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SMB Film Thread 2026


Maigret Sets a Trap (Maigret tend un piège) (1958) 8/10
There'll never be a better Maigret than Jean Gabin. The first of his three films in the role.
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The Octopus (Le poulpe) (1998) 7/10
Adaptation based on a series of French pulp noir novels. Clotilde Courau is stunning.
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The Shadow's Edge (2025) 6/10
Hong Kong/Chinese blockbuster. Technology fails to thwart a casino robbery in Macau, so veteran cop Jackie Chan is brought out of retirement to help. Strong start, but far too many twists, and goes on for an hour too long.
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Austin Powers 1997, nigh on 30 years ago, no apparent reason other than the passing of time as for me this is recent stuff. Ctackers.
Nargh, the Austin Powers is not for me, I gave it ten minutes but not for me.
 
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Dhurandar - 9/10

If you're open minded to Bollywood/subtitled films, I'd recommend this.

An action/spy thriller with our Indian hero undercover in the Karachi underworld around the time of gang wars and terrorist attacks on the Indian State.

Brutal, gratuitous violence and complete propaganda from India but spectacular to watch.

The way that it weaves the fictional story into the real world events makes for a great plot.
 
Alias Nick Beal (1949)

Thomas Mitchell is a DA who is determined to secure a conviction. His hopes are dashed when a set of incriminating ledgers are burnt. Enter Nick Beal, a suave stranger who promises to supply Mitchell with the evidence. Mitchell’s success positions him well to run for governor, while Beal pulls all the strings, including coercing Audrey Totter to put the moves on Mitchell.

Deliciously moody and atmospheric interpretation of an old story, with Ray Milland absolutely brilliant as the title character. The cinematography is excellent throughout. There’s some impressive long cuts which really helps immerse you into the conversations, and the camera placement to show Beal’s influence is great. A classy noir with an edge.

8/10
 
The Drama - 10/10

The marketing is and was fantastic for this, if you’ve seen the trailers and then watch the film you’ll understand why. Pattinson is great as always but Zendaya steals the show. She’ll get an Oscar nomination for sure. Them two are about to have some year being in this, The Odyssey & Dune: Part Three.

A24 are easily my favourite production company like, they’re behind some of the best/favourite films to be released in the past ten or so years. This, Aftersun & The Lighthouse being the big standouts for me.
 
Calpricorn said:
The Drama - 10/10

The marketing is and was fantastic for this, if you’ve seen the trailers and then watch the film you’ll understand why. Pattinson is great as always but Zendaya steals the show. She’ll get an Oscar nomination for sure. Them two are about to have some year being in this, The Odyssey & Dune: Part Three.

A24 are easily my favourite production company like, they’re behind some of the best/favourite films to be released in the past ten or so years. This, Aftersun & The Lighthouse being the big standouts for me.
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Went to see this last night, didn't expect the twist but really put together well. Funny in parts as well!
 
Doogie Hauser said:
Alias Nick Beal (1949)

Thomas Mitchell is a DA who is determined to secure a conviction. His hopes are dashed when a set of incriminating ledgers are burnt. Enter Nick Beal, a suave stranger who promises to supply Mitchell with the evidence. Mitchell’s success positions him well to run for governor, while Beal pulls all the strings, including coercing Audrey Totter to put the moves on Mitchell.

Deliciously moody and atmospheric interpretation of an old story, with Ray Milland absolutely brilliant as the title character. The cinematography is excellent throughout. There’s some impressive long cuts which really helps immerse you into the conversations, and the camera placement to show Beal’s influence is great. A classy noir with an edge.

8/10
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Loved this when I watched it last year.

Calpricorn said:
The Drama - 10/10

The marketing is and was fantastic for this, if you’ve seen the trailers and then watch the film you’ll understand why. Pattinson is great as always but Zendaya steals the show. She’ll get an Oscar nomination for sure. Them two are about to have some year being in this, The Odyssey & Dune: Part Three.

A24 are easily my favourite production company like, they’re behind some of the best/favourite films to be released in the past ten or so years. This, Aftersun & The Lighthouse being the big standouts for me.
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I had the twist spoiled for me by Jonathan Ross's film podcast. I'll still watch it, though.
Aftersun and The Lighthouse were both terrific.
 
EPiC (2025) - 8/10 - Very well made documentary on Elvis Presley mainly focusing on the Las Vegas years. Fortunately it never really showed the really late fat Elvis period but this excels when taking a song and splicing clips from early and later rehearsal with show performances. I like Elvis but have never been a massive fan but still found this interesting and you see how much of a star the man was from early years through to the show period. I didn't realise he was doing two shows a day for months on end and then also doing stadium shows as well, all over a 7 year period. Crazy.
 
Nightcrawler (2014) 8/10
Jake Gyllenhaal as a TV stringer driving the nocturnal streets of LA looking for crimes and accidents to capture on video - loosely based on two real-life Brits. Comparable to Ace in the Hole (1951) as an exploration of the dark side of journalism.
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Love in the Afternoon (L'Amour l'après-midi) (1972) 8/10
A married Paris businessman meets a female friend from his past. Will they, won't they? Typical examination of social mores by Eric Rohmer.
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EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2025) 10/10
Of its kind, deserves top marks. A genuine revitalisation of the concert film genre. And for us Lads' fans, the song is well worth waiting for - packs an emotional punch. The amazing thing is, though you get to see him across the years and behind the scenes, the star power never lets up. He never resembles a mere mortal - he's always Elvis.
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Thrash
Think "Crawl" but with sharks instead of gators.
I'm always down for a creature feature and this was watchable enough.
5/10.
 
Sentimental Value (2025) - 7/10 - Norwegian movie about the strained relationship between two sisters and their absent father who becomes more involved after their mother dies. The father is a famous film director who has written a script mirroring his own mother's life. He wants his actress daughter to play her part but she is reluctant to so he gives the part to a Hollywood actress. Great acting, subtle and bitter sweet.
 
The Taste Of Things (2023) - iPlayer
Highly rated, award winning French film from a couple of years ago about the relationship between a celebrated chef and his long-time assistant. Was after something relatively low key and gentle after binge-watching The Pitt, which was one of the most intense and stress-inducing watches I've had in a long time!

It's a sweet little film, quite thoughful and moving at times. Excellent performances from the small cast - Juliette Binoche is particularly good. However, felt that it was just a little bit too slow and gentle so it struggled to hold my attention at times. Decent enough, but not as good I'd hoped given some of the critical acclaim.

7/10
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I Swear (2025) - Netflix
Been wanting to see this for a while after I missed it at the cinema when it was out. I'd heard lots of good things and I wasn't disappointed! Really affecting movie about Tourette's with a superb performance from Robert Aramayo in the lead role - he thoroughly deserved all the plaudits/awards/nominations he received. Made me laugh, made me sad, made me angry and warmed my little cockles, all in equal measure!

8/10

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Speakeasy said:
The Taste Of Things (2023) - iPlayer
Highly rated, award winning French film from a couple of years ago about the relationship between a celebrated chef and his long-time assistant. Was after something relatively low key and gentle after binge-watching The Pitt, which was one of the most intense and stress-inducing watches I've had in a long time!

It's a sweet little film, quite thoughful and moving at times. Excellent performances from the small cast - Juliette Binoche is particularly good. However, felt that it was just a little bit too slow and gentle so it struggled to hold my attention at times. Decent enough, but not as good I'd hoped given some of the critical acclaim.

7/10
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I Swear (2025) - Netflix
Been wanting to see this for a while after I missed it at the cinema when it was out. I'd heard lots of good things and I wasn't disappointed! Really affecting movie about Tourette's with a superb performance from Robert Aramayo in the lead role - he thoroughly deserved all the plaudits/awards/nominations he received. Made me laugh, made me sad, made me angry and warmed my little cockles, all in equal measure!

8/10

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Well done on naming where the films could be streamed as well 👍
 
The Desperate Man (1960) - YouTube

Conrad Phillips teams up with Jill Ireland in a remote village with a ruined castle to investigate the death of a random sightseer. William Hartnell also stars.

Cheap and basic, with a very loose attitude towards logic. There’s a nice atmosphere to it all, though, and I quite enjoyed it.

5/10


Celia (1949)

Hy Hazell is persuaded by her PI friend to act as a housekeeper at a house with a curious situation. A wealthy older woman has married a younger man. He forbids her to see her family. Foul play is suspected.

Cheerily entertaining in a gentle, radio-play way. Hazell is good and the brevity of the film keeps it focused and sometimes amusing.

5/10
 
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