If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (15) focuses on Linda (Rose Byrne) the mother of a sick daughter who has a tube to receive nutrients and can only have it removed if she eats enough to reach a certain weight. Hospital visits are made more difficult by her refusal to pay for parking which leads to trouble with the attendant. She doesn't seem particularly maternal although her unseen daughter is vocally demanding. Her husband Charles (Christian Slater) is away for two months but calls regularly. A plumbing disaster that creates a hole in the ceiling of their rented apartment sees them move to a hotel, a 'flop house' as she calls it while repairs are made. We see her at session with her unnamed therapist (Conan O'Brien) as she tells him how she feels alone and unsupported not knowing what to do. Linda 'self-medicates' with alcohol and drugs. It is somehow disconcerting to find that Linda is a therapist too, though seemingly more neurotic than some of her patients like Caroline (Danielle Macdonald) a new mother obsessed with the safety of her child. The hole in the bedroom ceiling of the abandoned home becomes a sort of metaphor for the problems in Linda's own life and at times, after drinking or taking drugs, she sees a beam or individual lights appearing to come out of it. As portrayed, Linda is not a woman for whom I have much sympathy and you feel that some of her problems could be solved if she stopped feeling so sorry for herself and thought about others but that is just my take, women and mothers may be more empathetic. I am not sure about what the ending of the film tells us. Does Linda have an epiphany and start to realise that life isn't just about her? It is difficult to tell. Not a film that I want to see again, it was certainly not entertainment, more of a chore to be endured, although seeing that Linda is beset by so many problems, one may leave thinking that our own lives in comparison are much better. I wouldn't recommend watching it though.
Hoppers (U) is an animated film that deals with serious environmental issues in a light-hearted way. Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda) loves animals and hates to see them caged up which gets her into trouble. Fortunately her grandma (Karen Huie) is a calming influence and perched on her favourite rock over looking a forest glade, she teaches Mabel how to be still and observe nature. That said, Mabel becomes a headstrong young woman and when she finds that Mayor Jerry (Jon Hamm) of nearby Beaverton, a popular politician, is about to push a new highway through the glade, she resolves to do something about it. Learning that her professor at the University has devised a new way of observing animals in order to understand them better, Mabel decides to take advantage of this technology and use it herself. That's all I'm telling you about the plot. A film children will enjoy, if not all adults, the woman, sitting near to me with her kids, seemed to lose interest and took out her phone. However, despite this distraction, it was an enjoyable romp with a different take on our understanding of the animal kingdoms, yes kingdoms. Not a sugar-coated view of the natural world by any means. Pond Rules, anyone? Can humans and all of the other animals share the world without any one kingdom selfishly favouring itself to the detriment of the others? This Beaverton fantasy shows that if you care about others, then there is always a chance.
The unimaginatively titled Scream 7 (18) is the latest in the slasher horror franchise. Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is back after missing the previous instalment. The opening 15 minutes back in the 'murder house' in Woodsboro set the scene for the rest of the movie as we learn that yet again someone with a grudge has resurrected Ghostface. Sidney, now in Indiana, has a police chief husband Mark (Joel McHale from 'Community') and a teenaged daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), whose boyfriend Ben (Sam Rechner) attracts mom's suspicions above and beyond the natural protective mom vibes. Given Sidney's past history there are few people that she trusts, so anyone getting close to her family is seen as a potential murder suspect. As you might guess, the bodies start piling up as Ghostface eventually appears with the usual sharp-edged modus operandi. All the customary features of the Scream movies are present, the phone calls, the self-reference to previous films and the red herrings that lead you to suspect the innocent. Can Sidney protect Tatum and ensure that she will lead a normal life after this current round of violence splutters, or splatters, to its bloody end? After the opening which did provide a few jump scares, I felt the film was rather flat and lacking in tension. Although it was played straight and not for laughs, I just found I couldn't take it seriously. If it had been played in a semi-humorous vein it may have been better. Sidney is the strongest character and you want her to win through but you don't really get to know the others well enough to really care if they survive. The discovery of the killer was a surprise but the rationale for the murder spree was somewhat convoluted which made you realise, if you hadn't already, that this franchise has little left in the tank creativity-wise and perhaps film makers and serial killers should leave Sidney and family in peace and start tormenting a new set of unconnected teens with a different rationale and a more imaginative plot.
Cold Storage (15) is a sci-fi comedy horror and although played straight it doesn't take itself too seriously. Set in a regular storage unit, as you might see just off the A34, this is one is situated in the middle of a desert and was previously a military grade facility, until decommissioned, privatised and manned by minimum wagers who are not exactly enthralled by the work but hey, it's a job. On nights is Travis aka 'Teacake' (Joe Keery) who is keen to stay out of trouble and not get mixed up in a dodgy enterprise run by janitor Griffin (Gavin Spokes). He finds that he is on shift with new girl, Naomi (Georgina Campbell). Meanwhile Robert Quinn (Liam Neeson) a retired containment expert is awoken by Abigail, a US Army operative at a command centre due to an alarm triggered at a former US Army storage facility... I will say no more about the plot. I enjoyed the film. I cared about the main protagonists, Travis and Naomi, wanting them to survive the potential fate in store for them. I liked how we gradually got to know a bit more about their lives as the film progressed, which seemed natural, like two new colleagues gradually getting to know one other. The special effects were good. The main surprise was 'item 7' which sent the film into fantasy, that is if you consider that up to that point it was still clinging to some version of reality. The film is fairly linear and there are no plot twists to complicate things and get in the way of the fun. There are some laughs and also a few jump scares along the way, so it meets the criteria for a comedy horror. If you are tired and stressed after a busy week, then this is one to watch, as it is entertaining without you having to think too hard.
Crime 101 (15) is a crime thriller with Chris Hemsworth as Mike the upmarket thief, who never harms his victims or leaves any evidence. Cop Lou Lubenick (Mark Ruffalo) has a theory that a series of crimes all committed off Route 101 in Los Angeles are by one man due to their similar MO. However his views are not shared by his junior partner Tillman (Corey Hawkins) or his captain. Meanwhile Sharon (Halle Berry) works for a high value client insurance broker and is frustrated at her lack of promotion and the excuses she is offered each time she enquires about the partnership promised her. This film is about how the three become entangled in each others lives, fairly obviously in the case of Mike and Lou but less so with respect to Sharon. This wasn't the car chasing, squealing brakes and gunfight saga I expected and is much the better for it. A more involving and intelligent film. People whose experience isn't recognised or hard work rewarded may feel some kinship with Lou and Sandra here. None of the three is particularly happy with their lives. As we soon find out, Mike, despite successfully planning and carrying out his heists, wants out of the game as soon as possible which doesn't please his boss/fence Money (Nick Nolte) who gets biker Ormon (Barry Keoghan) to commit the next crime instead and keep tabs on Mike to see what he is going to do next and steal his ideas. Desperately lonely and looking for a real relationship, Mike chances on Maya (Monica Barbaro) and suggests a date but that brings its own problems. We also follow the lives of Lou and Sharon as they face up to their own failures and insecurities. How their separate stories entwine and come to a conclusion may be implausible but it is certainly an enjoyable ride and I can recommend it as a crime movie different from the 'screech screech bang bang' that one frequently associates with this type of film.
The Whistle (15) is a teen horror. The trailer said it was from the people who bought you The Monkey so you know a little of what to expect. After the scene setting opening with basketball star Mason, we move on to the main protagonist, Chrysanthemum "Chrys" (Dafne Keen) an older teen who has relocated to live with her cousin Rel (Sky Yang). Her first day at high school doesn't go so well and she, Rel, his friend Ellie (Sophie Nélisse), Grace (Ali Skovbye), his crush and her boyfriend Dean (Jhaleil Swaby) end up in detention with teacher Mr Craven (Nick Frost). Something falls out of Chrys' bag that attracts his interest and sets this ersatz Breakfast Club on a road that should not have been taken. From hereon in things start to happen and not in a good way. Can these teens find a way to prevent the supernatural intervening in their young lives, potentially forever? Mason's mother (Michelle Fairley) collector of memento mori may have some clues that will help them. If you liked The Monkey you will probably enjoy this. Although not as intense and complicated, it has some genuinely scary moments. There is a love story thrown in which become integral to the plot. The film is too linear to really shock you and part way through I gained an inkling into how it was likely to end, so perhaps a little too formulaic, with not enough twists, though plenty of jump moments and gore. A good performance from the cast and overall you are concerned about their fate and do root for them, well, some of them. Not as good as The Monkey but still worth seeing if you like this type of horror.
Shelter (15) is a film starring Jason Statham. I could stop my review there as his films have become so formulaic that you almost feel you are watching the same film as the one he made before. The Statham character usually lives alone, minds his own business but is friendly with an old lady etc. Something then happens that requires him to cast off the cloak of anonimity and reveal that he is a former soldier, usually SAS, or an ex special agent, anyway you get the picture. For some reason, as with a lot of films lately, it seems to be shot in a gloom. Almost a silent one too to start with as you see Statham standing and gazing with intense focus at the sea view. The action does pick up though as he finds he has to act as a parent and nurse to a suspicious young girl Jessie (Bodhi Rae Breathnach). Statham has a paranoia about being seen, actually, as always, his fear is well grounded as when he is eventually spotted all hell breaks loose as he and young Jessie are hunted down. I won't say anymore as you can probably work out the rest. I did like the film as it was an easy watch. It required no real effort to understand what was happening - you could just sit back and enjoy the ride. The young girl who is Staham's co-star does really well in her role and it was her acting that gave us the only real emotion in a film that was otherwise lacking any, given Statham's deadpan performance, with little dialogue except his occasional instruction to her. If you are a Statham fan you will want to see it but if you have seen his other films and were not impressed, this will not change your mind.
If you can imagine '9 to 5', 'The Admirable Crichton' and 'Lord of the Flies' rolled into one, then that gives you some idea of what this film is like. Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) is a data analyst for a consultancy firm. Her immediate boss, Donovan (Xavier Samuel) claims credit for her work. However he is merely a junior **** compared to Bradley Preston (Dylan O'Brien), the entitled son of the founder, who is now CEO. In a world of bro's, Linda is the lowest of the low and despised by them. She only survives because she is so valuable but her social skills and penchant for tuna sandwiches are only a few of the things that stop her scaling the office ladder. However if the tables were turned and Linda became the alpha, how would the boys feel then? Particularly Bradley. I don't want to say too much but this film has many layers and if you think you have sussed it out, then the next scene can completely confound you about the direction it is taking. This is one for office nerds everywhere who have dreamed of sticking it to senior management but have never had the opportunity. For Linda that becomes a reality and we can enjoy unpeeling the layers of this film and trying to anticipate its twists and turns. There is much more I could say about this film but I don't want to spoil it for you. It is only February but this is the best film I have seen this year so far, possibly a contender for film of the year. Rachel McAdams is brilliant as Linda and Dylan O'Brien is the perfect foil as Bradley. This film really struck a chord with me and though it is utter fantasy, I really got involved in it which is something that rarely happens. More comedy than horror it is true but certainly a must see if you like the films I do.
The History of Sound (15) is a period drama set largely in the early 20th century. It was screenwritten by the author of the book of the same name. Lionel (Paul Mescal) is a country boy from Kentucky with an aptitude for music who leaves home for a college in Boston. Hearing a familiar song from home being sung by a pianist, he introduces himself to the player, David (Josh O' Connor). They become friends but it is 1917 and David enrols in the US Army, Lionel's eyesight preventing him from doing the same. The college closes and he returns home to help out on the family farm. The heart of the story is during 1919 after David returns from the war. He suggests that Lionel joins him in a project for his new employer, a college in Maine. Travelling the state, they will record the songs of rural America on wax cylinders using a special machine. They rebond over their common interest in folk songs but David won't talk about his wartime experiences. He explains to Lionel that in order to get people to co-operate and sing he often bends the truth about the recording to encourage participation. The two are recording songs that may soon disappear, as one small island community is being moved on so that their land can be developed so their soulful and beautiful music may one day be preserved only on those wax cylinders as they are uprooted from the land they know and love. The two men part and in the early 1920s Lionel travels to both Italy and England to earn a living in music either singing or as a choirmaster. He leaves relationships behind him and is clearly restless. Having written to David he receives no replies. When his family no longer have any call on him, he seeks out his old friend in Augusta, Maine, the last place he lived. Will Lionel find some contentment or will he fall further into despair? The film develops slowly and on occasions is beautifully shot. The music is affecting and is not country music as we know it today but a folk precursor that with its themes of love, death, pain and sorrow has been handed down and modified by each generation but is now gradually being lost. In some way the songs mirror Lionel's own experience as we move through his life as he takes new lovers and ends old relationships. It is well acted by both Mescal and O' Connor who bring both men to life in their different ways, complementing each other, the one born rural and poor with family responsibilities, the other wealthy and urbane with no ties. This was a film I did not plan on seeing as I knew nothing about it. Those who like thoughtful and reflective films may enjoy it but it will not be for everyone.
I have a confession to make about Song Sung Blue (12A), which I thought was a biopic of Neil Diamond rather than a film about Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman) and Claire Stengl (Kate Hudson) both part-time entertainers getting small town gigs in Wisconsin wherever they can while hoping to make it big some day. They meet when both are on the same bill, imitating other stars, she as Patsy Cline and Mike as Don Ho (exactly!) but he refuses to play this role and walks **** rest of the film shows how their personal relationship develops and start working together as Lightning and Thunder, a band 'interpreting' Diamond's songs yet also how Claire's family react to a new person entering their lives. Jackman and Hudson are very much the stars but the supporting cast is good too, particularly Claire's teenage daughter Rachel (Ella Anderson). The music of Neil Diamond features strongly and in addition to old favourites, other less well known songs (to me anyway) make an appearance. As you might guess the course of love and music never runs smooth so there are peaks and troughs in Mike and Claire's personal relationship and in their performing partnership too. I enjoyed this movie which has some emotional heft. Some may consider that its plot development is a little predictable and I had a feeling that there might be a positive ending but you will have to see for yourself whether I was right or not.
Hamnet (12A) could have been subtitled 'The Shakespeares' as it is about the family life of the playwright William (Paul Mescal), his wife Agnes (Jessie Buckley) pronounced An-yes and their children Suzanna, Hamnet and Judith. One advantage of us knowing very little about Shakespeare's life apart from his plays, is that it allows a novelist/screenwriter to fill in the gaps and I feel it has been done well. Agnes is shown with an affinity for the natural world and is often found in the nearby forest where she gathers the wild plants according to the herblore taught to her as a girl by her natural mother. The action takes place mostly in Stratford although occasionally we see Will in London. With her husband being absent for much of the time, Agnes has to look after the children alone with the occasional support of her sometimes fierce mother-in-law Mary (Emily Watson). Much of the film is centred around the three Shakespeare children and the actors in these roles, especially the boy Hamnet, are very convincing. Although the words of Shakespeare feature in this film, it is ironic that its most dramatic moments are conveyed by look and gesture rather than in speech. I would be surprised if anyone is not moved emotionally by watching Hamnet and even if you have no interest or knowledge of Shakespeare, the human drama is compelling and I would recommend it.
