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Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
Bob Marley - One Love
Biopic.
I'm not a big Bob Marley fan but am of films based on true events and biopics.
Bob Marley is undoubtedly one of the most important individuals in the world of music, synonymous with Reggae. This is a film about his life and journey to super-stardom.
I didn't realize how deeply he was involved in Jamaican politics and troubles.
By the end we can certainly appreciate what he believed in and lived for, his music is remarkable, he can be considered a legend and a national hero.
There are several actual video clips playing during the end credits showing actual footage and how Bob's life ended. This generally how these kind of films end.
The Zone of Interest (2023)
The Zone of Interest - Overhyped
Historical documentary based on a 2014 novel.
I really wanted to like this, and the many positive reviews gave me high hopes. Zone of interest was an interesting 'arty' concept but poorly executed (sorry).
We follow the everyday lives of German Nazi commander Rudolf Hoss and his family, who live an idyllic middle-class life, while being completely insensitive to the Auschwitz concentration camp, next door behind a 30-foot concrete wall.
Not brutal or violent, no gore, not even a drop of blood. Just smoke from the furnace chimneys and the sound of gunshots and human suffering
Hoss is a very efficient commander, who is responsible for the killing of 3 million Jews, 2.5 million by cremation and 500K by starvation and disease.
This could have been made into a 20minute YouTube documentary and still have had the same impact.
One Life (2023)
One Life - Based on the Book "If It's Not Impossible"
Documentary drama, based on a true story.
This follows the story of Nicholas (Nicky) Winton, a British stockbroker who visits Czechoslovakia in 1938.
The film starts in the 1980's, Nickolas is an elderly man, there are many flashback scenes to 1938, where is see the young Nickolas's efforts to rescue 669 Jewish children from becoming victims of the Nazi holocaust.
Nickolas kept a scrapbook, which is a character in itself and how the media get hold of the story. Nickolas never sees himself as a hero, he simply immediately did what he thought was urgently necessary.
If you didn't already know, you'd definitely guess it was a BBC Films production. I can imagine this will be screened on TV as soon as Christmas 2024.
Emotional. Recommended.
Napoleon (2023)
Napoleon - see on the largest theatre screen
Historical drama (with some creative licence)
"Napoleon" is an action epic that details the rise and fall of the French Emperor, the film tracks Napoleon's journey from a nothing to King.
The majority of this movie seems to focus on Napoleon's volatile relationship with Josephine and her inability to provide an heir. The battle sequences are some of the best you'll ever see, so I sincerely recommend seeing this on the largest screen available.
This runs to almost 3 hours but didn't seem long, Ridley Scott hasn't disappointed (again), the history wasn't accurate, but the story very well told.
Sumotherhood (2023)
Sumotherhood
British made comedy drama.
Two young wannabe gangsters, Riko and Kane, owe their landlord £15K, they have a time limit to pay back and decide to rob a megastar rapper backstage for his gold watch, gold chain etc, of course this goes disastrously wrong. Next, they plan to rob a local bank, but this also goes wrong and leads them to one of East London's most notorious gangs. Also includes the obligatory love interest
Many slapstick capers and lots of cameos from British comedy and music stars (Ed Sheeran for instance)
Made for a young audience, but I laughed several times.
Well made British cinema is always worth a look.
Im Westen nichts Neues (2022)
Intense, visually stunning, impactful movie.
Historical anti-war drama
Based on a classic novel from 1929
Re-make of a film from 1930
This film follows the story of a group of young disillusioned German boys who enlist to fight on the front-line during World War I, emphasises the realities of the western front and, the war from a German perspective.
The boys are expecting an exciting adventure and are issued with uniforms, that were just salvaged from recently dead soldiers. The boys were essentially reduced to nothing more than disposable bodies, thoughtlessly and eventually discarded.
It shows the utter, hopeless, and senseless destruction of war, particularly the tank and flamethrower scenes.
The cinematography is perfect.
The soundtrack adds to the sombre mood
As the film concludes, we are informed that there were over two million casualties along the western front, although the line advanced less than 200 meters!
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Avatar - The Way (too Long) of Water
Fantasy action adventure, with amazing 3D visual effects.
This was practically a repeat of the first movie, this time the theme was water, underwater, seascapes, etc, rather than trees, forest, and a jungle setting.
Remember the original military antagonist, well, they manage to manufacture a contrived comeback. You can predict mostly everything that will happen, a couple of plot twists would have improved.
192 minutes was way too long, the average 12-year-old might struggle to engage throughout, as would many adults, editing 60 minutes from the middle would improve.
Not bad, not great, this is mostly an amazing visual spectacle but with a lame plot.
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
Good origin story
Animated slapstick comedy.
This is a prequel movie set in the 1970s,
we see Gru growing up and his love for a group of villains called the Vicious 6. The plot revolves around Gru wanting to join the supervillain gang.
As the movie progresses, the gang leader (Wild Knuckles) is out of favour we see Gru trying to become a new baddie, he travels to see the remaining villains. Gru gets in a series of scrapes and of course, the minions are all involved in saving him.
This is a good family-friendly movie, and only the second movie I've seen in the last 2.5 years. Take the kids and enjoy the usual slapstick comedy and soundtrack.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
See this on the biggest screen available
Action thriller (delayed release due to the pandemic).
The first Top Gun was the most 80's of 80's movies.
I was very excited about this sequel, especially after all the hype and as I haven't been to the cinema for over 2.5 years.
Picking up over 35 years after the original Top Gun, this film follows Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise), who is now a test pilot recalled to the Top Gun academy, this time to be an instructor of a bunch of hot-head graduates. The training takes the new best of the best for a near-impossible strike mission, reminiscent of the Star Wars plot, a virtual suicide mission that only the best pilots in the world would ever contemplate. All of them are taken to their breaking points.
One of the graduates is played by Miles Teller (who portrays the son of 'Goose,' Maverick's old flying partner). There's an obvious and justifiable atmosphere.
Almost all the airborne sequences were achieved with practical effects, no (or very little) CGI and it really shows.
Not a complicated plot but, like the original, it didn't need to be. This film retains the spirit of the original and is everything you would hope for and kept me engaged from start to finish.
Bloodshot (2020)
Bloodshot - sci-fi fantasy adventure
The whole world is amidst COVID-19, and so theatres are closed and so I watched this online. I frequently skipped forwards as I only had an hour for lunch and this movie didn't deserve an ounce of concentration!
The hero is an elite soldier who is killed and reconstructed with astounding physical capabilities, healing properties and relentless revenge.
This is a fairly standard origin plot that made me think of a mix of Robocop, Universal Soldier and a bit of Marvel Super-hero, but nowhere near as good as any.
This isn't really good enough to be a major cinema release.
Uncut Gems (2019)
Uncut Gems - excellent uncharacteristic performance from Adam Sandler
Tense drama about money, bling and pure relentless chaos.
About a New York Jewish jeweller with connections all over the city, but always seemed to be in trouble with everyone. He acquires a rare and huge opal from Ethiopia, and he is convinced that it's worth over a million dollars, and hopes to sell it and that this will allow him to pay-off his ever growing debts.
I enjoyed the movie but my wife was always wondering what was going on and where the plot was going! To be fair I'm not exactly sure what the moral was, but I enjoyed all the same.
I was also surprised at the excellent uncharacteristic performance from Adam Sandler as the jeweller.
Portrait de la jeune fille en feu (2019)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire - Romantic drama from a female point of view
Romantic costume drama, with French dialogue and subtitles.
Set in the 18th century, staring two young women. One is an aristocrat, who has been betrothed, the other is an artist, who has been commissioned to secretly provide a portrait of the reluctant bride to be, so secretly that she needs do this from memory.
Over the course of the movie they become lovers, the romance and limited sexual scenes are depicted from a female point of view. This movie defines the slow burner, but the cinematography is captivating, each scene (particularly the candle-lit parts) resemble a Vermeer. Recommended.
The Hunt (2020)
The Hunt - especially for those who like bloody violence
Dark comedy horror.
It's a very simple plot, twelve strangers wake up in a field at a remote location, they don't know how they got there, but we very quickly realise they're being hunted for sport by a group of elite's. I was never completely sure who the elite hunters were or who was being hunted, the objective is survival.
However, one of the hunted is a tough bad ass female hero, she methodically kills off the elites one by one as she makes her way towards the elusive principal woman at her manor house for Kill bill style catfight showdown at the end.
You really need to consider this as a bit of mindless entertainment especially for those who like bloody violence.
Military Wives (2019)
Military Wives - Women coming together in loneliness
Drama - based on true events.
The movie takes place at a UK military base where we see the soldiers preparing to leave for Afghanistan. This movie focuses on their very diverse wives and partners, they come together and they brainstorm ideas to help them cope with their loneliness during their loved ones' absences.
They come up with the usual mind-numbing activities, but one of them suggests singing, and so the very first 'Military Wives Choir' is formed. Their first attempts are truly awful, however, the singing gets better as the film progresses and a definite singing star emerges.
FLOOD WARNING! Some bad news from the front line makes for very emotional scenes, especially towards the end.
Their continued and tremendous efforts get noticed by the military top brass and they are invited to sing at the Festival of Remembrance (Royal Albert Hall). The song they choose to sing is their own composition compiled from extracts of their letters to their loved ones.
The end credits are accompanied by an ever growing mosaic of the ever growing actual choirs that have been inspired from around the world, these unfold on screen and become ever smaller to accommodate the number.
An observation worth highlighting is the UK is amidst the corona virus, and so the theatre I visited was very sparkly populated which is a real shame because this really deserves to be seen by a wider audience.
True History of the Kelly Gang (2019)
True History of the Kelly Gang - 'Nothing you're about to see is true'
Fictitious biography, the story of the famous anti-hero Ned Kelly from boy to man, I'm not a fan of swearing, especially by kids but there's definitely over-use of the 'c' word. Never-the-less, a well-made, gritty movie.
Dark Waters (2019)
Dark Waters - Throw away your Teflon pans!
Documentary drama - based on a true story and subsequent very lengthy trial. Centres on a corporate lawyer (Robert Bilott), who is approached by a farmer through one of Robert's relatives, the farmer reports all his cows are inexplicably dying.
The lawyer decides to do the right thing, takes up the case and quickly becomes completely engrossed by the growing mountain of evidence. He brings a case against DuPont over their criminal environmental negligence and their unashamed covering up of their chemical hazards policies. The investigation has been progressing for many, many years and is still ongoing.
There's the customary messages during the end credits advising that everyone (without exception) has the same featured dangerous chemical in their bodies at the moment in tiny quantities.
Makes you wonder what cookware is safe to use right now.
Downhill (2020)
Downhill - Strained family dynamics while on holiday
Drama with comedy moments.
Remake of a recent foreign language movie Force Majeure (which I haven't seen) - The family suffers a near miss disaster whilst on a skiing holiday during a controlled avalanche. A wall of snow threatens the family, the father character jumps up, grabs his phone and runs leaving the rest of his family behind. He fails to protect his family, later his cowardly behaviour makes him contemplate his decision and actions, and his relationship with his wife is severely tested.
This is more than a comedy, it's emotional in places, and the whole family dynamics are tested and strained. I laughed in a few places and I quite enjoyed.
The Invisible Man (2020)
The Invisible Man - a movie that focuses on the abused victim
Horror thriller based on the classic novel by H.G. Wells.
The female protagonist is trapped in an abusive, controlling relationship, her boyfriend is a wealthy optical tech billionaire. She escapes his luxury home one night but later discovers that he's committed suicide and has left her $5 million. However, she suspects he's still alive but is now an invisible stalker. She's desperate to prove this.
I really cannot understand the very good ratings, to be fair I had high expectations for this movie, but it was not much more than a made for T.V. movie. I was bored soon after the protagonist escapes. There were too many obvious plot holes. You'll realise at the end that the sequel (you can bet on that) will be The Invisible Woman.
Greed (2019)
Greed - Philip Green parody (didn't laugh much)
Comedy, mockumentary.
Richard McCreedie (the retail billionaire) is a consistently horrible character.
The movie is set in 2 halves, partly in the present day, where we see some character building and the preparations for Richard McCreedie's extravagant 60th birthday party. Partly in flash-backs format, where we see the most interesting parts that show the billionaires rise to wealth, striking his business deals in Shri-Lanka and the working conditions in the clothing sweatshops, and the Government select committee investigation into his dodgy business practices.
The best character was provided by David Mitchell's awkward biographer. I'm not sure what this movie was trying to be, black comedy or social commentary, more moral messages and social statistics are displayed during the end credits.
Dolittle (2020)
Dolittle - Doo Doo!
Dr. Dolittle can talk to animals, he is a depressed recluse, and he needs to sail to a secret island to recover an antidote to save The Queen of England who is terminally ill.
Action fantasy adventure aimed at a young target audience.
CGI heavy movie featuring base level humour, I laughed a few times but found really boring, though the 9 year-old granddaughter liked it.
R.D.JUNIOR was completely miscast to play Dr. Dolittle, this role really should have been J. DEPP
Gisaengchung (2019)
Parasite - Good film, may I say overly hyped?
Comedy drama.
I was attracted to this after seeing the many recent and different awards and commendations.
Rich / poor family contrasts. The poor family manipulate the rich family with private highly recommended services. Each member of the poor family use their wit to become an English tutor, Art Therapist, Driver and Housekeeper. The rich family are completely oblivious to their new elite home help, or to what's really going on!
The film does a good job of demonstrating social structure, but a little cliché in places. I wanted it to blow my socks off, and in the end I'm bewildered to how this has won so many awards.
I'd say this is a well made film but have seen better.
Emma. (2020)
Emma. - Adapted from the Jane Austen classic
Romantic period drama, adapted from the classic novel by Jane Austen
I saw this recently on a rainy afternoon on Isle of Wight.
It looks like Bill Nighy had loads of fun making this with many comedy moments. Great costume design, the acts are separated by the four seasons. All about match making, everyone ends up with who they should be with! Recommended.
The Lighthouse (2019)
The Lighthouse - I found it hard to look away
This is the tale of two lighthouse keepers on a remote island in the 1890s, one is an older salty sea dog, who maintains the light. The other is rookie on a 4 week shift, who does everything else, and who is having ongoing conflicts with a seagull. This doesn't turn out well for the bird and ultimately doesn't turn out well for the rookie.
The atmosphere was harsh, the pair have arguments one moment and are sociable the next, they joke one moment and throw threats at each-other the next, they turn increasingly mad with the isolation.
I didn't know anything about this before watching. This was almost entirely delivered by two actors who both gave strong performances. Tense psychological thriller filmed in black and white and in a square ratio to give a more claustrophobic feel.
This movie won't be for everyone but you won't have seen anything like it.
Underwater (2020)
Underwater - You'll never guess where this takes place!
Sci-fi horror.
A research lab, 7 miles underwater is falling apart, maybe an earthquake is the cause of the damage! The inhabitants need to get back to the surface. They need to reach their escape pods in another part of the murky facility as soon as possible in their diving suits.
Tense in places, but you've seen much better versions of this movie before, a bit from Abyss, a bit from Alien, nowhere near as good as either.
Can't see how this was released, it has a feel of a B-Movie, with a few cheap jump scares. Disappointing!
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)
Birds of Prey - Slapstick, crude, violent
Female superhero fantasy action from DC.
Harley Quin has just split from Joker and is now working for the villain 'Black mask'. She accidentally assembles a band of female miss-fits, the cop (Renee), the singer (Black Canary), the psycho (Herself) and the Mafia princess (Huntress) to recover a missing diamond.
Very little CGI as in the recent 'Joker'.
Humour and 4th wall narration as in 'Deadpool'.
Fight action as in 'John Wick'.
A bit of pop-corn high energy nonsense.