Films Watched: 12
How Many Were First-Time Watches: 10
Best Films: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Oppenheimer, Barbie
New Releases: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Elemental, Oppenheimer, Barbie
FULL LIST AND REVIEWS
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) In their greatest mission yet, Cruise and McQuarrie have achieved the impossible: outdoing themselves. Less of a giddy stunt showcase, this seventh outing sports a more mature flowing narrative, while still delivering some of the most breathless action ever put on screen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
On The Rocks (2020) Though it lacks the bite of some of Sophia Coppola’s other films, this two hander is still a very enjoyable affair. Rashida Jones and Bill Murray play a wonderful father and daughter, whose conversations are filled with wit, humour and charm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Squid and The Whale (2005) Noah Baumbach clearly channels his own adolescence into this prickly comedy drama about a family navigating a divorce. In just 80mins, the narrative romps along with witty scenes that illuminate how children become miniature versions of their parents ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elemental (2023) Thomas Newman brings his scoring A-Game, and there are some inspired moments, but narratively speaking, this is a weaker effort from Pixar. The themes, while important, are too on the nose, and the romance at the centre of the story feels rushed and contrived ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Barbie (2023) With Greta Gerwig leading behind the camera, and a script co-written with Noah Baumbach, this is unsurprisingly a total delight, and probably the funniest film of this year. Narratively it’s a little weaker, but the empowered message, and fantastic lead cast, make for an incredibly successful feminist film based on the most unlikely subject ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Sting (1973) This ambitiously plotted heist is ultimately a slightly underwhelming affair, but the intricate narrative is still great fun to watch play out. Robert Redford oozes charisma in this romping con-man’s caper, and it’ll take weeks to get the iconic theme out of your head ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gladiator (2000) Ridley Scott’s triumphant sword and saddles epic still packs a punch 23 years later. Incredible spectacle, nail biting action, fascinating mob politics: this movie really does manage to have it all ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oppenheimer (2023) It’s a little too long, and it’s intentions are sometimes unclear, but Nolan’s biopic is still a shockingly powerful film that forces you to confront the emotions surrounding the birth of the atomic age. Cillian Murphy’s performance is revelatory, and will undoubtedly go down in cinematic history as one of the greats ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Night of the Hunter (1955) Robert Mitchum gives a chillingly creepy performance in this highly influential film noir. Some of the writing and supporting performances are ropey, but the gripping story and impressive visuals make it a thrilling watch ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) A depressing dystopian exploration of censorship and thought control through propaganda. Narratively it’s not the strongest, but it asks some highly provoking questions on governmental powers ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Manhattan (1979) It sports some pretty visuals and a few funny moments, but this is an almost entirely pretentious project by Woody Allen that also comes way too close to his sordid real-life behaviour to get any pleasure from watching it ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) As hilariously funny as it is satirically biting, this truly remains one of the great comedies. This British classic perfectly balances surreal silliness and clever wit with an authentic epic aesthetic as it takes on the hypocrisy of organised religion ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Daniel Robinson: From Reel to Real 