‘Why go on? Why keep trying?’ Roy McBride Ad Astra (Latin for To the Stars) feels like a film that I needed right now. I have seen it a couple of times during lockdown and it hits a nerve. Brad Pitt plays Roy McBride who undertakes a space mission to deliver a message to his … Continue reading Ad Astra (2019)
‘The reality is that we do not wash our own laundry – it just gets dirtier’ Serpico It was Al Pacino’s 80th birthday this month, I have seen most of his films, even the bad ones, yes there are bad ones! (Note - this is not a bad one) I thought I revisit Serpico as … Continue reading Serpico (1973)
'I want adults to listen to me' this is said by Zain, a 12 year old boy, as he stands in court, he has committed a crime and is serving his sentence but has decided to sue his parents for bringing him into this world. Nadine Labaki's film is a harrowing and powerful depiction of … Continue reading Capernaum (2018)
Dennis Hopper (Father): 'No, your mother...is not crazy. And neither, contrary to popular belief, is your brother crazy. He's merely miscast in a play. He was born in the wrong era, on the wrong side of the river... With the ability to do anything that he wants to do and... finding nothing that he wants … Continue reading Rumble Fish (1983)
After a five year break Pawel Pawlikowski returns with Cold War (2018) it follows Ida (2013) (see my earlier review of this) and it continues to showcase Pawlikowski as a filmmaker to watch for. It is easy to say this is Romeo and Juliet, but, it sort of is. Set after the Second World War, … Continue reading Cold War (2018)
Spike Lee is a bit like marmite you either enjoy his films or you don't, I am sort of on the fence with him. I liked Do The Right Thing (1989), Malcolm X (1992), Summer of Sam (1999) and Bamboozled (2000) the latter is definitely sleeper film that needs viewing (though some would say argue … Continue reading BlacKkKlansman (2018)
It's oh so quiet, Shh shh, being quiet is what you need to be to thoroughly enjoy this film, it stars real-life couple Emily Blunt and John Krasinski (who also directs) as the Abbotts who are doing their best to protect their children from alien like creatures who hunt based entirely on noise. The family … Continue reading A Quiet Place (2018)
'Courage is the solution to despair, reason provides no answers. I can't know what the future will bring; we have to choose despite uncertainty. Wisdom is holding two contradictory truths in our mind, simultaneously, Hope and Despair. A life without despair is a life without hope. Holding these two ideas in our head is life … Continue reading First Reformed (2017)
What ever happened? To man's best friend Falling - Spring - Blossom The above haiku is read by 12 year old Atari (the adopted son of Mayor Kobayashi) to the people of Megasaki in an attempt to save all dogs from being killed. This is the second animated film by Wes Anderson (the first being … Continue reading Isle of Dogs (2018)
Remember when journalism was about real matters and issues and you didn't have to double check everything that was written or published and what those in power told us? Well those days are almost over - perhaps due to the very reasons discussed in films such as All the President's Men (1976) and more recently … Continue reading The Post (2017)
