Good month of films. MMOTM Nicholas Cage smoking two cigarettes at the same time, or the end of final destination 5
My friend who does print making went crazy for that scene in LA, apparently very accurate
Also just a perfect film
1 Like
Surprisingly boring
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Ah, I didn’t realise that Good One was out now. I really liked it, and so will also heartily recommend that people see it.
Some recent films seen via BFI distribution copies, unprepped prints for Film on Film Festival and cinema outings:
I Walked With a Zombie - Jacques Tourneur
Very chic, very atmospheric horror revolving around Haitian vodou rituals. Really engrossing storyline and some frightening scenes - the possessed Jessica, and Darby Jones’ eyes!!! Scheduled to be at the Film on Film Festival this month but is currently on BBC iPlayer if you can’t get down there.
Sister Midnight - Karan Kandhari
Slightly ashamed to say that the BFI were involved in the production of this as it’s a very poorly thought out film. The plot is non-existent to non-sensical, lots of ideas but none of them are fully formed and little of those ideas stick. A pity as I’m really enjoying the recent new-wave Indian films that place female characters front and centre - Santosh, All We Imagine As Light, Girls Will Be Girls etc
One To One: John & Yoko - Sam Rice-Edwards and Kevin Macdonald
Very engrossing documentary that chronicles John & Yoko’s lives in New York during 1972. It’s all about the editing. A real masterclass of editing that seamlessly splices archive TV adverts - highlighting Lennon’s penchant for channel surfing - with personal footage, concert footage and footage of the tumultuous current events of the time - Watergate, Vietnam, Attica et al. The production value on this is exceptional, especially the meticulous recreation of John & Yoko’s Greenwich Village studio apartment. Very insightful little documentary, which perfectly captured their lives at that time and the times they were living in.
The Kid With A Bike - Dardenne brothers
Reminded me that I need to watch more films by the Dardenne brothers! Very reminiscent of Di Sica’s Bicycle Thieves but with the usual Dardenne themes of parenthood, trust, loss, love etc. Wholesomely heartfelt, beautifully acted, especially Thomas Doret as Cyril, and perfectly directed and edited into a very nicely formed, succinct film.
Loving Memory - Tony Scott
Scott’s (brother of Ridley) debut feature - part funded by Albert Finney - which is very dark and sinister, yet slightly playful. Absolutely loved the monochrome cinematography, capturing the desolate but beautiful isolation of villages in the north Yorkshire Moor villages. Great performances as well, especially from Rosamund Greenwood. An interesting footnote film, understanding where it all started for him, before he made the big Hollywood blockbusters of Top Gun, Crimson Tide, Enemy of The State etc…
May: Watched 36
Best: I Love Trouble (1948), Radical (2023)
Worst: Between the Temples
MMOTM: Allison Janney falling a loooong way down a cliff in Another Simple Favor
Also, all the wisecracks in I Love Trouble.
Butler: Good morning.
Stuart Bailey: Good morning.
Butler: [noticing he was beat up] Say, what happened to you? Are you the drunk they told me was sleeping it off upstairs?
Stuart Bailey: Yeah, that’s me.
Butler: I must have been hearing things. I thought they said it was a gal.
Stuart Bailey: When I drink, my voice gets high.
The Ballad of Wallis Island
Quite sweet and charming, Tim Key is great in it. My crush on Sian Clifford is even worse now.
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We went to see this earlier. Think your enjoyment of it will depend on your tolerance for Tim Keys schtick.
I found him really grating in the beginning. That being said I warmed to him more as the film went on.
Really enjoyed the rest of the cast. A nice wee film.
The Ballad Of Wallis Island.
I thought this was wonderful, almost perfect, and the best film I’ve seen since maybe Perfect Days.
One thing that I liked a lot was the parallels it drew between how much music can be enmeshed with the performers’ personal relationships at that time, and also with those of the listeners.
We went to a screening at the Barbican with a Q&A with Tim Key, Tom Badsen and James Griffiths. That part was good too.
5 Likes
The Phoenician Scheme was breezy and fun. Excellent production design (as per), but was missing the heart of Anderson’s more affecting work. I was hoping for more. Solid 6
6 Likes
Makes me want to rewatch Cowards. Looking forward to seeing this.
just watched First Blood, never seen a Rambo before. Thought it was a guy goes on a killing spree in a surprisingly gritty and gory production for a mainstream film. instead its a bunch of blokes talking for ages about trying to catch him while he fucks around in a field. boring
Didn’t really get on with Mountainhead. Performances were good and it had its moments but just felt like a long, not very good episode of telly, script could really have used tightening up.
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Started watching the new roadhouse. Too tired to finish and also, i believe sanctioning conor mcgregor to be in this film, looking at how it went in post production and then still releasing it, is amongst the worst things a human has ever done.
The first hour is brain off garbage, tonally a bit odd, but watchable and then he shows up.
Can only assume they were too frightened to recast his part.
agreed 
2 Likes
I liked Mountainhead but it felt quite slight, which is weird given the stakes it tries to set out. My engagement waned as it went on, and it really did need some actual nuttiness towards the end.
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Sinners (2015) - I thought this was good, but not the incredible immersive experience that some people are saying it is. I really liked the score.
Look Who’s Talking Too (1990)
Somehow managed to be worse the original film. I only watched this because of Blank Check, and the episode of that podcast on the film with Max Minghella as the guest is really fun.
3 Likes
2 Likes
I was in a cinema of about 20 people for The Phoenician Scheme and didn’t hear one laugh.
I didn’t hate it but it’s quite difficult to care about.
3 Likes