Movie reviews of Bob Mann

I found this a slightly frustrating watch. Aspects of the film are really good and enjoyable and Chastain and Sarsgaard are a class act. With some simplification and streamlining there is a great film somewhere in here. But I’m afraid, for me, this cut came over as a bit ‘all over the place’. Review

This was a teriffic film and is highly recommended. It is certainly one of the best foreign films I’ve seen this year and I’d certainly watch it a second time. Review

A popcorn movie that I found to be a truly entertaining and an enthralling watch. Review

It’s sad, moving but not without a quiet drumbeat of hope for the future in Falta’s diligent school work. Not an easy watch, but a recommended watch. Review

Another fantastic Scandi-comedy that I enjoyed very much. This one is partly in English – the ‘language of business’ – and partly Norwegian with subtitles. But it is very funny in any language. Review

Fallen Leaves is why I love the cinema. Just like the recent Past Lives the story, simple as it is, grabbed me, sucked me in and delighted me. Review

I personally like my documentaries meatier than this. This is clearly a very personal work for Ms. Abrahams, and I respect her for it. But, whilst appreciating the film-making talent involved, I’m afraid it just failed to completely float my boat. Review

I understand that this is the first feature by writer/director Sofia Alaoui, and it shows a great deal of promise. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the film as it built the relationships and the eerie level of mystery. But, for me, the film rather screwed the landing and left me feeling baffled. Review

This was a cracking film, highly engrossing and beautifully written, directed and acted. Review

Although plagerising heavily from other classics, this does have some intrinsic novelty and its own particular vibe. Review

A solid, but inspirational, biopic that does what it says on the can, without doing much more. Review

Paul Dano and Shailene Woodley are both as excellent as you would hope and really embody the married couple working within extraordinary circumstances. Woodley, I thought, was particularly strong. Review

In this case, that gem was the acting of the two leads Kate Lý Johnston and Kylee Michael. OK, so its not yet Oscar worthy. But I thought it was pretty decent. The rest of the film feels like a slightly sleazy soft-porn movie, running through various tropes of the ‘druggie culture’ movie genre. Review

It passed a couple of agreeable horror hours in the cinema, but this one is eminently missable. Review

I don’t think anything is likely to top this one in my worst films of the year list. It’s an utter waste of celluloid. Review

An exquisite tale, brilliantly told by Celine Song. Review

As a standalone film, it’s adequately made although with some clunky edges and dodgy acting in places. Review

As a gothic horror, this feels like a damp squib. It’s about as scary at the recent Haunted Mansion. Review

I didn’t expect too much from this one, but I really did have a fun time in the cinema. It takes its time building mood and character, so you really care about what happens to not only McCall but the ‘family’ around him. And then Fuqua delivers its action scenes with style and brutality. Review

The film works best in its initial set-up scenes. But the laughs just ended up getting tiresome for me, resorting to schoolboy-level scatological humour that was decidedly hit and miss. Review

This is a better superhero movie than many, since it takes time to build an interesting set of characters. But, for me, it managed to lose its way during the execution... Review

And this IS a comedy. Well-written with lines that made me laugh throughout. I hope this gets the cinema distribution it deserves, since this should go down as a comedy classic. Review

Clever, intelligent and well-observed movie about a long term married relationship. Recommended if you can relate to those words. Review

This is a surprising and innovative British film that deserves your attention. It is funny and moving in equal measure and marks Charlotte Regan as a director to watch for the future. But I did find the inconsistency in the style to be irritating and frustrating. Review