Movie revie - "The Nice Guys" (2017) ***1/2

 Fun, easy, loved the period detail. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in fine form, ditto Angourie Rice. Maybe it would've been more popular had Crowe and Gosling been more different - they are both tough guys.

Movie review - "Project Hail Mary" (2026) ****

 Warm, clever, fun, positive. Lord and Miller really have the goods. Ryan Gosling is fine. Love a sci fi movie that doesn't talk down to its audience but is still broad appeal.

Movie review - "Desperately Seeking Susan" (1985) ****

 Wonderful movie. A tight script from a mysterious writer Leora Barish (what happened to her) directed with life, joy and flavour by Susan Seidelman. New York is a wonderland, full of colour and characters - magicians and their sidekicks, hunky cinema operators, MCs, blonde assassins. The macguffin is Egyptian artefacts - how cool is that?

Many talented people at the beginning of their careers including Steven Wright, Will Patton and Jon Turturro. Aidan Quinn is the perfect male romantic lead, Rosanna Arquette was never better as the innocent wife, Madonna is electric in the perfect role.

Movie review - "There's Always Vanilla" (1971) **

 Romero's least known film? A story of an fboi (Raymond Laine) who drifts around post-army, trying different jobs, annoying his dad, sleeping around, writing. He sleeps with Judith Laine, who is lovely (she was in Night of the Living Dead); she gets pregnant, he's tempted to sell out, can't do it.

This wasn't bad. It's the sort of movie that might play with a super charismatic star - Laine doesn't have that, he's not good looking enough for Laine.  

The movie has an intelligence, talks about big issues. It's indulgent but not terrible. It just lacks a charismatic star. 

Movie review - Maisie#5 - "Ringside Maisie" (1941) ***

 Maisie winds up at a boxing camp where the boxer's manager George Murphy assumes she's a tramp which is fun, as is Maisie jitterbugging at the top.

I liked the third act melodrama and Maise having more of a sex drive. Maybe the presence of Robert Sterling, Ann Sothern's husband as the boxer?

Murphy is a prat for forcing Sterling to box and the film doesn't redeem him - it sets up a Southern /Sterling clinch at the end which would've worked. Still, this was strong.

Movie review - "Jurassic Park 3" (2001) **

 Written a few weeks before filming and you can tell. No characters are intresting. No relationships. Sam Neill is professional but his relationship with Alessandra Nivola is dull, as is Nivola (with a backpack, come on). Tea Leoni and William H Macy never seem like they were married or parents, the kid is dull, no support characters. Why no decent villains?

They could've just had Laura Dern looking for Sam Neill or vice versa.

Decent effects. You can see the money on screen. 

Movie review - "The Sheep Detective" (2026) ****

 Lovely movie. Made with heart. Excellent effects and acting. Everyone seems like a nice person - Emma Thompson, Molly Gordon, Hugh Jackman, the sheep.