In the heat of the night tells the story of Virgil Tibbs, a black police detective from Philadelphia, who becomes involved in a murder investigation in a small town in Mississippi while facing racist abuse and attacks - A classic starring Sir Sidney Poitier with the memorable line: They call me Mr. Tibbs! and the slap by the black detective to the southern racist
Clockwork Orange Kubrick directed dystopian crime film. It employs disturbing, violent images to comment on psychiatry, juvenile delinquency, youth gangs, and other social, political, and economic subjects in a near-future Britain. It is disturbing and though provoking in equal measure washed with a strange dark humour. Very good but a hard watch
Pixels sci fi comedy that is really thin and poor. Avoid
USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage Terrible. What should be an exciting thriller is reduced to a steaming pile of pooh. Clunky, boring and almost unwatchable. Nicolas Cage was once a proper actor wasn't he? AVOID!
Hamburger Hill Vietnam war film. The story of the ten day assault on Hill 937, dubbed Hamburger Hill because of the bloody cost in life, in Vietnam as seen through the eyes of one company of American soldiers. Deals a great deal with brotherhood and slaughter, loss and how ordinary men deal with that - A think it is a very underrated film
Dunkirk (1958 version) proper old style British war film starring John Mills, Richard Attenborough & Bernard Lee. The story is told from the perspective of the high command, the ordinary tommy and from the civilians who helped. John Mills is very good as the corporal trying to get his squad of men home & Attenbrough turns is a great show as a timid and frightened man, but summons up enough courage to help his country out in its darkest hour - another overlooked classic?
School of Rock Jack Black led musical comedy which is enjoyable and lifted by the performance of the lead actor - fun
Mr Nicea loose film adaptation of Mr Nice, the 1997 cult autobiography by Howard Marks starring Rhys Ifans. Should have been a made for role for the star but the film is a let down. Doesn't come close to capturing the excitement of the book.
Deepwater Horizon Ensemble cast in a disaster movie about an explosion on a BP drilling rig. Not sure about this one. I don't think it gets to the heart of the disaster and deals quite superficially with the reasons behind it. Good action sequences but thin on character.
The Hunt for Red October a rogue Soviet naval captain who wishes to defect to the United States with his officers and the Soviet Navy's newest and most advanced nuclear missile submarine - I have always really liked this film even if it doesn't tax the old brain cells much. Won an Oscar!
I, Daniel Blake is a 2016 drama film directed by Ken Loach. It stars Dave Johns as Daniel Blake, who is denied employment and support allowance despite his doctor finding him unfit to work. Hayley Squires co-stars as Katie, a struggling single mother whom Daniel befriends - deeply political, moving, touching, funny, anger inducing and a cutting indictment of the benefit system. The food bank scene is deeply moving and the I am Spartacus like graffiti scene is superb. The ending, even if you expect it, is terribly sad in a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory way. That such things should happen in 21st century Britain (and they do every day) should shame us all.
"They’ll fuch you around,make it as miserable as possible – that’s the plan" - never a truer word spoken.