Films I watched this week (Vol 2)
Discussion
“Night crawler “
I quite enjoyed the film, in fact Mrs phazed seemed to enjoy it more than me which is a first for this sort of film.
More importantly, it confirmed that the main actor in the film, Jake Gyllenhaal looks and probably is completely mad ! He has a very unsettling look and I think it is this that kept my wife’s eyes glued to the screen.
If you haven’t seen it, definitely worth a look.
Film info.
Los Angeles denizen Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) survives by scavenging and petty theft. He stumbles into a new career as a cameraman and -- armed with a camcorder and police scanner -- begins nocturnal forays across the city in search of shocking and grisly crimes.
Tomatoes gave it 95% which is far more than it deserves in my opinion. An entertaining film that doesn’t really deserve more than 7.2/10.
I quite enjoyed the film, in fact Mrs phazed seemed to enjoy it more than me which is a first for this sort of film.
More importantly, it confirmed that the main actor in the film, Jake Gyllenhaal looks and probably is completely mad ! He has a very unsettling look and I think it is this that kept my wife’s eyes glued to the screen.
If you haven’t seen it, definitely worth a look.
Film info.
Los Angeles denizen Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) survives by scavenging and petty theft. He stumbles into a new career as a cameraman and -- armed with a camcorder and police scanner -- begins nocturnal forays across the city in search of shocking and grisly crimes.
Tomatoes gave it 95% which is far more than it deserves in my opinion. An entertaining film that doesn’t really deserve more than 7.2/10.
Pebbles167 said:
Finally got to see Black Panther last night. Much of what I was expecting really, good lot of action and a plot that's interesting enough to persevere with. But nothing special. Thought some bits were damn silly, but that's Marvel.
6.5/10
I finally went to see it last night and completely agree including the same score.6.5/10
I wasn't really warming to the main star from interviews but I thought he was good in the film, even if his cousin was better in my view. Some odd casting though, 2 Brit actors playing a South African and an American as if those countries don't have any actors.
Death of Stalin
Well what can I say. Great dialogue. Lots of laughs. All underscored with the horrific nature of the true events of the time!
Great ensemble but Buscemi and Isaacs steal it for me.
The real Zukhov was apparently one of few people who actually told Stalin what he thought rather than kissing his arse.
Solid 8.5/10
Well what can I say. Great dialogue. Lots of laughs. All underscored with the horrific nature of the true events of the time!
Great ensemble but Buscemi and Isaacs steal it for me.
The real Zukhov was apparently one of few people who actually told Stalin what he thought rather than kissing his arse.
Solid 8.5/10
ukaskew said:
Annihilation
Can't believe we live in a world where something like this doesn't get a UK cinema release. Beautiful and haunting and some of the best sound design I've experienced. Watch it via the best possible means.
What?! I'm sure I've seen the trailers for this a few times a couple of months ago. Where did you see it wasn't being released cinematically?Can't believe we live in a world where something like this doesn't get a UK cinema release. Beautiful and haunting and some of the best sound design I've experienced. Watch it via the best possible means.
IrateNinja said:
ukaskew said:
Annihilation
Can't believe we live in a world where something like this doesn't get a UK cinema release. Beautiful and haunting and some of the best sound design I've experienced. Watch it via the best possible means.
What?! I'm sure I've seen the trailers for this a few times a couple of months ago. Where did you see it wasn't being released cinematically?Can't believe we live in a world where something like this doesn't get a UK cinema release. Beautiful and haunting and some of the best sound design I've experienced. Watch it via the best possible means.
IrateNinja said:
What?! I'm sure I've seen the trailers for this a few times a couple of months ago. Where did you see it wasn't being released cinematically?
Paramount sold the right internationally to Netflix after poor test screenings (presumably by people who were hoping for Transformers). They put it up on the UK site at 7am this morning. I LOVED it.Quickmoose said:
IrateNinja said:
ukaskew said:
Annihilation
Can't believe we live in a world where something like this doesn't get a UK cinema release. Beautiful and haunting and some of the best sound design I've experienced. Watch it via the best possible means.
What?! I'm sure I've seen the trailers for this a few times a couple of months ago. Where did you see it wasn't being released cinematically?Can't believe we live in a world where something like this doesn't get a UK cinema release. Beautiful and haunting and some of the best sound design I've experienced. Watch it via the best possible means.
Thanks for the heads up I’ll watch that tonight.
ukaskew said:
Paramount sold the right internationally to Netflix after poor test screenings (presumably by people who were hoping for Transformers). They put it up on the UK site at 7am this morning. I LOVED it.
That's surprising and disappointing. Thanks for the heads up, I'll look to watch tomorrow. Love Garlands previous stuff.ukaskew said:
IrateNinja said:
What?! I'm sure I've seen the trailers for this a few times a couple of months ago. Where did you see it wasn't being released cinematically?
Paramount sold the right internationally to Netflix after poor test screenings (presumably by people who were hoping for Transformers). They put it up on the UK site at 7am this morning. I LOVED it.Paramount saw the first cut and wanted a lot of changes made to make it more mainstream (AKA dumbed down).
Alex Garland (writer and Director) said no and the contract gave him final cut.
Paramount were left with a difficult decision - as good as it's meant to be (I haven't seen it yet, but I will very soon) it's not a mainstream film and Cinema sales are way, way down at the moment apart from absolute risk free releases like Star Wars. Even Blade Runner 2049 only made $90m from it's US release against a $150m, that's going to be a total cost of over $200m by the time you add in marketing and remember the studio doesn't get all the revenue from cinema sales. If you can't make money from Blade Runner (ready made enthusiastic fan base, excellent reviews from both pre-release and post-release sources) then you'll never make money from this.
Not that it's all bad news - it's a shame you can't see it on the big screen very easily (I think it did have a limited run) but rather than blowing another $100m on marketing and pushing out another vanilla action flick or heaven forbid a 'right on' feminist statement that frankly insulting to women - a-la Ghost Busters) better to punt it off to Netflix or whoever so people who like this sort of films can still enjoy it.
It's not the same story of how Cloverleaf Paradox came to be shat out on Netflix and without new avenues to viewers like this, the only films we'll see in the next 5 years will be the next Transformers/Star Wars/Fast n Furious nonsense.
Hidden Figures.
8/10 - I was put off for ages because I thought it would be one of those hopelessly clichéd anti-racist feminist films, but it's not.
It's a great story, the heroes of the film (which include people who aren't Black and Female, John Glenn for example) are wonderful and better still often exist in real life.
8/10 - I was put off for ages because I thought it would be one of those hopelessly clichéd anti-racist feminist films, but it's not.
It's a great story, the heroes of the film (which include people who aren't Black and Female, John Glenn for example) are wonderful and better still often exist in real life.
You Were Never Really Here The latest from Lynne Ramsay staring Joaquin Phoenix on terrifyingly startling form as a hired hitman who specializes in recovering kidnapped children and extracting violent revenge. Brutal, abstract, surprisingly short; reminded me a bit of Kill List from Ben Wheatley a few years ago. Enjoyed it but I don't think I'll ever watch it again.
phazed said:
“Night crawler “
I quite enjoyed the film, in fact Mrs phazed seemed to enjoy it more than me which is a first for this sort of film.
More importantly, it confirmed that the main actor in the film, Jake Gyllenhaal looks and probably is completely mad ! He has a very unsettling look and I think it is this that kept my wife’s eyes glued to the screen.
If you haven’t seen it, definitely worth a look.
Film info.
Los Angeles denizen Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) survives by scavenging and petty theft. He stumbles into a new career as a cameraman and -- armed with a camcorder and police scanner -- begins nocturnal forays across the city in search of shocking and grisly crimes.
Tomatoes gave it 95% which is far more than it deserves in my opinion. An entertaining film that doesn’t really deserve more than 7.2/10.
If you have Netflix I'd highly recommend looking out for a documentary series called "Shot in the Dark" which bascially follows the LA guys who do this freelance video news stuff for real.I quite enjoyed the film, in fact Mrs phazed seemed to enjoy it more than me which is a first for this sort of film.
More importantly, it confirmed that the main actor in the film, Jake Gyllenhaal looks and probably is completely mad ! He has a very unsettling look and I think it is this that kept my wife’s eyes glued to the screen.
If you haven’t seen it, definitely worth a look.
Film info.
Los Angeles denizen Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) survives by scavenging and petty theft. He stumbles into a new career as a cameraman and -- armed with a camcorder and police scanner -- begins nocturnal forays across the city in search of shocking and grisly crimes.
Tomatoes gave it 95% which is far more than it deserves in my opinion. An entertaining film that doesn’t really deserve more than 7.2/10.
So here we go.....
Watched The Outsider last night.
I'm unsure exactly why it got so heavily slammed by the "critics" as it did. Band wagon syndrome perhaps? OK, it was not in any way outstanding or edge of your seat stuff but neither was it trying to be. It's dark, lacking in decent dialogue at parts and possibly a tad cliched in certain scenes but overall it wasn't a bad movie. Definitely worth a watch imo.
I'll leave others to make up their own mind.
I think a 6 out of a samurai sword worthy it is.
Watched The Outsider last night.
I'm unsure exactly why it got so heavily slammed by the "critics" as it did. Band wagon syndrome perhaps? OK, it was not in any way outstanding or edge of your seat stuff but neither was it trying to be. It's dark, lacking in decent dialogue at parts and possibly a tad cliched in certain scenes but overall it wasn't a bad movie. Definitely worth a watch imo.
I'll leave others to make up their own mind.
I think a 6 out of a samurai sword worthy it is.
DoubleTime said:
So here we go.....
Watched The Outsider last night.
I'm unsure exactly why it got so heavily slammed by the "critics" as it did. Band wagon syndrome perhaps? OK, it was not in any way outstanding or edge of your seat stuff but neither was it trying to be. It's dark, lacking in decent dialogue at parts and possibly a tad cliched in certain scenes but overall it wasn't a bad movie. Definitely worth a watch imo.
I'll leave others to make up their own mind.
I think a 6 out of a samurai sword worthy it is.
In your words, (slightly out of context) not in any way outstanding, or edge of the seat, dark ,lacking in dialogue in parts, a tad clichéd...Watched The Outsider last night.
I'm unsure exactly why it got so heavily slammed by the "critics" as it did. Band wagon syndrome perhaps? OK, it was not in any way outstanding or edge of your seat stuff but neither was it trying to be. It's dark, lacking in decent dialogue at parts and possibly a tad cliched in certain scenes but overall it wasn't a bad movie. Definitely worth a watch imo.
I'll leave others to make up their own mind.
I think a 6 out of a samurai sword worthy it is.
In my words...dull.
ex US soldier goes awol (no back story) and somehow ends up in the Yakuza, where upon he finds a 'home' and some love...internal politics and rival gang stuff telegraphed from the beginning... no change in pace.... I was expecting more from Jared Lehto...really forgettable.
As other shave said ...it passes time...
Quickmoose said:
DoubleTime said:
So here we go.....
Watched The Outsider last night.
I'm unsure exactly why it got so heavily slammed by the "critics" as it did. Band wagon syndrome perhaps? OK, it was not in any way outstanding or edge of your seat stuff but neither was it trying to be. It's dark, lacking in decent dialogue at parts and possibly a tad cliched in certain scenes but overall it wasn't a bad movie. Definitely worth a watch imo.
I'll leave others to make up their own mind.
I think a 6 out of a samurai sword worthy it is.
In your words, (slightly out of context) not in any way outstanding, or edge of the seat, dark ,lacking in dialogue in parts, a tad clichéd...Watched The Outsider last night.
I'm unsure exactly why it got so heavily slammed by the "critics" as it did. Band wagon syndrome perhaps? OK, it was not in any way outstanding or edge of your seat stuff but neither was it trying to be. It's dark, lacking in decent dialogue at parts and possibly a tad cliched in certain scenes but overall it wasn't a bad movie. Definitely worth a watch imo.
I'll leave others to make up their own mind.
I think a 6 out of a samurai sword worthy it is.
In my words...dull.
ex US soldier goes awol (no back story) and somehow ends up in the Yakuza, where upon he finds a 'home' and some love...internal politics and rival gang stuff telegraphed from the beginning... no change in pace.... I was expecting more from Jared Lehto...really forgettable.
As other shave said ...it passes time...
The plot with those blank holes in the back story is deliberate. It's completely intentional (imo) to wrap the character in mystery because he was in fact, a very mysterious character. Spoon feeding a back story is not the order of the day in a movie such as this. By dark, I meant good btw. There are certain scenes (without spoiling it for others) that were most definitely far from dull. You know it, I know it.
The love story aspect I thought was the major let down. It just didn't work. The rest I thought quite good. The depiction of Japanese culture was sympathetic and nothing hollywood. The lighting and cinematography were excellent. I didn't feel he ever found home personally. Hence the name of the movie.
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