Good films I watched this weekend (Vol 2)
Discussion
MissChief said:
dudleybloke said:
MissChief said:
Fifth Element Blu-Ray, thankfully the redone one. Chris Rock still annoys but the film looks and sounds fantastic.
Tucker not Rock.
Edit: Oh, wait. Bruce Willis. Same thing.
I saw "Rudderless" last night. William H Macy's directorial debut.
"A grieving father in a downward spiral stumbles across a box of his recently deceased son's demo tapes and lyrics. Shocked by the discovery of this unknown talent, he forms a band in the hope of finding some catharsis."
http://www.rudderlessthemovie.com
Lovely little indie film - probably one of the best I've seen in a while actually.
Some of the scenes have really stayed with me....It's on iTunes for rental.
Some other films i've recently enjoyed that the critics have been a bit sniffy about are "The Equalizer" and "The Drop".
I especially thought "the Equalizer" was great fun.
Conversely, I was disappointed by "Gone Girl".
"A grieving father in a downward spiral stumbles across a box of his recently deceased son's demo tapes and lyrics. Shocked by the discovery of this unknown talent, he forms a band in the hope of finding some catharsis."
http://www.rudderlessthemovie.com
Lovely little indie film - probably one of the best I've seen in a while actually.
Some of the scenes have really stayed with me....It's on iTunes for rental.
Some other films i've recently enjoyed that the critics have been a bit sniffy about are "The Equalizer" and "The Drop".
I especially thought "the Equalizer" was great fun.
Conversely, I was disappointed by "Gone Girl".
benny 61 said:
Has anyone been to see Foxcatcher yet? Looks interesting.
I really enjoyed it, Mrs didn't. It's quite a peculiar film, Steve Carell's character is freaking weird but guess he was in real life. SOme very good performances.Knew nothing about the real life story prior to watching it.
Three films with leading ladies:
White Bird in a Blizzard
Watched it because it starred EVa Green but she plays second fiddle to a younger girl (her character's daughter) who was really good as a world-wise type trying to remain "normal" when her mother (Ms Green) struggles with her boring life and her father struggles with the hatred from her mother. And then manages to keep her pragmatism when her mother disappeared one day.
The story doesn't really amount to much but was well played out with a predictable twist at the end. Summary could have been "nice tits, even though they weren't Eva Green's for once" but that would be crass.
7/10
Before I Go To Sleep
Nichole Kidman plays a woman who, after a head injury, cannot remember anything of the previous day or anything at all since her accident. She wakes up "empty" each morning, relearning who her husband is (Colin Firth) and what her life was.
Mark Strong is in it too.
Good thriller with a few twists to keep you guess who's who for a while.
7/10
Gone Girl
Ben Affleck plays a chap whose wife goes missing, presumed killed by him, and is judged in the media. Rosamund Pike plays his brilliant wife.
I originally thought this had a really unsatisfactory ending but because the film as a whole was so good, I was prepared to ignore that. There are plenty of twists and turns, and enjoyable characters to positively detest (mostly the bigoted women who host these TV shows). However, the day after watching it, I realise how clever the ending was and that it was ultimately "deserved".
9/10
White Bird in a Blizzard
Watched it because it starred EVa Green but she plays second fiddle to a younger girl (her character's daughter) who was really good as a world-wise type trying to remain "normal" when her mother (Ms Green) struggles with her boring life and her father struggles with the hatred from her mother. And then manages to keep her pragmatism when her mother disappeared one day.
The story doesn't really amount to much but was well played out with a predictable twist at the end. Summary could have been "nice tits, even though they weren't Eva Green's for once" but that would be crass.
7/10
Before I Go To Sleep
Nichole Kidman plays a woman who, after a head injury, cannot remember anything of the previous day or anything at all since her accident. She wakes up "empty" each morning, relearning who her husband is (Colin Firth) and what her life was.
Mark Strong is in it too.
Good thriller with a few twists to keep you guess who's who for a while.
7/10
Gone Girl
Ben Affleck plays a chap whose wife goes missing, presumed killed by him, and is judged in the media. Rosamund Pike plays his brilliant wife.
I originally thought this had a really unsatisfactory ending but because the film as a whole was so good, I was prepared to ignore that. There are plenty of twists and turns, and enjoyable characters to positively detest (mostly the bigoted women who host these TV shows). However, the day after watching it, I realise how clever the ending was and that it was ultimately "deserved".
9/10
a311 said:
benny 61 said:
Has anyone been to see Foxcatcher yet? Looks interesting.
I really enjoyed it, Mrs didn't. It's quite a peculiar film, Steve Carell's character is freaking weird but guess he was in real life. SOme very good performances.Knew nothing about the real life story prior to watching it.
As for the previous reviews, I have been looking for films that I can watch with my wife, and the latest is:
Good Year
Russell Crowd, Albert Finney, Marion Cotillard.
Cut-throat London trader/banker inherits his uncle's home in France - the place he spent his summers as a child. The house, the people and the surroundings soften him and provide a different future to that he would expect to receive in his profession.
Unchallenging film filled with an idyllic lifestyle, good feelings and sentiments and gentle humour. Quite enjoyed it.
8/10
Good Year
Russell Crowd, Albert Finney, Marion Cotillard.
Cut-throat London trader/banker inherits his uncle's home in France - the place he spent his summers as a child. The house, the people and the surroundings soften him and provide a different future to that he would expect to receive in his profession.
Unchallenging film filled with an idyllic lifestyle, good feelings and sentiments and gentle humour. Quite enjoyed it.
8/10
qube_TA said:
Dr Jekyll said:
I saw Theory of Everything the other night.
VERY good performances from the two leads, but a bit slow and overlong with lots of meaningful glances and arty photography. It was about the relationship between Stephen Hawking and his wife rather than about his theories.
Given that the tagline was 'The incredible story of Jane and Stephen Hawking' that shouldn't have been a surprise.VERY good performances from the two leads, but a bit slow and overlong with lots of meaningful glances and arty photography. It was about the relationship between Stephen Hawking and his wife rather than about his theories.
For what it's worth, I thought it was wonderful.
Eddie Redmaynes acting was Oscar worthy, he went from full size to shrivelled up before our eyes, spell binding.
We saw the imitation game, another being talked about for best actor. A good film but acting wise not in the same league as Redmaynes
The Drop.
7.5/10
Bob Saginowski finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighborhood's past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living - no matter the cost.
A very dark film. Quite slow at the beginning but it develops well as the story goes on.
Really good acting by Tom Hardy who nails his character in my eyes.
Tom Hardy. Noomi Rapace. James Gandolfini's last film before he sadly passed away.
7.5/10
Bob Saginowski finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighborhood's past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living - no matter the cost.
A very dark film. Quite slow at the beginning but it develops well as the story goes on.
Really good acting by Tom Hardy who nails his character in my eyes.
Tom Hardy. Noomi Rapace. James Gandolfini's last film before he sadly passed away.
Currently watching Flash Gordon......
Had forgotten just how corny & cheesy it is however the soundtrack is great, Brian Blessed is, well, Brian Blesssed & my 9 year old loves it.
I guess for a lazy Sunday afternoon in front of a roaring coal fire before I go to work there are worse films to watch!
Had forgotten just how corny & cheesy it is however the soundtrack is great, Brian Blessed is, well, Brian Blesssed & my 9 year old loves it.
I guess for a lazy Sunday afternoon in front of a roaring coal fire before I go to work there are worse films to watch!
qube_TA said:
JustinP1 said:
Watchman said:
The Thirteenth Floor
I remember this from years ago but didn't remember the twist until it presented itself. Think of it as a conflation of The Matrix or Tron, and Inception. It predates The Matrix and Inception though, and might have been written on the back of the success of the original Tron.
The story is pretty good although the lead actor is a bit hammy. Ultimately the story wins over the hamminess and dated presentation of future-tech to provide a decent flick.
6/10.
The Thirteenth Floor as actually in cinemas around the same time as The Matrix.I remember this from years ago but didn't remember the twist until it presented itself. Think of it as a conflation of The Matrix or Tron, and Inception. It predates The Matrix and Inception though, and might have been written on the back of the success of the original Tron.
The story is pretty good although the lead actor is a bit hammy. Ultimately the story wins over the hamminess and dated presentation of future-tech to provide a decent flick.
6/10.
The only reason I know this is that I spent Easter to Summer 1999 living in Hollywood, and spent a lot of time going to the various cinemas which were in walking distance.
Considering the similarity of The Thirteenth Floor to The Matrix, it's a co-incidence they arrived at the same time, and also the same time as:
Existenz - David Cronenberg film starring Jude Law, where a terrorist affects the testing of a virtual reality test and the protagonists are sure, yet unsure whether they are in the 'game' or not.
Matrix is miles ahead for me.
Locke - very, very good film without even considering its premise - a man drives a car. For me it was like almost going through my own life. Really pulled the right strings as a piece of flimmaking - 9/10
Seems almost everyone around me is Hardy's big fan.
Over the weekend I made a retrospective look at Nolan's Batman series, and changed my mind - it's very good as well. Not ideal, and my least favourite is The Dark Knight. Weak plot, and Ledger's performance still looks overacted by all standards to me. My favourite though is The ... Rises. Hardy's performance was nothing short of excellent. Loved the weird accent
7.5/10 for the series.
Alien 3 director's cut - still didn't make much sense, but was vastly better then theatrical version. 6/10
Seems almost everyone around me is Hardy's big fan.
Over the weekend I made a retrospective look at Nolan's Batman series, and changed my mind - it's very good as well. Not ideal, and my least favourite is The Dark Knight. Weak plot, and Ledger's performance still looks overacted by all standards to me. My favourite though is The ... Rises. Hardy's performance was nothing short of excellent. Loved the weird accent
7.5/10 for the series.Alien 3 director's cut - still didn't make much sense, but was vastly better then theatrical version. 6/10
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