The Krays have become almost legendary in British folklore despite the fact that they were basically just a couple of thugs that ruled by fear. Legend just adds to the glamorisation of the brothers and glamorous is what this film is. Tom Hardy is absolutely brilliant as he plays both the Krays . Ronnie always wearing the glasses . The film follows just a small but significant period of their reign of terror and if you are familiar with their story you won't learn anything new . This looks fantastic. The director has got the 1960's period down to a tee and there is no doubting that this a very entertaining film but i could have done without the narration and it probably would benefit from having 20 minutes shaved off of the running time.
The Krays have become almost legendary in British folklore despite the fact that they were basically just a couple of thugs that ruled by fear. Legend just adds to the glamorisation of the brothers and glamorous is what this film is. Tom Hardy is absolutely brilliant as he plays both the Krays . Ronnie always wearing the glasses . The film follows just a small but significant period of their reign of terror and if you are familiar with their story you won't learn anything new . This looks fantastic. The director has got the 1960's period down to a tee and there is no doubting that this a very entertaining film but i could have done without the narration and it probably would benefit from having 20 minutes shaved off of the running time.
Bridge Of Spies Kermode put it best; it's master craftsmen doing what they do best. Not sure why I wouldn't give it 5/5 but there's not a lot wrong with it. I guess it sags a little by the third act. The performances carry it through. 4/5
Spotlight A team of investigative journalists at the Boston Globe get a new owner. He tells them what to investigate. They're not keen but they go with it. They start tugging on the threads of the Catholic church's alleged paedophilia ring. And find more than they expected.
As with any true story, it's tricky to find a cinematic plot to juxtapose against the story the writer wishes to tell. And while we get very little character development for the high-quality cast, we do get a great sense of how the story was built and how it broke. Fascinating and engaging, but rarely does it get beneath the surface of the people involved. 3.5/5
Bridge of Spies has the feel an old fashioned drama and has all the hallmarks of a Steven Spielberg film. The attention to detail , the charismatic leading man ( Hanks ) and the sentimentality . There's nothing not to like about this film but is that enough to make it great ? Probably not. Although Tom Hanks is excellent I think the standout performance is from Mark Rylance who plays the Russian spy , Rudolf Abel . His understated dour acting is brilliant to watch. If you are expecting an action thriller then you will be disappointed. It's not that type of film. This is pure drama and an enjoyable one at that.
I love watching Screen writer , Aaron Sorkin's work. The West Wing and The Newsroom are two of my favourite TV shows of all time and all I can say is thank god Sorkin was involved with this film because otherwise it could have been a disaster. This is not a biography of Steve Jobs more a character assassination of the man. It revolves around four product launches and the arguments he has at the time with nearly everyone around him. It feels like a redemption movie but Steve Jobs wasn't that bad as to make the point. He was a businessman and acted like most successful driven people do. The stand out performance is from Seth Rogan ( you won't here me say that too often!) who plays Steve Wozniak . I only wish Rogan would play straight roles more often, Overall this is watchable for the fast flowing , Sorkin Dialogue , but other than that , because of the strange format , it's not a film I can particularly recommend.
Revenant - great cinematography and strong performances from Di Caprio and the very busy Tom Hardy. A very well made and intense 'revenge Western', although it's very long and might have benefitted from some trimming back - 7/10.
I never liked the original Mad Max movies which is why I put off watching Fury Road. I finally got around to seeing it and although better than the Mel Gibson films I still didn't like it very much. I can see why this would appeal to people . The action sequences are spectacular and the special affects are top notch but that's just not enough for me. Is a plot too much to ask? I found the constant action irritating and was relieved when there was a rare gap in the ensuing pandemonium . Another irritation is Tom Hardy. He seems to be reviving his role as Bane ( Dark Knight Rises) by mumbling his lines. Sadly it has been announced that there will be another Mad Max film in a couple of years time. I hope I'm more successful in avoiding that one as I was with this.
This is the story of a young Irish woman who leaves rural Ireland to live in Brooklyn , New York. Despite her home sickness , she meets a man and falls in love but the lure of going back home threatens to scupper the relationship. Brooklyn is real old fashioned love story that could quite easily have been made in the 40's or 50's. Saoirse Ronan is brilliant and is turning into a very accomplished actress . There is also a very good cameo from Julie Walters who plays the very funny Mrs. Kehoe . Some critics have gushed over this film , I don't quite see that myself but none the less it was quite enjoyable.
Blimey. Mad Max appeared in more critics' top ten lists than any other movie this year!
Do you agree with them Jimmy?
It didn't do anything for me.
I thought it was a very, very good action movie. Minimal plot, brilliant stunts, batshit crazy at times. It was a really interesting world. But I thought it was over-celebrated for what was essentially just a good popcorn action flick. There's a lot of subtext I apparently missed though.
Think you guys mean M:I5, which as it happens, was the exact same story as SPECTRE! I thoroughly enjoyed it. I try to avoid franchises in my top ten, but that one came close. Cruise is a fantastic filmmaker, although as Going Clear showed, he's quite mad.
Black Mass is a decent genre flick. Didn't do much new but Beds is absolutely right; best Depp performance since he turned into a ticking cliched maniac.
The Hateful Eight - Just classic Tarantino. Funny, strange and bloody with some good acting performances. Enjoyable film.
As its not out for a few weeks, I'm wondering if you got to see it on a big screen? The way it was shot, QT is looking for the old fashioned cinema experience. Must make a difference...
Comments
Legend
The Krays have become almost legendary in British folklore despite the fact that they were basically just a couple of thugs that ruled by fear. Legend just adds to the glamorisation of the brothers and glamorous is what this film is.
Tom Hardy is absolutely brilliant as he plays both the Krays . Ronnie always wearing the glasses . The film follows just a small but significant period of their reign of terror and if you are familiar with their story you won't learn anything new .
This looks fantastic. The director has got the 1960's period down to a tee and there is no doubting that this a very entertaining film but i could have done without the narration and it probably would benefit from having 20 minutes shaved off of the running time.
7 out of 10
Kermode put it best; it's master craftsmen doing what they do best. Not sure why I wouldn't give it 5/5 but there's not a lot wrong with it. I guess it sags a little by the third act. The performances carry it through. 4/5
Spotlight
A team of investigative journalists at the Boston Globe get a new owner. He tells them what to investigate. They're not keen but they go with it. They start tugging on the threads of the Catholic church's alleged paedophilia ring. And find more than they expected.
As with any true story, it's tricky to find a cinematic plot to juxtapose against the story the writer wishes to tell. And while we get very little character development for the high-quality cast, we do get a great sense of how the story was built and how it broke. Fascinating and engaging, but rarely does it get beneath the surface of the people involved. 3.5/5
Bridge of Spies
Bridge of Spies has the feel an old fashioned drama and has all the hallmarks of a Steven Spielberg film. The attention to detail , the charismatic leading man ( Hanks ) and the sentimentality . There's nothing not to like about this film but is that enough to make it great ? Probably not.
Although Tom Hanks is excellent I think the standout performance is from Mark Rylance who plays the Russian spy , Rudolf Abel .
His understated dour acting is brilliant to watch.
If you are expecting an action thriller then you will be disappointed. It's not that type of film. This is pure drama and an enjoyable one at that.
7 out of 10
I love watching Screen writer , Aaron Sorkin's work. The West Wing and The Newsroom are two of my favourite TV shows of all time and all I can say is thank god Sorkin was involved with this film because otherwise it could have been a disaster.
This is not a biography of Steve Jobs more a character assassination of the man.
It revolves around four product launches and the arguments he has at the time with nearly everyone around him.
It feels like a redemption movie but Steve Jobs wasn't that bad as to make the point. He was a businessman and acted like most successful driven people do.
The stand out performance is from Seth Rogan ( you won't here me say that too often!) who plays Steve Wozniak . I only wish Rogan would play straight roles more often,
Overall this is watchable for the fast flowing , Sorkin Dialogue , but other than that , because of the strange format , it's not a film I can particularly recommend.
6 out of 10
I never liked the original Mad Max movies which is why I put off watching Fury Road. I finally got around to seeing it and although better than the Mel Gibson films I still didn't like it very much.
I can see why this would appeal to people . The action sequences are spectacular and the special affects are top notch but that's just not enough for me. Is a plot too much to ask?
I found the constant action irritating and was relieved when there was a rare gap in the ensuing pandemonium .
Another irritation is Tom Hardy. He seems to be reviving his role as Bane ( Dark Knight Rises) by mumbling his lines.
Sadly it has been announced that there will be another Mad Max film in a couple of years time. I hope I'm more successful in avoiding that one as I was with this.
4 out of 10
It's a terrible film; possibly the worst I've ever seen during my short 23 years on Earth.
1/10
Also went to see into the heart of the sea, I do love a sea movie , 8 out of 10.
Brooklyn
This is the story of a young Irish woman who leaves rural Ireland to live in Brooklyn , New York. Despite her home sickness , she meets a man and falls in love but the lure of going back home threatens to scupper the relationship.
Brooklyn is real old fashioned love story that could quite easily have been made in the 40's or 50's.
Saoirse Ronan is brilliant and is turning into a very accomplished actress . There is also a very good cameo from Julie Walters who plays the very funny Mrs. Kehoe .
Some critics have gushed over this film , I don't quite see that myself but none the less it was quite enjoyable.
6 out of 10
Has anyone seen the Program, the film about Lance Armstrong against David Walsh as the latter tries to prove that Armstrong was cheating?
It didn't do anything for me.
Here are my top 10 films of 2015
1-Beasts of no nation
2-Sicario
3-Kajaki
4-Black Mass
5- Marvellous
6-Spectre
7-Slow West
8-Unbroken
9 -Still Alice
10- Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
A couple of films that just missed out are documentaries - Life Itself and
Best of Enemies
1. Whiplash
2. Sicario
3. Ex Machina
4. Inside/ Out
5. Everest
6. Going Clear
7. Slow West
8. The Gift
9. While We’re Young
10. Bridge of Spies
Black Mass is a decent genre flick. Didn't do much new but Beds is absolutely right; best Depp performance since he turned into a ticking cliched maniac.