All Of You

 

A love story set over years, where the two people in love start as friends and become more, has immediate recognisable beats and will of course be compared to When Harry Met Sally. Once this is out of the system, you can start to enjoy and appreciate the style and tone of All of You. 

Simon and Laura have been best friends since Uni. They're very close and have undeniable chemistry. But when Laura decides to take a test that finds you your soulmate, their relationship shifts. Their story is told over years as we meet them at different moments in time.

Differing from the famous rom-com not only for the inclusion of 'the test' but for the focus on the romance. There are comedic moments but these are lightly sprinkled in. The chemistry between Goldstein and Poots is emotional and naturalistic, they are at ease and they tell the story so well. The romance is evident from the opening scene and the story swiftly moves along, there is no dull moment, we want to stay in Simon's and Laura's company. But this perfect connection has a double-edged sword. We love these two characters and want to see them together, immediately. As we meet them, already years into their friendship, the set-up is quick and we simply have watched the heartbreak play out over the course of the film. As events move fast, with context only indicating how much time has passed and what has happened in between, we can already assume how the story will end. In fact, we're pretty much told at the half way point. There is little mystery, which is probably not what the film is about, but with such a deep connection, you want there to be at least some room to hope that there is a different outcome.

At the heart of the story is the question posed a number of times, if you could take a test to find your soulmate, would you? Laura's decision is hinted at being mostly due to a bad break up or bad relationship and throughout she insists that it was the right choice. In fact every time she say this, it does the opposite to affirm her choice, we know she has doubt. Simon is against the test, pointing out he wants to find his soulmate himself and later stating he already knows who his soulmate is. Strangely, the climax decision of the film is right at the start. What would have happened if Laura hadn't taken the test? With this question stuck in your mind as the credits roll, you’re left feeling slightly empty. Despite the fantastic performances and well told story, there is a pang of sadness that is hard to shake.

Riff Raff

 

Dark comedies thrive when mixed with two genres; crime and family drama. Dark rom-coms also can work but Riff Raff is all about family and the trouble we get into jus by being a family. With one hell of a cast and the director of the fantastic Guide to Recognising Your Saints, Dito Montiel, a director that knows how to paint crime and family together on screen, you would think everything falls into place. Though the darkness is most certainly present, the comedy is just not.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World

 

You would think a film with a title made up from two books and a plot that is loosely based on three books from the popular series by Patrick O’Brian would end up a mess. Following the crew of the HMS Surprise with Captain ‘Lucky’ Jack Aubrey at the helm as they fall into frequent battle with a French ship is hunting them down, as well covering themes of friendship, life at sea, the perils of war and maintaining hobbies would seem too much for just one film. The mouthful of a title, Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World, is probably a film that sailed by most in 2003, what with the excitement of The Return of the King released around the same time and it’s a shame as it truly is a marvellous film that certainly deserves a revisit. With the 4K release out this month, there isn’t a better time to appreciate the craftsmanship of Master & Commander.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

Lost in Space

 

Inspired by the 1812 novel, Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss, the original Lost in Space TV show aired for 3 seasons in the 1960s. Then in 2018, Netflix released another iteration, again, inspired by the novel from 1812 and the 1962 comic, Space Family Robinson. But in-between these TV shows there was the film, which, is a strange mix of both. Lost in Space, released in 1998, directed by Stephen Hopkins and written by the same person who gave us Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, I Robot and The DaVinci Code. Despite it being a box office smash hit, knocking Titanic of the top spot in the US, the film was absolutely panned by critics. Most noted the film was not the same tone at the wholesome 60s show and felt like a basic science fiction story. But, Lost in Space is getting a new lease of life through Arrow Video who know when its time to revitalise a film.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

Hellcat - FrightFest 2025

 

Fresh off its’ World Premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival, Hellcat stalks its’ way to FrightFest for its’ UK Premiere and there could not be a better home for it. Directed by Brock Bodell and starring Dakota Gorman as Lena, Hellcat’s near entire film takes place in a camper van. As she wakes up with no memory of how she found herself in this situation, with a painful wound on her arm and only a voice coming from the taxidermized wolf head on the wall telling her she needs a doctor to stop a unimaginable fate. Lena must piece together what happened and whether she can trust this voice who claims to be ‘a good man, a hunter’.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

Sorry, Baby

 

Its difficult to get the balance of a portraying a serious issue and finding the absurd comedy within it. Sorry, Baby manages to capture this near impossible feat without diving deeper into complexities and yet the characters within the story feel natural, nothing is forced. There may be one or two encounters within the film that are definite staples of an indie drama but aside from these, the story plays out in a satisfying and above all, realistic way. Perhaps the reason why this film is so bitingly comical is because of its naturalistic characters and their behaviours. 

Three years after being sexually assaulted by her advisor during Grad school, newly appointed college professor Agnes reflects on the time its taken for her to try and heal. She welcomes back her best friend Lydie who helped her through the initial shock, recognising how far both have come in the last few years.

Full review over at Filmhounds