billthomas Reviews

The Holdovers (2023)

Nourishing

[8/10 · 25 April 2024]

I thought it was a bit contrived and heavy on the schmaltz but a thoughtful, careful film laden with charm and a touch of insight. Worthy of it's Oscar nomination and good value for a fiver on Sky Cinema.

Paul Giamatti is a delight. He has a great engine and his energy comes from a deep, exciting place inside him. Define Joy Randolph is clever. Such a dignified, lovely characterization.

I am listening to the soundtrack on Spotify now because it's gorgeous.

I always think that to enjoy a book or a film you have to care about at least one person in it and believe what's happening and I really enjoyed The Holdovers - I suppose it just seemed overly sentimental and see the structure of the script was apparent.

Civil War (2024)

Thin and insubstantial

[12 April 2024]

There is a good movie to be made about the polarisation and aggression of US politics leading to civil war. This was not it. Uses a grossly undeveloped political scenario as an excuse to show us routine, gratuitous violence and contrived relationships. Casting an actress who looks 14 as a 23 year old was a big mistake and pushing her from wide eyed innocence through a ridiculous, unbelievable journey to awakening ambition via horror was crudely handled. Taking photos of people while they suffer and die is obscene and the pain and gore of violence was trivialised, not dignified by this sad movie.

Poor Things (2023)

Ugly, revolting and, to me, meaningless

[1/10 · 23 January 2024]

I cannot understand the respect paid to this ghastly film. It's brave, yes, but so was Atilla the Hun. That doesn't make it art. It abounds with porn in the guise of a woman's sexual enlightenment wrapped in the cloak of liberation. Lots of cadavers and gore. And now loads of Oscar nominations which shows how out of touch I am. Thankfully it only cost £6.50 at our brilliant local Genesis cinema, and I stayed to the end and I didn't fall asleep but honestly just I dont get it. I also didn't like Parasite or Everything Everywhere... What's wrong with me? Am seeing The Holdovers tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

Too loud, too long, too complex.

[6/10 · 25 July 2023]

But it wasn't boring for me. Its just that every bloody talking scene had some poor sod on a violin doing tension music. Completely lost track of the plot here and there (so many people and lts of mumbling). But good performances all round esp Downey.

I suppose my overriding thought is, to quote the film, "nobody in Hiroshima or Nagasaki cares who invented the bloody bomb." I guess I don't either. And he had a conscience. And problems with women. And a troubled childhood that was ignored in the film

Its like Nolan was worried it would be boring so peppered it with nipples, tricks and gimmicks.

I saw it on Imax and that was a waste of money - I was not blown away. We went home and re-watched the documentary. Fascinating story.