Palatkik

Line Of Duty [2012 S01-S06 TV series] Crime series following the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anti-corruption unit. In 2021 it's series 6 of this popular TV crime drama. As each episode and series feeds on the previous and as the acronyms go into overdrive, this has the potential to self-implode under its own weight but so far it's been a thrill ride and still an impressive latest series filmed under social distancing rules.

My Octopus Teacher [2020] A filmmaker forges an unusual almost bizarre friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, learning as the animal shares the mysteries of her world. Mesmerizing documentary with great visual imagery, veers more towards too Disney like than anything too scientific, but worth a look when the mood suits.

His House [2020] A refugee couple makes a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, but then they struggle to adjust to their new life in an English town that has an evil lurking. Impressive supernatural thriller from a first time director offers a visually surreal trip into the horrors of the refugee crisis.

Black Bear [2020] A filmmaker at a creative impasse seeks solace from her tumultuous past at a rural retreat, only to find that the woods summon her inner demons. Somewhat intriguing art house thespians doing what they do best, comes over as self-indulgent and hard to watch.

It Snows In Benidorm [2020] A Manchester banker is forced into an early retirement, decides to visit his brother in Benidorm, only to discover that he's disappeared. A slow quirky melancholic suspense drama of hedonistic pensioners, kind of works with another good lead by Spall who befriends a soulless show girl who pulls pearls out of her vagina for a living.

Minari [2020] Named after the vegetable, a unique kind of film dramatizing a Korean families assimilation in rural 1980s Arkansas with their trials and tribulations starting a farm. Well-made with mixed English and Korean dialogue, intimate character development in a slow going drama that is enjoyable to watch albeit nothing outstanding.

The United States vs Billie Holiday [2021] Based on the War On Drugs book "Chasing the Scream" this biography follows Holiday during her career as she is targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics with an undercover sting operation led by Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, with whom she had a tumultuous affair during 1940's America. Other than a top lead performance and some good tunes, the rest of the screenplay is uninspiring.

The Father [2020] An elderly man refuses help from his daughter as he ages and tries to make sense of his changing circumstances. He begins to doubt his loved ones and his own mind. Based on the 2012 play, this movie version has Hopkins at his very best in a masterful display of the devastation of dementia.

Creation Stories [2021] Tells the mostly true story of Creation Records head Alan McGee; and of how one written-off young Glaswegian upstart rose to irrevocably change the face of British culture through a drug fueled haze. A strong lead with music from 70's punk through late 90's Britpop and its associated political links makes for an entertaining movie.

Mank [2020] 1930's Hollywood is reevaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane. This is sharply written and splendidly atmospheric in the recreation of the period, even those adverse to movies about Hollywood movie making could appreciate this one.

The Trial Of The Chicago 7 [2020] The true story of the trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising by activists at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the resulting clash with the police. A rousing courtroom drama done in typical Hollywood style but nevertheless works well with some stirring performances and good dialogue. Worth seeing.

Silk Road [2021] A young philosophical Ross Ulbricht creates Silk Road, a dark net website that sells drugs, while an old school corrupt DEA agent Rick Bowden, goes undercover to bring him down. The Silk Road true story has been recounted a few times already and this, whilst nothing outstanding, makes for an entertaining crime caper.