Netflix ended 2019 with a bang, what with The Irishman, Marriage Story and The Report. It us safe to say though, that 2020 has not started auspiciously.
The Coldest Game had a lot of promise with the subject matter being the tensions between the superpowers during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. I’m also a sucker for espionage tales but this one never takes off. Lacking suspense, it seemed like large parts of the film consisted of people, drunk on vodka, having slurred conversations in bars. It was only fitfully engaging.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Horse Girl is a peculiar film about a troubled young woman who’s dreams start to invade her waking life. The cast that includes Alison Brie, Molly Shannon and Robin Tunney try to keep things afloat but they are not completely successful. I’m sure that writer/director Jeff Baena’s heart is in the right place but it did feel like someone with mental health issues was being demonised. Ultimately it felt like it was quirky for the sake of it.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Tyler Perry is bafflingly popular in America despite his many Golden Raspberry nominations. His films rarely get released here and judging by A Fall From Grace, that is probably a good thing! It is a badly written, illogical and frustrating crime drama. Bresha Webb is fine as an inexperienced lawyer defending a woman who everyone thinks is guilty of murder but the rest of the cast seems lost. It felt like something that would be shown on Channel 5 on a midweek afternoon.
Rating: 3 out of 10
Despite hostile reviews, I think the pick of this bunch is The Last Thing He Wanted. It is a complex story of Elena McMahon, a female investigative journalist who becomes to deeply involved in her ailing father’s dodgy arms deal. It certainly has its faults, with a horribly clunky opening monologue and Elena seems to get involved in a criminal activity too readily. But it is good to see a film that demands careful attention and covers some complex issues. Anne Hathaway as Elena has probably never been better and the supporting cast that includes Willem Dafoe, Ben Affleck, Rosie Perez and Toby Jones is very strong.
Rating; 7 out of 10