Movie review - "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (2025) ***1/2

 Points to Rian Johnson changing mode, making this an examination of faith. Josh O'Connor is excellent in a tricky role. Daniel Craig hams it up. Mila Kunis feels miscast. Jeremy Renner seems unwell but it suits the part. Nice images.

Movie review - "The Great Rock n Roll Swindle" (1980) ***

 Banger soundtrack. If you don't like the music you don't go for the film. The movie is a mess. But there's always something going on - fun animation, Steve Jones as a detective, Malcolm McLaren claiming credit for everything and hanging out with a little person, Sid Vicious full of dark charisma, Johnny Rotten glimpsed but still a thrill, Edward Tenpole as someone who should've been the front man for good. Packs a kick at the end with reports of the deaths of Sid and Nancy.

Movie review - "The Holiday" (2006) ***

 Sweet rom (not enough comedy, really, to be a rom com) which has intimidating production design, lots of people who've been dumped, some quite insightful writing on the pain of loving someone who goesn't love you back, a good heart, top level cast. Kate Winsley and Cameron Diaz are ordinary gals next door (ha), Jude Law the perfect man (dead wife, handsome, in love, editor, cute kids), Jack Black a genuinely fresh choice, the Eli Wallach suubplot very sweet.

Movie review - "Winter Spring Summer and Fall" (2024) ***

 Sweet romance which hit the spot and nice to Jenna Ortega in a more regular part. The film feels as though it's headed towards a bittersweet ending so the happy one doesn't quite work. Amiable. I was in the mood for it.

Movie review - "Captive" (1986) **1/2

 Doesn't quite work - Paul Mayersberg was perhaps over ambitious using the Patty Heart story as he had to demonstrate real character change, and the inexperienced cast doesn't help. But it takes a swing. Memorable images and moods. The Edge did music. 

Mayersberg did work for Nic Roeg and it's got his horniness - we first meet Irina Brook naked with a lover and she takes her clothes off a lot. 

Movie review - "Nineteen Eighty Four" (1984) ****

 Kind of forgotten now - Brazil has overshadowed it - but beautifully done. I mean, beautiful in a drab way. Like a dream, only a nightmarish dream. Wonderful design. Superb work from John Hurt and Richard Burton (clearly dying and sad - what a great last film). Suzanne Hamilton warm. Made to go nude a fair bit. Devastating ending. Depressingly still relevant.

Movie review - "The Holcroft Covenant" (1985) *

 Such a bad movie. Confusing. Slow. Devoid of action. Dull. No decent action scenes.

Michael Caine replaced James Caan. Caine is bad. Everyone is bad. Incomptent. Finale is a press conference. No sex, no intrigue, no suspense.

This was an abomination.