Indy44

Suspense and tension at the start. Good stunt with the train and car. At the heart is warmth and empathy. Unfortunately, there are also lapses in credibility. However, Spielberg still achieves a Hitchcock moment and an Orson Wells moment. There is even a Jaws moment - but let’s not dwell on that. Well acted all round particularly by Colman Domingo.

Essentially, a Clint Eastwood in a spaghetti western, type character but this time in metal armour. Nice touch in the middle as Grogu looks after the Mandalorian for several days in the forest, as he recovers. However, manned starfighters look a bit dated now. Battles seem to be fought by drones and AI even today

The devil wrote a script. The business practices are archaic. The business language is dated. The script seemed to have been written in 2016. Meryl Streep always does comedy very well but her character has lost her edge. Stanley Tucci is good but the casting of the other male characters is poor. Still, a lite movie and a bit of fun.

This movie is very cool. It conjures up the very atmosphere of 1977 Brazil - clothes, haircuts, cars, carnival, etc. You can tell the film team thought very carefully about every frame. The movie has a good pace - not too fast, and it is thoughtful. This film is full of suspense, and frightening in many ways. Frightening too because it is also very relevant to today.

What can I say? All the current ills with American society currently - social media, selfies, school shootings, phones in schools, adverts, AI, taking time out of work, mollycoddled teenagers, virtual and alternative realities, etc - are all lined up for resolution. The solution comes in, what seems to be the form of Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits + Alice in Wonderland versus Close Encounters + Toy Story baddies. What can I say?

A pleasant surprise. More humour than I expected - particularly at the beginning. Good cinematography. Nellie appears framed as if in a Vermeer painting sometimes. More sensual that I expected. The film ultimately delivers the essence of English love - beyond wealth, intense in nature and in it’s own world.

If you enjoy suspense…When someone is married to a narcissist (female or male), they sometimes have to go to great lengths to get out, and then the narcissist can exact an heavy toll. Sydney Sweeney stands out in the cast. The ending is a bit disappointing and unfortunately lacks credibility.

Suburban Life. Americans are getting rich - they have choices when it comes to jobs. The movie over-relies on embarrassment for humour. Unconvincing ending - relationships are partnerships, and benefits are explored in the film but essential partnership qualities, for example, trust are not. The ending only makes sense for me, if the characters are spaced out.

“Passionately engaged with life”. Wonderful cinematography of a hawk hunting. It is demonstrated in the film that the strangest animals are human beings at dinner parties. Given the relationship of the father’s engagement with life, and the daughters subsequent dedication to a goshawk, I would have preferred to have seen more development of the father’s passion for nature, so the stronger connection between nature and human existence, could be made

Lovely movie. Everyone has pain. Everyone needs others to empathise. Everyone needs to break boundaries sometimes to meet others’ genuine emotional needs. [One incidental impression was that the Japanese actors seemed to understand western ways better than the west understands Japan]. Every corporate should show this movie to their employees. It has much to offer on soft skills, etc.

Two actors in search of a script. With the actors finding little of substance, the result is over-acting. There is 6 minutes of art - 1 minute when the three children seem to act out a witch’s scene from MacBeth. And 5 minutes at the end when on stage, Shakespeare embraces Hamlet once again and Hamlet’s mother gets to hold his hand. However, it is not enough for a film. There is an attractive backdrop of a forest

High quality script and acting. It works on many levels, particularly between reality and stage performance. Excellent performance from all actors especially Stellan Skarsgard, who plays a talented but obsessive film director, who seems to see life as a movie and his home as a movie set. He says, ‘an artist needs liberty’ and he is ‘used to control’. However, what does that mean for his wife and daughters? The film director seemed to be in the family house, but not there as a husband or father. When his ex-wife dies, he writes a script in an attempt to finally create a family life and family home for his grown-up daughters, and bring peace.

Marty is not a hero. He, as Gwyneth Paltrow says in the movie, is ‘a child’ and on the hustle. A movie really of one boarish character shouting at a series of other boarish characters. The one positive for me, was the wide range and gallery of character actors. In all though, I thought it was dull, and I was disappointed

Crystal clear cinematography and very luminous blue, green, red, etc. A valiant attempt to try to communicate some ideas, but they became lost in a mess of other actions. For me, the film was too long - a lot could have been edited out. Too many shots were obviously a studio. I got bored two thirds of the way through, and couldn’t wait for the end. For this type of movie, I prefer ‘The Emerald Forest’ (1985). Sadly, I think this particular movie is very over-hyped

Jamie Lee Curtis does comedy very well. Wholesome movie. Includes an interesting and original daughter’s perspective on a failing father. This movie has not been appreciated by all. However, if it does not excel as some claim, then why are there so many memorable quotes? - although, I did not agree with all of them. Additionally, I laughed about 10-20 times - and that, for me, is worth something. This movie may not be ‘populist 2025’, but it may prove popular in 2027. Ultimately, there’s no denying quality.

A little less New York and LA, and a little more Minnesota. Flawed in many ways - would eternity/heaven provide only one choice? Would eternity/heaven provide individuals with just 7 days to decide? The resulting anguish was more like Earth than heaven. Significantly though, there were times when Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller impressively spoke like the 80 year old characters they really were but in 35 year old bodies; however unfortunately it was not sustained throughout the movie. Nonetheless, in this increasingly transactional world it is good to see a moral choice articulated, and without possible trade-offs.

Very powerful film. The cinema was packed when I saw it. A film about, among other things, real legacy and the responsibility of political leaders to the people. For me, Russell Crowe’s best performance since Robin Hood (2010). Good to have him back. Very powerful movie with lessons for today. Well acted by the whole cast.

Imperialist Russia meets True Grit. Of resourcefulness and ultimately, justice. Current Russia thinking is arguably about 100 years behind western thinking - for example, the Russian revolution came about 100 years after the American revolution - so it came across in the movie as appropriate that the Red Army’s railroad ending, is a reminiscent of a spaghetti western. Good movie to watch

Movie for teenagers. A lot of fighting. Some humour. Some insights. A lesbian thread also. However in my opinion, After the Hunt and Anemone on release currently, are better.

Set against the conflict of British Paratroopers and the IRA, in Northern Ireland during the early Troubles, the intensity of the conflict is very well conveyed by the movie. My read of the background - a commanding officer who probably didn’t like his Sergeant, calls an act of mercy a war crime, as an excuse to get rid of the sergeant. The result is a terrible burden inflicted on the proud sergeant and his family for the next 20 years. Don’t believe some of the reviews. This is an excellent movie, focusing on the full impact of that burden. Good cinematography. Good sound. Good script. Very well acted by Day-Lewis, Bean and Morton.

The driving concept seems to be similar to ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’- that is, (unlike the bee which has a hand in providing 30% of food for humans), humankind no longer deserves to exist. The first third of the movie seems to be about the misinformation social media today feeds the public. The second third seems to be about how corporate America no longer seems to understand the public, fails to communicate effectively and resolve differences. Finally, the denouement for me lacked credibility. Very well acted though by Jesse Plemons and Aiden Delbis

Fascinating and frightening. It reminded me a little bit of ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?’, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and a 1960’s domestic drama. Interesting exploration of the psychology of a delicate and manipulative millennial and the flawed personalities of three Generation X characters. The problem between the generations, summed up in words towards the end, ‘you won’, as if life is as meaningless as a game

A positive vibe movie. Who would have thought Clarence in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, smoked and liked tacos? The second movie this year questioning current materialism in society. Well acted by all four main actors. This movie made me chuckle all the way through.

Visually attractive. Fast. Good sound. Greta Lee has laser focus. Not so sure about the lead actor though. The plot is quite simple. Metaphorically, the US has a F-35, and there is a Neanderthal at the controls.

It’s a collage. A collage of what may be America today - of increasingly two tribes. The French 75 were not very convincing. The Christmas Adventurers Club were not very convincing either - but God save America from white extremists. However, the film held my attention throughout, and I laughed a few times. Ultimately though, It’s a collage and so not very deep.

A fairy tale. Everything happens for a reason. Let it be. Margot Robbie wears glam rock jeans to the knee. Colin Farrell is orange. Margot Robbie lights up the screen. However, there seems something of jeopardy about Colin Farrell, which does not seem to sit well in a romance. I think I would have preferred another leading male actor. A light movie

Great fun. Trashy. I laughed a lot. Philip Marlowe transposed from 1940’s film noir to 2020’s California, and he’s an attractive 30 something lesbian. Tarantinoesque. Kitsch. Great imagery and great music. I loved it

Absence of real romance. With a title like ‘Materialists’ I was expecting something deep. Unfortunately, what I observed on screen was a group of shallow characters amplifying a shallow script. I felt sad that there was no understanding of real romance, real love or life. One character states ‘I will remind myself everyday that I love you’ and with that line he wins her heart. Unbelievable. The highlight for me was the Johnny Thunders song appreciated by two poor actors in a beaten up Volvo. I’m sorry to say, for me, it was the only semblance of reality.

It could have been an excellent film. It’s meant to be a comedy but I laughed only three times. The first third of the film was painfully slow with Joaquin Phoenix initially seemingly awkward in his character. The second third was intensely interesting. The final third seemed to lose focus. Quite a spaghetti of negative trends of the last five years. They could have been drawn together to provide a resolution, but disappointingly, they weren’t. Additionally, the main bad guy who wants a family, survives long enough to see his ex-wife pregnant and then witness another couple making out in the bed he’s in. For us, does that leave us with hope?

Scarlett Johansson has screen presence. Good performances from Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali. The script in so many parts - like the mutant dinosaurs - lacked credibility. F1 and Superman are better.

Updates on the classic story of Hope. Negatives: 1. Uninspiring script. 2. Few insights as in previous Superman movies. 3. Poor cgi including the dog. 4. Over the top violence and destruction. Positives, as movie as metaphor on: 1. How bad guys now get false narratives out on good guys, before the good guys can get the truth out. 2. How tech billionaires can be complicit with governments. 3. How some rich and powerful politicians now want other country’s natural resources for their own gain. 4.. The Russian invasion of Ukraine. The music is good, and we shouldn’t be over harsh on the movie as a lot of the negativity comes from the negative feelings around today.

Better movie than I thought it was going to be. Noisy, polluting cars = 0; rousing music = 0; strategy = 8; character digging deep = 8; and, how experience can make a difference = 8. A couple of weaknesses in the casting I thought. For me, if it had been about electric racing cars, it would have been more innovative and interesting. Still, held my attention throughout.

It borrows a little from Kill Bill Vol.1 and Red Sparrow. However, the movie has very attractive scenery and also a step-up I thought in the fight scenes. Additionally, quite a thoughtful script. One of the best movies of the year so far, for me.

The formula still works but the plot lacks credibility in parts. Good performances from Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Lucy Tulugarjuk and Rolf Saxon. I think the additional comedy from Kittridge and Briggs is unnecessary. A quality movie which does try to say something positive about choices, doing good, etc.

Good movie. Possibly Ben Affleck’s best movie since Daredevil. It had almost everything. Thriller and action. Good reflection of US immigration today and incorporated the theme of neurodiversity. Some very funny scenes also. Additionally, a good performance from Jon Bernthal who I think is underrated.

I liked this film. The sound of the One to One concert is incredible and John Lennon looks very cool. What comes across from the movie most for me is the intellectual and emotional intelligence of John Lennon.

Part ‘Tinker, Taylor…’, part Agatha Christie. Quite a UK domestic movie. I found myself asking ‘could I really live in a house with interior design like that?’ - far too dark and Victorian. And I found myself also wondering ‘had Cate Blanchett had plastic surgery?’ About the plot though, quite a complex plot, with a couple of surprises and a sting in the tail. I’m afraid I found the incidental stuff more interesting than the plot. Better casting and on screen chemistry, I think would have brought the film more alive.

For me it was a film of three parts. The first part was really about young people partying in the most hedonistic way possible. The second part was just pure comedy - if a couple of Russian bodyguards can be comic - of precise timing by the actors and what seems to be acute improvisation. The third part seems to be a thoughtful insight into the way Russian gangstas behave - complete disregard for the law, exert their will through bribes and if that doesn’t work, though violence. Very appropriate today. I think the third part is the reason why the movie won this year’s Oscar.

The showing in our cinema yesterday had some ‘lip sync issues. Led Zeppelin were always there in the background in my life, although I never bought a record. Seeing the film made me realise how good John Bonham, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page are as musicians. Some in 1970 and today may say, that Led Zeppelin are just ‘too much’, but I think in a hundred years from now, they will be fully remembered for their skills, particularly Jimmy Page. A good film on a band’s origins.

A lot of fun. Fantasy. Magic. Martial arts. Wisdom. Sieges. Medieval city life in China. Armies. Spells. Wonderful love affair between female General Deng and Ji Fa. The film should have wider distribution.

It’s art. But I did not enjoy it. Not actors uncomfortable in their characters. But characters uncomfortable in their environment. The drug abuse made me feel uncomfortable. The prologue and intermission reminded me of David Lean film. Many in the audience didn’t know what to do with this time, and felt uncomfortable. A film about a brutal concrete environment without much happiness. Art but not fun.

What did I just see? Possibly, one of the best movies I’ve seen on the process of musical creativity. Maybe best movie of 2025

Colourful. Rose Matafeo steals the show. A movie about a young girl finding her life’s path. The animation is a bit too spongy, plastic for me. Similarly, some of the characters are a bit too ‘cute’ also. Preferred Moana 1. But Moana 2 is of its time, and partly about the support friends can give.

An intelligent film. Although, some actions of Thomas Hutter just defied common sense. The thesis of the movie was for me, ‘this is what happens in later life, when a father is absent from a young daughter’s early life’. I appreciated the movie, however it came across to me as low budget and dark, and I prefer Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Van Helsing.

Plot of intrigue. Unfortunately, many of the characters are a bit stereotypical. Also, I’m getting a bit tired of seeing John Lithgow playing bad guys in catholic movies. However, neatly done, but apart from one surprise at the end, the movie didn’t really say anything new

Unfortunately, Mescal and Washington seem to be hamming it up like a couple of pantomime dames, on a few occasions. And occasionally, Washington breaks into a 1970’s style Harlem hustler which is also a negative for the movie. However, still an epic film, although perhaps not on the scale of Gladiator I. Scott’s films are good but more recently, he seems to be struggling selecting the right lead actor. Still, lots of clever plot intrigue and a good script - although not so many memorable lines. Timely release of the theme - about ultimately the unstoppable momentum of democracy versus authoritarian government. Generally though, one of the best movies of 2024.

The movie initially hinges on a questionable premise at the beginning, that a lawyer would advise a client not to tell the truth as he would definitely spend 30 years in jail. However, if you can get over that, the film does explore intelligently the current issue today as to whether personal decisions should be based on expected outcomes or personal values.

A film of our time. There’s some crazy men out there now. Geena Davis is very funny. Nice turning of the tables. However, the last two minutes are a bit whimsical and not very realistic.

The first Alien movie was great. Subsequent ones were not so good. This one is of the better ones. David Jonsson is excellent. The denouement here has three parts. The first two were convincing and enough. The third part is unnecessary in my opinion, and lets down the movie a bit

Fast talkin’ is the only positive. It trivialised the movies that came before