Ballad of a Small Player (5*): I Personally Found Edward Berger’s Conclave Follow-Up Stunning.

A One Mann’s Movies review of “Ballad of a Small Player” (From the 2025 London Film Festival). (2025, 5*, ’15’). I really can’t see how I can avoid it. But my Top 10 for 2025 looks destined to have TWO films with the title “Ballad of” in the title (with the other of course being … Read more

The Smashing Machine (2*): And You Thought The Only Rock Actor Was In EEAAO*!!

*Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Smashing Machine” (2025, 2*, 15). I’m still desperately trying to stay in touch, during the LFF, with at least the major new release each week. As such, I went to see Dwayne Johnson’s foray into ‘proper’ acting with “The Smashing Machine”: a film … Read more

Untamable (3*): A Copper’s Tale on the Tough Streets of Yaoundé.

A One Mann’s Movies review of “Untamable” (From the 2025 London Film Festival). (2025, 3*, ’15’). Original Title: Indomptables. We next head to Cameroon for an unusual police drama. Directed, co-written and starring Thomas Ngijol, we head behind a detective’s difficult family life while he tries to progress a high-profile murder investigation. One Mann’s Movies … Read more

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (1.5*): How Can A Film With This Much Potential Be So Tedious?

A One Mann’s Movies review of “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” (2025, 1.5*, 15). “Do you want to go on a big, bold, beautiful journey”? Well, after seeing the trailer for this, the honest answer was “Yes, I did”. What’s not to love? An intriguing Narnia-esque plot; Two attractive looking and personable stars; Some heart-rending … Read more

Dreamers (3*): Lesbian Immigration Drama Ticks The Boxes But Never Sizzles.

A One Mann’s Movies review of “Dreamers” (From the 2025 London Film Festival). (2025, 3*, ’15’). As I mentioned in my review of “Promised Sky“, on my first day of LFF films, that film dealt with one aspect of the UK immigration problem…. immigrants arriving at their ‘first stop’ of Tunis in their journey from … Read more