Michael Morris directs Andrea Riseborough, Marc Maron and Allison Janney in this character study drama about an alcoholic woman who hits rock bottom and returns home to the town where she is seen as a joke because she blew her lottery win on booze.

Exists solely as a showcase for Riseborough to act desperate and destitute. And I’m going to push against the Academy nomination here and say the performance is a bit… gurning. This tale of recovery has an eventual sweetness worth waiting around for… and often harks back to the revival of “Woman’s Pictures” that cropped up in the late Seventies /early Eighties to give the likes of Ellen Burstyn, Sally Field or Goldie Hawn another shot at an Oscar. While everyone else feels like they are on a poverty pantomime safari, podcasting king Maron actually hits a neat seam of reality with his good guy turn. Fine.

5

Perfect Double Bill: W.E. (2011)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/

Marjane Satrapi directs Rosamund Pike, Sam Riley and Anya Taylor-Joy in this biopic of Marie Curie.

Terminal formula.

3

Perfect Double Bill: On The Basis of Sex (2018)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/

Paweł Pawlikowski directs Natalie Press, Emily Blunt and Paddy Considine in this British coming-of-age drama where two mismatched girls start an obsessive friendship over the summer holiday.

Hazy, eerie, nudie. A motorbike with no engine from the maggot farm, a pub turned born again Christian cult, giggling at the new massive crucifix being erected on the hill. Goldfrapp on the soundtrack. Emily Blunt’s outstanding movie debut as the duplicitous posh girl. Haunts with a very relaxed intensity.

6

Perfect Double Bill: The Cement Garden (1993)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/

Neil Jordan directs Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger and Jessica Lange in this period detective mystery based on Raymond Chandler’s famous detective Philip Marlowe.

Neil Jordan is incapable of making a less than stunning looking movie. This takes an hour too long to get going but ends in gory, unpredictable chaos. Fans of Neeson stiffly chopping, stiffly jumping and stiffly running might find little to love, and this doesn’t exactly hit the spot as a pure whodunnit, yet I wouldn’t exactly turn my nose up at a second instalment with big man sleuthing in this well realised world. About as good as these direct-to-streaming tax dodges get.

5

Perfect Double Bill: A Walk Among The Tombstones (2014)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/

Stanley Donen directs Audrey Hepburn, Albert Finney and Eleanor Bron in this romantic comedy about a married couple who reflect on their twelve-year relationship while on various road trips down to the French Riviera.

The year the Production Code began its swift erosion allowed this project – which looked to make a slightly more philosophical take on infidelity and divorce – to be realised without its hand being tied. The concept is strong, especially the fractured timelines changing lanes and swapping rides en route. Yet it feels fusty by default. The progeny of a director past his prime trying to take advantage of cutting edge trends and hip stars that don’t gel. You’ll never find me saying a bad word about Hepburn… but her pre-existing persona is a little too fragile for us to gain much pleasure from seeing her in a failing relationship. And Finney is very abrasive towards her and the whole idea. Somebody with a lighter comic touch (Cary, Caine, Garner?) would work a treat, even when calling Audrey a “bitch”!? This actually proves quite unpleasant to watch at times despite always looking a sunny marvel.

4

Perfect Double Bill: Paris When It Sizzles (1964)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/

John Ford directs John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara and Victor McLaglen in this Irish romantic comedy where an American boxer returns home to the village of Innisfree where he was born and swiftly falls for tempestuous beauty who lives next door.

A childhood favourite in my house. The Carrolls watched this a lot. Infamously ends on a twenty minute punch up that has been brewing for the first two acts. O’Hara and McLaglen are on fire as the warring siblings The Quiet Man gets caught between. The entire support ensemble are pitch perfect. And it looks so gorgeous – technicolour heaven. Victor Young’s marching score only drums up the anticipation towards the big communal scrap. His main theme is based on a tune composed by an Irish policeman. George Romero allegedly died listening to the jaunty, diddly-dee soundtrack. I love this. Every fucking moment.

10

Perfect Double Bill: Hobson’s Choice (1954)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/

Chris McKay directs Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage and Awkwafina in this horror comedy where Dracula’s assistant begins to use his supernatural powers for good.

Three editors. Always a bad sign. They couldn’t find the movie in post-production and it shows. Awkwafina gives possibly one of the weakest, most uncertain performances in a mainstream release in years, especially in the first act when you aren’t even sure why her subplot is robbing us of so much Dracula action. Cage’s Count though is inevitably glorious. He’s making mad genius line choices with every syllable and it is a pleasure. Shame that he disappears for huge swathes of the running time. The comic book inspired production design is nicely OTT. Darkman vibes, especially Dracula’s throne of a hundred blood transfusions. The body horror FX of his mangled corpse slowly regenerating are done practically and are some of the best comedy gore work I’ve seen for a long old time. But the “Renfield saves the day” action feels old hat. CGI blood and wearying martial arts against the same six stunt men in different hats and masks. That’s a trick I’ll forgive a John Wick and a Jackie Chan as what they are trying to achieve is so ambitious and relentless. Here it feels like another pre-production decision that screams of fudge. A true mixed bag of a horror-comedy-romance-action flick in that I’d love to revisit what both the Nics do here but the rest is pretty bleh.

5

Perfect Double Bill: Warm Bodies (2012)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/

Betty Thomas directs Shelley Long, Gary Cole and Jennifer Elise Cox in this remake of the Seventies sitcom transplanting the out-of-time family to the grungy Nineties.

The deadpan, straight faced fish-out-of-water timewarp joke works for about ten minutes. Luckily, middle sister Jan’s anguished internal monologue just about saves the day for the rest of the feature length.

4

Perfect Double Bill: A Very Brady Sequel (1996)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/

Ali Abbasi directs Mehdi Bajestani, Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Arash Ashtiani in this serial killer drama where a female journalist in Iran faces sexism and cover-up in her search for a murderer of sex workers.

Based on a true story. Well crafted and pointed in it gender inequalities. Every female character is constantly at risk of violence in this society, the brutal sex murders are pretty much sanctioned by the authorities. Zero glamorisation – all are bruised, tired, unkempt. There’s a surprising amount of focus on the dull, devout killer and his home life. It makes for grim, depressing viewing and I wouldn’t rush to rewatch despite Holy Spider’s enthralling power.

6

Perfect Double Bill: A Hero (2021)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/

Dominik Moll directs Denis Ménochet, Laure Calamy and Damien Bonnard in this French thriller following various mysteries that orbit the case of a missing woman.

Five short crime stories about obsessive, unrequited love that tessellate neatly into each other. Plenty of sex. Keeps you guessing long past the biggest reveal.

7

Perfect Double Bill: Harry, He’s Here To Help (2000)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/