It is time for a round up of new films that I have seen on Netflix this month.
Strike: An Uncivil War
This documentary from Daniel Gordon chronicles the 1984/85 miners strike. Thankfully it is very much from the miners’ point of view, and it lays bare the evil and sometimes illegal tactics of Margaret Thatcher and her police lackeys. It may not offer too much that is new for people of my generation but it is a comprehensive overview.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Will and Harper
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele worked together on Saturday Night Live where Steele was a writer and they have been friends ever since. After Steele comes out as a trans woman, Ferrell has to process the news as the duo made a 17 day road trip across the United States from new York to Los Angeles in this documentary directed by Josh Greenbaum. Ferrell comes across as a warm and generous person and Steele is funny and courageous. The reactions from people they meet range from welcoming to hostile, which was predictable, but this is a warm-hearted film.
Rating: 7 out of 10
The Platform 2
Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia returns with this sequel to his 2019 Netflix hit, The Platform. So, we are back to the tower style ‘Vertical Self Management Centre’ prison that houses various criminals. The dozens of floors house two occupants per floor and a free-floating platform delivers food to them on a daily schedule. The first film was flawed but original. This just feels like a pointless rehash.
Rating: 3.5 out of 10
Lonely Planet
There seems to have been a glut of romantic dramas pairing a mature woman with a much younger man just recently. This has the advantage of having some genuine chemistry between Liam Hemsworth and Laura Dern, but the plot and dialogue leave a lot to be desired.
Rating: 5 out of 10
It’s What’s Inside
In Greg Jardin’s psychological thriller, a group of friends gather for a pre-wedding party. An estranged friend arrives and proposes a game that has horrifying consequences. This starts off annoyingly. All the characters are boring, stupid or hateful and it is short in an irritatingly fussy way. Once the game starts, it gets ridiculous.
Rating: 2 out of 10
Woman of the Hour
In 1978, serial killer Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) appeared on The Dating Game, which was the American forerunner to our awful Blind Date. The bachelorette on the show was aspiring actress Cheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick). Kendrick also makes her debut in the director’s chair and she does a terrific job there, as well as on screen where she is a sparky presence. Some of Alcala’s crimes are shown in flashback, and an air of tension is maintained, especially in a nail-biting parking lot sequence. Zovatto is pretty creepy, moving from charming to sinister, with ease.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Don’t Move
Iris (Kelsey Asbille), suffering from grief, goes to a remote spot to kill herself. By chance she meets Richard (Finn Wittrock), who after befriending Iris injects her with a drug, leaving her temporarily paralysed. He wants to play a sick game and ultimately kill her. Iris, now desperately wanting to live must somehow find a way to run, hide, or fight to survive. Some tension is built from the premise but is dissipated by too many talky scenes between the pair.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Hijack ‘ 93
In an effort to oust their military-backed government, four teenage Nigerian men hijack a plan, taking passengers onboard hostage. They land in Niger to refuel so they can fly to Frankfurt but the authorities do not comply and there is a four day stand off. I am a sucker for plane based films and this true story has plenty of in built jeopardy. There is, though, some clunky dialogue and shaky acting in the minor roles.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10