Hard Truths (2024). 31.7.25. Not as good as expected. Mike Leigh has a tendency towards caricature and unfortunately created one in the main character despite an excellent portrayal. A very thin story as well, with the scenes at the doctor, dentist, furniture store feeling rather contrived and pointless beyond trying to make us amused at her problems. Similarly pointless were the short scenes at her nieces’ workplaces. And, finally, there was no explanation (was her condition always like this, had it got worse, was she happy as a child....?) and no resolution apart from a slightly bizarre scene which didn’t work well. Nevertheless, Mike Leigh’s talents as a writer and director are such that this still managed to be a rather enjoyable film! 7½/10
Grand hotel (1932). 19&20.8.25. Best Picture Oscar winner. An example of a film being made a hundred years ago being - in a sense - just as sophisticated and exuberant as they are today and without the woodenness of many films from the 40s to early 60s*. I was relieved too that there was no farce in this comedy-drama and that it was played pretty straight. To me, a young, radiant and very sexy Joan Crawford outshone Garbo, who had the least interesting and least challenging main role of this ensemble piece. 8/10 [*After writing this review, I see from Wikipedia that this was a Pre-Code film, which might explain the exuberance!]
The edge of the world (1937). 9&11.9.25. A very slight, short film. 6/10
Bachelor Knight, aka Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947). 12.9.25. An entertaining bit of fluff with an on-form Cary Grant and similarly strong performances from the two female leads. 7½/10
No bears (2022). 7&10.10.25. Mildly intriguing but ultimately not up to much, and it wasn’t explained (apparently) that the film being made (within the film) was a docudrama rather than a straight drama, which caused some confusion. Nice to see a slice of Iranian village life. 6½/10
That they may face the rising sun (2023). 21.10.25. A meandering meditation which is just perfect if you’re in the right mood. The acting is spot-on, and dialogue so casual and understated that it often feels like a fly-on-the-wall documentary. 7½/10
Steve
(2025). 23&24.10.25. Highly watchable, almost mesmerising situation piece,
with a particularly poignant moment featuring the local MP. 8/10
Nowhere special (2020). 29.10.25. Quite well-done but rather slight. 7/10
Law of Tehran, aka just 6.5 (2019). 4.11.25. Initially a great thriller, but goes off the boil somewhat in the second half, which concentrates more on a message to the audience than keeping up the dramatic momentum. Payman Maadi is superb, as he was in A Separation. 7½/10
King
Kong (1933). 6&7.11.25. One can see how exciting this would have been in
1933, and even today it seems a somewhat powerful film in certain respects.
Ultimately though it was clearly made as a box-office draw for the specific time and holds limited
appeal to today’s audiences. All the characters are
one-dimensional, but Fay Wray’s character especially so. 6/10
I also started watching the following films, but they didn't interest me enough to keep watching.
Fallen leaves (2023). 18.8.25. Watched half.
Blue Jean (2022). 27.10.25. Watched half.
