Last Movie You Watched.

Is that the one where the bird fucks the fish-man?

That might be The Shape Of Water you're thinking of.

CJB wrote:

Is that the one where the bird fucks the fish-man?

That's one of my home-made sex tapes, hope it didn't leak out.

Provided he used a condom, it shouldn't have done .

Reacquainted myself with Layer Cake...last time I watched this was just before Casino Royale so I could get a bit familiar with Craig.

Slasher looks like my Aunt. Crikey.

The Favourite.

It took a little to adjust to the very theatrical manner of delivering dialogue, but when I did it became much more enjoyable. Emma Stone was exceptional and her accent never slipped (just her nipple in one scene). The best parts of the performances occur when they aren't talking, particularly in the first quarter. After, as I said, there's a more palatable marriage between their body language and tonality. Watching Olivia Coleman behave petulantly is worth admission alone. Rachel Weisz is reliable as ever. She should coach her husband.

This is a film that will do (or unfortunately, it's probably more accurate to say 'should do') more for feminism than something like the misandrist Colette.

First Reformed

Terrific and surprising. Surprising because I didn't think Paul Schrader had another film of this quality in him. As well as the fact that it's now become somewhat of an event to get such a grown-up film that does not pander or seeks to hold the audience's hand. Perhaps the most accomplished performance of Ethan Hawke's career.



Definitely worth checking out if you can see it, on the big or on the small screen.

So, Sabs, briefly, what's it about?

It's about the liberals' insidious plot to march white wholesome families of faith to their death camps unless they're Mooslim, a prelude to women taking control of the world and rendering men to mere roles of breeding stock.

Perilagu Khan wrote:

So, Sabs, briefly, what's it about?

It's hard to summarize it properly without spoiling too much.

It's essentially about a disillusioned reverend whose frustration and disappointment (at his own failings and at life in general) takes on an entirely different nature after he meets a young pregnant woman and her deeply troubled husband.

Makeshift Python wrote:

It's about the liberals' insidious plot to march white wholesome families of faith to their death camps unless they're Mooslim, a prelude to women taking control of the world and rendering men to mere roles of breeding stock.

Sounds plausible.

Salomé wrote:

Perilagu Khan wrote:

So, Sabs, briefly, what's it about?

It's hard to summarize it properly without spoiling too much.

It's essentially about a disillusioned reverend whose frustration and disappointment (at his own failings and at life in general) takes on an entirely different nature after he meets a young pregnant woman and her deeply troubled husband.

Presumably not a much belated sequel to Rosemary's Baby...

Perilagu Khan wrote:

Salomé wrote:

Perilagu Khan wrote:

So, Sabs, briefly, what's it about?

It's hard to summarize it properly without spoiling too much.

It's essentially about a disillusioned reverend whose frustration and disappointment (at his own failings and at life in general) takes on an entirely different nature after he meets a young pregnant woman and her deeply troubled husband.

Presumably not a much belated sequel to Rosemary's Baby...

No.

Broadcast News.

Great film. James L Brooks has a way of injecting his films with small moments of human insight that resonate. It's a little more subtle here than As Good As It Gets, but both prove he should be working more.

The last couple of films I've watched have featured a good head: Lois Chiles popped up here in a extensive supporting role and had a highly effective cameo in Say Anything, which has probably been her best performance (shame she wasn't in it more). I'm very much looking forward to giving MR a watch this year, to see how I view her performance now that I've seen her outside of Bond and Austin Powers. I might try get around to watching Death on the Nile, Sweet Liberty (if I can find it) and Coma beforehand. Maybe even The Great Gatsby.

Chiles has done alright, outside of Bond. I want to like her more than I do, but her voice pops into my head: her lethargic "Hang on James" and pretentious "I'm sure I shall". I've mellowed out in other parts of her performance in the film, and sometimes even enjoy her presence (I've always liked her first scene with Bond, but then she grates in other parts of the film. Here's hoping that changes.

Glass. It was good.

And since we're waiting for a delayed flight at the fucking airport, we're nipping in to see Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse as it starts in 5 minutes.

Blade Runner 2049

It seems to be on CINEMAX every bloody day (we get 4 CINEMAX channels).

The Virtual person technology being portrayed is fascinating but the movie gets to be boring as hell sometimes.

I watched "Burning".



Based on a Murakami short story, this drama/thriller is really a study of the human condition and loneliness in particular. Like "First Reformed", this is grown-up cinema that takes its time to get where it is going. Very enjoyable. A terrific performance by Steven Yeun, who uses the same charming qualities he displayed on "The Walking Dead" in a more sinister manner here.

bitchcraft wrote:

Blade Runner 2049

It seems to be on CINEMAX every bloody day (we get 4 CINEMAX channels).

The Virtual person technology being portrayed is fascinating but the movie gets to be boring as hell sometimes.

It's visually breathtaking, but eventually that stops compensating for the slowness and length. Found it a bit of a slog overall.

The Mule - Clint Eastwood directs, produces and stars in this (unlikely as it seems) based-on-a-true-story drama about a 90-year-old drug 'mule'.

Solidly entertaining, with Clint on wrinkly 'n' crabbily charming form and with able support from the likes of Bradley Cooper, Michael Pena, Dianne Wiest, Laurence Fishburne and Andy Garcia.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

The Mule - Clint Eastwood directs, produces and stars in this (unlikely as it seems) based-on-a-true-story drama about a 90-year-old drug 'mule'.

Solidly entertaining, with Clint on wrinkly 'n' crabbily charming form and with able support from the likes of Bradley Cooper, Michael Pena, Dianne Wiest, Laurence Fishburne and Andy Garcia.    

Have to see this one still, it's approaching $100 million at the box office too.

The Gathering Storm

the now obligatory tribute watch to a fallen actor and none greater than Finney. It's a dynamo performance and probably the best I saw until Oldman and even then it's in a world of its own. Finney inhabits the role and does well with it. Churchill is not easy and never will be. Vanessa Redgrave holds her own as Clementine and the depiction of the relationship is again, the best seen until Darkest Hour. But the two aren't quite comparable, for one this is the wilderness years where like a lone voice, Churchill campaigned that Hitler was rearming for war and that war was inevitable.

A great cast with many famous names (Tom Wilkinson, John Standing, Hugh Bonneville) and some not quite famous yet (Tom Hiddleston, Linus Roache). And sadly, a couple of these names are no longer with us (Ronnie Barker, Mr Finney Edward Hardwicke and Gottfried John). A special note in this regard to Ronnie Barker whose Inches is the butt of some of Churchill's ire and yet gives as good as he can get.

I suppose it's a little on the nose with its music doing its best at times to make something more out of something (little jarring to have a battle at the start of the film with a rampant Rule, Britannia) but it sometimes works -such as at the end -"Winston's back, hmm? Too bloody right he is!"

The world is poorer for Albert Finney's loss. Shirley Ann Field said on the BBC that night, it doesn't seem real and yet, if there is a heaven, he's up there now organising a brilliant party.

Leave No Trace



A treatise on PTSD, a family drama and a contemplation on what our society perceives as acceptable behavior. Interesting film. The two leads are both terrific. Debra Granik has a knack for finding talented young actors. I expect a lot from Thomasin McKenzie in the future.

It is somewhat amusing that Granik claimed the raeson for her casting a Kiwi in the lead role was that the American actresses she auditioned were less willing to get literally dirty during the wilderness survival scenes.

Hacksaw Ridge.

This is one of those movies that I didn't intentionally set out to see but when it started on the telly I checked it out with some casual interest...and it got pretty good! Watched it to to the end.

The true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (played by Spider-Man Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Doss was drafted and ostracized by fellow soldiers for his pacifist stance but went on to earn respect and adoration for his bravery.

Gets very violent when the fighting starts.

The Accountant - nodded off with about 20 minutes of this somewhat implausible action-thriller to go. Rewinding, forced concentration until the end and a look at the film's Wiki page 'filled in the blanks'.

OK, with maybe a better cast than it deserved (Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, JK Simmons, John Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow).

Blunt Instrument wrote:

The Accountant - nodded off with about 20 minutes of this somewhat implausible action-thriller to go. Rewinding, forced concentration until the end and a look at the film's Wiki page 'filled in the blanks'.

OK, with maybe a better cast than it deserved (Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, JK Simmons, John Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow).  

I liked it a lot, they're doing a sequel.