Eleanor Reviews

A spoiler-free review ***/**** (3.5 stars) In one final attempt to destroy the First Order and return peace to the galaxy, Rey, Finn and Poe must race to unite the Resistance, facing their own personal demons along the way. After kick-starting the third (and apparently 'final') trilogy in the Star Wars saga, J.J. Abrams is back on board to complete the job. The news was met largely with relief, especially from those who (wrongly, in my opinion) rallied against Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi. But they, like many others, are likely to be disappointed with this last outing; but then, how do you conclude one of the most iconic series ever created? For me, Rise of Skywalker just doesn't feel like a Star Wars films - although all the hallmarks are there (as well as numerous references to the past films), it just lacks that soul, that je ne sais quoi , that we've all come to expect from the saga. Even The Mandalorian , for all its numerous faults, somehow

***/**** (3.5 stars) When renowned crime writer Harlan Thrombey is found dead in his rooms following a tumultuous 85th birthday party, a private detective is mysteriously called to investigate the deceased's eclectic family... It's been a while since we've had a whodunnit that didn't feature the untimely, violent death of a woman, a crazed murderer and a long-suffering detective battling his own demons, so it's very refreshing for a murder mystery to come along with none of these tropes. Cue Knives Out , Rian Johnson's first writing/directorial outing since he was (wrongly, in my opinion) chastised for The Last Jedi . The set up is simple - the family patriarch (Christopher Plummer) has been found dead after his birthday party and, although suicide seems to be the most likely explanation, his nearest and dearest are now all suspects - sort of like a real life version of Cluedo . And, of course, they all had a motive, as private detective Benoit Bl

**** Tired of Ferrari's dominance at Le Mans, Henry Ford II challenged Carroll Shelby to build a car that would beat the Italian team. But Shelby's trust in renegade driver Ken Miles put him at odds with the corporate powers that be. When was the last time you watched a film that you simply enjoyed? That was entertaining, emotionally engaging and kept you entirely in the moment for the entire runtime? Honestly, I'm struggling to remember a film that did all three and put a grin on my face in the same way that Le Mans '66  (in some territories the film's been released as Ford v Ferrari ) did. Perhaps it's because director James Mangold, who so successfully made Logan into the Thinking Man's superhero film, doesn't attempt to recreate the wheel here (no pun intended) but simply lets the true story do the work: there's no jumping around in different time frames, no jarring artistic choices to be found. Instead, Mangold deftly drives

**** A social outcast, Arthur Fleck traverses the unforgiving streets of Gotham by day and cares for his sick mother by night. As tensions in the City rise, a series of drastic events will change Arthur's life forever. You've seen the posters, you've heard the awards season buzz and probably read a little of the controversy too - but Joker has finally arrived on the big screens. An arguable superhero movie (we are in the DC Universe after all), but with less of the overblown action set pieces and more of the grit of Logan , Todd Phillips' exploration into the Joker's origins has already proven as divisive as it is praise-worthy, and it's easy to see why!  However, before we dive down into the contentious aspects of the film, let's start with the unquestionably brilliant performance from Joaquin Phoenix. Emaciated, gangly and apparently awkward in his own skin, Phoenix imbues the central character with an unsettling humanity: at times we wa

*** When Earth is hit by a series of electromagnetic surges from outer space, astronaut Roy McBride is tasked with reaching out to his long-lost father, who was last known to be somewhere on the periphery of Neptune, searching for new forms of life. Space has always been a source of mystery and fascination for mankind. From prehistoric cave paintings and stone circles that indicate some form of worship of the Solar System, to the latest drives to reach Mars and further into space, the realms beyond our own planet have led us to question a plethora of philosophical conundrums. In the case of Ad Astra , however, my only question was: Who on earth allowed this script to be filmed!? It's not just that James Gray and Ethan Gross' screenplay is clunky and packed with lines a la Basil Exposition (we'll come to this later) that makes it so infuriating, though - it's the unshakable feeling I got that both had read a little bit of Nietzsche and fallen into some bl

***** DVD Release/Available to stream The day before the court date that will release him from emergency call centre duty, Asger Holm answers the phone to a woman who has been abducted. When was the last time you saw a film that played out in just one setting? And with a run time below an hour and a half? Danish film The Guilty (or 'Den skyldige' to give the original title) accomplishes both. Opening with a routine scene of a police officer answering the phones on the late shift, the plot soon escalates into a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat thriller that packs an emotional punch far beyond the reach of numerous 'big budget' releases. With twists, turns and shocking revelations aplenty, The Guilty perfectly demonstrates that you don't need to have larger-than-life special effects or A-list actors to make a good film - just an intelligent, expertly-written script. Asger Holm (Jakob Cedergren) is introduced to us as a disgruntled police officer w

***** When Bonnie creates Forky on her first day of kindergarten, Woody vows to protect her new toy - whatever the cost. A mishap on a road trip, however, throws Woody and Forky into a whole new adventure that will leave neither of them unchanged. Let's get the context straight before I begin - I've grown up with the Toy Story franchise: as a child, I was terrified of Sid and his horrible dog; I cried at Jessie's heartbreaking backstory song in Toy Story 2 ; and, in the summer before I headed off to university, I saw the third installment with a large group of friends at the cinema. As Woody, Buzz Lightyear and company faced the incinerator at the end of the film, I looked along the line of seats at the faces of my childhood friends, and it felt like the perfect conclusion - not only to my formative years, but also to the franchise.  Imagine my anxiety, then, when Pixar announced that there would be a fourth installment! How could they add another fi

***/**** (3.5 stars) DVD release/Available to stream Disclaimer: The version I saw had been edited for content on an Emirates flight. Queen 's appearance at Live Aid is considered one of the most iconic musical performances of the 20th Century. And yet, it almost didn't happen. Charting their formation, meteoric rise and subsequent heartbreak, Bohemian Rhapsody tells the story of one of the world's most loved rock bands. Queen 's songs are the very definition of 'timeless'. I remember listening to We Are The Champions on cassette tape (yes, I am that old!) in my Dad's car as a child, and stomping my feet along to We Will Rock You. Once I attended a concert at the Emirates Stadium and, before the band came on, they played Bohemian Rhapsody on the loud speaker - every one of the thousands of people in the ground sang along at full volume (including the high notes of 'Galileo'!) and there may even have been some air guitar here

***** Following on directly from the cataclysmic events of Infinity War , Endgame finds our remaining heroes in a state of despair and depression. Setting aside their differences and disregarding the odds, the Avengers decide to reunite and undo Thanos' deeds. From the opening scene, directors Anthony and Joe Russo make it very clear that Endgame will be a wholly different experience to Infinity War . Whilst the latter was all spectacle, frivolity (apart from that one scene) and a sort of amazement at getting so many of these huge characters together in one space, the former has a far more sombre and reflective heart. It doesn't shy away from the grim conclusion of Infinity War nor trivialise it - the remaining Avengers haven't walked away unchanged, with one turning to alcoholism, one to group therapy and another desperately trying to keep team motivated and together. The first act is indeed a contemplative piece. With the coming of the second act, our h

***** It's 1962. Tough guy bouncer, renowned 'bullshitter' and family man Tony Lip finds himself out of a job. When he receives a call from a doctor looking for a driver, he jumps at the chance. But Dr Don Shirley is no ordinary doctor, and his journey across the Deep South will be far from easy... There's not really any other way to say this, so I'll just come straight out with it: I loved Green Book . A poignant tale of injustice, it's strong central message shines out brightly without dipping into the realms of cliche - and this is thanks to both the eloquent, intelligent script and the outstanding performances from Viggo Mortensen as Tony Lip and Mahershala Ali as Dr Shirley. Blending the themes of sadness, strife and ignorance with our very human ability to laugh and connect with others, it resonates as a timeless tale of friendship in the face of continuing adversity. The addition of the visually striking musical pieces brings an extra

**** Arriving on the shores of Scotland, Mary Stuart moves to reclaim her title and her position as Queen. A Catholic and with a claim to the throne of England, she immediately poses a threat to Queen Elizabeth, a Protestant and the last of the House of Tudor.  The relationship between Mary Stuart and Elizabeth Tudor is one that has fascinated historians and artists alike for centuries. In a history that's dominated by male sovereigns, Mary and Elizabeth ruled alongside each other until Elizabeth had her cousin executed - surely that means that the two hated each other? In his play which premiered in 1800, Friedrich Schiller portrays Mary's last days, and the fraught relationship between the two women - one that is far from the 'black and white' dynamic that you might expect. Since then, numerous historians have revisited this momentous moment and dissected the connection between the two. One such biography is John Guy's Queen of Scots: The True Life

**** Whisked from her quiet, sheltered life in the country to the dizzying heights of Paris after marrying socialite Willy, Colette finds herself putting pen to paper when her husband's business begins to crumble. The resulting novel,  Claudine à l'école, is a resounding success - but it isn't Colette's name on the cover... Keira Knightley has been away from our screens for a little while. A problematic actress, she's somewhat renowned for her wooden performances and jutting jaw. However, she's back in sensational style as Colette, the remarkable woman who wrote some of the best-selling novels of the 20th Century on behalf of her husband, Willy (Dominic West). Something of a female bildungsroman, the film follows her from naive country girl to oppressed writer, fashion icon to pioneer of sexual expression - and Knightley captures each stage with subtle grace and understanding. Initially wide-eyed, she goes from rage at her husband's infid

***/**** (3.5 stars) In the early 18th century, England as at war with France. In the Royal Palace, however, a much more dangerous battle is unfolding as two women vie for the affections of a frail Queen Anne. I like a clever film. I like quirky films, and unusual films and films that would be described as 'art house'. I appreciate that as much as a swirl of paint on canvas is a piece of art, a film can be one too. I enjoy being tested, educated and shocked by a film as much as I like to be entertained by one, and I like to think I don't confine my viewing experience to just one type of film.  Described as shocking, acerbic (a word that I shall now use all the time!) and heralded with a plethora of five star reviews, The Favourite certainly piqued my interest. Well, I was left wondering if I was missing something - was I not clever enough to find it as amazing as the work of other critics had led me believe? Do I just not appreciate art or cinematic maste