No Time to Die (2021, Universal Pictures)

Featuring Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Ana de Armas, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright and Ralph Fiennes. Music by Hans Zimmer. Screenplay by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga.

Daniel Craig is one of my favorite under-celebrated English actors and whilst I have never really been a big Bond fan I had to see the latest movie because of him and as a short escape from the reality of work and the pandemic. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga this film has all the usual things you expect out of a Bond movie. Ridiculous action, cheesy one liners, an over the top story, hot guys and hot women. Daniel Craig doesn’t fail to deliver either with a strong performance. Rami Malek plays the villain, Lyutsifer Safin who he portrays very well. One of my favorite scenes in the movie was the Norwegian chase scene.

As Daniel Craig’s last Bond appearance, the story and ultimate conclusion was a little difficult to swallow and disappointing. All in all though No Time to Die is worth a watch and provides all the action and thrills you expect from a Bond movie.

Reviewed by Annabelle Davis – Rated 3.5/5

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Don’t Look Up (2021, Netflix)

Featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Cate Blanchett, and Meryl Streep. Screenplay by Adam McKay. Directed by Adam McKay.

Directed by Adam McKay and currently screening on Netflix, this is a satirical comedy about two astronomers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) who identify a comet heading for earth. DiCaprio and Lawrence attempt to warn humanity about the impending destruction of civilisation as we know it but they fail to get the attention of the President (Meryl Streep) nor the attention of the public via breakfast television. Streep is excellent and her character clearly makes a mockery of Trump’s presidency.

The movie has an all-star cast and paints an important lesson for humanity how easily and willfully humans are distracted (social media, gossip, pop music etc.) into not believing that the end is here. The movie also has numerous references to mental health and how people are treated in society with those conditions. Despite it being a comedy it was hard not to take the undertone of messages that this movie leaves with you seriously and they certainly remain with me. Will definitely watch again.

Reviewed by Annabelle Davis – Rated 5/5