darkness (2002)

aka The Dark.
"It's not all over, they never go away."
A house in rural Spain is connected to the disappearance of seven children. Forty years later, Mark (Iain Glen) moves back to Spain from America, bringing his wife and two children with him. But whilst her mother and father are preoccupied with the move into the house, the daughter Reggie (Anna Paquin) becomes convinced there are malevolent forces at work there, focused on her younger brother.
Your standard haunted house script, is lifted by a subtle but effective atmosphere of unease, developed by the director, slowly and deliberately. Unfortunately this is let down by an anti-climactic ending.

that sinking feeling (1980)

"There must be more to life than suicide."
As a group of unemployed teens try to make the days pass, one of their number, Ronnie (Robert Buchanan), comes up with an idea to make some money, by stealing sinks from a local factory. But this necessitates him planning the job meticulously and recruiting friends and acquaintances to carry out the job.
A film that transcends its low budget, and use of amateur actors, to provide a heart warming and sometimes surreal comedy. A number of the cast went on to appear in Forsyth's next comedy, Gregory's Girl, and established acting careers.

the ballad of mott the hoople (2011)

"That was rock and roll, that was what Guy was trying to create and that was what was up on stage."
Documentary charting the rise, fall and rise again of Mott The Hoople, a band formed in the imagination of pop guru Guy Stevens, which after an initial rush of fame, looked destined to also-ran status until they bumped into David Bowie and he offered them a song. From there the only way was up and splitting at their height.
The film uses the band to walk us through their career, with input from fan Mike Jones of the Clash, (whose London Calling was produced by Guy Stevens), Mick Rock and a smattering of others.

dredd (2012)

aka Judge Dredd. Dredd 3-D.
"It's all a deep end."
In the future a ravaged Megacity One is ruled over by a police force called Judges, the most fearsome of which is Judge Dredd (Karl Urban). As part of his day, he is ordered to assess a rookie judge. Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) is a psychic, and picks as their first assignment a triple homicide in Peach Trees tower block. What they don't know is that they are walking into a drug's war with the ultra-violent Ma-Ma clan, who are determined not to let the judges walk out again.
Violent and bloody version of the comic character, focusing on developing him as an action hero, rather than the muted adventure story of the Stallone version.But what elevates this film is centering it on Anderson's character, rather than the emotionally retarded Dredd.

my week with marilyn (2011)

"Remember boy when it comes to women, you are never too old for humiliation."
The true story of Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), first job, as 3rd assistant director on The Prince and the Showgirl, and gofer to Lawrence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh). This also makes him interesting to the film's star Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams), who is attracted to him, but also wants to know about the director's motivations.
Fascinating insight into how tumultuous the making of a film could be, and the disruption that Marilyn's insecurity could cause. Even if it comes on as a naive boys fantasy.

one hundred mornings (2009)

"He seems to believe that we're going to make it."
Rural Ireland, and an unknown catastrophe has hit the world. Two couples live in a cabin waiting for answers, but as their supplies start to run out, relationship problems arise, and the rules of law start to unravel...
Tense but languid thriller, made with a photographer's eye for composition.

confessions of an odd job man (1976)

aka The Ups and Downs Of A Handyman.
"I have it regularly serviced and a good going over every month."
A young couple (Barry Stokes, Penny Meredith) move to a village and he sets himself up as a handyman. He's soon called upon by a mix of characters, from the local policeman (Chic Murray), a kinky magistrate (Bob Todd), a schoolmistress (Sue Lloyd), and a whole village full of predatory housewives.
Predictably cliche ridden low brow comedy, where the entente's are never anything less than double, and the women are all too quick to strip off.

the day (2011)

"We shouldn't stay here."
A post-apocalypse rural America, and a small band led by Rick (Dominic Monaghan) are trying to survive and avoid those who eat other people. With one of their number sick, they hole up in an abandoned house, only to find they have walked into a trap, and that one of their number may also be a human eater...
A tense thriller, moodily shot, with many tense moments, that make for an above average as long as you are prepared to run with the premise.

confessions of a driving instructor (1976)

aka Timothy Lea's Confessions of a Driving Instructor.
"It's a little chilly tonight and I thought you might like something to warm up the cockles."
Timothy Lea (Robin Askwith), having just passed his test, decides to set up a driving school with his brother-in-law Sidney (Anthony Booth). Opening up a new world of women, embarrassing situations and slapstick, for Timothy to explore.
Slapstick and sex, a potent combination, just not in the hands of Norman Cohen, who seems to think that the sight of a naked woman would distract from the atrocious comedy. But it proved effective enough to warrant another shot at it with Confessions From A Holiday Camp before the coffin lid was nailed shut on the franchise.

confessions of a window cleaner (1974)

Timothy Lea's Confessions of a Window Cleaner
"You're sweet, and you're impossible."
Timmy Lea (Robin Askwith) becomes a window cleaner under the tutelage of his brother-in-law Sid (Anthony Booth). He soon finds out that there is more to cleaning windows than just washing them, he has to keep the customers happy, especially the female one's!
The first in the successful series, mixing nudity and slapstick comedy, and showed some promise and finesse. Unfortunately the basic ribald slapstick became the pattern, that the rest of the series followed, jettisoning the finer details.