Your film of the week (2-9 April)

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 Blue Straggler 10 Apr 2017
See if we can revive this....with a revival


Goodfellas, the new 4K restoration. Went to see this on Friday, the first time I ever saw it on the big screen (seen on VHS and television once or twice but maybe only really once "properly", and a long time ago)
Fantastic craftsmanship and acting and dialogue. Arguably the actual story is pretty thin but this in many ways does not matter, it's as if it's not so much about "plot" but more a portrait of a certain world. One thing I noticed this time round (easy to overlook with the showy Joe Pesci performance and the breakthrough starmaking appearance of Ray Liotta....plus the whole "oh God not ANOTHER DeNiro/Scorsese partnership" thing) is that Robert DeNiro really is great in this film.
9/10. Only loses a point for dragging on a bit at 2h26m


Running it a close second is "Elle", starring Isabelle Huppert. More controversy from Paul Verhoeven. A well deserved Oscar nomination for Huppert in a rather complex and daring central performance. Also a complicated film to think about - complicated in a good way. It weaves numerous moral questions, not in a particularly deep way (this IS Paul "Robocop / Basic Instinct" Verhoeven after all ) and manages to run several side plots which tie into the main character and don't detract from things.
8.5/10.
Removed User 10 Apr 2017
In reply to Blue Straggler:

I watched The Lobster - and interesting premise, but I didn't much care for the (presumably intentional) school-assembly dialogue and delivery. A bit of a waste of Colin Farrell's comic talent.
Probably only 3 or 4 out of 10.
 BnB 10 Apr 2017
In reply to Blue Straggler:

We saw Elle last week. Very thought provoking, although more in the sense of "did she or didn't she?" than "I might try that myself"
 aln 10 Apr 2017
In reply to Blue Straggler:
> See if we can revive this...

I think your thread title is confusing, especially with the date tagged on. I think most people will assume it's about new films out that particular week, then even if they'd thought about contributing that week, or even if they had, they won't the next week. Maybe a better title would be 'Best film you've seen this week'.
Post edited at 17:51
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In reply to aln:

It's about films seen in the cinema in a given week.

I saw Goodfellas at the cinema. There has been a recent 4K digital restoration and it has been on national release in cinemas for a couple of months. I alluded to the restoration in my OP. I didn't want to patronise people by spelling it out in full. Maybe I should do so next time.


I don't think that excluding screenings of classics is really in the spirit of these threads.
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In reply to aln:

> most people will assume it's about new films out that particular week

Many films, especially the less "mainstream" ones, will have extended cinematic release periods. Some cinemas in the UK had "Elle" 2 months ago. Although I could technically have gone to a different cinema to see it 5 weeks ago, Sunday was my first viable opportunity to go and see it. Some people saw it in mid-2016.

Similarly the Goodfellas restoration/re-release has been screening since early February but Friday 7 April was the date that I went to see it.



 BrainoverBrawn 15 Apr 2017
In reply to Blue Straggler:

132 minutes long is Furious 8. That makes it interesting enough to go and see though the unbelievability of everything is perhaps going to stop me. Counting down now ten, nine, ..
Elle, sounded like the most depressing thing a person could want to see ever. Surprised the magazine or elles haven't wanted a bit more. He would not like this title t'udder way around I don't tink. Still, very brave no doubt to cut to the realistic vein of modern trauma. (Not seen it but the trailer suggests everything could be imagination which is not new oh no)
 BrainoverBrawn 16 Apr 2017
In reply to Howifeel:

Furious misadvertised at 132 minutes, actually 20 minutes of trailers etc. 12A due to moderate violence, but it's maybe that who knows. In such stuff it's the glimpses of character digs I look for. Michele Rodrigues looks drowned from the start i'd say in her role but at the same time has a hang in there attitude worth her global effort as let's say she doesn't write the script nor have much star company in such a role.
Chips was a surprise. Excellent. 1 out of 5 from the guardian after a good trailer made it a temptation with great laughs and rewards to remind me of how grey you get for dumbing up your overpaid and lost intelligentsia.
 Offwidth 16 Apr 2017
In reply to Blue Straggler:

Sorry I've not been much help recently. Too busy for film viewing in the main and nothing I've seen is worth recommending. Just a heads up for two Tarkovsky classics this week late night on Film 4. Solaris and Stalker. Part of an ongoing season:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/film4/articles/all/andrei-tarkovsky-seas...
 aln 17 Apr 2017
In reply to Blue Straggler:

I got all that. Just thought you could save yourself starting a new thread every week.
I saw Ghost in the Shell last night. I enjoyed it. I'm bad though, I enjoy watching Scarlett kicking ass and shooting people.
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 Offwidth 17 Apr 2017
In reply to aln:

There was originally one thread. The man decided we would soon run out of space.
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In reply to aln:

> I got all that. Just thought you could save yourself starting a new thread every week. I saw Ghost in the Shell last night. I enjoyed it. I'm bad though, I enjoy watching Scarlett kicking ass and shooting people.

Me too- more style than substance? Maybe- but when the style is that good, then I'll let it go... I saw the anime version years back, was a little underwhelmed, though I'd have to see it again to make a fair comparison.

Overall I'd agree with mark kermode- maybe not brilliant, but could have been so much worse...
In reply to aln:

> I got all that.

Well that's an interesting claim given that you wrote:

"I think your thread title is confusing, especially with the date tagged on. I think most people will assume it's about new films out that particular week, then even if they'd thought about contributing that week, or even if they had, they won't the next week. Maybe a better title would be 'Best film you've seen this week'."

Thanks for your concern with this:
> Just thought you could save yourself starting a new thread every week.

I haven't started a new thread every week. I quite deliberately skipped quite a few to see if anyone else would pick them up. Nobody did. I started a new one once or twice. I won't do it every week.

I posted an in-depth review of a silly action blockbuster movie on this forum in 2006 and was roundly mocked and chastised for having put the effort in, so I am disinclined to put in much more effort than offering a score out of ten now. To be honest I wonder whether UKClimbing.com should have this "Culture Bunker" or whatever it is now called. Initially it was intended to host reviews of new music, theatre, literature, poetry etc.
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In reply to no_more_scotch_eggs:

> saw the anime version years back, was a little underwhelmed, though I'd have to see it again to make a fair comparison.

My recollection having similarly seen Oshii's 1995 anime original years and years ago (dubbed or badly subtitled version recorded on VHS off late night C4) is similar - it was good and clearly influential, but not sacred or flawless. I never saw any of the follow-up material but was aware of it. I did not know that the anime was based on pre-existing Manga. I really liked the new live-action film, and scored it 8/10
In reply to Offwidth:

> The man decided we would soon run out of space.

Who is "The man"?
I hope this is not a dig at me.
 Skyfall 18 Apr 2017
In reply to Blue Straggler:

Get Out - excellent, thought provoking and funny with some great acting.
 Offwidth 18 Apr 2017
In reply to Blue Straggler:

A freindly ironic dig. I thought it was a good idea when you did it.

Guardians of the Galaxy last night...good fun at times, a clever way to insert a good 70's sound track, and lovely visuals but it felt like it was written by an 11 year old for his younger mates: just too consitently cartoon like, immature, silly and violent for what should have been chasing the standard family sci fi blockbuster audience. All in all l can't believe it got so many plaudits (I guess lots of critics are just big kids) but certainly good enough to recommended.
 Skyfall 18 Apr 2017
In reply to Offwidth:

Guardians is my current guilty pleasure - seen it a "number" of times... I love the soundtrack and it brings out my inner child. Can't wait for Guardians 2 in a couple of weeks

Post edited at 10:09
 The New NickB 18 Apr 2017
In reply to Offwidth:

As Marvel films go, it's basically Citizen Kane. It's how comic book films for kids should be, but 99% aren't.
 Offwidth 19 Apr 2017
In reply to The New NickB:
I must have watched a different Citizen Kane to you (you sure yours wasn't a porn parody? :- ). I've enjoyed most Marvel films and this felt no less fun than any of the others I liked a lot more and it had less depth of character, less interesting villains, seemed more childish and was less sombre about death.
Post edited at 18:04

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