michael-kerrigan-526-124974 Reviews

Monkey Man (2024)

Incredible achievement

[9/10 · 9 April 2024]

I'm no action film lover by any stretch, but Monkey Man earns its action and strong bloody violence. I heard an interview with Dev Patel in which he stated his love for action films but that no-one would cast 'lovely Dev' in one. So the only way he would ever get to star in one was to make it himself! And what an achievement. A very buff Patel not only stars in the film, but also writes and directs it. And the result is uber-impressive. It's basically a revenge flick set in caste system India. Present day, Patel is the eponymous Monkey Man, who seems to thrive on getting beaten up in bare knuckle boxing matches. To say any more would spoil. Suffice to say, unlike other action films there is a long lead up back story, which is needed to justify the violence to come. The choreography is stunning. Think The Raid and you're not far off. I think the film will meet the needs of the so called art house and mainstream audience alike. Superb.

Blow Out (1981)

Bechdel test does not apply to the 80s apparently

[5/10 · 9 April 2024]

Blowout. Well it wouldn't pass the Bechdel test! Not necessarily a problem. It won't pass the realism test either. John Travolta in his big truck speeds through thousands of people and they all miraculously get out of the way and apparently no harm to any. And yet he still can't save the girl. So no happy ending either. For me, a complete mish-mosh-multi- genre of a film that doesn't work. But it was 1981 so I forgive it for that. I was never bored, but never particularly enthralled either. Of its time is probably doing it a service. But hey I'm not a political / conspiracy thriller fan so probably not the target audience. A meh 5 out of ten.

Sunshine on Leith (2013)

Just wonderful

[10/10 · 10 March 2024]

I first watched this film 11 years ago when it was in cinemas back in 2013. I loved it then. I've seen it twice since and it's the type of film that just gets better and better with repeated viewings. The cast of Gorgeous Georgie Mackay, Peter Mullan, Jane Horrocks et al are superb in this antithesis to the ubiquitously popular Mamma Mia-like musicals. This film is entirely based on the music of Scottish band The Proclaimers, who to be honest I never really had much interest in. But I saw them live at a festival last year and they were superb. This film made me cry with joy, laughter and sadness in equal amount. And even though the brilliant Dexter Fletcher who made this film had to play around with the script to fit the songs to the screenplay, it never once felt contrived. Look out for a knowing nod to Trainspotting (another rare 10 out of 10 film in my catalogue - although you couldn't get a more different movie). Bravo.

The Iron Claw (2023)

Not about the wrestling

[8/10 · 1 March 2024]

Iron Claw starts off as a run of the mill wrestling (or boxing) drama that you think you've seen a hundred times. A beefed up Zac Effron (brilliantly) plays Kevin - the oldest of four brothers (five if you include the one who died at a young age). He, like all his siblings, lives his life through his father, who made the iron claw wrestling move his own, but never quite made it as world champion. And now he wants to live his dream through his four remaining sons. It's all run of the mill, unless you know that this is actually a true story and the 'curse' that Kevin almost jokes about when he meets his new love (played by Lily James) starts to ring true. This is not a film about wrestling (despite the very good fight scenes), it's about family loyalty to a father who only cares about winning at all costs. Ultimately, it is a very sad indictment of doing what you are told to do in an uber-patriarchal home. But at what cost? It is, at times bleak (no spoilers here) but ultimately offers hope that real family love will pull through. 8 out of ten.

All of Us Strangers (2023)

An emotional masterpiece

[9/10 · 4 February 2024]

Wow. I don't quite know how to review this film. It is loosely based on a ghost story novel, which would normally put me off straight away as I normally have no interest in the supernatural. But naysayers like me are in good hands with the brilliant director Andrew Haigh (Weekend had been my personal favourite - until now). Andrew Scott is beautifully vulnerable as a gay man in his 40s who has never got over the death of his parents when he had been just 12. He meets his parents (who had died 30 years previously) and their relationship seems entirely natural. He has conversations with them that he regrets never have previously been able to have, such as his coming out. Scott is brilliantly supported by a new love interest played by Paul Mescal, as well as Claire Foy and Jamie Bell as his similarly aged parents. What you get out of this film may ultimately depend upon your own life experiences, but, regardless, you would need to have a heart of stone not to be moved by this tale of love, loss, grief and humanity. An early contender for film of the year. 9 out of ten.

Poor Things (2023)

I kinda loved it but not Lanthimos' finest

[7/10 · 16 January 2024]

Poor things had all the Lamthimos ingredients. Eery score with superb use of violin. Unknowing, dead pan hilarity from the main character, Bella Baxter (superbly played Emma Stone). Complete bonkersness (which I love), such as the horse drawn cart with only a horse's head but no body, or the Frankensteinian (copyright Simon Mayo) creation of the 'experimental' hybrid animal (he does love his animal metaphors). Very dark humour where you feel you need to stifle your laughter in the cinema. And other laugh out loud moments. So all the ingredients were right. But for me, not one of Yorgos' finest. Perhaps I was spoilt from the first two films of his that I saw (The Lobster, Killing of a Sacred Deer). The films of his I've seen since then, such as his earlier Dogtooth and Alps and then his subsequent The Favourite have never quite lived up to my expectations. And maybe this too was an anticipointment. As noted, all the ingredients were right, and I did enjoy the film, but I didn't feel the sinister euphoria of some of his other works. But then again, I can see how it is being hailed as a potential awards winner. My go to film critic (Mark Kermode) has seen it 3 times and got more out of it in each subsequent viewing, so maybe I need to watch it again. For now though, not the Lanthimos masterpiece I was hoping for, but maybe my expectations were too high. 7.5 out of ten.

Society of the Snow (2023)

More authentic than 'Alive'

[9/10 · 11 January 2024]

La Sociedad del la Nieve (2023) Society of the Snow.

AKA "how to write a film review without mentioning their gastronomic delights"

This is a Uruguayan film about their rugby team's airplane crash over the Andes, and the ultimate survival for 70 plus days without food in 1972.

Its a marvellous film and sensitively made about what could be a sensational and quite frankly an horrifying story. I have deliberately avoided any reference to the main talking point of the movie to remove sensationalism on my part.

The initial crash is absolutely terrifying and sets the tone of the movie. Along with the ongoing danger that the elements throws at them is relentless.

Likewise the isolation and the internal dialogue of the crash survivors of the decision that they have to make is thought provoking.

The joy at the end, when they are rescued is uplifting and very real along with the sad realisation of their friends they have left behind.

I believe there have been numerous films made of the crash and this is a worthy.

Saltburn (2023)

Class based satire with lashings of jet black humour

[9/10 · 1 December 2023]

This is a film not for everyone but if you like your class based satire with lashings of jet black humour and sinister undertones its one to watch. I LOVED it. I had to stifle my laughter at times just like I did with Yorgos Lanthimos' The Killing of a Sacred Deer, also starring the ubiquitously brilliant Barry Keoghan. He's quickly becoming one of my favourite actors and it's great to see him in a lead role of a major movie. Similarly excellent turns from Rosalyn Pike and Richard E Grant, and look out for a cameo from Carey Mulligan who starred in the director's last (first?) film Promising Young Woman, which was equally sinister. Most notable is a quietly hilarious piece of acting from Grant when he quips about the simplicity of karaoke. It's genius. The film is a must watch again 8.5 out of ten.

Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Edge of Everything (2023)

Why the bed?

[6/10 · 25 November 2023]

I love Ronnie O Sullivan. Just like I loved other snooker mavericks Alex Higgins and Jimmy White. And this documentary was for the most part an intriguing portrayal of the angst that goes along with the genius. But why oh why does the film have to show Ronnie lying down in a psychiatric like bed to make his point? Not his idea surely? It was incredibly contrived and made me sigh every time I saw it. The viewers do not need gimmicks to try to understand the inner turmoil that the great man has undoubtedly had to face through his 30 year brilliant and at times difficult career. Sometimes you only need the snooker and the talking heads to tell the story. You don't need contrived gimmicks. An 8 out of ten is marked down to 6 for dumbing this otherwise excellent documentary down. A big mis-step in my view. Left me annoyed.

Dream Scenario (2023)

Nicholas Cage continues his rebirth

[8/10 · 15 November 2023]

Dream Scenario. The increasingly brilliant Nicholas Cage continues his renaissance following his recent superb performances in Mandy, Pig and The unbearable weight of massive talent. Cage plays a run of the mill university professor who oozes normality. His students take no real notice of him. His former colleagues publish papers in top journals whilst he hasn't even started his book yet. But he's happy enough, if not fulfilled. Then, for no apparent reason, he starts appearing in people's dreams. Not just people who know or have met him. Anyone. And in the dreams they tend to be in difficult positions but he does absolutely nothing. He has no control over this. The first half of the film is hilarious - the whole cinema (the lovely Electric, Birmingham) we're in stitches as we see the dreams played out. And then the second half of the film takes a sinister turn, to reflect a changing nature of the dreams. And whilst the comedy ends at this point, the drama begins. Whilst the first half is the better half it would be wrong to say the second is disappointing. Cage is quickly becoming one of my favourite actors. Long may it continue. 8 out of ten.

Cat Person (I) (2023)

Narratively simple. Purposefully ambiguous

[8/10 · 8 November 2023]

Cat Person. I don't understand the poor reviews for this film. I watched it on the recommendation of Mark Kermode (potentially pretentious film critic) who loved it and suggested his side kick Simon (Everyman) Mayo would love it too. So why the poor scores on rotten tomatoes and IMDB? I was intrigued. And after watching the film, Kermode was spot on. Margot, who works at her local cinema meets Robert, a regular cinema-goer at her place of work. She thinks he's a little strange. He's a little awkward but likes her and asks for her number. She acquiesces. There then follows a series of text message exchanges. They form a 'relationship' without having properly met. Margot gets images of how it's going to play out when they finally meet. And most are not good ones. Robert thinks that this might be the start of something special. And they eventually meet and it doesn't go according to plan. But how much of this is real and how much is imagined from their text history? No spoilers here but the interpretation of this film may not be as clear cut as either Margot or Robert might think. It is narratively simple yet its interpretation is, for me at least, purposefully ambiguous. And its all the better for it. An intriguing 8 out of ten.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Wes Anderson does it again - vomit inducing

[2/10 · 19 October 2023]

Kermodian-esque rant warning (although clearly not in his league)......... The wonderful story of Henry Sugar. If ever I needed a reminder that I intensely dislike the film-making nuances of Wes Anderson, this is it. The story was indeed wonderful. Alas, the cinematography and screenplay was vomit inducing. Why oh why does Anderson think that a ten second scene would benefit from full square ratio (middle of screen) to same square ratio (but left of screen), to same square ratio (right of screen) and then circular ratio (centre of screen).... Some might say this is clever. I'd say it is utterly unnecessary and pretentious twaddle. I've only watched 3 Anderson movies (Squid and the Whale, Darjeeling Limited, Grand Budapest Hotel) - disliked them all but I'm clearly by no means a connoisseur. But my god he's infuriating. The best thing about this film was that it was less than 40 minutes long - oh I also liked the rather curious and humorous appearance of the one and only Jarvis Cocker as a casino watchman (he watched very well as it happens). Some people clearly 'get' Anderson's style and some don't. I'm clearly in the latter category. But I'm also strangely compelled to watch the other 3 short films in his Roald Dahl quadiology (if there is such a thing). Luckily they're even shorter at 17 minutes so hopefully more palatable. 2 out of ten. But hey ho, as I often say, I'd rather hate a film than merely find it 'meh' so hats off to Anderson!! 😬

Love at First Sight (I) (2023)

Whimsical loveliness

[8/10 · 13 October 2023]

What a surprising gem of a film and not what I expected at all. Some will say it's whimsical nonsense - and I thought I would too. The premise is indeed whimsical nonsense. Girl meets boy in airport lounge. Girl likes Boy. Boy likes Girl. Girl misses her flight. Girl gets later flight. Girl's seatbelt is broken. Girl is upgraded to business class. Girl is placed in a seat next to Boy. Boy and Girl fall for each other on plane and then lose each other upon landing. Girl finds Boy then Boy finds Girl. It should not work. But it had me in tears at the end. Loved it. Whimsical loveliness. 8 out of ten.

The Old Oak (2023)

Loach in sentimental mode - and it's earned

[8/10 · 9 October 2023]

Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty join forces again for another great movie. A down on his luck pub owner (the eponymous old oak) befriends a Syrian refugee family who have moved into the street, much to the chagrin of some of the locals. Whilst there is an undercurrent of racism, Loach's latest (I do hope not his last) is fundamentally about community, friendship and hope. The ending might be a bit saccharine and perhaps unrealistic for some more hardened viewers, but for me the film earns its sentimentality. Whilst not in the same league as his two Palm D'or winning masterpieces (TWTSTB and I,DB) it is nonetheless a welcome return to form for Loach following his strangely unmoving last outing, Sorry I Missed You. The world will be a lesser place without Ken Loach movies. The greatest director of all time in my view. 8 out of ten.

God's Creatures (2022)

Good film, ill judged ending

[7/10 · 8 October 2023]

God's creatures - started innocently and was nice to see the Donegal coastline in all its glory. Then it took a sinister turn with familial loyalties confusing right from wrong and 'shushing' what happened (sounds familiar).... It was, for me, quite poignant until the ending which I hated... would've got 8 but gets 6.5 for the very ill judged ending.

Emily Watson is brilliant as usual as the mother who will support her son, (played by the equally excellent Paul Mascal) who is accused of rape. How could HER son possibly commit such a crime? And so she assumes it didn't happen. But at what cost?

When They See Us (2019)

Utterly compelling

[9/10 · 2 September 2023]

When they see us. A 4 part mini series retelling a true story of 5 teens who were accused of raping and murdering a female jogger. To say much more would spoil it. I'd never heard of the story before. Suffice to say it is the best mini series I have ever seen. At times it makes you laugh. At times it makes you despair. At times it makes you cry due to surprising human kindness. At times it makes you relieved that you've not been put in the predicament that the boys were. Does not shine a good light on Donald Trump, although I can't see many Trump supporters tuning in to this...... An utterly compelling 9 out of 10.

Crime (2021– )

Brilliant TV - not what you expect

[8/10 · 22 August 2023]

Crime on ITVX. It was originally pay per view on britbox but no-one subscribed so now it's free to watch. It's based on the novel by Irvine Welsh and IW also wrote the TV screenplay. It is quite low budget so forget production values, which you soon forget anyway as the drama kicks in. First 2 episodes sets it up. The rest is brilliant. It's not a run of the mill crime thriller. It's a psychoanalysis of the catcher and the caught. Brilliant. 8.5 out of ten. I was ready to give up on it after the first two episodes - but that would've been a big mistake. It is excellent TV. Not one moment of boredom.....

Nothing Compares (2022)

Ahead of her time

[8/10 · 15 August 2023]

Just watched Nothing Compares - a documentary about, and with, Sinead O Connor. Only made last year but feels much more poignant now after her death. She was before her time. Ridiculed for her views which now are more the norm. She was a superstar that didn't want to be a superstar, nor did the media allow her to be. She is, and always was, a hero. The music throughout is exceptional, although there was a pretty obvious song not included. We find at the end of the credits that "the Prince estate denied use of Sinead's recording of 'nothing compares 2 U' in this film". I'd like to think that if Prince were still alive he'd have told his estate to xxxx off. What an artist Sinead was.

Barbie (I) (2023)

Watch it with a critical eye, or just have fun. Both work!

[7/10 · 10 August 2023]

In my view there's two ways to watch / interpret Barbie. First, watch it with a critical eye about how Mattel have realised that they have to move with the times and to sell more dolls they need to 'normalise' Barbie. Second, just have fun. Both work. It is genius quite frankly. Mattel have taken criticism on the chin but ultimately know that they'll be quids in with a new 'flat footed' Barbie.

You should watch it and work out where you stand. To refuse to watch it because it's "about a doll" is missing the point in my view. It's a great movie to just watch and have fun with but equally you could watch it with a critical eye and work out where you stand.

Black Mirror: Mazey Day (2023) Season 6, Episode 4

What has happened to Black Mirror?

[1/10 · 15 July 2023]

Mazie Day. What the hell was that? It was like a poor episode of hammer house of horror. It was definitely not black mirror. Absolutely pathetic. No redeeming features whatsoever. What is Charlie Brooker doing? He's turning what were thought provoking tales of how technology in the wrong hands can have unforeseen and terrifying implications for the human race, into complete nonsensical paranormal BS. It was like a low budget episode of something you'd watch on the horror channel. I'm annoyed!!! If you like that kind of thing, fine, but you don't expect it to turn up on a black mirror episode. I've never been so disappointed since Ben Wheatley did Free Fire. 1 out of ten. Brooker should be ashamed of himself.....

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Not the target audience but.......

[7/10 · 12 July 2023]

This was the first Mission Implausible film I've seen and as a 52 year old man who tends to go for social realist dramas and not multiplex fodder (pretentious, moi?), I didn't go into this film expecting to love it. And I didn't love it by any means. But, despite the 2.75 hours running time - not including the 35 mins 'trailers' (ie mostly adverts) - I was never bored. I even kind of understood what was going on even though I'd never seen an MI film before. The action scenes were very impressive. Did they blow my head off? No, because it was all implausible nonsense. But to be fair it's one of the best action films I've seen. The best Tom Cruise film since the equally implausible Top Gun Maverick. And kudos to Cruise - he might be as mad as a box of frogs but Crikey he immerses himself in his projects. 7 out of ten.

Guy Ritchie's the Covenant (I) (2023)

You know what's gonna happen, but it doesn't matter

[8/10 · 14 June 2023]

Wow. Just watched Guy Ritchie's The Covenant. Jake Gylennhall plays an American soldier in Afghanistan just before the American withdrawal from the country in 2021. It is a fictional story but based on what actually happened - the US leaving thousands of Afghan interpreters working with the US government against the Taliban only to be left as major targets once the Americans had left. This story focuses on one such Afghan interpreter who helps bring Jake's character back to the relatively safety of the US. But Jake can't rest knowing that the guy who saved his life is still on the run from the Taliban and returns the 'covenant' (unsaid pledge) and goes back to Afghanistan to try and save him and his family. It is a brilliant film from start to finish. Very tense even though, against all odds, you kinda know how it's gonna end. It doesn't end like this for most, but hey this is entertainment not a history lesson. An always intoxicating 8.5 out of 10.

Polite Society (2023)

A multi-genre masterpiece

[9/10 · 7 May 2023]

I didn't review this film on first watch. I wasn't sure if the feel good aspect of it tricked me into thinking it was better than it was. Then I find myself with an hour to kill before my next bus so thought I'd give it another watch. The result? I was right the first time - and more. It is an utter laugh out loud multi genre joy from start to finish. It is probably not for everyone - at times I was the only one laughing at the perhaps subtle humour. Is it a comedy? Is it a martial arts film? Is it a political drama? Is it a fantasy? Is it social realism? It is all of these - and it shouldn't work, but it does. Film of the year so far. 9 out of ten.

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

First 5 minutes were a brilliant ode to the original... but then....

[4/10 · 29 April 2023]

Evil Dead Rise. I don't like horror films - not cos they're scary - i find them boring. I thought this would be a comical ode to the originally evil dead, which I loved as a 14 year old and which I watched a couple of years ago and thought it was hilarious. This was neither funny nor scary and the only bit I really enjoyed was the first 5 mins which was absolutely reminiscent of the original and best. And it all went downhill from there.

The film starts so well. The speedy camera - of the infamous tree-rape scene - is superbly renditioned, and we soon find it's a mere.remote controlled drone. A modern take which I thought worked really well. But it then switched to "1 day earlier" and the rest of the film wasn't an Evil Dead film at all. The film will do well - they've cleverly jumped on the otherwise dead Evil Dead franchise. But it had no humour of the original. Just gore - which I found tedious.

4 out of ten.

The Man with Two Brains (1983)

A classic revisited

[9/10 · 22 April 2023]

The Man With Two Brains is a classic comedy film that has stood the test of time. Directed by Carl Reiner, the movie stars Steve Martin in one of his funniest roles to date. The film follows the story of Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr, a brilliant brain surgeon who falls in love with a gold-digging woman named Dolores Benedict. The catch? She's a murderer, and Dr. Hfuhruhurr is the only one who can save her life.

The film's humor is of the slapstick variety, and it is executed brilliantly. Steve Martin is at the top of his game, delivering some of the most hilarious lines and physical comedy gags ever seen on screen. The movie's premise is absurd, but it's played out in such a way that it becomes believable within the context of the film. Martin's character is quirky and endearing, and his interactions with Dolores are hilarious.

One of the standout aspects of The Man With Two Brains is the excellent supporting cast. Kathleen Turner is perfect as Dolores Benedict, the seductive and manipulative woman who captures Dr. Hfuhruhurr's heart. David Warner is equally impressive as Dr. Alfred Necessiter. The chemistry between the three actors is superb, and it is a joy to watch them interact.

The film is not without its flaws, however. At times, the humor can be a bit juvenile, and some of the jokes may not land with modern audiences. Additionally, the film's pacing can be uneven, with some scenes feeling overly long while others are over too quickly. Despite these minor issues, however, The Man With Two Brains remains a classic comedy that is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Overall, The Man With Two Brains is a must-see for fans of classic comedy films. Steve Martin delivers one of his best performances, and the supporting cast is equally impressive. The film's humor is silly but effective, and it is impossible not to be entertained by the antics of Dr. Hfuhruhurr and his two brains. If you're in the mood for some light-hearted fun, you can't go wrong with The Man With Two Brains.