Palatkik

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent [2022] In this action comedy, Nicolas Cage plays Nick Cage, channeling his iconic characters as he's caught between a super-fan with crime gang relatives and a CIA agent. A wild mix of eccentric Cage Rage self-indulgence, perhaps the movies only redeeming feature, in a b-grade story line.

Navalny [2022] Made before the Ukraine invasion, this follows the likeable Putin adversary who survived an assassination attempt by poisoning in August 2020. During his months-long recovery in Germany he makes shocking discoveries with cameras rolling about the attempt on his life and decides to return home. Good documentary that a fictional thriller might find hard to beat, a central jaw dropping revelation, supposedly live on camera, and the inevitable conclusion to date from Moscow.

The Hand Of God [2021] In 1980s Naples, a young teenager pursues his love for football and Maradona as a family tragedy strikes, shaping his uncertain but promising future as a filmmaker. Beguiling mixed Italian drama/dark comedy, based on the film makers own tragic experience makes for some compelling viewing. Worth seeing when the mood suits.

Bergman Island [2021] A couple retreat to the Fårö island, that inspired Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman, to write screenplays for their upcoming films when the lines between reality and fiction start to blur. Good cinematography in a drama where not much ever happens.

Pistol [2022 TV Limited Series] Based on the Steve Jones' memoir Lonely Boy about the birth of punk in Britain, this is an uneven but great fun watch for those with a penchant for the era. Some lively performance recreations with good soundtrack though the facts maybe muddled as Lydon had nothing to do with it. Worth seeing.

Ricky Gervais: SuperNature [2022] TV Special of the comedian with his signature black humor doing stand up on stage at the London Palladium. Takes on the rules of comedy with amusing self-mockery of everyone easily offended. Comedy doesn't always travel, and this, whilst a good laugh, along the lines of his Golden Globes hosting but more vulgar, comes over as a little lazy and juvenile. Worth seeing when the mood suits.

Ali & Ava [2021] Ali and Ava, both lonely for different reasons, meet and sparks fly. Over a lunar month a connection begins to grow, despite the legacy of their own past relationships. Award winning and endearing UK drama set in Yorkshire with two leads showing real chemistry in a story full of detail.

Everything Everywhere All At Once [2022] An aging Chinese immigrant is swept up in an insane adventure, where she alone can save the world by exploring other universes connecting with the lives she could have led. One of the strangest most intense action packed movies of recent times, highly inventive and original with a full range of emotions.

Operation Mincemeat [2022] During WW2, two intelligence officers use a corpse and false papers to outwit German troops before the Allied invasion of Sicily. Old school style war drama recounts the famous war deception. Good performances, plenty of intrigue, usual WW2 CGI imagery we have become used to in a rather bland production.

The Outlaws [2021 TV Series] Seven strangers from different walks of life, each of whom have broken the law are forced together to complete a community service sentence in Bristol, UK. A quirky six part dark comedy series, with an odd but likeable cast choice, paints such a broad brush with so much going on as to make it only mildly entertaining. More in series 2 to come.

Stephen [2021 TV Limited Series] The true story of the ongoing struggle by Doreen and Neville Lawrence to achieve justice for their murdered son Stephen and how a detective, Clive Driscoll, put together a re-investigation that finally, more than 18 years after his death, secured the convictions of two of the gang who committed the murder before the Met finally closed the case in 2020. Decent award nominated three part ITV cop drama, covers the landmark re-investigation involving double jeopardy and institutional racism issues. Worth a look.

Jungleland [2020] Two brothers try to escape their circumstances by traveling across the US for a no holds barred boxing match that becomes a fight for their lives. Gritty drama set around the seedy gangster world of underground fighting, rises above mediocrity with two convincing leads.

Stay Close [2021 TV Limited Series] The lives of a photojournalist, a former stripper mom and a homicide detective are disturbed by a terrible event from the past. Netflix series filmed in and around Blackpool UK that is best binged watched whilst doing something else, average at best albeit entertaining.