April 10th 2025
The Count of Monte Cristo
Small Things Like These
King of Kings
Death of a Unicorn
Sing Sing (various platforms)
The Nest (streaming on Netflix)
This week sees plenty of reviews, as last week I had nothing new for you! Along with new cinema releases, featuring one real stand-out, there are a couple of streamers to consider. And stay tuned for festivals, lots of them, just around the corner!
The Count of Monte Cristo
Dir: Alexandre de La Patelliere & Matthieu Delaporte
Length: 175 mins
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© Palace - a wonderful version of
a classic tale |
According to Wikipedia, at least 29 motion pictures based upon Alexandre Dumas's novel have been made, not to mention countless TV series. The first film was in 1913, but the only one I've ever seen is this latest, starring Pierre Niney as the eponymous hero. It's a ripper, with plenty of wins and nominations to its name. The plot is set in 1815 when young sailor Dantes is promised a promotion to Captain. But jealous rivals frame him for a crime he didn't commit, and on the day of his marriage to his beloved Mercedes, (Anais Demoustier) he is carted off to prison. Fourteen years later, with the help of fellow prisoner Abbe Faria (Pierfrancesco Favino) Dantes escapes, and returns in the guise of a wealthy count, seeking revenge and finding that his beloved has married. The intricacies of the revenge plot are numerous, and one could be forgiven for imagining that at a three-hour run time the film will be overly long. But no, it is totally absorbing, thrilling and, of course, swash-buckling from go to whoa! Everything from the costuming and settings, to the sweeping cinematography and the action set pieces are brilliant, but the story is also suffused with strong emotion, so we empathise deeply with the wronged Count, and root for vengeance on the despicable back-stabbing traitors. Niney owns the screen, yet every role from small to large is superbly portrayed. This is the sort of big-screen epic entertainment almost associated with "the old days" - what cinema at its best should be. 4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended
Small Things Like These
Dir: Tim Mielants
Length: 98 mins
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© Roadshow - understated and quietly moving -
Murphy is just wonderful |
Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) is a hardworking coal merchant, respected in his town. He is father to five daughters, two of whom attend the local Catholic school run by the convent nuns. One day while making a delivery to the convent he finds a young girl locked in the coal shed. She informs him she will give birth to a baby in five months' time. Meantime head of the convent Sister Mary (Emily Watson) gives Bill a guarded warning not to talk about what he has seen, and tries to sweeten up Bill's wife Eileen (Eileen Walsh) with a Christmas gift of money. This is one of several films based around the infamous Magdalene Laundries in Ireland; grim places run by the Catholic Church and housing "wayward girls", who were put to work as virtual slaves. The film is understated and low key, anchored by a brooding and powerfully emotional performance from Murphy. Several scenes are devoted to flashbacks of Bill's childhood, as he discovers disturbing truths about his own past. Kindness rules his character while the church is not presented in a kind light at all. Watson (in a Silver Bear-winning performance) is quite chilling as the head of the convent - a woman whose harsh undercurrents are just below her hypocritical surface. This is powerful viewing for the patient film-goer and a well-deserving Golden Bear nominee.4 - highly recommended
King of Kings
Dir: Seong Ho Jang
Length: 105 mins
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© Rialto - a novel approach to the
greatest story ever told |
These days many people, adults and kids, think Easter is solely about hot cross buns and chocolate. They are oblivious to the world-changing story that lies behind it. This animated tale of the life of Jesus Christ could be an entertaining and novel way to get the story across. Novel because it is framed by another story - that of Charles Dickens, who in 1846 wrote The Life of Our Lord, to explain religion, faith and Christianity to his young children. The narrative starts with Daddy Dickens trying to tame his wild young son, Walter, who is obsessed with the legend of King Arthur. Dickens tells him there was an even greater king, and the visuals then morph into scenes of Bethlehem, 33 BC. The epic tale, from manger to resurrection, is portrayed in a way that hopefully will not alarm young kids too much, but rather inform them about the basic tenets of Jesus' teachings. The constant insertion of young Walter and his cat throughout the historical part of the tale is perhaps a distraction, and hopefully the depiction of the Pharisees (those powerful Jews who opposed Jesus teachings) won't further inflame anti-semitism! (Fortunately, the story makes clear that Jesus was a Jew before his death sparked a new religion.) Several very high profile actors voice the main characters: Oscar Isaac as Jesus, Kenneth Branagh as Dickens, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, and such other notables as Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Mark Hamill in smaller roles. This could definitely be good school holiday viewing for those wanting to explain Christianity to their kids. 3 - recommended
Death of a Unicorn
Dir: Alex Scharfmann
Length: 107 mins
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| © VVS - uh-oh - what have we hit!? |
Elliot (Paul Rudd) and his daughter Ridley (Jenny Ortega) are driving into the mountains to visit Elliot's boss, Odell Leopold (Richard E Grant), the head of a massive pharmaceutical company. On the way their car hits an animal, which turns out to be a unicorn foal. When Ridley grasps its horn she experiences strange hallucinations, which are cut short by her father attacking the animal attempting to kill it. With the not-yet dead beast in the car boot, they arrive at the obscenely wealthy residence of Odell, who is dying of cancer and flanked by his wife Belinda (Tea Leoni) and son Shepard (Will Poulter). When the foal comes back to life, all manner of miraculous and murderous things are set in motion. Billed as a black comedy/horror/satire, this film is floundering as to which genre it sits in. It is not satirical enough, even though it tries to make clever observations upon the exploitative nature of Big Pharma, nor is the horror component scary enough. At times it is downright laughable, for all the wrong reasons. While Judd and Ortega have several nice father/daughter moments (Ortega is actually the stand-out actor), and Grant is his typical, enjoyably imperious self, Poulter is just plain wooden. As for the CGI-generated unicorns, they become progressively Alien-esque and unbelievable. Not my cup of tea, but who knows; it could be yours. 2 - don't bother
Sing Sing
Dir: Greg Kwedar
Length: 107 mins
For purchase on Prime and Apple TV
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© inspiring and moving - how theatre could be
used in prisoner rehabilitation |
There's a program in the US prison system called Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA). After an article about the program was published in 2005, several screenwriters got together and adapted this true story for the screen, in a sort of docu-drama format, winning themselves a 2024 Oscar nomination. The film centres on a real-life production in the Sing Sing prison, a weird genre mash-up in which prisoners play everything from Hamlet, to mummies, to Egyptian princes, and more. And upon a friendship between Divine G (Domingo Coleman) and Clarence Maclin (playing himself). And that's what is most amazing: many of the actors in this film play themselves, as they were when they were in the production. They are all wonderful in their roles. The only other "real" actor in the film is Paul Raci as Brent, who directs the theatre group and guides the men in group sessions encouraging them to get in touch with their inner selves, their hurts, their anger, and their acting talent. It's a totally different approach to the traditional punishment system, focusing rather upon dignity, the possibility of redemption, developing life skills, and finding yourself through the arts. The film is so much more moving than I would ever have imagined, and Coleman is richly deserving of his Best Actor nomination. Although not currently free to stream, it's definitely one to either pay for or put on your watchlist. (PS the haunting musical score also garnerd an Oscar nomination). 4 - highly recommended
The Nest
Dir: Sean Durkin
Length: 107 mins
Streaming on Netflix - (2020 film)
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| © Netflix - risking it all for getting rich |
Rory O'Hara (Jude Law) and his wife Allison (Carrie Coon) are relocating with their two kids back to London, where Rory has been offered a high-flying job with his old firm. He buys a huge old mansion in the countryside, enrols the kids in exclusive schools, and regales his boss with get-rich quick schemes. Before too long, the unrealistic nature of Rory's ambitions becomes clear, and his family's lives also descend into turmoil. This is a smart, taut psychological drama, set in the 1980s, the era of "greed is good", and when a family suffers for their father's dishonesty and ambition. It features strong performances from the two leads and a plot that feels authentic and relevant to contemporary families and marital relationships. Settings are excellent, when depicting the realms of the rich and powerful, and in the oppressive old manor house that Rory buys. The film was nominated for several British Independent Film awards. 3.5 - well recommended
