Apollo 10 1/2
After his misstep with Where’d You Go to Bernadette the usually reliable Richard Linklater is back on firmer ground with this animated story. Over the course of a Houston summer in 1969, we follow young Stan and his large family, culminating in them watching the first moon landing. Although the cultural references are decidedly American, the coming of age part of the film works much better than Stan’s flight of fancy involving him going to the moon before Apollo 11.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Blasted
This Norwegian comedy about an alien invasion is pretty hard to watch due to a bunch of over-the-top performances.
Rating: 3.5 out of 10
Glamour Girls
This glossy Nigerian movie about high-end escorts is neither dramatic or titillating. The screenplay is generally screeched by the women and it soon becomes very grating.
Rating: 1.5 out of 10
The Takedown
There is nothing new to be found in this French buddy cop thriller as the chalk and cheese pairing Diakité and Monge investigate a drugs case. However, the performances of Omar Sy and François Monge and the hectic pace keep it watchable.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Senior Year
Rebel Wilson plays a 37 year-old woman who has been on a coma for 20 years and is now determined to fulfil her ambition to be prom queen. A mixture of fish out of water and high school teen jokes. Very few are funny.
Rating: 3.5 out of 10
See For Me
Skyler Davenport stars as Sophie, a blind woman who is cat-sitting at a large secluded house. When a gang try to rob the place, she has to defend herself, with only the help of a remote assistant. That premise, though unlikely, gives a twist to this home invasion thriller that is pretty well staged by director Randall Okita. Another interesting factor is that Sophie is also a thief, and although that means she is less easy to root for, it helps move the plot along. This is no Wait Until Dark, but enough suspense is generated to make it one of this month’s Netflix highlights.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Jersey
A 36 year old Indian cricketer, comes out of a 10 year retirement to try to get into the national team to impress his soon. This is the second time in a few years that this story has been filmed but I am not sure why. The off field scenes are dull and the on pitch action is laughably bad.
Rating: 3 out of 10
Collision
A racist and corrupt South African businessman tries to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Take the worst bits of Taken and the worst bits of Crash and you have this tepid thriller from Fabien Matorell.
Rating: 3 out of 10
Trees of Peace
In 1994, in the midst of the genocide, four very different women in Rwanda hide in a cellar. This is a very earnest film that certainly has a message but it would have worked better as a short film or play. Watch Hotel Rwanda instead.
Rating: 5 out of 10
The Ledge
Kelly (Britanny Ashworth) is an experienced climber on an expedition with her best friend. When her friend is murdered, Britanny has to survive being pursued by four killers. This starts off with a few clunky scenes and the script is quite uneven. However, Ashworth is convincing enough, Ben Lamb makes a chilling villain and the stripped down story generates some tension.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Spiderhead
This is a confusing and rather tedious sci-fi about convicts in the near future agreeing to take part in medical experiments in return for shortened sentences. Glossy but a waste of a cast including Miles Teller and Chris Hemsworth.
Rating: 3 out of 10
Heart Parade
A career minded woman with a fear of dogs meets a widower with a kid and a pooch. This Polish rom com adheres to the usual template, but is buoyed by a charming lead performance by Anna Procniak.
Rating: 5 out of 10
The Wrath of God
This is an intriguing Argentinian psychological thriller about a young woman who rejects her employer’s advances and then begins to suspect him of killing off her family members. Well played and I expect a Hollywood remake soon, though probably without the downbeat ending.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Halftime
A Jennifer Lopez documentary is strictly for her fans. It gets mildly interesting when focusing on her wish to make a pro immigration statement in her Superbowl half time show. Otherwise, it is quite vacuous, concentrating too much on what she earns and the clothes she wears.
Rating: 4 out of 10
Beauty
From a music documentary to a fiction story about a young black woman who wants to be a singer. The story arc is exactly as you would expect.
Rating: 3.5 out of 10
Love and Gelato
You can tick off all the tropes and cliches in this rom com. A cloying voiceover, the depiction of Italy and the Italians, the stereotyped Irish character and even an attractive leading lady who we are meant to think is plain because she wears glasses. Very lightweight.
Rating: 4 out of 10
Doom of Love
A Turkish businessman’s company goes bust so he goes to a yoga retreat. There he falls for a singer and goes on a journey of self discovery. As dire as it sounds.
Rating: 2 out of 10
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2
A weird mix of unfunny comedy and non scary horror in this Indian movie about a couple meeting and going to his hometown. Typical of Bollywood, it is way too long and unfocused.
Rating: 3 out of 10
Centauro
A totally forgettable Spanish drama about a motorcycle racer getting caught up in the drugs trade. The bike scenes are well shot but nothing to recommend otherwise.
Rating: 3 out of 10