All of Us Strangers: Disney+ Movie Review

Cast: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Claire Foy, Jamie Bell

Director: Andy Haigh

A haunting and heartbreaking piece about what it means to be gay, All of Us Strangers draws an incredible performance out of Sherlock and Fleabag star Andrew Scott.

Scott is Adam, a writer who spends his days trying to concoct a screenplay while sequestered in his apartment in a high-rise building. With only one other inhabitant in the building, Adam's days are consumed with staring at a blank screen, watching daytime TV and consuming biscuits.

But when a fire alarm forces him out of the tower block building and he sights Paul Mescal's Harry, the two start a tentative relationship, which compels Adam to head back to see his parents (Foy and Bell) at his childhood home.

It's best to go into All of Us Strangers cold, as the screenplay, which bases itself on Strangers by Taichi Yamada, has a few twists and is open to much discussion post-viewing.

What's not up for discussion though is Scott's performance, an internalised slow-burn of a turn that delivers as much heartbreak as it does pain for Adam as he deals with his past, perceptions of how gay life was and is now and tries to negotiate his way in a world that changed within a generation.

A tale of grief and trauma, All of Us Strangers is tied together with some ethereal cinematography, a clever soundtrack that both signposts and propels the narrative and Scott's performance, which is largely done behind his eyes and whose subtleties mask an unenviable pain that can spin on a dime to joy as well. Scott is stunning in this - and while Mescal has picked up the chatter for his role, it's a lesser performance from him, but one that builds on the quiet accomplishments he imbued his character with in Aftersun.

Both Foy and Bell excel too, in largely sympathetic and empathetic performances as Adam's parents, echoing both the cares and concerns of families and expectations; there's much done with little here and it's incredibly moving to watch.

Ultimately, All of Us Strangers is a heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of human connection, of seeking to find answers in life and of finding love and peace within. Its ending will lead to plenty of discussion, thanks to breathtaking visuals and ideas that dabble in fantastical edges, but there's no mistaking All of Us Strangers will be part of the awards discussion come 2024.

All of Us Strangers streams on Disney+ from Wednesday April 24.

The Fall Guy: Movie Review

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Hannah Waddingham, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Winston Duke, Teresa Palmer
Director: David Leitch

Mixing both meta touches over the state of the industry, the introduction of AI and the continual ignoring of the stunt community with a romantic comedy and mystery all prove to be relatively fertile ground for The Fall Guy.

With only the slightest hint of narrative DNA from the 80s show, which starred Lee Majors, coursing through its veins, Leitch's film focuses on a ridiculously charismatic Ryan Gosling's stuntman Colt Seavers.

When Seavers is injured in a career-ending moment, he goes AWOL, ghosting both the apparent love of his life Jody (Blunt, who blazes strongly in the beginning before fading toward the end) and his beloved job.

Tempted back in, Seavers soon finds himself framed while shooting Metalstorm (a riff on the Australian-shot Mad Max film from George Miller) and blamed for the death of another stuntman....

The Fall Guy is a film that goes on too long and tries to stretch its wafer-thin plot as far as it will go, but it never fails to offer much more than a good time at the movies, with a ridiculously high level of stunts involved for all to enjoy.

It's squarely a love letter to the stunt community, but also one that plays with the tropes of the genres, and does so lovingly and with free abandon. Central to its success is the charm of Gosling, who channels both the comedy of his Nice Guys movie character and the charisma that's been deployed to maximum effect prior to this. It helps that initially Blunt proves to be an excellent sparring partner - in one early scene alone, the pair battle through their issues on an open set mid-shot, a quickfire rattle of a sequence that's both well written and well directed.

But ultimately, The Fall Guy becomes a victim of its own intentions.

Discussions within the film about how to solve Metalstorm's problematic third act seem to permeate much of The Fall Guy's third act, and the film collapses into a mess of action sequences that exist solely to provide an 80s-style OTT ending that Fall Guy creator Glen A Larson would no doubt be proud of.

Perhaps that's the point of The Fall Guy - to simultaneously send up the romantic comedy genre it's from and to inject commentary on today's cinema-making processes while doing so. That's no bad aim, and there's no denying The Fall Guy is a blockbuster piece of entertainment that has its heart aimed at showcasing the craft of movie-making with a star who continues to be endlessly watchable.

What's on Prime Video in May

Here's everything streaming on Prime Video in May.

COMING TO PRIME VIDEO MAY 2024

THE IDEA OF YOU

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 2 MAY

Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centres on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mum who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter’s trip to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex bails at the last minute, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and there is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn’t long before Hayes’ superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.

The Idea Of You stars Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo, Reid Scott, Perry Mattfeld, Jordan Aaron Hall, Mathilda Gianopoulos, Raymond Cham Jr., Jaiden Anthony, Viktor White, and Dakota Adan.

THE TEST

SEASON 3 AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON FRIDAY 24 MAY

The Test Season Three follows the Australian men’s cricket team as they embark on a gruelling tour of England and face off against cricket’s two great superpowers: India, with a star-studded lineup featuring the legendary Virat Kohli; and England, who have redefined their game under Ben Stokes with their hyper-aggressive “BazBall” style of play. This season will explore the untold, emotional, and personal stories behind the iconic sporting moments, as the players are confronted with merciless opponents, hostile crowds, and the pressure of a legacy-defining tour. Players such as Captain Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, and Alex Carey reflect on key moments with their families, as they also navigate the dual challenges of excelling at the highest level of cricket while juggling their treasured roles as fathers, sons, and husbands.

MAXTON HALL - THE WORLD BETWEEN US 

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 9 MAY

This highly-anticipated romantic drama is based on Mona Kasten’s bestselling novel Save Me, from her award-winning novel trilogy, Maxton Hall. When Ruby unwittingly witnesses an explosive secret at Maxton Hall private school, the arrogant millionaire heir James Beaufort has to deal with the quick-witted scholarship student for better or worse. From that point on, the handsome student tries to buy Ruby’s silence. And although the two come from different worlds, they will soon risk everything to be together…

Maxton Hall - The World Between Us star Harriet Herbig-Matten, Damian Hardung, Sonja Weißer (Tatort) Ben Felipe, Fedja van Huêt, Runa Greiner, Justus Riesner, Clelia Sarto, Andrea Guo (Der Schwarm), Eidin Jalali (Der Schwarm). 

OUTER RANGE

SEASON TWO AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 16 MAY

Outer Range centres on Royal Abbott, a rancher fighting for his land and family, who discovers an unfathomable phenomenon at the edge of Wyoming's wilderness, in the form of a dark void. The mystery surrounding the enigmatic void on the west pasture of the Abbott family ranch deepens in Season Two, as Royal and his wife Cecelia struggle to keep their family together in the aftermath of their granddaughter’s sudden disappearance. The stakes have never been higher for the Abbotts, who now face threats on multiple fronts. Outer Range’s second season propels its characters deeper into the void with profound and unforeseen circumstances that could shake the very foundations of time itself.  

Outer Range S2 stars Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots, Lili Taylor, Tamara Podemski, Lewis Pullman, Tom Pelphrey, Noah Reid, Shaun Sipos, Isabel Arraiza, Olive Abercrombie and Will Patton.

CLARKSON’S FARM

SEASON THREE PART 1 AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON FRIDAY 3 MAY

PART 2 AVAILABLE ON FRIDAY 10 MAY

The third series of Clarkson’s Farm finds Diddly Squat facing some seriously daunting challenges. The crops are failing in the severe hot weather, inflation has driven prices of supplies sky high, dreams for the beloved restaurant are dashed and now the farm shop also faces closure. Jeremy urgently needs to come up with creative new ways of making ends meet, so hatches a plan to turn a profit from hundreds of acres of unfarmed land - thick woodland and hedgerows that make up half of Diddly Squat. This triggers an avalanche of Clarkson-crafted schemes, involving everything from goats and pigs to mushrooms, nettles and deer. Someone new arrives to Diddly Squat, which puts Kaleb's nose out of joint – as well as the returning characters all working to help Jeremy’s farming ambitions come to fruition.

THE GOAT

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 9 MAY 

Fourteen reality superstars - from Bachelorette to Housewives to Survivors To Drag Racers and everyone in between - move into GOAT Manor to face off in a brand new, hilarious competition show, hosted by Daniel Tosh. They will compete in over 20 challenges, earning and breaking one another's trust as they battle it out for $200k…and the title of Greatest Of All Time. The “herd” of competitors includes Tayshia Adams (The Bachelor franchise), Joe Amabile (The Bachelor franchise, Dancing with the Stars), Kristen Doute (Vanderpump Rules), Reza Farahan (Shahs of Sunset), CJ Franco (FBoy Island), Wendell Holland (Survivor), Teck Holmes (The Real World, The Challenge), Justin Johnson/Alyssa Edwards (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Paola Mayfield (90 Day Fiancé), Da’Vonne Rogers (Big Brother, The Challenge), Joey Sasso (The Circle, Perfect Match), Jason Smith (Holiday Baking Championship), Lauren Speed-Hamilton (Love Is Blind), and Jill Zarin (The Real Housewives of New York City).

FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES 

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON FRIDAY 17 MAY 

This new docuseries follows country music legends Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, and their friends, as they set out to build the ultimate oasis: a honky-tonk in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. In this six-episode journey, Friends in Low Places unveils the complex and insightful experience of creating Garth and Trisha’s dream venue. In Episode 1 titled, "Blame It On All My Roots," viewers receive an intimate look into Garth Brooks' beginnings, while he blends personal narratives with behind-the-scenes footage of the honky-tonk's construction. Additionally, viewers dive into the trials and triumphs that shaped Garth's journey from Oklahoma's honky-tonks to the heart of Music City.

ARTHUR THE KING

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON FRIDAY 10 MAY 

Over the course of ten days and 435 miles, an unbreakable bond is forged between pro-adventure racer Michael Light and a scrappy street dog companion dubbed Arthur.Based on an incredible true story, Arthur The King follows Light, desperate for one last chance to win, as he convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic. As the team is pushed to their outer limits of endurance in the race, Arthur redefines what victory, loyalty and friendship truly mean.

Arthur The King stars Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman, with Bear Grylls as Himself, and Paul Guilfoyle.

EXPEND4BLES 

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON MONDAY 13 MAY 

A new generation of stars join the world's top action stars for an adrenaline-fueled adventure in The Expendables 4. Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries and Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world's last line of defence and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give "new blood" a whole new meaning.

Expend4bles stars Jason Stathan, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Sylvester Stallone, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Iwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran and Andy Garcia. 

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 16 MAY 

‘Country Music’s Party of the Year’ returns to Prime Video exclusively. The 59th Academy of Country Music will feature the biggest stars, emerging talent and unforgettable live performances that will captivate fans worldwide. Artists nominated this year include Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Morgan Wallen, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.

THE BLUE ANGELS

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 23 MAY

The Blue Angels have been enthralling people, across the U.S and around the globe, for more than 75 years.  From producers JJ Abrams and Glen Powell, The Blue Angels  will take audiences soaring with the U.S. Navy’s elite Flight Demonstration Squadron as never before. Filmed for IMAX, the immersive footage puts you in the cockpit for a firsthand view of the Blue Angels’ precision flying, while the aerial shots deliver a spectacular showcase of the breathtaking manoeuvres that have made them the world’s premier jet team. The Blue Angels also takes audiences behind the scenes for a revealing, in-depth look at what it takes to become a Blue Angel—from the careful selection process to the challenging training regimen, and on through the demanding eight-month show season.

The Blue Angels is produced by J.J. Abrams and Glen Powell

MAY 2024 TOP PICKS:

THE IDEA OF YOU (MOVIE) 2/05/24

YOUNG ROCK S1 (TV) 2/05/24

CLARKSON'S FARM S3 PART 1 (TV) 3/05/24

ABOUT MY FATHER (MOVIE) 3/05/24

BRING HIM TO ME (MOVIE) 6/05/24

MURIEL'S WEDDING (MOVIE) 7/05/24

GRAN TURISMO: BASED ON A TRUE STORY (MOVIE) 8/05/24

MAXTON HALL - THE WORLD BETWEEN US (TV) 9/05/24

THE GOAT S1 (TV) 9/05/24

CLARKSON'S FARM S3 PART 2 (TV) 10/05/24

ARTHUR THE KING (MOVIE) 10/05/24

EXPEND4BLES (MOVIE) 13/05/24

COLUMBO S1-S9 (TV) 15/05/24

OUTER RANGE S2 (TV) 16/05/24

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS (EVENT) 16/05/24

EDGE OF TOMORROW (MOVIE) 19/05/24

THE TIME TRAVELLER'S WIFE (MOVIE) 21/05/24

THE BLUE ANGELS (MOVIE) 23/05/24

THE TEST S3 (TV) 24/05/24

THE DIVE (MOVIE) 28/05/24

THE EQUALIZER 3 (MOVIE) 29/05/24

THE OUTLAWS S3 (TV) 31/05/24

Robot Dreams: Movie Review

An-all ages animation that may be one of the sweetest and simplest stories told, Robot Dreams is awash with colourful creations and a vibrancy that's hard to deny.

Spanish writer-director Pablo Berger (Blancanieves) adapts Sara Varon’s graphic novel about a dog who feels lonely in the city of New York into something quite heartbreaking at points.

Dog lives in 80s New York, longing for connection and surrounded by others in the city whose lives have been brought together. Answering an advert for a robot companion, Dog finds his world opened up suddenly by possibilities as the pair wander around the city. 

But when circumstance separates them, the two find their lives irrevocably changed.

Dialogue-free and left only to come alive with the sounds and music of the city, Robot Dreams is a delight - a colourful paean to loneliness and overcoming it with resilience and finding the joy in others. Moving and unnecessarily uncomplicated, Robot Dreams' simple animation and beautifully unfiltered sentiment will break even the most of cynical of hearts.

Retaining a cartoon strip aesthetic, the film's pace comes from its engaging appeal and the eternal tale of friendship. To say it's not groundbreaking in many ways feels like a disservice, but in truth, the uncomplicated tale is much more effective because of the way the narrative unfolds.

Final scenes are bittersweet, mixed as they are with joy and sadness - there won't be many an adult who won't take a deeper meaning over relationships and the ebb and flow of time from this film, and there won't be many children who will adore the characters and be inspired to provide them with further adventures at home via drawings and imagination.

Anatomy of a Fall: Blu Ray Review

A film that's about micro-aggressions, subtleties and nuance, Justine Triet's tale of a writer who's accused of killing her husband when nobody was around, Anatomy of a Fall is a film that revels in its ambiguity. 

Toni Erdmann's Sandra Hüller plays writer Sandra, a German who moves to the snowy isolation of the Alps, with her husband and son Daniel, who's partially sighted after an accident. When Daniel returns from a walk with the beloved family dog, he finds the body of his father, who's seemingly fallen from the attic where he was working.

Protesting her innocence, and facing trial, Sandra finds every facet of her life pored over.

It may be a little ponderous as it negotiates its 150 minute run time, but most of what transpires in Anatomy of a Fall is largely fascinating as it dissects and eviscerates marriages, compromise and the frailties relationships demand and also destroy.

Hüller works well with the greyer edges of the story, and while a lot becomes about the trial, she's never showy throughout, even when various truth bombs are lobbed her character's way. Samuel Theis also deserves commendation for his role as the husband, which is largely confined to one superb flashback that proves to be a flashpoint. 

Ultimately, it's Hüller's performance in the mire of ambiguity that helps Anatomy of a Fall rise from its courtroom set latter half. Wisely choosing not to make her a victim, but subtly acknowledging that there's very rarely just one side to blame in relationships, Triet builds a film that compels and appalls in equal measure.

Less about the reality and truth, and more about the journey and the consequences thereafter,  the Palme D'Or winning Anatomy of a Fall proves to be a compelling watch and a fascinating study of human interaction.

Priscilla: Blu Ray Review

Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi
Director: Sofia Coppola

Adapted from Priscilla Presley's own memoir Elvis and Me, Virgin Suicides director Sofia Coppola's take on the Elvis story is a stark and at times uncomfortable piece of viewing, that doesn't place Elvis in a great light.

Set against the backdrop of the start of Priscilla's young relationship with Jacob Elordi's Elvis, Priscilla feels like a series of scenes tacked together in a vague semblance of a story, rather than a constrained narrative.

Though it's ironic given the amount of control Elvis is seen exerting on Priscilla that perhaps Coppola didn't choose to deliver a stronger tied together film. Unlike Baz Luhrmann's almost-hagiographic take on the King, Coppola is more interested in portraying the seemingly uncomfortable side of Elvis as he manages pills, guns and the desire for Priscilla to stay and "keep the home fires burning". 

Spotted when she was just 14, Coppola's film pinpoints the grooming element of the relationship as Priscilla is inducted into the Elvis entourage and is swept up by jealousies of tabloid reports of relationships with other stars as well as the whirl of fame.

While parts of Priscilla are told from her point of view, the majority of the film seems to alienate her from her own storyline as she becomes suffocated in the grip of Elvis' world. Spaeny is perfectly fine as Priscilla, but is more an ethereal wisp wafting through Graceland and the related tribulations throughout, rather than driving matters.

Perhaps that's what ultimately Coppola wanted to do - create a film that's more about aesthetics and atmosphere rather than a damning portrait of the Blue Suede Shoes singer. Certainly she doesn't paint him in a good light, and Euphoria's Elordi makes a good fist of ensuring the character has the swagger and the charm as the domestically violent monster seethes underneath.

Ultimately, Priscilla may feel hollow to many; and in truth, parts of it feel largely constructed and constrained. But as the smothering of the Priscilla grows throughout, there's a feeling of discomfort and unhappiness that's hard to shake.

An abrupt end doesn't help matters and the feeling of catharsis is slight, but Priscilla is less interested in conforming to expectations and equally less interested in flattering all of its key subjects. 

Origin: Movie Review

Cast: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Nick Offerman

Director: Ava DuVernay

More like a TED talk than an actual narratively connected film, Ava DuVernay's occasionally didactic take on author Isabel Wilkerson's seminal book "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" does make a strong case for her theory about racism being part of the caste system.

But DuVernay's occasionally aloof and at times dense film does require a lot of its viewers as it traverses both Wilkerson's life and her theory.

Ellis-Taylor delivers an approachable and watchable performance as Wilkerson as she endures tragedy in her own life, but despite this, the film is less interested in the personal and more concerned with the theory espoused - and no matter how richly it looks on screen, the film somehow manages to maintain an emotional aloofness despite what could be emotive edges.

Perhaps more successful are the moments between Ellis-Taylor and Bernthal, though for obvious reasons those are shortened in the overall film's construction. But it's here they bristle with humanity and warmth.

The rest of the film though lacks subtlety and becomes more of a test of the theories Wilkerson has adopted and has researched. It helps little that a rousing score is deployed at opportune moments to boost its poignancy and while that occasionally is no bad thing, it does leave a feeling the audience can't be relied on to make their own judgement calls.

Ulitmately Origin will test some viewers' resolve; in parts, it offers glimpses of what could be a movie more aimed at presenting a stronger and more urgent message to support its theories. But in others, its lack of subtlety proves to be almost fatal. It has important messages to say, and in parts does it well enough.

Stylistically, Origin represents something different and while it's not entirely successful throughout, a rousing over-the-credits film by New Zealander Stan Walker delivers as much as power as should be mustered throughout.