Watched Battle For Sevastopol, wow, what an amazing story set in world war 2 about a female Ukrainian sniper who kills over over 300 soldiers, based on a true story, it does have subtitles for most of the film , but if you can get your head past that, it's very good.
The Soviets weren't shy of putting women in combat roles. They had a fair few partisans, anti-aircraft gunners, and fighter pilots, for example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Litvyak.
Ms AA and I went to see Lion last night. The performances are good but the film as a whole is really no more than OK and we both found it more worthy than emotional.
Scrolling back through here, I can't see any comments on Passengers. (Sorry if I missed your comments.) Any thoughts on this?
Ladyromford and I quite liked it. Yes, Jennifer Lawrence looks spectacularly and ridiculously good for someone living in virtual isolation in space, but I can live with that. I felt like it was a pretty good story and there are more questions and possibilities that they could have covered, but all in all it wasn't bad. Not the best film I've ever seen, but pretty good.
I found Passengers to be an interesting insight into how Sony works. They looked at Interstellar/ The Martian etc. and decided space dramas are the current in thing, so they hired the two hottest actors to star in it and a director who'll do what the bosses tell him (it was Morten Tyldum's biggest job so far) hence lots of shots of Jennifer Lawrence looking sultry and Chris Pratt without a shirt.
The script had a good hook, but a weak resolution. So often the case with sci-fi 'what ifs'. Almost certainly designed by committee (or even an algorithm), It had the set ups but the pay offs were a bit lame (there was no conspiracy, just bad luck). That said, there were some strange inconsistencies or plot holes (where did the flora and fauna come from?).
I thought it was at its strongest when dealing with the "wake her up" stuff but the last act simply didn't come up with anything interesting.
Larry Fishburne was hilarious, as he always is when he cameos, and what the fuck Andy Garcia was doing in there I'll never know.
It's a 3 star movie - competently made, plenty of money on show, interesting at the start and weak at the finish. Watchable, but nothing to really think about after.
Watched Passengers a couple of nights ago. After some pretty poor reviews I was expecting the worst, but the film suprised me as it wasn't terrible by any means. Id give it a 6/10.
Quite enjoyed Passengers, nothing amazing but entertaining all the same. I was hoping there would be something more sinister behind it, but maybe that is just because I haven't seen a decent horror film in a while
Took my 7 year old to see Lego Batman at the weekend. I thought it was average but she loved it.
Finally got round to seeing Suicide Squad. I've had the blu ray since Christmas as I wanted to be in the right frame of mind to give it the best chance. A lot of poor films are built scene to scene with plot and characterisation secondary. This film follows that trend but takes it a step further by going from 'one liner' to 'one liner'. Has a lot of performances to good for the movie but the structure is a mess. Too much flashback and voice over papering over the cracks. Could have been so much better. Jared Leto went method for that!
Quite enjoyed Passengers, nothing amazing but entertaining all the same. I was hoping there would be something more sinister behind it, but maybe that is just because I haven't seen a decent horror film in a while
Watched I, Daniel Blake last night and it was good but made me angry as I know it's close to reality. 7.5/10
Tried to watch Fences but after 15 or 20 minutes monologue, much of which was lost in translation I looked at the Mrs and we decided enough was enough. I wont mark it as it would be absurdly low.
Watched I, Daniel Blake last night and it was good but made me angry as I know it's close to reality. 7.5/10
Tried to watch Fences but after 15 or 20 minutes monologue, much of which was lost in translation I looked at the Mrs and we decided enough was enough. I wont mark it as it would be absurdly low.
I did exactly the same on Fences. Its a stage play that really doesn't translate to screen IMO. Kate Muir I think put it best in her review - don't mistake grandstanding for quality.
Denzel is lapping up the monologues and practically begging for an Oscar. Viola plays it much more understated and because of Denzel, comes across brilliantly. But the relentless talking was painful for me so had to switch off.
Interesting opinions on Fences. It was wordy but I expected that and watched it with my theatre eyes. I really think it was one of the best films I've seen in a long while.
Picturehouse let you arrange a screening of the film of your choice if enough pay to go. Anyone interested in seeing if we can get a CL night organised?
Picturehouse let you arrange a screening of the film of your choice if enough pay to go. Anyone interested in seeing if we can get a CL night organised?
Watched Fences Monday night, I too nearly turned off after 20 minutes but stuck with it as I like to watch the main Oscar noms, can definitely tell the story was made for the stage but it was well worth sticking with in my opinion. I can see Viola Davis winning the Oscar for her performance but would be surprised if Denzel of the film itself did.
I must admit, I have a major problem watching Denzel anyway. I've probably banged on about it before - just to say, he HAS to be the smartest man in the room. All the time. Whether he's blind (still shoots everyone), an alcoholic (only he could land that plane) or a geeky train guy (he's the best goddamn train controller in Noo Yawk!), he's always the best there is. And nobody else in the movie will ever touch him.
I know his Fences character is flawed, but my god someone needed to tell him to shut up.
I must admit, I have a major problem watching Denzel anyway. I've probably banged on about it before - just to say, he HAS to be the smartest man in the room. All the time. Whether he's blind (still shoots everyone), an alcoholic (only he could land that plane) or a geeky train guy (he's the best goddamn train controller in Noo Yawk!), he's always the best there is. And nobody else in the movie will ever touch him.
I know his Fences character is flawed, but my god someone needed to tell him to shut up.
Picturehouse let you arrange a screening of the film of your choice if enough pay to go. Anyone interested in seeing if we can get a CL night organised?
I could be up for that, but how much per person will that be? I wonder if the PeckhamPlex would do the same thing, their tickets are only a fiver.
I must admit, I have a major problem watching Denzel anyway. I've probably banged on about it before - just to say, he HAS to be the smartest man in the room. All the time. Whether he's blind (still shoots everyone), an alcoholic (only he could land that plane) or a geeky train guy (he's the best goddamn train controller in Noo Yawk!), he's always the best there is. And nobody else in the movie will ever touch him.
I know his Fences character is flawed, but my god someone needed to tell him to shut up.
There's flawed, and then there's Denzel flawed.
Like in Inside Man when he gets fooled? But wait... Fear not, we have a scene at the end where he figures it all out. Can't have Denzel looking stupid now, can we?
Or American Gangster where he's a proper villain... Until he puts on a pair of glasses and tells the FBI how to do their jobs.
I finally saw 'I, Daniel Blake' this week. I thought there was, as you might expect, an element of dramatic license but I found it a very powerful and important film.
'Son of Saul' - a highly skilled and imaginative piece of filmmaking and it certainly packs a punch. Still not sure what to make of it, though.
I must admit, I have a major problem watching Denzel anyway. I've probably banged on about it before - just to say, he HAS to be the smartest man in the room. All the time. Whether he's blind (still shoots everyone), an alcoholic (only he could land that plane) or a geeky train guy (he's the best goddamn train controller in Noo Yawk!), he's always the best there is. And nobody else in the movie will ever touch him.
I know his Fences character is flawed, but my god someone needed to tell him to shut up.
Totally agree......he could do with taking a few downtrodden character parts. He is a good actor but I know exactly where your'e coming from.
Picturehouse let you arrange a screening of the film of your choice if enough pay to go. Anyone interested in seeing if we can get a CL night organised?
If you get this off the ground and its between March 27th and May 5th Im in.
Comments
The script had a good hook, but a weak resolution. So often the case with sci-fi 'what ifs'. Almost certainly designed by committee (or even an algorithm), It had the set ups but the pay offs were a bit lame (there was no conspiracy, just bad luck). That said, there were some strange inconsistencies or plot holes (where did the flora and fauna come from?).
I thought it was at its strongest when dealing with the "wake her up" stuff but the last act simply didn't come up with anything interesting.
Larry Fishburne was hilarious, as he always is when he cameos, and what the fuck Andy Garcia was doing in there I'll never know.
It's a 3 star movie - competently made, plenty of money on show, interesting at the start and weak at the finish. Watchable, but nothing to really think about after.
Brilliant film. So well written and acted. Viola Davis deserves the Oscar.
So, so much better than La La Land.
Go and see it.
Finally got round to seeing Suicide Squad. I've had the blu ray since Christmas as I wanted to be in the right frame of mind to give it the best chance. A lot of poor films are built scene to scene with plot and characterisation secondary. This film follows that trend but takes it a step further by going from 'one liner' to 'one liner'. Has a lot of performances to good for the movie but the structure is a mess. Too much flashback and voice over papering over the cracks. Could have been so much better. Jared Leto went method for that!
Really enjoyed it and Cillian Murphy is, as always, excellent. 8/10
Much better than La La Land, which was shite.
Tried to watch Fences but after 15 or 20 minutes monologue, much of which was lost in translation I looked at the Mrs and we decided enough was enough. I wont mark it as it would be absurdly low.
Denzel is lapping up the monologues and practically begging for an Oscar. Viola plays it much more understated and because of Denzel, comes across brilliantly. But the relentless talking was painful for me so had to switch off.
I really think it was one of the best films I've seen in a long while.
Anyone interested in seeing if we can get a CL night organised?
I know his Fences character is flawed, but my god someone needed to tell him to shut up.
Or American Gangster where he's a proper villain... Until he puts on a pair of glasses and tells the FBI how to do their jobs.
I'll try to stop now.
'Son of Saul' - a highly skilled and imaginative piece of filmmaking and it certainly packs a punch. Still not sure what to make of it, though.