Recommend a movie

[Vultural]

La Vie Est Un Roman - 1983 - 5/10
AKA - Life Is A Bed Of Roses

French arthouse territory with three concurrent plots.
One is set on either side of WWI as rich idealist plans to create Utopia.
Following war, he perseveres and creates a mad version of harmony.
Another narrative follows modern day learning institute (set in unfinished Utopia castle).
Third is dreamlike world where children, dressed as play actors, sing, do beheadings, and shift between first narrative and the second.
In all narratives, characters burst into song.
According to what I read (after being thoroughly confused by this),
director Resnais was showing characters striving for happiness and harmony.  
Most of the happiness resembles the sexual sort.
Bit of a slog for me, though the '20s section was visually striking.

[Vultural]

Battle Los Angeles - 2011 - 4/10

I delayed watching this after all the negative reviews across forums.
All the elements for a top action flick were there, except for way too many family cliches.
There are kids in the film.  Utter waste of time.  In western films, kids never get killed or eaten.
I don't care if they are related to the director or producer.  No more Newts!
Leftover civilians.  Listen, the mayor, governor, prime minister orders, "Get outta Dodge!" you don't say, "Ooh, maybe there is a sale at Piggly Wiggly."
Marines who have to protect deadbeats ought to jab their thumbs with, "Exit's that way, Pilgrim."
Don't try to make action films for kids and mommies.
In the featurette, one of the honchos said they were trying to outdo Alien or Aliens.
As if.  Is that why their template was Independence Day, another family friendly suckfest?
Vasquez and Drake coulda kicked their ass ... even saddled with Hudson!

[Vultural]

Jimmy Carr - In Concert - 2008 - 6/10

Popular British standup comedian delivers almost two hours of material seriously funny and seriously offensive.
A lot of viewers may squirm uncomfortably when he jokes about wife beating, pedophilia and paraplegics.
(This is the guy who once commented that the UK Paraplegic Olympic team would be much more competitive owing to the Iraq and Afghan wars.)
In this show, he interacts with children (14 yrs) in the audience.
If you worry this sounds messed up, bear in mind parents brought their children to this very adult show.
Those who quibble at the “In Concert” title, relax.  There is a jazzy music interlude.
Laugh out loud funny and tasteless.
Commonwealth types often do better with this than politically inclusive souls.

[Vultural]

Janis:  Little Girl Blue - 2015 - 6/10

Another documentary on 60s icon Janis Joplin, forty odd years dead.
Does a good job talking with relics and survivors, unearthing a couple forgotten souls.
Copies of letters, photos, the usual concert footage, augmented with a lot of the Festival Express tour.
That was a train tour across Canada with Grateful Dead, The Band, Buddy Guy, Flying Burrito Brothers, Delaney & Bonnie.  (In fact, curious souls would be well advised to seek out 2003 doc Festival Express, a better film than this one.)
The earliest doc, Janis - The Way She Was from 1974, was slightly more sanitized than this (blame family white washing), but there were more survivors and their memories fresher.
Myth blurs with history, and this doc bears the golden haze of nostalgia.

[Vultural]

Pig Hunt - 2008 - 3/10

Half a million flicks available, yet I see this one on the rental shelves and go, "Hoo whee!"
Buncha pampered San Francisco yuppies go hunting for a 3000 lb porker in Northern California.
Our hero intends to take this man-killer down with his trusty crossbow.
Add a Dogpatch community of hillbilly rednecks, and a whole mess of ganja smoking, naked hippie chicks, and you have this future cult winner.

Warning #1 - Every human in this film is box-o-rocks stupid.
Warning #2 - Animal lovers, do not watch this movie whatsoever.

[Vultural]

Carol - 2015 - 7/10

Gorgeous film of attraction leading into fling.
Younger female meets older female.  Age difference, wealth difference, class difference.
The foolish heart that learns through experience.
Set in early 1950s New York, the look is a fashion catalogue.  Clothes, hairstyle, makeup.
Director Todd Haynes shot in Super 16 so there is grain in the film.
Some critics have likened this to Sirk, but I think they are in error.
Sirk’s films are often high-voltage melodramas, and Carol is a subdued mood piece.
Social constrictions abound and repercussions for deviating from the norm glide quietly in the background.

[Vultural]

Sharkansas Women’s Prison Massacre - 2015 - 5/10

The above are your typical Arkansas female convicts wearing, I guess, their usual prison attire.
For whatever reason, they are on chain gang duty clearing stumps in the swamp.
During the water break, they all miss their mouths and water soaks their tops.
Oh, sorry, forgot about the narrative proper.
Frakkers (the new environmental villains) detonate a passage to a vast underground sea.
Prehistoric sharks quickly ascend and swish through creeks, streams, even scrub forest.
Because - gasp - they are land sharks!
Plenty of meals, no nudity, scant blood and gore, cursing such as “crap on a cracker.”
Better than Sharktopus, better than Sharknado sequels, but this ain’t Jaws.

[Vultural]

Made In Dagenham - 2010 - 7/10

The ladies of the Machinists Union go one strike against Ford in 1968.
Simple enough reason - pay inequality.
Great looking film, well cast (although most were young and attractive, even Barbara Castle), with sharp dialogue.
Well worth remembering that women were perceived as second tier a scant 40 years ago, and still are in other societies.

[Vultural]

The Bonnie Parker Story - 1958 - 6/10

Wild retelling of Bonnie & Guy (yes, Guy, not Clyde) and their spree in the panhandle region during the 30s.
Bonnie is the cigar chomping, tommy gun crazy, kickazz boss of small time gang.

They knock over hardware stores, gas stations, diners until she bullies her crew into robbing banks.
Film is peppered with explosions, gun battles, car chases, and arguments.
Menfolk don’t stand a chance.
Music is 30s Swing combo, hillbilly, and 50s jukehouse.
Dorothy Provine landed this ultimate hard blonde role and rode it for all it was worth.
Even during lulls, she is electric.

[Vultural]

Full Circle - 1977 - 5/10
AKA - The Haunting Of Julia

Ten years after Rosemary, Mia Farrow reprises another haunted mother.
After her daughter dies, she separates from her husband, moves into a large, fully furnished flat that may or may not be haunted, and starts “seeing” her daughter.
Based on the Peter Staub book, before he struck gold with “Ghost Story.”
In the movie, you don’t know why she separates from her husband, though in the book he is clearly overbearing, and perhaps more interested in her trust fund than her.
Implausible common Horror violations include:
1) When the door is locked, then audibly unlocks - you DO NOT go inside.
2) Never EVER descend into the basement when you are alone in an empty house.
Farrow fine as grieving mother, everyone else appears bored.

[Vultural]

QE2 - The Final Voyage - 2009 - 6/10

Limited audience for this.  Documentary about the final trip of the Cunard liner, QE2.
History - highlights - final run from Southampton to Dubai, interspersed with passenger recollections.
“Limited audience” is a bit fuzzy, though, as the doc states that over a million people have sailed the vessel.
Likely millions more have cruised from port to port.
Belated souvenir for those who walked the Queen Elizabeth 2 gangplank,
perhaps of interest for others who wondered what the “posh boat” was about

[Vultural]

The Secret Life Of Mrs Beeton - 2006 - 7/10

During Victoria's reign, Isabella Beeton created “The Book of Household Management,” cookbook and overall go-to Bible for generations.
Her life was not all plummy, however. She suffered several miscarriages, was in debt most of her married life, and died at age 28.
In fact, the film opens with her cheekily observing her own funeral.
Anna Madeley makes a very beguiling and saucy Mrs Beeton, though one of the film's major revelations is perhaps speculation.
Breezy bio, so do not expect focused social criticism.

The Beeton book, by the way, is available at amzn-co-uk and currently darned cheap ... as one penny USED!

[Vultural]

Miss You Already - 2015 - 5/10

Drew and Toni on the cover, with the “miss you” title, I knew exactly how this would play, who was going to be the sufferer, and how events would transpire.
I was correct across the board.
Predictable tale of best friends forever, where one faces the ultimate battle.
Great chemistry between leads cannot compensate for oft repeated tale (reference to Beaches does not help).
Both women are too old for their roles, also.
Some of you will get stuck watching this beside your better half.  Too bad.

[Vultural]

Bukowski At Bellevue - 1970 - 6/10

 
One hour film of Charles Bukowski giving an early poetry reading.
Audio quality is a tad muffled, but understandable throughout.
Video is black n white, often out of focus, dirty, and freezes frequently.
For Bukowski fans, this is must-see as he is fairly relaxed and steady the whole time.
The audience is quiet and attentive.  Poetry buffs, perhaps?  1970 would be considered the late 60s.
Contrast with There's Gonna Be A God Damn Riot In Here from 1979.
By then, his growing acclaim drew audiences not into poetry, often disrespectful.
This earlier film catches him younger, just before “Post Office” and the fame thing.

[Vultural]

Brighton Rock - 2010 - 5/10

Updated retelling of Graham Greene's Noir, set during the clashes between Mods and Rockers in Brighton.
Small time gang, getting buried by the big boys, implodes.
Swank looking film, fab clothes, gear sets, luxe sound design.
Completely marred by grotty script, a daff couple with NO chemistry, and over the top sound mix.
Sam Riley good as smart dressed punk who oversteps one too many times.
Coulda, shoulda been a helluva lot better.

[Vultural]

Grandma - 2016 - 7/10

Inventive “road movie” starring Lily Tomlin as no-nonsense elder, helping granddaughter.
Narrative transpires in one day. as the pair drive from friends to family to rivals.
From the sorry-ass boyfriend to the ex, trying to raise the money for an abortion.
Each encounter is a mini-short story.  Shrewdly done to reveal “grandma” history and character.
Very much the small film, shot in 19 days, micro budget, yet a strong cast gives top performances.
Funny, acid-tongued.  The DVD has worthwhile “making of” doc and a Q&A bonus.

[Vultural]

Sarah's Key - 2010 - 7/10

Twin narratives of modern day journalist (Kristen Scott Thomas) digging out story of imprisoned Jews in WWII occupied France, and young girl's escape and desperate journey to reach her brother.
The stories dovetail, then tighten uncomfortably.
Great looking film, well acted all around.
You know this will be a downer.

[Vultural]

Beyond Outrage - 2012 - 7/10
AKA - アウトレイジ ビヨンド

Well executed Takeshi Kitano crime drama, very much in his oeuvre.
Police detective starts manipulating rival yakuza, trying to instigate a war and land himself a promotion.
At the center is Otomo, recently paroled con whose yakuza family was destroyed by a traitor.
The men here are all smart and wily.  They know they are being played, yet run their own stakes.
Lies, double-crosses, honor, revenge.
Typically of Kitano, the pace is slow.  Talking and calculation predominate over violence.
The film is packed with beatings and bullets, however.
Black sacks and a memorable batting practice sequence.
This is a direct sequel to 2010‘s Outrage.
Viewing that first will clarify characters early on, but one can view this without seeing that one.
Both films boast a roll call of Japanese talent.

[Vultural]

The Cry Of The Owl - 2009 - 5/10

Peculiar thriller, with absurd plotholes and unanswered questions.
Troubled man, going through a divorce, begins peeping on single woman living in isolated woods.
She catches him, invites him inside.  They talk.  Two beats later, she now stalks him!

Complications ensue.
At one point a character disappears.  Where to?  How?
The film feels unfinished.  Characters are barely more than empty cartoons.
There is no understanding of any relationship, let alone a single character’s behaviour.
Felt like 15 minutes of plot were shaved.  From Patricia Highsmith novel.

[Vultural]

Snow Queen - 2002 - 6/10

Nice Winter movie with no holiday overtones.
Bridget Fonda plays the icy Snow Queen to perfection.
The narrative involves a young girl pursuing her boyfriend who has been "taken" by the Snow Queen.
At three hours, the movie is too long, and visits to "Spring," "Summer," and "Autumn" are little more than childish comic relief.
Worth watching for Fonda and her brittle performance, but this would be better chiseled to two hours or less.
Fonda’s last performance to date.