Film The Redcafe Movie review thread

Went to the movies to rewatch Whiplash. First time I've ever done that, it's just so awesome, especially the ending, cinema at its best.

My best picture favourites based on what I've seen:

Whiplash
Birdman
Boyhood
Grand Budapest Hotel
American Sniper (pretty crap)
 
Watched Foxcatcher and really enjoyed it. Psychological horror disguised as sporting drama. Loved the camera work and palette, they accentuated the unhinged story and the emotionally detached characters. The acting was excellent and even the slightly hammy moments worked well within the heightened atmospheric framework.

It doesn't have the flash of a Whiplash or Birdman but it felt like a much more solid film overall.
 
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The Hunger Games , Mocking jay.

It was OK , nothing special.
I was expecting more from this but it never came hopefully all the action is in the next part.

5/10

Women in Black 2.

Dreadful film, the scary bit just not scary and a terrible ending setting up a 3rd film

2/10
 
The Babadook:

Very good horror film. The isolation, sleep deprivation and sheer helplessness of the Mother and Son made the film. Also the idea of grief and what it can do to a person/family.

I got caught up in the idea that she was possibly going mad with lack of sleep. I was thinking "is she/isn't she possessed with the Babadook or is she going mental" I thought it was quite good.

The ending was a bit freaky too, which potentially leaves it open for a sequel.

The scary kids book was a nice idea and I hope it gets released as part of a nice blu ray edition or something.

Good film despite being a horror film.
 
I didn't think Boyhood was realistic enough - 7/10

Missing the part where he discovers porn at 14 and spends a few hours a day staring at tits
 
Fish Tank - I liked it, sort of an English Dardenne flick, but with a more lush style rather than shaky shaky camera, which I liked it. It didn't delve into much but it was a nice ride.
 
Interstellar, great film but my god doesn't it drag in places with little stories setting up nothing.
 
FC Ronaldo said:
Interstellar, great film but my god doesn't it drag in places with little stories setting up nothing.
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I watched this last night. It certainly provided food for thought, but I agree with you about the 'little stories'. First impression was that the movie was a bit overlong and overstuffed. In the philosophical space epic category, my recollection is that 2001 was cleaner, clearer and better.

But I'll have to break my normal rule and watch the film again to see if it holds together on second viewing.

I don't know where to find the spoiler function, but the following should be in spoilers:

Maybe I missed something - with all the mumbling and the loud soundtrack, it's quiet possible - but I didn't understand the final resolution. How does building enough anti-gravity transporters to carry the Earth's population into space (quite a task for an economy on its last legs) save them from starvation? What did they eat in space?
 
Watched Grand Budapest Hotel last night. I was skeptical going into it as I had a feeling it would be a type of film I wouldn't really enjoy. Turns out it was completely different to what I was expecting. Had no idea it was humorous. Enjoyed it a lot more than Birdman.

Such a beautiful film too. Ralph Fiennes is fantastic in it. Absolutely hilarious. Had no idea the cast it had in it too! Ed Norton, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, William Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Owen Wilson etc. Genuinely thought it was just a small film that did very, very well. Clearly I knew absolutely nothing about the film going in to it :lol:

Definitely recommend. I'd give it a 8/10.

Now I've watched most of the Oscar Nominations for Best Picture, this is my order:

Whiplash
Grand Budapdest Hotel
Birdman
Imitation Game
Theory of Everything
American Sniper

Yet to see Selma and Boyhood. My prediction is that Selma will come after Birdman, and Boyhood will contest Birdman for third place. We shall see.
 
Will Absolute said:
I watched this last night. It certainly provided food for thought, but I agree with you about the 'little stories'. First impression was that the movie was a bit overlong and overstuffed. In the philosophical space epic category, my recollection is that 2001 was cleaner, clearer and better.

But I'll have to break my normal rule and watch the film again to see if it holds together on second viewing.

I don't know where to find the spoiler function, but the following should be in spoilers:

Maybe I missed something - with all the mumbling and the loud soundtrack, it's quiet possible - but I didn't understand the final resolution. How does building enough anti-gravity transporters to carry the Earth's population into space (quite a task for an economy on its last legs) save them from starvation? What did they eat in space?
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The Blight made it impossible to grow the crops on earth. I assume they were able to grow them in the space station
 
Berbaclass said:
The Blight made it impossible to grow the crops on earth. I assume they were able to grow them in the space station
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Probably that was the idea. No point in arguing the pure bug-eyed absurdity of all that, I suppose. It's only a movie after all.

Edit: re my first post - quiet possible :eek::o

Repeat one thousand times, QUITE.
 
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I've eventually watched Gone Girl. Been toying over whether it's good or bad since I watched it last night. There's a good story there, but it's mangled by poor execution and weary pacing.

Rosamund Pike's character just comes across like a parody with no real personality and her sultry? narration is forced. The couple have the charisma of a pair of plant pots.

Vaguely gripping but I felt quite let down given I'd been meaning to watch it for months.
 
Woman In Black 2: Angel Of Death
Despite the poor reviews, I quite enjoyed the first one with Daniel Radcliffe and critic reviews said this is way better so I was quite hyped for this. But after watching it, I was VERY disappointed. The film, whilst clocking in at just over 90 mins felt twice that length, it was paced completely wrong. Nothing scary at all happens and the few bits that tried to make the viewer jump were all in the trailer. It was also lit horribly, it was so dark that at times, the screen was just black. The characters might as well have been cardboard cutouts. Awful film 2/10

The Loft
I saw the original of this a while back but couldn't remember it well so this felt like a new film to me. It's about 5 friends (including Wentworth Miller, Karl Urban and James Marsden) who buy a loft so they can engage in boning women without having to deal with credit card statements and such that their wives may find. One day, there is a dead girl handcuffed to the bed and the five friends must figure out which one of them was responsible as only they have the key. I quite enjoyed this as there were many twists and turns and was acted quite well. The story is told mainly through flashbacks and more flashbacks within flashbacks but this all keeps you at the edge of your seat. Only problem was that the characters were all such bellends that you want them all to get caught but regardless, it was a bit of mindless fun and I was hooked 7/10
 
Dirty Schwein said:
The Loft
I saw the original of this a while back but couldn't remember it well so this felt like a new film to me. It's about 5 friends (including Wentworth Miller, Karl Urban and James Marsden) who buy a loft so they can engage in boning women without having to deal with credit card statements and such that their wives may find. One day, there is a dead girl handcuffed to the bed and the five friends must figure out which one of them was responsible as only they have the key. I quite enjoyed this as there were many twists and turns and was acted quite well. The story is told mainly through flashbacks and more flashbacks within flashbacks but this all keeps you at the edge of your seat. Only problem was that the characters were all such bellends that you want them all to get caught but regardless, it was a bit of mindless fun and I was hooked 7/10
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Sounds like a good idea for a movie. Fairly original as well. Lots of tension in that setup.
 
Dirty Schwein said:
The Loft
I saw the original of this a while back but couldn't remember it well so this felt like a new film to me. It's about 5 friends (including Wentworth Miller, Karl Urban and James Marsden) who buy a loft so they can engage in boning women without having to deal with credit card statements and such that their wives may find. One day, there is a dead girl handcuffed to the bed and the five friends must figure out which one of them was responsible as only they have the key. I quite enjoyed this as there were many twists and turns and was acted quite well. The story is told mainly through flashbacks and more flashbacks within flashbacks but this all keeps you at the edge of your seat. Only problem was that the characters were all such bellends that you want them all to get caught but regardless, it was a bit of mindless fun and I was hooked 7/10
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I honestly don't know why it needed an american remake. Also the whole premise is kind of flawed; "Guys, aren't you tired of all the hotel bills and other stuff that shows up on our credit cards when we cheat on them? I have the solution, let's buy a loft!"
Yeah, because luckily that isn't going to show up on any bills....

Still, decent film. But way too similar to the original.
 
Dirty Schwein said:
The Loft
I saw the original of this a while back but couldn't remember it well so this felt like a new film to me. It's about 5 friends (including Wentworth Miller, Karl Urban and James Marsden) who buy a loft so they can engage in boning women without having to deal with credit card statements and such that their wives may find. One day, there is a dead girl handcuffed to the bed and the five friends must figure out which one of them was responsible as only they have the key. I quite enjoyed this as there were many twists and turns and was acted quite well. The story is told mainly through flashbacks and more flashbacks within flashbacks but this all keeps you at the edge of your seat. Only problem was that the characters were all such bellends that you want them all to get caught but regardless, it was a bit of mindless fun and I was hooked 7/10
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Oh quite enjoyed that. I always enjoy crime/thrillers like that (that is the genre right?). Good twists in that.
 
Dirty Schwein said:
Woman In Black 2: Angel Of Death
Despite the poor reviews, I quite enjoyed the first one with Daniel Radcliffe and critic reviews said this is way better so I was quite hyped for this. But after watching it, I was VERY disappointed. The film, whilst clocking in at just over 90 mins felt twice that length, it was paced completely wrong. Nothing scary at all happens and the few bits that tried to make the viewer jump were all in the trailer. It was also lit horribly, it was so dark that at times, the screen was just black. The characters might as well have been cardboard cutouts. Awful film 2/10

The Loft
I saw the original of this a while back but couldn't remember it well so this felt like a new film to me. It's about 5 friends (including Wentworth Miller, Karl Urban and James Marsden) who buy a loft so they can engage in boning women without having to deal with credit card statements and such that their wives may find. One day, there is a dead girl handcuffed to the bed and the five friends must figure out which one of them was responsible as only they have the key. I quite enjoyed this as there were many twists and turns and was acted quite well. The story is told mainly through flashbacks and more flashbacks within flashbacks but this all keeps you at the edge of your seat. Only problem was that the characters were all such bellends that you want them all to get caught but regardless, it was a bit of mindless fun and I was hooked 7/10
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completely agree about Women in Black, it should of been so much better.

The Loft is another sat on HDD , will be watching it at weekend .
 
Just home from seeing Whiplash.

I thought it was excellent. Really tense at times and while I was expecting a good film, I wasn't sure how engaging a film about drumming could really be. Turns out, very engaging. There is one scene around the middle that's a little over the top but it doesn't detract from what is a brilliant film. I thought Teller and Simmons were great and I really enjoyed the ending. 9/10
 
Kind Hearts And Coronets:

Disowned by his Noble family, an ambitious/vengeful man decides to attempt to murder his way to becoming a Duke. Alec Guinness plays multiple members of the aforementioned family in a manner which would make Eddie Murphy proud.

The way the story unfolds is brilliantly done, although I found myself guessing what would happen towards the end. It didn't really matter though, as it was enjoyable to watch it all play out.

Anybody who likes old classic films should definitely watch this.
 
Inherent Vice - Paul Thomas Anderson (2014)

First trip to the ol' cinema in yonks and I walked out on this one. Thought it was absolute crap. Uninspired actors performing uninteresting dialogues in insipid scenes. I actually knew I´d hate this, seeing as I loathe Thomas Pynchon and his obsessive geek take on pop culture and drugs and sex that always rings extremely false, but I didn´t think I´d dislike this so much. Anderson seems to dwell on the worst of Pynchon´s writing and vision and everyone in the movie knows it and appear to be going through the motions. It just got worse and worse. Having lived in L.A. in the 70s, I will say it captured the feel of it, but that´s the only redeeming thing for me. Hated everything else about it. Boo!!!

3 cocks up
 
Whiplash

Good film but a bit overrated imo. All the characters in it are dicks which didn't help it's cause. Good performances but nothing spectacular or Oscar worthy I thought. Certainly not better than birdman but good nonetheless. 7/10
 
Pogue Mahone said:
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Really really good. Nerve-jangling, lean and mean. Proper old school thriller, with a brilliant central performance from Jack O'Connell. The boy's a star. Highly recommended.
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Give it a score out of 10 so I can qualify how highly you recommend it.
 
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