Train Dreams (2025) Review

Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella Train Dreams is a quietly epic and occasionally surreal story of the life of Robert Grainier, a self-described hermit who works on the American railroads around the turn of the 20th century. It was a beautiful and powerful piece of Americana and I absolutely loved it. So I was intrigued, and admittedly a bit worried, when I read it was being adapted for film.

Thankfully, the film manages to mostly live up to the high bar set by Johnson’s phenomenal novella and in some ways, even surpasses it.

Extraction (2020) Review

Netflix has a chequered past when it comes to their ‘original’ programming. For every standout like ‘Okja’, ‘Dolemite is my Name’, or ‘The Irishman’, there’s a bucket load of terrible films like ‘The Ridiculous 6’ or ‘The Outsider’ or ‘The Cloverfield Paradox’.

‘Extraction’ falls somewhere in the middle in terms of quality – but in terms of enjoyment it’s one of the best film’s Netflix currently has.

We Just Watched… The Two Popes (2019)

Based on true events, The Two Popes follows the meeting of Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) and the future Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce), two men with wildly different interpretations of the Catholic faith and very separate ideas of how the church should adapt to the ever-changing modern world.

Uncut Gems (2020) Review

‘Uncut Gems’ is a deeply unpleasant experience that I wholeheartedly recommend. Starring Adam Sandler in a performance that definitely should have got him an Oscar nomination, the film moves at a million miles a minute and never lets up.

We Just Watched… Marriage Story (2019)

Netflix’s divorce epic is a fantastic film, with a wonderful cast and challenging story. It’ll make you re-evaluate the relationships in your own life and, if nothing else, will turn you into a lifelong Adam Driver fan (if for some reason you aren’t already). Here are our thoughts.

The Witcher Episode 8 Review – ‘Much More’

After eight episodes, the first season of The Witcher is at an end. Along the way it became the biggest show in the world, something I’m not sure anyone anticipated. But how did it wrap it all up? Was it a satisfying conclusion? I’d argue that by illuminating some of the details missing from the books, and because of that touching final scene, it was a huge success.

The Witcher Episode 6 Review – ‘Rare Species’

In the best episode yet, Geralt is recruited by a mysterious but charming figure to accompany him on a dragon hunt. Initially wary of the idea, he quickly changes his mind when he discovers Yennefer will be going on the hunt too. Elsewhere in time, Ciri confronts the doppler and things get out of hand for Cahir.

The Witcher Episode 5 Review – ‘Bottled Appetites’

Based on “The Last Wish”, one of the best of the original short stories, this episode sees Geralt and Yennefer cross paths for the first time. And their relationship promises to be an interesting one. At the very least, this makes the timeline a lot simpler. Ciri’s plot moves forward too, as she is taken from Brokilon by a doppler impersonating her old friend Mousesack.

The Witcher Episode 4 Review – ‘Of Banquets, Bastards and Burials’

Geralt attends a party with Dandelion and things go awry. Ciri drinks the Kool-Aid in Brokilon. And Yennefer gets into a whole heap of trouble with a mysterious assassin and his awesome spider companion.

This episode also clears things up a bit, regarding the timelines.

The Witcher Episode 2 Review – ‘Four Marks’

The Witcher continues it’s hot streak in episode 2, with a slight detour away from Geralt to tell the story of Yennefer of Vengerberg – powerful sorceress and canon love interest (sorry Triss fans). Her backstory has always been a bit mysterious, but this episode gives us a good introduction to the troubled early years, as well as the world of magic. Though don’t expect any concrete explanations.