Palatkik

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.

The English [2022 TV limited Series] Follows a woman as she seeks revenge on the man she sees as responsible for the death of her son. Worth sitting this one out, at first comes over as an over stylized rogues and bloodletting slog. By the end it's something unique for a western. Worth a look.

Boston Strangler [2023] Loretta McLaughlin was the reporter who first connected the murders and broke the story of the Boston Strangler. She and Jean Cole challenged the sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city's most notorious serial killer. Drearily slow, a good lead, keeps it together.

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On [2022] Feature adaptation of the animated short film interviewing a mollusk named Marcel. Quirky stop-motion animation that is less for kids and more for the inner child in grownups. Engaging and enjoyable.

Women Talking [2022] In 2010, the women of an isolated religious community grapple with reconciling a brutal reality with their faith. Theatrically powerful performances make this bizarre yet original and stark story worth a look.

A Man Called Otto [2022] Otto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around. Routine family entertainment, over kills the predictable feel good melodramatics, ultimately ho-hum.

The Gold [2023 TV Limited Series] Drama series inspired by true events surrounding the 1983 Brink's-Mat gold robbery, one of the UK's largest ever robberies, and the remarkable story that followed trying to find the trail on money. Entertaining 6 part crime drama, good performances, memorable musical soundtrack from the era.

Cocaine Bear [2023] An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converge on a Georgia forest where a huge black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine. This attempt at comedy horror based very loosely on something that actually happened is awful. Strictly for those looking for gross out lowest denominator humor when in a vegetative state of mind.

Flux Gourmet [2022] Set at an institute devoted to culinary and alimentary performance, a collective finds themselves embroiled in power struggles, artistic vendettas, and some flatulence. Britain's Peter Strictland directs a fetish-fixated film that imagines a community of artists who turn food and cooking into soundscapes, this is as bizarre and wonderful as some of his other art-house works. Not for all tastes, but a feast for those looking for something weird.

The Whale [2022] A reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter. Mixed results from this theatrical style movie held up by one or two strong performances, otherwise overly melodramatic, joyless story of squalor and dull.

Living [2022] Set in 1950s London, a humorless civil servant decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis. Based on the 1952 Japanese film "Ikuru", this version is a polished and uplifting nuanced story, a level above the usual UK feel good movies, worth seeing.

Schwesterlein [2020] My Little Sister, the English title, a young woman has bid goodbye to her ambitions as a playwright and the Berlin arts scene to live in Switzerland with her husband, who runs an international school. When her twin brother becomes terminally ill, she returns to Berlin. Excellent German drama and performances done mostly in the vernacular, with some French and English spoken. Strictly for those interested in the genre as a downer for most.

Happy Valley [2014 TV Series] Yorkshire-based crime drama centering on the personal and professional life of Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood. Since 2014 there have been three series to-date. A excellent edge of seat crime drama series.