Film Fight 2023: September

#FF23 Meg 2: The Trench is a fairly flat sequel to the ridiculous original.

It spends a lot more time with the badly-written characters, and less time with big sharks eating things. For a Big Shark Eating Things movie, that's a real minus point.

Forgettable.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 10, 2023

#FF23 The Equaliser 3 sees the franchise switch to an. Italian coastal town.

The action is good, but gets less screen time. The plot is fine but weirdly paced. Everything just kinda works without being particularly great. A perfectly fine action movie with decent moments.

Okay.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 10, 2023

#FF23 Strays is a fun comedy concept, following a dog out for revenge and finding friendship.

Some funny moments, but it goes back to the same well a little too often (I get it, dogs pee). Lightweight, but reasonably made.

Decent.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 10, 2023

#FF23 Past Lives is a melancholy look at missed opportunity and what could have been.

While the end drags a little, the pacing is otherwise great; lots of slow, deliberate steps. It's a pensive film, that doesn't try to take an easy route.

Very good.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 30, 2023

#FF23 No-One Will Save you is a bit of a mixed bag.

As a near-silent alien invasion film, it's damn near jaw-dropping, full of tension and excellent set pieces. When it tries to be a vague metaphor for trauma, it falls flat.

Worth seeing, but expect to roll you eyes.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 30, 2023

#FF23 Dumb Money is a look at the Game Stop short squeeze.

It tries to manufacture tension by bringing in lots of perspectives, but fails to do anything interesting or examine the subject particularly deeply.

Fine but forgettable.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 30, 2023

#FF23 Bottoms is about two friends who create a fight club to try and hook up with their crushes.

It's funny, original, stylish, keeps moving fast, and hits an interesting tone. Everything is a little off in a way that just kinda makes sense. Solid performances too.

Excellent.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 30, 2023

#FF23 Reptile is a difficult film to watch, about a murder and its investigation.

It's meanderingly paced and far too long, but there's something hypnotic about the tone. You'll see many of the twists coming but it's really more about the feel of the thing.

Okay.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 30, 2023