Cobpyth's Film Reviews

Quick question, is there a difference between a +/- and a (+)/(-), I just notice sometimes you wrap them in brackets and other times you don't

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From good to bad:

+ > (+) > (nothing) > (-) > -

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Cobpyth's Movie Log ~ 2019

I thought those in brackets might be to indicate less of an effect than those without, make sense, cheers

Of the films in that last post I have seen:

Step Brothers - Also a m stick a - on the end though, used to like it more than I do now.

The Hangover Part III - Also a , I liked it more than Part II and don't think it was as bad as people made out.

Fantasia - Also a although that's largely off memory, I loved it as a kid but have yet to see it in ages.

Persona - Also a , a great film, I gave it higher when I first saw it but I have just tightened up my ratings since then a little bit.

Gravity - A + which is almost what you give it, might go up in the future too.

So yeh, I agree with pretty much everything

I have watched Darjeeling Huckabees and Broken Flowers all for the first time in the past month.

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Letterboxd

FIRST POST

Old School (2003)



This film starts out great and has a few very funny moments (mostly featuring Will Ferell), but it kind of drags towards the end as it all unfolds into a plot that I've seen many times before.
I still think it's worth watching, though, as it has a fair amounts of laughs and good parts.



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The Crying Game (1992)



This stylish and twisty crime drama has a very odd atmosphere. It's clearly divided into three acts and it relies on three major climaxes and an omnipresent feeling of mystery to hold the viewer's attention.
I personally was expecting the 'surprise' at the center of this film (although it was very well done), because of the many hints throughout the film, but I can imagine that it must have been a shock when it first came out in the '90s.
The ending was a little too weird and dramatic for my tastes, but I still think it's a very solid film and it's definitely worth watching (especially if you don't know the 'big twist' yet).



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Big Trouble in Little China (1986)



This is just a very entertaining adventure film full of awesome sets and funny one liners. Kurt Russell is very convincing in the leading role.
Watch this if you're in the mood for something light.

(-)

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About Time (2013)



It's a film with very good intentions and with a lovely message, but when you give its concept of time traveling too much thought, it falls flat a few too many times, which lessens the overall experience, in my opinion. It's also a little too long.
It does have a few very funny and romantic moments, though!

(+)

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Pillow Talk (1959)



This colorful romantic comedy is a joy to watch! Rock Hudson and Doris Day are both very convincing and have a wonderful chemistry together.
I especially liked how this film managed to be mean and adorable at the same time. A very powerful combination!

(+)

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The World's End (2013)



This film was just awesome. It's satisfying dramatically, comically and entertainment-wise! It's a rollercoaster of good stuff.
The only big minus for me was the epilogue at the end. The film should have ended a few minutes earlier and should have left a few things in the open, in my opinion. It would have been way more effective.
Unfortunately, I had to lower my rating a little bit because of that, but it's still very good.

+

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That's got to be a first.

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5-time MoFo Award winner.

SECOND POST

Solaris (2002)



This is a wonderful film! Clooney gives a terrific dramatic performance and carries this complex psychological Sci-Fi film brilliantly. Natascha McElhone's performance is also noteworthy.
The film develops kindly and slowly, which makes it a very comfortable watch, despite the heavy drama it portrays. I'm looking forward to see Tarkovsky's original film adaptation of this story, as this Soderbergh version was a delight!



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Mars Attacks! (1996)




This is a funny, campy tribute to the sci-fi classics of the '50s with the typical oddity of Tim Burton. I enjoyed it and I thought there were some very memorable scenes, like the 'martian girl' scene, the strange experiments on the spaceship, etc.
It features a wonderful cast with Jack Nicholson in a double role, Pierce Brosnan as a pipe smoking intellectual professor, Sarah Jessica Parker as a TV host, Tom Jones, Annette Bening, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Michael J. Fox, Natalie Portman and many others. It's a real star fest!
Mars Attacks! is over the top, funny, great to look at and "they blow up congress!"



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The Ghost Writer (2010)



This is a solid political thriller by Polanski with a nice build up to a pretty satisfying ending and although it isn't one of Polanski's better films (in my opinion), it's still worth at least one watch, as it is quite an engaging first viewing.



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Stranger Than Paradise (1984)



Jim Jarmusch obviously made this film on a very low budget and that certainly might annoy some people (rightfully) while watching it.
The film does capture a wonderful atmosphere, though, and while there is a certain disconnection, there is also a sort of odd chemistry between the three main characters.
After watching some of Jarmusch's films, it is clear that he is a very episodic director. This film is not as good as his later films like Mystery Train or Broken Flowers in my opinion, but it has style, melancholy and quirkiness nevertheless.
Interesting film, but slightly overrated, in my opinion.

-

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The Counselor (2013)



This film got trashed by the critics, but I thought it had some interesting things going on. It's mainly a pitch black crime film about a drugs deal gone wrong. I like that this film is without compromise. Its villains have embraced the immorality of life and use it as an argument to do the most cruel things, so they can rise about the people who still care.
The reason why this film failed with the critics, is probably because it is presented in quite a messy way, but I think a second viewing may offer a better understanding of the film as a whole story about pure evil in its most stylishly realistic form. Interesting film.



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Scrooged (1988)



I don't really know what to think of this one. The ending left me very confused. I wasn't sure if they were still ridiculing the forced happiness in christmas films or if they were embracing it in an over the top way.
Anyway, you all know the classic christmas story. This film doesn't really add anything new or refreshing to it, except giving it a more modern look.
Murray is good in his role and it is mainly him that makes the cynicism sometimes work throughout the film, but in the ending, he also left me confused.
It's a watchable, pretty good looking, but aimless film, in my opinion.

(-)

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THIRD POST

Bad Santa (2003)



How great is Billy Bob Thornton? He's perfect in this deadpan dark comic role of a low life criminal who robs a shopping mall every year around christmas with his dwarf buddy, after inspecting it first while taking a job there as Santa.
The comedy is absolutely outrageous and Thornton's brilliant portrayal makes everything even ten times more funny.
This is a great film, although again, ending it a few minutes earlier without the epilogue, would have made it even better. It's still a christmas movie, though, so I understand the final decision they made.

+

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The War of the Roses (1989)



This must be one of the darkest films about relationships I've ever seen. This film is nothing less than a comic tragedy.
DeVito directed this film very well and it has a lot of memorable moments. Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner are also very strong as the two main characters.

(+)

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Heathers (1988)



Winona Ryder is lovely as always in this fast paced black comedy/satire about social politics in high school.
The problem for me was that I couldn't stand the character of J.D from the beginning (played by Christian Slater). How the hell was he able to manipulate Ryder's character so easily? I guess she was intrigued by the idea of him as some kind of rebel or something like that...
This film isn't very subtle in its portrayal of high school society. The popular kids are incorrigible douchebags and the actions of the rebellion against them by J.D. and Veronica (Ryder's character) are also way too heavy.
I guess the ultimate message of the film is that it's not good to fight extremes with other extremes and that we should be liberated like Veronica in the end, not caring anymore about the social hierarchy of her school, but the fact that I'm socially more experienced than a high school girl/boy, makes this message probably too evident for me to care for it.
I still enjoyed this film, though, as it had a few outrageously funny and memorable scenes and because the story was presented in an original and audacious way, which I really appreciated.
If I didn't dislike J.D.'s character so much, this would have gotten a higher score (I really enjoyed myself during several scenes), but as he's such a big part of the film, I must give it a:

+

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Far from Heaven (2002)



A classic, well made film about minorities in times of suppression. I'm a fan of stories set in the '50s and the '60s because I love the fashion, music and style of the era. This film shows us that glamour, using a wonderful soft color palette to make everything look even more nostalgic, but it also shows us the social difficulties of the period in typical tales about the taboo surrounding interracial relationships and about the psychological view on homosexuality.
It's a nice film to look at and if you're a fan of period dramas, you will definitely like this!
Julianne Moore is fabulous in her role, by the way!



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eXistenZ (1999)



This is an interesting film that asks questions about the different dimensions of reality in a fascinating, Cronenberg-like way. It's full of twists and turns and the viewer is never really sure in what dimension the characters really are.
It's also a very entertaining watch, so I certainly recommend it!

(+)

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Office Space (1999)



This is a very quotable comedy that has many loyal cult followers.
I laughed and I had a good time, but ultimately I think it's slightly overrated. The story about a man who is sick of his daily work routine and his bosses, is interesting, but ultimately it never goes to unfamiliar or extremely inventive territory. It's the comedy and the few funny characters that really make this movie watchable.

(+)
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I like Soderbergh's Solaris (it's meant to be a lot different to Tarkovsky's in terms of how it deals with human relationships) and I think that Bad Santa is a very funny little Christmas film.

Office Space is over rated? No, no man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked for sayin something like that, man.

If he does, I'll back him up. Like Cobpyth, I liked Office Space, but it's never been something I've fawned over. I put it down to never having worked in a large office. That, and I don't really do movie comedy.

FOURTH POST

Dead Ringers (1988)




This acclaimed psycho-sexual horror film by David Cronenberg features an identical twin role that is brilliantly played by Jeremy Irons.
The twins are both gynecologists and they have a very physical relationship with women. One of them is a little bit shy, though, so his brother always paves the way by seducing a woman and sleeping with her first, claiming to be his brother, so that he can get physical with her too.
Things fall apart when the shy brother falls in love. Jealousy and paranoia enter the picture and the bond between the two brothers is put to proof.
The film is disturbing in many ways and that makes it a little bit harder to personally invest in the tragic story that is presented, but even then, it's still a film that can be admired for its artistic elements.
This will probably never become one of my favorite films, but it sure is a fascinating and moving watch.



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Escape From Tomorrow (2013)




This dark comedy that reflects the fairy tale message of happiness of Disney against the corruption and impurity of reality is AWESOME!
The mostly unkown cast is very convincing and the wicked tale that takes place in Disney World (and was filmed there without permission of the Walt Disney Company) is engaging, magical, obscure and, in my opinion, very satisfying!
The film is full of memorable weird moments and if you're a fan of surrealistic films that still have a traceable narrative, you should definitely check this out!

(+)

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Scoop (2006)



This is a minor Woody Allen flick featuring a classic mystery story, mixed together with Woody's typical wit. Elements that often occur in his work, like the portrayal of death and the cruelty of love are also present in this film.
All together it's an enjoyable movie with several laughs and thrills, but still with an overarching ironic tone.
Not one of Woody's best, but still very watchable and amusing.

-

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Ghost World (2001)



I really liked this one! Thora Birch is flawless as the main character and Steve Buscemi is great as always in the main supporting role.
This film is sweet, funny, melancholic (using some great tunes) and fresh! I've been watching a lot of these films about teen angst lately and I must say that this is definitely one of the best!

+

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Alice (1990)




This is such an adorable and magical film! It's visually stimulating, the music is great as always and Woody isn't afraid to think outside the box in this story. Mia Farrow is good in the role of Alice, a rich but bored housewife, who gets exposed to the real values and virtues of her life by the mysterious Chinatown healer, Dr. Yang.
The final message of the film is not very Allen-like and may seem a little preachy to some (including me), but it is a defendable conclusion to this wonderful tale about rediscovering yourself and finding a purpose in life.

+



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We're the Millers (2013)



I laughed a few times during this R-rated comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis, but at the end this film shows just a way too obvious, uninspired and predictable story to earn any real respect.
It has a few moments of excess that hint at something more outrageous or refreshing, but unfortunately they never fully push the gas pedal.
Because I had a relatively good time, I still give it a:

+

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Nice to see some love for SMALL TIME CROOKS, one of Woody's most underrated gems.

we really shook the pillars of heaven, didn't we wang

Is this the main reason for you watching it?

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Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's a straw, you see? You watching?. And my straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake... I... drink... your... milkshake!
-Daniel, There Will Be Blood

^ Yes, it was.

FIFTH POST

Whatever Works (2009)



While not one of Woody's best films, this film had enough funny moments and a good enough story arc to keep me engaged during its 90 minutes running time.
Larry David gave an extra grumpy characteristic to the typical Woody persona and it worked pretty well in this film.
The final message of the film is light, but poignant, which is fitting in the whole context of the story that is being told. Ultimately this is one of Woody's minor works, but it's still an enjoyable watch.

-

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Celebrity (1998)





I absolutely love it when Woody goes down a more artistic path than usual, as I think he mostly succeeds. My reaction to this gorgeous and audacious black and white film isn't any different. I adored it!
Allen tells a 'La Dolce Vita' kind of story, focusing on two main characters that used to be married. The male part is played by Kenneth Branagh, who basically plays the Woody Allen persona, but in a more physically attractive way, driving around town in his Aston Martin and getting physical with gorgeous women, while the main female part is played by Judy Davis, who is more insecure and tries to pull herself together throughout the whole film. Both are in some kind of midlife crisis, but in a totally different way.
Next to these two interesting figures, we are treated to a bunch of star appearances. Among them are Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays a young and famous 'live hard, die young' actor, Melanie Griffith as a famous shallow actrice, Charlize Theron, who is gorgeous as a catwalk model, and Winona Ryder who plays a mysterious and free-spirited young struggling actrice.
This film follows the two main characters during several episodes of their post-divorce life and shows how they both are dealing with it in very different ways. Everything is shown in a witty and very stylish manner and because of the constant exposition to new interesting developments and characters, the film never gets boring.
This film got very mixed reviews and honestly, I really can't see why. Woody Allen's look at showbusiness is wildly entertaining and interesting and his two main characters in this film go through some very comical and unusual stuff.
Don't be put off by some of the mixed reviews and watch this great film! It's one of Allen's better efforts.

(+)

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Don Jon (2013)



This is a decent debut film for director-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but nothing more than that. The main theme of this film about how visual media, like romantic comedies and internet porn, induce unrealistic expectations in the field of real life love and sex relationships, is interesting, but Gordon-Levitt deals with it in a way too heavy handed manner, in my opinion.
Despite that, the film has a lot of funny moments, although the humor feels kind of repetitive after a while.
It's a courageous effort from our first time writer-director, but he needs to learn to be more subtle and differentiating in his storytelling.



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Fritz the Cat (1972)




This film is a product of a time when political correctness wasn't quite in fashion yet. Fritz the Cat wanders around having sex, doing drugs and asking questions about the spirit of the end of the '60s and the beginning of the '70s, a time of sexual revolution and social experimentalizing.
The animation is a little rough, but it fits the atmosphere of the film quite well. I had fun watching this cult favorite and if you're in the mood for something more 'underground' than the usual Disney cartoon, this may be something for you.



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Melinda and Melinda (2004)



In this picture, Woody Allen looks at life from a dramatic and a comical point of view, telling two parallel stories about a girl named Melinda, terrifically played by Radha Mitchell.
The two tales don't really have anything to do with eachother, although they have many similar aspects, but they are intertwining nicely throughout the film in a structural way.
The two stories separately aren't really anything new or refreshing, but Allen combines them in such a way that the whole of them together equals more than the sum of both elements.
I'm afraid you'll have to see this film to understand what I mean. It's a charming and interesting Woody Allen flick, although it's not part of his best work.

(-)

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A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)



This classic adaptation of the famous Tennessee Williams play is especially notable for its brilliant performances by Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh. They are both absolutely magnificent and their scenes together are pure gold.
The story itself is also interesting of course and although the film slightly censored some of the more cruel parts of the play, it still manages to subtly allude to them.
See this if you're interested in a psychological tragedy with some very meaty performances!



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Muriel's Wedding (1994)




This cult comedy is weird, dark and unusual, but what really made it memorable is the ABBA music. Without that, this film would never have gotten the following it has today.
Muriel is a relatable character in the sense that she's an outlaw and that she wants to fit in, but on the other hand she is often so weird and unlikable (at least to me) that I found myself grossed out by her a little bit. It does make her a more believable victim, but therefore she doesn't necessarily arouse any sympathy.
The film has lots of comical moments and you might be attracted by the oddity of the film, so it's certainly not a film that you should avoid in all cases. If you think it's something that you might enjoy, you should definitely give it a go.

(-)

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The Barefoot Contessa (1954)




This gorgeous drama contains brilliant dialogues, very solid performances from screen superstars Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner, lovely settings and a twisty tale about the rise and fall of a talented and beautiful girl who gets pulled into stardom, but ends up in a tragedy.
I love how this film never intrinsically glamorizes excessive wealth. Yes, they use wonderful looking villas and interiors, but the peculiar thing is that it doesn't seem to affect the characters anymore. They are still messed up and are still looking for something deeper than just that. Some of them want more power, others prefer friendship and Ava Gardner's character looks for the purity in life, wandering around on her bare feet, while trying to hide her naivety by playing it hard. In the end her true self gets exposed in a cruel turn of fate.
Great film!



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Frances Ha (2012)




After her best friend told her she's going to move out of their rental apartment, Frances Ha feels lost and alone in the Big Apple. She doesn't have a decent job, she doesn't really have someone who she can turn to with her problems now her best friend is gone and she basically doesn't know what to do with herself, which leads to some very awkward, but funny behavior!
Greta Gerwig's sympathetic performance helps identifying ourselves with her character and I never felt bored hanging out with Frances while she's wandering around feeling totally empty and alienated.
The wonderful black and white cinematography gives this film a sort of timeless quality, which I personally very much appreciated.
Watch this if you're in the mood for a melancholically funny character study of a young woman looking for something that could take away her dissatisfaction with her environment.

+

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Garden State (2004)




This film starts off as an original and very amusing deadpan comedy, but little by little glides into other territories.
I liked most of those other explorations. They gave the movie a certain weight and they resulted in some very strong scenes (such as the well known scene near the 'abyss') and they made us see the true colors of some of the main characters. On the other hand, there were also a couple of scenes that felt too preachy and/or sappy to me. I have nothing against self-important moments in films, but when the substantive message of those moments is so obvious, simple and even cliche, there's no need to aggravate it with an overly dramatic tone. Those kind of messages are better implanted in a more subtle way, in my opinion.
It's an enjoyable and very well made film, but sometimes (especially near the end) it aims to manipulate the emotions of the viewer so obviously, that it doesn't work anymore for me. There's still plenty of reason to see this, though, and maybe you'll feel different about the heavier scenes and LOVE it.



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Napoleon Dynamite (2004)



Jon Heden is PRICELESS as Napoleon Dynamite. His performance completely carries this absurdly comical film.
I don't think this film was anything truly special, though. For me it was more like a very enjoyable one man show with a few clever artistic moments in between.
It's certainly worth a watch if you just want to laugh for a while without using too much of your brain.

+

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Submarine (2010)




Lovely film! It felt like a British version of a Wes Anderson film, with perhaps even a little more quirkiness than usual. It's delightfully directed in a very peculiar and yet very adorable fashion.
While beholding the beautiful montages and the visionary of the film's director, we are also presented an interesting character study from our protagonist, the 15 year old Oliver Tate, who is getting confronted with certain parts of life that he never had to worry about before. He gets confused, he falls apart in a outrageously comical, but engaging manner and finally he takes his experiences with him and draws certain conclusions.
Submarine is a wildly entertaining and wonderfully original watch from start to finish!



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I thought you'd like Submarine, like you say it is very Anderson esque with its quirky style, and I find the uncomfortable lead character is probably easily related to with his life issues, I also love the soundtrack from Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys. Ayoade seems like an intelligent and very promising director, I want to see his film from this year, The Double which has also been well received, I think he's actually a Woody Allen fan too which will please you

When I first saw Napoleon Dynamite I actually looked it up on the web. I genuinely thought it had been based on an old school friend of mine.

His name was Michael, we called him Veador... and apart from the look of the character in terms of glasses and curly hair, everything else, and I mean everything about the character is exactly the same as Veador was.
The attitude, emphasis on certain words and the way he phrased things, the drawings he does in his school books, his gait, dress sense and being an excellent dancer.

Whenever I watch, it's like I'm back at school hanging around with him again.

Love Napoleon Dynamite. Great film.

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You peaked my interest in Submarine. I have noticed it on netflix. I will probably check it out this week.