Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune

  And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th July 2026

Anyone heard of this? It's a 2010 documentary about the 1960s folk/protest singer Phil Ochs. 
I came across Phil Ochs in an interesting way: I have a big book on popular music and, while making my way through the 'O' section, I came across this name. What stood out for me was the story of himself: He made a name for himself as a folk singer, was unfairly pegged as 'second best' to Bob Dylan, was written off the critics and sadly met a tragic end - only to be acknowledged years later for his songwriting and willingness to stand for cause. Indeed, a tale worthy of Hollywood.
And so we come to this: a documentary on Phil and his life, with contributions from admirers such as Joan Baez, Van Dyke Parks, Billy Bragg, Jello Biafra, Sean Penn and Christopher Hitchens. Certainly prior I had never heard of Ochs' music but clearly he's a big deal. 

It's a given that this is a documentary takes us through Phil's tumultuous life. What is fascinating is how it parallels with the events in the world around him. As such, we see Phil make a name of himself with his songs based on what he sees at the time, his sense of humour and willingness to stand for many a cause, his belief his song-writing could make a difference, his gradual disillusionment with Kennedy's passing and Nixon's election, and his gradual decline professionally and mentally.

Needles to say, this documentary goes a long way in explaining Phil as a person and what he stood for. True we know how the story ends and his decline is tough to watch, but in the end, his music endures as does his passion to stand for what he believes in. 
We can all learn a lot from that.

Revenge of Bridesmaids

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Revenge of the Bridesmaids!

Original image located here. Accessed 6th February 2026

Sometimes a movie sneaks into your 'To-Watch' list and you forget why you put it there in the first place. Still, I'm not afraid to step out of my comfort zone and watch something I wouldn't normally consider so here we go. But hey, with a title like that you can't be at least a little curious. 
From the outset this is the story of how some ladies get invited to the wedding of a (not really) friend and the hijinks they get up to. Sounds like an excuse for some bitchiness right?

Well not quite. Yes this movie is clearly a TV-movie (to the point of painful), yes this movie is obviously done on the cheap and yes, the editing is all-over the shop. But hey: This movie was a lot of fun to watch and had some really good jokes.
And also props to showing a female bond on-screen where they are there for each other and are willing to stand up for each other. So much so, I think this should be studied...

From Up on Poppy Hill

And this week's Friday night movie has been... From Up on Poppy Hill!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd January 2026

I will admit: I have putting this one off. Because like any Ghibli enthusiast, any title that comes attached with a name that isn't Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata is going to have a tough time.
Yes that sounds cruel given the nature of this fiendishly talented studio, but the question of whether this studio can last beyond it's two creators has been floating around for years - And whether or not someone can rise up to the challenge posed by Ghibli's illustrious catalogue is indeed a monumental one.
And it would seem the public would agree as this marks the second effort from Miyazaki's son Goro - he who made the unlikely leap from gardener to director. And if that move wasn't baffling enough, his first movie, Tales of Earthsea, was greeted with a frosty reception. But this time around Goro has an ace up his sleeve: he's working off of a script provided by his father. 
Some might think that this may be counter-productive given the afore-mentioned uncertainty of Ghibli's future, but maybe there's something worth taking a look at...?

I have previously mentioned that even though Ghibli have become synonymous with their fantasy/whimsical movie, the fact that they can do more realistic-based works should not be overlooked. And From Up on Poppy Hill does indeed join that batch with ease. There are some high quality animation, packed with little details and some accurate representations of daily life. Certainly this movie may be leaning hard into the whole 'small-scale depiction of historical events' but hey, stick to one's strengths. 
So yeah, a pretty good movie and proof one needs to keep an eye on the quiet ones....

The King's Speech

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... The King's Speech!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th November 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 83 (2010)

I recall when this movie when Best Picture: There was this uproar that it won because it appeared to follow the apparent formula for success: World War 2 setting. Stacked cast. Protagonist with handicap to overcome. Guide for protagonist whose credentials are dubious. Biographical. 
But in the years since, it seems there seems to be a lot of contempt for this movie as it beat out The Social Network for Best Picture.
An unlikely victory akin to the movie-going public's favourite punching bag Shakespeare in Love.

Actually, now that I think of it, lets compare Shakespeare in Love with The King's Speech:

• Both are of British origin
• Both have an impressive cast showcasing the best of British acting
• Both have Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush in key roles
• Both have a historical setting
• Both are distributed by the Weinstein Company
• Both on the Best Picture Oscar through beating out more favourable competition

So having said all that, what did I make of The King's Speech?
I enjoyed it. 

Yes it's a given that the cast is indeed stacked - and it's great to see Helena Bonham Carter in a role where she isn't playing a complete nutter - but I like this as a small scale story in a wartime setting. Which is indeed a rarity.
The story being told is a compelling one and the speech itself, the climax of the journey taken, is indeed inspiring.
Sure there are some historical inaccuracies and some questionable directional choices but when this movie works, it does indeed work. 

Megamind

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Megamind!

Original image located here. Accessed 27th May 2022

I will admit this one took me by surprise: I don't recall it being that big a deal at the time (2010) and some people have compared it unfavorably to the Incredibles. But as it turns out, a lot of people like this and the titular character commands a surprising amount of fangirls. Something must've worked right?

Turns out it did: I had a real ball with this. There were some genuinely funny moments (the first half hour is a riot) and there are some really hilarious jabs at the Superman mythos. But I think this is less a superhero movie and more a character study. Megamind himself is indeed fun to watch and he is indeed a three dimensional character. Throw in a lively performance from Will Farrell and suddenly the fangirls make sense.
And it is more than enough to elevate this movie to being more than a rip off of The Incredibles and being well and truly it's own thing.
Also they have the music of Guns N Roses in a kids movie. Yep, the one time 'World's Most Dangerous Band' is utilized in a (admittedly badass) scene. That deserves something right?

Super

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Super!

Original image located here. Accessed 30th July 2021

The new Suicide Squad movie is right around the corner so it is fitting that i should watch this earlier effort from director James Gunn: A parody of super hero movies that never, as I was led to believe, forgets it's a comedy. Or something.

Simply put: This movie is insane. Having said however, that isn't in a good way. On one hand, the black comedy has some appeal, Boltie is a riot, and the lead character is shown in a sympathetic light. But on the other hand, the violence is indeed tough to stomach, there is indeed a sense of mean-spirited-ness at play and some moments (like the final confrontation) fall drastically flat. I will give props to Gunn for clearly trying to throw a challenge to the superhero genre but somehow I can't shake the feeling that this type of thing was done later, and better, by the likes of Deadpool and Joker. As such, Super does come across as being the equivalent of 'talking a lot but no saying anything'
Close but no cigar

Temple Grandin

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Temple Grandin!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th December 2020

As mentioned in previous posts, I will show favoritism to movies that are based around protagonists that are on the autistic spectrum. And this movie is one from that particular ell. It's a biopic based around livestock scientist Temple Grandin.

I will admit: I had no idea who Temple Grandin was until i saw this movie. And if a Biopic makes me interested in knowing more about the person in question then it has done it's job with flying colors.
Over the course of the movie, we see key moments in Grandin's life: Her diagnosis, her ingenuity, her coping methods and her revolutionary ideas on the treatment of livestock. And such a remarkable life is handled by Claire Danes giving the performance of her career.
It may be a TV movie but it sure stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 1)

And this week's Friday night movie has been...Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 1)!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th November 2020

Last week i observed that there is nothing wrong with serials taking the occasional step back and addressing a more smaller-scale/personal story. The only difference between this and the Half Blood Prince however is this pulls it off more successfully.

In all honesty, this movie surprised me: I was expecting something apocalyptic, considering the build-up with Voldemort, but what I got was the opposite: I got to see Harry on the run and having to confront the possibility that he, along with Hermione and Ron, is out on his own and just what a terrifying prospect it can be. I can imagine seeing these kids tramping through the wilderness may seem dull but that's kind of the point: It's an effective use of conveying isolation.
And such a mood reaches it's height with the graveyard scene - for me this is, so far, the apex of this series. It is well done and proves that being quiet can be damn effective.
Also who would have guessed that the music of Nick Cave would work in a Harry Potter movie?
Still, this movie is still intent on building up to a major conclusion. And I can imagine it's going to be something spectacular - after all, how could it not?

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th September 2020

And so, following from Prince Caspian last week, we arrive at the followup. Can't say i read the book, as opposed to the other movies, but I do remember this segment from the BBC adaptation quite vividly. So maybe that may yield a fresh perspective?

Once again the strengths of this movie series are evident: Plenty of imagination, stunning locations, impressive special effects, an adaptation that somehow achieves the difficult balancing act between being faithful and putting a new take on the material, and a cast giving their all & injecting their characters with plenty of personality. I think it's fair to say that this is the point where the movies stopped looking over the shoulder of the Lord of the Rings movies and started down their own path.
Also the idea of Eustace being a steadfast sceptic in spite of being transported to a high fantasy world is an idea that has plenty of mileage.

However, there is no getting around it: This is the endpoint of this particular movie series. It is indeed disappointing as there was a lot going for this serial and was, so far, shaping up to be the strongest adaptation of the Chronicles of Narnia - how fitting it is then that the final image in the movie is a door closing. Which means now that the rest of the books in the series (four for those keeping score) will remained unfilmed, the series will remain incomplete and the entirety of having the whole series adapted remains out of reach.
All hope now falls to the proposed Netflix adaptation to carry the baton but somehow I doubt it can match, let alone surpass, this effort.
Besides, I doubt I can accept Aslan being voiced by someone who isn't Liam Neeson

Senna

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Senna!

Original image located here. Accessed 6th March 2020

Last year I saw the documentary Amy and came away impressed - so much so, I was inspired to check out this: an earlier documentary from the same people, focusing on legendary Brazilian F1 racer Aryton Senna.

Much like Amy, Senna is intent on building an image of it's subject, showing Aryton doing what he did best. As such, we follow his career as the documentary discusses various points in his career: His rise to success, his various wins, his ability to drive in the wet, the rivalry with Alain Prost, and Aryton becoming a hero to many a Brazilian. We see nothing of Aryton's personal life but we do see a tonne of footage that, in hindsight, would've been difficult to get a hold of.
So this documentary goes a long way in explaining who Aryton Senna was, his passion towards F1 racing and his various triumphs. And even when we know how the story ends, it still hits hard.

Toy Story 4

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Toy Story 4!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th July 2019

And thus the curtain falls on an odyssey twenty four years in the making - or at least I hope it's the ending because I can't see where Pixar can go from here.

There's not really a lot I can say about this: It's Pixar. It's Toy Story. It has the same laughs, heart and pathos we have come to expect from this series. Gabby Gabby is a fascinating character and we see some familiar faces develop in some interesting ways.
So really, not only does this movie has a good case for existing but it can certainly sit comfortably alongside it's older siblings.

One last thing: Duke is indeed a delight and was well-received by the audience when i saw this in the theater - but I have to wonder how many people, besides me, have made the connection to Ken Carter

How to Train Your Dragon

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....How to Train Your Dragon!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th January 2019

As some of you regular readers would know, with this series there is only one concrete rule: I must see a movie I haven't seen before. So what do you know, here's one that originally passed me by. But I have friends who think very highly of this and with a second sequel being released, I guess now is as good time as any to take a look....

Weeeeeeelllllllll......
eeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrmmmmm.....
......Oh who am I kidding? This was absolutely brilliant. It's Dreamworks striking gold and the rare picture that appeals to both children and adults without talking down to both parties. The flying sequences are a wonder to behold, the expressiveness of Toothless is a delight and truly a solid adventure flick. Throw in a subtext about a protagonist going against the grain of the norms and how working together is better than drawing battle lines and this is.... well..... a film where I can;t use enough positive words for without sounding like a broken record XD

Now about the sequels.....

Tucker and Dale vs Evil

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Tucker and Dale vs Evil!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th October 2017

As mentioned last week, I have no love for slasher movies but I am prepared to make an exception if said movie takes the tried & tested tropes and makes fun of them. Because seriously, the slasher genre is definitely a genre in need of being mocked.

That being said, coming to this movie was somewhat inevitable. And to be honest i can't recall watching a movie that made me laugh so hard. On paper, a comedy of errors shouldn't work as a slasher movie, but here it does!
Highly recommended - if anything just for the wood-chipper scene

My Name is Khan

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....My Name is Khan!

Original image located here. Accessed 15th September 2017

Has anyone heard of this? It's an Indian movie from 2010 which tells the story of a Muslim man with Asperger's Syndrome - and how his eccentric behavior gets him mistaken for a terrorist.
It may sound like a situation for a comedy but thankfully that movie refuses to go down that route. I will admit that yes this movie may be a bit long, somewhat melodramatic, has a few eye-rolling moments, and has a stronger first half than second half. But at the same time, there is still a lot going for it.

A lot of it rests on the shoulders of it's lead, Shah Rukh Khan, and his very convincing performance - stand out moments for me was when Khan reconnects with his estranged brother and the scene in the mosque. Also pleasing is the amount of heart this movie has and how it has a lot to say about both Muslims (particularly in a post-9/11 world) and humanity in general.

And speaking as a Aspergan, I found the portrayal of Khan quite the relatable character. And Shah Rukh Khan certainly knows his stuff without once being patronizing.
So in the end, the movie does it's job and does it well.

Four Lions

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Four Lions!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st March 2017

I like British Comedy and I like black comedies - both of which appeal to my (admittedly demented) sense of humor. So this movie was a certainly amusing, smart and, at times, poignant. Just the way i like them.
Great cameo by Benedict Cumberbatch too

The Social Network

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Social Network!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th March 2017

You know, watching the opening credits I noticed this movie was written by Aaron Sorkin. Which is fascinating to me because I know this man less through his works and more through YouTube videos parodying his works. Funny yes but strangely less unusual in this internet-powered culture we live in today.

As for the movie itself, yeah it wasn't bad. Lotsa dialogue (kinda expected for the writer) but honestly? I don't see it any different from a rags-to-riches-hang-on-you-stole-my-idea-I'll-gunna-sue-you story
However! I did find a particular poignancy in the last scene. Especially this line: "You're not an asshole Mark - you're just trying so hard not to be"

In a world of internet-culture, where the dominant voice is the loudest, there's something to be said for such clarity

Predators

And this weeks Friday night movie has been....Predators!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th October 2014

This movie isn't going to be easy to assess without repeating what has already been said. But what the hey: This was a lot of fun and it's great to see the Predator franchise finally claw back some credibility. Oh and Alice Braga 🙂

Inception

And this weeks Friday night movie has been....Inception!

Original image located here. Accessed 8th August 2014

This may surprise a lot of people but I've never actually seen this movie. Which is kind of strange seeing as I really enjoy the piece 'Time' from the soundtrack - even to a point where I've walked off a flight and through Tullamarine airport listening to it on several occasions (seriously, try doing that: It's fun!).

As for the movie itself - it was a smart movie and I like smart movies - particularly those where it pays to invest so much into it.

Not much else I can say except Inception is great. But you probably knew that already XD

Love and Other Drugs

And this weeks Friday night movie has been....Love and Other Drugs!

Original image located here. Accessed 8th August 2014

Can't say rom-coms are my forte but this has been a rare exception. It may adhere to the tropes of the genre but it seems a genuine and sincere entry when many of it's ilk aren't known for such qualities. That and Anne Hathaway