First Time Viewings: March 2024
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- DirectorYorgos LanthimosStarsEmma StoneMark RuffaloWillem DafoeAn account of the fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter.Viewed: 12-03-2024
Fantastical and endlessly fascinating surrealist black comedy from Yorgos Lanthimos. Emma Stone gives a tour de force performance as Bella, a child-like woman with no filter, who is eager for education and adventure. Willem Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo are also standouts in the cast, giving performances that are up there with their best. A completely one-of-a-kind film that will likely repel those that like their films told in a simple and bland fashion, but if you like to be entertained with dazzling visuals, oddball characters and a scything but hilarious screenplay then this will be right up your alley, as it was mine. Hugely impressive in all departments.
10/10 - DirectorJohn TurturroStarsJohn TurturroBobby CannavaleAudrey TautouA trio of misfits whose irreverent, sexually charged dynamic evolves into a surprising love story as their spontaneous and flippant attitude towards the past or future backfires time and again.Viewed: 12-03-24
This certainly wasn't what I was expecting. That's quite often a good thing but not so much here. John Turturro has taken his "Jesus" character from the classic film "The Big Lebowski" and placed him in a remake of a 1974 French film called "Going Places". I haven't seen that film so I can't compare but it seems a very odd choice indeed. I am a fan of Turturro, but this film falls flat on the humour side and the road movie side. It meanders around a plotless story, which would be perfectly fine if the characters were interesting, but these aren't people I really want to spend any time with. And where's the bowling? I really wanted to see Jesus roll, as the title promises, but apart from one minor scene there's practically nothing. It's not completely terrible, I did really like the character played by Audrey Tautou, and these oddball movies are generally my thing, but this one is lacking a clever script that would make this film a lot more interesting.
5/10 - DirectorHarry KellerStarsTony RandallBurl IvesBarbara EdenAn architect buys an antique brass bottle that contains an ancient genie who's determined to fulfill his new master's every wish.Viewed: 31-03-2024
Very light but fun piece of entertainment that inspired the TV series "I Dream of Jeannie". Burl Ives wonderfully plays the genie that is released after Tony Randall opens an ancient brass bottle. The genie tries to help out Randall, but as always with these films, does more damage than help. The ending feels like a cop out, but it's a light-hearted joy for the most part.
7/10 - DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsRoddy PiperKeith DavidMeg FosterThey influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.Viewed: 31-03-2024
John Carpenter's "They Live" has certainly become quite the cult classic. And I understand the ultra-corny lines spoken and the awful wrestling choreography are deliberate and a lot of people find this film to be campy fun, but I just don't get the same amount of joy out of it. I do like this film and the ideas are very interesting but it does get a little bogged down in its own hyper-corniness. A little less probably would have been more here.
6/10