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.
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