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Absentia (2017)
Condensed would have been OK
It was full of promise, and Stana Katic did the job. However, as has been said already, it felt like a knock down drag out offensive and I lost patience and interest in it far too quickly. It was too fragmented, and pulling that together was strenuous. That might have been OK, if I'd been engrossed in the story ... but I was not..
Fail Safe (1964)
A revisit after quite a while
Watching Fail Safe again after a few years. It's still as good as ever. There are reviews on here that call it "outdated", and of course it is that, but the reality is that such systems WERE somewhat basic as compared to today's technology. Comparing the technologies of the two eras is simply a waste of time and spoils the impact of this movie for the viewer. It is of its time. It's quietly tense and builds well to its climax.
The basic premise is the same in Dr Strangelove, but whilst that was a satire on this most serious of subjects Fail Safe is a flatter, tenser and therefore more realistic story.
The premise of the story is unthinkable but it is a pointer to the grave risks of having such devastating weapons and the vital need for secure fail-safe systems and procedures to operate them.
American Ultra (2015)
In Summary ...
... I have read several of these reviews covering the whole range of responses. It occurred to me that, for the most part, folks have been trying to attach far too much cerebral value to what they have seen in the movie.
It is what I choose to call "chewing gum for the eyes". It doesn't demand too much thought and is simply very entertaining. The leads performed excellently, and most of the other parts were played very well. The story-line is not overly complex, and I was easily able to dissociate it from "Hanna", which had a similar theme, but was rather more sophisticated.
Thus, in summary, I have to say that this was a thoroughly entertaining movie which does not deserve some of the overblown bad criticism that others have made of it. Not the best that I've watched, but very far from being the worst.
The Ghost Writer (2010)
Once more into the Breach ...
Watching this again, for the second time this year, and still thoroughly enjoying it.
Polanski can do no wrong for me, and this movie might be his best work. The story is enthralling, the actors riveting, and yet it is a lean and understated presentation.
I have always had a vivid imagination, and yet I don't find that a hindrance to enjoying this movie. I have still to work out why that is since, usually, familiarity reduces the enjoyment level.
Someone compared Polanski's style in this production to that of Hitchcock. That may well be so, but Polanski has a unique style all of his own, and it shines through for me in this movie.
The best conspiracy stories are always edgy, and Ghost is rather edgier than most, especially through the understated way it comes across. It is not overly convoluted but still catches my imagination on every occasion, even after several viewings.
Prior to this, Polanski's "Chinatown" was my favourite out of his work, and certainly near to the top of my top-10 favourite movies. Needless to say, "Ghost" has now moved firmly onto that short list.
Dog Soldiers (2002)
Riveting
Since 2002, I have watched Dog Soldiers maybe a dozen times and I find it just as good every single time.
It's as real and visceral as a Werewolf movie can ever be. It benefits greatly from being located in Scotland and from its British cast, all of whom are, quite simply, excellent.
The werewolves are brilliantly conceived and brought to the screen. The script and action are so engrossing, I feel myself believing that they are real, at least for the duration of the movie. This is the suspension of disbelief to the maximum.
Someone on here made a comparison with American Werewolf in London, another excellent, classic horror thriller. However, I feel that Dog Soldiers is an even better thrill ride.
I'm a movie buff, but not a complete purist. I've considered every aspect of the movie and I cannot find anything about it worthy of the slightest adverse criticism.
My apologies if I sound somewhat of a fanboy about Dog Soldiers, but, for me, this may be the best film of its genre that I've ever seen ... and I've seen a good many over the years.
If you're reading this and haven't yet seen the movie, drop everything and do so now And if you've seen it before ... you know you must see it again.
The Martian (2015)
Just ... excellent.
I just watched this today for the first time since it came out and found it to be one of the best movies I've seen in the past 12 months. It seems to me that many folks today feel the need nit pick every movie they see. We are human and there is no such thing as perfection in this world. The Movie industry is no exception to this, despite which, the majority of releases do seem to be made to pretty high standards. It then becomes a matter of personal opinion whether you like them or not. Many movies are chewing gum for the eyes, and it's a delight when one comes along that makes you think a bit more than usual. This one got me thinking and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Rebus: Question of Blood (2006)
Surprising detail mistake
As always, Ken Stott plays an excellent character as Rebus in this brilliant series. Blunt, brusque and a bit of a rebel, he has his own devils, including the drink, but he eventually gets the job done.
This title has a gritty story, and a strong air of reality, presenting the dour Scottish city in a light that tourists might not recognise.
But there is a small, yet niggling error, that I spotted:
Scenario: A shooting at a school. 3 deaths, including the suspect, and one injured who is rushed to the hospital. The suspect shooter, a teacher, is one of the dead.
A revolver is found next to the deceased teacher and, whilst searching, a SOCO officer finds an unspent bullet on the floor across the room.
A supposition is made: "The gun jammed
" "
and he cleared it" responds Rebus.
The fact is, although a shell could jam in the cylinder of a revolver, this would be quite unusual, and re-cocking or triggering the gun would move the next round under the hammer. The failed round would simply remain in the cylinder. If a shell had jammed and stopped the cylinder from turning, the only solution would be to remove the dud shell, but this could prove difficult to do, and would certainly interrupt the sequence of shooting.
This small lack of detail and poor continuity is unusual in the Rebus series, and most viewers probably wouldn't have registered it.
Breakheart Pass (1975)
Somewhat of an enjoyable surprise.
I was surprised to find that I had never before seen this movie, nor read the book. At first glance at the schedule, I had Heartbreak Ridge in mind, but it was clearly not that one. It's not an overly complex story-line, but it's a nicely structured screenplay, the photography and effects are excellent, and the cast, so many of whom are very well known from movies of the 70s, translate it into a very enjoyable cinematic event. It has several worthwhile twists and turns along the way, and concludes very satisfactorily. I have quite varied tastes in movies, ranging across all genres and styles. In the case of this movie, I must have found it to be very good, because I'm now about to order the DVD.
Paul (2011)
Gotta love Paul
I've seen this a few times now, and it cracks me up every time. My taste in movie genres is quite broad, but I'll admit it tends to lean more towards Sci-fi. My favourite Sci-fi movie is, and probably always will be, Forbidden Planet. That said, my favourite Comedy Sci-Fi is, absolutely, Paul. Even though I know what's coming, I still laugh out loud. There's been a long-running dialogue on here about the merits of this movie as regards religion .vs. atheism. This movie is NOT a sounding board for that particular debate - if indeed a debate was needed. The story-line seeks to use as one element, the interplay of the two beliefs (non-beliefs?) in relation to the existence of other life forms in the universe. Having said that, I worry that folks are putting way too much emphasis on these matters. It's just a very funny comedy film based on a Sci-fi premise ... and I love it! Just read my strap-line.
There's real life ... and then there's movies!
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Perfectly encapsulated
Just watching this again (for the umpteenth time) and I never get tired of it. It's just one of those movies that doesn't get stale. Yes, there is a little hammy acting. Yes, some of the effects are a little questionable by today's standards (60 years later!). Yes, Robby tends a little toward sardonic humour. And, yes, perhaps it is a little "Boys Own". However, lest we forget, this movie was made SIXTY YEARS AGO, yet it remains highly remarkable in spite of that fact. There were several space movies made in the mid-to-late 50s, most of which don't compare with Forbidden Planet. Conquest of Space bears some comparison, but it shows flaws in several areas, whereas any flaws in Forbidden Planet are much less notable. I feel that there's a fine line to be drawn in today's Sci-fi movies, beyond which the effects simply swamp the story. Indeed, in a few there simply is no story to speak of. There has been talk of producing a remake of Forbidden Planet. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, the effects could, with some careful handling, be improved upon. However, the storyline should not be tinkered with in favour of simply updating. That would just spoil the nature of this unique fable.
That Thing You Do! (1996)
Feelgood!
Just watched TTYD for maybe the 4th time since it came out. It's still top of my list of feel-good movies. It's a simple and quite light story, but it loses nothing for being that. The music is fun, the acting is pretty good ... and Liv is, as always, fabulous. The story-line could be typical of the experiences of bands back in the 60s and, although they turned out to be the one-shot-Wonders, the music is most evocative of the times. I was 15 in the year that this story is set and was listening to The Stones, The Beatles, Creedance, Cream, Dave Clark et al. If TTYD had been released back then, I'd have been listening to the Wonders too.
22 August 2016 - Flash: Turns out that I am, after all, a total sucker for this movie. "Feelgood" is exactly what it is. I'm in the middle of watching it ... yet again. I'm still in love with Liv Tyler and, if I was so inclined, I'd be in love with Tom Everett Scott too. At the risk of repeating myself, this is such a great movie and a credit to Tom Hanks.
Kinky Boots (2005)
Magnificent Humanity!
I have just watched Kinky Boots again and have once more been knocked out by the humanity that is demonstrated in this simple, yet just a little complex, story. It is populated with believable characters who are well fleshed-out and about whom you will find that you care. Chiwetel plays Lola magnificently, with humour and empathy. Joel plays Charlie as being just a little the under-dog who recognises a never before considered opportunity and rallies with the right support. Sarah-Jane is wonderful and has such an expressive face that you know exactly what she's thinking, even when she's not speaking. As an essay in how we should accept diversity and treat each other well, it works on several levels. It's good to think that there is more of this generous spirit in the world than not. On that basis alone, it would be hard not to feel good by the end of this little story.
A Good Year (2006)
A very, very good year.
I've seen this movie a few times now, and, like a good wine - maybe le Coin Perdu - it improves each time. It's not a fantasy (other than in my own mind), but I feel it to be similar in some ways to "Field of Dreams". My late wife and I had been seriously planning to retire to France, but sadly that was not to be. After she passed, moving there alone seemed to be inappropriate. Over the years we had visited France many times, including stays at houses and Chateaux similar to that in the movie.
When I first saw it, just a couple of years after her death, A Good Year took me right back to those happy days. The characters are well rounded. Russell Crowe is particularly good. Marion Cotillard is absolutely divine ... there, I've said it. The flashbacks with Albert Finney and Freddie Highmore were delightful. I shall watch it again in a year's time - or earlier if it comes on TV in the interim.
So, I watched it again – almost a year down the line – and can only re-emphasise what I have said before. A good movie should lift you out of yourself, affect your emotions and make you feel a part of it. A good Year does that for me.
11 May 2017: Just watch AGY yet again ... and nothing changes for me. I just love this movie. I identify with so much of the story in so many ways, and it always moves me. And, of course, I adore Marion with a passion.
Field of Dreams (1989)
Guyflick?
Just watched this again for the umpteenth time and, yet again, I'm a wreck by the end. I've thought it through and tried to analyse my reaction, but all that seems to happen is confusion. Now sure, I'm getting old, and maybe that's what this is all about ... for me.
I always had a vivid imagination and could scare myself witless whilst reading certain books. The first book that really scared me was "The Devil Rides Out" and, oddly, so did the movie. Overall though, I found I could usually hold it together. I was never prone to getting teary-eyed over romantic and moving stories. That said, I did shed a little tear when I first saw "Miracle on 34th Street" with Dickie Attenborough. Maybe that was the start of it all. Now I shed a tear because Dickie has gone.
I'm a Brit, and have no history with American Baseball, other than a few questionable games with friends way back when. It's rarely featured on TV over here, but I did see a couple of great games when on vacation in Florida, and I do get it. What I do know though is that whilst Baseball is the vehicle, it's the humanity of this story that has the impact. It's about opportunities missed, things unsaid, continuity of life ... even after death (no ... not zombies!).
There have been several adverse reviews of the movie, but usually by people who're over-analysing. If you don't get this movie without reading the reviews of others and picking at the detail ... maybe you never will. However ... I do, and I am always moved.
Dec 11, 2016 - just watched this movie yet again and, guess what ... by the end of it, I was blubbing like a fool. If the object of a movie is to affect you and make you think, this one does it in spades for me. That officially makes Field of Dreams absolute top of my movie hit list.
Battleship (2012)
Haters Gonna Hate ...
Just watching Battleship again (3rd or 4th time). Still entertaining and great fun. It's what I classify as chewing gum for the eyes - pleasant viewing and not requiring too much brain activity. That doesn't mean it's not a good movie, just that it's light entertainment rather than brain-straining. This chewing gum does have a little Chili in it, though.
The story-line isn't taxing, but it's amusing and hangs together well enough. The characters are quite well defined - well, except for the aliens who are predictably badass with no redeeming qualities. Difficult to establish an emotional attachment to these ugly guys (girls?).
If you're looking for deep involvement ... this isn't it. That said, just read my strap-line below.
There's real life ... and then there's movies!
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Maybe the best Robin Hood movie
There have been several movies about our eponymous hero - played by Errol Flynn in 1938, Russell Crowe in 2010 and of course Kevin Costner in 1991. Others were average to good but, for me, these three were the best by far. Of these, Prince of Thieves was perhaps the most well rounded presentation with much action and a good deal of comedy.
We had probably the best Sheriff of Nottingham ever in Alan Rickman. Whilst he did overplay the character a bit, he was mesmerising in the role. For me, he was the star of this movie, but everyone else played excellently. Costner, like Connery and Wayne before him, always plays himself, but it didn't spoil anything in this movie. A final plaudit goes to the late Geraldine McEwan as Mortiana. Who'd have thought that our own Miss Marple had once been a very convincing witch!
If you haven't seen this movie yet ... do so now. You won't be at all disappointed.
Down with Love (2003)
Flashback!
More than a hint of Day and Hudson here. The general similarity to Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back is unmistakable, and yet this movie is fresh, amusing and delightful. It's light and fluffy and the leads are wonderfully 60's camp in their roles. No deep thinking is necessary here - it's not Dr. Zhivago, after all. However, the level of amusement (and nostalgia) is high. Renee and Ewan play excellently off each other, and David is a delight, playing much like his character in Frasier. There are several recognisable actors in what amount to cameo parts, Tony Randal being one such. This too is an homage to similar characters he played in the Day/Hudson movies. All-in-all this movie is good, gentle fun.
Went the Day Well? (1942)
An excellent movie, of its time
I first saw WTDW a few years ago, on TV. I found it quite engrossing, especially as it was made during the war, when there had been grave concerns about the possibility of an actual 5th column invasion. It was well put together with a cast of interesting actors. Some of the characters seemed, perhaps, a little wooden, but the style and speech may have had as much to do with that particular impression.
In 2010, the movie was fully restored and then re-released on Blue Ray. The production qualities are remarkable, given the restrictions of re- processing almost 70-year old film stock. I found that watching it again proved to be very worthwhile.
It's also interesting to consider the similarities between a later movie, The Eagle has Landed, and this one. The basic premise of the later film is quite different, but many of the other elements are very similar.
I can strongly recommend this movie to viewers of all ages. It has sufficient realism and drama to keep one's attention throughout.
Ben-Hur (1959)
Nothing in this world is perfect, but this movie comes close.
I first saw Ben Hur at the cinema in Manchester, not long after its initial release. At the age of 15, this was my first introduction to such a big film on what seemed then to be a massive wide screen. I was transfixed.
Over the years since then, I've seen it several times, mostly on TV. It's a movie on a grand scale and, sadly, even my 46" screen can't do it full justice. It does try though, and the recent acquisition of Ben Hur on a special Blue Ray edition has greatly enhanced the experience.
There is a good deal of trivial criticism about the movie, concerning the production, editing etc. Some of this may be true, but little of it detracts from the sheer enjoyment the movie has to offer, at least for me.
I shan't even try to detail the many high spots in the film, but there are a couple that I must mention.
1. The growth of the relationship between Ben Hur and Quintus Arrius highlighted just how good an actor Jack Hawkins was - a great loss to movies following his untimely death in 1973.
2. When Judah meets Sheik Ildarim, he's introduced to the Sheik's "children", four beautiful white Arabian horses. The scene with the horses inside the tent was quite moving and the horses acted well in this and subsequent scenes. Some may find this trivial, in the scheme of this epic movie, but it gave me a little extra joy.
There are some amazing movies produced today, by many great directors and artists. Yet, somehow, as great as many of them are, they clearly belong to a new technical age. Epics like Ben Hur, made >55 years ago represent remarkable achievements in film, belonging as they do to an earlier grand movie era.
From Here to Eternity (1953)
Great movie from the great days of movies ...
I watched this movie again today (maybe 5th time over the years) and it still stands up as an excellent character-driven movie. All of the actors, including those with small parts, perform so well, but the leads are just superb. Sinatra made a number of great movies, but I think Maggio was one of his best characters. It's how you think Sinatra might have been had he actually been in the Army back then for real. The final scene on the boat with Deborah Kerr and Donna Reed is very poignant. Both have major regrets, but for such different reasons. Even in her grief, Lorene talks up Prewitt's military role and the cause of his death, demonstrating her real feelings for the man. Very moving.
Byzantium (2012)
It's all in the blood.
Despite having this movie on BD, languishing in my collection, I have viewed it for the very first time on TV tonight. I love Gemma Arterton and Saorse Ronan and all the work that they have done, and their joint appearance in Byzantium might have predisposed me to produce an overly favourable review.
However, I am able to be quite objective about movies that I review, albeit ultimately my own, personal opinion.
In a similar way to another review on here, I kind of lost the way with recent vampire movies and TV series, and I have to go back to Nosferatu (Max Schreck and Klaus Kinski versions) and Dracula (Bela Lugosi and Gary Oldman versions) as vampire movies that I enjoy.
Byzantium is of a different order to those classics and is closer to the more modern genres. That said, it is a beautifully told, acted and filmed story. The current day setting in England seems at first a little odd, but it works so well to establish a layer of ordinariness which serves to emphasise the tale and its telling. The period flashbacks provide great counterpoints to this.
Then, of course, there are the two lead actors who imbue their characters with a feeling of reality, despite the unreal nature of the back-story. Both of these ladies can do little wrong in my eyes, so if you want to read that as bias ... go ahead. But be sure to see this movie anyway, if you haven't already done so.
In Bruges (2008)
Perfect
I just watched In Bruges again after a gap of maybe two years. It gets better every time I see it as I always see something new in the story, the acting ... everything.
Brendan Gleeson, in particular, is a consummate actor and, in my humble opinion, deserved to have won every award he has ever been nominated for. This was certainly an Oscar-worthy performance from Brendan, and close to that from the other key actors too.
Yes, it's violent and visceral and there's a lot of swearing, but it's the language we might expect from characters like these. Not for the kids or the faint-hearted then, but everyone else should go see this masterclass in jet black comedy.
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Better than ever
I have just watched this movie again, having seen it several times before. It remains a great production with wonderful performances from all involved and, despite obviously knowing the outcome, I still find it to be a fascinating story. This time, however, something else was added. For no obvious reason, on this particular viewing, I found myself imbuing each character with more depth than previously. Perhaps this is because I already remembered, more or less, the relationship of each character with the family and the impact the initial crime had had on each of them. I'm a self-confessed film buff and an aficionado of pretty much every film genre, but I suspect that, in my later years, I'm leaning more towards character driven stories, of which this is on of the greats. It's a movie I can happily watch every year or so.
Michael Clayton (2007)
I've re-thunk this movie.
I just watched Michael Clayton again after a gap of a few years. I thought it was excellent, if maybe a little complex, first time around. This time around, I've revised my view.
I don't think it's because I'm a little older (God knows, I am!), but rather that I paid more attention this time. It is a relatively straightforward story, but it's not simply chewing gum for the eyes and does need your focus to get the best from it. I just now reaped the maximum reward from doing just that.
I now feel that this is one of the best movies that George has made - and he's made some very good ones (The American, Three Kings, Syriana, Out of Sight, to name but a few). In fact, this may now be one of my all time favourite movies.
It's dark, yet very involving. The story-line feels very real and gritty and could even be true. All of the actors play their parts to perfection, including the minor players. Despite the dark nature of the story (and without making any spoilers), I can honestly say that I left it feeling oddly uplifted.
Il giovane Montalbano: La prima indagine di Montalbano (2012)
Everything I expected and more
I just finished watching the first episode of Season 1 and I'm delighted to say that it exceeded my expectations.
I've read all the books by Andrea Camilleri and have watched and thoroughly enjoyed all of the Inspector Montabano series with Luca Zingaretti. Thus, I had hoped not to be disappointed by this "prequel" series. On the strength of just the first story, I certainly have not been! Michele Riondino provides an excellent and very credible characterisation as he inhabits the younger Montalbano. A few of the traits of his "older self", now so familiar to me, are already showing up. I also find myself greatly looking forward to the further development of other familiar characters.
The locations are, of course, the same and, given that Sicilian towns don't change much over the years, they are so very familiar. I can only conclude that I must have been Sicilian in a former life as I continue to feel a nostalgia for a country I have only briefly visited once and many towns and places I never even got to visit when I was there.
I may be getting a bit mushy as I get older, but these stories always leave me with a warm and slightly smug feeling when I've finished watching. Go figure!