Chariots of Fire

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Chariots of Fire!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th September 2021

I tried to watch this movie back in 2009. But for some reason or another I never got around to finishing it. Well, today seemed like a good as any. After all, this film is forty years old. And 2021 is an Olympic year (kinda). And I WILL get past that unforgettable theme song and finally see the movie that came with it!

As is often the case, it is not the story but the way it is told. Sports movies aren't my favorite kind of movies because they tend to have an outcome that is never in doubt (ie the protagonists win) but here, there is enough drama and detail that one doesn't think about the outcome. It does indeed make for compelling viewing to see these characters go all the way from Cambridge to competing in the Olympics And such a sincere approach does, surprisingly, hold water when a modern approach demands cynicism and drug scandals.
In fact being a document of the era it is set in (despite a number of inaccuracies) is one of the strongest assets of the film. The costumes, the sets and the details are are stunning to behold - as well as various class/religious differences of the time.
So yep, looks like this movie scores gold.

Not Quite Hollywood

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th September 2021

For those not in the know, this is a documentary from 2008 that describes a particular period of Australian cinema. Whilst the seventies are widely regarded as a boom time for Australian cinema, this however concentrates on the lesser known area: the exploitation films of that era - and beyond.

So what this movie presents are the movies of the era,- divided into the camps of sex, horror and action - and it is intercut with the interviews from both the people that made them and fans - least not is one Quentin Tarantino who played a key role in getting this documentary made.

This certainly is fascinating to watch, as it describes many of the aspects of a particular era. It isn't just the movies themselves but how they were made, the trails and tribulations involved, how they represented the time they were made in, the challenges of trying to find an international audience, and the personalities who made them. Plus it's fun to see Tarantino speaking about movies - a subject where one can expect him showing the enthusiasm of an evangelist.
But really the biggest success is how this documentary generates interest in these movies - why after I was finished and added more to my 'To watch' list. Sure it may be a wasteland which builds numbers faster than it loses them but hey, it's proof this documentary did just what it set out to do.

Ingrid Goes West

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Ingrid Goes West!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th September 2021

Earlier this year, I saw a movie, Promising Young Woman, which ended with a wedding being disrupted. This evening, I saw a movie that starts with a wedding being disrupted. Should I be worried?

I came into this movie expecting a satire that casts a critical eye on the use of social media. Whilst that was indeed what i got, there is however something else lurking underneath the surface.
Stop me if this narrative sounds familiar: The protagonist is unhappy with their life; they become enamored of some female figure and they are so intent on establishing some kind of human connection that they will resort to stalker tactics. Now someone people may slam rom-coms for utilizing the same narrative path, stating it is creepy, and sets unrealistic romantic expectations for guys. HOWEVER! What if the protagonist is female? Does that make a difference?

Probably not but this movie does have credibility as a character study. Sure the dangers of social media are displayed (becoming obsessed with an influencer and your private information falling into the wrong hands) but this is really an examination about an unhappy person and the lengths they would go to to show they have a fun and interesting life. It is cringey, it is a blackest of black comedies but there are moments that prove that when this movie hit, it knocks it out of the park (the final video scene ("I know there's something wrong with me...") being one example). And much of the movie rests on the shoulders of Aubrey Plaza - who, let's face it, is able to make a stalker character sympathetic. It's also great to see Elizabeth Olsen in a role that isn't Wanda Maximoff

The Living Daylights

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

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd September 2021

The journey through the James Bond series continues as I now enter the Timothy Dalton era.
Oh, Timothy Dalton - history has not been kind to this guy. Connery defined the role, Lazenby has his defenders, Moore has the longevity, Brosnan played the character like it was his life's ambition and Craig breathed new life into franchise. But Dalton? It seems he has been deemed the 'forgotten' Bond. Either that or at least a polarizing figure: Some say his movies were dour, other say he was the closest to the source material.
Personally, this is new territory for me as I have no previous experience with Dalton, so what do I think of his debut?

It's well documented that Dalton was committed on bringing his own spin on the character through having his portrayal be more true to Ian Fleming's books. As such, we have a Bond that is living on the edge, being all too aware that he can be taken out at any moment. It's an interesting take on the character (especially given that Dalton's predecessors never took this angle) and it certainly gives Dalton some credibility - I doubt anyone could make the words "Strawberry jam!" as intimidating as he can.
The problem is that Dalton's intentions don't really match the script. Sure the action sequences are great (this is a James Bond movie after all) but the script is all over the place. it is hard to follow with so many factions working off each other - which is unusual for a Bond film.
Still Dalton's presence and the actions sequences are indeed plenty enough to carry this movie. And this it seem that the 'forgotten' Bond has indeed something of his own to say

Sullivan's Travels

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

Original image located here. Accessed 27th August 2021

I will admit I have watched a lot of classic (as in pre-New Hollywood/1968) movies in recent months. But this is because that a lot of movies made recently are very much dour and socially conscious - one only needs to take a glance at the last lot of Academy Award nominees for Best Picture to see what i mean. Therefore, it should come to no surprise that i would come across this: A 1941 movie telling the story >of a filmmaker who wants to eschew making comedies in favor of making a socially conscious movie.

The march of time should be against this movie but it isn't. It is still funny, with witty dialogue, crazy situations and providing a solid case that slapstick can still work in 2021. Also impressive is how this movie switches gears and tackles a variety of movie genres throughout.
However it is of particular fascination that we have a character that wants to be serious but has to contend with a world that is working against him - I have seen this done many times before but here it works a treat.
I've never been sold on the narrative of: 'protagonist tries something new, only to fail and go back to old life' (and that's putting it lightly) but here it works. So it's a funny thing: A movie that came out eighty years ago, and has no doubt been replicated many times since, still has some bite that put's it progeny to shame. How about that....

The Suicide Squad

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

Original image located here. Accessed 20th August 2021

I've never seen the original Suicide Squad - in all honesty, the backlash it received was enough to turn me off completely. But that places me in a position where I can judge this sequel/reboot on it's own terms and without any connection to it's predecessor.

Perhaps it is fitting that i should see James Gunn's earlier piece Super weeks prior because in a way, that movie is effectively a blueprint for this one. The only difference is, whereas Super is mean-spirited (even uncomfortably so) The Suicide Squad is less so. Sure it is loud, obnoxious, gory and has loads of profanity, but Gunn pulls the same trick he did with the Guardians of the Galaxy - that being taking characters that are lesser known, and hardly the type to be taken seriously, and making them work. And that certainly is a feat in itself. Sure Harley is the most recognizable face here (courtesy of the incomparable Margot Robbie) but the real stars are the rest of the Suicide Squad. Which is indeed saying something.
Obviously, the success of Guardians of the Galaxy netted Gunn the job of doing The Suicide Squad but for me, The Suicide Squad is clearly the work of someone who has been left off the leash and is going for it at full tilt.
So yeah, this movie was great and some truly demented fun.

So the big question now is what DC are going to do next. On one hand this movie, as well as Joker, proves that their movies can work well with the villains in mind - and that can't be underestimated.
But on the other hand, I have previously praised Shazam and Aquaman - and now, The Suicide Squad proves the notion that DC's movies can be successful if they take the characters that are either lesser known or not to be taken seriously and make them work.
Needless to say, it would be interesting to see what DC will take away from The Suicide Squad....

Space Jam A New Legacy

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Space Jam A New Legacy!

Original image located here. Accessed 13th August 2021

I should not like this movie. It has been said that this is less a movie and more an ad. And that many of the jokes are out of date. And it completely ditched the characterization of Lola Bunny provided by the Looney Tunes Show. And it operates at the pace of Sonic the Hedgehog on red cordial. And I can't escape the feeling that this was done by someone who really wanted to rewrite the narrative of 'Space Jam < Looney Tunes: Back in Action'

And while such criticisms are indeed valid, I couldn't help but enjoy this movie. I did enjoy picking out some familiar faces in the crowd scenes. I did enjoy LeBron Jame's presence. I did enjoy the humour that made me love Looney Tunes as a kid. And I especially loved Don Cheadle, stealing every scene he was in. It may be easy to dismiss this movie has being soulless but I can't say it was half-arsed (if that makes any sense).
So in the end, given the recent trend of movies leaning towards the socially conscious, perhaps there is something to be said about a movie that wants nothing more than to make it;s audience laugh.

For Your Eyes Only

And this week's Friday night movie has been... For Your Eyes Only!

Original image located here. Accessed 6th August 2021

As stated previously, one reason i have been watching more James Bond movies this year is that I have seen many of them in bits and pieces but few of them all the way through. And For Your Eyes Only was one of the former. True i have been saying I've seen it but it wasn't in it's entirety - and that struck me is being very dishonest. So time to rectify such a situation.

So what can i say about this one? Well, it's well and truly one of the highpoints of the Moore era. Roger is in suburb form with his quips and the action sequences are excellent. The Greek scenery is great and the final assault on Kristatos' (Pycelle!!!) lair.
It is well documented that this was intended to bring Bond down to earth after some truly fantastical adventures and to that end, it was a successful one. And it certainly is proof that the sensibilities of the Connery era can indeed work in the early eighties.

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

The Five Year Engagement

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Five Year Engagement!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd July 2021

Well I'm well and truly on my way to the alter so i was in the mood for watching a wedding movie.

Sure, some of the jokes were hit and miss, and you could've easily shaved ten (or even twenty) minutes off the movie. But this has credibility as a rom-com as we see the ups and down of a relationship from the proposal to the wedding itself - which is rarely seen in such a genre. Indeed, it may be easy to dump on the rom-com as a genre but I will certainly take any such movie if it does things differently and has a depth to match - This movie does indeed deliver. It also helps that both Emily Blunt and Jason Segel make a convincing couple
Plus it's funny to see a pre-Guardians of the Galaxy Chris Pratt and a pre-Fifty Shades of Grey Dakota Johnson. XD

Black Widow

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

Original image located here. Accessed 16th July 2021

It has been quite some time since the last MCU movie. They have been churned out regularly to a point where to go a long time without a MCU movie does indeed create a notable absence.
As such, it would be easy to lavish praise on this in the sense that absence makes the heart go fonder.

But truth be told, this movie rises above such a cheap tactic and stands on it's own two feet. I won;t say this is a spy movie - instead I would call it an action movie and it does so with flair. It's great to see Natasha have a movie all to herself and the new characters are far from dull (especially the Red Guardian stealing every scene he's in).
I've heard some say this is a disappointment but somehow I never got that vibe.

Stone

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

Original image located here. Accessed 9th July 2021

For my non-Australian readers, that title may seem unfamiliar. However, it should be noted that this movie is a product of it's time: It came out in the 1970s when Australian cinema was experiencing a fertile period and was coming into it's own.
And from this period came Stone: one of the more famous/infamous movies which told the story of an undercover cop infiltrating a biker gang (and not to give too much away but it goes as well as one might expect)

It should come to no surprise that this is a brutal film. Granted I may have seen worse, but this is still a brutal film. It's clearly shot on a tiny budget, the violence is tough to stomach and the characters are definitely people you wouldn't want to look at. And yet there are moments of beauty (the beach swim scene and the oft-referred funeral procession).
It's not an attractive film but I can't say it was dull.

Live and Let Die

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Live and Let Die!

Original image located here. Accessed 2th July 2021

The goal of watching more James Bond movies continues as we now enter the Roger Moore era. For many people, this era gave us one of the more recognizable Bonds (with Moore doing seven of them). However at the same time, this is the point where Bond started taking deviations into the silly and preposterous. And a cynic would say this is the point where the threat of formula truly takes root.

Apparently prior to this movie the James Bond franchise hit something of a slump - that was until Moore stepped in turned things around. And who can argue? He hits the ground running, showing the debonair class and witty one-liners that one would associate with the character (perhaps moreso than Connery did). Also of note is his astonishing ability to be completely unflappable in any situation (was that why this series eventually descended into nonsense?). Throw in some decent gags, some great action sequences, a terrific boat chase, one of the best Bond themes and Solitaire, and it becomes clear that Moore has come out with gun blazing.