Films you've seen lately

[RichardB]

Spending this evening alone (no need for sympathy, it isn't Christmas Eve here!), somehow I found myself watching David Cronenberg's Crash, not having seen it since its release in 1996. Although the film is only loosely based on the eponymous novel by J G Ballard, its whole style and atmosphere is somehow faithful to the author's writing in a way that I don't think Cronenberg's other literary adaptations are. Not exactly seasonal fare though, I guess

[Joseph K]

Spending this evening alone (no need for sympathy, it isn't Christmas Eve here!), somehow I found myself watching David Cronenberg's Crash, not having seen it since its release in 1996. Although the film is only loosely based on the eponymous novel by J G Ballard, its whole style and atmosphere is somehow faithful to the author's writing in a way that I don't think Cronenberg's other literary adaptations are. Not exactly seasonal fare though, I guess

I watched that on youtube some years back, after even more years back enjoying the novel. I guess there will always be details from the novel one might regret not finding their way into the film - OTOH, film is a more gratuitous medium than some of Ballard's abstract, analogical language.

[rauschwerk]

No-one else seen the Oliver Sacks one yet? Extraordinary....

I was previously unaware of it so thanks for the heads-up, Jayne. I have seen The man who mistook... and read Sacks's early years memoir Uncle Tungsten so I'm sure I shall find this most absorbing.

[groovydavidii]

Recommend Iranian(?) film “Damascus Time” (Youtube-English, Movie “V”). Taut mix of ISIS brutality, religious fanaticism, suffering, but above all exceptional heroism–worthy watch, surpasses most of Hollywood’s offerings.

[jayne lee wilson]

Anyone managed to see Petite Maman yet? Doesn't stream here till February, sadly.....

I'd watch the new Dune but even the current rental cost is around £15....its so long I might not get through it in 48hrs....!

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/21/petite-maman-review-celine-sciamma-heartbreakingly-hopeful-fairytale-for-all-ages

[johncorrigan]

Anyone managed to see Petite Maman yet? Doesn't stream here till February, sadly.....

Mrs C and I saw 'Petite Maman' in Dundee, jayne in a quiet afternoon seniors' showing last month, with plenty distancing and masks on display. Really enjoyable film, beautifully shot and with a fantastic soundtrack (except one bit where the sound went a bit over the top). The performances of the twins were terrific...and it was funny too. Some lovely pieces of humour...and not too long either, especially for seniors in the afternoon - got through it without a trip to the loo, always important measure these days.

I think you mentioned 'Another Round' starring Mads Mikkelson a while back, jayne. Watched it a day or two back - loved the broken relationship of the four men and the magnetic draw of alcohol. Although it had a rather uncertain message regarding alcohol, it certainly had me wondering about my own relationship with it. Well worth watching with a terrific premise and Mikkelson was great, I thought, as the failing teacher who realises that alcohol adds a certain spice to his performance...as long as he doesn't push it too far.

[jayne lee wilson]

I've seen Another Round at least three times now, and it gets better every time. Like Promising Young Woman, it often seems like one great scene after another....yet perfectly paced and thought-through....oh, the Dog in the Boat!

I'm always sobbing my heart out (often laughing as well) in the final scene at the quayside....."What a Life"!!?? You bloody bet...

Absolutely makes you think about alcohol as a crutch and much more.... just as PYW inspired reflections about unhealed emotional wounds, vengeance, grievance, hatred and..... how do you deal with all of that when almost no-one says sorry? With one of the all-time truly great, tragi-comic, multilayered endings...
It spoke to me just a little too deeply.

(The scene with the lawyer (the wonderful Alfred Molina) is remarkable...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmcsS0UHWBE)

Cassie's initial toughness, offset by the femininity of her outfit, her hauntingly husky voice...threat becomes unexpected compassion..... then that funny, almost cynical little twist with the hitman at the end.... great writing/directing from Emerald Fennel.

[Belgrove]

The Lost Daughter is a chilly film despite being set on a sunny Greek island (nevertheless invaded by memento mori images). The magnificent Olivia Colman is the source of the chills, a professor holidaying alone, superficially friendly, but quick to dig in her heels and be acerbic when things don’t go exactly as she wishes. She generates unease, not least through misreading the intentions and words of others, her self-absorption and selfishness. A parallel thread reveals her younger-self (played uncannily by Jessie Buckley) struggling to juggle bringing up two demanding daughters with establishing an academic career, and this juxtaposition becomes acute when a young child of a family also staying at the resort goes missing. This is Maggie Gyllenhaal’s impressive debut as director, for she cleverly generates anxiety from the simplest, most innocent, events and uses close-ups with great skill. One is constantly anxious for how this tale is going to culminate. Colman is riveting to watch, such an expressive face that flickers with myriad emotions that fleetingly reveals calculation and capped mental turbulence, it’s the most impressive film acting I’ve seen this year. An uncomfortable film for the grown-ups. On at selected cinemas and on Netflix from the New Year.

[kindofblue]

Went to HOME in Manchester the other day to see 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' directed by Joel Coen, Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in the lead roles. I very much enjoyed it but it will divide opinion; it is an adaption rather than a performance of the play, lasting only 1h 45m. It is as a consequence pacy, there are very few scenes containing 'extras'. It is also in black and white, adding to the gloom. What we get is the centrality of the play, namely the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and their ambition, followed by their horrified realistion of what they have done. Denzel W and Frances M are compelling, close ups giving us a minute examination of their changing psyches. The text is delivered in conversation form, this is not grand, declamatory theatre. All the other leads are excellent and the witches are... fascinating and scary. [Trying hard to avoid spoilers!] This is a distillation of the play which convinced me completely but if you're a traditionalist you may need to look elsewhere.

[RichardB]

Two days ago: Villeneuve's Dune. Not a patch on David Lynch's version (as I suspected it wouldn't be).
Yesterday: The French Dispatch, out of duty really, since I don't much like Wes Anderson's films in general, and this one is degenerating even further into self parody, or so it seems to me.
This evening: Censor. Quite original and quite chilling, most "horror" movies are pretty stupid but this one isn't. The best of the three by far.
Happy new year everyone!

[RichardB]

Is anyone else watching any films at the moment? In the last two days:
Interstellar, for the second time, this time with subtitles (since the sound design of this film is - apparently on purpose - such that you often can't make out what's being said), which was a great improvement in every way on the previous time when I found it annoying and not at all exciting.
Don't Look Up has been panned by critics and I don't really understand why, I can't remember the last time I saw a satirical film that's so memorable and so successful in its alternation between humour and grimness, in the line of Dr Strangelove and Network but very much of our time.

[jayne lee wilson]

I was looking for Dont Look Up last night, but not here on my streamers...(Prime, Disney+ and Sky...there was more choice under lockdown!)

Not too impressed with Interstellar a few years back....spectacular of course, but an obscure cod-science/real science mix....and for me, too much "family" in there...
I'd rather read my New Scientist Christmas Special...

Unwilling to pay the £15 (rental!) for the new, vastly lengthy Dune, I began watching the Lynch version again....it is very 80s, but what incredible atmosphere, vision and visuals....Kyle MacLachlan and Sting are great in it...
Seeming impenetrable at the time as a cinema one-off, but the story is clearer & more gripping now, and it grows more compelling as it ages.... (I tried the novel but gave up after about 10 pages...)

Do check out the Lynch early-life autobiography, "The Art Life"....on Sky and elsewhere...

I tried to watch Peter Rabbit 2..... no, no good, a poor rehash, not a patch on the often hilariously inventive original...

So its been mainly TV reboots for me - Dexter New Blood & "And just Like That" (Sex and the City)...
Oh and, House reruns....(love the character...)

[RichardB]

Do check out the Lynch early-life autobiography, "The Art Life"....

It's nice enough, but these days (I mean for the past 19 years or so) when I see a (male) artist talking about their dedication to their art I always find myself asking ... "and what part did you play in your children's upbringing?" Don't get me wrong, I love David Lynch and his work, it's been a very strong influence on me in many ways, but it's all very well to flutter around from one project to the next when all your needs are being taken care of by other people (who aren't really seen in the documentary).

[RichardB]

Not too impressed with Interstellar a few years back....spectacular of course, but an obscure cod-science/real science mix....and for me, too much "family" in there...
I'd rather read my New Scientist Christmas Special...

I found it repaid a second watch. The first time I was getting sidetracked by inwardly scoffing at the cod science too much, while the second I was more relaxed about it. New Scientist? If you want the most up to date news on what scientists are actually doing you need to look at Nature and Science... I stopped reading NS when the glossy graphics started taking up more space on the page than the words!

[Bryn]

I was looking for Dont Look Up last night, but not here on my streamers...(Prime, Disney+ and Sky...there was more choice under lockdown!)

Not too impressed with Interstellar a few years back....spectacular of course, but an obscure cod-science/real science mix....and for me, too much "family" in there...
I'd rather read my New Scientist Christmas Special...

Unwilling to pay the £15 (rental!) for the new, vastly lengthy Dune, I began watching the Lynch version again....it is very 80s, but what incredible atmosphere, vision and visuals....Kyle MacLachlan and Sting are great in it...
Seeming impenetrable at the time as a cinema one-off, but the story is clearer now, and it grows more compelling as it ages....

Do check out the Lynch early-life autobiography, "The Art Life"....on Sky and elsewhere...

I tried to watch Peter Rabbit 2..... no, no good, not a patch on the often hilariously inventive original...

So its been mainly TV reboots for me - Dexter New Blood & "And just Like That" (Sex and the City)...
Oh and, House reruns....(love the character...)

My New Year resolution regarding films is to 'box set' the 14 or so major Jarman films I have to hand. That's 13, plus Russell's The Devils, for which Jarman was the set designer, as a prelude. Some interesting use of sound by Brian Eno et al., including an uncredited short clip from a performance of Cardew's The Great Learning, Paragraph 7. Long overdue is a DVD/Blu-ray release of the original, pre-censorship The Devils.