Watched Bad Day for the Cut (2017) by an author from letterboxd.com
A middle-aged Irish farmer, who still lives at home with his mother, sets off on a mission of revenge when the old lady is murdered.

The tone is a lot less bleak and brutal than maybe it could, or should, have been. I can only assume this got an 18 cert in the UK for the repeated use of the c-word. Certainly there is nothing overly graphic. To be honest, it plays out more like the finale of TV series than a movie.

Nigel O’Neill plays his part, as Donal, very well. I imagine it’s hard to establish much menancing intent when you’re wearing a fleece and wellies but he pulls it off. Susan Lynch also manages to be deeply unpleasant with little screen time.

The story is nothing new but Donal’s deeply pragmatic approach to each challenge is quite refreshing.

★★★

My review

Watched The Gentlemen (2019) by an author from letterboxd.com
American expat Mickey Pearson has built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he’s looking to cash out of the business forever it triggers plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.

There’s really nothing new to this story but I still like how it was told. Particularly the parts that were told my Hugh Grant

★★★

My review

Watched Bronson (2008) by an author from letterboxd.com
A young man who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for robbing a post office ends up spending 30 years in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality is supplanted by his alter ego, Charles Bronson.

The part with the tea trolley and the disco in secure unit are some of my favourite scenes ever.

★★★

My review

Watched Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) by an author from letterboxd.com
Gellert Grindelwald has escaped imprisonment and has begun gathering followers to his cause—elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one capable of putting a stop to him is the wizard he once called his closest friend, Albus Dumbledore. However, Dumbledore will need to seek help from the wizard who had thwarted Grindelwald once before, his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Had no memory of watching this but some of it seemed familiar. Eventually realised we’d watched the start and given up at some point. The eldest liked it (11) youngest was bored and left…

Seemed adequate but little more than a stepping stone.

★★★

My review

Watched Darkest Hour (2017) by an author from letterboxd.com
A thrilling and inspiring true story begins on the eve of World War II as, within days of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill must face one of his most turbulent and defining trials: exploring a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany, or standing firm to fight for the ideals, liberty and freedom of a nation. As the unstoppable Nazi forces roll across Western Europe and the threat of invasion is imminent, and with an unprepared public, a skeptical King, and his own party plotting against him, Churchill must withstand his darkest hour, rally a nation, and attempt to change the course of world history.

A fairly boring but well made film about politics

★★★

My review

Watched Dressed to Kill (1980) by an author from letterboxd.com
A mysterious, tall, blonde woman wearing sunglasses murders one of a psychiatrist's patients, and now she's after the prostitute who witnessed it.

For De Palma the director, this is probably a 4 or 5 star film. The visuals are superb and the performances are spot on. Very New York, too.

For De Palma the writer, this is some sleazy, voyeuristic, exploitation shit, that I find very weird.

★★★½

My review

Watched Freaky (2020) by an author from letterboxd.com
A mystical, ancient dagger causes a notorious serial killer to magically switch bodies with a 17-year-old girl.

Based strictly on how much I went “ewww” and laughed out loud, this must be one of the best horror comedies I have seen.

★★★

My review

Watched Interceptor (2022) by an author from letterboxd.com
A U.S. Army Captain uses her years of tactical training to save humanity from sixteen nuclear missiles launched at the U.S. as a violent attack threatens her remote missile interceptor station.

A three star film with a two star budget; everything wrong with this, from the skeleton rig crew to the supporting cast, could be fixed with more money.

Elsa is ace. I wish I had guns like that 💪

★★★

My review

Watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) by an author from letterboxd.com
Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their quest to vanquish the evil Voldemort once and for all. Just as things begin to look hopeless for the young wizards, Harry discovers a trio of magical objects that endow him with powers to rival Voldemort's formidable skills.

Apart from the toe-curlingly twee finale, this is, appropriately, relentlessly bleak and brutal.

Watching the latter films has been tough on my 8-y/o, she’s still firmly in the “chocolate frogs” demographic.

Still, for an 8 film series, it finishes pretty strongly.

★★★★

My review

Watched The Dam Busters (1955) by an author from letterboxd.com
The story of the conception of a new British weapon for smashing the German dams in the Ruhr industrial complex and the execution of the raid by 617 Squadron 'The Dam Busters'.

Inspirational story, very average film

★★★

My review