Navalny (BBC iPlayer)
Navalny has been released at cinemas and given a showing on BBC2 simultaneously, which seems fitting for such an important subject, made even more timely by recent events. This documentary charts the story of the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on the orders of Vladimir Putin, his subsequent recovery in Germany and arrest on return to Russia.
The level of access granted to director Daniel Roher is such that we see very twist and turn of the story unfold. The highlight has to be when Alexei and the remarkable Bulgarian journalist Christo Grozev con a chemist into admitting and describing the whole plot. This is eye opening stuff even for those who are fairly familiar with the story. There is an argument that Roher goes easy on Navalny about his links to right wing extremist groups in the past but that does not diminish this astonishing story.
Rating: 9 out of 10
From Below (all rental services)
There seems to be an endless market for movies about people being terrorised by sharks. From Below stars Alicia Silverstone and James Tupper as a couple cast adrift at sea after their villa was hit by a tropical storm. Not only do they have to battle the elements, they become potential fish feed as the hungry creatures start to circle.
Silverstone is a reliable presence but with its dodgy CGI and uneven script this is not only not in the Jaws league, it is also not in the same class as the better second tier shark films The Shallows, Deep Blue Sea and The Meg. An improvement on the Sharknado franchise though!
Rating: 4.5 out of 10
Sideshow (all rental services)
Magician/fake mystic Pendrick (Les Dennis) is in a career nosedive. A pair of inept burglars break into his house and tie him up. But when they can’t find anything valuable, things start to take a strange turn. This film took a critical mauling on its simultaneous cinema and streaming a few weeks ago but I do not think it deserved that.
The screenplay is a bit uneven, admittedly, but there are a few laughs in the early stages. Dennis is probably channelling some acts he has met and is convincingly seedy and April Pearson is pretty good as one of the criminals. There are two twists at the end, one of which works and an explosive one that definitely does not!
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Studio 666 (all rental services)
The rock band The Foo Fighters are seeking inspiration ahead of the recording of their 10th album. Their record company manager suggests that they record it in an empty Encino mansion. Once there, demonic things start happening. This is based on a story by Dave Grohl and is clearly a passion project for him. The gore levels are high as the bodies start piling up, and there are a few chills to be had. I really enjoyed John Carpenter’s contributions to the score and a cameo appearance by the great man.
But this somehow feels simultaneously like there are too many disparate ideas in the plot and a bit too long for the story. Fans of the band will get the most out of this film, but even they will admit that they are better musicians than actors.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10