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Lethal Weapon - Season 1
7.3
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TV Season
Rebooting the hit movie franchise of the same name, "Lethal Weapon" follows Martin Riggs and Roger...
The Brothers Grimm (2005)
6.1
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Movie Watch
Will and Jake Grimm earn their living by traveling from village to village and vanquishing strange...
David McK (3425 KP) rated The Bourne Identity (2002) in Movies
Sep 30, 2020
The first Jason Bourne film, in which Matt Damon plays the titular character who is discovered floating in the sea off France, with no memory of how he came to be there or of his previous life, but with a very particular set of skills (to steal a phrase from another actioner).
As he struggles to regain his identity, he finds himself pursued by shadowy government operatives, who believe that he has gone rogue from his post as an elite government agent.
The film is full of some bruising action and car chases; it's just a pity that it is also full of 'shaky cam' work that led to certain members of my family feeling car sick watching it!
(The sequels even more so!)
As he struggles to regain his identity, he finds himself pursued by shadowy government operatives, who believe that he has gone rogue from his post as an elite government agent.
The film is full of some bruising action and car chases; it's just a pity that it is also full of 'shaky cam' work that led to certain members of my family feeling car sick watching it!
(The sequels even more so!)
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated The Last Duel (2021) in Movies
Oct 28, 2021
Three nuanced perspectives on a winter’s tale.
In Ridley Scott’s new movie “The Last Duel” we are in the late 14th century in France. And – apart from in one scene – it appears to be perpetual winter!
Plot Summary:
Widowed Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) is a battle-hardened warrior, loyal to King Charles VI of France (Alex Lawther). He is becoming progressively estranged from his one-time friend Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), a personal favourite of Normandy ruler Pierre d’Alençon (Ben Affleck).
But Carrouges’ lovely new wife Marguerite (Jodie Comer) accuses Le Gris of a terrible crime. But who is telling the truth? Only God can decide, as Carrouges and Le Gris must duel to the death.
Certification:
US: R. UK: 18.
Talent:
Starring: Jodie Comer, Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Ben Affleck.
Directed by: Ridley Scott.
Written by: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Nicole Holofcener.
“The Last Duel” Review: Positives:
It’s an intriguing script – the first collaboration between Damon and Affleck since their Oscar-winning “Good Will Hunting” from 25 years ago. It presents 3 different versions of “the truth” from three different perspectives. (One of these – Marguerite’s version – is suggested as being the ‘actual’ truth through a clever delayed fade of the chapter title). Many of the same scenes are repeated in each variant: sometimes with obvious differences in fact; sometimes with the slightest nuance of tone or expression; and sometimes with no change to the visuals, but with the benefit of hearing the dialogue being spoken. Very clever.
“Killing Eve”‘s Jodie Comer is just brilliant here. She is the master of nuanced expression, and she genuinely deserves an Oscar nomination for this work. Combined with her great and fun role in the surprise summer hit “Free Guy“, Comer is surely on a path to movie acting greatness.
Damon, Driver and Affleck also have great fun with their roles: they are all eminently watchable and this is a study in acting greatness. But I particularly loved Alex Lawther’s turn as the king: all excitable childish power in the body of a young adult.
Battle scenes and the final duel are delivered in visceral nature reminiscent of Ridley Scott’s famous battle and arena scenes in “Gladiator”.
Excellent production design and special effects on show here. Another Oscar nomination perhaps? The movie was filmed in the Dordogne region of France and also – after a 2020 Covid lockdown – in Ireland.
Negatives:
At two and a half hours it’s another long film (is October 2021 designated long film month??). And although the nuances between the different versions of reality are fascinating, there’s a degree of tedium involved in rehashing the same scenes (in some cases) for the third time. Arguably I think a few of these re-versions could have been omitted to reduce the bladder-testing run time.
Summary Thoughts on “The Last Duel”
This is Ridley Scott back on top form again. I found this a gripping watch. As the film opens, we are teased with the start of the ‘boss level’ duel between Damon and Driver. But these final dramatic scenes are the emotional lynchpin of the movie since only then do you understand the background and the ramifications of the fight.
Evidently, 14th Century France was NOT a great time for sexual equality. Women were merely chattels, denied not only fair play and self-determination, but also the bedroom niceties of foreplay and, in most cases, orgasms. As the story was based on real events, the courage and determination of Marguerite of Carrouges were extraordinary. And Jodie Comer’s portrayal of her wonderfully demonstrates, yet again, why she is the UK’s most exciting acting export for many years.
Plot Summary:
Widowed Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) is a battle-hardened warrior, loyal to King Charles VI of France (Alex Lawther). He is becoming progressively estranged from his one-time friend Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), a personal favourite of Normandy ruler Pierre d’Alençon (Ben Affleck).
But Carrouges’ lovely new wife Marguerite (Jodie Comer) accuses Le Gris of a terrible crime. But who is telling the truth? Only God can decide, as Carrouges and Le Gris must duel to the death.
Certification:
US: R. UK: 18.
Talent:
Starring: Jodie Comer, Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Ben Affleck.
Directed by: Ridley Scott.
Written by: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Nicole Holofcener.
“The Last Duel” Review: Positives:
It’s an intriguing script – the first collaboration between Damon and Affleck since their Oscar-winning “Good Will Hunting” from 25 years ago. It presents 3 different versions of “the truth” from three different perspectives. (One of these – Marguerite’s version – is suggested as being the ‘actual’ truth through a clever delayed fade of the chapter title). Many of the same scenes are repeated in each variant: sometimes with obvious differences in fact; sometimes with the slightest nuance of tone or expression; and sometimes with no change to the visuals, but with the benefit of hearing the dialogue being spoken. Very clever.
“Killing Eve”‘s Jodie Comer is just brilliant here. She is the master of nuanced expression, and she genuinely deserves an Oscar nomination for this work. Combined with her great and fun role in the surprise summer hit “Free Guy“, Comer is surely on a path to movie acting greatness.
Damon, Driver and Affleck also have great fun with their roles: they are all eminently watchable and this is a study in acting greatness. But I particularly loved Alex Lawther’s turn as the king: all excitable childish power in the body of a young adult.
Battle scenes and the final duel are delivered in visceral nature reminiscent of Ridley Scott’s famous battle and arena scenes in “Gladiator”.
Excellent production design and special effects on show here. Another Oscar nomination perhaps? The movie was filmed in the Dordogne region of France and also – after a 2020 Covid lockdown – in Ireland.
Negatives:
At two and a half hours it’s another long film (is October 2021 designated long film month??). And although the nuances between the different versions of reality are fascinating, there’s a degree of tedium involved in rehashing the same scenes (in some cases) for the third time. Arguably I think a few of these re-versions could have been omitted to reduce the bladder-testing run time.
Summary Thoughts on “The Last Duel”
This is Ridley Scott back on top form again. I found this a gripping watch. As the film opens, we are teased with the start of the ‘boss level’ duel between Damon and Driver. But these final dramatic scenes are the emotional lynchpin of the movie since only then do you understand the background and the ramifications of the fight.
Evidently, 14th Century France was NOT a great time for sexual equality. Women were merely chattels, denied not only fair play and self-determination, but also the bedroom niceties of foreplay and, in most cases, orgasms. As the story was based on real events, the courage and determination of Marguerite of Carrouges were extraordinary. And Jodie Comer’s portrayal of her wonderfully demonstrates, yet again, why she is the UK’s most exciting acting export for many years.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Downsizing (2017) in Movies
Feb 13, 2018 (Updated Mar 30, 2018)
Rather charming SF comedy-drama in which Matt Damon has himself shrunk down to ickle-wickle size in the hopes of starting a new and idyllic life but discovers things are not so straightforward.
Ignore the deeply suspect science (even Ant-Man was more accurate) and the lack of strict narrative control and this is a thoughtful and quietly rather witty film that's more interested in exploring the ramifications of its central idea than hitting particular plot points. Eventually reveals itself to be something of a meditation on what it means to live well; poses many questions, doesn't thrust particular solutions upon the audience.
Well cast, full of ideas, made me think differently about the world (for a while, anyway). Meanders about a bit but is never actually dull.
Ignore the deeply suspect science (even Ant-Man was more accurate) and the lack of strict narrative control and this is a thoughtful and quietly rather witty film that's more interested in exploring the ramifications of its central idea than hitting particular plot points. Eventually reveals itself to be something of a meditation on what it means to live well; poses many questions, doesn't thrust particular solutions upon the audience.
Well cast, full of ideas, made me think differently about the world (for a while, anyway). Meanders about a bit but is never actually dull.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Downsizing (2017) in Movies
Oct 18, 2018
The idea behind this film (in order to save the world from mankind's expansion and overuse of resources, Norwegian scientists master the science of shrinking, and with humans being a fraction of their size the planet can start to recover) was excellent. However this did not translate into a good film. Matt Damon tries his best to portray the man looking for a new start post-downsizing, adding humour and charm, but is not enough to carry a script that just didn't know what it wanted to do.
While the film managed to show that some facets of humanity will still carry on post-shrinking (we need working class people to run the utopia so we have tiny shanty towns) and add an element of satire, it was not a cohesive film.
While the film managed to show that some facets of humanity will still carry on post-shrinking (we need working class people to run the utopia so we have tiny shanty towns) and add an element of satire, it was not a cohesive film.
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated Ford v Ferrari (aka Le Mans '66) (2019) in Movies
Jan 2, 2020
This is an excellent movie all around. I was fascinated by the story itself, and thought they did a terrific job of putting it to film. The race scenes are thrilling, and it's fun watching them build the cars. Christian Bale and Matt Damon work so well together. Caitriona Balfe is amazing as Mollie Miles. Jon Bernthal did a great Lee Iacocca. Josh Lucas has clearly been typecast as the douchebag, which he does very well here as Leo Beebe. Tracy Letts is a perfect Henry Ford II. Granted, 2.5 hours is a bit long, but it holds up throughout so that it doesn't really feel that long. Probably the best movie I've seen in a while, and definitely the best racing movie I've seen in a long time. 🚗🚗
Ocean's Twelve (2004)
6.6
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Movie Watch
They're back. And then some. Twelve is the new eleven when Danny Ocean and pals return in a sequel...
RəX Regent (349 KP) rated The Adjustment Bureau (2011) in Movies
Mar 7, 2019
No Adjustment Necessary
Contains spoilers, click to show
Is it just me, or is Matt Damon just getting better and better? He is developing into a well-rounded actor, with a definite ability to draw in his audience and deliver some great performances. In this, Damon is a would-be Senator who meets a falls in love with Emily Blunt, a modern ballet dancer.
Meanwhile it quickly becomes clear that the world is being organised by a group of shady men in 50's suits and hats, don't forget the hats, who 'Adjust' Peoples life paths to adhere to the grand plan. Unfortunately for the star-crossed lovers, they are not meant to be together and the they must ultimately challenge them to pursue their own fate.
Philip K. Dick is a strange and often wonderful sci-fi novelist, whose work has often been adapted for the screen, with the likes of Bladerunner, Total Recall, Minority Report and more recently, and I believe more faithfully In A Scanner Darkly.
The cinematography, art direction and ultimately the direction as a whole was very stylised without becoming uncomfortable or otherworldly, which I think was quite an achievement.
This has been referred to by other critics as 'Inception light', and though I can recognise a vague comparison, I wouldn't like to compare them myself. This was an interesting science fiction story, dealing with deep ideas in a lighter and ultimately more palatable way. Damon and Blunt were both enjoyable to watch as their romance blossomed, though be it in small vignettes, and the shady men themselves were often amusing if not outright funny.
There is nothing particularly new for fans of the genre, and though it is not as deep or intense as Bladerunner, this is certainly a nice addition to the Philip K. Dick movie cannon and it's always great to see a decent Sci-Fi film.
Meanwhile it quickly becomes clear that the world is being organised by a group of shady men in 50's suits and hats, don't forget the hats, who 'Adjust' Peoples life paths to adhere to the grand plan. Unfortunately for the star-crossed lovers, they are not meant to be together and the they must ultimately challenge them to pursue their own fate.
Philip K. Dick is a strange and often wonderful sci-fi novelist, whose work has often been adapted for the screen, with the likes of Bladerunner, Total Recall, Minority Report and more recently, and I believe more faithfully In A Scanner Darkly.
The cinematography, art direction and ultimately the direction as a whole was very stylised without becoming uncomfortable or otherworldly, which I think was quite an achievement.
This has been referred to by other critics as 'Inception light', and though I can recognise a vague comparison, I wouldn't like to compare them myself. This was an interesting science fiction story, dealing with deep ideas in a lighter and ultimately more palatable way. Damon and Blunt were both enjoyable to watch as their romance blossomed, though be it in small vignettes, and the shady men themselves were often amusing if not outright funny.
There is nothing particularly new for fans of the genre, and though it is not as deep or intense as Bladerunner, this is certainly a nice addition to the Philip K. Dick movie cannon and it's always great to see a decent Sci-Fi film.
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How to Do Good: Essays on Building a Better World
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How to do good - a collection of extraordinary personal stories from thought leaders, celebrities,...