Black Mirror: Joan is Awful
by Charlie Brooker; dir. Ally Pankiw (Netflix, 2023)
A satire that is at once awkward, confronting, darkly humorous and not far removed from where technology and society are heading. Annie Murphy and Salma Hayek come gloriously into their own as the layers come unravelled (taking an axe to Hamlet-like procrastination!).
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
dir. Patrick Hughes (2021)
For all its senseless action/violence (which viewers can ride out, if in synch with the affiliated comedy), it is the cosiness, the cheesy character arcs, that let this sequel down, rendering it over-the-top in too many directions. Salma Hayek out-bucks the bronco.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard
dir. Patrick Hughes (2017)
Standard action comedy fare, mixed a bit too heavily in favour of the former. Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds play the buddy dynamic well. Jackson and Salma Hayek (in particular) seem to be having lots of fun. Gary Oldman adds class.