Best Of British (56-60)

The Cassandra Crossing (1976)

March Or Die (1977)

Mayerling (1968)

The Haunting Passion (1983)

The Man In The Iron Mask (1977) ///

The Cassandra Crossing (1976) Unknowingly infected with a lab-created virus, a terrorist escapes on a train packed with uneasy stars spinning a confusion of subplots. Thriller proves a convoluted mess, though technical skill sees isolated thrills and Jerry Goldsmith conjures up a fine score.

March Or Die (1977) Sombre foreign legion adventure, as haunted Gene Hackman hardens soldiers to face ferocious Arab battle. Dry tone blunts impact, though lively Terence Stamp & tenacious Catherine Deneuve provide colour amid some impressively staged action, and themes of cultural abuse & anti-war fatalism.

Mayerling (1968) Lush production values lend impressive scale to tragic love story between willful Catherine Deneuve and agitated Omar Sharif. Politics of fading Austro-Hungarian Empire and court intrigue provide engaging context. Lacks intensity despite committed performances.

The Haunting Passion (1983) Emotionally isolated from retired football star husband, Jane Seymour is seduced by a ghostly presence in new coastal house. Unfussy production nicely conjures menacing, alluring atmosphere and resonant ending, despite threadbare effects and flimsy development.

The Man In The Iron Mask (1977) Lively, attractively produced adaptation with a superior cast realizing the swirls of court intrigue and manipulation. Breezy pacing spices up drama while Richard Chamberlain is persuasive as twins vying for the French throne and Jenny Agutter provides grounded emotion.

Films: November 10 - 16

Byooti Insaideu (The Beauty Inside) (2015)

Mr Harrigan's Phone (2022)

Gijeok (Miracle: Letters To The President) (2021)

The Vast Of Night (2019)

The Good Nurse (2022)

Starman (1984)

The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017)

Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021) ///

Byooti Insaideu (The Beauty Inside) (2015) Stimulating setup creates cursed life where protagonist wakes each day as a different person, man or woman, young or old. Though it sidesteps more textured thought, production is stylish and heartfelt as Han Hyo-joo compellingly sees beyond surface.

Mr Harrigan's Phone (2022) Coming of age drama & supernatural suspense receives polished production as unrepentant Donald Sutherland sends messages from beyond to budding writer Jaeden Martell. Intriguing, yet lack of thrills & thematic connection undermines emotional investment.

Gijeok (Miracle: Letters To The President) (2021) Endearing humor of rural community and need for railway stop provides foundation for unwinding emotion as tentative Park Jeong-min's relationship with taciturn father Lee Sung-min and supportive sister Lee Soo-kyung is revealed. Moving, rewarding conclusion.

The Vast Of Night (2019) Told with austere assurance and inventive visuals, 50s small town atmosphere smartly established as eager Sierra McCormick and confident DJ Jake Horowtiz track down alien audio signal. Effortless style builds quietly enveloping tension that leads to gripping resolution.

The Good Nurse (2022) Made more cruelly disturbing by true story origins, vulnerable nurse Jessica Chastain comes to rely on friendship with considerate colleague Eddie Redmayne, until his empathy unravels to reveal a serial killer. Clinical visuals and performances maintain bleakly effective atmosphere. 

Starman (1984) Tenderly judged storytelling keeps characters and narrative journey effectively simple, as still grieving Karen Allen is visited by alien Jeff Bridges who takes on her late husband's form. Sleek visuals spur chase by authorities, while potent leads develop unusually poignant sci-fi love story.

The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) Languid assassin Samuel L Jackson and agitated security expert Ryan Reynolds cause havoc across Europe, gratuitously synthetic action and pop violence punctuated with self-aware wordplay and a maniacal Gary Oldman. Mild comic interest amid glossy production values.

Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021) Fiery Salma Hayek adds some energy to numbing sequel that, despite persuasive visual sheen, never rises above intermittently interesting action and comedy. Bickering Samuel L Jackson and Ryan Reynolds run on dialog fumes with floundering narrative.