MARCH
FILM OF THE MONTH: Princess Mononoke ☆☆☆☆
THE INVISIBLE MAN (2020)
The classic James Whale version of this story is one of my favourites from the period, so it was with some anxiety that I approached this new adaptation. It's been done repeatedly in the years since and even the original film had numerous sequels. There have been comedies, thrillers and even war movies based on the idea. Why do it all over again just to add another marquee title to the constant stop and start failure Universal monsters franchise? The state of this whole thing was frankly embarrassing after all, whether you consider the recent Johnny Depp vehicle that never came to be or the earlier League of Extraordinary Gentlemen debacle. So imagine my shock when the film that finally showed up was actually really good.
TRASH FIRE (2016)
The tone of a story can often be a problem when films are being
touted as both bleak human dramas and twisted horror comedies. The
balancing act needed to keep all those plates spinning requires a lot of
coordination after all, and Trash Fire has a lot of elements
to mesh as the story unfolds. While a few moments do manage to reach the
dark laughs you might be expecting, a lot of it is often pretty
inconsistent. The genre they’re going for is kind of vague and uncertain
in the first act, but it becomes a mixed bag even after events come
along.
THE LESSON (2015)
After twenty years of teaching Mister Gale has reached the end of his tether. Maybe it’s the school itself or his choice of methods but for one reason or another the students are all out of control and running wild. However instead of changing tact, working on his discipline methods or finding new ways to engage with young minds he’s about to try a radically different approach. Be warned there’s no heart warming coming of age drama to be found here, his new idea involves taking his frustration out on the teenagers themselves. It’s going to involve a lot of household tools and cable ties.