Doesn't help Ezra Miller is a legitimate creep in rl as it turns out. That kinda makes me not even want to try to watch it.
Film The Redcafe Movie review thread
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The Pope's Exorcist Purely a vehicle for Russell Crowe to be, well, Russell Crowe. Surprisingly few jump scares for a horror film, which was good, but most of the rest you have seen before. Young kid possessed by the devil taken on by a priest - yada yada yada. The American family are bizarrely prop like and disappear totally just before the very end. But if you like this sort of thing it isn't bad. 5/10 (+3 because this is the first film I've watched with my son, wife and dogs, all on the sofa, in many years).
You're not alone, I have zero interest in them as well
The first Dead Pool was the rare exception.
I did enjoyed that film although less so in retrospect once I discovered some of the characters were from the X-Men series.
It's amazing. The editing is elite tier.
Fool's Paradise
Charlie Day made a film with all his mates (except Rob McElhenny), about a terrible Hollywood publicist (Ken Jeong) and a mute (Charlie Day) who is the spit of an actor, who dies, and said mute takes his place. It's sort of like Napoleon Dynamite meets almost any Wes Anderson film, in that it's beautifully shot, has a wonderful cast, great performances, a few guffaws, but nothing really happens. If you're a fan of US comedy film &TV, you'll probably spend most of the film saying "I know him/her from _____". Fun, but nothing more. 6/10
Blackberry
Biopic about the rise and fall of Blackberry. Jay Baruchel and Matthew Johnson play the two tech nerds behind the Blackberry company, and Glenn Howerton plays Jim Balsille who barged his way into the firm as CEO, and is a shady and ruthless dickhead throughout. Baruchel, Johnson and Howerton are all excellent. Howerton's character is truly horrible, and there's a bit of Dennis Reynolds rage now and again. Better than I expected. 6.5/10
Charlie Day made a film with all his mates (except Rob McElhenny), about a terrible Hollywood publicist (Ken Jeong) and a mute (Charlie Day) who is the spit of an actor, who dies, and said mute takes his place. It's sort of like Napoleon Dynamite meets almost any Wes Anderson film, in that it's beautifully shot, has a wonderful cast, great performances, a few guffaws, but nothing really happens. If you're a fan of US comedy film &TV, you'll probably spend most of the film saying "I know him/her from _____". Fun, but nothing more. 6/10
Blackberry
Biopic about the rise and fall of Blackberry. Jay Baruchel and Matthew Johnson play the two tech nerds behind the Blackberry company, and Glenn Howerton plays Jim Balsille who barged his way into the firm as CEO, and is a shady and ruthless dickhead throughout. Baruchel, Johnson and Howerton are all excellent. Howerton's character is truly horrible, and there's a bit of Dennis Reynolds rage now and again. Better than I expected. 6.5/10
So good and so wonderfully misunderstood
James Franco is the 21st century's Daniel Day Lewis.
Aaaaaaaaand Wibble has a stroke
I saw the trailer for Fool's Paradise and thought it looked a bit of a mess, but with some potential. Reading the reviews just now and they are absolutely brutal!
The reviews are a massacre, I really don't get it. It's a pleasant enough watch, a bit silly, a bit weird, but the reviews pegged it as the worst film ever made material. It definitely isn't.
It’s funny reading the negative reviews(Of course audiences hated it at the time)as its the closest we’ve gotten to a modern day Showgirls in how misunderstood it is. Complaints about repeated dialogue as like it wasn’t a deliberate choice, the ambient vibe(Can really see the influence of Mann 2006 Miami Vice)is labelled “bad plotting” and someone like Mark Kermode seemed to think all the nudity was just Korine getting off rather than the director showing how much this nudity lack any eroticism.
James Franco double blows pistols and some critics think they are smarter than the film!?
I love that it isn’t a moral judgmental of the it’s culture depicting or the characters. Instead the film only wants to reflex the culture back on to the screen to the audience in order to create a atmosphere which then raises interesting questions(There’s tons of stuff about race, class, gun culture, masculinity, etc).
Style really is substance with Spring Breakers.
DDL would have really cut off his arm in 127 hours!
Still gutted I never got to get a shoe fixed by him when he took a few years out to be a cobbler. Bet his prices were super competitive.
It’s funny reading the negative reviews(Of course audiences hated it at the time)as its the closest we’ve gotten to a modern day Showgirls in how misunderstood it is. Complaints about repeated dialogue as like it wasn’t a deliberate choice, the ambient vibe(Can really see the influence of Mann 2006 Miami Vice)is labelled “bad plotting” and someone like Mark Kermode seemed to think all the nudity was just Korine getting off rather than the director showing how much this nudity lack any eroticism.
James Franco double blows pistols and some critics think they are smarter than the film!?
I love that it isn’t a moral judgmental of the culture depicting or it’s characters. Instead the film only wants to reflex the culture back on to the screen to the audience in order to create a atmosphere which then raises interesting questions(There’s a tons of stuff about race, class, gun culture, masculinity, etc).
Style really is substance with Spring Breakers.
DDL would have really cut off his arm in 127 hours!
Extraction 2 - Just as enjoyable as the first one. The prison break-out, to prison-brawl, to prison-train scene is absolutely nuts.
Had no idea this was a thing. A man of many talents. Well two……acting and shoe making.
Getting tired of them but i would like to see Marvel Studios give the X-Men a proper movie
The Dinner (2017)......no rating because it was fecking shite.
Cry Macho. A modern cowboy fairytale from 2021 by and with Clint Eastwood. His main character has to go take a teenage boy from his wild mom in Mexico to his rancher dad in the US - although things turn out to be more complicated than that. Either way, their roadtrip basically turns into a feel-good story - which isn't really what I was expecting from the more downcast beginning.
I really enjoyed it. It wasn't well reviewed but I loved the film's slow pace and accompanying style - it just all worked perfectly for what it was trying to do. Uncomplicated and well done. 4/5
I really enjoyed it. It wasn't well reviewed but I loved the film's slow pace and accompanying style - it just all worked perfectly for what it was trying to do. Uncomplicated and well done. 4/5
Yeah, I've lost interest since being unimpressed by the last Dr. Strange and Thor movies. Haven't watched the ensuing ones. X-Men would likely draw me back in. Looking forward to Loki season 2, too.
Living (2022), with Bill Nighy.
Is there anyone, anywhere, who doesn't like Bill Nighy? I would not trust that person.
This movie takes the Kurasawa classic "Ikiru", itself inspired by The Death of Ivan Illyich, and transports its story to England. It starts out as almost a parody of the English-people-being-English trope - but the writing and dialogue is excellent and what could have been tumescent instead becomes captivating. It has an understated, beguiling, gentle charm. The Rowan Tree scene will leave you in pieces, but if you haven't seen the movie, see this scene in context and don't look it up on Youtube. Great supporting cast. The film hit the sweet spot on duration, at 102 minutes. It doesn't overstay it's welcome. It makes you feel somethings you don't normally experience in a movie. It's not manipulative though, it's not swinging for the Oscars fences, it's quiet and contemplative. Excellent film.
9/10
(Why isn't it a 10/10? Maybe because it's a remake of a movie based on a story? I think if something is going to get the full 10/10, a viewer would be able to say something like "it's one of my favorite movies". This movie was really good but it's not one of my favorites.)
Is there anyone, anywhere, who doesn't like Bill Nighy? I would not trust that person.
This movie takes the Kurasawa classic "Ikiru", itself inspired by The Death of Ivan Illyich, and transports its story to England. It starts out as almost a parody of the English-people-being-English trope - but the writing and dialogue is excellent and what could have been tumescent instead becomes captivating. It has an understated, beguiling, gentle charm. The Rowan Tree scene will leave you in pieces, but if you haven't seen the movie, see this scene in context and don't look it up on Youtube. Great supporting cast. The film hit the sweet spot on duration, at 102 minutes. It doesn't overstay it's welcome. It makes you feel somethings you don't normally experience in a movie. It's not manipulative though, it's not swinging for the Oscars fences, it's quiet and contemplative. Excellent film.
9/10
(Why isn't it a 10/10? Maybe because it's a remake of a movie based on a story? I think if something is going to get the full 10/10, a viewer would be able to say something like "it's one of my favorite movies". This movie was really good but it's not one of my favorites.)
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Watched this last night. Assumed it was based of a comic book or something until I read up on the real guy afterwards. Not read his book but I'm guessing the script writers slightly embellished bits of it!
Anyway, Russel Crow seemed to have fun playing the priest. They're clearly aiming for a franchise based around Crow's character.
Watched two films over the last two nights.
Crimes of the Future
This one has been on my radar for quite some time. It's received quite a polarising opinion, with some people just not taking to it and others finding the concept great and well-executed. I watched this one whilst tired after work, so perhaps not the optimum time to watch a film of this calibre. However, I liked it enough, whereas my wife found the overall idea interesting but just not quite enough/satisfying for her. She said that she found it dull. I enjoyed the premise and do agree that with the ideas being mentioned, there was a lot of scope to do more with this film. But, I still liked it. It's not your typical sci-fi film and the acting/script/characters are going to be a 'miss' for a lot of people, but it's so 'out there' throughout that I feel that it works. It's short enough to be worth a go if you're on the fence. I do think it could have gone on for another 10 or 15 minutes (possibly) to elaborate on a few things - e.g. I can imagine some finding the ending a little lacklustre as it does cut to the titles quite abruptly.
Personally, I think it's one of those that will develop a cult following years from now, but won't be making the top of any lists. It's in that mid-tier sci-fi realm, with an unusual idea and attack with the way it's carried out, but it'll hit the mark for some people, and miss for others.
Minority Report
I had never seen this film before and knew very, very little behind it - other than it having Tom Cruise as its star. As soon as it began, I was hooked. Loved the premise and the overall setup of the film. The opening murder-prevention sequence is stunning. It takes a good idea and runs with it, combining that great mix of action, science-fiction, politics, whilst also making it all very relevant for the current day. It's definitely in that same realm as films like Blade Runner and Total Recall, with the ideas being presented and with the way the world is constructed. I really had a good time with it and enjoyed it all of the way through. It's an intelligent blockbuster and it hits the mark that other film such as I, Robot don't. Samantha Morton's presence in the film is just great, and her performance gradually gets better and better throughout the story. Loved Colin Farrell's character, too.
Overall, I'm disappointed with myself that I had not watched this sooner. It's a different breed of Science-Fiction to Crimes of the Future, in the sense that it's more accessible and just much more high end with production values. This is a blockbuster whereas CotF is niche, but I liked and appreciate both in different ways.
Crimes of the Future
This one has been on my radar for quite some time. It's received quite a polarising opinion, with some people just not taking to it and others finding the concept great and well-executed. I watched this one whilst tired after work, so perhaps not the optimum time to watch a film of this calibre. However, I liked it enough, whereas my wife found the overall idea interesting but just not quite enough/satisfying for her. She said that she found it dull. I enjoyed the premise and do agree that with the ideas being mentioned, there was a lot of scope to do more with this film. But, I still liked it. It's not your typical sci-fi film and the acting/script/characters are going to be a 'miss' for a lot of people, but it's so 'out there' throughout that I feel that it works. It's short enough to be worth a go if you're on the fence. I do think it could have gone on for another 10 or 15 minutes (possibly) to elaborate on a few things - e.g. I can imagine some finding the ending a little lacklustre as it does cut to the titles quite abruptly.
Personally, I think it's one of those that will develop a cult following years from now, but won't be making the top of any lists. It's in that mid-tier sci-fi realm, with an unusual idea and attack with the way it's carried out, but it'll hit the mark for some people, and miss for others.
Minority Report
I had never seen this film before and knew very, very little behind it - other than it having Tom Cruise as its star. As soon as it began, I was hooked. Loved the premise and the overall setup of the film. The opening murder-prevention sequence is stunning. It takes a good idea and runs with it, combining that great mix of action, science-fiction, politics, whilst also making it all very relevant for the current day. It's definitely in that same realm as films like Blade Runner and Total Recall, with the ideas being presented and with the way the world is constructed. I really had a good time with it and enjoyed it all of the way through. It's an intelligent blockbuster and it hits the mark that other film such as I, Robot don't. Samantha Morton's presence in the film is just great, and her performance gradually gets better and better throughout the story. Loved Colin Farrell's character, too.
Overall, I'm disappointed with myself that I had not watched this sooner. It's a different breed of Science-Fiction to Crimes of the Future, in the sense that it's more accessible and just much more high end with production values. This is a blockbuster whereas CotF is niche, but I liked and appreciate both in different ways.
Anyone seen The Witch? I get it but it just didn't do owt for me.
I haven’t seen it in ages tbh, but I still somehow feel it’s underrated, especially as it’s a classic Spielberg tension-a-thon, the film that made Farrell a big deal, and has had an impressively solid cultural footprint compared with a lot of other Sci Fi of that era.
It did start Spielberg’s weird fascination with massively over exposed lighting though, which is a mark down.
It’s probably a top 3 Phillip Dick film though (lol, Dick film)
Such an excellent film
Yeah it's really great and is aging suler well
Oh for sure that it is not. It's a slow burner and a wonderfully constructed film. Dunno if you've seen any other of Eggers's films, they're all a bit "special".
There was that very short period where Speilberg had a thing going with Tom Cruise, that I’m kinda surprised didn’t go on a bit longer given their action sensibilities mesh really well. I’d imagine he begged him to do a Mission: Impossible, but he wouldn’t, so he got JJ Abrams instead - The kicked in the head by a horse man’s Spielberg.
Asteroid City
105 minutes I'll never get back.
An absolute monstrosity of a movie with about 3 half-funny at best moments, it just gets lost in trying to be clever.
None of it lands at all, do not waste your time.
2/10
105 minutes I'll never get back.
An absolute monstrosity of a movie with about 3 half-funny at best moments, it just gets lost in trying to be clever.
None of it lands at all, do not waste your time.
2/10
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I love both of them, Northman is a little more "mainstream" while still retaining some of Eggers's weirdness, and Lighthouse is a wonderfully creepy film with amazing performance by Pattinson and Dafoe.
Plus mermaid vag
Never a dull moment with old Bob!
Talking of horror flicks I like it look of Get Out.
You've never seen Get Out?!
The Nice Guys. A 2016 buddy cop (well, detectives) movie set in 1970s LA with a pretty weird (and awesome) sense of humour. The main characters are Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe and it's wirtten and directed by Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), which tells you a lot about what to expect. It's hilarious and awesome a lot of the time, but also pretty flat overall. 7/10
Triangle of Sadness
One of the funniest movies I’ve seen in forever. Properly brilliant film. ‘Holding up a mirror to society’ is often some wrangled phrase that suggests something clever has been done. This film literally just holds it up and does nothing. It’s brutal.
Loved every single minute of it. Close to flawless. Could talk about the clever parts and go on a long rant about what it says and does. But it’s all probably been written already.
For anyone that’s in any way appreciative of cinematography and single-scene brilliance… this has loads of them. Two biggest highlights being the scene in the taxi and the simple use of a rear windscreen wiper to heighten aggravation. As well as a scene soon after with a fly. It’s brilliant film making.
Its effortless illustrations of how paper thin masculinity is, as well as the wax and wane of power and how fickle it is…
One of the first films that I’ve seen in a long time that’s made me feel sad that I’ll never be able to watch it for the first time again. Having said that… may never watch it again.
It plays with so many fun things. Watch it if you haven’t.
9/10
One of the funniest movies I’ve seen in forever. Properly brilliant film. ‘Holding up a mirror to society’ is often some wrangled phrase that suggests something clever has been done. This film literally just holds it up and does nothing. It’s brutal.
Loved every single minute of it. Close to flawless. Could talk about the clever parts and go on a long rant about what it says and does. But it’s all probably been written already.
For anyone that’s in any way appreciative of cinematography and single-scene brilliance… this has loads of them. Two biggest highlights being the scene in the taxi and the simple use of a rear windscreen wiper to heighten aggravation. As well as a scene soon after with a fly. It’s brilliant film making.
Its effortless illustrations of how paper thin masculinity is, as well as the wax and wane of power and how fickle it is…
One of the first films that I’ve seen in a long time that’s made me feel sad that I’ll never be able to watch it for the first time again. Having said that… may never watch it again.
It plays with so many fun things. Watch it if you haven’t.
9/10