Frank? What the fuck is wrong with you?
2006 Martin Scorcese
I didn't think I had seen this, but I have. It's a long one, another Jack Nicholson one.
Set in Boston Jack plays Frank Costello a mob gangster being investigated by the state police. Two young recruits from the academy become undercover agents for each side, and both sides know there is a rat in their midst but neither seem to be able to work out who it is.
While watching it I kept thinking this is just like 'Infernal Affairs'
I don't think I'll watch this again, now I know I have seen it twice.
7/10
Monday, 7 March 2011
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Film 21 "The Shining" IMDB N0. 48
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
1980 Stanley Kubrick
Maybe I was too young when I first watched this but the film is not as I remember, I thought there were more scenes in the city they lived in before the hotel and it was a lot more scarey. Maybe that was the book, one of the few I actually read as a teenager.
Jack Torrance, a frustrated writer, lands a job as a winter caretaker at The Overlook Hotel, that spends five months cut off by snow. He sees this as an opportunity to get on with his writing and takes his young family wife Wendy and son Tommy to the hotel. Tommy has a 'gift' and can see the past and future, Jack doesn't understand this gift Wendy humours it. At the hotel they meet Dick Hallorann who also has the gift and calls it 'The Shining', he knows that somefhing is going to happen and tells Tommy not to worry.
All is ok for a month or so, then cabin fever sets in for Jack and it all kicks off.
This is in the day of horror films before gratuitous violence gave the shocks, it's full of suspense and drama and filmed in a great location.
A horror classic 8/10
1980 Stanley Kubrick
Maybe I was too young when I first watched this but the film is not as I remember, I thought there were more scenes in the city they lived in before the hotel and it was a lot more scarey. Maybe that was the book, one of the few I actually read as a teenager.
Jack Torrance, a frustrated writer, lands a job as a winter caretaker at The Overlook Hotel, that spends five months cut off by snow. He sees this as an opportunity to get on with his writing and takes his young family wife Wendy and son Tommy to the hotel. Tommy has a 'gift' and can see the past and future, Jack doesn't understand this gift Wendy humours it. At the hotel they meet Dick Hallorann who also has the gift and calls it 'The Shining', he knows that somefhing is going to happen and tells Tommy not to worry.
All is ok for a month or so, then cabin fever sets in for Jack and it all kicks off.
This is in the day of horror films before gratuitous violence gave the shocks, it's full of suspense and drama and filmed in a great location.
A horror classic 8/10
Monday, 28 February 2011
Film 20 "Spirited Away" IMDB No. 50
I smell something... a human! You smell like a human!
2001 animation from the Miyazaki collection
A family are moving to a new house and take a shortcut on route and end up in a fantasy world of spirits and monsters. The parents get turned into pigs and young girl Chihiro must overcome her fears and complete tasks to free them.
The animation is great and the story rolls along easliy, it's a pleasure to watch, lots of crazy characters and scenes set around a bathouse. I particularly liked the bouncing heads.
Worth a watch if you haven't seen it. The kids loved it.
7/10
2001 animation from the Miyazaki collection
A family are moving to a new house and take a shortcut on route and end up in a fantasy world of spirits and monsters. The parents get turned into pigs and young girl Chihiro must overcome her fears and complete tasks to free them.
The animation is great and the story rolls along easliy, it's a pleasure to watch, lots of crazy characters and scenes set around a bathouse. I particularly liked the bouncing heads.
Worth a watch if you haven't seen it. The kids loved it.
7/10
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Film 19 "Once Upon A Time In The West" IMDB N0. 20
Hey, Mr Choo Choo
1968 Sergio Leone classic western
A western without Clint Eastwood. Mystery man with a harmonica keeps playing at times when people should be shooting him. This is obviously set in 19th century America in the country as the railroad was making its way west. Jill McBain finds herself in possesion of some sought after land and the railroad man Frank wants it. Harmonica helps Jill because he has history with Frank.
Typical Sergio, lots of long lingering shots with a moody score, you can tell that films in these days were not made for the small screen, imagine a 40 foot wide close up of Charles Bronson, pores and all.
I liked this one, the end is great, the bit where.....
7.5/10
1968 Sergio Leone classic western
A western without Clint Eastwood. Mystery man with a harmonica keeps playing at times when people should be shooting him. This is obviously set in 19th century America in the country as the railroad was making its way west. Jill McBain finds herself in possesion of some sought after land and the railroad man Frank wants it. Harmonica helps Jill because he has history with Frank.
Typical Sergio, lots of long lingering shots with a moody score, you can tell that films in these days were not made for the small screen, imagine a 40 foot wide close up of Charles Bronson, pores and all.
I liked this one, the end is great, the bit where.....
7.5/10
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Film 18 'Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back' IMDB No. 11
You must unlearn what you have learned.
1980 space action adventure
They released episode 4 first in 1977, I was 10. If they couldn't release them in order then why should I watch them in order.
In a galaxy far far away there is an evil leader called Darth Vader, he's a baddy and wants to take over the universe, he has opposition from freedom fighters lead by Princess Leia and companions Luke Skywalker (who has the force) and Han Solo (who doesn't) and his co-pilot Chewbacca who is a wookie. A wookie is not a bear, but looks like a bear.
There's lots of flying through space, trying to make the jump to light speed, not getting blown out the sky by imperial starships, hiding in meteor showers, not getting shot by stormtroopers.
It's a bit darker than episode IV and builds on the relationships between Han and Leia. There's a great light saber fight between Luke and Darth Varder at the end. The story is left open for episode VI Return of the Jedi, which isn't on the list.
Take me into hyperspace 8/10
1980 space action adventure
They released episode 4 first in 1977, I was 10. If they couldn't release them in order then why should I watch them in order.
In a galaxy far far away there is an evil leader called Darth Vader, he's a baddy and wants to take over the universe, he has opposition from freedom fighters lead by Princess Leia and companions Luke Skywalker (who has the force) and Han Solo (who doesn't) and his co-pilot Chewbacca who is a wookie. A wookie is not a bear, but looks like a bear.
There's lots of flying through space, trying to make the jump to light speed, not getting blown out the sky by imperial starships, hiding in meteor showers, not getting shot by stormtroopers.
It's a bit darker than episode IV and builds on the relationships between Han and Leia. There's a great light saber fight between Luke and Darth Varder at the end. The story is left open for episode VI Return of the Jedi, which isn't on the list.
Take me into hyperspace 8/10
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Film 17 'Bridge on The River Kwai' IMDB No. 80
Do not speak to me of rules, this is war, this is not cricket.
1957 Alec Guinness William Holden
I think I probably watched this when I was a kid, I thought it was a lot more brutal than it actually is.
Set during WWII in Ceylon in a Japanese POW camp, the English prisoners are forced to build a railway line and bridge accross the river. After initial differences are sorted in a very English manner the brits decide to actually build a good bridge as a legacy of their workmanship not knowing that other allied forces are planning to blow it up.
It's loosly based on true events and it's a good story, it's two and half hours long, but if they did a remake now it would be longer, there could be more to tell. It's very British in a 1950's sort of way.
Good show old chap, jolly good show.
7/10
1957 Alec Guinness William Holden
I think I probably watched this when I was a kid, I thought it was a lot more brutal than it actually is.
Set during WWII in Ceylon in a Japanese POW camp, the English prisoners are forced to build a railway line and bridge accross the river. After initial differences are sorted in a very English manner the brits decide to actually build a good bridge as a legacy of their workmanship not knowing that other allied forces are planning to blow it up.
It's loosly based on true events and it's a good story, it's two and half hours long, but if they did a remake now it would be longer, there could be more to tell. It's very British in a 1950's sort of way.
Good show old chap, jolly good show.
7/10
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Film 16 'City of God' IMDB No. 18
Woh, the chicken ran away, get that chicken, dude!
2002 subtitles. Based on a true story.
Set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro between the 60's and 80's. The story teller is Rocket, unavoidably connected to the gangs, but wanting to take the right path. He is clever and goes to school while it seems everyone else around him isn't and doesn't.
There are several stories of the different charcters that all weave together brilliantly. I don't want to give too much away, but there are lots of guns, drugs, murder, revenge, robbery and love.
A slice of real life in Brazil for those not fortunate enough to live the american dream.
Awesome 8.5/10
2002 subtitles. Based on a true story.
Set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro between the 60's and 80's. The story teller is Rocket, unavoidably connected to the gangs, but wanting to take the right path. He is clever and goes to school while it seems everyone else around him isn't and doesn't.
There are several stories of the different charcters that all weave together brilliantly. I don't want to give too much away, but there are lots of guns, drugs, murder, revenge, robbery and love.
A slice of real life in Brazil for those not fortunate enough to live the american dream.
Awesome 8.5/10
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