What We Watched 16th - 27th March

You have good weeks and you have bad weeks. Ups and downs, peaks and troughs, Dogs and rats, Peaches and overripe bananas, Walnuts and gross nuts, Chocolate and bovril and you also have terrible films and awesome films. That is that way it has been for numerous years and if humans continue upon their current path, it's unlikely to sway from that anytime soon. What I'm trying to say is that this was a brilliant week and it is clearly reflected in the fact that 18 of the 25 films we watched were actually pretty excellent. Next week I intend to watch nothing but cliched and disgusting Katherine Heigl movies.
This is likely be the last What We Watched, at least the last in it's current format so you better love it as much as I love drunk sailors who carry kittens on their backs.

Sam's Week

They Live (1988)

“I came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I’m all out off bubblegum.” That pretty much tells you all you need to know about this awesome B-Movie Ex-Wrestler starring 80’s action classic. When wandering Hobo ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper eases up into town he ain’t looking to get into trouble just to make an honest buck, befriend a black guy and occasionally take his top off. BUT THEN he puts on some Hoffman lenses, and with Hoffman lenses he can see the truth and the truth’s ass needs kicking. It’s silly, shocking and sometimes shoddy but that is what makes films of this ilk so damn brilliant.  3.5 Stars.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Terrence Stamp is inspired. Guy Pearce is ripped. Hugo Weaving has a really scary face. The tale of two Australian drag queens and one transsexual as they road trip across the desert to a cabaret gig in Alice Springs is a unique visual feast. It won the Oscar for its lavish costumes and design and rightly so. It’s a truly unique film but one that occasionally gets a bit too much of a preening mess to handle. That being said though when it hits it hits hard with some astute social commentary and hilarious one liners. 3.5 Stars.

La Grande Illusion (1937)

It’s probably safe to say that La Grande Illusion is the best war film that doesn’t actually contain any war that has ever been made. More a tale of humanity, friendship and pacificism than a WW2 saga it is a truly sterling film definitely one of Renoir’s best. 4 Stars.

Gangs of New York (2002)

It’s understandable that a director with more than 50 credits to his name should occasionally do a few duds, have at least one bad day at the office. Gangs of New York feels like all of Scorsese’s off days rolled into one overly long, convoluted, poorly accented and quite frankly dull 2 and a half hour movie. It’s one of those films that annoys and disappoints me, with a cast the calibre that Scorsese assembles should make for a film on a par with Goodfellas, King of Comedy or Taxi Driver but it doesn’t. It barely gets off the ground. Also two of the only genuine Irish people they have get killed pretty sharpish. Bummer. 2 Stars.

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

An incredible film, absolutely incredible. Based on the actual transcripts of Joan’s trial Dreyer’s film oozes with intense realism, so powerful are the combined parts of this film that it feels at times more like a documentary of the actual trial. Undoubtedly one of the main reasons for it being quite so good is the unbearably amazing central performance. Maria Falconetti’s pained close ups and total immersion in the role make for some incredible viewing. Heartily recommended. 4.5 Stars.

Kes (1969)

Eeee Lad don’t thee knar that eet is reet grim for’t t’al people who mekk thurr home in’t t’grim narth. Eeee It’s reet bad our kid. Unless thee get theesel’ a pet t’hawk, lad. 

Once you get past the o’er the top northern accents Kes is a very good film, a film oozing with social realism and it does pull of the rather impressive feat of making a story about a working class kid who trains a hawk rather exciting and interesting. Eeee lad. 4 Stars.

Went the day well? (1942)

After watching The Titfield Thunderbolt last week I was keen to watch yet another Ealing film that’d definitely be rife with a quaint little British village and some scrapes that they got themselves into. However Went the day well? Is about Nazis and the threat of invasion that stalked the British towards the start of WW2, and it’s pretty hardcore. I don’t want to give anything away but it paints the Nazis as two dimensional, heartless embodiments of the devil himself and the subtitle could’ve been Nazis will kill everyone.Propaganda aside it is a really good flick, think of it like a cross between Hot Fuzz and Inglorious Basterds but made in the 40’s. 4 Stars. 

Joe's Week

Philadelphia (1993)

As far a courtroom dramas go this film is pretty much an A to B straight forward case with all the classic cliches. They way they demonize the other lawyers is laughable but in a way the whole thing is oddly endearing. Its so eager to impress, like a little kid coming home with a drawing of a cat, you can't say it's rubbish cause it'd break his little heart so instead you pat him on the head and send him on his way. 2.5 Stars.

Year of the Dog (2007)

Mike White does 3 things better than any working film maker in the world;

1. Write movies in which Jack Black is genuinely endearing  

2. Really really creep me out beyond what any Saw movie can achieve (see Chuck & Buck)

3. Surprise me.

This film has been on my shelf for a really long time and I was expecting this average kooky indie comedy that would, like Chuck & Buck, creep me out more than entertain but turns out that this film is actually a little hidden treasure about grief and influence. 4 Stars.

Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1953)

Unlike the Buster Keatons and Charlie Chaplins of this world, what Jaques Tati does is ask us to pay attention to the crowd, rather than the exploits of one bizarre man we notice the oddities of the many. 4 Stars.

An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

To me, a documentary can be so much more than a vehicle for alternative journalism (alternative to the news) it can be a snippet of life (Life in a Day) , the illustration of an idea (Encounters at the End of the World) or even a simple piece of pure art (Restrepo). An inconvenient Truth strips all external elements of the documentary film and instead is essentially a PowerPoint presentation. A bad thing? Well it could very easily be a terrible thing but Al Gore's passionate and genuine approach mixed with a comprehensive nutshell view of all things to do with pollution, global warming and all that eco-based fun makes it the most compelling and simply watchable PowerPoint I've seen since....well a friend of mine did a good one in year 5 about ducks. 4 Stars.

Still Walking (2008)

I could probably talk about this film for longer than any of us really want me too so I'll just say this; It is one of the best films I have ever seen. 5 Stars.

Weekend (2011)

Just like Still Walking, I could go on and on about why I loved this as much as I did but instead I'll just say this; Best Romantic drama I've ever seen? Probably. 5 Stars.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Similarly I could go on and on about why this film is the dullest piece of trash I have ever witnessed but instead I'll just give it the Stars it deserves. 1.5 Stars.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005)

It's funny and sharp and snappy but for the most part feels like a Tarantino movie not directed by Tarantino. Still damn good. 3.5 Stars.

Anything for Her (2008)

For those of you that think that French cinema is nothing but perfect gold watch this and tell me it isn't one of the most meh thrillers ever created. The leads arc makes little-to-no sense and for the most part it just feels like they are simply going through the motions. 2.5 Stars.

Fish Tank (2009)

Sure, Wuthering Heights was a big disappointment with it's superb first half and disjointed silly looking second round, but looking back nothing can tarnish how fresh and honestly enjoyable this council estate drama was/is. Their is something incredibly relatable in Mia even if I'm nothing like her. 4.5 Stars.

Encounters at the End of the World (2007)

Herzog asks some big questions in what turns out to be a bit of a double meaning of a film. March of the Penguins this is not, and thank god for that. 4.5 Stars.

SLC Punk (1998)

I will always love Matthew Lillard. After Scooby Doo 2 he somewhat dropped off the map and it's never really made any sense to me. In all the films he has at least a supporting role in, he carries the film. In the case of SLC Punk there is really nothing to watch without his presence. It's heavy handed and obvious, also the subject matter is some heavily trodden ground but it's still sincere in it's approach and at times dumb enough to work. 3 Stars. 

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

A product of it's era and it often shows for the worst, in many cases making you feel like you are missing out on a bigger joke but their is still a lot of fun to be had in this Hollywood classic. Next boxing day, bust this one out and watch a one man single-handedly rip apart a petrol station. 3 Stars.

A Kid With a Bike (2012)

Review Forthcoming

3 Stars.

The Woman in Black (2012)

Review Forthcoming

(Cliched, stupid, predictable and completely un-talented mess)

2 Stars.

L'Atlante (1934)

In many cases, the older a comedy gets the less funny it gets. This certainly does not apply in L'Atlante a film that screams charisma and humor and kittens. 4 Stars.

Scream 4 (2011)

If you are a fan of Scream and horror in general then consider this a return to the originals glory, my only real problem with it is the flimsy psychosis of the killer. 3 Stars.