Les endroits imaginaires

A slightly less successful location scout than previous times, but one that I had been waiting to do for a while. If you've mooched around the menu of this blog, or if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that I'm a fan of Québecois director Xavier Dolan, and as I was heading for Montréal …

My favourite films of 2017

Compiling this list of 2017 films has been an interesting task. There are usually a couple of films which miss the previous year's deadline due to UK release dates, but it's not often that so many of them make my 'best of' list. This year, some of my favourite films on this list may seem …

My least favourite films of 2017

These are the ones that brought me least pleasure, or most annoyance, during the past 12 months. Some of them put me at odds with many of you, I know! Click on the film title below for my original thoughts on each one. Favourite films of the year coming up in the next post! Number 5 – …

Our Souls at Night (2017)

I wish someone had told me earlier that this film was directed by Ritesh Batra because I wouldn't have put off watching it for so long. Batra also directed The Lunchbox a couple of years ago, which is a lovely, gentle story of two strangers gradually getting to know each other. Although Jane Fonda and …

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

I apologise. When I saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I said I wasn't sure about Adam Driver as Kylo Ren. In my defence, I did also say that this might make more sense in future instalments. And so it delights me no end to say that I was wrong, and that Adam Driver's tormented …

Aquarius

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." A woman of later years (Sonia Braga), independent and strong-minded, refuses to be forced out of her apartment so that a property company can build a new development on the site. I love this woman. No matter what life throws at her, she knows her own mind and …

Beach Rats (2017)

Frankie's a young man with a group of macho friends who like to hang out on the boardwalk and eye up the young women in the evenings. They fill their time playing ball sports together and smoking weed, and have a very laddish time. At home though, Frankie has a seriously ill father and a …

Suburbicon (2017)

Such potential, such a disappointment. On the one hand, I'm a fan of Matt Damon and Julianne Moore, and they are good, or as good as they can be. On the other, the two storylines just don't mesh at all. The (presumably) Coen brothers-penned thread is full of dark humour and sees Damon and Moore involved in …

Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (2017)

Kind of a biopic, but because Gloria Grahame didn't have a huge screen presence in her later years, Annette Bening doesn't have to worry about an accurate impersonation of the actress, but can instead work on capturing the essence of an ageing star whose success has waned and who is frightened of growing old. Based on …

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

Examining the evidence Poirot-style I have reached the conclusion that my main issue with this film comes from the rather contrived plot. I’m generally a fan of Agatha Christie and at some point have read most of the Poirot books (admittedly a long time ago) - and this story is the one with which I have …