Film Reviews by GI

This is a quirky coming of age social drama set in a rundown housing estate in Kent, England where 12 year old Bailey is a young girl living with her dairy but affectionate father Bug (Barry Keoghan). They live in a squat which attracts an assortment of weirdos and criminals including Bailey's half brother who runs a violent gang on the estate. Bailey is a child who is readily suspicious of strangers instantly filming anyone who gets too near to her but she's drawn to nature and in particular the freedom she sees in birds. Her mother (Jasmine Jobson) lives nearby with an assortment of Baileys young siblings but she's controlled by a nasty bullying boyfriend. Bailey meets an enigmatic young man who calls himself Bird (Franz Rogowski) who seems to watch over her and they bond as friends. He's an odd chap, poetic and an outsider who dresses peculiarly and seems to be seeking his parents who used to live in the area. Bailey agrees to help him. There's a transitional point in the film that is somewhat predictable and it's one you'll either accept as the emblem of Bailey's dreams and emotions or it'll be a step too far. It certainly adds to the film's overall absurd vision of life especially for a young girl in modern Britain. It's a strangely compelling film and has superb performances throughout bolstered by the boisterousness of Keoghan as the Dad who imports toads from some far off land for the hallucinogenic affects of their sweat! An interesting film, if a little strange.

A satirical horror comedy that is a 'cabin in the woods' narrative which gets better as it goes on and indeed funnier as it skits on the sub genre while addressing racial stereotypes in a Trumpian USA. A group of old college friends meet up at the cabin for a reunion where small rivalries and past wrongs are bantered and joked about until the group find themselves trapped and forced to play a game as they are stalked by a masked baddie with a crossbow. It does have some laughs but it didn't really retain any consistency and at times came across as a little too silly. There's a bit of gore and the cast are either screaming or making asides at each other. It entertains but is instantly forgettable.

This is one of several collaborations by Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, a political thriller directed by John Frankenheimer who has made some real classics. Whilst he's a director that can turn out some superb action sequences this is a more contemplative film and some might find it a little too 'talky' for their taste. But it's an acting tour de force especially from Lancaster and Frederic March who plays the US President. It's also a great story too. The President has a pacifist agenda and is seeking a nuclear disarmament treaty with the USSR, this has divided public opinion but more importantly made him unpopular with the military. General Scott (Lancaster), who has political ambitions of his own, has begun to make plans to ensure the treaty doesn't happen. His aide Colonel Casey begins to suspect Scott is preparing a coup d'état and there's a race against time to foil Scott's plans. Ultimately this is a film that challenges the nuclear proliferation policies of the 60s and the futility of the Cold War. It's an interesting film viewed today and everyone is really good here including Edmond O'Brien and Ava Gardner. The extended scene between Burt Lancaster and Frederic March where the President challenges Scott is some fantastic screen acting. It may seem a little dated today but it's certainly a film worthy of rediscovery and one that you should seek out if you've never seen it.

Se7en is one of the darkest and harrowing serial killer crime films, a study of sin and a police procedural narrative that reads and flows like a horror film. It creates a world that is drenched in wickedness and for the viewer it's a surreal and tense journey to the infamous climax. Set in an unspecified US city that is dingy and crime ridden with imagery very reminiscent of Blade Runner (1982) with its rain sodden, bleak streets and where there is no redeeming features. Ambitious, young and tempestuous Detective Mills (Brad Pitt) arrives at a new precinct to take over in the Homicide squad from thoughtful and wise Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) who has a week before retirement. On his first day Mills and Somerset are sent to investigate a death and soon find that the victim has been murdered by being force fed until his innards have ruptured. This death sparks a chain of gruesome killings and a pattern behind the murders that match the 'seven deadly sins'. This is a very dark tale and the performances, cinematography, sound and the plot combine to create something unique in crime cinema. Only the presence of Mills wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow) brings a ray of sunshine to the world of the film, and Paltrow gives a performance here that is important to the story and often overshadowed by the three male leads which includes Kevin Spacey as the killer. Director David Fincher, a director with a keen eye for detail, managed to modify and renew this sub genre into a new post-modern interpretation whilst maintaining that element of noir that roots the film back into the classical Hollywood period. A remarkable film, compelling, shocking and utterly brilliant.

A powerful political thriller that shows the same 18 minutes from different perspectives as a nuclear missile is suddenly detected heading for the USA. In those minutes we get to se the reactions and actions of the various teams and groups of the American military and political machine as they try to unravel what, who and why and how to deal with the very real situation of a nuclear strike on a major city. In typical Kathryn Bigelow style this is a gritty and tense drama that oozes authenticity and leaves a real sense of dread that the reality of the nuclear war threat is that it may start through the actions of one unknown belligerent. The film suggests all sorts of scenarios as to who and why the missile has been launched but more importantly that the systems that cost billions and billions of dollars to prevent such an attack and to stop it are randomly successful at best. The action all plays out in the various situation command and control rooms with Rebecca Ferguson as an Intelligence expert in one, Tracy Letts as the gung ho general who is all for a full counter strike on all the USA's enemies, Gabriel Basso as the stressed but thoughtful Security Advisor who advises caution, Jared baker the Secretary of Defence who realises his daughter is in the targeted city of Chicago and Idris Elba the US President who is left with the awful and frightening decision as to how to respond. The stakes are never going to be higher! Bigelow wants us to see how such an event may start and what the processes will be and she avoids showing the public or even the effects on them of the attack. This is about the protections that are relied on by humanity and placed as the responsibility of political masters is deeply flawed and potentially ineffective. A strong film that is quite riveting.

Sadly this true story gangster film ends up being a little laborious even though the performances of Robert De Niro who plays two key roles is quite absorbing and very soon I admired the creation of the two characters whose rivalry is the centre of the plot. It's a visually accurate portrayal of the 1950s especially that gives the film an authentic vibe. It does draw you in and as a historical film about two mafia bosses at odds with one another it's interesting even though it lets itself down by little happening over long conversations in cars etc. De Niro is Frank Costello and Vito Genovese. They were two friends through the 1920s and 30s as they rise up in their crime family with Vito being a bit more irrational. Avoiding arrest for a couple of murder he hides out in Italy until after the Second World War and returns with Frank now the big boss who dilly and dallies in giving Vito a share of the spoils. This sets up the films main action and story with an attempt on Frank's life. But Frank sees it as a signal to retire! It's a film to watch for De Niro's particularly good performances but it's certainly not his best gangster film.

In many ways this is a strange film in director Danny Boyle's canon. Adapted from a novel by Alex Garland, one of Boyle's regular writers, it's essentially the familiar cinematic narrative where a stranger enters a community and after the events of the story leaves it having disrupted the balance either for good or bad. A narrative trope often found within the western genre. Here the main character is Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young American, who is seeking adventure in Thailand. One evening he meets a wacky guy (Robert Carlyle) who leaves him a hand drawn map and promptly commits suicide. The map shows an isolated island where there is a beautiful beach and where those in the know can go for peace and harmony. Persuading a young French couple to join him Richard sets off on the journey to the island where he discovers an entire community led by Sal (Tilda Swinton). It's a sort of idyllic hippy community and Richard and his companions are made welcome even though the local drug cartel that grow their weed on the other half of the island have stipulated that there is to be no more people allowed. Unfortunately Richard shared the map with some surfer dudes before making the journey and their arrival sets off a chain of events that makes Richard have to focus on his priorities. There's a bit of a survival adventure vibe going on here and the course of the events is rather predictable and there's a jarring section where Richard imagines he's a character in a video game that didn't fit well for me. I was left with the impression that the story arc has been watered down somewhat even when it climaxes with a decision between murder and the continuation of the idyll that the community enjoys. The character of Richard is reprehensible, he's a liar, very impressed with himself and enjoys the sex he gets even when betraying friends in the process. The nature of his personality then jars somewhat with the film's relaxed ending where we don't really see any of the results from the film's events. Overall this makes the film a bit mediocre and it's certainly not a film that is high on Boyle's accomplishments.

This is one of Al Pacino's finest performances. He plays Frank Serpico, a young idealist who joins the NYPD but quickly becomes disillusioned by the daily corruption of bribes and pay-offs that dominate his colleagues lives. Refusing to take bribes he becomes isolated in the force and finds the bosses are uninterested in trying to eradicate corruption and soon Serpico becomes targeted by police officers who fear he intends to testify against them. Set in the early 1960s this is based on a true story and directed by Sidney Lumet, a master of gritty realism, it's a compelling police story filmed on location in the seedy sides of New York. Ultimately though this is a character study with Serpico under increasing strain and stress so his emotions are exposed into rages and sullen resignation. This has a cost on his relationships with his girl and friends and Pacino adds some real complexity here and really gets into the growing conflicts Serpico faces. It is a remarkable performance in a thoroughly entertaining film. A classic of 70s cinema and definitely a film that you must ensure you see.

Based on a true story this is a very moving drama about John Davidson who as a young teenager developed Tourette's Syndrome alienating him from his peers, drove his father from the family home and resulted in bullying, assault and occasionally arrest by the police. It's wonderfully scripted and has a touching and sentimental lead performance from Robert Aramayo as the adult John. The drama follows his difficult family life as his mother finds it hard to cope and how his old school friend's mum, Dottie (Maxine Peake), a trained mental health nurse decides to help him. Peter Mullan plays the local community centre caretaker who gives him a job and wisely suggests it's education of others that is needed about the condition. This eventually leads John to start talks with parents of children with Tourette's, the police, hospital staff which results in national recognition. This story is told in a quite emotional way, with laughs and shocks along the way. Scott Ellis Watson also excels as the young John who as a young boy has to deal with the onset of the condition. As a film about someone dealing with a mental health condition that is little understood this is remarkably good and told with a gentle, yet uncompromising focus on the issue.

This wisecracking action comedy thriller is a typical Shane Black film. It's his usual witty banter amongst the characters combined with gritty violence and big action set pieces. But also as usual it's all a bit underwhelming and whilst it entertains on a cold Autumn evening it's instantly forgettable. Based on a character by Richard Stark, Parker (Mark Wahlberg) is a professional criminal who is betrayed on a heist and vows revenge. When he catches up with Zen (Rosa Salazar) she offers him part of a big score that Parker can't turn down. He brings his trusted team and this sets off the main story as all manner of things go wrong and there's plenty of chases, gunplay and double cross. LaKeith Stanfield plays Parker's best and most trusted accomplice and there' cameos from Thomas Jane and Gretchen Mol. It's fun and fast and all been done before.

The novelty of Tom Hardy verbally sparring with the alien, Venom, that resides inside him has finally worn out here in this third film of their adventures together. The title and much of the story suggest this its the final chapter but a post end credits (and it is right at the very end!) suggests further films are possible. Like much of the comic book/superhero genre and especially in the Marvel Comics Universe it always seems that there's one film too many. And like all these films and despite whatever superpowers are on offer the action always descends into a giant punch up. This is no exception and watching this gives you that vague feeling you've seen it all before. Here Eddie (Hardy) and his alien 'symbiote' are wanted for murder and find themselves chased by hard assed military man Strickland played by Chiwetel Ejiofor in another of his bad guy but ultimately good guy roles. They're also pursued by some giant alien creatures commanded by the big dark baddie for the film's MacGuffin, here called a codex. The action ends up at Area 51 which cues shooting, lots of aliens, dicing and slicing and fisticuffs. It's all so so familiar and whilst well done it doesn't offer anything new or particularly interesting.

This is a bold, fun and unpredictable modern Cinderella story that defies expectations and has a stupendous central performance from Mikey Madison in the title role. Anora, who mostly prefers to call herself Ani, is a lap dancer in a seedy nightclub and occasionally she moonlights as a sex worker for the right client and the right money, although she refutes she is a prostitute. one night she dances for a geeky, spoilt Russian, Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), who is the son of an oligarch and enjoys the uber wealth that his parents bestow. He hires Ani for her exclusive services for one week and takes her to Las Vegas where he eventually proposes and they marry. Ani takes the marriage seriously and commits herself to Ivan but his family are less than pleased and his 'minder', Toros (Karren Karagulian), is forced to summon his parents to deal with the matter. There's a tonal switch in the narrative that takes you a bit by surprise and it brings some comedy that produces laugh out loud moments. Madison excels in the role of Ani and brings a conflicted sense of emotions to the part. On the outside a tough, street wise girl but inwardly something else. She deserved her Academy and BAFTA awards. This is a real treat and thoroughly enjoyable and by the end quite heart warming too.

Based on a true story this is a perfectly ok comedy drama with a couple of charismatic leading stars but at the same time it's a fairly routine starry eyed view of a violent criminal that's been done before and by the end it's all watchable but just the once. Channing Tatum plays Jeffrey Manchester, a former soldier struggling to fit into civilian life who dotes on his children but his marriage has collapsed. In order to provide for them he embarks on an armed robbery spree which the film skirts over and presents Manchester as a sort of hard done by Robin Hood type, all smiles and caring even while he no doubt scared people half to death! He gets caught and heavily sentenced but uses his skills as an observant soldier to plan and execute a subtle escape and returns to his home town. He hides out in a local Toy Store waiting for a friend to secure him a new identity. Bored and trapped he begins watching the store staff including the odious manager (Peter Dinklage) and divorcee, Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), to whom he becomes attracted. Eventually he ventures out of his sanctuary to meet her and a romance develops but soon it all goes awry. If a total fiction then this may have retained more charm as a romantic crime comedy but the reality behind it seems to overshadow the film and there's the inevitable and cliched end credits stuff with the real people behind the characters. There's too little comedy, nearly all of it comes from Dinklage, and the romance is fine but predictable. Tatum and Dunst have a great chemistry and overall it's an entertaining if rather average film.

A visually spectacular science fiction adventure film in a similar vein to the Star Wars franchise and the Guardians Of the Galaxy series. It must help to have watched the TV series Firefly of which this is a final film after that series was cancelled where the background to the whole thing will make this much clearer. The story of the characters is better understood I suppose although you can watch this as a stand alone film without having first checked out the earlier series. It's a standard sci-fi extravaganza with the crew of a small ship led by Mal (Nathan Fillion) speeding round the galaxy during a period of war. They have on board a young girl, River (Summer Glau) who has some special powers and is sought after by the ruthless Operative (Chiwetel Eijofor) and everyone is chased by a horde of zombie like space pirates named Reavers. There's plenty of fights and shooting and it's all done very seriously, indeed the lack of humour is very evident. It's a fan loved film and no doubt was intended for a few follow ups that seem never to have materialised. It looks good and there's some neat effects but it's average compared to similar and more popular films of this sort.

Here's a genuine cinematic masterpiece, a film of real majesty from a director at the top of his game and this is probably his finest work. It also boasts a performance from John Wayne that ranks among some of the best screen acting you'll ever see. He plays Ethan Edwards, a former confederate soldier who returns to his former Texas home, now occupied by his brother and his family, three years after the Civil war has ended. Where he has been in the last years is a mystery but it appears he wants to settle down. But then raiding Comanche Indians, led by Scar (Henry Brandon), massacre the family and steal away the female children. Ethan, accompanied by his brother's adopted half Indian son, Martin (Jeffrey Hunter), embarks on a five year quest to find them. But Ethan is a racist with a dark agenda and Martin knows only he can prevent Ethan carrying out his intentions in the event of finding the girls. There are some very interesting themes going on here especially in a western made in the 1950s and whilst it was fairly traditional to paint all Indians as murderous in the westerns of these times this one focuses on the white mans attitude towards them, the films climax includes an Indian village massacre, which although filmed with restraint does show women and children in dire peril and hints at their destruction. Wayne, a big star at the time, is presented as an anti-hero and famously finds no redemption or peace by the films end. Shot in Monument Valley (although the story is set in Texas) this is a film that has been beautifully photographed and the framing devices used throughout are of huge influence. Wonderful support cast from Ford's usual stable of actors including Ward Bond and Vera Miles and with his usual comedic moments but ultimately this is a dark tale of vengeance and arguably one of the finest motion pictures ever made.