The Program (2015) The rise and fall of Lance Armstrong . Ben Foster puts in a strong performance as Armstrong coming over as confident, arrogant and not particularly likeable even pre drugs. There is an interesting look at the scientific way his team was run with a fine turn from Chris O'Dowd as the Sunday Times journalist who investigates Armstrong. Jesse Plemons is excellent as one of Armstrong's teammates and there's a nice cameo from Dustin Hoffman. Also starring Guillaume Canet,Denis Menochet & Peter Wight. 6.5/10
Poor Cow(1967)
Ken Loach directs this gritty and well acted drama about a young mother called Joy.Played by Carol White,who is forced to fend for herself after her violent husband is sent to prison.Joy's life takes a turn for the better when she meets a kind man called Dave(Terrence Stamp).The two find solace with each other but Joy also feels conflicted with guilt over the situation with her husband.
8/10
Predator : Dark Ages(2015)
A low budget,25 minute fan film written and directed by John Bushe.Set obviously in the dark ages.A small band of Templar Knights return to England from the war torn middle East only to find themselves as the quarry of a lone Predator,intent on honourably hunting them all.Well put together with hardly any money at all,it was still more enjoyable then any of the sequels made after Predator 2(1990).With Adrian Bouchet and Amed Hashimi in the lead roles.
7/10
Beach Red (1967) The hopes,fears & thoughts of US Marines fighting the Japanese on a Philippines island during WW2. One of eight films directed by Cornel Wilde, generally more known as an actor, he also stars in this as the Captain and also narrates. A generally underplayed film with an anti war film slant, which feels a bit like a documentary in the early stages. The action is broken up times with some interesting directorial flourishes. Also starring Rip Torn, Burr DeBenning & Patrick Wolfe. 6.5/10
Melvin And Howard(1980)
Jonathan Demme's fifth film is based on the much disputed claim that Howard Hughes left $156,000,000 to a milkman named Melvin Dummar.A haunting 20 minute opening scene which sees Dummar rescuing a bedraggled Hughes,played wonderfully by Jason Robards from the desert,sets the tone and then builds to an amazingly emotional final stretch that deals with the fallout from Hughes's contested will.Also featuring a stand out,Oscar winning turn from Mary Steenburgen as Melvin Dummar's effervescent wife.
9/10
Potiche (2010) Catherine Deneuve plays the 'title' role a potiche which sort of translates as a trophy wife. An amusing film, nicely performed as Deneuve takes over a husband's factory in late 70s France against a background of the recognition of worker's and women's rights. Gerard Depardieu puts in a good performance as the Communist mayor, also starring Fabrice Luchini,Karin Viard,Judith Godreche & Jeremie Renier. 6.5/10
The Canterville Ghost(1944)
Jules Dassin directs this film based on a short story by Oscar Wilde.A pretty good effort overall with some nice photography and its always a pleasure to watch the great Charles Laughton,who really hams it up in the title role.
7/10
She Wolf Of London(1946)
When a series of murder victims are found with their throats ripped out and a "Wolf Woman" is seen in the vicinity,June Lockhart believes that she may be responsible.A well put together film from Jean Yarbrough with a good make up effect for the wolf.Also starring Lloyd Corrigan,Don Porter,Sara Haden,Eily Malton and Jan Wiley.
7/10
United 93(2006) The story of the plane that was hijacked on the 11th September 2001 but where the passengers eventually took over the plane. Starting off in the manner of a docudrama(indeed from the plane take off to the end, it is filmed in real time) director Paul Greengrass gradually ramps up the tension with superb roving camerawork, switching between air control and the plane. The film also benefits from the lack of distracting star names. 8.5/10
Troops(1997)
A ten minute parody of the famous fly on the wall style TV show COPS but set in the Star Wars universe.The film was written and directed by Kevin Rubio and was debuted at the San Diego Comic Con in 1997.The film follows the legendary Black Sheep Squadron of Stormtroopers stationed on the planet Tatooine and gives us an alternative take on the deaths of Luke Skywalker's Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.The squadron leader puts it down to a domestic incident.The film ends with a report via com link about a disturbance in a cantina at the Mos Eiseley spaceport.Although done for laughs the attention to detail is superb and the fanfare the project garnered is richly deserved.
8.5/10