Drama-documentary explaining the 07/08 financial crash. A chirpy well-cast flick taking a fourth-wall-tastic approach to explain itself as it goes. Ever-so-slightly pleased with itself, this is nevertheless fun, entertaining, and actually shows how and why what went wrong, and the lessons that weren’t learned.
Tag: Rafe Spall
Men In Black: International (2019, dir. F Gary Gray
A probationary agent finds herself partnered with an MIB legend when an intergalactic crisis looms. Stuttering series reboot, transplanting a star pairing from another franchise with indifferent results. Okay action, poor comedy. Misunderstanding what made the first movies successful results in a film that was more fun to make than it is to watch.
Prometheus (2012, dir. Ridley Scott)
A deep space mission to engage with humanity’s distant ancestors finds more than it bargained. Great-looking but ultimately dumb and pretentious Alien prequel, with a fine cast largely wasted on a grab-bag script of variable ideas. Alien: Covenant followed in 2017,
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018, dir. J. A. Bayona)
A mission to rescue dinosaurs from Isla Nublar turns out to be a double-cross. Awkward sequel which doesn’t make a lick of sense, being a string of chase and rescue set-pieces stitched together; the third act is the best, with a horror movie feel to it.
The Ritual (2017, David Bruckner)
Four friends on a camping holiday in memory of their murdered friend take a short cut through a forest. Well-sustained Scandinavian backwoods horror (from the Adam Nevill novel) with some emotional depth and an intriguing mythology.
Get Santa (2013, dir. Christopher Smith)
An ex-con has to restore his relationship with his son by rescuing Santa and Christmas. Modest but quirky Brit festive flick which goes for the usual emotional gubbins but scores with some appealing casting, and decent poo and fart jokes.
255 Review 