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Films you have seen at the cinema 2023

Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse - not quite as amazing as the first movie, but still incredibly visually inventive - it’s almost too much though, and was certainly far too long, at 2 hours 20 minutes, especially considering it didn’t even finish and we have to wait for part 2. Some great jokes in there though - lots of grown ups laughing at the noisy family screening I was at. The kids and babies were confused and restless judging by their screams and loud questions :D
3 neurotic superheroes out of 5.
 
Barbie
Very enjoyable satirical swipe at the patriarchy but it’s safe satire rather than anything establishment-smashing.
Very funny though and amazing to look at. it was quite an event, too, with lots of folk dressed up in pink and drinking cocktails.
Now do He Man, please, Mattel
4 increased toy sales out of 5
 
Orang Utan said:
Barbie
Very enjoyable satirical swipe at the patriarchy but it’s safe satire rather than anything establishment-smashing.
Very funny though and amazing to look at. it was quite an event, too, with lots of folk dressed up in pink and drinking cocktails.
Now do He Man, please, Mattel
4 increased toy sales out of 5
Click to expand...
Maybe my expectations are way too low but any big budget mainstream film that openly satirises the patriarchy in any way at all feels like a massive win. 🤷‍♀️
 
Ladybug and Cat Noir: Popular cartoon caper movie spin-off. The plot is part love story, part superhero theatrics set in Paris. Nothing deep or special. Watched about a half dozen cartoon movies in the last year or two, this was definitely one of the better ones. Didn't leave me bored, nor questioning the motivation of any of the characters, and more importantly, kept my daughter entertained.
 
RedRedRose said:
Ladybug and Cat Noir: Popular cartoon caper movie spin-off. The plot is part love story, part superhero theatrics set in Paris. Nothing deep or special. Watched about a half dozen cartoon movies in the last year or two, this was definitely one of the better ones. Didn't leave me bored, nor questioning the motivation of any of the characters, and more importantly, kept my daughter entertained.
Click to expand...
My daughter loves the cartoon.
 
metalguru said:
Past Lives - a Korean film about two childhood sweethearts reconnecting in adulthood.

Really liked it, and so glad I saw it as the cinema - both Seoul and New York look fantastic. The film brings out the visual beauty in everyday life.
Click to expand...

Just saw too. Probably my movie of the year so far. Really pretty flawless - the writing, cinematography, score and performances are all exquisite. Very emotionally affecting too, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room!
 
Orang Utan said:
Barbie
Very enjoyable satirical swipe at the patriarchy but it’s safe satire rather than anything establishment-smashing.
Very funny though and amazing to look at. it was quite an event, too, with lots of folk dressed up in pink and drinking cocktails.
Now do He Man, please, Mattel
4 increased toy sales out of 5
Click to expand...
Who would direct He-Man?

Bill Burr would star, obvs, with some CGI help
 
Hidden Network, a polish film that follows a journalist as she digs into a story and things do not go well for her. Excellent use of the the disgraced Nick Cave’s Red Right Hand.
 
My Name is Alfred Hitchcock, documentary by Mark Cousins that explores the great man’s films on a thematic basis using clips.

“Alfred” himself, voiced by Alistair McGowan, talks to us in a conversational, matey fashion. It works surprisingly well, and achieved the goal of making me want to watch more of his work, particularly the less famous ones.
 
Jeff Robinson said:
Just saw too. Probably my movie of the year so far. Really pretty flawless - the writing, cinematography, score and performances are all exquisite. Very emotionally affecting too, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room!
Click to expand...

Totally agree - saw this last week and it's wonderful - film of the year for me without doubt.

Last night I saw Love Life - pretty devastating Japanese film (with a brief trip to Korea) about grief, family, relationships, communication (and the lack thereof). Also recommended but I couldn't help but compare it to Past Lives from last week to which it fell a little short....
 
The Old Oak

It's standard Ken Loach territory. Syrian refugees arrive in an old mining village in Durham, friendships and tensions ensue. Nothing will surprise anyone, I don't think, but it's very well done and nicely understated. Had some grit in my eye at the end.
 
I saw Old Oak today at my local cinema.

I suppose yes it is familiar territory. But how he works and makes film based on solid research plus using local people as actors is I think something to he should be lauded for.

His films are joint enterprise with his long standing scriptwriter Paul Laverty.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ken Loach inspired by the North East for film The Old Oak

The celebrated director cites the "solidarity and wit" of the region as reasons for his return.
www.bbc.co.uk

This piece from BBC describes how they work. Spending a lot of time in a local community talking to people. Some of whom eventually end up acting in the film. So films reflect the life of those who act in the film.

Nearly everyone in the film is not a professional actor. Loach genius is his ability to make a film and get great performances out of ordinary local people.

Also to his credit his last three films have been set in the North. Its in a way a riposte to the simplistic view that these "left behind" communities are just racist. This film presents a much more complicated picture. Which I think is where it at its best. Their is an intelligence to this film. I do not agree with the view is that its sentimental. It occasionally teeters towards that then pulls itself back. As I have found with all Ken Loach films.

He did say with this film - the third in the trilogy set in the North- is to introduce some hope. And yes he does. Its quite a simple one ( not a criticism) that ordinary people support each. That ordinary decency towards ones fellow man can transcend difference.

The way he and Paul Laverty work and the idea they push in their films might not be fashionable but they have kept the flame of this alive in film and deserve credit for it.

This might not be his best film but he deserves more than he gets in this country for his persisting to make films. Which is not a easy job.

In France and abroad he is seen more highly.

He never fitted in the Blairite Labour years. He gets stick over anti semitism. The treatment of this director over decades by the establishment here has been poor to say the least. At one point he was struggling to get any funding.
 
There are touches of sentimentality, I would say, but I agree that he pulls back sufficiently.

Everyone coming to pay their respects to the family at the end is undoubtedly sentimental. But also, the back room is still fucked and will remain so - those free meals can't happen there any more. The credits with them marching with the banner in English and Arabic is very certainly a sign of hope, that solidarity is possible, but it's the hope of a kind that says 'never give up' more than anything else, 'we're still fucking here, you bastards'.
 
The Creator. Imax 😎

Very cool looking film. Loses its way a bit in the middle but really original throughout. All actors are good except John David Washington. As per usual
 
Orang Utan said:
Have you seen this, redsquirrel ?
View attachment 395080
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There are a few Blu-Ray special releases coming out, as well as a couple of festivals. I do wonder if they’re connected?

Bluebeard’s Castle is about to come out for the first time, which I’ve seen on a dodgy transfer (supposedly via Bela Lugosi!), and it amazed me how good it was. Really looking forward to this release.
 
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There’s a few P&P being shown in Exeter too, including The Red Shoes which is being shown in the cathedral, with some sort of immersive thing (a few dancers it seems like), and a talk.
 
Orang Utan said:
They’ve also just release the programme for LIFF2023:

What's On

What's On
www.leedsfilm.com www.leedsfilm.com
Some great new stuff but also some great oldies - there’s a strand of films based on trains, so we get THREE Hitchcocks and From Russia With Love!

What's On

What's On
www.leedsfilm.com www.leedsfilm.com
Click to expand...
That looks great. And fuck me it is so much more affordable than the London Film Festival.
 
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