REVIEW: Father of Flies (2022) - Starring Nicholas Tucci

Review by Jon Donnis

Father of Flies is a psychological horror from director Ben Charles Edwards.

We are introduced to a family in America, the father of the family Richard, played by the late Nicholas Tucci, has broken up with his wife Linda (Sandra Andreis), who is having a hard time with mental illness. He invites his pregnant girlfriend Coral (Camilla Rutherford) to move in with him, and his children in his house in the mountains. Coral is pregnant and soon to be Michael (Keaton Tetlow) and Donna's (Page Ruth) stepmother.

For some reason Coral likes to wear a super creepy face mask, that makes her look more like Michael Myers than anything, but this is what women go through as part of their beauty regime, or so I am told.

The children are unhappy, Michael has hearing issues and is terrified of monsters under the bed, Donna is a rebellious teen going out with her boyfriend, and doing the usual teen things, and they both hate the new set up with Coral, and as she moves in, that is when things go from bad to worse, as a supernatural entity seems to come with her.

Coral is a cold and unloving person, and clearly lives the clichéd evil stepmother persona well.

The young Michael is the star of the film though, and his performance is what really drags the viewer in. And there is a great scene where he is talking to his dad while in bed, and frustratingly they give that scene away in the trailer! Why would you do that? It is such a well filmed scene, don't give it away for free.

The Good

The way the film is shot is excellent, the loneliness, the bleakness really comes through, and with a story that is as old as time, a mother being replaced, unhappy kids, it is something that many people can relate to, or understand.

The jump scares are well done, and you won't see them coming, which is the whole point. The character of Coral is super creepy, and you could argue that the added supernatural element is not really needed.

The Bad

Some scenes feel rushed, and with a very short run time of about 73 minutes, this really shouldn't happen. Also some scenes are painfully dark, in that it is hard to see what is going on. 

Overall

A decent psychological horror, that will have you jump out of your seat more than once. 

I score Father of Flies a decent 7/10

On UK digital 11 April 2022 - Watch at https://apple.co/3jkXT9f

REVIEW: The Tender Bar (2022)

Review by Jon Donnis

George Clooney directs The Tender Bar; a slightly yellow tinted film, that is an adaption of a 2005 memoir by JR Moehringer. 

The film follows Moehringer's life from being a young boy in the 1970s, living with his single mother at his home in Long Island, and as he grows up, through school and college to his first job in New York City, and all the struggles of life along the way, from family issues, to school and work, and of course love.

JR is played by Daniel Ranieri early in the film, and starts off following the move back to the family home due to money problems. After splitting with her partner, JR's mother (Lily Rabe) bounces back and forth to the care of her father played by the always fantastic Christopher Lloyd and her mother (Sondra James), to help with raising JR. Throw in Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck) who runs the local bar and you have a nice setting to tell some interesting stories.

There is narration (Wonder Years style) by Ron Livingston who is future grown up JR. Seems a bit pointless to me to have narration, but it is an easy way to explain things when the director is feeling lazy, I guess.

Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck) comes in as one of the more important influences on JR as he grows up, teaching him how to steer a car, as well as introducing JR to the locals at the bar, who tell stories too.

Tye Sheridan takes over the role when we fast forward to high school as JR finds himself chasing the dream of getting into Yale University and becoming a lawyer. The film is nonlinear, so there is some back and forth and the narration helps to explain things.

For a coming-of-age story, it can all get a bit melodramatic at times, and bit too serious, usually in scenes featuring JR's alcoholic father, who reappears in his life every so often.

The film has a warm and relaxing feel, and at under 2 hours, it never feels too long.

The Good

Wonderfully filmed, and it is rare these days to get a nice relaxing film, that tells some good stories.

The Bad

Some parts of the film feel quite slow, and then the end feels a bit rushed.

Overall

Not my usual type of film, I prefer films with a bit more action, but this was an ok film. You will watch it once, feel good, and then never think about it again.

I score The Tender Bar an unforgettable 6/10

In cinemas now, and on Amazon Prime - https://amzn.to/34D7gg5

REVIEW: Death on the Nile (2022) - Starring Kenneth Branagh as Poirot

Review by Jon Donnis

The Renowned detective Hercule Poirot is back, in what is the 3^rd version of the Death on the Nile story by Agatha Christie. Kenneth Branagh once again takes on the role of the man who no one can quite pronounce his name. 

The start of the film sees a young Poirot in World War 1 helping his unit attack the enemy, but a trip wire ends up being activated and a fellow solider gets blown up, and Poirot finds himself with a mutilated face. While being treated by his fiancé, Nurse Katherine (Susannah Fielding), she tells him that he can grow a moustache to hide his scar. Sadly, she dies in WW1, and we quickly jump to 1937.

Poirot finds himself watching a blues singer, Salome Otterbourne (Sophie Okonedo), he sees Jacqueline "Jackie" de Bellefort (Emma Mackey) dancing with Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer).  Jackies childhood friend Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle Gal Gadot) enters the scene and is introduced to Simon, and now we have pretty much been introduced to the main cast.

Quick look at the official synopsis:

"Renowned detective Hercule Poirot is off on a relaxing retreat to Egypt, where he meets his friend Monsieur Bouc. He offers Poirot to join him and his mother at his friend's post-wedding celebration. Poirot arrives at the hotel and recognizes the newly married hosts: Linnet Ridgeway and Simon Doyle. Six weeks ago, he had seen Simon Doyle with his fiancé Jacqueline at a nightclub. Jacqueline had introduced her fiancé to her best friend: Linnet. Poirot scoffs at how love took its turn in a short period. Bouc introduces Poirot to all the passengers on the cruise:"

And as is always the case we then get a murder, and it is up to Poirot to figure out who committed the crime, and make sure the murderer faces justice.

As with all of the Poirot films and TV episodes, you know what to expect, they are always well acted and well written, and I have found that someone's enjoyment of a film comes down to if you like the actor who plays Poirot or not.

There have been a number of actors to take on the part, but I think we can all agree that David Suchet is the best, and probably the one that most people associate with the role. Peter Ustinov also played the role well. The other actors I don't care to even mention, so that leaves us with Kenneth Branagh, a super talented actor. HOWEVER, I just hate him as Poirot. His accent is terrible and makes it hard to understand him. He just does not fit the rule. 

Death on the Nile is a big budget film, with an all-star cast, loads of big names, a beautiful setting, a famous story. All the ingredients are there for this to be a great film. But Branagh just isn't Poirot.

The Good

Wonderful talented cast, well made film, everything is there for an enjoyable murder mystery film.

The Bad

I can't stand Kenneth Branagh as Poirot. Simple as that.

Overall

This is a good film, but I have this barrier of not enjoying Kenneth Branagh as Poirot. If you like him as Poirot, then you will enjoy the film. I don't, and I didn't

I score Death on the Nile a fair 7/10 (I give this a decent score, because I accept my enjoyment of the film is based on my own opinion on who plays the role of Poirot, and not necessarily everything else in the film)

Out on April 13th at https://amzn.to/3LPRvTr

REVIEW: The Bubble (2022) - Starring David Duchovny, Karen Gillan, Keegan-Michael Key, Pedro Pascal and Leslie Mann

Review by Jon Donnis

Imagine if you will a film that has loads of big-name comedy actors and actresses, a film with successful comedians, a ridiculously plot line that promises hilarity, but then a script that forgets to include a single funny joke? Well there is no need to imagine, because we have The Bubble, Netflix latest film, a film that promises it is a comedy, but failed to make me smile once throughout the 2 hours plus run time.

The plot goes something like this, in the English countryside at a big fancy mansion, a Producer called Gavin, played by the usually brilliant Peter Serafinowicz, prepares his staff for the arrival of a bunch of big-name actors, who are coming to film the sixth movie in the Cliff Beasts action film series. The problem is that there is a pandemic going on, so everyone needs to keep in the bubble, and protect themselves and others from the virus.

We have actress Carol Cobb (played by the gorgeous Karen Gillan) coming to join the movie, along with Lauren Van Chance (Leslie Mann), Dieter Bravo (Pedro Pascal), Dustin Mulray (David Duchovny), Sean Knox (Keegan-Michael Key), Howie Frangopolous (Guz Khan).  The fact they gave a British Pakistani Muslim a Greek name is horific casting, and beyond offensive.

Once everyone has arrived and completed their 14-day quarantine, the "comedy" is supposed to begin. Sean Knox (Keegan-Michael Key), tries to recruit people to join his cult, Dieter Bravo (Pedro Pascal) keeps trying to have sex with everyone, Dustin and Lauren have relationship problems, and I couldn't care less about anything going on in this movie. Not the real movie, or the movie they are desperate to finish in the film.

This film is the result of super rich, elite people, trying to make light of a real-world issue, that never in any way threatened them or their livelihoods, and that is the problem. Although the film is trying to take the piss out of itself, and Hollywood, it does the opposite, by the very fact they were able to make the movie with a huge budget.

You will feel no emotional connection with any of the characters, you won't be able to relate to any of the struggles on camera, and you won't laugh at a single disastrous attempt of a joke.

When you have the amount of talent available, that this film has, and then you write a soulless script, then you deserve to be mocked, and you deserve to fail. The fact that any of these big names signed on to this film in the first place, either proves they never read the script, or they are only interested in a quick pay day. Not a single actor in this film will want The Bubble to be on their CV.

The Good

The UK taxman got to collect something from the people making this film.

The Bad

The film and the performances.

Overall

AVOID this film. Truly awful.

I score The Bubble on Netflix a 0/10

Does not even deserve a link to the page.

REVIEW: Panama (2022) - Starring Cole Hauser and Mel Gibson

Review by Jon Donnis

Panama is directed by Mark Neveldine and stars Cole Hauser and Mel Gibson, and is your latest action thriller to enjoy.

Cole Hauser leads as James Becker, a depressed ex-Marine, he suffers with survivors' guilt after the death of his wife.  Every day he gets drunk and visits the grave of his dead wife.

One day Becker is approached by Stark a defence contractor played by Mel Gibsob, he thinks it is time for Becker to get back on the proverbial horse, and hires him to travel to Panama to complete an arms deal, and connect with Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega.

Becker eventually finds himself in a casino, in a hotel room with a sexy woman, mixing with drug cartel folk, and eventually leading into countless shootouts and a big climatic ending.

A relatively short film at around 90 minutes, Cole Hauser is convincing as Becker, and Mel Gibson who appears in the film less, is enjoyable in almost anything he does. 

The film is well shot, the action scenes are believable, and we even get some interesting hotel room scenes, which although gratuitous, are a reminder of the action films of the 90s.

I also love the Mel Gibson narration throughout, just so cool.

The Good

Simple, well made action films don't come around that often, and I enjoyed Panama, it ticked the boxes for what I expected and what I wanted in an action film.

The Bad

Some scenes are dialog heavy, and sometimes I felt that some parts of the film dragged.

Overall

This film will do more for the career of Cole Hauser than Mel Gibson, and is perfectly fine Saturday night type viewing for any action thriller fan.

I score Panama a fair 7/10

Out now on digital at https://amzn.to/3DxH7wD