Films

Hahaha, what do you meeeaaaannn?! 😉

My mum hates violence and my step dad is a frigid nerd. My 4 year old niece was more interested in Wallace And Gromit. A pathetic showing on all counts.

It’s maybe at the tale end of the ten, I really don’t think I’ve watched many great films this month.

We watched Gladiator 2 tonight, it does what it says on the tin, great casting all around particularly the emperors, and Denzil plays a perfect evil baddie. Thumbs up.

I did enjoy Denzel Washington's dedication to playing an evil Roman Denzel Washington.

Purchased The Fire Within the other night, Werner Herzog's requiem for Maurice & Katia Krafft. I believe it's a BBC Storyville thing so it may even be on iPlayer. Beautiful, even better than the other film that came out about the couple, Fire of Love, that was also great but WH lends their story so much humanity and his choice of image and music is so gorgeous. Deffo worth a look.

Thought it was pretty laughable. The colosseum filled with water and sharks? Christ.

Denzel, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen all good but I thought Paul Mescal was a poor choice.

Horses for courses but a shadow of the first film imo.

I also thought Gladiator 2 was poor. My wife, who is usually a tough crowd, loved it because it had Paul Mescal in and he can do no wrong in her eyes.
I thought he was a poor choice as well but then the whole film was so bad I fell asleep and don't actually know how it ends.

The colosseum filled with water

You obviously failed your history class.

I thought Mescal was fine but I always think he looks a little too much like Lovejoy.

I like Paul mescal but I think he’s becoming a bit over rated and he’s not as good as alot of the parts he’s getting.

I still need to see this. I watched Fire Of Love and thought it was amazing. I also love Werner Herzog so can't believe I haven't got round to it yet.

It's the only film I've seen with Paul Mezcal in (I think) and thought he was alright but a bit one note (not helped by Denzel Washington going full Denzel) I put it down to the script but maybe that's just how he is?

Storyville, The Fire Within:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001d7lc

Amazing, thank you! That's new year's day sorted (my partner is on call for work otherwise I'd be off to see Nosferatu obviously).

You're welcome, I'm checking out Nosferatu

Just watched Perfect Days. Coming in hot as a last minute "best of 2024" for me (technically released in 2023 but not in the UK).

Paris, Texas is my favourite film and I got a similar feeling watching this. So beautifully done and such a melancholic gut punch. 40 years in between the 2 films but Wim Wenders has still got it, just shown in a much more understated way.

"The world is made up of many worlds; some are connected, and some are not."

Am I the only loser sat at home watching really slow, sad films on new year's eve and having a really good time doing it?

Totally with you. Watched it again a week or so ago and it's beautiful.

I just finished The Outrun. I'm quite sad now

Is it worth a watch? It's about someone struggling with alcoholism right?

WEIRD!! I was coming here to say the same. I watched Perfect Days this evening and I think it's stolen film of the year for me. The soundtrack is incredible. Some of the shots are just so good, the fact nothing happens but so much is said. What a film.

I've now stuck Lost in Translation on to see out the year.

Double bill of Notting Hill followed by Moana is a strangely fantastic pairing.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to roll in 2025 as usual now. (Best film ever imo).

A great double bill! It's been years since I've seen Lost In Translation but from what I remember it's very much in the same vein of "nothing happens but so much is said".

Just to be clear, Perfect Days isn't my number 1 of 2024. It might have been in the running if Zone Of Interest hadn't blown everything else out of the water. I've never felt that way watching a film before. I was shaking at the end of it.

Good shout on Butch. Been meaning to introduce my 8yo to that. It’s sad at the end in a good way, from memory, but not too violent?

Going to see Moana 2 on Thursday in the morning with said 8yo, and this in the evening (not with said 8yo): https://www.thegardencinema.co.uk/film/strange-days/

I haven't plucked up the courage to watch Zone of Interest yet. Maybe tomorrow.