Film The Redcafe Movie review thread

The Breakfast Club - It seems like I have to be a grouchy cynic again...I mean, it had it's moments, especially at the beginning of the film, when it still felt kinda real but then the characters started to turn their moods on a dime and change in very contrived ways to fit the scenes, then there was the baffling dance scene, a make-over of the "ugly" girl (I thought being yourself was the message?), tacked on romance, and finally they end it all on a freeze-frame and a fist bump...Oh, you 1980's.

I'm kinda mixed on it myself...alright at times, but the whole "everyone fits a certain high school stereotype" seems too absurd to believe. Were American high schools actually as clear-cut as that? It feels like one of those exaggerated things that probably never really existed.
 
The only interesting thing about The Breakfast Club was Judd Nelson, especially his scenes with Paul Gleason. There was something very true about the hatred Gleasons teacher had for difficult students that I think reflects something very real in schools, at least as I experienced them.

All the rest was shit.
 
The only interesting thing about The Breakfast Club was Judd Nelson, especially his scenes with Paul Gleason. There was something very true about the hatred Gleasons teacher had for difficult students that I think reflects something very real in schools, at least as I experienced them.

All the rest was shit.


I wouldn't expect too much from a 30 year-old film made for teenagers.
 
I'm kinda mixed on it myself...alright at times, but the whole "everyone fits a certain high school stereotype" seems too absurd to believe. Were American high schools actually as clear-cut as that? It feels like one of those exaggerated things that probably never really existed.

No, I think Hughes actually captured high school life in America at the time pretty accurately - at least suburban America, as he does in all of his films IMO
 
You say this on a forum which outlaws its use. Irony?

It outlaws feck too, and we're surely passed thinking that's the naughtiest thing in existence? Also, it didn't used to IIRC. It did it 'cos of Google. An American company. (I'm not 100% sure this is true, but I think it is?)

It's obvious in the context of the film how "risqué" they think it is, tbf. It's used with almost no wit or impact, and in a sort of silly teenage way. It's a disservice to the brilliance of the world cnut!
 
It outlaws feck too, and we're surely passed thinking that's the naughtiest thing in existence? Also, it didn't used to IIRC. It did it 'cos of Google. An American company. (I'm not 100% sure this is true, but I think it is?)

It's obvious in the context of the film how "risqué" they think it is, tbf. It's used with almost no wit or impact, and in a sort of silly teenage way. It's a disservice to the brilliance of the world cnut!

You have a point.

But it's part of being human that we habituate to anything that doesn't threaten our own existence. I'm not sure that's a good thing. We'd probably be better off retaining some sensitivities, in language as in everything else. After all, words are not just words; they colour our perception of reality.[End of digression]
 
Nostos: The Return - This is the film I've been wanting to watch forever without really knowing it. It's basically like the artiest History Channel reenactment film ever made. Hallucinatory, meditative, not always successful but just stunningly beautiful.
 
The only interesting thing about The Breakfast Club was Judd Nelson, especially his scenes with Paul Gleason. There was something very true about the hatred Gleasons teacher had for difficult students that I think reflects something very real in schools, at least as I experienced them.

All the rest was shit.

Ive always thought Gleasons character actually cared about the students....deep down that is. Even Bender.
 
The Pledge (2001)
Stars Jack Nicholson, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn, Vanessa Redgrave, Sam Shepard, Mickey Rourke, Tom Noonan and Benicio del Toro.

Really intriguing crime mystery film, but not for the usual reasons - the viewer ends up trying to work out the detective's state of mind as much as the killer's identity. 8/10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pledge_(film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pledge:_Requiem_for_the_Detective_Novel

I saw this twice. First time I really enjoyed it, second time I thought it was a bit pants. Interesting film though, with the state of mind etc and his motives behind his relationship. The hedgehog in the car wreck pointed towards him being correct though if I recall correctly (it's been a few years)
 
I've a habit of over-analysing crime fiction stuff, chief, and tend to read too much into things that may mean nothing at all. My focus was increasingly on Jerry's mental state rather than ID'ing the murderer; I was curious about the doctor (Mirren) and her questions to Jerry - had she recognised mental problems? And also something suspect about him?

I even wondered, because of several scenes, whether Jerry was either a) unable to give himself, emotionally, to others, and b) whether he was in denial about being a child abuser himself ("It's our secret," said Jerry to Chrissy). I found it striking that he seemed reluctant to succumb to Lori's seduction. And then there's the comforting though natural assumption we all make, and would make in real life: that Jerry is driven by the sheer horror of these little girls' murders, and by the promise he made. Now I realise that Jack Nicholson's style is often laconic but I saw all-too little of the expected emotion in Jerry, and I think this was a clue to his personality - he wasn't driven by moral outrage or a sense of injustice, IMO. The nature of his obsession was ambiguous, and not necessarily the obvious one - that he was obsessed with 'merely' solving the case, catching the culprit, and ending these awful crimes.
 
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Sunshine
Directed by Danny Boyles starring Chris Evans, Cilian Murphy and Rose Byrne. I don't know if this film was super complicated or just me not paying enough attention, but I just had no clue what the hell was happening. Apart from nice effects and good acting I found it really boring and nonsensical 3/10
 
Leviathan - Finally got round to watching this and the main thing I took from this was Vodka. There was also some great stuff in between all the drinking. 7/10.
 
Sing Street


Hilarious, charming, emotional, witty, brave, Irish, 80s, music, love.

Best film I've seen in ages.

20/10

Anyone who doesn't agree isn't my friend.
 
Sunshine
Directed by Danny Boyles starring Chris Evans, Cilian Murphy and Rose Byrne. I don't know if this film was super complicated or just me not paying enough attention, but I just had no clue what the hell was happening. Apart from nice effects and good acting I found it really boring and nonsensical 3/10
Watch it again and pay attention.

Somewhat related, I finally watched Ex Machina this evening and thought it was superb. Brilliant acting by Isaac, Gleeson and Vikander, interesting storyline, good writing and it looked gorgeous. Really good film.

I also saw Manchester by the sea last week and thought it was very good also. A bit heavy going at times but overall it managed to juggle between a sombre and intense tone and a more light approach. The relationship between Casey Affleck and his nephew was very well portrayed. Nice little film.
 
I've a habit of over-analysing crime fiction stuff, chief, and tend to read too much into things that may mean nothing at all. My focus was increasingly on Jerry's mental state rather than ID'ing the murderer; I was curious about the doctor (Mirren) and her questions to Jerry - had she recognised mental problems? And also something suspect about him?

I even wondered, because of several scenes, whether Jerry was either a) unable to give himself, emotionally, to others, and b) whether he was in denial about being a child abuser himself ("It's our secret," said Jerry to Chrissy). I found it striking that he seemed reluctant to succumb to Lori's seduction. And then there's the comforting though natural assumption we all make, and would make in real life: that Jerry is driven by the sheer horror of these little girls' murders, and by the promise he made. Now I realise that Jack Nicholson's style is often laconic but I saw all-too little of the expected emotion in Jerry, and I think this was a clue to his personality - he wasn't driven by moral outrage or a sense of injustice, IMO. The nature of his obsession was ambiguous, and not necessarily the obvious one - that he was obsessed with 'merely' solving the case, catching the culprit, and ending these awful crimes.

You clearly put far more thought into it than I did.
It's been a few years, but I only remember thinking that the whole relationship thing was just an avenue to catching the guy and he was using the kid as bait all along; the swing by the road etc. You may have a valid point although I think I'd be more inclined to google theories rather than watch it again for confirmation.
 
Somewhat related, I finally watched Ex Machina this evening and thought it was superb. Brilliant acting by Isaac, Gleeson and Vikander, interesting storyline, good writing and it looked gorgeous. Really good film.
I really loved it. One of the better films of the last few years.
 
Landscape Suicide - It's impossible to write anything about this film without sounding too poncey, so I'm gonna try and hold back. There's basically two reenactments of the testimonies of two murderers (one of them being Ed Gein) and between them lots of static shots of the American landscape that somehow ended up being more chilling than the testimonies. The darkness of Americana, the banality of evil and so forth.

Heathers - Everything in this film was just a tad too garish. The fashion, the colours, the execution of it's themes and other stuff. Winona was a mega bae though obviously.
 
Landscape Suicide - It's impossible to write anything about this film without sounding too poncey, so I'm gonna try and hold back. There's basically two reenactments of the testimonies of two murderers (one of them being Ed Gein) and between them lots of static shots of the American landscape that somehow ended up being more chilling than the testimonies. The darkness of Americana, the banality of evil and so forth.
He had been wrong about Shiloh. Shiloh isn’t haunted – men are haunted. Shiloh doesn’t care.

(Thomas Harris, Red Dragon)
 
Sully. A film which shows just how great Tom Hanks is because without him it would be a passable TV movie, with him it was better than a passable TV movie. 7/10.
Saw it last night. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
The investigators were shown in poor light so not sure how accurate their portrayal was.
 
Saw Arrival today and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great acting by Amy Adams, good tension building up and I liked the third act though I can understand why some would hate it.

I'm also currently watching Die Hard for what feels like the 274th time but its still pretty much perfection.
 
Sunshine
Directed by Danny Boyles starring Chris Evans, Cilian Murphy and Rose Byrne. I don't know if this film was super complicated or just me not paying enough attention, but I just had no clue what the hell was happening. Apart from nice effects and good acting I found it really boring and nonsensical 3/10

You really should watch it again, it is one of the best Scifi flicks around.

Not over complicated or pretentious or anything, just a great movie.
 
Saw Arrival today and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great acting by Amy Adams, good tension building up and I liked the third act though I can understand why some would hate it.

I'm also currently watching Die Hard for what feels like the 274th time but its still pretty much perfection.
Die Hard 1? Magnificent movie, I had the pleasure of watching it for the first time 2 weeks ago and I loved it.
 
Yeah the first one. I like the third one a lot as well, but #1 has something special. Fantastic Christmas film also.
Yeah 1 is the best. I like 2 as well because the airport location is kinda exciting, 3 is also very enjoyable with Samuel L Jackson. 4 is decent and 5 was horror.
 
Alien - still looks great, especially the stuff on LV426. The original and the best.

Aliens - while still far and away the next best film in the series, it's marred slightly by its James Cameronitis. The guy has such a bland aesthetic and his characters are cheesy archetypes but he is capable of a great action set piece. Bill Paxton is especially ludicrous.
 
Me before you

7/10

Not the worst film ever, but very girly. Good adaptation of the book. Good characters.

2 of the points are entirely for how beautiful Emilia Clarke is.
 
Sing Street


Hilarious, charming, emotional, witty, brave, Irish, 80s, music, love.

Best film I've seen in ages.

20/10

Anyone who doesn't agree isn't my friend.
Joyful film, yeah. Glad it's getting recognition at the moment.
 
Finding Dory. Good characters, it's funny but as for story... well basically an octopus flips a truck. That gratuitous shout out to Sigourney Weaver was very wierd.

I watched the Mad Max Fury Road Black and Chrome edition. It still works; you lose in some areas without the colour but gain something with the rich stark contrast in others. The film is still absolutely amazing though. In terms of it's visuals and choreography it's as accomplished as 2001 and Lawrence of Arabia. feck consigning this to the action film ghetto, this is a masterpiece of cinema. The visual storytelling is just phenomenal. A fine antidote to the almost exclusively crap storytelling in tv and film these days.