Film reviews part 28 (in order of viewing)

Sunset boulevard (1950). 3&4.4.26. Getting Cecil B DeMille to play himself in a not insignificant role must have given the film a lot of attention and it’s certainly still worth watching, but is not head-and-shoulders above other films of its time. Norma Desmond gets quite tedious.... 7½/10

Speed (1994). 6.4.26. The ultimate thrills and spills movie, it keeps the audience on edge as well as the passengers, with a smart final third taking the action off the roads. Straight escapism and just the right side of preposterous, although personally I would not be laughing and cheering at every small challenge overcome if I’d been on the bus! 8/10

Sightseers (2012). 19.4.26. Black comedy of the Shaun of the Dead tradition, with some Nuts in May and generic road trip elements mixed in. All good fun with a few instances of gratuitous scatology and borderline bad taste. Her mother is a hoot and has the very best lines. 7½/10

Destry rides again (1939). 23.4.26. A winning Western with some great comic dialogue, although the resolution could have been cleverer and more in accordance with the hero’s principles. 7½/10

French Connection II (1975). 24&25.4.26. A little *too* raw for my liking (despite being partial to gritty 1970s thrillers). Doyle’s xenophobia was slightly ridiculous and the cold turkey scenes a bit OTT / something of a self-conscious showcase for Hackman. Because of its unpolished nature the film was occasionally difficult to follow (especially dialogue), and I didn’t like Henri, the French detective. Despite all this, the authentic atmosphere keeps the viewer hooked. The film is unusual for having absolutely no epilogue. 7/10

The school of rock (2003). 12.5.26. This is flawless for the type of film it is. The laughs come thick and fast, and it neither puts a foot wrong nor outstays its welcome. Written by the future writer of the White Lotus (Mike White), who also seems to enjoy being a rubbish actor! 9/10

Mona Lisa (1986). 13.5.26. A very eighties film which doesn’t pass muster in today’s more sophisticated age. The dialogue in particular is poor, and the storyline is tepid despite early promise. A certain vibrancy and watchability keeps it from getting a lower score. 6/10

Two-way stretch (1960). 20&21.5.26. An understated performance from Peter Sellers, a few years before his first appearance as Clouseau, helps along this very enjoyable comedy-drama, which never gets too broad or farcical. Lionel Jeffries as Kraut is also superb. 9/10

The guard (2011). 23.5.26. Fresh and original. 7½/10

My favourite cake (2024). 2.6.26. A film like a comfy pillow. Great performances from the two leads. 7½/10

Film reviews part 27 (in order of viewing)

Lollipop (2024). 20.1.26. Another very good kitchen-sink, Ken Loach-style British film with an authentic - if uninspired - script and unknown actors performing magnificently. Tegan-Mia Stanley Rhoads as the daughter Ava was especially convincing. 7½/10

Souvenir Part II (2021). 24&27.1.26. The same wonderfully naturalistic performances and dialogue as in the first film. One might need a little imagination to analyse the main theme (I’ve analysed it to my own satisfaction). I think that many people will criticise the film as boring or pretentious but I don’t think it is at all. 8½/10

Saint-Omer (2022). 29.1.26. Elegantly done and well worth watching. The courtroom scenes are never tiring despite taking up a large proportion of the film (although I generally enjoy courtroom dramas anyway). The relationship between Laurence’s mother and Rama could have been better-developed; there seemed nothing to be drawn from it. 7½/10

The adventures of Priscilla, queen of the desert (1994). 3.2.26. I found it hard to really care about these characters, none of whom was particularly likeable. Still less to care about their relationships with each other. The characters and situations they meet along the way did nothing for me either! The sheer spirit / exuberance of the film carries one along however. 6½/10

Modern times (1936). 7?.2.26. The slapstick is very slightly tiresome at times, but on the whole this semi-silent comedy is literate, clever, good fun and an easy watch. Excellent picture quality too. 7/10 (for today’s audiences).

One battle after the other (2025). CINEMA. 10.2.26. Some of the comedic elements are a little crude (in the broad sense) and, to my surprise, the film generally is more pulpy and escapist than I would have imagined from the writer / director of There will be blood (but probably that’s the type of movie he wanted to set out to do and I don’t know most of his other work). So a bit too James Bond-ish / car-chasey / mainstream-audience-pleasing for my liking and the ending scene felt a bit insipid. Overall, despite no shortage of oomph and originality, I’m a little surprised the film has been so loved by so many of the more sensible critics. Postscript: Kyle Smith of The Wall Street Journal notes that “the reach is evident but the grasp is a little shaky”. Yes. 7½/10

The taste of things (2023). 17&18.2.26. Never has watching cooking been so aesthetically pleasing. Nothing much happens but the joy comes from vicariously living in that time and with those people, all of whom are resolutely happy, good-humoured and good-natured. The human relationships are as harmonious as the ingredients in the wonderful dishes. And somehow that doesn’t seem unrealistic. I wouldn’t usually give such an ostensibly slight film such a high score, but because of its sheer charm it deserves it. Postscript: I like this quote from RogerEbert.com: “the film "achieved...a delicate balance" that "feels like a magic trick”".8/10

In a lonely place (1950). 6&7.3.26. A film about a film scriptwriter. Centred around Bogart’s charisma, it doesn’t quite come off despite some quite sharp dialogue. Gloria Grahame’s eyebrow-raising performance feels especially hackneyed. More naturalistic directing could have made this much better. Postscript: Gloria Grahame’s performance is “unanimously” praised according to Wikipedia, and the film itself highly critically acclaimed, so I’m very much in the minority here. 6½/10

American fiction (2023). 22.3.26. I didn’t like this. The writing and directing felt tepid and uninspired / clichéd despite an excellent premise. Maybe the writer was playing a joke on the critics in the same way as in the film! 6½/10

La chimera (2023). 24&25.3.26. A very charming oddity. What struck me was just how real and how 1980s the film felt. More could have been made of The Englishman and, ironically, perhaps Josh O’Connor (or at least his character) was the weakest link. 7½/10

I also started watching the following film, but it didn't interest me enough to keep watching.

10 things I hate about you (1999). 18.2.26. Watched first hour.

Film reviews part 26 (in order of viewing)

T2 Trainspotting (2017). 12.11.25. Spoilt by the constant self-conscious references to the first (classic) film, and the first half was significantly better than the second. Despite this, and the female cardboard cut-outs, there is lots to enjoy, and the collage of the primary schoolboys playing football (“A perfect day”) is inspired. 7/10

A thousand and one (2023). 19.11.25. Anchored by an electric central performance by Teyana Taylor: an unchanging character in a city rapidly “cleaning itself up” (aka undergoing a form of ethnic cleansing in which poor people / ex-cons are not tolerated). Well-paced, with a streak of originality and a lot of heart. A neat little twist near the end. Recommended. 8/10

Wagon master (1950). 25.11.25. No-frills, entertaining ‘road trip’ Western. 7/10

Suspicion (1941). 2.12.25. A light and breezy first half, then progressively more claustrophobic. Cary Grant seems completely miscast as the mysterious husband (with barely changing facial expressions, he seems more like a mannequin than a flesh and blood man, although was that Hitchcock’s intention?), and the final third seems rushed - especially the finale itself, which feels sloppy (but typical of films of that era). A fine film despite these flaws, and Joan Fontaine shines. [After writing this, I see that JF won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance.] 8/10

Curse of the cat people (1944). 10.12.25. This works - surprisingly - both as a children’s film and intelligent adults’ film. Each group would arguably get something different out of it. The child actress is delightful and upstages most of the adults. The short length helps make it punchy and involving throughout. Charm galore, and worth watching. Note: I did not watch the prequel Cat People before seeing this film, and intend to do so at a later date. 8/10

3 faces (2018). 17&18.12.25. A drama, but with the actors and director playing themselves. A sort of road trip film with a hypnotising quality. Watching the photography and hearing the dialogue really makes one want to go to Iran. 7½/10

The holdovers (2023). 22.12.25. Hollywood, yes, clichéd schmaltz at times, yes, but also awash with genuine charm, warm-heartedness and subtlety. This will be a classic Christmas film. 8/10

Sentimental value (2025). 13.1.26. CINEMA. An acting masterclass from the three leads and full of poignant, moving scenes in the most subtle and least contrived way possible. It felt a touch listless and heavy-going in the second half and the thematic whole takes a little thought to fully ‘get’ (although the latter issue is not really a flaw). I now see that the actress playing Nora played the lead role in The Worst Person in the World (which I described in my review of that film as an astonishing portrayal). 8/10 

The damned don’t cry (2022). 15.1.26. Enhanced by a brilliant performance from non-professional Aicha Tebbae, this is well worth a watch despite seeming a touch muddled at times, and a rather contrived ending. 7½/10

Marty Supreme (2025). 16.1.26. CINEMA. A very good, powerful, intense film. The 1950s New York characters and setting seemed very authentic, and Chalamet is brilliant as are the supporting cast. One or two things didn’t quite make sense to me, either because I missed a line or two due to the music overlapping the dialogue, the film simply wasn’t clear, or I’m a bit slow! The ending too could have been a bit more cleverly thought out. Overall though a fine piece of work. 8/10

I also started watching the following films, but they didn't interest me enough to keep watching.

Godland (2022). 17&18.11.25. Watched half.

Benediction (2021). 26.11.25. Watched half.

Oppenheimer (2023). 11.1.26. Watched the first 34 minutes only. It feels like an extended trailer, a dialogue of soundbites vying for attention with stupid incidental music. A similar directorial style to JFK or Dunkirk: I now see that the latter film is by the same director (I am blissfully ignorant of very modern films). It might have become more watchable, but decided to cut my losses.