Good films I watched this weekend (Vol 2)
Discussion
essayer said:
Nightcrawler with Jake Gylenhall
Fantastic film, a little slow to start but his acting is immense, a rather original plot, well shot and directed, a few oscars deserved for sure.
I found Jake Gylenhalls character to be one of the creepiest people on the planet. Even if the subject matter was about butterflies and fairy cakes he still would have made it disturbing. Fantastic film, a little slow to start but his acting is immense, a rather original plot, well shot and directed, a few oscars deserved for sure.
Daniel1 said:
essayer said:
Nightcrawler with Jake Gylenhall
Fantastic film, a little slow to start but his acting is immense, a rather original plot, well shot and directed, a few oscars deserved for sure.
I found Jake Gylenhalls character to be one of the creepiest people on the planet. Even if the subject matter was about butterflies and fairy cakes he still would have made it disturbing. Fantastic film, a little slow to start but his acting is immense, a rather original plot, well shot and directed, a few oscars deserved for sure.
GetCarter said:
Good God. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-DVD-Liam-Neeson/dp/B0...
Stunning.
(Apologies for posting in 'it's the best film of the year' too)
Agreed.Stunning.
(Apologies for posting in 'it's the best film of the year' too)
Birdman
I had 3 hours to kill in London this evening and remembered hearing this got very good press, so went to see it completely blind, no trailers, nothing. Superb cast with some award-worthy performances, and comfortably the most brilliantly shot film I've seen in a long, long time (when do you ever get to say that these days?!)
9/10
I had 3 hours to kill in London this evening and remembered hearing this got very good press, so went to see it completely blind, no trailers, nothing. Superb cast with some award-worthy performances, and comfortably the most brilliantly shot film I've seen in a long, long time (when do you ever get to say that these days?!)
9/10
daddy cool said:
Watched quite a few films over the Xmas break.
Fury
Brad Pitt puts on his war face, and together with his tank crew (all unlikeable a
holes) teach a new soft recruit about the horrors of war, and how evil the Germans are, while themselves murdering prisoners and (essentially) raping girls.
Disappointed with this as I was looking forward to seeing it. I wanted “Saving Private Ryan on caterpillar tracks” and I got “Rambo and the Retards in: Dude wheres my Tank?”
The last 45 min were ridiculous, though I suppose it was a good action film if you approach it not expecting anything serious. Noticed a few other bits from other films – someone asks Brad “Why wont they just give up?” and he replies “Would you?” which was almost exactly the dialogue at the big fight at the start of Gladiator. Then someone stops a soldier shooting some burning German solidier “No let them burn” which im sure is a copy of the start of SPR.
5/10
The Conjuring
A while back I watched the first 2 minutes and it scared me so I switched it off. The other night I manned up and watched it all, and the rest of the film wasn’t that bad, apart from a few textbook jumps. Essentially a very standard “Amityville Horror” plot – family moves into old house and things start happening, paranormal investigators help them overcome it. All very well done though.
6/10
The Babadook
Not as scary as Mark Kermode led me to believe (and I jump easily in horror films), but an interesting and fresh take on the genre. Reminded me more of The Shining in its themes – a young boy with a wild imagination and possible behavioural problems, and uncertainty whether you are really watching a film about supernatural occurrences, or the insanity of the parent taking over.
A few bits made me shiver 7/10
Gone Girl
Disappointed by this – started off great, really fascinating watching everything develop. But as soon as the big reveal happened (very early on) it just became a bit silly and way too far fetched, and full of “B-b-but you wouldn’t do that!” moments. Great as a satire of the way the media can shape public opinion of people though.
6/10
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
More of the same. Still a good watch though.
7/10 (Eva Green 10/10)
At the point where I scanned through and realised you'd given Sin City 2 a higher rating than Fury or Gone Girl I gave up reading. Whilst I agree that neither were as good as the hype suggested SC2 was bloody awful and not a patch on the original.Fury
Brad Pitt puts on his war face, and together with his tank crew (all unlikeable a
holes) teach a new soft recruit about the horrors of war, and how evil the Germans are, while themselves murdering prisoners and (essentially) raping girls.Disappointed with this as I was looking forward to seeing it. I wanted “Saving Private Ryan on caterpillar tracks” and I got “Rambo and the Retards in: Dude wheres my Tank?”
The last 45 min were ridiculous, though I suppose it was a good action film if you approach it not expecting anything serious. Noticed a few other bits from other films – someone asks Brad “Why wont they just give up?” and he replies “Would you?” which was almost exactly the dialogue at the big fight at the start of Gladiator. Then someone stops a soldier shooting some burning German solidier “No let them burn” which im sure is a copy of the start of SPR.
5/10
The Conjuring
A while back I watched the first 2 minutes and it scared me so I switched it off. The other night I manned up and watched it all, and the rest of the film wasn’t that bad, apart from a few textbook jumps. Essentially a very standard “Amityville Horror” plot – family moves into old house and things start happening, paranormal investigators help them overcome it. All very well done though.
6/10
The Babadook
Not as scary as Mark Kermode led me to believe (and I jump easily in horror films), but an interesting and fresh take on the genre. Reminded me more of The Shining in its themes – a young boy with a wild imagination and possible behavioural problems, and uncertainty whether you are really watching a film about supernatural occurrences, or the insanity of the parent taking over.
A few bits made me shiver 7/10
Gone Girl
Disappointed by this – started off great, really fascinating watching everything develop. But as soon as the big reveal happened (very early on) it just became a bit silly and way too far fetched, and full of “B-b-but you wouldn’t do that!” moments. Great as a satire of the way the media can shape public opinion of people though.
6/10
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
More of the same. Still a good watch though.
7/10 (Eva Green 10/10)
Nightcrawler
Very, very good. Terrific central performances from Gylenhall and Russo, great story and beautifully shot.
8.5/10
Foxcatcher
Well acted but ultimately a bit long and dull.
6/10
The Theory of Everything
Enjoyed this and thought Eddie Redmayne's performance as Hawking was exceptional.
7.5/10
SWoll said:
At the point where I scanned through and realised you'd given Sin City 2 a higher rating than Fury or Gone Girl I gave up reading. Whilst I agree that neither were as good as the hype suggested SC2 was bloody awful and not a patch on the original.
I see what you mean - I suppose I partly base my scores on "reality vs expectation". I knew what two hours invested in Sin City would give me, and it delivered on that, whereas I had geared myself up for two brilliant films with the others and was left a little underwhelmed.As for yours, haven't seen any but am really looking forward to Nightcrawler, as really rate Gylenhall. Re-watched "Prisoners" t'other day (all 2.5 hours of it) and it was a good as I remembered it.
daddy cool said:
SWoll said:
At the point where I scanned through and realised you'd given Sin City 2 a higher rating than Fury or Gone Girl I gave up reading. Whilst I agree that neither were as good as the hype suggested SC2 was bloody awful and not a patch on the original.
I see what you mean - I suppose I partly base my scores on "reality vs expectation". I knew what two hours invested in Sin City would give me, and it delivered on that, whereas I had geared myself up for two brilliant films with the others and was left a little underwhelmed.As for yours, haven't seen any but am really looking forward to Nightcrawler, as really rate Gylenhall. Re-watched "Prisoners" t'other day (all 2.5 hours of it) and it was a good as I remembered it.
The Theory of Everything - terrifically good film with (surely ) and Oscar winning performance from Eddie Redmayne. If he retired tomorrow and be proud of what he achieved in this film . An infinitely better film than the overhyped Imitation Game which , Cumberbatch's wonderful acting apart , is ploddingly simplistic and ridden with anachronistic language.
Rewatched Zulu (and reminded myself that the only place to see a film is the cinema ) ; God but it is dated. Nameless black guys bad people - plucky and full of character white guys heroes.
Rewatched Zulu (and reminded myself that the only place to see a film is the cinema ) ; God but it is dated. Nameless black guys bad people - plucky and full of character white guys heroes.
coppice said:
Rewatched Zulu (and reminded myself that the only place to see a film is the cinema ) ; God but it is dated. Nameless black guys bad people - plucky and full of character white guys heroes.
How would you improve it if you remade it today? CGI necessary? no
Better acting? a smidge
Direction, location, production? no
Truth is, it a is classic war film, beautifully made, and easy to watch and become engrossed in.
This is all the more true when Zulu Dawn is watched...
Put The Judge on last night, Downey Jr and Robert Duvall are both awesome in this family drama intertwined with courtroom battle.
The public go high on IMDB and I agree with an easy 7.5
The critics go strangley low... with some unknown publications bringing the average right down...totally unjustified IMO.
coppice said:
I wouldn't alter it a bit- it is a classic film. But the passage of time makes you see old films in a different light. And remakes - Invasion of the Bodysnatchers apart - are invariably dire. I hate CGI too - utterly hideous and always so bloody obvious .
interesting if you read Michael Caine's Biography , He based his character on Prince Philip he had noted the Prince walked around with his hands behind his back .." made him look important "During the first rushes the comments from the production company ""that idiot playing Bromhead, doesn't know what to do with his hands " !!
They missed the point , poor old Michael was convinced he was going to get the sack .
out of interest if you enjoyed the film there's a great book on the making of Zulu . The Director Lee Endfield had a terrible time with the authorities due to the Aparteid regime at the time The cast & crew were watched on set to make sure the Zulus ( most of which were actual warriors , the chief playing Cetchewayo was in fact the current Zulu Chief )were segregated ,during meals etc. Caine commented how disgraceful the Zulus were treated not by the film company but by the local Militia
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zulu-Some-Behind-Making-Mo...
Re Zulu:
To go back to those days in the film industry, we used to get the posh people playing cockneys and, on rare, but not rare enough, occasions, even northerners. We laugh at that dick van Dyke but, in truth, he was probably basing his accent on British films of the 40s and 50s.
Then along comes Caine, the best British male film actor who wasn't posh or Welsh - or rather the best British male film actor - who, despite being a fully fledged east ender, gets to play a posh bloke, a revolution in UK film making. Not only that, Baker, commoner as well, gets the lead as he was recognised by all as one of the best actors we have produced. A tragedy that he died so young, but he struggles to come out evens on screen.
Zulu was remarkable for more than being a great story (the film one, not what actually happened) well told, well acted, well funded and well produced.
Zulu got Caine Alfie and then Palmer. He is, in my opinion, the best Bond we never had. In The Man who would be King, he acts Connery off screen. Not that difficult I know, but our Sean was well touted as quality.
Caine could never quite make posh again, most notably in The Battle of Britain. But being Carter and Croker more than made up for that. He was terrifying in Mona Lisa, superb in Harry Brown, and impeccable as Alfred (a certain irony there).
I like Zulu. It got me interested in SA and its policies and politics. A lot of false information came out from all sides about the Zulus' history, and books like The Washing of the Spears showed a different aspect. The film, despite its historic faults - not being a Welsh regiment being one - is quality and long lasting. If nothing else, it shows Caine in the making.
To go back to those days in the film industry, we used to get the posh people playing cockneys and, on rare, but not rare enough, occasions, even northerners. We laugh at that dick van Dyke but, in truth, he was probably basing his accent on British films of the 40s and 50s.
Then along comes Caine, the best British male film actor who wasn't posh or Welsh - or rather the best British male film actor - who, despite being a fully fledged east ender, gets to play a posh bloke, a revolution in UK film making. Not only that, Baker, commoner as well, gets the lead as he was recognised by all as one of the best actors we have produced. A tragedy that he died so young, but he struggles to come out evens on screen.
Zulu was remarkable for more than being a great story (the film one, not what actually happened) well told, well acted, well funded and well produced.
Zulu got Caine Alfie and then Palmer. He is, in my opinion, the best Bond we never had. In The Man who would be King, he acts Connery off screen. Not that difficult I know, but our Sean was well touted as quality.
Caine could never quite make posh again, most notably in The Battle of Britain. But being Carter and Croker more than made up for that. He was terrifying in Mona Lisa, superb in Harry Brown, and impeccable as Alfred (a certain irony there).
I like Zulu. It got me interested in SA and its policies and politics. A lot of false information came out from all sides about the Zulus' history, and books like The Washing of the Spears showed a different aspect. The film, despite its historic faults - not being a Welsh regiment being one - is quality and long lasting. If nothing else, it shows Caine in the making.
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