Critical Week: Pucker up

This week I attended the UK premiere of Jeanne du Barry, which opened last year's Cannes Film Festival. And there was a very rare red carpet appearance by Johnny Depp, who introduced the film with filmmaker-costar Maiwenn. It's a great film, a lavish true costume drama with an earthy edge to it. (Yes, I snapped pics for Instagram as always - see below). And then there was the lively press screening of Luca Guadagnino's new film Challengers, which stars Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist in perhaps the most detailed love triangle ever put on film. It's absolutely breathtaking cinema.

BEST OUT THIS WEEK:
If Only I Could Hibernate
Jeanne du Barry • The Book of Clarence
Boys on Film 24 Happy Endings
ALL REVIEWS >

Also this past week, I caught up with Matthew Modine as a cycling coach in Hard Miles, a warm-hearted true story that feels a bit obvious but still inspires. Jo Hartley leads an ensemble of British comical actors in the hilarious mock-doc Swede Caroline, although the plot spirals out of control. The French Canadian comedy-tinged romance The Nature of Love is a bracingly honest look at the rules of attraction, beautifully directed and played by a terrific ensemble cast. The Mexican drama All the Fires finds new things to say in a darkly involving coming-of-age story. I attended the premiere of the bracingly energetic music doc Bass Impact, which outlines the history of dubstep with real flair. And we also had the short film compilation Boys on Film 24: Happy Endings, which is said to be the final edition of the long-running series (I've covered all of them).

This coming week I'll be watching Justice Smith in The American Society of Magical Negroes, Nikki Amuka-Bird in Jericho Ridge, the historical drama Kidnapped, the German drama Elaha, and two spider-based horror movies: Infested from France and Sting from Australia. I also have two stage performances to attend.

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Critical Week: Never grow up

Even with cinemas back open, this has been an odd week for press screenings: I've had none in actual cinemas, only the links to watch at home, reminiscent of those lockdown months. It's an odd lull, but then nothing is quite back to normal yet. Release schedules are getting back on track, although options for moviegoers don't feel quite as varied as they should be. Still, there are some good ones out there.

BEST OUT THIS WEEK:
Coda • Free Guy • The Courier
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
Misha and the Wolves
ALL REVIEWS >

The films I watched this week were the usual offbeat bunch. Wendy is a stylish, fantastical and oddly bleak spin on Peter Pan from Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild). Charming the Hearts of Men is a warm Southern drama starring Anna Friel and Kelsey Grammer, touching political issues with a low-key charm. Crime Story stars Richard Dreyfuss and Mira Sorvino in a fascinating true story that refuses to fit the formula. From India, Shershaah is an epic true-life war movie that vilifies the enemy but also has a cute romantic subplot. From Denmark, Wildland is a dry, edgy drama about a family that values loyalty over morality. From Ecuador, The Legend of Tayos painstakingly documents the search for ancient treasure in a cave system shrouded in mystery. And there are five well-made European shorts in the collection Boys Feels: I Love Trouble, each of which explores the fallout from breaking the rules.

This coming week, I'll be watching Marion Cotillard in Annette, Henry Golding in Snake Eyes, Hugh Jackman in Reminiscence, horror thriller Jakob's Wife, friendship drama The Land of Owls and an animated remake of Around the World in 80 Days.