Good to have it confirmed. I should know better but I keep coming back. I must try not to be tempted with this one.You two
Yeah it's three "shorts" (none of them being particularly short), but if you don't like Lanthimos's other stuff, I genuinely doubt there's a chance in hell you'd like this.
Film The Redcafe Movie review thread
- Thread starter golden_blunder
- Start date
Yeah I know exactly the scene you're thinking of
I really enjoyed the film overall, but yeah that scene was perfect.I wish I enjoyed Kinds of Kindess a bit more because I love his other films but I found every single story so boring.
Sounds like you've got a good woman, there, Wibz.
Thanks for this. I had no idea he did A Bigger Splash! That’s been on my watchlist for a long time.
Will give the two a watch as well(After seeing Suspria I’m interested his take on the Vampire genre)
Finally got around to seeing Queer last night. Firstly as a man I’ve never felt more ugly than watching this in my adidas tracksuit while stuffing my face with a large popcorn(£7.99 btw!)
The needle drops are brilliant and about as subtle as a bulldozer. Nirvana Come As You Are playing as Lee slow mo walks to watch a cock fighting is perfection(My personal favourite is Prince 17 Days playing as Lee and Eugene are walking together at night).
Craig should win every award. It’s a towering performance. His ability to show the desperation of an older addict while also being incredibly charismatic is extremely impressive. As is him showing Lee to be yearning for a love that is also very self indulgent.
The supporting cast Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville and Lesley Manville were all very enjoyable(Drew Starkey is does what is needed as the pretty face).
Overall I saw the film as a beautiful, nostalgic and romantic tribute to that era and gay men like Lee. The film like Lee does seem to revel in its themes. There is seemingly enjoyment to be with yearning, addiction(Its a great advert for opioids), loneliness, cheap hotels and the glorious feeling of frightening the local with the word homosexuality(Got a big laugh in my screening).
To me the conflict is between “I'm not queer, I'm disembodied” and “I had a duty to live and bear my burden proudly for all to see, to conquer prejudice and ignorance and hate with knowledge and sincerity and love.’” Guadagnino didn’t give the audience an answer to this although maybe the sadness is men like Lee lived in world where an answer wasn’t possible.
The only potential criticism I have is the run time as it felt like a long 2 hours and 15 minutes. But the ending did really hit me hard.
Overall my favourite of Guadagnino works so far and one of the best films I’ve seen this year. Thanks for recommending it.
Also at the risk of enraging the forum here is a really insightful review -
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/im-not-queer-im-disembodied/
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Except when I've incurred her wrath
And it was a nice change from being distracted by Kidman's immobile acting.
I really really like A Bigger Splash, there's something very luminous and sexy about it all. Bones and All is a little stranger and maybe more niche, but I thought it was a great little film (and Mark Rylance has a great performance in it as a supporting part).
Ah awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed it mate. And yeah I definitely get your point about feeling inadequate compared to these beautiful people on screen
Craig really was superb in this, it's a performance that's been playing in the back of my mind for the past week, little details like his silly bow to Eugene when he sees him in the café, stuff like that, he really manages to bring to life Lee's insecurities without it being heavy handed. I saw a little interview of Craig's about the film where he was talking about masculinity, and how it's a suit of armour that is often used by men and he enjoys and is fascinated to understand what's going on beneath. And he was saying the masculinity in Queer should be celebrated, and talking about the duality of Lee's character, walking around Mexico City with a gun on his hip like a cowboy, but also deep down being a teenage boy falling in love. I'm going to see if I can find the whole interview because it seemed interesting and Craig is quite articulate and pleasant to listen to.
Thanks also for the review, I saw it's quite long so it'll keep me busy on my commute home later!
Finally got round to watching Megaflopolis and dare I say I enjoyed it immensely. It's closer to a series of faux art house perfume adverts than a movie with plot and yet it was kind of captivating.
It reminded me of when an ex would drag me to watch some of the lesser known Shakespeare be performed. Barley a plot, on the nose themes and no natural progression yet the intensity of scenes kept you somewhat captivated.
It reminded me of when an ex would drag me to watch some of the lesser known Shakespeare be performed. Barley a plot, on the nose themes and no natural progression yet the intensity of scenes kept you somewhat captivated.
I'd say it's a mix of Seven and Silence of The Lambs with supernatural elements. There's some jump scares but more due to those loud sound fx you mentioned and quick cuts.
It's not too scary, more disturbing I'd say.
Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
That sounds absolutely incredible.
It's very underwhelming. So if you support United, you'll probably enjoy it.
It nails tone and atmosphere but a plot swerve in the backend really spoils it.
M Night style plot swerve? Or Damon Lindelof style plot swerve?
@Dirty Schwein is Strange Darling similar to Red, White & Blue? Cuz if it is. I can’t take it. Based on the synopsis is seems to share many things.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_White_&_Blue_(film)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_White_&_Blue_(film)
More of a shift in narrative rather than a twist.
I remember seeing this film but don't remember much about it. I would recommend you watch it though as it is definitely interesting. Hard to say without spoiling.
I said "a mix", as in mix of pepsi and fanta, not ice cubes and 24 yo whsikey.
I’m watching it tonight! Just taken an edible. Will report back.
Oh that’s cool take on the character. Tbh I’m surprised Craig isn’t getting at least some Oscar hype.
Yep unfortunately it’s a long one but definitely an interesting take on both the film and the book(I’ll probably end up reading Queer at some point due to the film).Thanks also for the review, I saw it's quite long so it'll keep me busy on my commute home later!
Also found this fun interview bit from Guadagnino on how Lynch influenced Queer -
Longlegs (2024)
Finally caught this one, and I gotta say I really enjoyed it. Not an instant classic or anything, but I thought the pacing and the atmosphere made it very watchable. Not enough movies keep it down to 1h 40m theses days, but it just means basically no filler which is great. They dial up the creepy vibes to 11, and for the most part it works to create a genuinely unnerving feeling for most of the film (although the jump scares are maybe a bit cheap sometimes). I'd also highlight the cinematography as a strongpoint that adds a lot to the atmosphere. Maika Monroe puts in a decent performance as the lead that will draw a lot of comparisons to Clarice Starling, although in a more "damaged" version, and Nic Cage was very good as the villain too. They probably reveal him at bit too soon for my liking, and he is straddling a fine line between creepy and goofy, where he might lean a bit too much into the latter at times. And it was definitely a smart move too put heavy prosthetics on him, because I don't think I could have taken him seriously if he just looked like Cage.
People will have complaints about the plot, particularly the third act, which is understandable, but I actually thought it was alright. You just have to accept that this horror film has strong supernatural elements, which maybe isn't clear from the trailers etc. Only the very final scene left me feeling a bit meh. I'm sure you could poke a lot of wholes in the plot, but I liked how everything was connected and how this is gradually revealed.
A generous 7/10. Recommend it if you are in for a bit of satanic tomfoolery.
Finally caught this one, and I gotta say I really enjoyed it. Not an instant classic or anything, but I thought the pacing and the atmosphere made it very watchable. Not enough movies keep it down to 1h 40m theses days, but it just means basically no filler which is great. They dial up the creepy vibes to 11, and for the most part it works to create a genuinely unnerving feeling for most of the film (although the jump scares are maybe a bit cheap sometimes). I'd also highlight the cinematography as a strongpoint that adds a lot to the atmosphere. Maika Monroe puts in a decent performance as the lead that will draw a lot of comparisons to Clarice Starling, although in a more "damaged" version, and Nic Cage was very good as the villain too. They probably reveal him at bit too soon for my liking, and he is straddling a fine line between creepy and goofy, where he might lean a bit too much into the latter at times. And it was definitely a smart move too put heavy prosthetics on him, because I don't think I could have taken him seriously if he just looked like Cage.
People will have complaints about the plot, particularly the third act, which is understandable, but I actually thought it was alright. You just have to accept that this horror film has strong supernatural elements, which maybe isn't clear from the trailers etc. Only the very final scene left me feeling a bit meh. I'm sure you could poke a lot of wholes in the plot, but I liked how everything was connected and how this is gradually revealed.
- I liked how "the man downstairs" ended up having both a literal and figurative meaning.
- It was weird with the daughters birthday party, because for a long time I was thinking it would be a plot point, but then you end up forgetting it, before it's brought back.
- Once you know about the link between Longlegs and the mother, I'm sure there is a bunch of hints scattered throughout the movie. Almost worth a rewatch at some point.
A generous 7/10. Recommend it if you are in for a bit of satanic tomfoolery.
Beezel
Over 60 years, three guests of a cursed home discover an eternal witch who lives beneath it with an insatiable thirst for living souls.
I watched this because it had been hyped up quite a lot, but TBH it never really got going, yeah a few attempts at jump scares but they never really worked.
Felt a bit like watching the Blair Witch for the first time and being told this is the scary bit and 20 mins later you still are.
The was a story there and there was a very good film within that story, but you never saw it, not even close.
The music was good, very creepy, but that was it.
There is better to watch out there
3/10
Over 60 years, three guests of a cursed home discover an eternal witch who lives beneath it with an insatiable thirst for living souls.
I watched this because it had been hyped up quite a lot, but TBH it never really got going, yeah a few attempts at jump scares but they never really worked.
Felt a bit like watching the Blair Witch for the first time and being told this is the scary bit and 20 mins later you still are.
The was a story there and there was a very good film within that story, but you never saw it, not even close.
The music was good, very creepy, but that was it.
There is better to watch out there
3/10
Black Slasher
A group of criminals on the run find themselves facing off against a mysterious local killer when they arrive in a rural southern black community.
WTF have I just watched, billed as a Horror / Thriller is is neither, there is nothing wrong with a good slasher, this fails on both counts.
Acting is bad , story is bad, its just bad.
I cant give this any score, there is nothing to score.
A group of criminals on the run find themselves facing off against a mysterious local killer when they arrive in a rural southern black community.
WTF have I just watched, billed as a Horror / Thriller is is neither, there is nothing wrong with a good slasher, this fails on both counts.
Acting is bad , story is bad, its just bad.
I cant give this any score, there is nothing to score.
Felicity Jones is great, but anyone thinking the Academy votes sensibly is in for a shock.
Oh for sure the voting is a bunch of bullshit, but members actually admitting they're not finishing the film cos it's too long is quite hilarious
I sort of understand that. I opted not to see it on the local film festival for the same reason. Although to me it sounds like Jones just wasn't a stand out in the movie considering it's supposedly getting so many other nominations.
There's a long, rich tradition of Academy voters not seeing what they are voting on. The scandals are legion. They started forcing people to show up and watch the shorts and foreign films because people were just randomly ticking boxes. I know about a dozen people in the Academy and none of them have ever watched all the nominees in all the categories they are voting on, by their own admission.
The Shining
Classic film that everyone should watch, for me one of Jack Nicolson best roles, it maybe 45 years old but its still one, if not the best horror I have watched.
It is just the perfect film.
10/10
Doctor Sleep.
The long awaited squeal, I thought it was excellent, granted it had a lot to live up to, but I thought it did it very well.
I watched the director cut just over 3 hours long.
McGregor was brilliant, Kyliegh Curran has Abra equally has brilliant.
Rebecca Ferguson was very good
I enjoyed it more the second time round,
9/10
Classic film that everyone should watch, for me one of Jack Nicolson best roles, it maybe 45 years old but its still one, if not the best horror I have watched.
It is just the perfect film.
10/10
Doctor Sleep.
The long awaited squeal, I thought it was excellent, granted it had a lot to live up to, but I thought it did it very well.
I watched the director cut just over 3 hours long.
McGregor was brilliant, Kyliegh Curran has Abra equally has brilliant.
Rebecca Ferguson was very good
I enjoyed it more the second time round,
9/10
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Dark Game
A determined detective is in a race against time to stop a twisted game show on the dark web, where captives are forced to compete for their lives.
It was OK , not the best or the worst, it had its moments, but few and far between, there could have been a very good film here, but it fell short.
4/10
A determined detective is in a race against time to stop a twisted game show on the dark web, where captives are forced to compete for their lives.
It was OK , not the best or the worst, it had its moments, but few and far between, there could have been a very good film here, but it fell short.
4/10
A Real Pain - 7/10
This didn't hit the heights I was expecting.
There's no doubt about the chemistry on display between Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg and there are some funny moments but I think it fell short of what it could have been, particularly in the final third.
Better Man - 9/10
This one certainly hit the heights and was way better than I thought it would be.
It's difficult to say whether the chimp thing works or not because it's just there and you get used to it - the chimp is Robbie Williams.
The way it tells the story and fits the music in, no punches are pulled in terms of his life story, it's just fantastic entertainment from start to finish and I although I think it will probably be topped in 2025 with some of the scheduled releases it already looks solid for a podium finish.
William Tell - 6.5/10
It was inevitable this would be made as a long film of course because of the subject, things like this aren't done by halves.
I actually thought some of the performances were a bit under par as individuals and the film overall didn't quite grip me like I had anticipated.
There's been mixed feelings on here about Gladiator II but frankly it's a multitude of times better than this.
Some of the battle scenes it felt like could have been upped a notch even though they are partially saved by the incredible scenery on offer.
This didn't hit the heights I was expecting.
There's no doubt about the chemistry on display between Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg and there are some funny moments but I think it fell short of what it could have been, particularly in the final third.
Better Man - 9/10
This one certainly hit the heights and was way better than I thought it would be.
It's difficult to say whether the chimp thing works or not because it's just there and you get used to it - the chimp is Robbie Williams.
The way it tells the story and fits the music in, no punches are pulled in terms of his life story, it's just fantastic entertainment from start to finish and I although I think it will probably be topped in 2025 with some of the scheduled releases it already looks solid for a podium finish.
William Tell - 6.5/10
It was inevitable this would be made as a long film of course because of the subject, things like this aren't done by halves.
I actually thought some of the performances were a bit under par as individuals and the film overall didn't quite grip me like I had anticipated.
There's been mixed feelings on here about Gladiator II but frankly it's a multitude of times better than this.
Some of the battle scenes it felt like could have been upped a notch even though they are partially saved by the incredible scenery on offer.
I don't watch trailers and remember finding out this was a sequel to Shining whilst watching it in the cinema.
I gasped so loud and the whole crowd turned and got annoyed at me.
Yes indeed.
I read the book and was thoroughly disappointed with the story. So many things, for me, were just badly thought out. Those same plot points were in the movie, so I hated it. Things like
the villains are a group of psychic vampires who use their superannuated lives, experience, money to live in motorhomes (caravans) and drive around the country staying at RV parks like retired public workers.
It was like King couldn't fully commit to his own bit, the idea that a bunch of children are kidnapped and have their life energy stolen from them. Then we finally get to see Danny again, except all growed up 'n' shit. Where did Danny go in his life, with his Shining power? What amazing things did he get up to? Did he start a family? Do his children Shine? King's answer is -- Danny works in a retirement home as an orderly. The whole novel felt like he tossed it off (pun intended) in an afternoon.
It was like King couldn't fully commit to his own bit, the idea that a bunch of children are kidnapped and have their life energy stolen from them. Then we finally get to see Danny again, except all growed up 'n' shit. Where did Danny go in his life, with his Shining power? What amazing things did he get up to? Did he start a family? Do his children Shine? King's answer is -- Danny works in a retirement home as an orderly. The whole novel felt like he tossed it off (pun intended) in an afternoon.
So I hated the movie but for story reasons. I couldn't get into it.
Well, to be fair to the crowd, not everyone "gasps" with their dicks in their hands.
https://news.sky.com/story/the-brut...o-refine-his-lead-stars-performances-13293656
What do we make of this? Thin end of the wedge, right? David Lynch timed his death perfectly.
What do we make of this? Thin end of the wedge, right? David Lynch timed his death perfectly.
Stray Dog (1949) and High And Low (1963). Akira Kurosawa.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/20...w-kurosawa-takes-drama-to-astonishing-heights
https://www.theguardian.com/film/20...w-kurosawa-takes-drama-to-astonishing-heights
I hated the original film because it missed the point of the book and was just a "boo there is a ghost" film with pretensions of grandeur and a wildly overacting Jack Nicholson. I didn't mind Dr Sleep for the same reasons but now that I think about I can't remember a thing about the film.
Its my own fault but I need to stop watching Guy Ritchie movies
in the Ministry of whatever the feck its called he's taken a genuinely riveting real life story and made the most boring generic action flick
I just found it grating and I know lots of directors do this sorta stuff but still, it’s not for me
He should just stay in his lane and make b-grade gangster films imo
in the Ministry of whatever the feck its called he's taken a genuinely riveting real life story and made the most boring generic action flick
I just found it grating and I know lots of directors do this sorta stuff but still, it’s not for me
He should just stay in his lane and make b-grade gangster films imo
mmm maybe I should read both books, I have watched Dr Sleep a couple of time now, thought it was excellent.
Nicholson's over acting in the original was what made the film for me, he started of highly strung and the more he fell the more he overacted.
It was deepy meh.
Shining is an absolutely perfect film and Nicholson descent into madness is essential to the narrative. The book is ok, as with most King books, but the film is a true masterpiece, as with most Kubrick films.