Four by Four...
One of the many benefits of a staycation (aside from my local Costa, local gym, my cockatiel, being able to cook and eat food I like, sleep when I like, and no bloody jetlag) is the fact I can watch films. So, four films I've enjoyed over the last couple of weeks...
12. High Rise (dir. Ben Wheatley, 2016)
If you haven't read JG Ballard's dystopian novel, its safe to say some of this won't make much sense. Written as a diatribe against the trend for new high rise blocks in the late 1960s, Tom Hiddleston is a doctor who buys an apartment, only to find that he's increasingly institutionalised in a self-contained world where you never need to leave. As social boundaries blur and fray, he finds that people start to turn on each other. Filmed in hyper real, dreamlike state, this is a difficult film to like, but its underlying message about the fragility of civilisation is timely. Worth watching.
13. Jason Bourne (dir. Paul Greengrass, 2016)
Seen at the cinema, with Dad.
This is essentially three action set pieces, cobbled together with minimal dialogue and Matt Damon looking rather confused. However, as Bond seems to be sliding back into self-parody, its good to see a tough, gritty film that shows just how dangerous Black Ops is - and also how it has to be done with co-operation. Damon is typically excellent, but its Alicia Vikander who really steals the show as a Cyber division head with conflicted loyalties. If you've seen the other four films, you're good to go, but anyone who likes a decent action flick will find things to enjoy.
14. Suicide Squad (dir. David Ayer, 2016)
OK, its had terrible reviews, and people are screaming that it a massive let down - but I actually enjoyed it, possibly because I'm a simple soul, or maybe its because I recognise this for what it is - a big, lurid, trashy comic book fest that doesn't and shouldn't be taken seriously. There are weak spots - the plot is nonsensical, Cara Delevigne can't act for toffee and Jared Leto is really bloody annoying. But there's also Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Will Smith as Deadshot, and Viola Davis being totally badass - and they're all wonderful. Oh, and its also only 2 hours - which considering the bum numbing length of some comic blockbusters, is very, very welcome!!
15. Midnight Special (dir. Jeff Nichols, 2016)
This is a really interesting film - its essentially a chase movie, with an intelligent sci-fi concept underpinning it. It also features Adam Driver as a bespectacled FBI agent, so that was a win for me...but this is good. Stylistically, its very subtle - its filmed in a muted palette of colours, and I'm guessing that the setting is intended to be the late 70s/very early 80s. Its also a character driven film, so not much actually happens - but what evolves is a story of love and the desire to protect, and if you like clever, well thought out sci fi, you may want to check this out. Worth watching.
12. High Rise (dir. Ben Wheatley, 2016)
If you haven't read JG Ballard's dystopian novel, its safe to say some of this won't make much sense. Written as a diatribe against the trend for new high rise blocks in the late 1960s, Tom Hiddleston is a doctor who buys an apartment, only to find that he's increasingly institutionalised in a self-contained world where you never need to leave. As social boundaries blur and fray, he finds that people start to turn on each other. Filmed in hyper real, dreamlike state, this is a difficult film to like, but its underlying message about the fragility of civilisation is timely. Worth watching.
13. Jason Bourne (dir. Paul Greengrass, 2016)
Seen at the cinema, with Dad.
This is essentially three action set pieces, cobbled together with minimal dialogue and Matt Damon looking rather confused. However, as Bond seems to be sliding back into self-parody, its good to see a tough, gritty film that shows just how dangerous Black Ops is - and also how it has to be done with co-operation. Damon is typically excellent, but its Alicia Vikander who really steals the show as a Cyber division head with conflicted loyalties. If you've seen the other four films, you're good to go, but anyone who likes a decent action flick will find things to enjoy.
14. Suicide Squad (dir. David Ayer, 2016)
OK, its had terrible reviews, and people are screaming that it a massive let down - but I actually enjoyed it, possibly because I'm a simple soul, or maybe its because I recognise this for what it is - a big, lurid, trashy comic book fest that doesn't and shouldn't be taken seriously. There are weak spots - the plot is nonsensical, Cara Delevigne can't act for toffee and Jared Leto is really bloody annoying. But there's also Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Will Smith as Deadshot, and Viola Davis being totally badass - and they're all wonderful. Oh, and its also only 2 hours - which considering the bum numbing length of some comic blockbusters, is very, very welcome!!
15. Midnight Special (dir. Jeff Nichols, 2016)
This is a really interesting film - its essentially a chase movie, with an intelligent sci-fi concept underpinning it. It also features Adam Driver as a bespectacled FBI agent, so that was a win for me...but this is good. Stylistically, its very subtle - its filmed in a muted palette of colours, and I'm guessing that the setting is intended to be the late 70s/very early 80s. Its also a character driven film, so not much actually happens - but what evolves is a story of love and the desire to protect, and if you like clever, well thought out sci fi, you may want to check this out. Worth watching.