joannekate Reviews

My Policeman (2022)

A beautiful, sad, important film.

[9/10 · 10 November 2022]

I thought this would just be a "something to watch" film whilst my partner was out one evening. I didn't expect it to make me cry huge snotty sobs by the end.

It starts off a bit slow, a bit flashback, fifties 'boy meets girl'. But it develops into so much more. Gina McKee is excellent, as the quiet, patient wife who brings home long time family friend Patrick to nurse after he's suffered a stroke. Soon, the back story of the past begins to unravel and you see that this is no ordinary love story.

Harry Styles was Harry Styles, predictably, but his acting was good. David Dawson was wonderful as the charming young Patrick, slowly seducing his handsome Policeman.

I found Emma Corrin a bit unlikeable.....cold and slightly wooden.

Rupert Everett was almost silent, but fairly formidable.

The music score is just beautiful all round.

My sympathies were so torn between the three characters, and really, nobody won. I guess that's what struck me most. That men were tried, criminalised and imprisoned, beaten and sometimes killed for who they were and who they loved still makes me angry and ashamed. That people couldn't live their true lives and love who they wanted to love is heartbreaking. Tom and Patrick lived their entire lives lonely and unhappy, but so did Marion. She lived a lie too.

It made me think of the thousands of unhappily lived lives, sham marriages, lonely wives and tormented husbands. Of the sadness and heartbreak of not being able to live the life you deserve, with the person you truly want to love.

I loved My Policeman. It's a quietly wonderful film.

Don't Worry Darling (I) (2022)

Unexpectedly good

[9/10 · 25 October 2022]

I had read the dreadful reviews on here and was hesitant to even watch this as everyone had given it a bit of a bashing. I watched it with an open mind and I did really enjoy it. Florence Pugh is brilliant....a very good actress who portrays a woman slipping slowly from perfection in life into something strange and add sinister with aplomb. I loved the sets, the backdrop of pastels and fifties fashions is great....it reminded me of the little town in Edward Scissorhands - the American dream lifestyle. Shades of Stepford wives begin to kick in when you realise everything is too perfect and something really isn't right. The music used in the film is wonderful. Fifties jazz and soul really transports you back to the era. Harry Styles is fairly good. I'm pretty sure that any other competent actor could have portrayed the character just as well, but he wasn't dreadful. It's very watchable and I genuinely didn't guess the twist at the end.

Malignant (I) (2021)

Made me howl with laughter

[5/10 · 25 October 2022]

I am a huge horror fan, and the beginning of this film really had my hopes up that it was going to be great. I'd read the rave reviews on here and was very excited that it would be fantastic! The house that it's set in is beautiful and there are shades of Insidious and Sinister, both of which I love, in the first half an hour or so. The story then gets so absolutely ridiculous, the special effects are like a video game, the whole thing becomes like some comedy parody of a B movie that you literally can't help laughing! The last half hour is dreadful. I watched it on my own on a dark and stormy night and I was snorting with laughter. It could have been great. It's a shame. I guessed the "twist" about half way through, even though it was so silly and unbelievable. If you want a chuckle, give it a go. If you want an intelligent scary film, I'd give it a swerve!

Surge (I) (2020)

Moving portrait of a spiral into mental illness

[9/10 · 5 December 2021]

I love Ben Whishaw, and this is strangely reminiscent of ' Perfume: Story of a Murderer.' It's a fairly arty film, shot in a very modern way. It takes place over twenty four hours and details the slide into mental meltdown of a young airport worker, Joseph. He's a bit of a loner, has obviously had a bit of a traumatic upbringing with a strict, grumpy Father and a downtrodden Mother. His job is mundane, he has few friends and is struggling with lonliness.

His descent into mental decline is almost reminiscent of ' Joker', as it almost feels as though Joseph is becoming liberated and free ad he begins to run amok in London. I really liked it, and thought Ben Whishaw was convincing and likeable. I was on his side all the way through.

Making a Murderer (2015–2018)

Heartbreaking but compelling

[10/10 · 24 October 2018]

I literally could not stop watching this, even though it was difficult, frustrating, heartbreaking viewing. The best and most gripping documentary I have ever seen.