Film The Redcafe Movie review thread

Massive Spanner said:
A cracking film that I always enjoy rewatching. Also had a great score by Thomas Newman. Funnily enough the last film I went to see in the cinema also before Covid made me way too lazy to go.
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The music didn't strike me that much really. I thought the triumphant (or what's the right word...) to while fleeing Germans in the city in the dark was odd, and the music was good during the final run in (and out of) the trenches was good - but in general I didn't notice it in particular.
 
I finally watched One Million Yen Girl @Sweet Square and thought it was pretty good. I'm a big fan of coming-of-age movies that don't feel too forced. Yu Aoi really plays her role well!

A funny thing though is that I skipped through the ending thinking "oh lord is this what they're doing" only to read a review and realise it's supposed to be tongue-in-cheek.
 
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Fall
Decent concept and tense but feels like they tried to stretch it way too much. Should have been a quick 80 minute movie, would have been far more enjoyable 6.5/10
 
Vidyoyo said:
I finally watched One Million Yen Girl @Sweet Square and thought it was pretty good. I'm a big fan of coming-of-age movies like it that don't feel too forced. Yu Aoi really plays her role well!

A funny thing though is that I skipped through the ending thinking "oh lord is this what they're doing" only to read a review and realise it's supposed to be tongue-in-cheek.
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Nice! Yeah it’s a really solid work. What I like most about the film is that it’s clearly directed by a woman(pretty sure Yuki Tanada also did the screenplay). The ending is a good example of if it was done by most male directors it would have had a more “traditional” romantic ending.

Also agree with you on Yu Aoi performance as she gives the character far more depth than in most coming-of-age movies.
 
The Ride (2018)

True story of a young boy brought up in an abusive family and onto white supremacist gangs before being saved by an interracial couple and on to become a BMX champion.

Seemed a bit TV movie’ish but really enjoyed the bond between the young boy and his black foster/adoptive dad.

Came across it on Freevee and it is a decent 90min watch.

7/10
 
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The White Tiger (2021), based on the 2008 novel of the same name.

India just overtook China as the world’s most populous nation, so this is timely. I read the novel when it first came out. There are many insights into India— especially with regards to the rich-poor divide and the caste system—that I assume are true, although obviously amplified for dramatic effect. It’s classified as a picaresque novel.

The story is about a clever but poor boy from a low caste in a village who ambitiously becomes the driver for a local wealthy industrialist.The boy, Balram, becomes a man and slowly his eyes are opened to the appalling treatment of the underclass, the inanity of the caste system, and the futility of honest hard work. It’s basically a meditation on modern India.

I feel like an act was left out of the movie, that they get to the denouement quickly, so either I’m remembering the novel wrong or they did skip some important material. The film can be enjoyed without having read the book, it might be more of a tough watch because the majority of the opening 20 minutes is in Hindi.The lead actors were great, and the tech credits are top notch. I remember in the novel that I felt Balram was a sort of avenger for the downtrodden, but he comes across in the movie like he turned into the kind of person he hated. (?)

8/10
 
Wing Attack Plan R said:
The White Tiger (2021), based on the 2008 novel of the same name.

India just overtook China as the world’s most populous nation, so this is timely. I read the novel when it first came out. There are many insights into India— especially with regards to the rich-poor divide and the caste system—that I assume are true, although obviously amplified for dramatic effect. It’s classified as a picaresque novel.

The story is about a clever but poor boy from a low caste in a village who ambitiously becomes the driver for a local wealthy industrialist.The boy, Balram, becomes a man and slowly his eyes are opened to the appalling treatment of the underclass, the inanity of the caste system, and the futility of honest hard work. It’s basically a meditation on modern India.

I feel like an act was left out of the movie, that they get to the denouement quickly, so either I’m remembering the novel wrong or they did skip some important material. The film can be enjoyed without having read the book, it might be more of a tough watch because the majority of the opening 20 minutes is in Hindi.The lead actors were great, and the tech credits are top notch. I remember in the novel that I felt Balram was a sort of avenger for the downtrodden, but he comes across in the movie like he turned into the kind of person he hated. (?)

8/10
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Been meaning to watch this for ages but we always end up with something else. I'm gonna use this review against my wife now. Bwahahah...... Yeah, so, expect my review somewhere in 2024.
 
Do Revenge 2022 7/10

Saw this on Netflix. The movies library section has become so crap I had to Google “best movies on Netflix” settled on this as it didn’t seemed too heavy and had a decent IMDB rating.

High school character assassination revenge movie along the lines of Cruel Intentions, with an Easter egg thrown in, but more light weight.
 
bucky said:
Prey, loved everything about it. Very well crafted. I thought it was better than the first and second Predator.
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Was very good. A movie I really wanted to be good because of all the hate it was getting for having a young female Native American. Tbh, I struggled to see how they’d make it work but they did it very well. I still think OG Predator is the best, but this is easily a close second.
 
There was also a much much smaller group counter hating it because all the actors spoke English in broad American accents rather than a more realistic tribal dialect… which tbf, I would have preferred, but I can also see why a large evil American multi-corporation wouldn’t do that.
 
Mockney said:
There was also a much much smaller group counter hating it because all the actors spoke English in broad American accents rather than a more realistic tribal dialect… which tbf, I would have preferred, but I can also see why a large evil American multi-corporation wouldn’t do that.
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Think there’s a version released where they speak in the native language. Don’t know if it’s voice over or how it was done thou.
 
bucky said:
Prey, loved everything about it. Very well crafted. I thought it was better than the first and second Predator.
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I quite enjoyed it and probably the best since P2, but it was also hugely pointless and I wouldn't have cared if I never watched it.
 
Evil Dead: Rise
Filled with gore and blood (so So SO MUCH blood), this was a really fun and bonkers addition to the Evil Dead franchise. I had a great time and it was exactly what I wanted, although I kind of wish they played it less straight and leaned more into the comedy of the original trilogy, especially parts 2&3. Nice that it also didn't over stay it's welcome, clocking in at around 90 minutes 8/10

Rennfield
This was fine. Some nice action scenes and some funny moments. Nic Cage was great as usual. Just felt a bit empty and I was expecting more overall... Especially with the cast involved 6/10
 
A Thousand and One : 8/10. A simple enough movie but what really puts this on the map is the strong acting performances throughout from every character.
 
Prey For The Devil
A nun performs an exorcism whilst training under the Catholic church and has to confront a demon from her past. Apart from the female angle and a couple of good moments, this is as generic as you can get and no idea how this ended up with a cinematic release. Avoid 3/10
 
I somehow missed the fact that they'd made a new Fletch movie starring John Hamm and released it to largely universal acclaim.
 
Bodies, Bodies, Bodies
During a storm, a group of friends play a game similar to Werewolf and start dying one by one. Liked the premise and was genuinely funny in bits but the kills were shit and the film felt a bit empty overall. Needed another layer to make it truly stand out. The ending made me laugh though 5.5/10
 
Rooney in Paris said:
I had no idea it was part of a franchise but it's a charming yet somewhat forgettable film. Jon Hamm oozes charisma, John Slattery and Kyle MacLachlan are great too, and the whole ensemble cast delivers. It's a fun film.
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Good to hear, and yeah, it's a reboot of a fun 80s Chevy Chase vehicle. It's not actually on Paramount+ in the UK for some reason, I may have to take to the high seas.
 
In the Name of the Father. 1993 film about the deliberately wrongful conviction of the so-called Guildford Four for the IRA bombing of two pubs in Guildford. I read afterwards that the film takes several liberties with actual events for purposes of dramatization, but the core of the story remains true and is infuriating. It's also a very powerfully enacted movie, with Daniel Day-Lewis playing the lead character, Pete Postlethwaite his also wrongly convicted father, and Emma Thompson the lawyer who eventually achieves justice for them (15 years late) - although no-one from the justice system ever faced repercussions. 4.5/5
 
Confess, Fletch

Sadly, total crap compared to the magnum opus of the series, the original ‘Fletch.’ Turned it off after twenty minutes having not even smiled once. Someone might like it as a stand alone movie, hard to see why though.
 
Alive (1993)

Uruguayan rugby team's flight crashes high up in the Andes en route to Chile. Think we're all familiar with what follows. Haven't seen this movie since the mid-90s, I wondered if it would hold my interest this time but it’s actually quite gripping and beautifully shot. Totally worth a watch if you’ve not seen it.

Solid 7/10
 
calodo2003 said:
Confess, Fletch

Sadly, total crap compared to the magnum opus of the series, the original ‘Fletch.’ Turned it off after twenty minutes having not even smiled once. Someone might like it as a stand alone movie, hard to see why though.
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It was truly terrible.
 
Cheimoon said:
In the Name of the Father. 1993 film about the deliberately wrongful conviction of the so-called Guildford Four for the IRA bombing of two pubs in Guildford. I read afterwards that the film takes several liberties with actual events for purposes of dramatization, but the core of the story remains true and is infuriating. It's also a very powerfully enacted movie, with Daniel Day-Lewis playing the lead character, Pete Postlethwaite his also wrongly convicted father, and Emma Thompson the lawyer who eventually achieves justice for them (15 years late) - although no-one from the justice system ever faced repercussions. 4.5/5
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A great film about a shameful period in British history.
 
Wibble said:
A great film about a shameful period in British history.
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Watching this just pissed me off so much. I've actually been thinking maybe I should stop doing that - watching films about some past thing that makes my blood boil but is completely behind us and I can't do anything about. What does it achieve? But I'd hate myself for actually 'giving in' like that. (Apart from that I'd miss out on some amazing films.)
 
The Whale

Brendan Fraser clearly put his heart into this role but the writing could hardly be more contrived and Oscar-baity. It's as if Green Book and Birdman had a baby.
 
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Really enjoyed this and my kids loved it. Serviceable story and lots of fan service with enough action to keep the pace moving along well... Not sure what else people were expecting from it... I did find Princess Peach voice a bit off-putting and weird seeing Mario's hands but overall, a really fun film 8/10
 
Oh, yeah that reminds that I saw the new Puss in Boots: The Last Wish film as well. A lot of family fun, with plenty of jokes for adults as well. Well above the average family animation film.
 
Evil Dead: Rise: It was shite. The main actress did a great job carrying the movie but other then that. It was meh, gory and bloody can only do so much. Plot was crap, characters weren’t entertaining or anything. 4/10

12 Angry Men: Watched this for the first time last night. Excellent movie. Very well written. All stuck in one room deciding whether or not is the kid guilty. Seeing 1 man break down each argument and others also working to get to the bottom of every accusation and doing a play-by-play of the scenarios were great. Definetly recommend seeing this if you haven’t yet. It was gripping. 10/10.
 
Cheimoon said:
In the Name of the Father. 1993 film about the deliberately wrongful conviction of the so-called Guildford Four for the IRA bombing of two pubs in Guildford. I read afterwards that the film takes several liberties with actual events for purposes of dramatization, but the core of the story remains true and is infuriating. It's also a very powerfully enacted movie, with Daniel Day-Lewis playing the lead character, Pete Postlethwaite his also wrongly convicted father, and Emma Thompson the lawyer who eventually achieves justice for them (15 years late) - although no-one from the justice system ever faced repercussions. 4.5/5
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Wibble said:
A great film about a shameful period in British history.
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Cheimoon said:
Watching this just pissed me off so much. I've actually been thinking maybe I should stop doing that - watching films about some past thing that makes my blood boil but is completely behind us and I can't do anything about. What does it achieve? But I'd hate myself for actually 'giving in' like that. (Apart from that I'd miss out on some amazing films.)
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There's the crux of the problem right there: these kinds of films demand to be made and seen because the public forgets, and then the horrible things happen again. This movie, like Zero Dark Thirty and a bunch of others, wants it both ways: they want the public to remember these acts and be horrified, but then they don't trust the horrific acts enough to stand on their own, so they make shit up. Kids are not reading history books, so they might see something like ITNOTF or ZDT and come away with not only an inaccurate but also dangerously propagandized version of the true events. To wit: despite how events were portrayed in the film, the CIA torture and extraordinary rendition program did NOT result in any actionable intelligence that led to the killing of Bin Laden. In fact, what we did was inhumane, a war crime, illegal, unAmerican, and anti-constitutional. Which version will be remembered?
 
Wing Attack Plan R said:
There's the crux of the problem right there: these kinds of films demand to be made and seen because the public forgets, and then the horrible things happen again. This movie, like Zero Dark Thirty and a bunch of others, wants it both ways: they want the public to remember these acts and be horrified, but then they don't trust the horrific acts enough to stand on their own, so they make shit up. Kids are not reading history books, so they might see something like ITNOTF or ZDT and come away with not only an inaccurate but also dangerously propagandized version of the true events. To wit: despite how events were portrayed in the film, the CIA torture and extraordinary rendition program did NOT result in any actionable intelligence that led to the killing of Bin Laden. In fact, what we did was inhumane, a war crime, illegal, unAmerican, and anti-constitutional. Which version will be remembered?
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That's always the issue with truly meaningful historical dramas, isn't it! Do you go for a factual representation, and possibly get a fairly boring film (cause life doesn't play out with a neat dramatic arc), or do you dramatize and risk losing key facts? I have to say I get irritated both by boring films and by good films that afterwards turn out to be half-fantasy (I always read up on films afterwards), so I'm not sure. I don't think they should make documentaries instead though: those usually don't have the dramatic impact a film can have, and that dramatic impact is part of what makes the injustice really hit home.
 
We decided that we wanted to watch something really late last night and we did that thing where you flick through Netflix, then other streaming services trying to find something, but nothing stands out. In the end, we decided to take a punt on the next film that we came across that looked vaguely interesting. That film happened to be The Call, a 2020 South Korean thriller by Lee Chung-hyun. Never heard of it, but a quick google search showed that it had favourable results. So, on it went...

Really, really enjoyed it. Love the pacing of the film, really liked the characters and subject material, and it kept us hooked right up until the end. The basic gist of it is that the main character Kim Seo-yeon (played by Park Shin-hye) comes across a telephone that speaks to somebody 20 years in the past, a person who is in distress. The hook is shown very early on, but everything after that is set up and laid out beautifully. Could have easily become dreadful in the wrong hands, but the cast and director do a great job with keeping it fresh and interesting. Jeon Jong-seo, who plays the character stuck in the past steals every single scene she's in. There's one particular sequence that occurs about halfway through, a huge and pivotal scene that is just mesmerising to watch, complete with a banging soundtrack at that particular moment to boot.

Overall, I'd highly recommend taking a chance and going for it. This was the perfect film to watch at that particular time. Love it when you find films like this.
 
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