First Time Viewings: October 2023
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12 titles
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsBill MurrayOwen WilsonAnjelica HustonWith a plan to exact revenge on a legendary shark that killed his partner, oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) rallies a crew that includes his estranged wife, a journalist, and a man who may or may not be his son.Viewed: 02-10-2023
I'm a huge Wes Anderson fan but it has taken me 19 years to finally watch this film. All of his films are divisive amongst film lovers, but this one is divisive amongst Anderson lovers. Maybe that's why it has taken me so long to watch it, but some movies just slip through the cracks sometimes and this was one of them.
This has all the quirky attributes of Anderson, though a little less funny and the story a little drawn out. But it's still a joy to watch. The animation of Henry Selick is amazing, the acting by Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe and Anjelica Huston is especially great, but all the characters are well drawn and acted. Ultimately, I would say this is a weaker Wes Anderson picture, but I'll take that over a lot of film maker's best films any day.
8/10 - DirectorWhit StillmanStarsCarolyn FarinaEdward ClementsChris EigemanA group of young upper-class Manhattanites are blithely passing through the gala debutante season, when an unusual outsider joins them and stirs them up.Viewed: 07-10-23
Wonderful film debut for Whit Stillman who wrote and directed this low budget but unique and rewarding film about young upper-class New Yorkers wading through the gala debutante season. The dialogue is rich and endlessly fascinating which is important because this film is all dialogue. It has drama and a little romance but it's the sharply written and witty comedy that rises this film above other films of the genre. A thoroughly enjoyable film from start to finish.
9/10 - DirectorWes AndersonStarsDev PatelBenedict CumberbatchRalph FiennesWhen a poisonous snake slithers onto an Englishman's stomach in India, his associate and a doctor race to save him.Viewed: 03-10-23
Interesting short by Wes Anderson of a Roald Dahl story. This is the one of 4 shorts that Anderson has made based on a Dahl story and the first I've watched. There is a man with a highly venomous snake asleep on his stomach while his associates calls on a doctor to help with the situation. Creatively shot with a fascinating finale that really makes you think. The constant narration by Dev Patel is a little smothering and exhausting but at only 17 minutes it doesn't overstay its welcome.
7/10 - DirectorScott WaughStarsJason Statham50 CentMegan FoxArmed with every weapon they can get their hands on, the Expendables are the world's last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table.Viewed: 14-10-23
This fourth installment in the Expendables franchise has as many action movie cliches as you can think of but the action scenes keep the film as lively as it can be. The CGI is especially cheap looking and not many of the big-name actors from the first three films return but Jason Statham carries the film well and the supporting characters are very likable, Tony Jaa especially. As some big dumb entertainment, it does ok, I liked it, but make sure to check your brain at the door.
6/10 - DirectorPreston SturgesStarsJoel McCreaVeronica LakeRobert WarwickHollywood director John L. Sullivan sets out to experience life as a homeless person in order to gain relevant life experience for his next movie.Viewed: 22-10-2023
The more I think about this film, the better it gets. Sharp observations, clever writing and the seamless transition between comedy mode and serious mode make this easily one of the finest satires on Hollywood I've seen. The story starts fairly simply, Joel McCrea stars as a Hollywood director disillusioned with making light fluff and wants to make a serious drama decides to try living like a hobo so he knows what he's talking about. The twists and turns and transitions from one thing to another are expertly handled by Preston Sturges who wrote and directed it. The social commentary and fast-paced dialogue are on point, but also there are scenes with no dialogue that are simply so well filmed that it's a marvel of filmmaking in general. This film is a remarkable achievement by Sturges.
10/10 - DirectorPreston SturgesStarsEddie BrackenTom FaddenIan HunterDocumentary short depicting the dangers of inadvertent dispersal of secret military information, showing the unintended and disastrous results of careless conversation and improper maintenance of secret records.Viewed: 22-10-23
Just a short film detailing how important it is to keep top secret information secret, and not to tell anyone including loved ones and what could happen if such information got out into the wrong hands. Decently made and holds attention but it's just a WWII propaganda film at the end of the day.
6/10 - DirectorMichelangelo AntonioniStarsGabriele FerzettiMonica VittiLea MassariA woman disappears during a Mediterranean boating trip. During the search, her lover and her best friend become attracted to each other.Viewed: 22-10-2023
There is a woman who goes on a boating trip with her lover, her best friend and a few other acquaintances. They go swimming, then they go to a little island to do some exploring, and then the woman vanishes. They search for her and then call in the authorities for some due diligence when they can't find her. Finding her would be the plot in almost any movie that starts this way, but this film isn't interested in plot. The best friend and lover almost instantly realise they're attracted to each other and use the excuse they're searching for the woman to simply spend more time together.
On the surface this film seems like it's about the bare minimum, nothing much really happens, but if you let the gorgeous cinematography take you in, it feels like a stylish black and white photograph come to life. It's simply stunning to look at, and the slow pace and nuanced characters work in its favour. It is fairly long at almost 2.5 hours, especially for a film with such a thin plot, but it had me entranced for most of it. I can't explain it, the feeling it gave me or what the movie might be trying to say underneath the shallowness of the characters, but it had me fixated on the screen for long periods. L'avventura is certainly not for everyone, but it was a very rewarding viewing experience for me.
9/10 - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioRobert De NiroLily GladstoneWhen oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.Viewed: 24-10-2023
Masterfully made film about the Osage murders that essentially kickstarted the FBI. Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert de Niro are great as they always are but Lily Gladstone (who I wasn't familiar with before) is a real revelation. The music by Robbie Robertson deserves a mention too, as it adds so much to what we're seeing and this film would not have been as good without it. It's very long at almost 3.5 hours but it's such an absorbing and well-told story that it feels justified. A huge and important epic that fits in well with Martin Scorsese's very impressive filmography.
9/10 - DirectorJustin SimienStarsLaKeith StanfieldRosario DawsonOwen WilsonA single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought mansion after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts.Viewed: 28-10-23
Overblown and loose remake of 2003 Eddie Murphy vehicle is a little lacking in both the scares and laughs department but does have some important things to say about grief, helping younger viewers understand and process such feelings. The special effects are decent but overused and at over 2 hours, it lingers around for too long for a family-friendly horror comedy. It's ok, made somewhat watchable by a strong lead role by Lakeith Stanfield, and a weird but funny supporting role by comedy legend Danny DeVito but overall a disappointment.
5/10 - DirectorRob MinkoffStarsEddie MurphyMarsha ThomasonJennifer TillyA realtor and his wife and children are summoned to a mansion, which they soon discover is haunted, and while they attempt to escape, he learns an important lesson about the family he has neglected.Viewed: 28-10-23
So, I never got around to this film version of the Disney ride at the time it was released and only watched it after the 2023 film version. I'm quite curious what people's opinions on this film would be if they also watched it after the remake. The remake was ok, but the fun factor was pretty low as it dealt with grief quite heavily (and got a little bogged down) whereas this film is taking the fun route with zero depth to it. Both versions have their positives and negatives, but I certainly enjoyed the fun version more. Even with all the poor reviews this film received I think Eddie Murphy is actually quite hilarious at times in this and Terence Stamp is also excellent. Mind you, this film is far from being a great horror comedy, but It's a bit of light entertainment, with some decent laughs and terrific set designs, and it doesn't overstay its welcome.
6/10 - DirectorCharlie McDowellStarsMark DuplassElisabeth MossTed DansonA troubled couple vacate to a beautiful getaway, but bizarre circumstances further complicate their situation.Viewed: 29-10-2023
Low-budget romantic drama with a sci-fi twist that's really fascinating but a little undercooked. A couple trying to reignite their relationship go to a retreat, but then unexplainable things start to happen. The film doesn't delve too deeply into that side of things, but it remains an interesting relationship study throughout. It also has some nice touches of comedy and the acting by the two leads is excellent. It's one of the more unique films of this type of seen. I do feel it needed to be a bit more fleshed out, not necessarily having everything spelt out for the viewer but it feels like the writer Justin Lader doesn't even have a clue about how to explain it, therefore there's really nothing on a deeper level for us to figure out. I still really liked it though.
7/10 - DirectorDavid FincherStarsMichael FassbenderTilda SwintonCharles ParnellAfter a fateful near-miss, an assassin battles his employers and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn't personal.Viewed: 31-10-23
Mesmerizing procedural of a hired killer. After the unnamed killer bungles a job, those who hired him attempt to eradicate him but instead attack a loved one. This starts a revenge mission which is deliberately paced, has occasional but brutal violence and a very dark sense of humour. Add to that, there's a great soundtrack of tracks by The Smiths, and a thumping score by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor. The broad storyline is not anything unique, but it feels completely original. David Fincher has created a one-of-a-kind assassin movie with his usual style and wit, and an acting performance worthy of many awards by Michael Fassbender. I honestly wasn't sure if Fincher had a movie this good left in him, but I'm very glad to see he did. Easily one of the best films of the year, and decade so far.
10/10