Also watched Abducted in Plain Sight. If it wasn't true you'd think it was far-fetched. Tough in places owing to the subject matter, but thought it was gripping. No real spoilers, but WTF with the parents!?!
I watched it last night. You really couldn't make this up could you? (Spoiler alert below)
Bizarre behaviour by just about everyone involved........The Mum and Dad both having separate sexual liaison's with the Pedo and the fact they would let a 12 year old girl go with a 40 year old bloke beggars belief....talk about the Family Gullible (or were they?).
I was also left late in the film with the feeling that they decided they could make a profit out of a really awful experience and ended up disliking all of them as much as the Pedo.
Small town America in the 70’s, they didn’t know what a nonce was. The dad said looking back he can’t believe how gullible they were, but it was a different time. They were all still wrongens though.
Flew to Atlanta, 9 hour flight and watched 4 films.
Colette. Hmmm was ok, think I dozed off to be honest. Not a fan of Kiera knightly and kept on thinking she was married to Jean Valjean!
Bohemian Rhapsody. Enjoyed it. Obviously heard the hype and understand why. Got goosebumps at the end.
Lala land. Haven’t seen it since it first came out and enjoyed it again although still sad for the ending. Love the unscripted style of their conversations and their chemistry.
Can you ever forgive me? Enjoyed it. Great acting. Would recommend. It finished just as we came into land which was handy.
A Japanese comic book thing turned into a Hollywood movie. I thought the trailer looked rubbish, but I saw it's directed by Robert Rodriguez and written/ produced by James Cameron. That's a combo with a lot of potential, so I gave it a shot.
It's the future, some war has screwed up the giant floating cities that populated the world and there's only one left. Underneath it is a giant scrap pile and a sprawling junkyard metropolis. There, a doctor finds a cyborg girl in pieces, and puts her back together. She's got no memory but clearly has a violent past. The doctor has a secret life that introduces Alita to a world of bounty hunters, and after that the plot falls to pieces.
Firstly, it's all set up for sequels, and that messes with the story. We don't really meet the bad guy, so we get 4 or 5 minor villains instead. She meets a cute guy who is smugger than a vegan on a Sunday bike ride, and his plot developments range from mildly interesting to utterly baffling.
By the end the plot makes almost no sense, and it's a wonder James Cameron has a writing credit. The man knows how to tell a story so this is bizarre.
I did expect the girl to sit in the uncanny valley, and I was pleasantly surprised to find she was a decent CG creation. The effects were pretty damn good. But beyond that, there's not a lot to see here.
Crimes of Grindelwald. 4/10 lost interest after about an hour and turned off. Mortal Engines. 4/10 again lost interest, clearly had a massive budget, but was poorly executed. Reminded me of tv film in parts. The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot. 7.5/10 Great film, completely left field, looks great and isn't really like anything else.
Surprised that Roma and The Favourite cleaned up at the Baftas tonight . Both good films but not a patch on Green Book or Bohemian Rhapsody. At least the Lady Gaga Show didn’t win.
Roma - A black and white film in a foreign language which is basically a self-indulgentfest about the directors childhood and the first scene is 4 1/2 mins long with no dialogue and is just someone washing the floor. Why wouldn't it win a BAFTA?
Roma - A black and white film in a foreign language which is basically a self-indulgentfest about the directors childhood and the first scene is 4 1/2 mins long with no dialogue and is just someone washing the floor. Why wouldn't it win a BAFTA?
Thought it was a great film but with limited appeal. Too slow for most viewers by modern standards plus it's black and white and not in English.
Can You Ever Forgive Me
A biographical drama about the impecunious biographer, Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) who, aided and abetted by her friend and drinking buddy, Jack (Richard E. Grant), became a serial forger of letters from deceased authors and playwrights. An interesting and unusual story, I found it humorous, well scripted and very well acted by the co-leads. Overall, an engaging and entertaining film - 8/10.
Thought this was a brilliant film - Mc Carthy is excellent as is Grant. Funny, moving and an intriguing story - really enjoyed it. 9/10
It might not be relevant to latest films, but this list might be of interest for anyone Having seen and really enjoyed I Am Not A Witch, Tsotsi and Battle of Algiers, I'm looking forward to getting stuck into some more of these, if I can find them.
Widows - was expecting a great film considering the critics reviews but I was a little disappointed with it . It’s not bad but it’s not great either. 7 out of 10
Widows - was expecting a great film considering the critics reviews but I was a little disappointed with it . It’s not bad but it’s not great either. 7 out of 10
Certainly wasn't as good as I expected when I saw it.
Very late, but I caught Wonder the other night on a recomendation from my daughter. It's the sort of film I always give the swerve, and there were some tough patches in it, but it was a really upbeat film in the end, and came away having thoroughly enjoyed it. Well worth a watch (I would guess most people who like these sort of films have probably done so).
Saw Green Book a couple of nights ago in the little independent curzon in Clevedon, a lovely old fashioned cinema where they still tear your paper ticket. Enjoyed the film - thought it was very well acted, much funnier than I was expecting. It was no 'Mississippi Burning', messages about racism being delivered in a very sanitised way. The cops in the police station were like something out of The Dukes of Hazard. I'd recommend it, a solid 7.
Saw Green Book a couple of nights ago in the little independent curzon in Clevedon, a lovely old fashioned cinema where they still tear your paper ticket. Enjoyed the film - thought it was very well acted, much funnier than I was expecting. It was no 'Mississippi Burning', messages about racism being delivered in a very sanitised way. The cops in the police station were like something out of The Dukes of Hazard. I'd recommend it, a solid 7.
Saw Green Book a couple of nights ago in the little independent curzon in Clevedon, a lovely old fashioned cinema where they still tear your paper ticket. Enjoyed the film - thought it was very well acted, much funnier than I was expecting. It was no 'Mississippi Burning', messages about racism being delivered in a very sanitised way. The cops in the police station were like something out of The Dukes of Hazard. I'd recommend it, a solid 7.
A 9 for me. In my all time top 10.
Saw it last night - really enjoyed it. A fascinating story and the two lead actors are excellent.
Donald Shirley who the film was about was an amazing character and seeing the racism of the sixties is pretty galling.
It's a very warm film that has moments of great comedy and is very accessible. 9/10
I’ve a feeling as time goes by that Green Book will gain legs and become another Shawshank which became a classic due to word of mouth rather than box office takings .
I might break the vulgarity ban at some point here. I don't think I can remember watching a film that has lived up to the hype as much as this. Lady Gaga is obviously already a very gifted singer and this gave her an opportunity to show her capabilities off. For me Bradley Cooper deserves all the recognition that comes his way.
9.5/10 brilliant film and if you don't end up with something in your eye at the end you have no heart
Comments
Abducted in Plain Site - agree with others here definitely worth a watch. When the dad admitted his 'misdemeanors' I nearly spat my dinner out!
Pinter at the Pinter.
Pinter 7
A Slight Ache / The Dumb Waiter (with Martin Freeman and Danny Dyer)
Really worth catching.
Colette. Hmmm was ok, think I dozed off to be honest. Not a fan of Kiera knightly and kept on thinking she was married to Jean Valjean!
Bohemian Rhapsody. Enjoyed it. Obviously heard the hype and understand why. Got goosebumps at the end.
Lala land. Haven’t seen it since it first came out and enjoyed it again although still sad for the ending. Love the unscripted style of their conversations and their chemistry.
Can you ever forgive me? Enjoyed it. Great acting. Would recommend. It finished just as we came into land which was handy.
Feel good factor 11/10
A Japanese comic book thing turned into a Hollywood movie. I thought the trailer looked rubbish, but I saw it's directed by Robert Rodriguez and written/ produced by James Cameron. That's a combo with a lot of potential, so I gave it a shot.
It's the future, some war has screwed up the giant floating cities that populated the world and there's only one left. Underneath it is a giant scrap pile and a sprawling junkyard metropolis. There, a doctor finds a cyborg girl in pieces, and puts her back together. She's got no memory but clearly has a violent past. The doctor has a secret life that introduces Alita to a world of bounty hunters, and after that the plot falls to pieces.
Firstly, it's all set up for sequels, and that messes with the story. We don't really meet the bad guy, so we get 4 or 5 minor villains instead. She meets a cute guy who is smugger than a vegan on a Sunday bike ride, and his plot developments range from mildly interesting to utterly baffling.
By the end the plot makes almost no sense, and it's a wonder James Cameron has a writing credit. The man knows how to tell a story so this is bizarre.
I did expect the girl to sit in the uncanny valley, and I was pleasantly surprised to find she was a decent CG creation. The effects were pretty damn good. But beyond that, there's not a lot to see here.
2/8
Crimes of Grindelwald. 4/10 lost interest after about an hour and turned off.
Mortal Engines. 4/10 again lost interest, clearly had a massive budget, but was poorly executed. Reminded me of tv film in parts.
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot. 7.5/10 Great film, completely left field, looks great and isn't really like anything else.
Quickfire humour and very inventive. Went to watch it with my daughter and thoroughly enjoyed it. 7.5/10
Seriously fabulous film. Viewing it should be in the national curriculum.
It's a Wonderful Life sprang to mind at times.
http://www.cinemaescapist.com/2019/02/best-african-movies-list/?fbclid=IwAR03VLEwDd-i6TalCPwDj1W0LdHXRzVSsE5iAiq5MxipAJm9w5HpM-uMfww
And thought it was brilliant.
Loved Dev Patel in the title role ( you'll know what I mean if you've seen it) and the young lad who played him in the first half of the film.
A bitter sweet movie and one that had me in floods of tears by the end.
Enjoyed the film - thought it was very well acted, much funnier than I was expecting. It was no 'Mississippi Burning', messages about racism being delivered in a very sanitised way. The cops in the police station were like something out of The Dukes of Hazard.
I'd recommend it, a solid 7.
Donald Shirley who the film was about was an amazing character and seeing the racism of the sixties is pretty galling.
It's a very warm film that has moments of great comedy and is very accessible. 9/10
I might break the vulgarity ban at some point here. I don't think I can remember watching a film that has lived up to the hype as much as this. Lady Gaga is obviously already a very gifted singer and this gave her an opportunity to show her capabilities off. For me Bradley Cooper deserves all the recognition that comes his way.
9.5/10 brilliant film and if you don't end up with something in your eye at the end you have no heart