Miss Sloane, Alien: Covenant, Jawbone The Film Review

Hello and welcome to the film review on BBC News. So, we have a political

thriller called Miss Sloan. We have Alien: Covenant, the latest in the

ongoing alien franchise. And Jawbone, written by and starring

Johnny Harris. Miss Sloan and even you looking at the poster, I wanted

to like this, because you think it is Washington, it is the West Wing.

You are in with the intrigue. The story is that Jessica is a lobbyist

becomes embroiled in a battle between people who want controls on

guns and people who want to sell more guns. She is enlisted by people

who say we are trying to make guns seem more popular and we want to get

guns to appeal to women and she laughs out of the ring. The next

thing is she is approached by the other side fighting for restrictions

and she decides that she will throw in her lot with them and they want

her because of her very powerful, and that has to be said, cynical, we

have lobbying. It has to be said, cynical, we have lobbying. Here's a

clip. What is the best indicator of voting intention? Grassroots action

aimed squarely at soliciting donations. That means any petition,

not clicks in cyberspace. Nonprofits have to report on their findings.

While you are out there hustling, I was work influential senators who

can deliver votes. That is our second prong. Author is identifying

who held sway in target states. Employers, workers groups, do not

just waltz into an office and make your case. Find out who the senator

trusts. Convinced that person to make your case. That is how we win.

Does she take no prisoners? That is it exactly. As you have seen, a very

strong supporting cast is. I wouldn't have this feeling the same

you did. I like the subject matter, I liked the cast, like the director

and I came out thinking it is not as good as it should be. The whole is

less than the sum of the parts. There is something about it which

keeps you at a distance. I never completely believed in these

characters. One of the things about it is it has a plot which is full of

twists and turns and there is a certain point at which the twists

and turns start to defy credibility. That said, it is done with gusto and

Jessica Chastain is worth watching. The subject matter is interesting

and is timely and it ought to be more gripping than it is. Like you,

I wanted it to be great. I came out thinking, it is OK, but I wanted it

to be more than OK. However, it makes sense, which is more than can

be said for Alien: Covenant, which is the next instalment in the

ongoing alien franchise. A fan? No. I am a chicken. There is no way. The

first alien film is a horror movie, the second one is a war film. Alien

three was a mess. Then the prequels. Prometheus from having dialogue that

was different from alien. In alien space truckers, they are talking

about things you can relate to. In Prometheus they were talking about

the nature of God. This is a Prometheus sequel, rather than an

alien prequel. You have alien truckers in space, they get a

signal, they arrive at a new planet which looks like a new Eden. It is

actually a living hell. What they do all the time is to talk about

poetry, about art, about life, about God in a manner nobody talks. We

have a greatest hits reruns of the famous moments from alien, but don

speeded up in a way that means they make no sense. There is no question

that Ridley Scott is a visual stylist, but he is only as good as

his script. With Alien: Covenant, the script is very weak. There is a

famous story that when Vincent Ward was going to do alien three and he

wanted it to be the name of the rows in space, this is the da Vinci code

in space. As someone who loved the original movie, because it was

ruthless, stripped down and I loved this sequel because it is a war

movie, this is very much like a massive amount of pontificating and

holding forth and it makes no sense whatsoever. I know people don't

necessarily go to these movies for it to tie up the loose ends, but

there were moments when a character says so little of this makes sense,

I laughed out loud. You have made me laugh as well. I am a little more

hopeful about your third choice. You're right. Jawbone, it is a

boxing movie. I had nothing about boxing other than what I know from

the movies. This is a body struggling with alcoholism. He is on

the South bank in London and he is a drunk. He lives in his mother's

flood, he is in danger of being evicted. His life as a mess. He goes

to his old gem which is run by Ray Winston, he gives him a look that

tells you everything about the history. Ray Wilson says you can

train here, but no alcohol and no talk of unlicensed games. He needs

money and the next thing he is having a meeting with Ian McShane. I

think I can get you your money. I tell them I have an ex-champion with

Minjee Lee is looking for a fight. Jimmy, you were one of the bravest

kids I ever saw. The thing I don't know is what kind of Nicky are in

now. So, if you take this, it's on your back, whatever happens up

there, you're on your own. I know. I'm up for it. Right, I'll make the

phone call. Now, I thought this was really intriguing. I went in and not

knowing much about it other than it was a boxing movie. I thought what

it did was it really into the story. You believe in this character, a

belief in his dejection, his addiction and his struggle to redeem

himself. There is a moment when he first the gym and Ray Winston looks

at him in a way that tells you everything. There are wonderful

scenes with Michael Smiley who is a terrific actor. It is not about what

they say, it is about what they do not say. Cinematography has changed

in a long time since raging Bull and this pursuit on the receiving end of

punches. I have never been to a boxing match in my life. This had

the smack of authenticity and it had heart. It felt it was a story being

told by someone who really believed in all of this and it engages you.

It makes you care. It is not fantastically original, but it is

done in a way that seems very honest, very authentic, very moving.

As somebody who is not a boxing fan, I found it very gripping. Some great

British talent in there as well. Ray Winston walks on water for me. It is

an understated role and he plays beautifully. Michael Smiley, a

terrific actor, really brilliant screen presence, there are moments

between him and Johnny Harris in which it is to do with the weight

they look at each other. Everything is set in the eyes, in the gesture,

in the way they hold their heads. It was a real pleasure to see it,

because it was a textured film and it takes an idea we have seen it

done. Boxing is in movies a lot because it is a spectacular sport

anyway. This adds something to it. In the end it is not a boxing movie,

it is about someone overcoming their demons. About overcoming addiction

and dealing with alcoholism in a way that is honest and truthful very

engaging. Blessed are you, you have brought me Woody Allen. I love Woody

Allen. I love the Jazz, the new work, the banks, the neurosis. It is

all there. The way Manhattan looks, it is one of those films you should

see on a cinema screen. This is a new transfer from four K. You think

of the jokes, the characters, but this looks brilliant. The

combination of visuals and George Gershwin and from the beginning, he

is a writer trying to describe how he feels about the city. People talk

about the classic period Woody Allen. I am a huge fan of love and

death, but the idea of Manhattan back on the big screen, I haven't

seen it rejected since it first came out. 1979 when a Canadian. The idea

of Synod projected, it is a beautiful film. I didn't know it was

being rereleased. Speaking of big screens. I am interested in the DVD

this week because it is La La Land, which I enjoyed hugely. Doesn't it

needed to be seen on a big screen, the wonderful opening shot, the

dancing, the sunshine? I have seen it on the big screen and the small

screen. I have to say, it worked both times for me. In fact, oddly,

when I saw on the small screen I was in her comfortable conditions

because they were not people talking around me. I really like it. The

opening sequence which is so beautiful. I think Emma Stone is

terrific. Some people have complained and said there is not a

memorable June in that film. What are they talking about? It made me

happy. You leave with a song in your heart. I still love the ending. I

would spoil it, but it was spot on. They do it really very well. It is a

musical in the same way that Manhattan is kind of a musical as

well. Sort of. A film with music in it and it is glorious. Thank you

very much. A reminder that you can find much more from News and reviews

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