SANDRO AT THE CINEMA

The first three months of the year have traditionally been seen as the time when studios dump their least impressive film releases – and there were certainly some duds early in 2022. But there were some treasures to be found also. Here, editor-in-chief Sandro Monetti reviews six of the first quarter offerings and rates them as a percentage score.

MARRY ME

75%

Despite all her success, Jennifer Lopez has to be one of the most underrated talents in showbiz. She’s never won a major award – not even a Grammy – but here again proves herself one of the top romantic comedy actresses. This is a bang up to date retread of the Notting Hill formula about a superstar falling for a regular guy – and it’s so much fun.

The King's Daughter

70%

When a film has been left on the shelf for seven years and finally released with little publicity, you’d assume it was a total misfire. Instead, this fantasy adventure proves an utter delight. Pierce Brosnan is terrific as King Louis XIV of France who hatches a bizarre plan to capture a mermaid, believing she can bring him immortality.

DEATH ON THE NILE

65%

It’s hard to mess up an Agatha Christie story because her plots are just so perfect and this proves a fine addition to her cinematic adaptations. Gal Gadot steals the show bringing real star quality to her role as a rich beauty surrounded by resentful enemies.

MOONFALL

THE 35525%

What a waste of talents. This mess of an espionage “thriller” sees great actresses Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz and Lupita Nyong’o saddled with underwritten characters who are about as deep as a puddle. Total letdown.

40%

The science seems sketchy at best in this sci-fi disaster movie in which the moon is falling towards the Earth – hence the title. Halle Berry, as the Deputy Director of NASA, does her best to save the day. But she can’t save the script.