THE LIGHTHOUSE (2019): The Things I Liked…

The Lighthouse (2019), Robert Pattinson, A24
The Lighthouse (2019), Robert Pattinson, A24

The Lighthouse, a fantasy/drama/horror about two lighthouse keepers struggling to maintain their sanity while living on a remote, mysterious New England island is a movie that noticeably builds and builds. Especially where the tension between its two characters is concerned. The Lighthouse also becomes more and more intriguing, fantastical and has a permeating sense of dread as it plays, resulting in an ending that makes sense but also left me with some questions.

I can’t deny that overall writer/director Robert Eggers’s 1890s set film is a good one. I enjoyed the cinematography, some of the dialogue and definitely the great performances by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. In terms of how I feel about Eggers’s movie in its entirety, for reasons that include the film’s genre (fantasy, especially) and the general loudness based on the sounds and noises the two men had to endure; plus the inclusion of much of the less than sanitary and unsavoury aspects of being a lighthouse keeper in the 1800s, I can’t say that I loved The Lighthouse. 

Should you find yourself quite curious, give it a chance because it’s unlike most. It also has that stage play quality, likely due to the dialogue style and single setting. Who knows, you may just find yourself far more enthused by the whole experience than I was.

I know for sure that during the movie and when it was over, I desperately wanted to believe that the job and experience of being a lighthouse keeper these days is quite different; at the very least, far more sanitary.

Happy Film Loving 

G

VIVARIUM (2019): New Trailer Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen Poots…

Vivarium (2019), Jesse Eisenberg
Vivarium (2019), Jesse Eisenberg

Vivarium is the new sci-fi / mystery starring Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen Poots, and directed / co-written by Lorcan Finnegan.

While searching for the perfect starter home, young couple Tom and Gemma end up following a mysterious real estate agent to a new housing development, but soon realise that they actually can’t leave…

What fresh nightmare is this?

The very kind that has me wanting to watch and find out just how different this will be compared to one of my Jim Carey favourites, The Truman Show (1998).

I’m guessing some kind of alien abduction happened.

Jonathan Aris, Eanna Hardwicke, Shana Hart, Senan Jennings, Molly McCann, Danielle Ryan and Olga Wehrly also star.

Vivarium Release Dates: March 27th, 2020 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE (2020): New Trailer From Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, Joshua Jackson…

Little Fires Everywhere (2020), Reese Witherspoon, Hulu
Little Fires Everywhere (2020), Reese Witherspoon, Hulu

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Little Fires Everywhere (2020).


Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington and Joshua Jackson are the stars of Little Fires Everywhere, a new drama / mini-series based on Celeste Ng’s best selling novel of the same name.

Set in Shaker Heights, Ohio in the 1990s, and also starring Rosemarie DeWitt, Jordan Elsas, Jaime Ray Newman and Jade Pettyjohn, this is the story of two families brought together by their children…

There are quite a few things I like about this already. Firstly, not just Witherspoon but Witherspoon playing someone who doesn’t seem to be nice. I also like the pairing of Washington and Witherspoon together; the kind of pairing that has me looking forward to the 2020 The Hollywood Reporter Actress Roundtables on YouTube. I love those!

Then there’s, Jackson; something about the sound of his voice and general cadence is very much like music to my ears.

Little Fires Everywhere Release Date: March 18th, 2020 (US) / Hulu…

Happy Film Loving

G

HORSE GIRL (2020) New Trailer From Alison Brie, Molly Shannon, Robin Tunney, John Ortiz…

Horse Girl (2020), Alison Brie, Netflix
Horse Girl (2020), Alison Brie, Netflix

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Horse Girl (2019).


Imagine being socially awkward, fond of arts and crafts, horses, and supernatural crime shows. Then your increasingly lucid dreams start trickling into your waking life.

This is the premise of Horse Girl, a new Jeff Baena directed drama starring Alison Brie, Molly Shannon, John Ortiz, Robin Tunney…

Going mad must be one of the loneliest experiences. I simply want to know what’s really going on with Sarah; especially since it looks like a promising Brie performance.

Is it just me or does the high necked outfit in the above trailer thumbnail remind anyone else of a straight jacket?

Matthew Gray Gubler, Debby Ryan, Paul Reiser, Dylan Gelula, Meredith Hagner, Toby Huss, Angela Trimbur, David Paymer, John Reynolds, Jay Duplass and Dendrie Taylor also star.

Horse Girl Release Dates: January 27th, 2020 (US) / Netflix…

Happy Film Loving

G

BLACK AND BLUE (2019): THE THING I LIKED…

Black And Blue (2019), Naomie Harris, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Black And Blue (2019), Naomie Harris, Sony Pictures Entertainment

In Black and Blue, the latest action / drama starring Naomie Harris, Harris plays a rookie police officer whose body camera captures a corrupt cop shooting a drug dealer. What I hoped would have followed is a truly engrossing, gritty and desperate race against time to get the footage in the right hands.

The race and subsequent pursuit does happen. It’s just that the end result isn’t as gripping as I’d hoped. The acting isn’t bad, but the story and execution certainly could have been stronger. Especially since soon after the film started and throughout, it felt as though something important was missing, and nothing refreshingly clever and / or new happened.

I really wanted Black and Blue to join Training Day (2001) on my list of favourite cop movies. However, even though both films share commonalities in theme / story, the gap between the two movies is simply too large – because Training Day is far more engrossing, cleverly written and well executed. Plus, Ethan Hawke’s character didn’t make any decisions that had me mad. Whereas Harris’s character did some thing’s that could hardly be excused by her rookie status. Or maybe I’ve simply watched too many cop movies.

I did actually like aspects of the way Black ad Blue handled Harris’s character’s ‘identity crisis,’ which really says more about her acting than anything else. Also, there were moments within Black and Blue that had me thinking, ‘Yes! This is when things really get good‘. But the movie never went to the point of having a scene that I could choose as my favourite moment.

Watch it if you’re super curious. Otherwise, maybe just rewatch Training Day.

Happy Film Loving

G

SPENSER CONFIDENTIAL (2020): New Trailer Starring Mark Wahlberg, Alan Arkin, Winston Duke, Post Malone…

Spenser Confidential (2020), Mark Wahlberg, Netflix
Spenser Confidential (2020), Mark Wahlberg, Netflix

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Spenser Confidential (2020).


Spenser Confidential has Mark Wahlberg as an ex-felon named Spenser who returns to Boston’s criminal underworld to unravel a twisted murder conspiracy.

Directed by Peter Berg, additional key cast includes Winston Duke, Alan Arkin Colleen Camp Post Malone …

The premise may not be the freshest but I like Wahlberg, I’m curious about Malone’s acting, and the Wahlberg, Duke and Arkin dynmic.

Colleen Camp, Bokeem Woodbine, Michael Gaston, Marc Maron, Iliza Shlesinger, Hans Marrero, Cassie Ventura, James DuMont, Hope Olaide Wilson, Leah Procito and Kip Weeks also star.

Spenser Confidential Release Dates: March 6th, 2020 (US) / Netflix…

Happy Film Loving

G

GUNS AKIMBO (2019): New Trailer From Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Rhys Darby…

Guns Akimbo (2020), Daniel Radcliffe, Madman Films
Guns Akimbo (2020), Daniel Radcliffe, Madman Films

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Guns Akimbo (2019).


In new action / comedy Guns Akimbo, Daniel Radcliffe is Miles, a nerdy video game developer. Things suddenly change for Miles when he gets caught up as the next contestant in an underground gang live-streaming real-life death match.

From writer / director  Jason Lei Howden; additional key cast includes Samara Weaving, Rhys Darby, Ned Dennehy…

First Free Guy (2020), now Gus Akimbo. I wonder how many more video game themed movies are coming this year.

I’m interested because it’s different and it’s crazy. I also just want to see Radcliffe in a memorable movie that’s very different from the ones that made him famous.

Mark Rowley, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Hanako Footman, Set Sjöstrand, Racheal Ofori, Colin Moy, Jacqueline Lee Geurts and Jack Riddiford also star.

Guns Akimbo Release Dates: February 28th, 2020 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

HUMAN NATURE (2020): New Trailer For Documentary About Gene Editing Technology, CRISPR…

Human Nature (2019), Greenwich Entertainment
Human Nature (2019), Greenwich Entertainment

Co-written / directed by Adam Bolt, Human Nature is a new documentary about the biggest tech revolution of the 21st Century. A biological technology called CRISPR – one that provides unprecedented control over the basic building blocks of life.

From curing diseases, reshaping the biosphere to designing our own children and more…

CRISPR had me wondering about just how much more time data has as ‘the most valuable asset on earth,‘ (The Great Hack (2019). Then I realised that CRISPR is data.

I’m very interested in how the tech came to be and all the arguments for and against.

Featured contributors and experts include  David Baltimore, Jill Banfield, Rodolphe Barrangou  Aliza Ben-Baruch, Joab Camarena, Alta Charo, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Paul Dabrowski and Jennifer Doudna.

Human Nature Release Dates:March 13th, 2020 (US)…

Happy Film loving

G