Palatkik

The French Dispatch [2021] An ode to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth century French city that brings to life a collection of three stories published in "The French Dispatch Magazine". A trademark Wes Anderson film, quirky, original, a visual feast worth seeing.

Encounter [2021] Two brothers embark on a journey with their father, who is trying to protect them from an alien threat. A showcase for a good lead performance, but the story of science fiction meets PTSD fact runs out of steam quickly.

Titane [2021] Following a series of unexplained crimes, a father is reunited with the 'son' who has been missing for 10 years. Award winning French horror fantasy film from the same director as Raw, highly original, visually extreme and gut wrenchingly graphic at times. Memorable, something you cannot unsee, but worth seeing.

Petite Maman [2021] French movie of a young girl who has just lost her grandmother and is helping her parents clean out her mother's childhood home. One day she meets a girl her same age building a tree-house. A subtle, original and joyful film dabbles in time travel and apparitions, all told in a succinctly edited movie.

The Power Of The Dog [2021] A charismatic rancher inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, he torments them until he finds himself exposed. A slow burning masterpiece of a movie, brilliant passive aggressive lead and wonderfully immersive sound scape. Worth seeing.

Spencer [2021] During her Christmas holidays with the royal family at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, Diana Spencer, struggling with mental health problems, decides to end her decade-long marriage to Prince Charles. Not everyone will go for the genre, but this is an unusually unique abstract viewpoint of one weekend, told with some poetic license and a good lead performance.

Halston [2021 Limited TV series] The true story of the man who leverages his single, invented name into a worldwide fashion empire that's synonymous with luxury, sex, status and fame, literally defining the era. Outstanding lead performance in this series. Though the script comes across as more style than substance, perhaps that's intentional for a fashion designer saga.

Naked [1993] An unemployed Mancunian vents his rage on unsuspecting strangers as he embarks on a nocturnal London odyssey. Recently re-released after 30 years celebrating the works of Mike Leigh, it could have been made yesterday as it is a timeless masterpiece. Full of brutal and withering wit, brilliantly played, written and directed.

No Time To Die [2021] James Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when an old friend from the CIA, turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. Not one of the best 007 movies for pace and execution including some rather dull villains, but nevertheless a fine farewell for the latest and perhaps best of the Bonds in the franchise. Out online now.

The Velvet Underground [2021] Documentary film explores the multiple threads that converged to bring together one of the most influential bands in progressive rock music and how it ended. This is audio visual gold for fans of the avant-garde music genre. Excellent in depth interviews with some of key players still alive and some rare and poignant clips of the era.

The Card Counter [2021] Redemption is the long game in Paul Schrader's movie. Told with his trademark cinematic intensity, the revenge thriller tells the story of an ex-military Gitmo interrogator turned card gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past. Intense lead performance makes for an engrossing movie. Worth seeing.

After Love [2020] Set in the port town of Dover, a British Muslim convert suddenly finds herself a widow following the unexpected death of her husband. A day after the burial, she discovers he has a secret just twenty-one miles across the English Channel in Calais. Stunningly poignant and contrived drama, worth seeing, one of the year's best.

Lamb [2021] A childless couple discover a mysterious newborn on their farm in Iceland. The unexpected prospect of family life brings them much joy, before ultimately destroying them. Another excellent, bizarre and original movie from Iceland, intriguing from start to end.

Redemption Of A Rogue [2021] A bible, black comedy about a prodigal son returning to his Irish hometown to seek salvation for his sins whilst carrying a bag around containing a rope he plans to hang himself with. Unique Irish film with nonstop grim humor.

The Bay [2019 TV series] A solid fictional police drama series already completed series 2. Solid easy to follow stories with deep character development and unexpected surprises leave you believing. Set in the picturesque Morecambe bay area. The second series is a step up so more to come.

Manhunt [2019 TV series] Another well-made TV detective series from ITV UK this time based on the memoirs of Colin Sutton a senior investigating officer in the Met. There have been two seasons so far, both good, the first covered the Levi Bellfield serial murder hunt, and the second series of the bizarre serial rapist/burglar Delroy Grant.

Deerskin [2019] A man's obsession with his designer deerskin jacket causes him to blow his life savings and turn to crime aided by his jacket. A deliciously raw and absurdly unusual French black comedy. Worth seeing.

The Last Bus [2021] British road movie about a pensioner whose wife has just passed away, travels from John O'Groats, to his original home town at Land's End, using his free bus pass with his wife's ashes. Along the way, his adventures are recorded by the people he meets and helps, and by the end of his trip he has unwittingly become a social media celebrity. The premise and lead performance are OK, but the execution of this fictional story is poorly made, two dimensional and stupid.

CODA [2021] Named after the Child of Deaf Adults, a teenage girl is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family's fishing business is threatened, she finds herself torn between pursuing her passion for music and her fear of abandoning her parents. First done in a French movie, this reworking in the US version is using real deaf actors. Steers a little close to the cliched rom-com formula at times for some tastes, but the excellent deaf family characters with some hilarious no holds barred sign language make this a down to earth enjoyable story.

People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan [2021] After Brentford's largest pirate radio station has ended, the boys from Kurupt FM find their way to Japan on an epic adventure in search of fortune and fame. Movie version of the UK TV mockumentary series has a contemporary idiots abroad style self-deprecating humor that seems genuine and is never forced or cliched, making for a movie to never stop smiling at albeit lacking in any great laugh out loud gags to leave a lasting impression.

Rose Plays Julie [2019] In this intimate exploration of identity, trauma and power, a young Dublin woman seeks out her birth mother, knowing she doesn't want contact, inadvertently triggering a string of events which change both their lives. A brilliant edge of the seat dramatic thriller with wonderfully immersive soundtrack. Worth seeing, despite original date of 2019, seems to be coming online in 2021.