10 Tuesday Dec 2019
Posted in downton abbey, Julianne Moore, movies, Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz
Tags
cinema, film, film reviews, films, horror, letterboxd, movie, movies, odeon, odeon cinemas, review, reviews
I’ve copied this list from my Letterboxd and thought I’d post it in here. Some of these have been reviewed on here throughout the year, I think I even reviewed The Favourite twice? I watched most of these at Odeon, 91 films in total, and again, The Favourite twice. If you’d like me to review any of them or any other film, please leave the title in the comments.
04 Wednesday Dec 2019
Posted in Jessica Chastain, movies, Rachel Weisz
01 Sunday Dec 2019
Posted in Jessica Chastain, Julianne Moore, movies, Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz
Tags
100 best, 100 best films of 2010 decade, 100 best films of 2010s, 100 best films of the decade, cinema, film, film reviews, films, horror, movie, movies, review, reviews
This is my 100 favourite films of the 2010 decade. I may change some of these with time, once I have some perspective, or watch something better than something from the list. If you don’t see a film you love, It would have probably made my 200 favourite. No miniseries. This is a list I’ve put together on my Letterboxd. Some of these films are reviewed on here. If you’d like me to review a film you have in mind, comment below.
29 Tuesday Oct 2019
Posted in candace cameron bure, movies, Rachel Weisz
Tags
apollo 11, candace cameron bure, cinema, doc hollywood, downton abbey, elizabeth mcgovern, film, film analysis, film review, film reviews, films, finding normal, fred savage, freshman fall, full house, joanne froggatt, movie, movie review, movie reviews, movies, neil armstrong, no one would tell, odeon, odeon cinemas, paul rudd, punchline, quotes, Rachel Weisz, reviews, Sally Field, silver screen, the shape of things, tom hanks, tv
Downton Abbey
Our favourite family and their staff are back after 4 years! This feature film was just as delightful as the series! I really hope they come back in a few years to show us what happened to Downton and the characters during WWII and then, even later, because I really want to see Mary as the grumpy old aunt. And yes, I got an A1 poster with all characters from my local cinema! I can’t wait to buy it on DVD and show it to my family! Someone asked me the other day what it is about Downton that is so good and no matter how many nice things I had to say it just doesn’t explain it well enough. A friend or two of mine watched Downton for a season or two and then abandoned it. I started watching Downton back in season 4, right after I read online about Anna’s rape storyline. I started from the pilot and after two or three episodes I was hooked on the lives of the Crawleys and Downton’s staff. Cora played by Elizabeth McGovern and Anna played by Joanne Froggatt are my favourite characters on the show, but honestly, everyone is highly likeable, even Mary. I still haven’t been to the Highclere castle, but it’s definitely on my to do list. The king and queen’s visit seemed a little far fetched to me though, and that’s honestly the only problem one may have with this film.
‘Will you have enough clichés to get you through the visit?’
‘If not, I’ll come to you.’
‘Oh Violet. After all these years you still astonish me.’
‘Oh good, I’m glad I’m a revelation and not a disappointment.’
‘You are the future of Downton’
10/10
Apollo 11
A riveting documentary made out of 11 000 hours of unused footage and never-heard-before audio recordings of Neil Armstrong’s trip to the moon. I especially liked shots of the public waiting for the launch. Just think about it, these people, some of them long gone, will never learn about this film, and those still with us, won’t probably know about this documentary. I’m glad I got to see it on the big screen, this is why I love Odeon’s Silver Screen.
‘One small step for man… one giant leap for mankind.’
8/10
The Shape of Things
This was a great way to kick off my birthday celebration! I went in, thinking it was a rom-com, instead I was handed a refreshing twist! Rachel Weisz plays this artsy character who’s really into sex, art projects and stirring shit and Paul Rudd plays her clueless boyfriend. Rachel’s character decides to change the main character, she changes the way he dresses and even convinces him to have a nose job. The ruthlessness of Rachel Weisz’s character and Paul Rudd’s naivity balance themselves out perfectly.
8/10
Finding Normal
A big fan of Full House over here. Yes, this means I am quickly running out of the cute romcoms and murder mysteries starring Candace Cameron Bure. According to letterboxd, I’ve seen 27 of her films (out of 40), and there were maybe 3 that were genuenly good? I’m looking at you Punchline (also starring Sally Field and Tom Hanks), Freshman Fall, it’s this campus rape made for tv film were Candace plays a survivor and No One Would Tell, another 90s tv movie where Candace plays a teen who’s abused and eventually killed by her boyfirend, played by Wonder Years’ Fred Savage. Some true genius thought to put Full House agains Wonder Years. Finding Normal is an awesomely cute romcom, which seems a lot like a fresh take on Doc Hollywood. I really hope I’ll get to show it to my mum one day, as I know for a fact she would love it.
6/10
22 Wednesday May 2019
Posted in movies, Rachel Weisz
Tags
animation, captain marvel, cinema, elton john, film, film reviews, films, freddy and jason, goosebumps, greta, hatfield, hatfield house, horror, i think we're alone now, isabelle huppert, movie, movie reviews, movies, netflix, nicole kidman, olivia coleman, polaroid, quotes, Rachel Weisz, reviews, rl stine, rocketman, the curse of la llorona, the favourite, the hustle, the killing of a sacred deer, the silence, think we're alone now, unicorn store, wild rose, wonder park, yorgos lanthimos
The Favourite
Hatfield House, where The Favourite was filmed has 9 of Sandy Powell’s costumes on display at the moment. You can walk into 9 rooms, including 3 rooms that were used in the film. You can take pictures in Anne’s bedroom, Sarah’s room also known as The Library, and the room where Rachel Weisz and Nicholas Hoult have that staredown in the beginning of the film. You can also walk through The Gallery, better known as the corridor with the gold ceiling where Rachel Weisz pushed Olivia Coleman’s wheelchair after the party. It’s 18 quid and I couldn’t recommend it more! I drove there on Sunday and loved every minute of it. If you’re in the UK, go check it out. Costumes are on display till the 16th of June.
10/10
The Killing of A Sacred Deer
Yorgos’s modern take on Sophie’s Choice. The truly shocking thing about this film is that the mother didn’t offer to sacrifice her life to save either of her two children. What’s worse, she tried to convince the husband they can replace one and just have another.
9/10
Rocketman
I’ve never been Elton’s fan, but after watching this biopic, I can certainly relate to his anger. If you’re in the UK, go see it at Odeon to get an A3 poster with your ticket.
‘Now for my newest trick, I’m gonna fucking kill myself.’
8/10
Wild Rose
A beautiful story and a shuttering wake up call for everyone, includng myself, who thinks the grass is greener in the US. I’m off to download this wonderful soundtrack.
8/10
Captain Marvel
I’m not a Marvel fan, but this film is more ‘human’ than other superhero films in the Marvel universe, and it has Brie Larson as the lead, so I had to enjoy it. The film also has an interesting soundtrack, including Nirvana’s ‘Come as You Are’.
7/10
The Curse of La Llorona
2019 is the revival of Linda Cardellini’s career. She’s been in Green Book, La Llorona, Avengers and her new Netflix show came out yesterday. I didn’t realise Llorona was part of The Conjuring universe before going in. The script isn’t strong, but the film has a lot of cheap thrills that surprisingly work. The girls in my row where jumping and screaming every time. This is the 200th film I watched this year.
6/10
Greta
Carrie 2 anyone? Isabelle locking Chloe in that room gave me major Carrie vibes. And what’s with this description? You’re calling Isabelle elderly, Letterboxd? Unnecessarily loud and jumpy music during non-scary scenes sort of ruined the film for me and maybe the fact that the film itself wasn’t scary at all.
‘That little French woman you came with?’
6/10
Freddy and Jason
So we’ve established once and for all that Nightmare on Elm Street is better than Friday the 13th? Good.
6/10
The Silence
It’s a watered down combination of last year’s A Quiet Place and Birdbox, and basically every post apocalyptic horror ever made.
5/10
Wonder Park
There definitely should be a ‘Don’t do this at home’ warning for kids, as that backyard rollercoaster ride got out of hand real quick. Heck, kids shouldn’t handle nails and I know this is a family film, but no kid can build a rollercoaster without an engineer’s help. Despite all that, there was a sad storyline, the characters and animation were cute and I have always loved amusement parks, so I cannot give Wonder Park less than 2.5 stars, which it probably deserves.
5/10
Unicorn Store
I didn’t like the film and it’s wacko unicorn business, but I do love this poster, the opening scene where the main character paints and Joan Cusack.
5/10
I Think We’re Alone Now
Disappointed that ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ by Tiffany didn’t play once.
4/10
The Hustle
Is this supposed to be a Dirty Rotten Scoundrels remake or a sequel to Ocean’s 8? Either way, it was a disastrous attempt. Also, Anne Hathaway’s British sounding, rich bitch role was clearly written for Rose Byrne. This is another poor career choice on Anne’s part.
3/10
Polaroid
Nicked straight from RL Stine’s brilliant ‘Say Cheese and Die!’ series of Goosebumps books. It’s the exact same, but extremely boring. RL Stine should sue them too.
2/10
10 Wednesday Apr 2019
Posted in movies, Rachel Weisz
Tags
american girl, beksinscy, cinema, film, film analysis, film review, film reviews, films, five feet apart, gay, haley lu richardson, jordan peele, lesbian, lgtb, movies, open water, quotes, Rachel Weisz, ransom, rape and revenge, return to sender, reviews, ron howard, rosamund pike, the bourne legacy, the constant gardener, the godfather, us, when i knew
The Constant Gardener
I rewatched it on the 7th of March this year, as I couldn’t stop myself from watching it on Rachel Weisz’s birthday. Happy to report I now own it on DVD. Same thoughts as 14 years ago, I certainly would have preferred if they showed us the murders.
9/10
The Godfather
According to Letterboxd I have now seen 3000 films (that I can remember), and I thought that called for a rewatch of one of the classics. Since all of the Godfathers are leaving HBO Go tomorrow, I thought I’d rewatch Part I. I’ll probably rewatch Part II tomorrow, too.
9/10
Us
People leaving the cinema said it was creepy, but not scary, and it’s true, but I will never look at scissors the same again. Also fantastic use of the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations!
8/10
Ransom
No parent would risk their child’s life and do what Mel Gibson does in this thriller directed by Ron Howard.
6/10
Five Feet Apart
Movies usually make me cry, especially the ones I see at the cinema. Heck, sometimes even trailers do. Yet this film, starring Columbus and The Edge of Seventeen’s Haley Lu Richardson, despite being a drama, didn’t. I wasn’t invested in this storyline at all. Also, I’ve never been a fan of Birdy, yet I recognised her voice straight away.
I watched this film again, now with my family, and it’s a little bit better at second viewing, or maybe my opinion shifted a bit, because my family loved it.
My dad for example, said it was good, but depressing as fuck.
4/10
When I Knew
All these stories are absolutely beautiful, it’s really sad but also incredible to think that so many generations of gays had to stay in the closet, being afraid of the stigma and what their families and friends would say and the current generation of teenagers seems to have it so much easier, as the stigma of teens being gay today does not seem to be that big, mostly because of how many gay characters we’ve had in films and TV shows. I remember how hard kids had it 10 years ago when I was in school, and I was speaking to one of my friend’s younger sibling who’s been out since they were 15 and learned that they never get funny looks from anyone under 60 and that they actually discuss homosexuality in school and teachers say experimenting is normal. Anyway here are some of my favorite:
‘Maybe one day, when I knew and coming out will be the same thing’.
‘She told me that she kissed a boy with her tongue and I burst into tears. Because I just couldn’t image that she could have betrayed me in that way.’- Chrissy Mahan
‘I was 17 years old and I had a best friend that I kept wondering why I was so obsessed with her. I would hang out with her and I would want to kiss her the entire time we were hanging out. I remember sitting and watching The Lost Boys and we took the pillows off the back of the couch and we just like, I think we were that close to kissing and I remember that now just like ahhhh, like it was so forbidden but it was so like exactly what I wanted, but I couldn’t quite have it. And then I was actually driving on the way to her house thinking about us being friends and what not and that Goo Goo Dolls song, it was really big at the time and for some reason it triggered something in me. ‘And I don’t want the world to see me, cause I don’t think that they’d understand’. So many times I tried to push it down, I didn’t want it to be true, but right then, right there, I had to pull the car over and I started balling and I was like oh my god, I’m not just best friends with her, I’m in love with her.’
‘In the first grade, every time I got the chance to sit next to this is cute little blond girl, I got a funny tingling feeling in my stomach.’
‘I would date women he was done with as a way to be closer to him.’
‘The way other boys were looking at girls, that very same process was occurring for me, but I focused on other boys.’
‘I was introduced to my new teacher. I wanted to do everything I could, to make sure he knew that I was there for him.’
‘I would fantasise about her caressing me and doing whatever.’
‘I was looking at the stars and wondering why I felt so empty, why I couldn’t get over this one girl. I couldn’t understand why friendship, a broken friendship could cause me so much heartache and loss. And then it was kind of like this wave hit me, like duh, you’re being pretty stupid, because you love her. It was like this big relief, and this big excitement at the same time. When you have that moment of discovery, it’s kind of like time stands still, and you feel so good, and then you get so scared, because God, you don’t know how people are gonna respond. When I came out, it was one of the worst days of my life, It was so hateful between my mother and I. My dad said to me if we knew you were gay, we would try to fix you and we hope your son is not gonna be gay.’
9/10
Return to Sender
This may as well have been a sequel to Gone Girl and we all know it. A much weaker sequel, but aren’t they always? I loved the father-daughter relationship and hated the psycho vibe between the rapist and the vicitm. As much as I love rape and revenge genre, You don’t create this sicko pseudo relationship with your rapist to maybe eventually get your revenge. What is this, Elle?
5/10
The Bourne Legacy
There was material in his department that indicates he had an unusual fixation with you. Photographs, journal entries, they found several articles of clothing.
Who can blame him, have you seen Rachel?
5/10
Open Water 3: Cage Dive
43 Meters Down had more cage action than this. Much more. The kids in Cage Dive, also known as Open Water 3 are only in the titled cage for 5 minutes. I liked the first film and the fun ridiculousness of the second one much more than this tiny budget found footage one. And you’re telling me the shark didn’t try to swallow that tiny camera, because, what? It didn’t fit in its jaw?
4/10
Beksinscy: Album Wideofoniczny
Beksinski was one of my favorite artists and his murder shocked me. This video diary brought tears to my eyes and I have spent the last 7 years thinking of life’s fragility, and this documentary really made me realize how short life is.
9/10
An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Stong
The end credits song ruined this very average family movie, which is just a primary school version of The Odd Girl Out. I’ve seen 4 American Girl films, and I’m only ashamed of watching one of them, and it’s not this one. The ones starring pre-teen AnnaSophia Robb and Abigail Breslin were alright for a kids film as well. Good film for a weekly family viewing at my household. My dad would have hated it, my mom sort of loved it.
4/10
07 Thursday Mar 2019
Posted in Jodie Foster, Lori Loughlin, movies, Rachel Weisz
Tags
almost friends, american animals, bindi irwin, bohemian rhapsody, brexit, cinema, film, film analysis, film review, film reviews, films, freaky friday, gaby hoffmann, Lori Loughlin, movies, my blueberry nights, queen, Rachel Weisz, rad, return to nim's island, reviews, swept from the sea, the fantastic beasts and where to find them, the favor, the grinch, tom sawyer
Bohemian Rhapsody
Lucy Boynton upgraded from being a groupie for some made up Irish group in Sing Street, to a groupie for Queen. The two hour wait till We Are the Champions was worth it, but they never showed us how they came up with this anthem. Saw it once and then took my dad to see it with me. If you never got to experience Queen live, then seeing Bohemian Rhapsody at the cinema is close enough. If you love Queen, you’ll love the film, if you don’t care for Queen, you will not find the film special.
8/10
American Animals
Never seen thieves with such guilty conscience. The heist went so very badly you will cringe throughout the last thirty minutes. I’m so happy I got to see it on the big screen
8/10
Tom Sawyer
All the breathtaking shots of that gorgeous steamboat are what makes this film beautiful. There is something familiar in the scene where Jodie and Tom get engaged. The way little Jodie tilts her head, says her line, then smiles awkwardly. We’ve all seen grown up Jodie do that charming head tilt and smirk in many of her films and interviews. These two things were enough for me to enjoy this film, despite never being a big fan of Tom Sawyer’s. I honestly couldn’t tell you whether my year read this book in school or not.
7.5/10
Almost Friends
This coming of age drama was just what I needed on this sunny day. I could easily relate to Freddie’s character, putting his life on hold for a few years, everyone asking him if he’s depressed and the toxic relationship he had with a parent who loved him, but was stealing from the family on the side. It actually encouraged me to leave the house and go for a walk which never happens.
‘You okay?’
‘Yeah, I was just taking a breath.’
‘You know, I’m starting to think I might be depressed.’
‘You’re a strange guy, Charlie, you know that?’
‘Not so strange, maybe just a little different.’
7.5/10
Swept From the Sea
This film was shot over 20 years before Brexit, and yet the appauling way some of the British villagers treated the Ukranian and his family in this film mirrors the xenophopia part of Brexit so accurately, it’s scary.
6/10
The Grinch
Unnecessary and no singing? Absolutely nothing happened until he got to the girl’s house an hour into the film.
4/10
The Favor
The husband did her the biggest favor by not divorcing her for all the shit she had pulled throughout the film.
6/10
My Blueberry Nights
I’ve owned this on DVD since 2008 and only watched it 11 years later. I liked the two smaller storylines so much more than the main love story.
‘He was so crazy about me, I couldn’t breathe. So we tried drinking our way back into love, but it never made sense in the morning. So I ran. And every time I came back, he was here. And he was still crazy about me.’
6/10
Freaky Friday
I’ve seen the original film starring little Jodie Foster and the remake with Jamie Lee Curtis many times. I’ve been looking for this made for TV version starring young Gaby Hoffmann and Shelley Young for 20 years and finally got to see it today. I’m happy to report It was everything I thought it would be.
7/10
The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Should have seen it on the big screen, in 3D, otherwise the rating can’t be any higher.
5/10
Rad
I liked the main song more than the film itself. This is the 500th new film I watched this year.
4/10
Return to Nim’s Island
I love the Irwins, but was the first film this boring and I never noticed it, because of Jodie Foster and her character’s OCD?
3/10
26 Tuesday Feb 2019
Posted in movies, Rachel Weisz
Tags
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
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
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
