Films

Just got back from seeing Nebraska. Knew I was going to like it as soon as I heard the music. If there are two things the Americans do well it's Right of Passage films and road movies and it combined the best of both. I guess it was a film about the trip that most men didn't make with their dads, but always wish they had. Being in black and white I found myself looking at every small detail in each scene. One complaint [a very small one] and that is I couldn't stop thinking that the guy who played the son looked like Roger Federer. But I can't really fault it. Did a bit of blinking of the eyes and a lot of laughing. It were lovely.Will have to watch his other films now.
 
i knew you would like it... it has some masterly little touchs. The exchanged looks on in the final scenes and i loved the look on his old flames face. really beautiful film

captured a disappearing america too. oh and i loved his mum. see how her character developed so well?

He really is a fine director. best around for me

Sideways is magnificent. One of my fav films full stop and the cabsauv/pinot scene is quite special

about schmidt i watched again recently (his films can take a few viewings) and jack nicholson rarely better

election is his first and well worth seeking out and the decendents probably needs anoher viewing from me. Again enjoyable but a little less memorable

my two fav films this year were both black and white. Francis ha being the other
 
I don't think that women worry too much about getting too old to drive; it's a nuisance but not the end of the world. But to a man, it is. I remember how difficult it was for my ex to persuade his father to stop driving even though they both knew he was becoming a danger to himself and others. I found the last scene incredibly moving for that reason.
 
Looking forward to American hustle Moehat. It's on at one west end cinema before Xmas and might just get there

Also tempted by filling the void, the Israeli drama about the orthodox community.
 
Just checked out Mark Kermodes review of Nebraska [he loved it too] and he referred to a film called Stranger than Paradise. Also said it was digitally filmed and then the colour was removed and something was added to give it an old, grainy effect. I bet Computer Chess was filmed in the same way. Pity I missed that. Filling the Void doesn't seem to be on here. All is Lost, The Railway Man and Marius/Fanny are the films for January. Oh and 12 Years a Slave. It's going to be a busy month. [plus Inside Llewyn Davis and Bullet Ballet].
 
Saw filling the void today. It is outstanding. It's hard to believe the director is only 24 (I think) Its pitch perfect throughout

I'm pretty sure you can wtach it in curzons website too. Being a very intimate film it will lose nothing on an ipad
 
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Spoke to a photographer yesterday who does a lot of work in black and white and he said he does the same; takes the photo in colour then takes the colour away. Never knowing what to get the S.O. for Christmas I bought The Descendents today [if in doubt, give someone a present that you want yourself; at least it won't get wasted]. American Hustle has had some outstanding reviews but have to watch Despicable Me so we can watch Despicable Me2 at Christmas [if Santa brings it]. AH will have to wait till after Christmas. ps Being a technophobe don't have an ipad, unless said Santa brings me one. Annoyingly [after seeing Philomena] The Magdalene Sisters was on telly last night, but I was too tired to watch it.
 
Get an iPad.. My other half is a complete technophobe and is now addicted to it. The latest version has incredible picture quality

And you can get Netflix which is wonderful. I know you wanted to see dreams of a life and just watched it here. Quite riveting and moving. Wasn't sure it was for me but I was wrong. Great sadness in the story especially the guy who she really adored. He comes across as absolutely a top bloke. Leaves a lot of questions in your head
 
We saw Dreams of a Life. I find documentaries like that fascinating; they sort of draw you in bit by bit. Also need to get hold of Searching for Sugar Man, of the same genre.
 
American hustle is ok but should have had a bit more tension and some scenes were a bit overplayed. It's entertaining and wouldn't put off but won't be film of the year
 
Watched A Field in England last night. Wanted to se it at the cinema; so glad I didn't. Haven't got a clue what it was about. I'm ok with obscure films but do want some sort of a inkling as to what the hell I'm supposed to be watching.
 
Last night The Class, Sightseers [so I could understand A Field in England better] tonight Steve McQueens 'Hunger'. Thought The Class was actually a documentary; only realised it wasn't when I checked it out later. Film 4 is brilliant [specially when you can stay up half the night and not have to go to work the next day!].
 
clivex said:
American hustle is ok but should have had a bit more tension and some scenes were a bit overplayed. It's entertaining and wouldn't put off but won't be film of the year
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I thought it was very entertaining. What is film of the year?
 
SlimChance said:
What is film of the year?
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"12 Years A Slave" is a shoe-in for the Best Picture Oscar, imho.
(And "Gravity" for runner-up).
The first for an extraordinary story magnificently crafted into film.
"Gravity" for the stunning visual effects and tension.
 
I saw Gravity in 3D but I've missed the Steve McQueen show. Strangely I've not had an Oscars bet yet.
 
I watched Gravity, but only in bog-standard 2-D format (megashare). Clearly 3-D was invented for the likes of Gravity and seeing it in anything less greatly diminishes the impact.
McQueens film makes for uncomfortable and painful viewing. It is unrelenting in it's depiction of cruelty and misery. Verging on torture-porn, even. It's as if Gibson's "Passion Of The Christ" has been transposed to 1840's America.
Still, must be a banker for the Oscar I do think.
 
SlimChance said:
I thought it was very entertaining. What is film of the year?
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I'm talking 2014 so how the fck do I know?

It was entertaining but that's about it

I liked mcqueens shame a lot but I can't help wondering whether his latest is going to be rated highly on guiltyliberalbollocks grounds as much as filmmaking. I wonder if its a bit good vs bad again too. Director has made some slightly tiresome remarks too

And i bet it's not accurate. Someone should have pointed out that the slaves were always singing merrily in previous films so can't have been all that bad.
 
I found McQueen's 'Hunger' very boring, I'm afraid and only half watched it. Is Michael Fassbender Irish [Irish American]? I heard an interview with him and he sounded like Bono. My friend saw Gravity and she told me not to bother with it, and if I did it would have to be in 3D. I see that Blackfish might be up for an Oscar as best documentary; described as 'the most chilling film of last year'. Glad it isn't just me that found it terrifying.
 
Was that the bobby sands one? Won't be watching that.

Gravity is one of those films that I knew from trailer was simply not for me.
 
Always worth taking recommendations of people you respect Moehat. If a film "has to be in 3d" then that says it all

Blackfish does look interesting.
 
I wasn't really watching Hunger and was doing other things [sorting out paperwork and stuff]. It probably needed a bit more concentration from me, as it was very visual [ but I did feel I would have been bored at the cinema]. I'm annoyed [being a Hunger Games fan] that I fell asleep watching Battle Royale as I don't want to buy it on dvd and I really wanted to compare it to THG's. Hoping it will be on Film4 again. Going to see the Robert Redford film tonight. And Volver is on in the early hours [although I've got that recorded somewhere]. Trying to find a bad review for All Is Lost [can't]. Was bored out of my head.
 
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Can't make. Ind up whether to see 12 years. I'm sure it's a fine film but I am also sure I know exactly what it's going to be like. It's true that slavery has never been addressed properly in cinema but nor have hemaroids

Not over keen on lingering violence too.

It's probably an important film for understanding the history and those unaware should see it for sure, but I'm not sitting my o levels
 
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