No way Bill! Crank 2 is amazing! True... it loses any sense of restraint that the first film had, and is barely even a choerant film itself... but it's so fecking bat-shit mental, that it's hilariously entertaining.
Film The Redcafe Movie review thread
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
I thought it went too over the top and became a poor parody of itself. Glad you enjoyed it, but it wasn't for me!
Crank 2 suffers due to its own indiscriminate idiocy. Probably tries too hard, something the first didn't do. That said, it's fecking mental, and insane fun in bits.
Anyone seen Gangster squad? Seems to be getting mixed reviews. Wouldn't mind seeing that.
Yep... if you leave your brain at the door, and don't take anything seriously, it's quite a bit of fun.
If however, you've watched L.A Confidential in the recent past, I would probably avoid...
If however, you've watched L.A Confidential in the recent past, I would probably avoid...
But is it meant to be a comedy or is it a serious film?
Neither, it's just an action film that isn't taking itself too seriously. At least I don't think it is. I've read some reviews criticising it because it they think it's trying to be serious and it fails at doing so (and to be fair, there are a few emotional beats littered throughout the film that might suggest that it is, but I don't think they're enough... I mean, this is by the guy that did Zombieland afterall).
Ah right. Intriguing, I'll probably try to catch it when it's released over here. Pretty good cast as well.
Two reviews on the previous page, both gave it 5/10. It's banal.
Anyone seen Killer Joe? Worth watching?
Yeah it's been reviewed a few times in this thread, do a quick research. I loved it (my favourite film of 2012), but if I recall correctly quite a few didn't like it.
I'd see give it a watch, it's worth seeing whether you like it or not.
I'd see give it a watch, it's worth seeing whether you like it or not.
Wow, I fecking hated that.
Saw The Impossible today http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1649419/
about the 2004 Tsunami. Graphic realisation of the carnage that took off a Thai island.
definitely worth watching, especially for the performance from 10 year old Tom Holland, from real survivors from the tragedy who help add reality to the to movie and of course the cinematic documentation of the human and geographic carnage a tsunami leaves behind.
Film threatened greatness on many occasions but sadly just fails to deliver (including the name).
7/10
about the 2004 Tsunami. Graphic realisation of the carnage that took off a Thai island.
definitely worth watching, especially for the performance from 10 year old Tom Holland, from real survivors from the tragedy who help add reality to the to movie and of course the cinematic documentation of the human and geographic carnage a tsunami leaves behind.
Film threatened greatness on many occasions but sadly just fails to deliver (including the name).
7/10
Right after thinking about Killer Joe some more and why I hated it (mainly the ending), Emile Hirsch was surely badly cast.
He's got a pretty gimpy, innocent way about him which subconsciously must have stopped me viewing him as a bad guy, so when the ending comes I really fecking hated it due to the other characters being so detestable. The ending was just unnecessarily graphic and extreme IMO. But if Hirsch has been played by a more dislikeable or obviously scummy character I might not have minded as much.
Up to that point I thought it was okay, but always assumed Hirsch would stop or get retribution on Joe, who is an utter cnut. Then he finally gets in a position to get back at this fecker.. and the end happens. When his Dad got involved was especially a what the feckkk moment, didn't like it and not sure what the point was.
He's got a pretty gimpy, innocent way about him which subconsciously must have stopped me viewing him as a bad guy, so when the ending comes I really fecking hated it due to the other characters being so detestable. The ending was just unnecessarily graphic and extreme IMO. But if Hirsch has been played by a more dislikeable or obviously scummy character I might not have minded as much.
Up to that point I thought it was okay, but always assumed Hirsch would stop or get retribution on Joe, who is an utter cnut. Then he finally gets in a position to get back at this fecker.. and the end happens. When his Dad got involved was especially a what the feckkk moment, didn't like it and not sure what the point was.
Just watched The Imposter there. Anyone else see it? Thought it was interesting. Not really what I expected, but was good all the same.
Zero Dark Thirty
Just watched this and thoroughly enjoyed it, good insight into how the intelligence agencies work and worked for a decade to get Bin Laden and ultimately how the decision was made once his compound was identified to go in and take him out, references were made to previous bad decisions like the WMD excuse for invading Iraq. I'd give it a solid 7.5
Just watched this and thoroughly enjoyed it, good insight into how the intelligence agencies work and worked for a decade to get Bin Laden and ultimately how the decision was made once his compound was identified to go in and take him out, references were made to previous bad decisions like the WMD excuse for invading Iraq. I'd give it a solid 7.5
Django Unchained - I liked it, but I didn't love it... and I can't really put my finger on why. It might suffer because I watched Inglorious Basterds recently (which is a superior film) but yeah, I wouldn't put it up alongside that, or Dogs, or Fiction in terms of Tarentino's worked
I liked the story for the first 3/4's, but (a bit like IB) I think it got a bit daft for the final stages, Whilst it was interesting and impactful to have Waltz's character go totally against his character and finally lose his cool, I think the movie suffered after that point. He was excellent I thought, as was Di Caprio, who should possibly have seen an Oscar nomination for that. It also could definitely have benefited from being trimmed by about 20/30 minutes, as it's quite a long film with a few scenes that really are just excess. Still, it's a good movie overall.
Silver Linings Playbook - Good. I really enjoyed it. I generally like romantic dramas/comedy films that try to do something different, or try give a new approach, and this, for the most part did that.
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are both brilliant in their roles (suprisingly so with the later I must say) and I can certainly see why they both bagged Oscar Nom's for their parts. The whole cast is pretty good actually, though especially De Niro, who was really great as Cooper's dad... it's the best he's been for years I would say.
Anyway, good characters, set against a good backdrop, and whilst the ending goes down the cliche route, it doesn't ruin what I thought was a very good film. I wouldn't be suprised if these takes quite a few Oscar Gongs, as it seems like the type of film that might pick up a lot of votes.
I liked the story for the first 3/4's, but (a bit like IB) I think it got a bit daft for the final stages, Whilst it was interesting and impactful to have Waltz's character go totally against his character and finally lose his cool, I think the movie suffered after that point. He was excellent I thought, as was Di Caprio, who should possibly have seen an Oscar nomination for that. It also could definitely have benefited from being trimmed by about 20/30 minutes, as it's quite a long film with a few scenes that really are just excess. Still, it's a good movie overall.
Silver Linings Playbook - Good. I really enjoyed it. I generally like romantic dramas/comedy films that try to do something different, or try give a new approach, and this, for the most part did that.
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are both brilliant in their roles (suprisingly so with the later I must say) and I can certainly see why they both bagged Oscar Nom's for their parts. The whole cast is pretty good actually, though especially De Niro, who was really great as Cooper's dad... it's the best he's been for years I would say.
Anyway, good characters, set against a good backdrop, and whilst the ending goes down the cliche route, it doesn't ruin what I thought was a very good film. I wouldn't be suprised if these takes quite a few Oscar Gongs, as it seems like the type of film that might pick up a lot of votes.
I thought it was the Crash of depression movies. It started really well, albeit seemingly attributing mental illness to specific recent traumatic incidents, which isn't how it works really, but then by about an hour in, they'd just forgot these characters were supposed to be bi-polar, and they were just being a bit sulky before curing their depression through dance and love.
Bradley Cooper was indeed very good though. But it seemed to have been written by someone with a cereal packet knowledge of depression. I'm amazed it's gotten so much good will. But I'm probably being picky tbf, I'm no expert on mental health by any means, but the end was top class mush.
Bradley Cooper was indeed very good though. But it seemed to have been written by someone with a cereal packet knowledge of depression. I'm amazed it's gotten so much good will. But I'm probably being picky tbf, I'm no expert on mental health by any means, but the end was top class mush.
Was forced to watch Le Misarables last night. Not sure what to make of it. I've never watched a musical before and them singing all the lines was fecking strange to say the least. It grew on me though, and the story been less shit and the characters less rubbish, it might have worked.
I'm not going to give it a rating simply because the characters were awful and the entire story stupid, but it also made me open to the idea of watching a less shit musical.
I'm not going to give it a rating simply because the characters were awful and the entire story stupid, but it also made me open to the idea of watching a less shit musical.
What jingoism? I thought it was fairly honest about the political situation.
Midnight in Paris
Mildly funny, charming and light hearted, but with enough insight to make you think a bit. Very enjoyable film, perfect for a night in with a significant other.
8.5/10
Mildly funny, charming and light hearted, but with enough insight to make you think a bit. Very enjoyable film, perfect for a night in with a significant other.
8.5/10
I don't know nearly enough about the subject matter for it to bother me on that level, which is probably incredibly naive of me, but yeah, I can see why you'd have problems with it if it took liberties on that front. If you give me a good character with a good performance behind it (played by an actor I quite like) then I will generally have a good time with it... which is what happened here with Cooper and De Niro I think...
I don't think it "cheated" as much as Crash though, I only saw that film once, but I seem to remember it used a lot of story shortcuts and cinema tricks in order to get emotional responses (the Car/Shooting incidents come directly to mind)... and I don't know if SLP was guilty of that. You're certainly right on the ending though, but as I said, it didn't bother me enough to ruin the movie for me.
It's certainly not the best film of last year or anything, and I am a little suprised by the sheer amount of love for it, but I can certainly see it getting a lot of Oscar momentum... mainly because, like Crash, it's a bit "different" and "not your typical Oscar movie" (do they ever go for Romance films?).
In general I think they did fine with the mental health aspect. They absolutely nailed the OCD of De Niro, who gave the standout performance IMO. The depression of Lawrence was handled well enough, without ever really coming to the fore.
I agree Cooper's was a bit strange, but I know absolutely nothing about bipolarism so could accept it as an accurate-ish depiction. He just seemed to be a bit wierd and socially awkward at times, then others depressed and at others he had real anger issues. It was slightly all over the place compared to the other two but that could be the realities of being bipolar.
I agree Cooper's was a bit strange, but I know absolutely nothing about bipolarism so could accept it as an accurate-ish depiction. He just seemed to be a bit wierd and socially awkward at times, then others depressed and at others he had real anger issues. It was slightly all over the place compared to the other two but that could be the realities of being bipolar.
I don't really know all that much either, and certainly aren't claiming to, but my impression of Cooper was that that "all over the place" aspect was the bit that was probably closest. It was certainly the most interesting part of the movie, and I thought he was great...until he just forgot he was depressed, started acting all suarve and seemed to be completely cured by falling in love and dancing. If the second half of that film hadn't been preceeded by the first, it could've been literally ANY Hollywood Romcom.
As I said, I'm probably being picky, but I felt it was a bit cheap in that respect.
As I said, I'm probably being picky, but I felt it was a bit cheap in that respect.
O. Russell's son is bipolar, so one would assume he knows what he's doing.
Yeah, pretty honest except for the whole rewriting history for "entertainment purposes" that just happened to solely glorify America and give us a cringeworthy cheese fest.
The Man Who Sleeps - Pretty hard hitting stuff if you are a disillusioned 20 something student. An expertly photographed character study of an alienated young man in Paris, using a second person narrative to describe his inner emotional and philosophical turmoil. It had a sort of Chris Marker/Hiroshima Mon Amour vibe to it, a hard but worthwhile watch.
I'm not sure if we were watching the same film. Were you expecting a documentary when you went to see a Hollywood film directed by Ben Affleck?
Despite it dealing with mental illness quite badly it still worked surprisingly well and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Go figure? And the end was rom-com mush but you don't really expect much else. That I could forgive it for it's various failings surprised me TBH but I did enjoy it.
The Cabin in the Woods was good fun.
I thought it worked well as a light hearted deconstruction of the horror genre. It has a good mix of silly and astute observational gags: it skewers the inbuilt determinism of genre cinema, all the while playing as an inverted Scooby doo cartoon. It also undercuts some of the more pornographic images, with well placed control room frivolity, in a way that I chose to see as a middle finger to torture porn practitioners. Not too sure what the ancient god appeasement plot strand added and a lot of the best stuff was a simple rehash of The Truman Show/Twilight Zone. Still, I thought overall it was good.
just saw Hunger Games...
kinda morbid...but ok I suppose. 7/10.
kinda morbid...but ok I suppose. 7/10.
Mama - 5/10 Typical horror film. I jumped a couple oftimes but the ending was lame.
This is one of those movies where they show the ghost/monster/villain what have you, throughout the movie so by the end, it's not scary anymore.
I didn't hate it, or think it was awful, I'm just a bit confused by all the enormous praise and awards buzz. It's a pretty average, standard romcom with a not entirely uncynical twist. His dad having OCD and being a bit mad himself you say? (again, another great performance, but, sort of, why?) His fellow weird troubled black mate with a serious - but also quite amusing- disorder dropping by alot ey? His stern asian shrink being patriotic at the football game, oh really? And all these people are in THE SAME HOUSE!? No Waaaay!! - AWARDS!! GIVE US AWARDS!!!
Ah well that's a bit disappointing, it had Guillermo del Toro's name attached and a couple of 'big' names (Jessica Chastain and the guy who plays Jaime Lannister in GoT). Might give it a watch anyway if I have a moment.
Got round to finally watching the second installment of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes, 'A game of shadows', thought it was a bit meh. I thought the first one was ok, once you disconnect your brain and accept you're not watching a Sherlock Holmes film but just a blockbuster set in those times where the main character happens to be pretty clever (as far as the Sherlock Holmes 'spirit' goes, it doesn't come near to the BBC series with Cumberbatch and Freeman).
I quite liked the first half hour, and I thought the ending was great, however in the middle it kinda lost my attention, starting from when they arrive in Paris and then when they're in the German gun factory. Seemed a bit overdrawn and didn't quite get what was going on. And I didn't like Noomi Rapace's character, didn't see the point of her. Anyway, it was an ok watch for a Sunday evening when nothing else was on, but I wouldn't especially recommend it.
I fell asleep watching the first Sherlock Holmes, thought it was really tedious.
I actually fell asleep at some point in the middle of it, during an action scene that lasted way too long.
I enjoyed it as a brainless piece of entertainment, even though it was, just like the sequel, too long in parts. I don't feel like defending it especially, it's an unimportant film, but I like Downey Jr. and I thought he was good fun in it.
I enjoyed it as a brainless piece of entertainment, even though it was, just like the sequel, too long in parts. I don't feel like defending it especially, it's an unimportant film, but I like Downey Jr. and I thought he was good fun in it.
I could literally feel my brain cells dying off as I watched it. The TV series is the shit though.
That it is.
I thought the first movie was good. Yet to see the 2nd part though.
The series is on a different level though.
The series is on a different level though.