Mughal-e-Azam (1960). 17-19.10.22. Flamboyant melodrama which is intelligent, easy to follow, and - despite the simplicity and repetition of the main plot element - strangely captivating throughout its 3-hour-plus length. A perfect “afternoon film”. 8/10
Queen and Slim (2019). 26.10.22. It is impossible of course not to sympathise with the subject matter, but the film is self-important and unoriginal, with a banal script and turgidly directed. 5½/10
Gay Divorce (1934). 4&5.11.22. Very gay indeed! A straight comedy so the plot is preposterous but that’s intentional and absolutely fine! Good / catchy 1930s songs (“The Continental” went on for 15 minutes yet didn’t seem overlong) and a few genuine laugh out loud moments from a film 88 years old. The comic turn from Erik Rhodes as Tonetti is particularly noteworthy. 8/10
The watermelon woman (1996). 16.11.22. The whole is much better than the sum of its parts. Completely unorthodox and full of effortless style and charm throughout; dated in the best possible way. 7½/10
Easy A (2010). 18.11.22. Over-smart, over-slick, and under-original. 6½/10
Two of us (2019). 26&27.11.22. Highly watchable drama, but the theme – that ubiquitous theme of the perseverance of ‘true love’ at all cost – characterisation, and dialogue were all simplistic. 7½/10
Rosie (2018). 19.12.22. I wish there was more meat on this film; too lightweight. But always watchable. 6½/10
Suburbicon (2017). 23.12.22. Patchy melodrama / black comedy (it has its moments and is a more than adequate watch, but never really gels). 7/10
A star is born (2018). 29.12.22. Naturalistic acting and dialogue; the former especially is superb. Much achieved with a thin storyline, and mawkish sentimentality seems to have been studiously avoided. This just about scrapes an eight. 8/10
The African Queen (1951). 3&4.1.23. The two
great stars have a ridiculous lack of chemistry but I wonder if that was the intention (two love-starved people thrown together, regardless of whether they were right for each other). To the audience, the film feels like what it is about - a meander down a river - but more pleasant for us than Hepburn and Bogart. There is an exuberance of colour and style, and the acting,
direction and low-key dialogue are worthy of merit. 7/10
