The two different parts of the film really shouldn't work together but like so much in the film they somehow do. The film often ends slips into music biopic cliche ("It's a good vibration") but usually rises above them to present a moving portrait of genius, obsession and madness.
January 05, 2016 at 10:28PM05 January 2016
04 January 2016
Happy Christmas, 2014 - ★★★
A disappointment after Drinking Buddies but an entertaining distraction for 80 minutes.
January 04, 2016 at 12:03AMPeter & Wendy, 2015 - ★★½
I was without TV reception or internet over Christmas and I wasn't sure if this would be worth catching up with. The two reviews I found in the press appeared positive but the two other reviews on Letterboxd were negative. I've had an interest in the story of Peter Pan for some time so I decided to give it a go and it probably wasn't worth it. Had it been on in the background over Christmas it may have appealed more but on it's own it quickly became dull. It's a shame because the structure (not dissimilar to Sherlock) works well and the Neverland sequences seem to be incredibly faithful to the very dark story (not that I remember it too well - it's been a few years since I last read it). The problems far outweigh anything good; from the ridiculous decision to badly subtitle Tinkerbell through to the distracting performance of Peter Pan. The only other thing worthy of a mention is the strange televisual oddity of Theis Birk Larsen from The Killing talking to Lydia from Breaking Bad.
January 04, 2016 at 12:00AM02 January 2016
My Most Anticipated Films of 2016
My most anticipated films of 2016 (based on UK release).
In no particular order.
- Joy
- The Hateful Eight
- The Danish Girl
- The Revenant
- Room
- Spotlight
- Trumbo
- Deadpool
- Bone Tomahawk
- High-Rise
...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.
January 02, 2016 at 09:45PM01 January 2016
Disappointments of 2015
Not bad films but the ones with high expectations that left me disappointed in some way.
Mostly UK releases apart from Victoria which I saw at #LIFF29 and isn't out until April.
- Bill
Fun but not as good as Horrible Histories.
- Carol
- Crimson Peak
- Ex Machina
- Foxcatcher
- Inherent Vice
- Macbeth
- The Lobster
- Victoria
Not out in the UK until April 2016
- While We're Young
For a lot of the running time this could have been one of my favourite films of the year but when a plot kicks in everything rapidly falls apart.
Film of The Week 2016
Setting out to prove that there's a film released each week that is worthy of your time.
Each week I pick one new film.
Based on UK release dates.
- Joy
Wasting no time getting 2016 started with both Joy and The Danish Girl on wide release. Based on the directors' previous work I'd have to go for Joy.
30 December 2015
Scenes of 2015
The best scenes of 2015.
Based on UK release date in the order I saw them. Although The Case Of Hana and Alice has yet to be released in the UK but screened at festivals.
- Whiplash
The opening scene wastes no time in setting up the two characters and their relationship, I wish more films would just get to the point.
However it was the ending that convinced me this was a five star film.
- Ex Machina
Perhaps the moment of Ex Machina where things really passed the turing test was when Ava asked Caleb to close his eyes.
When Nathan tears up the dancefloor is a pretty special moment as well.
- Big Hero 6
Just about any moment when Baymax is on screen but let's go for the batteries running out.
- Appropriate Behavior
The final scene on the train is a great ending.
- The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Fleeing the palace.
- Still Alice
Alice finds her own video message
- Wild Tales
So many great moments to choose from the freeze frame title shot came close but it's the climax of the road rage sequence that stands out the most.
- It Follows
The opening sequence is a wonderful condensed version of the entire film.
- Mommy
Yes, that moment. I knew it was coming and it still completely floored me.
- Girlhood
Diamonds
or
"Let's try something new" followed by crazy golf.
...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.
December 30, 2015 at 10:39PM2015 The Regrets
The films of 2015 (UK releases) that I didn't see but wanted to.
Hoping to catch a few of these in the first few weeks of 2016.
- A Most Violent Year
- Clouds of Sils Maria
- Eden
- Enemy
- Love & Mercy
- Magic Mike XXL
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
- Phoenix
- Slow West
- Sunset Song
...plus 6 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.
December 30, 2015 at 08:39PMThe Dresser, 2015 - ★★★
Part of the reason I've never got into theatre is that a lot of time it feels solely like it is written and performed only for the sake of the writing and performances. That certainly seems the case here and although everything is done very well I was failed to be engaged.
Really glad it showed up on the BBC though.
December 30, 2015 at 03:59PMSwallows and Amazons, 1974 - ★★★
Nothing too remarkable but not bad either.
December 30, 2015 at 03:57PM28 December 2015
The Emperor's New Groove, 2000 - ★★★
This never feels like a Disney film which seems to be the reason most people like it. For me it felt like it never got going and was just a series of unrelated gags.
December 28, 2015 at 04:17PM27 December 2015
Mr. Holmes, 2015 - ★★★½
Apart from the 2.35:1 aspect ratio there's really nothing here that wouldn't have been more suited to a TV film. That's not to say it's bad; it's a nice idea, ably performed especially by newcomer Milo Parker but it the mystery element is disappointing and most of the film lacks any urgency until the final scenes.
December 27, 2015 at 11:31PM25 December 2015
It's a Wonderful Life, 1946 - ★★★★★
I now know just about every line but it's all still wonderful.
December 25, 2015 at 08:53AM24 December 2015
2015: The Time Capsule
If I could only save 20 films from 2015 it would be these.
(24th Dec - Not finalised this yet but it seems unlikely to change now)
- 45 Years
- A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
- Amy
- Beasts of No Nation
- Carol
- Difret
- Girlhood
- Inside Out
- It Follows
- Love Is Strange
...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.
December 24, 2015 at 05:21PM22 December 2015
Best 2015 Releases on Netflix UK
A response to Shortlist's terrible "12 movies released in 2015 you can watch right now on Netflix" list.
December 22, 2015 at 05:57PMStar Wars: The Force Awakens, 2015 - ★★★★
The Force Awakens is hugely enjoyable but lacking something to make it truly special. That missing something could be the music which is one of the few areas where the film disappoints. It's also a shame that at least one fully CG character sticks out like a sore thumb and another CG heavy scene feels completely superfluous - if only these had both been physical effects. I'm sure the plot could be picked apart but that really doesn't matter because everything is so much fun (which is saying something considering the darker elements of the story). Everything plays up the nostalgia to maximum effect without over doing it, although the reliance on echoing earlier moments in the series could become tiresome. It also feels like a direct continuation of the original trilogy whilst feeling contemporary. Perhaps more than anything this will be the film to bridge the gap between old and new and allow the rest of the trilogy to become classics.
In a great year for blockbusters and strong female roles this feels like the perfect way to bring 2015 to a close.
December 21, 2015 at 11:52PM21 December 2015
Home Alone, 1990 - ★★★★
The last time I watched Home Alone (properly in 2008 although partially more recently) I remember thinking how much better it was than people probably realise. Everybody remembers the home invasion part (which probably only lasts 15 minutes) and seeing that in a cinema full of laughing children was a joy. But the film works on many other levels. It's a really great script, probably Hughes last great piece of work, with echoes of Ferris Bueller amongst other things. It's a great Christmas film with a solid message about the importance of family and only occasionally steps into mawkishness. But it also has that fantastic third act which remains incredibly funny.
December 20, 2015 at 11:57PM14 December 2015
Black Mass, 2015 - ★★★
Mostly unremarkable until the final third when things step up a notch.
December 14, 2015 at 09:51PMScrooge, 1951 - ★★★★
I was unsure if I'd seen this version (apparently I have on TV back in 2011) and it's faithfulness to the story makes it instantly familiar. It's the moments when Dickens' words are on screen that make this really stand out. The problem with this is there are not enough Muppets or songs because that's the version which is lodged in my mind as the best version (even if I did only give it 3.5 the other year).
December 14, 2015 at 07:52AMOrion: The Man Who Would Be King, 2015 - ★★★½
The truth really is stranger than fiction and once again Jeanie Finlay has put together a really engaging documentary.
December 14, 2015 at 07:42AM12 December 2015
The Duke of Burgundy, 2015 - ★★★
Strange and sadly beautiful but I'm not really sure what else to make of this.
December 12, 2015 at 01:07PMTrainwreck, 2015 - ★★
A huge disappointment. I've been looking forward to this since I discovered Amy Schumer but this doesn't even come close to the greatness of her TV show or stand up. Also, Mr Apatow there are people in the film industry called "editors", please find some and listen to what they have to say.
December 12, 2015 at 01:04PM06 December 2015
That's Entertainment! III, 1994
A step backwards to the dull format of the first rather than the enjoyable seques of the second. Also some dubious "tropical makeup" and "we weren't really racist" moments.
December 06, 2015 at 10:16PM05 December 2015
White God, 2014 - ★★★★
The scenes with just the dogs are spectacular and once they've started it always feels like a disappointment whenever we return to the humans. Those early scenes feel like a live action Disney film and are a joy to watch. It's a bit unsettling then when things start to get more brutal and that's before things get weird. It's almost a complete genre change for the final acts and it is completely ridiculous. But for me it didn't matter; the many, many plot humps were small enough for me to still massively enjoy the ride. There's just a niggling feeling that the whole thing could have been more smartly handled and resulted in a better film.
December 05, 2015 at 08:41PM03 December 2015
Bridge of Spies, 2015 - ★★★★
A solid, engaging and entertaining film. There's a timeless quality about the film so it's not surprising so many people are saying it could've been a James Stewart film. The only weak moment also betrays that timelessness, a CGI heavy sequence featuring a plane feels horribly out of place.
December 03, 2015 at 06:26PM
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