Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

 

A psychiatrist searches the globe to find the secret of happiness.

Simon Pegg does a good job in this well-intentioned comedy-drama, which remains obvious and predictable despite its meandering narrative and the humor doesn't quite work.

 

Salt and Fire (2016)

 

 

A scientist blames the head of a large company for an ecological disaster in South America. But when a volcano begins to show signs of erupting, they must unite to avoid a disaster. 

 

Despite an interesting cast (including physicist Lawrence Krauss!) and admittedly great landscape cinematography this Werner Herzog adventure disappoints with lame performances and a pretentious, uninspired plot with a failed message. 

The Devil's Violinist (2013)

The life story of Italian violinist and composer, Niccolò Paganini, who rose to fame as a virtuoso in the early 19th Century.

Trashy bio-pic has some good period details, but a lot of miserable performances;  true, David Garrett knows how to play the violin, but obviously never learnt how to act.

Schtonk (1992)

An art forger and a journalist desperate for a big story create biggest press scandal in German history: the Hitler Diaries.

Typically unfunny German satire that doesn't realize that the true story it is based on is in itself so unlikely and wildly amusing that it didn't need the exaggerations of a comedy.

Halliwell (no star): "The heavy-handed farcical treatment of an hilarious true story provides little amusement, although it was a great success in its home country."