Films

Summer of Soul (2021)

The film examines the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which took place on six Sundays between June 29 and August 24 at Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) in Harlem, using professional footage of the festival that was filmed as it happened, stock news footage, and modern-day interviews with attendees, musicians, and other commentators to provide historical background and social context. Despite its large attendance and performers such as Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, the 5th Dimension, the Staple Singers, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mavis Staples, Blinky Williams, Sly and the Family Stone, and the Chambers Brothers, the festival is much less well-known in the 21st century than is Woodstock (which took place on the same weekend as one of the days of the Harlem Cultural Festival), and the filmmakers investigate this, among other topics. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_of_Soul

Very cool.

Sounds interesting, will add to the list

It was on TV the other night. Ch4 maybe? Just watching it now.

Going to the scorsese tomorrow. 3 1/2 hours - fucking unnecessary indulgence... I'm anooyed with it before I even get there. Better be fucking amazing.

I'm on the fence about seeing it in the cinema. On the one hand, I'm not the biggest Scorsese fan anyway and it's a long time to spend in the cinema. On the other hand, it does sound worth a watch and there's no fucking way I'm going to be able to concentrate on in for that long if I wait to watch it at home.

Streaming on C4 at the moment, time very well spent.

https://www.channel4.com/categories/film

why does he always fight at some big fancy discotheque,

Because big, set piece, highly choreographed, arguably well executed fight scenes are Keanu Reeves's oeuvre, and he is the entire draw for the film. It's not as if he's an otherwise versatile and accomplished actor.

Maybe I'm missing some huge self-effacing irony that the films are actually showing, because they just seem dumb.

Yeah it’s really great. Amazing archival footage. Directed by Questlove from The Roots 🙏

Yeah great footage and so many amazing artists.
It amazes (and disappoints) me that it sat essentially undiscovered for so long.

Found these old Scala posters (in Liverpool strangely). Remember the Scala?
Used to go a couple of times a week in the Scala's heyday. All nighters. Had a programme collection
Transgressive cinema at its finest

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These are amazing. Think I've seen a fair few of those but being honest the Rapid fire/Year of the Dragon double bill is probably what I'd choose these days.

One more

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Killing of flower moon.
As expected, it's massively too long. Trying to get a whole book into a film. The core story is interesting but very badly told. Good performances though Leo does go full Brando a bit too much.
Would have gone to my phone, then to bed if not at the cinema.

I watched this earlier at the cinema and really enjoyed it. Yes it was massively indulgent, it was 3.5 hours long so I knew that was going to be the case.

It was shot so well. So many amazing sequences, proper Scorcese cinematography.

After the Irishman, Ill wait till i can watch it on the telly.

Leo does go full Brando a bit too much.

He's just not a good actor, everything he does he overeggs - it's painful to watch. He's made a career from just going OTT and shouting in scenes that don't need it

I think Leo’s been really great in some really great movies, and he plays the unlikeable baddie as well as anyone. It’s all opinions.

I wonder how Leo would have done in comedy. Something like The Water Boy, or Tom Hanks in Bachelorparty. I can't think of any comedy he started in (sitcoms aside), not even a romcom.

Leo has been miscast in a fair few Scorsese films.

The Departed was inferior to the original, and a fair amount of blame should go to the casting. Leo’s hammy interview is one of the most unintentionally funny scenes in cinema

The Gangs of New York would have worked with Colin Farrell instead of Leo

Every few years I watch Aliens, every few years I remember what an absolute banger it is.

Still holds up so well asthetically too.

I researched Alien for the first time in years yesterday, unbelievably good! And as you say, still looks great by modern standards. I was planning to do Aliens tonight but ran out of time.

I finally watched both films, definitely preferred Alien.

Most nights I lie awake and wonder if my 6 year old is too young to see them.

Mostly.

Both great movies and still scary though I know what is coming.

Too young.

Not sure the alien or synth is scarier.