3,583 posts
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Post by showgirl on Nov 25, 2024 4:22:57 GMT
Anora: saw this on a rather hectic Saturday - 3 bookings in succession, q close together & central London was of course even more ghastly than usual on a wet weekend day in the run-up to Xmas - so if nothing else I'd have enjoyed the chance to sit down & do nothing for nearly 3 hours. I admit to going from curiosity as I hadn't initially planned to see it & when I did change my mind, I missed an earlier booking due to train trouble, but sometimes a film which isn't an obvious "yes" or "no" can be more rewarding than those of which you have high hopes. And it was really interesting - & laugh out loud hilarious in several scenes - though as with most long films, it didn't need to be anything like as long as it was & the rather downbeat ending was dragged out unnecessarily. It was however refreshing to see a more realistic retelling of Cinderella with a plausible denouement.
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Post by lt on Nov 27, 2024 11:25:31 GMT
Small Things Like These - a beautifully nuanced film starring Cillian Murphy playing a coal merchant, Bill Furlong, living in Ireland in 1985 who becomes suspicious about the mistreatment of women held in the local Magdalene laundry (the infamous workhouses run by nuns). Bill Furlong is a man of few words, but Murphy manages to brilliantly convey his inner struggles and emotions.
The film very effectively portrays the claustrophobic nature of a community, where everyone knows everyone else's business and as one character reminds Bill where the nuns have influence and power in every part of the town.
Although this is very much Murphy's film, all the rest of the cast are excellent too, including Eileen Walsh, who plays his wife, and Emily Watson, who appears as a particularly chilling Mother Superior. In some very moving flashbacks, Louis Kirwan plays the young Bill.
Highly recommend.
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2,065 posts
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Post by Marwood on Nov 28, 2024 20:47:29 GMT
Went to a Thanksgiving screening of Planes, Trains and Automobiles a the Prince Charles Cinema tonight: the last few minutes might overdo it with the saccharine (although that last shot of John Candy, although it was shot a few years before his death, now comes across as a lovely tribute), but otherwise it’s one of the best comedies of the last 40 years, the two leads giving a comedy master class.
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Post by lt on Nov 28, 2024 21:55:35 GMT
Went to a Thanksgiving screening of Planes, Trains and Automobiles a the Prince Charles Cinema tonight: the last few minutes may not overdo it with the saccharine (although that last shot of John Candy, although it was shot a few years before his death, now comes across as a lovely tribute), but otherwise it’s one of the best comedies of the last 40 years, the two leads giving a comedy master class. Love this film! Agree the last minutes not the strongest and rather saccharine, but the rest of the movie still makes me laugh out loud. |
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Post by amyja89 on Nov 29, 2024 18:01:54 GMT
Moana 2 - ** 1/2
Ooof, BIG direct to dvd sequel energy going on here.
It actually looks way worse than the first, and honestly the less said about the music the better. Couple of quite beautiful bits towards the end, but a huge fall from grace in my opinion.
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Post by SilverFox on Nov 29, 2024 18:55:48 GMT
Moana 2 - ** 1/2 Ooof, BIG direct to dvd sequel energy going on here. It actually looks way worse than the first, and honestly the less said about the music the better. Couple of quite beautiful bits towards the end, but a huge fall from grace in my opinion. The trailer we saw this week looked awful - if that was meant to entice into the cinema, it failed bigtime! |
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Post by xanady on Nov 30, 2024 20:16:22 GMT
Conclave-The death of the Pope is followed by political machinations and delicious twists and turns as contenders to become the Holy Father are voted for in the Conclave.
Sounds dreadfully tedious but is instead very tense and dramatic.Refereeing this contest falls to the initially reluctant Fiennes.He brings incredible gravitas and quiet dignity to his portrayal.This is a very special piece of top quality acting.Surrounded by an A list group of powerhouse actors such as Tucci and Lithgow,this is undoubtedly my fave movie of the year.Exceptional imo.
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Post by lt on Dec 1, 2024 12:50:18 GMT
September 5 - thoughtful and gripping drama that doesn't waste a minute, retelling the appalling tragedy of the Israeli athletes murdered by terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Told from the newsroom's perspective - in fact the ABC sports team - with great set design, it brilliantly evocates the era and incorporates the actual ABC archive of the time.
This was the first time a terrorist act was followed live on TV and the film explores the ethical issues this raises and whether live coverage in these circumstances is even a commendable end.
Great acting from all the cast, another highly recommended film.
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8,180 posts
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Post by alece10 on Dec 1, 2024 18:40:53 GMT
Joy on Netflix. Not sure if it's classed as a film or drama. Very good. A story I didn't know about and really well acted.
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648 posts
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Post by jek on Dec 2, 2024 13:35:24 GMT
I very much enjoyed Conclave, which isn't really surprising as I am extremely interested in Vatican politics. It certainly deserves recognition for its sound design - all those clunking doors and footsteps along corridors. I would have liked some more Isabella Rossellini - but then I would always like more Isabella Rossellini!
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7,225 posts
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Post by Jon on Dec 2, 2024 13:45:03 GMT
I very much enjoyed Conclave, which isn't really surprising as I am extremely interested in Vatican politics. It certainly deserves recognition for its sound design - all those clunking doors and footsteps along corridors. I would have liked some more Isabella Rossellini - but then I would always like more Isabella Rossellini! The imagery was stunning, I'm not into Vatican politics but I don't think I'll be able to look at the next Pope election in the same way ever again. |
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Post by lt on Dec 2, 2024 14:07:44 GMT
I very much enjoyed Conclave, which isn't really surprising as I am extremely interested in Vatican politics. It certainly deserves recognition for its sound design - all those clunking doors and footsteps along corridors. I would have liked some more Isabella Rossellini - but then I would always like more Isabella Rossellini! The imagery was stunning, I'm not into Vatican politics but I don't think I'll be able to look at the next Pope election in the same way ever again. Definitely a film I am looking forward to seeing. |
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Post by amyja89 on Dec 2, 2024 16:35:36 GMT
I echo the general thoughts on Conclave. A lot of fun, more dark humour dotted throughout than I expected which really elevated it.
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Post by theatregoer22 on Dec 2, 2024 23:38:33 GMT
Gladiator II - I much prefer dialogue over fighting, so I was never going to give this 5*, but it was even more tedious than I'd expected. Plus, the Roman Emperors looked like something out of a Carry On Film.
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Post by marob on Dec 3, 2024 1:20:22 GMT
I also saw Gladiator II today. I’ve never seen the original (it’s *only* been out 24 years…), but I remember it being quite a big deal back then. This sequel was enjoyable enough, but felt merely like a decent Hollywood blockbuster, not something more serious. Apart from the monkeys the effects looked seamless.
It was the first time I went to a Dolby Cinema. Think the picture was slightly better than usual, but the sound… I don’t know. It wasn’t like surround sound, it just seemed really loud. Even the trailer for Bridget Jones, of all things, had so much loud rumbling that you could feel the seat/floor shake.
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Post by amyja89 on Dec 3, 2024 12:08:33 GMT
I also saw Gladiator II today. I’ve never seen the original (it’s *only* been out 24 years…), but I remember it being quite a big deal back then. This sequel was enjoyable enough, but felt merely like a decent Hollywood blockbuster, not something more serious. Apart from the monkeys the effects looked seamless. It was the first time I went to a Dolby Cinema. Think the picture was slightly better than usual, but the sound… I don’t know. It wasn’t like surround sound, it just seemed really loud. Even the trailer for Bridget Jones, of all things, had so much loud rumbling that you could feel the seat/floor shake. Honestly! Perhaps I'm not as versed in the animal kingdom as I should be, but that monkey looked totally alien! |
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