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SMB Film Thread 2025

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Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) 9/10
Ang Lee's only film made entirely in his native Taiwan. A master chef lives with his three single daughters; as their individual circumstances change, the family dynamic alters. For those who've seen Yi Yi, this is an excellent companion film - both are partly set in the Grand Hotel in Taipei.
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After the Hunt (2025) 3/10
The opening titles rip off Woody Allen's usual style; apparently to 'start a conversation' about artistic reputations in the MeToo era, or some such guff. The film itself is a tedious examination of university intrigue after a professor (Andrew Garfield) is accused of sexual assault. Julia Roberts is his best friend and also the mentor of the accuser (her out of The Bear). The whole thing is shot in dingy half-light.
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The Gardener (1987) 9/10
I took a pic of a poster advertising this when I was in the USSR in 1987, but never got to see it. One of the great films of perestroika. A gardener fights to save his apple orchard from corrupt party officials who want to expand a chicken farm onto it. Downloaded it from YouTube and then found some English subititles to go with it. Not ideal, but because it's fallen out of favour again in Russia, it's unlikely ever to get the pristine release it deserves.
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The Running Man (2025) - Omniplex

Reboot of the old Schwarzenegger vehicle based on an old Stephen King source novel. This version is more faithful to the original novel, and apparently King really likes this version. I've always liked Edgar Wright's films on the whole, but this one didn't do it for me at all. It's about as subtle as a slap in the face, found it far too loud and brash and a bit insulting to the intelligence how 'obvious' everything was in terms of the politics. Some slick action scenes, good music, and it rattled along at a decent pace, but a disappointment over all.

5/10



Nuremberg (2025) - Omniplex

Tells the story of the formation and carrying out of the Nuremberg trials, starting with the surrender/arrest of Goering in 1945. Decent bit of story telling with some fine performances. but I felt it dragged its heels at times. Russell Crowe and Michael Shannon were both very good, and I liked the translaor character played by Leo Woodall. Can't get away with Rami Malek in this though, just feel his acting style is a bit too OTT for a role like that. Solid but unspectacular.

6.5/10
 
If I Had Legs I'd Kick You [2025] 8/10
VERY stressful and unsettling. Rose Byrne is beyond brilliant. Glad I don't have kids.

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No Other Choice [2025] 7.5/10
Just enough absurdist black comedy to get me through the runtime. Great direction but not top-tier Park for me.

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Fletch73 said:
If I Had Legs I'd Kick You [2025] 8/10
VERY stressful and unsettling. Rose Byrne is beyond brilliant. Glad I don't have kids.

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Agreed. I thought Rose Byrne was exceptional, a total departure from her usual roles.

Left me feeling totally wrung out 😩
 
Night Editor (1946) - YouTube

Flashback tale about a cop who takes his mistress to the beach and they witness a bloke stoving in a woman’s head. He can’t say anything though because he’ll lose his job and possibly family. His mistress manipulates him while he wrestles with his conscience.

Far fetched and contrived, but there’s a steady pace to this, and some nice supporting characters. The leads are strong and hold it together.

6/10

Popeye The Slayer Man (2025) - Prime

Complete and utter twaddle, even as a parody. A couple of the characters grew on me I suppose. I know it’s the point, but it’s just so daft and weak that I can’t say I enjoyed it. Even the blood effects were seventh rate.

2.5/10
 
Matinee (1993) 8/10
John Goodman as a film producer who arrives in Key West to show his latest sci-fi B-movie - Mant! - just as the Cuban missile crisis reaches its height. Superior nostalgia for Boomers.
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The Murderers Are Among Us (1946) 7/10
Soviet-sponsered propaganda movie made in what would become East Berlin. Makes great use of the bombed-out city, and portrays the plight of ordinary Germans post-WWII very well. But the message - report war criminals - is very heavy-handed.
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Bugonia (2025) 8/10
The big twist can be seen from space, but a decent, typically Yorgos movie nonetheless.
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The Accountant sky cinema

Afleck and Jon Bernthal

Not impressed by either performance tbf

About an autistic accountant who is also a money launderer for all the top cartels and also juts so happens to be the deadliest killer in the universe! Trained to take out 10 men single handed etc. gets himself into a pickle and people are trying to ‘off’ him and some lass.

Liked the first half tbf, canny interesting, even for a film I just thought the second half was daft!

A cobra score of 5/10 (second time I’ve watched this, couldn’t remember how average it was)

Don’t think I’ll watch sequel?
 
Monty Pigeon said:
Matinee (1993) 8/10
John Goodman as a film producer who arrives in Key West to show his latest sci-fi B-movie - Mant! - just as the Cuban missile crisis reaches its height. Superior nostalgia for Boomers.
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The Murderers Are Among Us (1946) 7/10
Soviet-sponsered propaganda movie made in what would become East Berlin. Makes great use of the bombed-out city, and portrays the plight of ordinary Germans post-WWII very well. But the message - report war criminals - is very heavy-handed.
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Bugonia (2025) 8/10
The big twist can be seen from space, but a decent, typically Yorgos movie nonetheless.
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I saw Bugonia last week. I’d guessed at the twist from the timeout guide paragraph on it but thought it too obvious tbh. Biggest pile of shite I’ve seen for decades. The only reason I didn’t walk out was because I was away from home and it was pissing down outside.
I’m seriously worried about your critical faculties now marra.
The first two sound interesting mind.
Motor City Cobra said:
The Accountant sky cinema

Afleck and Jon Bernthal

Not impressed by either performance tbf

About an autistic accountant who is also a money launderer for all the top cartels and also juts so happens to be the deadliest killer in the universe! Trained to take out 10 men single handed etc. gets himself into a pickle and people are trying to ‘off’ him and some lass.

Liked the first half tbf, canny interesting, even for a film I just thought the second half was daft!

A cobra score of 5/10 (second time I’ve watched this, couldn’t remember how average it was)

Don’t think I’ll watch sequel?
Click to expand...
I liked the lass mind. Fillum was silly though.
 
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After the Hunt [2025] 5/10
Are rare miss from Luca. Smart people talking endlessly but saying nothing. Julia Roberts is excellent.

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Bugonia [2025] 6/10
Given the director I found this, strangely, muted. The only time it really ratchets up is when Plemmons rushes to 'save' his mother.

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Train Dreams [2025] 7.5/10
It's beautifully shot, with good performances. I hoped for (and expected) more, though.

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riffraff said:
I saw Bugonia last week. I’d guessed at the twist from the timeout guide paragraph on it but thought it too obvious tbh. Biggest pile of shite I’ve seen for decades. The only reason I didn’t walk out was because I was away from home and it was pissing down outside.
I’m seriously worried about your critical faculties now marra.
The first two sound interesting mind.

I liked the lass mind. Fillum was silly though.
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In what context your dirty dog. I thought she was but gormless like. 😃
 
No Other Choice (2025). Had no other choice but to turn off this messy satire. As a huge fan of Oldboy this comedy thriller seemed like a completely different director. Made it just past the hour and then off it jolly well popped. 0/10.
 
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