TFI • Totteridge Film Institute
@thetfi.bsky.social
Film reviews from the TFI, mainly of charity shop DVDs – using the EXACT character limit every time
Blinded by the Light (Gurinder Chadha, 2019). Simplistic tale that means well. A Pakistani boy in 1980s Luton finds relief from racism and a strict father in the music of Bruce Springsteen. Some of the teen characters are ludicrous. Onscreen lyrics are distracting and unnecessary. #BlindedByTheLight
September 15, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Blinded by the Light (Gurinder Chadha, 2019). Simplistic tale that means well. A Pakistani boy in 1980s Luton finds relief from racism and a strict father in the music of Bruce Springsteen. Some of the teen characters are ludicrous. Onscreen lyrics are distracting and unnecessary. #BlindedByTheLight
Madame (Amanda Sthers, 2017). Comedy set in France. A wealthy woman makes her maid pose as a guest at her dinner party, but one of the other guests falls for her. Intriguing but not funny enough. Both female leads (Toni Collette and Rossy de Palma) are OK, but Harvey Keitel seems quite weak. #Madame
September 15, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Madame (Amanda Sthers, 2017). Comedy set in France. A wealthy woman makes her maid pose as a guest at her dinner party, but one of the other guests falls for her. Intriguing but not funny enough. Both female leads (Toni Collette and Rossy de Palma) are OK, but Harvey Keitel seems quite weak. #Madame
Silent Running (Douglas Trumbull, 1972). A genuinely strange sci-fi drama about a gardener on a spaceship who’s ordered to destroy his creations. Bruce Dern makes for an odd hero. Lots of interesting ideas, but overall the film seems awkwardly realised. Joan Baez is on the soundtrack. #SilentRunning
September 12, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Silent Running (Douglas Trumbull, 1972). A genuinely strange sci-fi drama about a gardener on a spaceship who’s ordered to destroy his creations. Bruce Dern makes for an odd hero. Lots of interesting ideas, but overall the film seems awkwardly realised. Joan Baez is on the soundtrack. #SilentRunning
Fallen Leaves (Aki Kaurismäki, 2023). An offbeat Finnish romantic drama starring Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen as two lonely individuals who find something in each other. It’s touching and poignant. The minimal dialogue works hard to express the inner worlds of the isolated characters. #FallenLeaves
September 11, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Fallen Leaves (Aki Kaurismäki, 2023). An offbeat Finnish romantic drama starring Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen as two lonely individuals who find something in each other. It’s touching and poignant. The minimal dialogue works hard to express the inner worlds of the isolated characters. #FallenLeaves
Voyagers (Neil Burger, 2021). A bunch of young people – plus Colin Farrell – are sent to colonise a new world as the last hope for humanity. The acting is very mixed. While the “Lord of the Flies in space” idea intrigues, you get little sense that our future depends on these stroppy teens. #Voyagers
September 6, 2026 at 4:22 AM
Voyagers (Neil Burger, 2021). A bunch of young people – plus Colin Farrell – are sent to colonise a new world as the last hope for humanity. The acting is very mixed. While the “Lord of the Flies in space” idea intrigues, you get little sense that our future depends on these stroppy teens. #Voyagers
The Negotiator (Brad Anderson, 2018). Nicely shot thriller about a US diplomat (Jon Hamm) who gets drawn into an investigation of a terrorist group in Beirut. It’s visually impressive, but the average script means that characters such as Rosamund Pike’s CIA agent remain mere sketches. #TheNegotiator
September 1, 2026 at 5:18 AM
The Negotiator (Brad Anderson, 2018). Nicely shot thriller about a US diplomat (Jon Hamm) who gets drawn into an investigation of a terrorist group in Beirut. It’s visually impressive, but the average script means that characters such as Rosamund Pike’s CIA agent remain mere sketches. #TheNegotiator
The Courier (Dominic Cooke, 2020). Mildly entertaining but mostly rather pedestrian espionage thriller set in London and Moscow during the early 1960s. The plot about the Cuban Missile Crisis intrigues, but Benedict Cumberbatch is too mannered to convince as real-life spy Greville Wynne. #TheCourier
September 1, 2026 at 5:09 AM
The Courier (Dominic Cooke, 2020). Mildly entertaining but mostly rather pedestrian espionage thriller set in London and Moscow during the early 1960s. The plot about the Cuban Missile Crisis intrigues, but Benedict Cumberbatch is too mannered to convince as real-life spy Greville Wynne. #TheCourier
Showing Up (Kelly Reichardt, 2022). A deadpan satire of an Oregon arts community. Michelle Williams plays a sculptor juggling her creative ambitions, family issues, a difficult landlady and an injured pigeon. There’s an appealingly low-key quality, without a great deal actually happening. #ShowingUp
September 1, 2026 at 5:04 AM
Showing Up (Kelly Reichardt, 2022). A deadpan satire of an Oregon arts community. Michelle Williams plays a sculptor juggling her creative ambitions, family issues, a difficult landlady and an injured pigeon. There’s an appealingly low-key quality, without a great deal actually happening. #ShowingUp
Triangle of Sadness (Ruben Östlund, 2022). Masterful satirical comedy about money and power. A celebrity couple (Harris Dickinson and Charlbi Dean) embark upon a luxury cruise for the super-wealthy. The film keeps wrong-footing you with absurd twists. Brilliant ensemble cast, too. #TriangleOfSadness
August 31, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Triangle of Sadness (Ruben Östlund, 2022). Masterful satirical comedy about money and power. A celebrity couple (Harris Dickinson and Charlbi Dean) embark upon a luxury cruise for the super-wealthy. The film keeps wrong-footing you with absurd twists. Brilliant ensemble cast, too. #TriangleOfSadness
Living (Oliver Hermanus, 2022). Remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 film Ikiru. With only six months to live, a bureaucrat (Bill Nighy) decides to make the most of his remaining time. There’s an odd fairy tale or folk tale quality to the story. It feels slow, but it’s ultimately quite emotional. #Living
August 30, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Living (Oliver Hermanus, 2022). Remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 film Ikiru. With only six months to live, a bureaucrat (Bill Nighy) decides to make the most of his remaining time. There’s an odd fairy tale or folk tale quality to the story. It feels slow, but it’s ultimately quite emotional. #Living
First Man (Damien Chazelle, 2018). Disappointing biopic. It tries to balance Neil Armstrong’s career and family life, but neither is satisfyingly covered. Ryan Gosling doesn’t convey enough of the astronaut’s character. Intrusive music spoils what could’ve been spectacular space sequences. #FirstMan
August 28, 2026 at 5:16 PM
First Man (Damien Chazelle, 2018). Disappointing biopic. It tries to balance Neil Armstrong’s career and family life, but neither is satisfyingly covered. Ryan Gosling doesn’t convey enough of the astronaut’s character. Intrusive music spoils what could’ve been spectacular space sequences. #FirstMan
Eternal Beauty (Craig Roberts, 2019). Black comedy about a woman suffering mental health issues after being jilted at the altar. Sally Hawkins is excellent but the use of a different actor to show her younger self really jars. David Thewlis, Billie Piper and Penelope Wilton also star. #EternalBeauty
August 28, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Eternal Beauty (Craig Roberts, 2019). Black comedy about a woman suffering mental health issues after being jilted at the altar. Sally Hawkins is excellent but the use of a different actor to show her younger self really jars. David Thewlis, Billie Piper and Penelope Wilton also star. #EternalBeauty
The Silencing (Robin Pront, 2020). Terrifying crime thriller starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. A hunter and a sheriff (Annabelle Wallis) pursue a killer who may have murdered the hunter’s own daughter in remote northern Minnesota woodland. It’s unbearably tense, with superb performances. #TheSilencing
August 28, 2026 at 4:21 PM
The Silencing (Robin Pront, 2020). Terrifying crime thriller starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. A hunter and a sheriff (Annabelle Wallis) pursue a killer who may have murdered the hunter’s own daughter in remote northern Minnesota woodland. It’s unbearably tense, with superb performances. #TheSilencing
May December (Todd Haynes, 2023). Engrossing drama with hints of very black comedy. Gracie (Julianne Moore) is still in a relationship with Joe (Charles Melton) that began when he was 13 and she was 36. Natalie Portman is the actress due to play her in a film. Original and oddly creepy. #MayDecember
August 21, 2026 at 5:18 AM
May December (Todd Haynes, 2023). Engrossing drama with hints of very black comedy. Gracie (Julianne Moore) is still in a relationship with Joe (Charles Melton) that began when he was 13 and she was 36. Natalie Portman is the actress due to play her in a film. Original and oddly creepy. #MayDecember
The Ice Road (Jonathan Hensleigh, 2021). Enjoyable but ludicrous thriller. Liam Neeson and his brother (suffering from PTSD) drive a truck along a treacherous frozen road in Canada to help rescue a team of trapped miners. But foul play is afoot. A bit Rain Man. A bit A-Team. A lot silly. #TheIceRoad
August 18, 2026 at 9:10 PM
The Ice Road (Jonathan Hensleigh, 2021). Enjoyable but ludicrous thriller. Liam Neeson and his brother (suffering from PTSD) drive a truck along a treacherous frozen road in Canada to help rescue a team of trapped miners. But foul play is afoot. A bit Rain Man. A bit A-Team. A lot silly. #TheIceRoad
Cicada (Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare, 2020). After a series of one-night stands, Ben (Fifer) begins an intense relationship with Sam (Sheldon D. Brown), but both men have past trauma to deal with. Engaging, despite mumbled dialogue. Cobie Smulders is great as an unconventional therapist. #Cicada
August 18, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Cicada (Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare, 2020). After a series of one-night stands, Ben (Fifer) begins an intense relationship with Sam (Sheldon D. Brown), but both men have past trauma to deal with. Engaging, despite mumbled dialogue. Cobie Smulders is great as an unconventional therapist. #Cicada
On the Basis of Sex (Mimi Leder, 2018). Sadly pedestrian account of the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second female judge on the US Supreme Court. Felicity Jones seems likeable in the main role, but the script is weak and such important events deserve a less simplistic portrayal. #OnTheBasisOfSex
August 17, 2026 at 12:41 PM
On the Basis of Sex (Mimi Leder, 2018). Sadly pedestrian account of the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second female judge on the US Supreme Court. Felicity Jones seems likeable in the main role, but the script is weak and such important events deserve a less simplistic portrayal. #OnTheBasisOfSex
Thelma (Joachim Trier, 2017). Excellent supernatural drama. Eili Harboe plays a student with disturbing powers she cannot understand. The film explores ideas of coercion as her father tries control her dangerous gifts. It’s suspenseful and intelligent, and you can’t predict where it’s going. #Thelma
August 17, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Thelma (Joachim Trier, 2017). Excellent supernatural drama. Eili Harboe plays a student with disturbing powers she cannot understand. The film explores ideas of coercion as her father tries control her dangerous gifts. It’s suspenseful and intelligent, and you can’t predict where it’s going. #Thelma
Rosie Plays Julie (Christine Molloy, 2019). Superb Irish drama that expertly dabbles with elements of thriller and horror genres. A young trainee vet (Ann Skelly) discovers why she was adopted, sparking a trail of violence. Highly convincing performances and some terrifying moments. #RosiePlaysJulie
August 17, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Rosie Plays Julie (Christine Molloy, 2019). Superb Irish drama that expertly dabbles with elements of thriller and horror genres. A young trainee vet (Ann Skelly) discovers why she was adopted, sparking a trail of violence. Highly convincing performances and some terrifying moments. #RosiePlaysJulie
Mothers’ Instinct (Benoît Delhomme, 2024). Excellent drama about two neighbouring couples. After tragedy affects one family, paranoia and suspicion infiltrate the relationship. Brilliantly managed escalation of tension, with superb performances by Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway. #MothersInstinct
August 16, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Mothers’ Instinct (Benoît Delhomme, 2024). Excellent drama about two neighbouring couples. After tragedy affects one family, paranoia and suspicion infiltrate the relationship. Brilliantly managed escalation of tension, with superb performances by Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway. #MothersInstinct
Edge of the World (Michael Haussman, 2021). Historical drama starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as British soldier and adventurer James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak. He has a certain intensity, even if the plot sometimes appears to jump forward too quickly without explanation. #EdgeOfTheWorld
August 16, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Edge of the World (Michael Haussman, 2021). Historical drama starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as British soldier and adventurer James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak. He has a certain intensity, even if the plot sometimes appears to jump forward too quickly without explanation. #EdgeOfTheWorld
Whatever Works (Woody Allen, 2009). Sub-par throwaway. Grumpy old Larry David marries charming, naïve Evan Rachel Wood. Larry’s delivery seems tone deaf, and Woody forgets to offer anything in his character that we can relate to. Patricia Clarkson steals the show as the girl’s mother. #WhateverWorks
August 16, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Whatever Works (Woody Allen, 2009). Sub-par throwaway. Grumpy old Larry David marries charming, naïve Evan Rachel Wood. Larry’s delivery seems tone deaf, and Woody forgets to offer anything in his character that we can relate to. Patricia Clarkson steals the show as the girl’s mother. #WhateverWorks
Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960). A beautifully shot masterpiece. It starts out as a crime thriller, becomes a serial-killer mystery, then transforms into something more sinister. Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh are superb. And Bernard Herrmann’s terrifying music couldn’t be more atmospheric. #Psycho
August 16, 2026 at 4:50 AM
Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960). A beautifully shot masterpiece. It starts out as a crime thriller, becomes a serial-killer mystery, then transforms into something more sinister. Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh are superb. And Bernard Herrmann’s terrifying music couldn’t be more atmospheric. #Psycho
Lone Survivor (Peter Berg, 2013). Four Navy SEALs are sent to locate a Taliban leader in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. Based on actual events, it’s a brutal and bloody affair that holds your attention well. Mark Wahlberg is solid in the lead role. The title gives too much away. #LoneSurvivor
August 16, 2026 at 4:41 AM
Lone Survivor (Peter Berg, 2013). Four Navy SEALs are sent to locate a Taliban leader in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. Based on actual events, it’s a brutal and bloody affair that holds your attention well. Mark Wahlberg is solid in the lead role. The title gives too much away. #LoneSurvivor
Nothing but the Truth (Rod Lurie, 2008). A reporter (Kate Beckinsale) reveals the identity of a CIA operative (Vera Farmiga). The US government (via Matt Dillon) orders her to reveal her source, but she refuses. Intelligent thriller also starring Alan Alda as an eccentric lawyer. #NothingButTheTruth
August 11, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Nothing but the Truth (Rod Lurie, 2008). A reporter (Kate Beckinsale) reveals the identity of a CIA operative (Vera Farmiga). The US government (via Matt Dillon) orders her to reveal her source, but she refuses. Intelligent thriller also starring Alan Alda as an eccentric lawyer. #NothingButTheTruth