Night Hunter [2018] Decent cast; Ben Kingsley, Stanley Tucci, Alexandra Daddario but the lead detective was played by Henry Cavill who was wooden and monosyllabic. That said, the biggest flaw was the direction, appalling editing and annoying soundtrack. There were several scenes which didn't make sense, several that appeared to be in the wrong order and some that were simply mystifying, along with plot leaps that made the film appear that bits were missing. Could have been a good film, but wasn't. 5.22/10
Kung Fu Panda 4. You could tell by the third movie that it was getting slightly repetitive & weak in its humour, which was its strongest asset. In the 4th the signs are clear. While this was still a really good movie, but not a laugh riot as 1 & 2.
Late Night with the Devil. Quite an interesting way to tell a story. Almost feels like a play with the setup & even the acting. It's campy in parts, but also because of the several homages it pays to old Horror movies. There is not an emphasis on the Horror or scares, as it addresses quite a few other things. Really happy for David Dasmalchian. Ever since his role in Suicide Squad he is getting better & bigger roles. I enjoyed it, & if you are a Horror fan of old movies you will like it too.
Children (2011) Accidentally came across this movie which was described as Zodiac meets Memories of Murder by the people who have watched it. With those two being my favourites (especially the latter), I had to check this one out. I can see the comparisons, eventhough this movie lacks the finesse & effectiveness of those two brilliant flicks. This is a South Korean movie based on the true story of 'The Frog Boys'- 5 kids from Daegu who disappeared when they went to hunt salamander eggs. Quite a well made movie otherwise with good performances, best of which came from Kim Yeo Jin.
Caddyshack I don't get the high ratings. There is no plot. It's just a series of gags. Some of them land, most of them don't. Love Lies Bleeding It has few flaws, & that thing in the climax will evoke different kinds of reaction from different people. Spoiler I could see what they were trying to portray in an artsy sort of way, but it just wasn't executed that well, which might ruin few people's overall opinion of this otherwise good flick. The movie is very raw & gritty to the point of looking dirty. Right from the brilliant opening shot it holds your attention. It has a wild vibe about it, with the way the characters are portrayed & the background music. And for the most parts it works brilliantly. A lot of it also has to do with good performances from most of the cast - especially Katy M O'Brian, who is the star of this movie. Despite the few off things, & that bit in the ending, I loved it a lot.
Strays - 6.7/10 Silly film, immature but a fun little time passer. About a dog's journey back to bite the d*ck off his abusive owner after he is abandoned.
Loved this ,one of my favourite horror films this year. As you say it's a pastiche of those first VHS horror movies like Scanners and the like.
Wicked Little Letters. One of the best black comedies I've seen for some time ,absolutely joyous. Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman are sensational and as far as supporting actors go then the class of Timothy Spall makes up a magnificent trio of portrayals.
A blast from the past with Live And Let Die ( 1973 ) Loved this James Bond film as a kid. Cheesy jokes as always and Bond as ever being the stud with the ladies. Brilliant scene in the crocodile farm when he is stuck on the tiny island surrounded by crocs. Cracking theme tune by Wings.
Back to Black. Tries it's level best to offer up the viewer a glimpse of life in Amy's troubled shoes ,but I feel like it misses something along the journey. Marisa Abela is brilliant ,but even her performance is upstaged by Jack O'Connell whose portrayal of 'Jack the Lad' Blake steals it for me.I also think the film failed to make the most of the glorious talent of Eddie Marsan as Amy's Dad ,the same can be said for Leslie Manville as Amy's Nan. Without Amy's famous Jazz singing chanteuse of a Grandma ,I dare say there would have been no Amy Winehouse. Cynthia Winehouse dated and sang at Ronnie Scott's and she constantly warned Amy about the pitfalls of burning so bright so quickly often meant the need for other stimulants and used the brilliance but tragic end of one Charlie Parker as an example. I think what the film does manage to portray is the cold touch fame can have on genuine people and how some 'real' people struggle with the dark and incredibly lonely moments fame can bring. One thing is for certain though, Amy was a phenomenal talent blessed with a voice shaped by God ,but the fresh faced 18 year old that we first seen on The Jonathon Ross Show would have been just as happy if Frank was the only album we ever heard and lived out her life as a mother. As it turned out though she left an indelible mark on the Music industry as a complete phenomena and I doubt we will ever see or hear that kind of extraordinary talent again !
Top 10 films I saw in February-April: 1. In the Mood for Love (2000, Wong Kar-wai) - a stunning rapture of beauty and sensual style. The restrained lust, slo-mo gazing and unfulfilled love had me edging throughout the run time. 2. Melancholia (2011, Lars von Trier) - bold take on mental health (anxiety and depression), the flipped perspective in the second half was very thought provoking. I don't think Lars von Trier has made a better looking film. Kirsten Dunst should grab more roles like this one, she was terrific. 3. Sherlock Jr. (1924, Buster Keaton) - this is cinematic genius. A hundred years old but still spellbinding. Buster Keaton's stunts are jaw dropping and the comedy is hilarious. Watched a 4K version on YouTube which I highly recommend. 4. Taste of Cherry (1997, Abbas Kiarostami) - as we follow the main character, planning his own suicide we ourselves are forced to look at our own mortality, and think about the simple pleasures in life that we live for. 5. L'Atalante (1934, Jean Vigo) - genuine masterpiece from the 1930s, a pure and dreamlike poem to love. 6. The Killing (1956, Stanley Kubrick) - impressive early Kubrick work, which tells the story of a money heist at a racetrack. Technically clever setpieces and sharp dialogue elevate this above the average crime noirs. Marie Windsor playing the scheming wife Sherry Peatty is the standout performance. 7. Beau Travail (1999, Claire Denis) - plays out like a sensual homo-erotic music video from the 80s, and explodes with a surprising finale. 8. I Am Cuba (1964, Mikhail Kalatozov) - four short stories that reveal the plight and suffering of the Cuban nation. For a 60s movie, this film is shot amazingly by cinematographer Sergey Urusevsky, especially the opening tracking shot and club scene that had me in marvel. 9. The Ascent (1977, Larisa Shepitko) - a poetic and quietly harrowing anti-war film by female director Larisa Shepitko. Not as visceral or disturbing as her husband's 'Come and See', but this will still get under your skin. 10. White Men Can't Jump (1992, Ron Shelton) - delighted to catch this cult classic on Disney+. The dialogue is fast, the screen chemistry between Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes magical, but it's Rosie Perez who steals the show. A great 90s nostalgic hit.
I like the sound of this. I’m gonna have to give it a watch This will always be my favourite bond film. Best bond theme by some distance as well
Late night with the devil Thanks @Zydus and @Redpelt. Watched this last night after reading your reviews and I enjoyed it as much as I thought I would
