Nobody (2021) - Sooo much fun

Sometimes there are films which don't really reinvent the wheel, but take a pretty tried and tested premise and put just enough spin on it to make it different enough to watch.  Well... although 'Nobody' adheres to taking the well-worn 'revenge' plot and injects it with such fun that I can't believe that anyone who enjoys the genre won't appreciate it.

If I had to sum it up, I'd say take 'John Wick' and cross it with 'Taken,' then wrap it in a 'Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul' bow and you have 'Nobody.' Bob Odenkirk beefs up from his most iconic role as 'Saul' from 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul' and goes totally postal on some Russian gangsters once his family is threatened.

I'll say it again - the plot isn't anything you haven't seen a hundred times before, but when you have such great actors making every moment of the script work, then add some real bone-crunching action scenes and dark comedic moments, how can anyone possibly not love this?  Did I mention 'Doc Brown' himself (aka Christopher Lloyd) also wields a shotgun or two in this?

Also, it's worth noting that most movies these days never seem to know when to end, i.e. they go on too long. 'Nobody' weighs in at a tight ninety minutes and never wastes a second of screen time.  I guess the only negative thing I can think of is that it kind of got lost in the global nightmare than was the 'pandemic' a few years ago and never achieved the same levels of success that 'John Wick' and 'Taken' did, therefore it may not get the sequel it deserves.

9/10

Villains (2019) - Great fun

'Villains' is a darkly comedic thriller that I thought I wouldn't like during part of the opening act.  It's about a couple of criminals who go on the run after a series of robberies, but end up trying to hide out in another couple's house who may just actually be worse than them.  My main gripe was that I didn't really like any of the characters and therefore couldn't really find anyone to root for.  I'm pleased to say my opinion changed as the film progressed.

What follows is a "cat and mouse" setup and plenty of unexpected turns. Bill Skarsgård and Maika Monroe star as our hapless criminals and they're soon outmatched by a seemingly prim, but secretly twisted, homeowner couple (played brilliantly by Jeffrey Donovan and Kyra Sedgwick).  What makes 'Villains' so enjoyable is the interplay between these two couples, each capable of wielding a mix of innocence and menace that flips the power dynamic constantly. 

Donovan and Sedgwick deliver standout performances, making their characters unnervingly charming yet intimidating, while Skarsgård and Monroe eventually bring a grounded, relatable humanity to their roles, especially when things spiral out of control.  

The "cat and mouse" game between the two warring factions shifts in unpredictable ways, pulling us along with a genuine curiosity about who will ultimately come out on top.  These twists and reasonably short and sharp runtime (especially compared to the average film's runtime these days) actually will keep you guessing until the final scene. 

8/10

Steptoe and Son Ride Again  - This is more like it

As a die hard 'Steptoe and Son' fan of the British sit-com, I was a little disappointed with their first big screen outside (simply called 'Steptoe and Son).  However, the sequel was far more true to the original vibe of the TV show.

It follows the exploits of a couple of rag and bone men - a father and son duo who, although polar opposites, never seem to be able to leave one another.  The small screen series dealt out the comedy with the odd helping of black humour and dark sadness, but - ultimately - remained more weighted to the laughs.

The first film seems to veer the other way and dwell on the misery young Harold was in, depicting his father as an even more unsavory and scheming character than he normally was.  The difference is with the sequel is... well, everything.

It's a better situation, has more laughs and feels generally more upbeat (which I'm guessing is one of the main requirements for a comedy!).  I really find it hard to find a fault with it.  I suppose I should mention that all humour is rather 'slapstick' and can be a little crude and visual.  It's hardly 'high-brow' entertainment, but if you liked the series, you'll feel far more at home with this one.

Nowadays, I read online how there was originally planned to be a third in the film series, but this one actually under performed at the Box Office - possibly because fans felt like this would be more like the first one.  If you like the original show, or just want a few cheeky laughs from yesteryear, I think this one is a classic.

9/10

Steptoe and Son - Now I know

I practically grew up on the iconic (and bittersweet!) British sit-com of the sixties and seventies.  I watched them all the time with my mum and dad, eventually purchasing them on VHS and DVD.  But, even when I was very little, I heard my parents talk about (what I assumed) was an episode where Harold got married.  Right up until 2024 I always assumed I'd imagined that, until I bought (what I thought was the 'Steptoe and Son' film that I'd watched with my folks as a child.

What I got was, in fact, TWO 'Steptoe and Son' films (the second being the one I knew so well I could almost recite it word for word ('Steptoe and Son Ride Again').  It turned out what my mum and dad were talking about was the film.  And, they were right about many things.  They simply told me that it wasn't very good.  Harold did indeed get married, but ended up choosing his father over his new bride.

Now, before you claim I've 'spoiled' the story with the above, I should point out that the film opens with Harold and Albert leaving the divorce courts once the marriage is over.  What follows is effectively one long flashback which makes up the rest of the movie.

Now, if somehow you're unaware of the plot of the sit-com this was based on... it's about a father and a son scrap metal merchants from London.  It's the typical sit-com set-up where they're stuck together and unable to leave each other.  Episodes go by and nothing really changes as the plot does that trope of being reset at the end of every thirty minute story.

The trouble is with the film is that it follows this format.  Not only do you know the ending if you watch the first five minutes, but you know why the marriage will fail and that everything will return to normal, only after an hour and a half, rather than the usual thirty minutes.  This wouldn't be so bad, but where as the TV shows were 'laugh a minute' the film swaps the laughs for a darker, more mean-spirited tone and you'll just end up barely being able to watch the psychological torture and cringe-levels on display here.

I know I sound like I'm being overly-negative, but as it still stars the two stars from the TV show and there charisma and charm is on display at all time, meaning that it is at least watchable for that.  It's definitely the lowest episode (technically a film, but you know what I mean) of the whole series, but, baring in mind that 'Steptoe and Son' is nearly perfect most of the time, the movie still stands head and shoulders of many of its contemporaries (but the next one: 'Steptoe and Son Ride Again' is a million times better than this!). 

7/10

The Lost City - Nothing new, but totally watchable

'The Lost City' is a classic case of a film where the plot doesn't break any new ground, but the charisma and chemistry of its stars manage to elevate it. The story follows a familiar template—a romance novelist (played by Sandra Bullock) gets caught up in a wild jungle adventure alongside her book's cover model (Channing Tatum) after being kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe).  In fact, I do believe - from what little I've read online about the movie - says it's basically the loosest of remakes of 'Romance in the Stone' (or one of the 'Romance...' films, I forget!).

Everything about it is so generic it's barely worth talking about it, however what truly makes 'The Lost City' shine, is Sandra Bullock, who, despite being a bit unlikable to begin with, becomes as charming as ever to watch.  Channing Tatum, playing against his usual type, adds a goofy sweetness to the dynamic, and the two have a playful chemistry that makes their banter entertaining, but, if you've seen Brad Pitt's name on the cast list, don't expect too much of him during the runtime (no spoilers here!). Daniel Radcliffe does his best to shed his Harry Potter image and plays the villain quite quirky and fun, though his character isn’t particularly complex.  

For me, the film's weakest point (besides the Playstation 2 level special effects!) was a minor sub-plot with the main character's literary agent tracking her down.  This part of the film could probably have been taken out completely and left the film's overall runtime a lot tighter.

'The Lost City' doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it delivers enough laughs and charm to make for an enjoyable viewing (it's certainly the type of film you could have on in the background, go out to make a cup of tea, then come back in and found you haven't missed that much and can still pick up on the plot fairly easily). If you're a fan of Sandra Bullock or looking for a breezy, escapist romp, this one’s worth checking out.

6/10

Greta (2018) - Same old story, but with some nice moments

'Greta' is probably best described as a psychological thriller that follows a young woman called Frances (Chloë Grace Moretz) who gets 'lured' into a friendship with the titular 'Greta' (Isabelle Huppert), who is a lonely, manipulative widow. 

You can guess things don't end up going too well, but I'll give the film props for its ability to deliver tension and suspense with its moody atmosphere and eerie build-up, although the movie's greatest strength probably lies in its two leads.  The two performances are nicely the polar opposite of each other.

Personally, perhaps the thing I liked best about it was that the characters make - for the most part - logical decisions, rather than falling into the typical (mainly horror) trope of being dumb, just to move the plot forward.

However, despite these strengths, 'Greta' feels like a familiar story. The “stalker-thriller” plotline has been done many times before, and this film doesn’t offer much innovation to set it apart, besides the performances and few nicely creepy moments.  It follows a well-worn path, and while the direction and performances elevate it slightly, it never quite shakes off the sense of déjà vu.  In the end, 'Greta' is a solid thriller, but not an essential one. 

6/10

Haunt (2019) - Actually stayed in my mind for long enough to review

I watch so many B-movie horror flicks on streaming services that, sometimes, if I leave writing a review more than a few days after watching the film, I've completely forgotten everything about it!  'Haunt' may not be perfect, but it is solid enough to actually remain in my mind after a week or so in order to comment on it.

It's made by the writers/directors behind (the far superior!) 'A Quiet Place' and although it sure doesn't reinvent the wheel, it may just stay with you after the credits roll, thanks to a few atmosphere and brutal moments of tension and gore.  The story centers on a group of friends who visit an extreme haunted house on Halloween night, only to discover that the attraction is more sinister than they could have imagined. 

What follows is your typical 'slasher' movie as the friends are subjected to cruel traps and masked killers lurking in the shadows.  Where 'Haunt' does make its mark is in its pacing and its gnarly, practical effects and the masked killers—each with their own disturbing personas—are suitably creepy.  Plus the kills are satisfyingly gruesome for fans of blood-soaked horror.  

However, the film falls into the genre trope of its characters making frustratingly dumb decisions. It's hard not to roll your eyes at some of the choices made, as they often serve the plot more than common sense. This, in turn, makes it difficult to fully invest in their survival.  

And yet, despite these flaws, 'Haunt' was a film that I actually watched until the credits rolled as it offered enough thrills, chills and gory fun to make it worth a watch—just be prepared for some moments of head-shaking frustration along the way.

6/10