Films you've seen lately

[richardfinegold]

It's funny, having seen The Shape of Water on Friday, I was going to post here yesterday evening but other things happened. I got as far as checking that no one had yet mentioned the film - but now two have!

Belgrove, I know what you mean - and we agree (##376 & 383 above) about Phantom Thread which I too would place on a different level entirely, and one I prefer (not least as you say the score).

I did find The Shape of Water an intriguing and unique (in my experience) mix of fairy tale / monster movie / espionage caper. The performances by the leads were pretty captivating - no one does a brooding, screwed-up villain like Michael Shannon, and Sally Hawkins did great things in the main role. Nice humorous touches from the actors playing her neighbour friend, and her work buddy.

Plus I thought the film built up to a climax of real grandeur aided by the score.

But save for some parts in the last third of the film, it left me detached, it felt like a whimsical exercise de style. And quite a lot of the earlier part seemed to be trying for the sort of fey charm (abetted by the tinkly score) which I personally find a turn-off - reminded me of the Jeunet film Amélie, which I couldn't stomach.

I liked the Shape Of Water. Originally the only reason that I had wanted to see it is because I’ve met Michael Shannon a few times (a colleague of mine, a Clinical Psychologist, quit his ‘day job’ and assists him in running an experimental Theater called The Red Orchid), but I found it beguiling. Essentially it’s a remake of E.T.; this time the Alien instead of having a relationship with a child has a romantic relationship with a somewhat childlike adult.
I re watched The Disaster Artist last night, renting it on iTunes as my daughter, who is a fan of the Room and of James Franco, was over and wanted to see it.. The first time I had watched it I had never heard of The Room and it wasn’t until the end of the movie that I began to realize that it was a true story. Franco really does an amazing impersonation of Tommy, but I suppose the rejection of it by the Academy was to be predicted after the hullabaloo of The Golden Globes

[Nick Armstrong]

Essentially it’s a remake of E.T.

I remember sitting stone-hearted in the sentimental E.T. while all around were manipulated by Spielberg/Williams into sniffing and sobbing - so that parallel is not good for Shape of Water, for me!

Envious of you knowing Michael Shannon - what sort of bloke is he in real life?

[Stunsworth]

I watched Death of Stalin for the second time the other evening. It came across a lot darker second time around. Still some very funny dialogue, but Simon Russel Beal as Beria was very menacing.

[richardfinegold]

I remember sitting stone-hearted in the sentimental E.T. while all around were manipulated by Spielberg/Williams into sniffing and sobbing - so that parallel is not good for Shape of Water, for me!

Envious of you knowing Michael Shannon - what sort of bloke is he in real life?

Better PM you on that one

[gurnemanz]

I watched Death of Stalin for the second time the other evening. It came across a lot darker second time around. Still some very funny dialogue, but Simon Russel Beal as Beria was very menacing.

Reminds me that he portrayed a very good, comically chilling Stalin in John Hodge's play Collaborators at the National a few years ago.

[Richard Tarleton]

Terrific film, just watched on Sky (DVD in post). Disgraceful that Simon R B was not included in the poster, because he was felt to be not sufficiently well known, though he walks away with the picture


But all the cast were note perfect.

A pedant writes: it was the Borodin String Quartet who played at the lying in state. Their first gig. Rostislav Dubinsky describes the scene in his autobiog, Stormy Applause.

[gradus]

Talking Pictures has played Heavens Above and The Wrong Arm of the Law both hugely enjoyable and unseen by me since their original release. From a slightly earlier vintage, Will Hay will be featured on Thursday morning next, shame about the timing but recorder at the ready.

[Nick Armstrong]

I know a cracking good film when I see one! I've always regarded Robert Hardy's 1981 depiction of Churchill as definitive, but I think Gary Oldman is his equal. I don't know what the cinematic equivalent of a 'coup de theâtre' is, but there were some wonderful examples, e.g. after the Calais Commander had read his orders.

I saw 'Darkest Hour' yesterday and thought it was marvellous! I was gripped from start to finish! Oldman gave an award winning performance.

Yes, completely agreed - at last got round to seeing Darkest Hour at the weekend: I too was gripped, by the film generally and Oldman in particular, in a way I didn't quite expect to be. I expected something more 'worthy' and Oldman beneath his layers of prosthetic make up to be more stilted somehow (I didn't buy at all his performance as George Smiley in the TTSS film). But he's brilliant. Also liked Stephen Dillane (always great whatever he does) as Halifax.

The key scene where WC takes the Underground and gauges the mood of 'the people' felt far-fetched but was moving nonetheless - the director referred to the scene as a "fictionalization of an emotional truth... Churchill was apparently known to go AWOL at times, and he was also known to go and visit the people of London and seek their counsel, and have a little cry with them sometimes." Hmmmm, well it worked in context imho.

And a briiliantly-done moment: the "Privy Seal" gag - a true Churchill line apparently, and one I'd never heard!

[Barbirollians]

Yes, completely agreed - at last got round to seeing Darkest Hour at the weekend: I too was gripped, by the film generally and Oldman in particular, in a way I didn't quite expect to be. I expected something more 'worthy' and Oldman beneath his layers of prosthetic make up to be more stilted somehow (I didn't buy at all his performance as George Smiley in the TTSS film). But he's brilliant. Also liked Stephen Dillane (always great whatever he does) as Halifax.

The key scene where WC takes the Underground and gauges the mood of 'the people' felt far-fetched but was moving nonetheless - the director referred to the scene as a "fictionalization of an emotional truth... Churchill was apparently known to go AWOL at times, and he was also known to go and visit the people of London and seek their counsel, and have a little cry with them sometimes." Hmmmm, well it worked in context imho.

And a briiliantly-done moment: the "Privy Seal" gag - a true Churchill line apparently, and one I'd never heard!

Oldman is outstanding and I could take the obviously and absurdly fictional underground scene . What I found worrying about the film was its complete misrepresentation of the facts about the war cabinet discussions

1 A shocking calumny on Attlee who supported Churchill's position throughout

2 Arthur Greenwood the other Labour member of the war cabinet " Speak for England Arthur" completely airbrushed out when the transcripts of the War Cabinet discussions show he was the most vociferous in support of Churchill.

3 Chamberlain did not find out he was suffering from cancer until much later in the summer and was much more on the fence than the film suggests

4 The Roosevelt conversation did not take place.

I find fictionalising and misrepresenting what happened in WW2 a very slippery slope. A great central performance in a very mediocre film .

[Barbirollians]

Yesterday I saw 'The Post' - American political thriller film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg staring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. I loved it! Fans of 'All the President's Men' should love this too.

This on the other hand I thought was fantastic.

[Nick Armstrong]

I find fictionalising and misrepresenting what happened in WW2 a very slippery slope. A great central performance in a very mediocre film .

Perhaps my ignorance of the vérité with which the film was apparently so economical, contributed to my enjoyment then....

[richardfinegold]

This on the other hand I thought was fantastic.

Another film of similar subject matter seems to have vanished. Mark Felt is the name of the film and the main character. Liam Neeson plays him and it was directed by Ridley Scott.
Felt was the Number 2 Man in the FBI and was the real Deep Throat. The events concern the break in and the Watergate coverup

[richardfinegold]

I saw Three Billboards last weekend. That would have got my vote for best Picture. There is plenty of quirky humor to redeem a potentially sad tale, and great acting.

[Stanfordian]

'Finding Your Feet' with Imelda Staunton. Five out of five! - Wonderful!

[johncorrigan]

I loved the 'Black Panther' comics back in the 70s so I thought I'd take in the most recent Marvel offering, now that the snow's gone. Looked great, good acting, excellent special effects but lacked that certain oomph (humour perhaps). Pleasant enough entertainment. Best thing about it was that if you go to Cineworld in Dundee in the afternoon you buy your ticket at the food counter. I was standing behind this guy and he was taking ages...I realised he was buying 'SNACKS' with his ticket. Giant hotdog, large popcorn, big cup of coke...with ticket £22.30...I reckoned he paid twice as much for the nosh as for the ticket to Black Panther. When I eventually got in I saw him already sat up the back row getting tucked in... but, I mean, Twenty-two pound and thirty pence!!!!