All these can be found on the usual rental services unless otherwise indicated.

White Elephant (Sky Movies)
A predictable actioner about an ex-marine reluctantly working for the mob. Michael Rooker in the lead role is okay, but there is another brief appearance by an ailing Bruce Willis and John Malkovich once again phoning-it-in.
Rating: 3 out of 10

The Real Charlie Chaplin
A fascinating documentary about the legendary movie maker benefits from access to little scene visual and audio recordings. Amazingly, his career and life are covered in depth without a feeling of skimping over important events. Its only the recreation of interviews using actors that I found a little unnecessary.
Rating: 8 out of 10

Casablanca Beats
In Morocco, ex-rapper Anas arrives in a deprived part of Casablanca to teach at an arts centre. The kids he encounters are committed to rapping, dancing or both but have to reconcile themselves with the Muslim society they live in. This is an impassioned film full of naturalistic performances from first time actors and a sense of gritty realism. The rapping and dancing scenes did not really come alive for me, but the compelling debates they have in class about politics, religion and a woman’s role in their society reminded me of Ken Loach’s Land and Freedom.
Rating: 8 out of 10

The Adventures of Maid Marian
With King Richard and Robin Hood fighting abroad, Maid Marian has been hiding in a priory. But Richard’s death not only leads to Robin’s return but also the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. This could have been a interesting fresh take on a familiar story, with Robin captured for much of the film, Marian has to take centre stage. It is botched though and hampered by a really low budget.

The fight scenes are amateurishly handled and the script is pretty terrible, full of clichés and anachronisms. Dominic Andersen who plays Robin looks more like a member of a boy band than a hardened soldier and Bob Cryer who I have so enjoyed on the podcast he made with his late father, Barry is miscast as the Sheriff. Sophie Craig, though, comes out of the film commendably, giving the best performance as Marian.
Rating: 4 out of 10

Olga
In 2014, 15 year-old Ukrainian gymnast Olga is living in Kyiv and is on track to make the national team for the European Championships. But the increasing unrest against the corrupt president Viktor Yanumovych, that her journalist mother is heavily involved in, is putting Olga’s life in danger. As her late father was from Switzerland, Olga is able to link up with that national team and take on Swiss nationality.

As someone with no interest in gymnastics, this could easily not been the film for me. However, this is much more about the political situation and that feels really timely with the current invasion of Ukraine. Olga is conflicted by her desire to succeed in her chosen field amidst hostility from her new teammates and whilst worrying about her mother as well as her increasing guilt about not taking part in the protests in her homeland. That is highlighted when she meets her old friends as the championships start.

Former gymnast Anastasia Budiashkina excels as you would expect in the gymnastic scenes. But she also proves to be a terrific actress, capturing Olga’s mood shifts really well. Compelling stuff.
Rating: 9 out of 10