jacobbriscombe Reviews

Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)

A great watch

[7/10 · 29 September 2022]

This film was a fun and riveting watch that left me feeling gripped with the rich storytelling and engaging performances from Elba and Swinton. It is an Aladdin-esque film about a djinn who gets released from his imprisonment in a jewelry souvenir by a socially distant and reserved professor of storytelling. In return the djinn grants her 3 wishes of her choosing. That's the basic premise but for me the actual film is not about the wishes she will be granted but in fact it is the stories of previous wish users and the deep connection Elba and Swinton share through those stories. It also is a lesson into humanity, what it is like to be alone and want to be loved by someone. The deep connections we have with eachother that make stories so enjoyable.

Visually this film is very appealing as the visual effects are stunning to look at. The performances were also believable and I felt invested in their relationship.

Beast (I) (2022)

An alright action film

[5/10 · 29 September 2022]

This film is what you expect it to be, it is a semi-thrilling action film with Idris Elba fighting a lion. The cinematography and visual effects are impressive but sadly that's about all the praise I can give for this film. For a start the premise that a doctor is able to physically hold his own against a fully grown lion is absurd. Elba's character may have some previous background that could be of use but we don't really find anything out about his character apart from his failed marriage with his now dead wife. His relationship with his daughters is strained and has a nice dynamic but the performances just fall flat in my opinion. The pacing was decent as there was only a couple instances which felt dragged out but overall this film could have been much shorter for what it was trying to show. However the aspect which I had the most gripes with is how the lion in this film just eats bullets and explosions. I really struggled to suspend disbelief when there were many occasions where I thought the lion should have definitely been killed. Also the assumption that this lion is going around massacring villages out of revenge and actually remembers what the poachers looked like from a previous glance nights before doesn't make sense to me.

To round this up, you won't be missing much by not watching this film. If you want to watch a good film with Idris Elba from this year then I highly recommend Three thousand years of longing.

Nope (2022)

Jordan Peele has done another great film

[7/10 · 29 September 2022]

This film was an enjoyable watch with great writing and direction, but I'd expect nothing less from Jordan Peele given his other two films Get out and Us are also brilliant. I believe it is an overall better film than Us but doesn't surpass Get out. Daniel Kaluuya gave another amazing performance and his character actually made logical decisions. I never once felt taken out of the experience of the film due to characters making stupid choices like most Hollywood horror films tend to lean towards. This felt very refreshing and definitely adds to the enjoyment in my opinion. The overall mystique of what this thing is that is terrorising this ranch and county definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and the occasional internal view shots really helped pique my engagement. However the best aspect of the film for me was the secondary storyline of Gordy the monkey whom Steven Yeun performed with as a child actor within the film's story. The whole time you wonder how it is tethered to the rest of the film and the meaning behind it. I also liked how the ending didn't give you all the answers and made you have to participate with the text, positioning you to become an active audience member. It's a shame most films currently being released just spoon feed you all the answers and leaves you excited but at the same time these types of film tend to be forgettable and lack much depth. Typically the ending is the most memorable and make or break part of a film.

In summary I think Nope is definitely worth a view.

Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)

Brilliant display of humanity and compassion

[8/10 · 19 August 2022]

This film was a great watch with an even better theme of discrimination, isolation and humanity. The performances of Daisy Edgar-Jones and David Strathairn were the main strong points for me. Their relationship and his unrelenting desire to give her a good defense regardless of her ostracization and stimga she receives really showcase the hope and care we have for one another. I get a similar vibe about Strathairn as I do from Gregory Peck as Atticus in To kill a mockingbird. There are some deeper themes of abuse that run throughout and are critical for the film but I won't go into detail as I don't want to spoil anything. However there is a great twist at the end which completely changed the way you view the entire film and would make a second watch much more enjoyable. The cinematography of this film is so well done as it perfectly captures the beauty and tranquility of the marsh and it's overall vast size. The one main downside of the film is that the pacing sometimes felt needlessly slow which took away from the high stakes court case and I felt there was numerous scenes which could have been shortened and still have the same impact and exposition. Overall the film is definitely worth a watch, it definitely takes you on an emotional rollercoaster leaving you almost overwhelmed after watching it.

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Not the kind of Thor film I like

[5/10 · 18 August 2022]

This film I enjoyed it much more than Multiverse of Madness which isn't a very hard accomplishment to achieve in all honesty. The film was very funny and Christian Bale's performance is the main strong point of the film. He definitely carries the film on his shoulders, his presence is so dominating and steals the spotlight from the protagonists Hemsworth and Portman. That is where my praise ends. Although comedic that's all it has going for it as the action scenes and plot are sub par, predictable and frankly don't have much depth to them. This film continues the trend of tearing down Thor from being an incredibly strong hero both physically and writing wise, completely turning him into a clown who's only purpose is to entertain the spectator through his comic relief. This change in attitude to characters is a trend I've noticed with the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the moment. They take a once serious and 3 dimensional character and create this weird amalgamation of complete goofy and ridiculous nature with just enough of a serious edge to care about them slightly. Some audiences may actually prefer this style of Thor but I certainly do not share that view. To conclude I only recommend watching this film if you enjoy the current MCU releases.

The Black Phone (2021)

Nice new thriller

[7/10 · 8 July 2022]

This film was a well needed breath of fresh air for the thriller/horror genre. It has a very interesting concept but sadly it just felt that there was something missing from the film it was just too predictable. I know this is the standard for Hollywood films but usually a Blumhouse produced film has me more engaged in the story trying to figure out what will happen next. The performances from Hawke and Thames as the predator and prey were incredibly well acted and I really believed the characters, I couldn't help but feel emotionally involved with them when on screen. I don't typically enjoy younger actors due to their lack of experience, leading to wooden performances. However Thames did a great job playing a child who ends up in the clutches of the 'Grabber' and must escape from the soundproof basement he's been imprisoned in. He is not alone in this endeavour as a disconnected black phone received calls from the grabber's previous victims giving him aid. Hawke plays the grabber. He is very sinister and psychotic in this role. The use of a mask being worn definitely helped add to his physical presence and intimidation. Overall I'd say this film is worth a watch, it's not the best film this year but it's certainly not the worst by any means.

Elvis (2022)

The king of biopics

[10/10 · 24 June 2022]

I can't describe fully just how absolutely brilliant and fantastic this film was. Elvis is my overall favourite artist and this film definitely portrayed his life perfectly. Having never heard of Butler before he completely blew me away with his incredible, performance. He was so moving to see on the big screen and I was completely captivated whenever he was in frame. I would not be surprised in the slightest if he is nominated for best actor at the academy awards. Hanks was also fantastic portraying Col Parker, he really encompassed his manipulating corruption and downfall of Elvis. I already knew most of the events in his life but there were just so many smaller details I never knew which really just made me feel tailored to. However this film is definitely not just for Elvis fans it is for everyone it paints an elaborate and elegant picture of his lives from childhood right up until his tragic death. I really liked how the film completely showed Parker's true colours holding nothing back about his own selfish motives. Obviously the music in this film is excellent no need to say anything there. But what really stood out to me so much which I didn't expect was the visual effects. There were so many awe-inspiring transitions and shots which made this film such a visual delight. The overall mis en scene for the film was immaculate to... Everything from the costumes and locations to the props really made you feel like it was set between the 50s-70s. Another aspect of the film I adored was the references and portrayals of black artists who were just starting out at the same time as Elvis who I also am a fan of such as Fats Domino and Little Richard. They handled the political aspect of the film really well as it was never too in your face, it was sprinkled throughout, but there definitely was enough material to commentate on his beliefs and way of life. In summary, this film is the best biopic I've seen and easily my overall favourite film of the year so far.

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

Studio too preoccupied wether they could make this film rather than if they should

[5/10 · 19 June 2022]

This film is a watch once, forget it and regret it film. It's already been torn to pieces by critics but I want to join in too on this bismal film. I'm gonna start with the unengaging and frankly boring plot. There is just so little substance and what you're left with is a generic storyline which has been done countless times before and even done within the film franchise itself. The villain lacks any clear motive and Scott's performance is pretty weak in the role. The rest of the performances from the original Jurassic park films and returning cast from Jurassic world are also weak and wooden lacking any depth to them. It felt like there was just no chemistry between them on screen. This made it a grueling task to have to soldier on through the boring scenes which sadly is most of the film. Items very apparent this film was made to cash in on the Jurassic Park nostalgia aspect seeing old characters come back to the big screen. This film just doesn't know what it wants to be, the humour falls flat and the thrilling scenes which are supposed to be tense never had me anxious as I didn't care for the characters at all. To conclude I don't think you should watch this film just watch Spielberg's classic Jurassic Park which is 10x better.

Men (2022)

Very captivating and unique film

[7/10 · 17 June 2022]

This film is just like a painting or a poem, it's hard to explain how visually compelling and provocative it is. The whole entire film is a series of beautifully woven images which so delicately force the audience to think about what they are viewing and what it means to them. That is the crux of this film, it doesn't feel like a typical film you would expect as there isn't a strongly evident plot underpinning it. For some that may be a drawback but for myself I definitely enjoyed the change in storytelling and isn't something that surprised me knowing it's an A24 film which are known to be an artistic and mature studio. The performance by Buckley is superbly portrayed as an incredibly relatable character and you really empathise with her as she starts to feel trapped and overwhelmed by Kinnear who portrays almost all the male characters in the film. The clever thing about that creative choice is it's completely up to the audience members to decide for themselves what this means. Does he metaphorically represent all men as a collective or is she actually seeing the same like man everywhere she goes? Where this film really shines though is the spectacle of cinematography. My favourite shots of the film is one where the camera slowly zooms inside of a deer carcass eye and as we move back out the carcass has started to decompose and rot. The other is where the night sky seamlessly transitions to a beautiful outer space shot. What some people might find quite jaring though is the end scene which is quite disturbing but definitely left me baffled and wondering what it actually meant. Overall I definitely think you should watch this film.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

An excellent sequel

[8/10 · 12 June 2022]

MoreThis film is adds a plethora of content and richness to the original which really completes the story and provides much needed closure for the characters. Having only watched the original for the first time a few days before this one I could really notice just how much of an appreciative love letter this was to the first one. Kosinski admires and respects the original film and that is clearly evident throughout the runtime. Cruise reprises his role as Maverick perfectly. He's not trying to play the exact same character in the first, he's playing an aged and lived Maverick who has still been carrying his emotional baggage from his youth. This clearly has affected his relationship's and I believe makes him a more three dimensional character. He is no longer just a rebellious pilot who was overshadowed by his father's prowess as a legendary pilot, he's a damaged man trying to find meaning in his life and tie up loose ends within himself. I loved the stark contrast against Cruise Teller brought as Rooster. I really felt their chemistry was organic and could tell just through their performances there was a deep underlying issue between them which connected them however ;also crippling them both emotionally. The best part for me about this film was the absolutely stunning and just overwhelmingly awesome cinematography. I found it much easier to navigate and understand the dogfight's in this film which is obviously due to the advancement in camera technology but at the same time it's the camera tricks used. The film is just beautiful to look at and is a great milestone for current cinematography limits. I would highly recommend watching this film, it would be much better to see the previous one to appreciate all the nods and references but I think it does a great job at providing enough detail and content that there isn't any point where as an audience member you feel distant if you haven't seen first film.

Psycho (1960)

My second favourite film

[10/10 · 7 June 2022]

What can I praise about this phenomenal film that hasn't been said before over the last 62 years? It is so beautifully crafted. Everything about this film, all elements are a 10/10 in my opinion. I'm gonna start with the acting; Anthony Perkins does such an amazing job at portraying Norman bates. All the small nonverbal nuances of his performance such as the clenching of his jaw or his aversion of his eyes all come together to bring out this very socially inept and nervous character who you can't help sympathise with but at the same time get a sense of despair and darkness. Not to mention his delivery of his lines during tense scenes which make you question his character and keeps adding to the suspense Hitchcock so brilliantly creates.

Perkins' actual appearance is also works incredibly well for the character as he looks to be a harmless and slender motel owner but that couldn't be further from the truth. Janet Leigh plays the role of Marion Crane who ends up in trouble with the law and is on the run to escape the 'private trap' she's put herself in. Her performance is equally as good as Perkins and they both contrast greatly to eachother which once again ads to the suspense that underpins the the film. She has such a soft and articulate way of speaking, making her appear to be very intellectual which makes her slow downfall that much more devastating and shocking. The score for this film from the opening credits which runs all throughout the run time every now and then at key scenes is just so perfectly used and I genuinely feel tense hearing it on its own so when it is combined with a thrilling scene it just exponentially increases the feelings going through my head. Now don't get me started on the cinematography for this film as I could go on for ages about how visually stunning and actually groundbreaking some of the shots are. One interesting fact I like is that Psycho was the first film to show a toilet flushing and it was regarded as being vulgar at the time. Obviously there's the iconic shower scene which is famous for a reason. I believe the budgetry constraints Hitchcock had actually improved the scene for me. The blood as chocolate sauce and the sound effects of a knive stabbing a melon which works very well and definitely holds up even today as the cutaways from the action make it that more intense and disturbing as you are forced to imagine more of what is happening. The overall plot is thought provoking and keeps you hooked into the story right from the first shot in Phoenix to the very end. Hitchcock's use of cause and effect logic is the main reason this film's events connect and play out so well together. The fact that Sam mentions to Marion about needing money means that we know as an audience they have money troubles and only a few minutes later a rich man buying a house places 40k dollars right in front of Marion almost taunting her financial situation.

To conclude you are certainly going to do yourself a disservice not watching this film.

Father Stu (2022)

Really good story of religion and humanity

[7/10 · 1 June 2022]

I very much enjoyed this film and don't understand why it is rated as low as it is by critics. It is definitely Wahlberg's best performance of the films I've seen. The other performance I liked was Gibson. He plays his father and is a alcoholic due to the loss of his youngest son and drinks the trauma away. He plays the role so well and I really sympathised with him, cared deeply for his character and wanted him to rekindle his connection with his son Stu. His performance reminds me of Nick Nolte in Warrior who also plays a broken and drunken father. The overall plot was engaging and never felt dragged out, this was due to there being a decent amount of screen time of each major part of his life. This for me made the changes he goes through feel even more powerful because as soon as you understand more about this character a life changing event happens to Stu and he progresses as a character even further. The cinematography was pretty standard with some nice shots here and there but for the most part it was what you would expect for a Hollywood film.

I think everyone would enjoy this film especially since it's based on a true story which always hooks me in a whole lot more for a film of this theme.

Operation Mincemeat (2021)

A bit drawn out for what the film is

[7/10 · 16 May 2022]

This film is a decent story of deception and the lengths the British forces went to give the lie credibility. I knew going into the film it wouldn't be a war film from the perspective of soldiers but from a top secret commity but I didn't think it would be as long and tenuous as it is. It does feel like the film dragged and I checked my watch a few times to see how long was left as if often felt like the story was getting repetitive. However there was one main element of the film I did enjoy, the performances from Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden and Kelly MacDonald. I really felt their characters were fleshed out with many angles which an audience can relate to and their acting definitely made me care for the characters and wanted their operation to be a success. I also loved Ian Fleming's character and the nods towards his writing of the James bond series.

To conclude only watch this film if you're ok with it being very dialogue driven with a small amount of actual action being showed.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Utter masterpiece of cinema

[10/10 · 12 May 2022]

This film was the best film I've seen all year I was so desperate to watch it, as the UK got a delayed release date, luckily with my Odeon limitless membership I got to experience this work of art a couple of days early. Visually this film is stunning, most of the shots are just so amazing to look at and must have taken quite some ingenuity to put together. The different universes are so well handled and all feel vastly different from one another but are also grounded in a somewhat similar reality. There are plenty of moments where I heard the whole crowd laughing as there wasn't a single line that didn't land well. The performances by Yeoh and Quan are very well executed giving life to incredibly fleshed out and relatable characters who you really empathise with and want to see overcome their barriers and obstacles they encounter. The overall philosophical message I took form the film was of Nihilism and how sometimes there is no meaning to what events happen, but not to get too bogged down so that you don't see what's truly important right in front of you. This was very liberating and refreshing to see. I've never heard of the director duo before but I know they're now on my radar and I am extremely excited to see what other works they will be creating and will surely dive deeper into their previous cinematic works. It comes to no surprise why this film was produced by A24 who have produced other amazing films such as Moonlight and The Lighthouse. This film is a must watch, you won't regret it.

The Northman (2022)

Brutal, bloody, brilliant

[8/10 · 12 May 2022]

Eggers strikes again with another great film. I was very intrigued to see this film after having watched and loved his previous work The Lighthouse which is just a work of art. I'm glad to say his artistic eye for the visual medium and his ability to tell a compelling story are just phenomenal. Having not being well versed in Nordic history I felt completely catered to and just sumberged in so much detail and from having listening to the commentary on The Lighthouse I am confident he did just as much extensive research to give the most accurate and rich story he could. Skarsgard's performance is very good and you completely believe him as this Viking character with his physically dominating appearance and the way he carries himself and delivers his lines. The overall revenge plot was handled really well and definitely makes the finale scene worth the wait. Another minor character I loved in this film was Dafoe as the Fool who acts just as maniac and animalistic as he does in The Lighthouse.

The effects in this film were incredibly realistic, as you really felt the brutality in the deaths and the chaos of all the violence.

Overall this film is definitely worth a watch.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

An alright addition to the franchise

[6/10 · 12 May 2022]

Very good sequel and I can't imagine a better duo than Sam Raimi and Danny Elfman who both previously worked together on the Spiderman trilogy Raimi taking up the directors chair and Elfman doing the amazing score. This film was very fun to watch with absolutely amazing visual effects. Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant once again as Doctor strange and I love how his character got further fleshed out and made me care for him even more. I wish Wong had some more screen time though as he was hilarious whenever on screen. What was also nice to see was the other multiverse characters either as different iterations of themselves or new whole characters to the MCU. However there was one element of the film which I didn't enjoy which was the antagonist Wanda I found her very tedious and annoying as I found her just acting the same as she did in Wanda vision, not learning a lesson after the events of the TV series. She has very little character progression until the very end of the film... That's nothing on Elizabeth Olsen's performance she's a great actress it has more to do with the writing and I just wished she had more of a motivation and wasn't as contradictory. Overall it's definitely worth a watch but it's not in my top 10 of the MCU films.

P.s there are two credit scenes one mid credit and one post credit... The post credit is not worth waiting 10 minutes for.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

Great comeback for Cage

[7/10 · 10 May 2022]

Very good film for Nicolas Cage's big screen return. This film was a pleasant surprise and joy to watch as I was expecting just a simple comedy, I certainly got the comedy experience but it operated on different layers as Nicholas cage actively has fun at him self and his very rocky career. Having watched a fair few of his films I loved the references to his other work such as Wild at Heart and Face off. Cage plays himself but at the same time it's an ironic version of himself which I loved. His performance was very funny and engaging and I genuinely cares for his character and wanted him to achieve his goals. Pedro Pascal was brilliant too. He was acting as a huge fanboy which worked really well on screen as they both have such good chemistry which just made the film hilarious. The plot had some elements which needed improvement and was predictable but that definitely doesn't take away from what this film is trying to achieve, which is to make you laugh and have fun for 90 mins and I definitely believe that was achieved. I imagine this film will be a great rewatch aswell.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)

Amazing sequel

[8/10 · 29 April 2022]

I absolutely loved this film it's a great addition to the series. Very funny and enjoyable for the whole family. I really appreciated the film as a fan of the sonic series but you definitely don't need to have played the games to love this film. The new characters introduced are well fleshed out and are hard not to like. Jim Carrey was a blast to watch once again and all his interactions are just comical and a joy. I quite liked how the human characters were more absent in this film as it allowed for further screen time of the Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. But you still did get enough so you wouldn't forget about the minor subplots. I think this film does everything the first film does but better. It is definitely worth a watch and I would be surprised if you don't laugh many times throughout the runtime.

Umma (2022)

Haven't seen anything like it

[6/10 · 6 April 2022]

Good psychological horror but it the one aspect it's missing is a lack of suspense or fear factor. I enjoyed the film don't get me wrong but it just felt that not much actually happened across the film, this is definitely not helped out by the short run time itself. Having low expectations going in to it definitely helped out though.

However there was some good character progression in its favour and a unique story with overall good performances and cinematography.

Morbius (2022)

Decent film with lots to be desired

[6/10 · 31 March 2022]

Average film at best, the opening 30 mins were actually pretty good but it then just steadily declines in the final two acts. The chemistry between Leto and Smith was nice to see but I just wish their characters were more fleshed out as there is so much lacking in their development. The cinematography was really nice and the overall plot was predictable but not the worst I've seen on the other hand the cgi in this film is awful and completely stopped me from being able to fully submerge in the story. This film had some strong potential for a newcomer in the Sony cinematic franchise but just ultimate falls short. The other main issue is the writing; most characters just make stupid decisions such as the detectives and it's hard to watch whilst trying to suspend disbelief. It doesn't deserve the current rating of 4.6 as believe me I've seen much worse films but it just doesn't hold up compared to the other films in Sony's world.

Scream (I) (2022)

Another sub decent addition to the series

[6/10 · 7 March 2022]

This film was a clear cash grab revival on the series which I enjoyed some aspects of and disliked others. This film is an unnecessary addition but at least it doesn't take itself seriously as the constant stab references to how its a dead series with all the reboots and sequels clearly implies itself. It's much better than scream 2 and 3 (which isn't hard to beat) but it's no where near as good as the original. The cameos and bringing back of fan favourites just isn't going to save this predictable and at some points boring film. However I did like the tributes to Wes craven such as a sign with Elm st on and the final message before credits role. Only watch if you're already a fan of the series.

The Phantom of the Open (2021)

This film is definitely a hole in one

[8/10 · 7 March 2022]

Such a charming film which I thoroughly enjoyed. The plot is so unbelievable and light-hearted it's amazing it's a true story. It's a wonderful message of following your dreams and the barriers that follow and family.

You really feel so connected to Morris and want him to succeed and follow the path he's carved out for himself. Rylance plays the role perfectly as his aloof and lovable character really shine across the film. The visual effects in some existential scenes was a really nice artistic choice and helps to hit home the passion Morris carries.

The comedy in this film never falls flat and I laughed out loud numerous times but this film also tugs on your heart strings as Morris' family life collides with his dream.

It's definitely worth a watch I know you will enjoy it.

The Batman (2022)

Fantastic addition to the batman series

[9/10 · 4 March 2022]

I absolutely loved this film right from the opening scene I knew this was going to be a good watch. The plot is interesting combined with the slower pacing which allows you more time to see Bruce do some investigation into the riddler and solve his puzzles. Patterson performance as batman and Wayne was brilliant and I I love the vibe he brings to the character to make it his own. The cinematography for this film was beautiful... So many shots looked so incredible and the fight scenes were such a joy to watch. This was heavily helped by the choreography as batman is a lot more athletic and acrobatic then previous iterations which allows for some really intense and brutal fights- exactly what I want from a batman film. Although controversial I really appreciated the Riddler in this film Dano's aloof, meniacle demeanor creates an air of mystery and uncertainty as what his next moves are as he genuinely seems like a disturbed individual. Wright played a great Gordon, not as good as Oldman but definitely not a bad portrayal by any means it just that Oldman set such a high bar. I thought the Farrell as penguin was also well done but deserved some more screen time which is my only gripe with the film. The batmobile and his batsuit both have a rugged and jagged aesthetic which although is subjective, I really thought they looked fresh and very different to what we've previously seen from this character.

To conclude I definitely think this film is worth your time and I think you'll absolutely love it too.

The Godfather (1972)

An absolute masterpiece of the craft

[10/10 · 1 March 2022]

What can I say that hasn't already been mentioned from people countless times? This film is so beautifully woven and is a perfect example of a flawless film. You are doing yourself a disservice if you don't experience this holy grail. I watched it for the first time in cinema due to the 50th anniversary release and was completely subdued in the story the 3 hour runtime went by so fast. Some people say that slow pacing is a drawback but for this film it's the total opposite. The pacing just really lets the audience feel apart of this family and like you are actually there on the dark paths that ensue my favourite example being the end shot of the door closing shutting out Kay and us, leaving you with a feeling of awe, intrigue and frustration as you want to see more of this world Coppola throws you in.

The cinematography is so well done, especially the low key lighting and longer takes in important scenes. The performances are some of the best I've seen. Brando's, Pacinos, Keaton's all superb but Cann's is just so powerful and evocative you can't help but really feel all the emotions and depth he brings to Sonny. My favourite aspect to this film though has got to be Michael's turn from an average distant son to Vito's successor it's just wonderful to watch it happen. The best scene to exemplify this for me is the restaurant scene where a key turning point occurs which acts as a catalyst for the rest of his forceable actions.

To conclude I definitely recommend this film to everyone and is a must watch.

Death on the Nile (2022)

Highly enjoyable film

[7/10 · 22 February 2022]

Good continuation from Murder on the orient express. This film adds even more backstory and character development for Poirot and really helps flesh him out even more. This is just extended even further by Branagh's performance of a broken husk of a man emotionally wounded and robotic as his defence mechanism. The location and cinematography were very immersive and helped bring the Nile into scale and add to the claustrophobia of being stuck on a yacht.

The pacing was well done and it never felt like it was dragging I was always being made to feel tense and hold my interest. The killer was predictable but don't let that stop you from experiencing this film, I definitely recommend it.