[Spoiler Alert] Film reviews and ratings

The Woman in Cabin 10. Not bad, but it could have been so much more, given the cast, storyline and setting. 6.5/10.

 

Every time I look at cinema listings lately there’s nothing I want to watch.

 

Watched Arlington Road last night, as she hadn't seen it, forgot how good it was, been going through older films recently that she hasn't seen, we have man on fire for tonight loved that film

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One Battle After Another

Thought it was phenomenal. Really weird, particularly at the start and most scenes involving Sean Penn’s character. Although, I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t win an Oscar. Stole every scene he was in.

Acting, music and cinematography are top tier. Really engaging story with some unbelievable shots in it. 9/10.

Weapons

Not particularly scary but definitely a creepy/unsettling vibe throughout. Big fan of Josh Brolin, so always good to see him in a film.

Unique set up and story with some brilliant scenes and well acted across the board. Also quite funny in some places. 7.5/10.

 

Currently, One Battle After Another is the standout of what to check out at the cinema, and has a lot of good stuff going for ir, although it is the better part of 3hrs, and apparently that is too much for some in one sitting, but it really doesn't feel the length and it does deserve the big screen experience.

That said, this time of year there is naturally going to be smaller releases and things in keeping with Autumn or spooky/varying degrees of scary ahead of Halloween. As it happens, will be going today to catch 4 films, none of which have sat through previously so no idea what I'm in for with a bunch of these.

 

These two and Sinners are the top 3 of the year so far.

 

Remember going to the pictures when that first came out. If the sweetie wrapper, drink slurping and popcorn rustling gets on your * like it does mine, it was torture

 

Sinners was good, I think OBATO is a touch overrated though and nowhere near PTA's best.

 

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. Pretty good. Quirky, funny, impervious and open simultaneously, with a wee faint splash of lovey-dovey thrown in. Excellent acting all round, especially from the two lead roles, Colin Farrell & Margot Robbie (such great chemistry they have here). 8/10.

 

I have to say, i do differ here.

IMO, the best way of looking at this film is (even though this isn't a musical) is to ask yourself, 'do you like musicals?', even though reality is that there isn't mass singing and dancing doesn't just break out in real life. So in this example, it's the same but without the songs. If you can get past that and embrace the various diversions the characters go on, then you can get something from this movie, which I do agree is quite quirky, but if you hate that prospect, you'll probably not like this. I didn't mind it and was ok with it, but I can totally see why some people hated this movie.

 

Hollywood is in a slump. There aren't any truly great films coming out in my opinion, with only a few good/decent ones splattered about.

2019 was the most recent year of cinema where we had what I'd call a good year.

Consistently good films are mainly coming from Korea / Japan / Asia more broadly now, with France in the West being the sole outlier for me.

For 2025, my favourites are:
The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)
No Other Choice (South Korea)
It Was Just an Accident (Iran)
Homebound (India)

Then from the West include:
The Smashing Machine & Sinners as English language options.

I get this doesn't address your need for a good cinema night outing but there's a few good film nights in there.

 

Green book. I've had it on my list for ages as wasn't sure about it. Thought it was a cracking film 8/10

 

I Swear

Scottish real life biopic about a fella named John Davidson, who has Tourette's Syndrome. Pretty decent for what it is.

 

Watched his documentary from when he was 16 yesterday as going to give I swear a watch.

Called Johns not mad

 

Unloved from 2009 5/10

Never heard of it but some well known faces with Robert Carlyle

 

Looking forward to it. The documentaries were fantastic.

 

Heretic. 7/10
Thought the two girls were very good in it

 

Tron: Ares

Disney's latest effort in flogging a dead horse. Am guessing visually might be ok (not something I can comment on), but it has nothing new or interesting to offer in terms of ideas, and typically sets up yet another sequel than noone is asking for in the most predicatable way possible.

Just about the only plus is the score by Trent Reznor/NIN.

 

Turn Me On (2024). Very strange & interesting film. It's about a couple who join a cult-like community and take a pill daily to suppress big emotions in order to live in a permanent state of mild contentment, rather than question anything and feel real emotions to prompt them to make their own decisions. In other words, they live like regimented robots in a state of perpetual semi-contentment, but with no real passion, zest or euphoria & incapable of independent thought. Another quite weird and different movie. Well acted, but could have been better. 6.5/10.