With my TV shows of the year post I said something which applies to movies too… it’s been a mixed bag. Understandably so, given the pandemic which refuses to end. And yet, we’ve still had good stories to entertain and teach us things. Here are my favourites from this past year. I’ve split them into the ones I liked a lot (directly below), and ones … Continue reading My top movies of 2021
This movie is tricky. First, the good: it’s got an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the cast (Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Lakeith Stanfield, Delroy Lindo). The soundtrack is super cool, and many of the characters get impressive entrances. The performances, as you’d expect, are all solid, with Majors shining. And yet… the movie doesn’t add up to what it promises on … Continue reading The Harder They Fall (2021): a scrappy mess, but still fun
Yes, there are loads of bona-fide classic Westerns out there, with the bulk being from the ’50s and ’60s. That said, there new ones being made all the time. It’s a genre that continues to fascinate us as moviegoers. And with these new stories, filmmakers are finding new ways to tell them and present them, and make them relevant for a modern audience. Here are … Continue reading My five favourite modern Westerns
Godless is one of the latest shows to be released by Netflix. A Western that got shopped around Hollywood as a feature film but didn’t get picked up, so writer-director Scott Frank (who penned Logan) ended up finding a home for it on the small screen, and the story went from two hours to a solid seven. Now this could have been a writer’s dream. Think … Continue reading Godless: good, but could’ve been great
James Mangold is a compelling director; in that a lot of his work has real emotional depth and nuance, and often benefits from repeat viewing. And he’s kind of underappreciated. I mean, Girl, Interrupted, 3:10 To Yuma and Walk The Line all had him at the helm. And yes, granted, he’s also got The Wolverine on his filmography, but we’re all allowed a little stumble now and … Continue reading Logan: sad, beautiful and final
Now I’ve called this post a season one review because, as we all know, Westworld has been renewed for a second go round. Hardly a surprise, given it’s a flagship show on Sky Atlantic, it’s got a sickeningly talented cast (Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Thandie Newton, Evan Rachel Wood etc), clever, tricksy writers (Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy), strong concept (sci-fi meets Western) and has … Continue reading Westworld: season one review
Ok, I fess up. I’ve not seen the original. There, I’ve said it. Yet another classic Western that’s passed me by. And yes, maybe one day I’ll get round to it, but for now at least, I have to make do with the modern version. And I say make do because it’s OK. Not bad, just not that great either. Which, let’s face it, is … Continue reading Magnificent Seven: all glory no guts
Good tidings we bring to you and your, er, fellow cinema fans. Here’s my latest ‘trailer park’ entry, highlighting a few that have caught my eye for films coming up soon. Victor Frankenstein Seemingly stealing the style straight from Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock films, here we have James McAvoy’s Dr Frankenstein and Daniel Radcliffe’s Igor in a sort of irreverent buddy movie – with monsters. And … Continue reading Trailer park: Victor Frankenstein, Joy, The Revenant
Mikey's Medicine 