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jack-reddan
Reviews
The Student (2017)
Comic Masterpiece
Funniest movie I ever did see. The Citizen Kane of comedies. The Tiger King of 2017. A sequel can't come soon enough.
The Young Philadelphians (1959)
Old Philadelphia
Thoroughly enjoyed this winding romance, war, courtroom, university drama. Newman is a heartbroken hero whose inner goodness is distorted by ambition. Fortunately in 1959 happy endings still existed. Great flick
Bullitt (1968)
The organisation
Old school suspense filled thriller.
Loved the slow-paced patient feel to the film of course interspersed with some moments of action. Different filming to nowadays. The camera really focuses on Mcqueen's and some other character's faces. Mcqueen is able to show us his thoughts with his piercing blue eyes. The score is jazzy cool and the environs are often mysteriously dark. The roar of the engines was one of the great film moments. 8/10
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Film of the year
A beautifully tragic film. Emotions aren't stirred solely by story, this is a slow burner drama, crafted magnificently. The manly Massachusetts men heightened the story as well as the dark humour neatly laced throughout. I liked how the obviously touching scenes such as the boy finding out his old man had died and the funeral were shown but not spoken. The funeral scene was also accompanied by a deeply moving violin piece, other scenes where also improved by beautiful opera music.
Cases Affleck(Lee) was perfect. His 'nothing there' character seemed an extension of his performance in Out of the Furnace. Lee had obviously been beaten by life but his heart and love shone through, particularly post beat down when he offers to buy his nephews burgers and then breaks down in tears and also when he sits by the kids bed. Everyone else was fantastic but Affleck was memorable.
I think this is a family film. It shows how love can be all but dissipated but a wee ginger headed kid can get someone, somewhat, back on track. Humour is also integral to love and a lack of it, dinner with Broderick, is hell. Keep on fishing.
The Spectacular Now (2013)
Spectacular?
The Spectacular Now harks back to the writers' early film 500 Days of Summer although the similarities are overwhelming and progression and innovation appear to be lacking. The Spectacular Now is a feel good summer romance indie that while poignant fails to get out of 1st gear. Sutter, our male lead, is an archetypal Byronic hero. Witty, outgoing and charming he is haunted by his fathers desertion and adopts a fatalistic worldview. Aimee(female lead) is a stereotypical nice girl. Demure, bashful and insulated we find her also without a father and is oppressed by a tyrant mother. Sutter and Aimee's relationship is sweet and authentic but I feel I've seen it all before(perhaps I'm not the target market). I'm not sure if I've been sullied by over stimulating Hollywood blockbusters but this movie really lacked oomph! I get that it's an indie and it's supposed to understated, poignant and believable. The movie was all these things. However, I found it to be sedate with me barely batting an eye lid during the films climax. I found Sutter's drinking an unnecessary, annoying motif(we get he has daddy issues). I also found Aimee's irrationality displayed during the car scene bizarre and felt that it diminished the film's believability. I was also left bemused at the 'live in the now' ethos(hint: it ain't crazy spontaneous to go to a stuffy dinner with only ten minutes notice).
Now despite what I have said the movie was still well executed with very solid acting throughout. There is value in the story with some poignant moments and an uplifting conclusion. It's just that these feel good movies aren't my cup of tea, watchable yes, but just a little plodding for my liking.