all builds up to a poignant ending that sadly brings a bit of current climate into the story.

The performances are great right across the board given the fact that none of them are trained actors. There were no real stand-outs. It felt like the team work of the major ensemble gave us one strong stable.

There was wisdom, leadership, innocence, loyalty and playfulness all to high level of natural authenticity.

The Spanish landscape also gave us wonderful colours to enhance everything else and made it feel like a character in itself.

There was only a minor negative as there was one aspect of the story that stopped just as it was getting interesting. However, I think expanding on that would have given us a different film.

Also from a personal perspective, there were some sub-plots that I would have liked a bit more punch to them.

But overall I felt this was an absorbing drama. It had a pleasant pace to it with highly engaging characters and has a story that shows the power of family.

It doesn't show off itself with arrogance. However, it still had a lot of vibrance and energy to it in the form of its colour palette and character chemistry.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Matter Out Of Place

Documentary films where it's more about observing rather than being told a story can be strangely satisfying.

Great examples are Samsara, Bakara and Ascension. This particular one focuses on items that isn't a part of the natural environment around it. That mainly relates to, trash.

It was both satisfying and unsatisfying to watch. How certain countries treat their surroundings, how they process their rubbish and how certain cleaning groups are helping their community.

There was a great sense of scale throughout. Also, some of the locations choice gave a great variety in different climates approach collecting and dumping rubbish.

I think they have gone a bit daring or extreme with the content as I know some areas are caring for their rubbish and controversial ways.

But this was still a well balanced documentary that showed how not and how to treat your surrounding environment. While it may make you lose faith with humanity, it also gives you hope. 

Some content would also fit in nicely to those satisfying YouTube compilations.

Rating: 7/10

Review: The Plains

It's not often with documentaries. But I remember first hearing about this film since last year.

I believe it was initially going to be released in 2021. But it got pushed back.

It's also not common for a documentary film to be 3hrs. That's the situation we're in with this one.

If you're aware of the structure going into the film, you'll naturally think how are they going to make this engaging for that long if at all.

Turns out, with ease.

Seeing this type of film keeps me believing that any content can work when done right. It seems a 3hr documentary that mainly shows an Australian businessman's home commute can be surprisingly entertaining.

The conversations you hear give you interesting stories that develop and you care about. The odd moments of going elsewhere is a nice of change of pace and adds more useful info to the central topic as well as understanding more about that part of the world.

I think humans naturally like hearing in on conversations. It's not just from a nosey perspective. But we like hearing people's stories and lives. That's what makes this work.

I was shocked at how much I liked this. Yes it could be seen as a gimmick. But the content is there for it to work . The duration flew by and there are enough situations developing to keep you interested. I cannot see it working on a small screen though. So I appreciated seeing this at a cinema.

Rating: 7/10

Review: No Bears

Knowing the situation of Iranian director Jafar Pahani needs to be a film in itself.

The talented filmmaker has made some very memorable films in the past. But with the involvement of his government banning him leaving the country and trying to stop him making films, this latest project looks to be his most personal as it gives a reflection of where he's at mentally.

It is a tough story to work out. There are some meta moments and there is blend of fact and fiction at work.

But sadly it was too convoluted of a story for me to enjoy. There was enough for me to understand Panahi's current situation and mindset, which I appreciated the craft and execution of.

There are also some clever, dramatic and effective sequences. But I think this will be only be understood if you've seen the majority of his previous works and are aware of the director's recent issues.

There's not enough in here for me to recommend seeing this. But there's positives in here for it to not be a total loss.

Rating: 6/10

Review: The Star Wars Kid

I have memories of when this video went viral. This was pre-social media and pre-You Tube. So getting something viral back then was particularly impressive and new to all of us. 

Nowadays, it's almost daily the amount of content that catches people's interests to the point where it gets millions of views in one day.

When I saw that they made a documentary about it 20 years on, people of my generation will naturally be intrigued.

It gives some interesting context into the origins of the video as well as the aftermath which was never covered in the media that I was aware of.

It also posed questions in online abuse which I never thought of.

Towards the end it did sadly show signs of content fatigue, as they were repeating themselves from earlier discussions. This for me showed not enough content was there to cover a feature length.

But despite it feeling stretched by the end, I thought this was perfectly fine. It did what it needed to do. It gave some insights that I never thought of and it was interesting to see how this incident followed on from its initial success.

Rating: 7/10

Review: On The Divide

The hotly debated topic of abortion in America is certainly one that has two passionate sides.

So when I heard this documentary was only about this, but set in the most southernly part of Texas, I knew we had the potential of encountering some large characters.

What we got in the end was partly what I expected and partly not.

It contains those expected people that complain about everything and try and avoid at all cost. But a lot of people they focused on is what gave the film its weight.

Hearing their personal stories outside of the argument made for an interesting watch of life in that area as well as the struggles of personal experiences which lead to them being involved in the debate

I would have liked a deeper look on the main topic from a political point of view to give it more scope. But saying that, it would probably have lost focus of the local community vibe it has.

This was a perfectly functional documentary that gave you a solid insight into that part of the world and where it currently stands.

I liked that it never felt biased towards one side and gave enough of a flavour on each sides stance on the topic and how they behave in promoting their beliefs.

But I think what made it work for me were the personal stories and their respective journey's. That for me was the main cog of the film with the topic covered as more of a backdrop.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Close

I felt prepared for this one as I've seen director Lukas Dhont's only other feature film 'Girl' and that tackled some sensitive topics with highly emotional results.

So while I knew this was going to be a tough watch, there are times when a drama about a particular subject will always overwhelm you.

It covers topics we will have for sure experienced and executed them in a brutally honest fashion. It does hint of potential routes it may go down. But the one we got for me showed that this story came from experiences of the director as they felt so raw and passionate.

The cast is very strong and everyone brought their A-game to tell this story right. However, there is a star in this and it is child actor Eden Dambrine. The emotions he can create without even saying a word was so striking. His expressive eyes told so much of how he was feeling and the aggression when required felt very reliable.

His chemistry with Gustav De Waele felt natural and will make you remember of the strong friendships you had with certain people when you were a kid.

Emilie Dequenne comes through in the second half particularly with a lot of heart and emotion as well.

Another character is the Belgian landscape. The colour and scale is shown in the camerawork effectively. It gave the audience a sense of peace and tranquillity in small doses whenever the story was getting tough to stomach.

This was a very strong piece of work that explores a universal topic that tells it in a hard but true way. It's one of those films that needs to be made and seen. But you end up wishing you hadn't as it emotionally breaks you.

Eden Dambrine's performance is worth the admission alone. His strength in his variation of styles of acting is enough to tell you the entire story.

This is a heart-breaking drama about friendship and learning to be alone and Dhont has given us another reason to keep an eye on any of his future projects.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Goodbye, Don Glees!

Once again, my anime journey continues to expand where I discover more talented filmmakers.

This one provides a genre that we surprisingly don't get enough of, adventure.

It begins fairly well with a great mix of captivating visuals of dream sequences, a real fun vibe of the set-up of our main characters and typical anime craziness.

After that, it's just a well paced adventure that helps us see the chemistry and friendship develop. There was also clear influences to 'Stand By Me' which will please many.

The ending is where we get the film's emotion. There's a big reveal and it's done rather well. Any anime fans I feel will swept up with this finale.

I think the only thing holding it back is it's originality, as in it doesn't have fun. It's perfectly fine to have that as there storytelling formulas that never fails. But unless it does something totally refreshing, it's limited on how I would rate it.

In the end, this was an effective coming-of-age adventure story. It might use a lot of familiar tropes within this sub-genre and that have that 'Stand By Me' influence. But it was still executed well and managed to still feel refreshing thanks to the anime style and it's dazzling visuals.

It's fun, has pleasing imagery and builds up the narrative to an emotional finale.

Rating: 7/10

Review: The Novelist's Film

It still amazes that a film like this that is slow, delicate and where seemingly nothing happens can actually provide as much entertainment and emotional reaction as a major blockbuster with frenetic energy and action. Also, the former could provide more than the latter.

A lot of this film reminded of most of Richard Linklater's works, where there is little in visual action and instead is heavy in natural dialogue.

It essentially felt like a celebration in serendipity and how we as a species have a great belief in it.

As well as the power of chance meetings. It also felt like it was about finding new beginnings in a life you'd thought to be over.

It might not have the profound energy or have as gripping of a script as Linklater. But it remained pleasant viewing with some sweet moments that felt authentic as if we were watching everyday footage of real people talking.

The cast do a great job at making those characters and the script shine on screen. Lee Hye-Yeong and Kim Min-Hee were particular standouts.

The style and pacing is definitely for everyone. But if you like the subtle style of storytelling, then this would work well for you.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Rodeo

A filmmakers feature film directorial debut is never an easy one.

It's a totally different game compared to making a short or documentary.

It usually gives you an idea of what their style and approach is. Every now and then, you get a debut that creates so much impact that you become a major awards contender overnight.

Ford director Lola Quivoron, I could see that they had an eye for tracking action both in a conventional and hand-held way.

They also their stories to be character driven.

This particular film had a nice balance. There is obvious Fast & Furious vibes with its narrative, character tropes and set pieces. But instead of cars, we have bikes and quads. While it obviously lacks the high budget, it makes up for it in its time given to its characters.

Plus, the action is was very impressive in its content and camerawork. They clearly had recruited well in hiring  actual riders to perform the stunts.

Both of these aspects gave a lot of energy and created a believable world with characters although almost all of them were unlikable, they felt real.

The ending sadly was a bit of a disappointment for me. It did feel rushed as a number of important sequences felt unexpectedly short and were covered really quickly. It was a shame and it felt out of character with the rest of the films pacing character choices.

As mentioned earlier, the cast do a really good job. The majority of them looked to be older teenagers or in their early 20's. They were hard-edged, street-wise and gave off a lot of energy and charisma which made the film flow well.

The lead Julie Ledru in particular was very good was pretty good. Even though her actions made her unlikable, her toughness made her somewhat sympathetic at the same time.

So while there was little original about it, its execution made for a largely solidly put together drama. The imagery was pleasingly frenetic at times and the characters were dynamic.

I just would have liked the final act to have more of a satisfying execution. Lots to like from Quivoron and I hope they have more projects on the horizon.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Joyland

Films about the LGBTQ+ community in the more accepting countries can still be a tough sell.

But when it comes to countries where the restrictions are still extremely strict, making film about it in those countries is very brave indeed.

That's the case for this new release as we're in Pakistan.

This does not hold back and does some daring choices. The imagery embraces the content and mixes in other struggles of Pakistani life well to give a fully fledged look at Pakistan today. There is even some nicely executed comedic moments in the first half.

The second half is slowed down, more serious and I liked that the choices made that still gave the audience something a bit more relatable to that culture.

There's plenty of memorable performances from this strong cast. The particular standouts were Ali Junejo who gave the right amount of innocence for his character to work, Rasti Farooq who had the best developed story arch and gave the film its beating heart and Alina Khan who had great energy and solid chemistry with Junejo's character.

The look of the film is pleasing, particularly in the interior shots. There was a touch of Indian cinema which was nice to see. I've never seen a Pakistani production. So that could be the norm for their films.

The more I think about this film, the more I appreciate. It's a certainly an important film for this part of the world. As a piece of film it's a solid drama that goes into brave topics and develops in ways I was not expecting. The cast is strong and there's multiple memorable sequences.

It nicely mixes the traditional and the new sides of this country and I hope it does well from financially and critically.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Tori And Lokita

Stories about immigrants is becoming more and more common in the cinema. It's sadly an ever growing topic. But a lot of these films with this premise come from either one story or a series of stories from one particular country.

This particular tale has great authenticity both in its plot and homemade style with its hand-held camerawork.

There are some tough sequences and all of that along with sound character development makes for a tense and dramatic second half. It was almost like watching a documentary.

A lot of it is thanks to the two strong performances of Joely Mbundu and Pablo Schils. Their connection and on-screen friendship felt very believable and natural. 

There's a lot they are having to deal and it paints a very interesting picture on how immigrants in this part of the world are treated.

I could be picky and say that the ending does leave a few loose ends and some of the choices felt rushed. But I didn't think it was a major drawback as it still some tense sequences that had me totally gripped.

I was surprised that it's just less than 90 minutes long given the subject matter. But I think what we got gave us enough of a glimpse into this dark and tough world.

Our investment is thanks to the two leads who give off strong natural sympathy and put us on their side early on.

The content is tough at times and the documentary approach gave it the rawness to make it work.

Rating: 7/10