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glennstandish
Reviews
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Good but nowhere near as good as Fury Road
Pros:
Excellent cinematography
Great casting although too many different characters
Chris Hemsworth steals the show
Ties in well to Fury Road
Nice cameo of Max watching the action from afar
Doesn't hold back on the violence
Clearly set in Australia
Cons:
Too long
Drags in places
Too much CGI
Some pointless characters
Pales in comparison to Fury Road
Weak soundtrack compared to Fury Road
No spectacular real stunts compared to Furty Road
Takes too long for Anna Taylor Joy to appear
Overall, it's good but does pale in comparison to Fury Road. Still worth a watch as any George Miller film is worthy of a cinematic entry.
Civil War (2024)
Incredibly gripping film
This was a powerhouse of a movie. Yes the story is surprisingly simple and yes it is very light on the politics but I think that's a good thing. It doesn't get bogged down at all. What you get is an incredibly gripping and intense portrayal of war through the eyes of a group of journalists. It is a no holds-barred view and certainly not sugar-coated at all. War is grim and that's a fact. This felt very realistic. The performances were top-notch and it was great to see Kirsten Dunst lead a movie again. For me though the standout performance was Wagner Moura. Oh and Jesse Plemmons was absolutely terrifying in what is essentially just a cameo. Overall, I loved this film and it's highly recommended.
Scoop (2024)
A well-recreated story
This was an interesting and gripping piece of drama. You can argue what's the point considering the story is so recent and you can easily watch the original interview on the net. However, the story how the BBC got the scoop is interesting and the performances by the three main leads are top-notch. Gillian Andersok was superb and although she sounds very similar to how she portrayed Margaret Thatcher in The Crown is still very uncanny and totally believable. Rufus Sewall gives a brilliant performance, definitely a highight of his career. Yet the story focuses on Billie Piper's character who gained the actual scoop and she's also superb. Recommend.
Argylle (2024)
Ridiculous but absolutely entertaining
The plot is over the top and ridiculous but that's the whole point of the film. For those expecting a serious spy thriller you will be disappointed but for those who want a dumb but fun film you will love it. And boy is it fun! I was thoroughly entertained throughout the whole movie. For me the star of the film is Sam Rockwell. He truly elevated the movie to a whole new level. His performance was superb full of quirkiness and little nuances. I also really loved the chemistry between him and Bryce Dallas Howard. People are complaining about the poor CGI but for me it was absolutely fine. All in all this was a truly entertaining film and I loved it!
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
Some fun moments but ultimately just another CGI fuelled superhero movie
The film opens on a high and there are some fun comic moments mainly thanks to Jason Momoa's charismatic performance. It's also refreshing to have some of the story set on land away from under the sea in both snowy, desert and jungle landscapes.
The female roles are underused and Nicole Kidman really doesn't have that much to do.
Interesting use of some well-known songs such as Spirit in the Sky.
Ultimately though this is yet another superhero versus villain CGI-fuelled movie (even though the villain this time round does have an interesting character arc).
Entertaining and passes the time but nothing really to write home about.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
What a great finale for Indiana!
This was a great Indiana Jones film. Ignore the critics, this one is for the fans and judging by their reaction on social media...most fans love it. It's a really fun, entertaining movie with some great set-pieces and some good references to the other movies. This is so much better to Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which is so inferior compared to this one. Harrisin Ford is great as ever. Age is just a mere number. The opening sequence is one of the best in tbe series and it's great to see Indiana back in his prime ounching Nazos again! And boy it's great to bave them again as the bad guys. Highly recommended! Go check it out!
Filip (2022)
A riveting WW2 drama shot in beautiful Torun
I don't usually go for foreign language films but I chose this movie as it had been filmed where I live in Torun, Poland. I'm so glad I decided to see it. It's a very well-made drama set in Frankfurt during WW2. The story focuses on the central character of Filip who is actually a Jewish Pole passing off to be a Frenchman. Despite being a Polish film the language is 80% German with some French and Polish thrown in. I highly recommend this film. It's thought-provoking and also riveting. It was also great to see my beloved Torun up on the big screen. It had been converted very well into 1940s Germany and it looked great.
Cruella (2021)
Incredibly fun and entertaining
This was a wonderfully fun and entertaining prequel. The two Emmas were brilliant and the story was a great way to introduce a back story to the Disney villain. Stay for the end credits for a neat little link to 101 Dalmatians.
Stan & Ollie (2018)
I keep thinking about this film...for all the RIGHT reasons!
I was looking forward to this from day one. Often films don't live up to the hype, but am glad to say this one does. It's a beautifully executed film with four outstanding performances, by Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly, Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda. Coogan and Reilly are so incredible that you really do believe you are watching the legendary duo. Henderson and Arianda are also brilliant in supporting roles as the wives. Every scene that Arianda is in, she immediately steals in what is a fabulously funny performance.
The film is really entertaining but also very moving and I can guarantee you will find it hard to stop shedding a few tears by the end of the movie. The relationship between the two lead actors and indeed characters is perfect and this is very much a quintessential bromance movie. There is one scene towards the end, in which Coogan's Laurel looks worryingly mid-sketch at an ailing Hardy and helps him by counting down to his imminent performance, which perfectly captures the incredible friendship and love between the two comedy legends. That short scene which lasts just a few seconds is so very powerful and Coogan captures every essence of it effortlessly.
I absolutely loved this movie. I am constantly thinking about it over and over again and WILL watch it again. This would have been a ten star review, but it dragged ever so slightly in the last half hr before the end. Nevertheless, it's still an absolutely outstanding film and if you love Hollwood and its golden age then check this out! It's a must-see!