The Revenge Artist

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Revenge Artist (M.F.A.)!

Original image located here. Accessed 19th September 2025

I may have said some less than favourable things about Promising Young Woman but if it wasn't for that movie, I wouldn't have heard about this one: Some have claimed that this 2017 movie addressed the same themes as Promising Young Woman and did it better. Sounds like a challenge to me: I'm in!

Of course getting a hold of this movie was one thing, sitting down and watching it was another. I will admit that the similarities to Promising Young Woman are evident but this comes across as the cheaper and nastier cousin.
And that is the strength of this movie: It's honest. It is uncomfortable, it doesn't shy away from the SA scenes, it addresses the effects of SA, it calls out ignorance and inaction, and it is focused. It also helps it has a compelling lead in Francesca Eastwood, who clearly takes after her dad. 

It wasn't an easy watch but it certainly was compelling. 

Get Out

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... Get Out!

Original image located here. Accessed 6th October 2023

It's October and with it comes the tradition of watching horror movies. And we're starting this year's clutch of horror movies with a doozy. 

Clearly the strength of this movie lies in the unease that it brings. I've spoken previously how the best kind of horror is the kind that relies on atmosphere over jump scares and this one delivers in spades. I found the movie was at it's best when it showed  just how freaky it is to wander into a situation where everyone is acting strangely and something funny is going on (but you can't put your finger on it).
Indeed, a lot has to be said for the execution, balancing tension that would've done Hitchcock proud with some very dark humour. 

Seems the success this movie has garnered happened for a very good reason.

Baby Driver

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Baby Driver!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th August 2023

Behold: another movie that I've been putting off watching. I guess the unusual may have mad me hesitant but I'm pretty sure I'm not the first person to say that.

But yeah, this was a blast to watch: The car chases are certainly spectacular but what is of particular note is the emphasis on the music: The selections throughout are great and it's great to see a protagonist who has his earphones on all the time (something I can relate to) and isn't afraid to lose himself in the moment (something I can VERY much relate to). .

Paddington 2

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Paddington 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 30th December 2022

I saw the original back in 2020 - and as I recall, thoroughly enjoyed - so seeing this was pretty much inevitable.

It may be easy to dismiss this movie as more of the same but personally, as it worked so well the first time around that is by no means a bad thing. Considering that the trick of 'kids movie adults can watch without their kids' is a very difficult one to pull it off, that they managed to do it a second time around is a damn near miracle. It is funny, heart-warming, never once condescending and the cast are clearly having an absolute ball. Needless to say, I don't know what the creative team behind this did to have to pull out something this consistently good but it's worked gangbusters.

And it's always nice to end this year on a positive note. So thank you, dear reader, for joining me on this year's clutch of weekly movies and I hope to speak to you again on the other side of 2023

Whiteley

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Whiteley!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th December 2022

For the uninitiated, this is a documentary on the Australian artist Brett Whiteley. Interestingly, I know nothing of the man or his artwork, but I did know that when he died there was a massive media sensation and the press were running stories about him for months afterward. So maybe this could be an introduction to him?

Unfortunately no. Sure a lot is revealed about Brett: His artwork, his methods and his way of thinking. Sure there is plenty of use of his letters and eyewitness accounts. Sure a lot is revealed about his passions. But to me, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Simply put: I found this movie dull. But, as mentioned above, it shouldn't have been. But if I can find my interest drifting away, which honestly happens rarely when i watch a movie, then something has gone wrong.

>

Please Stand By

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Please Stand By!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th June 2022

Anyone heard of this? It's a movie from 2018 wherein Dakota Fanning plays an autistic character who attempts to get her submission for a Star Trek script competition entered.
As regular readers will know, i will show favoritism to movies that shows autism in a positive light. And I certainly won't say no to a plethora of Star Trek references.

Clearly the strength of this movie rests on the shoulders of Dakota and whether or not she can pull off a conviction portrayal of an autistic character. Some might think such a character should be be played by a genuine autistic actor and to do otherwise would be ableist. But for what I could gather, Dakota took the role as she wanted to establish an understanding for the autistic.
I believe her.
Okay so maybe the end result isn't 100% correct, but for the most part, the autism here is shown in a positive and sensitive light. And I don't get the impression the people who worked on this movie were being exploitative.
So yeah, looks like we have a winner

Ingrid Goes West

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Ingrid Goes West!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th September 2021

Earlier this year, I saw a movie, Promising Young Woman, which ended with a wedding being disrupted. This evening, I saw a movie that starts with a wedding being disrupted. Should I be worried?

I came into this movie expecting a satire that casts a critical eye on the use of social media. Whilst that was indeed what i got, there is however something else lurking underneath the surface.
Stop me if this narrative sounds familiar: The protagonist is unhappy with their life; they become enamored of some female figure and they are so intent on establishing some kind of human connection that they will resort to stalker tactics. Now someone people may slam rom-coms for utilizing the same narrative path, stating it is creepy, and sets unrealistic romantic expectations for guys. HOWEVER! What if the protagonist is female? Does that make a difference?

Probably not but this movie does have credibility as a character study. Sure the dangers of social media are displayed (becoming obsessed with an influencer and your private information falling into the wrong hands) but this is really an examination about an unhappy person and the lengths they would go to to show they have a fun and interesting life. It is cringey, it is a blackest of black comedies but there are moments that prove that when this movie hit, it knocks it out of the park (the final video scene ("I know there's something wrong with me...") being one example). And much of the movie rests on the shoulders of Aubrey Plaza - who, let's face it, is able to make a stalker character sympathetic. It's also great to see Elizabeth Olsen in a role that isn't Wanda Maximoff

John Wick 2

And this week's Friday night movie has been... John Wick Chapter 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th April 2021

It may seem something of a double standard to watch this, a sequel to a revenge thriller, having said some less than glowing things about Promising Young Woman the week before. However, whilst what I said about Promising Young Woman may paint a picture of a movie that is at odds with itself, that is not the case here. John Wick Chapter 2 knows exactly what is and you, the audience member, had better believe it.

And much like any sequel, John Wick Chapter 2 knows what worked with it predecessor and builds upon it. But let's not kid ourselves: Clearly the John Wick movies thrive on the action sequences, delivering such scenes that are well-choreographed and never dull. Keanu Reeves still delivers with this character and there is a real interesting set up for the third movie.
Thing is though, this may all sound like good things but that is pretty much it: There are are some indeed slow moments in this movie but they do indeed seem out of place. And the whole 'former-assassin-struggling-to-retain-humanity' shtick from the first movie is downplayed. Which is shame seeing as it contributed a lot to the first movie being so compelling.
Still, I can't say this movie was boring. So it remains to be seen what the third movie can dish up....

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th January 2020

Of all the 90's IP, I never would've guessed that this would be given the resurrection / breath of life, let alone it being any good.

But somehow, against the odds, this movie succeeds. It's a superb action/adventure film movie on it's own but what really makes it shine is a) a delightful cast who are committed to their roles and have an excellent chemistry; b) some hilarious jokes and c) a commentary on video games and taking jabs at the various tropes associated with them (which, being the massive nerd that I am, found endlessly amusing).

So ultimately, this is movie that is way better than it should be.

That and I doubt I would never hear 'Baby I Love Your Way' the same way again.

The Lego Batman Movie

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Lego Batman Movie!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th December 2018

I once declared that Mask of Phantasm was the greatest Batman ever made. Now however I may have reason to reconsider.

There's a lot to unpack here so let;s just fall onto bullet points:
- It's been a while since I last saw a movie that left me laughing out loud and laughing a lot.
- Anyone else find that Batman's a lot more fun when he's a jerk?
- Self referential gags aplenty here. Not that I'm complaining.
- I actually like this 'machine gun' style of jokes. True it may get exhausting to keep up but it's never dull.
- I know some Batman fans like to elevate their idol to a superhuman status. This Batman seems like the accumulation of such adulation but it doesn't seem like a good thing. Which makes this Batman even funnier.
- Funny thing: The LA DC movies are super serious but this animated effort is a lot more fun. And thus a better movie.

I Tonya

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....I Tonya!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th February 2018

This is interesting to me as I do remember the media sensation that followed the clubbing of Nancy Kerrigan's knee and Tonya Harding's involvement. Get past the differing stories from the parties involved and we have for a truly bizarre story, right?

We certainly do: This movie presents dynamite performances from both Margot Robbie and Allison Janney, a truly insane story presented in an interesting way, a fascinating commentary on class divide, a swing at the people who ridiculed this strange saga and enough attacks on the fourth wall to make Deadpool jealous. Sounds like a recipe for a winner of a movie
But what i find particularly fascinating is that this movie came out the same year as The Disaster Artist. Both are kind of similar in that both tell an anti-Hollywood style of success story: Whereas Tommy Wiseau chased a dream and succeeded (somewhat), Tonya Harding chased a dream and ultimately failed - indeed, that courtroom scene does indeed stick out in my mind.
Not much else i can say except this movie is great. Go and see it if you can stomach a lot of cussing XD

The Shape of Water

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Shape of Water!

Original image located here. Accessed 26th January 2018

I was disappointed with this movie: I went in expecting to see an adaptation of the historical fiction novel of Sophia Degraves, the wife of the man who founded the Cascades brewery. But what i got was a movie wherein a woman has sex with a fish.

Okay seriously, get past the peculiar premise and this movie is indeed a touching one. i was dreading that this was going to be one of those 'ordinary person romances unusual partner' movies (ie Oh My Goddess and Twilight) but somehow that was not the case. it's great to see the kind of people who are misrepresented in mainstream cinema doing great things but somehow i feel this movie is more than that. But really, this movie is all about the bizarre marriage between the beautiful and the grotesque. In addition, it is not about the journey but the execution.

I've heard people call it a weird movie but i didn't think so (believe you me I've seen films weirder than this). I thought it was a very beautiful movie.

 And hey, Thane got lucky XD

Coco

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Coco!

Original image located here. Accessed 12th January 2018

Yeah it was all right. But then again, Pixar making a great movie is like saying grass is green. Funny how Pixar make so many great movies that their missteps are easy to forget - or, in Pixar's case, easy to bounce back from.

Okay seriously, this was a genuinely touching movie. Okay sure there is a significant amount of predictability in the plot but ultimately, the strength of the movie lies not in the journey but in the destination. The animation has tonnes of personality, the art direction is stunning and there are times when it feel's like Grim Fandango on acid XD
But ultimately it is the heart that is the movie's strength. And at the risk of sounding like a complete and utter softie, one would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by this movie.
Erm.....Go see it!

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Star Wars: the Last Jedi!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th January 2018

Well there's a lot to unpack here and it's kinda tricky without giving too much away. I will do my best:

So let me say this straight out: I enjoyed this movie. That being said however, my favorite parts of the movie were those which involved Luke and Rey. Beyond that, a lot of the movie, particularly the parts involving the 'pursuit' came across as somewhat pointless. Still, the final battle was pretty awesome and it's interesting to see this series prove that there is plenty more to this movie series and that it has the potential to keep going in interesting directions. In addition, Kylo Ren being an avatar for the 'Angry Star Wars fan' continues to amuse.
One point however: I've heard people compare The Force Awakens to A new Hope and The Last Jedi compared to Empire Strikes Back. Keeping with this formula, does that mean that no.9 is in the (admittedly unenviable) position of rehashing Return of the Jedi?

The Disaster Artist

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Disaster Artist!

Original image located here. Accessed 29th December 2017

Well, hasn't this turned out to be critical darling? Apparently, it's the best film of the year, it's a laugh riot, James Franco delivers a mesmerizing performance and he's a shoe-in for the Best Actor Oscar. Is there really anything to add?

Well I loved the book so I was disappointed with the changes (oh here we go!). With the film scenes, they emphasized Tommy's enthusiasm/incompetence and toned down his actual nastiness - which brings forth the question of how much influence Tommy had in getting THIS film made. Also they didn't include the part where Sandy leaves the production which is disappointing - not only is a standout moment in the book but it would've made for an equally powerful moment translated to film.

Other than that, this movie was great. Great performances all around and the movie itself is a compelling watch. The pre-credits recreation of the scenes of the original are also a hoot. Will it win Best Picture at the Oscars? Probably not but here's hoping it does just for the delicious irony.
One question though, with the success of this movie, Tommy Wisseau is going to attract more media attention than ever before. Whilst The Disaster Artist does claim no one knows Tommy's age, country of origin and source of his limitless wealth, i wonder if some determined journalist might see it as a challenge.
I mean we had a determined journalist expose Lance Armstrong for the drug cheat he was....

Justice League

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Justice League!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th November 2017

This film surprised me: I was expecting it to be rubbish but it instead turned out to be....kinda alright.
No doubt about it, the backstage dramas are inescapable with this film, what with Zack Snyder pulling out and Joss Whedon stepping in for script reworking and re-shoots. Thus, it becomes unclear how much of this film is down to Snyder and how much of it is down to Whedon. Did Snyder want to make a less dour film? Or how much of Whedon's trademark wit came creeping in? It's anyone's guess really.

Coming off the huge success of Wonder Woman I don't feel that this movie is a step backwards but it isn't a step forwards either. More a step to the side. I like the character interaction but the villain is dull (criminal when one considers how many great villains lie within the DC Rogue's gallery). I like the presence of a humor in a DCU that is sorely lacking in it but I dislike how sometimes the action is going too fast to take in. I like the small touches (ie The sequence where the Flash taps Wonder Woman's sword into her hand) but what is intended to be grand comes across as underwhelming.
In fact a lot of this movie can be summed up with the following: it's a step up just not a step froward
Other than that, Jason Mamoa and Gal Gadot are both in fine form but the real star is Ezra Miller playing, what appears to be, an Autistic Flash. Works for me!

Also, we have a villain named Steppenwolf and there's no rendition of 'Born to be Wild"?! A wasted opportunity if ever there was one.

Thor Ragnarok

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Thor Ragnarok!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd November 2017

It's better than Dark World.

Ok seriously. I may not be the first to think that after Dark World flopped but I was curious to see if Marvel could learn from their missteps. in addition, the success of Wonder Woman also raises the issue to see if Marvel will step up their game.

Personally, i really enjoyed this movie. It has been noted that Thor is always upstaged by Loki in HIS OWN MOVIE but here, Thor finally comes into his own. But still, i have to admit Cate Blanchett steals the show.
So yeah, this was a lot of fun and definite a contender for a top tier posie in the MCU hierarchy. In fact, in my next RPG, I'm definitely using the line "Point me in the direction of whose arse I have to kick!"

The Dark Tower

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Dark Tower!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th August 2017

In a word: Disappointing. I knew this was based on a series of fantasy books written by Stephen King but therein lies the main problem: It's a series squashed into a seventy minute movie. As a result, i was confused by this movie and left feeling it should've gone for much longer, Apparently this movie was trying to present something new for the both those familiar with the source material and those unfamiliar with the source material (ie me) but me? I was left feeling flat out baffled.
There's certainly some good ideas to be sure but as a pitch for something larger? No thanks.

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power!

Original image located here. Accessed 18th August 2017

Well I saw An Inconvenient Truth so watching the follow-up is pretty much a given. And if there was a documentary that needed a followup it is certainly this one, just to show the changes that have been wrought since the first movie.

Sadly this follow-up turned out disappointing. One would think Al Gore would take the opportunity to refute the challenges of sceptics and deniers but he doesn't. One would think Al would bring up the improvements made but he doesn't spend enough time on them. But he certainly does spend plenty of time bringing up the the disasters that have occurred and the persuasion of world leaders to take action.

And that is the problem with the film: It seems aimless. It can't be denied that An Inconvenient Truth may have brought awareness, and changes, to the mess that has been made of this planet but I came away feeling we still have a long way to go. Is that truly the reality?
Is it likely that ten years from now we'll have another sequel to An Inconvenient Truth wherein an aged Al Gore talks about more dangers of the environment in a manner that suggests progress has been moving at a glacial pace?

Spiderman: Homecoming

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Spiderman: Homecoming!

Original image located here. Accessed 14th July 2017

Marvel may have 'borrowed' the rights to make a Spiderman movie from Sony so what now? Are they going to show them how to do it properly?
Sarcasm aside, this is the sixth Spiderman movie so is there anything that can be done with this character?

Apparently so. Yes this is the Marvel formula applied to a teen movie and yes it delivers what we all kind of expect from this studio by now, but it works! Better still, we have an interesting villain (something Marvel has often struggled with), we have Tony Stark being a mentor as opposed to an irresponsible jerk (helped considerably by RDJ's performance), and we have Spiderman taken seriously. It may be doomed to remain trapped in the shadow of the Sam Raimi films but it does it;s own thing, adds something new to the mythos and the MCU and is a decent film in it's own right - a difficult balancing act to say the least but it works.

So when's the Infinity War duology coming then?