Widows

Some tour de force performances from the leads in this, a twisty film that had us gripped throughout. I didn’t see a lot of it coming as it unwound, and the characters were all multi-layered and had their own arcs.

Faces Places

A documentary shown at Godalming Film Society, this is a very light project between a young photographer and older filmmaker. It’s fun, heartwarming, and interesting.

Boy

Taika Waititi takes on something more serious, and shows a coming-of-age tale about a community rarely shown on screen. Surprising depth from the lead (James Rolleston) for one so young, but he had me rooting for him to make different decisions than those that came before him throughout.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

A lighter tale than Boy, but Taika Waititi shows his range with big humour, smaller character moments, and some set pieces that are truly hilarious.

District 9

I still want my Halo movie from Neil Blomkamp, but until then District 9 will easily do. Interesting, solid sci fi that also deals with brutal martial or corporate law, with a side of xenophobia and racism. The film just builds and builds in directions you don’t see until the very end. 

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

I was recommended to this Iranian vampire film a while ago, and it’s gripping. Dark and mysterious, less a vampire film and more a coming-of-age film about small towns disappearing.

Bound

The Wachowski’s first film is worth revisiting. It’s a taut thriller that is uncomfortable how close it all comes to unravelling at several moments, as well as how much you are rooting for the protagonists to get away with it.

Pokemon Detective Pikachu

Taking my nephew definitely helped, and being in the new posh cinema in his hometown made it better. But this is a fun Pokemon movie first and foremost, with all the big characters in it, some good set pieces, and a lot of humour. 

Elizabeth

Since we were covering Shakespeare In Love on Pop Culturally Deprived I thought I should watch this since they came out at the same time and competed for the same awards. I think this is the much stronger film – the performances were all terrific, with Cate Blanchett showing a feminine side of Elizabeth at the beginning that you don’t often see her getting to do.

Women Behind The Camera

I found this after looking up people from Faces Places. A really interesting take into the struggles women in different countries have had getting to be cinematographers and directors, as well as their successes. Really interesting insight that shows there is more that unites us than divides us.