Films

Poor Things

Lanthimos strikes again! This is a ridiculously wild ride, full of a cast having an absolute ball. Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo are clearly having a great time, gurning and staggering around the dreamlike alternate world. I don’t think I’ve seen anything for a long time where I had so little clue what might happen next.

The Boy and the Heron

Whisper it - has Ghibli made a film that is just too Ghibli? It’s beautiful, of course, and full of weird and wonderful creatures, of course, but the plot starts out as gently bonkers before descending into fully unhinged chaos. The second half is far too much like someone trying to tell you their dreams.

Zone of Interest

Oof. Heavy stuff. There’s a lot to like about this film - the whole “it could be any of us” angle is very cleverly done, and the natural acting to the static cameras gives it a really unusual feel. There’s a little part of me that feels like I’d got the message from about 30mins in and that the rest didn’t really achieve a lot, but I’m quibbling here: it’s strong, powerful, memorable. Worth a watch.

#manhole

A man gets stuck in a hole. How will he get out? This takes a dumb idea and turns it into a suitably taught little thriller. Quite fun.

All of us Strangers

Ooh this was bleak.