Film Reviews Blog

This page only shows films that have a review. By default in date order of reading with newest at top

Saturday 25th September 2021

USA 2020

Running time: 124 mins

The Invisible Man

Director : Leigh Whannell

Film Summary :
Cecilia (Moss) runs from her controlling abusive husband and then is told he has committed suicide - or has he.
Film Category
The 2020s
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 25 Sep 2021

Review Summary :
A fairly pedestrian horror-thriller with an unbelievable Mcguffin and a predictable plot

Neither horrific nor thrilling

Merits 4 stars largely on the basis of Elisabeth Moss's performance



Thursday 23rd September 2021

USA 2017

Running time: 100 mins

The Dawn Wall

Directors : Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer

Film Summary :
Free climbing the Dawn Wall face of El Capitain in Yosemite park. 3000 feet in 18 days.
Film Category
The 2010s
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 23 Sep 2021

Review Summary :
So much happens in the back story but all adds to the main event

Compelling Climbing Film

Fascinating insight into how Tommy Caldwell came to be the man who free-climbed the Dawn Wall with partner Kevin Jorgenson.



Saturday 18th September 2021

USA 2014

Running time: 85 mins

The Other One

The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir

Director : Mike Fleiss

Film Summary :
A life with the Dead from Bob's point of view
Film Category
The 2010s
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 18 Sep 2021

Review Summary :
Lots of really good archive material and interesting stuff Bob says.

Fascinating for a Dead Head

Slightly flagged towards the end, which was a shame as apart from that it was engrossing.



Saturday 11th September 2021

UK 2019

Running time: 118 mins

Blinded By The Light

Director : Gurinder Chadha

Synopsis extract :
Luton linked to New Jersey in 1987 through a Pakistani teenager discovering the music of Bruce ...
Film Category
The 2010s
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 11 Sep 2021

Review Summary :
Almost impossible not to like, although the storyline is totally inevitable and unsurprising.

Feel-good Tears of Joy

5/7 is perhaps a little low as a rating as there is so much good stuff - excellent performances from Vivek Kaira (Javid), Dean-Charles Chapman (Matt, Javid's school friend),  Aaron Phagura (Roops, Javid's college friend and intro to The Boss), and Nell Williams (Eliza, Javid's girlfriend) and the adult supporting cast. 

Lovely use of Springsteen's lyrics both on sound and on screen. Late 80's Luton very well evoked. Some good dance moves and ensemble playing.

Some obvious similarities with Bend It Like Beckham and nowhere near as tacky as classic bad feel-good movies like Love Actually or Notting Hill (or almost anything with Hugh Grant). 

In the end lacking in 'edge' and staying well within the confines of safe narrative expectations - but if you accept it as that, it is very touching and uplifting. 



Saturday 4th September 2021

2019

Running time: 122 mins

First Cow

Director : Kelly Reichardt

Film Summary :
A cook and a chinaman buddy up on the Oregon trail and develop a scam stealing milk to make irresistible cakes to sell to the trappers and prospectors.
Film Category
The 2010s
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 04 Sep 2021

Review Summary :
Not action packed, but quite engrossing

Slow paced relationship western

The first part in the woods with the trapper crew introduces a slightly dreamlike quality which is then the background for the two unlikely friends life together in the shack and developing their business in the frontier township which is a very male environment.

When the Chief Factor, inevitably, becomes aware that he is the fall guy, the pair go on the run (literally) and split up to escape downriver (literally in King Lu's case) but then seem to magically arrive back at their shack (now destroyed by the factor's men) where they are reunited and set off again for San Francisco (technically it was Yerba Buena in the 1820's). We never discover what actually happened to them, but assume they became the skeletons in the opening.

A strange tale, but well told, good acting and cinematography.



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