I finally watched, well almost, the recent Joker film with InaGagadavida in it.
What f ing Joker, thought it would be a good idea to turn it into a musical, presumably to accommodate Lady G! I know, let’s get a musical celeb, Gaga and stick them in a film, twatts!
Bloody awful, it’s rare for me not to watch a film all the way through but just couldn’t stick with it.
Animated film about a robot that has to adapt to its new surroundings when shipwrecked on a desert island. A superb piece of animation with a captivating storyline - one of the best films I've seen this year. 9/10
Nowhere near as good as the first two. Not really any laughs apart from a couple of things from the stereotypical dopey dad. Not one remotely evil or 'bad' character (Hugh Grant in Paddington 2 set a high bar) so the film lacked any real interesting story. My daughter thought it was 'meh'.
I went to see Small Things Like These with Cillian Murphy at the weekend, a pretty sombre moving but quite touching. Based on a short story by Claire Keegan that my gf has read - Keegan also wrote Foster, which was turned into 'The Quiet Girl' a couple years back which I think won a few awards. Based in Ireland, I think it is meant to be Waterford, Murphy's character Bill Furlong struggles with conditions at the local convent in town which makes him reflect on his own upbringing - quite a touching story though not a happy Christmas tale even though it is set at Christmas.
I also watched Endurance on Disney+ on Friday night. Fascinating story, thoroughly enjoyed this with the mix of them telling the story of the hardships and struggles of the team, and the modern team trying to find the ship after it was swallowed by the sea. Would recommend if you have any interest in these expedition stories to watch if you can.
Thanks for heads up on Endurance, didn't know they'd made it.
Frank Hurley, the photographer on the original expedition, was a genius, and his surviving film footage and photos are incredible.
If you're interested in that aspect you'll really enjoy this then, they talk about Hurley a fair bit and there is quite a lot of the footage and photos, remastered and recoloured etc.
Nowhere near as good as the first two. Not really any laughs apart from a couple of things from the stereotypical dopey dad. Not one remotely evil or 'bad' character (Hugh Grant in Paddington 2 set a high bar) so the film lacked any real interesting story. My daughter thought it was 'meh'.
4/10.
I thought it was better than that but definitely is the weakest one of the three. Antonio Banderas was a bit TOO hammy for my liking which is saying something given he's following Hugh Grant in Paddington 2.
If you have kids in the right age range then there's worse ways to spend an afternoon.
Nowhere near as good as the first two. Not really any laughs apart from a couple of things from the stereotypical dopey dad. Not one remotely evil or 'bad' character (Hugh Grant in Paddington 2 set a high bar) so the film lacked any real interesting story. My daughter thought it was 'meh'.
4/10.
Agreed it's not a patch on the first two but it's watchable, I'd say 6/10.
Paddington 3. I still enjoyed it but very much agree that it's by far the weakest of the three. All perfectly competent performances all round but just missing a certain something.
I love a musical I do, so WICKED albeit long is going to be tremendous fun if you like those sort of things. Gladiator 2 - seen so many good and bad reviews, i think I'll wait to watch it at home Lots of good things coming up over November and December if you go to the cinema as a family : -
Jeez, I was about to reply to this and realised it was my own post.
No but I read today (in The Guardian) that it's been ranked as Spielberg's best ever film and the 3rd best film of this century overall by French film critics.
Which says more about the French than anything else if they think it’s better than Jaws , Close Encounters, Schindlers List , ET , Saving Private Ryan , Minority Report , Jurassic Park etc…
The Fablemans is a good film but it’s way , way down on the list of his best films .
I just watched it for a second time on Saturday and although I like it, I wouldn’t put it higher than 5th amongst your short list. French film critics like to look/sound clever.
Which is difficult seeing as they write and speak French.
I went to see Small Things Like These with Cillian Murphy at the weekend, a pretty sombre moving but quite touching. Based on a short story by Claire Keegan that my gf has read - Keegan also wrote Foster, which was turned into 'The Quiet Girl' a couple years back which I think won a few awards. Based in Ireland, I think it is meant to be Waterford, Murphy's character Bill Furlong struggles with conditions at the local convent in town which makes him reflect on his own upbringing - quite a touching story though not a happy Christmas tale even though it is set at Christmas.
I also watched Endurance on Disney+ on Friday night. Fascinating story, thoroughly enjoyed this with the mix of them telling the story of the hardships and struggles of the team, and the modern team trying to find the ship after it was swallowed by the sea. Would recommend if you have any interest in these expedition stories to watch if you can.
Was it his treat or did he make you buy your own ticket?
One of my favourite films of the year, Everyone knows how good a story it is, and the film really does it justice. In French with subtitles but the 3 hours flew by.
Not a new film but just watched ‘The Rifleman’ on Amazon Prime. Latvian film about a soldier in WW1. Highly recommend.
I saw that a while ago, it’s very good.
Another film that isn’t that new that I watched recently was Lee with Kate Winslet. It’s about the life of Lee Miller, who worked as a journalist for Vogue during WW2. It was brilliant
Get Out Shout out to the person who suggested this and said it would be leaving netflix soon. Utterly engrossing from start to finish. Especially when the police car arrives at the end. Looked at my daughter at the end ofvtge movie and she just mouthed 'wow'. 8/10 maybe 9
Get Out Shout out to the person who suggested this and said it would be leaving netflix soon. Utterly engrossing from start to finish. Especially when the police car arrives at the end. Looked at my daughter at the end ofvtge movie and she just mouthed 'wow'. 8/10 maybe 9
Not a new film but just watched ‘The Rifleman’ on Amazon Prime. Latvian film about a soldier in WW1. Highly recommend.
I saw that a while ago, it’s very good.
Another film that isn’t that new that I watched recently was Lee with Kate Winslet. It’s about the life of Lee Miller, who worked as a journalist for Vogue during WW2. It was brilliant
I saw three films at the London Film Festival last month that have, or are about to, become available on Netflix. All of them are, in my view, worth a watch.
Joy (UK)
I believe it comes on Netflix tomorrow. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and it far exceeded my expectations. It's the true story of three British pioneers who challenged societal norms and defied the odds to realise the world’s first IVF baby. Working principally in a run-down hospital in Oldham, they faced fervent opposition from the Church and the medical and the political establishment, who saw their work as an aberration.
It's an important story and piece of history that deserves to be told. Excellent performances, especially from Thomasin Mackenzie, and some nice moments of humour.
Emilia Perez (France)
This musical (almost operatic) crime thriller is now screening on Netflix. Rita, a smart undervalued lawyer, is hired by a Mexican cartel boss to help him fake his death and undergo gender affirming surgery in order to live as a woman. Years later, a deep friendship blossoms between them when Rita helps Emilia reunite with her family.
Entertaining, with good music/dancing and performances. Directed by Jacques Audiard, the film is France’s Oscar entry for the Best International Feature and, with Netflix’s lobbying power, it will probably be nominated. A solid 7/10.
The Conclave (UK/USA)
Following the death of the Pope, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) must lead the Conclave to select the new leader of the Catholic Church. As high-ranking cardinals gather in the Vatican, he has to navigate political factions and unearth secrets that might destroy a future pope and threaten the Church itself.
Good production values and a fine performance from Ralph Fiennes, who does all the heavy lifting. Isabella Rossellini is also very impressive as a senior nun, although the Italian papal candidate was a cartoonish, almost Mafia-like boss figure. Good overall and reasonably entertaining, although I found it a shade predictable and thought the film lacked something (Seeing lots of cardinals in red also makes me think of Father Ted being tasked with kicking Bishop Brennan up the arse).
The film's theatrical release is at the end of this month and it will be available on Netflix shortly thereafter.
Also watched Kneecap yesterday. It's the true story of the same-named Belfast hip-hop trio who try to keep the Irish language alive by rapping in their native Irish. It's funny, bonkers... superb!
Also watched Kneecap yesterday. It's the true story of the same-named Belfast hip-hop trio who try to keep the Irish language alive by rapping in their native Irish. It's funny, bonkers... superb!
This is my favourite film of the year, @Chunes ! With definite vibes of Trainspotting, I found it highly original, hugely energetic, subversive and, at times, riotously funny.
I was surprised at how well the band members could act, ably supported by a handful of professional Irish actors, notably, Michael Fassbender. Because Kneecap are a real band, I thought the music had an authenticity and vitality that fictional musical biopics struggle to replicate.
No strangers to controversy - having antagonised politicians and radio stations on both sides of the border - I was interested to read that Kneecap successfully applied in 2023 for a £15,000 grant from the music export growth scheme, an independent government-backed arts initiative that provides funding to promote artists overseas. A panel of the British Phonographic Industry, which administers the scheme, approved the request, only for the then Business Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, to rescind it on the grounds of their Republican politics. Whilst appreciative of the publicity, the band successfully applied in June for leave to seek judicial review, with a full hearing likely to be heard any time now when they return from a US tour. Whatever the result (and I'd expect them to win), the further publicity will certainly do them no harm.
One of my favourite films of the year, Everyone knows how good a story it is, and the film really does it justice. In French with subtitles but the 3 hours flew by.
9/10
Haven't seen it yet but it is hard not to make a good film out of that story. Maybe if they decided to make it a musical!
Comments
I’m still getting over the thrill of it an hour later.
Animated film about a robot that has to adapt to its new surroundings when shipwrecked on a desert island. A superb piece of animation with a captivating storyline - one of the best films I've seen this year. 9/10
Nowhere near as good as the first two. Not really any laughs apart from a couple of things from the stereotypical dopey dad. Not one remotely evil or 'bad' character (Hugh Grant in Paddington 2 set a high bar) so the film lacked any real interesting story. My daughter thought it was 'meh'.
4/10.
What a bloody good film that is.
If you have kids in the right age range then there's worse ways to spend an afternoon.
Gladiator 2 - seen so many good and bad reviews, i think I'll wait to watch it at home
Lots of good things coming up over November and December if you go to the cinema as a family : -
Wicked
Moana 2
Mufassa 2
The Magic Reindeer
Wallace & Gromit
One of my favourite films of the year, Everyone knows how good a story it is, and the film really does it justice. In French with subtitles but the 3 hours flew by.
Another film that isn’t that new that I watched recently was Lee with Kate Winslet. It’s about the life of Lee Miller, who worked as a journalist for Vogue during WW2. It was brilliant
Shout out to the person who suggested this and said it would be leaving netflix soon. Utterly engrossing from start to finish. Especially when the police car arrives at the end.
Looked at my daughter at the end ofvtge movie and she just mouthed 'wow'.
8/10 maybe 9
Here is my review
https://boxd.it/7RMBN9
The film's theatrical release is at the end of this month and it will be available on Netflix shortly thereafter.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0DJP449C8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
I was surprised at how well the band members could act, ably supported by a handful of professional Irish actors, notably, Michael Fassbender. Because Kneecap are a real band, I thought the music had an authenticity and vitality that fictional musical biopics struggle to replicate.
No strangers to controversy - having antagonised politicians and radio stations on both sides of the border - I was interested to read that Kneecap successfully applied in 2023 for a £15,000 grant from the music export growth scheme, an independent government-backed arts initiative that provides funding to promote artists overseas. A panel of the British Phonographic Industry, which administers the scheme, approved the request, only for the then Business Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, to rescind it on the grounds of their Republican politics. Whilst appreciative of the publicity, the band successfully applied in June for leave to seek judicial review, with a full hearing likely to be heard any time now when they return from a US tour. Whatever the result (and I'd expect them to win), the further publicity will certainly do them no harm.