Wednesday, 24 June 2026

 June 25th 2026

The Death of Robin Hood
Glenrothan
The Ice Tower
Remarkably Bright Creatures (streaming on Netflix)
A Gorilla Story (streaming on Netflix)

I've pondered greatly this week on the dubious nature of my scoring system for the films I review. Sometimes I'm aware that a movie is a seriously good piece of film-making, great use of the cinematic medium, creative, ground-breaking etc. But . . . I haven't really found it particularly enjoyable. So how can I tell you it's a must-see? Other times I'm well aware that a B-grade film, perhaps trite, predictable, formulaic and sentimental, has given me much enjoyment, laughter, tears and entertainment - it may even has me reflecting on life. That has to be a recommendation from me. All so subjective and related to what the individual brings to the viewing experience! After that rave, let's go to the movies!!

The Death of Robin Hood
Dir: Michael Sarnowski

© Madman/A24 - get through the initial violence
for a surprisingly strong and unexpected story
It's generally agreed by historians that there was no one person Robin Hood, as so many of us believed when watching the TV series back in the 1960s. Rather, he was a composite of the many outlaws of the time, back in the medieval days, when life was harsh and the lowly common folk resented the rich. But in Sarnowski's reimagining of the myth, built around the noble outlaw who "robbed from the rich and gave to the poor", this Robin (Hugh Jackman) has lived a violent and cruel life, full of senselesss killing. Now, after a near mortal wounding, he is taken by Little john (Bill Skarsgard) to spend his final days on an island, where a gentle prioress, Brigid (Jodie Comer) tends to his wounds, and shows him a different way of life. For the first 30 minutes of the film I thought I wouldn't be able to sit through another brutal scene, but then things change; the story becomes one of the possibility of redemption. The dark, blood-soaked madness gives way to the peace of the island priory, and Robin's growing relationship with a little girl, Mary (Faith Delaney), to whom he teaches the art of the bow and arrow. Despite the bleakness and early ultra-violence, there is something quite hauntingly beautiful about this film, with its sweeping cinematography, thoughtful script, and intriguing subversion of a much-loved legend. The brilliant use of medieval-style folksongs works perfectly, but it is ultimately the highly movng performances from Jackman, Comer and Delaney, along with the timeless theme of redemption, that give the film a real heart.
4 - highly recommended

Glenrothan
Dir: Brian Cox

© Rialto - warring brothers, whisky, and
a shot a mending old wounds
Two estranged brothers and deep unresolved issues from the past are all set against the breathtaking beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Sandy (Brian Cox) has been running the family whisky distillery ever since his brother Donal (Alan Cumming) departed dramatically on the day of their mother's funeral 40 years before. Jess (Shirley Henderson) is his very able right-hand gal. After Donal's nightclub in Chicago burns down, and he hears that Sandy is ill, he reluctantly agrees to pay a visit, accompanied by his daughter Amy (Alexander Schipp) and her feisty 12-year-old daughter Sasha (Alexandra Wilkie). Cox (immortalised for his role as Logan Roy in Succession) plays a far more sympathetic character here. Despite having a level of predictability to the plot, the film features very engaging characters who are grappling with the concept of family legacy, exploring truths and lies of the past, and working through old resentments, all of which are so relatable. In many ways this is an old-fashioned style of film, but that helps its appeal, along with tenderness, some gentle humour and the resonant theme of the human desire for forgivenesss and reconciliation. The musical thread that runs throughout, be it blues or traditional folk, adds to the charm.
3 - recommended

The Ice Tower
Dir: Lucile Hadzihalilovic
Length: 117 mins
© Plainwater Films - icy beauty - stone-cold heart
A nominee for the Berlin Film Festival's Golden Bear last year, this mesmerising but challenging French film is loosely inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, The Snow Queen. 15-year-old orphan Jeanne (Clara Pacini) runs away from her stifling existence in a foster home, where her only real human connection is with a little girl to whom she reads her favorite fairytale most nights. Jeanne takes refuge in a building which, when she wakes, turns out to be a film set, where none other than The Snow Queen is being shot. Lead actress Cristina (Marion Cotillard) notices Jeanne, and soon the teen has a role as an extra, and is somehow singled out for special treatment by the haughty and temperamental Cristina. This is not a film for impatient viewers; it is at times glacially slow, and is dense with metaphor, imagery and evocative, almost kaleidoscopic scenes. Lofty ideas abound: seeing oneself reflected through others, the blurred line between fantasy and reality, the self-delusional worship of stardom, along with more down-to-earth, but still challenging themes of grief, loss, and exploitation by the powerful of the innocent. Cotillard is sensational in her role, as is Pacini, waiflike and wonderingly wide-eyed, as her attempts to reconcile her fantasies with reality bring cruel shocks. Not a film for everyone, but a work that makes great use of the art of film.
3.5 well recommended

A Gorilla Story
Dir: James Reed and Callum Webster
Length: 90 mins
Streaming on Netflix

© Netflix - an unforgettable scene from the vault
Gorilla fans rejoice! Just released is this enchanting documentary narrated by the iconic David Attenborough. In 1978, while shooting an episode for the BBC's Life on Earth, Attenborough made history, as a young gorilla named Pablo unexpectedly climbed all over him, resulting in a glorious and spontaneous human/gorilla interaction that is now legendary. In this latest doco, Attenborough interweaves archival footage with current-day footage of the troops of gorillas who are Pablo's descendants. There is so much here to learn about gorilla societies, their family bonds and leadership struggles, while the enchanting close-up camera work takes us into their world. Attenborough also explains how conservation efforts over the last couple of decades have been successful. The playful infants are beyond adorable, and the near-human nature of these magnificent beasts is awe-inspiring. This is definitely a must-see for nature lovers.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Remarkably Bright Creatures
Dir: Olivia Newman
Length: 111 mins
Streaming on Netflix

© Netflix - two lost humans, eight
tentacles - recipe for a great tale
Tova (Sally Field) works as a cleaning lady in an aquarium in Washington State. She is dogged by grief ever since the disappearance, presumedly through drowning, of her son 30 years ago. To pass time and vent her feelings, she chats constantly to a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus (voiced by Alfred Molina). When Tova injures her ankle a new cleaner is employed - a young itinerant musician, Cameron (Lewis Pullman), who is down on his luck, and searching for the father he had never known. After a prickly start to their relationship, Tova and Cameron draw closer, and Marcellus is instrumental in solving the mysteries that haunt both Cameron and Tova. Though some may find the film too fantastical and even schmaltzy, for me it is an utter delight. The story is seen for some of the time through the cynical but amusing voice-over of Marcellus, who has contempt for human stupidity, and longs to escape captivity to return to this home in the depths of the ocean. There is so much heart to this story - real tear-jerking stuff - and the CGI work in creating the octopus is extraordinary. Overall the film is a visual treat. Field and Pullman work so well together, and a lovely smaller role by Colm Meaney as the owner of the local store (and secret admirer of Tova) adds another layer to what is an uplifting and gorgeous story.
4 - highly recommended 
(Watch this terrific clip to get an insight into the digital wizardry that created Marcellus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax-ziaf9DQ4&t=15s)

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