A Gunman Has Escaped(1948)
A great drama with palatable tension from writer/director John Gilling.Following three armed robbers on the run who killed a passer by during a job.John Fitzgerald,John Harvey and Robert Cartland are believably desperate in their respective roles.
7/10
Special Forces (2011) Diane Kruger plays a French journalist kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan, while Djimon Hounsou, Benoit Magimel & Denis Menochet are amongst the French equivalent of the SAS who are tasked with rescuing her. In many ways a standard shoot 'em up action war film, but given extra quality by the survival element in the storyline. It would have interesting to have explored the motives of both the Kruger character and the Taliban leader, played by Raz Degan. Also starring Raphael Personnaz,Alain Figlarz,Alain Alivon & Medhi Nebbou. 6.5/10
The Remains Of The Day(1993)
Anthony Hopkins is superb as a retired butler looking back regretfully on his life which he devoted to the service of his employer whilst trying to live with the love he repressed from his colleague,Emma Thompson.The fantastic supporting cast includes Edward Fox,Christopher Reeve and Peter Vaughn.
8/10
Slow West(2015) Kodi Smit-McPhee stars as a teenage Scot who follows his sweetheart( Caren Pistorious) into the Wild West of the 1870s and picks up a 'chaperone' , a bounty killer played by Michael Fassbender, along the way. A beautifully shot Western, with an intelligent script peppered with dry wit, and with some imaginative directorial touches from John Maclean in his first full length film. A nice occasional use of flashback and a varied soundtrack too. All these good points means the slight thinness of the back story doesn't matter too much. Also starring Ben Mendelsohn ( a bit underused), Andrew Robertt , Rory McCann & Kalani Queypo. 7/10
Life(2017) A life form brought on a space station from Mars threatens the lives of the scientists (Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada, Olga Dihovichaya & Ariyon Bakare) on board. Not a particularly original storyline, certainly slightly reminiscent of Alien, but it is nicely shot and the acting, particularly Ferguson is good. The alien, design wise, is a bit underwhelming, but its given a clever story arc. 6.5/10
Power Rangers (2017)
Very enjoyable & fun reboot of the classic 90's tv show & 2 films. The actors that play the rangers all are very good as also is Bryan Cranston as Zordon & Bill Hader as Alpha 5. Elizabeth Banks is very evil & sinister as Rita Repulsa.
The special effects & action are very good and it's also very very funny. I also thought it was fantastic that one of the rangers is autistic like me & the portrayal of someone with autism was spot on and I could relate to it.
2 of the original rangers from the very first tv series have cameos & there is a mid-credits scene setting up the sequel
9/10
The Proud and the Damned(1972)
Five mercenaries ride into a town that is in the midst of a rebellion and find themselves torn between which side to choose in order to survive and profit.A really entertaining and well directed western from Ferde Grof.Jr with good lead turns from Chuck Connors and Cesar Romero.
7/10
Murder! (1930) Herbert Marshall stars as an ex member of a jury who find a young actress(Norah Baring) guilty of murder, but he has doubts and sets out to investigate the case before she is executed. Hitchcock's third all talkie film, and the sense that he is finding his directorial feet, with plenty of nice touches, good crowd scenes and crowd reaction, entertaining scenes at the theatre and circus, and some funny moments. The plot isn't stunning, but its OK, its everything else around this that makes the film entertaining, and an underrated minor classic. Marshall and Baring acting wise very good, too. Also starring Phyllis Konstam, Edward Chapman, Esme Percy & R E Jeffrey. 7.5/10
Dr. Strangelove(1964)
Stanley Kubrick's satirical blackest of black comedies stars Peter Sellers in maybe his best form as three different characters.The title role,an ex Nazi scientist working for the USA,stiff upper lipped Captain Lionel Mandrake and the US President Merkin Muffley.Truly dazzling,intelligent and incredibly funny.
8.5/10