Films: April 7 - 13

Awake (2007) 

My Spy The Eternal City (2024) 

The Beekeeper (2024) 

Libre (Freedom) (2024)

The Fall Guy (2024) 

The Divorce Party (2019) 

La Dolce Villa (2025) 

Voleuses (Wingwomen) (2023) 

First Blood (1982) 

Rambo First Blood Part II (1985) ///

Awake (2007) Unnerving prospect of wealthy Hayden Christensen remaining conscious while undergoing heart surgery devolves into credulity-stretching thriller plot before collapsing under metaphysical confusion. Solid production lacks kinetic style to sell twists and whip up intended thrills.

My Spy The Eternal City (2024) Harmless comedy action sends CIA agent Dave Bautista to Italy as chaperone to teen apprentice Chloe Coleman, who's on a school choir trip. Unsurprisingly, kidnappings, chases and bomb plots ensue; unfortunately, wit and thrills are lacking, and attractive locations lack character.

The Beekeeper (2024) Starting off more as a meditation on honey production and online scams PSA, revenge plot eventually lets retired killer Jason Statham run amok to pulverize enemies and blow up buildings. Brooding style just avoids parody, yet remains devoid of actual thrills, unable to embrace furious action potential.

Libre (Freedom) (2024) Slickly produced and energetically staged, true-life basis of charismatic thief Lucas Bravo spins through series of brazen robberies, arrests by dogged cop Yvan Attal, and audacious escapes, yet story's soul remains relationship with lover Léa Luce Busato. Always engaging, tonal and thematic shifts never quite coalesce.

The Fall Guy (2024) Snappy pace and playful leads maintain amusing tone, as injured stuntman Ryan Gosling is coaxed out of retirement to work on director and ex-girlfriend Emily Blunt's sci-fi epic. Action and behind-scenes chaos is solidly handled; thriller plot centered on missing star Aaron Taylor-Johnson less sure.

The Divorce Party (2019) Amiable comedy provides mild diversion as stifled architect Thomas Cocquerel is abruptly dumped by controlling wife Claire Holt and persuaded by equally brittle Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz to embrace newly liberated life. Unfussy style hits familiar beats.

La Dolce Villa (2025) Picturesquely bland Tuscan locations serve as anonymous background for prudent widower Scott Foley's reconnection with impulsive daughter Maia Reficco, budding romance with dedicated mayor Violante Placido and rediscovery for love of cooking. Inoffensively engaging though sorely lacking in drama.

Voleuses (Wingwomen) (2023) Bright, propulsive action comedy features spontaneous Adèle Exarchopoulos and decisive Mélanie Laurent as thieves looking to break from controlling boss Isabelle Adjani. Despite awkward end, generous spirit embraces central friendship with shade and heart.

First Blood (1982) Brawny, atmospheric production overcomes increasingly implausible events with Sylvester Stallone's unflinching Vietnam vet surviving sheriff Brian Dennehy's violent manhunt. Despite genre conventions, rugged locations and focused performers deliver action thrills.

Rambo First Blood Part II (1985) Blunt, blistering adventure returns Sylvester Stallone's vet to Vietnam, recovering abandoned POWs while shooting, knifing and blowing up vast swathes of enemy and land. Almost parody of itself, politics and character as reductive as ragged narrative.

The Gentle Sex / The War Game (T5)

The Gentle Sex (1943)

directed by Leslie Howard

original story and screenplay by Moie Charles

additional dialogue by Aimee Stuart

Observations Of A Mere Man written by Doris Langley Moore

cast featured: Lilli Palmer

from The War Game

narrated by John Mills

part of the TV series Best Of British

full episode available at https://youtu.be/_qyRX-BS8a4

more on the series at bit.ly/BOB-ff

Best Of British is a TV series celebrating the history of British films from the 1930s to the 1980s. Designed as entertainment for a broad audience, each episode examines a different theme or genre through extensive use of clips and minimal narration.

Narrated by John Mills and Anthony Quayle, 5 seasons of 67 episodes were produced, and provide a comprehensive and unique look at the creative vitality of British film heritage.

SEASON ONE, EPSIODE SIX – THE WAR GAME

Narrated by

Sir John Mills

During World War II, British film achieved an artistic and technical mastery even while working within the confines of propaganda requirements. Stirring, emotional stories that endured and also influenced war movies in the years afterwards.

Films featured: 49th Parallel (1941), Conspiracy Of Hearts (1960), The Gentle Sex (1943), Henry V (1944), In Which We Serve (1942), The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943), The Malta Story (1953), A Matter Of Life And Death (1946), Millions Like Us (1943), Reach For The Sky (1956), Sea Of Sand (1958), A Town Like Alice (1956), Waterloo Road (1945), The Way Ahead (1944), The Way To The Stars (1945), We Dive At Dawn (1943)

Stars featured: Celia Johnson, Noël Coward, David Niven, Stanley Holloway, Kenneth More, Roger Livesey, John Mills, Trevor Howard, Patricia Roc, Lilli Palmer, Anton Walbrook, Eric Portman, Percy Herbert, Peter Ustinov, Laurence Oliver, Jack Hawkins, Kim Hunter

BEST OF BRITISH

Written & created by

Ashley Sidaway

Robert Sidaway

and

Maurice Sellar

Lou Jones

Produced by

Robert Sidaway

Maurice Sellar

Find out more about Best Of British:

Friendship Films website https://bit.ly/BOB-ff

Wikipedia https://bit.ly/BOB-wiki

IMDb https://imdb.to/38hwgvx

Further videos at:

Best Of British playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK4RsnIVzQW4fva0s2vQV7DyqdxDtkAy

Millions Like Us / The War Game (T3)

Millions Like Us (1943)

written and directed by Frank Launder, Sidney Gilliat

cast featured: Patricia Roc

from The War Game

narrated by John Mills

part of the TV series Best Of British

full episode available at https://youtu.be/_qyRX-BS8a4

more on the series at bit.ly/BOB-ff

Best Of British is a TV series celebrating the history of British films from the 1930s to the 1980s. Designed as entertainment for a broad audience, each episode examines a different theme or genre through extensive use of clips and minimal narration.

Narrated by John Mills and Anthony Quayle, 5 seasons of 67 episodes were produced, and provide a comprehensive and unique look at the creative vitality of British film heritage.

SEASON ONE, EPSIODE SIX – THE WAR GAME

Narrated by

Sir John Mills

During World War II, British film achieved an artistic and technical mastery even while working within the confines of propaganda requirements. Stirring, emotional stories that endured and also influenced war movies in the years afterwards.

Films featured: 49th Parallel (1941), Conspiracy Of Hearts (1960), The Gentle Sex (1943), Henry V (1944), In Which We Serve (1942), The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943), The Malta Story (1953), A Matter Of Life And Death (1946), Millions Like Us (1943), Reach For The Sky (1956), Sea Of Sand (1958), A Town Like Alice (1956), Waterloo Road (1945), The Way Ahead (1944), The Way To The Stars (1945), We Dive At Dawn (1943)

Stars featured: Celia Johnson, Noël Coward, David Niven, Stanley Holloway, Kenneth More, Roger Livesey, John Mills, Trevor Howard, Patricia Roc, Lilli Palmer, Anton Walbrook, Eric Portman, Percy Herbert, Peter Ustinov, Laurence Oliver, Jack Hawkins, Kim Hunter

BEST OF BRITISH

Written & created by

Ashley Sidaway

Robert Sidaway

and

Maurice Sellar

Lou Jones

Produced by

Robert Sidaway

Maurice Sellar

Find out more about Best Of British:

Friendship Films website https://bit.ly/BOB-ff

Wikipedia https://bit.ly/BOB-wiki

IMDb https://imdb.to/38hwgvx

Further videos at:

Best Of British playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK4RsnIVzQW4fva0s2vQV7DyqdxDtkAy

The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp / The War Game (T2)

The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943)

written & directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

with acknowledgments to David Low creator of the immortal Colonel

cast featured: Roger Livesey

from The War Game

narrated by John Mills

part of the TV series Best Of British

full episode available at https://youtu.be/_qyRX-BS8a4

more on the series at bit.ly/BOB-ff

Best Of British is a TV series celebrating the history of British films from the 1930s to the 1980s. Designed as entertainment for a broad audience, each episode examines a different theme or genre through extensive use of clips and minimal narration.

Narrated by John Mills and Anthony Quayle, 5 seasons of 67 episodes were produced, and provide a comprehensive and unique look at the creative vitality of British film heritage.

SEASON ONE, EPSIODE SIX – THE WAR GAME

Narrated by

Sir John Mills

During World War II, British film achieved an artistic and technical mastery even while working within the confines of propaganda requirements. Stirring, emotional stories that endured and also influenced war movies in the years afterwards.

Films featured: 49th Parallel (1941), Conspiracy Of Hearts (1960), The Gentle Sex (1943), Henry V (1944), In Which We Serve (1942), The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943), The Malta Story (1953), A Matter Of Life And Death (1946), Millions Like Us (1943), Reach For The Sky (1956), Sea Of Sand (1958), A Town Like Alice (1956), Waterloo Road (1945), The Way Ahead (1944), The Way To The Stars (1945), We Dive At Dawn (1943)

Stars featured: Celia Johnson, Noël Coward, David Niven, Stanley Holloway, Kenneth More, Roger Livesey, John Mills, Trevor Howard, Patricia Roc, Lilli Palmer, Anton Walbrook, Eric Portman, Percy Herbert, Peter Ustinov, Laurence Oliver, Jack Hawkins, Kim Hunter

BEST OF BRITISH

Written & created by

Ashley Sidaway

Robert Sidaway

and

Maurice Sellar

Lou Jones

Produced by

Robert Sidaway

Maurice Sellar

Find out more about Best Of British:

Friendship Films website https://bit.ly/BOB-ff

Wikipedia https://bit.ly/BOB-wiki

IMDb https://imdb.to/38hwgvx

Further videos at:

Best Of British playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK4RsnIVzQW4fva0s2vQV7DyqdxDtkAy

In Which We Serve / Reach For The Sky / The War Game (T1)

In Which We Serve (1942)

directed by Noël Coward & David Lean

by Noël Coward

cast featured Celia Johnson, Noël Coward

Reach For The Sky (1956)

directed by Lewis Gilbert

screenplay by Lewis Gilbert

additional scenes by Vernon Harris

based on the book by Paul Brickhill

cast featured Kenneth More

from The War Game

narrated by John Mills

part of the TV series Best Of British

full episode available at youtu.be/T3lPmeDfUB0

more on the series at bit.ly/BOB-ff

Best Of British is a TV series celebrating the history of British films from the 1930s to the 1980s. Designed as entertainment for a broad audience, each episode examines a different theme or genre through extensive use of clips and minimal narration.

Narrated by John Mills and Anthony Quayle, 5 seasons of 67 episodes were produced, and provide a comprehensive and unique look at the creative vitality of British film heritage.

SEASON ONE, EPSIODE SIX – THE WAR GAME

Narrated by

Sir John Mills

During World War II, British film achieved an artistic and technical mastery even while working within the confines of propaganda requirements. Stirring, emotional stories that endured and also influenced war movies in the years afterwards.

Films featured: 49th Parallel (1941), Conspiracy Of Hearts (1960), The Gentle Sex (1943), Henry V (1944), In Which We Serve (1942), The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943), The Malta Story (1953), A Matter Of Life And Death (1946), Millions Like Us (1943), Reach For The Sky (1956), Sea Of Sand (1958), A Town Like Alice (1956), Waterloo Road (1945), The Way Ahead (1944), The Way To The Stars (1945), We Dive At Dawn (1943)

Stars featured: Celia Johnson, Noël Coward, David Niven, Stanley Holloway, Kenneth More, Roger Livesey, John Mills, Trevor Howard, Patricia Roc, Lilli Palmer, Anton Walbrook, Eric Portman, Percy Herbert, Peter Ustinov, Laurence Oliver, Jack Hawkins, Kim Hunter

BEST OF BRITISH

Written & created by

Ashley Sidaway

Robert Sidaway

and

Maurice Sellar

Lou Jones

Produced by

Robert Sidaway

Maurice Sellar

Find out more about Best Of British:

Friendship Films website https://bit.ly/BOB-ff

Wikipedia https://bit.ly/BOB-wiki

IMDb https://imdb.to/38hwgvx

Further videos at:

Best Of British playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK4RsnIVzQW4fva0s2vQV7DyqdxDtkAy