Jim Schembri

FREDERICK FORSYTH, 86: His thrillers spawned a few notable films: The Fourth Protocol: The Dogs of War: The Odessa File; and, of course, The Day of the Jackal. He openly admitted he wasn’t a great wordsmith but he sure knew how to move a story and keep his plots watertight. RIP.

REVIEWS Ballerina - In the best John Wick film so far, Ana de Armas kicks some and then more with the aid of hand grenades, flame throwers and lots of hands-on smacking. Superb action; Karate Kid: Legends - Fast, funny & loving tribute to the KaKi legacy. https://t.co/4SprzrSHed

EXHIBITION With Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, the NGV has a great display of over 100 French Impressionist works, from faves Degas, Renoir, Monet & Manet to less prominent but equally important artists. On until 5 Oct. You gotta see it. Here’s a taste. https://t.co/cNcjB3Req2

LORETTA SWIT, 87: Salute to one of the key feminist figures of 1970s TV. As ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan on MASH she went from caricature to a full 3D character championing equal rights and personal dignity. Films: Race With the Devil; Freebie and the Bean; S.O.B. RIP, Margaret. https://t.co/BFrx2RMsje

REVIEWS Bring Her Back - The makers of Talk to Me hit back with another heavily atmospheric horror jaunt, though you’ll have to forgive some big story holes; The Phoenician Scheme - Wes Anderson’s visually pretty tale of a corrupt tycoon is a stylized bore.https://t.co/aAbto20fjz

REVIEWS Lilo & Stitch - The latest Disney remake is a by-the-numbers affair but arrives at a key time in the studio’s post-woke recovery when traditional values are on the ascent; Wilding - Fine British eco-doc about bringing life back to depleted soil. https://t.co/rFn6BCWjoD

REVIEW Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning - Tom Cruise hits quasi-Messiah levels of heroism in his final M:I outing - an often great action epic with two gasp-inducing masterpiece sequences. Includes references to 1964’s Fail Safe. What a show. https://t.co/41HQaksT8F

REVIEWS The Surfer - Deliciously deranged Oz/Irish psychological dramedy with Nic Cage at his loopy best; The Salt Path - Gillian Anderson & Jason Isaacs shine in touching homeless drama; La Cocina - Heated, lengthy period NY restaurant drama set in 1990s. https://t.co/yPgfm2hgEL

Oops. #TheSurfer opens on Thursday 15 May. That gives it two full days to clean up before Mission Impossible opens with its bedsheet release on Saturday 17 May. This could give The Surfer strong counter-programming appeal. Fingers crossed. Still can’t get the film out of my head. https://t.co/KlrnMeo5Cc

Just saw the Oz/Irish psychological black dramedy #TheSurfer for the 2nd time this week and have an even richer appreciation for just how splendidly conceived and directed it is. Think Wake in Fright Goes to the Beach; Only Nic Cage could play a wreck with such grandeur. 17/5

REVIEWS Another Simple Favour: More trashy, fun and over-dressed, Anna Kendrick & Blake Lively hit Capri - but will Trump’s tariff mean the end for such movies?; Ocean - David Attenborough pleads for the sea; Clown in a Cornfield - Throwback horror fun. https://t.co/gqtz86oe6P

REVIEW Thunderbolts - This fun, surprisingly strong character-driven action lark hopefully signals a return to form for Marvel. Florence Pugh and her Russian brood battle Julia Louis-Dreyfus doing her best Tulsi Gabbard impersonation. Thank you, Movie God. https://t.co/jsMyJ6y0rV

Enjoyed #Thunderbolts very much as an above-par, character-driven superhero action lark from Marvel. But how did US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard land such a big role in the film? Or is that Elaine? (Film opens Thurs. Full review shortly) https://t.co/23iShamw8F

REVIEWS The Accountant 2 - More fun this time around, Ben Affleck teams up with scene-stealing Jon Bernthal for a lovely actionburger; NT Live: Dr Strangelove - Bleah. An ill-conceived adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s classic is flatulent and slow-moving. https://t.co/XnxAMmpbtf

Kudos to @salltweets for detonating heads on @theprojecttv saying trans women are men and daring to raise autogynephilia as a real issue. A champion of women’s rights, straight talk & a true 21st-century feminist teaching how respect must work both ways. She is our @Riley_Gaines_

REVIEWS The Correspondent - Excellent real-life Australian drama about the jailing of journalist Peter Greste, w Richard Roxburgh in a career-topping turn; Warfare - Gruelling, realistic combat film; Sinners - Utterly boring, overlong vampire movie. Urgh. https://t.co/Lny6mQm6II

#LeadersDebate I tried very hard to listen to what Peter Dutton was saying and to think about his policy statements, but the only thing that came to mind was this... https://t.co/HOC5jy57AO