Wednesday 28 January 2026

Now that I’ve finally caught up on Christmas, it is time to move onto New Year… and resolutions!

I’ve got a cracker of a resolution for 2026; I resolve to go out to the cinema to see a new film at least once a month!

Come on people, as annual goals go, this one is genius! Get’s us out of the house, broadens the mind, it’s fun, it’s fascinating… hey it even supports the local  economy!

The inspiration comes on 31 December, where I am seeing in the new year with friends in The Lake District. We escape the wintry,  afternoon chills at a charming cinema in Ambleside, with beers, comfy seats, and the thrills of  ‘The Housemaid’. And, although I am often watching from behind my coat (this movie is tense!), I really enjoy myself and am reminded how much I love the big screen experience. No phones, no distractions, just the chance to lose  yourself in a world of fantasy, escapism, characters and plots. And in that moment, my resolution is made!

With true resolutiobary zeal, upon my return, we kick off January with two tickets for Oscar nominated ‘Hamnet’… so  what was my verdicton this much lauded movie offering?

To be honest, having heard such rave reviews, I was a little disappointed. I’d settle on ‘good but not great’. There are some intense moments, I was mesmerised by much of the woodland cinematography and the ending is almost chokingly unbearable. But for large parts of the film, I found the plot somewhat empty and disjointed, with several story lines that dwindle rather than develop. Crucially, Hamnet fails to fully engage my emotions, which I really wasn’t expecting. Quite the opposite in fact; I had settled into the cushioned chairs, with a good Italian beer, expecting to be drawn in from the start and to love it all.

Perhaps every year there’s at least one movie that seemingly everyone but me thinks is a masterpiece… maybe a simple difference of opinion or maybe I’ve just missed something?

Regardless, I’ve launched my movie adventures for 2026 and am already devouring Rotten Tomato reviews looking for February’s pick…