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SMB Film Thread 2026


Doogie Hauser said:
The Thirty Nine Steps (1978) - Encore

I’ve grown to like this more than the Kenneth More version, even though I love the vibrancy and atmosphere of the 1959 version.

Robert Powell is great, and heads a good cast in this more serious adaptation. It suffers because it’s not as good at the Hitchcock version, but it has a lot to recommend it, such as the pre-war setting, and the general pacing. There’s definitely room for all three films, and they all bring something to the table.

7.5/10
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Was just talking about the Hitchcock version earlier today. Think it’s 20/30 years ahead of its time. Brilliant film.
 
Houghtoner said:
Was just talking about the Hitchcock version earlier today. Think it’s 20/30 years ahead of its time. Brilliant film.
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A magnificent film. One of my all-time favourites. I read that the director of the 1959 film told Hitch that he was going to do a new version, and was basically told ‘knock yourself out, but you won’t do it as well as I did it.’

And so it came to pass!
 
The Mastermind [2025] 6/10
Josh O'Connor is very watchable and it's an interesting first half, but then it fizzles out. Also, don't put Hope Davis in a movie for 2 f***ing scenes.

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Doogie Hauser said:
A magnificent film. One of my all-time favourites. I read that the director of the 1959 film told Hitch that he was going to do a new version, and was basically told ‘knock yourself out, but you won’t do it as well as I did it.’

And so it came to pass!
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Growing up, I had a special affinity for Robert Donat. I had recurring severe asthma, and when I first saw The 39 Steps my dad told me Robert Donat suffered from the same condition, which is why he made so few films. After that, every time I has a severe attack I imagined I was a Hitchcock hero trying to escape it.

Not sure if it did the job, but by my twenties I no longer suffered from asthma.
 
Speakeasy said:
First film of 2026:

Uncut Gems (2019) - Netflix

Been meaning to watch this for a while due to the rave reviews, but always been put off due to the length and the fact that Adam Sandler's New Yorker accent sounded really grating on the trailer (it is!) and wasn't sure I could handle 2hr 15mins of it.

It's a brilliant movie, but good lord it's a stressfull watch! Felt like living through a 2hr+ panic attack/nervous breakdown. Relentless, noisy, unnerving and intense throughout. Gripping stuff, but definitely not something to watch if you want a nice relaxing bit of escapism!!

9/10
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If you haven't seen 'Good Time' by the same lads it's very similar and brilliant also.
 
The Devil All Of The Time 8/10

I would describe it as a dark psychological coming of age/crime thriller set in a backwards town post war America.
 
No Bears (2022) 9/10
Complex meta film in which director Jafar Panahi plays a version of himself in a remote Iranian village trying to remotely direct a film being shot in Turkey. Meanwhile, he unwittingly gets caught up in a village scandal.
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Eephus (2024) 9/10
Two New England baseball teams take part in the last game before their ground is redeveloped. Marvellous, meditative look at small town American life.
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Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003) 9/10
The film that inspired Eephus. A seedy Taipei cinema shows its last film before closure. Hardly any dialogue, very little plot, but eerily beautiful.
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Raffles (1939)

David Niven brings his dashing charisma to the title role, and Olivia de Havilland is his love interest. Tight, farcical, pacy and with an intoxicating atmosphere of pre-war toff buffoonery, I thoroughly enjoyed this. There’s not much to it and it’s all very lightweight, but for what it is, it’s a lovely watch. I was smug with myself for spotting James Finlayson in an uncredited role.

7/10
 
Raging Bull. (Netflix)

De Niro. Pesci. Moriarty

Hadn’t seen in a long time, juts a brilliant film obvious about Jake la motta the middleweight champ in the late 40’s.

De Niro before he became a caricature of himself . Outstanding. The ‘you fuck my wife’ scene tremendous,

Masterpiece from Scorsese.

Got to be 9.5/10 cobra score
 
Monty Pigeon said:
Eephus (2024) 9/10
Two New England baseball teams take part in the last game before their ground is redeveloped. Marvellous, meditative look at small town American life.
You must be logged on to see media items

Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003) 9/10
The film that inspired Eephus. A seedy Taipei cinema shows its last film before closure. Hardly any dialogue, very little plot, but eerily beautiful.
You must be logged on to see media items
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Dragon Inn's been on my list for a while. I recently added Eephus as it has been mentioned a couple of times by Sean Fennessy on the Ringer podcasts.
 
I always fancy watching old classics in January when the weather's sh**e and it's all cosy indoors. Had a look through iPlayer and there's a fair few on there at the minute if anyone interested:

A Man For All Seasons
Back to the Future Trilogy
Ben Hur
Blue Velvet
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Casablanca
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Citizen Kane
Dial M For Murder
Doctor Zhivago
Double Indemnity
Farewell My Lovely
Funny Face
Get Carter
The Godfather Trilogy
The Graduate
The Great Escape
Ice Cold in Alex
The Italian Job
Jaws
Judgment at Nuremberg
King Kong
Laura
Lawrence of Arabia
The Man Who Knew Too Much
North By Northwest
Passport to Pimlico
Psycho
Raging Bull
Richard III
Some Like It Hot
The Sound of Music
Spartacus
Strangers on a Train
Suspicion
The Third Man
West Side Story
What's Up Doc?
When Harry Met Sally
 
Fletch73 said:
I always fancy watching old classics in January when the weather's sh**e and it's all cosy indoors. Had a look through iPlayer and there's a fair few on there at the minute if anyone interested:

A Man For All Seasons
Back to the Future Trilogy
Ben Hur
Blue Velvet
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Casablanca
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Citizen Kane
Dial M For Murder
Doctor Zhivago
Double Indemnity
Farewell My Lovely
Funny Face
Get Carter
The Godfather Trilogy
The Graduate
The Great Escape
Ice Cold in Alex
The Italian Job
Jaws
Judgment at Nuremberg
King Kong
Laura
Lawrence of Arabia
The Man Who Knew Too Much
North By Northwest
Passport to Pimlico
Psycho
Raging Bull
Richard III
Some Like It Hot
The Sound of Music
Spartacus
Strangers on a Train
Suspicion
The Third Man
West Side Story
What's Up Doc?
When Harry Met Sally
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Great list. So many classics.
 
The Convict’s Code (1939)

Robert Kent is on parole. He makes it his business to find the person who framed him.

Amateurish and not particularly engaging.

4/10
 
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