Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 8568 Location: Heart and mind at Headingley, body anywhere else in the world
January 6th
It still staggers me what Trumps supporters did on the 6th January 2020 when they tried to overturn American democracy by storming the Capitol building. This is a collection of first hand accounts from those within and charged with defending the senators and congresspeople against the racing mob. Some very powerful footage and testimony but I was left wishing that they had gone into more detail about the eventual tracking, capture, charging and imprisoning of the insurgents. But that is perhaps a different documentary.
It still staggers me what Trumps supporters did on the 6th January 2020 when they tried to overturn American democracy by storming the Capitol building. This is a collection of first hand accounts from those within and charged with defending the senators and congresspeople against the racing mob. Some very powerful footage and testimony but I was left wishing that they had gone into more detail about the eventual tracking, capture, charging and imprisoning of the insurgents. But that is perhaps a different documentary.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 8568 Location: Heart and mind at Headingley, body anywhere else in the world
Infinity Pool
I´ve not really watched any films for a couple of weeks and this was a bizarre welcome back from the celluloid gods. Reminded me of one of those trippy arthouse films of the late 80´s and early 90´s but much better acted and with far superior cinematography. There is no denying that it is absolutely bonkers, but beautifully shot and very well acted especially by Alexander Skarsgard and Mia Goth.
It´s very unsettling, very unnerving and very disturbing. Not one for the squeamish but if you can hold your nerve there is something in there, although I´m not sure yet, without further reflection, entirely what.
I´ve not really watched any films for a couple of weeks and this was a bizarre welcome back from the celluloid gods. Reminded me of one of those trippy arthouse films of the late 80´s and early 90´s but much better acted and with far superior cinematography. There is no denying that it is absolutely bonkers, but beautifully shot and very well acted especially by Alexander Skarsgard and Mia Goth.
It´s very unsettling, very unnerving and very disturbing. Not one for the squeamish but if you can hold your nerve there is something in there, although I´m not sure yet, without further reflection, entirely what.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 8568 Location: Heart and mind at Headingley, body anywhere else in the world
Infiesto
Spanish film shot in and around Gijon in Asturias and that is probably the reason I stuck with it as the area is a couple of hours drive away from me. I liked the atmosphere and the mood but it was a run of the mill detective drama with a nod to the excellent ´Se7en´ but with poor dialogue, a mediocre stortline and an ending which you could see coming with plenty of time to spare.
Please watch it in Spanish with English subtitles rather than the dubbed version, if you try the latter you might only last a few minutes as the dialogue is crushingly inadequate.
Spanish film shot in and around Gijon in Asturias and that is probably the reason I stuck with it as the area is a couple of hours drive away from me. I liked the atmosphere and the mood but it was a run of the mill detective drama with a nod to the excellent ´Se7en´ but with poor dialogue, a mediocre stortline and an ending which you could see coming with plenty of time to spare.
Please watch it in Spanish with English subtitles rather than the dubbed version, if you try the latter you might only last a few minutes as the dialogue is crushingly inadequate.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 8568 Location: Heart and mind at Headingley, body anywhere else in the world
I Came By
A strange little low budget British film made for Netflix, been around for a little while but only just got around to watching it.
It´s predominantly a vehicle for Hugh Bonneville and Kelly Macdonald who just about manage to carry off a slightly under-par script and deliver a nice little thriller, despite the conclusion being signposted quite a way from the end.
Centres around a graffiti artist witnessing something disturbing and how his life and those around him unravel. Worth a look, not a disaster.
A strange little low budget British film made for Netflix, been around for a little while but only just got around to watching it.
It´s predominantly a vehicle for Hugh Bonneville and Kelly Macdonald who just about manage to carry off a slightly under-par script and deliver a nice little thriller, despite the conclusion being signposted quite a way from the end.
Centres around a graffiti artist witnessing something disturbing and how his life and those around him unravel. Worth a look, not a disaster.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 8568 Location: Heart and mind at Headingley, body anywhere else in the world
Lou
More low budget Netflix fare with a thriller starring the very capable Allison Janney who battles against the elements, a plot full of holes and a script which could have spent more time with the editors. Formulaic, run of the mill, with plenty of precipitation.
Fed up on life Lou gets called into action to rescue kidnapped girl as budget Rambo meets poor man´s Taken. Passes the time but not going to get anyone too excited.
More low budget Netflix fare with a thriller starring the very capable Allison Janney who battles against the elements, a plot full of holes and a script which could have spent more time with the editors. Formulaic, run of the mill, with plenty of precipitation.
Fed up on life Lou gets called into action to rescue kidnapped girl as budget Rambo meets poor man´s Taken. Passes the time but not going to get anyone too excited.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 8568 Location: Heart and mind at Headingley, body anywhere else in the world
Road to Perdition (2002)
There was a gangster size hole in my Tom Hanks list of films seen so I dusted this one off for a first ever view some twenty years after it was Oscar recognised.
It´s aged very well and is a stunning film. Hanks is brooding, moody, cold, and calculating in the lead role and carries the film along brilliantly. Yes it´s a gangster film, but it is about a lot more than gangsterism, it´s about the changing relationship between a son and his father.
if you´ve not seen it, find the time to give it a go.
There was a gangster size hole in my Tom Hanks list of films seen so I dusted this one off for a first ever view some twenty years after it was Oscar recognised.
It´s aged very well and is a stunning film. Hanks is brooding, moody, cold, and calculating in the lead role and carries the film along brilliantly. Yes it´s a gangster film, but it is about a lot more than gangsterism, it´s about the changing relationship between a son and his father.
if you´ve not seen it, find the time to give it a go.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 8568 Location: Heart and mind at Headingley, body anywhere else in the world
Evelyn
A documentary following a five week walk across various beautiful parts of the UK where three sibling discuss the painful memories of the suicide of their schizophrenic brother thirteen years earlier, an event which none of them have been able to come to terms with or discuss in the intervening years.
It was an attempt to get together with family and friends of their brother, Evelyn, to try and exercise some ghosts and have a cathartic experience. Whilst they reach their objective to some extent they also reveal new demons.
An emotional rollercoaster, perhaps not one to watch if you have suffered a recent loss.
A documentary following a five week walk across various beautiful parts of the UK where three sibling discuss the painful memories of the suicide of their schizophrenic brother thirteen years earlier, an event which none of them have been able to come to terms with or discuss in the intervening years.
It was an attempt to get together with family and friends of their brother, Evelyn, to try and exercise some ghosts and have a cathartic experience. Whilst they reach their objective to some extent they also reveal new demons.
An emotional rollercoaster, perhaps not one to watch if you have suffered a recent loss.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 8568 Location: Heart and mind at Headingley, body anywhere else in the world
Three Day Millionaire
Unusually for me I watched this on its release date on Netflix, and quickly regretted my decision.
It´s a ´caper´about three ´lads´who decide to rob their boss to save the local fishing industry in Grimsby. The cast is decent but the dialogue and plot are dreadful. Good actors can´t improve a script.
It has a shouty quality that makes you think it was probably initially a stage play and even liberal old me found the over the top swearing a bit too much (I can´t think of any film I´ve ever said that about before).
I stuck with it in the hope that it might get better and closer to some of the 10 ratings that I´d seen on IMDB but it didn´t, it just petered out in a very unsatisfactory way.
Quite dreadful with barely a redeeming quality. I suspect if you are an ex-fisherman from Grimsby it may have passing interest for the location and subject matter, but for the rest of us it´s not worth the effort.
Unusually for me I watched this on its release date on Netflix, and quickly regretted my decision.
It´s a ´caper´about three ´lads´who decide to rob their boss to save the local fishing industry in Grimsby. The cast is decent but the dialogue and plot are dreadful. Good actors can´t improve a script.
It has a shouty quality that makes you think it was probably initially a stage play and even liberal old me found the over the top swearing a bit too much (I can´t think of any film I´ve ever said that about before).
I stuck with it in the hope that it might get better and closer to some of the 10 ratings that I´d seen on IMDB but it didn´t, it just petered out in a very unsatisfactory way.
Quite dreadful with barely a redeeming quality. I suspect if you are an ex-fisherman from Grimsby it may have passing interest for the location and subject matter, but for the rest of us it´s not worth the effort.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 8568 Location: Heart and mind at Headingley, body anywhere else in the world
The Whale
Films don´t get any tougher to watch than this Oscar nominated triumph from Darren Aronofsky starring Brendan Fraser in the lead role and with a cast of just six, all of whom are exemplary, and a single filming location.
Based around the last days of a morbidly obese man trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter it has garnered criticism for the use of a ´fat suit´by the lead actor. But push the controversy aside and sit down for a masterclass in acting with every participant at the very top of their game. It won´t win best actor or best supporting actor as there are better other nominees but it does deserve special mention.
Films don´t get any tougher to watch than this Oscar nominated triumph from Darren Aronofsky starring Brendan Fraser in the lead role and with a cast of just six, all of whom are exemplary, and a single filming location.
Based around the last days of a morbidly obese man trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter it has garnered criticism for the use of a ´fat suit´by the lead actor. But push the controversy aside and sit down for a masterclass in acting with every participant at the very top of their game. It won´t win best actor or best supporting actor as there are better other nominees but it does deserve special mention.
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