Boîte noire (Black Box) (2021)
Sous la Seine (Under Paris) (2024)
Our Little Secret (2024)
Meet Me Next Christmas (2024)
Spionen (The Spy) (2019)
Confess Fletch (2022)
W jak morderstwo (In For A Murder) (2021)
Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
Robots (2023)
Bad Boys (1995)
Father's Little Dividend (1951) ///
Boîte noire (Black Box) (2021) Solidly crafted paranoia thriller as haunted air safety investigator Pierre Niney becomes obsessed there's more to fatal plane crash than terrorist attack, even as he estranges practical girlfriend Lou de Laâge. Slow-burn intensity envelops detailed procedural with suitably chilling results.
Sous la Seine (Under Paris) (2024) Pulpy narrative sees same shark that decimated intense marine biologist Bérénice Bejo's team in the Pacific, return to haunt her and wreak havoc in Paris. Blunt ecological themes allied to bloody, energetically paced action as events led to equally preposterous finale.
Our Little Secret (2024) Lackluster comedy only hints at farcical potential as controlling Lindsay Lohan and easy going Ian Harding hide their previous relationship at Christmas gathering only to discover rest of family have more dramatic secrets. Inoffensive production resolves with typical life lessons.
Meet Me Next Christmas (2024) Unpretentious production benefits from solid visuals and light tempo as determined Christina Milian needs to keep date at sold out concert, racing across city with fumbling fixer Devale Ellis to get ticket. Bright comic situations and appealing leads amid mundane story mechanics.
Spionen (The Spy) (2019) Cleanly delivered wartime espionage with captivating, textured Ingrid Bolsø Berdal as true-life, famous actress who infiltrates Nazi command as double agent for Swedish intelligence. Emphasis remains on character and sacrifice, with absorbing detail and lush design.
Confess, Fletch (2022) Enjoyable, shaggy murder mystery, easy comic style personified by appealing and deceptively throwaway Jon Hamm, immersed in stolen art collection and under suspicion of murder. Plot remains of only passing interest; situation and game cast prevail with involving energy.
W jak morderstwo (In For A Murder) (2021) With winning mix of empathetic honesty and playful inquisitiveness, Anna Smołowik plays frustrated housewife who discovers murder linked to long-time disappearance of best friend and is equally perceptive as Paweł Domagała's local detective. Strains with forced humour; relieved by classy visuals and Paweł Lucewicz's score.
Dear Evan Hansen (2021) Passionate song-score receives anemic treatment with committed cast unable to overcome ponderous pacing. Emphasis on withdrawn high-schooler Ben Platt's new found popularity after pretense of knowing suicide student unbalances potential personal and social textures.
Robots (2023) Brazenly unfunny future comedy features resolutely unattractive characters, gold-digger Shailene Woodley and womanizing Jack Whitehall, whose illegal, abused android duplicates find love and turn tables. Sold production suffers stilted staging while romantic redemption never persuades.
Bad Boys (1995) Slickly assembled visuals and easy chemistry between playboy and family man cops Will Smith and Martin Lawrence barely compensates for bludgeoning fury of explosions, chases and bullets. Flimsy narrative sees flinty Téa Leoni as murder witness while international drug smugglers shoot up Miami.
Father's Little Dividend (1951) Engagingly paced and solid quota of comic situations, as crusty Spencer Tracy feels life upturned after daughter Elizabeth Taylor announces pregnancy. Cue battling in-laws, hormone- heightened emotions and missing baby, with busy Joan Bennett and fine cast.
