I managed to remember the title of another film watched in February - Savages, based on the Don Winslow book of the same name. Slow start and it was okay but not memorable. Apart from John Travolta and Salma Hayek I didn't recognise anyone else in the film.March started with a bang film-wise and then fell away before ending on a high.
From Dusk Til Dawn - a bit of Tarantino, Clooney and Harvey Keitel along with a young Juliette Lewis. A bit of a wild ride, kind of starts out as a crime film, then morphs in a vampire movie with a blood and guts finale in a Mexican tittie bar.........I loved it. Second time around for me.
The Cider House Rules - based on the John Irving book which I read years ago. About a doctor running an orphanage and performing illegal abortions for troubled women. Michael Caine is excellent. Charlize Theron is superb too. Tobey Maguire, of Spiderman fame gets to serve under Caine as his apprentice doctor/abortionist and perfects that kind of goofy look he seems quite good at. Verdict - really enjoyable.
A reminder also to dig something of Irving's out this year for a read or re-read!
About Time - another enjoyable Richard Curtis film, released last year. Stars Bill Nighy in a kind of feel-good family flick involving a bit of time travelling. Excellent and a decent way of passing a few hours.
Missing in Action - I only caught an hour of this - a bit of ol' Chuck Norris showing those naughty Vietnamese who's the daddy! I always did have a bit of a soft spot for Chuck, can't say the film has aged that well though.Getaway - with Ethan Hawke (should have stuck to the writing) and Selina Gomez. Absolutely dire and a couple of hours of my life I'll never get back! Those nasty black-ops agency types ought to play this on a loop to suspected Al-Qaeda dudes...........they'll soon throw the towel in and confess!
The Book Thief - best til last. Loved the book, loved the film - absolutely fantastic in my opinion and recommended. Didn't find it too mawkish or sentimental - just the right tone.
Geoffrey Rush is superb as is the young girl who plays Liesel, Sophie Nelisse.
TV - same old, same old.....Brooklyn Nine-Nine still rules.
Second best programme on UK TV at the minute is Gogglebox, though I did miss the first couple of this new series........for the uninitiated it's a reality programme following a selection of families watching TV shows .....giving their reactions, thoughts, comments, analysis on a variety of shows that aired on mainstream telly the previous week.........absolutely hilarious!
From Wikipedia..........Gogglebox is a British observational documentary, which has aired since 7 March 2013 on Channel 4. The show features recurring British couples, families and friends sitting in their living rooms watching weekly British television shows.
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| Stars of the show - Leon and June Bernicoff |
Farah Ramzan Golant, the boss of All3Media, said: "Everyone loves watching TV and talking about TV. But the show isn't really about TV. The show is about people's lives, their relationships, their living rooms and the way children and parents talk about TV. It's near real-time because you're watching what happened in the seven days before. That’s quite priceless. It captures a cultural response to something that's happening in the world. Gogglebox shows TV in people's living rooms is alive and well and thriving. It is asserting the indispensable role of TV in the fabric of people's lives."
I'm something of a Don Winslow fan, but haven't read Savages, and was completely unaware of the film - perhaps I should be looking both of them out. And of course Irving - that was a great book and a great film.
ReplyDeleteMoira, I haven't read Savages yet, unsurprisingly. Wasn't my favourite film ever, but didn't feel it was a waste of time either. Irving - book and film both memorable.
DeleteCol - Glad your month started and ended well. And I appreciate the reminder of The Cider House Rules. What a terrific film! But then, I think Michael Caine is great. Must give The Book Thief a try.
ReplyDeleteI never really liked Michael Caine when I was younger, but I think he has grown on me in recent years and I appreciate him more now. I don't know what caused the sea-change?
DeleteThe Book Thief - both the film and the book - I would recommend highly - I loved them both.
Well, I was looking for THE FALL.... (j/k)
ReplyDeleteCan't say I've seen any of these.
Hmm......no such luck. Might see some BB in April which won't help my reading.
DeleteI have only seen one of these: From Dusk Til Dawn. It has been a while but I think we liked it. Had not heard of Savages, might be interesting. I do like Michael Caine a lot. Maybe I will try Cider House Rules... and the book too. I would like to watch some Brooklyn Nine-Nine also.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely watch CIDER HOUSE if you get the chance to Tracy. And Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Re The Cider book - most of John Irving's books are quite long, worth the effort though in my opinion.
DeleteCol, I'll stick to the films you saw. I have always enjoyed original action hero Chuck Norris' films though I haven't seen MISSING IN ACTION (or maybe I have). I was glad they acknowledged him in THE EXPENDABLES movies. John Irving is one of my favourite authors and THE CIDER HOUSE RULES is one book and film I haven't read and seen. I know both are good. I agree, Geoffrey Rush is "superb" and I have liked him in the films and television series I have seen. THE BOOK THIEF is on my reading and viewing plate. Thanks for the update, Col.
ReplyDeletePrashant, hopefully you'll catch THE CIDER HOUSE RULES on cable sometime soon. THE BOOK THIEF, also but it may be a while as it's a lot more recent.
DeleteWhat did you think of THE EXPENDABLES? Didn't really enjoy it myself TBH.
Col, I didn't think much of THE EXPENDABLES except I was amused to see so many sixty-plus macho actors coming together and showing off their ageing biceps.
DeleteKind of sad really, I don'r reckon they need the money.
DeleteTROPIC THUNDER was a much better film IMO