Film Reviews by HM

Well knock me down with a feather! An intriguing drama about the sado-masochistic story of the invention of a cartoon character. I expect stuff is lurking around behind other comic creations too as the whole genre is camp and a bit odd. Performances are strong, scripting is engaging and how on earth did Wonder Woman ever get into print for kids featuring bondage and whipping/spanking etc?

I found the movie informative and entertaining; a great combination if you like to 'learn something' when you watch a movie. Certainly caught my attention and kept it.

I never thought the artist's style, which could be garish to my eye, could be so attractive and 'real'. I was totally absorbed by its beauty. The story is retrospective, we meet the characters that knew him and have a different perspective on his demise. A mystery develops (not a new theme) which I found to be completely fascinating.

A wonderful way to spend 90 minutes! Much recommended for those that like a gentle emotional movie. No crash bang wallop stuff, just intelligence and an emotional nudge.

Absurd, however, the boorish behaviour of the Stalin entourage was born out by no lesser witness than General Alan Brooke Chief of Staff during Britain's war effort, who saw first hand the ludicrous peasant culture of the people involved whilst at dinner with them. Drunken, aggressive and gorging on food whilst their people starved. Read his memoires of world war 2, you will be surprised. This oafish bunch are of course a send-up, but it wouldn't take much effort to do it.

As for Beria, the NKVD head, his viscous personality was understated in this movie, a total psychopath having footballers sent to the gulags for poor performance etc. Nut case.

I found the film entertaining and this shower deserved satirical treatment, it is a question of whether the satire is milder than the truth!

Perhaps over the top for some but it stacked up the emotional climaxes to push them all over in the end.

A women's daughter has been raped and killed. Her expectations of all around her are unreasonable as she bulldozes her way through other people's lives, she has been emotionally brutalised and everybody else is going to get their share. The police Chief, ex-husband, son and second daughter included.

The local police office appears to be manned by Keystone Cops in keeping with the usual 'Southern' redneck view so loved by the left/liberal darlings of the movie business. Their dumb-ass behaviour is standard cliché material in movies incorporating the South.

Despite latter misgiving, the film explores people's reactions to extreme and disruptive emotional behaviour and draws you in. I suspect that those disliking the movie found the emotional ride too hard to handle. I found it worthwhile.

Well this is about hand ringing liberal Hollywood introducing us to the conflict of the west and having everybody forgive and forget at the end. More to do with today's America really. The 'western' backdrop is just a convenience. A message of 'feel guilty' about your past Yanks, and atone for your sins.

Entertaining violence holds hands with soul searching by the main characters. Good to watch? Certainly. Exciting? Yes it has its moments. Brutalised people are healed by the road trip from New Mexico to Wyoming (595 miles); an unlikely journey on horseback with a sandwich and a bottle of water if you ask me. Thank heavens for the Comanches who serve as 'mad' people bent on destruction; so the cavalry were right to see them off then; a blatant contradiction to the message of he film.

Did I enjoy it? Yes, because the action was good, the scenery entrancing and performances powerful, but it didn't override the feeling I was being conned by a political message which was the driver of the whole thing. Anti-Trump message? Definitely.

Well some say it is sentimental rubbish and others are charmed. I am amongst the latter. Basically this is a fairy-tale, but unlike Pan's Labyrinth which is 'real life' and slots in the surreal as the young girl goes on her journey to the underworld, the whole story is a fantasy and you are left in no doubt about this. The cliché 'goodies and baddies' characters are the stuff of fairy tales and so it is here.

Del Toro doesn't like authority, this much is clear from previous films putting him in the Liberal camp politically, so a friend of Hollywood indeed! I don't expect movies to be 'real' but examine human emotions and circumstance in any form the makers prefer; best go with the flow methinks. If you do that with del Toro you will enjoy his world. I was entertained by this fairy tale and allowed it to wash over me. Do the same and you will be rewarded.

Wonderful photography and atmosphere created by the sets by the way.

The movie shows a range of attitudes and spreads some blame around, which made it feel more authentic for that. Based on a real event, a group of blacks get caught up in the bad behaviour of an irresponsible few of the same background. Cultures clash all the way through. Ingrained racism comes to the fore under pressure of civil disorder allowing some cops to express their anger and hatred for the black guys. It quickly spirals out of control as other, more reasonable characters, in the National Guard and police stand by as events unfold, eventually abandoning the scene unable to cope with it and confront the main dominant character.

It made me squirm and I don't mind confessing it as decency and reason evaporate; what would you do? Scary. A strong drama which to my surprise takes place mainly in one location as the riot continues outside. An education actually; it made me feel a witness to a story which surely cannot be true; but it is.

Will the perpetrators be brought to justice? Surely the law will catch up with them; or will it. Spellbinding suspense.

A film about the gun lobby tackling a bill to Capitol Hill that will be against their interests? Yes. A film about political manoeuvres in the dark? Yes. However, it is mostly about the ruthless character of our heroine, firstly a character of substance and a power for good, but the film analysis the mentality of this character which is the most interesting part by far. She isn't all she seems as you get to know more about her.

Much recommended for viewers who like intelligent movies. No guns or explosions; just psychological ones.

I can see why some would find this low budget movie not to their tastes as it is gritty and not up there with its glossier stablemates of crime/robbery genre. It does, however, have a street level feel to it and a seam of authenticity. Much of crime culture is mundane and populated with fools, not glamorous but seedy and sad. Note the dopes who end up in jail. Not many calculating geniuses amongst them.

I enjoyed it but then I am fed up with far fetched violence films anyway and the general glamorising of gangsters.

Well it is supposed to be about liberty; one of the French revolutions' 3 ideals of equality liberty and fraternity. However, there are issues of equality too as the female character (Binoche) is widowed and struggles to liberate herself from her past. Was she always in the shadow of her husband a famous composer? Was her talent stifled by his? Emotionally intense, the film doesn't let you off the hook as you experience her misery and pain almost to the point of claustrophobia.

I enjoyed it immensely but some may find it too grim to be entertaining. A heavy drama!

Light but deadly; bodies abound. It reminded me of Chinatown as events baffle the viewer and the culprit emerges late in the film. A comedy thriller which worked for me as good entertainment with a light touch. A few beers an a bag of popcorn with this one. Watched with a friend you may be able to work out what the hell is going on! Always intriguing, the lead actors deliver charisma to lift the thing.

A whodunnit detective story revolving around great characters in a naughty Victorian revue Club. Very British, couldn't be from another country. Intriguing mystery unmasking a Jack the Ripper style killer. Detective meets horror really. Worked for me.

Based on a true story, the lid is lifted on the murky world of CIA Latin America involvement in the 80s. Even American law enforcement agencies don't know what they are up to. This film is an education for those open to that possibility; if you see it as a only thriller or judge it as entertainment, you have probably missed the point. It is entertaining, but it does leave you with a lot to think about.

As long as the CIA's recruit (Cruise) delivers what they want to undermine communists in Latin countries by smuggling guns to friendly forces, drug smuggling on the side is turned a blind eye to. Eventually it becomes the main event for Cruise's character as well as America. A lesson in governmental agency skulduggery! Enjoy.

Another tremendous Anime. A thoughtful script with strong characters. A joy to sit through. More please.

An intelligent plot, taking what at first appears to be a personal issues drama to a dark place. It simply becomes a mystery murder adventure with twists along the way. Thoughtful instead of violent for a change. Much recommended for those that don't want their suspense films spoiled by gore and gratuitous violence.