Review – Page 13 – The Film Ramble

Once (2008): Available on Amazon Prime & BFI Player

April 5, 2020April 5, 2020Posted in ReviewTagged Glen Hansard, Independent Film, Marketa Irglova, OnceLeave a comment

I truly believe that its the simplicity of Once that makes it one of the most endearing films around. It’s a simple story where our guy (Glen Hansard) is a busker who does what he can to get by. He works in his dad’s vacuum repair shop, but his true passion is his guitar. In the day he plays covers, but at night, he plays his own songs. One evening, he plays and this attracts attention of girl (Marketa Irglova), a Czech immigrant who sells the big issue. While they start off with him being frosty, she gives him a chance.

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Brooklyn (2015): Available on Amazon Prime

April 4, 2020April 5, 2020Posted in ReviewTagged Brooklyn, Saoirse RonanLeave a comment

With cinemas closing their doors, now more than ever is a great chance to break down my ever expanding Netflix/Prime lists. Therefore, where better to start than with this underappreciated 2015 gem.

Ellis (Saorise Ronan) is a young woman working in a shop in County Wexford, but she wants more in her life. When her sister gets her the chance, she moves to Brooklyn. The first part of the film sees her on the boat, struggling as she makes her way across the Atlantic. However, once she meets a fellow immigrant who just came back to Ireland briefly, life becomes much easier. While a small thing, this early scene establishes a sense of community which carries on throughout.

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Feel Good Film #2: The Florida Project

April 1, 2020Posted in Film, ReviewTagged Florida ProjectLeave a comment

I was sat down debating whether to define The Florida Project as a feel good film. It portrays a bleak reality for a young mother and daughter. However, the way in which it finds light in the dark times with such humanity really provides an integrity and an honest feel good experience. Therefore, despite the fact I do cry at this film, it makes the list.

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The wonderful thing about films…

March 20, 2020Posted in Review1 Comment

Is that films are a wonderful thing!

With all of the cinemas shut and me not willing to spend £18 on a 48 hour renting of a virtual film from Sky (Sorry to the Trolls World fans), we seem to have reached an impasse. I have nothing new to review, apart from Misbehaviour and Bacarau, although frankly I struggle to see the point if you can’t watch them. I’ve also been feeling rather desensitised. I’ve not been fully able to embrace the films I’ve watched with all the chaos going on around me. Then I realised what was missing…

I ran over to HMV and like a Karen in a Sainsburys, I stockpiled. Every happy DVD I could think of was added to my basket as I pushed a pensioner down the stairs to get to the last copy of *Generic Taika Watiti film*. I got home, put one of the films on and I smiled throughout.

Because that’s the thing. Despite films being able to take us into worlds and understand a different side to humanity, they can also provide an escape. A chance to forget about everything. Therefore, for the upcoming weeks, I won’t be reviewing the latest releases. I will be discussing some of the great feel-good films you can get and I really really hope you will give them a chance and let them take you away to a blissful place you deserve to be, even for a couple of hours.

~Joe

Review: Portrait Of A Lady On Fire

March 9, 2020March 9, 2020Posted in Film, ReviewTagged Adele Haenel, Foreign Film, French Film, Noemie Merlant, Portrait of a lady on fire1 Comment

International films now have an unintended burden upon them. After Parasite’s rousing success at the Oscars (and of course in my own awards), any foreign film coming out soon will be compared to it. Portrait Of A Lady On Fire was my first foreign cinematic endeavour since Parasite, so with a lot to be compared against, how did it do? Well, quickly put, not badly.

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Review: The True History of The Kelly Gang (18)

March 8, 2020March 8, 2020Posted in Film, ReviewTagged Charlie Hunnam, Essie Davis, George Mackay, Orlando Schwerdt, Russel Crowe, Thomasin McKenzie, True History of the Kelly GangLeave a comment

The world is in a pretty shit mood right now. COVID-19 is all over the news and taking a dump could become a lot more inconvenient as people stockpile bog roll. Therefore, on a Friday night, I was in the mood for an enjoyable, hopefully light at time film. Kelly Gang… didn’t provide this, as scenes full of violence and sadistic imagery very much reminds one that this is not no time to die. (Sorry).

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Review: Little Joe

February 23, 2020Posted in Film, ReviewTagged Ben Whishaw, Emily Beecham, Kit Connor, Little Joe1 Comment

And he’s back. After a two week post-oscar hiatus, the blog returns. Other than a second viewing of worthy best picture winning Parasite with the good aunt, I’ve been on a secondment. That is… until Friday where I saw a preview of a film coming up next month. I’m not saying what it was yet, otherwise that would be an act of rebellion, or …

Anyway, the next day, the stars aligned so I could go and see Little Joe. Admittedly, I didn’t really plan to go out of my way to see this as it didn’t look like my cup of tea and the general consensus was mundane. However, I rooted myself to my seat, enjoyment stemmed throughout the film and I was satisfied by the credits when it was time to leaf. [Sorry].

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Oscars 2020: The ASBO Awards

February 8, 2020February 9, 2020Posted in ReviewTagged 1917, Adam Driver, ASBO Awards, Avengers, Florence Pugh, Ford Vs Ferrari, I Lost My Body, Irishman, Joe Pesci, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time, Oscars, Parasite, Sam Mendes, Saoirse Ronan

Here we are, less than twenty four hours until the Oscars and as I write this, I still haven’t seen all best pictures nominees (There is a screening of Ford vs Ferrari I’m going to this afternoon). As is tradition (I did it last year), I’m looking at the nominees and picking my choices to win the Asbo award*. Although I will have seen all best picture nominees, this year has had so many good films that I haven’t had a chance to get to all of the best acting ones. Therefore, I can only judge what I’ve seen. For my own fun, I’ve also stated whether the ASBO winner would beat my Oscar snub ramble choice.

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Review: Parasite

February 4, 2020February 4, 2020Posted in Film, ReviewTagged Bong Joon Ho, Foreign Film, Korean Film, Parasite, Park So Dam, Song Kang Ho4 Comments

Page 1: Full Review, No Spoilers

I went into Parasite blind. Even when there was a trailer on in the cinema, I shut my eyes and this was good enough as I don’t speak Korean. I imagine this is the best way to watch the film and while I will only give away plot elements from the first 15 minutes, if you just want to know whether to watch it, here goes: Go and watch Parasite! It’s really freaking good!!! Sitting at work today, I could not get the film out of my head.

If you just closed the tab and are no longer reading, I don’t blame you. However, if you are still here, then lets begin.

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Review: Queen and Slim

February 4, 2020February 4, 2020Posted in Film, ReviewTagged Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner Smith, Queen and Slim

Apologies for the shorter review. I’m just a but busy and there are lots of films out.

Queen (Jodie Turner Smith) and Slim (Daniel Kaluuya) are out on a date which is a bit icy. She didn’t want to be alone as one of her law clients was put on death row. She chose to be with him as he looked sad on his tinder profile. This bad first date ended with him driving her home and them being stopped by the police. It goes down badly and Slim shoots the officer in self defence and suddenly they’re on the run. We follow them from here as they attempt to flee to Cuba and a budding romance ensues.

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