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