danieljfarthing Reviews

The Listener (I) (2022)

Self-indulgent, pretentious, art-house bore

[3/10 · 21 May 2024]

One-actor movies "Buried" & "Locke" were surprisingly good, but "The Listener" is more the art-house bore many would expect such films to be. Samaritans-style helpline worker Tessa Thompson does a night-shift at home taking random, unrelated calls (from various voices inc Rebecca Hall) whose tones range from disturbing to sad to quirky. It'll shine on Thompson's CV (especially as she is great) and Steve Buscemi directs his first film since 2007 with intimate warmth, but Alessandro Camon's plotless character-study screenplay is too self-indulgently pretentious to make it entertaining. Props indeed to helpline workers... but this one's still a dull movie. Flush it.

Wish (II) (2023)

Formulaic full-animation Disney family musical that adds no extra edge for the adults

[4/10 · 20 May 2024]

Disney's formulaic full-animation family musical "Wish" delivers what it should, but'll disappoint those hoping writers Jennifer Lee & debutant Allison Moore might weave in some adult fun like the genre's best do... cos they don't. Sorcerer king Chris Pine (the closest to an edgy character here) is worshipped by his subjects who give him their wishes at age 18, to remain blissfully ambition-free (and controlled)...til 17yr old Ariana DeBose sees thru him and instead wishes on a star that comes down, makes all the animals talk, and leads her to take the people's dreams back (sigh). Chris Buck & debutant Fawn Veerasunthorn direct with polish, but this one's still only for the little kids.

Mothers' Instinct (2024)

Mediocre 1960's-based pyschological drama remake

[5/10 · 19 May 2024]

In mediocre pyschological drama "Mother's Instinct" (re-making France's "Duelles") a terrible tragedy drives a dark wedge between 1960's bff housewives / mums Jessica Chastain (as good as ever) & Anne Hathaway. As hubbies Anders Danielsen Lie & Josh Charles stay on the periphary, the women grow from suspicious, to passive aggressive, to outright hostile. Is one or both delusional, or is one truly unhinged? Sarah Conradt's screenplay is decent but not riveting, while Benoît Delhomme's direction lacks the requisite tension (AND cannot stop Hathaway hamming it up as usual). It's not a complete disaster, but coulda shoulda been much better.

The Night Listener (2006)

Disappointingly sub-mediocre psychological drama wasting a fine cast

[4/10 · 17 May 2024]

In sub-mediocre 2006 psychological drama "The Night Listener" nocturnal New York talk-radio host Robin Williams (RIP), while down over boyfriend Bobby Cannavale leaving him, befriends by phone Toni Collette and 14yr old Rory Culkin who she's fostering as he recovers from earlier horrendous abuse by his parents (which he's written a book about)... but does Culkin REALLY exist? It's unsurprising that neither director Patrick Stettner nor his co-writer Terry Anderson ever made another movie, as although this 'inspired by truth' tale is fictionalised it's still painfully bland and a waste of a fine cast (that also included Sandra Oh). Disappointing bumph.

Night Swim (2024)

Unoriginal yet uninspired horror stinker

[2/10 · 16 May 2024]

Unoriginal yet uninspired horror "Night Swim" sadly wastes the superb acting duo of Wyatt Russell & Kerry Condon. Former Major League Baseball star Russell, now suffering with MS, moves with wife Condon and teen kids Amélie Hoeferle & Gavin Warren into a Minnesota family home... that has a haunted pool (sigh). Writer / director Bryce McGuire tries pulling in vague themes from genre greats like "The Shining" and the original "Poltergeist", but this cheesie low-grade tosh is way off at the other end of the quality scale - it's awful. Russell & Condon are huge talents, but starring in stinkers like this will see that talent never fully blossom. It's a turd. Flush it.

Sasquatch Sunset (2024)

Odd but relatively well made 'almost' mockumentary

[6/10 · 15 May 2024]

Almost uniquely odd, "Sasquatch Sunset" won't appeal to all. Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough, Christophe Zajac-Denek & Nathan Zellner (unrecognisable all under heavy & impressive prosthetics) are a family of sasquatch (aka bigfoot and/or yeti) seen roaming the Californian jungles over a year in the '80s. The screenplay (from David Zellner - who co-directed with brother Nathan) is divided into the four seasons, thru which the four forage, fish, re-produce, and curiously react to their surroundings. Having no narration it's not a mockumentary, but also with no dialogue (except grunts etc) it won't easily engage everyone, despite being interesting & relatively well made.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

WWII true-tale actioner in which Guy Ritchie's usual fresh style feels stale - disappointing

[6/10 · 15 May 2024]

Top director Guy Ritchie's put his fresh posh-geezer stamp on various genres, but with true-tale WWII actioner "The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare" it feels stale. In 1942 Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear) & Ian Fleming (Freddie Fox) secretly send a rebel troupe (inc Gus March-Phillips (Henry Cavill), Babs Olusanmokum (good), Henry Golding, & Eliza González (meh)) to disable the Africa-based ships servicing Germany's u-boats (under Til Schweiger). Ritchie's writing (with three co-writers) plods over 2+ hrs, and his usual cheeky charm falls flat. As the inspiration for Fleming's 007, March-Phillips deserves better than this relatively rare Guy Ritchie disappointment.

Unfrosted (2024)

Clever, hilarious, star-studded, fictious pop-culture icon backstory

[8/10 · 13 May 2024]

After all 2023's terrific true-tale back-stories to the creations of various '80s / '90s pop-culture icons comes Jerry Seinfeld's superb directorial debut "Unfrosted" - the hilariously UNTRUE account of how Kellogg's (inc Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy & Jim Gaffigan (excellent)) beat Post (Amy Schumer & Max Greenfield) to inventing Pop Tarts. Star studded support includes Hugh Grant (always great), Christian Slater, Peter Dinklage, Kyle Mooney, Jon Hamm, Bill Burr, James Marsden, Dan Levy & John Slattery - but the real stars are Seinfeld & his three co-writers who brilliantly weave a host of historical elements into their clever (and hilarious) tale. It's a cracker.

Humane (2024)

Flawed & rather silly play-like near-future dark sci-fi

[4/10 · 2 May 2024]

In quirky, play-like, near-future dark sci-fi "Humane" earth's ongoing eco-disaster means the human race must downsize by 20%, leading the Canadian govt to pay volunteers to die via euphenasia teams like that of Enrico Colantoni. But when famous & wealthy Peter Gallagher & wife Uni Park announce their own plan for the situation, at dinner with his adult kids (Jay Baruchel, Alana Bale, Emily Hampshire & Sebastian Chacon), the evening doesn't run smoothly. Brandon Cronenberg is well set to follow in dad David's iconic directorial shoes, but his sister Caitlin, with this her debut (directing Michael Sparaga's flawed and rather silly script)... not so much. Disappointing.

Red Rock West (1993)

The original (tho not the best) small-town hit-man mix-up crime thriller

[7/10 · 29 April 2024]

In 1993's "Red Rock West" the titular Wyoming town's local big-shot JT Walsh (RIP) mistakes down-on-his-luck decent drifter Nick Cage for colourful Dennis Hopper (so good again - RIP) who he's hired to bump off wife Lara Flynn Boyle... sparking all four (and the likes of Timothy Carhart) into a twisty saga of murder & double-cross. Small-town crime thrillers entangling innocent dudes with pyscho hit-men have since become pretty common, to the credit of brothers John & Rick Dahl who wrote this one (with John also directing). Those following built on the themes here with sharper scripts, but this one was the original (with a nigh on unmatchable cast). Cracking stuff.

Suze (2023)

Hit n miss original dramedy rather lacking in charm & chemistry

[5/10 · 28 April 2024]

In hit n miss dramedy "Suze" middle-aged divorcee Michaela Watkins has miserable empty-nest sydrome when self-centred brat daughter Sara Waisglass leaves for college - yet is reluctant to take in Waisglass' brash (but broken-hearted) bro-boy ex-bf Charlie Gillespie when he hits hard times (due to his dire parents)... but she does. Cue an interesting & original twist on the traditional rom-com (props for that to co-writers / co-directors Dane Clark & Linsey Stewart in their second movie) that sadly doesn't fulfill its potential (due in part at least to the only lukewarm charm & chemistry of all the performances). While not a terrible disaster, it coulda been so much better.

Asphalt City (2023)

Stylish, intense, noble & relentlessly harrowing 2hr+ drama

[7/10 · 27 April 2024]

In relentlessly harrowing drama "Asphalt City" (aka "Black Flies") grizzled veteran Sean Penn & naive newbie Ty Sheridan are ambulance paramedic partners. Trying to help NY's ungrateful scum dregs every night, their souls are in danger of sliding into a black abyss. There are minor supports from the likes of Katherine Waterston, Mike Tyson & Kali Reis, but this is all about Penn & Sheridan (excellent actors in fine form) and Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire who directs Ryan King & debutant Ben Mac Brown's screenplay with style & intensity. It's noble fare that'll garner great respect for those doing the paramedic job, but at over 2hrs long it is an admittedly HARD watch.

Monkey Man (2024)

Stunning, noble & riotously epic actioner - a triumph

[9/10 · 26 April 2024]

In stunning actioner "Monkey Man" Dev Patel (at his best) is a put-upon underground fighter holding horrific childhood trauma that he secretly plots revenge for (against the powerful Sikander Ker & Makrand Deshpande) aided by the likes of Pitobash, Sobhita Dhulipala & Vipon Sharma - but vengeance doesn't come smooth or easy. Patel's debut as director (and co-writer (with Paul Angunawela & John Collee)) is a riotous epic with all the genre staples (a la "John Wick" etc) including spectacular fight sequences, added to which is an noble theme, all in the rich & original setting of a brilliantly shot Indian city. Huge props to Patel (esp as director) as this is a triumph.

Mending the Line (2022)

Gently intense, noble & respectful but over-long & relentlessly downbeat drama

[6/10 · 25 April 2024]

In gently intense but over-long & relentlessly downbeat drama "Mending The Line" PTSD suffering US Marine Sinqua Walls is sent for physical & mental recuperation to a Montana VA facility where he meets same-age volunteer Perry Mattfeld (with her own issues) & grumpy older Vietnam vet Marine Brian Cox (who ALSO has post-traumatic issues). Through fly-fishing Cox introduces Walls to a way to try coping and possibly look forward. Director Joshua Caldwell & writer Stephen Camelio do a solid, noble & respectful job, but over two hours of grief & trauma still is a tough watch. It's classy & very well performed (esp Mattfeld, Walls & Cox) but won't be for all.

Downtown Owl (2023)

Quirky, original, enjoyable 1983-based small-town dramedy

[7/10 · 24 April 2024]

In quirky but enjoyable 1983-based small-town dramedy "Downtown Owl" Lily Rabe (terrific) escapes her troubled marriage by taking a short-term teaching assignment (under Hamish Linklater) in the titular tiny Dakota town where she goes thru something of a drink fuelled breakdown while interacting with local characters like Ed Harris (still a class act), love interest (or not?) Henry Golding, and colleagues Vanessa Hudgens & Finn Wittrock. Linklater (on his movie writing debut) adapted the screenplay from Chuck Klosterman's novel, and also co-directed with actual gf (and fellow first-time director) Rabe - props to both of them for such an original & likeable film.

Breathe (I) (2024)

Dreary, implausible & poorly performed near-future sci-fi

[3/10 · 23 April 2024]

In dreary, poorly performed near-future sci-fi "Breathe" Jennifer Hudson & over-confident teen daughter Quvenzhané Wallis live alone (months after hubbie / dad Common left them) in empty post-apocalyptic NY, struggling in the barren planet's devastated atmosphere - til Milla Jojovich, Sam Worthington & Raúl Castillo turn up asking about their oxygen machine... but are the gun-toting visitors' intentions good or bad? Cue tediously repetitive to & fro 'trust them or not' flawed sequences all leading to a wholly implausible short-cut ending. Doug Simon's lame screenplay is chiefly to blame, but Stefon Bristol's stressed direction doesn't help. Disappointing fare. A turd. Flush it.

Late Night with the Devil (2023)

Stylish & engaging light-horror, albeit lacking a hard tense horror edge

[7/10 · 21 April 2024]

In light-horror "Late Night With The Devil" David Dastmalchian (good) is a waning 1970's late-night tv talk-show host who to try saving his career airs a live Halloween special with (amongst others) parapsychologist Laura Gordon and teen patient Ingrid Torelli who a demon has supposedly possessed. Co-directors / co-writers Colin & Cameron Cairnes take a 'found footage' approach, presenting the 'actual' show (and ad-break back-stage snippets) to stylish & engaging effect - tho those wanting really chilling hard horror (a la "The Exorcist") will be disappointed, as many may be by the rather floundering final sequence. That said, it IS still satisfyingly watchable.

LaRoy, Texas (2023)

Terrific if unoriginal small-town crime dramedy in a Coen Brothers stylee

[8/10 · 19 April 2024]

In terrific small-town crime dramedy "LaRoy Texas" put-upon John Magaro's distraught when aspiring private detective Steve Zahn tells him his wife Megan Stevenson's having an affair - but in then prepping to kill himself he's mistaken for cold hitman Dylan Baker, sparking a twisty little tale of murder, blackmail & double-cross that draws in an array of characters like Brad Leland, Brannon Cross, & Darcy Shean. If it sounds distinctly Coen Brothers-esque that's cos debut director / second-time writer Shane Atkinson is clearly inspired by them, and why not be? Performances are great, and the plot engaging. It may not be original, but this is a good film.

Immaculate (2024)

Dire, crass modern gothic horror lazily substituting gore for any tension

[2/10 · 18 April 2024]

Like the equally dire "The Pope's Exorcist", crass turkey "Immaculate" fails miserably in trying to revive the gothic horror genre. Young American nun Sydney Sweeney (rising superstar broadening her portfolio - albeit with a total miss here) joins Álvaro Morte's Italian convent (built on a catacomb - sigh) that serves as a hospice for elderly dying nuns - but she soon discovers something more sinister & creepy's afoot, which she's unwittingly at the heart of. Director Michael Mohan evokes no atmosphere whatsoever (lazily substituting gore for tension) while short-cutting debut writer Andrew Lobel's screenplay is woefully superficial. It's a turd. Flush it away.

Damaged (2024)

Cheesie, flawed, sub-mediocre Brit serial-killer thriller

[4/10 · 17 April 2024]

In Brit thriller "Damaged" US cop Samuel L Jackson travels to Scotland to reunite with his former partner Vincent Cassel in helping local cop Gianni Capaldi investigate two gruesome murders (possibly by John Hannah) that are identical to an unsolved string of serial killings in Chicago years earlier. Debut director Terry McDonough is unexceptional / uninspired, while the all-important screenplay (from Capaldi, Paul Aniello & Koji Steven Sakai (of whom only the latter's written a movie before)) twists slightly more than expected but is still clunky & flawed. This is cheesie, sub-mediocre fare from the Jackson cash-in career slide-out. It's a turd. Flush it.

Sleeping Dogs (2024)

Moody noirish mystery with a predictable twist that was done better in better genre examples

[7/10 · 16 April 2024]

In moody mystery "Sleeping Dogs" to support his treatment for the Alzheimer's that's wiped his memory, ex-cop Russell Crowe (solid as ever) works his brain by re-probing (with reluctant ex-partner Tommy Flanagan) the years prior murder of college prof Martin Csokas who'd been working with student Karen Gillan (meh) and her bf Harry Greenwood. Via old clues Crowe slowly builds towards the inevitable twist - a predictable one that's been done better in better movies. On his directorial debut, experienced writer Adam Cooper (who co-wrote it with Bill Collage) does a decent enough job with a noirish tone... tho ultimately his entry is way off the top of this superb genre.

Knox Goes Away (2023)

Classy, engaging but simple dramatic thriller

[8/10 · 15 April 2024]

In classy but simple dramatic thriller "Knox Goes Away" professional hit-man Michael Keaton (excellent) is diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (rapid onset dementia) just as his estranged son (with ex-wife Marcia Gay Harden) James Marsden comes to him in trouble. Keaton has a plan to help (involving his boss Al Pacino) but the hooks of Gregory Poirier's fine screenplay are: what is it; can he execute it in his condition (before cop Suzy Nakamura (also great) catches up with him); and what is his REAL motive? Keaton only directed "The Merry Gentleman" before this (15yrs ago) but he does a fine job back behind the camera on this one. Good engaging stuff.

How to Have Sex (2023)

Depressingly authentic Brit drama that all teen girls should watch

[8/10 · 13 April 2024]

In depressingly authentic Brit drama "How To Have Sex" 16yr old schoolie Mia McKenna-Bruce (excellent) goes on Greek island holiday with mates Lara Peake & Anna Antonaides where the aim is hard drinking, clubbing, partying, laughs and most prominently sex... which they seem well on their way to on meeting the likes of Samuel Bottomley & Shaun Thomas - but there's a degrading darkside to such debauched 'fun'. Huge props go out to debut writer / director Molly Manning Walker who nails it in giving an accurate take without going overboard or melodramatic - as such it's an engaging film that all teen girls (and their parents) would be well advised to watch.

Wicked Little Letters (2023)

Superb, funny, true 1920s tale Brit dramedy

[9/10 · 12 April 2024]

Superb Brit dramedy "Wicked Little Letters" is the true 1920s tale of coarse Irish Jessie Buckley being accused of sending hilariously crude insulting missives to folk in her English coastal town, like Olivia Colman the quiet adult daughter of classic Victorian dad Timothy Spall (outstanding) & mum Gemma Jones. As the trial gets going tho policewoman Anjana Vasan (and others inc Joanna Scanlan) doubt Buckley's guilt, so probe other possibilities. The cast (inc a Tim Key cameo) is excellent, it's brilliantly written with humour by Jonny Sweet, & is brought terrifically home by director Thea Sharrock (who then helmed the dire "The Beautiful Game" - sigh). A great film.

Copper Mountain (1983 TV Movie)

Bizarre mish-mash of plotless impressions, ski runs & long musical interludes -

[2/10 · 11 April 2024]

1983's quirky curiosity TV-movie "Copper Mountain" was Jim Carrey's third film - but surely he & everyone else wants to forget it, as it's basically just an abysmally shot (by debut director David Mitchell) montage mash-up from the titular Colorado snowy mountain resort where romantic failure Carrey tries pulling women with a string of lame impressions while his buddy Alan Thicke (RIP) tries taking on pro's in simple ski races. Spliced in are long musical interludes (from the likes of Linda Ronstadt) to fill it's time (thankfully only 60mins) that is otherwise empty due to a lack of any actual plot from co-writers Mitchell (debuting again) & Damian Lee. It's a turd. Flush it.