Film Reviews by BE

This film was like a set of little stories strung together, it didn’t flow well and had some particularly bad acting from the supporting actors. Peter Capaldi also looked very out if place as Mr Micawber. The presentation of so many ‘people of colour’ in various roles, belied the writing of Charles Dickens and the times he lived in. I can see director, Armando Iannucci, homed in on the humour of the story, as opposed to the serious side but it really didn’t work. 

There were no subtitles with this movie. The sound was very indistinct so, unfortunately, had to return it un-viewed. One star or I shouldn’t be able to add this information. 

I hired this as I like Tom Burke and feel he is one of our most underrated actors. Having said that, this movie was weird and felt like the dialogue was ad-libbed throughout. Laconic, very serious and really not much fun.  Besides the two main characters being as different as chalk and cheese, there was no viable chemistry between them to make this film work. 

Beautifully crafted, well acted and with sumptuous scenery and locations. Who would have thought that those Regency dances could portray such sensuality?  A wonderful movie and such a lovely change from sex,  foul language and uncouth characters that are the mainstay of a lot of today’s presentations.  Very well done Autumn de Wilde. 

This movie was recommended but proved to be a waste of time. Even Johnny Depp’s acting wasn’t as good as it could have been.  Although, given the movie he was in, it was possibly an uphill struggle.  He usually chooses to act in more discerning movies. Lost his judgement here. Had I known it was based on a Stephen King novel, I probably wouldn’t have bothered. 

Very disappointing. An hour and forty minutes of virtually nothing plus an ambiguous ending.  Must do better.......   

Nothing riveting here but a quiet and very clever portrayal of the life of a chambermaid in a city hotel. The film is so realistic and superbly acted by Gabriela Cartol, you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching a ‘fly on the wall’ documentary about the days in the life of a chambermaid. Holds the attention throughout. 

The first film set in China that I have ever really enjoyed and have been able to relate to. Beautifully crafted and fine acting. That having been said, I must concur with JS’ review - it’s ludicrous trying to read small white subtitles on a light background, thus missing a lot of the dialogue. I was also somewhat irritated in earlier scenes when the ‘dying’ grandmother was seen coughing and spluttering willy nilly whilst in close proximity to other people (without coughing into a tissue, her elbow or putting her hand over her mouth). We are now only too fully aware that this spreads disease at a rate of knots!

Hardly a theme for a main stream movie.  Boring beyond words.  Fast forwarded most of it - all the way to a non- consequential ending.  One star so I could add review, otherwise it wouldn’t have got that!

One of the most difficult films I have ever watched.  Superbly acted by Chrissy Rock and Vladimir Vega.  Why on earth this actor has not been in more movies, I know not.  I wasn’t sure what to expect but although very harrowing, I found it gripping from beginning to end. Based on a mother’s act of negligence (although I wonder if there were other unspoken mitigating circumstances) and of her four children being taken away by Social Services. The film follows her attempt to get her children back and of two more babies being taken into care. I understand that the welfare of babies and children take precedence as far as Social Services are concerned but surely there was another way of dealing with these scenarios.  (There was a brighter note when the credits rolled).

Twenty minutes in, got bored with it.  Most of the characters were weaving about like zombies, especially the main female lead. Opted out. 

Quite beguiling to begin with, then I started to worry where this film was going.  I’ll say no more.....  Lovely performances from Maggie Gyllenhaal and the unpretentious little boy. Holds the attention throughout. 

What a very silly film. No substance and I don’t like guessing games. Got half way thru and fast forwarded the rest to very near the end to see if anything interesting was going to happen. Nope. 

This is more a character study of a couple coping with the wife having a diagnosis of breast cancer. It’s quite  a claustrophobic presentation as, apart from themselves, the couple do not appear to have any family network or friends to interact with. It is not without humour and I have given it four stars for the brilliant and very natural acting from Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville. 

A broody and tightly focused movie on a father accused, by his daughter, of paedophillia.  Some of the scenes are lengthy but they draw you into the dynamics between the mother and father and, eventually, their young daughter. Seamless acting with little or no intrusive background music.