Film and TV review.

cheers 58, something to think about

After Brexit..surviving Europe on BBC2 now!

La La Land.....proving that superb films don't need violence/murder, swearing, all-action, horror,
 sci-fi/[the supernatural, corruption......

...just great acting, cinematography and direction, soaring music, romance/love, a feelgood factor, and a basic truth about our world. Bliss!

I left after 45 minutes. Terrible. If I wanted to watch people poncing about I'd go to the Macron.

Natasha Whittam wrote:I left after 45 minutes. Terrible. If I wanted to watch people poncing about I'd go to the Macron.

So of course you're right and all the critics and awards judges are wrong:- I should have known......Philistine!

okocha wrote:So of course you're right and all the critics and awards judges are wrong:- I should have known......Philistine!

I can't remember the last film I enjoyed that was also critically acclaimed by the critics. Back To The Future maybe?

Critics have different motives rather than pure enjoyment.

okocha wrote:La La Land.....proving that superb films don't need violence/murder, swearing, all-action, horror,
 sci-fi/[the supernatural, corruption......

...just great acting, cinematography and direction, soaring music, romance/love, a feelgood factor, and a basic truth about our world. Bliss!

I was forced to watch this with the missus and it was a throwback film musical trying desperately to recreate the escapism of another era, big on nostalgia. It was enjoyable but sadly the songs were a bit modern Broadway formulaic IMO and quite forgettable.
On one level, it was refreshing to see Hollywood attempting again to breathe life into the genre (as they do periodically with the likes of Moulin Rouge and Mamma Mia) but La La Land didn't have that vital ingredient - great showtunes that stick in the head and last for years.

To properly critique this film it has to be compared alongside the films it tries to emulate and unfortunately the music falls well short of the high standards set by the likes of Cole Porter, Lerner and Loewe and Gerschwin whose songs are still played today. This film will be forgotten in a few years time and I would bet anyone that they can't remember any of the lyrics or tunes a week after they saw it.
And it's the tunes as much as anything that live on from the great musicals of the past. Who doesn't know at least a bit of "Summertime" or "Wanderin'Star" or "Sit down you're rockin' the boat"? Or friggin' ABBA?

I also have reservations about Ryan Gosling's singing. Nowhere near as bad as James Bond murdering Abba but at least in the golden age the likes of Yul Brynner made no pretence to be a singer and some of the ladies were overdubbed and Lee Marvin got away with it because he's Lee Marvin. But giving Ryan Gosling a bit of autotune doesn't quite hack it IMO. The film storyline was fine but for me if you're going to make a musical, make decent music - and keep it well away from the legions of wannabe Broadway lyricists whose dabs are all over this.

If I'd had to bet on who else besides Nat would argue against the film's joyous charm, fabulous acting and universally lauded tunes and lyrics, I would have put money on it being you, Lusty!
 Gosling's  jazz piano playing alone is stunning and the soundtrack has been downloaded an extraordinary number of times across the world. It is the only film ever to have had TWO songs nominated for Oscar in one category. The songs are lodged indelibly in all our friends' heads. The fact that your wife had to drag you to the cinema from your armchair tells me what frame of mind you were in when you arrived!
Incidentally, Mark Kermode wrote that, having watched the film, he went straight back in to the cinema to see it again, he loved it so much.  97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and adored by the media critics across the globe. In these times, it provides just the tonic we all need .....unless you are  determined to be contrary and stay true to your negative outlook. I can see that romance doesn't feature in the emotions that fill your heart......and on Valentine's Day too!!

The acting, the musical score and lyrics, the cinematography and the direction have now WON at ALL the pre-Oscar ceremonies (the Golden Globes, the Screen Writers Guilds Awards and now the Baftas.) It's received a record number of nominations and wins......and will win even more at The Oscars. 
As with Les Mis, (and Mama Mia!) you miss the point if you are expecting the singing to be as awesome as the acting: one is an aspiring jazz musician and the other an aspiring actress, not aspiring singers; it would be ridiculous if they were also shown to be as good as Alfie Boe or Adele!

Been watching The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin again. I'd forgotten how brilliant it was.

They should have binned the Martin Clunes re-make.

Just finished the second series of Better Call Saul. Strongly recommended if you liked Breaking Bad.

Watched Hacksaw Ridge last night. Fuck me what a film that is. The true story of conscientious objector Desmond Doss who was a medic on the battlefield in 1945. I highly recommend it. Brilliant story of a true hero.

I'm on the last episode of Season 2 of Gomorrah. If you can handle subtitles then it's worth viewing if you like gritty crime dramas. This one is based in Napoli and is based around two warring Mafia families. The thing that stands out for me is that none of the main characters are in the slightest way likeable. None of them have any redeeming qualities and they are all totally selfish and self-centred and capable of the most vicious behaviour to serve their own ends. Brutal and gory in parts but a change from the norm with no likeable villains.

And while I'm on.....

Billions.. Season one starring Damian Lewis.... well worth viewing.

Blacklist... I have watched the first three seasons and enjoyed every one.

Boncey, channel 5, Sunday, channel 5

Chairmanda wrote:Boncey, channel 5, Sunday, channel 5

Just off to bed to catch up on my beauty sleep,and you post this.

I'm now in a bit of a tizz. What can it mean?

I'm thinking Brucie. I'll be getting a Radio Times first thing tomorrow.

I may need extra Horlicks tonight.

They've got that out quick.

He only popped his clogs at 7pm tonight.

boltonbonce wrote:

Bread2.0 wrote:They've got that out quick.

He only popped his clogs at 7pm tonight.

Makes a change from the Panda or The Llama I suppose.

He doesn't deserve a panda. I nearly wet the bed.

Again.

It'd help if I gave you the time...7.30.