Of course with lockdown there’s no going to the movies so Netflix, Amazon Prime etc have been getting the workouts. And most of those have been reviewed before or are to put it bluntly not worth the effort. However this one on Acorn breaks the mould, featuring a few sizable names in Eddie Redmayne, Bill Nighy, Julie Christie and Christopher Lee, its a psychological thriller based at the outset of WWII.

A gentrified family is involved in a few things that might be considered a bit naughty but eldest daughter figures something smelly and slowly turns over the stones to reveal the reality of the situation. It’s a bit of a slow burn to start but as we go we see that all is not what it seems and it ducks and dives down a number of avenues and alleyways before we’re finally able to suss out what’s really going on.

Beautiful English countryside and ye olde architecture is the setting against a backdrop of the early days of the war when many Britons could perhaps be forgiven for thinking it might all be a sham.  Good performances all round including a few no-names who equally foot it with the heavyweights.

Keeps you guessing until the very end and when the lights do finally go on it’s a eureka moment. Suspenseful and clever, almost too clever in parts but overall good to catch.

​8/10. ​

The story of mob hit man Frank Sheeran (no relation to Ed!) from Netflix who unlike most of his ilk was not Italian.

Also unlike most, he made it to a ripe old age at a time when his contemporaries were usually dispatched well ahead of time.

Three giants of moviedom, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, nicely digitally de-aged for relevant scenes, own the almost three and a half hours of screen time, and our own Anna Paquin shows up as one of Sheeran’s daughters, prompting a few local complaints around her lack of the same.

The proceedings explore the relationship between Sheeran and Teamster’s Union head honcho Jimmy Hoffa, splendidly portrayed by Pacino, and his supposed involvement in Hoffa’s disappearance in 1975.

Lotsa perhaps’ and maybe’s around nailing anyone for the assumed murder which remains open even today and which are certainly emphasised here, no doubt to avoid any legal ramifications the portrayal might have.

Dazzling turns by Pacino and De Niro however I think Joe Pesci probably edges it by a nose for his rendition of mob boss Russell Bufalino, who like Sheeran was one the few to avoid an early dispatch.

Nice reproduction of mid-seventies eastern US as Frank trundles up and down the coast painting houses and acting as mediator between varying mob factions as he goes.

Long but enjoyable and perhaps does offer the most likely answer to Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance.

​8/10. ​

Movie Review #9368 MOSELY.

Joint NZ/China CGI production despite the latter consistently being in the naughty corner for various impingements of freedoms.

Pleasantly surprising is this tale of thoriphants, mythical creatures vaguely resembling small elephants held in slavery and hanging onto legends of others, free and walking upright rather than on fours as they do.

One such family head, the title character, gets to break out of the conundrum and embark upon a journey which sees him encounter further mythical cuzzies, dastardly pursuers and a transforming power that carries definite Christian overtones. Of course, alls well that ends well and this is first and foremost a children’s story yet carries enough CSLewis-esque vibrations to keep the grownups interested and entertained.

CGI is great and the human characters suitably goofy with voice overs from a variety of kiwi actors and actresses including Lucy Lawless, Rhys Darby and good ole mainstay Tem Morrison.

It all unfolds as engaging albeit not completely original but certainly not as predictable as some. Nice surprise, 8/10.  

Movie Review #4864 ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD.

First one from Tarantino since The Hateful Eight in 2015, this is another timepiece set in 1969 around Hollywood actor Rick (Leonardo Di Caprio) & his stunt double/sidekick/buddy Cliff (Brad Pitt).

Underpinning the proceedings, lurking around the edges then progressively into view is Charles Manson’s gang of nutcases and we have a sense of anticipation that builds all the way through. Along the journey we have a number of little interconnecting Tarantino vignettes that introduce us to the celebrity list of the time including Sharon Tate, James Stacy, Roman Polanski, Bruce Lee, Steve McQueen, Sam Wanamaker, Michelle Phillips and the ubiquitous Mama Cass, showing each interacting with our two lads and reinforcing their place albeit fictional, in the hierarchies.

Tarantino does love to do the unexpected and how well he does it when we explore one chain of events yet another transpires, all the while not letting truth spoil a good story. But of course that’s what makes a Quentin flick different and without it we probably would have had a rather ho-hum affair. The two lead bods are great, especially di Caprio who moves between portrayals within portrayals to vulnerability & reality seamlessly as crossing a state line in the desert. The names are here too; Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Bruce Dern, Michael Madsen, Brenda Vaccaro and Luke Perry in his last role.

Cinematography is great, it is long and perhaps a bit slow in patches but the tension builds in all the right places and it ducks and dives like the rollercoaster we’ve come to expect from Tarantino.

Overall an 8/10. 

Movie Review #3975 YESTERDAY.

We saw Yesterday today! Sorry just really wanted to say that.

Probably the year’s feel good movie has Jack, a struggling muso (yep can identify with that!) broadsided by a bus during a blackout.

He awakes to two missing teeth and a world missing the music of The Beatles, amongst other things. So, upon figuring this little malapropism he ends up becoming a huge star singing L&McC songs and allowing this world to believe he is the greatest songwriter of all time. Trouble is it comes with a price, what good does it do a man to gain the whole world if he loses his soul? Our boy is smart enough to realise this and of course makes amends before it’s too late. And his journey keeps us entertained from start to finish with some classy renditions of Beatles favs and an interesting supporting slot from one Ed Sheeran plus a brief cameo from soulster Michael Kiwanuka.

Main plot is somewhat predictable but there are a few unexpected turns that provide amusing twists by heading in a slightly different direction yet nicely reinforce the alternative universe that Jack finds himself in.

Overall a nice movie that could have easily turned into schmaltz but didn’t, based upon a premise that has been hinted at in the past but not done to quite the same effect, 8/10. 

Movie Review #0004 TOY STORY 4.

Can’t believe it’s almost 25 years since the original Toy Story movie blew all previous efforts around CGI out of the water. Clever universe, cool characters and awesome parodies built around the imaginations of children, their play and the toys they find interesting and amusing.

Can’t help but wonder whether those toy manufacturers which at the time chose not to license their products to the franchise might feel a bit like the guy who ‘lost Queen’ in Bohemian Rhapsody!

Anyway, this is the fourth is the series (obviously!) and probably the best since the original. Didn’t really enjoy #3 but #2 was good, introducing the concept of Woody being a collectible. The gang is back for numero quattro along with a few new faces to compliment the mix. Some of the regulars do suffer reduced screen time but this is probably better than trying to cram too much in.

It continues on from the end of #3 with the chums now under the ownership of cute lil Bonnie who has embarked upon a road trip with mom and dad. Of course, toys are lost and found along the way and it’s left to Woody and Buzz to save the day with host of antics and tricks to amuse and amaze.

Ending is a little twisty and while seemingly a wrap up to the series, there is just a sliver of an opening for a Toy Story 5 to add to the legend. And, this smart*ss, sorry, critic for one will welcome that.

Overall great for the kids, the big kids and the pretend grown ups with enough thrills and spills to entertain the real littlies as well. Good one Pixar, 8.5/10. 

Movie Review #4974 THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS II.

Follow up to same name CGI fare from 2016 sees terrier Max and housemate Duke, last time’s antagonist now best of mates who head to the country with their humans, who also have an addition of their own.

Based like last time on a premise of pets up to no good while owners are at work, we have multiple story lines intersecting and finally converging with the pup’s return home. Some of the original characters are back along with a few new ones and amusing to see Han Solo turn up voicing a rough’n’raw farm pooch.

Nothing too original and I always thought the base premise was a bit flimsy but the script tries hard to amuse and there are a few lip smirking sequences, the farm turkey probably closest to a decent laugh. Still, this like the first is a kids movie (yes, this big kid was bored with nothing to do!) and the handful of munchkins present seemed to enjoy it.

Unlike some of these eg Toy Story, Incredibles etc it doesn’t really translate into an adult interest. Overall not as bad as some of the ilk and yes, a good one for the kids. 6.5/10. 

Movie Review #1854 MIB INTERNATIONAL.

Fourth in the MIB franchise and the first not to feature Tommy Lee Jones and fresh prince Will Smith.

This time we’re off to London with probationary Agent M teaming up with local-hero-now-living-off-reputation Agent H, both under the auspices of one Liam Neeson otherwise known as Agent T. Appears a secret alien weapon could fall into the wrong hands and H & M need to retrieve it before it falls into even wronger hands.

Typical MIB antics unfold with the usual alien sidekicks and comic foils turning up although annoying talking pugs and stringy wisecracking extraterrestrials are thankfully limited to cameos only. We wrap up with more save-the-world heroics and you get the feeling this has all been done before. It has but, it is all surprisingly OK and probably the best MIB since the original.

Story while not quite so original has a few twists and turns and the CGI is as to be expected, quite good. In fact the only blot is Agent H, Aussie Chris Hemsworth. The original worked by playing off TommyLJ’s straight-laced Agent K with Will Smith’s zany Agent J. Hemsworth is about as zany as an untreated plank of 4x2 and Tessa Thompson’s M not so zany either but then she’s not supposed to be.

However countered by Neeson’s touch of class matched with that of Emma Thompson showing up as Agent O, we do get over it and end up nicely entertained then actually looking forward to the next one, which undoubtedly there will be.

Overall 7.5/10