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Post by Sir B3na1i on Jan 8, 2024 9:02:40 GMT
Thought I'd bring back my film reviews - I'm really going to use this as an archive to see how often I go to the cinema this year as I didn't much last year. But I know some of you used these in the past as recommendations or things to avoid.
Good Grief (Netflix): This is written, directed and stars Daniel Levy who created Schitts Creek, one of my favourite shows, with his more famous Dad Eugene Levy. Not really a spoiler this basically starts with the death of Levy's husband (played by Luke Evans) and looks at how he deals with the grief of that over the next couple of years. Something happens after the first year that turns things. As with Schitts Creek it's written from a position of extreme privilege and there's loads of heart. There are funny moments, but it's definitely not a funny/comedy film. Where this differs from Schitts Creek is although there's growth for Levy's character in terms of how he comes through the grief there isn't the same warm feeling you get that the characters are growing out of their privilege and becoming more rounded people. So for me the characters are all a bit annoying at times. That said Daniel Levy is a very watchable guy and he's written a good story. It's probably not a Friday night after the first week back at work after Christmas film (which is exactly when we watched it!) but it's worth a watch if you're a fan of Levy. 6/10
Next Goal Wins (Cinema): Wasnt really expecting much from this, selected it over Wonka (going tonight) as it fells like this will get less time in the cinema. Saw the trailer at a showing of Napoleon and to be honest anything I saw on that screen that day held more appeal that that god awful mess of a movie - honestly avoid Napoleon! Anyway, really pleasantly surprised. It's pretty much a TV movie but it's entertaining and fun. There's nothing deep here just a story of a small island that's rubbish at football and tries to get better - the ambition being to score just one goal. I believe there's also a documentary about this which I haven't seen, but will probably check out off the back of this as it got my interest enough to make me want to learn about the true story here. Some decent funny moments, so moments designed to pull on the heartstrings and some moments designed to get you pulling for all the characters. As I say, the sort of thing that if it's on TV you're likely to sit through and enjoy 6/10
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Post by choixkoix on Jan 8, 2024 10:25:04 GMT
on a tangent of football content, saw this the other week - a short close-up on a Faroe Islands team reaching a European group stage... Really quite a remarkable little community club.
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Post by saintsfan73 on Jan 8, 2024 10:51:35 GMT
Good Grief It's probably not a Friday night after the first week back at work after Christmas film (which is exactly when we watched it!) but it's worth a watch if you're a fan of Levy. Rules out the Spurs fanbase then. |
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Post by yateleysaint on Jan 8, 2024 11:01:34 GMT
This thread reminds me that I watched Mamma Mafia on Amazon Prime last night.
It stars Toni Collette and Monica Bellucci with support from (Italy-based Saints fan and actor) Tim Daish as Toni Collette’s feckless husband.
It’s not bad, although I must admit I was mostly watching it out of curiosity because I saw Tim Daish was in it and I wanted to find out (ahem) how big his part was.
It’s number 4 on Prime in Germany at the moment so seems to be doing OK over here at least.
I quite liked Wonka.
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Post by Sir B3na1i on Jan 9, 2024 7:05:08 GMT
Wonka (cinema)This film is brilliant. If you grew up between the 70s and 90s there is so much to love here. It's a complete family pleaser. Perfect for kids but with enough nostalgia for adults too. The story is a fun one, Wonka is, as you'd expect quirky and brilliantly played and the supporting cast are all brilliant. A lot of the nostalgia doesn't come just from the original Willy Wonka film though. Some could say it steals from, I'd rather say borrows or pays tribute to great family classics like Mary Poppins, Annie, Up, Paddington 2 and this makes it all feel familiar and comfortable. The biggest strenght is Wonka himself though and Timothee Chalamat is outstanding in the role, not imitating Wilder, making the role his own but respectfully, unlike that Johnny Depp crap a few years back. Close to perfect 9/10
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Post by jickster on Jan 9, 2024 8:51:10 GMT
Wonka (cinema)This film is brilliant. If you grew up between the 70s and 90s there is so much to love here. It's a complete family pleaser. Perfect for kids but with enough nostalgia for adults too. The story is a fun one, Wonka is, as you'd expect quirky and brilliantly played and the supporting cast are all brilliant. A lot of the nostalgia doesn't come just from the original Willy Wonka film though. Some could say it steals from, I'd rather say borrows or pays tribute to great family classics like Mary Poppins, Annie, Up, Paddington 2 and this makes it all feel familiar and comfortable. The biggest strenght is Wonka himself though and Timothee Chalamat is outstanding in the role, not imitating Wilder, making the role his own but respectfully, unlike that Johnny Depp crap a few years back. Close to perfect 9/10 Yeah, we went before Christmas and all the family enjoyed this one, great fun. |
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Post by Sir B3na1i on Jan 29, 2024 15:03:53 GMT
Anyone But You (Cinema): As mentioned in the morning thread I went to this because of a moment of weakness. A flood of relief that made me want to do something fun and not think about it. I love the cinema and so I said to my wife see what's on at the cinema, something lighthearted. This was lighthearted alright, it was light on everything, plot, depth, acting ability. The only actor in this that I imagine anyone will have heard of is Dermot Mulroney but if you look through most of his back-catalogue that should be enough of a warning. Basically a couple of over attractive people get together fall out and get together again. That can be fun if done well, but this was really not. It's supposed to be a Rom-Com the Com in Rom-Com means Comedy! There was nothing to laugh at. The female lead was extremely attractive but I don't think I've seen a worse actor and I've seen Mike Tyson in the Hangover and Donald Trump in Home Alone 2 FFS!
I know this board doesn't need this warning, and I'm the only one here that even had a remote possibility of seeing this because I'll basically go to anything in the cinema that doesn't have the words Mama Mia in the title, but avoid. 0/10
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Post by Sir B3na1i on Feb 6, 2024 9:12:35 GMT
Argylle (Cinema): I really wanted to enjoy this one. It's from Matthew Vaughan who's been responsible for some great films (first Kingsman, Layer Cake, Stardust, Kick Ass, X-Men First Class) and some absolute guff (second and third Kingsman). It also has Bryce Dallas Howard in it who I love and Brian Cranston, who I also love. Got to say I wasn't disappointed. It's about a writer of spy novels who ends up caught up in a real life spy situation - I can't really say much more than that without giving away the game. I thought it might be like Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile and I guess a little bit to start with. But for me this felt more like an up to date version of something like True Lies and The Long Kiss Goodnight. There's great action and two of the best 'dance' scenes you'll ever see (one on some makeshift ice skates). It's witty, it's incredibly watchable and it spins your head for you (my one criticism is that maybe it does this a little too much - but I had fun so I'll let it off).
8/10
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Post by Furry Frank The Combat Wombat on Feb 6, 2024 9:40:17 GMT
Argylle (Cinema): I really wanted to enjoy this one. It's from Matthew Vaughan who's been responsible for some great films (first Kingsman, Layer Cake, Stardust, Kick Ass, X-Men First Class) and some absolute guff (second and third Kingsman). It also has Bryce Dallas Howard in it who I love and Brian Cranston, who I also love. Got to say I wasn't disappointed. It's about a writer of spy novels who ends up caught up in a real life spy situation - I can't really say much more than that without giving away the game. I thought it might be like Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile and I guess a little bit to start with. But for me this felt more like an up to date version of something like True Lies and The Long Kiss Goodnight. There's great action and two of the best 'dance' scenes you'll ever see (one on some makeshift ice skates). It's witty, it's incredibly watchable and it spins your head for you (my one criticism is that maybe it does this a little too much - but I had fun so I'll let it off). 8/10 Damn I'm on the redeye on Sat so have a couple of hours to kill before meeting my mate for lunch and I neither want nor can (luggage) go shopping, so your post made me think "oh, I could go watch a film".. but the only one on in the morning worth watching is Wonka and I've already seen that. Drat. |
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Post by Sir B3na1i on Feb 6, 2024 9:44:19 GMT
Argylle (Cinema): I really wanted to enjoy this one. It's from Matthew Vaughan who's been responsible for some great films (first Kingsman, Layer Cake, Stardust, Kick Ass, X-Men First Class) and some absolute guff (second and third Kingsman). It also has Bryce Dallas Howard in it who I love and Brian Cranston, who I also love. Got to say I wasn't disappointed. It's about a writer of spy novels who ends up caught up in a real life spy situation - I can't really say much more than that without giving away the game. I thought it might be like Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile and I guess a little bit to start with. But for me this felt more like an up to date version of something like True Lies and The Long Kiss Goodnight. There's great action and two of the best 'dance' scenes you'll ever see (one on some makeshift ice skates). It's witty, it's incredibly watchable and it spins your head for you (my one criticism is that maybe it does this a little too much - but I had fun so I'll let it off). 8/10 Damn I'm on the redeye on Sat so have a couple of hours to kill before meeting my mate for lunch and I neither want nor can (luggage) go shopping, so your post made me think "oh, I could go watch a film".. but the only one on in the morning worth watching is Wonka and I've already seen that. Drat. What are the other options? |
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Post by Furry Frank The Combat Wombat on Feb 6, 2024 9:54:37 GMT
Damn I'm on the redeye on Sat so have a couple of hours to kill before meeting my mate for lunch and I neither want nor can (luggage) go shopping, so your post made me think "oh, I could go watch a film".. but the only one on in the morning worth watching is Wonka and I've already seen that. Drat. What are the other options? Kiddy films and Mean Girls |
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Post by Sir B3na1i on Feb 6, 2024 10:04:07 GMT
What are the other options? Kiddy films and Mean Girls That sucks. I do think the recent film strikes are going to have a long impact. Looking at the trailers yesterday there's very little coming out. |
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Post by Furry Frank The Combat Wombat on Feb 6, 2024 11:31:06 GMT
Kiddy films and Mean Girls That sucks. I do think the recent film strikes are going to have a long impact. Looking at the trailers yesterday there's very little coming out. There are other things on later, but no good for me. I guess it'll have to be a coffee shop and a book. |
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Post by yateleysaint on Feb 6, 2024 15:26:46 GMT
I’ve been campaigning to watch the original Mean Girls for some time because it features Rachel McAdams and she’s one third of my fantasy threesome (along with Mia Goth). I don’t know what the new one is like though.
Mrs Y is back in Blighty this week so I am home alone and can watch whatever I want for a change. I’ve started a Walter Hill retrospective starting with The Long Riders last night (which was OK but nothing special) and Southern Comfort (I’m only halfway through and need to finish it before I start listening to the Saints game later on this evening but it’s much better so far) today.
I only watched The Long Riders yesterday because my vinyl cover calendar had an album by a band I’d never heard of (The Long Ryders) and when I listened to it on Spotify (their sound reminded me of the band in Streets of Fire, which was another flawed Walter Hill film) I also looked them up and saw that they’d named themselves after the film. I then resolved to watch it. It’s notable mainly because it features 4 sets of brothers (the Quaids, the Keaches, the Carradines and the Guests). Stacy Keach was the second most famous inhabitant of Reading Gaol, which has now been saved for the nation and not turned into flats as previously threatened.
Southern Comfort is much more my thing. It’s still got a Carradine in it but anything with Fred Ward can’t be bad. It reminds me a bit of The Warriors crossed with Deliverance with a bit of Vietnam War thrown in.
The trouble with Walter Hill films is that the premise is often better than the execution but I don’t really mind that as the films end up being unintentionally funny, like The Warriors. I’d watch anything that he’s been involved with as writer or director because all his films have got something going for them. I think I like unintentionally funny films more than I like intentionally funny ones sometimes.
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Post by Furry Frank The Combat Wombat on Feb 6, 2024 16:35:13 GMT
I’ve been campaigning to watch the original Mean Girls for some time because it features Rachel McAdams and she’s one third of my fantasy threesome (along with Mia Goth). I don’t know what the new one is like though. Who's the third third?! I don't particularly remember the first film, so that doesn't really suggest I should pay to see a knockoff version. |
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