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Tár (2022)
Stumbles on its own grandiosity
Tar is a film I was particularly looking forward to seeing. Sadly, the unnecessary and dull five minute opening credit sequence would serve as a warning for what was to come.
The good stuff worked brilliantly - lovely cinematography, a great lead performance and quality production design. The film oozed refinement and class.
The poor scripting and editing choices are what let it down. Tar was an opportunity to open up the rather stuffy world of classical music to the masses. Verbose and pseudo intellectual dialogue, as well as convoluted plotting meant the film traded its more interesting components for elements that were far less compelling.
In spite of its long running time, the character study ends somewhat abruptly, as we do not resolve or unwrap many of the more interesting mysteries the led to Tar's demise. This is down to poor choices from the writer-director who seemed more interested in brandishing his classical music knowledge than enthralling his audience.
The Northman (2022)
Kitsch
Saw it just now (went alone). Noticed sniggering throughout the film.
This Nordic caper was a disappointment. It felt stuck in one soulless groove with very little to say for character development, pacing or performance. The stunts were notably poor, the oiled up abdominal muscles overly bulging. At times this film was so overdone, it felt like a parody, hence the sniggering around me perhaps.
Eggers is a unique talent - he has made some great films, but this, I'm afraid just isn't one of them.
It did at least leave me reflecting on the state of cinema, I suppose. It left me wondering whether superhero movies have now so infected the wider filmic consciousness that we (and by we, I mean reputable critics too) consider this sort of kitsch and gratuitous pantomime excellent viewing?
Missing the good old days pre-Netflix right now, truly.
The Prince (2021)
Vile
Mocking an eight year child old is utterly repugnant behaviour, no matter how you dress it up.
Do lok tin si (1995)
Breathtaking cinemaitic artistry
I've seen my fair share of Wong Kar-Wai films. This has to be my favourite so far. The visual ingenuity in Fallen Angels is simply breathtaking.
The plot, as in all of his films, is secondary to the emotion and atmosphere being conveyed through the lens. If you want to enjoy and appreciate Wong's work, it is important not to get bogged down wondering what act you're in, or how you even ended up there. Just sit back, let the images wash over you and enjoy the ride. You won't forget it.
I Care a Lot (2020)
Layer Cake anyone?
Ending is a total rip off the above... it is also very grinding to watch. This film irritates throughout, particularly once we arrive in the third act. One can't understand why the team behind this thought anyone would root for Rosamund's grotesque, utterly unsympathetic character?
Small Axe: Mangrove (2020)
Way too much shouting!
It's called the law of diminishing returns and this film in the series suffers massively from it. All the characters do is shout all the time and it gets very boring very quickly. By not knowing when to rein in his actors, McQueen fails to deliver the punch he was looking for. It's a shame as this one had the potential.
Industry (2020)
Unfairly criticised
It's good fun. Lots of nudity, sex, drugs and banter, which is exactly what you'd want from a series like this. Perhaps it's not the most accurate depiction of life starting out in a prestigious global bank, but who cares! That would be bloody boring.
There are a few notable breakout performances too. Ignore all the hate and give it a spin, likely you'll enjoy if you take it for what it is - entertainment.
Caché (2005)
Ponderous
Worst film I've seen this year. No momentum picks up at any point, it's all just... dross. Each and every scene is slow and ponderous. The major stand out is the uniquely poor editing. Given how little happens, this film could have been at least thirty minutes shorter. Fixed camera placements kill off any real moments of tension or drama. The director thinks it's smart to have a locked off camera in a dark room so you can't see any of the actors reactions to one another. Pseudo cinephiles will claim it's genius. The rest of us will call it it what it really is - tiresome. Deciding not to have any music at all only exacerbates the boredom.
In summary, this really isn't worth your time. Two hours felt like four. Any political message about Algeria gets bogged down in the sluggish direction. Unsurprisingly, zero effort is made to resolve the central mystery either. Please do yourself a favour and avoid! Total yawn.
Band of Brothers (2001)
If I could give it eleven stars I would
A character driven war epic that is as moving as it is harrowing. Band Of Brothers is a magnificent piece of television that few, if any, have been able to rival since. People will be watching and studying this show in the decades to come. Can't say that about much television.
Brazil (1985)
Bizarrely perfect
A creative masterpiece. The endless bombardment of cinematic artistry will leave you gasping for air. Plenty of that Pythonesque surrealism Gilliam is synonymous with too. I was a little bit curious to see this film, and not a lot more. Fair to say it blew my expectations out of the water.
Brazil builds well upon some of the 80's dystopian sci-fi cult classics that proceeded it (Blade Runner, 1984), whilst maintaining its own inventive and utterly bonkers visual atmosphere. The outcome is vast in scope, scale and ambition. It's also bloody hilarious with some fabulous lead and cameo performances . Brazil is a truly unique piece of cinema, and one I can imagine myself revisiting many times in the years to come.
Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Did Lee change his movie because of the current political climate?
I suspect this film may have been intended as a comedy, but, given the current climate, Lee chose to focus more on the underlying political message and re-cut it accordingly. This would explain why the movie felt so cumbersome and disorientated, especially towards the end. Given the rave reviews this was a big disappointment.
Sitting in Limbo (2020)
Shocking but brilliantly told
This powerful BBC film encapsulates the traumas endured by the Windrush generation. It makes for uncomfortable but topical viewing. I'm proud to be British, but, for the first time in my lifetime, feel truly ashamed of my country's behaviour. Films like this are vital - they help educate and ensure recklessness like this is not ever permitted to happen again.
The drama never felt overdone. A more subtle approach was taken and it pays off. Life is full of lighthearted, enjoyable moments, especially when family are involved. Such moments are beautifully captured here, juxtaposing the deeper, darker themes of anguish, hopelessness and betrayal. Fabulous lead performances too.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
A harrowing story about fear, betrayal and hubris...
Many elements of this film work well. There are some quality performances, most notably from Casey Affleck who is remarkably good as Robert Ford. Perhaps the best performance I've ever seen from him. Lovely sweeping visual imagery from Roger Deakins dazzles on screen and the idea is mostly engaging. Beautiful score too. That said, it takes a pretty special movie to justify a 160 minute running time. This wasn't quite good enough to do so in my view. The denouement trudges on for too long, and the voice over was excruciating to listen to by the end. Whilst this film is enjoyable, and quite moving, some elements do fail to crystallise, particularly the more periphery characters who felt lacking in substance - Zee James (Jesse's wife) felt like a squandered opportunity for example. Whoever decided the voiceover was a great idea should be fired. Less would've been tolerable, but it really does drone on and on. In my experience, it's a rare for a voiceover to work really well in a 21st century film, unless it is being used ironically. One couldn't help wondering whether it was used so heavily to cover up failings that emerged in postproduction. Good crack either way.
The Proposition (2005)
Overhyped...
Utterly unsympathetic characters, terrible plot delivery from one strand to the next, and some truly unbelievable performances (except for Guy Pierce). By the end, aside from the the odd bit of quality cinematography of the dusty Australian outback, we care not about the characters or their outcomes, nor do we fully comprehend the meaning or purpose of this movie. In this sense it's a failure. It felt like a very expensive soap. Don't believe the hype. Not very memorable.
Somewhere (2010)
Lacks meaning
This is a good looking film. It's a cool film. It's broadly well made and has all the hallmarks of a stellar indie. Unfortunately, the central relationships are devoid of any real substance or meaning. They don't feel real. Partly, this is because there's no conflict between them. While the visual atheistic lends well to her message that fame and fortune don't necessarily lead to happiness (something we all know), the broader more intriguing father and daughter theme felt way too improvised (most the dialogue felt improv) and this consequently spoiled what could have been a memorable movie. Their relationship is meant to feel awkward to begin with. It's not meant to feel awkward at the end once they've bonded. But, it really does, and this is due to poor directing choices and lazy scripting. Throughly enjoyed parts of this nonetheless, particularly in Italy. Still couldn't help feeling disappointed, especially with the ending.
Portrait de la jeune fille en feu (2019)
Stunning
This film is guaranteed to get your heart racing, even if the romance genre is not your normal port of call. The central relationship is crafted both beautifully and patiently by Sciamma. Sometimes less is more in dialogue and plot terms and this is a shining example of that. The performances by Haenel and Merlant are faultless and brimming with depth and truth. A very special movie with a truly magnificent ending. See it!
Dark Waters (2019)
A boring movie
Dark Waters is the definition of an ordinary movie. Certainly it's overrated on here. A grinding performance from Hathaway is the order of the day, Ruffalo really isn't much better. There was a real opportunity to convey the gross criminality of DuPont, and the ensuing fallout and legal battles that commenced. Instead we are swept up in a second rate, predictable drama, with very little to discuss at the end except for the poor acting performances, boring editing and anaemic script.
Due to the subject at hand - DuPont's gross negligence and mass poisoning - many on here recommend this movie as vital viewing. Rubbish. Save yourself the time and read an article about it instead.
Queen & Slim (2019)
Expected a lot more...
Whilst the political message is certainly relevant, it descends into absurdity. An average script and weak edit makes the pacing lag and the mind drift from the mid point. It goes on for too long and got lost in its own message. A great opportunity for a tense and riveting revamp of Bonnie & Clyde felt squandered.
There are some good performances and a few great moments but it never felt truly believable, or arresting (mind the pun). Shame it didn't come together as I was very excited about this one.
The Gentlemen (2019)
A parody of Guy Richie at his best
Whilst there are plenty of enjoyable moments in this film, one can not help getting distracted by the endless quips and witty one liners. It boils down to the law of diminishing returns - too much of anything and it will eventually lose its impact. This could be said about much of the dialogue and plot trajectory. The Gentleman is fun, it's flashy, it's amusing - it's Guy Richie. But it also feels like a rehashed pastiche of a bygone era. An era when he made crime movies that were genuinely funny and gripping. It is with a heavy heart that the same can not be said of this one. It felt hollow and contrived in comparison to his more iconic earlier works.
He does however notably take on the woke brigade; for this, Guy, I doff my cap to you sir.
La Belle Époque (2019)
Something truly special...
It's very rare for me to watch rom-coms, let alone pay to see one in the cinema. I'd read about La Belle Époque following its strong reception at Cannes. The concept sounded intriguing so I decided to give the dice a roll.
Let's just say it didn't disappoint. I floated out the Cine Lumiere in London feeling like I'd witnessed something unique, entertaining and deeply moving.
If The Game and The Truman show got together and decided to make a French romantic comedy about marriage and the cracks that invariably establish over time, La Belle Époque is what it'd look like. The message is strong but never heavy handed, the comedy is sharp but never distracting.
Highly recommend this one to all film lovers. It's a movie I can see myself watching many times again.
Django (1966)
Nothing on The Great Silence
Whilst there are many enjoyable moments, the shady storyline, deus ex machina plot devices and blinding nihilism don't do much to build on them. I'm a big of The Great Silence. It ticks all the boxes in ways Django does not. Corbucci is a notably less mature film maker in this movie. The various character arks, interplays and romances simply aren't as believable or enjoyable as they are in his epic, snow ridden masterpiece released two years later.
Plenty of fun to be had none the less; in particular, a beautifully shot bar brawl that will, over fifty years later, still leave you reeling.
Face (1997)
Not a stand out
This kitchen sink, crime noir descends into murky territory with its shallow, unsubtle political posturing, weak script and unrealistic portrayal of organised crime in London in the 90s. The big reveal is predictable and the character interplay and development is at best ordinary. The main thing preventing Face from sinking are the strong acting performances all-round. A gritty, run down inner city atheistic is also not without merit and the cinematography and editing can at times be pretty explosive.
Worth watching if you enjoy the London gangster genre, but let's not kid ourselves, this is definitely no masterpiece.
Ready or Not (2019)
Good fun. Ticks the boxes
Does well to navigate a balance between comedy horror and satire. At times it's very funny. This movie doesn't take you beyond places we've already been to a hundred times before, but it's enjoyable to watch, well scripted and well shot - it certainly never takes itself too seriously. Downside is that it's pretty predictable as a result, but these sorts of movies often are. A fun, albeit twisted romp, worth group viewing on a hangover or a frosty Sunday (so long as your group aren't of the squeamish disposition of course).