11.11.23 Immaculate precision beset by an almighty cockup. The Killer has all the hallmarks of David Fincher’s technical, ice-cold approach. Full of memorable high points and great monologues from Michael Fassbender, the relatively simple narrative reflects a curious, morally ambiguous worldview. The backdrop of melancholic songs from The Smiths also lends the right amount of […]
26.12.23 The Flash isn’t an awful film, but it feels awfully pointless. It’s clearly been made by a group of people who know that DC’s extended universe is breathing its final gasps of air, so it brazenly throws in an embarrassing number of stars in minor roles for one last chorus before the new Aquaman
5.9.23 Satisfying and reliably entertaining, although a bit undercooked, The Equalizer 3 delivers exactly what you would expect from the third film in the franchise. It’s fair to say that the series has always been carried by ‘The Man’ Denzel’s commanding presence, and now nearing 70, Washington’s Robert McCall is older and more vulnerable but
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21.10.23 Brooding and unpredictable, The Beasts is an impressive psychological thriller that generates palpable tension and unease. Director Rodrigo Sorogoyen throws us headfirst into rural Spain, where the unchecked nature of human violence and hostility towards outsiders takes charge. Simmering beneath the surface tension lies thoughtful explorations of nationalism, xenophobia, and class divides. For lifelong
1.7.23 “What happens after 90 seconds?” “They’ll want to stay.” Thanks to an inventive supernatural artefact and surprising emotional impact, Talk to Me is another impressive horror debut to join A24’s fresh catalogue of independent films. Co-directors Danny and Michael Philippou craft an atmospheric and threatening world so effortlessly, it’s hard to believe this is
12.5.23 Films of 2023 ranked and reviewed (UK/Qatar release date) – https://boxd.it/kpU9E What an imaginative and smartly edited documentary this is. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie showcases the actor’s life and struggles, particularly his battle with Parkinson’s disease, but doesn’t pity the man. Instead, it presents the argument that Fox is a man who
14.2.23 When I was young, and my baby brother still slept in my parents’ room, if I was scared at night I would sleep on the floor in the same room, on a folding mattress. I would look up to the swirled stucco ceiling and convince myself that the faces I was imagining were not
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21.5.23 Sisu impresses with its mud-stained aesthetic, and satisfying Nazi kills, but the whole film feels rather hollow. It tries to emulate Mad Max: Fury Road, Kill Bill and the John Wick series in its wild chases, comic book stylings and ‘one-man army’ narrative, but as the film nears its conclusion, it comes across as
4.10.23 Scrapper has a refreshing sharpness regarding the familiar father-daughter dramas we have seen more often in recent years. Anchored by newcomer Lola Campbell’s spiky and unsentimental performance as 12-year-old protagonist Georgie as she bonds with her absentee father played capably by Harris Dickinson, it’s a tale which starts simply but becomes deeper and more
14.10.23 Hats off to a massively successful franchise with remarkable staying power, despite some previous duds in its catalogue. I have fond memories of the original Saw film, and watching the sequels 2 through 5 in the cinema with friends during university. There’s something nostalgic about the Saw movies that takes me back to those