Saw Hamnet yesterday, thought it was interesting, I can see why it’s getting all the nominations.
I though the leads were good and the lad playing Hamnet pretty excellent.
Stand out for me was Emily Watson who I enjopy watching but felt this was a part made for her.
I felt it was a very british film, a little too long but worth seeing. The Shakespeare passages I thought were terrific and Mr Mescal delivering the lines he was trying to get the actor to deliver were incredibly clear.
It moved me but not as much as some films and my wife felt the book gave more in terms of background.
Felt it was best on a big screen and won’t be bothered about seeing it again….
Korean dark comedy concerning a chap’s attempts to create a job vacancy and remove the competition after being made redundant. Amusing in places but not as much a comedy as expected from the trailer.
Sentimental Value. As you’d expect from a Cannes Palme D’Or winner auteur cinema beautifully shot and well acted especially by Stellan Skarsgaard. Some nice humour. Maybe a too comfortable ending and a little too fragmentary in structure. Oh and check out title song Dancing Girl by Terry Callier.
‘Nuremberg’ in the Grade 1 listed medieval hall that doubles in its spare time as an Odeon cinema in Salisbury. Pretty well the coolest cinema on the planet !
A so-so film, especially the cinematography and script but the leads were good.
Went to the Buster Keaton soundtracked by R.E.M. last night at my local indie cinema.
Thought it was “interesting” rather than successful but obviously successful in that few things would get most people watching a 45 minute black and white main feature, which is 102 years old, on a very wet Saturday night in 2026. £8 well spent, although £24 if you fancy Stockport Plaza in April.
Disappointed. Unsubtle where the book is somehow simpler but also more mysterious too. The supernatural elements are crude and clunky, drawn out and over-cooked. The link between the personal story and his plays felt clumsy in the film.
Not by any means a terrible film, Buckley and Mescal are great together and there’s a few memorable moments but my expectations were very high. Not a tear shed by Mrs W or me despite the manipulative final scene with its clichéd music.
If I had not read the book would have enjoyed it more? Maybe.
It prompted MrsW and I to spend the journey home discussing books we loved that have been improved or at least equalled by being filmed. Short list so far! ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ was one for me.
I felt similarly about Deliver Me From Nowhere. The book was extraordinary. The film “based on” was almost entirely unrelated and little more than an idebtikit hagiography.
The Secret Agent. Brazil 1977 a very atmospheric dive into corruption and violence under a military dictatorship with some fine characters and a careful recreation of the era plus lots of cars. Quite enjoyed it but not sure I could recommend it - rather long and a bit of a shaggy dog story with plot lines that don’t seem to go anywhere and a modern day thread that seems a bit if an afterthought. Loved by the critics so what do I know.
Watched it today and I can see why you hesitate to recommend it. It was a long film which made no attempt to not feel long. Not necessarily a criticism but it is something you need to be prepared for. I also thought the use of subtitles was poor. The white on often yellow or white backgrounds really didn’t work. I also thought that the sudden transition to the modern timeline felt far too sudden although on reflection it was probably the right thing to do.
On my way home I found it useful to re-read the reviews. I don’t think any of them are wrong. It is a brilliant film with, for example, more great performances than the one Hamnet gave us. It also highlights the complexity of corruption in a clever and multi-layered way. I actually would recommend it if you want to see something genuinely different, complex, with a very particular mood and… long.
Off to see the Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Man at our local Showcase on Thursday, I’m not expecting any great cinematic revelations but as long as it’s as good as the tv series then it will be a good couple of hours.
Watched the James Acaster Hecklers Welcome thing at our local indie cinema.
Have seen him live and he was excellent. This was not.
Full run through of most of a Truro show. Norwich show with one heckle and then the Northampton outtakes. Can only think it was a terrible attempt to monetise the outtakes because the first show was simply not funny at all. Absolutely died. Have no idea what the purpose of showing any of the show with one heckle was. The outtakes were brilliant but in no way made up for the preceding 90 minutes.
Could not in all conscience recommend to anyone.
Sadly, having seen an issued cinema for Buster Keaton there were only 4 of us there last night.
A telling of Godard’s A bout de soufflé. Breathless.
Not many patrons, few other unknown art tarts but my favourite film period. 1960 and my world was just starting to open up.
