Film Reviews by TB

What a wonderful animation film that stands out from the crowd. Right from the very beginning the emotional connection to Courgette is cemented by the well directed and filmed movements and expressions of the animated character, without any real need for words.

The stories that bring all the children together are harrowing. However, after the initial moments of exclusion and feeling like the odd one out in a strange place, Courgette finds the love he’s never really had.

The friendships, love and understanding from the eyes of a child is portrayed with great beauty and this really is a superb animated film that left me not only feeling warm inside but wanting to adopt each and every one of them.

Great viewing for adults and children (probably 8 or over) 

This is one of the better collections in the ‘Boys on Film’ offerings.

There are eight short films and once you get past the first two films, which are rather poor, the quality improves. The third film ‘Together’ has everything to make it a good short film but it was let down by leaving you asking why and who?

The best film of the selection was the superb Easy Money but I won’t spoil it by giving away anything; just watch it! As for the others, they were all watchable and I rated all eight films as follows:-

Deep end 2/5

Family affair 1/5

Together 2/5 (Could’ve been a 3)

Easy money 5/5 (superb)

The wilding 3/5

Colonial gods 3/5

It’s not a cowboy movie 3/5

Prora 3/5

I can’t really add much more than what’s already been said in other reviews.

Superb acting, superbly directed and so beautifully touching in so many ways.

You HAVE to watch this film. One of the best I’ve seen. 

This really is a wonderful heartwarming film which for some will act as a reminder and for others a lesson in what we should be as human beings.

All of the leading characters put in superb performances and right from the off I felt an instant emotional connection with the main character ‘Auggie’ and the loneliness, nervousness and worry of not just a young child but a young child with a beautiful difference.

Yes it’s gooey in places and it made me smile and cry throughout but that’s because it’s such a beautiful and touching film.

The film is also given an added depth with the characters that surround Auggies life, presenting their own lives in cleverly woven in segments.

Humans can be judgmental and nasty but they can also be kind, warm and loving. Never judge a book by its cover and never accept bullying as it’s such a destructive force.

This film lit up my soul and reminded me how much love and acceptance we can bring to each other and the world.

A stunningly heartwarming watch. 

This is a great romantic film about two gay students (Benny and Christopher) who fall in love. It’s a genre that’s flooded with films that have the same love story backbone but nothing else. However, some films do add something to give it depth and to make it stand out from the crowd. This film does that with a great curveball that adds drama and another level of emotion and strains that relationships can face in the real world. However that same curveball is what made me rate this film lower than I would’ve done if it had of been more realistic instead of being overplayed and exaggerated. I don’t want to give away too much but I felt that the reactions at times, especially from the mother and father of Benny were a little OTT over something that was effectively an accident. I’m not claiming to know how I’d feel in that situation but I think awkward and shocked would have been the right pitch and enough to add to the story without the harsh words and hatred at times towards Christopher and his mother.

The somewhat rushed ending goes some way to address this and deliver a more real feeling to it all but this could have been done throughout instead of right at the end.

An opportunity missed that with better direction could have delivered a very powerful film. 

I very nearly scored this film a four as it was really authentic in the way it presents teenage sexuality and the fluid and curious way in which it unfolds. I certainly found myself nodding on a few occasions as if to say ‘yep, been there and felt like that’.

The film has a great set of characters, all with their own tale to tell and who add depth to a well rounded movie that I’m sure many people will relate to.

I’ve seen many coming-of-age films and even though I’ve seen a number that are better than this; this is by no means a film to overlook. Give it a watch! 

They should have a stuck with their approach in the filming of the first one (which was pretty good) and just adjusted the storyline slightly; much like how the classic ‘Jaws’ films did. However they instead decided to go with a crazy storyline that had so many flaws and faults that it felt more like an underwater version of the Abyss meets Alien, meets blind sharks.

The twist at the end was quirky and clever but not enough to save this film.

The first one is a good watch but this was woeful. 

This is a very sad and depressing film about how society and living in a deprived area can so easily swallow up good young people and put them on a path of endless crime.

The young actor who plays Michael delivers a very strong performance that gives you a real appreciation of the circumstances and fraught emotions that he’s faced with.

Unfortunately this is a very real story for so many and shows how difficult it is to break away from a path of criminality that is fed and made even worse by our broken prison systems and the criminals that run the places on the inside.

A grim but honest and excellent film with a young actor who will surely go on to create a wave in the film industry.

A nicely shot love story that’s given a wholeness and a genuine feel to it with the families of Yad and Joris, and the issues within both of their families that play out in parallel alongside their love story.

The acting is good enough, without being amazing but the tender side of the relationship in particular was acted out really well and delivered by the camera superbly to capture the emotion and feeling.

I also thought the grandmother was a fantastic character who added a great level of humour to the film.

A worthwhile watch. 

This is a powerfully filmed depiction of war with the African war children of the NDF having their innocence stripped away by the horrors they face and are thrown into.

The warlord (Idris Elba) is fantastic but even he is surpassed in his performance by the incredible Agu (Abraham Attah) who at times needed no words in some of the scenes in delivering the power and emotion of the moment. In fact the whole cast of young actors all put in strong performances that drove the reality of the film home.

It’s a film the provides a stark reminder of the parts of our world that seem unreal to most of us but are very real to those involved in war torn countries and those conflict.

A sobering film but a film that also has subtle droplets of humanity to shine some light on a dark side of history.

If the rating system would’ve allowed a rating of zero, then that’s exactly what this film would’ve got.

It reminded me of a god awful film I watched a few years ago called ‘Compliance. That film and this film are so stupid and unrealistic it beggars belief. I know films are over dramatised and exaggerated but please; this was just plain stupid.

Both of these films are based in America and all this film makes you think is that there really must be some dumbasses in America if something like this is even feasible.

Please don’t bother with this film and if you happen to stumble upon it, the film compliance also. 

An unflinching look into the life of Liam Gallagher from the very beginning to the present day. A genuine hair-raising rollercoaster ride that reaches the depths of being completely lost and broken before rising higher than ever.

This is a fantastic documentary anyway but it had to be a five for me as during my younger years Liam Gallagher was the first person I ever regarded as an absolute icon, a god and the greatest frontman alive. That opinion has never changed and never will; Liam Gallagher is a rock n roll icon!

Live forever! 

What a fantastic and heartwarming film.

Yes it has a predictable outcome but the journey and the emotion along the way is what makes this film so wonderful. The relationship between Goran and Sven is just as gripping as the one that builds between Goran and Patrik.

I smiled, I shed a tear and I became totally engrossed in the film from start to finish.

Excellent, uplifting film.  

Despite some of the facts being inaccurate and exaggerated the film delivered on what was a miraculous moment in aviation history.

I liked the way the movie played out with it switching between time frames and as for Tom Hanks, he yet again put in a mesmerising performance as one of the best actors of our generation.

Not a spectacular film by any account but it didn’t have to be in order to bring to life this unbelievable moment in history. 

This is a really uplifting movie and a story of hope and determination to get back on your feet.

Based on a true story, this movie has emotion on various levels and a main character (Luke Treadaway) who puts in a perfect performance to draw you into his life and at times desperate situation.

The relationship that is built between the leading character and ‘Bob’ the cat is touching and in a way they both end up saving each other’s lives. On top of this an affectionate friendship is formed with a caring young women, while at the same time the leading character struggles with his past life and acquaintances (his drug depend friend and his own fractious relationship with heroin and his deprived life).

A very good movie that touches on all levels of emotion and ties in with a situation that many face in today’s world. Excellent watch!