Palatkik

A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood [2019] Feelgood family flick, for most outside the US who may have never known Fred Rogers, this is still worth a look based on a true story around the TV personality, acted with subtlety meeting a cynical writer. Out on DVD screener mode now.

Peanut Butter Falcon [2019] Lightweight feel good buddy road movie of a Down syndrome wrestling fan on the run from his care home who meets up with an unlikely partner in the southern states. Worth seeing at those times when feelgood movies are needed.

Got the title wrong sorry: I Lost My Body [2019]

Ad Astra [2019] Good lead performance in an otherwise slow burning space saga of an astronaut who flies to Neptune following strange goings on with his long lost father who is stranded on a space station there.

Woman At War [2018] A eccentric and original Icelandic film with English subtitles about an woman eco-warrior with a twin sister and plans to adopt. Wonderfully scenic with a clever Nordic sense of humor live band soundtrack.

The Report [2019] Fascinating portrayal of the Senate's investigation and report into the CIA's dark period of enhanced torture methods of interrogation and their ultimate failure following 9/11.

I Lost My Hand [2019] Highly original animated film of broken hearts and severed body parts well worth watching.

The Irishman [2019] Based on friend of Jimmy Hoffa, Frank Sheeran's biography, the true story of how an Irish war vet truck driver becomes involved in the truckers union and mobster scene. At 3 1/2 hours one needs to prepare to watch this in a single sitting for one of the best movie experiences of this genre ever made.

Mrs Lowry & Son [2019] Two talented actors inspire an otherwise lethargic story of the artist and his controlling mother whom he lived with in Lancashire all of her life.

Joker [2019] Superbly led dark psychological thriller based on the DC comic character follows the decent of a lonely comic clown into bloody madness. One of the best films this year with good soundtrack and character acting.

The Aeronauts [2019] Very loosely based on the story of a 19th century pioneering ballooning meteorologist, the movie is too formulaic to the point of being tedious albeit entertaining for the whole family.

A Confession [2019 TV series] Excellent 6 part drama tells the recent true story of a Wiltshire police detective who broke police procedures (Pace act) and lost his career to nail a serial killer.

Fighting With My Family [2019] Entertaining albeit clichéd comedy biopic of WWE wrestler Paige does what is expected of it. More of interest is how the lead carries off a comedic role for a change.

Guilt [2019 TV series] 4 part mini series Scottish thriller concerning two brothers trying to conceal a hit and run road traffic accident. A bit slow in parts but with enough black humour to keep our interest.

Black '47 [2018] Gritty revenge thriller set in 1847 during the Irish famine when an Irish ranger deserts the British army to find his home ravaged by famine and exploited by British landlords. Worth seeing.

Dublin Murders [2019 TV series] Moody atmospheric crime thriller mini series with several plot twists does enough with great acting to keep our interest.

The Amazing Johnathan Documentary [2019] Chaotic documentary on the terminally ill chaotic meth addict comic magician, with enough twists and turns to make it memorable as the main character himself is not up to much.

Chernobyl [2019 TV series] One of the best TV series out this year, dramatizes the 1986 power plant disaster in all its gory detail whilst fighting a soviet era of disinformation.

Peterloo [2018] An interesting historical British drama that comes across as too theatrical, tells of the early 19th century meeting in St Peter's Field, Manchester for parliamentary reform that forces bloodshed by the decadent ruling class.

American Woman [2018] Odd title with lead played by a Brit rather well, this is a sad drama set in in blue collar Pennsylvania where a young feisty grandmother is left to bring up her grandson when her daughter goes missing. A few failed relationships along the way, eventually her missing daughter is explained.

The Great Hack [2019] Decent Netflix documentary about Cambridge Analytica, its key players and whistle blowers showing how social media has now been weaponised to help autocracies gain power.

The Capture [2019 TV series] Interesting modern day high tech UK police surveillance 6 part thriller with worrying themes of "deep fake" news and CTTV camera trickery impositions by the highest levels in governments. Worth seeing this series 1 which ends on that inevitable scenario meaning another series is in the planning.

The Farewell [2019] One of the years best dramas captures the complex and at times humorous dynamics of family life in China for visiting American family members to see their Grand Mother who has little time left to live. Not a downer but a very good watch. Available on torrent now with subtitles for the Chinese spoken bits!

Scarborough [2018] Two stories of couples in a teacher student relationship have a long weekend in Scarborough in a play adapted for the big screen. Worth seeing.