Films I watched this week (Vol 2)
Discussion
The Old Man and the Gun
Robert Redford is....well, Robert Redford, an old guy slowing down and playing the part of a kindly bank robber who doesn't intend anybody getting hurt and doing what gives him a lot of pleasure - its his retirement hobby.
Redford has a redeeming smile, he meets a widow which he dates while keeping his family past and growing criminal record secret, and yes, the film ends with a smile on his face.
This is no way a spoiler and apparently based on a true story..
I think its on one of the subscription channels, watched at my neighbours and may mate fell asleep half way through !
A difficult one to score on this Forum as it is a nice film , you soon side with the criminal hero, virtually no violence but I cant criticise it for what it is. Worth a viewing if nothing else is on and you just want an easy sofa film.
6 / 10 seems fair.
Robert Redford is....well, Robert Redford, an old guy slowing down and playing the part of a kindly bank robber who doesn't intend anybody getting hurt and doing what gives him a lot of pleasure - its his retirement hobby.
Redford has a redeeming smile, he meets a widow which he dates while keeping his family past and growing criminal record secret, and yes, the film ends with a smile on his face.
This is no way a spoiler and apparently based on a true story..
I think its on one of the subscription channels, watched at my neighbours and may mate fell asleep half way through !
A difficult one to score on this Forum as it is a nice film , you soon side with the criminal hero, virtually no violence but I cant criticise it for what it is. Worth a viewing if nothing else is on and you just want an easy sofa film.
6 / 10 seems fair.
Sicario 2
I loved the first one, thankfully this wasn't anywhere near as stressful to watch as that was.
Overall it was good film that kept me interested from start to finish. Excellent from Del Toro & Brolin and especially the young Isabela Monet, she was really good, probably a far cry from her upcoming 'Dora the Explorer' starring role
7.5 double-crosses out of 10 border-crosses.
I loved the first one, thankfully this wasn't anywhere near as stressful to watch as that was.
Overall it was good film that kept me interested from start to finish. Excellent from Del Toro & Brolin and especially the young Isabela Monet, she was really good, probably a far cry from her upcoming 'Dora the Explorer' starring role
7.5 double-crosses out of 10 border-crosses.
nonsequitur said:
Billy Liar, with Tom Courtenay. From 1963, a classic black and white slice of domestic life, but with Billy retreating into his own private fantasy country when he gets frustrated with the mundane everyday.
i think it was julie Christie's first film playing one of Billy's girlfriends.
Wonderful film. i think it was julie Christie's first film playing one of Billy's girlfriends.
"London is a big place. A man could lose himself."
I've got a bit bored with modern stuff of late so have decided to try some classics. Only 'Certified Fresh' and at least a 90% on the tomatometer will cut the mustard.
I watched The Conversation last night.
Sound surveillance expert Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is hired to track a young couple (Cindy Williams and Frederic Forrest), taping their conversation as they walk through San Francisco's crowded Union Square. Knowing full well how technology can invade privacy, Harry obsessively keeps to himself, separating business from his personal life, even refusing to discuss what he does or where he lives with his girlfriend, Amy (Teri Garr). Harry's work starts to trouble him, however, as he comes to believe that the conversation he pieced together reveals a plot by the mysterious corporate "Director" who hired him to murder the couple. After he allows himself to be seduced by a call girl, who then steals the tapes, Harry is all the more convinced that a killing will occur, and he can no longer separate his job from his conscience. Coppola, cinematographer Bill Butler, and Oscar-nominated sound editor Walter Murch convey the narrative through Harry's aural and visual experience, beginning with the slow opening zoom of Union Square accompanied by the alternately muddled and clear sound of the couple's conversation caught by Harry's microphones.
Hackman is brilliant. My Amazon spot chirped up half way through for no apparent reason. Verdict: Amazon (or Harry) is listening to 8 out of 10 of my conversations.
I watched The Conversation last night.
Sound surveillance expert Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is hired to track a young couple (Cindy Williams and Frederic Forrest), taping their conversation as they walk through San Francisco's crowded Union Square. Knowing full well how technology can invade privacy, Harry obsessively keeps to himself, separating business from his personal life, even refusing to discuss what he does or where he lives with his girlfriend, Amy (Teri Garr). Harry's work starts to trouble him, however, as he comes to believe that the conversation he pieced together reveals a plot by the mysterious corporate "Director" who hired him to murder the couple. After he allows himself to be seduced by a call girl, who then steals the tapes, Harry is all the more convinced that a killing will occur, and he can no longer separate his job from his conscience. Coppola, cinematographer Bill Butler, and Oscar-nominated sound editor Walter Murch convey the narrative through Harry's aural and visual experience, beginning with the slow opening zoom of Union Square accompanied by the alternately muddled and clear sound of the couple's conversation caught by Harry's microphones.
Hackman is brilliant. My Amazon spot chirped up half way through for no apparent reason. Verdict: Amazon (or Harry) is listening to 8 out of 10 of my conversations.
I watched the 3.5 hr Leni Riefenstahl restored film of the 1936 Berlin Olympics last night
whilst eating Bavarian smoked cheese and drinking German wine. ..
Very arty with honed male and female naked torsos, clever camerawork etc.
It looks and feels like a Nazi propaganda film, which it is.
But it was an interesting historical document by a groundbreaking female director.
Great footage of the decidedly amateur looking athletic events pre fosbury flop high jump etc ..
Jesse Owens trouncing the master race in the 100M final with Hitler grimacing etc etc
Worth searching out for a few hours goose stepping and Basil Fawlty saluting round your living room, with the curtains drawn obviously.
To quote Mr Blewett from Dad's Army. "They make very good arty films them Germans, and binoculars, and telescopes...."
As a piece of great filmmaking 8.5 Heil Hitlers out of 10.
"Olympia is a 1938 German documentary film written, directed and produced by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany. The film was released in two parts: Olympia 1. Teil — Fest der Völker (Festival of Nations) and Olympia 2. Teil — Fest der Schönheit (Festival of Beauty). It was the first documentary feature film of the Olympic Games ever made. Many advanced motion picture techniques, which later became industry standards but which were groundbreaking at the time, were employed —including unusual camera angles, smash cuts, extreme close-ups, placing tracking shot rails within the bleachers, and the like. The techniques employed are almost universally admired, but the film is controversial due to its political context. Nevertheless, the film appears on many lists of the greatest films of all time, including Time magazine's "All-Time 100 Movies."
Olympia set the precedent for future films documenting and glorifying the Olympic Games, particularly the Summer Games. The 1936 Summer Olympics torch relay was devised by the German sports official Dr. Carl Diem for these Olympic Games in Berlin. Riefenstahl later staged the torch relay for this film, with competitive events of the Games.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia...)"
whilst eating Bavarian smoked cheese and drinking German wine. ..
Very arty with honed male and female naked torsos, clever camerawork etc.
It looks and feels like a Nazi propaganda film, which it is.
But it was an interesting historical document by a groundbreaking female director.
Great footage of the decidedly amateur looking athletic events pre fosbury flop high jump etc ..
Jesse Owens trouncing the master race in the 100M final with Hitler grimacing etc etc
Worth searching out for a few hours goose stepping and Basil Fawlty saluting round your living room, with the curtains drawn obviously.
To quote Mr Blewett from Dad's Army. "They make very good arty films them Germans, and binoculars, and telescopes...."
As a piece of great filmmaking 8.5 Heil Hitlers out of 10.
"Olympia is a 1938 German documentary film written, directed and produced by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany. The film was released in two parts: Olympia 1. Teil — Fest der Völker (Festival of Nations) and Olympia 2. Teil — Fest der Schönheit (Festival of Beauty). It was the first documentary feature film of the Olympic Games ever made. Many advanced motion picture techniques, which later became industry standards but which were groundbreaking at the time, were employed —including unusual camera angles, smash cuts, extreme close-ups, placing tracking shot rails within the bleachers, and the like. The techniques employed are almost universally admired, but the film is controversial due to its political context. Nevertheless, the film appears on many lists of the greatest films of all time, including Time magazine's "All-Time 100 Movies."
Olympia set the precedent for future films documenting and glorifying the Olympic Games, particularly the Summer Games. The 1936 Summer Olympics torch relay was devised by the German sports official Dr. Carl Diem for these Olympic Games in Berlin. Riefenstahl later staged the torch relay for this film, with competitive events of the Games.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia...)"
Edited by peterperkins on Saturday 18th May 06:50
Edited by peterperkins on Saturday 18th May 07:20
The Girl on the Train. First 45 minutes, held my attention. Thereafter total confusion with a limp ending.
I shoud have taken more notice of my wife when she said after reading the book, 'total rubbish' or words to that effect.
Also the fact that 2 of the 4 leads were unknown to me. Unusual for a film of a book that was a best seller for almost 2 years.
I shoud have taken more notice of my wife when she said after reading the book, 'total rubbish' or words to that effect.
Also the fact that 2 of the 4 leads were unknown to me. Unusual for a film of a book that was a best seller for almost 2 years.
John Wick 3. The story continues, literally from the minute we last saw him. It lacks the originality of the original, obviously, and it was never going to be easy to out-cool or out-fight the previous films. But John Wick is a great character, the action is relentless, Keanu is always very watchable, and there is a good supporting cast. If you liked the original or you just like action movies in general you will probably enjoy this violent, fast paced, cool and stylish third installment. 7/10.
vixen1700 said:
Thesprucegoose said:
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
Just put Mandy on, bought a Blu Ray based on the gushing by you lot. If it's crap you collectively owe me a tenner 
I got caught out too, it's s
t.k this. 
If anyone wants a free Blu Ray copy of it PM me within the week, or it goes to the charity shop.
Just back from John Wick 3. Everything I expected really, good but not a classic.
For me The Mule was excellent and shows that constant action and cgi isn’t always needed these days. Story, acting and dialogue still have their place. Up there with Grand Torino.
For me The Mule was excellent and shows that constant action and cgi isn’t always needed these days. Story, acting and dialogue still have their place. Up there with Grand Torino.
Edited by colin79666 on Saturday 18th May 22:25
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