in brief: struggling novelist Lowen (Dakota Johnson) is recruited to ghost-write for a renowned author who has suffered a devastating accident, but as she delves into her research she begins to suspect that all is not as it seems. for me: i love a good melodrama. whether it’s a trad whodunnit or a spicy erotic thriller. i don’t mind the cliched dialogue or the big performances, and i love the inevitable property and interior design porn, for what is melodrama without obscene wealth? i’ll take a voiceover, although it isn’t my favourite element, but give me an unreliable narrator and … Continue reading quick hits // Verity

in brief: when a cow is found mauled by something unusually large, both the local police and a group of informally deputised hunters go in search of the bear, tiger, or whatever it might be. for me: if there wasn’t already a great movie called whiplash, this movie could own that title. first, and most literally, there is some breakneck stunt driving through narrow urban streets; second, there are definitely fatal encounters with both trees and gravity that some people seem better equipped to shake off than others; finally, there is the dramamtic shift between mind-blowing brilliance and mind-altering nonsense, … Continue reading quick hits // Hope

in brief: teacher Maria (Saoirse Ronan) is struggling to give her best to her class due to the disruptive influence of one pupil, Danny (Eddie Waller), who really needs specialised help, or even one-to-one teaching. of course, that should be formally arranged, but rash decisions and an empty basement lead to some unconventional results. for me: as someone who has worked in education, i can promise you that we’ve all thought about it… about how much better a class would do without that one disruptive influence, of course. nothing else. Bad Apples is dark and disturbing, but utterly hilarious, as … Continue reading quick hits // Bad Apples

in brief: a pair of military veterans (one bi-ped, one quadra-ped, albeit with a prosthetic) are exploring the middle of nowhere when their plane crashes and they have to trek their way back to civilisation. for me: without the humans, definitely. even with the humans it’s still good. in a way it scratches the competence-porn itch, as both Odin the dog (mainly Uber, but also Seeker, Ryker, and Hondo) and James the human (Brad Pitt) are incredibly capable at dealing with what life throws at them. even without the vaguely flag-waving flashbacks, their skills and bond are shown so clearly … Continue reading quick hits // Heart of the Beast

in brief: a medical courier about to head home gets one last high priority delivery for the day, to the hospital in Raccoon City. after a few unsettling events on his drive there, Bryan (Austin Abrams) ends up fighting for his life, something he is wildly unprepared for. for me: blah blah not a gamer blah blah never played it blah blah no skin in the game. i did, however, really enjoy the recent tv series, which tried doing something more interesting than usual with the story, and the original Mill-ogy – not that either of those were of the … Continue reading quick hits // Resident Evil

in brief: with the fate of the war in the balance, allied forces plan for D-Day, a beach assault with airborne support; but the leading british and american meteorologists disagree on whether the weather will even allow the operation to take place. for me: war is all about preparedness, which is no doubt why Pressure has three baristas listed in the crew. on the face of it, a war film with no war, no enemies, and wall-to-wall weather chat should be the dullest, most insufferably british thing in existence, but the story is thrilling and emotional, even without the personal … Continue reading quick hits // Pressure

in brief: despite trying to cut magic out of her life, The Owens’ Curse still reaches out to one of Sally(Sandra Bullock)’s daughters, sending the family to England, a mysterious professor, and the origins of the family’s witchcraft. for me: i’m not as wedded to the original as some, given that my watch of it on netflix a few weeks ago might have been my first, or maybe second at very most. it was fun and funny, romantic and sad, and the dark plot machinations slightly distracted from the family dynamic that was really all that mattered. whilst far from … Continue reading quick hits // Practical Magic 2

in brief: grieving the loss of her thrill-seeking sister, Jax (Harriet Slater) meets Luce (Arsema Thomas), who persuades her to memorialise the dead by ticking a daring ascent off her unfulfilled bucket list, despite many potentially fatal impediments. for me: against all logic, this absolute wuss loved the bits of Fall i could see through my fingers. the characters made sense, the challenge was somewhat meaningful, and brilliant performances and stunning visual effects made it all seem horribly real. it was a trauma i will never put myself through again, but it was a genuinely great film. this follow up … Continue reading quick hits // Fall 2

in briefs: college graduate Elliot (Cooper Hoffman) lands an intern role with a sexually free modern artist, who begins to lead him into experiences he could never have imagined. for me: i have finally popped my Gregg Araki cherry, and it was wonderful! I Want Your Sex takes the vibrancy and liberation of Almodovar, stirs in the surreal subversiveness of Waters, and bakes it in a 50’s-noir shaped cake tin. it’s gonzo and unapologetic and sexual and shallow and smart and dumb, and while it may not be as good as Olivia Wilde‘s most recent sex comedy, it’s up there! … Continue reading quick hits // I Want Your Sex