Film Reviews Blog

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

Saturday 21st October 2023

USA 2022

Running time: 97 mins

Emily the Criminal

Director : John Patton Ford

Synopsis extract :
Emily (Aubery Plaza) is stuck in shit job, laden with debt, Gets involved in credit card fraud. ...

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 21 Oct 2023

A tight little thriller

A very well made and acted and paced thriller following Emily's (Aubery Plaza) odyssey into life as an independent crime boss.  From a wholly believable presmise - young woman saddled with student debt and a conviction that prevents her getting a better job, finds a way to make a bit of extra cash - and then some more. And why wouldn't she.

Partnering with Youcef (Theo Rossi) they start to build a business, until Youcef's partners find out what he is up to and Emily pushes back.

Very enjoyable, nice to see a strong female lead character in a thriller. Aubrey Plaza is excellent and the story is well written by director John Patton Ford.




Saturday 7th October 2023

USA 1986

Running time: 120 mins

Manhunter

Director : Michael Mann

Film Summary :
The first Hannibal Lecter film
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Reviewed by Roger CO, DVD proj @ home on 07 Oct 2023

Review Summary :
Ridiculous over dramatic and not really thrilling

Yawn

Frankly today this appears somewhat absurd. The role of the pscho-investigator who gets into the mind of his subject is now an overworked trope, and the "dramatic" action in the FBI offices and helicopters as they try and close in on the serial killer before a deadline comes across as laughable - rminiscent of the old channel 4 tv series Treasure Hunt with Anneka Rice rushing around in a helicopter trying to solve clues for a team of investigators in the studio managed by avuncular Kenteth Kendall - at least that was entertaining at the time. Manhunter is not.

Of interest only because it was the first Hannibal Lecktor film before Silence of the Lambs (which was a bit better) and watched because I stumbled across a reference to it in a completely different context which made it sound interesting. It really isn't.




Friday 6th October 2023

UK 2023

Running time: 113 mins

The Old Oak

Director : Ken Loach

Film Summary :
Syrian refugees and an ex-coal mining community

Rated by Roger CO, on 06 Oct 2023




Saturday 30th September 2023

Italy 1968

Running time: 95 mins

The Great SIlence

Director : Sergio Corbucci

Film Summary :
A classic Italian spaghetti western featuring a mute bounty hunter
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Rated by Roger CO, on 30 Sep 2023




Thursday 28th September 2023

Korea 2005

Running time: 115 mins

Lady Vengance

Chinjeolhan geumjassi

Director : Park Chan-wook

Film Summary :
Revenge is messy

Rated by Roger CO, on 28 Sep 2023