I enjoyed this movie a lot more than I was expecting. While its gender politics are certainly dated, it’s elevated by a uniquely paced script and some really charismatic performances across the board. The result is something both charming and evocative, compelling and jarring – the movie building relationships that hold a lot of weight and none at the same time. It’s a pretty interesting exercise and a pretty interesting film.

It’s pretty hard not to be totally charmed by this loud, jubilant (albeit extremely long) musical about family straddling a line of historic social change. It’s helped that it’s backed up by a ridiculously charismatic cast and a few genuinely bold sequences that catch your attention and hold it. More than anything though, it really is fun, which is more than a lot of big budget Oscar contenders are. 7.5/10,

This film feels like such a staple of so many childhoods, but funnily enough, I’d never actually seen it before I watched it the other day for this project. I can see why it is so treasured - it really is a lot of fun, and Angela Lansbury is, well, Angela Lansbury, and brings so much charm to a pretty hokey role. There’s a great energy, a fun vibe, and all in all it’s a pretty solid family fantasy film. 7/10.

This is an excellently shot documentary about a pretty interesting subculture of sport. It’s hyper masculine, and provides a compelling insight into a very specific world, and the men who are drawn to it. In that sense though, it also feels pretty self-indulgent, and probably would be more appealing to people already interested in motorcycle racing than people coming to it cold. 7/10.

Coming of age stories are generally my jam, and in that regard, this one isn’t bad. It explores the difficult positions of a group of boys struggling to find identity and purpose in the early 1970s. Unfortunately though, the relationships between those boys never quite feel developed enough to resonate, and the tragic ending feels almost more parody than drama as a result. 6/10.

There’s something pretty languid and unshowy about this movie, which gives it an air of authenticity and a sort of yarn like quality which is alternately cathartic and frustrating. It’s the anchoring of strong, subtle performances that really make the film though, and you feel for these characters as the slowly peel back their layers to reveal a complex, moving history. 7/10.

Oof, I mean. This movie feels more softcore porn with occasional dinosaurs than anything else. It’s fetishistic, lowkey racist and just - - really, really bad. Some of the shots aren’t bad, I guess? But still. This is definitely a movie you can give a miss. 2/10.

This movie is so incredibly well shot, it’s almost easy to cut it all the slack in the world. It’s a feast for the eyes, and the framing is just so, incredibly beautiful. Which sucks a little, because the rest of it is pretty average (albeit not bad!) - it’s way too long, the pacing never quite hits its stride, the script is obvious and expositional, and the performances are mostly just fine. Still, it’s worth it for the look of the thing. 7/10.