Just watched BvsS - and I’m an exception to the rule, it seems, because I enjoyed it.
I don’t go to comic-themed movies aimed at teenagers with expectations of high-art, profound discourse and sublime acting performances - so perhaps that’s why I can enjoy them.
Yes - it went on (and on) for about 30 minutes too long. Lots of silly things happen, as they tend to do in…‘SUPER HERO’ movies. It lacked the humour found in X-Men/Avengers/GotG. But it still has value, I reckon.
7.5/10
The annual French Film Festival begins on Wednesday and goes through to 24 March. The program looks quite good this year. I’ve seen two of the films in previews and they’ve both been pretty good.
The first was Microbe and Gasoline, which is sort of a teen coming of age thing. Normally those films make me cringe, and the director of this one, Michel Gondry, made a film called the Science of Sleep that was hopeless from beginning to end, so I wasn’t hopeful when this one began. Surprisingly, I liked it. The two boys, whose nicknames are Microbe and Gasoline, are about 13 and have the usual sort of problems. Somehow the film turns into a bit of a road movie. It’s all very low-key; there’s comedy that crops up unexpectedly and brings a smile; it ends satisfyingly. I’d give it about 7.5.
The other was In Balance. It’s about a stunt rider who’s injured in an accident and becomes paraplegic, and it’s based, very loosely, on a true story. The rider is played by Albert Dupontel, whom I’d never heard of, but apparently he did all his own stunts in the film. He has a fight with his insurance company, which sends an assessor, played by Cecile de France, to convince him to accept their inadequate offer. It’s basically the story of his battle with the insurance company and his desire to get back in the saddle.
The basic story is good, but there have been a number of Hollywood-style side-stories added in for “dramatic impact”, all of which detract from the basic story; the film would have been far, far better without them, and done as a straight story. The whole damn thing is also shot with hand-held cameras, usually in extreme close-up, which seems to be the fashion these days and I find almost unwatchable. That’s a particular pity with this film, because it’s shot in the Loire-Atlantique, not far from the ocean, where the country is absolutely beautiful in an open, windswept way; but its beauty is largely lost because the camera never pulls back far enough to take a look at it. Notwithstanding all that, it’s a strong story, the pace is good, and the acting is excellent by the two principals; there’s also a small supporting role for Carole Franck as a lawyer that made me want to see a lot more of her. It would have easily been an 8.5, but the added dramatic flourishes and horrible nauseacam take it back to a 7.5.
I’m under no illusions about French cinema. I like it generally, but it’s just as capable of turning out crap as any other country’s cinema, although at least it’s a different kind of crap. The next one I’m going to see is the opening night film on Wednesday, Rosalie Blum, which looks as if it could be okay and hasn’t even been released in France yet. There’s a restored print of Contempt as the closing film which I’ve probably seen 5 times, but I’ll certainly be going to it again. Apart from those two I haven’t booked any yet but I’ll probably end up at about 8 or 10 all up.
The Revenant - 4.5/5
I can only assume the people who dislike it are the same types who keep the Transformer and Fast and Furious franchises coming because that was incredible. Leo is a great actor but honestly, if he wins the award for that it will be a bit like Scorcese winning for The Departed. Tom Hardy stole the show.
The Revenant - 4.5/5I can only assume the people who dislike it are the same types who keep the Transformer and Fast and Furious franchises coming because that was incredible. Leo is a great actor but honestly, if he wins the award for that it will be a bit like Scorcese winning for The Departed. Tom Hardy stole the show.
I just felt it was too intense, like just kept getting more on edge until the end where it kinda just ended and was left wanting.
The Dressmaker.
Only watched it because of good (male) reviews here.
It very nearly turned me off in the first twenty minutes. I was thinking…really? Can Australia NOT make a film that’s oddball and quirky…I mean…ever? And add some swear words to that.
But the performances drew me in.
It’s good.
It absolutely wrecked LMW.
I kind of feel like it would have been better served as an HBO mini-series than a film, and I know that means More exploration of the oddball and quirky which goes against what I said originally, but still.
It was good.
Very good.
The Dressmaker. Only watched it because of good (male) reviews here.It very nearly turned me off in the first twenty minutes. I was thinking…really? Can Australia NOT make a film that’s oddball and quirky…I mean…ever? And add some swear words to that.
But the performances drew me in.
It’s good.
It absolutely wrecked LMW.I kind of feel like it would have been better served as an HBO mini-series than a film, and I know that means More exploration of the oddball and quirky which goes against what I said originally, but still.
It was good.
Very good.
ya see???
The Revenant - 4.5/5I can only assume the people who dislike it are the same types who keep the Transformer and Fast and Furious franchises coming because that was incredible. Leo is a great actor but honestly, if he wins the award for that it will be a bit like Scorcese winning for The Departed. Tom Hardy stole the show.
I just felt it was too intense, like just kept getting more on edge until the end where it kinda just ended and was left wanting.
I was the same with transformers and fast and furious
The Revenant - 4.5/5I can only assume the people who dislike it are the same types who keep the Transformer and Fast and Furious franchises coming because that was incredible. Leo is a great actor but honestly, if he wins the award for that it will be a bit like Scorcese winning for The Departed. Tom Hardy stole the show.
I just felt it was too intense, like just kept getting more on edge until the end where it kinda just ended and was left wanting.
I was the same with transformers and fast and furious
Transformers 3 and FF5 were like that for sure.
So I finally downloaded Revenant. Cinematography was brilliant, story line slow. Tom Hardy was better than Leo imo, although I thought Leo did a good job.
The Revenant - 4.5/5I can only assume the people who dislike it are the same types who keep the Transformer and Fast and Furious franchises coming because that was incredible. Leo is a great actor but honestly, if he wins the award for that it will be a bit like Scorcese winning for The Departed. Tom Hardy stole the show.
I just felt it was too intense, like just kept getting more on edge until the end where it kinda just ended and was left wanting.
I was the same with transformers and fast and furious
Transformers 3 and FF5 were like that for sure.
Every time I watch South Park take the ■■■■ out of Michael bay I think of T 3
watched an early screening of Hail, Cesar! at moonlight cinemas last week.
Left with about 40 minutes to go, partly because of the rain, partly because I just couldn’t get in to the movie. wasn’t really funny, wasn’t really a good storyline, acting was shabby, not sure if it was meant to be? yeah, just average.
watched an early screening of Hail, Cesar! at moonlight cinemas last week.Left with about 40 minutes to go, partly because of the rain, partly because I just couldn’t get in to the movie. wasn’t really funny, wasn’t really a good storyline, acting was shabby, not sure if it was meant to be? yeah, just average.
Love the Coen Bros. but I’m not a fan of their slapstick comedies.
So I finally downloaded Revenant. Cinematography was brilliant, story line slow. Tom Hardy was better than Leo imo, although I thought Leo did a good job.
That’s pretty much spot on.
Leo finally gets his Oscar.
Straight outta Compton. Obviously portrays them in the best view but a good watch watch. 8/10
Dr Dre ripped off by first manager and then ripped off by Suge Knight. Is there any manager for music/boxing etc who doesn’t rip off their clients.
The Big Short is a hell of a film.
Spotlight is a heavy film.
Sounds like a film well worth seeing
The big short is a seriously good movie. How Steve Carell wasn’t nominated for an Oscar I cannot understand. He has turned into a seriously good dramatic actor almost overnight.
The big short is a seriously good movie. How Steve Carell wasn't nominated for an Oscar I cannot understand. He has turned into a seriously good dramatic actor almost overnight.
Explained some ■■■■ way better than any of my lecturers.