As a film fan, you have to prepare to be humbled. The more
you know, the more you realise you don’t. This is a week where I have gone
outside my comfort zone… Yeah I could of recommended films I know, but… Ok I
have no excuses. You’ll see what I mean, especially towards the end. I’m gonna
go and do some comfort eating. Here are your recommendations for the week…
Monday
Enter the Dragon (1973) ITV 11.05pm
I don’t think I have to say too much about this – No? Can’t
take the easy road out? Bloody hell, never going to find a job at this rate.
Ok, ok, right, this was the film that put Bruce Lee and Martial Art films on
the map for the mighty US of A – after Bruce had died. Fortunately for the
Yanks, one of cinema’s greatest icons had a small back catalogue of films to
visit to become more familiar with and he’d also inspired a generation (keep an
eye out for Jackie Chan in this film) to carry on his legacy. It’s actually not
the greatest of films (story wise), it’s just Bruce does what he does and takes
it to a different level. Bruce has to
infiltrate a tournament or something in order to spy on a crime lord. Actually
that’s quite pedantic of me; you could make most films sound stupid like that.
A guy has to go inside a blokes dream in order to plant an idea or something.
Some lad comes back from a war to take over a family business and shoots a
couple of people in a restaurant or something. Anyway I digress, just watch,
enjoy and marvel.
The Searchers (1956) TCM 6.40pm
The first of many films I have not seen this week – my job
is to present you with good quality films you will be not familiar with and
would probably not watched otherwise, hey I do my research! I am reliably
informed this is John Ford’s greatest film (Orson Welles favourite director –
if you needed any higher praise) and stars another great icon of cinema, John
Wayne. Add to that Empire gives it 5 stars and you have a must watch film on
your hands. It’s a Western where John is on the hunt for a group of comanches
who stole his nice. As always, here is
the review:
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?DVDID=117292
The Negotiator (1998) FILM4 9pm
This was (and still is) one of my late night comfort films –
despite it not being on too late. You know the scene, you get into bed, your
mum tucks you in, then you want something to gently send you off to a slumber,
but you end up staying up way later then you expected when you stumble on a
great film you’ve never really heard of before and a comfort film is born. (see
also Breakdown – although no one ever remembers what the film is called, they
just remember the scenario: Kurt Russel and his wife break down on the side of
the road, a trucker takes the wife to go and get some help, wife goes missing
etc.) Anyway, this film has a great dynamic between its two stars, Kevin Spacey
(in 1998 was just about to hit the big time) and Samuel L. Jackson (in 1998 was
currently enjoying the big time) and is tense throughout. Jules is a hostage
negotiator who has been framed, so in order to clear himself he takes a bunch
of hostages. Kevin Spacey is the hostage negotiator bought in to negotiate with
the hostage negotiator who has taken the hostages. Simple enough, right? Well
it is actually and a great little thriller to enjoy late(ish) on a Monday
night.
Tuesday
Persepolis (2007) FILM4 12.45am
Animation about an Iranian girl struggling amidst the back
drop of the Iran-Iraq war. The second film I haven’t seen this week (and it’s
only Tuesday – and believe me it’s going to get worse). Oscar nominated and
positive reviews all round mean you should give this a chance.
The Candidate (1972) Sky Modern Greats 8pm
Remember I gave myself 7/10 when it comes to movie fandom?
Wriggle room people!! The third film I haven’t seen this week (and believe me
it’s going to get worse). Robert Redford does comedy as a Lawyer who is
persuaded to run as a senator. While he rises to power he realises that it is
at the cost of his family. Here is the Empire Online vibe…
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?DVDID=117307
Like Crazy (2011) Sky Premier 12.30am
Huzzah! A film I have watched! Anton Yelchin and Emma
Roberts are two students who fall for each other but find out that meeting your
perfect partner isn’t enough sometimes for a relationship to work. A subtle
drama that lets its two gifted leads do all the hard work, it is a touching
film and is sure to resonate with anyone who is a sucker for love.
Broadway Danny Rose (1984) Sony Movie Channel 8.10pm
And we’re back to unknown territory. Do I get some slack because
I am recommending 5 films on a Tuesday? Didn’t think so. Woody Allen comedy
about an agent who has gone down in folk lore because of his
all-heart-no-talent approach. Here’s the review to convince you…
Look I do my research ok?! I know what’s good even if I
haven’t watched it! Geez, get off my back already!
Naked Gun (1988) Sky Modern Greats 10pm
My favourite comedy of all time. I’m sure you are all
familiar with it, but just in case… (and no, for the cynical I haven’t just put
this in cause it’s a film I’ve watched) The late, great Leslie Nielsen is Lt.
Frank Drebin of Police Squad, tasked with solving the most perplexing of
crimes, in the most perplexing of ways. It’s so silly in such a clever manner
that I’ll still laugh at the gags even on the 100th time of
watching.
Wednesday
Revolutionary Road (2008) BBC2 11.20pm
If you want a well-made, depressing film tonight then here
you are. Sam Mendes directs this excellent film about free spirited couple who
are slowly being absorbed by the 1950’s ideals of what a nuclear family should
be. Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are reunited following a little incident on a
big ship to bring this heart breaking drama to fruition. Sit down. Watch.
Appreciate quality. Slit wrists.
First Blood (1982) Sky Action 10pm
Sylvester Stallone shows he isn’t a one franchise pony in
this classic action film. Sly comes to town as Vietnam vet and the locals are not
really happy about his arrival. Some shit goes down which leads Sly to flee to
the wilderness with the cops on his tail and even more shit goes down. Really
one of the great action films of all time, I don’t think enough people of my
generation have experienced this, so here it is in my recommendations. This
film also acts as chilling reminder of what Vietnam vets came back to after
they had experienced hell in East Asia. After the media turned the general
public against the Vietnam war, the hostile nature which Sly experiences in
this film isn’t a million miles away of what a lot of vets would of got on
their return to the USA. You see, film reviews and American history 101, I just
keep on giving.
The War of the Worlds (1953) FILM4 4.35pm
Classic Sci-fi where the special effects are still
incredible given the era they have come from. Martians invade Earth and they
have a merry ol’ time kicking our ass. Anyone who is interested to see how
sci-fi has developed over the years should make a point of watching this.
Honourable mention – Taken (2008) More4 10pm – I know you’ve
all seen it I’m just letting you know it’s on if you want to erase Taken 2 from
your head.
Thursday
Casino (1995) ITV4 10.35pm
A Martin Scorsese film and it’s not my film of the week?
Even though it’s not his best, it’s still incredible cinema from Martin. The
film loses its way somewhat in the final third and drags here and there which
keeps it from achieving the godly status, but this is one of those films that
if I happen to stumble on it I’ll usually end up watching it through to
conclusion because it’s so good - which is always a bugger cause it’s so
frickin’ long (you’ll be up 2.05am with this one). Robert De Niro is the guy
the mob put in charge to run their casino operation, with Joe Pesci as his
enforcer who hsd ideas of his own. Violent, slick and incredibly acted, this is
brilliant cinema. Screw it, I’ve hardly seen anything this week and there’s not
much else on, 4 in a row for Scorsese – this is my film of the week.
Cedar Rapids (2011) Sky Indie 8.30pm
After four in row, we’re now back to familiar territory this
week with a film I have not seen. And it’s the same for the next four films as
well. Look don’t judge me, I think I’m starting to get a complex. And believe
me I don’t need any more. This is a comedy with Ed Helms and John C. Reily,
which should be enough for you (who am I kidding, us), but as it will not be
here is a brief outline – Ed works for an insurance company and is sent to the
town of Cedar Rapids to represent them. He is then taken under the guidance of
3 convention veterans, and hilarity ensues I’m sure. Hereeeeeeeee’s Empire
Online…
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?DVDID=118821
The Rum Diary (2011) Sky Premier 10.30pm
Johnny Depp returns to gonzo territory (a style of
journalism) after his work with late friend Hunter S. Thompson (the person who popularized
gonzo) on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Depp is a journalist who goes to work
in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper and gets wrapped up in the local hedonistic
lifestyle which leads him to fall for a taken woman. Yep, you’ve guessed it, I
haven’t seen it. Again. All these films I haven’t watched are making me feel
not so good. I feel anxious. Are the walls starting to close in on me in this
room? I feel hot.
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?DVDID=118946
Friday
Away We Go (2009) FILM4 11.05pm
Yep, the walls are really starting to close in on me. Here’s
another one I haven’t watched. My vision is starting to become blurred and I
can hear a constant ringing in my ears. This is meant to be an entertaining
affair about a couple who are expecting their first baby and go on a cross
country trip across America to find a suitable place to raise their first born.
Directed by Sam Mendes, this has a very Indie sounding set up, but is sure to
be infused with quality. Here’s the review courtesy of Empire Online:
Play Misty for Me (1971) Sky Classics 8.30pm
Oh man, here’s another one! The room is narrow, so so
narrow. And the ringing in my ears has turned into a constant thudding.
Everything is going a dark. So so dark. I can hear voices, voices of
disapproval. Oh God, there’s also a little girl standing at the bottom of my
garden. She’s looking at through the TV guide and is mouthing at me “You’re
shit”. Oh dear. Before I have a full mental breakdown over the limits of my
movie knowledge, please find here Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut about a
disc jockey who has the admiration of a woman he probably doesn’t want to
admiration from – on account of her being a total nut job. Here’s Empire with
the review…
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?DVDID=7865
Rope (1948) Sky Classics 7pm
The girl’s come in now, her eyes are black like a doll, and
she only speaks in Latin. She’s clearly annoyed with me and her head keeps
spinning round when I tell her about other films I have not watched, but she
isn’t that bad I guess. I’ve given her a cup of tea, she’s calmed down a bit
and we’re about to watch a film together. This wouldn’t be a bad shout… One of
Alfred Hitchcock’s efforts before he went on his amazing steak of films – this still
looks like it will be a very decent watch. Two students decide to kill another
student – just to prove they can. They then hide the body and decide to throw a
party with the body hidden in the room. Surely their arrogance will be their
undoing?
Right there you go. The little girl has decided we’re
watching Avatar. Bloody hell! I thought things were bad. Liberate sue.
No comments:
Post a Comment