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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 49m

And the boss comes in at #25 Allen White, Young and Graham all deliver solid performances, but #SpringsteenDeliverMeFromNowhere is unfortunately just another safe musician biopic, that doesn't commit fully to the story beats it presents.

Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 3h

After a day off #24 was the latest Park Chan-wook film #NoOtherChoice an absolutely hilarious and morbid movie that shows just how tough the job market is out there! Lee Byung-hun showed outstanding comedic timing and the cinematography is chefs kiss. A little bloated but good.

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 1d

#23 was Nia DaCostas new film #Hedda and was a pleasant surprise to see her introduce the film. Tessa Thompson is great as this manipulative force of nature carefully cutting her way through this party, but alas it meant I was very detached emotionally. It's fine but that's it.

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 1d

#22 the choice to tell the story of #Hamlet in modern day London but keeping the dialogue exactly the same as the play is a choice that ultimately does not pay off despite Riz Ahmed giving his best effort. Very much like the Romeo and Juliet of the 90s but tries too hard.

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 2d

Well I didn't know what to expect with #TheWorldOfLove and it wrecked me. The tale of a victim that refuses to let it define them, as they navigate love, family and peoples attitude towards them. Never giving all the information, but giving just enough, this was powerful! #21

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 2d

Del Toro you son of a gun! #Frankenstein is simply a beautiful piece of cinema. Cinematography, score, set design, SFX, performances all work in harmony to form this tragedy of a man determined to cheat death, and the tragedy of the creature born from it. What a movie! #20

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 2d

Holy hell #TheHolyBoy is an outright knock out. It's stylish and homage filled cinematography, densely packed cast, eerie score, and it's over riding theme on vices, trauma and what we do to hold it back, mixed in with some homosexual subtext, this is a horror that delivers! #19

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 2d

Whilst the appearance of Chris Pine was hilarious #18 #TheKidnappingOfArabella struggles to resonate with me. Enjoyed the dynamic of Arabella and Holly, and some of the laughs were great, but there are a number of lulls between the laughs and I struggled to connect with the story

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 2d

I love a bit of football so of course I had to see #Saipan as movie #17 depicting the infamous bust up between Keane and McCarthy before the '02' world cup. Coogan is solid as Mick but it's Hardwickes Keane that shines brightest in a solid but safe movie.

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 3d

Almost like #LFF years as listening. Film #16 #SentimentalValue offers up themes of depression, family issues, and the craft of filmmaking, with a knockout set of performances so good it is impossible to single out one individual. Best of this festival by far!

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 3d

Now for today #15 was #TheChoral I am begging for a film to blow me away at this point. You can split this into two halves, everything with the older actors is great, but the horny boys subplot I could do without. I'm not one to cry objectification but damn this film tested me. Fiennes is great!

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 3d

Number #14 was Guadagninos #AfterTheHunt and I find myself both really liking the film (minus an almost insulting epilogue), but also being frustrated at some of the writing and storytelling. Literally every character sucks apart from Stuhlbergs Fredrick

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 4d

Number #13 was #Fucktoys and with a title like that I fully expected absolute nonsense and debauchery, and it gives exactly that, balancing punchlines and physical gags none stop, with a couple lulls in there. But I did not expect an emotional gut punch. It's a perfect beer movie with your mates!

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 4d

Film #12 of this festival was #attheplaceofghosts follows a pair of estranged brothers forced to confront their past as a strange spirit begins to haunt them. A pair of solid lead performances mixed with some interesting storytelling make this one worth a watch

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 4d

On the one hand #TheTestamentOfAnnLee is a haunting experience with hypnotic choreography and beautiful music, but it lacks any emotional connection over this odyssey of a movie, that I find myself firmly admiring but uncaring of the film. (#10)

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 5d

We find ourselves in double digits with #10 #JayKelly this is one with high peaks and low lows. Can be considered a bait film and overindulgent, but the theme of family vs ambition and the performances of Sandler and Clooney really make this. And it made me tear up at the end so.

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 5d

Yorgos you absolute nutter! film #9 was obviously #Bugonia and I will say nothing except Plemons deserves a nom and Stone needs to stop being so damn talented. A wild movie that keeps you guessing and whilst maybe a tad too long, is otherwise a glorious viewing experience!

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 5d

Film #8 is ironically #Exit8 a very well crafted psychological horror with shades of Triangle. It's ever mobile Cinematography and subtle sound ques, help build an anxious tension that stays prevalent throughout, but when the film begins to cut away, its momentum slows.

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 5d

Well it took until film #7 but #Chao is the first film I can safely say I fully adored at this #lff2025 what starts out as a gorgeously animated cute ponyo esq tale, comes charging in with a context shifting third act that elevates this to my favorite of the festival so far!

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 6d

My middle of the day was looking a bit bare so I decided to make #6 #TheLoveThatRemains a slow film covering a family post separation, that takes some interesting turns. Sadly I struggled to keep focused and it's just a slide of life that goes a little weird at times

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 6d

After a disappointing morning on the app film #5 has Colin Farrell bringing his A game in #BalladOfASmallPlayer as a desperate gambler chasing that one life changing win. Solid cinematography, and a scene stealing Swinton really add to this tragedy.

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 6d

Didn't end up going to my fourth film yesterday so dove into a screener for #TheVile and low and behold it may just have been the strongest film I've seen at the festival so far blending great horror cinematography with a commentary on gender roles in polyamory. Good stuff!

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 7d

And film #3 was #honeybunch, a film that took its time to really kick in, but once it did, I had this fresh if not slightly morbid charm, that excelled once the picture became clear alongside our memory troubled lead. The theme of devotion is a huge aspect executed well.

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 7d

Film #2 was #BadApples with Saoirse Ronan playing a highly stressed teacher dealing with one particular troublemaker. I will say nothing else except the plot goes wild and downright absurd at times, and your enjoyment relies on your level of commitment to the plot. I was mixed

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Josh The Movie Apprentice @movieapprentice.bsky.social · 7d

Film #1 is the much anticipated #WakeUpDeadMan with Craig once again shining as Benoit Blanc! We now have a really solid trilogy, with each taking a fresh narrative approach, and whilst I found this one a little over booked to use a wrestling term, it lived up to expectations!

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