After a long while (yet again!), we are back with another round-up and bitesize reviews of recent movies. Right now, you can catch many fantastic films on streaming, as we head towards the BAFTAs and Academy Awards. All of the below are award-nominated, so there’s plenty to choose from, should you be looking for something good to watch!

February’s TTRs consists of: 20 Days in Mariupol, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, Elemental, Maestro, Nimona, Nyda, Rustin, Society of the Snow, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse, Wham and Wonka.

Director: Mstyslav Chernov
Writer: Mstyslav Chernov

This was one of the hardest films I’ve ever watched. About twenty minutes into the film, Chernov says it’s painful to watch, but it must be painful. He is right. The film tells of 20 days Chernov spent in the city of Mariupol, Ukraine, at the start of Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2022. It’s graphic and harrowing. To say it is a “good” film feels entirely inappropriate, however it’s one of the most important films of recent times and needs boosting to show the world exactly what Putin is, and has been, doing to the Ukrainian people. Part of me wanted to stop watching due to being unsure if I could handle it, but I knew it was necessary, and I needed to stop thinking of myself. I was lucky I could pause it when I needed to take a breather (the tears were consistent), but the people of Ukraine are not so lucky. I implore you to watch it, but please be sure to be in a strong state of mind, because it is a far from easy watch.

Director: Sam Fell
Writers: Karey Kirkpatrick, John O’Farrell, Rachel Tunnard
 Cast: Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, David Bradley, Jane Horrocks, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Mohammed, Miranda Richardson

It’s true that the first Chicken Run movie was an absolute delight and a classic, especially within the history of Aardman Animation, so it was going to take a lot to have a strong sequel, especially after 23 years. Did it live up to expectations? Not really, but then there wasn’t really a whole lot expected of it, which makes sense as it was released straight to Netflix (this decade’s equivalent of being released straight to video/DVD, for those of us old enough to remember such a thing). In this instalment, Ginger (Newton) and Rocky (Levi) have a kid named Molly (Ramsey) who is keen to experience life INSIDE a chicken farm (of sorts), and thus a daring rescue mission ensues. It still has some of that classic humour that we enjoyed from the first movie, but it’s missing a little bit of the spark that the original had. Bit weird that it’s nominated for a BAFTA, but here we are.

Director: Peter Sohn
Writers: John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, Brenda Hsueh
 Cast: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie Del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Catheine O’Hara

Disney are certainly well-known for making their films thick with themes, and sometimes it can be a little overbearing and in-your-face. Not so with Elemental. It tells the story of fire-based Ember (Lewis) and water-based Wade (Athie) and their Romeo-and-Juliet-esque relationship. Drop in other themes along the lines of prejudice, filial piety and immigration, and Disney really hits a particular nail on the head that resonates with many, particularly non-white and non-American folk (it dominated the box office in South Korea). With some lovely animation style and colouring to it as well as well-written characters, it’s little suprise this one is up for awards.

Director: Bradley Cooper
Writers: Bradley Cooper, Josh Singer
 Cast: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Vincenzo Amato, Greg Hildreth, Michael Urie, Sarah Silverman, Zachary Booth, Maya Hawke

If you haven’t heard of Leonard Bernstein, then you’ve at least heard of one of his most famous creations, West Side Story. In this semi-biopic, Bernstein’s (Cooper) relationships are at the forefront, particularly his marriage to Felicia Montealegre (Mulligan) and his numerous affairs, with men in particular. The film is beautifully and dramatically scored with Bernstein’s own compositions, and is further dramatised by its split between black and white, very 1950s style cinetmatography and editing for Bernstein’s younger years, and modern colour and framing for later in his life. Cooper gives the performance of his life and really made this whole film what it is, managing to garner many an accolade, award and nomination. Could Cooper be his generation’s Kenneth Branagh?

Directors: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane 
Writers: Robert L. Baird, Lloyd Taylor, Pamela Ribon
 Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul Charles, Indya Moore

Up for an Academy Award, Nimona is a sweet but hefty story about acceptance, amongst other themes. Based on the graphic novel by ND Stevenson, Nimona (Moretz) is regarded as a monster for her shape-shifting abilities, until she meets Ballister Boldheart (Ahmed) and decides to help him when he faces trouble. One of the most beautiful things about this film is that it is entirely LGBTQ+ friendly, and its messages about kindness stretch far beyond that of romantic love. It’s set in a futuristic-yet-medieval time, but it tells us a lot about what we should be doing now. The animation style is fun and unique, and it sets a precedent for other animators and filmmakers alike.

Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Writers: Julia Cox, Diana Nyad
 Cast: Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Anne Marie Kempf, Carolyn McCormick

In this biographical drama about Diana Nyad’s final successful attempt to swim the Strait of Florida, from Cuba to Florida, at the age of sixty-three, Annette Benning puts in an incredible, back-breaking performance. Delving into the ins and outs of Nyad’s life, including the sexual abuse she suffered as a child, the sheer determination and strength portrayed by Benning does a huge service to people of similar experiences and/or age. Jodie Foster supports superbly in the role of Nyad’s best friend, trainer and biggest supporter Bonnie Stoll. Two incredible women, wonderfully portrayed, though in an overall fairly average film, proves that there is still room for older women in cinema.

Director: George C. Wolfe
Writers: Julian Breece, Dustin Lance Black 
 Cast: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, Johnny Ramey, CCH Pounder, Michael Potts, Audra McDonald, Jeffrey Wright

After many movies about Martin Luther King and the 1963 March on Washington, we now have a film about one of the most important men involved in one of the biggest events in American, and world, history. Bayard Rustin, fantastically portrayed by Colman Domingo, was an activist for many causes, and his belief and determination to make the march successful proved to be a huge turning point for so many, including himself. Rustin tells a story that is important to be heard, not only for what Rustin did, but also for who he was, as a gay black man in the 1960s. Some of the dialogue felt a little forced, or on-the-nose at times, but thanks to Domingo, the film survives on an emotional and inspiring lead performance.

Director: J.A. Bayona
Writers: J.A. Bayona, Bernat Vilaplana, Jaime Marques
 Cast: Enzo Vogrincic, Agustín Pardella, Matías Recalt, Esteban Bigliardi, Diego Vegezzi, Fernando Contingiani, Esteban Kukuriczka, Francisco Romero, Rafael Federman, Valentino Alonso, Tomas Wolf, Agustín Della Corte

If you have heard anything about this film, you’ve probably heard that it has been compared to the story of the Donner party, but it is SO much more than that. It’s an intense film that tells the story of the survivors of the 1972 Andes flight disaster. Of the 45 passengers, only 16 ended up surviving, and that survival included resorting to cannibalism. Over the course of 72 days, the intial survivors were subjected to illness, avalanches, starvation and sub-zero temperatures, among other dangers. The audience is made to feel all of it; sadness, anger, grief, claustrophobia, desperation. It’s an incredibly emotional film with strong performances that put the actors and their physical boundaries to the test. J.A. Bayona is known for his storytelling when it comes to real-life disasters, and Society of the Snow is no different.

Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Writers: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Dave Callaham
 Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, Jake Johnson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Karan Soni, Shea Whigham, Greta Lee, Mahershala Ali, Amandla Stenberg, Jharrel Jerome, Andy Samberg, Jack Quaid, Rachel Dratch

They’ve done it again. The creators of 2018’s Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse have done the near-impossible and created a sequel that is just as entertaining, stunning and generally good as the first. Once again taking us on an adventure via the lives of multiple versions of Spider-People (and Spider-pigs, -cars, etc.), Miles Morales (Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Steinfeld) team up to venture into the Multiverse and visit the Spider-Society, where Miles has to decide whether to try and break the cycle of death that seems to follow all Spider-People (and Spider-pigs, -cars, etc.), or fall in with the rest. It’s an epic adventure with fantastic humour that eases in well with the more serious themes. Great fun for people of all ages, and it’s no wonder it’s up for the same big awards this year.

Director: Chris Smith

Wham! were an iconic British musical duo during the early-mid 1980s consisting of Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou). This documentary tells their story, from their humble beginnings in Watford, Hertfordshire in the UK, to their world-wide fame. It’s an interesting story, buoyed now and again by George’s own battle with his sexuality earlier on and later substance abuse. It’s a deep dive into the working relationship between Andrew and George, as well as their friendship and platonic love for each other, and the troubles caused by overnight fame, the incredible highs and devastating lows. Do we get a whole lot of new information about the band? Not especially, but it’s a must-watch for any Wham! fan, or even if you’re just a casual listener.

Director: Paul King
Writers: Paul King, Simon Farnaby, based on “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl
 Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Tom Davis, Olivia Colman, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Keegan-Michael Key, Jim Carter, Rakhee Thakrar

After we’ve had Mel Stuart’s 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (with Gene Wilder’s excellent performance as Willy Wonka) and Tim Burton’s 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (with Johnny Depp’s average performance as Willy Wonka), we are now greeted with a third iteration of the enduring children’s story. In this version, we see Wonka’s semi-humble beginnings as he builds his way up to becoming the famous chocolatier people have come to know and love (including his first introduction to a single Oompa Loompa). Casting Timothée Chalamet as Wonka was risky, and it’s not really until the second act that he starts to prove his worth as the titular character – ‘character’ being the operative word: I personally don’t see Chalamet as much of a character actor, but he does his best. Hugh Grant provides some decent comedy as the Oompa Loompa, and there are some good supporting performances, but just like Burton’s offering, it doesn’t really compare to Stuart’s film, and falls a little flat too many times to be able to stand strong as a musical.