This arrives in cinemas tomorrow (20 October). It's a sci-fi psychological drama, set in a dystopian 2065 when the earth is dying as a result of sustained droughts. A couple’s lives are turned upside down when the husband is forced to go to space.
I was lured onto the rocks by Saoirse Ronan (and, to a lesser extent, by Paul Mescal). As it transpired, I thought this Apple-funded film was a total mess and a terrible waste of acting talent. An absolute turkey - and doubtless an expensive one at that. Avoid.
The Killer (USA, David Fincher) - 6.5/10
Michael Fassbender is well cast as an ice-cold professional assassin, who listens to The Smiths on his earphones as an aide to concentration. When an assignment goes badly wrong and his former employer and client make him a target, he has to kill or be killed.
I thought this was pretty entertaining, even if it's a little predictable and formulaic. It's in cinemas in a week's time before coming onto Netflix.
I watched a good number of films at the London Film Festival earlier this month. Of the ones I saw, I thought the following were the best:
The Holdovers(USA, Alexander Payne)
The most entertaining feature I saw at the LFF. Alexander Payne reunites with Paul Giametti 20 years after Sideways. Set in December 1970, Giametti plays a curmudgeonly history teacher at an exclusive boarding school who is forced to remain on campus over the Christmas holidays with a disaffected student whose mother and step-father don’t want him home, together with the school cook/cafeteria manager, whose son recently died in Vietnam. What ensues is an excellent, poignant and very funny comedy.
It is released in the UK on 19 January 2024.
The Zone of Interest(UK/Poland/Germany, Jonathan Glazer)
Based on Martin Amis’ 2014 novel, the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller), strive to create bucolic bliss and a dream home for their family in a house and garden just outside the walls of the camp. The juxtaposition of banal everyday domesticity with what we know is taking place next-door is chilling.
A very skilfully crafted film, with a discomfiting, discordant score, it won the Grand Prix at Cannes. Interestingly, it has also been selected as the UK entry for the Best International Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards; I think it is likely to be nominated and make the shortlist.
Evil Does Not Exist (Japan, Hamaguchi of Drive My Car fame)
A corporation seeks to push through a ‘glamping’ development near a peaceful rural village which will forever change the community and their environment, not least by polluting the local fresh water supply. A beguiling drama but its enigmatic and sudden ending is likely to alienate a number of viewers.
Winner of the Best Film award at the LFF.
Eileen (USA, William Oldroyd)
In Oldroyd’s follow-up to Lady Macbeth, a shy young prison employee in 1960s Massachusetts (Thomasin McKenzie) becomes infatuated with the facility’s glamorous new psychiatrist (Anne Hathaway). Things take a sinister turn, as the the story veers into a psychological crime thriller, film noir and black-comedy horror.
It is released in the UK on 1 December.
Poor Things (UK, Yorgos Lanthimos; Golden Lion, Venice)
Yorgos Lanthimos’ follow up to The Favourite is a surreal black comedy set initially in Victorian London. Emma Stone gives an excellent performance as Bella, a corpse brought back to life in a Frankenstein-type experiment conducted by a brilliant and eccentric scientist (Willem Defoe). Initially child-like and naive, she is keen to learn more about the world and runs off with an opportunist lawyer (Mark Ruffalo) to travel across continents, giving full vent to her voracious carnal and other desires. As a ‘woman reborn’, Bella has a liberated mindset, completely free of societal constraints and mores.
A highly original, bizarre, humorous and entertaining film, with impressive cinematography, set design and costumes. I thought it was very good but, for me, it did not quite live up to some of the hype surrounding it. It is released in the UK on 12 January.
I tried to buy Eileen when it played in Sundance. Enjoyed it.
@Blucher - did you watch Baltimore starring Imogen Poots? I have bought that and am releasing it end of Q1 next year - can thoroughly recommend that one.
Went to see Killers of the Flower Moon this weekend, and I'm afraid I was quite disappointed.
It was really very long at 3 and a half hours for a story that wasn't overly complicated, and although the plot was interesting it never particularly picked up pace or felt like it came to a significant climax. It wasn't so much that there was lots they could cut, more that they could've told the story in a better/more engaging manner.
I have seen rave reviews for the film and DiCaprio's performance but I really didn't think it was close to Scorsese or DiCaprio's best outing by a long way.
Saw it this afternoon and wholeheartedly agree with your review, @LonelyNorthernAddick Not bad, but it plodded along. Not helped by me having had a coffee and two beers during the film and been somewhat uncomfortable during the last quarter hour or so.
Sorry I can't agree with people's comments on Killers of the flower moon, I go to the cinema every week as I have an unlimited card and I thought it was a fascinating true story, I generally agree that films tend to be too long these days but knowing nothing about the story beforehand I found it engaged me throughout, the scenes with DiCaprio and DeNiro showed what great actors they are . Looking forward to the Nicolas Winter film.
My interest started to wane until Jesse Plemons and the FBI turned up about two hours in and I thought that long, earlier chunk of the film could easily have been edited down. I also found the characters a bit one-dimensional. Overall, I found it a good film but not an outstanding one.
Sorry I can't agree with people's comments on Killers of the flower moon, I go to the cinema every week as I have an unlimited card and I thought it was a fascinating true story, I generally agree that films tend to be too long these days but knowing nothing about the story beforehand I found it engaged me throughout, the scenes with DiCaprio and DeNiro showed what great actors they are . Looking forward to the Nicolas Winter film.
I agree. The film held my interest throughout. Recommend but only at the cinema (one with good seats)
Sorry I can't agree with people's comments on Killers of the flower moon, I go to the cinema every week as I have an unlimited card and I thought it was a fascinating true story, I generally agree that films tend to be too long these days but knowing nothing about the story beforehand I found it engaged me throughout, the scenes with DiCaprio and DeNiro showed what great actors they are . Looking forward to the Nicolas Winter film.
I do think the story is interesting, but i'm convinced it could've been told in a better/more engaging way
The three Planet movies are either pretty good or excellent. I’m glad they’re still going but I can’t help but feel the loss of Matt Reeves might be an issue. He absolutely nailed the tone and style for those second two.
What I liked about the trailer is that it doesn’t look set-piece driven. That bodes well. It’ll hopefully be as story-driven as the rest were.
This looks like it will be great as were the others
The others were great ? Can’t agree with you there . A couple had their moments but none of them fitted into the great category.
Now the original 1968 version definitely qualifies as great and has one of the best endings in movie history.
Ooo Beds, I'd have them great or at the very least good with a fair few 'great' scenes. If we go from online ratings they definitely fall into great territory.
I do like the originals, watched them all as a kid as my Mum and uncles loved those films and as you say, one of the most memorable endings. They however are a bit dated for me and I'll never appreciate them as much as people before my time would have.
There's so much more potential with the new films as technology has advanced so much, I enjoy the newer ones more.
Love the original theme tune, don’t mind the Bon Jovi in the trailer but surely Ryan will sing us out to the original (maybe updating some of the dead lady references?)
Just had our film Friday in the village church where we go along not knowing what we're going to be seeing. First time I haven't enjoyed it. We saw Stranger than Fiction. A 2006 film with Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson & Dustin Hoffman.
I now feel vindicated that I have never watched a Ferrell movie. I absolutely loath him 😫😳
It didn't get received well by those attending either, so it wasn't just me lol.
I loved the recent planet of the apes films. You could tell they were a bit special. I loved the old films too and of course the series. The only one I didn't really like was the Tim Burton one.
Also saw a couple of films at London Film Festival.
May December was disappointing - very contrived and terrible music score which was probably meant to be ironic if you’re an industry insider but I’m not and am never that keen on films about actors. 4/10
The Hitman on the other hand was excellent- based on a true story of a geeky guy who ends up posing undercover as a hitman. Very well scripted and acted with lots of funny moments. 8/10.
Comments
However, last week I saw the "Great Escaper" and throughly enjoyed that. Tomorrow I am returning to the cinema to watch "Killers of the Flower Moon".
Foe - 3/10
This arrives in cinemas tomorrow (20 October). It's a sci-fi psychological drama, set in a dystopian 2065 when the earth is dying as a result of sustained droughts. A couple’s lives are turned upside down when the husband is forced to go to space.
I was lured onto the rocks by Saoirse Ronan (and, to a lesser extent, by Paul Mescal). As it transpired, I thought this Apple-funded film was a total mess and a terrible waste of acting talent. An absolute turkey - and doubtless an expensive one at that. Avoid.
The Killer (USA, David Fincher) - 6.5/10
Michael Fassbender is well cast as an ice-cold professional assassin, who listens to The Smiths on his earphones as an aide to concentration. When an assignment goes badly wrong and his former employer and client make him a target, he has to kill or be killed.
I thought this was pretty entertaining, even if it's a little predictable and formulaic. It's in cinemas in a week's time before coming onto Netflix.
@Blucher - did you watch Baltimore starring Imogen Poots? I have bought that and am releasing it end of Q1 next year - can thoroughly recommend that one.
It was really very long at 3 and a half hours for a story that wasn't overly complicated, and although the plot was interesting it never particularly picked up pace or felt like it came to a significant climax. It wasn't so much that there was lots they could cut, more that they could've told the story in a better/more engaging manner.
I have seen rave reviews for the film and DiCaprio's performance but I really didn't think it was close to Scorsese or DiCaprio's best outing by a long way.
Would probably give it a 6/10.
Not bad, but it plodded along. Not helped by me having had a coffee and two beers during the film and been somewhat uncomfortable during the last quarter hour or so.
Hoping not to drink too much at the match tomorrow so I can make it through 3.5 hours of Killers of the Flower Moon afterwards.
Looking forward to the Nicolas Winter film.
My interest started to wane until Jesse Plemons and the FBI turned up about two hours in and I thought that long, earlier chunk of the film could easily have been edited down. I also found the characters a bit one-dimensional. Overall, I found it a good film but not an outstanding one.
This looks like it will be great as were the others
I love all things Planet of the Apes. Was my fav as a kid & I’ve loved every new film.
This one does look great.
Also just seen the trailer for the Fall Guy. Another fav as I loved Lee Major.
"God damn you all to hell!"
I do like the originals, watched them all as a kid as my Mum and uncles loved those films and as you say, one of the most memorable endings. They however are a bit dated for me and I'll never appreciate them as much as people before my time would have.
There's so much more potential with the new films as technology has advanced so much, I enjoy the newer ones more.
Very funny.
Had completely forgotten it 🤣🤣
First time I haven't enjoyed it.
We saw Stranger than Fiction. A 2006 film with Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson & Dustin Hoffman.
I now feel vindicated that I have never watched a Ferrell movie. I absolutely loath him 😫😳
It didn't get received well by those attending either, so it wasn't just me lol.
The Hitman on the other hand was excellent- based on a true story of a geeky guy who ends up posing undercover as a hitman. Very well scripted and acted with lots of funny moments. 8/10.