Film Club

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Absolutely bonkers film which trapeze's the genres about a Chinese Laundry being audited by the IRS during which the main character discovers she must connect to parallel universe versions of herself to stop the destruction of the universe and to sort out their tax returns.

I really enjoyed this, with the parallel universe stuff it's occasionally a bit hard going to understand but it's also very light hearted so not really hardcore sci-fi or owt. If you just go with it and get taken along for the ride then things get tied up nicely. I wouldn't be surprised to see this winning a fair few awards. 9/10

The Last Vermeer. 7/10

Fascinating true story about the Nazi's and stolen art, centering around a Dutch artist who was arrested after the war for his part in selling Dutch masters to Herman Goering and becoming fabulously wealthy into the bargain. Only there is a twist in the story.

Some of the acting I found a bit wooden except for Guy Pearce, who steals the film as the main character Han van Meegeren.

Worth a watch on Netflix.

Quoted from Rick12

All quiet on the western front (2022)

Very realistic depiction of the 1st world war seen through the eyes of a young conscript in the German army.

Well directed and grabbed me from the outset.  

Heard lots about it, finally saw it and was a little disappointed to be honest. Having read and re-read Remarques book and watched and re-watched the original 1930 film, I felt that this version missed out or shortened major parts and then tried to compress the majority of the storyline into the last two weeks of the war and changed the finale. I will agree it was brilliantly filmed, however I can't attest to it being a realistic depiction of WWI who could as I don't think anyone could really depict the living hell that was the Great War.

Quoted from BlackandWhiteBarmy2

. I will agree it was brilliantly filmed, however I can't attest to it being a realistic depiction of WWI who could as I don't think anyone could really depict the living hell that was the Great War.

In fairness I don't think no film can accurately portray the horrendous suffering the soldiers and even civilians must of gone through during the 2 world wars .

Another film that grabbed me which I thought conveyed to some extent what the Jews must of gone through during the l930s to the mid  1940s is the pianist released in 2002. Some of the scenes in it and I saw this like 10 years ago now made me that hungry that I had to grab a bit of bread, ate it and greatly appreciated it.

Amsterdam
6.5/10

In the 1930s, three friends witness a murder, are framed for it, and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.

I honestly cannot work out if I liked or enjoyed this film and I had real trouble giving it a mark. It looks good, has a great cast and there is acting to be admired. The dynamic between Washington, Bale and Robbie is excellent and the thread of a true story is an extraordinary one.
However, it’s as mad as a box of frogs!! At times it’s oddity and quirky nature was distracting and it’s pace uneven to say the least. At times it got on my nerves and it felt a tad long unsurprisingly. It had a feel of a Wes Anderson film but perhaps lacking the same charm…for me anyway.
A strange film.

Once. 8.5/10.

Really enjoyed this and surprised I missed it when released some years ago as it's the kind of film I like.

The story of a guy who has split with his girlfriend and is working in and living above his dad's hoover repair shop in Dublin. He is an aspiring singer/songwriter and spends time busking in the centre of town, where he meets a Czech migrant flower seller, who is also a musician and songwriter. They become friends and start to perform and write songs together. She tells him how talented he is and talks him into getting together a band and hiring a studio to make a demo.

The original songs in the film are really very good and above the usual standard you get in these kinds of films, and the actors look very convincing in their roles and never give the impression of actors playing the part of singers and musicians.

There is a good reason for this as I later found out when I looked up the soundtrack. The two main actors are in fact real life singers and musicians Glen Hansard and Margeta Irglova who have written and performed together as The Swell Season, and they wrote and performed all the songs for the film. Hansard also fronts Irish band The Frames, who are a big deal in Ireland despite me never hearing of them.

This eventually led me to Youtube where I was surprised to find Hansard performing on stage with the likes of Eddie Vedder and Bruce Springsteen. He is a lot bigger than I was expecting, which surprised me as I know and like a lot of Irish bands and music.

Good film which is in turns funny, engaging and warm, with good music and I discovered a new artist to boot.

Quoted from ginnywings

Once. 8.5/10.

Really enjoyed this and surprised I missed it when released some years ago as it's the kind of film I like.

The story of a guy who has split with his girlfriend and is working in and living above his dad's hoover repair shop in Dublin. He is an aspiring singer/songwriter and spends time busking in the centre of town, where he meets a Czech migrant flower seller, who is also a musician and songwriter. They become friends and start to perform and write songs together. She tells him how talented he is and talks him into getting together a band and hiring a studio to make a demo.

The original songs in the film are really very good and above the usual standard you get in these kinds of films, and the actors look very convincing in their roles and never give the impression of actors playing the part of singers and musicians.

There is a good reason for this as I later found out when I looked up the soundtrack. The two main actors are in fact real life singers and musicians Glen Hansard and Margeta Irglova who have written and performed together as The Swell Season, and they wrote and performed all the songs for the film. Hansard also fronts Irish band The Frames, who are a big deal in Ireland despite me never hearing of them.

This eventually led me to Youtube where I was surprised to find Hansard performing on stage with the likes of Eddie Vedder and Bruce Springsteen. He is a lot bigger than I was expecting, which surprised me as I know and like a lot of Irish bands and music.

Good film which is in turns funny, engaging and warm, with good music and I discovered a new artist to boot.

I reviewed this gem earlier in the thread and I think Manchester Mariner was as equally impressed as me n thee with it!
I’d love for more people to give it a whirl!

Quoted from Sandford1981

I reviewed this gem earlier in the thread and I think Manchester Mariner was as equally impressed as me n thee with it!
I’d love for more people to give it a whirl!

I do love Once but I can sort of appreciate it won't be for everyone. I watched it again with my wife recently and she thought it was "a bit twee like some of those bed wetting indie bands wearing cardigans that you like."

Quoted from Manchester Mariner

I do love Once but I can sort of appreciate it won't be for everyone. I watched it again with my wife recently and she thought it was "a bit twee like some of those bed wetting indie bands wearing cardigans that you like."

I mean clearly what your other half lacks in film taste (albeit I’ve have a grand total of 1 film to make that generalisation) she more than makes up for it in acerbic wit! That put down is tremendous!! 😂

I thought All quiet on the Western front was very good. I’ve read the book and understandably so, they’ve left bits out etc as is always the case but it does at least try to show the brutality and sheer idiocy of generals.

I’m well aware nothing could really show that, not properly but at least they try and don’t shy away.