Time for my occasional round up of films that were in cinemas earlier this year and are now available to watch at home, or have debuted this year for home viewing. Firstly some available on most streaming services…
Destroyer
he synopsis doesn’t sound promising. A maverick and burned out cop gets a chance to erase their demons when a criminal from the past reappears. It sounds like something that has been done a million times before, but director Karyn Kusama gives it a pleasing grainy 1970s feel. Also the fact the cop is a woman gives it a twist and Nicole Kidman gives arguably a career best performance. The highlight is a brilliantly shot bank robbery.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
RBG
A nice companion piece to On the Basis of Sex that is also available now on streaming services. This is a straightforward documentary about the liberal US judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The subject matter is enough to keep this interesting but there us nothing groundbreaking. Whisky I am politically aligned with RBG, a few dissenting voices might have given the film more bite.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Jellyfish
A 15 year old girl has to balance going to school with earning money, looking after her younger brother and sister and keeping the authorities unaware of her incapable mother. This is an excellent gritty British drama with a brilliant lead performance by Liv Hill as Sarah Taylor and a sleazy turn by Angus Barnett as her arcade boss. Funny and heartbreaking. Director James Gardner brings some nice stylistic choices including one audacious static shot as Sarah experiences a traumatic event.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Second Act
I was hoping this would be a good lightweight Saturday night entertainment in the mould of Working Girl. Unfortunately, whilst it isn’t terrible it really doesn’t work. Jennifer Lopez is unconvincingly poor as a middle aged woman who uses a fake CV to secure a job she would otherwise be overlooked for. Predictable and just underwhelming.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Now a few exclusive to Netflix
Last Laugh
The sort of film that probably would not get made these days without Netflix or Amazon Prime. Buddy Green (Richard Dreyfuss) lives in a plush retirement complex after a life as a podiatrist. His family are unaware that his had a brief career as a stand up comedian before giving it up just as he was about to have his shot at the big time. When, by chance, his former manager, Al Hart (Chevy Chase) moves in, they decide to go on the road for one final tour.
This is pretty gentle stuff but a quiet pleasure. Dreyfuss is convincing enough though the usually relaxed Chase does appear a little uncomfortable his part. The love interest in the form of Andie McDowell doesn’t really work but the interaction between Al and Buddy keeps the film afloat. It also features the terrific Kate Micucci in a small part as Al’s granddaughter.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Murder Mystery
Conventional wisdom is that Adam Sandler’s best film is Punch Drunk Love. That’s probably true but my favourite is Just Go With It. Here he re-teams with the co star from that film, Jennifer Aniston. This is a breezy romp about an American couple on holiday in Europe who get mixed up in a series of murders. Not to be taken at all seriously, this is a lot of fun in the mould of the recent Murder on the Blackpool Express/Death on the Tyne TV films.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Isn’t it Romantic
Rebel Wilson gets a rare starring role is this parody of romantic comedies, and proves she works better in small doses. After a promising start it soon runs out of ideas and it becomes annoying. Liam Hensworth is pretty awful as the love interest and Betty Gilpin is under used in a small role
Rating: 4.5 out of 10