Here is a round up of new films seen at home this month, starting as usual with Amazon Prime:
The Sheep Detectives
In this feelgood family film, directed by Kyle Balda and written by Craig Mazin, based on the 2005 novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann, a flock of sheep set off to solve the mystery of who murdered their beloved shepherd. I think this has gone down pretty well amongst younger audiences and it is not unpleasant to watch, but it felt like the humour was a bit forced to me and it was all very twee.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Pike River
On November 19th 2010, a coal mine explosion in New Zealand kills Anna Osborne’s husband and Sonya Rockhouse’s son, along with 27 other men. The two women soon embark on a quest for truth and justice. Melanie Lynskey, having a rare chance to use her real accent, and Robyn Malcolm give fully committed performances, but the story simmers rather than catching alight.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Over Your Dead Body
When miserable couple Dan (Jason Segal) and Lisa (Samara Weaving) retreat to a remote cabin for a romantic reset, each arrives with a secret plan to kill the other. However, their carefully plots quickly unravel when prison escapees crash the weekend with plans of their own. This is based on a 2021 Norwegian film called The Trip. I have not seen that but much of the plot felt a little familiar. But it has its moments of invention and all the cast are doing good work, particularly Juliette Lewis as a prison guard helping the fleeing inmates.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
On Netflix:
Enola Holmes 3
The first two Enola Holmes films were surprisingly entertaining and Millie Bobby Brown returns in the title role once again. Now grown up, Enola is looking forward to her upcoming wedding to Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) when she receives news that her brother, Sherlock (Henry Cavill), is kidnapped. I think this series has run its course now. This instalment was a lot less inventive and with Enola all grown up, less novel.
Rating: 5 out of 10
72 Hours
To save his career, Joe (Kevin Hart), a 40-year-old ad exec joins a crew of twentysomethings for a wild Miami bachelor party after they mistakenly add him to a group chat. The continued appeal of Kevin Hart eludes me. I have enjoyed a handful of his films, like the Jumanjis and Ride Along 2, but that was despite rather than because of him. This, though is a frantic, laughter free zone. But, if you find the idea of a penis funny, then this could be for you.
Rating: 2 out of 10
A Foggy Tale
In 1950’s Taiwanese civilians suffered political repression under the government ruled by the Kuomintang, in what became known as White Terror. A young girl, Yue, from Chiayi travels north to retrieve the remains of her brother, who had been executed by the Kuomintang. She develops a friendship with a local soldier and rickshaw driver as she tries to earn the money needed to achieve her task. Whilst this is an interesting look at a time and culture I know little about, and Caitlin Fang is excellent as Yue, it is very episodic, It also has some broad comedy that does not work and fizzles out.
Rating: 6 out of 10
The Marked Woman
This Spanish thriller is directed by Gabe Ibáñez, written by Lara Sendim and based on the novel by Rosa Montero and Olivier Truc. Found by the police in a container of the Port of Barcelona, a woman, played by Ana Rujas is unable to recall her identity. She is taken to a hospital where an attempt is made on her life prompting Inspectors Anna Ripoll (Candela Peña) and Quique Zárate (Pol López) to take over the investigation. Anyone who watches a lot of cop thrillers will spot the identity of the bad guy much sooner than the investigators here but otherwise the plot ticks along nicely and the three leads work well together. Cinematographer Bernat Bosch does a fine job, particular in an extended night time scene at a port.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Little Brother
John Cena stars as a successful estate agent who has created himself his dream life. But that is carefully upended when an eccentric man who participated in the same “Big Brother-Little Brother” programme re-appears. I continue to fail to see why Cena gets work, being neither funny nor convincing as a dramatic actor. But the main problem here is the script that is devoid of any funny moments.
Rating: 2 out of 10
Desire
A married mother, Lucero (Ludwika Paleta) falls for her daughter’s swimming coach, Matias (Oscar Casas) and has an affair but her daughter also becomes attracted to him. This Mexican potboiler from Teresa Simone is glossy but empty and slackly paced. Paleta rises above the material to a degree but the rest of the cast are merely adequate.
Rating: 4 out of 10
Chris and Martina: The Final Set
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova dominated women’s tennis in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980’s. They were great rivals and came from very different backgrounds but were also friends. They remained that after retirement, helping each other battle cancer. Their relationship is examined in this documentary from Rebecca Gitlitz. Tennis is one of my least favourite sports, but little new information about their playing careers is revealed. It is heartening to see their enduring friendship though.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Over on Sky, subscribers can see:
Mile End Kicks
This Canadian coming of age comedy was written and directed by Chandler Levack and is partly based on her own young adulthood. Barbie Ferreira stars as Grace Pine, a young woman who moves to Montreal, Quebec, in 2011 with the goal of writing a book about Alanis Morissette’s album Jagged Little Pill but instead takes a job as the publicist for the aspiring band Bone Patrol. She also becomes romantically involved with two band members, Archie (Devon Bostick) and Chevy (Stanley Simons). With the style of music this should have been right up my alley, but I found the band members insufferable and Grace very bland.
Rating: 4 out of 10
In Cold Light
Fresh out of prison and eager to reclaim her shattered drug pushing empire, Ava (Maika Monroe) sets out to take back control of her once-thriving drug operation. But her plans implode when she is framed for a killing that puts a target on her back from both the police and the city’s ruthless crime boss (Helen Hunt). I thought I might not connect with a film about a drug dealer, but a nicely downbeat vibe, some surprises and good performances from Monroe and Hunt meant my expectations were exceeded.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
No Ordinary Heist
On 20 December 2004, £26.5 million in cash was stolen from the headquarters of Northern Bank in Belfast. Colin McIvor has written and directed this depiction of that event with Eddie Marsan and Éanna Hardwicke playing Richard Murray and Richard Williams, the bank employees who who were forced to pull off the job. This is pretty tense stuff as the day of the robbery unfolds, and Murray & Williams have to pull off the unlikely crime. Marsan, in particular, is great as Murray gradually unravels. There is a nice twist in the tale too.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Strung
A talented violinist takes new job tutoring for an elite family. It turns into a battle for her safety and sanity. I thought this was superficially flashy, but poorly acted and ultimately ludicrous. I then saw that it was produced by Tyler Perry and that made sense!
Rating: 2 out of 10
The following can be bought or rented on the usual services:
Miroirs No 3
During a weekend trip to the countryside, Laura (Paula Beer), a young piano student from Berlin, miraculously survives a shocking car crash that kills her boyfriend. Awakening in a nearby house, Laura finds herself in the care of a local woman, Betty (Barbara Auer). As she recuperates, Laura begins to integrate herself into the lives of the woman, and her initially reluctant husband and son. This is a beautifully directed film by Christian Petzold and I really enjoyed the pace that the story unfolds at, with Beer and Auer doing great work. It is an intelligent, and sometimes unsettling, examination of the effects of grief and trauma.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Everybody to Kenmure Street
Felipe Bustos Sierra directed this documentary about the events that took place at the titular address in Glasgow on 13 May 2021. When a van full of immigration officers arrived on the morning of the Muslim festival of Eid, to arrest two men of Indian Sikh background, refusing them legal representation, the locals resist. Word spread on social media and crowds gathered round the van containing the men.
The vehicle couldn’t move because a single, committed activist, nicknamed ‘Van Man’ climbed under the van, grabbed the axle and refused to move. It is compelling stuff seeing a group of brave and committed people resisting the agents of a racist Westminster government. There is a good mixture of footage from the scene, participants being interviewed about their part and a smattering of historical context. In an excellent choice, Emma Thompson narrates the testimony of the van man and Kate Dickie the nurse who came to his aid. Shocking but also uplifting.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
On Apple TV there are two sports dramas
In The Dink, Jake Johnson stars as Dusty Boyd, an aging tennis pro who must go against his instincts and play pickleball to save a local club. Josh Greenbaum’s comedy very much follows the sporting underdog story template so it will not surprise. But it has some funny moments, especially when John McEnroe makes a cameo appearance. It also looked like it was going to feature a rare romance between a younger man and older woman when Dusty grows close to Mary Steenburgen’s club member, but Sean Clements’ screenplay does not quite go there, despite the pair having palpable chemistry.
They Fight is a less engaging boxing drama. Recently released from prison, coach Walt Mangian (André Holland) joins a local youth gym to help a ragtag team of adolescent boxers aspiring to a national championship. Sheldon Candis’ earnest drama is based on a true story and a documentary of the same name. Despite that, it never felt truly authentic or original. Wendell Pierce steals every scene he is in.
Ratings out of 10:
The Dink: 6.5
They Fight: 4.5