Recent films

I haven’t posted any film reviews for a while, so here’s a selection of the most recent films I’ve seen at the cinema (always the best place to see something) or on TV. Let’s get the ball rolling with… Bring Her Back (Substitution – Bring Her Back), 2025 I went to see Substitution – BringContinue reading “Recent films”

An Uncharted Moon Souvenir on the Nile in two parts

I watched several films in the last week. Moonfall (2022) This is very big and very dumb. There might be a small modicum of accurate scientific information in here, but it’s swamped by the dodgy dialogue and terrible exposition. The cast does their best with what they’re given, but even an actor of Oscar-winner HalleContinue reading “An Uncharted Moon Souvenir on the Nile in two parts”

Review: The Last Duel

THE LAST DUEL (2021, USA/UK, dir. Ridley Scott, 18 cert, 152 mins)The title of the film refers to the last government-sanctioned (or imposed) trial by combat in France. Duelling did carry on in a much less official basis for many decades longer but it was a private affair. The film starts by showing us theContinue reading “Review: The Last Duel”

Review: Eternals (2021)

Went to see this film this morning (before picking up a ukelele) and didn’t really enjoy it. It’s such a poisoned chalice for Chloe Zhao – if it doesn’t succeed, she’ll get the blame because she’s an Oscar winner. It really does show, by the way. How some of the shots are constructed is excellentContinue reading “Review: Eternals (2021)”

Review: Dune (2021)

Directed by Denis VilleneuveDune opens with a discordant sound that really sets the tone for the film and the vivid blue Warner Bros credits are a stark colour contrast to the ochre tones that dominate the rest of the film. As usual with Denis Villeneuve films, the visual in spectacle is assured and measured. QuickContinue reading “Review: Dune (2021)”

Review: Onoda: 10,000 nights in the Jungle, dir. Arthur Harari, 2021

This film looks and feels like a Japanese production. Many of the techniques are lifted directly from Japanese cinema so, right from the get-go, it surprises by being a French director and screenwriter in a majorly European production with support from France’s Canal+, Italy’s Rai Uno and several other countries’ involvement. Given the subject matter,Continue reading “Review: Onoda: 10,000 nights in the Jungle, dir. Arthur Harari, 2021”

Bowling for gun deaths

Recently decided to watch Bowling for Columbine again “inspired” by the latest disaster in the US of a three-year old shooting a baby in the head.  Cory Doctorow also reposted an article from Boing Boing from 2003 wherein Michael Moore tries to defend himself against the gun lobby’s attacks on his film – archive.org versionContinue reading “Bowling for gun deaths”

Imagine a world…

Where all the world’s films and TV shows were available through a single outlet. Subtitled in different languages, even dubbed if you want that. Where gargantuan servers were not needed to store every single film or show. Where you didn’t get Netflix’s favourite phrase “Items related to X”. Where you pay a single monthly feeContinue reading “Imagine a world…”