Films I watched this week
Discussion
Darkest Hour.
Seldom have I seen a movie that so completely convinces me that "this is real". I have to say that I actually believed that Gary Oldman might really be Winston Spencer-Churchill for large parts of it.
There can be no spoilers, really. We all (should) know the story, and how it ends. But I was completely gripped by it, to the extent that I was rooting for him to pull off the Dunkirk evacuation and avoid a vote of no confidence.
I suppose it's possible that others may not agree, and while I don't like the "masterpiece" label, I thought that this was definitely a film-making masterclass. Costumes, lighting, make-up, casting. No one on screen looked out of place, and even the fictionalised bits fit well into the narrative. I very rarely come out of a cinema thinking "I could watch that again right now..." but I'd have happily gone back for more of this, if there'd been tickets available.
Aside from Oldman, I thought Ronald Pickup put in an excellent performance as Neville Chamberlain.
I don't generally give a stuff about The Oscars, or other such awards ceremonies, but if this film doesn't win a clutch of awards then there really is no justice in the world...
Seldom have I seen a movie that so completely convinces me that "this is real". I have to say that I actually believed that Gary Oldman might really be Winston Spencer-Churchill for large parts of it.
There can be no spoilers, really. We all (should) know the story, and how it ends. But I was completely gripped by it, to the extent that I was rooting for him to pull off the Dunkirk evacuation and avoid a vote of no confidence.
I suppose it's possible that others may not agree, and while I don't like the "masterpiece" label, I thought that this was definitely a film-making masterclass. Costumes, lighting, make-up, casting. No one on screen looked out of place, and even the fictionalised bits fit well into the narrative. I very rarely come out of a cinema thinking "I could watch that again right now..." but I'd have happily gone back for more of this, if there'd been tickets available.
Aside from Oldman, I thought Ronald Pickup put in an excellent performance as Neville Chamberlain.
I don't generally give a stuff about The Oscars, or other such awards ceremonies, but if this film doesn't win a clutch of awards then there really is no justice in the world...
yellowjack said:
Darkest Hour.
Seldom have I seen a movie that so completely convinces me that "this is real". I have to say that I actually believed that Gary Oldman might really be Winston Spencer-Churchill for large parts of it.
There can be no spoilers, really. We all (should) know the story, and how it ends. But I was completely gripped by it, to the extent that I was rooting for him to pull off the Dunkirk evacuation and avoid a vote of no confidence.
I suppose it's possible that others may not agree, and while I don't like the "masterpiece" label, I thought that this was definitely a film-making masterclass. Costumes, lighting, make-up, casting. No one on screen looked out of place, and even the fictionalised bits fit well into the narrative. I very rarely come out of a cinema thinking "I could watch that again right now..." but I'd have happily gone back for more of this, if there'd been tickets available.
Aside from Oldman, I thought Ronald Pickup put in an excellent performance as Neville Chamberlain.
I don't generally give a stuff about The Oscars, or other such awards ceremonies, but if this film doesn't win a clutch of awards then there really is no justice in the world...
I feel sorry for Timothée Chalamet. Any other year he’d be winning Best Actor gongs....but up against Oldman as Churchill....well.....Seldom have I seen a movie that so completely convinces me that "this is real". I have to say that I actually believed that Gary Oldman might really be Winston Spencer-Churchill for large parts of it.
There can be no spoilers, really. We all (should) know the story, and how it ends. But I was completely gripped by it, to the extent that I was rooting for him to pull off the Dunkirk evacuation and avoid a vote of no confidence.
I suppose it's possible that others may not agree, and while I don't like the "masterpiece" label, I thought that this was definitely a film-making masterclass. Costumes, lighting, make-up, casting. No one on screen looked out of place, and even the fictionalised bits fit well into the narrative. I very rarely come out of a cinema thinking "I could watch that again right now..." but I'd have happily gone back for more of this, if there'd been tickets available.
Aside from Oldman, I thought Ronald Pickup put in an excellent performance as Neville Chamberlain.
I don't generally give a stuff about The Oscars, or other such awards ceremonies, but if this film doesn't win a clutch of awards then there really is no justice in the world...
At the other end of the scale - Dunkirk.
It was reasonably entertaining, some tension and I like the individual stories which is what I was guessing was the objective.
However, I thought it all looked a bit clean and shiney, there didn't seem to be any urgency or clue as to how critical this was. Some additional background would have been appreciated rather than just "you are surrounded" It looked very small scale, the ships, the men, tanks? we only had Kens word there were 300k men to be evacuated.
6.5/10
It was reasonably entertaining, some tension and I like the individual stories which is what I was guessing was the objective.
However, I thought it all looked a bit clean and shiney, there didn't seem to be any urgency or clue as to how critical this was. Some additional background would have been appreciated rather than just "you are surrounded" It looked very small scale, the ships, the men, tanks? we only had Kens word there were 300k men to be evacuated.
6.5/10
Hell or High Water
I was really looking forward to this, given it's solid reviews and being a fan of Taylor Sheridan but honestly I found it pretty dull. The last 45 minutes upped the ante a bit but the first hour of "character development" was basically mumbling and long, intense staring out at the Texan wilderness.
Perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mind - it didn't help that a) we started watching it tired at 9.30pm and b) I knew my missus was hating it!
6/10 - marks for great cinematography, I liked the music and the acting was good.
I was really looking forward to this, given it's solid reviews and being a fan of Taylor Sheridan but honestly I found it pretty dull. The last 45 minutes upped the ante a bit but the first hour of "character development" was basically mumbling and long, intense staring out at the Texan wilderness.
Perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mind - it didn't help that a) we started watching it tired at 9.30pm and b) I knew my missus was hating it!
6/10 - marks for great cinematography, I liked the music and the acting was good.
Alex said:
Halb said:
Sicario, what a brilliant film, tense, well acted, crafted, executed. Wasn't sure what was going to happen. A nice modern drama.
Sequel on the way.The female lead was superb. They managed to show her as a strong character in her own right but also vulnerable. They could have made her all kick ass but she ends up getting roughed up just as much as she takes down a bad guy or two. Top marks for also showing a female as a victim of the old honey trap. Despite this, you never feel she is weak or out of her depth.
Halb said:
Sicario, what a brilliant film, tense, well acted, crafted, executed. Wasn't sure what was going to happen. A nice modern drama.
Conversely I didn't really get on with it and I had high hopes. Yes it was well acted and parts of it were good but I felt the build-up was great and teased a lot but it just went nowhere. The climatic battle was anything but and the assassination stuff while shocking was way to easy and over quickly.I just think they'd done so well to build it up, it deserved a better pay off at the end. Lots of potential, largely unfulfilled for me.
I thought Sicario was awesome. Went into it a the cinema with minimal expectation; so that helped. Still comes out every now and again on DVD. Up there with Training Day as one of my favourite firms.
Soldado looks promising too; if Graver and Alejandro are off the leash I’m expecting lots of brutal action (a la the traffic jam scene as they cross the border at Juarez). Will be interesting how its received given the current Trump / Mexico / US politics. Letting the CIA and mercenaries run riot in Mexico just could, maybe, possibly be very close to the truth.
Movies I watched this week:
Coco. Over indulgent, over sentimental Disney / Pixar hokem. Really found it hard going with little reward for adults. Low on humour (although high on production value); really wondered how this got the sign-off. It has been low on hype though. My son (just turned 4) seemed to enjoy it – me not convinced. 3/10
The Commuter. A rather dull and predictable Neeson vehicle, seen it all before in Taken, Non-Stop and Unknown. The way villain’s go about their dastardly deeds for cinematic purposes really needs a rethink. Had to watch Ghostdog (funny as Jarmusch mentioned above) again to remind myself on Hagakure and elimination of such nonsense. Save your monies wait for it on Amazon in about 6 weeks. 6/£79
The Belko Experiment. Massively and gratuitously violent. Actually, had some promise. Could’ve been longer though – especially how / why seemingly mild mannered executives turn into mass murderers within 90mins. Rooker under used. Rushed ending. Exploding heads and really not knowing whom was going to get off’d next makes this a solid 7/10
American Assassin. Fell asleep after 30mins; nuff said. Zzzz/8
Soldado looks promising too; if Graver and Alejandro are off the leash I’m expecting lots of brutal action (a la the traffic jam scene as they cross the border at Juarez). Will be interesting how its received given the current Trump / Mexico / US politics. Letting the CIA and mercenaries run riot in Mexico just could, maybe, possibly be very close to the truth.
Movies I watched this week:
Coco. Over indulgent, over sentimental Disney / Pixar hokem. Really found it hard going with little reward for adults. Low on humour (although high on production value); really wondered how this got the sign-off. It has been low on hype though. My son (just turned 4) seemed to enjoy it – me not convinced. 3/10
The Commuter. A rather dull and predictable Neeson vehicle, seen it all before in Taken, Non-Stop and Unknown. The way villain’s go about their dastardly deeds for cinematic purposes really needs a rethink. Had to watch Ghostdog (funny as Jarmusch mentioned above) again to remind myself on Hagakure and elimination of such nonsense. Save your monies wait for it on Amazon in about 6 weeks. 6/£79
The Belko Experiment. Massively and gratuitously violent. Actually, had some promise. Could’ve been longer though – especially how / why seemingly mild mannered executives turn into mass murderers within 90mins. Rooker under used. Rushed ending. Exploding heads and really not knowing whom was going to get off’d next makes this a solid 7/10
American Assassin. Fell asleep after 30mins; nuff said. Zzzz/8
Watched two films on Sunday that were notable for having great acting performances rather than being thrilling films, although both are high quality
Darkest Hour Oldman for the oscar please, it is tense in places and you really go through the mill with WC and his self-doubt and torment
The Post Hanks and Steep both excellent, especially watching Streep's character develop - I knew the story summary from the Vietnam War documentary, and you know how the film will turn out, some hamfisted feminist messages from Spielberg too
Darkest Hour Oldman for the oscar please, it is tense in places and you really go through the mill with WC and his self-doubt and torment
The Post Hanks and Steep both excellent, especially watching Streep's character develop - I knew the story summary from the Vietnam War documentary, and you know how the film will turn out, some hamfisted feminist messages from Spielberg too
Halb said:
Sicario, what a brilliant film, tense, well acted, crafted, executed. Wasn't sure what was going to happen. A nice modern drama.
disagree - I thought sicario was rubbish personally. the whole premise is just flawed and the script at times esp towards the end is woeful.all imho of course. glad you liked it.
Guvernator said:
Conversely I didn't really get on with it and I had high hopes. Yes it was well acted and parts of it were good but I felt the build-up was great and teased a lot but it just went nowhere. The climatic battle was anything but and the assassination stuff while shocking was way to easy and over quickly.
I just think they'd done so well to build it up, it deserved a better pay off at the end. Lots of potential, largely unfulfilled for me.
There’s a lot of merit in an all action against all odds shootout like Statham in the Transporter or John Wick or whatever but I liked the ending to this film. I just think they'd done so well to build it up, it deserved a better pay off at the end. Lots of potential, largely unfulfilled for me.
It was intriguing finding out who he was and why he was there and then the movie became more about getting him in than him doing the full Die Hard once inside. I also quite liked the fact we never got to see his target until the end of the movie.
The problem for me is that now we know, it’s hard to see how a second movie would lead the audience to any kind of reveal like the first one.
toon10 said:
There’s a lot of merit in an all action against all odds shootout like Statham in the Transporter or John Wick or whatever but I liked the ending to this film.
It was intriguing finding out who he was and why he was there and then the movie became more about getting him in than him doing the full Die Hard once inside. I also quite liked the fact we never got to see his target until the end of the movie.
The problem for me is that now we know, it’s hard to see how a second movie would lead the audience to any kind of reveal like the first one.
I don't think I expected a full on Die Hard-esque shootout, it wasn't that kind of film but I did expect a bit more payoff for all the patient and decent build-up. Baring THAT one scene at the family table, I just thought the end of the movie felt very flat, it didn't really crescendo for me, just sort of petered out.It was intriguing finding out who he was and why he was there and then the movie became more about getting him in than him doing the full Die Hard once inside. I also quite liked the fact we never got to see his target until the end of the movie.
The problem for me is that now we know, it’s hard to see how a second movie would lead the audience to any kind of reveal like the first one.
toon10 said:
Can't wait. I didn't really fancy Sicario but a few people I know said it was brilliant so gave it a try. I thought it was excellent. Mysterious, tense, well shot and I enjoyed the characters as they developed.
The female lead was superb. They managed to show her as a strong character in her own right but also vulnerable. They could have made her all kick ass but she ends up getting roughed up just as much as she takes down a bad guy or two. Top marks for also showing a female as a victim of the old honey trap. Despite this, you never feel she is weak or out of her depth.
Yeah, it enthralled me. The bit where she spots that lil wristlet thing, and then when he keeps up the act you think, is she wrong, and then it flips again, very good. It'll make me search out the directors other stuff. Like Jarmusch mentioned, when one finds a good director it's a treat.The female lead was superb. They managed to show her as a strong character in her own right but also vulnerable. They could have made her all kick ass but she ends up getting roughed up just as much as she takes down a bad guy or two. Top marks for also showing a female as a victim of the old honey trap. Despite this, you never feel she is weak or out of her depth.
Halb said:
Yeah, it enthralled me. The bit where she spots that lil wristlet thing, and then when he keeps up the act you think, is she wrong, and then it flips again, very good. It'll make me search out the directors other stuff. Like Jarmusch mentioned, when one finds a good director it's a treat.
Villenueve films:Incendies
Prisoners
Enemy
Arrival
Bladerunner 2049
Writer Taylor Sheridan:
Hell or High Water (which I didn't like incidentally)
Wind River
Legend83 said:
Villenueve films:
Incendies
Prisoners
Enemy
Arrival
Bladerunner 2049
Writer Taylor Sheridan:
Hell or High Water (which I didn't like incidentally)
Wind River
Lovely! I've seen Prisoners, thought it was excellent, and seen Arrival which I thought was rather good. I've read good things about Hell and High Water on here. A few films there to look forward to.Incendies
Prisoners
Enemy
Arrival
Bladerunner 2049
Writer Taylor Sheridan:
Hell or High Water (which I didn't like incidentally)
Wind River
stongle said:
The Commuter. A rather dull and predictable Neeson vehicle, seen it all before in Taken, Non-Stop and Unknown. The way villain’s go about their dastardly deeds for cinematic purposes really needs a rethink.
I read an article that said that Neeson turned down action roles earlier in his career as he knew that once he started down that path, it would dominate his career from then on, and that would be plenty of time for that later on in his career.Seems that his comments were accurate / prophetic.
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