Pachinko (S1 - 2022)

Beautiful to watch and beautifully acted by a large ensemble cast. Follows multiple time-threads of a disparate family in Korea and Japan, managing to hold it all together with aplomb. Kim Min-ha is mesmerising as the young version of the lead, and Youn Yuh-jung equally strong as the old. I haven't read the book, but by all accounts this is a good adaptation.

Prey (2022)

Dir: Dan Trachtenberg

A huge risk to revitalise the Predator franchise pays off. Delivers tension and story in a fresh Predator universe without resorting to action cliché. ‎Amber Midthunder is great as the lead, managing to hold the entire movie more-or-less on her own.

Nomadland (2020)

Dir: Chloé Zhao

Frances McDormand is wonderful as a titular nomad that wanders the outskirts of US society. Offers a real insight into that unsettled lifestyle, whether forced or by choice, and many of the actors are genuine members of the community. Poignant and affecting.

The Lobster (2015)

Dir: Yorgos Lanthimos

What the heck.

Ford vs Ferrari (2019)

Dir: James Mangold

Exactly what it says on the box, though it is more about man vs machine, with the Ferrari rivalry a side diversion. Nice cars.

West Side Story (2021)

Dir: Steven Spielberg

First I have to admit to not having seen the original, but I enjoyed this despite not being a huge musicals fan. Shot wonderfully, as you would imagine, with plenty of vibrancy and energy. Some of the bigger dance scenes are magnificent to watch. I did find Ansel Elgort as Tony a little odd, almost plastic, to watch, but the singing and dancing makes up for a lot.

Black Widow (2021)

Dir: Cate Shortland

No surprises, but an above average superhero film, largely because Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh are so strong. And it is refreshing that they are, like Batman, just well-trained rather than super powered.

The Farewell (2021)

Dir: Lulu Wang

Intriguing Chinese-American family drama looking at the gulf between eastern and western attitudes to death and dying. Which sounds grim but isn't, and is always visually and culturally interesting, particularly if, like me, you're not very familiar with China.