Brendan Fraser has had some hits and misses, but this is a hit for me. Fraser stars as an American actor in Tokyo struggling to find purpose, who lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. He rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the beauty of human connection. It’s a gentle exploration of emotions and loneliness. A beautiful story.

Whilst wandering around Instagram I came across a photo of Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey getting together to take part in a protest. That prompted me to take another look at Beaches, which I haven’t watched for some time. Boxes of tissues will be required for this viewing! It must be the saddest film of all time or at least up there with Imitation of Life (1959) and Madame X (1966). The story is of New York child performer CC Bloom and San Francisco rich kid Hillary who meet in a holiday resort in Atlantic City, which marks the start of a lifetime friendship between them. The two keep in touch through letters until Hillary, now a successful lawyer moves to New York to stay with struggling singer CC. The movie shows the various stages of their friendship and their romances including their love for the same man. Wind Beneath My Wings would have to be one of THE songs of the Eighties.

With Steven Spielbrg’s Disclosure Day coming up for release, E.T. sprang to mind. I remember taking my 4-year-old daughter to see it and she exclaimed in the most tense part to the whole cinema, “I don’t believe this.” And the audience erupted with laughter. It’s a timeless classic that still enthrals. The story tells the heartwarming story of a lonely boy named Elliott befriending a stranded alien, who just wants to phone home. Humour, suspense and emotion make this one of Steven’s best. And look at those kids now!

With the Oscars in the air, let’s take a look at some past Oscar winning performances. Jeff Bridges won the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor for this role as Bad Blake. It is one of his best. Blake is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who’s had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. And yet, he can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean, a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician. Bridges and Colin Farrell did their own singing in this film, which is based on Thomas Cobb’s novel. It does have an excellent soundtrack.

This outstanding drama brought Best Actor Oscars for Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell, and deservedly so. McDormand must be one of the most outstanding actresses of our time and she excels here as Mildred Hayes who, after months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby, the town’s revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon, with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing’s law enforcement is only exacerbated. Lucas Hedges, who stars as Mildred’s son, is certainly a young actor to watch.

Olivia Colman is at her most brilliant in this historical drama, and deservedly won the Best Actress Oscar in 2019. Colman stars as frail Queen Anne, who occupies the throne in 18th century England, but her close friend Lady Sarah, the Duchess of Marlborough, governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfill her ambition, and she will not let woman, man or politics stand in her way. But there’s a saying about tangled webs and getting what you wish for, which becomes quite evident as the story unfolds. And, to add some trivia, Sarah Churchill was indeed an ancestor of Winston Churchill.

This is a film that received a number of nominations, and deservedly so. A remote island off the west coast of Ireland sets the scene for one of the best movies of 2022, one that deserved more accolades than those which received them. The story follows lifelong friends Padraic and Colm, who find themselves at an impasse when Colm unexpectedly puts an end to their friendship. A stunned Padraic, aided by his sister Siobhan and troubled young islander Dominic, endeavours to repair the relationship, refusing to take no for an answer. But Padraic’s repeated efforts only strengthen his former friend’s resolve. Events quickly escalate, going in a direction no one would perceive. An excellent film, that needs no razzamatazz and quirky script plot, just a talented ensemble cast and a good story.

Werner Herzog’s cinematography in this documentary is a beauty to behold. It’s mesmerizing and peaceful, spiritual almost. We follow conservationist Steve Boyes’ quest to locate an elusive, potentially mythical herd of giant elephants in Angola. It focuses more on the local culture, and connection to nature than tracking. The pace is slow and meditative, except for the archival footage of rich poachers. That was disturbing.

As we’re in the area… there are some memorable action scenes in this Marvel drama where the late Chadwick Boseman’s Prince T’Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new king, after the events of Captain America: Civil War. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.

There is a debate among Christie fans as to who gives the most authentic portrayal of Hercule Poirot as many actors have taken on the mantle. David Suchet is far above the rest for this viewer. In this version Kenneth Branagh directs and stars as the Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot, on vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer, which turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping Egyptian desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this tale of unbridled passion and incapacitating jealousy features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travellers, and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences. The scenery is breathtaking and the production superb in every way, with a stellar ensemble cast attached.