Film review thread

[thx1138]

12 Strong 6/10

I liked it, it was quite a good war movie, don't know how much of it was "the true story" and how much was invented for the film, but it lacked any real depth to be truly gripping, and like so many films was about half an hour too long.

The action sequences were interesting enough, quite well photographed, an entertaining watch, and I'd watch it again, but there is nothing super stand out about it.

The feat itself, what they did, the written summary in the end credits absolutely epic, and I'm minded to read the book, but it seems to have lost something along the way from the point of view of the film.

[MarJay]

[King29]

[Polarbear]

[thx1138]

Geostorm 2/10

Rubbish sci-fi, flimsy plot. Okay to look at it.

Not sure if comedy?

[andyscooter]

hacksaw ridge 6/10

started off a bit boring but I enjoyed this film

not sure why the japs didn't just sit within range of the climbing net and just shoot them all as they went over the top though
____________________
gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[thx1138]

[pinkyfloyd]

[andym]

[M.C]

[thx1138]

Surburbico 6/10

Black comedy set in 1950s American Dream.

Made me chuckle quite a lot, I liked the sets and the way the film was shot, misses the mark a fair bit. Could've been brilliant, but wasn't. Ended up as a hit and miss black comedy, trying to make a point about something or other

Critics and review sites don't seem to rate it, but I liked it.

[thx1138]

[stevo as b4]

Best two films I've seen for a while are:

1, American Made. Stylish crime thriller with Tom Cruise living the high life as pilot working for Escobar transporting Cocaine into the US. 8/10.

2, Wheelman. Frank Grillo is a get away driver for a gang of robbers. Things go wrong and it's quite tense as nearly all of the film is shot in his BMW with phone calls. When the car chase finally happens it's a good one though IMO. 9/10

Not sure if the following films have been mentioned before but I enjoyed them too.

1, The infiltrator. 9/10 (great soundtrack) tense undercover CIA film also about Escobar.

2, Bullet Head. 7/10 a gang of robbers trapped in an old warehouse and blocked by an angry dog from escape.

3, Only the Brave. 8/10 I thought this would be better being a true story, but the ending was a bit disappointing and I found it a bit slow in places though. I do like Josh Brolin films generally though. I'd say it wasn't as good a film as Patriots day, but still watchable though.

And an old film I havnt seen in ages that's also a true story, but quite gripping and shocking with the amount of firepower used is, Rapid Fire. Crazy film about a botched robbery but worth a watch IMO. 8/10

[M.C]

Ripley's Game 3.5/10 - thought I recognised the title but maybe I was thinking of The Talented Mr Ripley. It felt like a really old film, but hang on they all have mobile phones, and the cars are too modern. It's from 2002 John Malkovich was ok, and a young Lena Headey (Sarah Connor chronciles) was standing to attention throughout if you know what I mean , but the rest of it was utterly forgettable*

*I actually turned it off after about an hour, but finished it whilst having a meal.

The Formula One Drivers aka The Quick and the Dead 4/10 - motor-racing doc' (obviously). Most of it seemed to involve footage of Formula 1 cars set to 70s porno music*, but there were a few good driver interviews, and stuff like Jackie Stewart giving a track guide of the Nurburgring from a Rolls Royce. It shows a couple of fatal accidents (Tom Pryce & Roger Williamson) but it's no worse than other docs despite the title**.

*including a psychedelic montage which was err... interesting
**which apparently it has more than one of: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_by_One_(1975_film)

[duhawkz]

The post 6.5/10 I went to the pictures to see it yesterday with the wife. It was interesting enough, for what it was. Worth watching but I don't think I'd watch it again.
____________________
"The guy is a worthless cunt and I honestly believe I would be a slightly happier person if he died." - Chris-Red

[King29]

Den of thieves

Enjoyable cop/robbers escapade. 50 cent, Gerard Butler and a few recognisable others. Heist film, enjoyable, would watch again. 8/10

[CBFcarl]

Den Of Thieves

I went with the mrs to watch this on Friday. It reminded me of when you are shopping and the shop has cover versions of songs to save on royalties (Superdrug and Wilkos, are ones, I think). Anyway. The songs are never as good as the originals. This is the Superdrug version of Heat. It could be an entertaining film, but there are bits in there that make no sense, that take away from the enjoyment. I've said it before, and I'm damn sure I'll say it again - Gerard Butler can't act. At all.

4/10 for the action.


King Arthur

Guy Ritchies attempt at cockney'ing up the King Arthur story. Not a terrible film, some of the action and the cinematography is lovely, but Charlie Hunnams muddled accent, and his Kylo Ren schtick is boring.

6/10


Downsizing

I can't remember if I put it on here, but here goes again. It isn't good. The best bits are in the trailer, and half of the trailer isn't in the film. Disappointed because it showed so much promise, but it ended up being two different films badly sellotaped in the middle.

5/10
____________________
thx1138 wrote: Well if you had a car, I'd bet it would smell like urine had had drunken sex with vomit and made a poo baby.
Polarbear wrote: They are all old now. Probably had more abuse that a Rotherham schoolgirl.
Hellkat wrote: I want to know if Nigella smells of garlic, or just minge.

[M.C]

Vacation 4.5/10 - the kids from National Lampoon are grown up, and one of them turns out to be the dentist from The Hangover. He actually does a good job of playing 'the dad', and the film isn't bad, there are some genuinely funny moments, it's just quite vulgar (which I do like) compared to the original movies (which I never really liked). The movie kinda shoots itself in the foot by having the original mum and dad in a cameo performance, which brings this into focus. The rest of the time it feels like it's trying to be like The Hangover... so like every other American comedy since The Hangover. Probably worth watching the once but not again.

[thx1138]

Vacation did have some good moments in it, it parodied itself which I liked, and Chevvy Chase was good, I liked it, can't remember what I scored it now, but yeah - it was okayishsortof


on that note just watched A Futile and Stupid Gesture 6/10

It tried to be a drama documentary and a mockumentary at the same time, so it was a bit hit and miss, but much of National Lampoon was a bit hit and miss TBH. I liked it overall.

[CBFcarl]

Atomic Blonde.

'80s set spy thriller set in Berlin.
Charlize Theron rocks it, James Macavoy channels his inner Tyler Durdon. I really enjoyed it. I'd guessed the ending about 30 mins before the end, but it got there in an enjoyable way.

7/10
____________________
thx1138 wrote: Well if you had a car, I'd bet it would smell like urine had had drunken sex with vomit and made a poo baby.
Polarbear wrote: They are all old now. Probably had more abuse that a Rotherham schoolgirl.
Hellkat wrote: I want to know if Nigella smells of garlic, or just minge.

[pinkyfloyd]

Justice League 5/10

It was rubbish but scored a 5 because it was entertaining rubbish. The action was actiony, the story was shit but I never wanted to turn it off.

Dunkirk: Cant rate it.

Not sure if it was because I was exhausted but I just could not get into it and turned it off after 45 minutes, It was boring.
____________________
illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[andym]

[M.C]

Mindhorn 3/10 - decent actors cast in the wrong roles in a comedy that forgets it's meant to be funny. I wonder if it purely existed to get grant money. This is why people hate British cinema

[hellkat]

Two long-ass long-haul flights in one week = many many movies.

1. Wonderstruck. Two kids in different eras (1970s and 1930s) have some sort of mutual experience, no idea how they link up (not a Delorean, one presumes) cos I got annoyed by moody atmospherics, something to do with transient deafness and talkie-movies, eventually gave up - possibly due to having watched "The Ticket" first: two films about "the senses" in a row, did my nut in. Arty low lighting also annoying. Has promise, so might revisit. Currently 3/10

2. The Ticket. Visually impaired fella regains his sight, gets a bit up-himself in his rediscovery of the world around him. Good use of colour (a lot of yellow, no doubt denoting light - ultimately slightly annoying but arty use of light and dark, again, gets kind of old) - good story though. 7/10.

3. Victoria and Abdul. Good solid Judy Dench fare: grouchy old Queen Vic gets a bit of a crush on her hunky and naive new Indian servant, thus infuriating and annoying her courtiers. Typical British costume drama. Interesting casting: Eddie Izzard (no make-up) as Prince Bertie works really well. 8/10

4. Three Billboards Woman takes on the local plod about the still-open case on her dead daughter. Worth persevering beyond 20 minutes (M.C.) Also, Sam Rockwell (from The Green Mile) being an irritating redneck again, but he improves by the end of the film to make it a worthwhile bit of typecasting. 8/10

5. Good Time. As mentioned, above. I liked it a lot, and agree with Thx1138's description. It was nicely paced to keep it interesting throughout. 8/10

6. Mother! - Too moody, got bored. Something about a couple living way out in the countryside in a big empty house. Maybe revisit when not so jetlagged. Currently 2/10

7. The Party. Female politician throws a celebration party for her personal friends after being elected to a senior role - but it's a bit of a disaster. Typical British middle class atmosphere, but quite funny in places. Characterisation is so good that you actually dislike some of them on sight, and would dread being sat next to them at a dinner party. Good little final twist 8/10

8. Black Butterfly. People in films never learn: Don't pick up hitch-hikers. Suspenseful, good last-minute final twist. 8/10

9. The Hitman's Bodyguard. Highly competent hitman (Samuel L Jackson, motherfuckers) needed as a witness in an international court case in the Hague relating to some dodgy Czech politician (well played by Gary Oldman, interesting to see he actually has a "range"). The hitman's nemesis in the shape of the world's most highly-rated bodyguard (not ours), has to keep said hitman alive and get him to the court on time. Great car chase through Amsterdam. Excellent. 9/10

10. Dunkirk. Long, tedious, confusing, pointless. Just like a war, really. Technically good, individual characterisation good, but just ... too blokey for me. 7/10.

11. What Happened to Monday? Excellent, futuristic (but only just), in a world with single-child rules, but seven triplets septuplets manage to survive to womanhood and get themselves into a bit of a pickle. Girl who plays all 7 sisters is quite hot, if you like that kind of thing. Added bonus for me: Willem Dafoe, mmmm 9/10

12. Madame. Very good but you should probably recommend it to your wife to go with her girlfriends. Bit of a chick flick, not particularly with traditional happy ending. I saw it had Toni Collette and remembered she was good in Muriel's Wedding, big hipped, gawky brunette. Interestingly I thought she was the main character (the maid) in this one, but it turns out she lost a bit of weight, went blonde and was "Madame" (rich bitch living in Paris with assorted family) instead. However, the maid actually does resemble the original Toni Collette, just with a bigger continental nose, so you might enjoy it if the Mrs does make you go. Downside for me is that she reminded me of the sister I just buried. Other than that: Tom Hughes (the floppy haired Prince Albert in the TV series) was light and comedic, loved him. And Harvey Keitel, mmmmmm. 8/10

13. The Lighthouse. Solid Welsh BBC drama about a brace of lighthousekeepers stuck in a storm (19th century, based on real story I think). Only 2 main characters, but for some reason it made me think of Stinkwheel and Ed Sheeran coping with life with one another in a remote light-house. 7/10

I also wanted to watch Suburbico, Atomic Blonde and American Made, but ran out of time ( )

Edited because: "seven triplets" ... ?! wtf LOL
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[stevo as b4]

The Shot Caller 8/10

Quite a decent film about a guy who goes to jail for causing a fatal road accident, and gets absorbed into a prison gang for his duration. Agrees to do a job on the outside upon release, and gets snitched by a former inmate, ends up back inside.

A bit frustrating as I wanted the job to go to plan and the guy get a clean slate. Not that it could ever happen after running with a jail crew.