Our film fanatic has compiled some recommendations for those who only have a small window of spare time.
I've just watched Joyride, not to be confused 2001's Joy Ride, starring the late Paul Walker. No, this is a 2022 Olivia Colman film, which sees her new mum Joy, who has decided to give her baby away to a friend. Unfortunately for her, she ends up asleep in a taxi that's nicked by 12-year-old Mully (Charlie Reid). He's also on the run from life, as he tries to escape the clutches of his indebted and no good dad. What follows is an unlikely road trip full of twists and turns.
The plot is a bit jumbled, but what lacks in story credibility is more than compensated for by the fabulous acting. Colman is so versatile, and I also adored her recently in Empire of Light, seeing off the advances of Colin Firth's sleazy cinema manager and battling with her mental health. I'm convinced she could make any story compelling. You really believe in her character in Joyride, and root for her.
Best of all, it was all wrapped up inside 90 minutes. I've written before about the joy of a short film, in a world of three hour Marvel epics and overblown watery adventures. Babylon, which I watched recently, had some great scenes buried within its 189-minute running time, but it was like a never-ending Russian doll set. They literally threw the kitchen sink at it, and it was just too lengthy.
If you only have a short window spare, here are six more films you can watch in less time than it takes to get a train from Stalybridge to Chester on the train: Rye Lane (2023) - One of the most original, witty, and brilliant rom coms in years. It's been slim pickings for this genre of late, but this is well worth 82 minutes of your time. You'll want to spend more time with these two young lovebirds when the credits roll! It's charming and wonderful.
Locke (2013) - The whole film is set in Tom Hardy's character's BMW, as his life unravels via a series of impactful phone calls and plot twists. He keeps our attention for the full 84 minutes, and has rarely been better.
Before Sunset (2004) - slightly cheating with this one, as you really need to watch Before Sunrise first. The chemistry between Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke is magical, and I'm convinced you'll fall for the beautiful cinematography as they wander the streets. It's a bit of a 90s precursor to Rye Lane, in a way. If you liked that, you'll definitely like this. Richard Linklater's peak, in my book.
A Night At The Roxbury (1998) - one review calls it "profoundly unfunny". Another says low calorie slapstick". Well, I love Will Ferrell, and I found this really amusing. Elf also counts as a short masterpiece, but it's not Christmas yet.
Toy Story (1995) - 80 minutes of movie magic. And it's almost three decades since it was released. I'm going to need a short lie down after writing that horrifying sentence. And perhaps to watch Rec, a wonderful Spanish horror that clocks in at just 78 minutes.
