The Institute - SXSW London

 

As the most adapted author, it is no surprise that there is another adaptation of one of Stephen King’s books making its way to our screens. With The Life of Chuck dancing its way onto the big screens later this year, as well as being the closing film for SXSW London, it makes complete sense that The Institute, a series based on the novel also made its debut at the same festival. With the blessing from King himself, enough to have him on as an Executive Producer, the show already shows promise without delving into this science fiction horror story.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

Swordfish

 

The early 2000s were a wild time, in reality but most definitely in the cinema. With the classic 90s blockbuster being ever so slightly being moved aside for the more bombastic stylised, heavy on the CGI and a much bigger emphasis on technology version of the blockbuster. Computers, hacking and cyber crimes were becoming more popular themes and almost all had a touch of The Matrix about them. Combing action with thrills and a computer screen with that impossible code that only that one special person could crack, Swordfish takes it’s place amongst the collection of titles that have this familiar set up. Finally, enough time has passed we can look back at these films with fond memories. Move over 90s nostalgia, the 2000s are having their day. Again.

Full review over at Filmhounds. 

The Nice Guys (Blu-ray/4K)

 

The Nice Guys is a throwback to the cop dramas and mis-matched buddy movies of the 70s, 80s and 90s. Even though the comedic elements are front and centre, the story and characters still manage to tread into mystery/thriller territory, feeling very much like a much less series version of Chinatown. Yet still covering a serious subject hidden by unexpected comedic chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe plus the frequent porn connections to the case they’re working on. Releasing on UHD and Blu-ray, The Nice Guys gets the Second Sight Films treatment, after nearly 10 years since its initial release in 2016. This release feels like it was long overdue.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

The Legend of Ochi

 
Harking back to the adventure films of the 80s and 90s where things felt more innocence and slightly more exciting, writer-director Isaiah Saxon takes us into a new world, strange yet still familiar. The island where these characters live, described as a small island and yet there are mountains, rivers and a vast landscape that takes days to cross. Possibly compared to the rest of the world the island is small but here provides a magnificent backdrop to a story of courage, curiosity and connection. The Legend of Ochi is an adventure as well as a fantasy that could just about capture the imagination of any age.

Yuri, a young farm girl living on the remote island of Carpathia, has been brought up to never go out after dark and fear the mysterious reclusive creatures known as the Ochi. Her eccentric father is obsessed with killing the creatures and trains a group of young volunteers to protect the village. But when Yuri finds an injured baby Ochi, she decides to journey across the island to return it to its home.

Full review over at Filmhounds. 

Julie Keeps Quiet

 

Julie is one of the most promising players at an elite tennis academy. When one of the coaches falls under investigation for inappropriate conduct and is suspended, the players are encouraged to speak up. However, Julie, remains quiet.

Premiering at Cannes 2024, chosen as Belgium’s entry to the Oscar’s but not nominated, co-produced by the legendary filmmakers, the Dardenne brothers, Julie Keeps Quiet already speaks loudly as a film to be taken seriously. Coupled with the subject matter where there is a lot to be said, its interesting to see director and co-writer Leonardo Van Dijl, take a different approach. Van Dijl delves beneath the surface of Julie’s quiet and often serene exterior, channelling her emotions into her tennis and keeping her dialogue to a minimum.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

Warfare

 

Pieced together from memories of the people that were there, Warfare is a slightly different ‘war’ film than we’ve seen recently, but only because the concept is far more intriguing than the finished result.

Warfare depicts a Navy SEAL platoon during an encounter in Ramadi, Iraq, set in real time. During the events, a solider is injured and the platoon request a medical evacuation, but this results in an IED exploding. The fall out of the explosion is as visceral and bloody as you can imagine, there is no holding back, we hear, see and feel every reaction from each member of the platoon. As the battle ramps up, the situation only becomes more dangerous, there is a slight shift as the rest of the platoon arrive as backup but the barrage of pain and noise never lets up.

It's interesting to that these people’s memories are what brought this film together. What each member of the team remembered and what they saw. Stripped away from this being based on real events, this is a simple concept and the cast really are to be admired, in particular Cosmo Jarvis, Will Poulter, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (who plays co-director and co-writer Ray Mendoza) and though not long on screen, Charles Melton. The pacing and energy makes the film somewhat play out like a thriller in a warzone, and never lets up once the explosion happens.

However, there is the constant feeling that this is snapshot of a wider story, what fresh viewpoint is it bringing to the genre and overall subject. It’s hard to answer the question as well as who is this film for other than those who enjoy these stories and maybe those who were there when it happened (at least from the US side). As the credits roll, you’ll end up reflecting on who is the audience more so than the good performances and decent filmmaking.