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Surveillance
21 Years
Richard Linklater
Career retrospective doc that keeps it fun and doesn’t outstay it’s welcome.
11th Mar 2018
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By the Sea
Slated by the critics, this is a stylish, slight, small movie - with two massive stars in it.
6th Jan 2018
Read more 3 star reviewsKong
Skull Island
Fun, original take on an otherwise ageing property. Apocalypse Now meets Watchmen.
5th Jan 2018
Read more 3 star reviewsI, Daniel Blake
Bleak, real-time journey through the realities of living on benefits.
25th Dec 2017
Read more 3 star reviewsLucky Logan
Amiable, zero jeopardy comedy from Soderbergh. Slightly unsure what it’s trying to be.
2nd Dec 2017
Read more 3 star reviews6 Days
Historical engaging, but languidly edited thriller surrounding the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege.
5th Nov 2017
Read more 3 star reviewsThe Lobster
Clever, quirky, black comedy parable that runs out of steam.
23rd Aug 2017
Read more 3 star reviewsThe Girl With All The Gifts
Reasonable zombie drama. More rewarding than Walking Dead, but still a bit derivative.
14th Jul 2017
Read more 3 star reviewsCake
Self-important, slightly contrived mainstream indie with the one with the good hair from Friends.
8th Jul 2017
Read more 3 star reviewsSong to Song
More clichéd Terrence Malick. Amazing cinematography. Meandering improv. Great real-world settings.
6th Jul 2017
Read more 3 star reviewsJack Reacher
Never Go Back
Serviceable action sequel that ticks a lot of boxes without thinking outside of any.
27th Jun 2017
Read more 3 star reviewsJason Bourne
Tired, pointless rehash of a franchise that long ran out of steam.
6th May 2017
Read more 3 star reviewsMoney Monster
Tenuous financial hostage thriller, that doesn't add up to the sum of its parts.
11th Feb 2017
Read more 3 star reviewsGreen Room
Disappointing punk rock horror thriller, that doesn't make the best of its left field set up.
9th Feb 2017
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Carol
Small scale period drama, anchored around strong central performances.
15th Jan 2017
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10 Cloverfield Lane
Ambitious small scale sci-fi that drags a bit before it all gets a bit wacky.
11th Jan 2017
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Zootropolis
Decent enough animated parable from Disney. Lacking the usual emotional Pixar punch.
25th Dec 2016
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The Overnight
Arkward and occasionally hilarious Duplass-esque LA comedy. And only 75m long.
26th Nov 2016
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Everybody Wants Some
Glacially paced re-hash/follow up to Dazed and Confused, with moments of fun. Great music.
11th Nov 2016
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Black Mass
Boring, meandering re-tread of The Departed. Wannabe Scorcese, with a typically OTT Johnny Depp.
19th Oct 2016
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20,000 Days on Earth
Pretty standard music promo from Nick Cave - extended to feature, executed with superior style.
3rd Aug 2016
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Mission Impossible
Rogue Nation
Collection of tired Hitchcockian set pieces, with very little tying them together.
11th Jul 2016
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Trainwreck
Enjoyable modern comedy, but it's bloated by improv and missing the magic ingredient. And no Paul Rudd.
29th May 2016
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Far from the Madding Crowd
Surprisingly straight adaptation from Vinterberg. Shapeless, but with a few nice moments.
7th May 2016
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The Gift
Indie Cape Fear. Intense and solidly handled, but it's all a bit one-note.
15th Apr 2016
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Knight of Cups
Incredibly shot, but there's a lot of slow walking and one-note improv. Best on a Bill Viola level.
18th Mar 2016
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Ant-Man
That Paul Rudd that we like gets a shot at super hero status. Solid enough, but not particularly remarkable.
3rd Feb 2016
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Body of Lies
Expensive, glossy thriller that's trying to be gritty. Muddled and forgettable. Classic Ridley Scott.
17th Dec 2015
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Force Majeure
Clinically executed, Kubrickian Euro drama. Intriguing concept, but it's all a bit lifeless.
4th Dec 2015
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Good Kill
Thoughtful, but ultimately heavy-handed drone pilot drama.
2nd Dec 2015
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Inherent Vice
Derivative, badly cast, impenetrable private dick pic. Meticulously made, but it's a bit pretentious.
18th Nov 2015
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Ex Machina
Self conscious, pretentious Brit sci-fi that acts a lot more mysterious and enigmatic than it really is.
8th Nov 2015
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Manson Family Vacation
Confident, small scale indie with input from the Duplass brothers.
29th Oct 2015
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Friday Night Lights
Solid dry run that set the tone for the long form TV epic. Get 'er done.
22nd Oct 2015
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The Disappearance Of Alice Creed
Focussed British indie thriller. Twisty, but somehow not that memorable.
17th Oct 2015
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Zabriskie Point
Meandering, liberal arthouse pic from 69/70. It must have seemed a lot more topical at the time.
Halliwell says: Highly self-indulgent and unattractive fantasy about escape from the crudities of our over-civilised world. An expensive failure and an awful warning of what happens if you give an arty director carte blanche.
#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF
#Halliwell
16th Oct 2015
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Almost Famous
Like an Allman Brothers jam, this has tons of personality and moments of greatness but is way too long.
8th Oct 2015
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Coherence
Intriguing indie sci-fi that makes the most of its small setting, before becoming a bit incoherent.
30th Sep 2015
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The Drop
Another underwhelming, over-acted melodrama with Tom Hardy. Decent enough, but Tony Soprano can do better.
29th Sep 2015
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Keith Richards Under The Influence
Stylish doc that avoids too much new-album promo, instead focussing on the legacy.
29th Sep 2015
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Black Sea
Old-fashioned submarine thriller. Well put together with a great cast, but hardly full of surprises.
19th Sep 2015
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It Might Get Loud
Stylish, but ultimately bog-standard guitar doc. You might rearrange your heroes after watching.
30th Aug 2015
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Interstellar
Impeccably stylish but deeply flawed, sci-fi with some of the worst pacing ever. Someone reign Nolan in.
25th Aug 2015
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Men, Women & Children
Thoughtful, high-spec indie from Jason Reitman. Nicely put together, but a little high-concept.
16th Aug 2015
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Minions
Canny animated prequel, upping the tech style while cashing in on the banana-obsessed stars of the original.
25th Jul 2015
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Ant-Man
Efficient Marvel shrinking antics in which that Paul Rudd that you like gets a cool suit from Michael Douglas.
9th Jul 2015
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Ain't Them Bodies Saints
Luscious outlaw drama. Malick aspirations, hampered by pretensions and clumsy pacing.
1st Jul 2015
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Fury
Stylish but muddled war clone, lacking the clarity of the classics. Star power pastes over the cracks.
28th Jun 2015
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All This Mayhem
Paranoid, one-sided documentary showing an ugly slice of the 90s skate scene.
5th Jun 2015
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The Woman In Black
Classic gothic ghost story. Thin, but well crafted with plenty of shocks.
31st May 2015
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