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Post by Dave on Aug 31, 2011 16:51:34 GMT
Couldn't get into The Boy In Striped Pyjamas. I think this is the moment where I realise I can't take British Nazis seriously. Especially when one of them is Bishop Brennan. I hope someone kicked him up the arse!
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Post by jill on Sept 5, 2011 22:13:44 GMT
Blind Shaft
Chinese film directed by Li Yang that won a lot of plaudits back when it premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in 2003 (94% positive on rotten tomotoes etc). About two con artists working a brutal scam as they move around the country taking casual work in the coal mines. Not quite edge of your seat stuff, but compelling drama. The film was banned in China (still is I think) probably because it's also a critical commentary on China's move the market ('There's a shortage of everything in China, except people'). Very Loach like in both the politics and the naturalistic style. Think a lot of people on the forum would like it. Great film. 8/10
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Post by Bill Edwards on Sept 7, 2011 21:20:21 GMT
The Guard Funny and naughty. Brendan Gleeson was excellent as the non-conformist copper.
It was a bit more lightweight than I was expecting and the music sailed very close to oompahpah at times too.
Don Cheadle was a match for Gleeson and there was much fun to be had from their banter.
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Post by jill on Sept 9, 2011 0:43:55 GMT
The Fighter Was loaned this film, so felt obliged to watch it, but wasn't expecting to much like it. Was carried along by the story from the off, but for the first hour thought it was a good 'mainstream' film, but nothing special. The extended family seemed a bit caricature large, loud, brawling Oirish and while Bale's character was evidently supposed to be larger than life, thought his performance was a shade OTT. Seemed to be heading for a cliched ending too. The longer it went on, the less critical and more admiring I became. The fight sequences were great. Was gripped by the drama, especally the realistic action/fighting. Liked Bale's performance more and more as the film unfolded. He deserved the Best Supporting Actor imo, but got to feel sorry for Wahlberg (nominations, but ultimately nothing). His low key performance-based on the real life boxer-was a perfect contrast to Bale and made the brothers relationship somehow more convincing. It was Walhberg's performance of the fight scenes that really deserved some recognition though-brilliant. And the end wasn't what I was expecting at all Really good film. Re-watched Being John Malkovich a couple of nights back. Had forgotten how funny it is ;D
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Post by RydCook on Sept 10, 2011 15:22:19 GMT
The Fighter Was loaned this film, so felt obliged to watch it, but wasn't expecting to much like it. Was carried along by the story from the off, but for the first hour thought it was a good 'mainstream' film, but nothing special. The extended family seemed a bit caricature large, loud, brawling Oirish and while Bale's character was evidently supposed to be larger than life, thought his performance was a shade OTT. Seemed to be heading for a cliched ending too. The longer it went on, the less critical and more admiring I became. The fight sequences were great. Was gripped by the drama, especally the realistic action/fighting. Liked Bale's performance more and more as the film unfolded. He deserved the Best Supporting Actor imo, but got to feel sorry for Wahlberg (nominations, but ultimately nothing). His low key performance-based on the real life boxer-was a perfect contrast to Bale and made the brothers relationship somehow more convincing. It was Walhberg's performance of the fight scenes that really deserved some recognition though-brilliant. And the end wasn't what I was expecting at all Really good film. Yup, totally agree! Ooh, I haven't mentioned it here yet. I saw Trollhunter! Thought it was great fun. I can see The Trollhunter being a new cult character. People dressing up as him at halloween parties and stuff. Very funny and entertaining film. At first I thought it was going to be horror, but was delighted to find its just a bizarre comedy. Awesome stuff. ;D
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Post by Dave on Sept 10, 2011 18:51:19 GMT
I saw Trollhunter! Thought it was great fun. I can see The Trollhunter being a new cult character. People dressing up as him at halloween parties and stuff. Very funny and entertaining film. At first I thought it was going to be horror, but was delighted to find its just a bizarre comedy. Awesome stuff. ;D Don't think I'll get to see it until Tuesday now. Can't wait. We're showing it at the Watershed, and I'm trying to avoid spoiling it for myself, which is quite tricky being the projectionist. I did read somewhere that a few of the main actors in the film are stand-up comedians in Norway, so I knew there was going to be plenty of fun to be had! There's a couple of people from the film distributor in tonight doing a survey of the Troll Hunter audiences this evening. Seems to be to see how people found out about the film, how old they are, would they buy the DVD/Blu-ray.. that sort of thing. Hope it does well (the audiences here have been pretty good so far) and that the distributor gets good feedback from these surveys so that they feel like it is worth bringing other foreign language fantasy and horror films to the UK.
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Post by Bill Edwards on Sept 11, 2011 17:50:30 GMT
Under a bright, fullish moon we watched Close Encounters Of The Third Kind on an 'Airscreen' (thanks Ryd) in Stoney Wood, Wirksworth in Derbyshire. Saw a shooting star too!
Great environment to watch that film. Perfect place to watch DMS too. V spooky!
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Post by jill on Sept 12, 2011 18:15:17 GMT
Under a bright, fullish moon we watched Close Encounters Of The Third Kind on an 'Airscreen' (thanks Ryd) in Stoney Wood, Wirksworth in Derbyshire. Saw a shooting star too! Great environment to watch that film. Perfect place to watch DMS too. V spooky! Was also at this showing-in my neighbouring village. Really enjoyed it, despite the occasional light shower. Must be something about the chilled-out atmosphere because the first time I say Close Encounters, I thought the musical conversation was totally daft, but enjoyed it this time around. Well done to Quad (Derby) for putting it on. I'll take a blanket next time though .......Blair Witch Project would be great in that venue ;D
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Post by Bill Edwards on Sept 13, 2011 19:10:44 GMT
Under a bright, fullish moon we watched Close Encounters Of The Third Kind on an 'Airscreen' (thanks Ryd) in Stoney Wood, Wirksworth in Derbyshire. Saw a shooting star too! Great environment to watch that film. Perfect place to watch DMS too. V spooky! Was also at this showing-in my neighbouring village. Really enjoyed it, despite the occasional light shower. Must be something about the chilled-out atmosphere because the first time I say Close Encounters, I thought the musical conversation was totally daft, but enjoyed it this time around. Well done to Quad (Derby) for putting it on. I'll take a blanket next time though .......Blair Witch Project would be great in that venue ;D Y'know, I couldn't help thinking how mechanical the film seemed this time round. I think I'm just too familiar with it. The bit where Neary's thowing the garden through the window goes on a bit too long too. Mr Speilberg! I would love to see An American Werewolf in London in that setting. I think any classic horror or chiller is perfect fodder for an out door late night screening... Hold on a sec... Idea for a film! Air Screen Scream Slaughter. Someone's got to do it.
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Post by jill on Sept 13, 2011 21:40:47 GMT
Saw a shooting star too! Great environment to watch that film. Perfect place to watch DMS too. V spooky! Kudos for knowing which bright light in the night sky was the international space station Any horror film would be brilliant in Stoney Wood, or similar venue.......mmm, maybe not in Wirksworth.....them folk scare me enough already ;D
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Post by RydCook on Sept 16, 2011 18:47:08 GMT
Cambridge Film festival kicked off last night, and I saw TINKER, TAILER, SOLDIER, SPY! Not only that, I also was within a metre away from GARY OLDMAN, JOHN HURT AND TOMAS ALDREDSON (the director) mind blowing it was. The film was brilliant, despite me being confused throughout! Ha ha. Definitely see it. Q&A with director, writer, Gary and John was brilliant. A great first day of the fest. I have a film premiering tonight, very excited!
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Post by Bill Edwards on Sept 17, 2011 8:25:02 GMT
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Classily filmed, wonderful wigs, cracking cast and caption free but emotionally uninvolving, slow to get going – and it only just got going when it did get going and hard to follow. Quality though!
Saw it at QUAD which has John Hurt as its patron.
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Post by jill on Sept 18, 2011 22:52:09 GMT
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Thought this was excellent. Agree that it was a bit hard to follow-all the flashbacks (even with the helpful aid of Oldman's/Smiley's visit to the opticians at the start ) and red herrings etc. It was only after the reveal that I was able to piece together the plot and I'm sure I missed things. I thought the characterisations and the window into the 'real' weird and nasty spy world-full of saddos- was as interesting as the plot though, nice antidote to all the James Bond stuff. Really liked some of the small moments-like Alleline in the rain near the end. The periodisation was excellent. Hard to tell if this'll do well at the Oscars and whether a British actor will get it, after Firth last year. Be nice if Oldman finally won one for this performance though. All the cast were good (thought the guy who played Guillam-Cumberbatch-was great), but Oldman was superb
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Post by Bill Edwards on Sept 23, 2011 8:38:00 GMT
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Post by cliftonestate on Sept 27, 2011 15:07:15 GMT
No good at all this reviewing films as i'd like to think one man's meat is another man's poison. But i think if any of you havn't seen the film "Down Terrace" i'd advise you to check it out. I thought it was very Shane Meadow-ish It's a bit like a mish mash of Mum & Dad,Dead Mans Shoes and Love Honour and Obey. As i love all those three films it made tremendous viewing for me. I loved it and i think it only cost around 50 grand to make money well spent.
I'd be interested to see your comments on weather you think it's Shane Meadow-ish
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