I don’t think myself a particularly cold individual, but it’s very rare that I find myself truly sad when I hear about the death of a celebrity. Unfortunately for me, this is one of those occasions.
It would be a considerable understatement to say that Paul Newman never gave a bad performance. He was excellent in every film I every saw him in, from ‘The Hustler’ to ‘The Road to Predition’. He was even outstanding as the voice of Doc Hudson in ‘Cars’.
Considering his remarkable career it is almost unbelievable that he did not win an Academy Award until 1987. However, it is fitting that he won it for reprising one of his greatest characters, Fast Eddie Felson, in the ‘Colour of Money’. Of course, if it had been up to me, he’d have won at least five best actor gongs.
While there are so many greats to choose from, my favourite Paul Newman films are the two he starred in with Robert Redford, one of the very few people that are comparable to him in terms of talent. I know this isn’t exactly a controversial choice but ‘The Sting’ and ‘Butch and Sundance’ are, in my opinion, amongst the greatest movies ever made and are just two of the reasons why my heart is a little heavy this evening.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Greatest Movies of All Time
Empire Magazine has compiled a list of the 'Top 500 Greatest Movies of All Time'. It’s a mixture of the public vote and the opinions of top industry folk, which has turned out what looks like a pretty good, if mostly predictable, list.
Most people that know me won’t be surprised that I’m happy that the Godfather is on top, and really happy that Empire Strikes back is in the top three. I’m a big fan of Raiders of the Lost Ark but I think number two is maybe a little high. The same goes for Jaws at number five.
I’ve come to expect that one of my least favourite films, Raging Bull (11th), will always be high on list like this. I maintain that both the film and DeNiro are overrated but I’m clearly in the minority. However, I was very surprised to see Fight Club squeeze into the top ten. Really? That high? I mean, I enjoyed the film, am a big fan of both Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, but it doesn’t get anywhere near my top ten. A great twist does not make a great film.
Of course the problem with writing a post like this is that I now feel obliged to give my top ten. My problem with doing this is that the list I make right now will not be the same as the list I make tomorrow morning. I often get round this problem during pub conversations by giving a list in no particular order and then cheating by grouping the original Star Wars Trilogy as one entry.
I realise that this is a cop out, so here, just for you, is my top ten films of all time as of 2pm on a sunny Friday afternoon in September:
1. The Godfather
2. The Empire Strikes Back
3. The Shawshank Redemption
4. The Departed
5. LA Confidential
6. Rope
7. The Sting
8. Back to the Future
9. Anchorman
10. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Another problem I have with compiling a list like this is that I’m sure there are loads of great films that I’ve forgotten to consider. If you would like to point out a glaringly obvious oversight on my part, or just fancy sharing your own top ten, let me know.
Most people that know me won’t be surprised that I’m happy that the Godfather is on top, and really happy that Empire Strikes back is in the top three. I’m a big fan of Raiders of the Lost Ark but I think number two is maybe a little high. The same goes for Jaws at number five.
I’ve come to expect that one of my least favourite films, Raging Bull (11th), will always be high on list like this. I maintain that both the film and DeNiro are overrated but I’m clearly in the minority. However, I was very surprised to see Fight Club squeeze into the top ten. Really? That high? I mean, I enjoyed the film, am a big fan of both Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, but it doesn’t get anywhere near my top ten. A great twist does not make a great film.
Of course the problem with writing a post like this is that I now feel obliged to give my top ten. My problem with doing this is that the list I make right now will not be the same as the list I make tomorrow morning. I often get round this problem during pub conversations by giving a list in no particular order and then cheating by grouping the original Star Wars Trilogy as one entry.
I realise that this is a cop out, so here, just for you, is my top ten films of all time as of 2pm on a sunny Friday afternoon in September:
1. The Godfather
2. The Empire Strikes Back
3. The Shawshank Redemption
4. The Departed
5. LA Confidential
6. Rope
7. The Sting
8. Back to the Future
9. Anchorman
10. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Another problem I have with compiling a list like this is that I’m sure there are loads of great films that I’ve forgotten to consider. If you would like to point out a glaringly obvious oversight on my part, or just fancy sharing your own top ten, let me know.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
That's right folks, Kevin Smith is back! Here's the trailer for his latest flick, Zack and Miri Make a Porno:
I've been a huge fan of Kevin Smith ever since some friends introduced me to his New Jersey Chronicles about ten years ago. I know there's people who don't appreciate Mr Smith's 'dick and fart' brand of humour, but those people are obviously dead inside.
Obviously I can't wait see this flick, especially with Seth Rogen leading the cast, bit there is one small problem. I've had a look on IMDB and had a quick scan of the View Askew website (http://www.viewaskew.com/) and I can only find the US release date of 31 October. If anyone knows when Zack and Miri is coming out in the UK, please let me know.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
A few changes and a Harry Potter trailer
Seeing as this is the new and improved 'Films and Things', I've made a few upgrades. If you look to the left of the page you will see, amongst other things, a very cool toy that I have recently added called 'LATEST TRAILERS'. If all goes according to plan it should regularly update with new trailers from YouTube.
In addition, instead of just giving you links to clips and trailers, I will now be embedding them into my posts, like this:
Yeah, I know, this is nothing new or special to most people, but I'm feeling pretty smug about my new toys right now, so there!
In addition, instead of just giving you links to clips and trailers, I will now be embedding them into my posts, like this:
Yeah, I know, this is nothing new or special to most people, but I'm feeling pretty smug about my new toys right now, so there!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
10 screens and there's nothing on!
I’m starting to think I’ve made a bit of a mistake. I’m wondering if I should have bothered re-launching this blog now. No, not because no one reads it (I’ve reconciled myself with that), but because there is very little to look forward to in the cinema for the rest of the year.
The only film that I am dying to see is Quantum of Solace. I’ve been a fan of James Bond since my grandmother sat me down in front of Goldfinger when I was about 7. Unfortunately for me, most of the Bond films released in my lifetime have been pretty poor. Anything with Roger Moore was dreadful and both Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan, while good Bonds, suffered from dreadful scripts – with the exception of Goldeneye, which remains one of my all-time favourites.
Thanks to Casino Royale I was able to leave the cinema truly satisfied with a Bond film for only the second time. Actually that’s a bit of an understatement; I was far more than just satisfied. If Quantum of Solace is half as good then I will probably still be satisfied.
I would like to look forward to the next Harry Potter film this winter but, unfortunately, Warner Brothers have moved it to next July because they haven’t got enough good films in the pipeline for the summer season. Doesn’t bode well does it?
So for the next six months, until Watchmen comes out in March, there’s nothing that I’m really excited about. Of course there’s every chance that the legal wrangling over the rights to Watchmen will mean that it doesn’t come out until next summer either!
However, this lack of big exciting movies isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It usually means that there will be a few decent small budget or independent films that will get some time in the cinemas. This is not the first time I’ve experienced such a cinematic lull and it has led to some excellent discoveries in recent years. Brick, Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl and Goodnight and Good Luck could have easily passed me by if there had been a big blockbuster on in the next screen.
So, if anyone knows of any small gems out now or in the near future, especially if they have Ryan Gosling in, please let me know.
The only film that I am dying to see is Quantum of Solace. I’ve been a fan of James Bond since my grandmother sat me down in front of Goldfinger when I was about 7. Unfortunately for me, most of the Bond films released in my lifetime have been pretty poor. Anything with Roger Moore was dreadful and both Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan, while good Bonds, suffered from dreadful scripts – with the exception of Goldeneye, which remains one of my all-time favourites.
Thanks to Casino Royale I was able to leave the cinema truly satisfied with a Bond film for only the second time. Actually that’s a bit of an understatement; I was far more than just satisfied. If Quantum of Solace is half as good then I will probably still be satisfied.
I would like to look forward to the next Harry Potter film this winter but, unfortunately, Warner Brothers have moved it to next July because they haven’t got enough good films in the pipeline for the summer season. Doesn’t bode well does it?
So for the next six months, until Watchmen comes out in March, there’s nothing that I’m really excited about. Of course there’s every chance that the legal wrangling over the rights to Watchmen will mean that it doesn’t come out until next summer either!
However, this lack of big exciting movies isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It usually means that there will be a few decent small budget or independent films that will get some time in the cinemas. This is not the first time I’ve experienced such a cinematic lull and it has led to some excellent discoveries in recent years. Brick, Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl and Goodnight and Good Luck could have easily passed me by if there had been a big blockbuster on in the next screen.
So, if anyone knows of any small gems out now or in the near future, especially if they have Ryan Gosling in, please let me know.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Layer Cake
In my flat, between three of us, we have somewhere in the region of about 400 DVDs. With such a large selection, you’d think that we’d be able to find something to watch with relative ease.
Unfortunately, when it comes time to make a decision, this is how conversations often go:
“Film?”
“Go for it”
“What do you fancy?”
“Don’t mind, anything”
“How about X?”
“Nah”
“OK, how about Y?”
“Nah, saw that too recently”
“What about Z?”
“Not sure I’m in the mood for that.”
This conversation can go on for some time and often results in nothing being chosen.
Fortunately this wasn’t the case on Saturday morning and the number of titles shouted out by my brother was mercifully short once we both spotted Layer Cake, a film I haven’t seen for a couple of years.
Layer Cake is an impossibly cool film. It actually made me want to become a cocaine dealer. Well, not really, but they do a great job of glamorising the underworld. In fact I find it quite remarkable that people complained that Trainspotting might make young people think drug taking was cool (because overdosing in a Glaswegian slum flat is my idea of awesome!), yet, to my knowledge, no one made a peep about this film.
As far as I can tell, the message is that if you deal in enormous amounts of drugs, you become stinkingly rich, intelligent, charming, stylish, get to enjoy all sorts of crazy hijinks and then shag Sienna Miller. OK, so your white suit might get ruined when you get shot at your local golf course, but I think it’s a small price to pay when you consider the upside.
Either way, I love this flick. While I usually bemoan the fact that we only seem to make three types of film in this country (Northern working class misery, Richard Curtis/Hugh Grant idyllic posh England and the gangster movie), this is a really enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours. It’s well written, well directed, well cast and well acted. Not much more you can say about a film than that.
So I won’t.
Unfortunately, when it comes time to make a decision, this is how conversations often go:
“Film?”
“Go for it”
“What do you fancy?”
“Don’t mind, anything”
“How about X?”
“Nah”
“OK, how about Y?”
“Nah, saw that too recently”
“What about Z?”
“Not sure I’m in the mood for that.”
This conversation can go on for some time and often results in nothing being chosen.
Fortunately this wasn’t the case on Saturday morning and the number of titles shouted out by my brother was mercifully short once we both spotted Layer Cake, a film I haven’t seen for a couple of years.
Layer Cake is an impossibly cool film. It actually made me want to become a cocaine dealer. Well, not really, but they do a great job of glamorising the underworld. In fact I find it quite remarkable that people complained that Trainspotting might make young people think drug taking was cool (because overdosing in a Glaswegian slum flat is my idea of awesome!), yet, to my knowledge, no one made a peep about this film.
As far as I can tell, the message is that if you deal in enormous amounts of drugs, you become stinkingly rich, intelligent, charming, stylish, get to enjoy all sorts of crazy hijinks and then shag Sienna Miller. OK, so your white suit might get ruined when you get shot at your local golf course, but I think it’s a small price to pay when you consider the upside.
Either way, I love this flick. While I usually bemoan the fact that we only seem to make three types of film in this country (Northern working class misery, Richard Curtis/Hugh Grant idyllic posh England and the gangster movie), this is a really enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours. It’s well written, well directed, well cast and well acted. Not much more you can say about a film than that.
So I won’t.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Hellboy 2
I should start this post off with a confession. I haven’t seen Pan’s Labyrinth yet. It’s on my ‘to watch’ list but I just haven’t got round to it. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it based on the fact that everyone else who has seen it has told me I will.
However, I’m equally sure that it’s not going to be as easy to watch as, say, Die Hard 4, which my brother and I watched on this Saturday while recovering from our Friday induced hangovers. A film like Pan’s Labyrinth is obviously going to require a little concentration and effort to watch and not just because of the subtitles.
Fortunately for me, Guillermo del Toro doesn’t just make films that require me to really concentrate. A lot of his films can just be enjoyed as popcorn fodder such as the very enjoyable Hellboy, the sequel to which I went to see this weekend.
Del Torro has become the man of the moment when it comes to creating fantasy worlds on film. I’m anxious to see what he has in store for us with the Hobbit over the next few years. However, while all of his films are visually stunning, they aren’t necessarily all good, with Blade 2 immediately springing to mind.
Unfortunately I was reminded of this disappointing sequel within ten minutes of the start of Hellboy 2. It was with no small sense of déjà vu that I observed Luke Goss playing the role of an immortal prince with daddy issues trying to wage war on humanity. Luke may play this role very well but I was a little surprised to see him doing it twice.
Fortunately this is where the similarities between the two films end and I was able to enjoy a good, and very pretty, comic book movie. Ron Pearlman is once again enjoyable as Hellboy who is well supported by the likes of Selma Blair and the very funny Jeffrey Tambor.
Unfortunately I did leave the cinema feeling a little underwhelmed as the film didn’t quite meet my expectations. However, I’m not going to blame Del Torro for this. In fact it was all my fault. The film had been given a great deal of hype in recent months and I think I became caught up in that. I was expecting the brilliance I have been promised from Pan’s Labyrinth in a film about a cigar smoking, wise-cracking, hell demon who is trying to save the world.
If you like comic book movies you’ll probably like this. Just don’t go expecting anything more than that or you might be disappointed.
However, I’m equally sure that it’s not going to be as easy to watch as, say, Die Hard 4, which my brother and I watched on this Saturday while recovering from our Friday induced hangovers. A film like Pan’s Labyrinth is obviously going to require a little concentration and effort to watch and not just because of the subtitles.
Fortunately for me, Guillermo del Toro doesn’t just make films that require me to really concentrate. A lot of his films can just be enjoyed as popcorn fodder such as the very enjoyable Hellboy, the sequel to which I went to see this weekend.
Del Torro has become the man of the moment when it comes to creating fantasy worlds on film. I’m anxious to see what he has in store for us with the Hobbit over the next few years. However, while all of his films are visually stunning, they aren’t necessarily all good, with Blade 2 immediately springing to mind.
Unfortunately I was reminded of this disappointing sequel within ten minutes of the start of Hellboy 2. It was with no small sense of déjà vu that I observed Luke Goss playing the role of an immortal prince with daddy issues trying to wage war on humanity. Luke may play this role very well but I was a little surprised to see him doing it twice.
Fortunately this is where the similarities between the two films end and I was able to enjoy a good, and very pretty, comic book movie. Ron Pearlman is once again enjoyable as Hellboy who is well supported by the likes of Selma Blair and the very funny Jeffrey Tambor.
Unfortunately I did leave the cinema feeling a little underwhelmed as the film didn’t quite meet my expectations. However, I’m not going to blame Del Torro for this. In fact it was all my fault. The film had been given a great deal of hype in recent months and I think I became caught up in that. I was expecting the brilliance I have been promised from Pan’s Labyrinth in a film about a cigar smoking, wise-cracking, hell demon who is trying to save the world.
If you like comic book movies you’ll probably like this. Just don’t go expecting anything more than that or you might be disappointed.
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