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SMB Film Thread 2025

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One Battle after Another. Showing in Wuhan, China which slightly surprised me given drugs, violence,strong sexual references and lots of bad language. I loved it, wife was confused by it (asking loads of questions as we watched which I hate. She is Chinese so couldn't get a grasp on the characters). Only 2 other couples, one who walked out and another who had a kid of around 6 with them!! 😲 8/10.
 

Sitges Fim Festival.

The big stuff:

Luc Besson’s Dracula is a more romantic and less scary version of the story. Zoe Bleu as Mina Harker is no relation to Bonnie apparently

Del Toro’s Frankenstien is great, dark and gothic, closer to the book than lots of cinema versions

Black Phone 2 is up to the same standard as the first but doesn’t add much.

Bulk by Ben Wheatley is good solid Sci Fi, a bit weird and multidimensional

Bugonia by Yorgos Lanthimos is brilliant, conspiracy weirdness

The Long Walk, I didn’t get to see, but got a very good reception

Death of A Unicorn has already been in UK cinemas a few months back, if you haven’t see it it’s lots of fun. And the unicorns aren’t metaphors.

No Other Choice, Park Chan-wook. Up to usual standard

We Bury The Dead, with Daisy Ridley. Superior zombie movie

Not so well known but very good

Tristes Tropiques mysterious action movie
Tornada (has also been shown in the UK already)
The Ice Tower Mario Cottilard
The Ugly Stepsister', by Emilie Blichfeldt (won best picture)
Reflection in a Dead Diamond, retro 60s spy
Obsession dir. Curry Barker, very good
If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, Rose Byrne is very good in an unusual role for her
The Plague
Good Boy
Her Will be Done
Primate

African Kung Fu Nazis II - Bum Bum! Apparently this was shown somewhere but no-one could find it

TV
Talamasca: Ann Rice vampire spy series, with the great William Fichtner
IT: Welcome to Derry. Got great reception
...and Terry Gilliam says hi!

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Monty Pigeon said:
Ordet (1955) 10/10
There are films I saw last week that I can barely remember. I last watched this 20 years ago, and could remember everything. Incredibly powerful, even to an atheist.
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I'm Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)  (2024) 10/10
True story of the abduction of a former congressman during military rule in Brazil, and the enduring impact on his family. Captures the warmth of family life and the coldness of oppression vividly. Hugely relevant given the authoritarian turn the world is taking.
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Apocalypse in the Tropics (2024) 8/10
Documentary about the rise of the far right in Brazil, and the links to the evangelical movement in the US. Explains how until the mid-19th century Christians largely interpreted the Book of Revelation as predicting that the Second Coming would be preceded by 1000 years of peace and stability. A revised interpretation by an Irish priest predicted that the return of Jesus would be heralded by death and chaos. Plunging the world into tumult is not accidental: they're doing it deliberately.
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Where did you watch Ordet? Looks like my cup of tea.

Nothing so majestic here …

Cover Up (1949)

Dennis O’Keefe befriends Barbara Britton on her trip home for Christmas. He’s an insurance investigator looking into the ‘suicide’ of one of the small town’s inhabitants. He’s met be a wall of silence, led by sheriff William Bendix.

It’s a nice watch. Not edgy, not exciting, not particularly thought-provoking, but instead it’s sedate, reasonably absorbing, and has a lovely old-style atmosphere of 1940s close knit community Christmas. More melodrama than crime film, there’s a lot here to like in a gentle way. The characters are decent, and the end, though predictable, is satisfying enough.

6/10
 
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The Reckless Moment (1949)

Joan Bennett warns her daughter’s boyfriend to stay away. The daughter inadvertently causes his death when he tries to lure her away. Bennett discovers the body and dumps it elsewhere. James Mason has possession of a load of love letters and blackmails Bennett.

Mason’s flip halfway through doesn’t sit right with me. The second half of the film hangs on something that doesn’t ring true. However, despite this, I did enjoy the film a great deal. Mason is as assured as ever, while Bennett does all the heavy lifting in a haunted, neurotic performance that’s all ticks and panic. She’s excellent.

There’s some excellent direction of lighting and camera movement, thanks to Max Ophüls, and several scenes that caught my eye featuring metaphors. It’s a shame that the character development sells it short of the premise.

7.5/10

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

Cimino’s debut, and a great road/crime film. Clint is good, but upstaged (as he apparently feared) by Jeff Bridges, who delivers a great performance. George Kennedy and Geoffrey Lewis make a good pairing.

The film shifts dynamics several times with the various revelations, with the middle section a particular standout for me. I enjoyed the cat and mouse at the beginning, but I’m a sucker for heist films, so enjoyed the middle more. The ending I absolutely hated, but I respect the choice.

8/10
 
They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970)

A woman is killed in her apartment. Lieutenant Tibbs has to dig in various places to find the culprit, against the backdrop of an important referendum.

I think this gets a rough ride because it’s a step down from In the Heat of the Night, and is compared so unfavourably. On its own merits, it’s not a bad police procedural effort. There’s a decent couple of chases and Poitier is great in the title role. Solid support is provided by Martin Landau and Anthony Zerbe.

6.5/10
 
Tron: Ares - Just another middle of the road film, I quite liked Tron Legacy last time round, plus great soundtrack. Ares is just ok and the soundtrack not as memorable. I actually prefer the format of us humans going inside the program than them coming out into the real world.
 
natinnam said:
Tron: Ares - Just another middle of the road film, I quite liked Tron Legacy last time round, plus great soundtrack. Ares is just ok and the soundtrack not as memorable. I actually prefer the format of us humans going inside the program than them coming out into the real world.
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I haven't seen either of them but I'd be surprised if I rated the soundtracks the same way you have, considering Legacy was done by Daft Punk and Ares was done by Nine Inch Nails.
 
The Palm Beach Story (1942) 8/10
Enjoyable screwball comedy with one of the silliest final twists in cinematic history. Supposedly the twist at the end puts the frenetic opening into context, but the more you think about it, the less it makes sense.
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City on Fire (1987) 8/10
The movie from which Tarantino lifted the Mexican standoff in Reservoir Dogs. Classic Hong Kong thriller about an undercover cop dealing with relationship problems, the criminal underworld, and infighting within the police department.
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Algren (2021) 4/10
Documentary about Chicago writer Nelson Algren, featuring contributions from, among others, William Friedkin. I've long been a fan of Algren, and have read a recent biography. There's a great story to be told, but this is a shambles.
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Dead of Winter (2025). Emma Thompson in a thriller with a Fargoesque setting. Was alreet like. 90 minutes,some nice touches, some overlong scenes. 5.5/10. Bit of a Sunderland v Wolves movie.
 
Fletch73 said:
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask [1972] 2/10
Didn't find this funny at all.

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Everyone Says I Love You [1996] 6/10
Great cast but the musical numbers aren't great and Woody as a love interest for Julia Roberts is stretching it too far.

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Broadway Danny Rose [1984] 7.5/10
Mia Farrow is terrific in (maybe) her best Woody performance.

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I absolutely love Broadway Danny Rose. :cool:
riffraff said:
There Will Be Blood. 6/10.
This has been in my to watch pile for over a thousand years. There’s even a £3.99 HMV sticker on the box ferchrissakes. I remember reading about this one at work when it was released. The lads all agreed it sounded like a one watch only film and it’s taken me a long time but maaaaan were we right. A two and a half hour lecture on the twin evils of capitalism and religion against a backdrop of The American Dream without a laugh or lass or electric light in sight.
Charity shop pile it is.

Big Wednesday. 7/10.
This has been sitting by the tv for years anarl. A 60s/70s coming of age Californian buddy fillum with a surfing background. Some amazing surfing footage. Gary Busey had to learn to surf apparently. Another one I doubt I’ll ever want to watch again.
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Can’t understand how anyone would say that about their will be blood.
 
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