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For Ellen
Not sure if this film about absentee father Paul Dano intentionally made him as repellant and unsympathetic a lead as it did, but either way it’s a tough sell →
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The Quiet Earth
One of the great ‘last man alive’ films that checks a lot of boxes: man’s hubris, inexplicable science, slow descent into madness montages and most importantly of all, conversations with shop dummies →
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Nightbreed
Fantastic creature effects aside, this all feels like a rough first draft for the longer, deeper and more complicated fantasy horror series we’d never see. David Cronenberg as a knife-wielding serial killer is a nice touch though →
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Mortal Kombat
Objectively it’s pretty weak but you can tell everybody involved is doing their best and that counts for a lot. The soundtrack does a lot of heavy lifting and an animatronic Goro makes it all worthwhile →
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Down to the Bone
While there’s an undeniably-brilliant performance by Vera Farmiga as a cocaine-addicted single mother, a sluggish pace and a two hour running length had me wishing I’d done a couple of lines myself →
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Out of Sight
Soderbergh’s crime comedy may be light on complicated heist hijinks and heavy on Clooney and Lopez’s perpetual eye-fucking each other, but it’s so intensely romantic and sweetly performed, I won’t complain →
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Demolition Man
As absurdly fun now as it ever was, though any society that forces Dennis Leary to live underground is actually ok in my book →
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Orca: The Killer Whale
What could have been a bad JAWS ripoff is something more along the lines of Moby Dick; surprisingly thoughtful, a little downbeat, impressively performed →
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Black Panther
One of Marvel’s best; thematically rich and tonally varied with solid action scenes and compelling characterisation →
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White Men Can’t Jump
I’m a little torn because the cast is excellent and the first 45 minutes or so is an exhilarating character drama, but the film circles aimlessly after a while and eventually goes off in explicable directions →
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The Dark Mirror
Twin-based 40s noir that grinds its promising setup away under endless cod-psychotherapy scenes, all ink blots and lie detectors. Had me rooting for the bad twin by the end →
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Sleeping Dogs
A solid political action thriller that sees New Zealand descending into fascism while Sam Neill grows the most luxuriant beard I’ve ever seen on film →
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The Lawnmower Man
Almost worthwhile from a special effects history perspective, but not “you should watch this whole film” worthwhile →
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Blue Ruin
A short, sharp, shock of a revenge flick; violent, tense, and darkly comic. Macon Blair is outstanding in the lead, sweet and gentle and pushed far too far →
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Blade
A bit more ponderous than its sequel, and the pocket-sized Stephen Dorff is never believable as Blade’s opponent; it’s a solid-enough watch, but del Toro’s Blade 2 is better all round →
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Gladiator
The extended version of the film that runs for about three hours, and I could happily have watched a further three. Everyone involved is at the absolute top of their game →
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Griff the Invisible
An Australian take on the “unpowered superhero” genre, this is sweet and funny and a little soppy →
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Space Truckers
Objectively dreadful but Dennis Hopper and Charles Dance are both so clearly enjoying themselves against their better judgement it’s hard not to like. A bright, chunky, colourful aesthetic also helps a lot →
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Red Hill
A solid Australian western that hides its simplicity with some great character work and a robust script. Well worth seeking out →
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Solo
A disposable prequel that doesn’t tell us anything we needed to know, but it’s generally fun with some solid action and well-drawn heroes and villains. You don’t need to see it, but it wouldn’t hurt if you did →