What was the last film you watched?

[Biggie]

Respect.

My lexicon is not extensive enough for me to adequately describe how impeccable Jennifer Hudson was in the role of Aretha Franklin.

Respect was spellbinding throughout, The movie depicted the highs and the lows of Aretha Franklin's life from a young girl up to 1972. The musical set pieces were..... it's Aretha Franklin! She's had the ear of presidents!

I must single out the young actress who portrayed Aretha Franklin as a child for extra acknowledgement. That young lady is talented beyond her years, and deserves recognition.

I don't know the correct superlatives to use to convey how excellent this movie is.

 

[Seaviewer]

The Duke Wore Jeans
1958 musical starring Tommy Steele.
Sort of a mashup between The Prince and the Pauper and Cinderella with some rather ponderous songs co-written by Lionel Bart.
The only other cast member I recognised was Alan Wheatley - the sheriff in the Robin Hood TV series - and there's what I assume is an intentional meta moment when we get a cutaway of his reaction when Steele's character claims to be descended from the outlaw.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Blind Chance (1987)
I’m honestly not sure if I liked it or not. It’s a little odd to say the least. It’s a movie told in three parts with three different outcomes and the man’s fate is decided by whether or not he catches a train. I would say this movie was a little ahead of its time by 1987 standards. I believe it was made in Poland and ended up being held back before finally being released a few years later in a more censored form.

 

[Angela Channing]

Worth (2021)

A really good film based on the true story of a group of lawyers, lead by a character played by Michael Keaton, who had the job of handling compensation for those who were killed or injured in the 11th September terrorist attack. This could have been a really dry subject for a film with lots of legal dialogue about compensation formulae but it's so well written, acted and directed that it makes for a gripping and sometimes emotional drama.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Action in the North Atlantic (1943)

Merchant Marines led by Humphrey Bogart’s character are given the daunting task of bringing a supply vessel to our Russian allies (this movie was sure made in different times, huh?) but they are attacked by a German U-Boat on the way. What surprised me the most about this movie were the special effects. I have to say they were quite good by 1943 standards, particularly the ship battles on the open sea.

 

[Willie Oleson]

It’s a movie told in three parts with three different outcomes and the man’s fate is decided by whether or not he catches a train

Sounds very intriguing!

 

[DallasFanForever]

Sounds very intriguing!

It wasn’t boring, I’ll say that. I think it’s one of those movies you might have to watch again though. I’m still not sure what to make of it to be honest.

 

[Biggie]

Blind Chance (1987)
I’m honestly not sure if I liked it or not. It’s a little odd to say the least. It’s a movie told in three parts with three different outcomes and the man’s fate is decided by whether or not he catches a train. I would say this movie was a little ahead of its time by 1987 standards. I believe it was made in Poland and ended up being held back before finally being released a few years later in a more censored form.

Puts me in the mind of Sliding Doors.

Which is a remarkable movie. Circa 1997 I believe.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Puts me in the mind of Sliding Doors.

Which is a remarkable movie. Circa 1997 I believe.

Very similar. I would say Sliding Doors was a better movie but it’s kind of the same premise.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

The Mauritanian (2021)

Knowing of the story I was apprehensive about watching. Justly, as it turns out. The viewer really gets a sense of what the experience would have been like. We're taken into a dark airless place with no sense of escape. Silence alternates with horribly intrusive sound, and darkness with sickening flickering strobe lights. By the time the real brutality got underway in the last act I was too invested. Even though the anxiety created by the horror made me want to switch off, I couldn't and had to settle for looking away from the screen at times. It was just too truthful.

It's one of the most claustrophobic and subjective film experiences I've had. To say it's enjoyable to watch isn't accurate, but I'm still very glad I watched. Apart from being a story that needed to be told, this is a wonderfully made film with absolutely blinding performances from... well, everyone really. Jodie Foster, Tahir Rahim and Benedict Cumberbatch were incredible.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Bloodmatch (1991)
If martial arts films are your thing then you might want to see this one. Basically about a kickboxer trying to avenge his brothers death by bringing those responsible to justice.

 

[Angela Channing]

Respect (2021)

A biopic of Aretha Franklin. It's a good film and Jennifer Hudson is outstanding in the lead role. However, the film only seems to cover the good side of the singer and she come out of it a bit like a saint. I don't know enough about her true life story so I may be wrong, but I would expect most people to have more than one side to them.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Jennifer Hudson is outstanding in the lead role.

I remember fifteen years ago when Dreamgirls came out a lot of reviewers likened her to Aretha, so she was probably meant for this role.

However, the film only seems to cover the good side of the singer and she come out of it a bit like a saint. I don't know enough about her true life story so I may be wrong, but I would expect most people to have more than one side to them.

Oh, that's a shame. I wonder if the sanitised production means it's an "authorised" film, with input from her estate (I can't find anything to indicate either way after a little online search).

I'd still be up for watching it as I really like her music and I know very little about the woman herself.

 

[Angela Channing]

I remember fifteen years ago when Dreamgirls came out a lot of reviewers likened her to Aretha, so she was probably meant for this role.

Apparently, Aretha personally picked Jennifer Hudson to play her in the film. She made a good choice.

Oh, that's a shame. I wonder if the sanitised production means it's an "authorised" film, with input from her estate (I can't find anything to indicate either way after a little online search).

I probably exaggerated a bit when I said the film made her come out looking saintly but the focus was heavily on how she was the victim of abuse and how she overcame that to build her career. There was a lot about how she was successful at a time when women and black people weren't treated with much respect (pun intended) and her role in the civil rights movement. The film only briefly covered her alcoholism and her underage pregnancies (1 wasn't even mentioned) and it felt like they could have explored these and other issues further to give a more rounded picture of who she was.

I'm sure I read somewhere that Aretha was heavily involved in the pre-production of the film so I imagine she had some say on what she wanted the film to focus on. It didn't make it a bad film, I still think it's a good film, but it didn't feel like they told her whole story.

I'd still be up for watching it as I really like her music and I know very little about the woman herself.

I wasn't that familiar with the music of Aretha Franklin beyond a few songs until the first lockdown when I downloaded a lot of "new" music to listen to during my daily walks. I was blown away by some of her albums, not just by the quality of her voice but how she reworked songs to make them sound completely original. So I was very much looking forward to this film and by and large, I wasn't disappointed.

 

[DallasFanForever]

The Harder They Fall (1956)

Sadly this was Humphrey Bogart’s final film. He plays an out of work sportswriter who ends up working for a corrupt boxing promoter as his PR man for an Argentine fighter. The problem is the boxer basically has no fighting talent, and therefore all of his fights have been fixed, unbeknownst to most. It was actually a very compelling story.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I just watched the first two NAKED GUN movies on Youtube for free.

So many DALLAS and DYNASTY actors!

 

[DallasFanForever]

Wild Stallion (1952)

Touching movie about a boy who’s parents are killed, leaving him an orphan, and his quest to find his long lost horse that fled after his family’s murder.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I just watched the first two NAKED GUN movies on Youtube for free.

So many DALLAS and DYNASTY actors!

Well, I watched the third NAKED GUN installment today. I hadn't seen the three films since they were released.

I think the second one is the funniest.

Poor OJ and his victims.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Well, I watched the third NAKED GUN installment today. I hadn't seen the three films since they were released.

I love the Naked Gun movies! I remember when I first heard that Priscilla would be in those and I just couldn’t see her doing comedy. It just didn’t seem to work for me. But she was hilarious in those movies! She and Leslie Nielsen were terrific together.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Well! This made my cup of Earlies Grey overfloweth real horrorshow.