Films: December 30 - January 5

La ignorancia de la sangre (The Ignorance of Blood) (2014)

Memento (2000)

Spider-Man Homecoming (2017)

Spider-Man Far From Home (2019)

Down To Earth (1947)

Fallen Angel (1945)

The Thing From Another World (1951)

El Dorado (1966)

The Miracle Season (2018) ///

La ignorancia de la sangre (The Ignorance of Blood) (2014) Separate story strands never really come together or build thriller momentum, as intense Juan Diego Botto deals with an Islamic terrorist cell as well as the kidnapping of resolute Paz Vega's son. Fine Federico Jusid score.

Memento (2000) As fragmentary as its hero's memories, an always intriguing, frequently dynamic thriller keeps characters distant and emotional resonance elliptical. Conflicted Guy Pearce deals with confounding Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano. Structured rather than appealing.

Spider-Man Homecoming (2017) Light touch coasts on the energy of eager Spidey Tom Holland and appealing cast, highlighting the comic, while individual action set pieces provide variable impact. Michael Giacchino's snappy, sparkling score helps immeasurably. Enjoyably unremarkable.

Spider-Man Far From Home (2019) Breezy continuation of tone and good-natured spirit with more expansive use of European tourist spots. Structure remains retread rather than revealing, though Zendaya's MJ adds texture, while songs and score spark energy to mirror the comedy. Little actual threat subdues real tension.

Down To Earth (1947) Burnished with a seductive Technicolor glow, disdainful muse Rita Hayworth brings art to a Broadway-bound musical before finding love and populism. Soft satire and mediocre musical numbers feed a Mr Jordan follow up with heaven an eternal escape. Some funny moments.

Fallen Angel (1945) Vivid imagery conjures atmosphere of dread noir, as a stark coastal Californian town offers deceitful Dana Andrews manipulative opportunities with innocent Alice Faye even as he is undone by contrary Linda Darnell. Third Act melodramatic tension finally fizzles.

The Thing From Another World (1951) Told with typically Hawksian, fast paced, over-lapping dialog and a bluntly effective visual style, remote army and scientists in the Arctic find an alien craft buried in the ice and contrive to let a killer escape. Nicely etched characters promote tension and thrills.

El Dorado (1966) Robustly casual and good-natured, maintaining a brisk pace through both comedy and action, disabled hired gun John Wayne and washed up sheriff Dean Martin team with old timer Arthur Hunicutt and inexpert gunman James Caan to confront crooked land owners. Enjoyably unoriginal.

The Miracle Season (2018) Unapologetically predictable, with strangely anemic sports sequences before rousing finale, as school volleyball team recovers after talismanic leader's death. Determined coach Helen Hunt and grieving father William Hurt give depth to emotion.

Films: December 23 - 29

Shattered (1991)

Kiss Of Death (1947)

Out Of The Past (1947)

Mildred Pierce (1945)

La Strada (1954)

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)

In Secret (2013)

Golden Gate (1994)

Time Without Pity (1957) ///

Shattered (1991) Polished, noir-soaked thriller, hinging on a third act surprise either shocking or ridiculous depending on your involvement. Tom Berenger is the amnesiac trying to uncover the truth about his car accident and wife Greta Scaachi. Bob Hoskins is the detective pet shop owner. Sharp, beguiling Alan Silvestri score.

Kiss Of Death (1947) Benefiting from bracing, unforgiving locations, blunt, brutish tale sees jailed robber Victor Mature seek revenge on grinning killer Richard Widmark. Though it finally backs away from bleak finality, enough grim melodrama and redemptive suspense to maintain interest.

Out Of The Past (1947) Weary, manipulated Robert Mitchum caught between jealous hood Kirk Douglas and devious lover Jane Greer is caught in a labyrinthine plot of murder and double-cross. Evocatively framed and designed, drenched with a sleek atmosphere of dark cruelty and sexual melodrama.

Mildred Pierce (1945) Expertly polished noir melodrama with a flashback structure revealing gutsy Joan Crawford's battered past, fortune making business and family and marital dysfunction. Suffused with desire and  murderous love, powerhouse star turn overcomes dry narrative stretches.

La Strada (1954) Spun with textured threads of humanity by Giulietta Masina, Anthony Quinn and Richard Basehart, a revealing journey of poetry, comedy and despair that lingers through gritty, burnished visuals. Small scale circus background allows physical performances to shine with soul.

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006) Superhero spoof never transcends or properly glories in its juvenile set pieces, further sabotaged with uninspired visuals and pace. Uma Thurman is the title character causing havoc with Luke Wilson's life. Anna Faris provides welcome comic energy.

In Secret (2013) Finely textured, oppressively designed, a commited cast is consumed by studied film making, murky lighting and dry tone. Elizabeth Olsen and Oscar Isaac's Parisienne affair ends in murder and suffocating guilt, a Thérèse Raquin adaptation lacking in passion and satiric resonance.

Golden Gate (1994) Spanning three decades of post WW2 racism against Asians, conflicted FBI agent Matt Dillon seeks redemption with love for resilient Joan Chen. Awkward narrative shifts and bland style subdue thematic ambitions as well as effective performances and production values.

Time Without Pity (1957) Freddie Francis provides dynamic visuals that aid broken Michael Redgrave's search to prove his son's innocence before he's executed for murder. Exposition tends to be stagey, contrasting with coarse locations. Cast provides typically robust melodramatics.