As I’ve mentioned before, I have a bit of a weakness for coming of age films and this certainly counts. It does seem rather more juvenile than I would usually like but it’s has been well reviewed and even showed up on the best of lists of a number of critics. Interestingly it’s also the debut directorial feature of Olivia Wilde who is of course best known as an actress.

I like to think I give all genres of film a fair shake while I go through the classics but the truth is that action films suffer disportionately as stunts and action shots that were great back in there just can’t compare to what studios can achieve now. Bullitt was once known for one of best car chase scenes in cinematic history though by modern standards it’s only ordinary. Still, I believe that this is the first film I’ve watched starring Steve McQueen, another legend of Hollywood.

Wang Xiaoshuai is a director of some note in China. It appears that I haven’t watched any of his films before this but his very first film The Days has been on my list for ages as it seems to be impossible to find. That’s why I hoped that this would be decently good but it turned out to be just another sentimental mess, and one that is far too long to boot.

I always like to give independent films with interesting premises a chance and this one, purportedly a female-centric superhero film that has nothing whatsoever to do with Marvel or DC, seemed like a good bet. Unfortunately not all such bets turn out well and this is a thoroughly mediocre film, to my eyes made only because the director had a cool idea of a particular special effect to use.

After watching and loving Roman Holiday, it was only a matter of time until I got around to this other famous Audrey Hepburn vehicle. Like everyone else, I’ve heard the song Moon River many times and as this is another Hollywood classic, I expected something similar in tone and style. It turns out that this is completely different and perhaps an early hint can be seen in that it was loosely adapted from a story by Truman Capote.