One of Andy Warhol's many experimental films. Like the rest, not much goes on but 4 points for Edie Sedgwick!
Reviews
11 Reviews
Brawl in Cell Block 99
(2017)
Brutal and entertaining
25 August 2019
'Brawl In Cell Block 99' is admittedly the first film I have seen (at the time of writing) by director S. Craig Zahler and after watching this, I would absolutely love to see his other output.
The plot is quite simple. A drug runner (Vince Vaughn) takes part in a deal gone wrong and ends up in prison. However, the consequences of the deal continue while he is in prison.
One of the most notable aspects of the film is it's rather slow pace. This is in no way a bad thing as it creates very successful tension and once a brutal fight breaks out, it comes out of nowhere which adds to the realism and catches you off guard.
What I also love is how the fights are filmed. They are not like fight scenes from any other film in which they are filmed using handheld cameras and require a cut-a-second, they are stationary cameras and there is rarely ever a cut which makes it easier to look at and makes it more believable that the actors are actually fighting.
Vince Vaughn is also at his best here. I had previously only seen him in comedies such as Anchorman but here he is on absolute top form.
This admittedly not be an easy watch for many people due to the uncensored violence or its slower than average pace. However this will be a pleaser for anyone who can get past that.
8/10
The plot is quite simple. A drug runner (Vince Vaughn) takes part in a deal gone wrong and ends up in prison. However, the consequences of the deal continue while he is in prison.
One of the most notable aspects of the film is it's rather slow pace. This is in no way a bad thing as it creates very successful tension and once a brutal fight breaks out, it comes out of nowhere which adds to the realism and catches you off guard.
What I also love is how the fights are filmed. They are not like fight scenes from any other film in which they are filmed using handheld cameras and require a cut-a-second, they are stationary cameras and there is rarely ever a cut which makes it easier to look at and makes it more believable that the actors are actually fighting.
Vince Vaughn is also at his best here. I had previously only seen him in comedies such as Anchorman but here he is on absolute top form.
This admittedly not be an easy watch for many people due to the uncensored violence or its slower than average pace. However this will be a pleaser for anyone who can get past that.
8/10
The Stranger
(1946)
A little gem
5 June 2019
Orson Welles had the misfortune of having made his 'greatest film' (Citizen Kane) first, subsequently overshadowing the rest of his output. While some of his other directorial works such as 1958's 'Touch of Evil' remains a classic in it's own right, 'The Stranger' is a arguably lesser known film in Welles' filmography.
Surely having Orson Welles' name on the film alone would be enough to raise interest since the man is a cinematic icon, but the film itself is actually a nice little gem. The plot is fairly simple, ageing inspector (Edward G. Robinson) suspects a schoolteacher (Orson Welles) is a murderer and an infamous Nazi in hiding, and attempts to expose him through his naive wife.
The performances here are top-notch; Robinson and Welles are magnificent as per usual and the supporting cast hold their own. The cinematography is also great and uses is black and white lighting sublimely - giving it a distinctive film-noir-esque look.
Recommended for fans of crime thrillers and classic cinema, as well as anyone willing to give older films a try as this is a good starting point.
7/10
Surely having Orson Welles' name on the film alone would be enough to raise interest since the man is a cinematic icon, but the film itself is actually a nice little gem. The plot is fairly simple, ageing inspector (Edward G. Robinson) suspects a schoolteacher (Orson Welles) is a murderer and an infamous Nazi in hiding, and attempts to expose him through his naive wife.
The performances here are top-notch; Robinson and Welles are magnificent as per usual and the supporting cast hold their own. The cinematography is also great and uses is black and white lighting sublimely - giving it a distinctive film-noir-esque look.
Recommended for fans of crime thrillers and classic cinema, as well as anyone willing to give older films a try as this is a good starting point.
7/10
Avengers: Endgame
(2019)
A fitting conclusion, but ultimately overrated.
26 May 2019
The title of this review may lead you to believe that I am not a fan of this film - which is false. I actually like this film quite a bit, but ultimately does not deserve the 'one of the best movies ever made' reputation it is getting.
Let's talk about the pros:
The visuals are outstanding. The CGI team once again prove they are on top of their game here and the work here is marvelous. I must also note that the directors (The Russo Brothers) did an excellent job of carrying 30+ characters into the film and still managing to give each and every one a moment to shine. There is also an exceptionally large amount of buzz surrounding the ending of this film (as well as the final hour in general), which I believe more than definitely contributes to the film being held with such high regard - and yes, the final hour is fantastic
BUT...
Let's not forget that this is a three-hour film and almost all of the flaws are contained in the first two hours. The majority of the first act of the film is significantly slower-paced to the rest, which on it's own works as it uses the time wisely as it perfectly portrays the aftermath of the events following Infinity War. However, this slow-paced first act ultimately affects the overall structure of the film as the second and third act are much faster.
I also have some issues with the second act, there are definitely some scenes here that could easily be removed without affecting the plot (and the film would actually be overall better as a result). For example: The 'diner' scene in which Hulk poses with fans is cringe-worthy at best and while it's intention is be funny is instead awkward.
CONCLUSION
Avengers: Endgame is definitely a must-watch for fans of the MCU and action films in general, but let's not overrate this purely because of the final act.
8/10
Let's talk about the pros:
The visuals are outstanding. The CGI team once again prove they are on top of their game here and the work here is marvelous. I must also note that the directors (The Russo Brothers) did an excellent job of carrying 30+ characters into the film and still managing to give each and every one a moment to shine. There is also an exceptionally large amount of buzz surrounding the ending of this film (as well as the final hour in general), which I believe more than definitely contributes to the film being held with such high regard - and yes, the final hour is fantastic
BUT...
Let's not forget that this is a three-hour film and almost all of the flaws are contained in the first two hours. The majority of the first act of the film is significantly slower-paced to the rest, which on it's own works as it uses the time wisely as it perfectly portrays the aftermath of the events following Infinity War. However, this slow-paced first act ultimately affects the overall structure of the film as the second and third act are much faster.
I also have some issues with the second act, there are definitely some scenes here that could easily be removed without affecting the plot (and the film would actually be overall better as a result). For example: The 'diner' scene in which Hulk poses with fans is cringe-worthy at best and while it's intention is be funny is instead awkward.
CONCLUSION
Avengers: Endgame is definitely a must-watch for fans of the MCU and action films in general, but let's not overrate this purely because of the final act.
8/10
Gruesome
15 May 2019
Before I begin this review I must mention that this film is absolutely not for the faint of heart.
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'The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes' was directed by experimental filmmaker Stan Brakhage - arguably one of the most creative and original filmmakers of all time.
This film consists entirely of footage of real life autopsies being performed and as a result is extremely graphic, but is nevertheless an interesting look at the human body and how autopsies are performed.
I should also note that the film is completely silent, which I feel only adds to the uneasy feeling while watching.
Overall, I recommend this to anyone interested in this subject matter or film in general who can stomach 31 minutes of corpses having autopsies performed on them.
7/10
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'The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes' was directed by experimental filmmaker Stan Brakhage - arguably one of the most creative and original filmmakers of all time.
This film consists entirely of footage of real life autopsies being performed and as a result is extremely graphic, but is nevertheless an interesting look at the human body and how autopsies are performed.
I should also note that the film is completely silent, which I feel only adds to the uneasy feeling while watching.
Overall, I recommend this to anyone interested in this subject matter or film in general who can stomach 31 minutes of corpses having autopsies performed on them.
7/10
Genuine
21 January 2019
Since watching 'Genuine' in its entirety is essentially impossible at this point, we are left with a 45-minute condensed version which is possibly the main issue with this film.
Genuine, released in 1920, was director Robert Weine's immediate follow-up to the successful 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'. A film that successfully showcased Germany's rising expressionist movement. Genuine follows a similar set design to Cabinet, with sets consisting of contorted shapes and lines as well as colourful tinting.
While is may be visually intriguing, this is really the only thing going for this film. Since almost exactly half of the footage is missing in the condensed version, the plot becomes quite difficult to follow, although the basic synopsis is simple - Genuine is essentially a succubus-type 'vampire' who seduces men in their dreams.
Other than Genuine, the other characters are more or less completely forgettable unlike those in Caligari. This really could have been a great film, but the plot isn't all that strong (the cut footage doesn't help this) and the characters are forgettable. The visuals are interesting however - especially for fans of Caligari or German expressionist art.
4/10
Genuine, released in 1920, was director Robert Weine's immediate follow-up to the successful 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'. A film that successfully showcased Germany's rising expressionist movement. Genuine follows a similar set design to Cabinet, with sets consisting of contorted shapes and lines as well as colourful tinting.
While is may be visually intriguing, this is really the only thing going for this film. Since almost exactly half of the footage is missing in the condensed version, the plot becomes quite difficult to follow, although the basic synopsis is simple - Genuine is essentially a succubus-type 'vampire' who seduces men in their dreams.
Other than Genuine, the other characters are more or less completely forgettable unlike those in Caligari. This really could have been a great film, but the plot isn't all that strong (the cut footage doesn't help this) and the characters are forgettable. The visuals are interesting however - especially for fans of Caligari or German expressionist art.
4/10
Duck Soup
(1933)
An under appreciated comedy classic.
9 January 2019
'Duck Soup' is easily one of the funniest films ever made. Without a doubt.
The film is filled with rapid-fire insults (courtesy of Groucho Marx), physical comedy and clever wordplay as well as constant butchering of the english language.
The film follows Rufus T. Firefly as he is appointed ruler of the fictional country Freedonia. The plot simply acts as a vehicle for the Marx Brothers' comedy, with gags flying left, right and center.
There are many iconic scenes here. Such as, the lemonade stand and the mirror scene.
This is a comedy masterpiece and should be ignored by no one.
9/10
The film is filled with rapid-fire insults (courtesy of Groucho Marx), physical comedy and clever wordplay as well as constant butchering of the english language.
The film follows Rufus T. Firefly as he is appointed ruler of the fictional country Freedonia. The plot simply acts as a vehicle for the Marx Brothers' comedy, with gags flying left, right and center.
There are many iconic scenes here. Such as, the lemonade stand and the mirror scene.
This is a comedy masterpiece and should be ignored by no one.
9/10
They Shall Not Grow Old
(II) (2018)
A milestone in restoration.
9 January 2019
It's no secret Peter Jackson has an obsessive fascination with World War I. After all, his grandfather fought in it (this film is also dedicated to him).
'They Shall Not Grow Old' is already know for its groundbreaking colourisation and restoration work. The film begins however with some original black and white footage cropped like an old TV screen (essentially a small rounded rectangle), audio interviews with many of the war veterans play in the background describing their experiences.
After approximately 25 minutes, the small TV screen enlarges to full screen and the black and white footage turns to colour - and that moment is mind blowing.
The amount of work done here is so well done it cannot be justified in words. The footage looks so clean it's as if it was recorded 100 years later - not to mention that professional lip readers were brought in to calculate much of what each soldier is saying in the footage so that they could be dubbed over and it's sounds incredible.
However, with the footage being that old it did become clear in some instances that some of the restoration could not fix some small details without making it look unrealistic and end up looking oddly distorted. However, this is only minor and can be easily ignored and forgiven due to the condition of the footage.
Overall, this is a must-watch not just for war enthusiasts but for everyone. Prepare to be impressed by the restoration work done here.
8/10
'They Shall Not Grow Old' is already know for its groundbreaking colourisation and restoration work. The film begins however with some original black and white footage cropped like an old TV screen (essentially a small rounded rectangle), audio interviews with many of the war veterans play in the background describing their experiences.
After approximately 25 minutes, the small TV screen enlarges to full screen and the black and white footage turns to colour - and that moment is mind blowing.
The amount of work done here is so well done it cannot be justified in words. The footage looks so clean it's as if it was recorded 100 years later - not to mention that professional lip readers were brought in to calculate much of what each soldier is saying in the footage so that they could be dubbed over and it's sounds incredible.
However, with the footage being that old it did become clear in some instances that some of the restoration could not fix some small details without making it look unrealistic and end up looking oddly distorted. However, this is only minor and can be easily ignored and forgiven due to the condition of the footage.
Overall, this is a must-watch not just for war enthusiasts but for everyone. Prepare to be impressed by the restoration work done here.
8/10
Les vampires
(1915)
Don't let the runtime turn you away.
8 January 2019
Admittedly, I was skeptical to watch this not only because of its 7-hour runtime, but also because it is silent and that staying interested for that long on a silent film would be too much of a challenge.
I was wrong however, this is quite watchable and the fact that it is split into ten episodes (of widely varying lengths) makes it all the more accessible.
The plot is also interesting. The film follows a journalist and his bumbling accomplice who repeatedly attempt to track down and foil the plans of a criminal gang known as 'The Vampires'. This plot takes many twists and turns over the course of its runtime with many surprises and also gags (at the hands of Mazamette - the journalist's accomplice).
The acting (despite it being melodramatic due to the time period) is pretty good - especially that of Musidora, who plays Irma Vep of the Vampire gang and is a real scene-stealer.
Overall, this was enjoyable to watch for the most part however it is probably best watched as separate episodes and not in one go.
6/10
I was wrong however, this is quite watchable and the fact that it is split into ten episodes (of widely varying lengths) makes it all the more accessible.
The plot is also interesting. The film follows a journalist and his bumbling accomplice who repeatedly attempt to track down and foil the plans of a criminal gang known as 'The Vampires'. This plot takes many twists and turns over the course of its runtime with many surprises and also gags (at the hands of Mazamette - the journalist's accomplice).
The acting (despite it being melodramatic due to the time period) is pretty good - especially that of Musidora, who plays Irma Vep of the Vampire gang and is a real scene-stealer.
Overall, this was enjoyable to watch for the most part however it is probably best watched as separate episodes and not in one go.
6/10
Manos: The Hands of Fate
(1966)
The master would not approve.
8 January 2019
Where do I start with this one? There's not a single thing about this that prevents it from being one of the worst films I've ever seen.
The amount of technical problems become very clear very quickly. The painfully obvious continuity errors, the awful overdubbing (which was supposedly done my three people - voicing all the actors in the film), the abysmal acting and the fact that the film is a complete bore (despite its runtime of just over an hour).
I mean, this film isn't even worthy of a 'so-bad-it's-good' status. It really is that bad.
However, the Torgo character is definitely intriguing especially after reading up on John Reynolds (the actor who plays Torgo) which explained many things about his character.
Overall, I think Manos is better studied than enjoyed since the latter is virtually impossible.
1/10
The amount of technical problems become very clear very quickly. The painfully obvious continuity errors, the awful overdubbing (which was supposedly done my three people - voicing all the actors in the film), the abysmal acting and the fact that the film is a complete bore (despite its runtime of just over an hour).
I mean, this film isn't even worthy of a 'so-bad-it's-good' status. It really is that bad.
However, the Torgo character is definitely intriguing especially after reading up on John Reynolds (the actor who plays Torgo) which explained many things about his character.
Overall, I think Manos is better studied than enjoyed since the latter is virtually impossible.
1/10
The Ten Commandments
(1923)
Not as good as the remake but a must-watch nonetheless
8 January 2019
'The Ten Commandments' was released in 1923 and was directed by Cecil B. DeMille and is the first of two Ten Commandments films directed by him.
This version differs in more ways than one to the remake. While the remake primarily centers on the story of Moses, the original version only features Moses in the prologue (which runs for approximately 40 minutes). The rest of the film centers on an atheist man in present day (the 1920s) who sets out to break the Ten Commandments in order to become successful.
Comparing to the remake, the special effects in the 'parting of the waves' scene definitely look more realistic here (especially considering this was released in 1923) and the entire prologue I masterfully created - however I do wish it was longer since there was little to no development in the characters because of it's short runtime.
I was initially skeptical about the present day segment of the film but I was thoroughly impressed and the story was definitely intriguing, especially towards the end.
Overall, I do prefer the 1956 remake however you shouldn't turn your back on this one. It is definitely a must-watch, even if it just be for the prologue with Moses.
7/10
This version differs in more ways than one to the remake. While the remake primarily centers on the story of Moses, the original version only features Moses in the prologue (which runs for approximately 40 minutes). The rest of the film centers on an atheist man in present day (the 1920s) who sets out to break the Ten Commandments in order to become successful.
Comparing to the remake, the special effects in the 'parting of the waves' scene definitely look more realistic here (especially considering this was released in 1923) and the entire prologue I masterfully created - however I do wish it was longer since there was little to no development in the characters because of it's short runtime.
I was initially skeptical about the present day segment of the film but I was thoroughly impressed and the story was definitely intriguing, especially towards the end.
Overall, I do prefer the 1956 remake however you shouldn't turn your back on this one. It is definitely a must-watch, even if it just be for the prologue with Moses.
7/10
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