Monday, 2 February 2026

February 3rd 2026

It Was Just an Accident
Blue Moon
Addition
Steps of Freedom (SMS On Demand)
Disneyland Handcrafted (streaming on Disney+)

Two of today's films are up there in Oscar contention. And for those staying home, there are two fine documentaries to enjoy on streaming platforms. 

It Was Just an Accident
Dir: Jafar Panahi
© Madman - comedy masks some serious
social commentary
From the renowned Iranian director, this Palme d'Or winner at last year's Cannes FF, is now nominated for two Oscars, (along with countless other nominations and wins). Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi) is driving at night with his family when his car hits a dog and is damaged. He calls into a workshop, where mechanic Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) instantly recognises the voice as belonging to someone who was his tormentor when he was in an Iranian jail. Fuelled by revenge, he kidnaps Eghbal and tries to bury him alive, but Eghbal vehemently denies his presumed identity, and so Vahid contacts a few other ex-detainees to try to help identify their former captor and torturer. This is a clever blending of political comment, thriller and comedy, with an incisive examination of moral issues at its heart. The plot has much to say about oppression, revenge and forgiveness. Should victims stoop to the same levels as their persecutors, or can forgiveness be possible? With the current state of affairs in Iran, this is timely viewing.
4 - highly recommended

Blue Moon
Dir: Richard linklater
© Sony - Ethan Hawke gives one of
his finest performances yet
Just nominated for an Oscar for Best Lead Actor and Best Screenplay, Blue Moon is the story of one night in the life of Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke), famed partner of the musical-comedy writing duo Hammerstein and Hart. Hammerstein (Simon Delaney) has just enjoyed a rave response to  his new musical show Oklahoma, but it has been written in collaboration with Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott). Hart has been sidelines, thanks to his alcohol addiction. The story is mostly set in the confines of a bar, where Eddie the barman (an excellent Bobby Cannevale) presides. The film is almost entirely dialogue driven, with Hart expounding at length upon the dramas in his life, his love for much younger protege Elizabeth Wieland (Margaret Qualley), and trying to come to terms with his ex-partner's raging success without him, as well as grappling with his own sexual identity. Hawke is a revelation, both in the acting department and his makeup driven transformation. His brashnes and garrulousness contrasted with an underlying self-loathing are beatifully portrayed. Though nothing very dramatic happens plot-wise, Hart's intense self-examination and the excruciatingly painful night he must endure make for quite rivetting watching. The glory days of 1940s Broadway are reflected in the sumptuous setting, which adds to the atmosphere.
3.5 - well recommended 

Addition
Dir: Marcelle Lunam
© Roadshow - rom-com meets mental health issues
Based on an award-nominated, popular novel by Toni Jordan, Addition is a rom-com with a difference - it is also an insight into mental illness, specifically an OCD type of obsession with counting. Grace (Teresa Palmer) is a mathematician and tutor who constantly counts everything she comes across, as if her life depends on it (her mental health certainly does!). When she meets Seamus (Joe Dempsie) in a supermarket and a romance develops, she is forced to confront herself and her order-obsessed world. While Palmer's performance is excellent, the film lacks the narrative drive to really pull viewers in. Attempting to depict mental health conditions with random on-screen numbers, and imaginary conversations with inventor Nikola Tesla (Eamon Farren) doesn't totally work. While a pleasant diversion, the film hasn't stayed in my head as long as the algebra I learned decades ago in school! 
2.5 - maybe

Steps of Freedom
Dir: Ruan Magan
Length: 73 mins
Streaming on SBS On Demand (2021)
© unexpectedly wonderful and joyous
Now here's a film to make a song and dance about! This award-winning doco traces the history of Irish dance, from its ancient peasant origins, to the global phenomenon it has become, featuring the likes of Michael Flatley and his arena performances. Even if you don't imagine yourself a fan of the genre, there is so much to love here, from the infectious energy of the dancers and musicians, through to the fascinating history of Ireland that is intertwined with the dance history. Seeing the dancers lose themselves in the rhythm and hearing the driving beats and steps is a mesmerising experience. The film posits that African culture also had an influence on Irish dancing, and a couple of "dance-offs" between African and Irish dancers are simply mind-blowing. This is uplifting, entertaining, and a totally unexpected treat which is a must for music lovers and fans of all things Irish. 
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Disneyland Handcrafted
Dir: Lesley Iwerks
Length: 78 mins
Streaming on Disney+
© Disney+ - 
If you think you have absolutely no interest in Disneyland, this captivating doco should make you rethink. It's the story of how Walt Disney, determined and focussed, brought his vision to life with the help of hundreds of skilled artisans and workers. Using rare, unseen archival footage, the doco shows how a seemingly impossible dream came to fruition back in the mid 1950s. The level of craftsmanship and attention to detail, along with months-long dedicated labour, saw Walt's iconic theme park born. From an arid patch of land, to a world of fantasy and fun, it was almost unbelievable that everything could be done within the time frame envisaged. This is entertaining, inspiring and educational viewing. And for those old enough to remember watching Disneyland on a Sunday night, it's a glorious trip down memory lane.
4 - highly recommended

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Thursday, 22 January 2026

January 23rd 2026

Marty Supreme
Somebody to Love
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent
28 Years Later
Surviving Malka Leifer (streaming on Stan)

The pinnacle of awards season, the Oscars, is on its way. And "awards" seems to be a prominent word in many of the films reviewed  this week. It's a spectacular week for movie going, with so many fine films in a variety of genres. 

Marty Supreme
Dir: Josh Safdie
© A24 - never was table tennis so exciting
in this tale of a driven young man
Nominated just yesterday for nine Oscars, Marty Supreme is film-making at its best, story telling at its most compelling, acting that feels like reality, and entertainment to the max. The setting is 1950s' New York. Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet) reluctantly works at his uncle's shoestore, only to get enough money to pursue his passion - table tennis. His ambition is to be the best in the world, and put a sport on the map that until then was generally unrecognised in the USA. Marty's story (inspired by actual player Marty Reisman), is that of a young man who is at once charming, a rogue, a hustler, arrogant, likeable, infuriating, driven and supremely confident. I could rave on ad infinitum about Chalamet's extraordinary performance, yet every aspect of this film combines to make it a powerhouse, energy driven tale. The filming of every match is amazing, and more so because Chalamet actually trained for about seven years and really can play! Never was table tennis so exciting. Settings recreate a bygone, lower-class side of New York, with its memorable characters and ping-pong halls, while the choice of music, mixing eras to create emotion, is inspired. Superclose up shots make everything feels gritty and real, while the pace of the action (both at the tables, and in every other mad-cap adventure Marty finds himself caught up in), makes for an adrenalin-fuelled ride. Gwyneth Paltrow makes an impressive return as ageing glamorous movie star Kay Stone, but every single character from major to minor leaps off the screen. The arc of Marty's journey is rivetting, and ultimately very moving. A wonderful film.
5 - unmissable

Somebody to Love (FolleMente)
Dir: Paolo Genovese
© Palace - cute, funny, and hits the mark
for those on the dating scene
The Italian title of this film, meaning "crazy mind", says a lot more about it, in some ways, than the English. Lara (Pilar Fogliati) is preparing dinner at her home for her blind date Piero (Eduardo Leo). He is en route, stopping to buy a bunch of flowers. We are soon confronted with the inner workings of each character's mind, with their emotions and inner voices represented by actual characters, who debate incessantly the right way to handle this date. So Lara and Piero each have four inner "selves", ranging from romantic, to logical, sexually impulsive and cautious, controlling their hearts and minds throughout what feels a very authentic, at times awkward,  first date between people anxious to find love. The film is warm-hearted, funny, at times poignant, and overall rather clever conceptually. Despite a confined setting, muted lighting, and endless dialogue, the film shows Genovese's talent for writing a script that actually feels very real for those who've been through this dating scene. (The film is also the winner of several awards within its own country.)
4 - highly recommended

No Other Choice
Dir: Park Chan-wook
© Madman - darkly funny with underlying
comment upon society, employment,
and moral ambivalence 
Man-su (Lee Byung-hun) has just been made redundant at his job with a paper company, where he has taken pride in his work for 25 years. Wife Miri (Son Yi-jin) instructs the family to cut back on everything, while Man-su hatches a plot to get himself a new job. He selects several other high ranking candidates for the same position, and decides he has no choice but to eliminate them in order to save his family and his lifestyle. Park, known for black humour, violence and blending genres, goes for moments of near slapstick, as our bumbling protagonist lurches from one funny catastrophe to another. But there's a deeper side to the film, as corporate culture and ambition, plus the desperation of becoming jobless, underscores much of the plot. This is a real entertainment, with fast pacing, thrills and laughs, and a very unexpected surprise at the end. Though no Oscar nominations, this film has plenty of other awards and nominations from major festivals and critics groups. 
4 - highly recommended

The Secret Agent
Dir: Kleber Mendonca Filho
© Rialto - dense with plot points, this is a
real indictment of corrupt authortaian regimes
Yet another film with countless wins and nominations to its name including five huge awards at Cannes, along with Best Drama and Best Male Actor at the recent Golden Globes, and four Oscar nominations. Brazil in 1977 is run by a military dictatorship. Dismissed professor Armando (Wagner Moura), under the alias of Marcelo, flees to his home town of Recife during Carneval time. He has run foul of authorities and is being hunted by hitmen, thanks to a businessman with government connections wanting a patent Armando refuses to give up. In the present day, two young researchers are trying to find out as much as they can about Armando and his young son, as well as what went on in Brazil in that repressive era. This film is more dense and layered, with more plots, subplots, and merely hinted-at plots than my feeble brain can absorb. I recognise the cleverness, the originality and the skilled film-making, but there is simply too much for me to absorb in a single viewing. This is definitely a reflection upon me, rather than the film itself, as it has obviously blown the critical world away, as a commentary on corruption, memory, identity and much, much more! With so many plot threads and characters, I found it simply too hard to emotionally engage, and feel a second viewing could well be in order for me to fully appreciate this one.
3.5 - well recommended

28 Years Later
Dir: Danny Boyle
© Sony - a post-apocalyptic world in which
survival necessitates killing
Alex Garland, the writer/director of Civil War and Warfare has plenty to say about the nature of war. This film picks up 23 years after 28 Days Later, when a mysterious rage virus decimates Britain, killing many, leaving hordes of rabid infected to roam the wilderness, while a few lucky survivors hunker down in small uninfected communities, guarding the perimeter. Jamie (Aaron Taylor Johnson), his 12-year-old son Spike (Alfie Willliams), and unwell mother Isla (Jodie Comer) live on an island off the British mainland. Jamie takes Spike on his first hunting expedition, to kill infected people, and there Spike learns that an uninfected man, Dr Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) survives on the mainland. He becomes determined to get his mother over there for treatment. There is so much material here - thought-provoking, repugnant, exciting, and surprisingly moving at times. The thrill is in the many near escapes from the infected, while the human male as an aggressive hunter is celebrated as part of the coming of age rituals of the post-apocalyptic society. The infected are downright terrifying and gross - both the fat slug-like ones, and the rapidly evolving fast, huge alphas. But it is Spike's tender relationship with Isla that stands out, along with Dr Kelson's philosophical approach to life and death, building his temple of human bones to honor the dead and remind us all that we will die. A little too much graphic blood and gore for many people's tastes, but an intriguing sequel, non-the-less.
3.5 - well recommended

Surviving Malka Leifer
Dir: Adam Kamien
Length: 95 mins
Streaming on Stan
© Stan - a real life horror story of abuse, and the bravery
of three sisters seeking justice
Anyone who hasn't heard of Malka Leifer must have been hiding under a rock. Principal of an ultra-orthodox Jewish school, she fled to Israel after being acccused of sexual abuse of several of her female students. Three sisters, Elly, Nicole and Dassi all accused Leifer of abuse, and spent 13 years working on getting her extradited from Israel to stand trial. This is a story of trauma, persistence and ultimately a level of justice. Told from the very personal viewpont of the three sisters, the doco follows the case, and the emotional toll it took on the women. But it is also about resilience and extreme courage, as the women, must constantly revisit and relive their childhoods, abused not only by Leifer but also victims of neglectful and abusive parents. Though not an easy watch, this is important viewing.
3.5 - well recommended


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Wednesday, 14 January 2026

 January 15th 2026

Hamnet  
Song Sung Blue
Rental Family
Christy
David 
Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember (streaming on Disney)
Last Breath (streaming on Netflix) 
Wallace & Gromit - Vengeance Most Fowl (streaming on Netflix)

Belated Happy 2026, dear readers! After a much-needed break I'm back with a bumper edition, having finally caught a couple of the Boxing Day and New Year's Day releases that I'd missed. And they are great!  Plenty of tears shed over several of this week's films too. Also, I've had a bit of a streaming binge over the break. Awards season is upon us and already the nominations and wins are coming thick and fast. Whether it's the cinema experience you seek, or the sofa-at-home streamers there's plenty of fab films to choose from this week. 

Hamnet 
Dir: Chloe Zhao
Length: 125 mins
© Universal - nothing less than exquisite!
It has 53 wins and 230 nominations already, with Best Motion Picture, and Best Actress at the recent Golden Globes. And why not, I ask, having surrendered to this exquisite film and then dried my copious tears at its conclusion. The story speculates upon what exactly inspired Shakespeare to write Hamlet, but it is also a reflection upon artistic inspiration, passionate love, familial devotion, loss and grief. Will Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) meets and falls instantly in love with Agnes (Jessie Buckley), who is a healer and has an other-worldly bond with nature. Three children later, and Will's star is starting to rise, as he spends more time away from his family at the Globe theatre in London with his plays.  While Will is absent, their beloved son Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe) dies. Both Agnes and Will must process their grief in different ways. Director Zhao knows how to bring immediacy, modern-day relevance, and intensity to a centuries old tale. The couple's devotion and passion is palpable, the familial bonds authentic and real, the idyllic English country life mesmerising, and the artistic drive that haunts the Bard is something writers will relate to. The film is a visual treat, capturing nature resplendently, while Agnes' connection to healing and the forest suffuses the story with a near mysticism. Suffice to say Buckley and Mescal are searingly powerful, bringing tenderness and eroticism to their relationship. The film's conclusion, set in the Globe theatre, is quite unforgettable, an emotional tour-de-force from Buckley. This film transcends the generally accepted story of Shakespeare, and moves into a realm of those things that makes humans both great and at the same time humble in their shared humanity. 
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Song Sung Blue
Dir: Craig Brewer
Length: 132 mins
© Universal - these guys sing up a storm
Who doesn't love a good tribute band? Here's the true story of a Neil Diamond tribute band, consisting of Milwaukee husband and wife team known as Lightning and Thunder, real names Mike (Hugh Jackman) and Claire (Kate Hudson). Regardless of whether you are a Diamond fan or not, there is much to love about this heartfelt film. It celebrates love - love between the couple, love of music, and love of life. Despite tragedy striking, the pair rise above it, to bring joy to countless fans. Films like this can risk running into cliche, but the performances from Hudson and Jackman are so authentic, you can't help but be swept up in the emotion of it all. They play everyday (but talented) battlers that we can really relate to. Costuming is a terrific sequin-encrusted homage to the period, while most impressive is the soundtrack, all vocals expertly performed by Hudson and Jackman. Yes, it's feel good, in a truly uplifting and joyous way, despite the need for plenty of tissues.
4 - highly recommended

Rental Family
Dir: Hikari
Length: 110 mins
© Searchlight Pictures - how could you not
love these characters?
American actor Phillip (Brendan Fraser) has lived in Tokyo for seven years. His acting engagements are few and far between, and he leads a lonely life. He takes a job with "Rental Family", an agency which provides a service to strangers in which someone stands in as a friend or family member to either keep up appearances or provide emotional support. From a mourner at a funeral, to a groom, to a biographer for an aging famous actor, he juggles one role after another. The connection with the actor (Akira Emoto) will draw him into the old man's world, but when he plays pretend Dad to Mia (Shannon Mahina Gorman) to help get her into a private school, he discovers a depth of human connection he hasn't experienced before. What starts off with a lot of humour, becomes a film of such emotion and sincere humanity, that it soon had me in a flood of tears. Brendan Fraser is poignantly powerful in a lovely understated performance, while Gorman's Mia, desperate for a Dad, is a perfect pairing. The plot is clever, with a couple of fun surprises, and the choice to mix the Japanese and English spoken word works well. Such crowd-pleasing films are often accused of emotional manupulation, but for me this one works supremely well, and, while entertaining to the max, underscores the profound need for human connection.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Christy
Dir: David Michod
Length: 135 mins
© Roadshow - true tale of a fighter - 
in sport and life
Here's another true story, this one tackling a woman who made her name and trailblazed for women  in the world of boxing in the 1990s. Christy Martin (Sydney Sweeney) comes from a conservative family, where she has to hide her sexuality and love for Rosie (Jess Gabor). She begins her boxing training with Jim Martin (Ben Foster), who she marries and together they run a boxing gym. Her career trajectory is stellar, but on the home front she fights a darker battle: Jim is controlling and abusive, eventually trying to kill her. This is a power-house performance from Sweeney, who underwent intensive training for the role. The scenes of Christy's many battles in the ring are visceral and thrilling, and make for a terrific narrative contrast with the other more serious battles in her life. Even if you hate boxing, the theme of domestic abuse is so powerfully handled it gives the film a deeper layer. My one big gripe is that twenty years are spanned in this movie, and Christy never seems to age.  Putting that aside, it's an engaging, disturbing and ultimately inspiring watch.
3.5  - well recommended

David
Dir: Phil Cunningham & Brent Dawes
Length: 109 mins
© Rialto - good family entertainment based
on a timeless story
A classic biblical story has been taken by a faith-based animation studio and turned into a rousing musical. It's the tale of shepherd boy David, who is chosen by prophet Samuel to be the next King of Israel. No need to go into the full details of the plot, rather to say what a visually gorgeous animation this is. Scenes of the biblical lands are rendered in stunning colorful animation, and the songs have the feel of a bona-fide musical, as strong as any out there. It's the heavy Americanisation of the whole thing I find a little offputting, with too many corny gestures and scenes played for laughs. The visual characterisation of the various tribes of middle-eastern nomads is also a little heavy-handed, with the very ugly bad dudes (Philistines? Malachites?) too starkly contrasted with the good guys, the chosen people of Israel. No doubt this film could stir up political debate, but as an entertaining and educational  family film, telling a timeless story, it works well. 
3 - recommended

Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember
Dir: Tom Barbor-Might
Length: 52 mins
Streaming on Disney +
© Disney+ & Hulu - a son shows the 
greatest love for his ailing father
If you want your heartstrings tugged some more, you can't go past this short and very sweet doco about hunky actor Chris Hemsworth, who takes his ailing Dad, who is developing dementia, on a memory-laden road trip. Having molto money at his disposal, Chris is able to organise a reconstruction of their family home from the '90s. Brain specialist Dr Suraj Samtani assures Chris and viewers that this is an excellent way to delay full blown dementia, getting sufferers in touch with their past memories. Chris makes a wonderful narrator, coming across as a man of much heart, and the love on show in his family is joyful and stirring. As the pair revisit their time spent in a remote community in the Northern Territory, another whole dimension comes into play, with strong connections with Indigenous community front and centre.  
4 - highly recommended

Last Breath
Dir: Alex Parkinson
Length: 93 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix - nail-bitingly suspenseful
at great ocean depth
Director Parkinson has adapted his own 2019 doco to tell the true story of a diver Chris (Finn Cole), who works in a team repairing damaged cabling on the freezing ocean floor of the North Sea. The thing about these men, known as saturation divers, is that they live for long periods in special undersea quarters, allowing them to work at great depths for weeks on end. It's a nail-bitingly gripping tale, because (as expected) something major goes wrong, and it's a race to rescue Chris. Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu are excellent as Chris's diving teammates, while the above sea drama going on in the control room is just as exciting as what goes on at depth. Ocean storms, failed computer systems, snagged cables, depleted oxygen tanks - it's all there to make for a heart-stopping and very stressful ride. 
3.5 - well recommended

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Dir: Merlin Crossingham; Nick Park
Length: 82 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix - as always a heap of fun with
this crazy pommie pair
Fans of Wallace and his canine companion should love this latest mad-cap adventure. Wallace has invented Norbot, a robotic gnome to help with gardening and to be part of a new neighborhood business. Meantime, imprisoned penguin Feathers McGraw hacks into Norbot's software to help plan his jailbreak. The technology turns rogue and a whole host of evil Norbots wreak havoc. What's not to love about this well-scripted, funny tale which has plenty of not-so-subtle digs at the dangers of technology? It's a great fun family watch, and a worthy BAFTA winner for Best Animated Feature 2025.
4 - highly recommended


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