Hi all,
As per I'm a bit all over the place, so decided on another quick set of film reviews. Seems easiest doing it in batches of 3!
So the previous lot you can read here, Rudderless is one I still regularly talk about!
The point of these are more to bring awareness to semi recent films that you might not have heard of or seen.
The Hunt, 2012
This is a Danish film, that was nominated for an Oscar as best foreign language film. Directed by Thomas Vinterberg, who has just done the Far From the Madding Crowd remake (and has close links to high profile director Lars Von Trier). It stars Mads Mikkelsen of 'Hannibal' fame for those who are watching the current TV show. He plays a nursery/kindergarten teacher who is trying to fight for custody of his son, when his life is turned upside down after a false accusation is made against him.
It's great in a fairly slow build up on someone just living a very normal life that quickly goes downhill from something fairly innocuous. A great watch but you should be in the right mind to deal with this drama
Available on Netlix - Subtitles - Drama
Frank, 2014
Sometimes, once in a while, a truly weird film will pop up out the blue led by one of the current actors that we love to watch. This one, 'led' you could say, by Michael Fassbender is about a young budding musician (Domhnall Gleeson, yes son to the very well known father) who joins a weird alternative music group led by Frank, a man who always has on a mask of sorts. He's very mysterious and enigmatic, and the group work towards recording an album and end up going to the SXSW music festival. I can't say much more without giving plot points away, but if you're up for something different on a black comedy, bit of a drama, with a great cast (Maggie Gyllanhal as well) then give it a watch.
Available on Netlix - Black comedy/Drama
The Kings of Summer, 2013
I'll be up front, this film isn't really targeted to my age group. It's a teen coming of age comedy (with a small side of classsic teenage drama). It's great though and I am not ashamed to say I enjoyed it. About 3 kids who decide to live in the forest over Summer, and overcome a series of challenges along the way. It sort of reminded me very low key about 'My Girl' (far more relevant to my age group!). I think this is one to watch when you fancy something light hearted or enjoy those sort of teen comedy films. One of the 3 of the kids is really weird and is very funny at what he does, plus he dances like a top playa. Well worth a go for a hungover Sunday afternoon!
Was showing on Film4 - Comedy/coming of age
Sunday, 24 May 2015
Sunday, 12 April 2015
A quick film review
Hi all, been a little while.
Not really had any inspiration to write, and whilst I know I normally just verbally spew a load of nonsense I like to try and at least have some aim when I usually post.
Anyway, it's come back to me a little bit based on what I've spent some of my spare time doing which if you follow me on Twitter you probably know already, watch TV.
Now for most that equates to 'time wasted', which whilst I can understand, I don't agree with. I appreciate some people love being active and out and about, and on a nice sunny day I totally agree. However in a midweek evening, it's not so important to me (keeps me away from the pub!), same goes for those terrible rainy days.
Anyway, I've mentioned before about my TV show viewing, which hasn't let up, Netflix has been rinsed. I've toned it down a bit but would say if you can check out Banshee, it's a very unknown show but doubtful for very long, it's excellent.
Further to this I've gotten back into watching films. I've always watched movies and consider myself a minor 'movie buff' of sorts, but the TV shows took up way too much of my time. However recently I spent some time finding some of the lesser known films to watch which are available on UK Netflix. Also I was partly inspired to write a little something on a couple, because of some of the SHIT I see other people watching. Awful films being the main culprit, things people seem to keep watching when nothing else is on. Like at least try and educate yourself a bit sometimes. Maybe. Please. Just do it.
So below are 3 very good films I've watched lately which I thought I would recommend for you:
Rudderless, 2014
This was written originally back in 2008, and then went through a couple of re-writes before it got its director, well known to all William H Macy (US Shameless, Fargo, a billion other films!). It's a sort of musical drama with a bit of a light hearted side to it, which whilst normally doesn't need to be said, the film is largely centered on the aftermath of a school shooting. Which immediately makes you think depressing and horrible to watch, but it's handled so well, with how a father impacted deals with the situation by finding some of his sons music he was putting together, and playing them as his own.
The cast is fantastic, Billy Crudup (Watchmen, Public Enemies) playing the dad, with Anton Yelchin (Star Trek, Terminator Salvation) being a very likable guy who encourages the dad to play the music. There's a few other ones you'll recognize including Laurence Fishburne as a music store owner.
Something else to watch out for is the soundtrack. From the snippets offered throughout, to the songs played at the bar, to the final quite poignant song played offering some closure to everything, it's fantastic. And quite moving at times. I'd advise if you enjoy what you hear throughout, make sure to go back and properly give the tracks a listen.
Overall I can't recommend this enough. Some might find it a bit corny, and some may be put off by the premise, but I found it great, and I'm not one for depressing films (Though I have watched the whole depression trilogy, which was as you can imagine.... anyway I digress). Give it a go if you find yourself browsing Netflix with a couple of hours to kill, you won't be disappointed
Get Low, 2009
This film is hard to catagorize, but I suppose is kind of a dramatic comedy, of sorts. How can it not be when it has Bill Murray as a supporting actor. But the real star of the show is Robert Duvall who many thought would get an Oscar nod for his performance but for whatever reason it never came about. (Jeff Bridges won that year for Crazy Heart, but Duvall probably outdid Clooney on Up In The Air, I'd say)
It's basically about a hermit the local town is fairly scared of, due to knowing nothing about him, wanting to throw himself a funeral party.... whilst still being alive. It's a film that sort of spends a lot of time not really going anywhere but has some fantastic character interaction that leaves you both smiling and wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding said hermit.
It's on UK Netflix, it's a quirky film that you may find a little slow, but if that's what you enjoy then absolutely give this a watch - it was probably only just off the Oscars radar in all fairness.
Chef, 2014
Finally onto my last recommendation, which is pretty much a feel good family comedy-drama film. Directed, written, produced and starring Jon Favreau (Iron Man films, Swingers). Basically about a well regarded Chef sort of starting up from the bottom, again, and how he gets back into enjoying cooking and being proud in what he serves.
I've made it sound ridiculous, but it's not! It's really good, it's very feel good with a great supporting cast you'll recognize from all over the place. It's probably a good hangover pick me up film perhaps, but watch it when you've already eaten as it'll have you fiending for more food!
So there you go, my recommendation on 3 films on Netflix that you should give a go when you're next wondering what to watch. If you do, give me a shout what you thought about it. If I feel like I've not just given people TERRIBLE advise then I'll try and do some more when I come across some other decent films
Cheers
Not really had any inspiration to write, and whilst I know I normally just verbally spew a load of nonsense I like to try and at least have some aim when I usually post.
Anyway, it's come back to me a little bit based on what I've spent some of my spare time doing which if you follow me on Twitter you probably know already, watch TV.
Now for most that equates to 'time wasted', which whilst I can understand, I don't agree with. I appreciate some people love being active and out and about, and on a nice sunny day I totally agree. However in a midweek evening, it's not so important to me (keeps me away from the pub!), same goes for those terrible rainy days.
Anyway, I've mentioned before about my TV show viewing, which hasn't let up, Netflix has been rinsed. I've toned it down a bit but would say if you can check out Banshee, it's a very unknown show but doubtful for very long, it's excellent.
Further to this I've gotten back into watching films. I've always watched movies and consider myself a minor 'movie buff' of sorts, but the TV shows took up way too much of my time. However recently I spent some time finding some of the lesser known films to watch which are available on UK Netflix. Also I was partly inspired to write a little something on a couple, because of some of the SHIT I see other people watching. Awful films being the main culprit, things people seem to keep watching when nothing else is on. Like at least try and educate yourself a bit sometimes. Maybe. Please. Just do it.
So below are 3 very good films I've watched lately which I thought I would recommend for you:
Rudderless, 2014
This was written originally back in 2008, and then went through a couple of re-writes before it got its director, well known to all William H Macy (US Shameless, Fargo, a billion other films!). It's a sort of musical drama with a bit of a light hearted side to it, which whilst normally doesn't need to be said, the film is largely centered on the aftermath of a school shooting. Which immediately makes you think depressing and horrible to watch, but it's handled so well, with how a father impacted deals with the situation by finding some of his sons music he was putting together, and playing them as his own.
The cast is fantastic, Billy Crudup (Watchmen, Public Enemies) playing the dad, with Anton Yelchin (Star Trek, Terminator Salvation) being a very likable guy who encourages the dad to play the music. There's a few other ones you'll recognize including Laurence Fishburne as a music store owner.
Something else to watch out for is the soundtrack. From the snippets offered throughout, to the songs played at the bar, to the final quite poignant song played offering some closure to everything, it's fantastic. And quite moving at times. I'd advise if you enjoy what you hear throughout, make sure to go back and properly give the tracks a listen.
Overall I can't recommend this enough. Some might find it a bit corny, and some may be put off by the premise, but I found it great, and I'm not one for depressing films (Though I have watched the whole depression trilogy, which was as you can imagine.... anyway I digress). Give it a go if you find yourself browsing Netflix with a couple of hours to kill, you won't be disappointed
Get Low, 2009
This film is hard to catagorize, but I suppose is kind of a dramatic comedy, of sorts. How can it not be when it has Bill Murray as a supporting actor. But the real star of the show is Robert Duvall who many thought would get an Oscar nod for his performance but for whatever reason it never came about. (Jeff Bridges won that year for Crazy Heart, but Duvall probably outdid Clooney on Up In The Air, I'd say)
It's basically about a hermit the local town is fairly scared of, due to knowing nothing about him, wanting to throw himself a funeral party.... whilst still being alive. It's a film that sort of spends a lot of time not really going anywhere but has some fantastic character interaction that leaves you both smiling and wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding said hermit.
It's on UK Netflix, it's a quirky film that you may find a little slow, but if that's what you enjoy then absolutely give this a watch - it was probably only just off the Oscars radar in all fairness.
Chef, 2014
Finally onto my last recommendation, which is pretty much a feel good family comedy-drama film. Directed, written, produced and starring Jon Favreau (Iron Man films, Swingers). Basically about a well regarded Chef sort of starting up from the bottom, again, and how he gets back into enjoying cooking and being proud in what he serves.
I've made it sound ridiculous, but it's not! It's really good, it's very feel good with a great supporting cast you'll recognize from all over the place. It's probably a good hangover pick me up film perhaps, but watch it when you've already eaten as it'll have you fiending for more food!
So there you go, my recommendation on 3 films on Netflix that you should give a go when you're next wondering what to watch. If you do, give me a shout what you thought about it. If I feel like I've not just given people TERRIBLE advise then I'll try and do some more when I come across some other decent films
Cheers
Friday, 2 January 2015
Happy 2015, and then not quite so happy, but kind of happy
Happy 2015 everyone! Not written a thing for far too long, in fact 2014 was rubbish for me writing and is something I'll try and rectify. I find I only write about things I have a vested interest in or thoughts on I can't summarize in a tweet - which is few and far between. In fact I've been winging it since my first two posts which were the only reason I bothered with a blog!
Anyway, getting right back into the swing of things I thought I'd do a write up of a couple of films I've seen recently that somewhat resonated with me, for good or bad - and they are by the interesting and to an extent, extreme Director Lars von Trier.
His most recent releases were the controversial Nymphomaniac, which is so long it's split into two parts. It stars well known stars such as Shia LaBeouf, Willem Dafoe, Jamie Bell, Christian Slater and Uma Thurman. As the title suggests, it is largely based on sex, and the story of a woman's life as she battles with what can be a hugely destructive situation. It's made well, and is quite direct with its messages, but it's pretty bleak, slow moving and ultimately downbeat. This should not surprise you as this is part of von Trier's 'Depression Trilogy' with the previous films, Melancholy and Antichrist.
Melancholy I also watched very recently staring Kirsten Dunst who is utterly brilliant, Keifer Sutherland and Alexander Skarsgard. And true to form whilst the story is totally different to Nymphomaniac they share many of the same themes. If you can handle films that deals with these themes of loneliness, depression, self hate, and bleakness, then I recommend the watch.
It's curious how films resonate with people, and can cause lasting impressions and what people take away from it. Superhero films can be empowering, love films influence happy endings in real life and endless optimism, whilst many of us can look back on a variety of films from our past and associate it with fond memories.
Well this trilogy did the same with me, which I'm not sure was even the intention - Lars, a known sufferer of depression, obviously found these films as a way to express his feelings and perhaps elements of his past (metaphorically I would envisage), which at the same time making films that encapsulate a wider audience and I suppose for them to ultimately, enjoy. We've all seen films that are bleak, violent, scary, or just horrible and found them to be great, it's strange - well in my mind anyway!
Going back to what I was bumbling on about, these films were interesting to an extent, I played Spider Solitaire throughout whilst watching (4 suits, get at me), which would indicate a lack of interest but I find I always do that to keep my mind moving. Which probably makes me mental. But let's save that for another time.
However what I found most interesting was that after of each of the films I was still thinking fairly intensely about them and what they meant to me. I said how things resonate with different people, I think a love film will impact a man in love with a woman, and to encourage them to keep their spark alive (not suggesting it's dying, just you know, reinvigorate it) more so than that same man who would watch it when single. I know it probably seems obvious, but what I'm trying to outline is situations impact us more than we probably realise. Well this is my 'love film' when in a non existent relationship!
I don't like fully laying it all bare, as it's a bit self pitying and attention seeking (in my eyes, it's part of my many failings), yet still surely even a blog post is in the same vein - ah the endless cycle and ends in self doubt! However some of you have read a couple of my other posts so know that depression isn't an alien concept to me, to say the least (I like to think I cope much better now). Well the same can be applied to loneliness (and let's not discount that the two are not mutually exclusive), and these films certainly made me consider that more than usual. I watch alot of films, I love films, I've seen good and bad, happy and sad, optimistic and end of the world films - yet none have triggered these considerations before. Which therefore makes me feel that these films are far more powerful than I thought whilst watching, even as I write this I'm still thinking of them and the themes, which I think is a good sign.
As usual, if you're still reading and stuck with me, then thank you, but you'll notice the chaos of this post and it's lack of actual direction - as I didn't have an agenda, except that I guess it's to say if you get a chance and feel you could handle it, watch these films. Watch more films that might impact you more than you would normally push yourself, find those films that you can relate to, try to do at least 1 that you might flick over in Netflix normally without a second thought, but go back and give it a go. Try and unsettle yourself and see what it does, you could be surprised with the results.
Will try and write something more driven and specific next time!
Anyway, getting right back into the swing of things I thought I'd do a write up of a couple of films I've seen recently that somewhat resonated with me, for good or bad - and they are by the interesting and to an extent, extreme Director Lars von Trier.
His most recent releases were the controversial Nymphomaniac, which is so long it's split into two parts. It stars well known stars such as Shia LaBeouf, Willem Dafoe, Jamie Bell, Christian Slater and Uma Thurman. As the title suggests, it is largely based on sex, and the story of a woman's life as she battles with what can be a hugely destructive situation. It's made well, and is quite direct with its messages, but it's pretty bleak, slow moving and ultimately downbeat. This should not surprise you as this is part of von Trier's 'Depression Trilogy' with the previous films, Melancholy and Antichrist.
Melancholy I also watched very recently staring Kirsten Dunst who is utterly brilliant, Keifer Sutherland and Alexander Skarsgard. And true to form whilst the story is totally different to Nymphomaniac they share many of the same themes. If you can handle films that deals with these themes of loneliness, depression, self hate, and bleakness, then I recommend the watch.
It's curious how films resonate with people, and can cause lasting impressions and what people take away from it. Superhero films can be empowering, love films influence happy endings in real life and endless optimism, whilst many of us can look back on a variety of films from our past and associate it with fond memories.
Well this trilogy did the same with me, which I'm not sure was even the intention - Lars, a known sufferer of depression, obviously found these films as a way to express his feelings and perhaps elements of his past (metaphorically I would envisage), which at the same time making films that encapsulate a wider audience and I suppose for them to ultimately, enjoy. We've all seen films that are bleak, violent, scary, or just horrible and found them to be great, it's strange - well in my mind anyway!
Going back to what I was bumbling on about, these films were interesting to an extent, I played Spider Solitaire throughout whilst watching (4 suits, get at me), which would indicate a lack of interest but I find I always do that to keep my mind moving. Which probably makes me mental. But let's save that for another time.
However what I found most interesting was that after of each of the films I was still thinking fairly intensely about them and what they meant to me. I said how things resonate with different people, I think a love film will impact a man in love with a woman, and to encourage them to keep their spark alive (not suggesting it's dying, just you know, reinvigorate it) more so than that same man who would watch it when single. I know it probably seems obvious, but what I'm trying to outline is situations impact us more than we probably realise. Well this is my 'love film' when in a non existent relationship!
I don't like fully laying it all bare, as it's a bit self pitying and attention seeking (in my eyes, it's part of my many failings), yet still surely even a blog post is in the same vein - ah the endless cycle and ends in self doubt! However some of you have read a couple of my other posts so know that depression isn't an alien concept to me, to say the least (I like to think I cope much better now). Well the same can be applied to loneliness (and let's not discount that the two are not mutually exclusive), and these films certainly made me consider that more than usual. I watch alot of films, I love films, I've seen good and bad, happy and sad, optimistic and end of the world films - yet none have triggered these considerations before. Which therefore makes me feel that these films are far more powerful than I thought whilst watching, even as I write this I'm still thinking of them and the themes, which I think is a good sign.
As usual, if you're still reading and stuck with me, then thank you, but you'll notice the chaos of this post and it's lack of actual direction - as I didn't have an agenda, except that I guess it's to say if you get a chance and feel you could handle it, watch these films. Watch more films that might impact you more than you would normally push yourself, find those films that you can relate to, try to do at least 1 that you might flick over in Netflix normally without a second thought, but go back and give it a go. Try and unsettle yourself and see what it does, you could be surprised with the results.
Will try and write something more driven and specific next time!
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