The Roses (2025)

My initial thought when I heard this adaptation of The War of the Roses would be directed by Roach was that it might lean into the silly, the over the top battling of soon-to-be exes, and the trailers did push it in that direction. However fortunately it actually spends more time on the relationship between its lead characters than on the revenge. And that part of the movie is quite good. It's often quite smart and endearingly funny. The final act, which falls into the cliches of divorce is less so but it feels like the film knows this, sort of rushing through it so that it doesn't have to spend much of its time there. The only downside is that it doesn't give its final moments enough time to truly resolve and therefore loses some of it punch. 

The Roses examines the ways marriage itself can eat away at connection between the parties. Neither Colman or Cumberbatch's characters are ideal humans but they are both quite relatable and generally lovely, facing very real world (for upper middle class white people anyway) challenges and the film does a nice job of diving into this. The script is funny, if sometimes a bit loose, and it is delivered with a charming dexterity by the film's too amazing leads, actors who can do almost anything, and have surprisingly good chemistry together. 

So while I very much enjoyed it, The Roses left me wanting near the end as they descend into a silliness which just saps some of the power of the rest of the film for laughs which don't quite feel worth it all. I think there is a darker movie here which could have truly taken the characters into a sort of madness and then redemption in a way that might have been more heartfelt. However, as I mentioned earlier, the ending is rushed and less honest than what had come before, and I wasn't sure I entirely bought the final moments. But still, Colman and Cumberbatch are both so good (as are the supporting cast) that The Roses makes for some good, if not perfect, viewing that does ask us to consider some questions about marriage and relationships and perhaps laugh a little too. 

The Roses 

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Alison Janney, Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, Kate McKinnon 

Director: Jay Roach

Writer: Tony McNamara

The Toxic Avenger (2025)

Despite a bumpy road Macon Blair's love letter to B-moves is finally getting its release and thank goodness cause it is a whole lot of fun with undercurrents of brilliance running through it. With its underground aesthetics, subversive messaging layered into its excessively conspicuous plot, and its heavy use of practical effects The Toxic Avenger is intentionally designed to feel like its from another age, yet its morals couldn't be more modern. It also embraces the legacy of its brand (and its genre) by leaning into silly gore in ways that are clever and damn entertaining. 

Dinklage truly shines here. While being both funny and silly, he also brings a heavy amount of pathos to his role as widowed step father trying to do right by his teen step-son. His relationship with Tremblay is sweet in a genuine way despite how tongue in cheek the movie is trying to be. Their chemistry is so strong make sure you stick around for the post-credit scene which works entirely on the strength of their relationship. 

Macon has woven quite subtly a lot of modern critiques into this otherwise very blatant, in your face film. I appreciated how many throw away lines made sharp, insightful points while we are laughing at some absurdity. This film is smart and fun and sweetly sentimental while bathed in a lot of fake looking gore and blood. 

The Toxic Avenger

Starring: Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige,Julia Davis, Jonny Coyne, Elijah Wood, Kevin Bacon

Writer/Director: Macon Blair 

Caught Stealing (2025)

I have to confess I've never really liked an Aronofsky movie. I think that may have changed with his adaptation of the Huston novel Caught Stealing, a crime thriller with just enough humour to keep it from wallowing in its quite dark storyline but not tipping over into self-satire. This is the sort of film one could see Tarantino directing, which likely would have taken the film down a far more over-the-top path. Instead, Aronofsky plays it cool, sticking to the story, and letting the emotional beats hit themselves while delivering a gripping tale centred around a very likeable, and rather lucky, protagonist. 

The film's story (from the novel) does require a certain amount coincidental confluences of events that keep it from feeling overly realistic which is why Aronofsky's restrained direction makes it work. He has assembled a strong cast around Butler who truly pulls off the lead character's arc in a way that keeps us invested in him. This story could have easily jumped the shark and there may be a few moments that made me scratch my head, including a fridging moment which boarders on exploitative yet also is used to set up so much of the plot's resolution. In fact a lot of characters have to die for our central character to make it out alive, but I found the film pays respect and makes us all feel the losses without getting too weighed down in the misery nor shrugging it off with inopportune humour. 

I felt is all came together rather well and set up what could be a film series if Butler and Aronofsky are so inclined. I normally do not find Aronofsky's choices to be ones I am interested in, but this film, a bit more commercially minded and accessible, is made in the way I enjoy a good commercial movie to be made, with a bit more brains and a strong cast doing good work. So while his "artier" films aren't to the taste of how I like my "arty" films, perhaps our aesthetics related to mainstream movies are a bit more aligned.

Caught Stealing

Starring: Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D'Onofrio, Benito A Martínez Ocasio (Bad Bunny), Griffin Dunne, Carol Kane, Laura Dern

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Writer: Charlie Huston

The Thursday Murder Club (2025)

It isn't often a film has a cast as wonderful as this. The rest of my review may sound a bit critical so I want to say first off how much I enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club, and that is entirely due to just how wonderful watching all these actors together was. Mirren, Brosnan, Kingsley, Imrie, Pryce, Grant... legends everyone. Ackie and Tennant are some of my favourite working actors right now. It was impossible for me not to have a fun time with all of these talents gathered together. 

Having said that The Thursday Murder Club suffers from best-seller-itis symptoms. Like a lot of popular fiction it is designed to hit all the typical plot points in the most mundane and accessible ways to be generally pleasing over being actually interesting or intellectually challenging. It doesn't help that it is directed by the ultimate paint-by-numbers director working in Hollywood. There is no flare or mystery to this mystery. 

*Slight Spoilers* Also the mystery best-seller genre is rife with stories that are woven to be a series of red herrings with an unlikely twist revealing who'd you'd least expect. So the trick is to simply expect the least expected no matter how convoluted the path to getting there needs to be. The Thursday Murder Club is a primary example of this problem. The fact that resolution is centred around likeable characters we are sympathetic to feels less inventive and more formulaic. 

Yet, as I said in the beginning. I enjoyed it immensely anyway, despite all its flaws. While a film like this had the potential to be very rewatchable, its extreme blandness likely lessons the fun of any subsequent viewings. However would I be excited if they announced a seuqel with this cast coming back? You bet your sweet bippy I would. 

The Thursday Murder Club

Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Johnathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Richard E Grant, Tom Ellis

Director: Chris Columbus

Writers: Katy Brand, Suzanne Heathcote

Ne Zha 2 (2025)

After the success of the first Ne Zha it is clear the producers felt they could go all in on the sequel and they do. It is an epic film, a visual feast, and a set up for even more to come. They know they are on to something that audiences around the world are eating up and they are going for it. And it's paying off with Ne Zha 2 becoming the highest grossing animated film in the world.

As I already mentioned Ne Zha 2 is truly epic in scope. The cast is huge and the adventure is big. The film is almost 2 1/2 hours and fills all of its runtime with action and drama. It never feels like it's repeating itself or stretching from the first film's premise. The film maker has built a truly immersive world and filled it with fun characters. 

Like the first, the story does often feel... convenient. Fantasy stories often suffer from the creators being able to just pull whatever rabbit out of their hat they wish to advance the story or create a set back when needed. But the adventure is so much fun and so intense its easy to forgive the short cuts. 

My main critique is more of a personal taste issue. I can't remember the last time there was this much toilet (literally) humour in a film. That never works for me but it doesn't seem to be turning off audiences. But be warned there are some intense dark moments that might make this a hard watch for younger viewers. The runtime may hinder their enjoyment too.

Ne Zha has found a unique visual style which both feels a part of its cultural tradition and very new. There is no denying this is a gorgeous film to watch and a truly good time. The film ends with an expectation there will be more and it's hard to imagine after how successful this has been that we won't be seeing part 3 sometime soon. 

Ne Zha 2

Starring: Crystal Lee, Aleks Le, Michelle Yeoh, Vincent Rodriguez III

Writer/Director: Jiaozi

 

Eenie Meanie (2025)

Eenie Meanie is the sort of film that has a lot of great ideas and a lot of good parts, but doesn't quite come together in a way that works well. While it isn't a terrible watch and manages to be entertaining enough, most of it feels like it could have been better. It just doesn't quite click. There is a better film somewhere here in this story. 

Let's talk about what's good. The big thing is the cast. Weaving is clearly capable of leading a film and she does a good job here but her character isn't written quite well enough for her to truly shine. But her co-star Glusman has a breakout moment. I haven't felt he's been overly impressive in most of the films I've seen here, but his role in Eenie Meanie is a scene stealer, and he rises to the occasion. He is delightfully entertaining throughout. This movie has a far better cast than what you might expect and they all step up. I think the film's flaws would be even more obvious without them doing such a great job. 

The film's biggest weakness might be how it sets out quite a few large barriers that it never quite overcomes. Weaving's relationships are set out as quite unhealthy and it never quite redeems them enough for where they go. This is a 90 minute movie that needs more time to flesh out its story and characters. There is a great car chase near the end and some quite funny moments, and overall I wanted to be invested in what I was watching. I'm just not sure it earns all the pathos needed to really sell this successfully. 

Eenie Meanie

Starring: Samara Weaving, Karl Glusman, Jermaine Fowler, Marshawn Lynch, Randall Park, Steve Zahn, Andy Garcia 

Writer/Director: Shawn Simmons 

Night Always Comes (2025)

I found director Caron's previous film, Sharper, interesting if not perfect, and Night Always Comes feels like a step up, perhaps due to the central performance by Vanessa Kirby who truly gets to show off just how talented she is with this complex and fascinating performance. The film follows her character over the course of one night as she navigates one set back after another attempting to salvage what she can of her plan for herself and her brother while so much of her past catches up with her. She is riveting. 

The film does a good job of setting up just how classist structures prevent many people from pulling themselves out of precarious circumstances. One of the things I have found interesting is the way much of the criticism this film has taken is centred around judging the main character's choices, in the same way our culture often judges the choices of those who live day to day without the security of knowing how next week's costs are going to be paid. The meta text here proves much of the movie's point. 

For me Caron's visuals are beautiful here even if his narrative telling doesn't always feel smooth. Still Night Always Comes is extremely watchable despite some of the powerfully troubling moments in the story. Caron has shot a visually rich film. But most of what makes it work is Kirby truly shining through as the incredible actor she is, supported by what is mostly a very talented cast, especially Leigh, Gottsagen, and James. 

Night Always Comes

Starring: Vanessa Kirby, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Zack Gottsagen, Stephen James, Randall Park, Julia Fox, Michael Kelly, Eli Roth 

Director: Benjamin Caron

Writer: Sarah Conradt