Synopsis: A dramatisation of how two New York Times reporters encouraged victims to go on the record and share their experience of sexual assault by Harvey Weinstein, ultimately leading to his downfall and sparking the #Metoo movement.

Likes: Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan play reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor and are both excellent. They capture the delicate nuance between never losing sight of their goal for justice with the emotional toll taken by such a horrific subject. Never seeing Weinstein’s face is an effective portrayal of his monstrous character; a sinister villain, desperately clinging to the power he has left, through deceit and bullying.

Dislikes: Despite its best efforts, a side effect of sticking to the facts means there isn’t a whole lot of drama. The journalism on which the film is based is of course important, but two hours of watching these persistent writers call and email the victims, doesn’t make for the best entertainment.

Rating: 6/10

Synopsis: Unassuming husband and father ‘Bud’ (Jamie Foxx) has a secret job as a vampire slayer. After breaking one too many vampire hunter code violations he has to team up with pencil pusher Seth (Dave Franco) in this action comedy.

Likes: It’s fun and silly and doesn’t require any attention to keep up with the plot. It didn’t really make sense but if you’re looking any deeper than surface level, you’re watching the wrong film. I’m pretty sure I laughed a few times and didn’t hate it.

Dislikes: It feels like a simple video game from thirty years ago, working through levels, with various bosses to be beaten until the ultimate boss in the final scene. I forgot about it very quickly after watching which has made writing this review a challenge.

Rating: 5.5/10

Synopsis: Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet) is spending the summer days with his family at their 17th-century villa in Lombardy, Italy. He soon meets Oliver (Armie Hammer), a personable exchange student who's working as an intern for Elio's father. As their friendship blossoms they experience an awakening desire that alters both of their lives.

Likes: The cinematography of the villa and nearby town is beautiful. An enduring yellow hazy hue makes the intense Italian summer heat palpable as you can easily imagine every bite of food, every dip of a foot in water, every fly buzzing around. Hammer is fantastic as this magnetic, charismatic student whilst Chalamet isn’t overshadowed in his portrayal of a tortured teenager, at war with his own feelings.

Dislikes: The running time is just over two hours, but it felt longer. Whilst I enjoyed both lead performances, Elio’s inner turmoil overdid it for me. Whether this was the script, or a decision by Chalamet, I don’t know, but it became a little unbelievable.

Rating: 6.5/10

Synopsis: A body mysteriously discovered at the bottom of a mountain is investigated by detective Hae-joon. He suspects the dead man's nonplussed wife Seo-rae, but as he digs deeper he becomes increasingly involved with the widow and caught up in a web of lies.

Likes: It’s a clever murder mystery that respects its audience and doesn’t spell everything out. I appreciate this and am happy to work that bit harder to keep up with the flashbacks and the slightly surreal fantasy scenes. There are some clever twists as you come to expect from director Park Chan-wook.

Dislikes: It’s another film which felt a little on the long side. It couldn’t have been edited down further as the story needs time to cook to make the reveals pay off, however for something so ultimately melancholic and tragic, there isn’t enough to keep the audience boosted. Watching Glastonbury highlights from this weekend, it reminded me of seeing Arctic Monkeys’ set, but this film is as if they only played songs from their new album. No one wants that. It’s a shame because I’ve loved several of Park Chan-wook’s older films; Oldboy and The Handmaiden are worth checking out if you’ve not had the pleasure.

Rating: 6/10

Synopsis: Based on the role-playing game, this fantasy comedy centres around a charming thief (Chris Pine) and his band of unlikely adventurers as they embark on an epic quest to retrieve a long lost relic.

Likes: I vaguely remember seeing this come out earlier in the year and didn’t give it a second thought until I heard it being highly recommended by a comedian I like. I gave it a try and it’s genuinely funny throughout. Strong cast with Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant all having a lot of fun leaning into their characters’ roles.

Dislikes: The story is a bit incidental and I’m sure there are hundreds of nods towards D&D that flew straight over my head. Other than that I don’t have any complaints! It was a refreshing romp.

Rating: 6.5/10

Synopsis: A young couple (Nicholas Hoult and Anya Taylor-Joy) visit an exclusive restaurant on a remote island, where acclaimed Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish tasting menu. Everything is not as it seems in this dark comedy-horror as the menu courses become increasingly unconventional.

Likes: It’s unsettling throughout; there’s a constant feeling something isn’t quite right and you’re waiting for all the initial niceties to peel back and reveal the sinister truth. It’s not a horror in the classic sense of jump scares or evil monsters, more an insight into how damaged people can be complicit in truly awful acts. I love films like this and end up thinking about them for days after.

Dislikes: Once that metaphorical curtain is pulled back, the grossness (and therefore momentum of the film) peaks and it kind of just plays out as intended. It could have ramped up a bit slower and saved the biggest shocks for the final act.

Rating: 7.5/10