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SMB Film Thread 2025
- Thread starter Fletch73
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The Gorge - Type of film you watch on a plane when you have seen all the headliner films on offer, it wastes 2h without thinking too much, actually, I watched it and my thinking was more about what shall I have for tea, what shall i pack for my trip next week, do i need some new work boots. Luckily it seems to be a one and done film, although the 2 main leads did seem to have a good connection (Was mentioned elsewhere, but kinda true) Overall 5/10
Monty Pigeon
Striker
Gumshoe (1971) 6/10
I really wanted to like this more. Directorial debut for Stephen Frears, starring Albert Finney as a Liverpool comedian who wants to be a private detective. Intended as a homage to the Hollywood private eye films of the 1940s, it gets bogged down in its own plot.
The Searchers (1956) 10/10
I've just read Glenn Frankel's book The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend, which puts the movie into historical context. The film didn't do well on release, was later reappraised as one of the greatest of all time, and more recently has been re-reappraised for its attitudes to women and native Americans. It's still brilliant, and the 4K restoration is stunning.
Pickup on South Street (1953) 9/10
Richard Widmark as a New York pickpocket working the subway. He steals a purse that contains government secrets, and is plunged into Cold War intrigue. Excellent direction from Samuel Fuller, and a movie-stealing performance by Thelma Ritter as a professional snitch.
I really wanted to like this more. Directorial debut for Stephen Frears, starring Albert Finney as a Liverpool comedian who wants to be a private detective. Intended as a homage to the Hollywood private eye films of the 1940s, it gets bogged down in its own plot.
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The Searchers (1956) 10/10
I've just read Glenn Frankel's book The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend, which puts the movie into historical context. The film didn't do well on release, was later reappraised as one of the greatest of all time, and more recently has been re-reappraised for its attitudes to women and native Americans. It's still brilliant, and the 4K restoration is stunning.
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Pickup on South Street (1953) 9/10
Richard Widmark as a New York pickpocket working the subway. He steals a purse that contains government secrets, and is plunged into Cold War intrigue. Excellent direction from Samuel Fuller, and a movie-stealing performance by Thelma Ritter as a professional snitch.
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Doogie Hauser
Midfield
Death Rides A Horse (1967)
Spaghetti Western. The lone survivor of a massacre grows up (John Phillip Law) to be a crack shot, ready to hunt down the wanksplats who put his family six feet under. Lee Van Cleef is released from a 15 year sentence for the murder of the aforementioned family. He was innocent and wants to find the real villains.
The two men share a common goal, but can’t agree on method or timing. They end up abandoning each other at various points, before stumbling into trouble and having to be rescued.
There’s some great visuals in this. The lashing rain in the opening scene is superb, and some of the camerawork later on is commendable. Law is ok, Van Cleef is great. This really wants to be a Clint Eastwood film, but it lacks the gravitas and X factor of his work. However, I really liked it. It is perhaps overlong, and some may find it dull, but when it works well, it really works well. I thought it was atmospheric and engaging.
7.5/10
Spaghetti Western. The lone survivor of a massacre grows up (John Phillip Law) to be a crack shot, ready to hunt down the wanksplats who put his family six feet under. Lee Van Cleef is released from a 15 year sentence for the murder of the aforementioned family. He was innocent and wants to find the real villains.
The two men share a common goal, but can’t agree on method or timing. They end up abandoning each other at various points, before stumbling into trouble and having to be rescued.
There’s some great visuals in this. The lashing rain in the opening scene is superb, and some of the camerawork later on is commendable. Law is ok, Van Cleef is great. This really wants to be a Clint Eastwood film, but it lacks the gravitas and X factor of his work. However, I really liked it. It is perhaps overlong, and some may find it dull, but when it works well, it really works well. I thought it was atmospheric and engaging.
7.5/10
Harry Gates
Winger
John Phillip Law was a beautiful looking man of limited talent, male Bo Derek springs to mind.
Saying that i always thought he'd have made a good gunfighter in Westworld.
Doogie Hauser
Midfield
I remember him in a Sinbad, but that’s about it! He was alright in this.
riffraff
Striker
I know what you mean about Gumshoe. The other two are classics.
Secret Visage
Striker
Watching The Gorge at the moment.
Enjoyable so far and their Christmas accompanied by the Twisted Sister version of Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Enjoyable so far and their Christmas accompanied by the Twisted Sister version of Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Lankester Merrin
Striker
Lots of fun. The destruction of the dam is a true story. My girlfriend's grandad was a partisan in WW2, and like the characters in the film he was betrayed by the Chetniks, survived 2 years in Matthausen. Odd watching a movie version.
There is an amazing Yugoslavian war epic called Battle of Neretva, which is well worth a watch with Orson Wells, Franco Nero (again), Yul Brynner, Curt Jurgens, etc.
Speakeasy
Full Back
Mickey 17
Latest from Bong Joon Ho of Parasite fame, adapted from popular sci-fi novel of a few years ago. I loved both Parasite and Okja, but have to say I didn't really enjoy this at all.
Started ok and the concept/set-up is quite an interesting one. However, I just found from about 1/3 of the way in it was all over the place. The attempts at political satire are so obvious and simplistic they're appear crude and half arsed. I love both Mark Buffalo and Toni Collette but thought both of them were teeth-gratingly bad in this - probably due largely to the shoddy writing of their characters.
The film didn't seem to know what it was trying to be and ended up a bit of a mess. In the end I fell asleep about 20-30 mins from the finish, so my partner had to tell me how it ended (predictably, as it happens).
Won't give it a score given I snoozed through a good chunk of it!
Latest from Bong Joon Ho of Parasite fame, adapted from popular sci-fi novel of a few years ago. I loved both Parasite and Okja, but have to say I didn't really enjoy this at all.
Started ok and the concept/set-up is quite an interesting one. However, I just found from about 1/3 of the way in it was all over the place. The attempts at political satire are so obvious and simplistic they're appear crude and half arsed. I love both Mark Buffalo and Toni Collette but thought both of them were teeth-gratingly bad in this - probably due largely to the shoddy writing of their characters.
The film didn't seem to know what it was trying to be and ended up a bit of a mess. In the end I fell asleep about 20-30 mins from the finish, so my partner had to tell me how it ended (predictably, as it happens).
Won't give it a score given I snoozed through a good chunk of it!
errant
Striker
falling asleep at the cinema is never a good reflection of the movie you've paid to watch... :-/
craigypants
Striker
Agree 100%.
Drexl
Striker
Motion to refer to Mark Ruffalo as Mark Buffalo going forward submitted.
Fletch73
Midfield
Damn. Have been looking forward to this. Jonathan Ross slated it on his film podcast yesterday as well.
craigypants
Striker
Good for him. Wendy Ide in The Guardian gave it 4/5. Dear me.....
Doogie Hauser
Midfield
The Shanghai Story (1954)
Edmond O’Brien is one of 30-odd people rounded up by the Chinese authorities and thrown in a hotel under guard. There’s a Westerner sending state secrets to their home government, and the secret police are trying to whittle him out. Ruth Roman is an old hand in the area - she has the ear of the police chief, who wants her to use her influence to pinpoint the culprit.
Atmospheric oddity, mainly an anti-communist propaganda film, but with a great cast and some genuine tension. The character work is engaging. Whit Bissell (who seems to be in everything I watch recently) is one of the hotel inmates, and is one of many character actors who add liveliness to a focused-locale production. Most of it is set in the hotel, but there’s a scene on a river that’s pure noir.
Pretty good. EOB excellent, as usual.
7/10
Edmond O’Brien is one of 30-odd people rounded up by the Chinese authorities and thrown in a hotel under guard. There’s a Westerner sending state secrets to their home government, and the secret police are trying to whittle him out. Ruth Roman is an old hand in the area - she has the ear of the police chief, who wants her to use her influence to pinpoint the culprit.
Atmospheric oddity, mainly an anti-communist propaganda film, but with a great cast and some genuine tension. The character work is engaging. Whit Bissell (who seems to be in everything I watch recently) is one of the hotel inmates, and is one of many character actors who add liveliness to a focused-locale production. Most of it is set in the hotel, but there’s a scene on a river that’s pure noir.
Pretty good. EOB excellent, as usual.
7/10
You’ll be pleased to know it’s a massive flop financially.
Speaking of massive flops. I wish people would just cancel Netflix. Giving £300m to the Russo’s who haven’t made a good film in donkeys and then surprise surprise it’s f***ing shit!
I’m talking about Electric State btw.
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