Stephen Thorndyke

25 #TheSecretAgent
Surreal complex comic psychological thriller on the corruption of 70s Brazil, centered around a refugee safe house for those fleeing the pokice Good performances & gripping story telling made the 2h40 fly by, even the pyhtonesque severed leg terrorising a lovers park at night. 8

24 #GoodLuckHaveFunDontDie
Near future time travelling yomp where returns to stop AI controlling the world through mobile apps.
Decent segments, including school shootings, but far too long overall. Worth watching for Rockwells first 20 minutes scene in Norms diner alone 6

23 #Whistle
A high school basketball star mysteriously burns to death in a post game shower. Chrys inherits his locker incl an Aztec whistle which helps death find you before your time. Unoriginal but enjoyable horror help together by a good performance from Dafne Keen 6

22 #Crime101
Ruffalo, Berry, Keoghan & Hemsworth in a superior heist movie. Ruffalo in his mid life crisis columbo era detective as his life falls apart is obsessed by a kind hearted but serial theif. Good performances, decent twists & character development 7

21 #WutheringHeights
Elordi n Robbie as Heathcliffe & Cathy in Bronte class love affair of deeply selfish and unpleasant characters. No empathy for any of the characters although Martin Clunes is outstanding as Cathys violent drunk father as is Hong Chau as Nelly. Overlong & dull 5

20 #LittleAmelie
Amelie is mute yet full of opinions on her family & older siblings as a Belgian being raised in Japan. The arrival of her grandmother, chocolate & babysitter Nishio-San who help her experience the world. Delightful animated film of life through the eyes of a toddler 8

19 #Hamlet
Riz Ahmeds vision vision of a hamlet in London at the Asian of his mother. Intense, with great turns from Spall & Clarke but it's all about Ahmed's Hamlet. Fast paced chaotic and fierce 6

18 #SendHelp
Sam Raimi tale of the capable office star overlooked for younger incompetent nepo male. A plane crash on a business trip leaves them on a deserted island which plays to Linda's survivor strengths good drama if predictable tale of power corrupting absolutely 6

Yup, the £20m has a can't be seen to let him going cheaply tale. Can't see usmnt world cup team appearances happening for example and given form ability & attitude EPL also v unlikely.

17 #Primate
Ben is a pet who communicates with his owners & is pleased to have travelling daughter back home, until rabies. Excellent gore as he reeks havoc at a house party but the set up of grief, deaf father & anthropomorphised chimp are underplayed leaving another stock bad monkey horror. 4

16 #IsThisThingOn
Bishops move to stand up amid a marriage break down is moved to NY yet LFC randomly referenced
The rom com between Dern & Arnett is solid. But the drama is overdone Cooper & manning are typical of the issues of poor unnecessary characters. Humanity removed & I didn't get the hype 5

15 #Shelter
The stath is back, being the same predictable stath again. Ex elite commando hiding from the world on a Scottish island, isolated bar a girl who delivers groceries by boat until the storm. Nighy camps it up. Predictable, hackneyed,bad (driving from island to London undetected) yet fun 5

14 #Mercy
Pratt is cop who brought the first AI conviction, is arrested for killing his wife & is 90 mins from execution. he can use data to prove his innocence. Good premise, but predictable outcomes with an over drawn out telegraphed finale. 5

13 #Peoplewemeetonvacation
Rom com where Poppy & Alex meet cute by sharing a journey back to their home town, exploring how friendship becomes more despite opposing personalities while meeting for a holiday each year. Dull overlong eye fodder
A soulless when Harry met Sally for the 21st century.
5

12 #AnotherWorld
Gudo takes humans from death through to reincarnation in a Ghibliesque Another World, cleansing souls along the way. Beautifully drawn, violently gory on Earth but just missing that psychological connection as the no. of ideas are crammed in. Homeric critique of the human race. 6

11 #TheRip
Damon & Affleck run an undercover home raid team suspected of having leak. A crimestoppers tip to suburban home where sniffer dog goes mad and events turn sour. Cartels, moles shootouts, chases style whodunnit. Old fashioned solid predictable film 5

And always good to see Julian of Norwich quoted 600 years on

10 #HIsForHawk
True tale of the death of a photographer & his daughters grief, based on a best selling memoire.
Foy is excellent as the successful daughter whose life stalls as she mourns, buying a support Goshawk Wildness, connection, loneliness, depression, loss & vitality of life explored Teary 7

9 #NoOtherChoice
Dark comedy on the shame of Asian middle aged redundancy. Man Su faces losing everything unless he gets another job, facing better applicants. he gruesomely improves his odds. amusing, tense, well acted, beautiful shot, fable of selfish needs before morality. Over long but joy 7

Back to real life after leaving Wrexham this morning. Enjoyed pre match at the cross foxes with a disconcerting no. of manure fans but loved that second half performance even if I have a growing suspicion makama was offside for the winner? Convince me I'm wrong
Our luck is turning. #ncfc #otbc #ncfc

Fortunately jovon woke up after the second half mini break, before that he was just about the poorest player on the pitch. He showed who he can be after that. For a 21 to he has a lot on his shoulders now sarge is a pariah

Hyam loving a v easy game v makama

Sliding doors moment, Ahmed's strike goes in and it's good. Their 4 man midfield overrunning our 2, lost control of midfield. And makama woeful nothing striking and bit closing down. Wright for slimane who is going nowhere & schwartau both to occupy press their cm & pass forward better #ncfc

Wrecsam away, first pints of a long weekend.. any hostelry recommendations??
As for city, hoping for a grafting display from
Vlad
Fisher Rauiri Darling Chrisene
Kenny Pelle
Jurasek Wright Makama
Kvistgaarden
0scar & Cordoba viable options but above for me
#coyy #ncfc #otbc

8 #RentalFamiliy exploring the Japanese phenomena of hiring a standing to meet social norms & to ease loneliness. Fraser is an out of work actor living in Tokyo when he take s a job as a us mourner at a business mans funeral. Tender amusing if slight tale better covered by documentaries 6

7 #BoneTemple
The Jimmy's, Samson & kelsons ossuary return. The scenery stuns, spikes fear is palpable & fiennes oozes humanity as the score needle drops. Taut at under 2 hours, entertaining with some strong visuals but also patchy, missed opportunities & felt like a stepping stone for the finale 7

6 #Hamnet
As often happens a good books key minor factors that drive plot are reduced or removed, making the film disjointed. Add in over long pauses, the script jolts for what seems longer than its 2hrs. Gorgeous on the big screen & 2 strong leads elevate emotions in a standard love & loss script 7

5 #TrainDream tale of an itinerant logger for the us railroads and grief from the 1910 to his experience of city life as urban migration hits. Reflecting the joys and futility of a fleeting life it's all just a little too slow , dull & self congratulatory despite Macy, condons & egertons efforts. 6

4 #SongSungBlue
Mike & Claire meet cute at a state fair, struggling to keep their musical dreams alive.Talented but unlucky they focus on a diamond themed act as a dysfunctional family. Astonishing true life biopic with Jackson & Hudson superb as the films heart & soul. Unexpectedly good. 8

3 #TheHousemaid faithful to the international best selling book, this is a throwback psychological thriller which is well cast, esp with the female leads, with a script that keeps the suspense building. Great to see a sell out showing, of mainly teen girls, & it seemed to work for them too. Good 7