Growing up in a time of troubles

D0 not watch the "alternative ending" on the DVD - its a Kenneth Branagh wank. Aside from that it is probably the best film he has ever been involved with. Great music from Van the Man as well.

It quite a gentle drama of family life in a poor initially unsegregated area of Belfast in the 1960s. Possibly a somewhat romanticised view of community before neo-liberalism destroyed everything, but the characters are good and interesting and the boy Buddy (Jude Hill) is excellent. Its a story of those who ultimately decided to leave, rather than delving into the politics or the lives of those who decided to stay.

Charming rather than gritty social-realism, but that can be okay - there are other films about the harder side of The Troubles.

Enjoyable eco-thriller with happy ending

Andreas Malm's excellent book of the same name dealt with why to do it, this film shows how to make it happen. The 8 characters all have a different back-story and motivation, they are all more-or-less young, and have all reached a point where it seems like the logical thing to do. Together they form an effective team with the usual interpersonal tensions sometimes getting in the way. 

Very Wes Anderson...

Stylistically very like his previous (The French Dispatch)  but not nearly as engrossing. Possibly the mlieu was less interesting (France trumps the Arizona desert almost anytime), possibly the nested stories were less well integrated (the write, the rehersal and staging of the play, and the story told by the play), but somehow less satisfying.

Lots of nice touches, but it didn't add up to a hill of beans.