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Human Traffic (1999)
Superb
This made me laugh, reminisce, laugh some more and doff my hat.
This film is pure genius. It is so expertly written and captures the essence of what is was like growing up in the late 90s.
It switches from one scene to another with expert ease and timing. Each scene is so well thought out, and each scene captures perfectly a moment or thought process we all can remember or relate to.
The writing is so good, and this film is funny, so so funny. It is also a love story, that goes under the radar for most of the film, but again, it beautifully captures what love at such a young age is.
Enjoy!
Derren Brown: Infamous (2014)
You ___ Win_____Friday
Unbelievable. My Name is Justin. I Was lost, now. I AM FOUND.
This is a brilliant study in human behaviour. Astounding. I watched this show 15 years ago, I watched it again today. Astounding. Astounded.
26 = 3 + 5 ÷ Derren + Sophie ÷ my Uncle Paddy.
God rest his Soul. 👋
Yes.
Correct.
Yes.
Derren.
Hello.
Justin.
Crunden.
568.
Looks like the takeover could be on.
Kaveh.
Sol.
Sun.
Mark Skinner.
Manchester City.
Walk Home from Outlook and the other driver obstructing the bus is going down.
19 years is a career.
Pep.
Fantastic.
B.
Fantastic.
B.
Standard high.
Kevin.
Marco.
De.
Bru.
Yne.
Stop.
Feel.
Real.
Hold the Dark (2018)
Holds your attention
Hi, this film is meant to be dark, disturbing and unsettling. It is none of the above. If you want dark, disturbing and unsettling, then I highly recommend True Detective Season 1.
This film is really three films in one and each part is too weak to justify a hard sell.
Part one has you thinking this film is about Wolves and missing children but you will soon discover this is a red herring, and that the wolves inclusion in this film boils down to one scene which is later used as a metaphor to describe why adults kill their young. It is loose at best as a metaphor, at worst, is lazy writing and simply lends itself to the incoherent feel of this film.
Part two basically builds up to the mass extermination of the local police department. It is gratuitous for the sake of gratuity. The explanation for this massacre is weak and again, it only adds to the disjointed feeling of the film.
Part three is basically the father of the missing boy, hunting down his "wife". This ends up being hugely anticlimactic and dissatisfying.
I think this film is trying to be way too clever, trying to hit the viewer hard with three separate punches, but each punch is wayward and clumsy.
The film did hold my attention as it is fairly original and the scenery is quite captivating, but overall, if you are pushed for time, I would give this a swerve and only watch it if you are having trouble sleeping.
The acting by Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Skarsgard, Riley Keogh and James Badge Dale is excellent and the direction is superb. But weak writing and poor plot design drags all their efforts down.
Straightheads (2007)
True Horror
I have honestly never wrote a review to warn people away from a film, but I have to make an exception for this true horror of a film, and by horror I mean awful.
The film has more p(l)ot holes than the worst roads in England. How Danny Dyer has constructed a career based on his complete inability to act is quite frankly beyond me?
And shame on Gillian Anderson for agreeing to participate in this joke of a film. I wonder how the writers and producers, along with the director have the gall to produce such a piece of utter rubbish, and call it a film. It is cheap panto at best, at its worst it is a crime against humanity.
I give it four starts as there is certain elements of this film that keep your attention, as in, you keep watching assuming it must get better at some point surely?! It does not.
And the abrupt laughable ending is a perfect summary of the 90 minute drivel that just unfolded.
Overall, bad bad acting, terrible plot design, and amateurish execution.
Snowden (2016)
Stone Me!!
Quite simply, a breathtaking film that removes the blinkers.
Based on a true story, Snowden is executed to perfection, both with its tone, it's electric soundtrack and the top class performances by Gordon-Levitt, Shalene Woodley and Rhys Ifans.
Oliver Stone has the touch and delicate hand of a true master, bringing this amazing story to the big screen in a very real and authentic way.
Gordon-Levitt is brilliant as Snowden, completely believable as a good honest man struggling with the morality of the work he is involved with, and the agencies and governments that deem this work a necessary evil, in order to protect its citizens. Oh the irony.
I am writing this review in 2021 and I still believe this type of wide-scope surveillance is probably still an ongoing problem , even today.
This film has a fairly long running time of 2h24mins but honestly, it flew by, because there is never a dull moment in the entire film.
Bravo to Oliver Stone and all the cast and crew for getting this film made.
Incredibly brave, honest storytelling at its absolute best.
Tenet (2020)
The Greatest Film of Our Time
Where to begin?
Tenet will be regarded as the greatest film of our time in the future by the civilizations of the universe.
The concepts Nolan incorporates into this two and a half visual feast is astounding.
The mastery of the fourth dimension.
Seeing the final outcome and knowing what to do in order for it to happen. Not quite fate in the traditional understanding but a twist on fate with the intentions of the protagonists being the deciding factor that leads to the desired outcome for the benefit of all mankind.
The real genius of this film is how Nolan plays with the concept of time that he invents multiple concepts never before imagined.
When I was watching the first part of the film my mind was furiously trying to keep up with the complexity of what was occurring before me.
And then I realised the true genius of the film. The dialogue. Nolan had managed somehow to write a dialogue whereby the characters were mimicking the Time Tenet of the film. Their dialogues were in reverse but still coherent, amazing right?!
The power of our brains to absorb and adapt to this new found dialogue is incredible because I found myself simply accepting the dialogue and letting it wash over me.
I've read a lot of reviews that missed this key point. I can understand if they didn't quite get this that it would have the effect of frustrating them, I myself at first thought that there may be something wrong with the sound mixing, but I came back to one single idea that Nolan simply does not make mistakes, this guy is a perfectionist as standard but clearly a genius way way way ahead of his time.
The film also is long at two and a half hours but due to the efficiency of each scene, nothing is wasted, nothing is over explained, once an image is transmitted, the message is understood and we cut to the next scene. I feel this method of giving only what is required and nothing more for us to follow the story has also been taken to the next level in this film.
I've also read people saying they need to watch the film multiple times to get all the things they missed. I agree that I will definitely watch this film again at some point in the future but the film is made in such a way that it can be easily followed if you understand each new concept as it is thrown at you. If you miss the meaning at any stage then you may fail to follow the remainder of the film.
As with all Nolan films there are plenty of red herrings too which makes for the enjoyment but it also makes following the film without getting lost doubly hard.
But it is a film, and so again, Nolan has factored in that as a film, it is available for multiple viewings and as such he wasn't afraid to pack it with multiple new concepts and complexities. This man is the most generous film-maker in the history of film.
What Nolan has achieved here is nothing short of breathtaking.
I also read that the film had no soul but again, probably written by frustrated viewers whose bias slowly turned as the film drew to a close.
I found myself shed a little tear at the end and I said out loud as the credits rolled, "Thank you Christopher".
Extraction (2020)
Extra Special Forces
Short and simply another Russo success.
Everything these guys touch turns to Gold.
Top action, awesome locations, slick, fast, storyline.
Chris Hemsworth is brilliant, ably supported by a very good local cast especially Rudhraksh Jaiswal playing the young kidnapped boy, and Randeep Hooda playing his guardian. Also I have to mention that Golshifteh Farahani is superb playing Hemsworth's team support ally, she really sparks the emotions in the final scenes on the bridge.
I would highly recommend this to anyone with a penchant for high-class, high-octane action films.
Oh and a superb soundtrack.
Anna (2019)
Another Classic from Mr Besson
When I first wondered about watching this I must admit I was fairly sceptical. I had the impression it would be a lightweight bugglegum wannabe spy thriller.
Oh how wrong was I.
This is how all spy films should be made.
Hot as hell female lead, tick.
Relentless action and intricate plot, tick.
Brutal edge of your seat fight sequences, tick.
Awesome transfixing acting from the lead and all the supporting actors, tick, tick and tick.
This is a top top spy thriller of the highest order with a great story, unbelievable acting, and an awesome soundtrack that fits just right.
Sasha Luss is absolutely perfect in the lead role as a battered woman who becomes this awesome ass-kicking assassin/secret agent. That sentence alone seems proposterous and was one of the reasons I was sceptical to start off. But Luc Besson is a genius because he manages to weave this all together into a completely believable tight-knit thrill-ride where you are completely submerged from start to finish.
This could be said to be in a similar vein to Leon, another of Besson's masterpieces but that would not do ANNA the justice it deserves.
It is original, sexy, dark and light with a tiny splash of humour and a good dose of what makes a top top spy thriller.
This film will surely go down as a classic in the same way Leon did.
In Sasha Luss, Besson has unearthed an absolute diamond in the rough.
She oozes charisma, sex appeal, humour, bravery, honesty and supreme intelligence. A modern day James Bond but miles miles better in my book.
If you've got this far into my review and you still haven't hit play, then I seriously cannot help you, this type of film may not be for you.
But for everyone else, enjoy the ride, and be prepared for an exillirating two hours of pure unadulterated Besson at his genius best.
21 Bridges (2019)
Blackjack
Produced by the Russo Brothers, I thought I'd give this a go even though the trailer or title didn't get my juices flowing.
But this is an excellent well-crafted suspense and action thriller with twists and turns the whole ride.
Chadwick Boseman is fast becoming my new favourite actor possibly eventually taking the crown from Denzel but for now he is simply very very good, but not yet the master, that will surely come, I have no doubt.
His timing and charisma shine through in this as a figure of justice trying to catch the baddies.
He is ably supported by Sienna Miller, JK Simmons, Taylor Kitsch and new kid on the block Stephen James.
I love movies that never relent and this keeps you on your toes the whole film.
I also love movies set in New York, for some reason, the level of excitement seems to be ramped up when the action is occurring in this great city.
So overall, I would highly recommend this film to anyone who likes their slice of the good guys catching the bad guys.
The Vast of Night (2019)
A Vast Disappointment
If you're hoping this is some clever original sci-fi story with elements of time-travel and paradoxes or similar mind-bending concepts like I did then you will be disappointed like I was.
But this film does keep your attention, it is original as a piece of film-making even if the story itself has been told a thousand times.
The 50s feel is very authentic and the acting by the two leads is very good for the majority of the film.
The high-pitch screeching of the lead actress is a bit over the top at times and fairly annoying. Also the constant chatter at the start about the various townsfolk is unnecessary and also quite annoying as it is repeated again about half-way through the piece.
But overall as a piece of film-making it is an ok hour and a half of sci-fi, just not what I had excitedly anticipated.
By the way, I gave this a four star rating but I was torn between a four and a five, but never a six in my book.
And also it wasn't a vast disappointment, it was a disappointment from the point that I was expecting something else, I used the word vast for pun value.
Displacement (2016)
Disguised
I read a review saying this was the bees knees in a lot more words. It isn't, but a reasonable watch in my opinion.
The story is OK, if you like Sci-fi and time travel then Displacement ticks those boxes but it's not pulling up any trees.
Timecrimes and Triangle are similar films to this but both are far superior.
Although logic gets thrown out the window when watching most time travel films, you can follow a certain logic to them which comes from the writers/directors having a clear idea of what they are trying to accomplish.
For instance, the time-travel logic in Timecrimes was clever and gripping and exciting. Yes you can picks holes but it is still fun to go along with it.
In Displacement there is a clear lack of fun and minimal intrigue. It did keep me watching until the end so it has enough intrigue in that respect but it didn't excite me as much as other time travel films I've seen such as Timecrimes and Triangle to name but two.
Overall, I would say give it a go as there is a dearth of new time travel films to watch right now, here's hoping that will change soon.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
The day the bad reviews stop?
Great film, big-budget, big Sci-Fi, great acting, good story, never dull.
Once again, another good film receiving a skewed IMDB rating due to the "1" generation - it didn't tick all my boxes so I'll throw my toys out of my pram, revolt and give it a 1.
Well, I'm giving it a 10 to combat the "1" generation.
It's not a 10 or a 1, more like a good solid 7 or 8.
It delivers Sci-fi thrills and intelligence, has a good pace to it, and was thoroughly entertaining.
Ignore the poor IMDB rating of 5.5 and give it a whirl.
I'm glad I did!
After Earth (2013)
A brilliant film After all
Brilliant film, ignore the IMDB rating of 4.8. I've given it a 10 to combat the poor ratings. It is in fact not a 10 but a good 8 or 9.
The acting by the Smiths is top notch. The sci-fi element is great and the storyline is really good.
But the best thing about this film is that it is an all action survival thriller at its heart, and it definitely delivers big time. It will get your heart pounding, it will engage your brain, it will tug on your heart strings and it will leave you feeling content.
It is a brilliantly directed and superbly delivered sci-fi survival thriller.
So ignore the poor reviews and give it a whirl.
I'm glad I did!
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
The force is strong in this one
The Last Jedi is simply another Star Wars masterpiece. I have watched it three times now and each time I find more depth and intrigue. This film packs so much in that you will possibly like me need to watch it again and again to fully absorb the intricacy and mythology that writer and director Rhian Johnson provides. He has masterfully constructed a genuis film in its own right while forming the bridge between The Force Awakens and the next installments, continuing to develop the mythology of "The Force" and in particular the relationship between Rey (Brilliantly portrayed by the exquisite Daisy Ridley) and Kylo-Ren (Exquisitely portrayed by the brilliant Adam Driver).
Fantastic Four (2015)
Fantastic fun!!
Fantastic Four has been panned, slated, written off as rubbish and confined to room 101 by all and sundry. I almost decided I would never give it a watch purely based on the amount of negative reviews of this Film. I'm also happy to say how glad I am that against all previous judgements I decided to give it a watch. I can tell you right now that it is not the best superhero film I have ever watched but it never lost me for a minute. The plot is great, the anticipation is good, the acting is good, and the special effects are very good. It is well worth a watch and you should not let yourself be put off by bad reviews. When I see someone has given it a one then for me that person should not be allowed to continue to give reviews on IMDb as in my opinion they have been lazy and irresponsible. Fantastic Four has all the events of a good superhero film but it is not as grandiose as a lot of the other Marvel and DC movies. For me it is not always a bad thing to be a little more understated as long as the story is good which it is in this case. For me a good example would be Superman Returns which was grandiose and boring and lacked any imagination or heart. Fantastic Four has plenty of heart and sometimes people are so quick to judge a film based on all the little boxes they feel it should tick that they lose sight of the fact that a film made with heart will still shine through regardless of whether it conforms to the typical stereotype of the genre. All in all this has felt more like a rant than a review but my message is, don't be put off by the 4 rating, watch it and see for yourself!!
I'll Follow You Down (2013)
Time Travel with a twist
I'll follow you down is a time travel film which is original in its story and a well scripted, well crafted mystery. It stars Haley Joel Osment and he is absolutely terrific. It also stars Gilliam Anderson and Rufus Sewell who both give outstanding performances. The story has a great pace to it easing us into the characters and setting the story up nicely for the rest of the film to unfold. If you like sci-fi mystery dramas then this will not disappoint you. It has just the right amount of each to keep you completely engaged for the whole film. Based on the fact I love sci-fi, a good mystery and a good family feel drama I am rating this an impressive 9 out of 10. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!
Moon (2009)
We have Lift-Off
Moon is the perfect little film. It has a brilliant concept and top notch acting from Sam Rockwell ably complimented by the voice of the one and only Kevin Spacey as GERTY, his robotic colleague. The film also has a beautiful, haunting and climactic soundtrack that perfectly compliments the story. As the film starts off we are introduced to Sam Bell (Played by Rockwell) being the sole human on the moon and along with GERTY, they help harvest the solar energy in the moon rocks to be sent back to Earth. But then an accident occurs that sets off a spiral of events that changes everything on this moon base and the whole direction of the film. It is a very clever film that will keep your attention and together with the superb acting from Rockwell, the genius voice part from Spacey and the tremendous soundtrack I had to give this film a ten out of ten. It may not be the best film I ever see but it cannot be faulted in its execution and that is why I give it a ten rating.
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Star Trek Beyond Delivers Once More
Star Trek Beyond is an exciting, intelligent, action film. It has great acting and great special effects. It tells the story of a dangerous new enemy and once again, Captain Jim Kirk and Co. must save the day. I found the story, action and acting kept me hooked for the entire film and as usual there were the humorous moments long now associated with all Star Trek films. The look and feel of Beyond is exactly what you'd expect since the franchise rebooted and there is a crispness about it. Chris Pine is superb again and Zac Quinto is equally as good. If you liked the previous two films in the franchise then you will like this one too. If you have not seen the previous two, then you're in for a treat if you like smart sci-fi with intelligent plot twists and awesome action!! Another great addition to the franchise and it had enough thrills to warrant a very well earned 8 out of ten.
Sphere (1998)
Exciting, intelligent Sci-fi thinker
Sphere is a brilliant Sci-fi piece that keeps you guessing right to the end. It has a very clever concept and brilliant action and acting. You will not be disappointed. It has a great cast and Dustin Hoffman and Sam Jackson are both terrific and Sharon Stone is for me a very good actress who brings a good energy to the film. If you're a fan Ray Donovan then there's the rare treat of seeing Liev Schrieber deliver a great supporting effort. This film has a lot of suspense and very cleverly leads you in a certain direction only to completely turn things around. I would highly recommend this film if you like Sci-fi with a twist. Samuel L Jackson also gives an impressive performance which is key in keeping the suspense going. Dustin Hoffman is just pure class.