We talked about it a bit when it came out, a few on here really liked it, I thought it was altogether rather superficial and bland, and very much style over substance (though it's not entirely devoid of the latter). The third act also dragged, and overall it left me with a bitter taste of "what could have been".
Film The Redcafe Movie review thread
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
My girlfriend said much the same. I found the broad stroke social commentary very clever, as I found It fresher than all the complicated shite that gets churned out.
She thought it was lazy, and didn’t believe that the lack of depth and sharpness was deliberate. ie it could have been so much more but they were not smart, talented Or brave enough to go that far. I disagreed.
She rated it 7/10 while I was all in as among the best things I’ve seen of its type.
Different strokes for different folks. I can definitely see hers/your side of it.
I think it was definitely deliberate, I know the director is clever enough to know what he was doing. It still didn't quite work for me, it felt like a bit of a compromise for wider audiences.
In fairness, I wasn't a huge fan of The Square either, though I thought it was slightly better than Triangle of Sadness.
Triangle of Sadness had a really interesting narrative but it all fell apart once they left the ship. If it ended on the cruise, would have been a much better movie.
65
Probaby EXACTLY what you expect after seeing the trailer.
Subpar action, boring and predictable plot, pretty bad CGI at times.
I like Adam Driver, but he couldn't save that movie.
3/10
Probaby EXACTLY what you expect after seeing the trailer.
Subpar action, boring and predictable plot, pretty bad CGI at times.
I like Adam Driver, but he couldn't save that movie.
3/10
Moonstruck
Oh what I would give to lose my hand in a kitchen accident so I could fall in love with a divorced grey haired Italian woman who still lives with her parents at the age of 40.
Cage and Cher make a great odd couple and the film is far more interested in the insanity of falling in love than the idea of marriage. It takes the mundane moments in life and heightens it to literally operatic levels.
Very charming rom-com.
8/10
Oh what I would give to lose my hand in a kitchen accident so I could fall in love with a divorced grey haired Italian woman who still lives with her parents at the age of 40.
Cage and Cher make a great odd couple and the film is far more interested in the insanity of falling in love than the idea of marriage. It takes the mundane moments in life and heightens it to literally operatic levels.
Very charming rom-com.
8/10
I've got some bad news for you about the time-back status of all the other films you've ever watched.
Out of interest, do you generally like Wes Anderson films? Because the reviews I've seen for this have ranged from 5/5 to 1/10 and everything in between!
I’ve never felt this way about any of his earlier stuff, I’m neither a fan nor a critic.
I just felt like this film was screaming “look at me, I’m different” and tried so hard to be good and cool but it just did not land.
It’s just not funny enough and the plot can’t bail it out.
I hope to feel differently about it, as I do generally enjoy his stuff, love some of it, even. I felt French Dispatch was only 1/3 of an interesting film and a load of filler though. His less affected stuff is best
I really like Anderson, and even his most arch moments tend to not bother me.
Asteroid City, similar to the French Dispatch, however, feels like an experiment in style over substance. I won't spoil the film, given you've not seen it, but the framing device really didn't work for me. The characterisation, which is great in his best work, falls flat here. Because of that, the main themes of the alienation of grief and not fitting in, which are present in all of his previous films, don't land as effectively. It's sort of a study of the process of creativity and expression of self too, and whilst that's also not new territory for Anderson, the framing device, the principle cause of my feeling of disconnection, is a big aspect of this.
I didn't dislike it at all. There's a lot of great shots, the acting is good, but it doesn't quite work for me. His last two movies have crossed into territory that nullifies the undeniable charm of his best works for me. I can see how they illicit strong reactions, even more so than his older work.
I'll watch it again someday for sure, however, if only to see if I view it differently.
I saw the Mario film with my kids today. I read somewhere (this thread?) that it's largely an attempt to cram as many video game references as possible into the movie and shape the story around that, and I agree. It's really very superficial and uninteresting in that sense. But, it's also a rollercoaster of fun and action that doesn't really have any boring or weaker moments. So both pretty bad and pretty good - but in the end, I didn't mind it. 3/5
Oh, another kids film, I also saw the new live-action Asterix this weekend where they go to China. What a mess. I quite like the two animated films they made the last decade or so, but never much took to the live-action films they made earlier. This one is worse than those. The jokes don't land, the acting is crap, the story dumb, the whole thing unbalanced - it's really no fun. 1/5
Kermode's review spoiled the framing device for me, but thanks for your thoughts. I'll give it a watch when it comes to my local independent cinema in a few weeks.
Out of interest, what would you say your three favourite Anderson films are? Mine would be Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore and Grand Budapest Hotel.
Wes Anderson is one of my favorite directors, but I didn't like The French Dispatch.
Fav 3: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom and The Royal Tenenbaums.
Fav 3: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom and The Royal Tenenbaums.
he's one of my least favourite
each to their own
I quite liked the first one then got bored of seeing the same film over and over again
Not a fan. The Life Aquatic was one of the most annoying films that I have ever seen.he's one of my least favourite
each to their own
I quite liked the first one then got bored of seeing the same film over and over again
I loved that film. The ending is superb, imo. Really stuck with me for a while afterwards.
Black Phillip has me afraid of goats now.
at the last line.It definitely is underrated. Never see it mentioned anywhere, not even in a list of all-time great Spielberg films. I can see what you mean about the over-exposed lighting. Annoyingly, I can't think of any other examples of that in Spielberg's other films, but I know it has to be there somewhere.
I'd agree with that, although I'd have Moonrise Kingdom right up there too. I like the Life Aquatic and Fantastic Mr Fox very much indeed.
Definitely don't watch Asteroid City then.
Yet it sounds tempting. I do occasionally don't mind his films e.g. The Darjeeling Ltd and The Grand Budapest Hotel, so maybe I'll give it a go at the risk of being annoyed.
I haven't seen it in forever but I seem to remember enjoying it at the time.
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Same on the bolded bit.
Fav 3: Life Aquatic, Rushmore, Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Then Grand Budapest, Darjeeling Limited, Tenembaums, Moonrise Kingdom, Bottle Rocket, Isle of Dogs, French Dispatch. It looks to me like he’s falling further into his own psychoses with each passing film.
Piggy
An overweight teen is bullied by a clique of cool girls poolside while holidaying in her village. The long walk home will change the rest of her life. A decent movie, with some good performances and realistic violence. The overall film is about 90 minutes so never outstays it's welcome but the final act kind of feels like it was re-written to end on a big finale rather than where the film should naturally go 6.5/10
Alien Abduction: Incident In Lake County
So confusing. I thought I was watching The McPherson Tape, which was also called UFO Abduction in certain regions and only found out that the film I watched was a remake of that by the same director but with a proper budget. It's about a family where one of the sons is recording his family thanksgiving and then they get trapped due to aliens arriving on their estate. I like contained horror movies and found footage so this hit a sweet spot. The acting was pretty shit, which was distracting but it was tense and I enjoyed uncovering the mystery behind what's happening. Thought there were too many sub-plots that didn't lead anywhere but as a sucker for these sub-genres, I was satisfied 7/10
An overweight teen is bullied by a clique of cool girls poolside while holidaying in her village. The long walk home will change the rest of her life. A decent movie, with some good performances and realistic violence. The overall film is about 90 minutes so never outstays it's welcome but the final act kind of feels like it was re-written to end on a big finale rather than where the film should naturally go 6.5/10
Alien Abduction: Incident In Lake County
So confusing. I thought I was watching The McPherson Tape, which was also called UFO Abduction in certain regions and only found out that the film I watched was a remake of that by the same director but with a proper budget. It's about a family where one of the sons is recording his family thanksgiving and then they get trapped due to aliens arriving on their estate. I like contained horror movies and found footage so this hit a sweet spot. The acting was pretty shit, which was distracting but it was tense and I enjoyed uncovering the mystery behind what's happening. Thought there were too many sub-plots that didn't lead anywhere but as a sucker for these sub-genres, I was satisfied 7/10
Air
Recalls the story of a struggling Nike trying to sign Michael Jordan to endorse footwear during the 80's competing against Converse and Adidas. We all know what Jordan went on to achieve but it was intriguing to see this from the commercial perspective of Nike. Strong cast, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, even an aged and weathered Chris Tucker plays a part. Was well aware of how big the Jordan brand is before watching this but some of the figures revealed are mind blowing.
Watched on Amazon Prime.
8/10
Recalls the story of a struggling Nike trying to sign Michael Jordan to endorse footwear during the 80's competing against Converse and Adidas. We all know what Jordan went on to achieve but it was intriguing to see this from the commercial perspective of Nike. Strong cast, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, even an aged and weathered Chris Tucker plays a part. Was well aware of how big the Jordan brand is before watching this but some of the figures revealed are mind blowing.
Watched on Amazon Prime.
8/10
Bergman Island
Another very good film from Mia Hansen-Løve. Staring the likes of Vicky Krieps, Tim Roth, Mia Wasikowska and Anders Danielsen Lie. It centres around Krieps character struggling to write an ending to her script while she goes on a tour based around the life of director Ingmar Bergman.
Sounds like it would be a very boring nerdy film but is the complete opposite. It’s two films in one and ton of fun to watch. Brilliant performances from everyone and includes some great tunes.
Worth watching on a summer night.
8/10
Another very good film from Mia Hansen-Løve. Staring the likes of Vicky Krieps, Tim Roth, Mia Wasikowska and Anders Danielsen Lie. It centres around Krieps character struggling to write an ending to her script while she goes on a tour based around the life of director Ingmar Bergman.
Sounds like it would be a very boring nerdy film but is the complete opposite. It’s two films in one and ton of fun to watch. Brilliant performances from everyone and includes some great tunes.
Worth watching on a summer night.
8/10
Really are crazy numbers, in the movie it was his mother who was pushing for % of each shoe sale to included in his terms. Hell of an initiative.
She ran the household, per MJ. That came through accurately in the film.
I need advice: watch John Wick 3 or Guardians of the Galaxy 3 first tonight?
After talking about the good reviews for the latest Mission Impossible we thought we should catch up on all of the series first. My wife and I haven't seen 5 onwards (or possibly 4 onwards) and my son hardly remembers the first 3. Particularly the original. So we have decided on Wibble family MIathon. We started with1 on Friday night and we will watch 3 tonight.
Mission Impossible: Decent 90s action film. A bit silly of course but fun and fairly well grounded in MI folklore. A bit odd how so many great actors are killed off so early but .... 5/10
MI2: Not a patch on the original. Decent action but not much else. Weirdest bit is them flying from Sydney to the outback to monitor what was going on in an operation in Sydney. Then returning with no explanation for going or returning. Thandie Newton was poor although she was given bugger all to work with, and was only a dodgy Bond style sexual prop for the men. Basically her role was to screw the villian because reason. 4/10
Mission Impossible: Decent 90s action film. A bit silly of course but fun and fairly well grounded in MI folklore. A bit odd how so many great actors are killed off so early but .... 5/10
MI2: Not a patch on the original. Decent action but not much else. Weirdest bit is them flying from Sydney to the outback to monitor what was going on in an operation in Sydney. Then returning with no explanation for going or returning. Thandie Newton was poor although she was given bugger all to work with, and was only a dodgy Bond style sexual prop for the men. Basically her role was to screw the villian because reason. 4/10
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So... who's right?
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Thandie Newton is a strange one. When I first saw her, in Chronicles of Riddick in 2003, she looked 50. Now here 20 years later she actually is 50 and looks exactly the same as she did. Just a reminder to moisturize your face.
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Encanto is brilliant. Ever so slightly too schmaltzy, in a groove that feels a little worn by Frozen, Tangled, Moana before it but it's such a high quality production, made with care and character.
You're in the middle of calling Nolan a virtuoso for sticking in black and white; acting like he's Vertov but say zip about Encanto's raining donkeys.
There's a shot of raining donkeys in one of the songs that made me happier than any other film scene this year. There's some colour pallet shifts in the film that are startling and the animation and designs are as vibrant and dynamic as anything not being made today.
How Disney Animation have managed to uphold the founding principles laid down by Walt and his pioneering animators, at the same time as the parent company does everything it can to destroy Cinema, is some real Jekyll and Hyde stuff.
I keep waiting for them to miss but with the exception of the crappy sequels they're on a hell of a roll. It's getting to the point where the only people who seem to care about anything these days work in kids films - and those kids that used to watch these films are probably off watching the latest tiktok degenerate instead. In an industry that is pumping out sewage like a Tory with a water contract, this type of quality doesn't feel sustainable.
You're in the middle of calling Nolan a virtuoso for sticking in black and white; acting like he's Vertov but say zip about Encanto's raining donkeys.
There's a shot of raining donkeys in one of the songs that made me happier than any other film scene this year. There's some colour pallet shifts in the film that are startling and the animation and designs are as vibrant and dynamic as anything not being made today.
How Disney Animation have managed to uphold the founding principles laid down by Walt and his pioneering animators, at the same time as the parent company does everything it can to destroy Cinema, is some real Jekyll and Hyde stuff.
I keep waiting for them to miss but with the exception of the crappy sequels they're on a hell of a roll. It's getting to the point where the only people who seem to care about anything these days work in kids films - and those kids that used to watch these films are probably off watching the latest tiktok degenerate instead. In an industry that is pumping out sewage like a Tory with a water contract, this type of quality doesn't feel sustainable.
People voted for Mussolini and Tony Blair. Don’t trust people!
The injection scene in the lab Newton ignores both Cruise and the Scottish dude then out of love/spite turns her body into a £37 million pound weapon. It’s a scene which flips the typical Bond style sexual prop imo.
Plus at the end of the film she goes away to jump off a cliff alone. A attempt to end her life on her own terms which is counter to the bond style prop.
Spot on rankings. The series gets better with each new movie. The later movies make the first three look a little infantile.
Lads, they’re all shite.
Some are better shite than others.
They do have Tom Cruise in them so that is a given.
That's a touch unfair, he may be a weird cnut but he's a reasonable actor