AudreyToo's Reviews

I, Daniel Blake (2016)

9/10

30 March 2018

This is all real life. It might not be an actual true story as such, but it is all still very much the truth. Anyone who has had to go through the benefit system in the UK will know how accurate this film is and, no matter how tough you think you are, it will be hard not to shed a tear when watching this film.

Although not under exactly the same circumstances as Daniel Blake, I have experienced the frustrating bureaucracy of having to go to a Job Center and try to sort out benefits. I know that cripplingly humiliating feeling of being talked to like you are worthless and lazy even though you desperately want a job. Every time a bureaucratic DWP character mentioned 'The Decision Maker' it made me want to shout at my screen. I have heard those words in real life. I have dealt with those evil government robots. Special mention to a particular man who worked at the Chorlton, Manchester job center around 2011 who made me feel horrible and who couldn't even crack a smile and say well done when I finally did find work. Loads of people hated you mate and I'm sorry that your life was obviously so utterly devoid of happiness and love. (Sorry, i've gone off on one, its just that this film has brought back a lot of memories!)

This film should be shown to all civil servants, government officials and definitely all politicians in the UK as a guide of how NOT to operate. I hope that one day soon we'll be able to watch I, Daniel Blake and feel glad that times have changed and people aren't experiencing the unjust struggles which this film portrays.

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The Man from Earth (2007)

6/10

Like a Twilight Zone episode, only no way nearly as good.

29 March 2018

I'm kind of surprised by the pretty high IMDB rating for this cos I can usually rely on IMDB for realistic ratings.

Firstly, I am a massive Twilight Zone fan so I can appreciate this film as a bit of a homage to Rod Serling's magnificent creation, but it gets it wrong in so many ways. I liked that The Man from Earth was pretty much shot entirely in one room because I think that can be effective if the story is really strong, but unfortunately this story went a bit wrong.

I actually liked the premise of the film - combined with the setting and sparse cast it definitely did have a Twilight Zone vibe but then it simply got too silly with all the daft historical name dropping. And the 'twist' at the end could of been played out so much better.

But, on a positive note, the gallop through the last 14,000 years was pretty cool and I did like John's monologues about his life. I liked the low budget, no CGI, no action vibe. And I can't have hated it that much cos I do quite want to watch the sequel (which looks like its got loads of action sequences).

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Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

5/10

Watch something else

29 March 2018

I decided to watch this because I liked the title. Had I known that Keira Knightly was in it I might have chosen something else. I wish I had chosen something else.

I would formally like to state to all other nations that not all English women talk like Keira Knightly. Not many people in the UK actually talk like that at all. It is really really annoying so I'm glad that we don't.

I got a bit excited right towards the end when Steve Carell was going through Knightly's characters record collection and he flicked past Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs. I was hoping to just hear one track from it to take my mind off this dull, rather pointless film, but alas, it didn't happen. You just get to hear loads of Scott Walker.

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The Brothers Grimsby (2016)

9/10

Funny times a million. End of. Ignore the haters. They don't know how to laugh.

8 March 2018

I freaking loved this film. You will also love it if you like laughing at very very stupid things. You will absolutely hate it if you are easily offended.

It is best to not know anything about this film before you watch it so I won't include any spoilers. I knew nothing about it other than the fact that it was a Sasha Baron Cohen thing - the man can do no wrong in my eyes so I suppose I was an easy audience. I did wonder if quite a lot of the jokes would be missed by an American audience though, but the fab action scenes are universally awesome.

If you have had a bad day then simply watch this film and laugh away your troubles.

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Joy (I) (2015)

4/10

This is a film about a mop. That is all you need to know.

8 March 2018

Oh christ this film is boring. About 30 minutes in I asked my partner when was anything going to start happening and he responded with 'I don't think it is one of those films where anything really does happen'. And he was pretty much right.

Firstly, this film is about a lady who invents a new type of mop. I didn't know this before I started watching but I'm quite sure that if I had known this fact I wouldn't of bothered watching it. Let me repeat that - this film centers around the invention of a new type of mop. Yes. A mop. A mop for cleaning floors. If you like rather mundane cliched films about mops then you will love this.

In the film's defense, Jennifer Lawrence was fantastic, as was De Niro (obvs) but the story simply wasn't interesting or exciting enough for such a long film - it reminded me of one of those afternoon movies on Channel 5 (UK). This film kind of reminded me of another recent film (also staring De Niro) - The Intern - which, although it wasn't an amazing film, it definitely brought me more joy than 'Joy' did.

I try to find something positive in everything, even if I don't like it, so I'll give a special mention to the costume designers. I liked the costumes. There you go. That was the joy I took from this film. Pretty dresses.

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La La Land (2016)

5/10

A Massively Over-Hyped Empty Disappointment

8 March 2018

So...it has taken me a couple of years to get round to watching this film despite the fact that I really wanted to see it when it came out. Sometimes I just let films bypass me and wait til all the hype has calmed down before I watch them - and I can now see why I didn't go to any special lengths to watch this massively over-hyped empty disappointment.

Firstly I want to say that I love old musicals so this film should of been perfect for me. Also, I love Emma Stone loads (and Gosling is pretty easy on the eye) so this film already had me as an eager audience before it began. It turned sour pretty quickly. I am no dancer/performer by any means but I was very confused when I was watching some of the dancing scenes - I kept thinking that I was missing something - why was the dancing so bad? Was this done on purpose for some reason? I had to watch my Rogers & Astaire box set after this to balance out the awful dancing of Stone & Gosling.

There were some things I liked - I loved the cinematography and the paintbox of colour throughout the film. It was bright and very American and Hollywood-y. Although this does bring me onto my next criticism - what exactly was the point of this film, other than for Hollywood to just write a massive love letter back to itself? I get that concept but I really, really hated how it was done here. I think I disliked it so much because I had expected to really love it - I thought it would be this decade's Moulin Rouge and it really wasn't.

I'm glad I've finally watched it but I'm quite sure I won't ever do so again.

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May I Kill U? (2012)

7/10

Good British Dark Comedy for Dexter fans.

8 March 2018

Warning: Spoilers

This popped up on Amazon Prime and, although I had never heard of it, I like Kevin Bishop so I thought I'd give it a watch. I noticed the low IMDB rating which nearly put me off but I'm glad I ignored my doubts - it was a million times better than some high rated films I have seen lately (I'm talking about you La-La Land!).

So, the story centers around a London based cycling policeman just after the 2011 riots. A bash to the head turns him into a vigilante serial killer - his headaches are a sign that he is going to kill again. Initially I was worried the whole thing was just going to be a massive 'Dexter' rip-off (I'm sure I'm not imagining it but I'm certain Kevin Bishop's hair was styled just like Dexter's intentionally which did make me smile). But, just as I thought Bishop's character was going to be romantically linked with the woman in the abusive relationship (just like in Dexter), then the film changes track and we don't see that character again. As I said, I'm sure that these little nods to Dexter were intentional.

This is very much a film of it's time which I'm not sure will age well as the plot is pretty much centered on the use of social media. I think this will date the film quite quickly. Also, despite the Dexter connections, I'm not sure that this will be a film which American audiences will appreciate. I might be wrong but it just feels a bit *too* British in parts.

The only bit that didn't sit right with me was the bit where he killed (or assumed he had killed) a suicidal woman because his drunk chain-smoking Mum (Frances Barber no less!) had told him that mentally ill people were a drain on society. It was mentioned later in passing that this suicidal woman was a drug dealer therefore it didn't matter when she did actually die but I still felt a bit uncomfortable at this bit.

Overall it was an enjoyable daft little film - worth a watch if you're into enjoyable daft little films.

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The Independent (2000)

9/10

you will not be disappointed

6 September 2015

More so than any other film I have ever seen, I just cannot understand why this film has never received a higher level of recognition. It is a true work of genius and is one of the funniest films I know.

I know the 'mockumnetry' genre has been done and done now, but back in 2000 I guess it was still kind of fresh and it works well with this film. Jerry Stiller's facial expressions are just a delight by themselves - whenever I see him in anything else I always think of Morty Fineman. The scene when his son reveals how Morty gave him his name will always make me laugh.

Any B-movie fan will love this film - the trailers we see of Morty's films are just mini works of art within the film.

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Hunk (1987)

8/10

This film makes me happy

6 September 2015

I just adore this movie. It is in my category of 'Poundshop Classics' because it was discovered by an ex in a poundshop about 10 years ago. It is my second favourite movie in that category (after 'The Independent').

I've never really understood why this film is not more of a well known 80's cult classic as it has everything a good 80's film should have: the costumes, the music, the effects and the self-referencing humour. The characters and casting are all ace - Hunk Golden surely has to be one of the best character names of all time!

It is a silly, silly film and there's always time in my life for silly films.

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Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

10/10

My favourite film of all time

6 September 2015

I certainly don't understand the low rating on here for this film - if you've never seen it before don't let that put you off watching it.

LSOH was my 'family movie' as a kid, introduced to us by our dentist uncle. Everything about it is just perfect it - is funny, self-aware and contains too many brilliant scenes to count. The songs are consistently great and the casting is spot on. I especially love all the amazing cameos: Bill Murray, John Candy etc.

Whenever I'm ill or feeling down, all I need to do to feel better is just watch this film. I never trust anyone says they don't like this film!

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Pixels (2015)

8/10

Great way to spend a couple of hours

6 September 2015

Finally got round to taking my 4 year old daughter to see this yesterday and I'm so glad we saw it on the big screen. I do get why some people hated this movie but we loved it - for me its a mark of a good movie if my daughter sits through it and then talks about it loads afterwards, especially when there was so much of it that she obviously didn't properly understand. There was no 'boring' bits for either of us and loads of laugh-out-loud moments.

My highlight was the small Dan Akroyd cameo near the beginning and I especially loved the scene in the bar a bit later on when Adam Sandler whips out a bottle of Akroyd's crystal head vodka - the best, most subliminal bit of product placement I have ever seen in a movie. I was the only person in the cinema giggling at this!

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