Palatkik

Infinity Pool [2023] Super-rich tourists are enjoying an all-inclusive beach vacation in the fictional island of La Tolqa, when a fatal accident exposes the resort's perverse subculture of hedonistic cloning tourism, reckless violence and surreal horrors. A highly original well directed R-rated visual feast for the eyes with a lead by Goth that is outstanding. A top movie to enjoy the hell out of.

Pretty Red Dress [2022] Follows a South London family, one a budding Tina Turner singer, her partner just out of prison with a hidden habit, a troublesome kid and how one red dress is the center of their lives. Modern style UK feel good drama has some surprises to keep you viewing.

Reality [2023] A former American intelligence specialist was given the longest sentence for the unauthorized release of government information to the media about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections via an email operation. This HBO movie of the stage play "Is This A Room" is a compelling piece of drama based on recent real life events, direct and to the point with an outstanding lead. Worth seeing.

Hereditary [2018] A grieving family is haunted by tragic and disturbing occurrences. The horror genre movie may not appeal to everyone, but this is one of the better ones with a blood curdling lead performance and fine support cast set in a modern style, in your face production. Worth screaming, same director as Midsommar and Beau Is Afraid.

Air [2023] Follows the history of sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan. An eighties nostalgia sports drama with a good production and smart dialogue is an entertaining experience. Worth seeing.

Champions [2023] A former minor-league US basketball coach is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined. A difficult comedy to make without seeming patronizing, this feel good movie kind of works but is too formulaic to be good.

Rye Lane [2023] Two youngsters reeling from bad breakups connect over an eventful day in South-London. Colorful, infectiously funny and vibrant biting comedy drama with a clever script. This film is fun, but those averse to the genre may find the ending a bit naff as it wallows in a typically melodramatic UK rom-com style ending.

Beau Is Afraid [2023] Following the sudden death of his mother, a mild-mannered but anxiety-ridden man confronts his darkest fears as he embarks on an epic, Kafkaesque odyssey back home. An original art-house film from this new director makes for a bizarre three hour anxiety rush. Worth seeing if you want something different.

I Am… [2019 TV series] UK Channel 4 series explores the experiences of various people, all women, in personal life moments. This went to three series to date with the latest third series a single longer award winning episode called I Am Ruth about social media addiction. Good in your face intense drama uses some of the UK's best TV actors, too intense to binge the series, but OK to pick off an episode once in a while in no particular order as each story is unique.

Blackberry [2023] The story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone. This is one of the best tech movies out there with a sharp intelligent script, very entertaining screenplay that engages from the start and never stops being interesting. Worth seeing.

Influencer [2022] While struggling on a solo backpacking trip in Thailand, a social media influencer meets a follower, who travels with ease and shows her a more uninhibited way of living, but the followers interest in her takes a darker turn. A thriller filmed mostly in Koh Samui, an OK second rate effort with forgettable, shallow characters, a metaphor for influencers perhaps.

Ted Lasso [2020 TV series] Follows an American football coach Ted Lasso who heads to the U.K. to manage a struggling London premier league football team. Whilst this came out as a winner in the 2021 Emmys after the first series which drew attention, series 2 and 3 becomes bogged in sentimentality, virtue signaling and loss of direction. Series 3 is just cringe worthy awful and hard to watch. Enough.

The Hunt for Raoul Moat [2023 TV Limited Series] A true dramatization of the police operation in 2010 to apprehend fugitive Raoul Moat in the UK. He went to Northumbria after killing one person and wounding two others. The story is mostly known already so there are few surprises to be had, the performances are okay, but there is not much else going for this series really and questionable glorification of a killer comes to mind.

The Bay [2019 TV series] A fictional police drama series now completed series 4 in 2023 with a change of characters and new story, centered around a family liaison officer. Solid easy to follow crime fiction with good character development and unexpected surprises. Set in the picturesque Morecambe bay area. Good if unexceptional story-lines mean a season 5 is coming next year.

Enys Men [2023] Set in 1973 on an uninhabited island off the Cornish coast, a wildlife volunteer's daily observations of a rare flower turn into a metaphysical journey that forces her as well as the viewer to question what is real and what is nightmare. From the director of the splendid Bait [2019], this is not quite as special but still entrancing for its art house horror feel.

Ten Pound Poms [2023 TV Limited Series] A group of Brits leave post-war Britain in 1956 to embark on an adventure. Nothing more than a dumbed down soap opera for the 50's with writers struggling not to overdo the cliches of the period. Too many subplots for us to care about but light entertaining fluff if you really must.

Memory [2022] An assassin-for-hire finds that he's become a target after he refuses to complete a job for a dangerous criminal organization. Another production line actioner that’s been done time over before. This is just money for nothing by Neeson.

Where the Crawdads Sing [2022] A woman who raised herself in the marshes of the Deep South becomes a suspect in the murder of a man with whom she was once involved. Well-polished American drama that follows all the cliches in the book, the lead deserves better.

Midsommar [2019] A couple travels to Northern Europe to visit a rural hometown's fabled Swedish mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult. Art house meets horror has some impact.

The Children Act [2017] As her marriage crumbles, a judge must decide a case involving a teenage boy who is refusing a blood transfusion on religious principle. A character study with strong performances in an unconvincing story.

Amsterdam [2022] In the 1930s, three friends witness a murder, are framed for it, and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history. A period 1940's movie full of attractive top drawer performers in a meandering tough to watch aching dull plot based on true events.

To Leslie [2022] Inspired by true events. A West Texas single mother wins the lottery and squanders it just as fast, leaving behind a world of heartbreak. Years later, with her charm running out and nowhere to go, she fights to rebuild her life and find redemption. Some fine performances in this low budget indie drama out of Texas. Worth seeing.

Three Thousand Years Of Longing [2022] A lonely scholar, on a trip to Istanbul, discovers a Djinn who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. A Djinn in need of a tonic someone said. Not far off the point, this is a dull tale with some arresting visuals at times but meh. The title almost a metaphor for how long it feels to sit through this fantasy. The lead is good value as always however but needs better.