Bullets 'n' Babes

127 Hours (2010) - 3.5/5

The Big Racket (Italy, 1976) – 3/5
Another angry, sociopolitical piece of Italian crime cinema by Enzo G. Castellari. Very much in the footsteps of Street Law, the criminals are once again ruling the streets of Rome, with Inspector Nico Palmieri (Fabio Testi) powerless due to red tape. Time calls for vigilante actions. Not an entirely original, however, effectively directed film that makes a good addition to the catalogue of violent, pessimistic Italo-crime films of the 70’s.

Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man (Italy, 1976) – 2.5/5
Cannibal Holocaust director Ruggero Deodato’s laidback cop film. Motorcycles, pop music, and handsome young guys going vigilante on bad guys. A semi-entertaining buddy-flick that lacks the extreme violence Deodato is best known for. Some might have been welcome, as the film feels too easygoing and especially the ending comes out underwhelming.

The Artist (2011) - 3.5/5

Good, but is perhaps being a tad overrated simply because it's a silent film.

Il Mercenario (Italy, 1968) – 2.5/5
A somewhat disappointing revolutionary western by Sergio Corbucci, saved by occasional good moments and Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack. Corbucci, whose next film would be the remarkably nihilist masterpiece The Great Silence, takes a very comedic approach here. Unfortunately the humor doesn’t blend in well with the more atmospheric parts. The result is a semi-entertaining happy-go-lucky comedy paired with violent action and dark Morricone poetry that should have been in a film of its own. Franco Nero and Tony Musante star.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 (USA, 1988) – 3/5
One’s one of those films that even after a careful inspection it is difficult to say whether it’s a good film or a bad one. It’s a rather goofy special effects show with trendy 80’s soundtrack – not scary for one moment, and occasionally dumb enough to be unintentionally cool, but certainly something. The special effects are lovely, even though they don’t necessarily serve the film. But for the overly nostalgic 80’s feel of it alone, it probably deserves to be called a good film.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007) - 3/5

I liked it as much as the first one.

gasteropod wrote:The Artist (2011) - 3.5/5

Good, but is perhaps being a tad overrated simply because it's a silent film.

This is the first potentially negative thing I've read about it period. I thought it was fantastic and would've been if there was talking. The silent aspect just added to the joy. It had such a "feel good" aspect to it and people love that.

I'd doubt I'll buy it but that's more because it's not something I feel the need to see a second time, maybe in a few years.

Synecdoche - New York: 3/5

Interesting film, perhaps too clever for its own good in places with an excellent performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman. He plays a theatre director whose life (as we see) is falling apart, but attempts then to make a production all about his life, with 'actors' playing his friends, neighbours etc, even himself. It is often hard to tell what is the "play within the film" and what isn't - rather like a more serious Truman Show. I'm not sure if I "got it" but there are some very interesting points and philosophy about the meaning of life (maybe?), I'm not sure I found Hoffman's character always sympthetic. It is hard to watch at times.
Indeed, the speech from Shakespeare springs to mind "All the worlds' a stage, and all the men and women merely players... they have their exits and their enterances..."

The Artist 1.5/5 boring shit.well made but 2012 entertainment? shite

saltysam wrote:The Artist 1.5/5 boring shit.well made but 2012 entertainment? shite

You really thought it was "that" bad? Given that 99% of people are loving it, I guess the answer is yes. I suggest you re-watch Transformer 3 in 3D next time . That is also supposedly 2012 entertainment.

The Skeleton Key (2005) - 3/5

127 Hours (2010-USA-UK) ***

Good, but all the visual pizazz and gimmickry clearly showed that Danny Boyle didn't trust his audience not to be bored by the central character's plight: 127hrs alone, desperate and dying. By cutting to fantasy sequences and memories, it took away from the central performance and probably cost James Franco an Oscar. If the camera had been focused on his face non-stop for an hour I feel that would have been more effective. But that's just me. Oh, and terrible soundtrack.

bradavon wrote:

saltysam wrote:The Artist 1.5/5 boring shit.well made but 2012 entertainment? shite

You really thought it was "that" bad? Given that 99% of people are loving it, I guess the answer is yes. I suggest you re-watch Transformer 3 in 3D next time . That is also supposedly 2012 entertainment.

it was pretentious shite-ie right up your street

Markgway wrote:127 Hours (2010-USA-UK) ***

Good, but all the visual pizazz and gimmickry clearly showed that Danny Boyle didn't trust his audience not to be bored by the central character's plight: 127hrs alone, desperate and dying. By cutting to fantasy sequences and memories, it took away from the central performance and probably cost James Franco an Oscar. If the camera had been focused on his face non-stop for an hour I feel that would have been more effective. But that's just me. Oh, and terrible soundtrack.

I can understand why they used the memories though, I dont think the film could have literally been him trapped in a rock for the course of the film (otherwise what else would we learn about the character?), it was an excellent performance. I agree it was a good film.

grim_tales wrote:I can understand why they used the memories though, I dont think the film could have literally been him trapped in a rock for the course of the film (otherwise what else would we learn about the character?), it was an excellent performance. I agree it was a good film.

"Buried" is better...

Been meaning to see that.

I rated both Buried and 127 Hours 7/10.

I think I rated 127 hours 8/10 (or 4/5), can't remember. Either that or the same as Gas's score.

grim_tales wrote:I can understand why they used the memories though, I dont think the film could have literally been him trapped in a rock for the course of the film (otherwise what else would we learn about the character?), it was an excellent performance. I agree it was a good film.

We could experience his emotions through his video taping. The film does that... but keeps cutting away and going off on tangents. The intensity and claustrophobia gets lost in the process. I never really felt his being trapped was visceral enough.

saltysam wrote:it was pretentious shite-ie right up your street

It wasn't pretentious in the slightest. That word is very quick to appear in reviews, I've not read it once. But yes it is right up my street and millions of others.

Markgway wrote:

grim_tales wrote:I can understand why they used the memories though, I dont think the film could have literally been him trapped in a rock for the course of the film (otherwise what else would we learn about the character?), it was an excellent performance. I agree it was a good film.

We could experience his emotions through his video taping. The film does that... but keeps cutting away and going off on tangents. The intensity and claustrophobia gets lost in the process. I never really felt his being trapped was visceral enough.

Oh yeah, I remember the video taping parts, thought that was well done.

bradavon wrote:

saltysam wrote:it was pretentious shite-ie right up your street

It wasn't pretentious in the slightest. That word is very quick to appear in reviews, I've not read it once. But yes it is right up my street and millions of others.

millions of others like Transformers 2 if you go by the box office figures,it's still shite though.

The Driver 3/5 Well made late 70's thriller from Walter Hill,Ryan O'Neal is excellent as the almost silent Driver,as is Bruce Dern as the Detective on his tail.

Drive 3/5 Well made lean thriller but imo a tad overrated,the film's 2nd half orgy of violence much less interesting than the first hour or so.

Which Drive was it Sam - the 2011 one? I assume its that

grim_tales wrote:Which Drive was it Sam - the 2011 one? I assume its that

yeah of course, the Mark Dacusaus Version was full of graphic viloence in it's 2nd half.do the math instead of being a smart ass

District 13: Ultimatum (2009) - 3/5

Decent sequel.