1939. With England on the cusp of war, an excavator is hired for a private archaeological dig. Good-looking and well-acted though slight reimagining of the Sutton Hoo site discovery, hampered by a busy script that doesn’t care to fillet the source novel to make a film-shaped story.
Here’s the trailer.
A street-con artist teams with a veteran conman to get revenge for a murdered mentor. Splendid Depression-era heist comedy, with just enough darkness to give it some grit amidst the sparkle of a smart twisty script and enjoyable performances. Lots to recommend it, not least a terrific score.
Hercule Poirot holidays in Egypt; murder is soon afoot. Quasi-sequel to Murder on the Orient Express. Breezy escapist fun with a rich cast of character actors and bright young things hamming/preening respectively, though its clumsy treatment of non-whites plays as racist rather than as innocent comic relief.
Two retired lawmen are recruited to hunt down and kill Bonnie and Clyde. Handsome but slow period thriller that can’t quite make up its mind if it wants to go for drama or action. Well-played, though, with a great Thomas Newman score, evoking Road To Perdition.
Two conmen take down a mob boss in revenge for the killing of a friend. Jaunty 1930s-set caper with exceptional production design, fun performances, and an engaging plot. Recommended.
An American archaeologist races Nazis to a mystical artefact. Peerless action-adventure, expertly balancing thrills, romance, danger, comic moments, old-school stunt work and still-impressive visual effects. Still the state of this particular art.
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