Heli(2013) Heli is a young man who inadvertently comes up against a drugs cartel and the police after his sister hides cocaine stolen by her boyfriend in their house. A grim and graphic slice of Mexican life where the police are only slightly better than the drug sellers. A well acted piece. Starring Armando Espitia, Andrea Vergera, Linda Gonzalez,Juan Eduardo Palacios & Reina Torres 6.5/10
The Brass Monkey(1948)
A comedy thriller about a popular radio personality who uncovers a plot by a connoisseur of Buddhist artefacts to steal the priceless Brass Monkey from a museum.An entertaining film with charismatic performances from Terry Thomas and Herbert Lom.
7/10
The London Film Festival at the temporary venue Embankment Garden Cinema:
Goldstone (2016) Aaron Pederson reprises his role as Australian Indigenous policeman Jay Swan which he played in 2013's Mystery Road as he arrives in the Outback town of Goldstone on a missing person case but finds corruption and various political issues. Indeed, the mystery is not really a big deal in this film, but more important is the way it covers the corruption and other issues such as land rights and people trafficking. Pederson is spot on as a sort of Man With No Name with an alcohol issue and there's good work too from Alex Russell as the local cop not sure who's side he's on and Jacki Weaver is excellent as usual as the untrustworthy mayor. The cinematography of the Outback is top notch too. Also starring Kate Beahan,Pei-Pei Cheng, Michelle Lim Davidson, David Gulpilil, Tommy Lewis & David Wenham. 7/10
The film was followed by an interesting Q & A with director/writer/cinematographer Ivan Sen.
Ghostbusters 2016
Don't know what all the fuss is about by the purist,just a time filling piece off fluff that weren't bad.
7/10
Suicide Squad
Enjoyable....but....not as good as I hoped...Deadpool better for me.
8/10 (could've been better)
Eichmann(2007) Adolf Eichmann, was the architect of the Nazi's Final Solution was captured in exile in Argentina in 1960 and brought to Israel. This film recounts his interrogation by army officer Captain Avner Less (played by Troy Garity), interpersed with flashbacks to Eichmann's war past. Garity and Thomas Kretschmann as Eichmann are good, but the flashbacks add nothing, are they true or allegations by witnesses? Stephen Fry as an Israeli government minister is also a problem, his showy style of acting does not fit in with the rest of the film. Better are the Less family scenes(Franke Potente as Mrs Less) with disagreements of whether Eichmann should even have a trial,these arguments also shown over the whole country. Also starring Stephen Greif. 6/10
Gelignite Gang(1955)
A crime drama about a gang of ruthless crooks that specialise in safecracking and their plan to pull off their next job in Soho.Directed by Terence Fisher,it features his trademark framing of shots to great effect.With good turns from Wayne Morris,Sandra Dorne and Patrick Holt.
8/10
The 30 Foot Bride Of Candy Rock(1959)
A pretty entertaining and smart film from Sidney Miller about a lady(Dorothy Povine)who drinks the magic(radioactive)water of Dinosaur Springs which then turns her into a 30 foot tall giantess.Also starring Lou Costello in the only film he made without longtime screen partner Bud Abbott.
7/10
The London Film Festival Vue West End Leicester Square
Planetarium(2016) The story of two American sisters(played by Natalie Portman & Lily-Rose Depp) in pre WW2 Paris who hold seances and how they come into contact with a French director, played by Emmanuel Salinger. A supremely stylish picture, with excellent cinematography and music.Its not exactly style over substance but the story is thin in places and does drift a bit. There's other plusses, however, Portman is superb, moving between speaking English and French with ease and also convincing in portraying the part of a novice actress. Depp(daughter of Johnny with Vanessa Paradis) is assured in the role of the gifted but child like younger sister and Salinger is very good too. Also starring Amira Casar. 6.5/10
Film was followed by a Q & A with director/writer Rebecca Zlotowski.
The Night Caller(1965)
An interesting if slightly silly sci fi film from John Gilling.Aliens from another planet are facing extinction,in their desperation they choose the females of earth to interbreed with in order to keep their society alive.John Saxon,Maurice Denham and Patrica Haines do their best with a script that is quite hokey at times.
6/10
Company K (2004) The true story of an American marine company fighting in the trenches in WW1. Though based on the reminisces of a veteran, the film is cheap looking and slightly amateurish, divided into episodes relating to each member of the company, this doesn't really enhance the film. Acting is generally fine. Starring Ari Fliakos, Joe Delafield,Daniel Stewart Sherman & Lee Aaron Rosen. 3.5/10