Sophie's Fortune

Version I saw: UK cinema premiere screening Actors: 7/10 Plot/script: 8/10 Photography/visual style: 9/10 Music/score: 8/10 Overall: 8/10 The stated aim for Sophie's Fortune was to create a micro-budget short film that feels like a full-length, big-budget action movie. In this, they achieve an utter success, and it is all due to the dedication (almost entirely unpaid) of everyone involved.

Wonders are worked in visual effects, sound effects and music using practically no money. Crucially too, the whole thing is really fun: the Hollywoodisms are presented with a conspiratorial wink that draws the audience in. I am not sure there will be many opportunities to see this film, but if you are looking this up because there is a screening near you - possibly at a festival - then I heartily recommend you catch it.

Amazing, captivating, stupendous, these are the words that come to mind when thinking of that performance from Jonathan Hartley. This is an actor on top of the world. The only negative I can take away from this film is that there isn't more Hartley!! How he never got nominated for an Oscar for his performance in this is one of life's greatest mysteries. He has you laughing, he has you crying, but most of all he has you realising who you really are. I've watched this on repeat for weeks, I've not left my bedroom. The wife has left me, the kids are gone, but I don't care because I've got my copy of Sophie's Fortune featuring Jonathan Hartley to keep me happy. One day I yearn for his return to the big stage, until that day it looks like it's repeats of Sophie's Fortune.