’Unlocked’

With a great cast and the final film of multi-award winning director Michael Apted, Unlocked sadly promised more than it delivered in its solid, routine espionage story.

Guilt at failing to prevent a terrorist bombing in Paris several years earlier, specialist CIA interrogator Alice Racine (Noomi Rapace) finds a degree of solace as a caseworker based in East London. Providing information to MI5 unit leader Emily Knowles (Toni Collette) has seen a strong rapport develop between the two women. But the threat of biological attack sees Racine lured back into the field, made the more urgent by the attempt on her life and the killing of friend and former boss, Eric Lasch (Michael Douglas).

Plenty of twists and turns as double crossing seems to be the order of the day. Racine stays ahead of the game – just – but it takes all her wits to do so as she’s not too sure who to trust. It’s engaging enough in its thrills but the lack of tension ultimately leaves a ‘so-what’ aftertaste – and the knowledge that the set up for the sequel just ain’t gonna happen.

Rating: 52%

Director: Michael Apted (Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader)

Writer: Peter O’Brien

Main cast: Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Prometheus), Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings, Troy), Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Nightmare Alley)

’The Pod Generation’

Slight but intelligent, a not-so-distant future sees AI embraced and where the New York-based Pegasuz corporation offers pregnancy through artificial wombs or pods.

A rising tech company executive, Rachel (Emilia Clarke) is keen to start a family with husband Alvy (Chiwetel Ejiofor). But botanist Alvy prefers the natual way rather than through the technology of The Womb Center. With promotion at work and a coveted spot at the Center becoming available, Rachel needs to persuade her reluctant husband. Shared pregnancy duties and no physical discomfort or loss of income has broad appeal to both – but things are not quite so clear cut as the immensely likeable couple eventually sign up for.

With more than a nod towards Black Mirror, The Pod Generation as written and directed by Sophie Barthes is a perceptive zeitgeist feature. With restrained and convincing production design (Clem Price Thomas), this technological future is only too believable. The bigger issues and ideas are not always fully explored but Barthes’ film is a thoughtful, wry reflection on parenthood and responsibility within pregnancy.

Rating: 59%

Director: Sophie Barthes (Cold Souls, Madame Bovary)

Writer: Sophie Barthes (Cold Souls, Madame Bovary)

Main cast: Emilia Clarke (Me Before You, TV’s Game of Thrones), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind), Rosalie Craig (London Road, TV’s Anatomy of a Scandal)

‘The Last King of Scotland’

Towering central performance by Forest Whitaker captures the unhinged charm and tyrannical threat of Idi Amin, corrupt president of Uganda throughout the 1970s.

A recent medical graduate, the last thing Nic Garrigan (James McAvoy) wants to do is follow in his father’s footsteps with a safe practice in rural Scotland. Volunteering to work in a missionary clinic in Uganda, an unexpected encounter with Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker) on the presidential campaign results in a very different direction for the idealist. On Amin’s election victory, Garrigan is summoned to be the president’s personal physician. Bestowed with gifts and favours, he refuses to accept the accusations of violence and corruption levelled at Amin, until his links with the president’s youngest wife Kay (Kerry Washington) puts him in personal danger.

Volatile and at times unquestionably thrilling, The Last King of Scotland is an episodic sweep of recent Ugandan history as Garrigan learns to tread on egg shells around his benefactor. Capturing the exuberance of a country renewed by Amin’s election through by fear at the film’s end, it never quite reaches the same plateau as the fearless Whitaker.

Winner of Oscar for best actor in 2007

Rating: 62%

Director: Kevin Macdonald (The Mauritanian, One Day in September)

Writer: Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon), Jeremy Brock (Here I Live Now, Mrs Brown)

Main cast: Forest Whitaker (The Butler, Respect), James McAvoy (Split, Atonement), Kerry Washington (Django Unchained, TV’s Little Fires Everywhere)

’All of Us Strangers’

Haunting and lyrical, a moment of deeply personal, heartfelt beauty as, deeply lonely, Adam finds ways to explore his long-repressed, pre-teenage grief of losing his parents in a car accident.

One of very few tenants in a new apartment building, writer Adam (Andrew Scott) feels isolated from the world around him. He revisits the suburban London family home of his childhood, finding solace as an adult through conversations, singularly or together, with his parents (Jamie Bell and Claire Foy). Meeting new tenant Harry (Paul Mescal) helps Adam’s journey as the two become lovers, sharing each other’s sense of disconnect.

Poignant and bittersweet in its claustrophobic unfolding by writer/director Andrew Haigh, All Of Us Strangers is a true testament to the power of love.

Rating: 87%

Director: Andrew Haigh (Lean on Pete, 45 Years)

Writer: Andrew Haigh (Lean on Pete, 45 Years) – adapted from the novel by Taichi Yamada

Main cast: Andrew Scott (Spectre, Pride), Paul Mescal (Aftersun, Foe), Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool), Claire Foy (First Man, Women Talking)

‘The Trouble With Jessica’

The guest from hell as, deep in financial trouble, Sarah and Tom host one last dinner party before the sale of their large, suburban London home.

Forced to sell their house due to Tom (Alan Tudyk) over-extending his business commitments, Sarah (Shirley Henderson) is determined for a final swan song with closest friends Richard (Rufus Sewell) and Beth (Olivia Williams). But the invited couple bring with them an uninvited guest – recently published best-selling author Jessica (Indira Varma). There’s a history between all five since university days – and Sarah is less than happy to see the author.

Lots of barbed dialogue flow over the course of the evening. But then Jessica (no spoilers) completely changes the course of events forcing the four long term friends to evaluate themselves, their marriages and their friendships – with constant, unexpected interruptions from the outside world.

A dark comedy of middle class values contained almost exclusively within the confines of the comfortable, rambling Hampstead home that could readily have started off on stage (it has the contemporary feel of an Alan Ayckbourn play). Arguments do not always flow convincingly and it starts off slowly but The Trouble with Jessica hits its stride around the 20 minute mark. Memorable it’s not and occasionally it’s somewhat silly but it’s sufficiently engaging to go with the flow.

Rating: 59%

Director: Matt Winn (The Hoarder, January 2nd)

Writer: Matt Winn (The Hoarder, January 2nd), James Handel (The Hoarder, The Last Horror Movie)

Main cast: Shirley Henderson (See How They Run, Harry Potter), Alan Tudyk (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, 3:10 to Yuma), Rufus Sewell (Scoop, Amazing Grace), Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense, TV’s The Crown)

’A Room with a View’

A brief romance in early 20th century Florence leaves Lucy Honeychurch uncertain of her inevitable marriage to the somewhat staid and dull Cecil Vyse.

Chaperoned by cousin Charlotte (a splendid Maggie Smith), Lucy (Helena Bonham Carter) comes into contact with the father/son Emersons at the hotel. Dismissed by Charlotte as ‘beneath them’, the Emersons exchange their better rooms (and one with a view) with the two women. This simple act of kindness piques Charlotte’s interest in the young, romantic George Emerson (Julian Sands). A brief romance ensues before Lucy’s return to England and her acceptance of marriage to Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day Lewis).

The Midas touch of James Ivory, Ismail Merchant and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala once more prevails with this sumptuous costume drama of romanticised love, privilege and class. It can get a little bogged down in its respect of E.M. Forster’s source novel but it remains an exquisite piece of storytelling.

Nominated for 8 Oscars in 1987 including best film, director, supporting actor (Denholm Elliot), supporting actress (Maggie Smith), art direction, costume – won 1 for best adapted script

Rating: 74%

Director: James Ivory (Heat and Dust, Maurice)

Writer: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (Heat and Dust, Howards End) – adapted from the script by E.M. Forster

Main cast: Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club, The King’s Speech), Julian Sands (Gothic, Ocean’s 13), Maggie Smith (Gosford Park, The Lady in the Van)

‘Land and Freedom’

Political idealism comes into contact with practical reality as a young unemployed Communist leaves his home in Liverpool to volunteer in the fight against fascism in the Spanish Civil War.

With few prospects, David Carr (Ian Hart) makes the decision to travel to Spain and join the international Militia, the POUM (Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista), fighting in the rural towns and villages outside Barcelona in support of wider global socialism. But increasingly isolated by other Spanish ant-fascist groups, disension sets in. Injured during the training of new recruits, Carr travels to Barcelona where he joins in the struggle in the city – only to find socialist groups pitted against each other. He returns to the ranks of the POUM – and Blanca (Rosana Pastor) in particular.

An archetypal Ken Loach feature in its gritty portrayal of working class (and under-class) struggles, Land and Freedom is a rare foray into global issues. Spain in 1936 and its ciivl war was complex, with Loach perfectly capturing the the validity of difference within the context of the shifting sands of the war. The camaraderie, the fear, the political divisions, the disappointments, the disillusion are all writ large as Loach explores the complexities of the struggle with this deeply humane narrative.

Rating: 71%

Director: Ken Loach (I Daniel Blake, The Angels’ Share)

Writer: Jim Allen (Hidden Agenda, Raining Stones)

Main cast: Ian Hart (Enemy of the State, Mary Queen of Scots), Rosana Pastor (The Conspiracy, Mad Love), Icíar Bollaín (El techo del mundo, Rage)

‘Postcards From London’

Celebrating the physical beauty of Jim and the art of Caravaggio, Postcards From London is an overly mannered yet imaginative 196Os Soho-set narrative with more than a nod towards the films of Derek Jarman and Fassbinder’s Querelle.

A none too bright Jim (Harris Dickinson) escapes the claustrophobia of suburban Essex and finds himself in the company of young, cool escorts who add the art of conversation (and art history in particular) to their services. Mentored by David (Jonah Hauer-King), Jim soon finds himself in huge demand as a life model to contemporary artist Stuart (Stephen Boxer) and, in his fantasies, Caravaggio (Ben Cura).

A studio-bound feature, writer/director Steve McLean has created a pretty but ultimately vapid narrative. Bordering on pretentious, it’s saved (just) by its painterly, highly stylised visuals and the hip escort boys with their snappy dialogue/behaviour in the gloomy neon of Soho bars.

Rating: 46%

Director: Steve McLean (Postcards From America)

Writer: Steve McLean (Postcards From America)

Main cast: Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness, Where the Crawdads Sing), Jonah Hauer-King (The Song of Names, The Little Mermaid), Leemore Marrett Jnr (My Brother the Devil, The Batman)

’Poor Things’

A contemporary, flamboyant feminist Frankenstein as the brilliant but unorthodox scientist Dr Godwin ‘God’ Baxter brings back to life the young Bella who through direct experience evolves into a brilliant mind.

Protected in the household of Baxter (Willem Dafoe), the physically and mentally awkward Bella (Emma Stone) slowly convalesces. But exposure to student scientist Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef) and lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) exacerbates her coming-of-age. Bella, hungry for knowledge, flees her protected world with the seductive Wedderburn. A whirlwind of adventure unfolds as she turns the tables on her seducer, leaving him broken and following in her wake.

A typically daring, off-kilter, visually stunning feature from director Yorgos Lanthimos and writer Tony McNamara, Poor Things starts off 19th century black and white London restrained. But heading off to Lisbon and Paris, the imagination runs wild in glorious colour as Bella evolves mentally and sexually. Yet, surprisingly, in spite of a superb Emma Stone, the feature, for all its perpetual cleverness and imagination, lacks soul. Smacking of self-satisfaction, whilst occasionally very funny, Poor Things is ultimately sombre and outstays its welcome.

Nominated for 11 Oscars in 2024 including best film, director, supporting actor (Ruffalo), adapted screenplay – won 4 – best actress, costume (Holly Waddington), production design, make up

Rating: 65%

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, Alps)

Writer: Tony McNamara (The Favourite, Cruella) – based on the novel by Alistair Gray

Main cast: Emma Stone (Zombieland, Birdman), Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse, The Florida Project), Mark Ruffalo (Dark Waters, The Kids Are Alright)

Hope & Glory’

An engaging suburban child’s eye perspective of war as young Bill discovers the bombsites of World War II London offer all kinds of adventure.

Remaining in London during the Blitz with dad (David Hayman) off to war, the Rohan family struggle through the everyday. Food shortages, bombings, constant interrupt to their daily lives mixed with the all too real destruction of homes and news from the allies. But for Billy (Sebastian Rice-Edwards), it also offers adventure as gangs of young boys treasure hunt and wantonly destroy the ruins of bombed houses and factories. Mom Sarah Miles does her best to keep a degree of normality and controlling the growing-up-too-fast 15 year-old daughter Dawn (Sammi Davis) but with the family home detroyed by fire, she moves to the idyllic banks of the River Thames and her catankerous father (Ian Bannen) and long suffering mother (Annie Lennon).

An inevitably skewed perspective of war, this semi-autobiographical tale from writer/director John Boorman is full of charm and wry family drama. Nostalgic spirit and make-do stoicism aplenty that made today would be an eight-part miniseries.

Nominated for 5 Oscars in 1988 including best film, director and orignal screenplay.

Rating: 70%

Director: John Boorman (Deliverance, Excalibur)

Writer: John Boorman (The Tailor of Panama, Excalibur)

Main cast: Sebastian Rice-Edwards (Young Bill), Sarah Miles (Ryan’s Daughter, The Servant), David Hayman (Fisherman’s Friends, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)