All three of the films below are available on all the usual rental services…
The first Saw film in 2004 was gruesome but inventive. The six sequels that followed between 2005 and 2010 became more and more graphic, boring and repetitive. I thought that the series had died off until it was unexpectedly revived with Jigsaw in 2017. With a twisting plot given emphasis over the torture scenes, I thought it was the best of the whole series.
Jigsaw strayed into police procedural territory and the 9th movie in the franchise, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, is firmly in that genre. Chris Rock stars as Detective Zeke Banks investigating a series of grisly murders that seem to be the work of a copycat of the now deceased Jigsaw killer.
It is a refreshing change from the tired formula of the first six movies, Rock is pretty good in a rare straight role. However, there is little detection on show and the identity of the killer is very obvious.
Rating: 6 out of 10
I don’t know if Nicolas Cage is pulling himself out of his financial difficulties, but in recent years he has shown must better judgement when selecting roles. He is excellent in the new drama, Pig, as Rob, a reclusive ex-chef now living in the woods with his beloved pig who helps him locate the truffles he sells to earn a living. When his pig is stolen, Rob has to go back to the town where he used to live to find him.
Pig is billed as a thriller and you might think that the story would turn into one involving Rob exacting bloody revenge. There is some violence but that is largely inflicted on, rather than by, Rob. In fact, it is quite a brooding and meditative performance from Cage who must have appreciated a thoughtful script from Vanessa Block and Muchael Samowski. I would put this up alongside Joe as his best ever performance.
The plot loses some impetus during an unnecessary diversion in a weird underground club, but on the whole, this is a satisfying an unexpected treat.
Rating: 8 out of 10
The Minamata scandal in Japan in the early 70s is a shocking story. The effects of the Chisso Corporation poisoning the water supply are still being felt today and still being downplayed by the government. It is something that ought to be wider known, but I don’t think the film of the same name is the thing to do it.
It is a worthy effort, but the focus is way too much on the role played by the American photographer W. Eugene Smith’s involvement in uncovering the scandal when working for Life magazine. Johnny Depp is better than usual in the role, but he is just another alcoholic, privileged, disillusioned white American male that we have seen so many times before. The locals are side-lined in the story, lessening its impact.
I liked Bill Nighy playing against type as Smith’s editor and singer Katherine Jenkins is fine as a co-worker.
Rating: 6 out of 10