VOD: Nomadland (dir: Chloe Zhao, 2021)

 "It's always what's out there that's more interesting."

Based on real experiences, the big winner at the 2021 Oscars is a mightily powerful and thoughtful film.  Fran, a sixty-something widow, hits the road when her hometown and its industry shuts down after the economic collapse, played with another  superlative performance by Frances McDormand that is mesmerising to watch.  Chloe Zhao is the real breakout here, with her thoughtful and intelligent direction showing a real sense of vision and control throughout.  Everything about the film feels well judged, from Ludovico Einaudi's simple but evocative score to the use of composition/framing throughout.  As well as looking visually stunning, the film also proves to be unexpectedly emotionally engaging, perfectly balancing the sense of community and isolation that goes with this way of life, Zhao's quasi-documentary style and the fictional/epic storytelling elements, and also the commentary on this very specific aspect of modern America with a profound personal journey that makes Nomadland a very powerful, impressive and affecting film indeed.

VOD: Tom Clancy's Without Remorse (dir: Stefano Sollima, 2021)

 "I'll show them what a pawn can do to a king!"

Without Remorse is an upmarket revenge-thriller with military/conspiracy theory dressing that sees Michael B. Jordan star as an elite Navy SEAL whose squad is being picked off by the Russians back on American soil after a successful mission, and after surviving an attack on his home in which his pregnant wife is murdered becomes hell-bent on serving justice to those responsible, both directly and politically.  Michael B. Jordan obviously elevates the material with a trademark top-notch performance, and with a strong supporting cast who are sadly saddled with rather limitedly-written  characters (Jodie Turner-Smith, Jamie Bell, Guy Pearce), the film is well-shot, it has slick and efficient action set pieces, but its attempt to update old-school Cold War politics and the Death Wish revenge plot gives it the feel of a rather routine but well-executed potboiler.  Look out for the mid-credits sequel-baiting scene. 

VOD: The Mitchells vs The Machines (dirs: Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe, 2021)

"So, let's get weird!"

This quirky and utterly endearing family movie from Sony starts off with the emotional beats of a Pixar movie as a likeable and relatable slightly-dysfunctional family prepares to see their film-making-obsessed daughter go to college and the parents decide to turn it into one last family road trip...and then this charming family animation turns into a frantic and delightfully bonkers robot-apocalypse survival movie - and it works!  It is bright, breezy, colourful and energetic, with terrific humour ranging from pure slapstick to on-the-money meta references and snarky one-liners, and it plays consistently strongly right to the very end.  The Mitchells vs The Machines is a smart, fun-filled adventure that is hugely entertaining.
 

VOD: Things Seen & Heard (dirs: Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, 2021)

"People get away with all kinds of horrible things."

Things Seen & Heard has a lot of good elements going for it but it does not quite work as a whole.  Moving from the big city to a more remote location for the husband's  new lecturing job, the increasingly isolated wife finds herself experiencing supernatural experiences in the new home whilst becoming increasingly distrustful of her husband, leading to the failing marriage becoming the battleground for spirits of previous owners.  What sounds like a potentially exciting mix of ideas for story becomes however an underwhelming combination of afternoon-TV-movie-relationship thriller and The Amityville Horror, with the thriller elements coming too late and the supernatural aspects developed haphazardly.  Amanda Seyfried turns in a solid performance here, and James Norton has his usual strong moments but finds himself with some character beats that any actor  would struggle to play effectively.  The ending could have worked with better writing but comes off as mindbogglingly silly to round off this wayward and not-totally-satisfactory film.
 

VOD: Anti-Life (dir: John Suits, 2021)

"How do I get off this ship?"

This weak sci-fi-action-thriller has little in terms of action or thrills.  Yet again we are treated to The Thing and Alien's greatest hits as an alien parasite evolves and works its way through the awake grunts on board a starship carrying the last humans to a new planet.  Cody Kearsley tries hard to inject some life into his lead character, whilst Bruce Willis barely registers in a very lacklustre performance, and the whole film has a grinding flatness about it that makes it disappointing and hard to sit through.
 

VOD: Sound Of Metal (dir: Darius Marder, 2021)

"What are you gonna do now?"

Sound Of Metal follows the journey of an indie/rock drummer who suddenly becomes profoundly deaf in a hugely impressive and engaging movie.  The central character is written richly and brought to life by a hugely detailed, open, intelligent and sympathetic performance by Riz Ahmed.  The sharing of the protagonist's changes in hearing experiences is realised superbly through excellently-handled audio and editing work, but the emotional journey is just as well conveyed through strong writing and thoughtful direction, making Sound Of Metal an important yet enjoyable film to experience.
 

VOD: Pixie (dir: Barnaby Thompson, 2020)

"She won't just break you.  She'll take a Kalashnikov to your heart."

Two rather naive Irish losers/best friends find themselves way out of their depth when they get embroiled in drug-dealing and a criminal feud and go on the run with the alluring and more-wordly Pixie in this slight but funny film.  Playing like a Martin McDonough movie but without the lacerating darkness, Pixie proves to be a wild and silly ride, with the chemistry of the three leads working well (and the best performance by Ben Hardy) and a delirious mix of effective verbal and sight gags that is most entertaining.
 

VOD: Love And Monsters (dir: Michael Matthews, 2021)

"Time to let someone else make the minestrone."

Weak title aside, Love And Monsters turns out to be a surprisingly fun and well-made YA  romp.  The tone of Zombieland and Tremors both loom large in a very positive way, as mutated creatures rule a post-apocalyptic-event Earth and the remains of humanity live underground, with our (anti-)hero choosing to face a difficult overground journey to another outpost to find his high-school crush.  Supported by decent CGI effects and a sweet dog companion, Dylan O'Brien once again proves to be a reliable and personable young lead who carries the whole film well in a lightweight but entertaining movie overall.