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SMB Film Thread 2025

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riffraff said:
Never heard of it. I’ll have a look. Cheers.
The shadows and angles aspect of the whole film noir apparently came from the 30s-40s influx of German and Eastern European Jewish film industry workers fleeing to the US. They were used to working quickly and cheaply and had developed the shadowy style to avoid having to dress a set up completely enough to resemble the room it was supposed to be. IE bedroom, living room, office etc etc.
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As I say, it’s not top tier by any stretch. But it’s 70 odd minutes and entirely focused on the hunt. There’s a neat little scene with photo fit tech, too.

It’s a fascinating era of filmmaking. I love the way that, like you describe, efficiency and corner-cutting led to something so iconic. They just look brilliant. The mood and atmosphere created is in stark contrast to the lavish, colour-saturated A list stuff. There’s probably a lot more depth involved in noir analysis, such as the way the photography captures the dialogue and narrative themes of pulp crime fiction, but it definitely all fits to create some amazing visuals. It’s the perfect storm of story and technique. I’ve seen colourised noirs and they look bloody awful, totally missing the point!
 

Beware! The Blob (1972) - directed by Larry Hagman
Not even going to bother giving it a rating…. Watched it on Legend Extra

Civil War (2024) - 7/10
Interesting film of government authority exceeding its power (sound familiar?) and factions of government looking to overthrow besieged POTUS, a press crew try to get to Washington DC to try and get interview with serving President. Kirsten Dunst plays the experienced photographer who is suffering PTSD really well, and Cailee Spaeny as the young naive(?) rookie photographer is outstanding. A good watch.
 
There's Still Tomorrow [2023] 10/10
In postwar Rome, a working-class woman dreams of a better future for herself and her daughter while facing abuse at the hands of her domineering husband.

So good. Brilliantly acted and directed. The central performance from Paola Cortellesi is incredible.

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Wolf Man
Having been pleasantly surprised by Leigh Whannells take on the invisible man, and a lover of Upgrade, I had high hopes for this.

The best things I can say are it looks great and it isn’t shit.

What I will say is it is far too rushed after giving the impression it was a slow burn. We’re directed through some fairly needless scenes so we “get” what the dad is all about and then the son. It’s a bit crowbarry and feels very forced.

Like I say though, it’s not shit. It just is so desperate to reach a point it forgets to be a story.
 
craigypants said:
September 5 (2024). All from inside ABC televisions control room at the 72 Munich Olympics this is a brilliantly tense movie. Unmissable and less than 90 minutes so another bonus. 8/10.
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got this lined up for saturday night, pleased its half decent... it was the presence of Leonie Benesch that peaked my interest as she was amazing in the teachers lounge last year.
 
Night Call (2024). Belgian-French co-production. A thriller that has a young locksmith help a young lady who is locked out of her apartment. But is it her apartment? Kinetic thriller with some great chase sequences. 7.5/10. Two great movies in one day!!! Amazing!! (only 90 minutes....a common theme seems to be developing. Less is more)!
 
craigypants said:
Night Call (2024). Belgian-French co-production. A thriller that has a young locksmith help a young lady who is locked out of her apartment. But is it her apartment? Kinetic thriller with some great chase sequences. 7.5/10. Two great movies in one day!!! Amazing!! (only 90 minutes....a common theme seems to be developing. Less is more)!
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Sounds a bit like Watcher, which I feel was rather unfortunately put in the “horror” category despite being much more of a Hitchcockian style thriller.
 
Magic (1978) 7/10
Anthony Hopkins as a ventriloquist whose worst instincts begin to inhabit his puppet. Dickie Attenborough directs, William Goldman wrote the screenplay, based on his own novel. Decent, but not a classic.
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The Amateur (1981) 5/10
Remake set for release in April. I saw the original when I was 14 after reading the novel. Hated the film, I think mainly because of John Savage - as uncharismatic a leading man as you could find. Hasn't improved with time. But great set-up, so hopefully the new one will do it justice.
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Infernal Affairs (2002) 9/10
Remade by Scorsese as The Departed: a criminal gang have an undercover mole in the police; the police have an undercover mole in the gang. The two eventually come face to face. Very stylish Hong Kong thriller.
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