Midnight (2021)

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/midnight_2021

Korean film about a deaf girl who witnesses a serial killer 'in action'. He then pursues her through the night.

Fantastic thriller. You may need to suspend disbelief in a couple of places (but I'm not clued up on Korean culture so it may be factual) but its a fantastic ride with great performances.

Not at the level of I Saw The Devil, Man From Nowhere etc but easily just in the tier below.

[8]

36. The Fabelmans
I don't really like how Spielberg's movies look these days. I also think the scripting on this was a bit basic. But it's a Spielberg movie so I enjoyed it more than I probably should have. Loved the cameo later on too.
[7]

37. Violent Night
Fairly fun and dumb action film that spends way too long between action sequences at times and that probably could have had more fun with the core concept.
[5]

38. Moana
I really love this movie. One of their best I think. Amazing songs and animation. Only really let down by some lazy jokes (tweet joke? Come on).
[9]

Satantango This is the 3rd time I have watched this (on BluRay this time), and this becomes more and more of a masterpiece with each viewing. The photography is spellbinding and the long takes facilitate it. Despite the take length, the story moves on at a good pace. 

The style of time jumps and multiple points of view has never been done better in my view; and I include the mighty Rashomon in that judgement.  This isn't something to watch to feel good, but there is humour there - not many films make me laugh out loud - but this did on a couple of occasions.

It's a crying shame Tarr doesn't make any more films but when you watch something like this you wonder where he could go next, so maybe it's better he doesn't.  There is a certain quality to his filmmaking which I cannot put my finger on. Only Kubrick gives me that feeling too but with his work the aritistry is in full view. Tarr is different - at first glance his films shouldn't be watchable but they are - there is something almost addictive in his shots that make we want to keep watching. Watched over a day and a half this - I can't ever see me doing this in a single sitting even though Tarr has supposedly stated that's how it should be watched. The physical challenge of sitting in one place is beyond me now I reckon.

Still - if a cinema was mad enough to try and show this, I'd probably have a go at it. There are two intermissions - which makes me doubt the reports of Tarr's demand for an arse numbing seven and half hour single sitting.  The Curzon/Artificial Eye BluRay is created from a new 24bit restoration and it's gorgeous. I can only dream of ever seeing this on a big screen.

hylian_elf wrote:

Gotta watch that, it’s on my really long list.

I've watched it approx once every 5 years. It's well worth trying to set the time aside. The sound effects are unsettling too so don't have the sound down too much because it's subtitled.

Agreed think it's my fave

American Beauty as over exposed as we are to this and its soundtrack, I've never watched it before.

It's a stunning film and has extra gravitas for a father of kids. It chimes with most of us in parts I reckon - I'm sure most people who have raised a family have a memory of a perfect day (as depicted in that photo frame).  Spacey may be a cunt but he is superb in this sparring with the equally brilliant Annette Bening.

And what a support cast too. A stunning piece of work that may have faded with over familiarity for many - which isn't fair.

There's so much beauty in the world.

Heh.

Free Guy
There's a good idea here (NPC in an online game becomes alive) but its handled so generiaclly here that it doesnt really work. Ryan reynolds is ok but its very much Ryan Reynolds but the rest of the cast feel really poor throughout. The gameworld is unbelievable and lacks the care that South Park have treated certain games. Doesnt help that theymade it more of an action movie despite early on setting out that no-one is really at threat, at least until near the end.

I feel a similar movie in the 80s would have had much more thought put into the idea of how the AI came about and its impact. Movies like D.A.R.Y.L., Short Circuit etc while not being great movies approached the concept with more thought than this. Very much a missed opportunity and for that I fell I enjoyed it that little bit less. it also has very unnecessary swearing to make it a 16 age rating but this is very much PG fodder for the most part - something that always bugs me. To top off the bad vibes, its 2 hours long. By hour ones end, I was checking the watch. [3]

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Mildly better sequel thats not really an improvement but has a much brisker pace and Hank Azaria goofing it up as the big bad. As such it doesnt wear as thin as the first one and because its all silly from start to finish it feels better.  It also features a nice turn from Amy Adams. If, like me, you have a thing for the lovely Ms Adams, chuck a bonus point in there. [5]

Evil Dead Rise

One of the most intense cinema experiences I've had in a long time.
My heart rate won't slow down, the movie is relentless.

19. Nope
I really enjoyed Get Out and Us, so I was looking forward to this, but it was such a disappointment. Performances are mostly great and the cinematography was lovely but aside from a couple of well put together set pieces, good God this was a boring film. The UFO was ludicrous, both as a concept and in execution and there was so much inconsistency throughout the film as to it's behaviour and actions. Badly written, badly executed and soooo fucking long. 5

I didn't think much of Get Out. 'Feels like a feature length episode of Black Mirror' can be a good thing or a bad thing. Was a good thing for Raiz's Come True, didn't do much for me with Get Out.

Some episodes of BM are better than others innit.

Peele did the new Twilight Zone season so obviously is influence by that kind of format.

No seen Nope but I think Us also fits into that pigeon hole.