1993
0
A filthy comedian is put on trial by feminist aliens from the future.
Predictably blue comic vehicle which has trouble sustaining interest for 80 minutes, but a fair few funny lines for broadminded audiences.
Dir: Tony Dow
Stars: Roy Chubby Brown, Sara Stockbridge, Roger Lloyd Pack, Shirley Anne Field, Kenny Baker
UGETSU MONOGATARI
1953
**
In 16th century Japan, two peasants attempt to improve their lives, but civil war hinders them.
Curious mix of styles which had some critics in raptures, and the story is indeed an intriguing one, extremely well shot.
Dir: Kenji Mizoguchi
Stars: Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyo, Sakae Ozawa
THE UGLY DUCKLING
1959
0
A gauche man becomes a smoothie thanks to his ancestor Dr Jekyll's potion.
Having been unavailable for many years, this comedy is a welcome watch, but it soon becomes evident that it's nothing special, failing to live up to the potential of its storyline, culminating in such laugh-free sequences as the one atop a wall with Bresslaw and Pertwee.
Dir: Lance Comfort
Stars: Bernard Bresslaw, Jon Pertwee, Reginald Beckwith, Jean Muir
UHF
1989
0
A wacky TV station unexpectedly tops the ratings.
Pretty much a series of variable sketches; some are funny, most are awful.
Dir: Jay Levey
Stars: Weird Al Yankovic, Kevin McCarthy, Victoria Jackson, David Bowie
THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR
1975
*
In a war-torn future world, a warrior escorts a pregnant woman to safety.
Grim sci-fi free of sentiment or mercy.
Dir: Robert Clouse
Stars: Yul Brynner, Max von Sydow, Joanna Miles
UMBERTO D
1952
**
A pensioner falls into poverty and has only his dog for company.
A simple, direct and unfussy film about loneliness that is eventually moving. It was the only movie Battisti ever acted in.
Dir: Vittorio De Sica
Stars: Carlo Battisti, Maria-Pia Casilio, Lina Gennari
THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG
1964
***
A young couple in love experience a forced separation.
Whether it's gazing upon the faces of the cast (especially the stunning Deneuve) or taking in the candy-coloured scenery, this is something beautiful to behold, and it sounds unique also, with every word being sang - it's unlike anything else ever made, also because it captures a time and a place. It's very French, and generally a delight, telling a simple and affecting story about how life doesn't go as planned, and sometimes that's okay, if poignant. It may be advantageous to understand French and so listen to the sung words rather than read the subtitles which are sometimes clunky literal English translations.
Dir: Jacques Demy
Stars: Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon, Marc Michel, Ellen Farner
UNACCUSTOMED AS WE ARE
1929
*
Stan and Ollie get into trouble with another man's wife.
Straightforward comedy with a restricted setting, their first all-sound short - they make fairly good use of it with some hilariously inane dialogue, including the ‘Mrs Kennedy’ ‘Mr Hardy’ conversation near the beginning. After that there’s fun with the wives and the irrepressible Kennedy, one of their regular and best foils.
Dir: Lewis R Foster
Stars: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Edgar Kennedy, Mae Busch, Thelma Todd
THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING
1988
**
In Prague in 1968 an amorous doctor is at the centre of two love affairs.
Languid drama light on plot that creates a nostalgic atmosphere that doesn’t seem forced and allows actors to fully inhabit their characters. It may nevertheless bore some, despite several headily erotic scenes.
Dir: Philip Kaufman
Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin, Donald Moffat, Stellan Skarsgard
THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH
1989
**
A man returns to his home town after a prison sentence and falls for the daughter of the local car mechanic who employs him.
Different in style to most films you watch - the dialogue is mannered and literal, the performances sort-of-deliberately-stagey - this is a fairly intriguing little drama with quirky characters and 'indie' written all over it; can it even be described as a 'romance'? It kind of is but isn't. Of course it never exactly explodes but it does keep you watching to see where it's going to go. Not bad for an 11-day shoot.
Dir: Hal Hartley
Stars: Adrienne Shelly, Robert John Burke, Chris Cooke
THE UNBELIEVERS
2013
**
Documentary following scientists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss around the globe as they talk to the media and mass gatherings.
A valuable record of two extremely intelligent men who, despite the ignorance of the general populace, find the strength to spread the word of science and reason. As a narrative documentary it's not in the top bracket of its genre, but it's generally compelling, refreshing viewing for those who like to think. The DVD has some bonus features which are worth watching, including extended interviews with celebrities who also appear in the film, such as Woody Allen, Sarah Silverman, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Hawking, Tim Minchin and Werner Herzog.
Dir: Gus Holwerda
UNBREAKABLE
2000
*
A man learns that he has superpowers.
Somewhat overrated fantasy, rather slow and boring, magisterially if gloomily shot. Perhaps it requires another viewing or two.
Dir: M Night Shyamalan
Stars: Bruce Willis, Samuel L Jackson, Robin Wright
THE UNCANNY
1977
0
An author tells his publisher three stories about evil cats, set in London 1912, Quebec Province 1975 and Hollywood 1936.
Ropey horror compendium: Cushing and Milland's wraparound sequence gives it slight weight but the stories are shoddy - the first has a few effective fright moments but is pretty simplistic; the second suffers from poor special effects and acting; the third is silly and tonally uncertain but does have the 'Cat got your tongue?' line. Overall, the concept, that cats are sinister, is unconvincing, not least due to many scenes of moggies simply being chucked at people to look threatening.
Dir: Denis Heroux
Stars: Peter Cushing, Ray Milland, Roland Culver, Samantha Eggar, Joan Greenwood, Donald Pleasence, Susan Penhaligon, John Vernon
UNCLE BUCK
1989
*
A big clumsy uncle comes to look after his brother's kids.
The star plays his usual role in this curiously bitter and dark comedy.
Dir: John Hughes
Stars: John Candy, Jean Louisa Kelly, Macaulay Culkin
UNCUT GEMS
2019
****
A New York City jeweller lives a high-wire existence in which he wins big and loses big.
This won't be for everyone, but it is an electrifying, sometimes stunning drama about existence at its most fraught, with people that you'd rather not spend time with but whose machinations make for gripping viewing. Much of the [incredibly profane] dialogue is inaudible and sometimes things are on the verge of being confusing, but Sandler's powerhouse performance and the sheer drive and conviction of the rest of production ensure that this is one of the films of the year - provided we class Netflix ventures as films... Visually and aurally it's an absolute triumph.
Dir: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
Stars: Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Idina Menzel, Kevin Garnett
THE UNDEAD
1956
0
A prostitute is hypnotised to believe she is back in medieval times. There she is condemned as a witch.
Dippy Corman shocker which manages to throw reincarnation, time travel, dwarfs, witches and the devil into its heady brew.
Dir: Roger Corman
Stars: Pamela Duncan, Richard Garland, Billy Barty
UNDER CAPRICORN
1949
*
In 1830s Australia, a woman appears to have been driven to drink by her husband's cruelty.
One of Hitchcock's weakest pictures, this costume drama is a curious, lumbering beast, beset with very long takes which contain much dialogue that often do little to surprise or intrigue. But there are worthwhile moments, like the head in the bed, and in its own quite stiff way, it's an elegant and intelligent film. Probably best watched with low expectations.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Michael Wilding, Margaret Leighton, Cecil Parker
THE UNCANNY
1977
0
An author tells his publisher three stories about evil cats, set in London 1912, Quebec Province 1975 and Hollywood 1936.
Ropey horror compendium: Cushing and Milland's wraparound sequence gives it slight weight but the stories are shoddy - the first has a few effective fright moments but is pretty simplistic; the second suffers from poor special effects and acting; the third is silly and tonally uncertain but does have the 'Cat got your tongue?' line. Overall, the concept, that cats are sinister, is unconvincing, not least due to many scenes of moggies simply being chucked at people to look threatening.
Dir: Denis Heroux
Stars: Peter Cushing, Ray Milland, Roland Culver, Samantha Eggar, Joan Greenwood, Donald Pleasence, Susan Penhaligon, John Vernon
UNCLE BUCK
1989
*
A big clumsy uncle comes to look after his brother's kids.
The star plays his usual role in this curiously bitter and dark comedy.
Dir: John Hughes
Stars: John Candy, Jean Louisa Kelly, Macaulay Culkin
UNCUT GEMS
2019
****
A New York City jeweller lives a high-wire existence in which he wins big and loses big.
This won't be for everyone, but it is an electrifying, sometimes stunning drama about existence at its most fraught, with people that you'd rather not spend time with but whose machinations make for gripping viewing. Much of the [incredibly profane] dialogue is inaudible and sometimes things are on the verge of being confusing, but Sandler's powerhouse performance and the sheer drive and conviction of the rest of production ensure that this is one of the films of the year - provided we class Netflix ventures as films... Visually and aurally it's an absolute triumph.
Dir: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
Stars: Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Idina Menzel, Kevin Garnett
THE UNDEAD
1956
0
A prostitute is hypnotised to believe she is back in medieval times. There she is condemned as a witch.
Dippy Corman shocker which manages to throw reincarnation, time travel, dwarfs, witches and the devil into its heady brew.
Dir: Roger Corman
Stars: Pamela Duncan, Richard Garland, Billy Barty
UNDER CAPRICORN
1949
*
In 1830s Australia, a woman appears to have been driven to drink by her husband's cruelty.
One of Hitchcock's weakest pictures, this costume drama is a curious, lumbering beast, beset with very long takes which contain much dialogue that often do little to surprise or intrigue. But there are worthwhile moments, like the head in the bed, and in its own quite stiff way, it's an elegant and intelligent film. Probably best watched with low expectations.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Michael Wilding, Margaret Leighton, Cecil Parker
UNDER THE BED!
1977
0
A wedding party sees all sorts of saucy shenanigans.
This sunny, light-hearted short has a real 'shot at the producer's house' vibe (it's the delightful Wraysbury in Berkshire) and its content is deeply inconsequential - it starts with its best nudity and then there's all sorts of chatter, some of which is actually quite funny, especially the fffffing girl, before some mild couplings. We also get a cast member who'd become a teacher at Grange Hill. You can't imagine the dirty mac brigade would have been too impressed, unless they watched the hardcore version intended for foreign markets - as it is, this is a very English, very Seventies sauce film, but that's not necessarily an insult.
Dir: David Grant
Stars: Theresa Wood, John Hamill, Lisa Taylor, Michael Cronin
UNDER THE DOCTOR
1976
0
A doctor relates three cases of sex-hungry females.
Lame but likeable sex farce. The lead actor would go on to commit suicide.
Dir: Gerry Poulson
Stars: Barry Evans, Liz Fraser, Hilary Pritchard
UNDER THE SKIN
2013
****
An alluring female alien tours Scotland picking up and destroying men.
A film which seemed to have people lauding it as a masterpiece or branding it pretentious drivel: it's closer to the former, a strange project that has on its side excellent cinematography, a bold lead performance and a shiversome score, but against it frustrating opaqueness, shots held for ages and not enough dialogue. It stays with you, though; some sequences are superb - the events on the beach come to mind - and it manages to get 'under the skin' of everyday life, as viewed, and then in part experienced, by Johansson's character - you can almost feel the chilliness of the Scottish climate. Perhaps the ultimate verdict on this arty sci-fi treatise on the human condition can't be delivered for another 20 years or so, when it will seem an even more precious profile of our times than it does now.
Dir: Jonathan Glazer
Stars: Scarlett Johansson
UNDERGROUND
1928
*
A woman is loved both by a passenger and a worker on the London Underground.
A working class romance that goes the way of melodrama, this is probably one of the better British films of the 1920s, with a few visual flourishes from the director in his debut feature, and some valuable footage of contemporary London and the Tube system. A 2013 DVD has a beautifully restored print along with many extras showing the Underground on film.
Dir: Anthony Asquith
Stars: Brian Aherne, Elissa Landi, Cyril McLaglen, Norah Baring
UNDERGROUND
1995
0
Life in war-torn Belgrade from World War Two to the present day.
A film lauded by some, but you likely have to have familiarity with the country and culture to feel sympathetic towards it - otherwise it's a tiresome long haul frequently punctuated by loud explosions, singing, and people having parties; also the main characters and the quirky humour are somewhat irritating.
Dir: Emir Kusturica
Stars: Predrag Manojlovic, Lazar Ristovski, Mirjana Jokovic
THE UNDERNEATH
1995
**
A man plans an elaborate plot to get his girlfriend away from a mobster.
Compelling, multi-layered psychological drama with nicely naturalistic dialogue and excellent technical credits.
Dir: Stephen Soderbergh
Stars: Peter Gallagher, Alison Elliott, Joe Don Baker, Elisabeth Shue
UNDERSEA KINGDOM
1936 (serial)
*
A submarine crew comes across an underwater world ruled by a power-mad dictator.
If you don't mind the ridiculous plot, bad acting and 'basic' special effects, you'll enjoy this kooky serial, one of Republic's better ones. The pace is pretty much non-stop, nothing is particularly refined but everyone gives it a go and there is wacky imagination on show - the robots are especially endearing. Look out for a few cheat cliffhangers, natch.
Dir: B Reeves Eason, Joseph Kane
Stars: Ray Crash Corrigan, Monte Blue, Lois Wilde, Lon Chaney Jr
1943
0
A curse hangs over an English ancestral home.
Horror mainly consisting of a group of people wandering around an old house. The monster is only briefly glimpsed.
Dir: John Brahm
Stars: James Ellison, John Howard, Heather Angel
THE UNEARTHLY
1957
0
A crazy scientist carries out experiments on unfortunate subjects.
A bit like a throwback to the mad doctor pictures of the Thirties and Forties, largely consisting of actors walking around the rooms of a house. Carradine is ideal for the part, though, and it finishes, after what seems like a longer time than it runs, with some agreeably ghoulish scenes.
Dir: Boris Petroff
Stars: John Carradine, Myron Healey, Allison Hayes, Tor Johnson
UNEARTHLY STRANGER
1963
*
A government scientist fears that he has married an alien.
Low budget, tautly directed sci-fi. No actual aliens are shown.
Dir: John Krish
Stars: John Neville, Jean Marsh, Patrick Newell, Warren Mitchell
UNFORGIVEN
1992
****
A retired gunfighter goes back to his old ways to track down cowboys who disfigured a prostitute.
Clint Eastwood's best film is a revisionist western in which death and suffering mean something. Impeccably performed and full of great scenes.
Dir: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris
UNHALLOWED GROUND
2015
0
A group of students encounter spirits and burglars on a night patrol of their school.
Another dispiriting low budget British horror film made by those without enough talent to hitch it out the ditch; repetitive, confined, colourless, coarse and stupid - all par for the course.
Dir: Russell England
Stars: Ameet Chana, Poppy Drayton, Marcus Griffiths, Thomas Law
UNHINGED
1982
0
Three girls have a car crash and are forced to take refuge in an isolated house containing only a strange old woman and her daughter.
Amateurish horror in which everything is bungled - the actresses had perhaps never acted before, the direction is static and the script is absurd. No wonder they tried to ban it.
Dir: Don Gronquist
Stars: Laurel Munson, J E Penner, Sara Ansley
THE UNHOLY
1988
0
A priest must resist the pleasures of the flesh to save his soul.
Dank horror with a dull and talky script.
Dir: Camilo Vilo
Stars: Ben Cross, Ned Beatty, Hal Holbrook, Trevor Howard
THE UNINVITED
1944
*
A girl returns to her family's house to encounter the ghost of her mother.
A genuine ghost story, nicely done, but a little faded now.
Dir: Lewis Allen
Stars: Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, Gail Russell
THE UNINVITED
2009
*
A teenager suspects her father’s new girlfriend is a killer.
Slight chiller which can’t decide whether to be a psycho thriller or a ghost story; either way it provides few surprises for those versed in conventions of those genres. Passable, but you wouldn’t go out of your way to see it.
Dir: Charles Guard, Thomas Guard
Stars: Emily Browning, Arielle Kebbel, Elizabeth Banks
UNITED 93
2006
***
A real-time account of the hijacking of flight United 93 on September 11, 2001, when the passengers fought in vain to save the plane they were on.
It almost seems callous to submit this for critical analysis in the same way as other films, such is its verisimilitude to the not-long-gone terrible situation it recreates; all that can be said is that it is powerful and unflinching but probably could not be watched more than once.
Dir: Paul Greengrass
Stars: David Alan Basche, Richard Bekins, Susan Blommaert
UNIVERSAL HORROR
1998 (TV)
*
Documentary about the heyday of Universal's horror features.
Not bad, but it only covers a limited amount of movies and often strays from its point.
Dir: Kevin Brownlow
Narrator: Kenneth Branagh
UNIVERSAL SOLDIER
1992
*
Two Vietnam vets are programmed to be fighting machines - but malfunction.
Ridiculous action flick with a surfeit of unpleasant violence.
Dir: Roland Emerich
Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Ally Walker
THE UNKNOWN
1927
***
A circus performer with a sinister past who pretends to have no arms falls in love with a woman who hates being handled.
A silent film that still plays better than the vast majority of silent films, this is a wonderfully twisted and bizarre melodrama that is splendidly shot and performed - it does all a movie can, leaving a strong imprint on the viewer. Prints nowadays run to 49 minutes as opposed to the original 63, making it even sharper and more riveting. Forty years later Joan was back at the circus in Berserk (qv).
Dir: Tod Browning
Stars: Lon Chaney, Norman Kerry, Joan Crawford, John GeorgeTHE UNKNOWN TERROR
1957
0
A woman leads an expedition to find her long-lost brother.
Rubbishy sci-fi horror of absolutely no interest.
Dir: Charles Marquis Warren
Stars: John Howard, Mala Powers, Paul Richards
UNKNOWN WORLD
1951
0
Scientists journey to the centre of the Earth.
Budget sci-fi, with rather more emphasis on the fi than on the sci; some fun can be had for addicts of the genre and those who don't mind peering through the black-and-white mistiness (or all those young boys who dreamt of drilling down to the planet's core). It begins with a lengthy (fictional) newsreel.
Dir: Terry O Morse
Stars: Bruce Kellogg, Otto Waldis, Jim Bannon
UNLAWFUL ENTRY
1992
*
A disturbed policeman persecutes a man whose wife he desires.
Familiar shocks and plot development for critics, fun for most audiences.
Dir: Jonathan Kaplan
Stars: Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta, Madeleine Stowe
UNMAN, WITTERING AND ZIGO
1971
*
A new teacher at a public school suspects that his pupils are trying to kill him.
Intriguing and atmospheric psychological drama which rather loses its initial impetus.
Dir: John Mackenzie
Stars: David Hemmings, Douglas Wilmer, Caroline Seymour
AN UNMARRIED WOMAN
1978
***
A wife is shocked into a new life when her husband suddenly announces he is leaving her.
Crisp drama with a great performance from the lead, one of the best examples from the Seventies of a picture about women, told from a woman's point of view; adult and observational, you really feel like you've been in the New York of the time after viewing it, such is its location shooting and capturing of the era's feel. It also has some of the most realistic psychotherapist/patient discourses you'll see on screen.
Dir: Paul Mazursky
Stars: Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates, Michael Murphy, Cliff Gorman
THE UNNAMABLE
1988
0
Students are slaughtered by an ancient monster come back to life.
Pointless horror film, tiresomely padded out.
Dir: Jean-Paul Ouellette
Stars: Charles Klausmeyer, Mark Kinsey Stephenson, Alexandra Durrell
THE UNSEEN
1945
*
A governess minds a child who was witness to a murder.
Fair ghost story of a mild disposition.
Dir: Lewis Allen
Stars: Joel McCrea, Gail Russell
THE UNSEEN
1981
*
Three women are forced to stay at a house with a murderous secret.
Sickish horror which builds up a scary situation then over-eggs it.
Dir: Peter Foleg, Danny Steinmann
Stars: Barbara Bach, Stephen Furst, Sydney Lassick
THE UNTOLD STORY
1993
**
Police investigate a restaurant where the former owner has gone missing.
An example of how extreme Hong Kong crime thrillers can be, this strangely compelling film follows an unpredictable, non-Hollywood route and delivers gut punches in the middle and towards the end that belong in the nastiest of horror films (how were they able to do this with child performers?). The disturbing lead performance shows how far some actors will go for their art.
Dir: Danny Lee, Herman Yau
Stars: Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Dany Lee, Emily Kwan
UNTOUCHABLE
2011
***
A tetraplegic is cared for by a former criminal, but their union is surprisingly successful.
A big hit in its native France, this is a feelgood drama about overcoming the obstacles life throws at you, and is consequently not for the cynical. But for others there's plenty to enjoy, including a good deal of raw humour and touching sentiment: having watched it you feel you're just a slightly better person.
Dir: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano
Stars: Francois Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, Audrey Fleurot
THE UNTOUCHABLES
1987
**
Elliot Ness gathers a band of crack policemen to capture Al Capone.
De Palma brings his extensive knowledge of making thrillers to this slick and exciting gangster film based on the old TV series.
Dir: Brian De Palma
Stars: Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia
UP
2009
**
A widowed old man escapes to what he hopes is a better place in a house suspended by helium balloons.
Another immensely successful and lavished-with-praise Pixar feature which variously attracted the adjectives ‘uplifting’ and ‘magical’ – perhaps it is, but only in parts; the film peaks early on with a fantastic montage of the couple’s life, and for much of the second half we get wandering around, irritating talking dogs and a big, garish bird. But the climactic action is fun and the whole movie has a good spirit and temperament.
Dir: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Voices: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson
UP AT THE VILLA
2000
*
In 1938 Florence, a rich Englishwoman becomes entangled with a disturbed Austrian refugee.
Standard adaptation of Maugham’s enjoyable novella which doesn’t make the earth move but provides a decent, civilised evening’s viewing.
Dir: Philip Haas
Stars: Kristin Scott Thomas, Sean Penn, Anne Bancroft, James Fox, Jeremy Davies, Derek Jacobi
UP FROM THE DEPTHS
1979
0
A prehistoric monster terrorises a resort.
The makers of Jaws would have surely have had an excellent case to sue the makers of this anaemic rip-off.
Dir: Charles B Griffith
Stars: Sam Bottoms, Susanne Read
UP IN SMOKE
1978
*
Two dopeheads forever search for good grass.
Cheech and Chong's first film; many laughs for those who know.
Dir: Lou Adler
Stars: Cheech Marin, Thomas Chong, Stacy Keach
UP IN THE AIR
2009
***
A man whose job it is to travel around America to fire people is forced to work with a new young female recruit.
Smooth evocation of the world of the jet setter and well-paid businessman, with a predictably slick lead performance, it manages to not be too predictable and says plenty about all our lives. The plot works, but the travel is also pleasurable.
Dir: Jason Reitman
Stars: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman
UP IN THE WORLD
1956
0
A window cleaner finds friendship with a boy millionaire.
Irritating star comedy.
Dir: John Paddy Carstairs
Stars: Norman Wisdom, Martin Caridia, Jerry Desmonde
UP THE CREEK
1958
*
An ancient Navy ship is used for commercial purposes by the wily crew.
Amiable comedy with a fresh and funny performance from Sellers.
Dir: Val Guest
Stars: Peter Sellers, David Tomlinson, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Vera Day, Lionel Jeffries
UP THE FRONT
1972
0
A cowardly servant is enlisted as a soldier in World War One.
Cheeseparing farce which makes its predecessors look like classics.
Dir: Bob Kellett
Stars: Frankie Howerd, Bill Fraser, Linda Gray, Lance Percival, Madeline Smith
UP THE JUNCTION
1967
0
A well-off girl takes a menial factory job in Clapham.
Unconvincing and dreary social drama.
Dir: Peter Collinson
Stars: Suzy Kendall, Dennis Waterman, Adrienne Posta, Maureen Lipman, Liz Fraser, Alfie Bass
UP THE MILITARY
1984
0
A young female virgin gets corrupted by working at the Pentagon...
...as you might. Dismissible sex comedy.
Dir: Andrew Sugarman
Stars: Ann Dusenberry, Rhonda Shear
UPS AND DOWNS OF A HANDYMAN
1975
0
A husband finds that all the women in the village want him for 'jobs'.
Bucolic adult comedy with an odd mix of sex and childish humour.
Dir: John Sealey
Stars: Barry Stokes, Gay Soper, Sue Lloyd, Bob Todd
URGE TO KILL
1960
*
Girls are being murdered in a small town and a 'mental case' is suspected.
Not unpredictable B-thriller that betrays its theatrical origins but provides a measure of old-school fun. It was included in the US's Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre TV package but is not based on material by Wallace - hence its position as a 'special feature' on the DVD set.
Dir: Vernon Sewell
Stars: Patrick Barr, Ruth Dunning, Howard Pays, Terence Knapp
US
2019
**
A holidaying family are menaced by their doppelgangers.
Original, well shot, interesting horror that bites off a little more than it can chew and stretches its story out; well done in parts, in the end it's unclear exactly what it's trying to say. It's inferior to the director's Get Out, but repeat viewings may reward - thought has certainly gone into it.
Dir: Jordan Peele
Stars: Lupita Nyong'o, Wisnton Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex
THE US VS JOHN LENNON
2006
**
Documentary focusing on John Lennon's conflict with the Nixon administration.
A satisfying feature that for the first hour is like two separate ones, until Lennon and US politics converge in 1971; it benefits from Lennon's eccentricity, charisma, wit and, of course, wonderful music. Generally leftish, it also airs John's occasionally risible/naive behaviour.
Dir: David Leaf, John Scheinfeld
Stars: John Lennon, Yoko Ono
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
1997
**
A heist at a port goes badly wrong.
Gritty crime thriller which was a big hit with critics despite its rather perfunctory twist.
Dir: Bryan Singer
Stars: Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Pete Postlethwaite, Kevin Spacey, Benicio del Toro
1957
0
A woman leads an expedition to find her long-lost brother.
Rubbishy sci-fi horror of absolutely no interest.
Dir: Charles Marquis Warren
Stars: John Howard, Mala Powers, Paul Richards
UNKNOWN WORLD
1951
0
Scientists journey to the centre of the Earth.
Budget sci-fi, with rather more emphasis on the fi than on the sci; some fun can be had for addicts of the genre and those who don't mind peering through the black-and-white mistiness (or all those young boys who dreamt of drilling down to the planet's core). It begins with a lengthy (fictional) newsreel.
Dir: Terry O Morse
Stars: Bruce Kellogg, Otto Waldis, Jim Bannon
UNLAWFUL ENTRY
1992
*
A disturbed policeman persecutes a man whose wife he desires.
Familiar shocks and plot development for critics, fun for most audiences.
Dir: Jonathan Kaplan
Stars: Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta, Madeleine Stowe
UNMAN, WITTERING AND ZIGO
1971
*
A new teacher at a public school suspects that his pupils are trying to kill him.
Intriguing and atmospheric psychological drama which rather loses its initial impetus.
Dir: John Mackenzie
Stars: David Hemmings, Douglas Wilmer, Caroline Seymour
AN UNMARRIED WOMAN
1978
***
A wife is shocked into a new life when her husband suddenly announces he is leaving her.
Crisp drama with a great performance from the lead, one of the best examples from the Seventies of a picture about women, told from a woman's point of view; adult and observational, you really feel like you've been in the New York of the time after viewing it, such is its location shooting and capturing of the era's feel. It also has some of the most realistic psychotherapist/patient discourses you'll see on screen.
Dir: Paul Mazursky
Stars: Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates, Michael Murphy, Cliff Gorman
THE UNNAMABLE
1988
0
Students are slaughtered by an ancient monster come back to life.
Pointless horror film, tiresomely padded out.
Dir: Jean-Paul Ouellette
Stars: Charles Klausmeyer, Mark Kinsey Stephenson, Alexandra Durrell
THE UNSEEN
1945
*
A governess minds a child who was witness to a murder.
Fair ghost story of a mild disposition.
Dir: Lewis Allen
Stars: Joel McCrea, Gail Russell
THE UNSEEN
1981
*
Three women are forced to stay at a house with a murderous secret.
Sickish horror which builds up a scary situation then over-eggs it.
Dir: Peter Foleg, Danny Steinmann
Stars: Barbara Bach, Stephen Furst, Sydney Lassick
THE UNTOLD STORY
1993
**
Police investigate a restaurant where the former owner has gone missing.
An example of how extreme Hong Kong crime thrillers can be, this strangely compelling film follows an unpredictable, non-Hollywood route and delivers gut punches in the middle and towards the end that belong in the nastiest of horror films (how were they able to do this with child performers?). The disturbing lead performance shows how far some actors will go for their art.
Dir: Danny Lee, Herman Yau
Stars: Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Dany Lee, Emily Kwan
UNTOUCHABLE
2011
***
A tetraplegic is cared for by a former criminal, but their union is surprisingly successful.
A big hit in its native France, this is a feelgood drama about overcoming the obstacles life throws at you, and is consequently not for the cynical. But for others there's plenty to enjoy, including a good deal of raw humour and touching sentiment: having watched it you feel you're just a slightly better person.
Dir: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano
Stars: Francois Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, Audrey Fleurot
THE UNTOUCHABLES
1987
**
Elliot Ness gathers a band of crack policemen to capture Al Capone.
De Palma brings his extensive knowledge of making thrillers to this slick and exciting gangster film based on the old TV series.
Dir: Brian De Palma
Stars: Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia
UP
2009
**
A widowed old man escapes to what he hopes is a better place in a house suspended by helium balloons.
Another immensely successful and lavished-with-praise Pixar feature which variously attracted the adjectives ‘uplifting’ and ‘magical’ – perhaps it is, but only in parts; the film peaks early on with a fantastic montage of the couple’s life, and for much of the second half we get wandering around, irritating talking dogs and a big, garish bird. But the climactic action is fun and the whole movie has a good spirit and temperament.
Dir: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Voices: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson
UP AT THE VILLA
2000
*
In 1938 Florence, a rich Englishwoman becomes entangled with a disturbed Austrian refugee.
Standard adaptation of Maugham’s enjoyable novella which doesn’t make the earth move but provides a decent, civilised evening’s viewing.
Dir: Philip Haas
Stars: Kristin Scott Thomas, Sean Penn, Anne Bancroft, James Fox, Jeremy Davies, Derek Jacobi
UP FROM THE DEPTHS
1979
0
A prehistoric monster terrorises a resort.
The makers of Jaws would have surely have had an excellent case to sue the makers of this anaemic rip-off.
Dir: Charles B Griffith
Stars: Sam Bottoms, Susanne Read
UP IN SMOKE
1978
*
Two dopeheads forever search for good grass.
Cheech and Chong's first film; many laughs for those who know.
Dir: Lou Adler
Stars: Cheech Marin, Thomas Chong, Stacy Keach
UP IN THE AIR
2009
***
A man whose job it is to travel around America to fire people is forced to work with a new young female recruit.
Smooth evocation of the world of the jet setter and well-paid businessman, with a predictably slick lead performance, it manages to not be too predictable and says plenty about all our lives. The plot works, but the travel is also pleasurable.
Dir: Jason Reitman
Stars: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman
UP IN THE WORLD
1956
0
A window cleaner finds friendship with a boy millionaire.
Irritating star comedy.
Dir: John Paddy Carstairs
Stars: Norman Wisdom, Martin Caridia, Jerry Desmonde
UP POMPEII
1971
**
An assassination plot is hatched in ancient Rome.
Pleasingly ripe and ribald movie version of the TV show, with much more nudity and glamorous starlets at every juncture, and a good time if you're in the mood. It's a valuable record of the unique star in one of his best roles, the jaunty script providing him with an unending stream of naughty jokes, while he's supported by a quality cast (none of whom were in the TV series). Two lesser 'Up' films followed.
Dir: Bob Kellett
Stars: Frankie Howerd, Patrick Cargill, Michael Hordern, Lance Percival, Bill Fraser, Adrienne Posta
UP THE CHASTITY BELT
1971
*
In the Middle Ages, a wily serf impersonates the King.
The follow-up to Up Pompeii is a step down in jovialness, with it not seeming quite as naturally flowing as its predecessor or anywhere as titillating. Still, Howerd himself remains pretty good comedy value and there are a few highlights, such as Robin Hood's band of effeminate men ('I'm bent on joining them').
Dir: Bob Kellett
Stars: Frankie Howerd, Bill Fraser, Graham Crowden, Roy Hudd, Hugh Paddick
UP THE CREEK
1958
*
An ancient Navy ship is used for commercial purposes by the wily crew.
Amiable comedy with a fresh and funny performance from Sellers.
Dir: Val Guest
Stars: Peter Sellers, David Tomlinson, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Vera Day, Lionel Jeffries
UP THE FRONT
1972
0
A cowardly servant is enlisted as a soldier in World War One.
Cheeseparing farce which makes its predecessors look like classics.
Dir: Bob Kellett
Stars: Frankie Howerd, Bill Fraser, Linda Gray, Lance Percival, Madeline Smith
UP THE JUNCTION
1967
0
A well-off girl takes a menial factory job in Clapham.
Unconvincing and dreary social drama.
Dir: Peter Collinson
Stars: Suzy Kendall, Dennis Waterman, Adrienne Posta, Maureen Lipman, Liz Fraser, Alfie Bass
UP THE MILITARY
1984
0
A young female virgin gets corrupted by working at the Pentagon...
...as you might. Dismissible sex comedy.
Dir: Andrew Sugarman
Stars: Ann Dusenberry, Rhonda Shear
UPS AND DOWNS OF A HANDYMAN
1975
0
A husband finds that all the women in the village want him for 'jobs'.
Bucolic adult comedy with an odd mix of sex and childish humour.
Dir: John Sealey
Stars: Barry Stokes, Gay Soper, Sue Lloyd, Bob Todd
URGE TO KILL
1960
*
Girls are being murdered in a small town and a 'mental case' is suspected.
Not unpredictable B-thriller that betrays its theatrical origins but provides a measure of old-school fun. It was included in the US's Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre TV package but is not based on material by Wallace - hence its position as a 'special feature' on the DVD set.
Dir: Vernon Sewell
Stars: Patrick Barr, Ruth Dunning, Howard Pays, Terence Knapp
US
2019
**
A holidaying family are menaced by their doppelgangers.
Original, well shot, interesting horror that bites off a little more than it can chew and stretches its story out; well done in parts, in the end it's unclear exactly what it's trying to say. It's inferior to the director's Get Out, but repeat viewings may reward - thought has certainly gone into it.
Dir: Jordan Peele
Stars: Lupita Nyong'o, Wisnton Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex
THE US VS JOHN LENNON
2006
**
Documentary focusing on John Lennon's conflict with the Nixon administration.
A satisfying feature that for the first hour is like two separate ones, until Lennon and US politics converge in 1971; it benefits from Lennon's eccentricity, charisma, wit and, of course, wonderful music. Generally leftish, it also airs John's occasionally risible/naive behaviour.
Dir: David Leaf, John Scheinfeld
Stars: John Lennon, Yoko Ono
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
1997
**
A heist at a port goes badly wrong.
Gritty crime thriller which was a big hit with critics despite its rather perfunctory twist.
Dir: Bryan Singer
Stars: Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Pete Postlethwaite, Kevin Spacey, Benicio del Toro
