Films I watched this week (NO SPOILERS) (Vol 3)

[C5_Steve]

Crook said:

Arrival

This isn't a film, if you asked me, that I would say is a favorite of mine but I watched it again last night, (I watch it any time I see it on TV) and it is exceptional.
If you've never watched it I cannot recommend it highly enough: a thoughtful, considered beautifully shot and scored science fiction film about aliens visiting Earth.
Amy Adams is superb, the guy from The Town is great as a supporting actor. It's shot by Denis Villeneuve which I hadn't appreciated and I think it's fantastic.
Without putting a spoiler in, there's a moment where it all starts to come together for AA's character towards the end and it just builds and builds I can't describe how but it seems to encompass the entirety of life, death, love, tragedy, loss and its understanding.

Solid 9 Abbots out of 10 Costellos

I LOVE Arrival, you've summed it up pretty well. The second time I watched it, despite having already seen it I found myself immediately becoming emotional. The film hits like a sledgehammer on second viewing for all the reasons you said.

DV has such a varied collection of work so far (I still sometimes forget he did Sicario) but for me his mastery of Scifi is on another level. One of the greats, he has the ability to take the genre and bring it down to such a beautiful human level whilst crafting these incredible and original worlds.

I highly recommend a rewatch at some point.

[Crook]

Cotty said:

I like a bit of science fiction but I didn't enjoy this. I think it was the visions, flashbacks and flash forwards that tripped me up. Maybe I need another watch.

The guy from The Town is Jeremy Renner, apart from the fact he is one of the Avengers in the Marvel MCU he was in The Hurt Locker, Wind River, The Bourne Legacy and two Mission Impossible films to name a few.

Yes, and he's always excellent in everything 've seen (The Town & Wind River in particular) and it says something that he was very much the supporting lead in this.

Your spoiler is where I think it really starts to come together then there's the scene where she remembers "Zero sum game" and she then understands. I think it's intentionally discordant and jarring initially.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Another vote here for Arrival

I think Denis Villeneuve is possibly now my favourite director.

[Crook]

C5_Steve said:

I LOVE Arrival, you've summed it up pretty well. The second time I watched it, despite having already seen it I found myself immediately becoming emotional. The film hits like a sledgehammer on second viewing for all the reasons you said.

DV has such a varied collection of work so far (I still sometimes forget he did Sicario) but for me his mastery of Scifi is on another level. One of the greats, he has the ability to take the genre and bring it down to such a beautiful human level whilst crafting these incredible and original worlds.

I highly recommend a rewatch at some point.

I can't put my finger on it but I agree, it really gets hold of me in that respect.

[C5_Steve]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Another vote here for Arrival

I think Denis Villeneuve is possibly now my favourite director.

I think I'd agree that he's certainly my favourite current director and it's exciting to see him just go from strength to strength.

A few more spoilery comments on Arrival from me.....

I think like most of DVs recent films (last 5 at least), they all get better with each subsequent watch. His vision and scope is so massive sometimes that it's hard to notice the intricacies. Whether it's incredibly tense scenes that envelope you in the action or worlds and concepts so alien that you have to alter the way you think, like Nolan he's able to tell genuinely engaging stories about life wrapped against these fantastic backdrops.

The real beauty of Arrival is that the entire film is circular. Not always literally and not always perfectly, much like life. At the start, the opening shot is of Banks' window facing out onto the water. The widow features many times and is direct reference to the heptapods window, thus creating that link early on (there's a panning shot from top to bottom of both that's exactly the same later on) In that opening scene, on first viewing we think we're seeing flashbacks. We'll later come to learn that these are in fact visions of what is to come, but also that Banks will come to see these herself later in the film. On first viewing, we think these events are what drive Banks' attitude and outlook on life. In fact, it's quite the opposite as we later learn. So whilst we think we're moving forward in time chronologically through the film, we're actually seeing both the present and future at the same time. We'll learn by the end of the film that our visions of the future that we think are the past have affected our perception of the present; on second viewing it'll change again as we begin with not only the knowledge of what is to come in the film but also the understanding that what we see is actually the future not the past. Not only do we know how the film ends, we know the consequences of Banks' actions. So our perception changes again because of our ability to perceive the future and past simultaneously.

This directly mirrors what happens to Banks. Once she learns to perceive time as the heptapods do, it alters her view and allows her to change the present (by speaking with the Chinese General) with her knowledge of the future. But more importantly, it gives her the strength to follow her own preconceived future to have her daughter. By the end of the film, she's learned that the pain, the grief and the joy are all a part of life and so she chooses to continue with that version of her future even though she now has the power to change it. She understands and accepts that all these emotions are an important part of life. Knowldege of the future doesn't mean avoiding pain or tough choices, it just allows you to accept them.

This was the mission of the heptapods all along. They could see what the future had in store for humans and their own race, but rather than take destructive action they made sacrifices to better the human race and help us evolve to be better than we are. This flies in the face of most other scifi stories like this where the alien race will just attempt to destroy humans. In fact, as viewers we've spent a good portion of the film unsure about the heptapods and their intentions because of our preconceived ideas. Once humans have the ability to understand the consequences of our actions, we can work towards bettering ourselves.

Ultimately, it's a beautiful story of love and loss told simultaneously in past and future tense. It is both a romance and a tragedy whilst also being a scifi film. I can't help but see the echoes of this thematically in Dune Part 2. Whilst not DVs own story, when you re-watch his latest film that's the thing that really stands out for me. He perfectly captures the beauty of Paul and Channis developing relationship along with the tragedy of where it will lead that not only you the audience appreciate (if you've read the books or already seen the film), but from Pauls perspective once he drinks the water of life. Those final scenes after, you feel the weight of the actions he takes and the impact it will have on his relationship. You really do believe he will love Channi as long as breathes, but he acts with the assurance that regardless of the pain he must now suffer and cause he knows (or believes he knows) where his actions will lead (although, long term I appreciate it doesn't all go so well in the book but in the film, DV tells you that Paul is doing what he sees as the right thing for as many people as he can despite himself).

[valiant]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Another vote here for Arrival

I think Denis Villeneuve is possibly now my favourite director.

Yep. If Arrival is on it gets watched.

Much like Interstellar. Seen them both countless times now but will still have me hooked when watching for the umpteenth time.

[Crook]

C5_Steve said:

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Another vote here for Arrival

I think Denis Villeneuve is possibly now my favourite director.

I think I'd agree that he's certainly my favourite current director and it's exciting to see him just go from strength to strength.

A few more spoilery comments on Arrival from me.....

I think like most of DVs recent films (last 5 at least), they all get better with each subsequent watch. His vision and scope is so massive sometimes that it's hard to notice the intricacies. Whether it's incredibly tense scenes that envelope you in the action or worlds and concepts so alien that you have to alter the way you think, like Nolan he's able to tell genuinely engaging stories about life wrapped against these fantastic backdrops.

The real beauty of Arrival is that the entire film is circular. Not always literally and not always perfectly, much like life. At the start, the opening shot is of Banks' window facing out onto the water. The widow features many times and is direct reference to the heptapods window, thus creating that link early on (there's a panning shot from top to bottom of both that's exactly the same later on) In that opening scene, on first viewing we think we're seeing flashbacks. We'll later come to learn that these are in fact visions of what is to come, but also that Banks will come to see these herself later in the film. On first viewing, we think these events are what drive Banks' attitude and outlook on life. In fact, it's quite the opposite as we later learn. So whilst we think we're moving forward in time chronologically through the film, we're actually seeing both the present and future at the same time. We'll learn by the end of the film that our visions of the future that we think are the past have affected our perception of the present; on second viewing it'll change again as we begin with not only the knowledge of what is to come in the film but also the understanding that what we see is actually the future not the past. Not only do we know how the film ends, we know the consequences of Banks' actions. So our perception changes again because of our ability to perceive the future and past simultaneously.

This directly mirrors what happens to Banks. Once she learns to perceive time as the heptapods do, it alters her view and allows her to change the present (by speaking with the Chinese General) with her knowledge of the future. But more importantly, it gives her the strength to follow her own preconceived future to have her daughter. By the end of the film, she's learned that the pain, the grief and the joy are all a part of life and so she chooses to continue with that version of her future even though she now has the power to change it. She understands and accepts that all these emotions are an important part of life. Knowldege of the future doesn't mean avoiding pain or tough choices, it just allows you to accept them.

This was the mission of the heptapods all along. They could see what the future had in store for humans and their own race, but rather than take destructive action they made sacrifices to better the human race and help us evolve to be better than we are. This flies in the face of most other scifi stories like this where the alien race will just attempt to destroy humans. In fact, as viewers we've spent a good portion of the film unsure about the heptapods and their intentions because of our preconceived ideas. Once humans have the ability to understand the consequences of our actions, we can work towards bettering ourselves.

Ultimately, it's a beautiful story of love and loss told simultaneously in past and future tense. It is both a romance and a tragedy whilst also being a scifi film. I can't help but see the echoes of this thematically in Dune Part 2. Whilst not DVs own story, when you re-watch his latest film that's the thing that really stands out for me. He perfectly captures the beauty of Paul and Channis developing relationship along with the tragedy of where it will lead that not only you the audience appreciate (if you've read the books or already seen the film), but from Pauls perspective once he drinks the water of life. Those final scenes after, you feel the weight of the actions he takes and the impact it will have on his relationship. You really do believe he will love Channi as long as breathes, but he acts with the assurance that regardless of the pain he must now suffer and cause he knows (or believes he knows) where his actions will lead (although, long term I appreciate it doesn't all go so well in the book but in the film, DV tells you that Paul is doing what he sees as the right thing for as many people as he can despite himself).

Lovely write up - I hadn't noticed a few points there so will be looking out on the next viewing.

[smn159]

Crook said:

C5_Steve said:

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Another vote here for Arrival

I think Denis Villeneuve is possibly now my favourite director.

I think I'd agree that he's certainly my favourite current director and it's exciting to see him just go from strength to strength.

A few more spoilery comments on Arrival from me.....

I think like most of DVs recent films (last 5 at least), they all get better with each subsequent watch. His vision and scope is so massive sometimes that it's hard to notice the intricacies. Whether it's incredibly tense scenes that envelope you in the action or worlds and concepts so alien that you have to alter the way you think, like Nolan he's able to tell genuinely engaging stories about life wrapped against these fantastic backdrops.

The real beauty of Arrival is that the entire film is circular. Not always literally and not always perfectly, much like life. At the start, the opening shot is of Banks' window facing out onto the water. The widow features many times and is direct reference to the heptapods window, thus creating that link early on (there's a panning shot from top to bottom of both that's exactly the same later on) In that opening scene, on first viewing we think we're seeing flashbacks. We'll later come to learn that these are in fact visions of what is to come, but also that Banks will come to see these herself later in the film. On first viewing, we think these events are what drive Banks' attitude and outlook on life. In fact, it's quite the opposite as we later learn. So whilst we think we're moving forward in time chronologically through the film, we're actually seeing both the present and future at the same time. We'll learn by the end of the film that our visions of the future that we think are the past have affected our perception of the present; on second viewing it'll change again as we begin with not only the knowledge of what is to come in the film but also the understanding that what we see is actually the future not the past. Not only do we know how the film ends, we know the consequences of Banks' actions. So our perception changes again because of our ability to perceive the future and past simultaneously.

This directly mirrors what happens to Banks. Once she learns to perceive time as the heptapods do, it alters her view and allows her to change the present (by speaking with the Chinese General) with her knowledge of the future. But more importantly, it gives her the strength to follow her own preconceived future to have her daughter. By the end of the film, she's learned that the pain, the grief and the joy are all a part of life and so she chooses to continue with that version of her future even though she now has the power to change it. She understands and accepts that all these emotions are an important part of life. Knowldege of the future doesn't mean avoiding pain or tough choices, it just allows you to accept them.

This was the mission of the heptapods all along. They could see what the future had in store for humans and their own race, but rather than take destructive action they made sacrifices to better the human race and help us evolve to be better than we are. This flies in the face of most other scifi stories like this where the alien race will just attempt to destroy humans. In fact, as viewers we've spent a good portion of the film unsure about the heptapods and their intentions because of our preconceived ideas. Once humans have the ability to understand the consequences of our actions, we can work towards bettering ourselves.

Ultimately, it's a beautiful story of love and loss told simultaneously in past and future tense. It is both a romance and a tragedy whilst also being a scifi film. I can't help but see the echoes of this thematically in Dune Part 2. Whilst not DVs own story, when you re-watch his latest film that's the thing that really stands out for me. He perfectly captures the beauty of Paul and Channis developing relationship along with the tragedy of where it will lead that not only you the audience appreciate (if you've read the books or already seen the film), but from Pauls perspective once he drinks the water of life. Those final scenes after, you feel the weight of the actions he takes and the impact it will have on his relationship. You really do believe he will love Channi as long as breathes, but he acts with the assurance that regardless of the pain he must now suffer and cause he knows (or believes he knows) where his actions will lead (although, long term I appreciate it doesn't all go so well in the book but in the film, DV tells you that Paul is doing what he sees as the right thing for as many people as he can despite himself).

Lovely write up - I hadn't noticed a few points there so will be looking out on the next viewing.

+1. Agree with all of that, it's a wonderful film

[Discendo Discimus]

Threads (1984)

One of those films I've heard lots about but couldn't find on any streaming services so I had to buy a DVD (shock horror).
For those who have seen it, perhaps they'll understand why I'm in a weird state of shock.

It's the first film I've seen that shows the grim reality of life after a nuclear attack, without any Hollywood nonsense.
I wouldn't say I enjoyed watching it, but given the current geo-political situation it certainly made me pay attention.

8 Nukes out of 10.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Discendo Discimus said:

Threads (1984)

One of those films I've heard lots about but couldn't find on any streaming services so I had to buy a DVD (shock horror).
For those who have seen it, perhaps they'll understand why I'm in a weird state of shock.

It's the first film I've seen that shows the grim reality of life after a nuclear attack, without any Hollywood nonsense.
I wouldn't say I enjoyed watching it, but given the current geo-political situation it certainly made me pay attention.

Threads is utterly traumatising. I haven't seen it in decades and I can still recall quite a lot of it, and random scenes often pop into my head even now.

I remember thinking how incongruous it was seeing someone using a single-use supermarket plastic bag (Sainsbury's springs to mind) as their actual bag. And now all bags are multi-use.

You may as well also watch When the Wind Blows (1986) as they rather go hand-in-hand.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

C5_Steve said:

I think I'd agree that he's certainly my favourite current director and it's exciting to see him just go from strength to strength.

A few more spoilery comments on Arrival from me.....

I think like most of DVs recent films (last 5 at least), they all get better with each subsequent watch. His vision and scope is so massive sometimes that it's hard to notice the intricacies. Whether it's incredibly tense scenes that envelope you in the action or worlds and concepts so alien that you have to alter the way you think, like Nolan he's able to tell genuinely engaging stories about life wrapped against these fantastic backdrops.

The real beauty of Arrival is that the entire film is circular. Not always literally and not always perfectly, much like life. At the start, the opening shot is of Banks' window facing out onto the water. The widow features many times and is direct reference to the heptapods window, thus creating that link early on (there's a panning shot from top to bottom of both that's exactly the same later on) In that opening scene, on first viewing we think we're seeing flashbacks. We'll later come to learn that these are in fact visions of what is to come, but also that Banks will come to see these herself later in the film. On first viewing, we think these events are what drive Banks' attitude and outlook on life. In fact, it's quite the opposite as we later learn. So whilst we think we're moving forward in time chronologically through the film, we're actually seeing both the present and future at the same time. We'll learn by the end of the film that our visions of the future that we think are the past have affected our perception of the present; on second viewing it'll change again as we begin with not only the knowledge of what is to come in the film but also the understanding that what we see is actually the future not the past. Not only do we know how the film ends, we know the consequences of Banks' actions. So our perception changes again because of our ability to perceive the future and past simultaneously.

This directly mirrors what happens to Banks. Once she learns to perceive time as the heptapods do, it alters her view and allows her to change the present (by speaking with the Chinese General) with her knowledge of the future. But more importantly, it gives her the strength to follow her own preconceived future to have her daughter. By the end of the film, she's learned that the pain, the grief and the joy are all a part of life and so she chooses to continue with that version of her future even though she now has the power to change it. She understands and accepts that all these emotions are an important part of life. Knowldege of the future doesn't mean avoiding pain or tough choices, it just allows you to accept them.

This was the mission of the heptapods all along. They could see what the future had in store for humans and their own race, but rather than take destructive action they made sacrifices to better the human race and help us evolve to be better than we are. This flies in the face of most other scifi stories like this where the alien race will just attempt to destroy humans. In fact, as viewers we've spent a good portion of the film unsure about the heptapods and their intentions because of our preconceived ideas. Once humans have the ability to understand the consequences of our actions, we can work towards bettering ourselves.

Ultimately, it's a beautiful story of love and loss told simultaneously in past and future tense. It is both a romance and a tragedy whilst also being a scifi film. I can't help but see the echoes of this thematically in Dune Part 2. Whilst not DVs own story, when you re-watch his latest film that's the thing that really stands out for me. He perfectly captures the beauty of Paul and Channis developing relationship along with the tragedy of where it will lead that not only you the audience appreciate (if you've read the books or already seen the film), but from Pauls perspective once he drinks the water of life. Those final scenes after, you feel the weight of the actions he takes and the impact it will have on his relationship. You really do believe he will love Channi as long as breathes, but he acts with the assurance that regardless of the pain he must now suffer and cause he knows (or believes he knows) where his actions will lead (although, long term I appreciate it doesn't all go so well in the book but in the film, DV tells you that Paul is doing what he sees as the right thing for as many people as he can despite himself).

That's superb. Thank you for taking the time to write such a long post.

I feel like I need to see it again now.

[C5_Steve]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

That's superb. Thank you for taking the time to write such a long post.

I feel like I need to see it again now.

Very welcome and mission accomplished in that case

[C5_Steve]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Discendo Discimus said:

Threads (1984)

One of those films I've heard lots about but couldn't find on any streaming services so I had to buy a DVD (shock horror).
For those who have seen it, perhaps they'll understand why I'm in a weird state of shock.

It's the first film I've seen that shows the grim reality of life after a nuclear attack, without any Hollywood nonsense.
I wouldn't say I enjoyed watching it, but given the current geo-political situation it certainly made me pay attention.

Threads is utterly traumatising. I haven't seen it in decades and I can still recall quite a lot of it, and random scenes often pop into my head even now.

I remember thinking how incongruous it was seeing someone using a single-use supermarket plastic bag (Sainsbury's springs to mind) as their actual bag. And now all bags are multi-use.

You may as well also watch When the Wind Blows (1986) as they rather go hand-in-hand.

By some really wild coincidence, it's been announced Denis Villeneuve will direct an adaptation of the book "Nuclear War: A Scenario" which sounds very similar to Threads (I've not seen or read either).

[Antony Moxey]

Arrival has now appeared as ‘new to Sky Movies’ so inspired by the comments on here gave it a watch last night. Seen it a couple of times before - it really is superior stuff and builds nicely throughout. Shows humanity in both good and bad lights equally.

[stanlow45]

Strictly Confidential (2024)

Liz Hurley

Critics absolutely panned this, and yes my god it’s terrible. But the eye candy, ridiculous plot and Liz’s cleavage kept me watching, best not to think about Damo directing… So bad it’s good? Strangely I enjoyed it. Reminded me of that long forgotten 90s show, Sunset Beach, except on that the acting was better.

Edited by stanlow45 on Friday 5th April 20:59

[tupak798]

The Crow (1994)
Brandon Lee’s final work, and to me a legendary classic since I saw this at the cinema when it came out. Great soundtrack.

Candyman (1992)
So 90s but actually as disturbing today as it was then. Forget the remake.

[Chris Stott]

Discendo Discimus said:

Threads (1984)

One of those films I've heard lots about but couldn't find on any streaming services so I had to buy a DVD (shock horror).
For those who have seen it, perhaps they'll understand why I'm in a weird state of shock.

It's the first film I've seen that shows the grim reality of life after a nuclear attack, without any Hollywood nonsense.
I wouldn't say I enjoyed watching it, but given the current geo-political situation it certainly made me pay attention.

8 Nukes out of 10.

I’d kind of forgotten about this film until you mentioned it… I couldn’t remember what it was called, or any detail, but it’s always been in the back of my mind whenever nuclear war has been mentioned over the past 40 years.

I saw it as a 16 year old, living in chesterfield, and in context of what was happening in the world at the time, it felt incredibly real and utterly terrifying.

Not sure I want to see it again.

Sits along side Made in Britain as one of the films that perfectly captures a moment in time in British life.

[272BHP]

Two footie movies this week.

The Beautiful Game - Netflix

Bill Nighy stars as the manager of the English homeless world cup team. Bright and energetic movie but does not really take off at all and is ultimately disappointing.

5/10

Next Goal Wins - Disney+

Football coach takes on the challenge of managing the American-Samoa football side, officially the worst side in international football. This is much more fun and quite moving at times as well. I got some Cool Running vibes from this one.

7/10

[croyde]

Chris Stott said:

Discendo Discimus said:

Threads (1984)

One of those films I've heard lots about but couldn't find on any streaming services so I had to buy a DVD (shock horror).
For those who have seen it, perhaps they'll understand why I'm in a weird state of shock.

It's the first film I've seen that shows the grim reality of life after a nuclear attack, without any Hollywood nonsense.
I wouldn't say I enjoyed watching it, but given the current geo-political situation it certainly made me pay attention.

8 Nukes out of 10.

I’d kind of forgotten about this film until you mentioned it… I couldn’t remember what it was called, or any detail, but it’s always been in the back of my mind whenever nuclear war has been mentioned over the past 40 years.

I saw it as a 16 year old, living in chesterfield, and in context of what was happening in the world at the time, it felt incredibly real and utterly terrifying.

Not sure I want to see it again.

Sits along side Made in Britain as one of the films that perfectly captures a moment in time in British life.

The 1966 film 'The War Game' is another psuedo documentary about nuclear attack on Britain.

We watched it in school in the 70s and it scared the brown stuff out of us.

All these years later I've got it mixed up with 'Threads' also utterly terrifying and thought they were the one and the same film.

'The War Game' is on Prime.

[Ace-T]

Beverly Hill Cop 1 and 2 Friday evening movie double bill with pizza and some free prosecco

1 was quite fun. 2 felt like a chore, it did not have the fun of 1.

Considering 2 was directed by Tony Scott it was pretty disappointing.