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Reviews
The Office (2024)
PC World
The Office (2024) This is the all-new singing and dancing Office made in Australia version.
Open letter to Rickie Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Why?
Rickie Gervais and Stephen Merchant's original fly on the wall documentary from 2001 started a new genre "the mockumentary". It was fresh, exciting, different, and funny. It introduced the annoying boss and his lackey, and it's unrequited love storyline.
The original English Office, (2001-2003) was a very rare 10/10 for its limited two seasons and a Christmas special, it never out stayed it's welcome.
The American Office (2005 - 2013) blazed literally the same trail, it did go on for too long though, was it 9 series?. The characters were great, so it didn't matter 8/10
Now we have the Australian version from a very different PC comedic landscape in 2024, 8 half hour episodes, 4 hours that I will never get back. We have a female boss, playing the part Gervais and Carrel previous played so well. She is playing the part as if she's looking into their mirror it's that identical. Throw in every minority you can think of, now we have a lesbian Gareth automaton storyline and other gay and non binary subplots and a Down Syndrome character how PC, and saddest of all we have the Greta & Nick, love interest storyline who have no chemistry whatsoever, which considering this story line is central to the plot, its dies on its feet. So there's no Tim and Dawn, or a Pam and Jim for the American fans. No Gareth or Dwight instead we get the robotic Lizzie. Not even a Keith bless him. This sucks. 1/10 and that is for the curiosity of seeing how far this as sunk into parody.
If you have ever had the pleasure (displeasure) to work in an office, You will feel that the series will mirror your feelings.
If you have a life away from the workplace, you will feel that it is a place to spend as little time as possible in the place. It is your workplace and its where you earn your money full stop. Any time there is spent being as productive as conducive to your mental health and the rest of the time talking shite with people who have no relevance to your life.
Time spent skiving is a bonus. I have a friend who proudly boasted that he had timed himself on the toilet, safe in the knowledge that each and every poop was costing the company, a poop per hour if you like. I have also another friend who had boasted that he had masturbated in every workplace he had worked. I can see the logic in this but it is pushing work place productivity a little too far.
Clearly I need to get new friends.
On the other hand, you find that there are people who live and breath their office environment> The gossip, the cliches, the romances or lack off. Nights out organised for the office, team days. Why would anyone want to spend time with someone who is paid to be there, paid to be your friend.
Don't people realise that each and every one of them are disposable if senior managements says so.
It is incestuous and not a good place for sane people. Get a life.
Alma's Not Normal (2020)
Alma's not normal, but all the better for it.
Alma's Not Normal - 2 seasons (2020-2024) BBC
This series sneaked on me a little, writer and star Sophie Willan (Alma) writes about her life and family in Bolton, the seeds of her comedy career.
These seeds which clearly have blossom if the this series is anything to go by. Throw in a family in crisis, with a myriad of problems. Her mum (Siobhan Finneran) suffers from addiction and mental health problems, is a sectioned arsonist. Granma has cancers, then there a mishmash of odd ball characters which make for a quality show. At times it is a bit implausible, but the series slowly unravels to reveal a sensitive and emotional roller coaster , of family life.
After two series, I can see this being commissioned again, there are enough disparate characters (her aunts and uncle )for Willan to get her teeth into.
I seriously hope her mum and Jim get their caravan.
The scene in which Mum's partner Jim explains to Alma that like her mum when she is struggling puts all her thoughts down through her art and poetry is a lovely warm and very emotional.
Its great and worth a watch 8/10.
Spieleabend (2024)
Games Night
Blame the Game (2024) German language Netflix. Pia brings her new boyfriend to her monthly games night with a bunch of friends.
What could go wrong?
The new boyfriend Jan is a down to earth bloke who runs a bike shop, sadly Pia's friends are somewhat pretentious.
Social awkwardness and snobbery come to the surface, with all of the groups personal foibles and secrets exposed to the new player.
If you have ever been to a games night in which adults resort to, let's be fair puerile and childish behaviour. You'll know that they can be frightfully embarrassing and tedious in the extreme.
Jan is in this predicament.
After much tomfoolery and jolly japes this unlikable bunch of dice throwing morons live to throw their collective dice again.
If you have never experienced a games night as an adult you too can experience the utter embarrassment of not knowing your Jimmy Tesco from yer Van Morrison, or the utter devastation of losing at RISK, with allies and allegiances being broken at the drop of Napoleon's "bicorne" (hat). Sadly the interpersonal battles in the film do not commence on a roll of a dice or an undeclared mission card but over the whims of a group of neurotic and pretentious tossers pontificating over wine and fine cheeses.
Worse still the ultimate humiliation in losing at freckles or soggy biscuit. Soggy biscuit, the only time a premature ejeculation is a good thing.
After what is a great premise for a film it soon becomes pretty boring and thankfully tedious, pretty much like a games night when no one is likely to win throwing the board up in air the along with cards and pieces is the most dignified way to end the torture.
PS I can't wait for my next games night.
5/10.
People Places Things (2015)
Its a lovely illustrated gem
PEOPLE PLACES THINGS (2015) This is the official sales pitch - PPT tells the story of Will Henry (Jemaine Clement), a newly single graphic novelist father balancing single-parenting his young twin daughters, writers block, a classroom full students, all the while exploring and navigating the rich complexities of new love and letting go of the woman who left him.
Now here's my bit, its a genuinely lovely and sensistive movie, with great acting from Clement and the smashing girls who play his twin daughters Cleo and Colette.
Clement play a comic book illustrators and teacher and his illustrations underpin and narrate the film which adds authenticity to the film.
There are a couple of naturally awkward sex scenes which are plausible considering the characters previous relationship disasters.
Its a gem 8/10.
Hearts Beat Loud (2018)
A feel really good movie.
Heart Beats Loud (2018) I found this little gem on Netflix, i don't now why this was on my recomended list ? My "algorithm" must know something about me that I didn't.
Its a simple story about the relationship between dad and his daughter. The daughter Sam is on the verge of going to med school, and dad Frank is having to accept that his record store needs to close. Throw in their collective grief over losing mum/wife years before and their love of making music, You have a pretty obvious movie from the start. With Toni Collette in a very minor role, you know she wouldn't be wasted and a Stuart Copeland lookalike in Ted Danson, you have a great movie. The music is great and its infectious, and the "We Are Not A Band" of dad and daughter are great to watch. .
Interesting and very modern twist on the path to success via Spotify.
PS I searched out the soundtrack by Keegan DeWitt its available on line, i will be streaming with the kids.
It is a really feel good movie which isn't a bad thing. 8/10.
The Sapphires (2012)
Sapphires a little gem
The Sapphires (2012) Movie about a group of Aboriginal girls who form a vocal soul group and go to Vietnam to earn their hoped for big break.
The treatment of the aboriginal people at the end of the white settlers is disgusting and adds a dark under current to the racism throughout the movie.
Starring that professional Irishman Chris O Down. Who plays the keyboardist who discovers and mangers the band, in their adventures playing to the troops in Vietnam.
It is a lovely movie, everything is telegraphed from the beginning, so you have a great idea in the diretion of the movie, which isn't a bad thing in this case, as you want these girls to succeed.
The musical sequences are magical and you do get a sense of their brilliance and talent.
The end credits in which we see the biographies of the real Sapphires in their later life is enlightening.
Its a delight, yet pretty obvious.
7/10.
Threads (1984)
War is Stupid and People are Stupid
Threads. BBC 1984, written by Barry Hines (of Kes fame)
A review of the film, needs to take into account when it was made and its significance.
It's historical standing and how it stands up for a 21st century viewing as a piece of drama, and again the significance of its re screening now 40 years after its debut in the BBC.
When It was originally shown, we Britain and the west were living in fear of the Soviet Union, and it's supposed threat and of its nuclear arsenal. Likewise the Soviets would be fearful of the Capitalist West. Either way us mere mortals were fed the story that we were minutes away from nuclear Armageddon. To survive this threat we would have to maintain our armies and nuclear weapons at the expense of, everything else. Never fear we could hide under tables lined with mattresses, we would be ok. This propaganda was perpetuated in the media from films to pop music. Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Two Tribes and Culture Club's War Song being two fine examples of the so called youth raising an anti war message.
At the time of the film's original screening it was seen as very brave, terrifying and an example of realism in film and TV dealing with issues that would have been previously sugar coated. For that the film needs to be praised. A friend who was from Sheffield did say on seeing if at the time, that it left him in tears seeing the city's land marks obliterated.
On viewing now on purely dramatic terms , the first half hour in which the characters are established is pretty boring and does drag to its inevitable fallout!
The fact and figures presented throughout are terrifying as are the collapse of society and its decay into the nuclear winter and its medieval agricultural rebirth.
The smugness and sheer clumsiness of central and local government, managing and making decisions to save the populace is ludicrous, we've seen with Covid and various governmental and world crisis that the rich and powerful protect their own and feather their own nest. Sadly in the event of Armageddon, they'll perish too, haha.
Let's be honest with ourselves Humanity are a pretty flawed species and maybe it's time that we gave the cockroaches a chance because we have screwed up the planet.
As a footnote, the very real instability in the world at present is quite telling, are we again being told, we need a strong armed force. I think that is its timely message.
All in it's a powerful and important drama, but it is very awkward and clumsy in places with scenes which are contrived and are there to create an emotional response, the woman pissing herself when the bomb goes off, the mum holding the burnt baby, we get the message.
I was told in no uncertain term by my good lady wife today, that me having a cold, which I have at present grinds her gears, and having me wake her up when I'm coughing and spluttering is the worst thing she has ever heard. So I can't see us surviving a nuclear winter.
The film is give an important ten out of ten, but a dated 6/10 so it's a nuclear 8.
Don't forget folks, to quote George O'Dowd " war is stupid and people are stupid" .
Timestalker (2024)
Time for a laugh
Timestalker 2024 written, directed and starring Alice Lowe.
That's Alice Lowe of Sightseers fame, in which Lowe is the muse and forces her boyfriend to do ghastly acts. Sightseers is one of my favourite films of all time. Lowe is also the writer and star of Prevenge , the gory and funny film about the unborn baby of Lowe's taking over the host and compelling her to do ghastly acts.
So I think we know what to expect? Or do we?
The film has been pushed by a plethora of free tickets, so I hope it isn't so bad that the free tickets are the only way to get bums on seats.
Any way back to the film ... there was a lovely introduction by Alice herself, letting us all know that we could have a laugh if we wanted. Although the laughter wasn't compulsory she advised.
The premise of the film is Lowe's quest for her one true love over time, alas her love is unrequited. Lowe coming to an ultimately end before her bequeathed was often aware.
Jumping through the centuries, the 80s being the funniest with an Adam Ant lookalike being the object for Alice's affection. The actors throw a few good dance moves, name check to Propaganda's Duel sounding great over the cinemas sound system.
There's some funny moments, but overall it's a bit disjointed and might work better as a tv series, featuring the time stalking over more detailed half hour segments.
That said it does come across a bit like Highlander in its time travelling across time periods.
Oh I forgot to say I did laugh a couple of times, initially after the first ghastly death, but it did peter out after that .
Sorry Alice
6/10.
Loudermilk (2017)
makes you wish for a drink. even if its cocoa
Loudermilk. 3 seasons 2017 -2020 . I caught this on Netflix & as per usual I have to watch the full season. (maybe even the full 3 seasons) In the series we find Loudermilk, (Ron Livingston of Swingers / Band of Brothers fame) Livingston does appear to play all his role in a dead pan, kind of way, he suits this part so well. Loudermilk is a ex music critic recovering alcoholic who run a AA group (or the American equivalent)
The format is straight forward each episodes features a subplot about a member of the group,
Its an odd one, I like the gentle delivery about some touchy subsects, but overall it left me a little bit cold.
Each episode is named after a rock song, Lay Lady Lay, Cruel to be Kind, He Ain't Heavy, etc, you get the idea, the songs in particular do offer a little bit of an insight into the episode. It is a nice touch and coming from a music bore (Loudermilk and myself) it works well.
The Loudermilk character, drops in a few rock lines, and analogies in a similar way to Saxondale (Steve Coogan's ex roadie come bug exterminator ) or John Cusack manager of Championship vinyl in High Fidelity but they do this much better, the Loudermilk name drops, just come across like he is trying to be cool.
Overall it is a sensitive study of the problems relevant with to addiction. It is perhaps a little bit too clean and considering it is written by Peter Farrelly of the Farrelly brothers (Dumb and Dumber) it avoids a lot of the more un PC humour prevalent in their movies.
PS i wish I didn't have to watch all 3 seasons, because it didn't go anywhere, and the overall plot lines were pretty obvious.
A disappointing 6/10.
Secret Life of Dogs (2013)
My best friend.
Secret Life of Dogs.
Homage to my own special dog.
Here is a little story about our much loved and missed dog Treacle, she passed away five years ago on April 26th 2019. Treacle was part of our family for 13 years.
Treacle Cinderella Cherry the 1st Foster-Rhodes to give her full name, was a unique dog. We never actually worked out what breed she was. When she found her family at the rescue centre (she chose us and not the other way round). We were told that she was a Collie mixed with a little bit of Boxer, a Bollie if you like.
Within days of her coming home with us we soon realised that this dog certainly had a little bit of a greyhound or whippet as part of her DNA, she could run faster than lighting, she looked like a gazelle in flight bounding across fields jumping through the the long grass when on long walks. The sight of her at Naburn Lock one of her favourite places, running, sniffing around and even swimming (how that terrified us) She was a great swimmer.
Treacle was a real family member, I can't say pet because she never was she was more than that. She was central to everything we did as a family. Walks, holidays family events everything revolved around
Treacle.
She also made a point of keeping us in check, rounding us up making sure we were all ok. Making sure she sat somewhere in the house or garden in
which she could see all of us. That must have been her collie sheepdog traits.
Invariably the family grow and along came little babies, Treacle adapted, she never moaned and accepted that her pack had altered, she saw this a means to get more love from more of her human pack. She always knew that who ever came along she always knew that she was top dog and the boss of the chickens , commandeering the chickens sand pit, much to the annoyance of the hens. It made us laugh knowing that she would not be out bossed by a mere chicken.
Such was the appeal of our beloved Treacle that when her big human sister Laura left home to move in with her boyfriend, Treacle would excitedly
go to her house for sleep over once a week. The looks she and I would get when I would bump into my fellow dog walking friends and I would
embarrassingly say "she's just going for a sleepover".
When old age got to her bones we all knew that we had to let her go, all of the family came to see her one last time to say their farewells.
Treacle also knew, she was in her element like the Queen of England with all of her subjects bowing and saying their farewells tickling her tummy one last time.
Although she is no longer with us, she is still a real presence in the family, when we bravely go to places in which we know she would have
loved, retracing her steps to the field or beach, we get a real sense that she is looking down on us making sure we are ok.
God bless you Treacle hope your enjoy the fields up in heaven x we will never ever forget you x.
Salem's Lot (2024)
Beware Sundown.
Salem's Lot 2024, a remake of Stephen Kings classic horror. I was aware of the original film from my late teens, the David Soul starring TV series from 1980.
I hadn't seen the original but the scene in which a vampire floats outside of a window, is recognised as being #1 in the Pretty Scary Things on Telly in the run down of 100 scary scenes from your childhood tv show. (that show didn't exist, but if it did it would be top of that scary tree)
The premise is pretty much the same, the town is over run by vampires and a little kid and an outsider save the day. It's almost Stranger Things without the bikes.
Topping and tailing the film over the credits is Gordon Lightfoot's Sundown, wow that song especially in this setting is so evocative of this American vampired riddled backwater.
Ps I can't take vampires seriously ( does anyone?) so it's a 5 from me.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
Scooby Doo in Space, AKA Space Goonies.
Alien: Romulus 2024. Here is another in the ever decreasing in popularity, of the Alien franchise . Once you pop in the word franchise, you realise it going to be further removed from the original and just an excuse to rake in the cash. Think you'll agree?
Its sales pitch is pretty clear of its potential audience "A group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life-form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station".
So we get Scooby Doo in space, a few Freds , a Daphne (pregnant no less) Shaggy's and a bunch of Velmas' with a Scooby (Andy the Android) to save the say, Needless to say it is like its predecessors a feminist movie, with a Daphne fighting against the odds and the big bad beasty to save the day. Those meddling kids.
Throw in a nasty man from the corporation a CGid Ian Holm (RIP) and the most comical Alien baby (that's were the Goonies analogy comes in, its Sloth in space).
There is an element of ageism in my review, I'm sure the cast are all still in college (drama college) so to have the skills and experience to fly these big mudders in space seems silly.
So you get a sci fi aimed at the teen market, it is embarrassing and destroys any semblance of credibility especially when the female lead wanders about in her pants barefooted fighting acid spilling aliens....
That's a sexist perspective, I know Sigourney Weaver did something similar, but this is just silly.
Yes I do like sci fi, so my opinion isn't totally without warrant.
The Thing, Dark Star, Silent Running, & the recent Spaceman come to mind, along with numerous post apocalyptic doom laden epics.
I will return to the stellar cast of the original sat around the dining table, on the Nostromo talking through what they have just witnessed, when out pops from John Hurt's stomach, Geiger's Alien. Now that is suspense and exciting, none of which appear in this mess. 2/10.
A Field in England (2013)
A nightmare in black and white.
A Field in England (2013) Ben Wheatley's nightmare vision of a troop of foot soldiers in the English Civil war. They feast on a field of halogenic mushrooms when fleeing from their army and the battle field , they then soon become separated from reality.
It is a very much a dream like state, with images blurred, the characters, staggering around lost, the music adds to the cacophony with blurred distorted and discordant sounds.
Like Wheatley's other more well known films, Sightseers, and Kill List. What appears normal soon isn't with lines blurred and boundaries crossed.
The film overall left a lasting impression on me, watching principally because League of Gentleman's Reece Shearsmith was in it, and film 4s original broadcast. If I recall correctly it was shown live on TV the day of its cinema release., I was set there in a caravan in Dalby Forest slowing getting pissed on red wine, which added immensely to the overall ambience and sense of occasion.
A classic 9/10.
Falling for Figaro (2020)
Full of cliché's but really enjoyable.
Falling For Figaro 2020, its another in the little man against the odds makes good series. Think Eddie The Eagle, Phantom of the Open etc , in this case its not Skiing or golf, but opera singing. Its not a little man either its the "rubenesque" Danielle McDonald latterly starring in Dumplin and the Tourist
There are also a few familiar faces, in Joanna Lummley, Vickie Pepperdine and Gary Lewis, and for the me the sight of seeing Shazid Latif "Clem Fandango" in a straight role was nice to see.
Back to the plot -
Unknown wannabe Millie Cantwell goes up to the wilds of Scotland to learn to sing opera, she's pretty good, but needs fine tuning. There is no mention of any previous singing so it does seem a bit implausible. There is a chemistry between local Max, multiple failed finalist of the Rowan Singer of the year. Can you guess what happens?
Being a failed karaoke singer, a wannabe singer if you like, I too can appreciate the fear of failure and rejection. The film is full of cliché's but really enjoyable, , that said the ending is actually quite joyous, and that makes the film a worthy watch.
7/10.
Eaten by Lions (2018)
East is East meets Coronation Street.
Eaten by Lions, 2018. Fun film, about two siblings (half siblings who share the same mum) with different dads. Following the death of their gran who brought the boys up, they seek out Omar's Dad who they find in some of their gran's letter lives in Blackpool.
Featuring , Jack Carrol, now of Coronation Street and written by David Isaac, Corrie writer, there is a lot for Corrie fans to enjoy. Throw in. Brit TV regulars, Johnny Vegas, Vickie Pepperdine, Kevin Eldon, Nitin Ganatra and best of all Tom Binns has a terrible fortune teller on Blackpool prom.
Think East is East with its mix of Asian and English culture mix, with it's feelgood storyline.
If you've been to Blackpool you'll recognise a lot of its settings, along with its more affluent neighbour Lytham St Anne's.
A lovely Sunday afternoon kind of film 7/10.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Beetlejuice 1 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 1, its a draw.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 2024. Tim Burton's follow up to the popular comedy horror Beetlejuice. (1988)
The key players return, Wynona Ryder in the original a teenage girl, in this a mum with a child of her own.
Ryder is amazing in this, she again highlights how her film and tv choices always verge on this side of camp cool.
Its great fun, hardly essential, but it does keep its core 80s ethos, of silly effects (they could have CGI'd most of those but to my eyes is still retain its green screen and stop motion animation retro look, which is nice.
Along with the silly humour there is enough classic songs littered throughout. The highlight for me was hearing Mazzy Starr and the big finale of Richard Harris's McArthur's Park was inspired and it worth the price of admission for the movie, the song would be a great choice for anyone with balls enough to sing it on karaoke.
Enjoyable fluff (or maybe it should be enjoyable Ectoplasam?)
7/10.
The Bromley Boys (2018)
Bromley Boys win to play again...
The Bromley Boys (2018) Yet another film in the series the common man, fights against the odds and comes up smiling. In this case its a football coming of age comedy drama. Think Eddie the Eagle but take away the skis and add a tea urn and a football or two with the addition of the none league club Bromley Town. Set in the late 1960s and starring, and this gives you an idea of the budget, Gareth Hale, Alan Davies, Martine McCutcheon and Ewan (Keith from the Office) MacKintosh. In a nutshell, its a story about an akward boy, finds his passion.... Bromley Town, then the girl, an then loses both..... then you can guess the rest.
I have been a football fan all my life from a subbuteo playing Shoot magazine reading boy of about 8 or 9 , to a 61 year old season ticket holder at Hull City and now passionate supporter of my grandson's football teams and its highs and lows.
Football is a great game, and take away the money and politics, it is enjoyable both as a spectator and player.
That said this film, is so cliched, and obvious from the first kick off to full time. That doesn't mean its a bad film, it's what it is, a none league fixture on a wet February night.
6/10.
In the Land of Saints & Sinners (2023)
Potato Western
In the Land of Saints & Sinners (2023) Set in Ireland in the 70s at the height of the "troubles" . Liam Neeson, plays Finbar ex soldier from the 2nd world war, who unbeknownst to is friends and neighbours is a assassin for the local "boneman" excellently played by Colm Meaney. Many have called this a contemporary western, a "Potato" western if you like. Finbar wants to retire, but he gets drawn into an altercation with 4 IRA members, when he discovers, the daughter of a neighbour is being abused by one of the members. Its sort of Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven with an Irish accent. Less Smith & Western and more Semtex with a bang.
On watching the movie I have never seen any of Neeson's popular "Taken" series of revenge movies so I don't know how they compare but I have seen Love Actually, Schindler's List and the western Serephim Falls (which is great) None of which set me up for this movie.
Its a decent attempt, but the awkward and quite clumsy abuse storyline does make it a little bit silly and gives the film an easy excuse for a shoot up to tie up any loose ends.
That said it was a decent film so its potato tastic 7/10 from me.
Come Play with Me (1977)
doesn't pass the sock test.
Come Play With Me, 1977. Starring Mary Millington, soft porn actress, although on IMDB she isn't credited ?
To think hundreds of desperate teenage boys would have wacked off to this drivel.
Does It aim's to be a comedy in the style of a Carry On. Or sexy in a soft porn Sylvia Kristel "Emmanuelle" kind of way, well lets be honest it fails on both counts.
Featuring aging Irene Handle and Alfie Bass for their comedic pulling power, which is a sad epitaph to their collective genius.
Likewise Mary Millington's, sad life, exploited by all or so legend is to be believed ends up in this David Sullivan (low budget Hugh Hefner) piece of junk.
4/10.
Bottom (1991)
a Yong Ones Bottom
A Young Ones Bottom. BBC 1982-84 & 1991- 95. Young Ones starring Rick Mayall, Adrian Edmonson, Christopher Ryan and Nigel Planner etc and Bottom's (original title "Your Bottom") Rick Mayall's and Adrian Edmonson's wonderful sit coms from our early years. Depending on your age and when you saw the series, depends on if you prefer Young Ones over Bottom.
Both have incredible quotable lines, and over the top characters.
For me the funniest and still quotable episode is the Christmas episode of Bottom and its "Gold Frankenstein and Grrrr"
Class,
I never actually identified with the Young Ones characters , maybe a little Rick and his lack of sexual activity ... so Bottom wins for me and Richie Richards desperate virgin which was me throughout my desperate 20s living in a squalid dingy flat.
Bottom wins for me. Relive your teenage, 20s or discover them afresh
Young Ones 7 Bottom 8.
Swingers (1996)
A life, in which we have all lived for a while.
Swingers 1996. A stepping stone for the actors within the film. Writer Jon Favreau along with Vince Vaughan, Heather Graham and Ron Livingston all moved onto great careers, on the strength of this wonderful film.
It is the story of a bunch of friends, probably in their late 20s/ early 30s all between jobs (in their case writers, actors etc) and between relationships. It tells the story of these friends in their failed attempts at finding their "beautiful babies" .
Its all pretty obvious, with lots of photo montages of cool bar scenes with even cooler music you get the idea.
Its all cliched, yet it works, Its great and a classic 10/10 for the memories, but the reality is 9/10
Life does follow art, or is it the other way round, in my singledom, each and every Friday and Saturday, I along with my friends would go out to have a good time, but in reality in the vain pursuit to find the girl of your dreams, or a girl who'd let you go that little bit further.....
Time and money allowed this weekly pursuit of the sins of the flesh so off we went. Desperation became more apparent as the night progressed, the effects of copious amounts of alcohol slowing down any idea or chance of passion.
The suavest member of our group, would often cash in on all our collective ground work, of listening, sharing feelings and attempts at furtive affection, with a quick boast of his property and portfolio, has he successfully put it "I work in internet and property" which was always guaranteed to charm the underwear off any gullible female. Whereas us lesser mortals would ply a girl with such heart-warming lines like "what a SMASHING blouse you have on" (courtesy of Eddie Hitler) or more than likely a drunken lunge with a "you smell nice for a fat lass". Even better still was the twanging of an exposed thong of, it turned out a radical feminist who happened to be within arms reach of one of our band of brothers.
It didn't always work for our groups lothario though, we recall, him chasing & shouting after a young vixen who had failed to be persuaded of his ungentlemanly desires "Vorders, Vorders ", he shouted in desperation to the girl in question has she boarded her late night taxi home. She happened to look like the TV's sexiest brainbox Carol Vorderman.
Alas our/my failure in the romance department didn't lessen the pursuit. Same time next week lads. Meanwhile to quote Steve Coogan's Gareth Cheeseman "I think a wank is in order" to sign off another failed night of passion.
Happy days.
The Mercy (2018)
One man against the sea.
The Mercy (2018) Colin Firth & Rachel Weisz.
The film portrayal of Donald Crowhurst, who entered the Sunday Times "round world yacht race" in 1968, in the vain attempt of promoting the navigation aid that he had invented, in a boat which he had designed. Going into debt to build the boat, he has to win at any cost.
It's one man against the waves, the elements and his sanity. Put it another way , how the little guy sticks it to the man... or a little "inglander" beats the odds., I bet the Daily Mail loved the movie.
Think the Phantom of the Open, but at sea. Crowhurst bends the rules much to his own chagrin to compensate for his own and his boats failings.
Its a nice little film featuring a score by Julian Johanson (?) and Max Richter.
Rachel Weisz steals the show as the little wife, stuck at home caring for the children and having to face the consequences of her husbands actions.
The film does end up a little more like The Thief, The Wife and the Canoe, in that Crowhurst shame ultimately is his downfall.
6/10.
Mothers' Instinct (2024)
detached
Mother's Instinct (2024)
Adapted from a French book and movie, with an added Hollywood sheen in Anne Hathaway.
Hathaway (playing against type) lives a perfect life in early 60s suburban America, perfect husband perfect house and lovely neighbours. Her best friend lives next door, again seemingly perfect life in every way, although she does have aspiration to, god forbid work! The domestic contentment ends when Hathaway's son dies in a terrible accident. Support is offered and she seemingly starts to make progress, but resentments begin to fester, when the son of her neighbour Theo, gets closer and shares his emotions over of his loss of his best friend, Hathaway's son.
Paranoia raises to the surface, and everything isn't as it appears.
The film is very cold and although you do want to see what happens, i felt little to no affinity for any of the principal actors.
Hathaway is very good, but she always appear as if she is preoccupied in maintaining her weight at the expense of her health and looks like she needs a good do with a chip butty,
a detached 6/10.
Spoorloos (1988)
a memory of a movie
Spoorloos (AKA The Vanishing) 1988
A Dutch language film , . . The film's premise is simple, a young woman is kidnapped. Her boyfriend spend the next few years trying to find her, when after realising all hope is lost. He starts receiving letters from the girls kidnapper.
From this point it takes a very sinister turn which will leave a lasting impression. It is one of the most frightening films I have seen, I don't actually think you see any excessive violence (I may be wrong I haven't seen the film for over 20 years) but what you do see is very real and plausible.
The film was later remade in 1993 as The Vanishing which featured Hollywood heavyweights Keifer Sutherland, Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock, whereas the originals features unknows when gives it a further sense of realism.
PS one of the key scenes in the movie was lovingly recreated in the BBC's League Of Gentleman when Edward was trying to find a "no tail" for David their son.
A classic 9 and I need to seek it out again.
Gli specialisti (1969)
Not the best Corbucci movie, but decent.
The Specialist 1969 (Sergio Corbucci ) yey another revenge based Spaghetti Western, of particular interest in this one is its not directed by Sergio Leonne or features a soundtrack composed by Ennio Morricone. What it does contain is French Singer Johnny Halliday, who was France's biggest rock pop (The French Elvis) star throughout 60s/70s and into the 80. He was known as much for his hell raising as his singing (there is a great documentary about him, made just after he died in 2017, if you able to find it)
What about the film, well its a decent western, like most of the genre, there is a reason for all the carnage, in this case its, the return of the gunslinger Hud Dixon, to avenge the death of his brother by the town's folk of Blackstone . This Dead Man's Shoes but with cowboy boots and chaps. There's villain's El Diablo, the Mexican with one arm, crooked businessmen and politicians (aren't they all) and the love interest Sheba played by actress Sylvie Fennec who I've never seen in anything before who is drop dead gorgeous.
There are also some random hippies and a pacifist sheriff who has flowers in the barrel of his pistol (it was film in 1969 after all) great stuff but not a great film. 6/10 . If you want to try a Corbucci film, try The Great Silence, at least it features a Morricone score, and is based in the snow, I'm sure Tarantino got ideas for Hateful 8 from this.