First Time Viewings: May 2020
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14 titles
- DirectorPaolo SorrentinoStarsToni ServilloCarlo VerdoneSabrina FerilliJep Gambardella has seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades, but after his 65th birthday and a shock from the past, Jep looks past the nightclubs and parties to find a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty.Viewed: 04-05-20
Exquisitely shot Italian film set in Rome. A wonderful performance by Toni Servillo adds so much depth to a possibly shallow character. As Fellini-esque as Fellini himself.
9/10 - DirectorJung Byung-gilStarsKim Ok-binShin Ha-kyunSung JunA female assassin leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks revenge.Viewed: 05-05-20
The plot is unnecessarily confusing but there's enough there to follow along and it gets quite melodramatic but that turns out to be a good thing as it brings a real depth to the action and violence being played out before your eyes. And that action is amazing. I have no idea how they filmed some of the stunts but I'm impressed. Kim Ok-bin in the lead role is a standout as well. For all of its flaws, this South Koran actioner well and truly makes up for them.
8/10 - DirectorTerry GreenStarsJohn MahoneyLinda EmondLindsay CrouseA story about a man trying to overcome mistakes and past events in his life.Viewed: 09-05-20
Pleasant-enough film about a diner near the place of James Dean's fatal car crash. John Mahoney gives a wonderful performance in the lead and Virginia Madsen is His equal but unfortunately the characters and situations ring false and everything is all too conveniently tied up into a nice little bundle by the end. Still I liked it somewhat despite the lazy screenwriting.
6/10 - DirectorMukunda Michael DewilStarsPaul WalkerNaima McLeanGys de VilliersIn Johannesburg, an American parole breaker unknowingly picks up a rental car that will tie him to a web of corrupt local police.Viewed: 09-05-20
A wrong-place/wrong-time actioner that uses the gimmick of the whole film being shot from inside the car. While the gimmick works fairly well the screenplay doesn't work at all. It starts off with Paul Walker knowingly taking the wrong rental car because he's in a rush. There's no life and death situation, you don't just drive off knowing you're in the wrong car, full stop. Then he does stupid things while driving the car to the destination he's heading to. It's apparently only a 20 minute drive but he still decides to try to eat and drink in the vehicle while dropping the food and spilling the drink everywhere... in a rental vehicle. Why does the writer/director try his hardest to make him look like a imbecile? Anyway that's just the start, and the film get more and more ridiculous as it goes along. Though if you can manage to turn your brain off for a while there is some entertainment to be had.
5/10 - DirectorJerry LewisStarsJerry LewisBrian DonlevyHoward McNearA goofy paperhanger is hired to root out a financial inefficiency on a Hollywood studio lot, wreaking havoc as he goes.Viewed: 10-05-20
Jerry Lewis film with gag after gag, some really funny, some not quite but always entertaining in Jerry Lewis' unique way. A lesser Lewis film is still worth the watch.
7/10 - DirectorChris Ver WielStarsChristian SlaterTim AllenPortia de RossiThis is a comedy about mistaken identities, a hitman who sees everything in terms of the movies, and a twenty-year-old diamond heist.Viewed: 15-05-20
Ridiculously unlikely crime caper comedy won me over with its charm. A terrific cast with Tim Allen especially good as a hitman who loves classic movies. Probably not as funny or clever as it thinks it is but still managed to leave a big smile on my face so that counts for something.
7/10 - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsJohn Lloyd YoungErich BergenMichael LomendaThe story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic 1960s rock group The Four Seasons.Viewed: 16-05-20
Good biopic on Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Never elevates to a great film but entertaining and solid performances throughout.
7/10 - DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsChanning TatumAlex PettyferOlivia MunnA male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money.Viewed: 16-05-20
Solid film set in the male stripper world. Excellent choreography throughout and a great job by the actors to pull this off and make it so believable. The drama involved is a little too predictable but it's quite entertaining overall.
7/10 - DirectorSpike LeeStarsTracy Camilla JohnsTommy Redmond HicksJohn Canada TerrellStory of a woman and her three lovers.Viewed: 16-05-20
Low budget but charming feature debut for Spike Lee. It doesn't add up to much but I love Lee's experimental style here, you could tell he was destined to make some great films.
7/10 - DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsAndré HollandMelvin GreggEddie TavaresDuring a pro basketball lockout, a sports agent pitches a rookie basketball client on an intriguing and controversial business proposition.Viewed: 16-05-20
I love good dialogue and this film has plenty of it. Unfortunately the downfall is that it's about basketball politics, well not entirely but generally speaking, of which I have little understanding of so a lot of what happens goes over my head. Still there's some great scenes and everything Steven Soderbergh touches is worth a watch.
7/10 - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsBlake JennerTyler HoechlinRyan GuzmanIn 1980 Texas, a college freshman meets his new baseball teammates, an unruly group of disco-dancing, skirt-chasing, and they navigate their wayViewed: 16-05-20
This film proves that you don't always need a story. The camera just follows around a bunch a college kids within the 3 days before college starts. Director Richard Linklater is great at creating a certain period and this film is set in 1980, and it feels like 1980. There's terrific dialogue and there's a great feel for the characters. Linklater has stated that this is a "spiritual sequel" to Dazed and Confused so if you liked that then...
8/10 - DirectorPablo LarraínStarsNatalie PortmanPeter SarsgaardGreta GerwigFollowing the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy fights through grief and trauma to regain her faith, console her children, and define her husband's historic legacy.Viewed: 17-05-20
Natalie Portman is wonderful in the lead role and the film is expertly made. Some of the actual footage is spliced in with recreations of the events as well. It mainly focusses on the immediate aftermath of JFK's assassination though it's all told in a flashback style from an interview she gives a week later. The film jumps around a lot in a Terrence Mallick style which I don't think is too helpful in a biopic though because you can never fully sink your teeth into it, but kudos for trying something different.
7/10 - DirectorJonah HillStarsSunny SuljicKatherine WaterstonLucas HedgesFollows Stevie, a thirteen-year-old in 1990s-era Los Angeles who spends his summer navigating between his troubled home life and a group of new friends that he meets at a Motor Avenue skate shop.A coming-of-age story set in the same era I was, though the landscape is entirely different it's one I could have easily been a part of. Jonah Hill does a tremendous job making this film feel like it was made in the mid 90's, and it feels like a Kids-lite. Not to trying sound disparaging as this is a very good film but it's certainly not as heavy as Kids either, which is probably a good thing. Also I have to mention that it has a terrific soundtrack.
8/10 - DirectorF. Gary GrayStarsIce CubeChris TuckerNia LongIt's Friday, and Craig and Smokey must come up with $200 they owe a local bully or there won't be a Saturday.Viewed: 17/05/20
So I've been aware of this film for 25 years and just never got around to it, even though I've had ample opportunities to watch it. It has become quite the cult hit over the years and finally another opportunity reared its head so I thought I might as well. I must say I'm glad I waited so long to watch it as I would've written it off as unfunny back in the day and would never have bothered with it again. There are moments of laughter sprinkled throughout but it's not overly funny, but it is likeable and even somewhat charming and I really like the premise, and these things I wouldn't have appreciated back in the day. Oh and it has a ripper soundtrack.
7/10