Rate the last film you watched out of 5

[Loik V credern]

Ford vs Ferrari 

 

I enjoyed this, i enjoyed whatever accent Christian Bale was trying to do that was like Guy Martin had invaded Hollywood, i enjoyed his natural chemistry with Matt Damon, i enjoyed the predictability of the story, the exaggeration of the awful marketing guys being consistently awful, i enjoyed the subtle but ever present dad worshipping of Miles’ son reminding me once of what someone said about kids; they look up at you like you’re God. I enjoyed the confusion about what Miles’ wife was upset about when driving like a maniac. I enjoyed Bale’s accent so much i want to mention it again, he’s able to puncture the extreme machine like efficiency and polish of a production like this where everyone involved is a pro. Despite his age Bale isn’t going through the motions and can inject a kind of alternative vibe on to the screen. He’s done this so many times before but there’s few who can and all his remarks made me laugh.

It was exactly what i thought the film would be like, you turn it on expecting to settle into something so well crafted, that’s so movie like it’s kind of comforting.

3.5/5

 

Waiting For The Barbarians 

 

I thought this was intolerably dull, took me 4 attempts, even with 15 minutes left it felt like it refused to move on. I'd have to be 12 years old for the film's message of the colonialists are the real barbarians huh to not be trite to me. There is one engaging conversation in the middle that while it repeats the message of the film it at least fleshes out the viewpoints with good thoughtful dialogue.

 

The rest of the film wallows in the physical abuse they inflict. Mark Rylance does his now familiar soft voiced innocence with added compassion that I find irritating, Johnny Depp looks like he's transported in from a Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them film wearing comical glasses with a complete lack of intimidation in a character that is supposed to represent callous evil. The best thing in the film is Robert Pattinson who excels again in slipping into a character, his face gaunt from perhaps wrestling with his conscience of the atrocities that goes with his position but nonetheless arrogant in reacting to Rylance's pleas, smiling dismissively. He's a coward and we see how weak he is.

1/5

 

The Devil All The Time

 

I don't think this truly works, it makes a mess of exploring any of the characters, it jumps back and forward in time with little sense, it feels like nothing happens yet many things do happen but because the characters are so lightly touched on nothing completely hits. It's saved by the performances and the cinematography.

 

I think half who love it have come from reading the book where everything has been fleshed out. I don't think it needed to be a TV series, it just prefers to build mood and shape the tone with cinematic flair over properly establishing these characters.

 

It's a film where side characters appear dramatically in the film then the next time you see them 15 minutes later they're having the most pivotal moment of their life and it can't mean as much as it should because you haven't spent time with them, you don't know their history that led to this point, you don't know their personality, their motivations.

 

Netflix is, film by film, improving the reputation of producers who we hear about not easily greenlighting undeveloped scripts. I want creators to be given freedom, I don't want compromised watered down films. But too often it just seems like they need more rewrites, there's quality there but it's not delivered with clarity and understanding of what they are trying to express. I think they need to work backwards from the end point, ask if it's meaningful for people who aren't as invested with as much knowledge as the creator is.

3/5

[Plissken]

Casablanca (1942)

 

It was on BBC Four.  I've seen it quite a few times.  I've seen the homages, pastiches, spoofs and ripoffs.  It's still utterly wonderful.  Bogart is so, so amazing.  My wife - who had never seen it and never seen Bogart - was captivated by his performance.

 

Quote

Major Strasser: We have a complete dossier on you: Richard Blaine, American, age 37. Cannot return to his country. The reason is a little vague. We also know what you did in Paris, Mr. Blaine, and also we know why you left Paris.

[hands the dossier to Rick]

Major Strasser: Don't worry, we are not going to broadcast it.

Rick: [reading] Are my eyes really brown?

 

5/5

[PK]

The Report (2019) - 4/5

Solid, engrossing film about the House Intelligence Committee's investigation into the CIA's use of torture. Adam Driver is great as usual. It'll leave you quite angry. It takes a direct shit on 24 and Zero Dark Thirty at points, which is gratifying.

 

Prisoners (2013) - 4/5

I'd forgotten how enormously entertaining this was. Hugh Jackman and Terrence Howard's daughters go missing, and Jackman and Jake Gyllenhall shout at each other and at other people to get them back.

 

The Painted Bird (2019) - 4½/5

Astonishing film about the human capacity for cruelty. I wish I hadn't watched it. Don't watch it.

 

edit: I had Painted Bird at 5/5 but then remembered how fucking long it was, it (almost certainly intentionally) becomes an ordeal.

[iknowgungfu]

On 12/09/2020 at 21:04, Vimster said:

Dredd (2012)

An efficient and thrilling adaptation of Judge Dredd with a screenplay by Alex Garland. Coming in at around 90 minutes this doesn't outstay its welcome. No messing about, if someone gets shot or dies in this you know it, plenty of blood and gore delivered with a silent arch chuckle. Karl Urban brings as much personality as is needed for Judge Dredd's character, supporting cast do their bit. Particularly liked the way the effects of the drug slo-mo were portrayed, made a a vibrant, time-stretched counterpoint to the comic-book grit.

 

4/5

I quite enjoyed this film but it was eclipsed by The Raid for me. Both near identical plots but The Raid is the better of the two I think.

[Vimster]

49 minutes ago, iknowgungfu said:

I quite enjoyed this film but it was eclipsed by The Raid for me. Both near identical plots but The Raid is the better of the two I think.

I'd agree that The Raid is a purer film, plus the action in that is super-tight and almost continuous. It's constant energy. The difference with Dredd is, for its simplicity, it's still more character-driven. They're both superb films.

[Triple A]

The Running Man

 

Been a long time indeed since seeing this last. This was my first 18 rated movie as a kid!

I was grinning like a loon throughout and could remember so many of the lines and even the intonation of how the lines were said. I’m sure that says something about me lol.

Like so many 80s movies of this ilk - tight editing, strong characterisation, social and technological commentary, etc., and more influential on wider entertainment particularly games than I think gets acknowledged.

The guy who plays Killian did an amazing job! Iconic.

 

4 maybe 5

[Vimster]

8 minutes ago, Triple A said:

The Running Man

 

Been a long time indeed since seeing this last. This was my first 18 rated movie as a kid!

I was grinning like a loon throughout and could remember so many of the lines and even the intonation of how the lines were said. I’m sure that says something about me lol.

Like so many 80s movies of this ilk - tight editing, strong characterisation, social and technological commentary, etc., and more influential on wider entertainment particularly games than I think gets acknowledged.

The guy who plays Killian did an amazing job! Iconic.

 

4 maybe 5

That was William Dawson, a real-life gameshow host, superb bit of casting.

[Waggo]

Return Of The Jedi - 5/5.

 

IMO the weakest of the original trilogy & yet it still easily pisses over every film since with the possible exception of Rogue One.  I was mentally comparing the opening dialogue with Vader and the Death Star commander about completing it on schedule, with the guff we got in Attack of the Clones in particular and it is just laughable really as well as quite sad.

[Vimster]

10 To Midnight (1983)

A guy takes bloody revenge on a woman that spurned his advances. Charles Bronson is the cop who'll do anything to get his man. This is definitely a sleazy one, the killer and his victims are naked more often than not when the murders take place, and lots of total filth over the phone, all in a shiny early-80s kind of way. It's a pretty solid thriller though, definitely one of the better films Bronson made with Cannon, it handled the revenge so much better than the Cannon-produced Death Wish films for sure, lifting it above raw, dumb vengeance. The relationship between Bronson's daughter and his cop partner was particularly well written, they were a really likeable pair. Mind you, that did fizzle out later on. That ending, the lighting, the music, credits roll.

 

3.5/5

[Lovelyman]

Antebellum. 

 

Wasn't sure what I was going to make of this, given it has super mixed reviews. 

 

But my wife and I really liked it. 

 

Heavy handed for sure but maybe that's necessary when you are making a film about racism that isn't a biopic?

 

Definitely worth a watch if you like spooky thriller that almost want to be a horror. 

 

4/5 

 

 

[sandman]

Shaft (2000)

 

Not seen this before, must admit I really rather enjoyed it. It got me to thinking, is there a more beloved actor than Jackson?  Bet you can’t think of anyone who doesn’t like him.  He’s on top form here and I also finally got to see Wright act rather than play the exact same role over and over. Bale is also excellent in a supporting bad guy role. Interestingly, this was directed by John Singleton whose career stalled after his breathtaking debut. He can’t do action scenes at all, but the drama stuff is well done.

 

4/5

 

Shaft (2019)

 

So, a sequel that nobody was expecting. Son of shaft doesn’t work quite as well, but there’s still some fun to be had. It’s a much dafter plot this time around, but it still works, just. Jackson is once again on top form but the supporting cast are noticeably weaker. Tim Story directs this one and he’s much better at the action, But worse at everything else. His next film is Tom and Jerry and I wonder how he will fare with that.

 

3/5

 

American Psycho.

 

This just improves with age. Bale changes everyone’s perception of him in a career defining performance. The book is in my holy trinity and is perhaps the reason I wasn’t to keen on the film on release. But now I think it’s a perfect adaptation of the book. I am not at all aware of the director but she is certainly extremely well skilled.

 

5/5

[Vimster]

The Debt Collector (2018)

Scott Adkins is a martial arts instructor who needs the money that bad he takes on the job of a debt collector for a local shady feller. He spends the weekend with a washed-up yet experienced heavy (Louis Mandylor), and whilst things start out straight-forward enough, things soon get a bit more interesting. Got to be honest here, I warmed to this film as it went on. The central relationship between Adkins and Mandylor was strong enough to carry this, even if some of the support cast were merely incidental. There were some quality fights, at least early on, although the hand-to-hand gave way to more conventional gunfights later on. It's nothing to write home about, but it's certainly a decent enough ride-along type of film with some Tarantino-lite banter, deep enough plot and just enough spark to keep things interesting.  Nothing too life-changing but worth the time.

 

3/5

 

 

[Capwn]

4 hours ago, sandman said:

American Psycho.

 

This just improves with age. Bale changes everyone’s perception of him in a career defining performance. The book is in my holy trinity and is perhaps the reason I wasn’t to keen on the film on release. But now I think it’s a perfect adaptation of the book. I am not at all aware of the director but she is certainly extremely well skilled.

 

5/5

 

This film has a special place in my heart. I have this really fond memory of going to the cinema with a bunch of pals, we didn't really have any idea of what to watch and just picked this pretty randomly expecting a generic thriller/horror. Cinema was about 50% full and the we were the only ones laughing, like proper crying belly laughing at the some of the lines and yet nobody else in the cinema was laughing, which just made it funnier.

[Vimster]

Homefront (2013)

Meat-headed action with Jason Statham as a no-longer-undercover drugs cop who moves to the country to get away from it all but gets in some beef with the locals. Yes, he hits the sticks to punch some hicks in the dicks, and make things go bang. The action in this packs a crunchy punch, it has that distorted sound that makes it feel extra-hard. Sadly this was from that period where it was all about the quick-cut, impossible-to-follow action, all speed and no finesse. James Franco does a good turn as the local low-life getting out of his depth. It's slick and taps into that caveman justice nerve, albeit with just a little bit of actual caricaturisation. Famously this was originally meant to be a Sly Stallone picture but for whatever reason he thought his mate The Stath (urgh) fit the bill. Honestly can't see Sly carrying this off, not entirely sure Jason Statham does, to be honest, but there you go. Lesson here: if you let your kid be a bully you may not know what you're letting yourself in for.

 

2.5/5

[Thwomp]

The Full Monty - 5/5. A British classic!

[ZOK]

8 hours ago, Vimster said:

Yes, he hits the sticks to punch some hicks in the dicks, and make things go bang.

[ImmaculateClump]

Alone

 

Great fun. It won't win any prizes for originality but it's a very solid, stripped down and straight to the point genre flick.

Not a lot of dialogue, there's nothing in there that doesn't need to be. It's pretty well made.

 

I would maybe have recast the woman. She's one of those people who are quite self conscious because they're so attractive and are used to being looked at in their daily lives.
For a film called "alone", they needed someone who danced acted like nobody was watching.

 

She pulled it out of the bag later on when it was all kicking off, to be fair, not too convincing during the everyday bits at the beginning where she had to be more naturalistic and a few other moments, but it didn't seem to matter. The guy was decent, creepily polite at first and kept it believably restrained later on.

 

***

[ImmaculateClump]

Host

 

Jesus, this is utterly relentless once it gets going! Really tense. Good use of the narrow angle lenses on laptops and phones to make everything feel too close and claustrophobic.
I'm soft as shite, but I reckon most people will be clutching their faces or chewing their sleeves wet watching this.
Jump on it if you fancy shitting yourself, it's only an hour long.

****

[PK]

The Personal History of David Copperfield - 5/5

Absolutely everything about this film is wonderful

[ImmaculateClump]

The Alchemist Cookbook

 

I was willing this on to do something interesting, but it never really got off the starting blocks.
Watchable enough, but it all felt pretty pointless and the ending was so comically half arsed that it ruined what had come before it.

 

I was wondering "why have I got this film?". I looked it up and it's from the same director as "Relaxer". I really enjoyed that so I must have gotten one of the guys other films to try.

This one's not worth bothering with, I don't think.

 

*

[Stig]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

 

A teenage coming of age film set in the early 90s about a loner boy with issues who forms a special friendship with the outsiders/punks and falls in love. I did enjoy this and the performances but it also felt incredibly cliched and twee, it's like the writer just wanted to chuck everything in there...

 

Lonliness - Check

Bullying - Check

Teenage Angst - Check

Homosexuality - Check

Drugs and Alcohol - Check

Depression - Check

Absue - Check

Teenage Suicide - Check

Mental Breakdowns - Check

The Perfect Teacher - Check

 

I think the performances and characters pulled me through this more than the story itself.

 

3/5

 

[Sidewaysbob]

No angsty teenage poetry !!! i'm shocked. That's a no from me  

[PK]

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018) - 3½ / 5

Gus Van Sant biopic of american cartoonist John Callahan, who was an alcoholic left quadraplegic after a drink-fuelled car crash. It's essentially an advert for the 12 Step program, but there are a lot worse things to shill I suppose! Joaquin Phoenix and Jonah Hill put in good performances, the non-linear storytelling keeps it interesting and it's quite funny and touching overall.

[ImmaculateClump]

#Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump

 

They only really stick with that theme for the first third of the film. Once the rent-a-shrinks have made their diagnosis, the doc uses that as a springboard to launch itself into far more formulaic territory that's been covered so many times before, a recap of the election and a "warning from history" lesson.

 

Regardless, it's all pretty well done and watchable. You perhaps won't learn much new, but humans are so adaptable, I'd become so used to the state of the world and feeling utterly powerless about it and this at least shakes you out of your waking slumber and reminds you what's actually fucking going on and that we're all more or less sleepwalking through it.

 

***½

[Sidewaysbob]

Enola Holmes.

 

Spunky teen sister to Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes, wakes up to find mum has done a runner. 

 

This is YA to the max, but is really rather frothy and fun, breaking the fourth wall from the off our heroine is just the right side of perky to carry the film and not be annoying. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was, the detective work is perfunctory to the story of a girl discovering she can make her own way in the world. It might not be the most accurate depiction of victorian London and Henry Cavill has turned up to play Henry Cavill yet again, but you get the feeling there are a good couple of sequel in the offing and I for one will watch them. 

 

4 hedgehog dogs out of 5

[Waggo]

Star Trek Beyond  - 5/5

 

Loved it.  My favoutite Trek anything since First Contact.

[Stig]

56 minutes ago, Sidewaysbob said:

Enola Holmes.

 

Spunky teen sister to Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes, wakes up to find mum has done a runner. 

 

This is YA to the max, but is really rather frothy and fun, breaking the fourth wall from the off our heroine is just the right side of perky to carry the film and not be annoying. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was, the detective work is perfunctory to the story of a girl discovering she can make her own way in the world. It might not be the most accurate depiction of victorian London and Henry Cavill has turned up to play Henry Cavill yet again, but you get the feeling there are a good couple of sequel in the offing and I for one will watch them. 

 

4 hedgehog dogs out of 5

 

OK for young children to watch?

[Sidewaysbob]

Yeah, I think so. There's one bit where a bad guy falls down and hits his head in a pretty nasty was. But it's not gorey and he's seen talking a moment later. 

 

It's very positive with the female characters. That they don't need boys to protect them. It's a rollicking adventure. No swearing or rumpy pumpy. Scenes of mild peril mostly and our heroine escapes with cunning and good humour. 

[Stig]

Perfect. Good for my daughter then. Cheers @Sidewaysbob

[sandman]

Pacific Rim

 

In theory, this should be in my top 20 of all time - an amazing action fest with sublime visuals and some great performances. The reason it isn't is because the script is so poor in comparison to the rest. Its still a bloody excellent film though and it looks absolutely mental in 4 - perhaps my fave disc so far. Its funny, the "cancelling the apocalypse" line is pretty awful, but its the only one I remember. 

 

4.5/5

 

Pacific Rim Uprising

 

Maybe it was low expectations, but I bloody loved this. A nice desert to PR's main course this also belts along firing on all cylinders and rarely lets up. Boyega excels here in his best role IMHO (I never really took to him as Finn at all) with real range and emotion. Scott Eastwood is  pretty decent and Spaeny is also really good. 

 

4/5

 

Fury

 

I knew there was a reason I was a bit wary of this on release. The very definition of "average", it simply just isn't that interesting a tale. A great cast all do there very best, but its far too long and everyone should just watch Bogart in Sahara to see this done well.

 

2/5

 

Mercury Plains

 

After being somewhat impressed with Eastwood I thought I would check out this indie thriller he did a few years back. I shouldn't have bothered as its terrible, its like a group of people decided "hey lets make a movie" without any skills or past experience whatsoever. I am not even sure the plot made much sense. The plot is awful and the whole thing is a bore to watch.

 

1/5 and that's for some nice visuals