Totteridge Film Institute
@totteridgefilm.bsky.social
Film reviews, mainly of charity shop DVD finds – using the EXACT character limit every time
No Time to Die (Cary Joji Fukunaga, 2021). Daniel Craig’s final James Bond film has many striking moments, but it can’t quite deliver – flabby directing, a muddled plot, a crummy villain (Rami Malek) and a misjudged “shock” ending. But Craig is superb and the action scenes are stunning. #NoTimeToDie
December 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
No Time to Die (Cary Joji Fukunaga, 2021). Daniel Craig’s final James Bond film has many striking moments, but it can’t quite deliver – flabby directing, a muddled plot, a crummy villain (Rami Malek) and a misjudged “shock” ending. But Craig is superb and the action scenes are stunning. #NoTimeToDie
Wonder (Stephen Chbosky, 2017). Drama about a boy born with facial disfigurement (played by Jacob Tremblay) and its effect on him and his family (Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Izabela Vidivic). It’s well-intentioned, but too simplistic and sentimental to credibly address the subject matter. #Wonder
December 14, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Wonder (Stephen Chbosky, 2017). Drama about a boy born with facial disfigurement (played by Jacob Tremblay) and its effect on him and his family (Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Izabela Vidivic). It’s well-intentioned, but too simplistic and sentimental to credibly address the subject matter. #Wonder
Melancholia (Lars von Trier, 2011). After an impressionistic opening, this evolves into a remarkable drama about mental health (Kirsten Dunst has a meltdown at her wedding party) and the end of the world (a planet set to crash into our own). Sumptuous visuals. Beautiful music by Wagner. #Melancholia
December 10, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Melancholia (Lars von Trier, 2011). After an impressionistic opening, this evolves into a remarkable drama about mental health (Kirsten Dunst has a meltdown at her wedding party) and the end of the world (a planet set to crash into our own). Sumptuous visuals. Beautiful music by Wagner. #Melancholia
Little Women (Greta Gerwig, 2019). Adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 classic. Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timmy Chalamet and Meryl Streep are all compelling; Emma “Hermione” Watson rather less so. Well-written and visually lavish, it’s somehow not as charming as the 1994 version. #LittleWomen
December 10, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Little Women (Greta Gerwig, 2019). Adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 classic. Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timmy Chalamet and Meryl Streep are all compelling; Emma “Hermione” Watson rather less so. Well-written and visually lavish, it’s somehow not as charming as the 1994 version. #LittleWomen
No Escape (John Erick Dowdle, 2015). A US engineer (Owen Wilson) relocates to Southeast Asia with his wife (Lake Bell) and two daughters. They become trapped in a revolution and attempt to flee, with the help of Pierce Brosnan. An exciting, unrelentingly tense drama, with a nuanced script. #NoEscape
December 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM
No Escape (John Erick Dowdle, 2015). A US engineer (Owen Wilson) relocates to Southeast Asia with his wife (Lake Bell) and two daughters. They become trapped in a revolution and attempt to flee, with the help of Pierce Brosnan. An exciting, unrelentingly tense drama, with a nuanced script. #NoEscape
The Talented Mr. Ripley (Anthony Minghella, 1999). Brilliantly tense adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel. Matt Damon plays the inventive manipulator who infiltrates the lives of a couple (Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow). Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman also feature. #TheTalentedMrRipley
December 4, 2025 at 7:44 AM
The Talented Mr. Ripley (Anthony Minghella, 1999). Brilliantly tense adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel. Matt Damon plays the inventive manipulator who infiltrates the lives of a couple (Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow). Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman also feature. #TheTalentedMrRipley
The Thomas Crown Affair (John McTiernan, 1999). Neat remake of the 1968 film, with Pierce Brosnan as a super-slick billionaire businessman art thief and Rene Russo as a shrewd, stylish insurance investigator who tries to catch him out. It’s tightly plotted and hugely enjoyable. #TheThomasCrownAffair
December 4, 2025 at 6:52 AM
The Thomas Crown Affair (John McTiernan, 1999). Neat remake of the 1968 film, with Pierce Brosnan as a super-slick billionaire businessman art thief and Rene Russo as a shrewd, stylish insurance investigator who tries to catch him out. It’s tightly plotted and hugely enjoyable. #TheThomasCrownAffair
Sweet Smell of Success (Alexander Mackendrick, 1957). A creepy, controlling newspaper columnist (Burt Lancaster) wants to end his sister's relationship with a jazz musician and asks Tony Curtis to split up the couple. Noirish and beautifully lit, with a superb script. But bleak. #SweetSmellOfSuccess
December 4, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Sweet Smell of Success (Alexander Mackendrick, 1957). A creepy, controlling newspaper columnist (Burt Lancaster) wants to end his sister's relationship with a jazz musician and asks Tony Curtis to split up the couple. Noirish and beautifully lit, with a superb script. But bleak. #SweetSmellOfSuccess
Hotel Rwanda (Terry George, 2004). Biographical drama about the Rwandan genocide of 1994 during which hotelier Paul Rusesabagina (played by Don Cheadle) helped save more than 1,500 refugees. It’s tense and gripping, but I would’ve liked more on the wider political context of the events. #HotelRwanda
November 29, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Hotel Rwanda (Terry George, 2004). Biographical drama about the Rwandan genocide of 1994 during which hotelier Paul Rusesabagina (played by Don Cheadle) helped save more than 1,500 refugees. It’s tense and gripping, but I would’ve liked more on the wider political context of the events. #HotelRwanda
Little Women (Gillian Armstrong, 1994). One of many adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s novel. Twee, sentimental music can’t spoil the strong acting from Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Christian Bale and Susan Sarandon. A young Kirsten Dunst is replaced by an inferior actor halfway through. #LittleWomen
November 29, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Little Women (Gillian Armstrong, 1994). One of many adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s novel. Twee, sentimental music can’t spoil the strong acting from Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Christian Bale and Susan Sarandon. A young Kirsten Dunst is replaced by an inferior actor halfway through. #LittleWomen
Air Force One (Wolfgang Petersen, 1997). Thriller. Russians (led by Gary Oldman) hijack the US president’s plane. Aided by the White House and the VP (Glenn Close), the president (Harrison Ford) has to protect his family, his crew and democracy itself. The tension is expertly sustained. #AirForceOne
November 28, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Air Force One (Wolfgang Petersen, 1997). Thriller. Russians (led by Gary Oldman) hijack the US president’s plane. Aided by the White House and the VP (Glenn Close), the president (Harrison Ford) has to protect his family, his crew and democracy itself. The tension is expertly sustained. #AirForceOne
The King of Comedy (Martin Scorsese, 1982). Funny and sad story about two troubled individuals (Robert De Niro and Sandra Bernhard) who kidnap a comedian (Jerry Lewis) to realise their own desperate cravings for fame and celebrity. Clever writing enhanced by remarkable performances. #TheKingOfComedy
November 28, 2025 at 7:30 AM
The King of Comedy (Martin Scorsese, 1982). Funny and sad story about two troubled individuals (Robert De Niro and Sandra Bernhard) who kidnap a comedian (Jerry Lewis) to realise their own desperate cravings for fame and celebrity. Clever writing enhanced by remarkable performances. #TheKingOfComedy
Cowboys & Aliens (Jon Favreau, 2011). An inspired hybrid of sci-fi and western that wisely plays it straight. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are cowboys fighting the space creatures who have come to steal their gold. Olivia Wilde is a mysterious blue-eyed woman with her own agenda. #CowboysAndAliens
November 23, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Cowboys & Aliens (Jon Favreau, 2011). An inspired hybrid of sci-fi and western that wisely plays it straight. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are cowboys fighting the space creatures who have come to steal their gold. Olivia Wilde is a mysterious blue-eyed woman with her own agenda. #CowboysAndAliens
Out of Africa (Sydney Pollack, 1985). Historical romantic drama based on the life of Danish author Karen Blixen. Meryl Streep stars with Robert Redford. There’s impressive cinematography of Kenya, but the plot is painfully slow and laboured. Also, Meryl’s “old lady” narration is absurd. #OutOfAfrica
November 21, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Out of Africa (Sydney Pollack, 1985). Historical romantic drama based on the life of Danish author Karen Blixen. Meryl Streep stars with Robert Redford. There’s impressive cinematography of Kenya, but the plot is painfully slow and laboured. Also, Meryl’s “old lady” narration is absurd. #OutOfAfrica
Total Recall (Len Wiseman, 2012). Remake of the Arnie sci-fi thriller adapted from a Philip K. Dick story. The stunning visuals are too slick to seem real and the action is so relentless that we never get to know the characters, played by Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel. #TotalRecall
November 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Total Recall (Len Wiseman, 2012). Remake of the Arnie sci-fi thriller adapted from a Philip K. Dick story. The stunning visuals are too slick to seem real and the action is so relentless that we never get to know the characters, played by Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel. #TotalRecall
Paris (Cédric Klapisch, 2008). A man with a serious heart condition observes several stories happening around him in Paris. It’s a well-constructed plot, but a couple of the threads aren’t developed enough. The jarring dream sequence was a big mistake. Juliette Binoche and Romain Duris star. #Paris
November 15, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Paris (Cédric Klapisch, 2008). A man with a serious heart condition observes several stories happening around him in Paris. It’s a well-constructed plot, but a couple of the threads aren’t developed enough. The jarring dream sequence was a big mistake. Juliette Binoche and Romain Duris star. #Paris
Nell (Michael Apted, 1994). An intriguing drama. Jodie Foster stars as Nell, a young woman living “wild” in North Carolina. Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson try to protect her while simultaneously exposing her to a dangerous world she’s never seen. Idealised but nevertheless quite affecting. #Nell
November 15, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Nell (Michael Apted, 1994). An intriguing drama. Jodie Foster stars as Nell, a young woman living “wild” in North Carolina. Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson try to protect her while simultaneously exposing her to a dangerous world she’s never seen. Idealised but nevertheless quite affecting. #Nell
Going the Distance (Nanette Burstein, 2010). Charmless romance. Drew Barrymore and Justin Long play a young couple separated by distance. It wants to be like Friends, but suffers from crass comedy, baffling character motivations and poor storytelling. Only Barrymore has any appeal. #GoingTheDistance
November 15, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Going the Distance (Nanette Burstein, 2010). Charmless romance. Drew Barrymore and Justin Long play a young couple separated by distance. It wants to be like Friends, but suffers from crass comedy, baffling character motivations and poor storytelling. Only Barrymore has any appeal. #GoingTheDistance
Six Days, Seven Nights (Ivan Reitman, 1998). Surprisingly enjoyable comedy-romance adventure that’s a bit Crocodile Dundee and a bit Romancing the Stone. Stranded on a remote South Pacific island, Harrison Ford and Anne Heche both charm. The one flaw is the awful David Schwimmer. #SixDaysSevenNights
November 15, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Six Days, Seven Nights (Ivan Reitman, 1998). Surprisingly enjoyable comedy-romance adventure that’s a bit Crocodile Dundee and a bit Romancing the Stone. Stranded on a remote South Pacific island, Harrison Ford and Anne Heche both charm. The one flaw is the awful David Schwimmer. #SixDaysSevenNights
Muriel’s Wedding (P.J. Hogan, 1994). Tender and hilarious Australian comedy-drama that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Toni Collette is wonderful as Muriel. She’s funny but she manages to convey a lot of pain as well. Rachel Griffiths is spot-on as Muriel’s best friend Rhonda. #MurielsWedding
November 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Muriel’s Wedding (P.J. Hogan, 1994). Tender and hilarious Australian comedy-drama that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Toni Collette is wonderful as Muriel. She’s funny but she manages to convey a lot of pain as well. Rachel Griffiths is spot-on as Muriel’s best friend Rhonda. #MurielsWedding
Alien Resurrection (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 1997). Bigger budget than 3, but the script is even weaker. Ripley is cloned and now has alien blood. Will she stop the science guys from letting the aliens reach Earth? Exciting action. Winona Ryder underwhelms. Too many close-ups of boots. #AlienResurrection
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Alien Resurrection (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 1997). Bigger budget than 3, but the script is even weaker. Ripley is cloned and now has alien blood. Will she stop the science guys from letting the aliens reach Earth? Exciting action. Winona Ryder underwhelms. Too many close-ups of boots. #AlienResurrection
Alien 3 (David Fincher, 1992). Ripley’s escape pod lands on a prison planet and unleashes alien chaos. Slightly better than I recalled. The convicts are hammy, poorly constructed characters, but Sigourney Weaver and Charles Dance are both credible. Jarring CGI effects undermine the suspense. #Alien3
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Alien 3 (David Fincher, 1992). Ripley’s escape pod lands on a prison planet and unleashes alien chaos. Slightly better than I recalled. The convicts are hammy, poorly constructed characters, but Sigourney Weaver and Charles Dance are both credible. Jarring CGI effects undermine the suspense. #Alien3
Brian and Charles (Jim Archer, 2022). A lonely man in a Welsh village builds an AI robot – with consequences. A funny and touching comedy-drama that’s both gritty and like a fairy tale. It’s romantic, too. David Earl, Chris Hayward and Louise Brealey are brilliant in the lead roles. #BrianAndCharles
November 5, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Brian and Charles (Jim Archer, 2022). A lonely man in a Welsh village builds an AI robot – with consequences. A funny and touching comedy-drama that’s both gritty and like a fairy tale. It’s romantic, too. David Earl, Chris Hayward and Louise Brealey are brilliant in the lead roles. #BrianAndCharles
Magic in the Moonlight (Woody Allen, 2014). A light but charming comedy that gently asks some big questions. On the French Riviera in the 1920s, a cynical magician (Colin Firth) tries to debunk a medium (Emma Stone), but ends up falling for her instead. Both leads are excellent. #MagicInTheMoonlight
November 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Magic in the Moonlight (Woody Allen, 2014). A light but charming comedy that gently asks some big questions. On the French Riviera in the 1920s, a cynical magician (Colin Firth) tries to debunk a medium (Emma Stone), but ends up falling for her instead. Both leads are excellent. #MagicInTheMoonlight
The Lives of Others (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, 2006). East Germany, 1984. A Stasi operative (Ulrich Mühe) is assigned to spy on a playwright (Sebastian Koch) and his lover (Martina Gedeck) but becomes drawn into their affairs. Masterful drama: tense, gripping and emotional. #TheLivesOfOthers
October 31, 2025 at 6:50 AM
The Lives of Others (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, 2006). East Germany, 1984. A Stasi operative (Ulrich Mühe) is assigned to spy on a playwright (Sebastian Koch) and his lover (Martina Gedeck) but becomes drawn into their affairs. Masterful drama: tense, gripping and emotional. #TheLivesOfOthers