January 6th

It still staggers me what Trumps supporters did on the 6th January 2020 when they tried to overturn American democracy by storming the Capitol building. This is a collection of first hand accounts from those within and charged with defending the senators and congresspeople against the racing mob. Some very powerful footage and testimony but I was left wishing that they had gone into more detail about the eventual tracking, capture, charging and imprisoning of the insurgents. But that is perhaps a different documentary.

Long at two and a half hours but worth a look.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22502868/? ... _sr_srsg_0

January 6th

It still staggers me what Trumps supporters did on the 6th January 2020 when they tried to overturn American democracy by storming the Capitol building. This is a collection of first hand accounts from those within and charged with defending the senators and congresspeople against the racing mob. Some very powerful footage and testimony but I was left wishing that they had gone into more detail about the eventual tracking, capture, charging and imprisoning of the insurgents. But that is perhaps a different documentary.

Long at two and a half hours but worth a look.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22502868/? ... _sr_srsg_0

Infinity Pool

I´ve not really watched any films for a couple of weeks and this was a bizarre welcome back from the celluloid gods. Reminded me of one of those trippy arthouse films of the late 80´s and early 90´s but much better acted and with far superior cinematography. There is no denying that it is absolutely bonkers, but beautifully shot and very well acted especially by Alexander Skarsgard and Mia Goth.

It´s very unsettling, very unnerving and very disturbing. Not one for the squeamish but if you can hold your nerve there is something in there, although I´m not sure yet, without further reflection, entirely what.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10365998/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Infinity Pool

I´ve not really watched any films for a couple of weeks and this was a bizarre welcome back from the celluloid gods. Reminded me of one of those trippy arthouse films of the late 80´s and early 90´s but much better acted and with far superior cinematography. There is no denying that it is absolutely bonkers, but beautifully shot and very well acted especially by Alexander Skarsgard and Mia Goth.

It´s very unsettling, very unnerving and very disturbing. Not one for the squeamish but if you can hold your nerve there is something in there, although I´m not sure yet, without further reflection, entirely what.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10365998/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Infiesto

Spanish film shot in and around Gijon in Asturias and that is probably the reason I stuck with it as the area is a couple of hours drive away from me. I liked the atmosphere and the mood but it was a run of the mill detective drama with a nod to the excellent ´Se7en´ but with poor dialogue, a mediocre stortline and an ending which you could see coming with plenty of time to spare.

Please watch it in Spanish with English subtitles rather than the dubbed version, if you try the latter you might only last a few minutes as the dialogue is crushingly inadequate.

It´s kind of okay, but far from great.

6/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15789492/? ... _sr_srsg_0

Infiesto

Spanish film shot in and around Gijon in Asturias and that is probably the reason I stuck with it as the area is a couple of hours drive away from me. I liked the atmosphere and the mood but it was a run of the mill detective drama with a nod to the excellent ´Se7en´ but with poor dialogue, a mediocre stortline and an ending which you could see coming with plenty of time to spare.

Please watch it in Spanish with English subtitles rather than the dubbed version, if you try the latter you might only last a few minutes as the dialogue is crushingly inadequate.

It´s kind of okay, but far from great.

6/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15789492/? ... _sr_srsg_0

I Came By

A strange little low budget British film made for Netflix, been around for a little while but only just got around to watching it.

It´s predominantly a vehicle for Hugh Bonneville and Kelly Macdonald who just about manage to carry off a slightly under-par script and deliver a nice little thriller, despite the conclusion being signposted quite a way from the end.

Centres around a graffiti artist witnessing something disturbing and how his life and those around him unravel. Worth a look, not a disaster.

7/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15083184/? ... _sr_srsg_0

I Came By

A strange little low budget British film made for Netflix, been around for a little while but only just got around to watching it.

It´s predominantly a vehicle for Hugh Bonneville and Kelly Macdonald who just about manage to carry off a slightly under-par script and deliver a nice little thriller, despite the conclusion being signposted quite a way from the end.

Centres around a graffiti artist witnessing something disturbing and how his life and those around him unravel. Worth a look, not a disaster.

7/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15083184/? ... _sr_srsg_0

Lou

More low budget Netflix fare with a thriller starring the very capable Allison Janney who battles against the elements, a plot full of holes and a script which could have spent more time with the editors. Formulaic, run of the mill, with plenty of precipitation.

Fed up on life Lou gets called into action to rescue kidnapped girl as budget Rambo meets poor man´s Taken. Passes the time but not going to get anyone too excited.

6/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5315210/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Lou

More low budget Netflix fare with a thriller starring the very capable Allison Janney who battles against the elements, a plot full of holes and a script which could have spent more time with the editors. Formulaic, run of the mill, with plenty of precipitation.

Fed up on life Lou gets called into action to rescue kidnapped girl as budget Rambo meets poor man´s Taken. Passes the time but not going to get anyone too excited.

6/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5315210/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Road to Perdition (2002)

There was a gangster size hole in my Tom Hanks list of films seen so I dusted this one off for a first ever view some twenty years after it was Oscar recognised.

It´s aged very well and is a stunning film. Hanks is brooding, moody, cold, and calculating in the lead role and carries the film along brilliantly. Yes it´s a gangster film, but it is about a lot more than gangsterism, it´s about the changing relationship between a son and his father.

if you´ve not seen it, find the time to give it a go.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0257044/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Road to Perdition (2002)

There was a gangster size hole in my Tom Hanks list of films seen so I dusted this one off for a first ever view some twenty years after it was Oscar recognised.

It´s aged very well and is a stunning film. Hanks is brooding, moody, cold, and calculating in the lead role and carries the film along brilliantly. Yes it´s a gangster film, but it is about a lot more than gangsterism, it´s about the changing relationship between a son and his father.

if you´ve not seen it, find the time to give it a go.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0257044/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Evelyn

A documentary following a five week walk across various beautiful parts of the UK where three sibling discuss the painful memories of the suicide of their schizophrenic brother thirteen years earlier, an event which none of them have been able to come to terms with or discuss in the intervening years.

It was an attempt to get together with family and friends of their brother, Evelyn, to try and exercise some ghosts and have a cathartic experience. Whilst they reach their objective to some extent they also reveal new demons.

An emotional rollercoaster, perhaps not one to watch if you have suffered a recent loss.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8793990/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3

Evelyn

A documentary following a five week walk across various beautiful parts of the UK where three sibling discuss the painful memories of the suicide of their schizophrenic brother thirteen years earlier, an event which none of them have been able to come to terms with or discuss in the intervening years.

It was an attempt to get together with family and friends of their brother, Evelyn, to try and exercise some ghosts and have a cathartic experience. Whilst they reach their objective to some extent they also reveal new demons.

An emotional rollercoaster, perhaps not one to watch if you have suffered a recent loss.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8793990/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3

Three Day Millionaire

Unusually for me I watched this on its release date on Netflix, and quickly regretted my decision.

It´s a ´caper´about three ´lads´who decide to rob their boss to save the local fishing industry in Grimsby. The cast is decent but the dialogue and plot are dreadful. Good actors can´t improve a script.

It has a shouty quality that makes you think it was probably initially a stage play and even liberal old me found the over the top swearing a bit too much (I can´t think of any film I´ve ever said that about before).

I stuck with it in the hope that it might get better and closer to some of the 10 ratings that I´d seen on IMDB but it didn´t, it just petered out in a very unsatisfactory way.

Quite dreadful with barely a redeeming quality. I suspect if you are an ex-fisherman from Grimsby it may have passing interest for the location and subject matter, but for the rest of us it´s not worth the effort.

3/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11675788/? ... _sr_srsg_0

Three Day Millionaire

Unusually for me I watched this on its release date on Netflix, and quickly regretted my decision.

It´s a ´caper´about three ´lads´who decide to rob their boss to save the local fishing industry in Grimsby. The cast is decent but the dialogue and plot are dreadful. Good actors can´t improve a script.

It has a shouty quality that makes you think it was probably initially a stage play and even liberal old me found the over the top swearing a bit too much (I can´t think of any film I´ve ever said that about before).

I stuck with it in the hope that it might get better and closer to some of the 10 ratings that I´d seen on IMDB but it didn´t, it just petered out in a very unsatisfactory way.

Quite dreadful with barely a redeeming quality. I suspect if you are an ex-fisherman from Grimsby it may have passing interest for the location and subject matter, but for the rest of us it´s not worth the effort.

3/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11675788/? ... _sr_srsg_0

The Whale

Films don´t get any tougher to watch than this Oscar nominated triumph from Darren Aronofsky starring Brendan Fraser in the lead role and with a cast of just six, all of whom are exemplary, and a single filming location.

Based around the last days of a morbidly obese man trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter it has garnered criticism for the use of a ´fat suit´by the lead actor. But push the controversy aside and sit down for a masterclass in acting with every participant at the very top of their game. It won´t win best actor or best supporting actor as there are better other nominees but it does deserve special mention.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13833688/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

The Whale

Films don´t get any tougher to watch than this Oscar nominated triumph from Darren Aronofsky starring Brendan Fraser in the lead role and with a cast of just six, all of whom are exemplary, and a single filming location.

Based around the last days of a morbidly obese man trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter it has garnered criticism for the use of a ´fat suit´by the lead actor. But push the controversy aside and sit down for a masterclass in acting with every participant at the very top of their game. It won´t win best actor or best supporting actor as there are better other nominees but it does deserve special mention.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13833688/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

I Don´t Feel At Home In This World Anymore

This is a Netflix offering from 2017 which had passed me by but was suggested on one of my social media feeds as a hidden gem. So I went into it without any pre-judgement on what it was about or whether I´d like it.

It is a bit bonkers, a very dark comedy (almost black), but I´d agree that it is a hidden gem. It tells the story of a nurse who arrives home one evening to find her home burgled and sets about recovering her stolen items with the help of a neighbourhood acquaintance. It demonstrates that if something can go wrong, it will go wrong. Plenty of laughs if you are in the right mood, and plenty of Wow moments. Enjoyable 90 minutes with plenty of gore and totally bonkers.

7/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5710514/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

I Don´t Feel At Home In This World Anymore

This is a Netflix offering from 2017 which had passed me by but was suggested on one of my social media feeds as a hidden gem. So I went into it without any pre-judgement on what it was about or whether I´d like it.

It is a bit bonkers, a very dark comedy (almost black), but I´d agree that it is a hidden gem. It tells the story of a nurse who arrives home one evening to find her home burgled and sets about recovering her stolen items with the help of a neighbourhood acquaintance. It demonstrates that if something can go wrong, it will go wrong. Plenty of laughs if you are in the right mood, and plenty of Wow moments. Enjoyable 90 minutes with plenty of gore and totally bonkers.

7/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5710514/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

A Man Called Otto

I loved this but it is almost too crushingly sad. I´ve a soft spot for Tom Hanks and usually love anything he´s in (Sleepless in Seattle an exception), and he doesn´t disappoint as a grumpy old man in a ´Scrooge for 2022´ film where a kindly family who move in as neighbours seek to rehabilitate him.

As the two hours unfold we learn more about Otto and the reason behind his sadness and rather than think of him as the cold fish we originally saw we come to love him and more importantly understand him.

A lovely watch but prepare yourself for some watering of the eyes.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7405458/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

A Man Called Otto

I loved this but it is almost too crushingly sad. I´ve a soft spot for Tom Hanks and usually love anything he´s in (Sleepless in Seattle an exception), and he doesn´t disappoint as a grumpy old man in a ´Scrooge for 2022´ film where a kindly family who move in as neighbours seek to rehabilitate him.

As the two hours unfold we learn more about Otto and the reason behind his sadness and rather than think of him as the cold fish we originally saw we come to love him and more importantly understand him.

A lovely watch but prepare yourself for some watering of the eyes.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7405458/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

missing

This is not my usual type of film but it had some good reviews so I thought that I would give it ago. Almost the whole thing is played out on a computer screen using all the social media tools and VOIP communication devices available and is well crafted and executed and keeps you gripped from turn to turn.

The time flies by and despite a cruddy five minutes close to the end it is an excellent roller-coaster ride of a film which will appeal to anyone with an interest in modern technology. Pretty well acted, reasonably scripted. Well worth a watch.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10855768/? ... _sr_srsg_1

missing

This is not my usual type of film but it had some good reviews so I thought that I would give it ago. Almost the whole thing is played out on a computer screen using all the social media tools and VOIP communication devices available and is well crafted and executed and keeps you gripped from turn to turn.

The time flies by and despite a cruddy five minutes close to the end it is an excellent roller-coaster ride of a film which will appeal to anyone with an interest in modern technology. Pretty well acted, reasonably scripted. Well worth a watch.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10855768/? ... _sr_srsg_1

Fury

I´ve been unwell with a bit of flu so caught up on a couple of oldies during moments of lucidity. I´d missed this Brad Pitt vehicle at the time of release although I think I might have made a start on it at some point and given up.

This time I was in the right frame of mind and enjoyed it, despite it being a bloody, hard hitting, unpleasant and uncompromising war film. Some cover your eyes moments but well acted and with a good cast.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2713180/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Fury

I´ve been unwell with a bit of flu so caught up on a couple of oldies during moments of lucidity. I´d missed this Brad Pitt vehicle at the time of release although I think I might have made a start on it at some point and given up.

This time I was in the right frame of mind and enjoyed it, despite it being a bloody, hard hitting, unpleasant and uncompromising war film. Some cover your eyes moments but well acted and with a good cast.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2713180/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Triple Frontier

Another flu film, watched in two parts as I was too tried to finish it first time. I enjoyed the first half but the second half was a little too predictable. Great cast who I should have enjoyed watching more.

A tale of a group of mercenaries who plot to steal a drug barons fortune and disappear with the loot but it sets off a number on unintended consequences. Could have been so much better.

6/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1488606/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Triple Frontier

Another flu film, watched in two parts as I was too tried to finish it first time. I enjoyed the first half but the second half was a little too predictable. Great cast who I should have enjoyed watching more.

A tale of a group of mercenaries who plot to steal a drug barons fortune and disappear with the loot but it sets off a number on unintended consequences. Could have been so much better.

6/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1488606/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Boston Strangler

Two female journalists break the story of the Boston Strangler whose reign of terror spanned three years from 1963. They doggedly chase the story, uncovering new leads and exposing police incompetence as they go.

A terrific vehicle for Keira Knightley who proves that she is an accomplished actress who can eat up these serious roles and deliver a excellent performance. She has definitely improved with age. A great period piece full of misogyny and prejudice with a kick-ass lead.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2560078/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Boston Strangler

Two female journalists break the story of the Boston Strangler whose reign of terror spanned three years from 1963. They doggedly chase the story, uncovering new leads and exposing police incompetence as they go.

A terrific vehicle for Keira Knightley who proves that she is an accomplished actress who can eat up these serious roles and deliver a excellent performance. She has definitely improved with age. A great period piece full of misogyny and prejudice with a kick-ass lead.

8/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2560078/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1