Film The Redcafe Movie review thread

The Canal
A depressed and stressed film archivist finds his sanity crumbling after he is given an old 16mm film reel with footage from a horrific murder that occurred in the early 1900's. Second time I've seen this Irish horror film and still really enjoyed it. Sound and cinematography are amazing and the performance of the protagonist is great. The films really builds up an air of tension, very creepy. However, the acting from some of the side characters as well as their dialogue really bogs the film down and the ending is quite predictable and flat. Still, a really solid, enjoyable horror movie 7/10
 
The Shape of Water is the latest fairy tale for adults. And like the other fairy tales for adults, it's a fairy tale for adults who mistakingly think that fairy tales are childish, and who would much rather be watching some smug unimaginative drivel that will give them a pat on the back and a quick handy for their right-on! progressive movie watching habbits. Yes this time it's the creature feature genre that serves as a vehicle for white Hollywood (il)liberalism. A heads up for the Clinton/Lena Dunham fans.

We know who the baddy is because he tells us that he hates blacks and Jews and women, but loves guns and the Bible. And we know who the good guys are because they are gay, or disabled, or from the black lagoon. That's nice. Also early on they show a clip of Bill Robinson (YAY!), in his famous role as Shirley Temple's Negro Servant* (oh...). What is surely meant as homage ends up looking more like a slap in the face-celebration of the white hegemonic, whilst flattering the film's Hollywood paymasters. A big minstrel-gloved thumbs up for diversity right there!

Further non white representation includes clips from (whitewashed) biblical epics, black janitors slacking off on an extended cigarette break, a deadbeat husband cum snivelling traitor, a voiceless black couple Jim crowed from a diner and Carmen fecking Miranda. I'm guessing the idea is that if we sympathise with their struggle we then don't have to talk to them.

Look upon my virtue, ye incorrect politically correct, and despair!

The teal colour grading looks hedious and boring (as usual) and then the film goes on to make a joke about how the colour teal is hideous. I found the fantasy musical number obnoxious and slightly suspect. I wonder how it would look if an amputee in a brief fantasy interval grew a leg and was now at last able to dance her true expression of self.

The creature model looks like Keith Harris has made a puppet of William Blake's Ghost of a Flea. It's texture reminded me of E.T. from E.T. The Movie The Ride at Universal studios. This film is a bit like how you remember E.T. but then when you rewatch E.T. you realise how E.T. is a brilliant piece of work and how E.T. is not like Orville the Duck at all.

The film ends with a shoehorned in poem, like some kind of fecking wanker.

*All day subdued, polite,
Kind, thoughtful to the faces that are white.
O, tribal dance!
O, drums!
O, veldt at night!
Forgotten watch-fires on a hill somewhere!
O, songs that do not care!
At six o'clock, or seven, or eight,
You're through.
You've worked all day.
Dark Harlem waits for you.
The bus, the sub—
Pay-nights a taxi
Through the park.
O, drums of life in Harlem after dark!
O, dreams!
O, songs!
O, saxophones at night!
O, sweet relief from faces that are white!
by Langston Hughes (17½)
 
Three Billboards Somewhere - I don't think I've seen a movie with such sublime craftsmanship, punchy/natural dialogue and astute political sensibility since probably Nick Love's Outlaw.
 
R.N7 said:
Three Billboards Somewhere - I don't think I've seen a movie with such sublime craftsmanship, punchy/natural dialogue and astute political sensibility since probably Nick Love's Outlaw.
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High praise. :lol:
 
Mishima. A four part overview of the life and thought of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. A theatrical bio-drama that begins with the young man's early sexual and bodily neuroses, before addressing broader aesthetic ideas, such as the relationship between beauty and decay and death. The film explores these themes through the culture of post feudal imperial duty. It beautifully presents the radicalism of youth, and I particularly like the way that the folly of idealism is shown so pathetic and tragic in the fickle shadows of the changing times and fashions.

Biography is adeptly interwoven with dramatised scenes from extracts of Mishima's work, forming a consistent philosophical through line, creating a compelling portrait of the man.

I guess it also says something about the problems of adopting a holistc approach to art, ideology and political action. Which somewhat relates to our contemporary identity confirmation obsession, that seeks to reduce art to the consumption of wholesome, comforting, instructional content. In less wanky terms would someone of such talent today, with similarily extreme views, be given the space for creative expression. I suspect not.


I found the latest film from Cartoon Saloon The Breadwinner really stunning. It's About a family of Afghan women trying to survive under Taliban rule. Like with Kells and Song of the Sea, folktale plays an integral part in the communication and identity of the characters. There are obvious similarities with the films Omar and Timbuktu but The Breadwinner has enough about it to distinguish itself.

It's the most visually striking film I've seen for a long while. The look is the usual mix of cel and cut outs but there is also some more obviously digitally rendered images that complement the other styles. You often get this effortless blend of block coloured animated figures situated in beautifully lit digital landscapes. There was one scene that I had to double take on, after thinking it was a photograph.

I thought the story was really good too with really well developed characters. Given the political and social context of the film it deserves great credit for it's subtlety and compassion. For example, perhaps the most deplorable character in the film is a young, bullying Taliban lackey. The final shot of him is as this desperate lost boy on the back of a truck, a victim of circumstance, heading for war. I never felt that the film either sugar coated the harsh realities nor exploited them for dramatic effect. The sombre, elegiac ending really touched me.

Yep that's right I can like films too, no excessive negativity here, no siree!
 
Mishima is a sublime, gorgeous film. I'm not sure if any American filmmaker has ever attempted to do anything like it before or after. Paul Schrader doesn't get enough props, though churning out Nicholas Cage films and other garbage for over a decade hasn't really helped.

Archie Leach said:
I had to google Nick Love to make sure Nilsson hadn't gone to the dark side.
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This will give you an idea.

 
Veronica
Madrid, 1991. A teen girl finds herself besieged by an evil supernatural force after she played Ouija with two classmates. Came across this Spanish horror film on Netflix as I was doing my usual mission of watching shit horror films... and this is why I do it! To find hidden gems like this! Really atmospheric and creepy with great performances, character ddepth, empathy towards the main family and genuinely scary moments. @SwansonsTache & @pauldyson1uk get on it! Really enjoyed it despite some minor faults 8/10

Red Sparow
Ballerina Dominika Egorova is recruited to 'Sparrow School,' a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. Her first mission, targeting a C.I.A. agent, threatens to unravel the security of both nations. You've seen this all before (including Lawrence's tits). Slow paced spy thriller with constant twists and turns but all leads to feck all because it's hard to get invested as you'll just sit there and remember that Atomic Blonde did this story but far better and more entertaining. The 'Russian' accents were also so off putting as the actors (especially Lawrence and Jeremy Irons) kept breaking in and out of it. Waaaay too long for what it is also. There were however, some gorgeous cinematography and brutal violence 4/10
 
Dirty Schwein said:
Veronica
Madrid, 1991. A teen girl finds herself besieged by an evil supernatural force after she played Ouija with two classmates. Came across this Spanish horror film on Netflix as I was doing my usual mission of watching shit horror films... and this is why I do it! To find hidden gems like this! Really atmospheric and creepy with great performances, character ddepth, empathy towards the main family and genuinely scary moments. @SwansonsTache & @pauldyson1uk get on it! Really enjoyed it despite some minor faults 8/10
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Downloading this right now, been a while since I've seen a good possession movie.
 
The Intouchables

Although I'm not normally a fan of dramas this is a great film with both touching and laugh out loud moments. Watched with my girlfriend and we both loved it. Highly recommended. 9/10
 
Fluctuation0161 said:
The Intouchables

Although I'm not normally a fan of dramas this is a great film with both touching and laugh out loud moments. Watched with my girlfriend and we both loved it. Highly recommended. 9/10
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Second this although it's been a while. Just a very nice movie.
 
R.N7 said:
Mishima is a sublime, gorgeous film. I'm not sure if any American filmmaker has ever attempted to do anything like it before or after. Paul Schrader doesn't get enough props, though churning out Nicholas Cage films and other garbage for over a decade hasn't really helped.


This will give you an idea.

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:lol: I've gotta watch this now
 
Hadn't seen Bicycle Thieves before, what a wonderful film. Also, Lianella Carell was gorgeous.
 
Dirty Schwein said:
Veronica
Madrid, 1991. A teen girl finds herself besieged by an evil supernatural force after she played Ouija with two classmates. Came across this Spanish horror film on Netflix as I was doing my usual mission of watching shit horror films... and this is why I do it! To find hidden gems like this! Really atmospheric and creepy with great performances, character ddepth, empathy towards the main family and genuinely scary moments. @SwansonsTache & @pauldyson1uk get on it! Really enjoyed it despite some minor faults 8/10

Red Sparow
Ballerina Dominika Egorova is recruited to 'Sparrow School,' a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. Her first mission, targeting a C.I.A. agent, threatens to unravel the security of both nations. You've seen this all before (including Lawrence's tits). Slow paced spy thriller with constant twists and turns but all leads to feck all because it's hard to get invested as you'll just sit there and remember that Atomic Blonde did this story but far better and more entertaining. The 'Russian' accents were also so off putting as the actors (especially Lawrence and Jeremy Irons) kept breaking in and out of it. Waaaay too long for what it is also. There were however, some gorgeous cinematography and brutal violence 4/10
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Spot on. Veronica was enjoyable, Red Sparrow was shite. Paid admission for the tits really.
 
Fluctuation0161 said:
The Intouchables

Although I'm not normally a fan of dramas this is a great film with both touching and laugh out loud moments. Watched with my girlfriend and we both loved it. Highly recommended. 9/10
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Yup very good movie. That last scene made me shed a tear.
 
Dirty Schwein said:
Geostorm
When the network of satellites designed to control the global climate starts to attack Earth, it's a race against the clock for its creator to uncover the real threat before a worldwide Geostorm wipes out everything and everyone. You've seen better versions of this 100 times already in Hollywood and in those, you don't have to buy Gerard Butler as a scientist or the piss poor "effects". Avoid 2/10

The Vatican Tapes
A priest and two Vatican exorcists must do battle with an ancient satanic force to save the soul of a young woman. Whilst I didn't mind the actual exorcism in the film's climax or the ending, the characters held no weight so I couldn't care less what happens to any of them, making it hard to root for this film at all 3/10
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How does this guy keep getting work? He can barely speak a coherent sentence let alone act.
 
Going to see Red Sparrow on sunday. On paper it sounds like torture porn starring Jennifer Lawrence. 10/10 I expect.
 
Veronica

Latest 'scariest movie ever' buzz. :boring: Top tip for aspiring filmmakers, don't show the ending at the start or treat your audience like idiots by recapping the previous 30 minutes, 5 minutes from the end. We were paying attention and it's still a load of old bollocks.
 
Stringer said:
The Shape of Water

Don't understand why this is receiving so much acclaim and awards. Looks beautiful (as you'd expect from Del Toro) and that combined with the excellent score does make it reasonably enjoyable. My major issue is that the romance between Sally Hawkins' character and the creature is underdeveloped and they get down to business out of nowhere. The rest of the characters are one dimensional stereotypes as well.

Great concept but doesn't deliver on it.
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My thought exactly. The romance was totally undercooked. The only message I took from it was that some people are so starved of human contact that they'll tire of pleasuring themselves and will eventually stoop to shagging enormous fish.
 
Assassin's Creed

I was so bored and lazy that I stuck with the last hour of Titanic Next up was this movie and in my sheer laziness I didn't turn it off. I honestly can't believe how shit it was and I'm not sure what audience this could possibly appeal to.

I'm kind of surprised the plot was so shit because it's 2nd rewrite was done by the dudes that brought us Exodus: Gods and Kings, Tower Heist and New York Minute.

The chase scenes didn't make much sense, the "bad" guys were everywhere at once. There was nothing "assassiny" about it. Thought those guys were supposed to be secret but the other side knew pretty much everything about them and they only fought in the open.

Easiest money Cotillard has made. She basically stood there watching CGI Fassbender and occasionally spoke with her non-American (but was probably supposed to be American?) accent.

Such a bad movie that it propulsed me to warn people who think it might not be a horrible idea to put it on during a flight or something.
 
Veronica

As possession films go , it was better than 99% of the other I have seen.
For me it was defo a film of 2 halfs, the first hour I thought was a bit boring , nothing much happened, few glimpses of a figure, the last 30 mins or so was better.
One bit that got me was the second seance, why !!!
The film did not live up to the hype of most terrifying possession film ever.
I agree with @Dirty Schwein , it was really atmospheric and creepy with great performances, character depth, empathy towards the main family and genuinely scary moments, thought the mother was a stone cold bitch to be honest.
But still easy one of the best possession films I have seen and well worth watching.

7/10
 
The Cloverfield Paradox

I have to be honest I did not know what to make of it, was it a comedy, Sci Fi or horror !
Chris O'Dowd and his arm were the best part of a very weak JJ Abrahms bag of shite film.
I s wanted to like this, the first one was good , the second on was excellent till they shoehorned a monster in it, this was just bad from start to finish and that ending, why !!!

3/10 all for Chris O'Dowd and his arm
 
The Shape of Cardboard was bang average. Del Toro should stick to B/superhero movies, twittering and podcasting about his favourite 50's horror movies away from the public eye like fellow man-child Kevin Smith.
 
Chungking Express - If you asked me 20min before the end I would have said it wasn't as good as In The Mood For Love. Once it was over and I thought about it I was less sure though. Guess it depends on how I end up feeling about the first story as the second was wonderful. Also, Faye Wong. :drool:
 
sullydnl said:
Chungking Express - If you asked me 20min before the end I would have said it wasn't as good as In The Mood For Love. Once it was over and I thought about it I was less sure though. Guess it depends on how I end up feeling about the first story as the second was wonderful. Also, Faye Wong. :drool:
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Incredible film. Wong Kar-Wai is able to convey melancholy and longing so effectively. Have you watched Fallen Angels?
 
sullydnl said:
Chungking Express - If you asked me 20min before the end I would have said it wasn't as good as In The Mood For Love. Once it was over and I thought about it I was less sure though. Guess it depends on how I end up feeling about the first story as the second was wonderful. Also, Faye Wong. :drool:
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Yup, whenever I rewatch that I'm kinda just waiting for the second part to begin whilst the first is on. Not that it's bad, the second part's just that good. Still doesn't top ITMFL though, which for me is close to perfect.
 
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