Oliver Battershall

I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020) 3.5/5
Kaufman is the kind of director that I could completely understand someone saying is their favourite or least favourite. When his style hits and I pick up all the breadcrumbs he lays out there’s nothing quite like it (see Synecdoche, New York) but he often walks a tightrope between profundity and self-pitying rambling (see Anomalisa). I see the best and worst of Kaufman in this, overall I was quite fond of it. Definite shades of Synecdoche in the theme of reality becoming blurred with performances of distant memories as a result of age. Not his finest work but I’m glad Netflix let him go all out with this one as a treat.

The Black Phone (2021) 3/5
Has a concept that I think one of those early 2000’s Korean/Japanese horror directors would’ve knocked out the park but this comes across a little half-baked. The dialogue is pretty bad and the supernatural mystery elements seemed uncapitalised upon but in typical Blumhouse fashion it’s very inoffensive.

Hoosiers (1986) 3.5/5
I may have a cold, dead soul but it’s not quite cold or dead enough yet to not have a real fondness for this kind of movie. Hackman is perfect casting for the firm but fair father figure role and Hopper had me almost tearing up at one point. It’s underdogs! It’s slow-motion last-minute victories! It’s small-town hopefuls giving everything they’ve got! It’s drive and passion in the face of Goliath! Ah don’t, I’ll get emotional again.

Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary (2024) 3.5/5
I’m a big fan of most of the music that’s deemed Yacht Rock so this was a very comforting watch. Not just to hear the songs that make me feel like im lounging in the garden in summer but also to hear the little comments and anecdotes from the well-selected array of talking heads. The Thundercat bit was lovely and it was touching to see Michael McDonald so grateful for being remembered by modern audiences. I do think too much of a big deal was made out of rigorously categorising the genre since the label was applied way after the fact, that aspect of it rubbed me the wrong way. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t bump some Hall & Oates on a yacht. Also wish it was longer, give me some interviews with Richard Page and Michael Franks and maybe less of the web-series guys.

Happy Death Day (2017) 4/5
One of the funnest slashers of the last decade, the time-loop gimmick stays fresh and the kills are pretty varied. Didn’t care a whole lot for the emotional beats and romance but Jessica Rothe gives a great energetic performance. I do wonder what the original Michael Bay-produced version would’ve looked like (probably not great).

Mustang (2015) 4/5
My first Turkish film! People from there say this is orientalist and doesn’t realistically show the nuance of the misogyny built into Turkish society. As a complete outsider I can’t comment on that, but I thought this was brilliant. The five sisters had such great chemistry that when the credits rolled I was almost surprised their actors didn’t share a surname. Emotive, fiery, tense and achingly beautiful.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) 3.5/5
Ah, the 80’s. When you could get shrunk to the size of an ant and your first worry was that you wouldn’t be able to make it to the mall that day. Very fun with great effects and set design.

Mystic River (2003) 3/5
An interesting concept that deserved much more. A cast with plenty of ‘aura’ (as the kids say, I’ve heard) but every stage of the mystery element from start to finish was quite underwhelming and muddled. Without spoiling, throughout the last half hour it became insidiously clear who Eastwood wants the audience to sympathise with and that made me quite uncomfortable.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) 3/5
Somewhat bland but a serviceable prequel to a series I quite liked growing up. The CGI animation style is a bit odd and so is a lot of the voice work (why do all the clones have a New Zealand accent?). A fairly shameless extended advert for the forthcoming series but I would’ve probably liked this as much as any of the episodes if I’d seen it as a kid, so like I said, serviceable.

Dick Tracy (1990) 4/5
Gloriously garish and subtly hilarious. I can’t comment on the authenticity to the comic since I’ve never read it but visually this effortlessly pays tribute to the medium through thoughtful framing and set design. I love all the side characters (especially Dustin Hoffman’s “Mumbles”) and their costume designs, I’m glad the Academy recognised the technical side of this with its two Oscar wins. Pacino gives one of his most memorable performances too!