The Brown Note Movie Review

One of the buzziest internet-rap stars of the last couple of years, makes distinctive wall-of-sound melodic rap, that is very post Chief Keef, even more Playboi Carti and a little Salem. It's pleasant stoner music/head music but could do with a wider variety of attack.

It's a set up and environment worthy of a computer game, with two high class leads and being beautifully shot and produced. However the tonal shifts and a world that doesn't seem explored enough, along with a lot of plot conveniences to facilitate the story, it's only just worth it.

I'm a huge fan of Gerard Butler tilting towards being a B movie action titan in mold of Liam Neeson or Jason Statham and loved the grimy, flawed Heat via Training Day via Bad Lieutenant charms of the original. Happily this seems to now have morphed into a franchise, though shifting in tone to a near buddy comedy, it still does enough.

In an immortal era for British indie guitar music, out of the holy trinity of BCNR, Black Midi and Squid - they are now the only ones with either their original lead singer or who haven't split entirely. Their excellent third album is every bit as good as their first and a tiny bit less so than their classic second. Another cohesive, oblique look at the absolute state of society and the world around them.

Abel Tesfaye's last outing as The Weeknd, allegedly, caps a magnificent modern pop trilogy. It may be a little more diluted than After Hours, or Dawn FM due to its incredible length but it still showcases a the most thematically fascinating modern pop star and his peerless voice, melody and production.

Another of the big Oscar contenders and one of the most unexpected. What I thought would be some dour indie love drama, is actually the funniest screw-ball comedy in years. It's laugh out loud hysterical throughout with a mega-watt powerhouse lead. Though if you've a low tolerance for hardcore sex/nudity/drug taking and swearing, you might want to give it a wide berth.

Writer-Director Brady Corbet enters the big league of hugely ambitious auteurs, with this intermission requiring epic, chronicling the post WW2 life of a holocaust surviving Jewish architect. A near masterpiece and understandable front runner at this years Oscars, though if the astonishing acting masterclass given by Adrien Brody gets beaten by nepo baby Timothy Chamalet's Bob Dylan impersonation for best actor, there truly is no god.

Thoughts on the most tepid Oscars in modern history. What's been missed - from a stellar year in horror to high profile performances by veteran actresses (Pamela Anderson, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst) that were all ignored. The issue of category fraud (I'm looking at you best supporting) finally gets talked about and why the only thing I really care about is nepo baby Timothy Mid-strength Chamalet and Dune being shut out. Good luck to The Substance, Anora, The Brutalist and Conclave though.

This immaculately made drama about anointing a new Pope, is far from dry or austere, but exciting and entertaining. More like House of Cards in its evocation of the behind the scenes political machinations and deal making involved in the process. Sadly a couple of very distracting and misguided story elements arrive right at the end, in an almost ruinous manner. SPOILER ALERT as I discuss that ending.

Scottish Post-rock titans, Mogwai, have been on a fine run of pretty decent new albums in recent years. However, though they sound very much alive, one of their only genuine peers, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, have been making relevant and vital music that rivals the best they've ever done. Here is a godlike band, dipping their toes into very inconsequential and unambitious music that in no way is worthy of them.