Change Your Image
sid-Jo
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againReviews
This Town (2024)
Let down
This Town is by the writer of Peaky Blinders and incorporates one of his crew from that show Jordon Sprognal who is like his character in PB and brilliantly played as was Michelle Dockery's character. Spoiler alert: They surely killed off the grandma way too early, she was captivating. They could have done without the poet and the blonde, ruined the flow. Too much slow mo between the daddies and sons. Otherwise i liked the ecelectic mix of irish and black sociopolitical issues of the period with IRA police and racism. It has a Peaky Blinder and This is England atmosphere. Could have worked better dropping a couple of characters and more emphasis on the background music. It has its moments but could certainly be improved, faster and tighter.
Hodejegerne (2011)
Headspinner
I saw this film on DVD a few years ago and watched it a few more times since. One of my favourite all time Norwegian films in fact the best i've seen. It's a thriller with twist after twist right from the beginning till the end so you need to pay attention to see how it all threads together at the finale. It has a first rate cool aura as is the main lead. The supports acts play their part too. A man top of his field as a recruiter, a headhunter who gets the best candidates for positions in high end companies but sidelines as a burglar of expensive paintings to subsidise his expensive wife and expensive lifestyle which leads him into all sorts of twists and turns while still maintaining appearances as a recruitment headhunter. The incidental and catchy theme music keeps its ticking along and all told its a riveting thriller which keeps you captivated. Highly recommended.
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
War on peace
After just 15 minutes i can see the thread and that a team of lefty liberal snowflake script writers have put their collectives claws on this. Before my eyes i am reminded of past films, Soldier Blue, Apocalypse Now, All Quiet on the Western Front, Dances with Wolves even Avatar or the original Spartacus. I could go on. It's trying to meaningful, it dictates, it appeases to pacifists, it is so boring in it's message. The Hollywood luvvy script writers need a bomb up their arses, something, someone right wing. They are trying to be an antidote to our times (Trump) by pedalling this crap story line.to the point of ruining this trilogy. Have they ever heard the line "Are you not entertained"? This story has already been told a million times before with Red Indians and other persecuted tribes in human form. How was it given a 7+. Thumbs down.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
The Glorious Godfather
I have always preferred Godfather II to the original and solely because De Niro was chillingly cool, cold blooded and subtle. His was a great character study. I loved the texture and atmosphere throughout the movie in capturing Little Italy and the Sicilian scenes. The commission hearings and other Italian characters complemented the main actors with a realistic thread. The interwoven flashback and present day interlinks were majestically done without detracting or lulling the story line and of course the theme music which you could instantly recognise years later. Definitely one of the top 3 greatest of all time movies.
Insidious (2010)
Insidious is chilling
This is a well directed 'family in a haunted house' movie that really has an air of creepiness. The main characters put in convincing performances and there is a strong air of menace attributed by fine camera-work and direction as it pans every room in expectation of something sinister in the offing.
It has a realistic normal everyday feel as the newly arrived family carry a few anxieties on settling in, the father being a teacher busy with marking exams, the mother of three left to cope with unpacking, manage the kids and prepare the house.
The creepy atmosphere leaves you feeling spooked and on edge and the strong sense something invisible and menacing is watching the occupants of the house within the house. I don't think i've ever seen a film where i am actually believing that this really is a haunted house, it permeates throughout and is totally convincing.
If you want to be scared out of your wits this film will take you there. This is a house that looks and felt haunted and there are many heart stopping, jump out of your seat moments. This truly is a spine chilling film. I watched it alone in the dark, not a good idea.
One downer is you are left wandering if the male investigators were in the right prffesion.
Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
Mesmerising performances.
An understated, haunting well acted sense of menace , mystery and paranoia filmed with an edgy raw realistic quality. Elizabeth Olsen just begs for your sympathy, compassion and understanding as her fragile damaged mind slowly disintegrates with flashbacks of her experience on a commune. This is compounded by a beautiful haunting guitar melody sung by John Hawkes which lingers in your mind throughout the film long after it is played. In a way this film is a study in the passive aggressive indoctrination and brutalisation of a vulnerable young human being and the consequences that would have on fragile, susceptible people entrapped in a cult. Olsen's performance was mesmerising,affecting and disturbing she deserves being nominated for any of the major awards. A performance and a film that i shall remember for a long time.
Just a little quibble, i do like to read peoples reviews but as each film is story lined in IDMB at the title banner do we need to see the see the plot repeated tine after time in reviews, we know the plot already. we just want an opinion on the film
The Rite (2011)
The Rite
The tone, mood and atmosphere sat well with the theme of this film and Hopkins as usual was excellent and raised the film another level in his scenes. I did find the lead a bit insipid and expressionless when perhaps some of his more alarming moments could have been portrayed with a bit more concern but the rest of the cast fitted well within their respective roles especially the pregnant girl. It kept me engrossed and on edge at and was well padded out, no more no less. This was a film i didn't have on my radar but it seems not to have caught on with the public and it deserves much more recognition and promotion than it appears to have received. It is well worth watching, you will remember Hopkins's performance as a standout and i would if i could award him an 8.5/10 it being one of his best performance of recent times and the film a a 7.5.