The Brown Note Movie Review

King Richard (2021)

This biopic of Serena and Venus Williams indomitable father, is obvious Oscar bait but has a decent stab at a worthy subject. Centered by a possible career best from a triumphant Will Smith, after wallowing in a career low for that last few years. The screenplay doesn't match his performance and we could do with a lot more grit but it's certainly emotionally satisfying and exciting entertainment.

Red Notice (2020)

I must admit I stand in opposition to the hugely negative response to the most expensive Netflix film in history. It wasn't as cynical or bombastic as I'd been led to believe, it's actually kinda amiable and fun. Even, dare I say it, quite elegant. The mega watt leads are good value, the long form set pieces well executed and I didn't feel that dirty after watching it.

Venom 2 (2020)

The only achievement this sequel, to a highly lack-luster original, has to its name is doing everything the first did badly, even worse. The charm of Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams withstanding, nearly everything is rubbish, it has half the story and some of the worst CGI $200 million can buy.

The Best And Worst Films Of 2021

Exactly what it says it is, with a worst film of the year guaranteed to be a popular choice.

Was 2021 The Worst Year For Art This Century?

Working our my usual radio show end of year best-of lists, I was struck by how weak 2021 was - across albums, movies and tracks, the lamest of the century, why?

Albums Of The Year 2021

In the weakest year for albums, tracks and movies of the century.

The French Dispatch (2021)

I've long detested Wes Anderson as the epitome of a director that substitutes kooky and try hard comedy for his lack of artistic substance and 'Dispatch maybe his MOST Wes Anderson film of all. Seemingly a film that consists of no connective tissue and functions far more asa  movie about Wes Anderson movies than about the journalists and writers it tries to celebrate.

The Last Duel (2021)

Do not believe the hype about this box office bomb. I was expecting more of the turgid, awful Kingdom of Heaven style Ridley Scott than Gladiator Ridley Scott - yet this is his most complex, ambitious and challenging film of his career. Of course it tanked - it's closer in tone to an art-house medieval flick like this year's The Green Knight than something rousing and dynamic like Gladiator. A timely, adult and provoking film bolstered by it's three act play - the same story from each of an excellent Matt Damon's, Adam Driver and Jodie Comer's differing perspectives, taking a sobering look at consent, pulling no punches or offering easy answers. The cherry on top of one of the most under appreciated films of the year is it's near verbatim recite of a ridiculously improbable, yet fully documented 700 year old true story.

Last Night in Soho (2021)

What a turn around, and what witchcraft is this?! After hating Edgar Wright's last three films (with a passion - especially Baby Driver) and rating him as a talent-less hack that got lucky off the back of the likeability of his stars over his first two films, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, just like Guy Ritchie did with Lock Stock and Snatch - also like Guy Ritchie with the unexpected triumph The Gentlemen, he emerged for no reason at all with one of my films of the year. 'Soho is a monumental leap up, an imaginative love letter to swinging sixties London-Horror hybrid, with stunning cinematography, an equally dazzling soundtrack and two leads to match - my favorite film released in 2021.

No Time To Die (2021)

After an entire James Bond (why are James plural by the way?) special last year, where I listed every Bond film in order of greatness, how does the final Daniel Craig effort shape up to his 3rd best in my list, Casino Royale, or his rock bottom last outing in the terrible Spectre. Thankfully a lot better, though I still expected more.