Films: September 1 - 7

Lunana A Yak In The Classroom (2019)

The Gray Man (2022)

Dishonored Lady (1947)

Military Wives (2020)

Teuksong (Special Delivery) (2022)

Forty Guns (1957)

Sundown (1941) 

Where'd You Go, Bernadette (2019)

The Desperate Hour (2021) ///

Lunana A Yak In The Classroom (2019) Captivating, simply told tale luxuriates in broad landscapes at once hostile and beguiling, as aspiring musician Sherab Dorji is sent to remote mountain village as teacher and finds initial antipathy melting away. Effectively detailed emotions.

The Gray Man (2022) Exhaustingly bland actioner encompasses set pieces that never cohere into invloving narrative or develop character investment. Both visually expensive and cheaply staged, appealing cast seem to be in different films. Spy confusion at least improves after deflating open.

Dishonored Lady (1947) Convoluted melodrama luxuriates in fashion world background before transforming to psychological crime after lively Hedy Lamarr has emotional breakdown and goes on trial for murder. Story elements never quite coalesce, tension dissipated by time of predictable resolve.

Military Wives (2020) Appealing true source material of spouses creating choir delivers best with healing camaraderie and ensemble comedy drama, though misses opportunities when concentrating on Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan. Conventional predictability hums rather than soars.

Teuksong (Special Delivery) (2022) Tightly coiled Park So-dam, expert delivery driver coldly blasting through city streets with callous disregard for law if price is right, finds life upended when package is a kid. Propulsive, kinetic style ends in bloodshed. Finely tuned entertainment.

Forty Guns (1957) Sweeping, dynamic visuals inform high western melodrama as resolute Barbara Stanwyck controls Tombstone ranch through brute strength of her hired guns until the arrival of gritty U.S, Marshall Barry Sullivan. Wickedly, bluntly subversive as well as glorious fun.

Sundown (1941) Mysterious local leader Gene Tierney proves an alluring presence for British officers Bruce Cabot and George Sanders as well as support to defeat an aggressive tribe while war clouds descend on East Africa. Intrigue and production remains rather flat despite cast efforts.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette (2019) Messy and unconvincing, skill of filmmakers and performers maintains interest, as demanding Cate Blanchett escapes to Antarctica to rediscover her creativity. Bouncing between character study and society satire, uneasy structure results in curious lack of involvement.

The Desperate Hour (2021) Apart from brief bookends, sole focus is with practical Naomi Watts on morning run through remote forest when alerts come through of shooting at her kids' school. Compulsive, affecting lead compensates for uneasy mix of suspense twists and social message.