Films: March 17 - 23

Knives Out (2019)

Kreuz des Südens (The Village) (2015)

Tiger Bay (1959)

His Girl Friday (1942)

Aloft (2015)

The Calendar (1948)

Article 99 (1992)

A Night To Remember (1942)

My Darling Clementine (1946)

Murder On The Orient Express (2017) ///

Knives Out (2019) Playful and tartly humorous with enough devious twists of narrative and perspective to propel otherwise standard whodunnit conventions. Enjoyment remains in process of revelation as quirky Daniel Craig investigates and Ana de Armas keeps secrets. A polished package.

Kreuz des Südens (The Village) (2015) Clean visuals and keen sense of location set up past secrets against contemporary prejudices, as physically and mentally hurt detective Andreas Lust returns to his childhood home to find murder and a mistrustful Franziska Weisz. Solidly engaging.

Tiger Bay (1959) Gritty locations and atmospheric visuals underpin compelling tale of edgy murderer Horst Buchholz and tense relationship with child witness. John Mills is the dogged detective in sometimes overwrought melodrama grounded by striking, natural Hayley Mills performance.

His Girl Friday (1942) Giddy, breakneck comedy, piling up gags and verbal games with polished ease and spontaneous relish, building a fearless momentum as manipulative editor Cary Grant spars with uncompromising star reporter Rosalind Russell. Unflagging pace retains fresh appeal.

Aloft (2015) Creating an unsettling atmosphere through sharp imagery and inventive sound, oblique style becomes as inpenetreble as character and story. Jennifer Connelly finds meaning as a healer, Cillian Murphy is her neglected son, Mélanie Laurent seeks a cure. Committed performances, little truth.

The Calendar (1948) Underwhelming drama dances fringes of comedy without embracing cohesive narrative. Stiffened, enclosed situations result in stuffy stage adaptation as John McCallum is faced with losing his racing stable and caught between avaricious Greta Gynt and generous Sonia Holm.

Article 99 (1992) Messy collision of righteous social anger over treatment of US military veterans with black comedy featuring doctors as unhinged as the patients. Blandly made, never builds needed momentum despite efforts of diverse cast. Isolated moments hint at searing potential.

A Night To Remember (1942) Positive newlywed Loretta Young finds Greenwich apartment to inspire blocked and caustic mystery writer husband Brian Aherne. Dead body in yard and suspicious neighbors provoke spirited attempts at humor and thrills, yet interplay remains dry and throwaway.

My Darling Clementine (1946) Expressive visuals conjure sense of place and character with an evocative, myth-making purity, as Henry Fonda's conflicted Wyatt Earp and Victor Mature's troubled Doc Holliday march to a legendary gunfight. Beguiling storytelling, drama with a poetic rush.

Murder On The Orient Express (2017) Handsomely conceived and infused with typically persuasive Patrick Doyle score, Kenneth Branagh (and mustache) highlights plot artifice in solving murder on stranded train. Fine cast, famously devious resolve, little tension or off-setting humour.