The Underground Railroad (2021)

 

A young woman named Cora makes an amazing discovery during her attempt to break free from slavery in the deep south.

A harrowing and heart-wrenching epic is a masterfully adapted TV series of the award-winning novel, captured in beautiful imagery with great period detail and with an extraordinarily superb cast;  a complex,often brutal, but also magical exploration of black suppression with clear pointers to present-day USA.

 

Session 9 (2001)

Tensions rise within an asbestos cleaning crew as they work in an abandoned mental hospital with a horrific past that seems to be coming back.

Above-average horror tale has mystery and a slightly creepy atmosphere, but soon becomes quite predictable.

Maltin**: "Genuinely spooky film unfortunately suffers from underdeveloped characters...Claustrophobics beware."

Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000)

A brilliant, flamboyant master criminal Michael Lynch is more interested in his image and his posterity than the actual profit from his ill-gotten gains.

Covering the same (true) story as John Boorman's brilliant The General this version sucessfully manages to emphasize the humourous aspects and entertains quite well.

Halliwell (no star): "Partly based on the true-life exploits of Martin Cahill, this is a run-of-the-mill thriller with some unconvincing cast."

Maltin*1/2: "The main character is so arrogant and and unlikable that it isn't fun to watch him taunt authority. Fiorentino and Spacey fumble with their brogues in this otherwise forgettable film."

 

Boy A (2007)

The story of a young ex-con, newly released from serving a prison sentence for a murder he committed as a child.

Subtle but intense study of retribution in an unforgiving world with a great cast and a depressing ending.

Maltin**1/2: "Intentionally bleak and a bit contrived, grim film is still quite involving and well acted."