Films: October 10 - 16

Mouse Hunt (1997) 
St. Vincent (2014)
Oculus (2013) 
Women Talking (2022) 
Učiteľka (The Teacher) (2016)
Bear Island (1979) 
Walk A Crooked Mile (1948) ///

Mouse Hunt (1997) Giddy comedic thrust carries minimal plot with series of outsized slapstick sequences as disdainful Nathan Lane and naive Lee Evans inherit broken-down mansion and find themselves at war with tricky mouse. Inventive design and kinetic style serve to elevate laughs.

St. Vincent (2014) Confidently good-natured comedy drama which efficiently structures pay-offs of redemption and realization as suffering Bill Murray agrees to babysit stressed new neighbor Melissa McCarthy's son. Calculated sentimentality checked by earthy performers, including Naomi Watts' lost and pregnant hooker.

Oculus (2013) Obsessed Karen Gillan and recovering Brenton Thwaites are siblings facing up to possessed mirror and childhood events that led to parents' deaths. Stylish understatement and melding of past and present brew unnerving atmosphere even if end feels more elongated tease than dark resolution.

Women Talking (2022) Engrossing rather than elevating, considered visuals focus on strength of group resilience in face of stifling community's male abuse as they debate to break free. Uniformly effective ensemble cast enforce contemporary political relevance even if emotional release remains subdued.

Učiteľka (The Teacher) (2016) Dry, scathing humour permeates poisonous drama of teacher Zuzana Mauréry exploiting parents in return for promoting students' academic results. Elegant visuals conjure playful 80s aesthetic while strong performances revel in sharply drawn characters and political shadings reverberate.

Bear Island (1979) Robustly staged action on vast, icy landscapes punctuate more mundane murder-mystery where everyone on artic expedition to study climate change could be killer after Nazi gold. Solid cast struggle with clunky exposition while numbing plot twists fail to engage.

Walk A Crooked Mile (1948) Shaped with blunt visuals that make solid use of San Franciscan locations, routine spy plot teams FBI agent Dennis O’Keefe with Scotland Yard detective Louis Hayward to break Russian gang and American traitor smuggling scientific secrets. Never builds convincing energy.