Halloween

Year of Release:  2018
Director:  David Gordon Green
Screenplay:  Jeff Fradley, Danny McBride and David Gordon Green, based on characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill
Starring:  Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Virginia Gardner, James Jude Gardner,
Running Time:  105 minutes
Genre:  Horror

On October 31 1978, serial killer Michael Myers (Gardner) went on a murderous rampage in the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois.  Forty years later, Myers is incarcerated in an institution and Laurie Strode (Curtis) who survived Myers' attack is a hardened survivalist, obsessed with Myers and the idea that he will return one day.  Her obsession has alienated her from her daughter (Greer), and granddaughter (Matichak).  Until Myers escapes while being transferred and returns to Haddonfield to finish what he started all those years ago.

This is technically the eleventh film in the Halloween franchise, including the 2007 remake by Rob Zombie, and it's 2009 sequel.  However, this hits the reset button being a direct sequel to Halloween (1978) and rewriting the entire chronology.  The idea that Laurie Strode is Michael Myers' sister which was introduced in Halloween II (1981) and has been canon ever since, is specifically stated here not to be the case.  Also, here, Michael Myers has been locked up for 40 years.  This is very much a traditional slasher film although it does have a 2018 makeover, Myers doesn't exclusively kill horny teenagers, here he kills pretty much anyone who he happens across.  He also expands his repertoire from exclusively slashing and stabbing to include hammers and banging people's heads against anything solid.  The film returns Myers to the enigmatic killer of the first film, and makes him less of a supernatural being, although he does have seemingly supernatural powers of strength and resilience.  Curtis is great as the traumatised Laurie as are Judy Greer and Andi Marichak as her estranged daughter and granddaughter.  The film benefits from a strong supporting cast, who make the characters more than just the typical faceless victims.  The film takes it's time to get going and does at times get bogged down in subplots that don't go anywhere.  However, while it is never exactly scary, it is tense and exciting and gory enough to appeal to fans without being violent enough to alienate more mainstream audiences.  It also has humour and some fun nods to previous films in the series (including a cameo from Nick Castle who played Michael Myers in the first film, and supplies some of Myers' sound effects here), and is certainly one of the best in the franchise.

Trick or Treat:  Michael Myers (James Jude Gardner) in Halloween

The Devils

Year of Release:  1971
Director:  Ken Russell
Screenplay:  Ken Russell, based on the book The Devils of Loudun by Aldous Huxley and the play The Devils by John Whiting
Starring:  Oliver Reed, Vanessa Redgrave, Dudley Sutton, Max Adrien, Gemma Jones,
Running Time:  103 minutes (original cut) and 117 minutes (restored cut)
Genre:  Drama, historical, horror

In 17th Century France, a convent of nuns in the small provincial town of Loudun, led by the hunchbacked, deeply repressed Sister Jeanne (Redgrave), fall victim to a bizarre hysteria, which is blamed on demonic possession.  The town's charismatic but controversial priest Urbain Grandier (Reed) is blamed, as the town falls victim to horrific mass exorcisms and a hysterical witch hunt, all of which is being carefully orchestrated by the highest powers in the land.

This is probably the most controversial film in writer/director Ken Russell's controversial career.  The film has been celebrated, despised and censored, and in fact a full uncensored cut of the film has never been released.  Given the film's lurid and still shocking violence and sexual imagery, it's easy to overlook the fact that it is a powerful and important piece of work, which has valid point to make about belief and the abuse of power.  It's based on true events that happened in Loudun in  1634, and it is notable that in the film the "possessions" are not supernatural, but are the product of Sister Jeanne's obsession with Grandier  and then whipped up by the state who want to discredit Grandier so they can demolish Loudun's protective walls.  The film's religious themes have proven problematic for censors, but there are deeply spiritual moments in the film (Russell was a practicing  Roman Catholic and he considered the film his "most Catholic" work).  The film is visually striking, the impressive sets were designed by future film director Derek Jarman.  There are times when the film goes so far over the top it just becomes ridiculous, with scenes of nuns rolling their eyes and lolling their tongues to sounds of bells, whistles and birds, as well as the insane exorcist (and David Bowie look-a-like) played by Michael Gothard and King Louis XIII (Graham Armitage) having shooting parties where the targets are people dressed as blackbirds.
This is one of those films which you will either hate or love but which you will not be able to easily forget.

Vanessa Redgrave in The Devils     

First Man

Year of Release:  2018
Director:  Damien Chazelle
Screenplay:  Josh Singer, based on the book First Man:  The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen
Starring:  Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Ciaran Hinds, Christopher Abbott, Patrick Fugit, Lukas Haas,
Running Time:  138 minutes
Genre: Drama, historical, biography,

This film tells the story of Neil Armstrong (Gosling) and the first manned mission to the Moon.  It opens in 1961 where Armstrong is a test pilot and culminates with the historical mission in July 1969.  Along the way it deals with Armstrong's relationship with his wife, Janet (Foy), and the personal and professional sacrifices and trials that were made on the way to the Moon.

Everyone is familiar with the Apollo Moon landing in 1969, the first step on the Moon is one of the most iconic images of all time, and the line "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," is one of the best known quotes in the world.  This film shows just how risky and dangerous it was.  Basically the astronauts were sitting in a tiny tin can on top of a missile, all of which was pretty much handmade at the time.  The film opens with Armstrong in the middle of a test flight, bouncing off the edge of the atmosphere, shot in fast, almost impressionistic images, from Armstrong's point of view wit constant rattling and roaring.  It's in the aerial and spaceflight sequences where the film soars (no pun intended), exciting, visceral with a genuine sense of wonder.  It captures the excitement of spaceflight and exploration, a time which is pretty much gone now, and it's probably as close as you will ever get to being in a space capsule.  The film depicts the training, and the sometimes fatal missteps along the way to the mission.   It also explores Armstrong's personal life.  Ryan Gosling plays Armstrong as a taciturn, emotionally distant man, it's hinted that he is deeply depressed following the death of his daughter.  As Janet Armstrong, Claire Foy carries the emotional heft of the film.  Having already buried a daughter, and seeing many of her friends and neighbours lose their husbands to the space program, she is very well aware of the risks involved and frustrated that Neil is so casual about it.  In one scene, she forces him to sit down and tell his kids that he may not come back, which he does as if he is at a board meeting.
This is a great film, and needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible.

Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) in First Man 

Molly's Game

Year of Release:  2017
Director:  Aaron Sorkin
Screenplay:  Aaron Sorkin, based on the book Molly's Game by Molly Bloom
Starring:  Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Chris O'Dowd, Bill Camp
Running Time:  140 minutes
Genre:  Crime, drama

Molly Bloom (Chastain) is a world-class skier, who is severely injured while trying to qualify for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, ending her athletic career.  Molly moves to Los Angeles where, after several low-paid jobs, she ends up as a secretary for an obnoxious, unsuccessful real estate agent (Strong) who asks Molly to run his weekly high-stakes poker game.  The game regularly attracts very wealthy and very famous individuals, including movie stars and sports stars, and Molly is soon earning  a lot of money.  When she is unceremoniously sacked by her boss, Molly starts running her own game, but soon finds herself in serious trouble with both the Mob and the FBI.

Based on a true story, this is a hugely enjoyable thriller.  With a witty, complex and intelligent script, and slick, dynamic direction from Aaron Sorkin, Jessica Chastain gives a truly great performance as Molly, who owns the entire film.  This is Molly's story and the other characters don't really get fleshed out, with Kevin Costner in particular never really getting much to do as her overbearing father.  Idris Elba however, gives a typically suave performance as Molly's lawyer, and he and Chastain have brilliant chemistry together.  Personally, I have never had any real interest in poker, I've never played it and don't really know anything about it, but the film makes the gaming scenes not only understandable for a newcomer, but genuinely exciting.  Even though there were times where I could see where the story was going, and there aren't many surprises, with a running time of well over two hours, this is a fast-paced film with not a scene or a line wasted.

Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba play Molly's Game       

The Predator

Year of Release:  2018
Director:  Shane Black
Screenplay:  Fred Dekker and Shane Black, based on characters created by Jim Thomas and John Thomas
Starring:  Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn, Thomas Jane, Alfie Allen, Sterling K. Brown
Running Time:  107 minutes
Genre:  Science-fiction, action

An alien spaceship crash-lands in Mexico.  The "Predator" creature inside attacks US Army Ranger sniper Quinn McKenna (Holbrook) and his team, killing them all but McKenna, who succeeds in incapacitating the creature.  So he can prove it's existence, McKenna takes the alien's facemask and wrist gauntlets and mails them off to the US.  A Special Forces team retrieve the unconscious creature and ship it off to a secret research base in the USA.  In order to discredit McKenna and cover-up the existence of the creature, he is sentenced to indefinite imprisonment.  The alien mask and gauntlet are delivered to the home of McKenna's estranged wife (Yvonne Strahovski) and their young, autistic son Rory (Tremblay), who manages to activate the mask.  In the research institute, the alien revives and, after messily breaking out, sets out on a violent search for it's missing property.  It also becomes apparent that there is more than one alien on the hunt.

This is the fourth film in the Predator franchise (sixth if you count the Alien vs. Predator films), and is probably the worst of the lot.  While the original Predator was a stripped down action film, this film has a convoluted story that feels more like a grab-bag of ideas.  The actors do their best with what they're given but large cast of characters are mostly defined by just one character trait or quirk, which means that they never really register, and are largely unlikable particularly the boorish, bullying McKenna.  The action frequently grinds to a halt for attempts at humour and winking references to the first two films, although personally I didn't laugh once.  Shane Black, who worked on the script to the first Predator (1987) and has a brief acting role in that film, has done much better as both a director and a writer.  Almost all of the characters can apparently work out alien technology after a few seconds of fiddling about with it, and is saddled with a ludicrous ending, which sets up sequels.  In the film's defense, some of the action is well-staged, particularly in the later part of the film,  and, aside from some ropey CGI, the special effects are fine.      

Meet The Predator   

All the Money in the World

Year of Release:  2017
Director:  Ridley Scott
Screenplay: David Scarpa, based on the book Painfully Rich:  The Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty by John Pearson
Starring:  Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Charlie Plummer, Romain Duris, Timothy Hutton
Running Time:  133 minutes
Genre:  Crime, thriller, drama

Rome, 1973, John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer), known as Paul, is kidnapped.  Paul is the grandson of billionaire oil tycoon J. Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer), at the time the world's richest private citizen, and his kidnappers demand a ransom of $17 million dollars (which is a sum that Getty Senior could easily afford).  However he refuses to pay, despite the pleas of Paul's mother, Gail (Williams).  Under intense media scrutiny, it falls to Gail to attempt to negotiate with both the kidnappers and Getty for Paul's release, with the help of ex-CIA operator Fletcher Chace (Wahlberg).

Based on a true story, this is a gripping thriller, which was overshadowed somewhat by behind the scenes drama.  J. Paul Getty was originally played by Kevin Spacey, however when allegations of sexual assault were made against Spacey, he was replaced at the last minute by Christopher Plummer, who does a fantastic job, considering he was cast and his scenes were shot within a month.  As Getty, Plummer moves from avuncular geniality to cold-blooded ruthlessness, and it is to his credit that he finds a sense of humanity and sympathy to someone who would otherwise be a complete bastard.  He is someone who would pay millions for a painting, but won't pay to get his laundry done.  The film is dominated, though, by Michelle Williams, who turns in a fantastic performance as Gail Getty, who provides real dramatic and emotional heft.  She is someone who is linked to the most powerful man in the world, but has to fight for her own power. 
While not Ridley Scott's best work, it is a stylish and well made thriller telling a very interesting story. 

Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg face the press in All the Money in the World

The Wolf Man

Year of Release:  1941
Director:  George Waggner
Screenplay:  Curt Siodmak
Starring:  Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Warren Williams, Ralph Bellamy, Maria Ouspenskaya, Evelyn Ankers, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi
Running Time:  70 minutes
Genre:  Horror

Larry Talbot (Chaney Jr.), the prodigal son of Sir John Talbot (Rains), returns to his ancestral home to reconcile with his estranged father.  He soon befriends Gwen Conliffe (Ankers), the daughter of a local antiques dealer.  One night in the woods, Larry attempts to save Gwen's friend Jenny (Fay Helm) from an attack by a large wolf.  Jenny is killed and Larry is bitten, but he does seemingly succeed in killing the wolf, but the corpse  is not a wolf but a man (Lugosi).  Larry's wounds miraculously heal by the next day, and he becomes increasingly obsessed with the village's local legend of a werewolf (a human who turns into a wolf at "certain times of year").

This is not the first werewolf movie, but it is one of the most influential, and one of the best films in  the "Universal Monster" cycle.  It benefits from a  poetic, literate script from writer Curt Siodmak, and striking photography with evocative, shadowy, mist-shrouded forests and iconic make-up from Jack Pierce (who created the look of Frankenstein's Monster in Frankenstein (1931)).  Lon Chaney Jr. turns in a great performance as the tortured Larry Talbot, both in his guilt-ridden human form and  monster form, he brings a powerful physicality and agility to the role.  He creates a sympathetic, tragic character.  Claude Rains is also a standout as the unbelieving Sir John, who refuses even to entertain the idea that his son might have anything wrong with him, either physical or mental as the bodycount rises.  The film is almost more of a psychological drama at times than a monster movie, Chaney only appears in the full "Wolf Man" makeup fairly late in the film, and only quite briefly.  His doctor, naturally enough, is convinced that Talbot is mentally ill, and there is a lot of discussion about psychology and folklore. 
While the movie has aged a lot better than many of the other films of it's time, it still shows it's age.  Evelyn Ankers has very little to do except be rescued, and a lot of the supposedly Welsh or English  characters are obviously Americans, the transformation sequences (which focus on Talbot's feet) are not particularly impressive  and the famous werewolf poem is recited no less than three times throughout the short film.  By the way, some people believe that it is a traditional old poem, but it was written by Curt Siodmak
However it retains it's power and, despite it's flaws is one of horror cinema's finest moments.  It's been followed by several sequels and was remade in 2010 with Anthony Hopkins and Benecio del Toro.

"Even a man who is pure at heart
And says his prayers by night
May become a wolf
When the wolfsbane blooms
And the Autumn moon is bright."

Things are getting hairy for Lon Chaney Jr. as Larry Talbot in The Wolf Man