Movie reviews of Garry Arnot

Like Ben’s on-stage shtick, Standing Up, Falling Down doesn’t quite hit the comic beats necessary to make it a rousing success. It’s a perfectly fine routine but lacks an impactful punchline. Review

Eastwood presents the horrible fickleness of heroism with Richard Jewell, an intense and engaging retelling of a dark chapter in American history. Review

Parasite is packed full of shocks, suspense, and wickedly dark humour, but the storytelling is perfectly streamlined by Bong Joon-ho. Rich in subtext and astute in its razor-sharp microcosmic study of class divide, it’s a compelling cinematic experience from start to finish. Review

It’s an engaging, angry picture of prejudice and suspense presented with style, substance, and a suitably super soundtrack by the exciting creative mind of Melina Matsoukas. Review

The Gentlemen might lack the cutting edge and the social significance of Guy Ritchie’s previous pieces, but this crafty crime caper is proof that the master of mockney is still more than capable of spinning an entertaining yarn. Review

Little Women is a brilliant take of a classic tale and feels very relevant today despite its wholesome period setting. Greta Gerwig stays true to the established universal themes and shapes them around a fresh, sharp script, and though Alcott’s characters are already so well drawn, she’s added some significant shading in her own style. Review

Even by the far-flung constructs of the sci-fi fantasy genre, the plot is nonsensical, and the action is completely forgettable. The Rise of Skywalker is a rescue mission gone terribly wrong. Review

It might be haunted by its iconic origins, but Doctor Sleep pedals down freshly carpeted corridors of Stephen King terror. Flanagan presents a gripping study of Danny Torrance’s psychic abilities but the filmmaker himself pulls off the biggest trick of them all in the way he handles the material; paying homage to the old whilst breathing life into the new. Review

Le Mans ’66 takes us around a well-worn track and every bend is easily anticipated. It’s like a Rocky movie made for the road instead of the boxing ring, with Bale squaring up against business bigwigs, his racing rivals, and tiresome cinema conventions. Review

Harrowing and hard-hitting in its depiction of family hardship, Loach leaves no stone unturned in his portrayal of impoverished employment. Boosted by a hugely impressive performance by Hitchen, Sorry We Missed You is important, must-see cinema. Review

It’s an emotional film that breathes deeply, speaks softly, and demands your undivided attention. Not a single frame goes to waste in this magnificent coup de maître of cinema. Review

If Jojo Rabbit had stuck to its comedic guns, it might’ve succeeded. Instead, it’s a messy misfire that masquerades as a warm anti-hate story but suffers greatly from its selective sense of self-importance. Review

Using his nuanced black comedy style and arthouse finesse, Johnson has crafted a well measured character study that weighs in on the dangerous toxicity of fragile masculinity. Gripping yet thoughtful, Muscle is a cinematic showcase of brains and brawn. Review

Marriage Story is an incredibly well told, heart-breaking tale of two distraught lovers. Review

The Lighthouse is so richly textured that you can almost smell the saltiness of its sea air; it’s a sensory exhibition of cinema that tests endurance but deserves to be experienced. Review

We are reminded of Shia LaBeouf’s acting talents and his nuanced performance is propped up by a solid supporting cast, including fun wrestling cameos and a minor but masterful turn from Bruce Dern. More focused on tropes than top ropes, Peanut Butter Falcon is a sweet wrestling tale that just spreads its sickly sentimental charm a little too thick for my taste. Review

It Chapter Two is definitely a more accomplished piece of work. Muschietti still doesn’t conjure up the dread or tension we’ve come to associate with the genre, but his vision is inventive, and the strong performances ensure that the film steers well clear of the sewers. Review

Unlike what we’ve come to expect from him, this is sentimental cinema and as sweet as a five-dollar shake. A brilliant film made by one of the world’s biggest film fans…and a must-see for everyone else. Review

Crawl has a simple yet extremely suspenseful narrative, kept afloat by a tenacious performance from Kaya Scodelario. It might not be quite as snappy as the blood-thirsty alligators that swim in its murky waters, but Aja’s fun survival flick has a lot of bite! Review

Sons of Denmark is a harrowing yet thrilling directorial debut from Ulaa Salim, smartly immersing its audience in a morally duplicitous epic, urging us to choose sides when it’s never really clear who to root for. Review

Thirty is a profound arthouse debut from Kostova, studying the juxtaposition between the versions of ourselves we present to the outside world and the harsh reality of our inner self. Review

Athale expresses a degree of talent in the story set-up and establishes a sense of suspense through the music and camerawork, but the film suffers greatly from an inconsistent tone. Review

The Tobacconist is a stunning piece of work, and Leytner achieves an unusually understated tone for a project that spans a multitude of complex topics. Review

Shot through a grainy haze of nostalgia, the narrative borrows tricks from the early work of Guy Ritchie to create a sense of fun in the rhythm of the piece. Review