• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

TST Film Review Thread

Tried to tally up on my letterboxd account and today I likely made my final cinema visit of 2024, which by my count was my 82nd film at the cinema (all new ones except a screening of Dune Part One).

So the film that ends the year at the cinema was...

Better Man

Yep, the Robbie Williams biopic were Williams is portrayed as a cgi chimp.

Covering his life from a child, take that, and his solo career to Knebworth and beyond via his relationships and drink and drug addiction.

Using the Robbie Williams song book throughout as it becomes full musical at times, a real early highlight is London Street based performance of Rock DJ that feels like it covers take that's success in 5 minutes.

Found it to be very inventive, entertaining, and even quite moving at times.
 
Nosferatu was enjoyable.
I find Robert Eggers as a director to be slightly overrated (heresy, I know), but contrary to popular opinion, this is my favourite of his films.
As expected, the strong cast performed well, with Lily Rose-Depp being the highlight, and the dialogue was excellent.
The atmosphere was the essence of this film, with jump scares and gore used in moderation.
8.1/10.
 
First cinema trip of the year for me today as I went to see We Live In Time (seeing Nosferatu on Monday).

Genuinely great film, an interesting structure as it flips between three time periods of Andrew Garfield and Florence Pughs relationship.

Quite a serious film, and it gets a bit dusty at times. But also quite humorous in parts. A great start to my cinema visits for 2025.
 
Finally saw Nosferatu this afternoon.

Robert Eggers remake of one of the key touch stones of early cinema. The original very much impinged on many a copyright issue as its basically Dracula with the names changed. They Bram Stoker estate wanted every copy destroyed, it's a miracle the film still exists today.

Anyhow, now around 100 years later and with both the original novel, and Nosferatu itself no longer under copyright we're getting Eggers version.

The film drips with atmosphere as much it does blood. But as some one whose very pure horror averse I never felt super scared at any point.

Some great acting performances from the cast, Hoult does a good performance of looking petrified thoughout. But it's Lily Rose-Depp who makes the film her own above Bill Skarsgards disturbing (don't call me) Count Orlock.
 
Few films out this weekend.

Started with A Real Pain.

Written, directed, and starring Jesse Eisenberg, along with Kieran Culkin returning to films after a fantastic few years in Succession.

The film sees the two cousins on a pilgrimage to Poland, the birthplace of their late grandmother.

The two characters who we are told very much grew up together (basically as brothers), and have drifted apart in adulthood. The reserved Eisenberg has his job and family. Whilst Culkin is very gregarious and outspoken, but is very much in a case of arrested development.

Absolutely loved this, in parts it's funny. But also serious as it deals with generational trauma, and pain.

Culkin definitely the standout as well, his small screen success has been brilliantly brought to the silver screen.
 
Went the Liverpool game on Saturday, then went for a few drinks and food with friends after. Left and headed home, just happened to stop outside my local cinema and realised there was a preview screening that evening. Checked and it was just about to start...

Saturday Night

A comedy film showing the behind the scenes going on of the 90 minutes or so before it went to air for the first time in 1975.
The original cast included comedy greats like John Belushi, Chevy Chase, and Dan Akroyd. And the actors involved do a good job of portraying then without turning into parody. Nicolas Braun has double duty portraying both Andy Kauffman, and Jim Henson (he of Muppets fame) and does great with his short appearances.
The actor portraying the creator of SNL Lorne Michaels does a great job of steering the ship whilst it looks like it's going down at the stern.
Fun appearances from JK Simmons and Willem Dafoe.

Then today I've seen Babygirl starring Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson.
Kidman a high powered CEO and Dickinson an intern at her company strike up a relationship that potentially threatens both their careers.

Very much enjoyed this, definitely had no clue were it would go in the final act.
 
Saw the film about the supernatural, sex obsessed little freak who's been an icon of the British cultural consciousness for a long time, and loved it.

I'm talking of course about Better Man. Nosferatu was amazing as well.
 
Been going through the BBC iPlayer recently and it's movies section has a number of gems. Both recent and Hollywood classics.

Most recent watch was Nowhere Special (2020), which I do remember getting heavily praised upon it's release.

Coming in at 90 minutes in length (always a good thing), it follows a father and son living in Northern Ireland. John (played by James Norton) is the single father of 4 year old Michael. He's a window cleaner and he loves his son.
Unfortunately John has a terminal illness, the film follows the two of them as John takes Michael to visit possible adoptive parents for him. Michael initially unaware of what's going on but becomes more aware as the film goes on.

An absolutely beautiful film, moving, sad, and with a final ending that killed me.

Daniel Lamont who played Michael is amazing, not even sure how you'd go about casting for a role like that.
 
Not been active in here recently but can only echo the positive comments about Wicked, Sonic 3 and Wallace and Gromit!

Aside from that I’ve been on a mission since my knee operation in October to rewatch all of the MCU from the start, it’s hard work as I’m now in the modern era where the films are interspersed by the tv series, and by god some of the more recent ones are tough watches - Quantumania I thought was absolute garbage and almost made me want to abandon my mission to watch some proper cinema instead.
 
Not tried an MCU rewatch since the pandemic in 2020 as at the time I thought it would be a few months and then Black Widow would be released.

Just too much going on to attempt a full rewatch nowadays. Plus I'm really enjoying just watching random films I'm coming across on streaming services that I've never watched before.
 
A Complete Unknown

Timothee Chalamet stars in this new Bob Dylan biopic.

Covering Bob arrival in New York in 1960 upto him 'going electric' with the release of Highway 61 revisited.

Personally I thought it was a bit safe not taking any risks with its portrayal, unlike say the recent Elton John, Weird Al, and Robbie Williams biopics.

However the acting is superb Chalamet is great and does all his own singing, Ed Norton brilliant as Pete Seeger, and Scoot McNairy does a good job in his portrayal of an ailing Woodie Guthrie.

Obviously the music is great as well and there's plenty of it.

So whilst it's not going to suddenly give people more insight into what makes Dylan tick it's an very well made and entertaining film filled with great performances.

I'll definitely be listening to a lot more Dylan, Seeger, Guthrie, Baez, and Cash after this.
 
John_P said:
A Complete Unknown

Timothee Chalamet stars in this new Bob Dylan biopic.

Covering Bob arrival in New York in 1960 upto him 'going electric' with the release of Highway 61 revisited.

Personally I thought it was a bit safe not taking any risks with its portrayal, unlike say the recent Elton John, Weird Al, and Robbie Williams biopics.

However the acting is superb Chalamet is great and does all his own singing, Ed Norton brilliant as Pete Seeger, and Scoot McNairy does a good job in his portrayal of an ailing Woodie Guthrie.

Obviously the music is great as well and there's plenty of it.

So whilst it's not going to suddenly give people more insight into what makes Dylan tick it's an very well made and entertaining film filled with great performances.

I'll definitely be listening to a lot more Dylan, Seeger, Guthrie, Baez, and Cash after this.
Click to expand...
I saw this yesterday, and thoroughly loved it, but as a strong Bob fan I was always rather predisposed to wanting to.

I agree that the film doesn't take any risks, but given the amount of biopics recently which have gone down a gimmicky route, it's a rather refreshing take as a result.

My one criticism would be its lack of a plot, or a direction, which I suppose given the title of the film is to be expected. It's also very Bob too. It's more of a "this happened, and then this happened", rather than a crafted narrative with a clear beginning, middle and end. The only narrative conflict happened in the last third, and was sort of brushed to the side in favour of Bob being Bob, who wasn't even really involved with it in the first instance (folk purity).

Stellar performances all around and I'm eager to watch it again.
 
Last edited:
Emilia Pérez is a pretty poor film athough the acting is decent. It has mainly been critisised by Mexican and transgender people for unrealistic and stereotypical portrayals, with one song (you know which one) seeming quite offensive. The plot, although poor, was original, so I have to give it credit for that.

I don't know why it has been nominated for 13 Oscars.

4.8/10.
 
Yeah, I enjoyed it but didn't think it was anything special. Still sort of expect it not to win anything on the night.

Speaking of cinema I saw Flight Risk today.

Wasn't overly enamoured with it, but it flew by and was basically a real time actiony film. Mark Wahlberg should play more villains.
 
Back at the cinema today to see Presence.

As long time readers will know I'm very much horror averse, however the reviews saying it wasn't scary and the director involved made me give it ago.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, who also acted as the cinematographer (the guy who operates the camera), and editor. Who is continuing to fail by making films after supposedly retiring a few years back.

The film sees a family move into a new house that's haunted by a spirit, taking a specific interest in the daughter Chloe whose friend had recently died.
However the film is all from the viewpoint of the mysterious spirit as it moves around the house, we hear conversations and half of phone calls. Is the parents marriage collapsing, is one of them going to jail for some reason?

Think I probably enjoyed it more as a concept than a movie, but it was still a good but not scary in the way you'd think watch.
 
Last edited:
The Brutalist

Had been looking forward to this what with all the buzz, and award wins.

A real they don't make em like this anymore as the film spans around thirteen years (1947-1960) as we follow Lazlo Toth (a fantastic Adrien Brody) as he emigrates to America after surviving the Holocaust.

Initially working in his cousins furniture store eventually he's able to move back to his stock in trade as an architect working to design and build a new community centre/church/theatre/library/gymnasium for Guy Pearces Van Buren.

Supporting Toth is his wife who is eventually able to join him in America, played brilliantly by Felicity Jones.

The film, like the architectural style it takes its name from, just feels like it's going to overwhelm you as wave after wave crashes down on the audience.

Re-evaluating the idea of the American dream of the post war years, and the story of immigration itself. The inverted statue of liberty at the start acting as a warning to the audience.

It's a long film clocking in at about 3 1/2 hours, however it has an intermission built into the film. So the first half goes at a great pace, then you can get up get an ice cream and stretch your legs before diving back in for the second half.
 
Back at the cinema during the week to see a few films.

Hard Truths

Amazing performance from Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Patsy a woman with a massive grudge against the world, struggling to cope with her life and the people around us. A great kitchen sink drama from Mike Leigh.

Companion

Sophie Thatcher on fire at the moment, both metaphorically and literally after Heretic and now this.

She plays Iris who goes on a weekend away with her boyfriend Josh staying with friends in a remote cabin.

Everything seems to be going well until there's a murder.

Seems to have been pitched as a horror this, but it's also quite funny at times.

Definitely reccomend this, just go in as blind as possible. Think I'd have enjoyed it even more if I'd not seen some of the later trailers.
 
September 5

This film looks at the Black September group taking members of the Israel Olympic team hostage during the 1972 Munich Games.

It focuses on the American ABC Sports team and their efforts to cover the events. Due to the new technology at the time they were able to live broadcast the events in the athletes village.

It's a very tense and well acted movie, and definitely throws up moral quandries aplenty when it comes to live reporting on events like this when want your doing may be effecting what the authorities and the terrorists are doing.

Clocks in at less than 100 minutes as well, great job in blending the events we see in the news room with our cast, and the actual real images and reports from the day itself.
 
Love Hurts

An action rom-com?

Ke Huy Quan is a realtor with a hidden past who gets dragged back into it when Ariana DeBoses character shows up before Valentines Day.

Very much Nobody (it's the same studio) with a bit more comedic elements, and oddball characters.

Action was good, but the plot was quite weak. Gets by on Quans charm.
 
Had a very rare solo cinema trip tonight to watch Captain America: Brave New World. Most of the reviews I’d seen beforehand were negative so had low expectations, actually thought it was decent apart from in the middle where it got a bit laborious and clunky. Decent action, snippets of that typical Marvel humour and I thought Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford were worthy leads.

A steady 6 or 7 out of 10.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top