Razorback

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

Original image located here. Accessed 29th October 2021

Yep, we conclude this October's clutch of horror movies with one about a killer pig. Yay.
For those who don't know, this was an Australian horror movie that came out in the mid-eighties. And it comes across as being a product of it's era as I can't help but see it taking more than a few cues from earlier Australian movies. We have stunning shots of scenery (Walkabout); we have a guy contending with the both the Australian outback and hostile locals (Wake in Fright); and we have uses of ramshackle technology (Mad Max). And if that isn't enough, this movie replicates the most crucial aspect of Jaws: the less you see of the monster, the less silly and more frightening it becomes.

First up, there's a lot working against this movie. It has a derivative nature (as indicated above). The pig effects look awful and the acting is all over the shop.
However! Perhaps the most strongest aspect of this movie would have to be the cinematography: It is beautifully shot with some stunning use of color. Compared to other Australian movies of this era, this movie certainly looks different and is all the better for it. And hey, it makes the movies flaws somewhat easier to forgive.
And somehow, the idea of Pumbaa on steroids can not be underestimated...

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

And this week's Friday night movie has been... A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd October 2021

Anyone heard of this? This has been sitting on my watch list for some time, waiting for a moment like this. I was initially sold on the promise it is atmospheric horror (ie the best kind of horror) so now's a good time as any.

Talk about a slow burner: It took a while before the movie showed it's hand. Before then I was worried that it wasn't a horror movie and i had picked up an arthouse flick by mistake. Well, that wasn't the case: The slow burn does indeed help the movie that when the horror comes in, it makes you sit up and take notice.
From a horror movie standpoint, this movie does indeed play the atmosphere card. Which works for me. But what is notable is that it;s horror is derived from the scenario of walking down the street at night and then suddenly seeing an ominous figure. It's indeed a potent scenario and I haven;t seen it utilized enough in cinema -= but again, horror movies aren't my forte so what do i know?
But getting past the horror angle, I realise that this movie is indeed coming from another angle: one of a drama movie, about lost souls and the need to find connection. In fact such moments seem to outweigh the horror moments. So does that make this movie a true horror movie?
Maybe but I reiterate: horror movies aren't my forte so what do i know?

Don't Look Now

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Don't Look Now!

Original image located here. Accessed 15th October 2021

I was looking forward to seeing this as it has a reputation as being a real scary movie. Well, I'm up for a challenge.

Ironically however, this movie didn't really do much for me. What should possess a creeping sense of dread (always a winner in my book) comes across as being dull. The climax should be horrific but somehow it comes out flat.
If anything, this is less a horror movie and more a movie about two parents dealing with grief. Okay that's still not a bad idea for a film but did they have to make it so monumentally DULL? Okay, so there's nothing wrong with a slow burner but there's a difference between that and testing my patience. And if a horror movie is looking boring then something has gone horribly wrong.
Seems next week, i should address something with a lot more bite...

Next of Kin

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Next of Kin!

Original image located here. Accessed 8th October 2021

Anyone heard of this? It's an Australian horror movie from the early eighties. I guess if people know this movie it is through it being talked up by one Quintin Tarantino (in more than one source) as being the Australian "The Shining'. Well I saw The Shining last week so seeing this would seem like a natural progression.

It seems Tarantino's observation was quite accurate: Much like The Shining, this movie relies heavily on mood and a mounting sense of dread. Which is exactly what i want from a horror movie. The 'haunted house' theme is well done and whilst there a jump scares, they still take a back seat to the afore-mentioned mounting sense of dread (and quite rightly so).
Yes this a very low budget movie but, as is often the case, a low budget horror movie means it's makers were creative in what they did with what they had.
Plus it's fun to see a young John Jarrett.

The Shining

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

Original image located here. Accessed 1st October 2021

Well it's October and, as is tradition, it's my cue to have a month watching horror movies. And for 2021, we're coming out swinging.
This may surprise some people but I have never seen The Shining. Sure I have seen bits and pieces ("Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!") but I have never sat down and watched the whole movie the entire way through. And, as one may gather from this blog, is proof that the honest approach is the best one.

I have previously stated that the best kind of horror movie is the kind that eschews jump scares in favor of mood/atmosphere/a sense of creeping dread. That being said, Kubrick clearly thought same as he does indeed apply the same trick - along with a fear of the unknown (the other greatest tool in the horror filmmaker's possession). But at the same time, he throws in long takes, rapid zooms and a traumatized cast. These may sound like some odd methods but they work wonders (although the last one may be debatable). As such, it is startling how effective one turn around a corner can have freaky effects.
I will certainly say this is more effective on technical level than it functions as a horror movie. Is that what Kubrick was going for? Was he intent on reinventing the horror movie? Maybe he was, giving the number of movies since that take the atmospheric approach.

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.