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SMB Film Thread 2026


The Drama - 10/10

The marketing is and was fantastic for this, if you’ve seen the trailers and then watch the film you’ll understand why. Pattinson is great as always but Zendaya steals the show. She’ll get an Oscar nomination for sure. Them two are about to have some year being in this, The Odyssey & Dune: Part Three.

A24 are easily my favourite production company like, they’re behind some of the best/favourite films to be released in the past ten or so years. This, Aftersun & The Lighthouse being the big standouts for me.
Never heard of it. Will watch though. Not seen the others you mentioned either. They are on the watchlist.
 
The Virgin of the Rhine (La Vierge du Rhin) (1953) 6/10
Jean Gabin as a mysterious stranger who cadges a lift of a French barge heading through post-war Germany back to France. It gradually becomes apparent that he's the former owner of the barge company, betrayed and presumed dead by his wife and her new husband, who are now asset-stripping the company. Great set-up, but gets bogged down. Some atmospheric scenes on the river, though.
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The Bride! (2026) 3/10
What a shambles. Truly awful feminist take on the Frankenstein story, complete with penis-size jokes and even a character pointedly saying 'Me Too'. Jessie Buckley does her usual ACTING. Christian Bale's not much better.
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Cold Storage (2025) 6/10
When Skylab fell to Earth in the 70s, it turns out it was carrying a virulent mutant fungus. The program to study it is shut down, and fungus ends up in a storage facility - but it isn't entirely contained. Total nonsense that doesn't take itself too seriously. Includes cameos by Venessa Redgrave and Lesley Manville.
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Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey
Yeah it's bad. It gets an extra mark just for it's "bear" faced audacity.
2/10
Well I had to didn't I....

Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey 2
With a bigger budget than the first they were actually able to afford proper make up effects this time, which are put to reasonably effective use, particularly with the introductions of Owl and Tigger, who both seem to be channelling a bit of Freddy Krueger. (As an aside, Robert Englund will be voicing the cricket in the upcoming Pinnochio Unstrung, which is also part of the so called Poohniverse).
Anyway, this is a bit better than the first.
4/10
 
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Colours of Time (La Venue de l'avenir) (2025) 9/10
A group of distant cousins inherit a house in Normandy that's earmarked for demolition to make way for a shopping centre. Gradually they begin to uncover their family history, and realise that they've inherited more than a house. The film flits between the present and the era of the French impressionists. Looks gorgeous.
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Someone, Somewhere (Deux Moi) (2019) 6/10
Same director as the previous film, Cédric Klapisch. He made the 'Spanish Apartment' trilogy plus TV spin-off, which I loved, but can sometimes be a bit mawkish. That's the case here in spades. A rom-com in which two neighbours seem destined for each other, but will they ever meet?
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Dead Again (1991) 5/10
Kenneth Branagh's Hitchcock rip-off, er, homage. Some really dodgy accents, and Derek Jacobi and Miriam Margolyes stink the film out with their ham acting. There's a decent picture in here somewhere; probably needed Brian De Palma to find it.
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Took my son and his friend to see Mario Super Galaxy (I loved it :lol:).

Watched a film called Never Let Go on Netflix. Quite decent.
 
Violent Saturday (1955)

Victor Mature, Stephen McNally, Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Richard Egan.

It’s about three men who plan to rob a small time bank. It’s not much of a heist film, though. It’s more about a small town and some of the problems their inhabitants face, including infidelity, petty larceny, isolation and voyeurism. It’s quite damning in its own 50s way. Special mention to the ending that has a bit more violence than I expected from a mid-1950s film. Marvin is the best in this film, by far.

6/10
 
Violent Saturday (1955)

Victor Mature, Stephen McNally, Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Richard Egan.

It’s about three men who plan to rob a small time bank. It’s not much of a heist film, though. It’s more about a small town and some of the problems their inhabitants face, including infidelity, petty larceny, isolation and voyeurism. It’s quite damning in its own 50s way. Special mention to the ending that has a bit more violence than I expected from a mid-1950s film. Marvin is the best in this film, by far.

6/10
Hmmmm sounds interesting.
 
Hmmmm sounds interesting.
It’s canny. Very slow, but that’s because I expecting the heist to be the focus. All of the goings on are through a 50s Hollywood lens, so it’s all incredibly tame. But the fact that they were looking at the myth of happy small
Town America in the mid 50s at all is interesting. The print on YouTube is in crisp colour widescreen.
 
Saw on social media the other day a post quoting Paul Thomas Anderson as saying that you can learn more from John Sturges's commentary for Bad Day at Black Rock than you can in 20 years of film school.

I love the film, but somehow hadn't got round to watching it with the commentary. Put that right last night, and wholeheartedly agree. Most commentaries are a waste of time - just the director and/or actors showering each other with praise. But this one gets into the nitty gritty of film-making. Made me appreciate this film all the more, and will also help me to see other films in a fresh light.

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Reign Over Me (Netflix).
Unfamiliar role for Adam Sandler as grieving father ( wife & 3 children died in 9/11). Great cast including Don Cheadle.
Touching.
9/10.
 
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