Reviews

In love-triangle sports drama "Challengers" Josh O'Connor (good) & Mike Faist grow up as inseparable friends & tennis partners - who in their late teens meet stunning star player Zendaya (solid as ever), and then all three of their paths start twisting towards one critical, pivotal match years later between the guys. It is superbly structured by debut writer Justin Kuritzkes (with a cleverly chopped timeline) and freshly directed with zest by the experienced Luca Guadagnino (albeit with some over-cooking) but at 2hrs10mins it's too long and its 'interesting' ending won't satisfy all. While it is a fine film (and a must-see for tennis aficionados) it's not quite a match-point ace.

2019 US dramedy "Come As You Are" was a terrific remake of 2011's Belgian "Hasta La Vista" - but but for its abrupt premature ending, 2016's Dutch "Adios Amigos" woulda topped it. To lose their virginities despite their physical disabilities, young pals Martijn Lakemeier, Yannick van de Velde & Bas Hoeflaack traverse Europe in carer Margôt Ros' dodgy van - but their conditions are serious & their parents didn't know they were going... uh oh. Director Albert Jan van Rees elicits fine performances all round, and Anne Barnjoorn's screenplay is poignant & funny... but it ALSO has that ending which leaves so much unanswered. It's a crackin' film... but it coulda been better.

2008 Brit drama "Telstar: The Joe Meek Story" is the true tale of the titular pop writer / producer (Con O'Neill - good) who from his 'studio' on London's Holloway Road had various '60s smashes inc the titular hit (written by Tom Burke) from The Tornados (inc Chas Hodges (later of 'Chas & Dave' - who cameos here), Clem Cattini & Heinz Burt (Ralph Little, James Corden & JJ Field)). It all crashed though, alienating the likes of landlady Pam Ferris & biz partner Kevin Spacey (not at his best) - prompting an explosively dramatic ending, without which it woulda been far too bland a film - but with it debut director Nick Moran & his debut co-writer James Hicks made it passable (just).

Desperately screaming 'I love and understand Los Angeles', dire stylized dramedy "Poolman" tries laying a veneer of "The Big Lebowski" (without its natural charm) over a twisty plot based on "Chinatown" (that it homages). Titular pool-cleaner Chris Pine (a retro hippie with OCD - sigh) is on a social activism drive (supported by Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise & John Ortiz) against city councillor Stephen Tobolowsky... which pulls him into that shady convoluted plot which also involves the likes of Clancy Brown & Ray Wise. Pine's a fine actor, but his debut as director / co-writer (with fellow debutant Ian Gotler) sucks. Drain it away.

In moody Norwegian cop / killer dramatic thriller "Insomnia" Swedish detectives Stellan Skarsgård & Sverre Anker Ousdal fly to northern Norway to investigate a schoolgirl's murder. As the troubled Skarsgård struggles to sleep in 'the land of the midnight sun' he makes mistakes, compounds them, and has his morality / sense of right & wrong well & truly fudged (particularly re prime suspect Bjørn Floberg) as Nikolaj Fronebius' screenplay bends the usual stereotype. 2002's excellent remake added the Hollywood polish apparently unavailable to this one's debut director Erik Skjoldbjærg, but after it first came out back in 1997 this original still just about stands up tall on its own.

In epic sci-fi sequel "Dune: Part Two" noble Timothee Chalamet is united with local rebels inc Zendaya & Javier Bardem (meh) on the strategically vital titular planet, against the evil forces of Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista & Austin Butler - while the likes of Christopher Walken, Charlotte Rampling & Florence Pugh try pulling the strings. For those into its convoluted inter-galactic politics it is stunning, with that cast (also inc Anya Taylor-Joy (cameo) & Josh Brolin) & its striking visuals (props to director Denis Villeneuve) - but for those who ain't, Villeneuve & co-writer Jon Spaihts' screenplay is a long (2hrs 46min!), dull slog (punctuated with nice set-pieces).

In imperfect but passable true-tale sporting / canine romp "Arthur The King" Mark Wahlberg leads team-mates Simu Liu, Ali Suliman & Nathalie Emmanuel on a multi-day World Championship endurance race (involving jungle trekking, zip-lining (great scene), cycling, kayaking, climbing, etc) in the Dominican Republic... on which they're joined by the titular abused stray dog. Michael Brandt's screenplay is too slow to introduce the dog to the team, but once it does the sluggish pace builds and the requisite tear-jerk boxes are ticked (despite Simon Cellan Jones' direction being amateurishly basic at times). It coulda been better but the feel-good power of the story pulls it through.

In modest but effective LA addiction drama "Sweet Dreams" big-time music-video director Johnny Knoxville (great - playing it straight) hits rock-bottom with his alcoholism, so checks into Mohammed Amer's titular low-brow rehab house where aided by fellow addicts (including Jay Mohr (good), Theo Von, Kate Upton, Bobby Lee, Brian Van Holt & Gata) & the focus of an admittedly implausible softball tournament, he changes the direction of his life. In his third film as director (and the second that he also wrote) Lije Sarki gets his point across with a refreshing edge of authenticity while avoiding the usual cheesie genre clichés. This is a solid yet understated film.

In terrific dystopian revenge actioner "Boy Kills World" deaf / mute Bill Skarsgård (with the brilliant inner voice of H Jon Benjamin) is raised & trained since youth in a jungle by shamen Rayan Yuhian as a fighting machine to avenge the violent death of his mum & sister by the nearby city's ruling family including Famke Janssen, Sharlto Copley, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman (excellent) & Jessica Rothe. Tyler Burton Smith & Arend Remmers' screenplay is engaging, funny & twisty clever, while Moritz Mohr directs (on his debut) with style & punch. As the latest film to be inspired by "John Wick" (following the slightly better "Monkey Man") this one also kicks some ass.

In dire heist thriller "Cash Out" infamous master-criminal John Travolta is pulled last-minute from retirement into a bodged bank job by idiot brother Lukas Haas (and the usual stereotypical 'family' of crew) that unbeknownst to them threatens the world's most powerful (and evil) man - so they're besieged by forces initially led by FBI agent Kristin Davis (awful) who foiled Travolta's previous job (that he escaped from by driving into a river) despite them being in love. Doug Richardson (who should know better) & Dipo Oseni's cringeworthy screenplay is so laughably bad it ensures that this is director Randall Emmett's second consecutive stinking turd. Flush it away.

In 2004's "Dead Man's Shoes" hard-ass squaddie Paddy Considine returns to his small rural home-town after his learning-disabled brother Toby Kebbel (how did he not become a megastar?) falls foul of vile local bullies including Gary Stretch, Stuart Wolfenden, Paul Hurstfield (married to Jo Hartley), George Newton, Neill Bell & Paul Sadot. The plot's thin (as it is in many revenge flicks) but the under-rated cast put in solid performances and Shane Meadows (who co-wrote with Considine) directs with gritty & engaging style (to a fine haunting soundtrack). As a modest & simplistic Brit dramatic thriller, this one stands the 20 year test of time.

In dystopian near-future dramatic actioner "Civil War" third-term Trumpesque President Nick Offerman (in cameo) has led the US into civil war (duh). As the forces of breakaway states push on DC they're tracked by photo-journalists inc Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson & rookie Cailee Spainey who experience ups & downs of war correspondence (via folk like Jesse Plemons (good) & Sonoya Mizuno) on a simplistic path to the showpiece conclusion. Like the similarly styled M Night Shyamalan, writer / director Alex Garland continues trying to carve a unique niche, but never can emulate his one early gem (in his case "Ex-Machina").

With its B-movie cast, director Chris Nelson's murder-mystery comedy "Reunion" should be B-movie standard, but despite not being lol funny its whodunnit plot (from debut writer Willie Block & second-time Jake Emanuel) keep it engaging enough. Small-town douche Chace Crawford is slain at a 'Class of 01' high-school reunion at his mansion, with suspicion falling on those trapped there overnight (and subsequent days) by a huge snow-storm: Lil Rel Howery; politician Nina Dobrev; cop Billy Magnussen (good); reporter Jamie Chung; oddball Jillian Bell (meh); & teacher Michael Hitchcock... but whodunnit? It won't sweep any awards, but it ain't too bad.

Blockbuster actioner "The Fall Guy" is the best remake yet of an iconic old tv show. A year after an on-set prang Hollywood stuntman Ryan Gosling (great) is flown to Sydney by producer Hannah Waddington to work on his ex-gf director Emily Blunt's new epic... and to investigate star Aaron Taylor-Johnson's disappearance. While superficially light, writer Drew Pearce sharply blends the worlds in front of & behind camera - it's Hollywood's fun take on Hollywood, and is superb - all richly directed (esp the stunts) by David Leitch. Cameos from Jason Momoa, Teresa Palmer, Lee Majors etc add polish, and though too long (2hrs 6min) it's still tremendous entertainment. Boom!

Though silly, low budget, period Brit-com "Sieze Them" hits nowhere near the Monty Python heights it aspires to, it has its moments and some nice performances. When unpopular Dark Ages queen Aimee Lou Wood (terrific - one to watch) is overthrown by Nicola Coughlan's peasant army, she's saved by servant Lolly Adefope (also good) who with poop-shoveller Nick Frost helps her escape across country (to allies (or are they?) Paul Kaye & John Macmillan). Andy Riley's screenplay is childishly daft (though is def'ly adults only with its language etc) and Curtis Vowell's direction is basic. This one certainly will not appeal to all, but it has its moments.

One-actor movies "Buried" & "Locke" were surprisingly good, but "The Listener" is more the art-house bore many would expect such films to be. Samaritans-style helpline worker Tessa Thompson does a night-shift at home taking random, unrelated calls (from various voices inc Rebecca Hall) whose tones range from disturbing to sad to quirky. It'll shine on Thompson's CV (especially as she is great) and Steve Buscemi directs his first film since 2007 with intimate warmth, but Alessandro Camon's plotless character-study screenplay is too self-indulgently pretentious to make it entertaining. Props indeed to helpline workers... but this one's still a dull movie. Flush it.

Disney's formulaic full-animation family musical "Wish" delivers what it should, but'll disappoint those hoping writers Jennifer Lee & debutant Allison Moore might weave in some adult fun like the genre's best do... cos they don't. Sorcerer king Chris Pine (the closest to an edgy character here) is worshipped by his subjects who give him their wishes at age 18, to remain blissfully ambition-free (and controlled)...til 17yr old Ariana DeBose sees thru him and instead wishes on a star that comes down, makes all the animals talk, and leads her to take the people's dreams back (sigh). Chris Buck & debutant Fawn Veerasunthorn direct with polish, but this one's still only for the little kids.

In mediocre pyschological drama "Mother's Instinct" (re-making France's "Duelles") a terrible tragedy drives a dark wedge between 1960's bff housewives / mums Jessica Chastain (as good as ever) & Anne Hathaway. As hubbies Anders Danielsen Lie & Josh Charles stay on the periphary, the women grow from suspicious, to passive aggressive, to outright hostile. Is one or both delusional, or is one truly unhinged? Sarah Conradt's screenplay is decent but not riveting, while Benoît Delhomme's direction lacks the requisite tension (AND cannot stop Hathaway hamming it up as usual). It's not a complete disaster, but coulda shoulda been much better.

In sub-mediocre 2006 psychological drama "The Night Listener" nocturnal New York talk-radio host Robin Williams (RIP), while down over boyfriend Bobby Cannavale leaving him, befriends by phone Toni Collette and 14yr old Rory Culkin who she's fostering as he recovers from earlier horrendous abuse by his parents (which he's written a book about)... but does Culkin REALLY exist? It's unsurprising that neither director Patrick Stettner nor his co-writer Terry Anderson ever made another movie, as although this 'inspired by truth' tale is fictionalised it's still painfully bland and a waste of a fine cast (that also included Sandra Oh). Disappointing bumph.

Unoriginal yet uninspired horror "Night Swim" sadly wastes the superb acting duo of Wyatt Russell & Kerry Condon. Former Major League Baseball star Russell, now suffering with MS, moves with wife Condon and teen kids Amélie Hoeferle & Gavin Warren into a Minnesota family home... that has a haunted pool (sigh). Writer / director Bryce McGuire tries pulling in vague themes from genre greats like "The Shining" and the original "Poltergeist", but this cheesie low-grade tosh is way off at the other end of the quality scale - it's awful. Russell & Condon are huge talents, but starring in stinkers like this will see that talent never fully blossom. It's a turd. Flush it.

Almost uniquely odd, "Sasquatch Sunset" won't appeal to all. Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough, Christophe Zajac-Denek & Nathan Zellner (unrecognisable all under heavy & impressive prosthetics) are a family of sasquatch (aka bigfoot and/or yeti) seen roaming the Californian jungles over a year in the '80s. The screenplay (from David Zellner - who co-directed with brother Nathan) is divided into the four seasons, thru which the four forage, fish, re-produce, and curiously react to their surroundings. Having no narration it's not a mockumentary, but also with no dialogue (except grunts etc) it won't easily engage everyone, despite being interesting & relatively well made.

Top director Guy Ritchie's put his fresh posh-geezer stamp on various genres, but with true-tale WWII actioner "The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare" it feels stale. In 1942 Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear) & Ian Fleming (Freddie Fox) secretly send a rebel troupe (inc Gus March-Phillips (Henry Cavill), Babs Olusanmokum (good), Henry Golding, & Eliza González (meh)) to disable the Africa-based ships servicing Germany's u-boats (under Til Schweiger). Ritchie's writing (with three co-writers) plods over 2+ hrs, and his usual cheeky charm falls flat. As the inspiration for Fleming's 007, March-Phillips deserves better than this relatively rare Guy Ritchie disappointment.

After all 2023's terrific true-tale back-stories to the creations of various '80s / '90s pop-culture icons comes Jerry Seinfeld's superb directorial debut "Unfrosted" - the hilariously UNTRUE account of how Kellogg's (inc Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy & Jim Gaffigan (excellent)) beat Post (Amy Schumer & Max Greenfield) to inventing Pop Tarts. Star studded support includes Hugh Grant (always great), Christian Slater, Peter Dinklage, Kyle Mooney, Jon Hamm, Bill Burr, James Marsden, Dan Levy & John Slattery - but the real stars are Seinfeld & his three co-writers who brilliantly weave a host of historical elements into their clever (and hilarious) tale. It's a cracker.

In quirky, play-like, near-future dark sci-fi "Humane" earth's ongoing eco-disaster means the human race must downsize by 20%, leading the Canadian govt to pay volunteers to die via euphenasia teams like that of Enrico Colantoni. But when famous & wealthy Peter Gallagher & wife Uni Park announce their own plan for the situation, at dinner with his adult kids (Jay Baruchel, Alana Bale, Emily Hampshire & Sebastian Chacon), the evening doesn't run smoothly. Brandon Cronenberg is well set to follow in dad David's iconic directorial shoes, but his sister Caitlin, with this her debut (directing Michael Sparaga's flawed and rather silly script)... not so much. Disappointing.

In 1993's "Red Rock West" the titular Wyoming town's local big-shot JT Walsh (RIP) mistakes down-on-his-luck decent drifter Nick Cage for colourful Dennis Hopper (so good again - RIP) who he's hired to bump off wife Lara Flynn Boyle... sparking all four (and the likes of Timothy Carhart) into a twisty saga of murder & double-cross. Small-town crime thrillers entangling innocent dudes with pyscho hit-men have since become pretty common, to the credit of brothers John & Rick Dahl who wrote this one (with John also directing). Those following built on the themes here with sharper scripts, but this one was the original (with a nigh on unmatchable cast). Cracking stuff.