La fille de Monaco (2008) **

A jarring third act sinks what was an hilarious comédie romantique. Stunning debut for the lovely Ms. Bourgoin.

Judy (2019) **

Well photographed and Ms. Zellweger is superb. Too bad the script and direction are awful.

The Remarkable Mr. Kipps (1941) *

Too literal adaptation of a Wells story fails to make cinematic impact wasting a fine Mike Redgrave.

Helena Bonham Carter: ‘​I’ve got so many issues, but as you get older you go: whatever’

What’s yours [complex]?
I’ve got so many issues, but as you get older you go: “Whatever.” The curse of being young is you take your complex too seriously. Or you take your opinion of yourself too seriously. As soon as you’re a bit older, you tell the demons to shut up because they’re boring.
Does that make you happier?
There’s no doubt that I’m happier now with my 56-year-old envelope than I was any time before that.

King Lear (2018) **

For the first two thirds of the film it is beautifully produced and colorfully shot, then the director makes the foolish decision to start desaturating the color until it ends up looking like your run-of-the-mill Marvel flick. Superb cast nonetheless.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010) **

Would have been better without Josh who is glaringly miscast.

Man Hunt (1941) *

Talky actioner is too long and too heavy-handed.

Billion Dollar Brain (1967) *

Makes Moonraker look like Hamlet. Mike Caine, Françoise Dorléac and the great Oskar Homolka are the only reasons to sit through this.

The Minus Man (1999) **

Another flick with excellent parts but lacks the sure handed direction to bring it all together.

Beat the Devil (1953) **

An example of a film with many exceptional parts that just doesn't add up to much. Shot by the great Oswald Morris, and featuring the lovely Ms. Lollobrigida.

Variety (1983) **

Loved the snapshot of early '80's NYC but the third rate script and direction is a let down.

Florence Pugh called John le Carré an “old f*cking fart,” which… inspired him?

The new friendship turned out to be a very good one, at least for Le Carré, who would lament to Pugh a year later that he was suffering from a serious case of writer’s block, to which Pugh replied, “What do you mean your writing days are over? Just keep writing. Keep stretching your brain. Do it.” And it worked.

The Pale Blue Eye (2022) *

Deadly dull and shot in perpetual shade and darkness. Half the time you can't see the actors' complete faces but when you can, you see they're struggling to say the lines. Complete waste of Ms. Gainsbourg.

Moonlighting (1982) **

Clever socio-political allegory is wonderfully made on a shoestring, but Jeremy Irons just seems lost from start to finish. Not sure if it is him, his performance or the character poorly written.

The Shout (1978) ****

Lots to chew on here or maybe nothing at all. Expertly directed puzzle picture offers spectacular scenery, beautiful images and a top cast.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) ***

Episodic look at the addictive pull of war-time journalism succeeds with a top-notch cast, solid script and direction.

Tangerines (2013) ***

Effective anti-war fable told with restraint and humanity.

2022 In Review: Movies

** All The Old Knives
** Hustle
** The Menu

* Bullet Train
* Glass Onion
* Interceptor

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) *

Apparently we're still working out how to light a digitally shot flick, so there's not even beautiful images to watch as the completely un-engrossing "story" unfolds. Is it just me or is Dan Craig completely miscast?