What was the last film you watched?

[Crimson]

Run Hide Fight (2021)

Sometimes I wonder who the audience is for these obscure programmers that are destined to disappear into oblivion. Now I know the answer.

It's you.

And honestly not a shot. I admire your willingness to give just about any movie a watch. I've become impossibly persnickety about films, with an entire mental checklist to determine if I think I might like it. And even then I usually decide it's not worth the effort.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I admire your willingness to give just about any movie a watch. I've become impossibly persnickety about films, with an entire mental checklist to determine if I think I might like it. And even then I usually decide it's not worth the effort.

I've become less discriminating in the streaming age. When I had to buy or rent a film I was far more selective. Now I feel there's less to lose. Also, as someone who relies on structure, sometimes it's quite liberating to watch a film knowing nothing about it.

Occasionally it yields gold, and I suppose those times and the hope that a film might give me a surprisingly rich experience mitigates any sense of having completely wasted precious time.


But, yes. My bar is very low. Basically, if Ryan Gosling is not in it, I'll give it a go.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Basically, if Ryan Gosling is not in it, I'll give it a go.

Ryan Gosling, Ryan Gosling....which Ryan is that?

 

[Willie Oleson]

Game Night (2018)



Jason Bateman is typecast as the passive-aggressive guy (Max) who has to put up with all the stupidity in the world. He knows how to play this role and he also does it very well in Game Night.
Rachel McAdams plays his breezy but oh-so-resourceful wife (Annie) and together they belong to a group of friends who like to spend their leisure time playing games (the physical ones, not computer games).
When Max's cocky ne'er-do-well brother Brooks returns from a long trip - or something like that - things start to spiral out of control pretty fast and then, well, it never stops. That's all I'm going to say about the plot.
I'm not a big Kyle Chandler fan but at least that makes his role suitable enough for me.

The story is full of surprises, funny failures and funny victories. There are things in it that look familiar (when it happens) but that's not exactly the same as being predictable (before it happens).
There are quite a few references to real-life celebrities and maybe some events but that's de rigueur in modern comedies.
Game Night is literally crammed with jokes and naturally not every joke will have the same effect on everybody.
Luckily, you don't have time to think about a "meh" moment and it's usually followed by a better one.

Unlike Netflix's Murder Mystery, Game Night never feels like throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks.
Actually I kinda enjoyed the first Murder Mystery movie but the sequel is atrocious.
Anyway, what I was going to say is that it looks as if the makers of Game Night had a very clear vision of the concept, humour and characters in their film. It's about hilarious stupidity but the film itself isn't.
Some moments even qualify as Comedy Gold e.g. the slow-moving box on the conveyer belt or the "how to remove a bullet" instruction on a racist website.
Considering the movement of the story it also made me think of the bitchy Rat Race remake from 2001.
It rarely happens that a mainstream comedy entertains me from start to finish, and speaking of finish don't forget to watch the fabulous end credits sequence.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Basically, if Ryan Gosling is not in it, I'll give it a go.

Ya don't like The Goz?

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Ya don't like The Goz?

It's difficult to say. I've only seen him in one film, and that was nineteen years ago, so I may feel differently today. Back then I disliked that particular performance enough to actively avoid his films since then.

He seems to have aged well, though, and is probably a very nice chap.

Ryan Gosling, Ryan Gosling....which Ryan is that?

The one who's not Ryan Reynolds.

I think.

Game Night (2018)

Oh - you liked it more than I did.

Smug, entitled, middle-aged Americans act like the smart-talking sassy teenagers from Scream for no reason other than, apparently, because.

But I did concede:

Although it doesn't sound like it, there was something strangely watchable about it.

 

[Willie Oleson]

It's difficult to say. I've only seen him in one film, and that was nineteen years ago, so I may feel differently today. Back then I disliked that particular performance enough to actively avoid his films since then.

I've only seen him in Barbie and he was the best part of that movie.

Oh - you liked it more than I did.

Interestingly, Game Night was directed by the writers of Horrible Bosses which you liked more than I did.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Interestingly, Game Night was directed by the writers of Horrible Bosses which you liked more than I did.

Oh, I hadn't realised that. I think I watched Game Night some three or four years before I saw Horrible Bosses. Perhaps I'd have appreciated it more if I'd watched it after.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I'm not saying it's a masterpiece but the story develops non-stop and I was never prepared for the next thing, or the next joke for that matter.
Perhaps my expectations were not very high although I consider the 2010s a good decade for films.
As for the 2020s I feel my interest is waning with each passing year. Everything's called "Oscar bait" now and I'm not going to be part of that crowd.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Entertaining Mr Sloane (1970)



A rewatch, the first time I liked it and now I love it. I don't know how it compares to the original stage play but online comments suggest that the film has played up the friviolous tone at the expense of the darker material in this story.
It's true that some of the unsettling character backgrounds are only mentioned in passing but that doesn't mean it's irrelevant. If anything, it adds to the eccentric and surreal quality of the film.
There's the father peeping Tomming his daughter's sexual escapades, and the vengeful gay brother who has prevented his sister from raising her own son (no details are given so it's not clear what level of darkness we're dealing with).

The only thing I'd love to change is the dead of Dadda. If Sloane isn't responsible but still the most obvious suspect then the blackmail would look nastier and would also serve as a karmic retribution for the murder he did commit before the story begins.

Character-wise they're almost as grotesque as the characters in John Waters fiction, but this is also a very very British film and therefore a sense of pseudo-middle class must prevail. The effect of the comedy is that most of what's being said must be interpreted as the complete opposite.
I don't know if Sloane was meant to tie in with the atrocious sex farce genre that happened in seventies Europe (definitely not to be confused with the better quality Billy Wilder plays) but I can easily interpret it as a knowing and intelligent parody on that genre.
At the end of the day, what you have here is four actors acting the hell out of their roles supported by terrific dialogue to sink their teeth into.
Especially Beryl Reid's part - "Blanche Deveraux" on steroids - is endlessly quotable.
But as I said, the finale lacks a bit of momentum. The outcome itself actually precedes the bisexual arrangement in Sunday Bloody Sunday that was released the next year.

 

[Willie Oleson]

First Blood (1982)



The Rambo character is literally created, right in front of our very noses, from of the actions and incorrect perception of the antagonists.
The most hateable villian is not the creepy serial killer or the tycoon with a diabolic master plan, it's the powerful bully.
Even if you're not interested in the Rambo character - and to be honest, he doesn't give much reason to - then you'd still want to revel in the gruesome comeuppance of these redneck violators who are supposed to protect people.

Looking at Stallone's perfect eighties blow-dry, the story's depiction of "dirty" drifter made me chuckle, not to mention the idea that a knife is considered more dangerous and illegal than a gun. To be fair, it's a really big knife. Definitely not for Boy Scouts activities.
I know it's cliché and uncool to say "they don't make 'em like that anymore" but look at the cinematography in this film, a film that doesn't even aim to be a cinematic gem. Apparently, it was the normal thing to do at that time. And a good reason to be in the cinema.
Everything is clear to see in lush widescreen, no hysterical editing with fast-changing close-ups.

In some way it feels more like an unintentional blockbuster spectacle, which has a lot to do with how the situation spirals out of control.
The destruction of Sheriff Teasle's precious boring town is the most satisfying part in this film, a counter-attack on a society who didn't want to be reminded of that war, conveniently "forgetting" that most of the recruits never signed up for that kind of horror and suffering in the first place.
Stallone, not exactly know for his Shakespearean comedic talent (becaus he doesn't have it or because he never showed it) is convincing throughout the whole film and that includes the emotional finale - which could have gone so very wrong, but thankfully it didn't.
When the end credits started to roll I was suddenly overwhelmed by sadness, not because of the story but because of the knowledge that it's going to be sequeled.
They had a good thing here, why couldn't they just leave it alone and let it forever be "that great film from 1982", a film that shows how much can be accomplished with a simple, straightforward story.
I imagine that First Blood Part II (as if it's literally the next chapter in exactly the same story) is the Rambo equivalent of Aliens: more glistening muscles and bigger guns. Either way, I have no intention to find out.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Scarface (1983)



There is nothing special about the rise and fall of drug lords, criminal activities have a habit to backfire - if it's not the law then it's because of other criminals.
Luckily it doesn't always take a great or novel story to make a great film, and the Scarface team proves it with this absolute powerhouse of a gangster giallo, an assault on the senses in the most entertaining way possible.
The eye-popping set of Tony Montana's mansion is worth the admission alone, it kinda looks like a pornish replica of the Vatican.

Tony Montana is a bad-tempered sociopath and you could sarcastically ask yourself "what could possibly go wrong?", but this time I was intrigued by his racist resentment of white capitalism and the hypocrisy that goes with it, while simultaneously kicking against the Cuban communist system.
It comes across as a war within himself, a battle that cannot be won even if he takes everything away from the WASP whores (to use one of his many infamous quotes).
Tony doesn't have a serious plan, he just wants to move forwards and upwards with an unstoppable force only to imprison himself in an empire that needs to be protected from the dangerous ambitions of other Tony Montanas.
The paranoia (though not entirely unjustified) needs to be snorted away, the coke increases his aggressive behaviour which alienates the few people who care about him, the lack of support that proves that nobody can be trusted etc etc.

The most Palma-esque cinematography can be seen in the club shootout, it's quite similar to the prom massacre in Carrie.
There's the thing with the lights and mirrors, the teasing, the unease about the expected-unexpected, the explosive violence, people running and screaming.
Yes, he sure knows how to wank his audience.
Speaking of which, the theme of incest (even if it's only implied) never fails to outrage entertainingly. It's that one fascinating taboo that always adds a sordid but also gothic vibe to a story.

The magnificent finale is the icing on the cake and it's always great knowing that it's coming. The combination of violence and colours conjures up images of Dante's Inferno and there's even a quasi-supernatural moment when Tony takes the bullets laughing and screaming. This, also, kinda harks back to Margaret White's crucifixion, arms spread just like Tony before he plunges into the decorative pond.
Michelle Pfeiffer adds a new layer to the description of "ice queen" and her bitchy scenes with husband Tony are quite humorous.
I wonder what it's like to watch this film in a theatre filled with diehard Scarface fans.

 

[Seaviewer]

Suicide Squad (2016)
I'm not familiar with most of these characters, mainly just Harley and Joker, and since they are a pack of villains, it's hard to know who I should care about. Batman plays a small part.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Casino Royale (2006)



In hindsight, the film poster is a dead giveway. The loose bow tie, the actor who would have played the strong and hateable henchman in the classic Bond era is now our 007: this film wants to be called a reboot and story-wise that's what it is.
I still think that Dalton's Bond was the most significant revamp especially because it happened somewhere in the middle of the series, only for Brosnan's Bond to return to the more familiar character.

Casino Royale opens with an action-packed chase scene which shows that NuBond is equally yet differently fantastical.
Whereas many of the classic Bond stunts looked a bit laughable because it was impossible to buy into that physical strength and balance, Craig's Bond actually seems to have that kind of super-power as we watch him and his target effortlessly jumping up to/down from buildings and high construction equipment. "Shades of Spider-Man" seems to be a legitimate observation here.

Daniel Craig has his most Bondy scene during his briefing with Vesper Lynd played by the enigmatic and always entertaining Eva Green. She's sort of the new Charlotte Rampling.
This scene sizzles and crackles from start to finish and is possibly one of the best interactions between Bond and his Girls.
Mads Mikkelsen is perfectly cast as the scarfaced Eurotrash villain even though he refrains from grandstanding moments.
The big pokergame part is a funny one. I kinda assumed that he wanted Le Chiffre to win so he could lead Bond to the terrorists who benefited from Le Chiffre's creative banking skills.
Surprisingly, James is genuinely upset that he lost the game courtesy of Le Chiffre's nervous "tic" which looked like an obvious trap to me.
I had expected James to read between the lines and surprise us, the audience, not himself.
Naturally this only served the purpose of the vengeful rematch which unfolds in a predictable but nevertheless exciting way.

The last-minute twist takes us to the breathtaking grand finale with amazing set pieces, with a minor critical note that it plays out with previously unknown villains.
The only significant Bond gadget is a self-reanimation device and there's no traditional henchman/woman. Well, there's the bomber for hire, maybe that qualifies.
It's a well-written and well-executed film, and despite its two and half hours running time there isn't a single moment in it that makes it sag or drag.
On the other hand, Casino Royale often looks more Mission:Impossible than James Bond, and this makes the ranking a bit tricky.

Incidentally, this was my last rewatch. Apart from the first 15 minutes of Quantum Of Solace everything post-Casino Royale is new to me.
Since I know what's going to happen in No Time To Die (it's impossible not to know) I'm feeling quite hesitant about watching it.

I continued with Quantum Of Solace (2008) and it took me only two minutes to figure out why I hadn't seen more than those first 15 minutes.
This time I finished it for the sake of completism and that's the only and also the very last thing I'm going to say about this film.
Roll on, Skyfall.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Skyfall (2012)



Definitely a big step up from the previous one, but not as much fun as Casino Royale.
While Daniel Craig's Bond was established as a reboot from the beginning, Skyfall is the first film that actually looks like a prequel/origin story.
It's just that I'm not a fan of tampering with a fictional character's origins that never needed to be known in the first place.
I feel the same when Doctor Who focuses too much on the Gallifrey stuff. He's an alien who travels in a police telephone box and that's all I need to know.
This probing into a character's background (and this goes for both James Bond and "M") also has the tendency to become overly dramatic and that kinda sucks the fun out of it.
Luckily it's not all that bad in Skyfall but it does pave the way for a more extreme version like No Time To Die.
I've decided not to watch that film and Spectre will be my last one until James Bond returns with a new face.
Sean Connery made the on-screen James Bond iconic and I won't allow Daniel Craig to destroy him.
How very "Annie Wilkes" of me.

The theme of questioning MI6' relevance in modern-day national security is interesting, and M comes up with a satisfying answer.
But there's an underlying meta-theme of questioning Bond's relevance in modern-day cinema and I find it a bit cynical and depressing.
It's almost like saying "the series hasn't aged well" or "that kind of fun is not acceptable anymore".
NuQ - now played by the obligatory skinny nerd - even jokes about exploding pens being outdated (the one that killed Fatima Blush, but you probably don't remember that you stupid skinny nerd). But at least there's a joke on top of it when Bond is armed with an intentionally unimaginative little radio signal transmitter that is going to save the day.
NuBond is a prequel and a sequel and a remake so I guess that requires a bit of self-awareness to get the film and the audience on the same wavelength.

The main plot is actually a remake of GoldenEye: a 00villain who has an axe to grind with the institution that made him.
Sean Bean's villain character wanted to destroy the entire UK but it's the same idea, really.
Javier Bardem plays it both camp and understated, like a soft-spoken The Joker. I honestly couldn't picture him as a Secret Service agent and I've seen too much of that computer hocus-pocus in other films, but he was good when it mattered.
That gay moment certainly didn't go unnoticed.
I had never made the connection between "M" and "Mother" and her first name is Emma (M.A.). Very funny.
So, while I was watching this back-to-the-moors story (the Skyfall in the title) I found myself becoming increasingly annoyed with the glaring oversight of Ms. Moneypenny. Why is she not introduced in this Bond reboot saga?
And that was the biggest surprise in this film, they didn't forget it. I saw it coming only split-second before it happened and it kinda feels as if it happened just because I wished her into existence.
And this means that Sean Connery didn't remember that Moneypenny was black, that she almost killed him and that he had slept with her.

Roll on, Spectre. Is it about Blofeld? Oh my god.