Films you've seen lately

[Serial_Apologist]

Its the sex worker/oligarch juxtaposition and the sentimentality to be milked not the condition of sex workers across the globe that irks.

But there's this also from the Oscar presentations, by contrast, fortunately:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg1vdr4dzko

[LHC]

Its the sex worker/oligarch juxtaposition and the sentimentality to be milked not the condition of sex workers across the globe that irks.

I haven't seen it so don't know if the charge of sentimentality is correct (that's certainly a charge that can be levelled against Pretty Woman), but the reviews I've seen and the involvement of real sex workers as actors and consultants in the film suggests its a more honest depiction of that milieu than is usually portrayed in films.

[LMcD]

[QUOTE=Nick Armstrong;n1331344]

[COLOR=#3300ff] Conclave Gorgeously watchable, surprisingly thriller-y but with a slightly naff ending.

My feelings exactly. A real bargain at £4.99 on Amazon Prime.

[johncorrigan]

I decided to take a trip to the pictures last night. I didn't see 'Parasite' but liked the sound of Bong Joon-ho's latest, 'Mickey 17'. The basic premise is that two guys join an intergalactic space journey to colonise an ice planet, in order to escape extremely dangerous creditors on Earth. Mickey, played by Robert Pattinson, enlists as an 'expendable', which is the one person on the mission who gets all the worst jobs and if he dies is resurrected by the lab guys, and thus we get to 'Mickey 17'. A problem that arises is that, presumed dead, the lab techs print out Mickey 18 so when 17 gets back to his room there is an interloper.
I laughed a lot during the film - Mark Ruffalo was wild as the failed politician leading the resettlement with his equally crazed wife, Toni Collette, but Pattinson was the star - last I saw him was with Dafoe in 'The Lighthouse', and other than that I only knew him as Cedric Diggery in 'Goblet of Fire'. I thought he was terrific in this film, particularly when playing the parts of 17 and 18, one of them completely psychotic, the other pretty meek. It's not the greatest film I have ever seen, but the two hours flew by, and there was plenty in there to enjoy; and some stuff to be repulsed by. Maybe I'll take the plunge into 'Parasite'.

[Belgrove]

I too saw Mickey 17. The first 90 minutes are definitely worth watching, but the remainder definitely isn’t, it runs out of juice and becomes unfocused. The character played by Ruffalo is an alarming conflation of Trump and Musk, quite prescient considering the film was made a couple of years ago. If Musk ever gets to Mars, this film may well be a blueprint for that society.

Pattinson is the best thing in it - he’s a fascinating film actor who has graduated from playing a vampire heartthrob for teenage girls to serious and diverse films. John mentions The Lighthouse, which is an extraordinary horror film, and in High Life, he played a felon sent on a one way trip to a black hole whilst being experimented on by a loony doctor. His incarnation as Batman in the last film in that series was distinctly disturbing and serious. He is cast in Christopher Nolan’s latest film based on the Odyssey which is in production. He’s probably the right age and has the looks to become the next Bond, but given his CV and interests would probably turn it down. He’s of the same calibre as Daniel Day-Lewis, and that’s saying something!

Parasite is worth a watch, it has the same off kilter humour as displayed in Mickey 17 and touches on the same issues of class and privilege. But it is also too long, and in the end plagiarises the episode of Inside Number 9 featuring the silent burglars, which was done and dusted in 30 minutes.

[Ian Thumwood]

Parasite was excellent and really clever The plot amazed me as you think you understand what is happening but the film is really smart and subverts your expectations. I do not wish to say more other than to state that it was really original. If Mickey 17 is half as smart, I would want to see it.

[johncorrigan]

Parasite was excellent and really clever The plot amazed me as you think you understand what is happening but the film is really smart and subverts your expectations. I do not wish to say more other than to state that it was really original. If Mickey 17 is half as smart, I would want to see it.

Personally speaking, Ian, I think 'Mickey 17' is worth watching for Pattinson's performance, but I found lots to enjoy/repulse!

Talking of great performances, Mrs C and I joined an all-female audience to see the latest Bridget Jones' flick the other night. The film was entertaining enough, but what lifted it markedly was the hillarious performance of Hugh Grant. He had three or four scenes in the film and I found myself chortling away heartily at his outrageousness. Comic delight!

[MickyD]

'Queer' with Daniel Craig has to be the most excruciatingly awful film I've seen in a long while. There's doubt Craig's performance is strong and he breaks the typecast mould of James Bond, but the film itself to me is one overlong and unpleasant account of drink and drug taking. Others I know don't share my opinion and rate it quite highly, but I loathed it.

[Serial_Apologist]

'Queer' with Daniel Craig has to be the excruciatingly awful film I've seen in a long while. There's doubt Craig's performance is strong and he breaks the typecast mould of James Bond, but the film itself to me is one overlong and unpleasant account of drink and drug taking. Others I know don't share my opinion and rate it quite highly, but I loathed it.

I haven't seen Queer, and wouldn't, based on your anti-recommendation, but one does recall Daniel Craig's remarkable appearance as a dissolute in that memorable TV series Our Friends in the North. Craig was only in his twenties when he played that role, and it has always amazed me how he subsequently toned himself up for James Bond.

[MickyD]

I have been astonished to hear some French colleagues saying how marvellous it is, but I can only speak as I find. I found it all very pretentious and tedious as well as being repulsive. More than anything I felt absolutely no empathy for any of the characters - and when that happens for me, a film or book is a lost cause.

[smittims]

I find that too, Micky and with novels as well! I've never wanted to see The Godfather because I have no interest in crime. Others say this is missing the point , and we're supposed to appreciate the making of the work.

[MickyD]

Indeed, I have great difficulty trying to appreciate something which has no redeeming features. This was simply a story of auto-destruction and I just can't cope with that.

[Belgrove]

Black Bag is fun, a Tinker-Tailor-… spy caper for the 21st Century starring Michael Fassbender and (a very slinky) Cate Blanchett as married spooks. Fassbender is the Smiley character (he’s even called George and wears spectacles) tasked with discovering the identity of a seller of secrets in the service, but his wife is one of the potential suspects which makes things complicated. The twisty plot is probably ludicrous, but moves at such a rapid pace to obscure any possible plot holes and keeps you engaged. It’s spare, slick, and rather sophisticated, like wagyu flavoured popcorn.

[Ian Thumwood]

We went to see'Last Breath.' This was rivetting and really edge of the seat stuff.

[smittims]

I was impressed by 'One Fine Morning' a french film set in Paris in the present day, about a young widow dealing with an affair and her father's descent into demtia at the same time. That bald summary may seem dull, but I foiund it facinating. Beautifully filmed and acted; very believable, too, I thought, with each character's different-sided personalities revealed. On BBC4 iPlayer.