Pretty much agree with you on all those reviews. Denzel is a guarantee of a good film in my book. He has played an alcoholic a few times, Flight, Man On Fire and Medal Of Honour. All good films. Man On Fire is a favourite. Hacksaw Ridge is brilliant. Green Street and Wimbledon are awful. Not seen the others but fancy High Rise.
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Films you've seen/film discussion
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I thought this was the film discussion, putting your (accurate) description of the town off topic
Being serious though, Ive never found any of Sacha Baron Cohen's films funny
Butts
Veteran Member
I thought this was the film discussion, putting your (accurate) description of the town off topic
Being serious though, Ive never found any of Sacha Baron Cohen's films funny
I thought Grimsby - "Twinned with Chernobyl" - was okay - agreed the elephant scenes were a bit puerile but there were a few laughs.
Not a patch on Borat though.
I was dissapointed to hear Baron Cohen was replaced as Freddy Mercury in the forthcoming Queen biopic , thats a role he was born for with regard to looks and abilty.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
MEGA NEW YEAR/XMAS UPDATE PART 2!
The Big Short - based on the 2010 book The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis about the financial crisis of 2007–2008 which was triggered by the United States housing bubble and starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling & Brad Pitt. Deals with a complicated subjects in detail but in an understandable, intelligent & acidly funny manner. It also manages to make heroes out of bankers betting against the house and earning vast sums of money as people have their houses is repossessed!
Dune - American epic science fiction film written and directed by David Lynch, based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name. The film stars Kyle MacLachlan as young nobleman Paul Atreides, and includes an ensemble of well-known American and European actors in supporting roles. Box office failure, cult classic. it is all over the shop. Confusing, seems to have no structure, no coherent story or plot, odd characters without connection, unwieldy, visually massive and strange. Very strange.
Von Ryan's Express - Von Ryan's Express is a fast-paced, well-acted World War II drama, featuring a squadron of Allied soldiers trying to escape a prison camp in Italy staring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard. A good old fashioned bank holiday war film.
Day of the Jackal - British-French political thriller film starring Edward Fox and Michel Lonsdale. Based on the 1971 novel The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth, the film is about a professional assassin known only as the "Jackal" who is hired to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle in the summer of 1963. Wonderfully shot and very well acted. A polished political thriller/ suspense classic.
The Exorcist -1973 American supernatural horror film adapted by William Peter Blatty from his 1971 novel of the same name, directed by William Friedkin, and starring Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller. I don't like horror films but this is both horrifying, scary, graphic and superb with a mixtures of ideas and themes. it is very religious, darkly intense and centered around a battle between good and evil. it is very, very good and never ceases to be both scary and shocking and I don't like horror films at all.
Burn before reading - American black comedy film written, produced, edited and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen with an all star cast. However i think despite the bonafides it isnt very good. A satire of military secrecy coupled with idiocy and sexual infidelity should be superb but it simply isnt. It doesn't work and the characters don't seems to work.
Skyfall - Bondy saves the world from an evil/mad genius with a secret lair. A good modern bond: Cool, the correct humour, respectful of the genre but with a modern approach and strangely dark. I quite like the fact it shows Bond as aging, damaged and hurting and played well by Craig . I think Silva is good as the villain and the cameo from Albert Finney interacting with Dame Judy Dench is interesting. I like it. Anyway, James Bond will return...............
Hancock - It tells the story of a vigilante superhero, John Hancock (Will Smith) from LA whose reckless actions routinely cost the city millions of dollars. Eventually one person he saves, Ray Embrey (Bateman), makes it his mission to change Hancock's public image for the better. The idea is a good one but it just doesn't seem to work in this film with the second half of the film illogical. A shame.
Love actually - Christmas-themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis with an ensemble cast. Cheerful, sweet, warm, harmless and uplifting. I quite like it.
Their finest - The film tells the story of a British Ministry of Information film team making a morale-boosting film about the Dunkirk evacuation during the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz with an ensemble British cast. Charming, thoughtful, sweet, Areteton & Nighy are good and the film is an amiable. It is a thoroughly nice British film about a very British film!
Kill List - British crime drama psychological horror film directed by Ben Wheatley. It is an odd one but good. It is visceral, violent ( VERY violent n places) and shocking. It swings from a run of the mill crime caper to a physiological/occult horror film. I cant really discuss the plot without spoiling it but it twists and is graphic. It is a good film.
It is on Amazon. I really like the book so found it hard not to pick at the film for not delivering in the way I saw the film being delivered in my minds eye.
Borat?
The Big Short - based on the 2010 book The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis about the financial crisis of 2007–2008 which was triggered by the United States housing bubble and starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling & Brad Pitt. Deals with a complicated subjects in detail but in an understandable, intelligent & acidly funny manner. It also manages to make heroes out of bankers betting against the house and earning vast sums of money as people have their houses is repossessed!
Dune - American epic science fiction film written and directed by David Lynch, based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name. The film stars Kyle MacLachlan as young nobleman Paul Atreides, and includes an ensemble of well-known American and European actors in supporting roles. Box office failure, cult classic. it is all over the shop. Confusing, seems to have no structure, no coherent story or plot, odd characters without connection, unwieldy, visually massive and strange. Very strange.
Von Ryan's Express - Von Ryan's Express is a fast-paced, well-acted World War II drama, featuring a squadron of Allied soldiers trying to escape a prison camp in Italy staring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard. A good old fashioned bank holiday war film.
Day of the Jackal - British-French political thriller film starring Edward Fox and Michel Lonsdale. Based on the 1971 novel The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth, the film is about a professional assassin known only as the "Jackal" who is hired to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle in the summer of 1963. Wonderfully shot and very well acted. A polished political thriller/ suspense classic.
The Exorcist -1973 American supernatural horror film adapted by William Peter Blatty from his 1971 novel of the same name, directed by William Friedkin, and starring Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller. I don't like horror films but this is both horrifying, scary, graphic and superb with a mixtures of ideas and themes. it is very religious, darkly intense and centered around a battle between good and evil. it is very, very good and never ceases to be both scary and shocking and I don't like horror films at all.
Burn before reading - American black comedy film written, produced, edited and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen with an all star cast. However i think despite the bonafides it isnt very good. A satire of military secrecy coupled with idiocy and sexual infidelity should be superb but it simply isnt. It doesn't work and the characters don't seems to work.
Skyfall - Bondy saves the world from an evil/mad genius with a secret lair. A good modern bond: Cool, the correct humour, respectful of the genre but with a modern approach and strangely dark. I quite like the fact it shows Bond as aging, damaged and hurting and played well by Craig . I think Silva is good as the villain and the cameo from Albert Finney interacting with Dame Judy Dench is interesting. I like it. Anyway, James Bond will return...............
Hancock - It tells the story of a vigilante superhero, John Hancock (Will Smith) from LA whose reckless actions routinely cost the city millions of dollars. Eventually one person he saves, Ray Embrey (Bateman), makes it his mission to change Hancock's public image for the better. The idea is a good one but it just doesn't seem to work in this film with the second half of the film illogical. A shame.
Love actually - Christmas-themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis with an ensemble cast. Cheerful, sweet, warm, harmless and uplifting. I quite like it.
Their finest - The film tells the story of a British Ministry of Information film team making a morale-boosting film about the Dunkirk evacuation during the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz with an ensemble British cast. Charming, thoughtful, sweet, Areteton & Nighy are good and the film is an amiable. It is a thoroughly nice British film about a very British film!
Kill List - British crime drama psychological horror film directed by Ben Wheatley. It is an odd one but good. It is visceral, violent ( VERY violent n places) and shocking. It swings from a run of the mill crime caper to a physiological/occult horror film. I cant really discuss the plot without spoiling it but it twists and is graphic. It is a good film.
It is on Amazon. I really like the book so found it hard not to pick at the film for not delivering in the way I saw the film being delivered in my minds eye.
Borat?
Watched Once Were Warriors. Seen it before but love it so watched it again after picking it up on DVD. It is a pretty harrowing film about Marital Violence and alcoholism in the Maori community. Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett) plays Jake Heke, an alcoholic father who is somewhat free and easy with his fists when it comes to his wife.
gazthomas
Established Member
Just seen Darkest Hour and I didn’t expect it to be quite as funny as it was!
Watched The Dark Tower. Thought it was a bit meh. Wasn't a massive fan of the book either. I'm putting it down to having been in a funny mood after watching Once Were Warriors which whilst a brilliant film could understandably put one in a funny mood. Want to watch Darkest Hour.
scott118
Member
scott118
Member
TheNewNo2
Member
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Quite simply the best film I've seen this past year. Excellent performances all round, a lot of characters who are all to some extent or other objectionable (except Penelope, she's lovely). Black comedy. 5/5
nlogax
Established Member
The Cloverfield Paradox (on Netflix)
Cloverfield sequels are like countryside bus services. You wait ages for no good reason, and then without warning you get two in two years. This one is absolutely dire. I can only assume the $45m spent on it went on nice sets and raiding the 'stranded on a space station' tropes piggybank. The plot's tie-in to the original Cloverfield film is more overt and yet feels like a last-minute splice into the film just before release. An utterly wasted opportunity..it's hard to believe that JJ Abrams was more involved in this than walking past the script on his way to the coffee machine. Don't bother.
Cloverfield sequels are like countryside bus services. You wait ages for no good reason, and then without warning you get two in two years. This one is absolutely dire. I can only assume the $45m spent on it went on nice sets and raiding the 'stranded on a space station' tropes piggybank. The plot's tie-in to the original Cloverfield film is more overt and yet feels like a last-minute splice into the film just before release. An utterly wasted opportunity..it's hard to believe that JJ Abrams was more involved in this than walking past the script on his way to the coffee machine. Don't bother.
Gutted as 10 Cloverfield Lane was a bloody good film and about a million times better than Cloverfield. What went wrong there?
nlogax
Established Member
Wish I knew but it's more confirmation that 'straight to Netflix' is the new 'straight to dvd'. I'm sure it would tank at the old school box office. 10 Cloverfield Lane was great, the end was subtle enough to leave you craving more. This one..nope, I just stopped caring entirely.
Butts
Veteran Member
The Shape of Water
This is the best film I have seen in quite a while (and yes, there is smoking in it
)
Sally Hawkins is quite outstanding in this Guillermo Del Toro masterpiece.
This is the best film I have seen in quite a while (and yes, there is smoking in it
)Sally Hawkins is quite outstanding in this Guillermo Del Toro masterpiece.
TheNewNo2
Member
Black Panther
I... am honestly not quite sure how to feel about this one. It is the most necessary film Marvel have ever made (but goddamn it can we please get a Black Widow movie?), and it has a villain who has motives beyond wanting to destroy stuff for reasons, but...
Honestly, I think my objection to it is likely rooted in racial/cultural issues. This is a story about African and black culture, and, honestly for the first time I can remember in any film, I felt like it was meant for people who were decidedly not me. That's something that people who aren't white males must have to deal with all the time, but for me it was strange and unsettling. I don't like my reaction to it, but that's what I felt.
I think I'll try and see it again when I'm in a less crowded cinema - the showing I went to was pretty full and rowdy. I will say though, that coming out of the screen after, I saw a group of about 15 black people discussing the film animatedly. I have never seen a group like that, of any ethnicity, discuss a film like that.
I think for now I'll rate it as a 3.0/5.0, with potential to go up at a second viewing.
I... am honestly not quite sure how to feel about this one. It is the most necessary film Marvel have ever made (but goddamn it can we please get a Black Widow movie?), and it has a villain who has motives beyond wanting to destroy stuff for reasons, but...
Honestly, I think my objection to it is likely rooted in racial/cultural issues. This is a story about African and black culture, and, honestly for the first time I can remember in any film, I felt like it was meant for people who were decidedly not me. That's something that people who aren't white males must have to deal with all the time, but for me it was strange and unsettling. I don't like my reaction to it, but that's what I felt.
I think I'll try and see it again when I'm in a less crowded cinema - the showing I went to was pretty full and rowdy. I will say though, that coming out of the screen after, I saw a group of about 15 black people discussing the film animatedly. I have never seen a group like that, of any ethnicity, discuss a film like that.
I think for now I'll rate it as a 3.0/5.0, with potential to go up at a second viewing.
Strathclyder
Established Member
The Pruitt-Igoe Myth (2011; on Youtube)
I felt it was time to rewatch this documentary exploring the background, birth, life and meteoric fall (and the various, complex & intertwined reasons for said fall) of the titular housing project in St. Louis, M.I., with several former residents giving their insights into their time living in the complex and the effects it had on them, good and bad. Some surprisingly powerful, compelling stuff in here that loses little impact across repeated viewings. Would definitely recommend this one to anyone interested in the subject matter.
4.0/5.0
I felt it was time to rewatch this documentary exploring the background, birth, life and meteoric fall (and the various, complex & intertwined reasons for said fall) of the titular housing project in St. Louis, M.I., with several former residents giving their insights into their time living in the complex and the effects it had on them, good and bad. Some surprisingly powerful, compelling stuff in here that loses little impact across repeated viewings. Would definitely recommend this one to anyone interested in the subject matter.
4.0/5.0
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TheNewNo2
Member
Red Sparrow
Again, a film I'm not sure how to feel about. I would tend towards I didn't like it - it felt opaque and mostly unnecessary. But what it is is a film about being Jennifer Lawrence. It's quite noteworthy that she appears nude in this film, having been victim of the iCloud hack, and that her nudity is actually used to put her in a position of power, humiliating a would-be rapist.
If you saw this for Lawrence getting naked, you'd be disappointed. If you saw it for a spy film, you'd be disappointed. If you however want to see a great actress work, then I guess you should see it?
Again, a film I'm not sure how to feel about. I would tend towards I didn't like it - it felt opaque and mostly unnecessary. But what it is is a film about being Jennifer Lawrence. It's quite noteworthy that she appears nude in this film, having been victim of the iCloud hack, and that her nudity is actually used to put her in a position of power, humiliating a would-be rapist.
If you saw this for Lawrence getting naked, you'd be disappointed. If you saw it for a spy film, you'd be disappointed. If you however want to see a great actress work, then I guess you should see it?
The Prestige. Really good thriller. Lots of questions that don't get answered unless you watch it till the end. Similar to The Illusionist.
Baby Driver. Again really good. In a weird way reminded me of A History Of Violence. The good guy is actually a bad guy.
A Monster Calls. Love it. Absolutely amazing. Felicity Jones, Liam Neeson and Lewis MacDougall are all amazing, wasn't that taken with Sigourney Weaver in it. Lewis MacDougall in particular is very good given what he went through before appearing in his first film and what the film was about.
Baby Driver. Again really good. In a weird way reminded me of A History Of Violence. The good guy is actually a bad guy.
A Monster Calls. Love it. Absolutely amazing. Felicity Jones, Liam Neeson and Lewis MacDougall are all amazing, wasn't that taken with Sigourney Weaver in it. Lewis MacDougall in particular is very good given what he went through before appearing in his first film and what the film was about.
jonathan01n
Member
For me, the most harrowing movie I ever watched is The boy in stripped Pajamas. War is tragic and the loss of innocent young souls shocked me so much. Despite that similar events (different in scales) did happen elsewhere in the world...
What's yours?
What's yours?
Tried to watch Valerian last night. Don't do it to yourselves. Don't know what Luc Besson was thinking using models and pop stars instead of actors. Possibly the same as the bank robbers who thought using the keyboard player from The Charlatans as a getaway driver. Really did not care about anyone in the film or what happened to them. Turned it off after an hour. Good special effects but if that is all you want then watch someone playing a computer game.
TheNewNo2
Member
I thought Cara Delvigne was pretty good actually, and felt mildly aggrieved the title of the film was Valerian when her character was clearly the star. But yes, a poor film.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Darkest Hour - The superb portrayal of Churchill by Gary Oldman correctly won an Oscar ( as did the make up transformation work) and i think the film is pretty good if not quite fantastic. There are a couple of scenes ( the tube & the bedroom scene with the king) that are clearly meant to be metaphorical but stand out as a bit silly ( if very well done) and some historical liberties have been taken with events and characters. However they correctly show appeasement didn't die the moment Churchill came to power and that he wasn't popular with or wanted by many of his colleagues and that it was a damn close thing. If Dunkirk had failed.........
PS - i have no idea why they didn't use the speech by Leo Amery ( quoting Oliver Cromwell) during the Norway debate which was immensely critical of Chamberlain at the start of the film: You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!
It is much more powerful than the speech made by Arthur Greenwood that they did use. Even Amery shouting Speak for England Arthur! as Greenwood indicated he spoke for Labour would have been a good starting point. (It was felt by many that the speech by Amery was instrumental in persuading 42 of his Tory colleagues to vote against Chamberlain and 36 others to abstain. That vote brought Chamberlain down)
PS - i have no idea why they didn't use the speech by Leo Amery ( quoting Oliver Cromwell) during the Norway debate which was immensely critical of Chamberlain at the start of the film: You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!
It is much more powerful than the speech made by Arthur Greenwood that they did use. Even Amery shouting Speak for England Arthur! as Greenwood indicated he spoke for Labour would have been a good starting point. (It was felt by many that the speech by Amery was instrumental in persuading 42 of his Tory colleagues to vote against Chamberlain and 36 others to abstain. That vote brought Chamberlain down)
I'm with you on this one - an absolutely fantastic adapation of one of my faavourite books. Parts of it (the external shots of Conor's grandma's house) were actually filmed on the street that I lived in at the time in Didsbury. I found it quite disappointing that I went to see it on its opening night at the cinema, and the group that I went with were the only ones there.
That one is deffo up there. A few are escaping my mind at the mo which left me feeling very unsettled. Will have a think.
Yeah, she was a lot better than I expected. They all just leave me cold though, tried to watch it twice now but had to give up.
Ah brilliant. Lovely part of the world. I love that film so much, a couple of mates I plugged it to also love it, some others think it's a kids film and others say they just can't watch it cause they heard what it was about and it would set them off. It sets me off but I find it cathartic if that is the right word.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Transformers 1 / Transformers 2 - these may be the same film. Brainless dumb Michael Bay directed specials effects action adventure with little going for it excpet and opportunity to turn your brain off. best art of the entire series: Optimus Prime has the correct voice
Transformers 3 - same film as above but with Megan Fox replaced by the very pretty, very blonde & very dull and wooden Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Brainless and awful. Quite watchable in a zombie type of way
Transformers 4 - Marky Mark Wahlberg fails to carry a terrible film. A new blonde piece joins the cast: Nicola Peltz. Essentially the same film as 1,2 or 3 but with Dinobots. All of the transformers films are terribly brainless but did well at the box office. What do i know?
Syriana - The film focuses on petroleum politics and the global influence of the oil industry, whose political, economic, legal, and social effects are experienced by a Central Intelligence Agency operative (George Clooney), an energy analyst (Matt Damon), a Washington, D.C. attorney (Jeffrey Wright), and a young unemployed Pakistani migrant worker (Mazhar Munir) in an Arab state in the Persian Gulf. Clooney won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role. There are several interconnected story lines playing out and while very clever they can be confusing and make following the ploy very difficult for some. While it isnt conventional (and the confusion of the audience is, i think, created to match the confusion of the characters) this is a very clever and technical film which is very well acted. Requires thought and patience.
Hamlet - The 1990 version staring Mel Gibson who turns in a decent performance as the prince of Denmark. it isnt one of the top rank portrayals of the Shakespearean classic and does seem to lack a bit of depth but it is earnest and well intentioned.
Patriots Day - based on the book Boston Strong about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent terrorist manhunt. Marky Mark Wahlberg plays an heroic but fictional composite character who is the lead police officer on site who then leads the manhunt. It is a by the numbers crime thriller which really overplays the role a local cop could have in what must be an FBI led investigation. tribute to the victims and the police
Anchorman - It is crude, rude, inappropriate, improvised, puerile, misogynist, sexist, infantile and genius
Hell or High water - The film follows two brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) who carry out a series of bank robberies to save their family ranch, while being pursued by two Texas Rangers (Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham). It might be film that revitalised the western genre. Very good characters with depth and breadth who become antiheroes and generate empathy and sympathy for their predicament and play out a really interesting narrative with excellent acting, with Jeff Bridges in particular superb as the hard bitten experienced lawman. Very good.
Silence of the Lambs - FBI trainee Clarice Starling is assigned to interview Hannibal Lecter, a former psychiatrist and incarcerated cannibalistic serial killer, whose insight might prove useful in the pursuit of a serial killer nicknamed "Buffalo Bill", who skins his female victims' corpses. Won 5 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Adapted Screenplay. Superb.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - 2015 American action spy comedy film directed by Guy Ritchie which is merely ok. Stylish but with absolutely no substance.
Transformers 3 - same film as above but with Megan Fox replaced by the very pretty, very blonde & very dull and wooden Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Brainless and awful. Quite watchable in a zombie type of way
Transformers 4 - Marky Mark Wahlberg fails to carry a terrible film. A new blonde piece joins the cast: Nicola Peltz. Essentially the same film as 1,2 or 3 but with Dinobots. All of the transformers films are terribly brainless but did well at the box office. What do i know?
Syriana - The film focuses on petroleum politics and the global influence of the oil industry, whose political, economic, legal, and social effects are experienced by a Central Intelligence Agency operative (George Clooney), an energy analyst (Matt Damon), a Washington, D.C. attorney (Jeffrey Wright), and a young unemployed Pakistani migrant worker (Mazhar Munir) in an Arab state in the Persian Gulf. Clooney won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role. There are several interconnected story lines playing out and while very clever they can be confusing and make following the ploy very difficult for some. While it isnt conventional (and the confusion of the audience is, i think, created to match the confusion of the characters) this is a very clever and technical film which is very well acted. Requires thought and patience.
Hamlet - The 1990 version staring Mel Gibson who turns in a decent performance as the prince of Denmark. it isnt one of the top rank portrayals of the Shakespearean classic and does seem to lack a bit of depth but it is earnest and well intentioned.
Patriots Day - based on the book Boston Strong about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent terrorist manhunt. Marky Mark Wahlberg plays an heroic but fictional composite character who is the lead police officer on site who then leads the manhunt. It is a by the numbers crime thriller which really overplays the role a local cop could have in what must be an FBI led investigation. tribute to the victims and the police
Anchorman - It is crude, rude, inappropriate, improvised, puerile, misogynist, sexist, infantile and genius
Hell or High water - The film follows two brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) who carry out a series of bank robberies to save their family ranch, while being pursued by two Texas Rangers (Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham). It might be film that revitalised the western genre. Very good characters with depth and breadth who become antiheroes and generate empathy and sympathy for their predicament and play out a really interesting narrative with excellent acting, with Jeff Bridges in particular superb as the hard bitten experienced lawman. Very good.
Silence of the Lambs - FBI trainee Clarice Starling is assigned to interview Hannibal Lecter, a former psychiatrist and incarcerated cannibalistic serial killer, whose insight might prove useful in the pursuit of a serial killer nicknamed "Buffalo Bill", who skins his female victims' corpses. Won 5 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Adapted Screenplay. Superb.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - 2015 American action spy comedy film directed by Guy Ritchie which is merely ok. Stylish but with absolutely no substance.
Butts
Veteran Member
Mom and Dad
As regular contributors to this thread will be aware being a Cineworld Card Holder I see on average four or five new releases a week . There are not many I miss apart from the latest Fifty Shades offering which I deliberately avoided.
The above offering starring Nicolas Cage is about Mothers and Fathers turning on their children for no apparent reason and murdering them. It is pure unadulterated garbage of the first degree. It's the worst film (out of hundreds) I have seen in the last few years.
Also saw the new Woody Allen release Wonder Wheel which was quite good. A love triangle set in Coney Park in 1950's America. That was quite good. James Belushi is morphing into his late brother with the beef he has put on - no longer the slimline figure in K9. Whoops that was probably thirty years ago.
As regular contributors to this thread will be aware being a Cineworld Card Holder I see on average four or five new releases a week . There are not many I miss apart from the latest Fifty Shades offering which I deliberately avoided.
The above offering starring Nicolas Cage is about Mothers and Fathers turning on their children for no apparent reason and murdering them. It is pure unadulterated garbage of the first degree. It's the worst film (out of hundreds) I have seen in the last few years.
Also saw the new Woody Allen release Wonder Wheel which was quite good. A love triangle set in Coney Park in 1950's America. That was quite good. James Belushi is morphing into his late brother with the beef he has put on - no longer the slimline figure in K9. Whoops that was probably thirty years ago.
nlogax
Established Member
Annihilation
Unlike the previous three major straight-to-Netflix contenders which were in their own way pretty atrocious (I'm especially looking at you, Cloverfield Paradox), Annihilation - a surreal sci-fi story based upon Jeff VanderMeer's novel - is a welcome addition to the streaming library and a great return for Alex Garland after his last outing with 2015's Ex Machina.
Natalie Portman's protagonist breathes life into this film, as do the visuals which instantly reminded me of images I'd only read of in early Ballard stories of shimmering, crystal forests and refracted sunlight. There's a woozy unease which forms the backdrop to this story, and it's pretty grisly in parts which is also a positive. If there's one small letdown it's that most if not all of it is obviously filmed in the UK in spite of its supposed coastal US setting. Even my own old office halfway down the M3 doubles as the John Hopkins University campus. That was surreal.
I'm really glad this made it to Netflix. The recent flood of trash seems to have been temporarily halted by a very decent and watchable film.
Unlike the previous three major straight-to-Netflix contenders which were in their own way pretty atrocious (I'm especially looking at you, Cloverfield Paradox), Annihilation - a surreal sci-fi story based upon Jeff VanderMeer's novel - is a welcome addition to the streaming library and a great return for Alex Garland after his last outing with 2015's Ex Machina.
Natalie Portman's protagonist breathes life into this film, as do the visuals which instantly reminded me of images I'd only read of in early Ballard stories of shimmering, crystal forests and refracted sunlight. There's a woozy unease which forms the backdrop to this story, and it's pretty grisly in parts which is also a positive. If there's one small letdown it's that most if not all of it is obviously filmed in the UK in spite of its supposed coastal US setting. Even my own old office halfway down the M3 doubles as the John Hopkins University campus. That was surreal.
I'm really glad this made it to Netflix. The recent flood of trash seems to have been temporarily halted by a very decent and watchable film.
Will it be released anywhere else?
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