It is time for a round up of new films that I have seen on Netflix this month. After September’s near barren month, there are a few decent titles amongst the dross this time.
French Lover
When a jaded actor, Abel (Omar Sy) meets a down-on-her-luck waitress, Marion (Sara Giraudeau), in Paris, their unexpected love story begins. I think we are meant to like Abel, but he is very conceited and Sy gives an overly broad performance. The story feels very leaden too.
Rating: 3.5 out of 10
Mantis
Kill Boksoon was a surprisingly thrilling Korean action movie, released in 2023. Mantis is an offshoot of that, with the writer/director of that on co-writing duties here, with Lee Tae-sung. The titular character, aka Han-ul (Im Si-wan), is a crack assassin who comes back from a break to find that both Jae-yi (Park Gyu-young), a former training partner and rival, and Dok-go (Jo Woo-jin), a famous retired killer, want to replace him as the top person in their field. Whilst the fight scenes are excellent, this is an inferior sequel. I was really rooting for Gill Boksoon in that, but I did not care about the arrogant Mantis.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
The Woman in Cabin Ten
Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel has been adapted for the screen by Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse and Simon Stone, with the latter also directing. Keira Knightley stars as Laura Blacklock, an investigative journalist for The Guardian. After a gruelling and tragic assignment, she accepts a puff piece covering the maiden voyage of a luxury yacht. The owner, Richard Bullmer (Guy Pearce) is hosting a bunch of his friends who have donated to a cancer charity, a disease that is about to claim his wife, Anne (Lisa Loven Kongsli). But Laura becomes convinced that she has witnessed a passenger be thrown overboard, despite all guests and crew being accounted for. This is mostly a satisfying whodunnit that zips along through its 90 munite run time. It is elevated by a starry cast that also includes David Morrisey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Art Malik and Kaya Scodelario.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Steve
The brilliant Cillian Murphy re-teams with his Small Things Like These director Tim Mielants and stars in the title role. He is a teacher at a school for boys with societal and behavioural difficulties, but has substance and alcohol issues of his own. Watching this often harrowing drama, you would be forgiven for thinking that it is based on a true story as it has a whiff of realism about it, but it is actually adapted by Max Porter from his own novella. There are outstanding performances from Jay Lycurgo as the troubled but perceptive pupil, Shy, Tracey Ullman as Steve’s dedicated, tough talking, deputy and Emily Watson as a conflicted counsellor. But it is Murphy’s movie, his character is impassioned and on the verge of losing control. With Small Things Like These following Oppenheimer, he is on an extraordinary run.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Ruth and Boaz
Apparently the basis for this Tyler Perry produced drama is a love story in the Bible featuring characters with the same names. This is contemporary version set in Tennessee. A young woman escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an elderly widowed woman and finds romance along the way. Whenever I thought this turgid drama could not get any worse, either there is a terrible musical number or some religious hogwash.
Rating: 1.5 out of 10
Caramelo
Pedro (Rafael Vitti), a promising chef, is about to fulfil his dream of running a restaurant when he gets an unexpected and life altering medical diagnosis. But he also meets a lovable and spirited dog called Caramelo. You can’t go wrong with a cute dog can you!? The mutt is the best reason to watch this comedy laced drama but I have seen too many restaurant kitchen based movies (“yes chef”…aarrgggh!)
Rating: 5 out of 10
The Perfect Neighbour
On June 2, 2023 in Ocala, Florida, Ajike “AJ” Shantrell Owens was shot and killed by Susan Lorincz. This documentary uses bodycam footage to show the disputes leading up to the shooting. This is undeniably powerful stuff, with the death almost a grim inevitability with the proliferation of gun ownership in America. It does feel a little stretched out to feature length though. As it was a white woman killing a black woman, I am expecting a Presidential pardon any day now!
Rating: 7 out of 10