John Madden directs Colin Firth, Kelly McDonanld and Matthew Macfadyen in this WWII espionage thriller where MI5 try to float misleading documents to the Nazis using the corpse of a homeless man.

A drab, unfocussed little movie. Muddles through a staid romantic triangle that goes nowhere when what you really want is more old school spy craft. An inherent problem in turning this cute little wartime footnote into a two hour narrative is once the body is in motion there’s absolutely nothing for the ensemble we’ve invested in to do but wait by the telegram machine. Snore.

3

Perfect Double Bill: Carve Her Name With Pride (1958)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also 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/

Tom Gormican directs Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal and Tiffany Haddish in this meta-comedy where Nicolas Cage plays himself and gets involved in an action buddy movie scenario with him and his biggest fan.

In its strongest moments a very affectionate celebration of Cage. Interestingly, his two best pieces of acting (Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation.) are seemingly off limits even though aspects of both fit the story aptly. They are a layer deep into the homage rather than explicitly referenced – one wonders whether Cage only agreed to the project if the performances he was proudest of were ringfenced away from the spoof stuff? Like The Lost City, the funniest jokes are in the first act / trailer… which is a shame. I sauntered into April looking forward to two starry comedy release and both run out of pep by the midway mark. Cage and Pascal have a nice energy together but there’s nothing here to command a repeat visit.

5

Perfect Double Bill: Being John Malkovich (1999)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also 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/

Richard Linklater directs Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup and Emma Nelson in this comedy drama about rich people with rich people problems.

Starts out a bit like a female As Good As It Gets. Blanchett is crotchety in that way that is only adorable in movies. The wealth on show is a bit offensive, if this was made by anyone other than Linklater I’d assume it was propaganda. Takes some unpredictable turns in the second and third act… so as it delivered what I wasn’t expecting and opened up to being a more holistic exploration of self worth I’m going to allow it a pass. The cast is uniformly excellent, I smiled a few times, Bernadette’s backstory is compelling.

6

Perfect Double Bill: The Shipping News (2000)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also 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/

Lin-Manuel Miranda directs Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp and Robin de Jesus in this musical biography of the creator of the Broadway show Rent.

One middle class white man’s struggle to ask his parents to help with the bills while he follows his dream with tons of support. Yeah… I’m not getting why there’s a movie here but Andrew Garfield was fabulous as always and some of the bigger numbers are well produced.

“Yeah but he died!”

“We all die, sweetie.”

“Yeah but he was straight.”

“Sure he was, sweetie.”

6

Perfect Double Bill: All That Jazz (1979)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also 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/

Steven Soderbergh directs Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro and Brendan Fraser in this 1950s set neo-noir where a job goes wrong and two mismatched crooks angle for a bigger piece of the action and the price off their heads.

Filmed almost entirely with a wide fish eyed lens (which I liked) this has enough beloved character actors, tense moments and cool period details to hum and purr. Probably the best thing Soderbergh has done in a decade, feels effortless and exactly my jam.

8

Perfect Double Bill: Devil In A Blue Dress (1995)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also 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/

George P. Cosmatos directs Charlie Sheen, Donald Sutherland and Linda Hamilton in this chase thriller where a political aide to the President finds himself on the run from some mysterious assassins.

Cold product. A poor man’s The Fugitive with unimaginative set pieces. Everyone sleepwalks through underwritten parts… though Stephen Lang does at least catch the eye as a sweaty, silent killer. Enemy Of The State and 24 both cover this exact same ground with far more pizazz.

4

Perfect Double Bill: Terminal Velocity (1994)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also 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/

Rodo Sayagues directs Stephen Lang, Brendan Sexton III and Madelyn Grace in this horror thriller sequel where the deadly Blind Man has taken a young child in and raised her as his own… but can they survive an even nastier group of home invaders.

One of the most explicitly violent mainstream releases in a long old while – cruel, bleak and severing. The movie itself is not quite as enthralling as the first entry, and I would have personally preferred Jane Levy to somehow have been returned into the mix, but I get the feeling this might build-up a cult repute all of its own over time… it is that full-on in moments. Not sure how I feel about the softening of Stephen Lang’s bad guy… “You either die a villain, or live long enough to see yourself become the hero.” Just ask the velociraptors or T-800, I guess.

6

Perfect Double Bill: Don’t Breathe (2016)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also 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/

Vera Chytilová directs Ivana Karbanová, Jitka Cerhová and Marie Cesková in this surreal Czechoslovakian curio where two young women try to behave as badly possible.

Go home DADA, your daughters want their time to shine. Joyous, decadent, playful, purposeful. A series of manic skits, many of which stretch the traditional narrative format – this gives Western contemporaries Monty Python and Richard Lester a run for their money… the jokes still land, the feminist intent is still fresh and the mash-up of animation and in-camera FX feel aesthetically revolutionary. This is a movie with a lot to say, that transcends its scrappy lo-fi nature and features two attractive lead turns from a pair of Czech ladies who spend half the movie bouncing around in bikinis. Banned by Czech authorities upon its release for “depicting the wanton”… which now feels like an endorsement no capitalist movie could ever afford to purchase.

8

Perfect Double Bill: The Firemen’s Ball (1967)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also 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/

Christian Petzold directs Benno Furmann, Nina Hoss and Hilmi Sozer in this German neo-noir where a penniless ex-soldier begins working for a paranoid businessman with a beautiful young wife.

Minimalist neo-noir with fine acting from Hilmi Sozer. Gives voice to the entrepreneurial immigrant experience, both as a perpetual outsider and marked success compared to the feckless, broke natives.

7

Perfect Double Bill: Red Rock West (1993)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also 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/

Michael Sarnoski directs Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff and Adam Arkin in this indie thriller where a hermit truffle farmer breaks his seclusion when his beloved pig is stolen.

More a meditation on grief and authenticity than a John Wick style actioner, this is full of gentle surprises. Cage delivers his most grounded performance in decades, yet there are still enough quirky wrinkles to keep the me me meme crowd happy. Has a lovely autumnal look, as if the crew used the soil and twigs encrusted in a boot tread as a palette chart. Minor but worthwhile.

7

Perfect Double Bill: Chef (2014)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also 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/