It is time for a round up of new films that I have seen on Netflix this month.
Squad 36
Olivier Marchal directed one of my favourite police procedurals, 36 Quai Des Orfèvres, in 2004. A couple of years ago, he gave us the impressive Overdose. Here he has co-written and directs another film in the same genre. Transferred to the Anti-Crime Brigade, a senior officer probes the deaths of two ex-colleagues and disappearance of another, exposing a bitter feud within the police force. After starting with a thrilling chase, the story settles into a densely plotted, talky drama, with a very downbeat ending. The acting honours are taken by Yvan Attal as the brigade’s world weary chief, but it is Marchal’s script, written with Olivier Dujols that is the real star.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
The Electric State
In an alternative version of the 1990’s, sentient robots resembling cartoons and mascots, who once served peacefully among humans, now live in exile following a failed uprising. Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), an orphaned teen, travels across America with an eccentric drifter, Keats (Chris Pratt) and her sweet robot looking for her missing younger brother. This took ages to get going with a massive exposition dump at the beginning. Once that is out of the way, the very young may find it passable but it still seemed sluggish, unfunny and for such an expensive movie, very cheap looking.
Rating: 2 out of 10
The Wrong Track
Emilie (Ada Eide) is a broke single Mum with no life goals. Her ex-husband has moved on with his life and wants their daughter to live with him full-time. An accident in her apartment forces her to move in with her wealthy brother Gjermund (Trond Fausa). He gives Emilie an ultimatum: if she wants to stay, she must join him in doing The Birken, a 54 km skiing race. Emilie is a frustrating character and Gjermund is very arrogant, but once they start properly preparing for the race, this becomes watchable enough.
Rating: 6 out of 10
The Twister: Caught in the Storm
This is s documentary about a devastating tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, in May 2011, killing 158 people. It uses first hand footage and personal stories from those affected by the storm. Unfortunately there is a lack of the former and far too much of the latter. A terrible event recounted in a less than compelling way.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Delicious
Nele Mueller-Stöfen wrote and directed this thriller about a German family on holiday in a French villa, who encounter a mysterious injured woman and take her in, leading to unforeseen consequences. This never really takes off thanks to leaden performances and heavy handed social satire.
Rating: 3 out of 10