Film Reviews by GI

Kenneth Branagh's follow up to his 2017 new adaptation of Murder On The Orient Express is a disappointing film, a rather stale and routine whodunnit that feels more an extended episode of the Agatha Christie styled TV series Death In paradise. It's all very glitz and pizzazz but the characters are all two dimensional and the use of comedy actors in serious roles is jarring with the expectation they will suddenly do something zany left unfulfilled. The basic plot is that Hercule Poirot (Branagh) has been invited to join the honeymoon party of Simon (Armie Hammer) and socialite Linnet (Gal Gadot) on a riverboat touring the Nile. Also on board is the happy couples stalker Jacqueline (Emma Mackey), Simon's former lover, who is very jealous and keeps making threats etc etc. There's also a host of friends and relatives including Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Russell Brand (ie the comedians mentioned above). The film is more concerned with big vista shots of 1930s Egypt than building a credible plot and when people start getting murdered you'll not really care. There's a prologue set in the trenches of the First World War that is impressive but serves only to explain why Poirot has his weird moustache and just when you think the film is over there's a pointless epilogue too. A bit of a letdown that brings nothing new to the whodunnit sub genre, what a shame.

A captivating and magical romantic comedy that has the essence of a fairy tale to it. It's a sheer delight throughout and challenges religious dogma that morality is governed by banning things rather than embracing the joy's of life. Set in a small French country village in 1959 where the mayor, the Comte de Reynaud (Alfred Molina), ensures a strict moral code is adhered to by the villagers through the local church and preaching the wrath of god. He's a frustrated and unhappy man who dominates everyone to hide his own sadness. He is therefore most unhappy when a strange woman, Vianne (Juliette Binoche) arrives in the village with her daughter and opens a chocolatier, selling the most wonderful delights. Gradually her influence changes the way the local people see themselves and gives them a renewed 'joie de vivre'. When a happy troupe of river folk also arrive with their free-spirited ways the Comte is determined to stamp his moral code back into the community. With its elements of magic and wonder this film leaves you with a warm feeling. It's a lovely story and with a great cast that includes Judi Dench and Johnny Depp. Yet while the film poster etc suggests this is a film about love and relationships it's not one that centres on two main protagonists living happily ever after, it's actually a film about redemption and embracing all that life has to offer for everyone involved. And it works on every level and deserved the award nominations it gained at the Oscars and BAFTAs. A lovely film that can be enjoyed by just about everyone. Check it out if you've never seen it because its a real treat.

A sincere and touching portrait about love and mortality with two lovely, heartfelt performances from Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci. They play couple Sam and Tusker who have been together for decades. Sam is an accomplished pianist and Tusker a published author and they are traveling in the north of England in their battered motorhome visiting friends and family and having some alone time. Tusker has been diagnosed with early onset dementia and they have to face some difficult times ahead. This could have been an overly sentimental drama and occasionally it really pulls on the heartstrings but overall this is a gentle and restrained film, less a story about dealing with dementia as a loving couple trying to decide on the right future outcome for themselves. Firth and Tucci have a touching chemistry that is sweet and gentle and Tucci really nails the quizzical emotions as he struggles with his symptoms. A sad film but told with real heart.

This is one of those very marvellous films that everyone should make sure they see. It's arguably one of the greatest detective/mystery thrillers ever made and has a story that is so well constructed it's near perfect. The screenplay is often used on University film studies courses to example the way to properly write a script. Mostly though this is a period film, set in 1937 Los Angeles but filmed in a realistic European style, that draws you into the plot that twists and turns keeping you forever guessing what is going on but the clues are well placed if you can spot them. Jack Nicholson, in one of his best roles, is Jake Gittes, a successful private detective who specialises in marital affair cases. He is hired by the wife of the chief engineer of the city's water department who suspects her husband is seeing someone else. Jake takes the case but soon finds he is embroiled in a conspiracy involving deceit, corruption and murder. With a superb cast that includes Faye Dunaway and John Huston (in a really subtle yet very menacing performance) and with the enigmatic title, which is a metaphor for corruption as "you can't always tell what's going on", the film restructures the figure of the traditional film detective as its brilliantly reworks the style of the classic film noirs. The setting of the sun drenched LA in the middle of a drought mixed with political corruption makes for a really compelling story and a real masterpiece of modern cinema.

This cult favourite is the ultimate pop cultured film incorporating everything from rock music, video gaming and above all young love and relationships. It is however surprising how much it appears to have dated and I suppose this is mostly due to the very obviously antiquated video game theme that runs throughout the film. But it still is great fun or it may be as annoying as hell, it's hard to really say because it sort of tips you from one side to the other. There is no doubt though that director Edgar Wright has a unique vision of the High School romance genre with all the angst that comes with young love and the film has a great cast (Michael Cera, Anna Kendrick, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Brie Larson, Jason Schwartzman, Aubrey Plaza and others). This is still worth checking out especially if you've never seen it and an interesting film to revisit if it's been awhile. In short Scott (Cera) is a 22 year old drop out who plays in a rock band who are esperate to be discovered. But when he falls instantly for the sexy and moody Ramona (Winstead) he doesn't bank on having to fight her seven evil ex boyfriends to win her. A funny, fantasy film that has big fans but may just be past it's sell by date.

A stunning and really compelling thriller set in a dystopian 2027 UK. The world's societies are collapsing and, for reasons unexplained, the human race has become infertile with no babies having been born in eighteen years. The UK has become an extreme right wing controlled country with forced deportations. Theo (Clive Owen) is a lowly Government clerk, cynical and trying to keep a low profile when he is approached by his ex wife (Julianne Moore), now the leader of a subversive group proscribed as terrorists by the Government. She wants him to help a young woman Kee (Clare-Hope Ashley) to escape to the coast where she will be taken to a sanctuary. Theo is reluctant until Kee's secret is revealed to him. But soon he begins to mistrust the group that claim to be on their side. Portraying a bleak and grimy environment with toned down colour and with an exceptional support cast (Michael Caine, Danny Huston, Chitwel Ejiofor, Peter Mullan, Charlie Hunnam and Pam Ferris) this is a superb film, a fantastic story, littered throughout with religious imagery, which, whilst set in the near future, doesn't attempt to be a sci-fi story, it's a human drama narrative that is very well written and excellently directed. This is one of those films where you can see hints of what society may become but it's also a story of hope. A film that I cannot recommend enough, it's simply topnotch.

This western from director Michael Winner continues his obsession with death, an obsession he's clearly acquired from Italian westerns especially those of Sergio Leone. Indeed there's a quite obvious homage to Once Upon A Time In the West (1968) and those familiar with that classic should spot it easily enough. This is a harsh, brutal tale of the hunt for Chato (Charles Bronson), a part Apache, after he kills a racist lawman in self defence. The posse led by Jack Palance and including Richard Basehart, James Whitmore, Simon Oakland, Ralph Waite and others are all violent sadists intent on vengeance at all costs. Their hatred for Indians will drive them to rape and murder along the way and thus earn the wrath that Chato unleashes upon them. Like many of the westerns of the 70s this is very violent and lacks the thematic subtlety of others of the period. Having said that it's an entertaining film with the thrust of the narrative being about a group of men who turn upon themselves and it's an interesting example of the 70s western.

This is a quirky, psychological drama about modern relationships and it's an inspired idea written, directed and starring Billie Piper. In many ways this is a film that plays like an anti romcom, it's darkly funny but treats relationships with a sense of contemporary acceptance rather than a cutesy pie love story. Piper plays Mandy, a single mother with a difficult son, who lives with her cantankerous mother (Kerry Fox). Her dad (David Thewlis) is still around too although he's separated from her mum but steadfastly refuses to leave or indeed contribute to the household all the while saving to move to Thailand. Mandy has a boring job at a media company where she spends her days in meetings where crap ideas are discussed. She accepts life as a meaningless struggle and goes son a date with fellow worker, Pete (Leo Bill), a religious, pompous man who tells her he knows what women really need and want. Mandy proceeds with a relationship with Pete and it comes with a whole host of issues. He's truly awful but in an almost self torturing way Mandy gives it her all. This is exhilarating and clever filmmaking that shuns the typical romantic themed drama, it'll make you laugh and gasp but it's well worth checking out. Lily James cameos in a wedding scene that is a typical romcom one but goes in a completely surprising direction. Recommended.

This is a neat crime film from the 1970s directed by Don Siegel who made a well respected series of westerns and cop/crime dramas in the 60s and 70s including Coogan's Bluff (1968), Madigan (1968) and Dirty Harry (1971). Charley Varrick has grown in stature over the years and has been cited as a favourite of Quentin Tarantino. Siegel had, of course, used the then big box office star Clint Eastwood in many of his films and so the use of Walter Matthau is an interesting one. Here he plays the worldly wise Charley, an experienced criminal, who along with his wife and two men rob a small New Mexico bank. It all goes wrong when the police show up and Charley's wife is killed but his troubles just get worse when the haul from the robbery is very large indeed and Charley realises they have inadvertently stolen mafia money that the bank was laundering. Soon Charley must use all his wits to outwit both the police and the mob who have sent their chief hitman (Joe Don Baker) to find him and retrieve the money. Matthau was a very versatile actor who could do comedy as well as serious drama and be menacing if needed. He's perfect here as the weary criminal who needs to outfox some serious bad guys and stay out of prison. The film has a good support cast of Siegel regulars including John Vernon and Woodrow Parfrey. The 1970s was the heart of the American New wave and pushed the boundaries in film especially adult cinema and whilst this has nothing compared to the violence seen today this was a gutsy film for its time and well worth seeking out.

A remarkable, warm film about childhood and the innocence that comes with it as well as the confusion of watching adults and trying to deal with the emotional conflicts. This is a semi-autobiographical film from director Kenneth Branagh about growing up in the late 60s at the start of the Troubles in Belfast. The film is told through the eye and experience of young Buddy (Jude Hill) the second son to his Ma (Caitriona Balfe) and Pa (Jamie Dornan). They are a protestant family but live in street with a mix of catholics too. Whilst the Troubles forms the backdrop of the film this is more a film about growing up and seeing their world through the bewildered eyes of a child. In that sense it's a nostalgic film which uses it's monochrome cinematography to create that sense of the past. This works extremely well and the film has a warmth while still showing the fear that children feel from experiments with shoplifting to the witnessing of riots and threats from extremists. With a support cast that includes Ciaràn Hinds and Judi Dench as Buddy's grandparents this is a film that really gets to grips with childhood and all the mysteries of life that a child sees. Branagh also rightly indicates the Irish Troubles as a religious conflict that destroyed and changed lives. A really interesting and quite touching film that is worth a trip to the cinema.

This is another of those modern macho American war films based on real events where a heroic group of outnumbered soldiers overcomes a horde of enemies in this case the Taliban in Afghanistan. It does exactly what it says on the tin, loads of shooting following the usual scenes of immature banter by a group of young men where there is an attempt to introduce the characters. There's too many to remember here even though the film kindly puts their names up on the screen to help. Like all these films the enemy are nameless and just figures in the distance to be shot and/or blown up. This is all a big modern dose of the heroic American holed up in his fort from where he brings civilisation to the wilderness all the while harangued by savages. From an action point of view this does what it says on the tin but character wise it's an empty film and you get the end credit look at the real faces of those that were killed and/or decorated. Scott Eastwood sort of leads the film as the NCO who knows what he's doing but Eastwood is as wooden as ever here. The two interesting characters are Caleb Landry Jones as a soldier who is unpopular but saves the day and Orlando Bloom supports as an officer. There are better films of this ilk, not least of course Black Hawk Down (2001) and the excellent Siege of Jadotville (2016) and I have to say even Michael Bay's 13 Hours (2016). If you like this sort of thing it'll entertain but overall it offers nothing new.

A darkly funny revenge film with the always reliable and good Mads Milkelsen as a soldier, Markus, who returns home after his wife is killed in a train crash. Forever angry he finds it difficult to deal with his grief while trying to be there for his equally distraught teenage daughter. Then three nerdy guys show up who are obsessed with mathematical probabilities and computer hacking and are convinced they have evidence that the train crash was not an accident but a deliberate act in order to kill a prosecution witness who was on board the train and due to give evidence against the leader of a notorious biker gang, the Riders of Justice. This sets Markus on a path of revenge on the gang by any means. With a running theme around coincidences and chance this adult comedy pushes boundaries with it's tale of violence but balances this with laugh out loud scenes mainly from the contrast between the cold mercenary professionalism of Markus and the three geeks who have lots of 'issues'. (If you loved 2008s 'In Bruges' for example you'll love this) It's a strangely life affirming story that is really entertaining and very, very funny.

A dark, gothic styled romance that has a horror film vibe. Starring Sarah Miles, who was a significant 60s and 70s actor, as Ann, a woman riven with grief over the death of her husband four years earlier and the struggle of bringing up her moody, adolescent son Jonathan (Jonathan Kahn) without the help of a husband. She's lonely but lives in a large house on the Devon coast and runs a successful antiques business. Jonathan is under the control of a sadistic school bully who initiates him in causing cruelty to animals. When Ann begins a passionate affair with an American sailor, Jim (Kris Kristofferson) she finds love and happiness but Jonathan, increasingly disturbed especially as he watches their lovemaking through a hole in the bedroom wall, begins to resent Jim. A story of sexual awakening and forbidden passions. The children in this film, especially the sadistic bully (Earl Rhodes), who controls Jonathan and four other boys of their 'gang', are the dark heart of this film as they witness adult things they cannot understand. The bully hints at being the victim of sexual abuse at home as they embark on a ritualistic plan. The film has a feel of dread mostly portrayed through Jonathan who embodies the cinematic evil child persona, all smiles but malevolent looks like Damien from The Omen (1976). This is an interesting film worth seeing for Miles vulnerable and on-the-edge of breakdown performance.

A somewhat looser edge and story has left Spectre judged as a weaker film than its predecessor and the criticisms may well be right but this is still an admirable addition to the 007 canon. From the opening set piece in Mexico City, shot in only 3 takes, this is an entertaining action film and plot wise the links with Craig's previous three films as the iconic spy are all in place. James Bond has committed himself to following the last order of his beloved M (Judi Dench) but by doing so has gotten himself suspended from MI6 just as there's a political plan to close down the 00 section. But committed to his mission Bond goes rogue and discovers that there is a huge international criminal organisation making moves to control the intelligence agencies of the west and its boss has a connection to Bond that goes all the way back to his childhood. There's a real feel for the old Bond movies in this film, more so than the others and whilst Craig's Bond is still a 'blunt instrument' and more often described as an assassin than a spy the action scenes are all homages in one sense or another to the Sean Connery era, for example the very gritty fight on the train that harks back to a similar fight in From Russia With Love (1963) and the baddie having a massive installation that Bond has to destroy such as in You Only Live Twice (1967). The cast are on form with Ralph Fiennes now in charge as M and getting stuck into the action, Naomie Harris as Moneypenney (a little underused), Ben Whishaw getting more screen time as Q and Christoph Waltz and Andrew Scott as the baddies and Léa Seydoux as the love interest. This is all great fun and now we know this isn't the end of the story with Craig's last outing as Bond in 'No Time To Die' now available but Spectre can take its place as one of the really interesting James Bond films.

An underdog sports movie with a big heart and real warmth. This tells the story of Australian jockey Michelle Payne, played by Teresa Palmer, who was the first woman to win the tough and prestigious Melbourne Cup race. Michelle is the youngest of ten children raised by their widower father, Paddy (Sam Neil), who is a grumpy, pernickety yet a big hearted dad and also renowned horse racing trainer. Michelle wants to become a championship jockey in a world dominated by men and against her father's advice and wishes she embarks on getting to the top. Along the way she has to deal with the rampant sexism and misogyny as well as serious injury. This is a feel good film, funny and dramatic and you don't need to be a fan of horse racing to enjoy this (I'm certainly not) because ultimately this is a story of extraordinary achievement against the odds. Recommended.