First Time Viewings: November 2022
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13 titles
- DirectorHarry BradbeerStarsMillie Bobby BrownHenry CavillDavid ThewlisNow a detective-for-hire, Enola Holmes takes on her first official case to find a missing girl as the sparks of a dangerous conspiracy ignite a mystery that requires the help of friends - and Sherlock himself - to unravel.Viewed: 05-11-22
Enjoyable sequel with another solid performance from Millie Bobby Brown. Though, as is the case with many sequels, the novelty is gone, and nothing really sets this apart from the first film. The mystery, which apparently involves a true moment in time, is quite interesting, though the last few moments are a little too hokey. The film also goes on a little too long, which is odd because the final reveal seems a little abrupt, which is primarily a pacing problem. All that said, it's still quite entertaining for the most part, but a step down from the first film. Still keen on a third part if they decide to make one.
6/10 - DirectorChris LangmanStarsCarmen DuncanMichael AitkensShane BriantThe action moves along quickly in this made-for-television drama about Eve, an ex-terrorist from Germany who is forced to escape to Australia with her teenage daughter Chrissie when she is sought by Riley, a lover from 17 years in the past. In turn, the IRA has sent two members after Riley because he shot an IRA soldier and must pay the consequences. The two IRA operatives looking for Riley come across a really nasty biker who wants vengeance on Eve for setting his car on fire -- and the three men finally track her and Chrissie to the wine-growing country of Barossa Valley. The final denouement is about to explode, as Riley also arrives on the scene. With under-par acting and a patchy plot, this film was never released theatrically.Viewed: 06-11-22
Ozploitation film has some things going for it, but it has a very messy story. There's a mother and daughter on the run from the mother's ex-partner who wants some money that the mother stole from her time with some 60's radicals' group. Then there's the people after the ex-partner, who by extension are also after the mother and daughter. Add some crazies that look left over from a Mad Max film. Sometimes it all feels serious, then it feels tongue-in-cheek, and by the end you have no clear footing of what the hell it was meant to be. Some of the editing choices are very confusing too. The film is short enough, but the story should have been tighter and chosen one path to take, either go all out, or keep it grounded. As it is, it's a mildly entertaining snapshot of Ozploitation in the mid-80's, nothing more.
5/10 - DirectorAng LeeStarsKevin KlineJoan AllenSigourney WeaverIn suburban New Canaan, Connecticut, 1973, middle-class families experimenting with casual sex and substance abuse find their lives beyond their control.Viewed: 10-11-22
This is a film that I was keen to watch when it was first released, yet it took me 25 years to finally watch it. It's funny how some films just fall through the cracks, and there's still so many more. This is primarily a drama, set in 1973, but also has a decent handful of hilarious moments to power through a story of two families who are neighbours. The parents have their issues, and the story intertwines with the teenagers and their coming-of-age problems. It's all a very powerful and engaging film that I didn't want to end, but when it does it's at the perfect moment to help the viewer reflect on what we've just seen. Director Ang Lee never puts a foot wrong, and all the performances are wonderful, but I will single out Christina Ricci as being especially great. I can't believe it took me so long to watch this film, but I love that there are still so many wonderful films out there for me to watch for the first time.
9/10 - DirectorJohn TurturroStarsLeo BassiHenri BéharMaurizio BenazzoA turn-of-the-20th-century theatre repertory company rejects the latest project of their beloved playwright Tuccio, kicking off a saga of intrigue surrounding the influential critic Bevalaqua and star Celimene.Viewed: 11-11-22
John Turturro directs, co-writes and stars in this film adaptation of a play about a play. The film is at times crazy fun, especially the scenes featuring Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken. It's full of bizarre, but entertaining characters that would fit right into a European arthouse film, it doesn't feel like it's set in New York City at all. Not everything works perfectly all the time, but it's always full of life and is an absolute joy to watch.
8/10 - DirectorMatthew RobbinsStarsMark HamillAnnie PottsEugene RocheHigh school graduate Kenneth W. Dantley Junior and Vanessa, a hooker-in-training, try to track down his custom-made newly-stolen Corvette.Viewed: 11-11-22
A high school student (Mark Hamill) helps re-build a Corvette Stingray, and after it gets stolen, he tracks it down in Las Vegas. During his escapade he meets a "trainee" hooker (Annie Potts) and falls in love. Potts is terrific in an interesting role, and the car scenes are quite nicely done but Hamill's character is so stupid and unlikable it completely ruined the movie for me. An interesting premise completely let down by an irritating lead character.
4/10 - DirectorRob PrittsStarsChris KattanPeter FalkVinessa ShawThe loser son of a Mafia honcho must go undercover for the FBI.Viewed: 12-11-22
This may just be the unfunniest comedy I've ever seen. I thought for sure that an Adam Sandler movie might hold that title (and he may, as I'm still yet to see plenty of his films), but Chris Kattan now takes the crown. I'm not sure how anyone thought any of this was funny enough on paper to the extent of greenlighting it, but here we are. Actually, I tell a lie. A (thankfully) little seen comedy from 1989 called All's Fair is the unfunniest (and worst) film I've ever watched, but this film isn't too far off. I did find the receptionist at the vet clinic at the start of the movie funny (maybe 10 seconds of screen time), so I'll give it that and just move on and try to forget about everything else.
2/10 - DirectorTom JeffreyStarsPeter CumminsJohn HargreavesJacki WeaverA good and a bad cop assist a battered wife as she tries to escape her belligerent husband.Viewed: 12-11-22
Fascinating movie based on a David Williamson play. A rookie cop on his first day out of the academy is teamed up with an experienced, but chauvinistic cop who likes to do things the more old-fashioned way. Two women enter the picture, and they accuse one of their husbands of being a wife-basher and the wife in question is going to move out and take the furniture. So, the old cop calls in a favour and gets a furniture removalist to pick up the furniture. When the two cops and women turn up at the husband's place, that's when the tension mounts and threatens to boil over. This is a dialogue-driven drama that only has two main locations (which is standard being based on a play) and must've been an actor's dream to perform with the sharp-as-a-tack script. It's certainly a snapshot of the 70's as I'm sure procedures are very different nowadays. Well, I certainly hope so.
8/10 - DirectorEddie RomeroStarsJohn AshleyPat WoodellSid HaigA foreign correspondent is kidnapped and used for human prey.Viewed: 12-11-22
A 70's exploitation version of "The Most Dangerous Game". Women are kidnapped and taken to a secluded mansion, where they are intended to be released into the jungle only to be hunted down by wealthy businessmen. The character played by Sid Haig is quite enjoyable to watch but the rest of the film is surprisingly bland. The film doesn't invoke any tension, excitement or a sense of dread. It's really quite cheap in every sense of the word. This is probably the most boring exploitation film I've seen so far.
3/10 - DirectorChester ErskineStarsClaudette ColbertFred MacMurrayMarjorie MainOn their wedding night, Bob reveals to Betty that he has purchased an abandoned chicken farm. Betty struggles to adapt to their new rural lifestyle, especially when a glamorous neighbor seems to set her eyes on Bob.Viewed: 13-11-22
Pleasant comedy involving a newlywed city-slicking couple buying a dilapidated chicken farm. It's the husband's idea with the wife not being too keen but she tries to stay supportive. Ma and Pa Kettle steal the show as they make their first appearance on film as neighbours of the new couple. I wasn't overly fussed with the last 10 minutes or so, but there's more than enough here to enjoy it overall.
7/10 - DirectorJon AmielStarsAaron EckhartHilary SwankDelroy LindoThe only way to save Earth from catastrophe is to drill down to the core and set it spinning again.Viewed: 13-11-22
So, the Earth's core has stopped spinning and the electromagnetic shield around earth is slowly disappearing, and the powers that be decide to build a huge machine that effectively drills its way to the core with lasers so they can "restart the core's engine" with nukes. It's absolutely ridiculous, straight out of a b-grade 1950's sci-fi flick. It knows it, and we know it. It has fun with the idea and, unless you go into the film ignorantly expecting some highbrow art, you can have some fun too. It also manages to side-step any major romantic storylines which are almost always corny and off-putting. The cast were curiously selected too, as most were generally more well-known in smaller critically acclaimed films, rather than big end-of-the-world blockbusters. Just so we're clear, this film is complete junk, but just like lollies and Maccas, it's quite tasty at times if you're in the right mood.
6/10 - DirectorJoe ChappelleStarsPeter O'TooleRose McGowanJoanna GoingIn the peaceful town of Snowfield, Colorado something evil has wiped out the community. And now, its up to a group of people to stop it, or at least get out of Snowfield alive.Viewed: 13-11-22
Two sisters arrive in a small town and find the streets eerily empty. After finding a couple of corpses that died suspiciously, some cops arrive to save the day, except the evil presence can't be killed merely by gunfire. Then comes along Peter O'Toole, who knows a thing or two about this evil entity. It feels so weird seeing the great O'Toole in such a b-grade horror film, but the film does have high ambitions. It has a creepy atmosphere, a few suspenseful scenes and starts off well, though it does delve into ridiculousness soon enough once everything is revealed. However, I did find it fairly entertaining for the most part, and that goes a long way.
6/10 - DirectorCirio H. SantiagoStarsJeannie BellStan ShawPat AndersonA young karate expert searches for her brother's killer in Hong Kong.Viewed: 14-11-22
A film like this, a blaxploitation kung-fu film, you watch for the action (and probably nudity, which you do get), but the action scenes seem especially terrible in this film. Not one single punch or kick actually looks like it connects, they are some worst filmed fight scenes I've seen. And you certainly don't watch a film like this for the storyline or dialogue, so it doesn't have much to offer for enjoyment. There's a couple of cool characters and it clocks in at a brisk 72 minutes, and I wouldn't call it boring, so there's definitely worse out there, but this genre has much better to offer.
4/10 - DirectorRobert Vincent O'NeilStarsCliff GormanSusan TyrrellDick ShawnMolly, a high schooler, secretly earns her living as Angel, a street prostitute whose only family and friends are the ones she works with on the streets. She has to survive against a serial killer who is targeting people of her profession.Viewed: 28-11-22
Thriller about a streetwalking high school student and a serial killer that is killing all of her friends. At times exploitative and some corny dialogue here and there, but surprisingly effective with a few colourful characters added to lighten the mood a bit and give it somewhat of a realistic feel. The supporting characters could be the butt of a joke in another film, but they are appreciatively made into real human beings in this film. The serial killer does a number of silly things though which is rather unfortunate. I couldn't believe for a second that he wouldn't get caught after the first murder with the dumb things he does later in the film. The atmosphere this film creates, just gets squandered by the end. They should have not bothered with the serial killer part of the film, it would've made a huge improvement as the story of Angel herself is very strong. A missed opportunity but still decent.
6/10