The Bedsit Cinema Cutting Room Floor: The Good!
by Adam Thorn
By
way of celebrating our now 100 reviews (note: not posts. 100
posts was celebrated here) I thought I'd dig around in my Bedsit
Cinema folder, which believe it or not has about 200 reviews, some of
which I completed and posted, and others which for one reason or
another I did not. One or two (twelve or so) of these, I realised,
might be quite interesting to cobble together, rather than somehow
muster the energy to individually complete as a review.
They're
not finished, which is obvious, but I've added scores. Some of these
films I loved, some less so. Some I didn't complete because I
couldn't find enough to pick out, others because I had too many
similar reviews at that time. I'm not cruel enough (yet, still
working on it) to inflict my B grade writing on you in a lazy effort.
This is more like a whirlwind rundown of the ones I enjoyed. The ones I didn't, and the just plain crazy will follow.
Please,
then, feast your eyes on the Bedsit Cinema Cutting Room Floor: The
Good!
A
film so good I could stomach MMA throughout it, which normally I hate.
Everybody
loves Tom Hardy. All moist in the knickers about broody Tom, dishy
Tom, oh he's so deep, Tom Tom Tom Broody Bloody Hardy. However, I do like him
too. Consider me a fan, sure, if not quite dribbling at the crotch
about him like others.
Has
a much more “filmic” quality than I remember, earthy, grainy and
it works. Even though that wanky word in the past would irk my soul- used in
every advert production pitch as a by word for “look like
Hollywood, but without the cost.”
The
fight scenes are very believable and thrilling.
Nick
Nolte is great as the alcoholic father come trainer.
Probably
the biggest compliment I can pay Warrior is that it is, for me, as good as
Rocky.
They
bypass the obligatrory training montage (even Rocky had a montage! A
montage!) by having several fights apiece for two different fighters.
It sounds like the tactics of a sequel; bigger, badder, dumber, but
it really works.
Engaging,
believable and drags you in.
9/10
Munich (2005) Blu Ray
Asks
how far people will go for revenge, both as a collective, and then as
individuals within that.
“Inspired
by real events” read: Largely fiction.
The
events of the Munich Olympics are enough to make anyone upset. Where
do you go, though?
Regardless
of its obvious bias, but then who wouldn't be biased in favour of
those victims, hard, brave people who fought their demise and
murderers at every turn. Munich is still a very interesting take on a
huge moment for the Jewish faith, sport and the world.
I'm
going to ignore all political and geographical issues, and focus on
the human issues and ethics.
I
like the juxtaposition of the victims with the culprits, also the
delicate exposition.
If
you don't know about what happened, see One Day in September, it is
brilliant.
Does
one violent action allow more violent actions?
Judaism
is a maternal society/ faith, which I like and Munich shows that
nicely. I'd let (I have let) the women in my life govern me more than
the men. They usually know best, or at very least follow up on their
plans.
The
way Spielberg makes it look like they are all under surveillance from
the start works well to create a larger sense of conspiracy.
Munich
is both a spy thriller and moral dilemma.
If
you're a soldier, you signed up for killing, and I don't think you
have any right then complaining about it, however right I might think
you are. Dumb (brave, whichever) enough to sign up? Take the
consequences dickhead. Civvies, they have a right to moan when shot
at. The army are a pawn. Whatever
rank or however good at killing or obeying orders you may be. Never
above a pawn. Those of us not choosing to enter the game of death
exist because we choose not to play. I have no issue with killing
within war, it's war, people die; and largely by their choosing.
8/10
Tagline:
“Every dream deserves a fighting chance” Pass the bucket. If
I'd read this before seeing The Fighter of knowing anything about
it, I'd have assumed it was a musical.
Premise:
Biopic of boxer Mickey Ward, weaving his ring career with his
less than straightforward family life.
Delivery:
A lot of what The Fighter delivers, it delivers brilliantly.
However, for a boxing film to not have convincing fight scenes is
unforgivable. I watch a lot of boxing, it is [one of] my job(s), and
The Fighter's fight scenes suck. I know Ward wasn't exactly fleet of
foot but they're pedestrian and awkward and in no way convincing.
However, the film is about more than fight scenes, in the ring, at
least. The Fighter is as much about hierarchy and love, and that
hierarchy within love. Where does it stop and when does it stop
bothering you.
Boxing
is a business, captures that.
Also
portrays the gamut of emotions at boxing.
The
drama is believable, palpably so. The humans interact like real
humans. It's way better than any of the fight scenes.
“This
isn't a Cambodian thing, white people do this to white people.”
Tells
the honest truth of drugs, they're delicious. You think millions of
people with nothing left to gamble go for broke on a handful of highs
at the risk of being six feet under? People take this risk because
what they think they are gambling on is an escape/ fun.
At
what point do you forgive someone and on whose terms?
Another
film which isn't as good as the general consensus, but isn't bad,
either.
6/10
I
feel like I'd be in a position to review Frozen after it played on
repeat on Christmas day while my niece and nephew, who had asked for
it on, ignored it, but out of necessity my brain switched it off.
Minions
is genuinely very, very funny. At least I thought so.
Sweet,
silly, with a simple, innocent joyousness.
Not
aimed at me, but I could quite happily sit and watch it again, like
all good children's cinema, adults can enjoy it too.
7/10
Tagline:
“The Rules Have Been Reset.” Yeah because you cocked up several
sequels. Clarts.
Premise:
Irrelevant and obvious.
Delivery:
Full disclosure, I rather liked Terminator Salvation, not least for
Christian Bale's epic meltdown on set, and then Family
Guy's brilliant take on it.
It's
CGI mayhem, but is it entertaining?
The
credits at the start are still going 11 minutes in, which seems quite
a long time.
Genisys
is big, bloodless and dumb, but not really aiming to be much more.
There
are admittedly some “oh fuck yes” scenes, genuinely great moments
of action, particularly for fans of the series.
The
makers also get away with a decent level of violence (certainly on
the Blu Ray which is a 12) because it's not humans being brutalised.
Much like how Itchy and Scratchy get away with bloody carnage on The
Simpsons, but with Arnie and a Barrett .50 calibre sniper rifle.
In
the end I didn't hate Terminator Genisys, in fact I sat through it
moderately entertained. If a bit upset it wasn't more generous with
the blood letting
6/10
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