What was the last film you watched?

[Biggie]

Maid In Manhattan circa 2002.

The hotel maid is blagged into trying on robes belonging to a cash'd up guest. But the robes are actually a talisman of great power, and bewitched an unhinged Nazi looking to win public office in what ever election. Our man here clearly has big mojo as he only got J to L O to plate up her junk for the flying cartographer's wrong fun boom boom time.

This movie was actually very enjoyable and Jenny From The Block turned out a very watchable performance, if you ignore Nazi boom boom. Not the best rom-com ever made but still easy to buy into.

Star of the show... him who stood sentinel over working girl Mona Lisa,

 

[Angela Channing]

Infinity Pool (2023)

This film is part thriller, part horror, part sci fi and wholly a mess.

James and Em Foster are newlyweds vacationing in Li Tolqa, Croatia. They meet Gabi and Alban Bauer, who claim to be fans of James’s unsuccessful novel. After spending an afternoon together, James accidentally runs into a pedestrian and kills him. James is sentenced to death but the town’s legal process allows for wealthy guests of the resort to pay to be cloned and have their doubles executed instead of them. James take up this option but Em is horrified by witnessing the execution and goes back to America. James stays at the resort and spends time with the Bauers and their other rich, hedonistic guests. James and Gabi develop a sexual affair and he is encouraged to commit more atrocities with them so his doubles can be killed.

I really didn't like the film but maybe I didn't give it a chance as the film's premise of rich people being able to use their wealth to avoid criminal responsibility just made me angry and made me dislike every one of the main characters in this film.

 

[Angela Channing]

80 For Brady (2023)

Well this film was an unexpected delight. Four best friends Lou (Lily Tomlin), Trish (Jane Fonda), Maura (Rita Moreno), and Betty (Sally Field) meet up to support Lou who is undergoing treatment for cancer. During their get together they turn on the TV but the remote stops working so they are forced to watch an American football match featuring the New England Patriots. They immediately take a shine to Tom Brady, one of the leading players. Lou's cancer eventually goes into remission and to celebrate, each year they get together to watch Patriots NFL matches on TV and on this particular year, the Pats get to the Superbowl final. The women decide to plan a trip to the match since Lou thinks it might be her last chance at memorable trip with her friends since she fears her cancer has come back. The film then follows their adventures and mishaps to get to the match and there are some really funny laugh out loud moments such as when they dance to a Diana Ross song to persuade a security guard that they are part of Lady Gaga's (the half time act) dance troop. The 4 actress have good chemistry together and it's great to see these veteran Hollywood actors have strong lead roles. The end of the film quite moving and amazingly it's all based on a true story. I enjoy this film way more than I thought was possible.

 

[Ome]

Fall (2022)





One of the hardest films I've watched in a long time. I wasn't that interested in doing it, but as the story moved on, I found my toes curling and my anxiety levels reaching new highs.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Fall (2022)

Ooh - just the poster looks enough for me. Going off this, it looks like the cinematic equivalent of adrenaline-rush fairground rides designed to give you motion sickness and heart palpitations (and I've never been able to do those either).

I bet it's really fun to watch if you're into it, but I got dizzy and had to look away during an aerial sequence in one of the newer Spider-Man films, so I'm not sure how I'd be with an hour and a half of it. I never used to be bothered by heights and probably could have watched this without a flicker fifteen years ago. Age seems to have levelled things out though, and now I can understand what acrophobia is all about.

The poster and that tagline do look very retro. Kind of like an updated version of a Seventies disaster film.

 

[Angela Channing]

Fall (2022)

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One of the hardest films I've watched in a long time. I wasn't that interested in doing it, but as the story moved on, I found my toes curling and my anxiety levels reaching new highs.

I watched this a couple of weeks ago and it's excellent. The 2 lead actors do a great job in creating the drama and tension of the film considering they spend 75% of the film on a small platform. It really is edge of your seat stuff.

 

[Angela Channing]

Champions (2023)

This film had more cliches than a Hallmark Christmas film. It's another version of a story told on films so many times before: a washed up coach/teacher/mentor is put in charge of a ragtag group of people and he/she turns them into something better than anyone thought they could be before they face a dilemma which forces they to choose between the group and some other aspect of their life. Dead Poet's Society (1989), Mr Holland's Opus (1996) and Les Choristes (2004) and even Sister Act (1992) were all variants of this theme.

In this film, Marcus (Woody Harrelson) plays an NBC assistant coach who gets sacked, has a few drinks and ends up crashing his car. He is sentences to 90 community service coaching a basketball team of special needs young people. What makes this film work is the mix of personalities of the people in the basketball team and how they are portrayed positively, focussing on their abilities rather than their disabilities. It's a lovely, heart-warming film that's well worth watching.

 

[Ome]

Going off this, it looks like the cinematic equivalent of adrenaline-rush fairground rides designed to give you motion sickness and heart palpitations

That's pretty much it. I wasn't in favour of watching it but lost 2-1 against the girls and after the first 20-odd minutes I was hooked and never looked back. I was glad I watched it even though it was a tough one.

Kind of like an updated version of a Seventies disaster film.

It brought HANGING BY A THREAD (1979) back to me.

I watched this a couple of weeks ago and it's excellent.

Ah.... I did look back to see if it had hit anyone's radar but didn't find anything.

The 2 lead actors do a great job in creating the drama and tension

Yes and a couple of nice unexpected twists along the way.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I wasn't in favour of watching it but lost 2-1 against the girls and after the first 20-odd minutes I was hooked and never looked back. I was glad I watched it even though it was a tough one.

Well it's really nice you were pleasantly surprised. While I was getting a mental image of the film from the poster (which shows what a strong image it is) I was trying to imagine how it would be to watch it in 3D. I'm sure someone, somewhere has been brave enough to do it.

 

[Seaviewer]

80 For Brady (2023)

Great cast. Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda have become quite the double act, haven't they?

 

[Angela Channing]

Rye Lane (2023)

I'm not usually a fan of romcoms but this one was better than I expected because they tried to do something a bit different with the genre.

Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah) meet at an art exhibition when she hears him crying in the toilets over his break up with his long standing girlfriend. She tries to befriend and help him and they walk through the streets of Peckham talking and just generally spending the day together. It turns out they both have recently come out of bad relationships and as they move through the streets and various adventures, they grow closer together.

The film is far more edgy than your typical romcom and it is shot in a visually interesting way. Lots of primary colours in the way the characters are dressed and there is an overuse of the fish-eye lens so the landscape look curved and distorted which at first is annoying but I kind of got used to the artistic choice of the director and cinematographer as the film went on and it added visual interest to the story telling.

 

[Angela Channing]

Creed 3 (2023)

Firstly, I have to say what a fabulous poster they created to publicise the film.

CREED 3 (2023)

I saw this just this afternoon in the theatre. I have to admit that I had very low expectations going in. After all, let’s face it, this is the ninth movie of the ROCKY franchise and considering it’s the first movie without the iconic character of Rocky Balboa, I had my doubts. The reviews have not been great from what I’ve read but believe me when I tell you that this movie is absolutely terrific. Michael B. Jordan turns out a fine acting performance and the movie has a very real feel to it in terms of the personal relationships between the characters. It’s not just a boxing story, it’s a life story and a really good one at that.

I agree with you, Creed 3 is a great film. I don't like boxing and I abhor violence but the Rocky/Creed films always deliver for me (well, let's forget Rocky 5 and come to think of it, Rocky 4 wasn't great either). All the films generally follow a formula:

1. Some background stuff leading into the first fight which has a surprise outcome
2. Family drama, conflict, a death or someone in a life-threatening condition, some grieving
3. An inspirational talk given or received by Rocky/Creed
4. A training montage with a powerful piece of music played in the background
5. Second fight with a uplifting outcome

Creed 3 doesn't mess with the formula but it tells the story in a fresh and interesting way. Michael B Jordan is excellent as Adonis Creed, as is Jonathan Majors as Damian, I totally believe in every scene they had either together or with other cast members. Michael B Jordan also directed this and it's pacy and exciting and the fight scenes are brilliantly shot.

I can see how they are laying the ground for Creed 5 (Creed 4 would probably be too soon for this) because Adonis's daughter seems quite interested in boxing and focusing on a female boxer would give the franchise a fresh approach in the future.

 

[Seaviewer]

Dallas: The Early Years
I haven't seen this in a while and thought it would be appropriate before resuming my series rewatch with season 10.

 

[Angela Channing]

Tetris (2023)

This movie is captivating, well-written and acted and the plot is a bit outlandish but amazingly it's based on a true story.

It's the story of how the licensing rights to the game were signed on paper sounds a bit dry but this is a rip-roaring adventure with some nail-biting edge of your seat moments. Russian programmer Alexey Pajitnov creates Tetris and it's quickly grows in popularity. Competing companies try to buy the rights, including Robert Maxwell and his son, but the communist state are not happy with the commercialisation of Tetris and try to stop it. While the various rivals slug it out, Alexey Pajitnov is cut of out all the money and deals they are agreed.

I used to love playing Tetris but I had no idea about the machinations and danger that went on behind the scenes concerning the licensing the game. Since watching the film, I've started playing Tetris again and it still one of the best computer games I've played.

 

[Angela Channing]

Close (2022)

This film explores the profound and deep friendship shared between two young boys, Leo and Remi. They go to the same junior school and are inseparable out of school, they do everything together and have sleepovers at each other's homes. When they go to high school, some of the other students question the closeness of their relationship and ask if they are a couple. It makes Leo uncomfortable that others would misinterpret their friendship and begins to push Remi away. Instead of spending so much time together, Leo start doing things he thinks are more macho, like playing ice hockey. Remi doesn't understand the rejections and is distraught about losing his closest friends. He later takes his life. The rest of the film is about how Leo negotiates the next phase of his life dealing with his grief and guilt while trying to move on with things.

The film portrays the devastating consequences of society's pressures and expectations on the depth and authenticity of their friendship. It is a tragic tale of how the world can take away someone's innocence at a vulnerable age when he lacks the psychological and emotional tools to understand its impact. This is a beautiful, intelligent and sensitive film, superbly acted, especially by the young actor playing Leo.

 

[DallasFanForever]

AIR (2023)

It’s very seldom I leave the movie theatre and am left speechless. As an avid sports fan, I have to say that this may very well be the best sports movie I’ve ever seen. The story of how a struggling shoe company called NIKE put it all on the line and all in the hands of an 18 year old rookie named Michael Jordan is quite intriguing. It’s an inspiring film, with terrific acting and some well placed, but not overdone, humor. This movie made me a little emotional I have to admit. If you grew up in the 80s like I did it’s a nice walk down nostalgia lane.

@Angela Channing I have a feeling you will be seeing this movie soon? I patiently await your review.

 

[Angela Channing]

AIR (2023)

It’s very seldom I leave the movie theatre and am left speechless. As an avid sports fan, I have to say that this may very well be the best sports movie I’ve ever seen. The story of how a struggling shoe company called NIKE put it all on the line and all in the hands of an 18 year old rookie named Michael Jordan is quite intriguing. It’s an inspiring film, with terrific acting and some well placed, but not overdone, humor. This movie made me a little emotional I have to admit. If you grew up in the 80s like I did it’s a nice walk down nostalgia lane.

@Angela Channing I have a feeling you will be seeing this movie soon? I patiently await your review.

Yes, this film has been on my radar to watch for a while now and I'm looking forward too seeing it even more now after reading your positive comments about it.

 

[Seaviewer]

Easter Parade (1948)
My annual viewing. Still notice the odd new detail. For instance, Astaire's and Miller's characters each have a servant/assistant from the get-go - a young African-American woman and an Asian man respectively. It finally registered with me that Garland's character gets one, too, once she becomes successful - an older white woman. Read into that what you will.

 

[Angela Channing]

Inside (2023)

This film has a very simple premise. Willem Defoe plays an art thief who breaks into an apartment to steal a valuable painting when the automatic security kicks in a traps him inside the area. He has to make use of the contents of the accommodation to survive and to try an escape. The film reminded me a bit of the films Cast Away (2000) with Tom Hanks and All Is Lost (2013) with Robert Redford in that the whole film is about how one character to survive his environment and deal with the boredom of being alone for a long period. Like those films, Willem Defoe is the only actor who appears in it to any significant extent. Sadly, the story and the jeopardy (both almost not existent) isn't strong enough to sustain the film for its 1 hour 45 mins running time.

 

[Seaviewer]

Astaire's and Miller's characters each have a servant/assistant from the get-go - a young African-American woman and an Asian man respectively.

Of course, I got that backward. It was right in my head but somehow got reversed in the typing.