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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Two Popes (2019) in Movies
Dec 6, 2019 (Updated Dec 6, 2019)
'And it's in nomine patris from me...' '...et in spiritus sancti from him.' Slightly oddball true-life drama doesn't go quite as far as that, but is still much funnier and lighter than it sounds from the capsule synopsis - any film which sees the college of cardinals going into conclave while Dancing Queen plays on the soundtrack, and droll enough to show the two pontiffs watching the World Cup final together (Germany-Argentina, of course) obviously has something to say for itself.
The question is what that is. No doubt the decision to make the film a comedy-drama was partly inspired by concerns it could be offputtingly talky, but the talk works when it's delivered by two actors like Pryce and Hopkins, working with a very good script. The film is arguably biased in favour of Jorge Bergoglio, who is presented as warm, human, and compassionate; his life story is explored in much more detail than that of Joseph Ratzinger - but then again you could say the film does Ratzinger a big favour by largely ignoring the elephant in the room and his role in covering it up. Most of the film is very plausible, and it's only near the end that you begin to suspect how much of it is complete fiction. Still, it's engaging and plausible fiction, and - some distracting hand-held camerawork aside - mostly very well played and filmed.
The question is what that is. No doubt the decision to make the film a comedy-drama was partly inspired by concerns it could be offputtingly talky, but the talk works when it's delivered by two actors like Pryce and Hopkins, working with a very good script. The film is arguably biased in favour of Jorge Bergoglio, who is presented as warm, human, and compassionate; his life story is explored in much more detail than that of Joseph Ratzinger - but then again you could say the film does Ratzinger a big favour by largely ignoring the elephant in the room and his role in covering it up. Most of the film is very plausible, and it's only near the end that you begin to suspect how much of it is complete fiction. Still, it's engaging and plausible fiction, and - some distracting hand-held camerawork aside - mostly very well played and filmed.
Christmas: A Biography
7.0
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Book
Christmas has been all things to all people: a religious festival, a family celebration, a time of...
religion
![Brass Baja: Stories from the World of Indian Wedding Bands [OIP]](/uploads/profile_image/544/b427dbf5-9ae0-4fc0-9ec7-d086c3004544.jpg?m=1522323246)
Brass Baja: Stories from the World of Indian Wedding Bands [OIP]
Book
Anyone who has seen a wedding procession in northern India would have heard and seen the band of...
Holly Johnson recommended Transformer by Lou Reed in Music (curated)
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Willy's Wonderland (2021) in Movies
Feb 21, 2021
I can safely say that I got exactly what I expected from Willy's Wonderland, a schlocky as hell B-Movie horror that manifests Nicolas Cage going toe-to-toe with a host of murderous animatronic mascots, set to a music score of synth heavy electronica/children's party jingles. Is it silly and dumb? Yes. Does it have annoying and unlikable teenage human characters who are there just to die horribly? Also yes. Is it entertaining as fuck? Most definitely.
Cage's silent protagonist feels like the role that his career has been leading up to all these years. He has his very own corner of the zeitgeist at this point, and is just running with it, happily poking fun at himself whilst managing to be undeniably badass, whether it be the Mad Max-esque opening, tearing the robots to shreds with his bare hands, or him furiously dancing whilst playing pinball. Whenever he's on screen, he steals all the focus, without uttering a word. It's so ridiculous and enjoyable, that it renders the half-baked plot a moot point.
The animatronics themselves look pretty decent for the most part, and there's some solid gore here and there. It's the kind of gore that will make you burst out laughing, but in a good way.
Willy's Wonderland is far from a perfect experience, but it is what it is, and never tries to be anything more, and therefore succeeds in what it's trying to achieve.
Cage's silent protagonist feels like the role that his career has been leading up to all these years. He has his very own corner of the zeitgeist at this point, and is just running with it, happily poking fun at himself whilst managing to be undeniably badass, whether it be the Mad Max-esque opening, tearing the robots to shreds with his bare hands, or him furiously dancing whilst playing pinball. Whenever he's on screen, he steals all the focus, without uttering a word. It's so ridiculous and enjoyable, that it renders the half-baked plot a moot point.
The animatronics themselves look pretty decent for the most part, and there's some solid gore here and there. It's the kind of gore that will make you burst out laughing, but in a good way.
Willy's Wonderland is far from a perfect experience, but it is what it is, and never tries to be anything more, and therefore succeeds in what it's trying to achieve.
Nicholas Sparks recommended Dirty Dancing (1987) in Movies (curated)
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Holidate (2020) in Movies
Dec 24, 2020
A young woman, Sloane comes home for the holidays to see her critical family who always brings up that she's still single. Meanwhile a guy called Jackson is meeting the family of a crazy woman after just the second date. He walks out of their house when things get weird and uncomfortable.
Both Sloane and Jackson bump into each other whilst returning unwanted gifts in a longer than neccessary but pretty entertaining scene. They end up talking and hanging out at the mall, the idea of a holidate comes up which is something Sloanes aunty participates in in the holidays, meaning you get together with a random stranger specifically for a holiday, just a date with no commitments. Jackson gives sloane his number, at first she refuses to text him but after her mum tries to set her up with a guy she phones Jackson to arrange a no commitment holidate for new years. They get on well and have a good evening despite a dirty dancing inspired hilarious injury.
Fast forward to valentines, sloane is still dateless and once again bumps into Jackson who saves her from an awkward encounter with her ex. This is when they agree to be each others dates for every holiday.
As a lover of rom coms I really enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. Admittedly it was highly predictable but also highly entertaining, I howled with laughter multiple times.
Highly recommended.
Both Sloane and Jackson bump into each other whilst returning unwanted gifts in a longer than neccessary but pretty entertaining scene. They end up talking and hanging out at the mall, the idea of a holidate comes up which is something Sloanes aunty participates in in the holidays, meaning you get together with a random stranger specifically for a holiday, just a date with no commitments. Jackson gives sloane his number, at first she refuses to text him but after her mum tries to set her up with a guy she phones Jackson to arrange a no commitment holidate for new years. They get on well and have a good evening despite a dirty dancing inspired hilarious injury.
Fast forward to valentines, sloane is still dateless and once again bumps into Jackson who saves her from an awkward encounter with her ex. This is when they agree to be each others dates for every holiday.
As a lover of rom coms I really enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. Admittedly it was highly predictable but also highly entertaining, I howled with laughter multiple times.
Highly recommended.
Anna K: A Love Story
Book
Meet Anna K. At seventeen, she is at the top of Manhattan and Greenwich society (even if she prefers...
What The Future Holds by Steps
Album
Three years after they staged the UK’s most successful comeback of the decade, enduring pop...
At Swim Two Birds
Book
Flann O'Brien's innovative metafictional work, whose unruly characters strike out their own paths in...