"The Monuments Men," directed by George Clooney

Movie, 2014

A strange throwback film featuring a crack cast playing a crack gang of allies foiling Nazis in a covert mission. In this version, it's not a breakout or assassination, but the recovery of artwork. In a way, this is an easy film to like, though with the Germans stereo-typically mean and some of the cliches of camaraderie and character pumped to bursting, it's a wonder how the film was ever made. Entertaining and modern, but also archaic and unnecessary. Some nice touches and great production, but nowhere near enough to pull this out of barely passable pulp.

"The Informant", directed by Steven Soderbergh

Movie, 2009

A thriller about a whistle blower with a number of twists and turns, as a seemingly principled employee brings a torch of justice to bear on his employers. As a whole, this film will either engage its viewers or not, and while the acting, pace and much of the other component parts of the movie are satisfying, there's a lack of urgency n the narrative, somehow, which is only exacerbated with each twist in the story. Perhaps with a different editor, things could have been improved.

"The Martian," directed by Ridley Scott

Movie, 2015

Man in space film, which is entertaining enough, but falls between too many different areas as it tries to tackle and ends up feeling, at times, like an all singy-dancey feel good film. Fine if you like that sort of thing. On the way, there are special effects aplenty and some interesting debates - how to grow food in space, how to PR a disaster and how team dynamics work. All great; all easy on the eye. The main character's constant cheeriness is, however, a little difficult to watch and fully believe, although there are a few odd performances (Jeff Daniels particularly) and the plot and pacing might have been a little more interesting.