Films: January 23 - 29

The Invisible Man (2020) / Xanadu (1980) / Smultronstället (Wild Strawberries) (1957) / The Perfect Woman (1949) / Good Time Girl (1948) / Circle Of Danger (1951) / Ex Machina (2014)

The Invisible Man (2020) Sleek, edgy reimagining, as much psychological as visceral. Elizabeth Moss is convincingly damaged by her abusive husband, and increasingly isolated by his 'invisible' torture, before finding cathartic strength. Visually arresting, enjoyable tense.

Xanadu (1980) Almost existential in its abandonment of narrative and character cohesion, a confusion of styles and ideas that feels curiously flat, visually bland and dated even on original release. An amitious folly, individual musical sequences provide pleasure and the songs are catchy.

Smultronstället (Wild Strawberries) (1957) Anchored by Victor Sjöström's soulful, affecting performance, a physical and spiritual journey that sometimes feels forced in addressing themes, but is shot through with humour, compassion and a poetic spirit. Ingrid Thulin is moving, the ending redemptive.

The Perfect Woman (1949) Slight farce that never escapes its theatrical origins or makes much sense, but is told and performed with energy, mixing physical pratfalls and overlapping wordplay. Though the sexual politics are not fully developed, it builds to a suitably frenetic climax.

Good Time Girl (1948) Jean Kent provides a tartly sympathetic heroine in a society dominated by abusive, lecherous men who send her spiraling into crime and murder. Simultaneously a cautionary tale, a social issue movie and an over-wrought, violent melodrama. Uneven if not boring.

Circle Of Danger (1951) Slow burn conspiracy thriller that fizzles rather than catches fire. Crisply shot on location (including evocative Scottish landscapes) as Ray Milland attempts to uncover the mystery of his brother's death during WW2. Good performances aid a sense of realism.

Ex Machina (2014) Gleaming, clinical visuals mirror the narrative of a God-like recluse creating sentient AI and the android that seeks a life. Traditional, thoughtful sci-fi ideas and themes deepen the claustrophobia and Alicia Vikander is dangerously unpredictable as victim and manipulator.