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Surveillance
On the Rocks
Unsurprisingly slight, but the one thread of plot is held together by an enjoyable Bill Murray.
21st Nov 2020
Read more 3.5 star reviewsSearch
Richard Jewell
Incredibly straightforward Clint drama, anchored by some great central performances.
10th Nov 2020
Read more 3.5 star reviewsAd Astra
Incredibly stylish and wannabe cerebral sci-fi, that’s ultimately a little thin.
19th Jul 2020
Read more 3.5 star reviewsFirst Man
Underwhelming space drama that’s a bit too intimate and not very epic.
5th Jul 2020
Read more 3.5 star reviewsAlladin
Surprisingly enjoyable, Guy Ritchie-fied Disney remake.
10th Mar 2020
Read more 3.5 star reviewsMystify
Michael Hutchence
Thoughtfully assembled montage doc.
30th Dec 2019
Read more 3.5 star reviewsThe King
Luscious period drama. Beautifully put together - like Wolf Hall+.
3rd Nov 2019
Read more 3.5 star reviewsManchester by the Sea
Painful, occasionally uplifting viewing with a grief stricken central performance.
28th Sep 2019
Read more 3.5 star reviewsSpider-Man
Into the Spider-Verse
Stylish, trippy concept animated superhero flick with some great moments.
21st Sep 2019
Read more 3.5 star reviewsBreath
Decent Aussie surf drama, that nostalgically investigates the soul of surfing before losing its way a little.
14th Aug 2019
Read more 3.5 star reviewsA Star is Born
Somewhat unremarkable, but enjoyable music drama. Bit long.
13th Jul 2019
Read more 3.5 star reviewsMary Poppins Returns
Stylish sequel, hampered in places by some authentic 1960s pacing.
30th Jun 2019
Read more 3.5 star reviewsDumbo
Forgettable re-imagining of a not totally unforgettable Disney classic.
27th Apr 2019
Read more 3.5 star reviewsLeave No Trace
Low key indie spin on Rambo, as a father and daughter try and live off grid.
28th Mar 2019
Read more 3.5 star reviewsTully
Decent modern spin on Mary Poppins. Bit uneven, but a nice soundtrack helps things along.
20th Jan 2019
Read more 3.5 star reviewsReady Player One
Pop-culture bouillabaisse, hampered by numerous terrible accents.
24th Dec 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsDarkest Hour
Surprisingly underwhelming biopic that doesn’t find its feet until 20m from the end.
24th Nov 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsDen of Thieves
Utterly derivative / thoroughly enjoyable ‘Heat’ rip off.
21st Nov 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsYou Were Never Really Here
Brutal revenge thriller. Stylish and violent, with plenty of explanation left to the imagination.
4th Nov 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsPaddington 2
Well written, well paced sequel. Surprisingly competent and heartwarming.
4th Aug 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsThor
Ragnarok
Enjoyable change of pace for the super hero genre. Comedy wins.
21st Jul 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsThe Florida Project
Stylish, incredibly depressing portrait of life on the margins.
12th May 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsBrawl in Cell Block 99
Minimally written and confidently directed, with a brutally violent third act. Starring thin Vince Vaughn.
4th May 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsGet Out
Intense, eerie thriller that’s surprisingly straightforward and a little old-fashioned.
30th Jan 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsThe Light Between Oceans
Long, but moving and stylishly directed period drama. Fantastic cinematography.
15th Jan 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsLogan
Grown-up superhero flick. Handled far better than most, but ridiculously violent.
6th Jan 2018
Read more 3.5 star reviewsGuardians of the Galaxy
Vol 2
Stylish, fast-paced, amusing antidote to the endless stream of generic superhero movies.
27th Dec 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsLa La Land
Disappointingly slight award winner, that doesn’t find its stride until 10 minutes from the end.
27th Dec 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviews20th Century Women
Another thoughtful biographical effort from Mike Mills. Stylish but a little long and sprawling.
25th Nov 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsLion
Stylish, touching movie. Nicely acted if a little slow.
12th Nov 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsMoonlight
Intense, mournful coming-of-age drama. Very stylish and operatic. Terrence Mallick via John Singleton.
21st Oct 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsT2 Trainspotting
Belated sequel that remixes the original with some success, but the nostalgia runs a little thin.
15th Oct 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsSully
Solid, uplifting biopic. Well structured with moments of real tension despite the inevitable ending. And 91m.
11th Oct 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsBladerunner 2049
Good visuals, nice music, flabby storytelling and a confusing plot. A worthy sequel.
6th Oct 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsAmerican Honey
Andrea Arnold transplants her class observations to the US. Unforgivably long, if beautifully shot.
17th Sep 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsArrival
Stylish modern sci-fi with a clever structure, but it's still a film about subtitled aliens.
24th Aug 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsThreads
Brutal 80s TV movie, imagining nuclear winter. Age has blended the stock footage to horrifying perfection.
3rd Jul 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsThe Intern
Surprisingly charming, sentimental, old style movie with no need for an antagonist. Plus, solid DeNiro.
1st Jul 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsSing
Totally predictable, thoroughly inspiring animated sing-a-long for the X-Factor generation.
24th Jun 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsOne More Time With Feeling
Poingiant doc of the latest Bad Seeds album. Still falls into the usual making-of box.
26th Apr 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsGarden State
Dated indie classic that uses music to create pseudo-sentimental highs of little real substance.
18th Mar 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsSupersonic
Engaging, nostalgic doc which meanders through the rise and rise of 1995’s greatest band ever.
14th Mar 2017
Read more 3.5 star reviewsStill Life
Thoughtful character study, with Eddie Marsan standing up for those who slip through the cracks.
26th Feb 2017
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Hunt For The Wilderpeople
Accomplished, charming NZ indie comedy that wears its influences well.
1st Feb 2017
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Raiders
The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made
Inspiring doc about the kids remaking Raiders over 7 summers.
24th Jan 2017
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The Beatles
Eight Days a Week
Inspiring reminder of the sheer volume of trail blazing laid down by The Beatles.
22nd Jan 2017
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The Goonies
Seminal kids movie that I underrated in '85. Shot with an easy pace, until the free-swim at the end.
Halliwell says: The bottomless pit of the Spielberg genre, a silly tale which takes forever to get going and is acted by children who have not studied elocution. The trick effects when they come are OK, but it's a long annoying haul to that point.
#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF
#Halliwell
22nd Jan 2017
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The Jungle Book
Seamless CGI remake, lacking in humour and executed with the seriousness of LOTR or Apocalypse Now.
30th Dec 2016
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