Monthly Archives: February 2019

Film Reviews: Sophie’s Choice. Instant Family. Happy Death Day 2 U. Chain Reaction. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. Nativity Rocks! The Sweet Life. Beware the Slenderman. Bacherolette

26 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by in movies, Rachel Weisz

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Sophie’s Choice

This has always been one of my three most favorite Meryl performaces, the other two being Sikwood and Out of Africa. Sophie’s Choice could only be better if the ratio between the present and flashbacks was reversed, but the heartbreaking ending still takes my breath away.

9.5/10

Instant Family

I cried, I laughed and then I cried some more. Whether you considered fostering or adopting, or not, I promise this brilliant and heartwarming film is for you.

This was one of the best cinema experiences I’ve had in a while, nothing distracted me, not even for a second.

8/10

Happy Death Day 2 U

If you ignore the Back to the Future nonsense, you’ll find the sequel to be more fun than the first film, even though it did not feel like a horror at all. Sadly all suicide deaths were already shown in the trailer.

Still no sign of 50 Cent’s In Da Club though.

5/10

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Chain Reaction

I’m not a scientist, but that did not make much sense to me. I loved all the running and chasing, especially all the scenes on ice, in the snow and in that icy water.

6/10

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

Halloween decorations come to life! R.L. Stine has a 5 second cameo in the second film based on creatures from his best selling children book series, just like in the first one. Goosebumps books and TV show were a big part of my childhood in the 90s, and I always thought Slappy from the TV series was creepier than Chucky. This film is a watered-down version of one of the most fun children shows, but the Halloween decorations, costumes and gummy bears were amazing!

6/10

Nativity Rocks!

Coventry, recently named City of Culture 2021 waited years to come out of Birmingham’s shadow. Yes, the city centre is half of Bham’s size, architecture isn’t that impressive, thanks to the Blitz (featured in Navity Rocks) and Coventrians are getting annoyed with the Cov becoming a university town. But we have a Costco, an Ikea and now they’re building us an indoor water park right in the city centre. I like how Nativity Rocks managed to put 3 shots of that monument which’s move everyone has been opposing into the film. I wish they put more of Coventry’s businesses (Coventry Building Society would be a good one), a shot of Lady Godiva statue etc. They did include more of Coventry than in previous Navities. Coventry is a wonderful and inclusive city and I would be saying that even if I wasn’t a Coventrian.

Did anyone ask Celia Imrie how she liked Coventry? Is so, what’d she say?

6/10

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The Sweet Life

‘What do we do now?’
‘Everything.’

I liked ‘A Long Way Down’ better, but this has the Golden Gate bridge in it, a heartbreaking destination of many souls.

6/10

Beware the Slenderman

So this is the case that SVU episode starring Oana Laurence was based on, wow.

8/10

Bachelorette

The only value this film has was that bulimic storyline.

3/10

 

Film Reviews: Birdbox. Eyes Wide Shut. Miss Meadows. The Miseducation of Cameron Post. Christmas Pen Pals. Smart House. Bumblebee. Angela’s Christmas. Escape Room

16 Saturday Feb 2019

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Birdbox

I’m happy she found a way around that Sophie’s Choice. I haven’t read the book, but the film was everything I wanted it to be.

8.5/10

Eyes Wide Shut

Now that I’ve read about the conspiracy Illuminati theories, the film makes a lot more sense. I don’t think Kubrick wanted to end this film with Nicole saying ‘Fuck’.

8/10

Miss Meadows

Mediocre Dexter wannabe.

6/10

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The Miseducation of Cameron Post

I liked the concept, but the execution was not all there. The film was too short, felt like a half of a full movie.

7/10

Christmas Pen Pals

‘Even if he does occasionally forget that it’s ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’.

Christmas Pen Pals easily wins Best Christmas film of 2018. I loved the letter writing and the last 15 minutes were amazing.

7/10

Smart House

I loved Married with Children, but I didn’t like Peggy Bundy in this.

4/10

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Bumblebee

I certainly liked all the non-Transformers parts when the film felt more like a new Garbi installment than a Transformers one. If you’re in the UK, make sure you see it at Odeon cinemas this week to grab an activity book for kids which includes three A5 posters.

6/10

Angela’s Christmas

Angela’s the cutest! And she looks a lot like little Anna from Frozen, so that’s a plus.

4/10

Escape Room

I grabbed an A1 poster for this film by accident last year and now I will chuck it in the bin. Also, I feel personally offended by that diss at The Teddy Bears’ Picnic song.

2/10

 

 

 

Film Reviews: Disobedience. The Old Man and the Gun. Stan and Ollie. The Land Girls. The Money Pit. Four Weddings and a Funeral. Hell Fest. A Dog’s Way Home. Abducted in Plain Sight

09 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by in Bryce Dallas Howard, movies, Rachel Weisz

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Disobedience

‘Do you still only fancy women?’

Beautiful film. It’s made it’s way to my top 10. The first kiss Ronit and Esti share is the prettiest kiss I’ve ever seen on screen, partially because Ronit’s eyes are open through a big part of it.

It’s sad that Disobedience was shot in London and yet it didn’t get a proper national cinema release. Is this because only <0.5% of British population is Jewish or because of the LGBT aspect of the film?

‘I used to think about your life in New York. I tried to imagine your room. I kept track of the time difference, so I knew when you were awake and when you were asleep.’

‘I wanted it to happen. And when we were girls… Even then, it was the same. It’s always been this way! I have always wanted it.’

‘Why did you get married, Esti? Why didn’t you just leave? So everything was all right when I left?’
‘No. I was ill.’
‘What sort of ill?’
‘In my head.’
‘If I had to sleep with a man, why not with our best friend?’
‘Oh, Esti…’
‘It hasn’t been a complete disaster.’
‘And that’s enough?! Do you have to have sex every Friday?’
‘It’s expected.’
‘It’s medieval. What happened to you?’
‘Nothing. You happened to me. And then I started teaching and that became important. I give them ambition.’
‘To do what? Push out seven babies and be a good wife?’
‘Don’t. Don’t. I help them to value themselves.’
‘Okay, but what about you?’
‘That is me. And you? Are you happy?’
‘Yes, I am.’
‘Have you been with other women?’
‘No. Not really. And you?’
‘No.’
‘But, Esti… Do you still
only fancy women?’

10/10

The Old Man and the Gun

Story of Forrest Tucker, a criminal best known for escaping from prison 18 times. This film starring Robert Redford in what he claims to be his last role, shows Tucker’s addiction to the thrill and focuses on his innability to stop robbing banks. I really hope this isn’t Redford’s last role. Stong redhead game though, I’ve counted three actors with red hair.

7.5/10


Stan and Ollie

Wonderful performances from leading and supporting actors. My parents used to love watching reruns of Stanley and Oliver’s films when they were kids 50 years ago. I am happy there’s a film about S&O’s lives after the peak of their careers and that I spent the last 30 minutes of it sobbing.

7/10

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The Land Girls

I wish this was more about female friendship like the poster suggests and less about all three of them being sexually or romantically linked to this village idiot who was a sex addict and never got called out for cheating. Were any of the conversations the girls had not about men and sex?

6/10

The Money Pit

A colleague recommended this to me and it’s honestly the best recommendation I’ve gotten in years! Both Tom Hanks and the film are hilarious!

‘Always a bridesmaid, never a bride!’

‘How long will it take?’
‘2 weeks.’

7/10

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Even though I didn’t like the main relationship that much, the film has many fun smaller plots. My favourite storyline was with the girl that picked up a little bit of sign language because the lad she was into, but hadn’t even been introduced to, was deaf. I know this was made in 1993, but that joke about Lady Di did not sit well with me.

8/10

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Hell Fest

My favorite kind of fest. The film is quite realistic, and I am the kind of person who would have volunteered for the beheading too. I especially liked it when the decapitation didn’t work, so the killer tried again.

7/10

A Dog’s Way Home

A cheap version of Homeward Bound, sadly as bad as Homeward Bound 2.

3/10

Abducted in Plain Sight

Devestating documentary. The parents failed this kid so badly. They didn’t know pedophiles exisited, they literally let the sex offender sleep in the girl’s bed for years and on top of all, they were both in love with him and ended up having affairs with him! The alien story makes it all even more shocking!

7/10