By Jorge Ignacio Castillo

You Can Call Me Bill (USA, 2023): William Shatner is a complex character. He is both a hammy actor and sci-fi icon; avuncular know-it-all and problematic figure (he’s a supporter of Autism Speak, on organization detested by many in the autistic community); environmental activist and corporate shill. Given the many angles available, I doubted documentarian Alexandre O. Philippe (78/52) would be able to fully capture the Shat in 96 minutes of footage, more so since he would be the only interviewee. Nobody to challenge his perception of himself or his surroundings.

You Can Call Me Bill covers a lot more ground than expected. Philippe allows Shatner to talk at length about his passions (space, the environment) and concerns (loneliness, insignificance) and in doing so, reveal plenty about himself. Extraordinarily sharp at 93, William Shatner is more self-aware than he lets on and his vision of a world in peril is unimpeachable. Sure, a bit more pushback would have been welcome, but the film is interesting in its own right. 3/5 stars.

You Can Call Me Bill is now playing in theatres.

One Life (UK, 2023): When was the last time you ugly cried at the movies? I had a clean record for many years… until I watched this movie.

You’re probably familiar with the story: Nicholas Winton, a British stockbroker, successfully got 669 Jewish children out of Czechoslovakia in the early days of the Nazi occupation. Not one to brag about his actions, his story only came out to light over fifty years later. Consumed by the memory of the ones he couldn’t save, he failed to realize the impact of his efforts… until a TV show came calling.

While the direction by James Hawes (Black Mirror: Hated in the Nation) is rather unremarkable, One Lifebenefits of strong turns by Johnny Flynn (Beast) as the younger Nicholas Winton and Anthony Hopkins as the older. Hopkins is superb and the emotional center of the film. When he finally breaks down, you break down with him. 3/5 stars.

One Life is now playing in theatres.