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Macbeth
Book
Why write about Roman Polanski's Macbeth (1971) as part of a series of books dedicated to the...
Otway93 (567 KP) rated Clockwise (1986) in Movies
Oct 21, 2019 (Updated Oct 21, 2019)
Cast (2 more)
Humour
Concept
Excellent, but hasn't aged well.
Not one of John Cleese's best films, but a good one nonetheless.
Clockwise is a very typical road-trip comedy, but from before everybody was doing it.
The plot can be summed up as A-B, hijinx along the way etc., as I said: very typical. But as this is John Cleese it stands apart from the typical road trip comedy, with classic British humour (not for everyone, but I love it), and a protagonist not unlike Cleese's Basil Fawlty character.
Unfortunately the film hasn't aged well, most of the predicaments could be easily solved with modern technology, and the film certainly shows its age.
Clockwise is a very typical road-trip comedy, but from before everybody was doing it.
The plot can be summed up as A-B, hijinx along the way etc., as I said: very typical. But as this is John Cleese it stands apart from the typical road trip comedy, with classic British humour (not for everyone, but I love it), and a protagonist not unlike Cleese's Basil Fawlty character.
Unfortunately the film hasn't aged well, most of the predicaments could be easily solved with modern technology, and the film certainly shows its age.
Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
7.7
Rate It
Movie Watch
British-American fantasy film based on Greek mythology. Jason, rightful heir to the kingdom of...
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Threads (1984) in Movies
Jan 12, 2019
Bleak and uncompromising...
I read about this film online and thought it sounded interesting. I had never heard of it but purchased anyways and I was not disappointed.
Maybe some of you British people may remember this film which aired on BBC 2 in 1984 and was basically about what would happen if Britain was caught in the crossfire between the US and USSR and the effects of not only the atomic bombs used, but the torturous unrelenting aftermath. Portions of the 2nd half of the film were reminiscent of scene's from Schindler's List or even a WWII holocaust documentary. The ravages of war make humanity do unspeakable things to each other and this film depicts it all.
The contrast of the "before" and "after" are what are the most striking. How the filmmaker sets a tone at the beginning and then turns everything on its end mid way through. I wasn't entirely sure where it was going or how things would end up; however, I was intrigued throughout.
Watch it if you are able.
Maybe some of you British people may remember this film which aired on BBC 2 in 1984 and was basically about what would happen if Britain was caught in the crossfire between the US and USSR and the effects of not only the atomic bombs used, but the torturous unrelenting aftermath. Portions of the 2nd half of the film were reminiscent of scene's from Schindler's List or even a WWII holocaust documentary. The ravages of war make humanity do unspeakable things to each other and this film depicts it all.
The contrast of the "before" and "after" are what are the most striking. How the filmmaker sets a tone at the beginning and then turns everything on its end mid way through. I wasn't entirely sure where it was going or how things would end up; however, I was intrigued throughout.
Watch it if you are able.
Film Freak
Book
It's the late 1970s and 20-something. Christopher Fowler is a film freak, obsessively watching lousy...
Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
8.3
Rate It
Book
Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) has...
Alec Baldwin recommended Hunger (2009) in Movies (curated)
Nudinits: Bare-Bottomed Fun from the Village of Woolly Bush
Book
Welcome to the cosy village of Woolly Bush, set deep in the heart of the English countryside. It has...
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated See how they run (2022) in Movies
Dec 8, 2022
Despite a miscast Sam Rockwell - it works well...enough
The British Comedy/Murder Mystery SEE HOW THEY RUN came and went in movie theaters (at least in the U.S.) pretty quickly last fall and, consequently, most folks missed that this was even a thing.
The good news is that it is now streaming on multiple streaming services so as people gather for the Holidays there is a fun, family friendly (but good for adults) film that young and old alike could gather around the TV to watch together.
Written by Mark Chappell and Directed by Tom George (both of whom who have quite a few BBC TV Series under their belts, but it looks like this is the Major Motion Picture debut for them both), SEE HOW THEY RUN is a comedic look at the British Murder Mystery with a frumpy detective, a victim who “deserved it” and a plethora of potential suspects who are all brought into a room by the Detective on a “dark and stormy” night to reveal “whodunnit”.
Normally, with these types of films, it comes down to the casting and while there are some very good - and fun - actors in many of the roles, one of the roles is terribly miscast and that brings down the quality of this film quite a bit.
So, let’s start with what works - the central murder mystery is clever…enough…(for this sort of thing) and is wonderfully constructed around the London Stage debut of the long-running Agatha Christie murder mystery play THE MOUSETRAP in the 1950’s and, thus, this film is a period piece and that atmosphere adds - in a positive way - to the look and feel of this movie.
Saoirse Ronan, as always, is very good as the young Policewoman who is brought in to aide the main detective and proves out to be quite the Detective herself. She really holds this film together tightly in the middle. Adrien Brody, Ruth Wilson, David Oyelowo and Harris Dickinson all bring something to the film in their characters (and suspects) that add color and life to the central mystery.
Unfortunately, the usually good Sam Rockwell is miscast as the lead sleuth on this case. His frumpy, disheveled Detective was reminiscent of Columbo and just didn’t fit in this British Murder Mystery. While this performance is not a distraction to this film, it doesn’t elevate or lift this movie either, and - in a murder mystery - the detective solving the mystery is a major cog in the movie machine and this cog just isn’t that interesting.
Rockwell is not helped by a green Director and Writer who are looking to make the leap from television to film and this film feels more like a made for TV film, than a major motion picture.
Which is why this film is a good one to catch on one of the streaming services it is currently on. It is a fun enough film that will entertain young and old alike over the Holidays.
Letter Grade: B-
6 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
The good news is that it is now streaming on multiple streaming services so as people gather for the Holidays there is a fun, family friendly (but good for adults) film that young and old alike could gather around the TV to watch together.
Written by Mark Chappell and Directed by Tom George (both of whom who have quite a few BBC TV Series under their belts, but it looks like this is the Major Motion Picture debut for them both), SEE HOW THEY RUN is a comedic look at the British Murder Mystery with a frumpy detective, a victim who “deserved it” and a plethora of potential suspects who are all brought into a room by the Detective on a “dark and stormy” night to reveal “whodunnit”.
Normally, with these types of films, it comes down to the casting and while there are some very good - and fun - actors in many of the roles, one of the roles is terribly miscast and that brings down the quality of this film quite a bit.
So, let’s start with what works - the central murder mystery is clever…enough…(for this sort of thing) and is wonderfully constructed around the London Stage debut of the long-running Agatha Christie murder mystery play THE MOUSETRAP in the 1950’s and, thus, this film is a period piece and that atmosphere adds - in a positive way - to the look and feel of this movie.
Saoirse Ronan, as always, is very good as the young Policewoman who is brought in to aide the main detective and proves out to be quite the Detective herself. She really holds this film together tightly in the middle. Adrien Brody, Ruth Wilson, David Oyelowo and Harris Dickinson all bring something to the film in their characters (and suspects) that add color and life to the central mystery.
Unfortunately, the usually good Sam Rockwell is miscast as the lead sleuth on this case. His frumpy, disheveled Detective was reminiscent of Columbo and just didn’t fit in this British Murder Mystery. While this performance is not a distraction to this film, it doesn’t elevate or lift this movie either, and - in a murder mystery - the detective solving the mystery is a major cog in the movie machine and this cog just isn’t that interesting.
Rockwell is not helped by a green Director and Writer who are looking to make the leap from television to film and this film feels more like a made for TV film, than a major motion picture.
Which is why this film is a good one to catch on one of the streaming services it is currently on. It is a fun enough film that will entertain young and old alike over the Holidays.
Letter Grade: B-
6 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Emma (15 KP) rated Black 47 (2018) in Movies
Oct 11, 2018
A dark part of history mixed with a fictional revenge story
I had heard this movie was being made and I think the themes in it are very important. Many British people don't know about this dark part of their history and how intertwined their history is with Ireland. The revenge aspect of the film may be fiction, but the setting and historical aspects were very accurate.
I'd urge you to go and see this movie, but be prepared; it is very bleak.
I'd urge you to go and see this movie, but be prepared; it is very bleak.