Moonlight

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... La La L-sorry, Moonlight!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd November 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 89 (2016)

I have spoken many times how I doubt the movie-going public will ever forgive Shakespeare in Love for winning Best Picture over Saving Private Ryan. So how does said public feel about Moonlight winning over La La Land? Granted the circumstances of that victory were different but it isn't much of a stretch to imagine at least some bitterness.
But in a way, perhaps it was fitting that Moonlight won instead of La La Land as it represented a change of the times: The musical - a genre that has been a tried and tested Oscar winner - lost out to something different and radical.

I said last week that the 2010s represented a time when message movies were gaining traction at the Oscars and this is no different. It shows the life of a gay black man, from childhood to adulthood. Granted such experiences are completely foreign to my own but I was still very impressed with this movie. It certainly has a sense of solemnity to it that is akin to being in church and it is fascinating to see life play out in such a manner. It is also compelling to see one's choices in life and, at the end of the movie, the offering of the question of what one would do differently.

Really this movie is a triumph of taking very little and doing a lot with it. Indeed, there's something to be learned from that..

The Nice Guys

   And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Nice Guys!

Original image located here. Accessed 15th September 2023

Won't say no to a buddy/action/comedy movie. Sure I've seen plenty of them but they are always fun to watch. And this one is no exception. 
As per expected of this genre of movie, the jokes are pretty funny and and the action sequences are well done. But the real treat is the interplay between the cast: Russell Crowe is fun to watch as a heavy, Ryan Gosling shines and the interaction between them is great. But the real MVP is Angourie Rice, bringing pizazz to every line and instance she appears on screen.

So yeah. great movie and worth checking out

Central Intelligence

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

Original image located here. Accessed 4th August 2023

This is not the first time I have seen a movie of this calibre: An average joe gets pulled into a situation where he is facing death at every turn? And tangling with secret agents and not knowing who to trust? And the person who dragged him into it isn't the most reliable of sorts?

So what makes this movie stand out from the pack? Simple: The onscreen chemistry between Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson. Seriously, these two are lots of fun to watch and are enough to make the convoluted nature of the plot excusable. Special notice to Johnson as he seems willing to play the macho action hero and going against it IN THE SAME ROLE.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th July 2023

Well I saw one movie this year that mocked the music biopic (Weird) so why not another one?

Coming from the comedic minds that is The Lonely Island, one knows what to expect: hilarious gags, layered comedy, celebrity cameos and snappy songs. And this movie does indeed deliver, mocking all the tropes, not only with music biopics but the popstar career in general. It may all be easy targets but the gags still hit.

Sing Street

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Sing Street!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th February 2023

Anyone heard of this? It's a an Irish movie from 2015, telling the story of a Dublin lad who sets out to form a band. Yes we all know the story of teens that form a band (ie School of Rock and K-On!) so what does this movie bring to the table?

To me this movie' strengths lie in it's setting and the music (of course). In it's setting, we see a Dublin in the mid-eighties, what with accents and slang all over the place as well as a glimpse of life in the working class. It may not be pretty but the less-than-glamourous lifestyle gives the film some grittiness which is both different and welcome.
As for the music, we get a whole clutch of UK bands from the era (ie the Clash, the Jam, the Cure, Duran Duran). As this was my era of youth, one would think this would be up my alley. And I will certainly welcome any movie that shows us eighties music without succumbing to the obvious. It's also fun to see our protagonist absorbing what he learnt from hearing new acts.
And our protagonist has an older sibling that proves to be a vital force in his musical education - something that resonates with me
So yeah great movie. And it's also fun to see Aidan Gillen in this too.

The Roxette Diaries

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Roxette Diaries!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th November 2022

Anyone heard of this? This is a collection of footage taken of Swedish popstars Roxette during their late 1980s/early 1990s heyday - all taken in the 'home video' style. And I only knew of it once it showed up on my streaming service.
Personally, when i was a kid in the late eighties, Roxette seemed to me like the biggest stars on the planet: They had multiple hits that got tonnes of radio play and a constant presence on early morning rage. Of course in the years since, Roxette's material may come across as dated but to be one of Sweden's biggest pop exports (second only to ABBA) is nothing to sniffed at. And besides it's unlikely that Savage Garden would've existed without them.

So what this movie is a whole bunch of footage captured on (presumably) camcorders shot by both Roxette themselves and friends. We see footage of live shows, goofing around backstage, store appearances, music video shoots, gold record presentations, and generally, Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle being themselves. Granted this is nothing new given we have YouTube and TikTok, but the fact that it was utilizing the tech of the time is impressive.

Thing is, I have to wonder: What is the point of this? The obvious answer is, as mentioned above, showing Marie and Per as themselves. I won't fault that that - it is even spelled out in a statement at the beginning - but a lot of the footage i found to be arranged in such a haphazard manner: There is little to no context of the footage. And the pace is VERY hurried, with some sequences moving on just as soon as they arrive. And such editing choices do indeed seem at odds with the mission statement.
So yeah. a great idea handicapped with some strange editing choices. Damn...

Eyes of my Mother

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Eyes of My Mother!

Original image located here. Accessed 30th October 2020

Behold: the final entrant in this year's clutch of October horror movies.
Now in my view, there are two kinds of horror movies: There's those with the jump scares and there are those that rely on mood and a creeping dread.
Guess which type i find myself gravitating towards.

And in the terms of creating mood, this movie has it in spades. The black and white imagery is effective and use of atmosphere, quiet, and a slow build up prove to be the most potent things going for this movie.
Granted there are moments that don't work (ie, the abrupt plot developments, the use of torture, a middle section which seems to lag and the vibe of this movie being the bastard lovechild between a horror movie and an art-house movie) but as a depiction of trauma, loneliness, being cut off form the real world and being warped a young age, when this movie hits, it knocks it out of the park.

A Silent Voice

And this week's Friday night movie has been... A Silent Voice!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th June 2020

Far be it from me to try and block out what is happening in the world right now, so let's make it quick:
This is an anime movie that addresses themes such as regret, friendship, redemption and self-worth. Such themes are universal (and familiar in my case) and thus comes with the stamp of recommended.

Your Name

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

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd May 2020

Yep, we're taking a dive into the anime well this time folks. And in this case, we're tackling a movie that got a major release and scooped up plenty of acclaim in the process. Being the anime nerd that i am, I was well aware of this movie but I had been holding off seeing it because of the director attached: One Makato Shinkai.
As such there was a part of me thinking: 'YOU again.'
For me, Shinkai was one of those directors that had potential but was somehow missing the mark, with works that came across as dull and meandering, often ruining ideas that sounded compelling on paper. So approaching this movie came with caution: could he get his act together this time around?

Well the answer to that is resounding: YES!
Yep, Shinkai pulled it off. At first things were slow but when it hits it's stride. this movie knocks it out of the park. It's compelling, with beautiful artwork, a gripping plot and some moments of real emotional power. It's roller-coaster of a movie that kept going all the way to the end.
I will admit being intimidated by this movie given it's reputation but now, all the plaudits make sense. Great movie!

Lion

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

Original image located here. Accessed 1st May 2020

Here's a local movie that, in the years since, has garnered attention to an overseas market. Granted it was a co-production with the US and the UK helping out an Australia movie but it's good to sea local talent being recognized in such a manner. That and the use of Tasmanian locations is enough to pique my interest.
That and the gf urged me to take a look.

I have to say I'm impressed with this movie. i was impressed with the story it wanted to tell. i was impressed with the use of recognizable Tasmanian locations. I'm impressed that they managed to get some name actors in (David Wenham, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara). I was impressed with the cinematography and the use of Indian locations. And I was impressed with the central performance of Dev Patel.
I've heard this movie being called Manipulative but I don't get that. What i saw was an uplifting story told both honestly and very well. And I can't ask more than that.

The Hunt For the Wilderpeople

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Hunt For the Wilderpeople!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd April 2020

I've had many people recommend me this movie so here we are: The little New Zealand movie that could.

So what this is really is a chase movie: Two protagonists on the run from the law and bonding as they do so. So what makes this one different? Well, the chemistry from the two leads, the fact that this chase takes place across bushland and an all-too quirky sense of humour that only the Kiwis can provide. Some beautiful shots of New Zealand scenery at it's best doesn't hurt either.
I thought I knew what to expect from Taika Waititi following Thor Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit but apparently not. And that's a good thing

Kung Fu Panda 3

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Kung Fu Panda 3!

Original image located here. Accessed 6th December 2019

Last week i watched the second Kung Fu Panda movie on the basis that it is part of that rare thing: A rare trilogy that isn't rubbish. So now that my viewing of this trilogy is complete, how do such claims hold up?

I do believe it does. Much like's it older siblings, this movie succeeds on it's action, it's art design and the themes of self-acceptance. Po's character development continues to progress and his character arc reaches it's conclusion. And never once do the makers of this movie fumble.
But the real highlight is the panda village itself - bursting at the seams with color and personality. In fact I am reminded of Mists of Pandaria - which in turn raises of the question of who, out of Blizzard ad Dreamnworks, was copying who....

The Accountant

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

Original image located here. Accessed 9th August 2019

Once again I pick up with a movie built around a character who is on the Autism spectrum. What makes this different though is this time, instead of a rom-com as per previously, we have an action movie.

Obviously this movie is giving an action movie hero that autistic kids can look up to and to that end the film is admirable - a socially awkward, mathematically gifted guy who can punch and shoot goons without flinching and has enough resources to make James Bond worried? Has potential. Furthermore, Ben Affleck is certainly giving a committed performance and the action sequences are well done. But there are moments in the plot that seem incoherent and baffling to the point of frustrating.
Still, as indicated above, this movie has it's heart in the right place so I'll give it that much.

Zootopia

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

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd November 2018

As is often the case with this series, I took the long road to getting to my destination...

....But it was worth it!

Well there isn't a lot I can say about this movie: It was hilarious and was never once boring. Great dialogue, a compelling lead and a some decent wisdom being imparted about being yourself and never settling for complacency.
Granted I'm not sold on this whole 'surprise villain' that seems to be Disney's flavor of the month but other than that, this was indeed a gem in the Disney canon.
Okay sure that canon is full of gems but this one is one of the brightest!

The Red Pill

And this week's Friday night movie has been..... The Red Pill!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th April 2018

Yes, it's THAT movie. A movie which, it seems, watching it and talking about it is asking for trouble. But hey, I'm a glutton for punishment,

Okay, seriously, this was an eye-opener to say the least. I learned some of the legitimate points the MRAs are getting across and how they aren't getting heard. Personally, I often thought that MRAs were the type of 'being entitled' people but seeing some of the points brought up in this documentary is calling that into question.
And so it would seem that getting past the hate and misogyny that colours the public perception of the MRAs and it's revealed there are some genuine concerns. But then again, as with any movement, the obnoxious people are loud to the point where the sensible people are drowned out.

Mind you, it was disappointing that some of the uglier side of the MRAs is never brought up but seeing how that perception is the one everyone is familiar with, perhaps that shouldn't be surprising. But i am disappointed that the various topics don't receive both sides of the argument - because, as stated above, these are legit points and should not be met with a wall of apathy / drowning out by shouting / the ever-reliable Us vs Them mentality.

Still, if the success of a documentary is to challenge previously-held beliefs than this one succeeds to that end.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Pride & Prejudice and Zombies!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th March 2018

Well that was......something.
Okay seriously, I went into this expecting it to be completely stupid but somehow, against the odds, it isn't. Sure some of the dialogue is made nonsensical through the filter of zombie references but the appeal of this movie is, for me, it's indecision as to whether this is serious or not.
Prior to seeing this movie, the best comment I heard of it was it's better as a Pride and Prejudice movie than a zombie movie. And honestly? I feel inclined to agree - particularly with the talent involved. I mean, where else can you have Doctor Who exchanging lines with Cersei Lannister and Tywin Lannister?

Colossal

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

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd February 2018

Seems that this movie is one that slipped through the cracks. No matter: I liked it. It was a new take on the Monster genre that was both clever and entertaining. Anne Hathaway is always a delight (since when is she ever not?) and props must go to the final showdown which features one of the most BAD-ASS marches ever committed to film. Sure there were some points where the movie did meander a bit but for those moments when this movie hits, it hits hard.
Certainly a lot going for this movie in what it wants to say about addiction and how to rise above it - in spectacular fashion it would seem.
Go check this one out!

The Prequels Strike Back: A Fan's Journey

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Prequels Strike Back: A Fan's Journey!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st December 2017

This documentary came to my attention through a friend of mine. A crowd-funded movie that tries to validate the existence of the prequel trilogy? Well, stranger things have happened.

Upon watching this documentary however, it doesn't provide anything I haven't already heard before: Criticisms about the prequels being applied to the originals; the childish nature of both the prequels and the originals; People trying to find a meaning in the prequel trilogy even if they look like they're grasping at straws; The ionization of George Lucas that turned horrifically ugly in the fallout of the prequels; the potential scenario of a fan brought up on the prequels turning on the new trilogy.
Ultimately however, what i got the most out of this documentary is that Star wars fans are indeed passionate and will certainly find anything to validate something that doesn't sit well with the fandom - but then again, I guess all fandoms are like that.

Favorite line: Geeks are the lawyers of the internet

The BFG

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

Original image located here. Accessed 10th November 2017

I have had a love for Roald Dahl ever since my primary school teacher read his stories to myself and the rest of her first year class. So i had high hopes with this one. Sure the adaptations of Dahl's work haven;'t been that great but having Spielberg handle this one showed promise.
Interestingly enough, this movie flopped in the US - which has led many to declare Spielberg's day as a box-office drawcard has come to an end. As fan of Dahl, such a frosty reception is puzzling - or perhaps people these days are more likely to associate the letters BFG with DOOM.

As for the movie itself, I enjoyed it. It was visually interesting, inventive and I enjoyed seeing how things work in BFG's home. There may have been some awkward moments with the script, what with the issue of snozzcumbers, pacing issues, BFG not being that friendly at first and the absence of the Jack the Giant Killer joke. But in the end, of all the adaptations of Dahl's work, this is one of the better ones.

Kubo and the Two Strings

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Kubo and the Two Strings!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th July 2017

I.....for once, am at a lost for words. So i just boil down what it was like seeing this film to a single word:

Awestruck.

Yep it's been a while since I've seen a movie to have such an impact but seriously: I think i may have to reconsider my list of favorites and make a prominent space for this one. So many good things with this movie I don't know where to begin. The direction is masterful, the animation quality staggering (moreso when one remembers this is stop-animation) and the heart is enormous.
In fact what are you doing still reading this inane post? Go and watch it. NOW.