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Awix (3310 KP) rated Personal Services (1987) in Movies
Jan 19, 2020
Not many people get a film based on their life while they're still around: prostitute and brothel madam Cynthia Payne had not one but two released in the same year (this and 'Wish You Were Here') - makes one proud to be British. A typical story of rags to riches, embellished with a vast amount of kinky sex and tawdry etablishment hypocrisy - not entirely surprisingly, the women here are the tough and clever ones, the men who come to them are awkward, fragile creatures.
One of those off-beat comedy-drama films, with a strong sense of the seedier side of life, that the UK film industry went in for quite a lot in the 1980s. This one has a strong performance from Julie Walters, but the comedy often feels strained and it can't seem to quite decide how it's going to handle the more graphic material inevitably involved - straightforwardly, or in nudge-nudge style? Tends towards the latter. Passes the time reasonably well as a slightly odd piece of entertainment; may well also be of interest as an insight into the English psyche (God help us).
One of those off-beat comedy-drama films, with a strong sense of the seedier side of life, that the UK film industry went in for quite a lot in the 1980s. This one has a strong performance from Julie Walters, but the comedy often feels strained and it can't seem to quite decide how it's going to handle the more graphic material inevitably involved - straightforwardly, or in nudge-nudge style? Tends towards the latter. Passes the time reasonably well as a slightly odd piece of entertainment; may well also be of interest as an insight into the English psyche (God help us).
David McK (3632 KP) rated Flying Colours in Books
Feb 8, 2020
Chronologically the seventh (of eleven) of CS Forester's Hornblower series of books, this was actually the third published in the series, and follows on pretty much directly from the ending of 'Ship of the Line', with Hornblower and his men captured by the French after he had to surrender the HMS Sutherland at the end of that previous book.
Unlike the other entries, this one takes place largely on land, with the majority - a good two thirds, say - of the novel dealing with Hornblower's (and Bush, and Brown) captivity, escape from the same and journeys across France before a daring raid that sees him recapture and return home (where he has been presumed dead) with a (now re)captured British vessel.
As such, this is perhaps more character-driven than we have been used to so far, with large swathes of the book concerned with Hornblower himself and his mental state, riven with self-doubt and jealousy, and unsure of how his surrender will be viewed at home: a home where he is both unhappily married and awaiting the birth of his third child (after the death of his previous two to Smallpox).
Unlike the other entries, this one takes place largely on land, with the majority - a good two thirds, say - of the novel dealing with Hornblower's (and Bush, and Brown) captivity, escape from the same and journeys across France before a daring raid that sees him recapture and return home (where he has been presumed dead) with a (now re)captured British vessel.
As such, this is perhaps more character-driven than we have been used to so far, with large swathes of the book concerned with Hornblower himself and his mental state, riven with self-doubt and jealousy, and unsure of how his surrender will be viewed at home: a home where he is both unhappily married and awaiting the birth of his third child (after the death of his previous two to Smallpox).
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1999) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020 (Updated Aug 6, 2020)
Look, there had to be something British on the list! Brighton Rock, Get Carter, The Long Good Friday and Sexy Beast were all considered, as was Ritchie’s own follow up to this stylised romp, Snatch. But, in the end, I chose this because it is the most fun to watch, and really re-invented the non American crime film. For my money a tighter film than Snatch, and less silly, Lock Stock has a naivety that puts you on an equal footing with its protagonists and keeps you engaged from start to hilarious finish. Its sense of humour is key to its success, as we watch one botched effort to get ahead after another. The pay off moments are glorious, and the whole package is wrapped up in every cinematic trick in the book, making it a dizzying rollercoaster experience you never forget first watching. There is a nastiness of spirit and “laddishness” underlying it that is perhaps a little too indulged without a sense of irony, but you can always forgive it. Will it continue to age as well as some on this list, I’m not sure.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) in Movies
Apr 23, 2020 (Updated Apr 24, 2020)
Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, is the fifth installment of the mission: impossible franchise. This one is better than the fourth one in my opinon. The plot is better, the action is better, the villian is better and the risk/higher steaks are better. I will rank the films after i watch the 6th one, but right now as it stands it goes... 3, 5, 1, 4 and 2.
The plot: With the IMF now disbanded and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) out in the cold, a new threat -- called the Syndicate -- soon emerges. The Syndicate is a network of highly skilled operatives who are dedicated to establishing a new world order via an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Faced with what may be the most impossible mission yet, Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a disavowed British agent who may or may not be a member of this deadly rogue nation.
Sean Harris was excellent as the villian, second to phillip seymour hoffman. You really got to hate his guts. Such a badass villian.
A excellent movie, a huge plus from the 4th one.
The plot: With the IMF now disbanded and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) out in the cold, a new threat -- called the Syndicate -- soon emerges. The Syndicate is a network of highly skilled operatives who are dedicated to establishing a new world order via an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Faced with what may be the most impossible mission yet, Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a disavowed British agent who may or may not be a member of this deadly rogue nation.
Sean Harris was excellent as the villian, second to phillip seymour hoffman. You really got to hate his guts. Such a badass villian.
A excellent movie, a huge plus from the 4th one.
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