Films you've seen lately

[Belgrove]

As john recommends (and a lovely reminiscence), September 5 is a tense watch, almost played out in real time of the hostage crisis at the 1972 Olympics. It ends where Spielberg’s Munich commences, but that then goes in a very different direction. The integration of real footage into the narrative is skilfully done. The sheer effort of making a programme back then is vividly conveyed. The size of the cameras, the spools of magnetic tape loaded into bulky machines, making captions from type. And having only one member on the production team who could speak German!

[Ian Thumwood]

As john recommends (and a lovely reminiscence), September 5 is a tense watch, almost played out in real time of the hostage crisis at the 1972 Olympics. It ends where Spielberg’s Munich commences, but that then goes in a very different direction. The integration of real footage into the narrative is skilfully done. The sheer effort of making a programme back then is vividly conveyed. The size of the cameras, the spools of magnetic tape loaded into bulky machines, making captions from type. And having only one member on the production team who could speak German!

We go to the cinema at least once a month and the selection for the next week offers both the September 5 film and Captain America. I hate superhero films but the trailer does provoke a reaction insofar that the return of Trump is something we all fear . We have no need for American superheros and I think the the nationalism will grate in uk.

I would have similar reservations about he 5th September film. Speilberg's film was really exciting but I don't think would be made in 2025. Sympathies have changed and I wonder what the audience response will be to the new film given the general support for Palestine and it's people as a whole in the UK . I would be intrigued if the dreadful events in Palestine would render the new film out of it's time ?

[Ian Thumwood]

I listened to my wife and went to see Captain America. Absolute twaddle not helped by the fact that the villain is half man / half broccoli. Best avoided.

Should have gone to watch Bridget Jones instead.....at least there might be a chance to see Renee Zelwigger' s apple catching knickers again.

[Serial_Apologist]

I listened to my wife and went to see Captain America. Absolute twaddle not helped by the fact that the villain is half man / half broccoli. Best avoided.

Should have gone to watch Bridget Jones instead.....at least there might be a chance to see Renee Zelwigger' s apple catching knickers again.

Being vegetarian, I would only eat the half of the villain consisting of the broccoli.

[Ian Thumwood]

Difficult to take the Marvel films seriously but with Trump as president, the film had a nasty aftertaste.

[Nick Armstrong]

Good central performances; looked very good in places; the soundtrack was good. But, as you say Belgrove, there were ridiculous holes in the narrative, things that didn't make sense; and as for the scenes at the end, before the epilogue - that was just nonsensical. As were some other parts in the film - why did she start talking again?

Saw both Conclave and Brutalist this week (in the comfort of a living room thanks to a well-connected French family member). Both enjoyed, the former gorgeously watchable, surprisingly thriller-y but with a slightly naff ending…

As for the latter, I agree with JC above - the time sped by but in the second part some very bizarre narrative/editing choices, gaps, disappearances… In fact we rewatched from the Carrara trip to just before the acceleration to 1980, to check we hadn’t collectively nodded off and missed what happened to…. [no spoilers]. But no, just unexplained narrative holes.

Still a memorable film, but…

[Ian Thumwood]

The Conclave ' surprised me as being based on a Robert Harris thriller. His books have a reputation for endings which peter out. Only read 'Oblivion ' which fascinated me and would make a terrific film. I get the impression he is a bit uneven.