List the films you've seen at the cinema: 2013

[Dr. Furface]

The Place Beyond The Pines. Starts off great for about an hour when Ryan Gosling is doing his motorcycle bankrobber thing, but thereafter becomes less entertaining, increasingly overwrought and far too contrived to be convincing. The presence of Gosling's character persists throughout the film, and his performance and charisma totally overshadow the second half of it. Ray Liotta's role as a bent cop in the second half, good as he is, feels like a wasted opportunity - much more could have been made of him rather than just the cameo role he's afforded. Not a bad film by any means, but ultimately a bit disappointing. 6.5/10

 

[blossie33]

The Place Beyond The Pines. Starts off great for about an hour when Ryan Gosling is doing his motorcycle bankrobber thing, but thereafter becomes less entertaining, increasingly overwrought and far too contrived to be convincing. The presence of Gosling's character persists throughout the film, and his performance and charisma totally overshadow the second half of it. Ray Liotta's role as a bent cop in the second half, good as he is, feels like a wasted opportunity - much more could have been made of him rather than just the cameo role he's afforded. Not a bad film by any means, but ultimately a bit disappointing. 6.5/10

I went to see it at the weekend, I did enjoy it but I agree with what you say.
The character I thought was least believable was the policeman's son.

 

[bi0boy]

I went to a screening of Oblivion. The first half is intriguing and I loved the designs, but when it comes to explaining everything it falls apart and gets a bit rubbish. Tom Cruise as always appers as a Ken doll shaped void who you have to replace with an actor of your choice in your mind. Not terrible, but could have been better.

I agree it was all rather predictable, but the visual design, cinematography and the soundtrack were pretty epic. Definitely one to see on the big screen.

 

[redsquirrel]

Marco Bellocchio double bill; In the Name of the Father and Good Morning, Night

In The Name of the Father is set in a Catholic boarding school where the priest's are unable to any real order unlike a new student who seems to be able to control his fellow students as well as most of the priests. The film is really about the different forms of authority, with Transeunti's (the student) version of authority borrowing from fascism, communism and a sort of weird scientific technocracy.

Good Morning, Night - is a fictional account of the Moro kidnapping, with some members of the the Red Brigades cell holding Moro becoming increasingly unsure about what they are doing. I doubt know enough about the historical background to say how accurate the (fictional) portrayal is (? butchersapron, chegrimandi, Fedayn) but I found the The Front Line, which dealt with similar themes in a very different way, a more convincing picture of the thinking behind such actions/groups.

 

[Sue]

The Place Beyond The Pines. Starts off great for about an hour when Ryan Gosling is doing his motorcycle bankrobber thing, but thereafter becomes less entertaining, increasingly overwrought and far too contrived to be convincing. The presence of Gosling's character persists throughout the film, and his performance and charisma totally overshadow the second half of it. Ray Liotta's role as a bent cop in the second half, good as he is, feels like a wasted opportunity - much more could have been made of him rather than just the cameo role he's afforded. Not a bad film by any means, but ultimately a bit disappointing. 6.5/10

Just saw this. Disappointing. Felt like they'd cobbled together a couple of different films so it really didn't hang together. Was utterly unconvinced by the second half. And yes, Ryan Gosling was the best thing about it by quite a long way. Was also a bit confused about when it was meant to be set -- assume the first bit was meant to be in the 80s by the music? Really didn't feel like it apart from that (well and RG's rather dubious trousers...)

 

[el-ahrairah]

Fuck For Forest. A documentary following a group of hippies who have decided to make porn and use the profits to save the planet. absolutely hilarious and a bit sad seeing as a few of the group are really quite damaged people and there's some occasions where i feel really sad for them. but mostly it's funny because they are everything you hate about hippies.

 

[Reno]

Fuck For Forest. A documentary following a group of hippies who have decided to make porn and use the profits to save the planet. absolutely hilarious and a bit sad seeing as a few of the group are really quite damaged people and there's some occasions where i feel really sad for them. but mostly it's funny because they are everything you hate about hippies.

I'm quite intrigued by that one, sounds really loopy. Will rent it when it's of on DVD.

 

[Dr. Furface]

Fuck For Forest. A documentary following a group of hippies who have decided to make porn and use the profits to save the planet. absolutely hilarious and a bit sad seeing as a few of the group are really quite damaged people and there's some occasions where i feel really sad for them. but mostly it's funny because they are everything you hate about hippies.

You got that right! I've just seen it, and if I hadn't known it was a documentary I'd have thought it was a spoof. I loved the director's narration, sparse as it was - you could tell he thinks they're ridiculous. I won't spoil it for anyone but the ending, where they meet up with the indigenous Latin American natives they're seeking to help, is both sad and inadvertently hilarious. To be honest it isn't really worth paying for at the cinema, but definitely watch out for it coming on tv or dvd. 6/10

 

[blossie33]

You got that right! I've just seen it, and if I hadn't known it was a documentary I'd have thought it was a spoof. I loved the director's narration, sparse as it was - you could tell he thinks they're ridiculous. I won't spoil it for anyone but the ending, where they meet up with the indigenous Latin American natives they're seeking to help, is both sad and inadvertently hilarious. To be honest it isn't really worth paying for at the cinema, but definitely watch out for it coming on tv or dvd. 6/10

Agree with you both.
I saw it a couple of weeks ago, it was the member's preview film at the ICA so I didn't pay to see it.
It was interesting in a bizarre sort of way!

 

[MillwallShoes]

hardly ever go now due to money. once cash flow improves, we'll be back

 

[redsquirrel]

Start of the Otto Preminger series at Melbourne Cinemathque

Opened with two films that I've not seen before Carman Jones and The Man With The Golden Arm.

Despite some good central performances from Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte Carmen Jones doesn't really work. I think the main problem is that the music is wrong, setting a version of Carmen in the Deep South you'd think that Preminger/Hammerstein would have added blues/jazz/gospel to the score but they haven't and even decided to dub Dandrige and Belafonte. It's by no means bad but it's an interesting film rather than a good one.

The Man With the Golden Arm is better, though IMO still not quite in the top rank of Preminger's work. Considering it was made in 1955 it still seems very modern and must have been startling at the time. The scene of Sinatra shooting up compares with any modern film. The ending is a bit pat - going cold turkey seems pretty easy and the death of the wife was too convenient - but Sinatra is very good and Novak looks good and does pretty well in a largely thankless role.

 

[Sue]

Rebellion (L'order et la morale), Mathieu Kassowitz's latest about an incident involving insurgents in New Caledonia in the late 80s. Wasn't familiar with this at all so was quite interesting to find out more. Okay but a bit worthy.

Compliance. Thought this was excellent -- one of my top films so far this year -- though pretty uncomfortable viewing.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Trance. not boyles best, but a decent way to while away an evening- always have to give boyle a go - bit hit and miss and too much style maybe

 

[redsquirrel]

Rebellion (L'order et la morale), Mathieu Kassowitz's latest about an incident involving insurgents in New Caledonia in the late 80s. Wasn't familiar with this at all so was quite interesting to find out more. Okay but a bit worthy.

Saw that reviewed in Guardian looked pretty interesting.

 

[Gingerman]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/apr/25/scarecrow-review?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487
Saw this little gem of a film at the BFI today,a lovely little off beat classic from the '70s.

 

[Gramsci]

I saw Pedro Almodovar new film "Im So Excited" at Ritzy.

It is very good. Effortless is the word I would use. At one level its a light comedy. Its also a farce on todays Spain.

An airliner going around in circles above Spain trying to find somewhere to land. The economy class are drugged up to keep them quiet. The Spanish wealthy live it up in the business class. A banker on the run, a women who has comprimising videos of the 600 most wealthy and powerful men in Spain etc.

An intelligent comedy is how I would put it.

Trailer makes it out to be very camp. The trailer put me off but when you see whole film it works.

Also some swipes at relations between Spanish and there Spanish speaking South American cousins. Which I would like to know if are general.

Not much on new at Ritzy this week that interested me except this. Well worth seeing.

 

[Gramsci]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/apr/25/scarecrow-review?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487
Saw this little gem of a film at the BFI today,a lovely little off beat classic from the '70s.

I almost went to see it. A film I had never heard of before.

 

[Gramsci]

I saw Pasolini "Canterbury Tales" at the BFI a few weeks ago. I’ve seen a few of his films before but not this one. It did not appeal to me for some reason. Anyway passed by BFI to see what was on. Canterbury Tales was in screen one in 40 mins so I thought id check it out.

What a wonderful film. Took me a bit to get into it but a Pasolini film is an experience. Its so different from what I often see.

Sex, death and humour. If Chaucer had been alive now I think he would have liked Pasolini take on his work.

Bits of it still stick in my mind now.

Thats a lesson in film going. Sometimes just go to and take a chance and see whats on. Sometimes one is surprised.

 

[Gramsci]

hardly ever go now due to money. once cash flow improves, we'll be back

National Gallery has cinema and its cheap about £6. Usually weekends. Its pot luck whats on.

Worth checking regularly to see what is on.

 

[redsquirrel]

Yesterday I saw
Breakfast at Tiffany's - Never seen this before, but even with the Mickey Rooney's utterly racist Japanese and slightly too saccharine ending, I can see why it's a classic.

A Place Beyond the Pines - I pretty much agree with this

Just saw this. Disappointing. Felt like they'd cobbled together a couple of different films so it really didn't hang together. Was utterly unconvinced by the second half. And yes, Ryan Gosling was the best thing about it by quite a long way. Was also a bit confused about when it was meant to be set -- assume the first bit was meant to be in the 80s by the music? Really didn't feel like it apart from that (well and RG's rather dubious trousers...)

if by second half you mean the 15 years later bit? I thought the second third (after Gosling's death) while not as good as what preceded it was still decent. Totally agree with you about Gosling being the best thing tho. I didn't have a problem with the "out of time" nature of the film I just thought the last third didn't work at all.

Spring Breakers - Quite enjoyable, as others had said I don't think there's much substance there but Korine pulls it off. The weird absurdity of it all works pretty well.

 

[toblerone3]

Best (and only) film I've seen so far is "In the House". An almost perfect French thriller (?) that nobody seems to have seen. I'm not good at describing plots. But....schoolteacher, star pupil writes about his weekend and having finally got inside the house of his fellow pupil. The ostensible reason was to give him lessons in Maths, but he has an ulterior motive.

Still on at the Soho

 

[little_legs]

So I saw A Place Beyond the Pines and there is one thing that won't stop bugging me. I have this weird thing going on: sometimes I'll watch a movie and something happens in it which probably bears no significance but I'll think about it obsessively for days. It happens in this movie too. Does anyone know/understand why AJ (Avery's son) was grinning when he was ushered on stage when Avery Cross wins the NY State Attorney General election? Was it to say: LOL, voters, you have no idea what kind a guy you just got elected? or was it to say: I am an insecure fucked up kid and I am smiling because I feel smug but totally insecure?

I did like the film, although given the length of the film, it could probably do a smoother transition into the present time. Overall, I thought it was interesting to see how a child whose parent had been absent from his life can still be influenced by the absent parent. It makes you wonder if children's attitudes and life decisions are almost predetermined or influenced by their parents regardless of how much input the absent parents make in the upbringing of a child. Makes you also wonder to what extent Eva Mendes' character should have been open with her son in his early childhood.

Was also a bit confused about when it was meant to be set -- assume the first bit was meant to be in the 80s by the music? Really didn't feel like it apart from that (well and RG's rather dubious trousers...)

I think I understand what you mean but I am convinced that it's exactly what the director was trying to achieve so it did not bother me. Seriously, there are places in New York state and New Jersey now where people dress, behave and do things in a way that will make you feel that you are on the set of an early Madonna music video shoot. Schenectady is the UK equivalent of Isle of Sheppey.

I'd like to add that I like Dr. Furface and redsquirrel's reviews. The soundtrack is excellent, it made me want to go and find out who Mike Patton is.... hot damn!

The Ozzie actor Ben Mendelsohn was terrific:

 

[redsquirrel]

The Ozzie actor Ben Mendelsohn was terrific:

Mendelsohn's a good actor I guess Animal Kingdom is the reason why he's started to more parts in US films but he's also excellent in Beautiful Kate.

 

[little_legs]

Mendelsohn's a good actor I guess Animal Kingdom is the reason why he's started to more parts in US films but he's also excellent in Beautiful Kate.

I am sure his performance in Animal Kingdom was deservedly noticed by the Holywood types. This year, he also appeared as Jessa's father in HBO's show Girls, he was incredibly good.

Thanks for mentioning Beautiful Kate, I'll put it on my to watch list.

 

[redsquirrel]

Nearly everybody in it turns in a decent performance, the overall film has some flaws but it's definitely worth watching.

 

[Reno]

Animal Kingdom is brilliant, one of my favourite films of the last few years. Jackie Weaver is the one who really steals the show though and she too has now had several Hollywood roles.

 

[Sue]

I saw Pedro Almodovar new film "Im So Excited" at Ritzy.

It is very good. Effortless is the word I would use. At one level its a light comedy. Its also a farce on todays Spain.

An airliner going around in circles above Spain trying to find somewhere to land. The economy class are drugged up to keep them quiet. The Spanish wealthy live it up in the business class. A banker on the run, a women who has comprimising videos of the 600 most wealthy and powerful men in Spain etc.

An intelligent comedy is how I would put it.

Trailer makes it out to be very camp. The trailer put me off but when you see whole film it works.

Also some swipes at relations between Spanish and there Spanish speaking South American cousins. Which I would like to know if are general.

Not much on new at Ritzy this week that interested me except this. Well worth seeing.

Just saw this. Lots of laugh out loud bits but there were a couple of pretty dodgy bits I found quite uncomfortable and which ruined it a bit for me.

 

[DrRingDing]

Just saw this. Lots of laugh out loud bits but there were a couple of pretty dodgy bits I found quite uncomfortable and which ruined it a bit for me.

The comedy rape parts?

 

[DrRingDing]

​

Watch El Topo last night at the Prince Charles cinema.

Twas grand. My poor poor girlfriend.

 

[Sue]

The comedy rape parts?

Yep.