Saw Richard linklater’s new film “last flag flying” at the London film festival last night. Doesn’t get released til next month. Nothing incredible but got just the right balance between makes you cry and makes you piss yourself with laughter. Steve carrell is just a great dramatic actor. Fishburne and Cranston play slight caricatures but it was a good couple of hours.
Saw Blade Runner over the weekend - IMAX and 3D, however, ditched the 3D glasses after an hour or so, as it didn't seem to make much difference apart from make the screen that bit darker. Film was very good, however, still not as good as the original - it seemed far more complex in terms of the plot this time round and left me scratching my head a bit at times. The first hour was a bit turgid and i'm sure could have been shortened but livened up after a while. As I suspected, there was no Rutger Hauer performance in this one (who was monumental in the first one), and also didn't think Ryan Gosling was the best choice for Agent K. So overall, I suppose a little bit disappointing in view of the super reviews it has received, but still very good.
I saw 'The Guardians' (France) at the London Film Festival earlier today (UK release date to be confirmed).
Directed by Xavier Beauvois (‘Of Gods and Men’), this story focuses on one family farm and the group of women who are left to tend the land while their sons, husbands and lovers are away fighting in First World War. It’s a relatively low-key, restrained but powerful film, with some very fine performances and magnificent cinematography of the French countryside. I found it a shade long at 134 minutes but, overall, thought it was very good.
The Dark Tower.....a bit of a "meh" film for me, a minor part for the amazing Katheryn Winnick, and as much as I admire both Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba, they couldnt save what was a poor film. 4/10
Thought it was 100x the film Ghosts In The Machine was, which explored similar themes. Effects and cgi were good without being totally overpowering and the lead female protagonist in particular was excellent.
Won't say any more plot wise and RG and HF worked well together in my view. If that's the future you can keep it thanks!
Original Bladerunner is my all time favourite film and Philip K Dick one of my favourite authors. The atmosphere and feel of the movie, the pace and the music. Was really excited to go and see Bladerunner 2049 at the weekend. It didn't disappoint. Didn't notice that is was 163 minutes long either. Seemed to re-capture a lot of the feel and atmosphere of the first and thought both Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling were superb - as was 'Joi'! Wasn't as good as the original but few sequels (and this is a genuine sequel) are. Want to see it again.
New Star Wars trailer has now unexcited me about the film....
Yeah dont know what to think...
That bit at the end with Ren holding out his hand to the girl (cant remember her name) looks very similar to the end of Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vadar is holding his hand out to Luke after chopping his hand off
I know its not out on general release yet, but has anyone seen Blade Runner 2049 yet? Got tickets to see on Imax on Friday and reviews so far seem fantastic.
Seeing it tonight. Really, really excited. Will report back after.
I've read two reviews and they both give it 5 stars. I think I'm the only person on the planet who wasn't keen on the original but I'm looking forward to seeing what they have done with this.
You most certainly not the only person who isn't keen on the original, thought I was very average the first time I saw it when it came out. Still very average when I watched it around 5 years ago
One of the few. However,for me the real star of the original was Rutger Hauer - his moody . menacing figure was one of the best movie performances ever. I wonder if anyone will replace him in the same way with the new version.
Blade Runner is one of my two most favouritest films, the other being American Graffiti, so I approached 2049 with a hint of trepidation. I needn't have worried. It is true to the original, expands on the ideas, but is very much its own film. Ms AA isn't a sci-fi fan but she really enjoyed it, too.
Unsurprisingly, it has the look and sound of Arrival, and a plot that's intriguing, but really it's about the themes that underpinned the first Blade Runner.
It's not a remake or rehash. Has a detective story but that's about it regarding plot similarities.
Mostly it's... engrossing. The bigger the screen and the louder the audio the better. I loved it as an experience. Got totally sucked into that world.
Only negative is Sony's marketing department insisting on getting the brand name on screen three times. Wankers.
Just been to see it - thought it was brilliant. Very well shot and the soundtrack works really well. Links in well to the first film and creates a very dark view of the future.
Not sure if it will appeal to a mass audience if they're expecting a standard sci-fi. Helps to have seen the first film.
I know its not out on general release yet, but has anyone seen Blade Runner 2049 yet? Got tickets to see on Imax on Friday and reviews so far seem fantastic.
Seeing it tonight. Really, really excited. Will report back after.
I've read two reviews and they both give it 5 stars. I think I'm the only person on the planet who wasn't keen on the original but I'm looking forward to seeing what they have done with this.
You most certainly not the only person who isn't keen on the original, thought I was very average the first time I saw it when it came out. Still very average when I watched it around 5 years ago
One of the few. However,for me the real star of the original was Rutger Hauer - his moody . menacing figure was one of the best movie performances ever. I wonder if anyone will replace him in the same way with the new version.
Blade Runner is one of my two most favouritest films, the other being American Graffiti, so I approached 2049 with a hint of trepidation. I needn't have worried. It is true to the original, expands on the ideas, but is very much its own film. Ms AA isn't a sci-fi fan but she really enjoyed it, too.
I'm not a sci-fi fan and it's only really the Blade Runner films and Arrival that I've really enjoyed of this type of film.
Blade Runner was amazing considering it was made in 1982 and it gave a dark vision of a dysfunctional future that was far more interesting than the average sci-fi film. The 2049 film captured the same feel and it's hard to do a direct comparison between the two because of the technology available when the films were made.
Saw Blade Runner 2049 last night (3D IMAX). Like what has been said I thought the plot was hard to follow at times, maybe a good thing but seemed to drag on. Special effects and sound tracks are some of the best I've seen but dont think 3D made a big difference, so not worth the extra expense.
Have seen the Glass Castle and Mother! in the last few days.
Glass Castle is about a dysfunctional family where the children have to cope with their free spirited parents. Woody Harrelson plays the alcoholic father who keeps screwing up and Brie Larson one of the daughters. Very watchable and based on a true memoir. - not a bad film and the child actors have some good performances.
Mother! is very weird - it's about the relationship between a writer and his wife and its destruction through a constant stream of visitors to their home. Very disturbing and violent - Jennifer Lawrence's character is supposed to depict Mother Earth and Bardem the creator.
Ok not a new film but I watched Split tonight, Fantastic movie for anyone who hasn't seen it but has sky movies it is on there, James McAvoy plays his role brilliant, the switches between the personalities he has is amazing,
Fantastic actor and well portrayed.
Looking forward to 2019 when the follow on Glass is released now
I saw this at the London Film Festival and it’s UK release date has yet to be announced. Set in the Australian outback in the early 1920s and loosely based on an actual case, it tells the story of a middle-aged Aboriginal farmhand who, in fear for his life, kills a violent, boorish and racist landowner whilst acting in self-defence. Lacking any faith in the local justice system (“I’m a blackfella who killed a whitefella”), he and his wife flee and are pursued across the bleak and beautiful landscape by the town’s racist police sergeant and his posse.
The screening was followed by an interesting Q & A with the director and cinematographer, Warwick Thornton, whose previous drama was the multiple award-winning ‘Samson and Delilah’. He said his intention was to make a Western type film without the usual cliches whilst, at the same time, shedding a light on what was really going in Australia in its treatment of the indigenous population. I thought he succeeded admirably and I found this a very powerful and interesting film. It also benefitted from excellent performances from veterans Sam Neill and Bryan Brown, as well as from the non-professional indigenous actors utilised by the director. Overall, a very good film - 8/10.
Went to see the Snowman last night, enjoyed the film, felt it could have been 10/15 minutes longer to deal with the antagonists back story in a bit more detail.
The "twist" might as well have been on a billboard too.
I saw this at the London Film Festival and it’s UK release date has yet to be announced. Set in the Australian outback in the early 1920s and loosely based on an actual case, it tells the story of a middle-aged Aboriginal farmhand who, in fear for his life, kills a violent, boorish and racist landowner whilst acting in self-defence. Lacking any faith in the local justice system (“I’m a blackfella who killed a whitefella”), he and his wife flee and are pursued across the bleak and beautiful landscape by the town’s racist police sergeant and his posse.
The screening was followed by an interesting Q & A with the director and cinematographer, Warwick Thornton, whose previous drama was the multiple award-winning ‘Samson and Delilah’. He said his intention was to make a Western type film without the usual cliches whilst, at the same time, shedding a light on what was really going in Australia in its treatment of the indigenous population. I thought he succeeded admirably and I found this a very powerful and interesting film. It also benefitted from excellent performances from veterans Sam Neill and Bryan Brown, as well as from the non-professional indigenous actors utilised by the director. Overall, a very good film - 8/10.
Iceland is a place everyone knows everybody. Back in the 70's there was a population of just 200k so when two men vanished over a space of several months there was massive pressure on the police to find the culprits. Six suspects were arrested and confessed to the murders and Iceland breathed easy again. The trouble is , despite their convictions , the six weren't sure if they were guilty or not. This is a fascinating documentary about how the human mind works if manipulated or mentally tortured. It's very sad in parts because lives were completely ruined but as documentaries go this is well worth watching. It's available on Netflix and BBCi player.
Just watched the trailer for 12 STRONG https://12strongmovie.com/#home I won't be wasting time and money in the cinema watching that.
"If we don't take that city, Bush and his buddies won't make as much money..."
Pretty sure this would have been green-lit after the success of Lone Survivor and so on. Jingoistic nonsense by the look of it. EDIT: But it will make a LOT of money. A lot. I wonder how much Michael Pena has made out of 9/11 now.
Saw Spider-Man Homecoming in the week. Another churned-out superhero film that goes no further than ticking the obvious superhero boxes. Nothing distinguishing about it. The twist and ending was yawn-o-rama. I could name a dozen films like it, purely exist as cash cows and offer neither substance nor creativity. 3/10
Iceland is a place everyone knows everybody. Back in the 70's there was a population of just 200k so when two men vanished over a space of several months there was massive pressure on the police to find the culprits. Six suspects were arrested and confessed to the murders and Iceland breathed easy again. The trouble is , despite their convictions , the six weren't sure if they were guilty or not. This is a fascinating documentary about how the human mind works if manipulated or mentally tortured. It's very sad in parts because lives were completely ruined but as documentaries go this is well worth watching. It's available on Netflix and BBCi player.
Saw The Party today which is a very funny film about an awful middle class dinner party. Filmed in black and white with an excellent cast including Cillian Murphy, Timothy Spall and Kristin Scott Thomas. Only 70 minutes long but packs a lot in.
Looks spectacular, but really is a preposterous pile of cheesy shit. Laughable at times
As much as I like Gerard Butler...as soon as I saw he was in it, I thought ah its not going to be a blockbuster, he seems to be the star man when making cheesy films these days...thanks for the heads up, I wont bother paying to watch this one.
This a strange one. Adapted from a Stephen Fry novel this film is a hard one to pigeon hole. It starts off as a comedy with some Malcolm Tucker ( The thick of it ) like scenes played brilliantly by Roger Allam it then turns into a stately home farce and ends up being like a detective mystery story. Its the story of a drunken poet and theatre critic who loses his job and then agrees to investigate goings on at Swafford Manor where so called miracles are being performed. I enjoyed the performances in this especially from Roger Allam but the film itself left me a little cold probably because I couldn't really relate to the people in it plus it was a little too high brow for my liking. As soon as poetry is mentioned , which it is several times , I tend to glaze over and lose interest. If you are into the old Agatha Christie movies I can see how this might appeal but it wasn't for me.
Comments
Film was very good, however, still not as good as the original - it seemed far more complex in terms of the plot this time round and left me scratching my head a bit at times. The first hour was a bit turgid and i'm sure could have been shortened but livened up after a while.
As I suspected, there was no Rutger Hauer performance in this one (who was monumental in the first one), and also didn't think Ryan Gosling was the best choice for Agent K. So overall, I suppose a little bit disappointing in view of the super reviews it has received, but still very good.
Directed by Xavier Beauvois (‘Of Gods and Men’), this story focuses on one family farm and the group of women who are left to tend the land while their sons, husbands and lovers are away fighting in First World War. It’s a relatively low-key, restrained but powerful film, with some very fine performances and magnificent cinematography of the French countryside. I found it a shade long at 134 minutes but, overall, thought it was very good.
Thought it was 100x the film Ghosts In The Machine was, which explored similar themes. Effects and cgi were good without being totally overpowering and the lead female protagonist in particular was excellent.
Won't say any more plot wise and RG and HF worked well together in my view. If that's the future you can keep it thanks!
That bit at the end with Ren holding out his hand to the girl (cant remember her name) looks very similar to the end of Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vadar is holding his hand out to Luke after chopping his hand off
Blade Runner was amazing considering it was made in 1982 and it gave a dark vision of a dysfunctional future that was far more interesting than the average sci-fi film. The 2049 film captured the same feel and it's hard to do a direct comparison between the two because of the technology available when the films were made.
Special effects and sound tracks are some of the best I've seen but dont think 3D made a big difference, so not worth the extra expense.
Glass Castle is about a dysfunctional family where the children have to cope with their free spirited parents. Woody Harrelson plays the alcoholic father who keeps screwing up and Brie Larson one of the daughters. Very watchable and based on a true memoir. - not a bad film and the child actors have some good performances.
Mother! is very weird - it's about the relationship between a writer and his wife and its destruction through a constant stream of visitors to their home. Very disturbing and violent - Jennifer Lawrence's character is supposed to depict Mother Earth and Bardem the creator.
Helps if you know your bible references..
Fantastic movie for anyone who hasn't seen it but has sky movies it is on there, James McAvoy plays his role brilliant, the switches between the personalities he has is amazing,
Fantastic actor and well portrayed.
Looking forward to 2019 when the follow on Glass is released now
I saw this at the London Film Festival and it’s UK release date has yet to be announced. Set in the Australian outback in the early 1920s and loosely based on an actual case, it tells the story of a middle-aged Aboriginal farmhand who, in fear for his life, kills a violent, boorish and racist landowner whilst acting in self-defence. Lacking any faith in the local justice system (“I’m a blackfella who killed a whitefella”), he and his wife flee and are pursued across the bleak and beautiful landscape by the town’s racist police sergeant and his posse.
The screening was followed by an interesting Q & A with the director and cinematographer, Warwick Thornton, whose previous drama was the multiple award-winning ‘Samson and Delilah’. He said his intention was to make a Western type film without the usual cliches whilst, at the same time, shedding a light on what was really going in Australia in its treatment of the indigenous population. I thought he succeeded admirably and I found this a very powerful and interesting film. It also benefitted from excellent performances from veterans Sam Neill and Bryan Brown, as well as from the non-professional indigenous actors utilised by the director. Overall, a very good film - 8/10.
The "twist" might as well have been on a billboard too.
Out of Thin Air
Iceland is a place everyone knows everybody. Back in the 70's there was a population of just 200k so when two men vanished over a space of several months there was massive pressure on the police to find the culprits.
Six suspects were arrested and confessed to the murders and Iceland breathed easy again.
The trouble is , despite their convictions , the six weren't sure if they were guilty or not.
This is a fascinating documentary about how the human mind works if manipulated or mentally tortured.
It's very sad in parts because lives were completely ruined but as documentaries go this is well worth watching.
It's available on Netflix and BBCi player.
8 out of 10.
https://12strongmovie.com/#home
I won't be wasting time and money in the cinema watching that.
Pretty sure this would have been green-lit after the success of Lone Survivor and so on. Jingoistic nonsense by the look of it. EDIT: But it will make a LOT of money. A lot. I wonder how much Michael Pena has made out of 9/11 now.
Nothing distinguishing about it.
The twist and ending was yawn-o-rama.
I could name a dozen films like it, purely exist as cash cows and offer neither substance nor creativity.
3/10
Looks spectacular, but really is a preposterous pile of cheesy shit. Laughable at times
This a strange one. Adapted from a Stephen Fry novel this film is a hard one to pigeon hole. It starts off as a comedy with some Malcolm Tucker ( The thick of it ) like scenes played brilliantly by Roger Allam it then turns into a stately home farce and ends up being like a detective mystery story.
Its the story of a drunken poet and theatre critic who loses his job and then agrees to investigate goings on at Swafford Manor where so called miracles are being performed.
I enjoyed the performances in this especially from Roger Allam but the film itself left me a little cold probably because I couldn't really relate to the people in it plus it was a little too high brow for my liking. As soon as poetry is mentioned , which it is several times , I tend to glaze over and lose interest. If you are into the old Agatha Christie movies I can see how this might appeal but it wasn't for me.
5 out of 10