The F Word! I say this as clearly the writers/director had difficulty putting a decent film together without it! Almost every scene the F Word is present and spoken. This would not have won an Oscar, not in my view and sadly the F word does spoil the content of the film. Not sure how they would have gotten around the problem but clearly there was an issue. Lady Gaga makes a very decent contribution to the film but if truth be known the F word is there far far far too often. In short it does spoil the film. It would be interesting to see how they would have made the film without any expletives.
Reviews
390 Reviews
Sully
(2016)
Brilliant Mr Eastwood!
22 June 2022
From the minute Tom Hanks appears as Captain Sullenberger, you know this is going to be a "gem". This came on recently as a Freeview. I cant recall a better film directed by Clint Eastwood and this one says it all. The Captain and crew are heros. He knows he cant make it to La Guadia airfield leaving him ONE option - the Hudson. What comes out of that is truly outstanding.
DI Ray
(2022– )
Enjoyable!
6 May 2022
Interesting that some have a negative view of this 4 part series. I cant say the same thing! It IS pretty good with the central character being brought in to solve a crime. It isnt clear until the final episode who Mr Bambers character is, which is helpful. The officer does crack it and it will be interesting to see if they bring her back for a 2nd series.
Gosford Park
(2001)
Only for those who wish to be superior!
2 October 2021
Written by Julian Fellowes, who is one of the "lovies" of the UK, this is quite bland, given that everyone of the "nobility" within this presentation is incredibly bland and boring and most of us might like their cash but would not wish to be anything like them! Ivor Novello was gay which isnt made clear in the film and "below stairs" theres the usual "Im superior to you" goings on. Not the best film I have watched during 2021 but years after it was made it is bland with little to commend it even with a murder and a shockingly poor police inspector who isnt allowed to do much at all due to being inferior to those "above stairs"!. No thanks!
Silverado
(1985)
The Finest Western of the All!
2 October 2021
I would say that! This is top of my favourite film list as it does appear to have everything. Starting with a guy resting in a barn that gets shot at by folk on the outside only to come out and a little ways down the road he meets another, similar to himself, with very little clothing. Queue the coming together with 2 others in the nearest town to bring these 4 men up against corruption and dishonesty all around them. Its end to end action with a great cast and plenty of villains, who dont actually look like they are the villains. The endings take place in and around the town of Silverado. Brilliant cast, brilliant direction-this is how to make a really decent wonderful to watch western.
NOT "Morse"!
30 September 2021
In the 1st place "Tafferton Park" looks like the same place where Morse would have investigated in "Ghosts in the Machine" a superior episode to this one and "Terminus" to be fair would probably not have appealed to John Thaw. These 3 episodes are especially dark and given in the main media at the time we have the issue of a policeman murdering a woman-yet here whilst you are led to believe the murderer is male......it shocked me, a Morse fan and I am unclear as to whether the modern writer is able to truly capture how a younger Morse would have behaved and the type of cases he would have handled during the 60s/70s. This would NOT have been the type of case, it would have been more applicable to an Agatha Christie, which clearly this has taken some of the ideas from. Disappointed.
Gentleman's Agreement
(1947)
I bet you didnt know that?
28 September 2021
That the USA is anti-semetic? Seriously! Made just after WW2 Peck plays a journalist who pretends to be Jewish and its amazing how many restaurants, hotels and the like he suddenly becomes very unwelcome in. You are good enough to die for the USA if youre Jewish or Black but they dont want you in their "nicer places" nor in the same schools as them is really the premise of this film which I did not know existed at this point in their history. Seems that only if you are "white" and non Jewish does the American people actually want you. Caution: there is no violence or strong language within this, its merely a presentation of the facts as they were then and likely as not still are today in some parts of the world.
Well put together!
25 September 2021
Although Strange winning a ticket to see "The Carpenters" at the Royal Albert would have been interesting given its not a venue they ever got to! The appearance of Morse step-mother seemed quite unncecessary along the lines of "something you wouldnt do"! Then we have the now customary relationship suggestion between, in this case, 2 males! That aside you have 3 murders each shot with a .22 pistol which suggests 1 person. There are not many clues so you have to watch to enjoy the mystery unravel, which proves to be amazingly simple. Much better than the previous episode and a well put together murder mystery thats worth watching. Although as someone put it in those days in Oxford you probably wouldnt get 3 murders in a year let alone in 3 days.
Hard Topic!
24 September 2021
Insp. Wexfords new doctor is a dark skinned man and something of a racist. He wants his children to have a superior education to those low lifes that hang around the Job Centre! Then his daughter goes missing and there are no clues as to where she might have gone. A guy with a metal detector finds a black girl buried, but she is covered in bruises and died a horrid death. Her name being the title! This is about how superior rich white folk are over poor black ones and without trying to spoil it its a hard programme to watch given its fairly easy to know who the guilty actually are. Sadly, 20 some years later our society hasnt improved-if the current crop of folk in power is anything to go by!
Captain Phillips
(2013)
Hollywood treatment of a true event.....
23 September 2021
Really isnt captured as well as perhaps it should be. In this version the 4 pirates are very poorly organised and near the end they trust the american navy! Was that the reality? For me, the pirates would have killed and yet they didnt. Tom Hanks never seems to sweat despite what is going on around him, he always seems to have the upper hand against the pirates. Not one threat made by them was carried out. How likely that was in the reality of the true story I dont know. IT IS worth watching but remember this is hollywood and director Greengrass has done a good job in his presentation.
Hope it improves!
19 September 2021
I found it odd that Morse is drinking on duty, very late for work, cant keep tabs on someone he is supposed to be guarding. Something of a disappointing opener for S8 with the usual last minute revelations as to who did what etc. The writer doesnt know much, from this, about football, although the appearance of "Eamon" with his red book was well pulled off. This wasnt great viewing and some of the language/blasphemy didnt add anything to the enjoyment. This is the best ITV can do?
The Fisher King
(1991)
Thanks for the delete button!
9 September 2021
And we hit that even before the appearance of Robin Williams! Such was the overpowering presence of Jeff Bridges who is a loud mouth DJ who is low on morals. Given that, apparently, Gilliam is directing something in search of "The Holy Grail", the kind of language used in the early part of this by the DJ character is quite off putting to the rest of the film. Not keen even via freeview!
Bicentennial Man
(1999)
A very different type of film
5 September 2021
Which is worth watching, given there is no violence nor any foul/abusive language and zero blasphemy. It does revolve around a created robot/android who is acquired to serve a wealthy family-the type that have "it" all. Despite this he becomes indispensible to them and is more than "just a pet". Some might well say ; Robin Williams trying to get out of a robots body to be human. He, however, cannot age and those around him do, hence the title. An interesting film which this house enjoyed. Cannot say if its different from the book. The involvement towards the end of a "universal council of countries" is pretty laughable given the year its supposed to be with only the chair person permitted to speak!
Witness for the Prosecution
(1957)
Oozes Quality!
4 September 2021
A perfect casting for an Agatha Christie story/play. Each one playing their individual roles in a manner that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Billy Wilder directs (sorry, its not Hitchcock, but as good as!). A courtroom drama with an american (Power) charged with a murder, but his alibi is his wife (Dietrich) and his barrister (Laughton). Wonderfully packed with numerous twists. We arent allowed to give too much away (theres a warning at the end of the presentation). Superior to the version(s) that followed and a cracker of a finale which is hard to beat!
Dark City
(1950)
Watchable....
4 September 2021
Depending on your viewpoint. Heston, in his 1st film, he plays a dont care type of drifter character who works for a guy who runs a gambling club. Heston entices a former army officer to the club. On his 2nd visit the man loses his money and more and then the trouble starts, when he is found dead in a hotel room which is followed by an unknown man who starts murdering all those who were present that evening. Its average with nothing much to commend it, given that the subject is gambling, drinking and the club scene with Lizabeth Scott miming to several songs. Not a great start to a distinguished career.
Mamma Mia!
(2008)
Doesnt promote anything positive!
3 September 2021
This is really about the music of Abba. Anything else is quite pathetic. Are we all really that desperate to see a film where the plot revolves around "who is my daddy?". He you have a woman who had sex with 3 men in quick succession and the result is a girl who now wants to know who "dad" is. Nothing here condemns the behaviour of the mother or even the 3 blokes. A simple DNA test would have answered the question. You may enjoy this if you like the music of Abba, but there is little or no morality at all.
Suspicion
(1941)
Oh!
2 September 2021
For those of us who have never seen this, we open the film with Cary Grant trying, back in those days, to dodge paying his fare. Then he invites himself into a big party which begins the idea that this man is nothing but a bounder, a charmer, a con artist but Fontaines character falls for his charms but then the suspicion sets in. Sadly, Hitch lets us down with the ending which he chose hence the "Oh"! As for someone who we would say today lives off others the Grant character has no likeable qualities!
To Catch a Thief
(1955)
Lacking Suspense!
31 August 2021
But its supposed to be a black comedy, which Im told is a film with very little actual comedy. There are a couple of moments but in the main this one gets stuck between a couple of options. Whilst entertaining, Grant plays a retired cat burglar and someone is copying his antics years after he "retired". Working out who the "new" cat is proves really easy as does catching the individual. Grace Kelly adds the glamour and the love interest for the older man, but she is with her "drinks too much" mother, who just simply flaunts her wealth. The "picnic" spot is another surprise, given its neither a beautiful spot nor a romantic spot for a lunch which Grant has a couple of bites of the chicken then throws it away. Watch Jessie Royce Landis character put a burning cigarette end into a cooked egg-unclear how much food was wasted on set, but some definately was!. Not up to the usual standard!
Call Northside 777
(1948)
NOT ... a whodunit!
31 August 2021
It is said this is a true story and filmed in Chicago, but do not watch IF you expect to find out who actually did kill the police officer. This film is about getting an innocent man out of jail. There is no hollywood gloss and glamour, even the reporter (James Stewart) doesnt share a bed with his wife (who can manage only to make him a sandwich for his evening meal!). The innocent man is of polish extraction as is the "only" key witness. Even though Capone was in jail she refuses to tell the truth. How they find him innocent is pretty clever but if you want something with Hollywood glamour then dont watch this one.
Bland!
28 August 2021
This is really poor. A blonde woman with, what appears to be a very low IQ who between fun works for a legal firm and her P A is gay! She takes her small dog everywhere, which is unlikely but this is the movies and compared to the 1st one, we found this particularly bland!
OH!
28 August 2021
The 1 thing I wasnt expecting was lots of "F" language and blasphemy. It is NOT clear from the start WHY the two guys are preparing the van, the property they take the girl to, nor is it clear that of them actually know her.
Our home turns off films with lots of foul language as not everyone speaks in this manner. Not a film I would recommend and there is some nudity!
Our home turns off films with lots of foul language as not everyone speaks in this manner. Not a film I would recommend and there is some nudity!
Undeniable
(2014)
Watchable!
28 August 2021
But clearly written with only the women in mind. "Jane" doesnt have the support of any male police officer, her husband or father/step father when she makes her accusation against a surgeon who she believes is the one she saw on the bank, having killed her mum. The killer only knew the woman briefly, but you could miss that bit. The investigating officer who gets involved is also female and the interesting ending has a woman bringing the killer to justice. How its done, given all thats gone before is the interesting bit of the piece. Better, several years later than perhaps it was when released simply as there isnt much like this on freeview these days. The locations are very nice, although some are in Eire!
One of those "phycological" thrillers!
24 August 2021
Given its Rendell, its not obvious about what this is really about. However, very quickly we learn that Stephen (who loves the moor, but doesnt know why) and Lyn (his wife-who hates the moor) havent ever consumated their marriage. But in quick succession there are a couple of deaths of young blonde women which leads to a very good and different police officer (George Costigan) investigating and from the outset he believes he has the answer. For me he wins the acting honours. I found Firths portrayal as a lone man who seems to "know nothing much" somewhat bland and a lonely wife who wont leave her hubby/get the marriage annulled even dafter. I was left disappointed by this, and it didnt get better with age, having watched it on ITV the 1st time around!
Dance with a Stranger
(1985)
Hard going even for a true story
23 August 2021
Lets face reality, today Ruth Ellis would have gone to prison for several years then been released. Sadly, this woman somehow fell for a man with a privileged background who treated her like garbage. Clearly Ruth wasnt good enough for his family (who owned a good portion of land in the UK). Despite his privilege his desire for Ruth was simply lust. She could not get beyond him and seemingly, from this version, could not live without him. Based upon this - this guy wasnt worth dying for, let alone worth living for. If this version is accurate he wasnt worth anything and the fallout lasted many years later!
Monster-in-Law
(2005)
O T T?
22 August 2021
The question mark is because Is it "Over The Top"? Well, for anyone getting married who hasnt had their head pushed through a plate glass window, or had their mother push the bride out of the way in order to be 1st in the queue at the "wedding breakfast" then you may well find this movie fun. JLo is a no one who gets engaged to a successful doctor whos mother is the "over the top" Jane Fonda - in this part a successful TV presenter. Fonda doesnt want her son marrying a no one so sets about trying to get rid of her. The fun starts when JLo starts to fight back. There is an unnecessary reference to "The Holy Spirit" and also to "The Lord Jesus" which add nothing to the film neither does JLos best friend who turns out to be gay.
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