Film reviews part 5 (in order of viewing)

 

Don’t look back (1967). 16.6.21. Entertaining Bob Dylan documentary. 8/10

Yesterday (2019). 17.6.21. What has happened to Richard Curtis? Poor material and even more poorly directed. Slow and stodgy. So glad I didn’t see this in the cinema. Watchable only because of the “fun”, pulpy story. 5/10

Letter from an unknown woman (1948). 27.6.21. Charming little romantic melodrama, literate and well-paced. Excellent performance from Jane Fontaine. 8/10

An impossible love (2018). 1.7.21. Very engaging, and an interesting thought-provoking message spelt out near the end, but I would have liked to have seen the Rachel character fleshed out a bit more: she was a bit too one-dimensional. 8/10

How the west was won (1962). 3.7.21. Not good enough to see in its entirety (watched an hour).

Blazing saddles (1974). 6&7.7.21. One can see how this would have been eye-catching at the time but today the broad parody / ‘fourth-wall’ idea seems dated, and there is not much more of interest than in a carry-on or Airplane film, although quite a few gags and sketches (still) hit the mark. A shame Richard Pryor was dropped, as perhaps his presence would have elevated the material somewhat. 6/10

Out of sight (1998). 12.7.21. Not good enough to see in its entirety (watched about 40 mins).

Molly’s game (2017). 15.7.21. Over-fast, earnest and clichéd, with a script that doesn’t ring true. It got noticeably better in the second half, including a very well-crafted moment relating to Molly and her father near the end, but ultimately not much more than a spectacle. 6/10

Wilde (1997). 25 & 26.7.21. Just not involving enough; for instance it was difficult to become invested in the affair between Wilde and Bosie despite, or perhaps because of, the film blowing it up into such a big thing. 5/10

Gravity (2013). 28.7.21. Gripping start but quickly deteriorated into very clichéd, unimaginative, generic thriller territory. Disappointing after such a promising start. 5/10