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Posted: |
Mar 6, 2019 - 3:24 PM
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By: |
MusicMad
(Member)
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Finished off two movies this evening - as much as I'd like to watch a film through in one sitting that doesn't always happen. Some similarities between two distinctly different films: both British with well-known Brit character actors and a leading non-UK star. Unlikeable male character leads who end the film roughly in the same position as they start; excellent supporting actors; reflections of London/UK which are - happily - almost alien to me ...
But one is at the end of the swingin' 60s whilst the other shows life before that era started. And both so very dated (but regretfully the earlier one may be a little too close to the truth today in some respects).
There's a Girl in My Soup (1970) ... 2/10
A so-called comedy which brought a few laughs but lacked the finesse of something good (such as a Brian Rix or Ray Cooney farce) and was dead-in-the-water too many times. At approx. 96mins it shouldn't have been overlong but it did seem to drag (one of the reasons we took a break - of 24hrs - at the 1 hr point).
Good points: supporting actor Tony Britton was superb (playing the Tony Randall role to perfection) and Nicky Henson was good fun. A few well-known faces took their roles well as the lead's romantic(!) interests and I came to like Goldie Hawn by the end ... but really struggled with her portrayal in the first half. As good as he was I found Peter Sellers just too much in this and didn't have enough interest in his loathsome character to feel sorry for him (before the final scene).
Some delectable French scenery (I think we may have driven along that river  ) and a music score by Mike d'Abo which was light and fun even though one or two of the songs were rather banal.
The L-Shaped Room ... 7/10 (though maybe I'm being harsh and should make that 8)
I admit my attraction to this came from wanting to hear John Barry's musical contribution. Minor pieces they may be (and cluttered by dialogue) but being typical JB they were wonderful ... and, of course, this small assignment led to those superb scores for other Brian Forbes' films in the next 6 years.
But I'm so glad I took the time (over several sittings) to watch this because it is so rewarding. I'm not a fan of the British kitchen-sink genre (my parents detested them, raising me on a diet of lively US fun movies) but there's been the odd exception and this is one just example.
It runs a little long (more noticeable I think because of my piecemeal viewing since each slice passed quickly enough) and I was sufficiently involved emotionally to want - no: long for! - an ending which would have robbed the film of its power.
I've probably seen only a few of Leslie Caron's films but know I love her from Gigi (1958) and Father Goose (1964). In this British film she is so perfect that it's impossible to think of anyone carrying the role as well. It was nice to see Brock Peters play such a sympathetic role and, whilst never a fan of Tom Bell's acting, he was excellent in this role. Good support from all others, too, with the usual faces from other Brian Forbes' films - I laughed when Nanette Newman appeared, having thought earlier that this must be one she did not appear in! I must watch King Rat (1965) again one day to see if I missed her cameo.
The London surroundings were so depressing and the environment is one which I wish could be consigned to the history books (even if the scene of the Doctor entering the maternity ward ... carrying a lighted cigarette ... did make me smile ... or should that be: shudder)
A low-key music score (mostly wonderful melodies by Brahms) with the lively JB pieces (jazz club where the patrons drink ... coffee!) which works well ... but this is Leslie Caron's triumph. I've now read she was Oscar nominated and whilst I don't hold too much for these gongs ... I can't see how she didn't win.
The B&W print was clean, clear and a pleasure to watch ... even if the scenery was not as attractive as the French countryside!
Mitch
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UNCLE had NOTHING to do with the television series except for names of some characters.
But, Riotengine loved it anyway!
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I saw Uncle again last week.
Mustv been on tv.
As bruce says another reboot bearing no relation to series bar title and character names.
As a stand alone spy film - even with Ritchie's indulgent direction - it was just about ok and had a few amusing moments. All of his films drip with smug but it wasn't his worst.
Id give it 7 out of 10.
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FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY (2019) - 7/10
The Knights are a family of semi-pro wrestlers in England. When brother and sister (Jack Lowden and Florence Pugh) get a chance to try out for the WWE, it's the sister who gets selected to attend the WWE camp in Florida, where trainer/coach Vince Vaughn sifts through the hopefuls looking for that certain someone who will make a good pro wrestler.
Dwayne ("The Rock") Johnson produced this comedy-drama, and he appears in a few scenes, one of which is the film's funniest. I suspect that this film offers a pretty good representation of what the actual WWE try-out camp looks like. In addition to Pugh's trials at the camp, the film also has a lot of family dynamics going on back in Britain. The film is a pleasant backstage outing, if you have any tolerance for pro wrestling.
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For what its worth i work on that below 5 a film is varying degrees of shite.
5 up to 5.9 is average/mundane/just about watchable or maybe has a redeeming element.
6 up to 6.9 is watchable, not bad and 7 to 7.9 is most decent.
8 to 8.9 is really good and 9+ is classic/superb.
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Saw silly film on Film4 called The Love Witch 2016. Sort of a thriller/parody. The director, writer and composer of the music was Anna Biller. She definitely knows Ennio's music coz some tracks were deliberate pastiches/copies.
Lots of La la las and soprano singing and harpsicord - very italian horror sounding. As the film went on im convinced it was actual ennio tracks but i cant place it/them.
There was even a track in a strip joint that sounded a straight copy from hefti's How to murder your wife but wasnt.
Ah ha! End credits solved problem!!!
Tracks from Il Diavolo nel cervello
Una lucertola con la pelle di donna
Veruschka
Lolita
Some tracks by Poitevin; questa volta parliamo di uomini by bacalov; le mani sulla citta by Piccioni; chi lavora e perduto by piccioni. La corruzione by Fusco
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Good scores jenk.
Further to Anna Biller's the Love Witch i found this.
Biller: "I did come up with some images from my own desires. And maybe some of them happened to be similar to giallo or exploitation films, because those films were created in the ’60s and some of them were about witchcraft and I used Italian soundtracks and the girls had makeup on that was similar. (Laughs.). But it’s not because I watched those films and tried to copy and study them that that happened. It’s because I like that kind of makeup. It’s because I studied classical lighting and I insist upon hiring a DP that’ll do that for me. It’s because [Ennio] Morricone is the best soundtrack composer. ..
I looked to Morricone for most of the film’s soundtrack; his eclectic combination of jazz, pop and classical music styles create a sublime and mystical world of sounds and moods that were perfect for the world of the witch. I was able to use my own rudimentary music skills to write part of the soundtrack and the theme song.."
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Posted: |
Mar 12, 2019 - 9:37 AM
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By: |
jackfu
(Member)
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The Fugitive (1993) – 8/10
I think I’ve rated this one before, sorry. Watched it again last night and it always gets to me. One of my all-time favorites.
Honestly, every time I watch it I think: “If I’d been Kimble, I’d have let Nichols shoot Gerard in the back, then slam Nichols with the pipe instead of stopping him first. Then I’d tell Gerard ‘Sorry, I was a little late on that one, get well soon!’”
I mean, Gerard tried to kill Kimble when he fired at him, and while I believe in forgiveness, they sit in the car together and all’s well between them? I think I’d have had a few choice words for the CPD guys as well.
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Fugitive is a great example of how to make an action pic.
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Gung Ho! 1943
Randolph Scott in a wartime film. the story of Carlson's raiders, a special unit of marines who took Makin island. Interesting cast including very young Bob mitchum and noah beery (Rockford's dad). Much-used formula now but probably new-ish in 1943! It covers their recruitment and training and seeing action and also how Scott got his training from the chinese army.
Not townsfolk but this time Randolppphhh Scotttttt doing it for Marines.
6.9 out of 10.
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