Nick C

Wildwood - Have you seen this film? No? Go book a ticket now! Dark Fairy Tale which feel like a real developed world with history, beautifully animated in stop motion. When its dark its properly dark and unflinching in its imagery but also gratuitous. It is a masterpiece.

Clayface - I remember when Marvel would make superhero films but layer in other genres but still being 12A. This is taking that to proper point full body horror 18. Its by the numbers but at scrungy best, highly watchable but wince inducing at times.

Other Mommy - Suitably creepy in places but theme are a bit on the nose and not really subtle enough you can see them coming a mile away. One scene is gloriously nuts but even at 98mins its a bit long for its premise.

The Social Reckoning - Missing Fincher so the film sometimes looks more sexier than it should to create window dressing. Still wanted to make delete all meta apps. a must see and understanding how and why social media is rotting your brain, deliberately.

The Uprising - This film didn't work for me, its wonderfully shot, scored and acted. But the plot as it is didn't pull me in and felt I could not care for the characters.

Hadestown - Superb musical, superb recording. Go watch it.

Verity - I do like a good erotic thriller which this mostly delivers on the back of its performers. The last twist whilst normal for this topic and hardly suripsing did fall into to absurd for me. So not quite top tier.

Sense and Sensibility - Creating a U rated Jane Austen film is laudable for accessibility. Sadly it means its missing the passion making the Ang Lee adaptation the more superior. The one bonus to this is the ending feels more earned rather than just happening.

Resident Evil - I've played and completed all mainline games of the series and the remakes. This was a pretty solid adaptation that starts of scary and goes to absurd. Doesn't quite stick the landing.

Very nice to hear a sane voice from Piddington. Serious respect to this woman, who is apparently already being othered by more bigoted villagers.

I Want Your Sex - A sex positive sex comedy. Good fun throughout with Olivia Wilde playing an outlandish character that never feels outlandish which is quite impressive. Not one to watch with your Mum.

Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger - Unremarkable rock documentary/concert film. sound on early rehearsals/gigs is a bit of mess but genuinely touching in places.

picking a side in a face off between street fash and the RNLI is not fucking Sophie's Choice, it's strawberry ice cream or a bucket of shit. and the Home Office go for the bucket every time.

Her Private Hell - Possibly the most visually gorgeous film I've seen this year. With a striking score, its just a shame that in trying to portray the ennui of the lead the film meanders for too long and is alienating unless you really just let the film wash over you. Needs a stronger first act.

Leviticus - Sadly doesn't quite deliver on the premise. I think the issue comes down the gay conversion therapy being a singular event rather than sustained abuse. Elements are there but it needed to be even darker. Solid performances and gets the point across but doesn't quite hit the mark.

Pressure - Interestingly more about office politics and reporting lines showing united decisions than "the war". Runtime means the time pressure to make decisions is felt. Helped by the fact I can't remember dates well. I hope what's going on at home is not a plot contrivance. Pretty solid.

The Dog Stars - Absolutely dull. Well acted, well directed, well shot. Just a shame we've seen all done far better and the script/story is just rubbish. There is nothing in protagonist to really make him engaging. Two sequences are great. No idea why anybody involved decided to make this.

Coyote vs. ACME - The story of this film is better than the film itself. Which is a shame but it is fun for parts and does keep you thinking but the explanation of what ACME are doing is a little hand wavey than using ingenious visual gags. Still it made tear up at a 'meep meep'

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma - Queer sexual awakening over Gillian Anderson through the lens of slasher films. I mean if that doesn't sell it to you nothing will. Superb lead acting can be very meta and surreal. The gore is comic which I enjoy. Would go for another watch.

Tony - I'll always say I'm a sucker for coming of age films but this one fell a little flat probably due to the biopic element. When this gets out of those biopic trapping its actually great. Dominic Sessa remains eminently watchable but needs to get out the 70's.

The Odyssey - I think this might be Nolan's most overtly political film to date thats hard to get into but its a good message. The film is incredibly acted and shot as expected. Some scenes are true horror along with action. I love how the entire framing is from people regaling the shotry.

Obsession - Great horror movie that really pushes you into which way it going that really sees the dark side of if you wish forces someone into a situation they do not love. There's a reason why Robin Williams' Genie didn't allow people to wish for love.

Supergirl - Someone under Gunn as a producer trying to make a Gunn film. Sadly comes across more facsimile than genuine heart. Lots of good especially the cast but forgettable.

The Invite - Uproariously funny 4 hander in a dinner party which wonderfully captures couple hanging out and the tension of you and your partner disagreeing but trying to keep things civil.

Toy Story 5 - Better than Toy Story 4 not a patch on the first three. The focus change to Jessie is sensible and story has genuine heart but a little too much of all tech is evil perspective.

Disclosure Day - Spielberg is a master storyteller and the last 20-30 min are genuinely quite emotive with the cast all nailing it. Overall though it feels like a lesser Spielberg piece rather than something truly great.

Backrooms - Genuinely creepy and does keep you going in intrigue. I felt it lacked something though to really make me care for the characters and narrative.

Masters of the Universe - Cracking sountrack with Brian May, The Darkness and Daniel Pemberton. Its exactly the 1980's acid dream it should be just a shame its about 30 minutes too long.

Tuner - A tense crime thrillers and drama that is elevated by the acting. It keeps you guessing where its going and is absolutely nail the ending. Shame about the deus ex machina.

Finding Emily - Coming of Age Romcom, I'm a sucker for these and it delivered helped by the fact the male lead is a likable doofus so never appears creepy.

The Christophers - Ian Mckellen being the most Ian Mckellen. Very funny two hander.

The Mandalorian and Grogu - Enjoyable Star Wars affair with good music and a cute puppet. But also totally forgettable and doesn't have a great narrative.

Power Ballard - Pleasant enough film with likable leads, music was fine but wasn't keen on the ending which had a tiny bit too much character assassination.

On my way, Clacton.

Farage just called a referendum on the concept of objective reality iandunt.substack.com/p/farage-jus...

Could there be a better example of "the trans debate" than 98% of women supporting trans people and then one single lone person voting against them and getting their way regardless. It's all such a fucking sham

I really hope this coming to the UK for theatrical release. Its probably because of hard rotation as a kid the film I've seen the most. It turns me into a 5 year old kid everytime I see it. I'm not quite sure how I'd react to seeing it on the big screen other than pure joy.

The Sheep Detectives: Wonderfully silly and delightful even if dark in places. Not quite in my wheelhouse but will play great to all auideiences.

Rose of Nevada: I've liked this more as it sat with me. My brain expected more a mystery to solve but reality is it is a simpler and mainly is there to show the passage of time on fishing communities even in our brains since the earl 90's. Its weird but shot wonderfully.

The Devil Wears Prada 2: Lazy, it has its moments but structurally its the same movie as the far superior first and for that it doesn't warrant much thought. Only that probably because she made this Anne Hathaway got to make Mother Mary. Go watch that instead.

Mother Mary: Crikey what a film I loved it. Best described as Taylor Swift: A Ghost Story the two leads are fantastic and you get their shared history whilst the audience is not told everything. The original pop songs have been on hard rotate since I've seen it.

Rebuilding: A fairly sweet life affirming film which really shows Josh O'Connor's range.