The Toll

Revolvers are cocked. Shotguns are racked and Winchester rifles are primed. Eyes squint and scan. The night sky is lit up by gunfire. Blood splatters. A machete spins across the sky and impales itself in someone's mouth. The wild west is a bloody, venal, seedy place where no one is safe. No one. The wild west of Wales that is.

The English come to die in Pembrokeshire. The graffiti says so. One such Englishman passing through Wales on his way to a ferry to Ireland does anyway. Soon after he recognises Toll Booth (Michael Smiley), so called because it's been his job for the past 29 years. It's quiet work, no one bothers you, you can look the other way and Toll does so often and because of him crime is thriving in the small village nearby. Catrin's (Annes Elwy) the only cop in town who cares about what's happening in the locale. It's a year after her father's death and she's channeled her grief into her work. Now strange things are happening and she needs to figure out why. And it all starts with the robbery of Toll Booth's watch, £1.20 and a ham sandwich. Why £1.20 you ask? The toll is 40p and that's a whole day's takings. STAKES ARE HIGH.

Yep, it's a quirky one. Can you tell? But it's not self consciously so. Every wacky plotline benefits the story. Every odd new character adds to the stew. The Asian/American Elvis impersonator and her vocally impaired girlfriend, the murderous triplets who vote on every crime, the ambulance medic to whom the Hippocratic oath is non existent or the blind Shawshank Redemption fan who knows everything happening in town. None are set dressing, all interact believably with each other and each one plays a part and you'll feel the grin crawl across your face as you realise how. Even the fractured narrative, a plot device done to death at this stage is fun, leaving you guessing and second guessing just what it exactly going on here.

It packs a lot in in it's 82 minutes. Maybe too much. One much feared character gets short shrift when he finally arrives but the brevity of his appearance will make you giggle too. It's just another unpredictable turn The Toll takes. Casting Michael Smiley in the lead is a fine move. That hangdog, dead behind the eyes look as Toll, used so well by Ben Wheatley and Edgar Wright, you never know what's he's thinking, what he'll do next. A horrific past is hinted at but never made clear, he's a walking talking macguffin of a man. Catrin's his exact opposite. Open, inquisitive, making time for everyone, respected by the villagers but not above a joke either when questions in a packed pub turns into a film themed pisstake of epic proportions. It's her story you'll cling to and where you'll get an ending that ties everything together in a satisfying fashion.

"What's that book you're reading.........oh I've read that. Nothing happens.... it's brilliant." The final line of the film is a big ol' wink at the camera but the nothing happens part couldn't be less accurate. What starts as gloomy British drama ends up in the Wild West helped along by belly laughs and brutality and a couple of digs at the English, who are, would you believe it, never not at it.

The Toll is out now to watch on Google Movies and it's well worth your couple of quid.

Candyman

Ya, it's grand. The original was better. You know yourself shur.

17 films on TV this week that you might enjoy

1984   Sat   28/8   TG4 @ 21.20

The Ministry of truth. A ropey place to work, everyday spent rewriting history to suit the whims of those in charge. One man is sick of his job and his place in a totalitarian regime so decides to rebel with his greatest weapon. His heart. John Hurt does amazing work in a brutally bleak yet oddly beautiful adaption of George Orwell's prescient novel. Not a fun watch but an important watch. Suzanna Hamilton and Richard Burton (in his last film) do very first rate work.

Come To Daddy   Sat   28/8   Film4 @ 23.15

Life is tough for Norvel Greenwood. Adulthood has not turned out the way he thought it would and when he takes a trip into the wilderness to reconnect with his long estranged father things really go off the rails. Once a week in this list there'll be a film that will offend some and here's this week's. But those who stick with it will be rewarded with a darkly effective and blackly comic look at life's stranger relationships. Elijah Wood rocks the main role.

Postcards From The Edge   Sat   28/8   RTE1 @ 23.45

Meryl Streep is on top form as a film star called Suzanne Vale who's trying to rebuild both her career and her relationship with her mother after a cocaine overdose nearly kills her. The late and sorely missed Carrie Fisher wrote this funny and moving film from her own novel which was kinda sorta based on her own life. There's a superb cast too including Shirley Maclaine, Gene Hackman & Richard Dreyfuss amongst others.

Schizo   Sun   29/8   The Horror Channel @ 02.30

Something strange is happening to Samantha. Newly married life isn't really enjoyable when you're being stalked by a face from your past and when no one believes you it feels even worse. The decidedly un-pc title of Peter Walker's 1976 horror film may date it but it's still a genuinely effective slice of schlock horror who's influence is still being felt in movies today. Lynne Frederick puts in a barnstormer of a lead performance.

Jason And The Argonauts   Sun   29/8   Film4 @ 14.45

An ancient prophecy has told Jason he'll one day take the throne of Greece but first he must set out on an adventure to find a mythical golden fleece. Will it be an easy journey? HAH! Ray Harryhausen's special effects gave children nightmares when it was released 58 years ago and they still look splendid now, buoying a fun filled fantasy film that still holds it's own in a time of CGI overload. Todd Armstrong's Jason is a hero for all the family.

Witness For The Prosecution   Sun   29/8   BBC2 @ 16.05

Wilfred Robarts, a barrister, has just taken on a hell of a case. Leonard Vole has been accused of murder and the case against him is strong, especially when his wife is called into the witness stand against him. Billy Wilder's take on Agatha Christie's story is a cracker with Wilder's directorial skill removing the staginess from the story and turning it into a vital, tense and witty watch. Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton and Tyrone Power all hit their marks wonderfully.

A Man Called Horse   Sun   29/8   Great! Movies Action (formerly Sony Movies Action) @ 22.00

When he wanders into Sioux territory John Morgan is in big trouble. But he's spared by Chief Yellow Hand when his physical characteristics catch the eye of the tribe. One of the first American westerns to show Native Americans as real people and not just cannon fodder. It's not a total success but it's an interesting first insight into a culture rarely seen onscreen. It's brutally violent in parts too so be wary. Richard Harris and Manu Topou are strong here.

To Catch A Thief   Mon   30/8   BBC2 @ 15.40

A retired cat burglar living a quiet life on the French Riviera is being framed for crimes he didn't commit and wants to find out who is doing so and why. Alfred Hitchcock's 1955 comedy thriller is a perfect lazy afternoon watch. A funny, playful, tense and glorious looking film. The French scenery is almost as pretty as star Grace Kelly and the chemistry between her and Cary Grant is spot on.

On The Basis Of Sex   Mon   30/8   BBC2 @ 22.30

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg passed away last year and here's her story set out over 37 years of her life from her first day in Harvard law up to the moment she made history in the early 90's. Felicity Jones does fine work in a story not many people will know about outside the United States. As with most biopics it treads the usual steps but those steps are expertly taken. Justin Theroux and Kathy Bates are ace in support.

Alien Nation   Mon   30/8   Talking Pictures TV @ 22.50

1988. Aliens land on earth. 1991. They're getting jobs as cops. The integration isn't smooth. Human cop Sykes is partnered with alien cop Sam and he's not happy about it at all. On the surface a buddy cop film but this one is far deeper and better than you'll initially think as it's necessarily blunt metaphors bleed into the narrative. James Caan and a very likable Mandy Patakin work well together (eventually!)

Terror By Night   Tues   31/8   TCM @ 15.25

A priceless artifact is nabbed on a train bound for Edinburgh from London and it's owner meets his maker too. Luckily Sherlock Holmes is onboard and he's about to put his world famous detecting prowess to work. Basil Rathbone's thirteenth film as Holmes is a well put together mystery, and as atmospheric and entertaining as you'd expect from the series. Nigel Bruce and Dennis Hoey add to the fun as Dr Watson and Inspector Lestrade.

Vice   Wed   1/9   RTE1 @ 21.35

There once was a bad man called Dick Cheney who wormed his way up through the US government and found himself seated at the right hand of the most powerful man on earth. A man who listened to Dick way too much. Adam McKay's 2018 drama is messy and overlong but it's also a scathing and excellently acted look at the absolute state of American politics. Christian Bale is great in a cast too packed with famous faces to name.

Gloria Bell   Wed   1/9   BBC2 @ 23.15

Gloria lives to dance and free from her marriage is living life to the max. At a club she meets Arnold and takes a chance on a new direction in life. Being with him comes with obstacles, and baggage. Gloria is a bittersweet look at life after 50 that while upsetting and painfully honest in places is ultimately an uplifting watch and one that's carried along by a fantastic leading performance from Julianne Moore.

Detour   Thur   2/9   Talking Pictures TV @ 03.40

Al's hitching from New York to Los Angeles to see his dame but his plans take a swerve when the man driving him dies and fearing he'll take the fall for it Al decides to cover up the crime and become the dead man. A simple but really effective slice of film noir that, despite it's visual shoddiness, will get under your skin due to it's unnerving story telling and off kilter feel. Tom Neal and Ann Savage play off each other nicely.

Force Majeure   Fri   3/9   Film4 @ 01.35

A Swedish family in the Alps find themselves in a very confusing situation after an unexpected reaction during an avalanche. A wry and knowing look at masculinity and what can go wrong with it. Darkly humorous, upsetting and mortifying at times, it's hard to watch but you won't be able to look away. Top notch acting too with two stellar performances from Johannes Kuhnke & Lisa Loven Kongsli. A mature, original film.

Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist   Fri   3/9   Great! Movies (fomerly Sony movies) @ 16.35

Nick's ex is at his concert with her new beau. To look like he's not bothered he asks a random girl in the crowd to pretend to be his new girlfriend and to his surprise Norah agrees. Thus begins a memorable night. Sweet, charming, warm, funny are 4 words you can happily use to describe this lovely romantic comedy. Wait that's 5 words. Michael Cera and Kat Dennings play the titular characters and the chemistry between them is wicked.

Anna   Fri   3/9   Virgin Media One @ 22.00

Desperate to escape a miserable existence, a Russian woman takes the KGB up on an offer to be trained as an assassin. Turns out she's rather good at it. Other international enforcement agencies have noticed the fact too. Blisteringly silly and chock full of cliche Anna might be but it's also slickly made, stylish as hell, packed with bruising action and carried by decent turns from Sasha Luss, Helen Mirren and Cillian Murphy.

Any chance of a retweet if something here has taken your fancy? Cheers.

  

Video Nasty Rewatch part 32 - Nightmares In A Damaged Brain

If you were watching Nightmares In A Damaged Brain for the first time you couldn't be blamed for wondering what all the fuss is about. Ya, it's grim and a couple of moments are pretty vicious but there's nothing here that should have landed the film on the video nasty lis...... oh no, wait, there it is. There's the shot a man got sent to jail for. Genuinely.

The screams of a psychotic man reverberate around the padded rooms of a psychiatric hospital in New York City. They're coming from George Tatum who's been there for quite a while after he was found guilty of murdering an entire family and his crimes have left quite the mark on him. He's haunted by dreams and visions every night but the doctors in the institute are trying a cocktail of medication to keep him on the straight and narrow. When they succeed he's released into the world where he goes straight to a Times Square sex show which triggers bloody flashbacks to his youth in Florida. In Florida his ex wife Susan is having her own struggles and her son CJ is the cause of all of them. He's a troubled young boy, prone to ghastly pranks that have left Susan's nerves on a cliff edge. That thin veil of normality she's clinging to is in trouble when she realises her ex is heading south for a visit.

1982. Nightmares In A Damaged Brain hits the BBFC offices and gets snipped to bits as was the norm for horror films in the heyday of BBFC director James Ferman. A year later the full version is released on VHS into the unregulated home video market and all the blood and guts chopped out the year before are back and British consumers lap it all up. Unfortunately for the film and it's distributor David Hamilton Grant the video nasty furore is in full effect and the unexpurgated version catches the eye of the BBFC and the director of public prosecutions. The film is instantly banned and because of this the supply of unclassified videos became a criminal offence. DHG was caught with copies of the film which he refused to edit back to the cinema version and jailed for 18 months becoming the only person (i think) to actually spend time behind bars because of a video nasty. It's a bit much for a horror film ain't it. What was all the hassle about anyway?

Near the end of the film we get a full flashback and see why George turned out the way he did. As a child he witnessed his parents up to naughtiness with ropes and slaps and decided to mince em' both with an axe. Rather graphically. Mam's head ends up rolling across the floor and Dad gets his mush bisected. It's a genuinely grubby and grim moment created with some rather extreme practical effects. In other nasties it's a moment you might have laughed at but the fact of the matter is that Nightmares In A Damaged Brain is a well made and quite well acted film that works hard to earn it's shocking climax. Throughout it's hinted at and glimpsed but when we actually see it in full the whole film suddenly makes sense. Things that confused us earlier are seen in a different context. It's clever film making and quite ahead of it's time in terms of it's fractured narrative.

But to the BBFC it was butchery, gratuitous gore and shock value. The fact that a child was involved in it's most infamous moment meant it was always going to have a target on it's back. it's conflicting themes of nature vs nurture were ignored and it's a pity. The film became infamous for it's gore but deserved to be recognised for it's story too.

Did it deserve to be a video nasty notoriety? These days people wouldn't even blink an eye at it but in the heady days of 1983 that climactic moment was always going to be trouble.

Would I recommend? Yup. Definitely. It's one of the best of the bunch. A well made, tense, intelligent shocker.

P.S.

The FX maestro Tom Savini denies having anything to do with this film. Writer/Director Romano Scavolini says this is nonsense. Savini says he had no part in it. But photos of him exist on set during the filming of it's most infamous moment. Why would he deny having anything to do with a film arguably better than a lot of his other output? Odd.

Another odd thing. David Hamilton Grant, the jailed distributor, was murdered in 1991, supposedly the victim of a contract killing. Aside from feature film distribution he had a finger in many unsavoury pies, pornography production and even, according to British tabloids, drug dealing. A strange end to a strange life.

Next up - Night Of The Bloody Apes. Back into the shitpit again.

The Bright Side

It's a trampoline that starts it all. In a fit of rage Ruth (Gemma-Leah Devereux) falls off her brother's one in his backyard and a subsequent trip to the hospital shows up a worrying mass in her breast. Cancer is confirmed and Ruth's indifference to it scares those around her. She's been depressed for years and sees her diagnosis as a guilt free way to leave a life she stopped enjoying a long time ago. To calm familial nerves she agrees to chemotherapy and during treatment meets a group of women in the same situation who make her look at her life differently.

Cancer. Suicide. Depression. Three things that have affected all of us in one way or another. We've been through it or we know someone who has. Life changing, traumatic, devastating, an odd trio to built a film around but director Ruth Meehan working off the memoirs of Anne Gildea has crafted a painfully honest, funny, upsetting and ultimately uplifting look at what we all dread. At times, especially in it's midsection The Bright Side feels a bit drifty, a wee bit aimless but it keeps saving itself with beautifully drawn moments of humanity, kerbside truths spoken through a car window, a filthy Kerry man joke told by the most unlikely candidate in the room and a watery argument where the barbs feel like violence and ever so real. All the best Irish films have had an uncanny ability to make you laugh while punching you in the jaw and The Bright Side carries on that tradition with aplomb.

"Silence is the language of the gods. All else is a poor translation." A quote from a 13th century Persian poet called Rumi. Spoken in a quiet riverside moment between two friends about to become more than that. Silence is the one thing Ruth can't cope with. Stand up comedy is her bread and butter. Cutting wit and brutal truth are her tools. Her day job helps her deal with life, she uses her comedy routines like a visit to a psychiatrist, turning her pain into laughs. She's a wonderful way with words but they aren't masking her pain anymore and a promotional spot on the radio that goes sideways when she's asked a real question lets her know she isn't as strong as she thinks she is. This is too much to deal with alone. She starts to open up, she takes help from her pharmacist Andy (Tom Vaughn Lawlor), she drops the sarcastic front with her chemotherapy acquaintances and beautiful things start to happen.

Gemma-Leah Devereux is fantastic in the part, appearing in every scene, interactions with everyone, some good, some bad, some downright ugly. The understandably thorny Tracy (Siobhan Cullen), the baba of the group. Posh Fiona (Karen Egan), the tower of strength, never anything but 100% positive. Helen (Derbhle Crotty), upset after hiding her light under a bushel for most of her years and now mad to start really living and lovable Roisin (Barbara Brennan), the elder stateswoman of the group, who's religious views rub Ruth up in the earlier scenes. A chemo ward rant against the church giving GLD something to really get her teeth into but it shows off the other sides of her character too. She's genuinely unlikable at times, thoughtless, prone to lashing out at those who care, really going in for the kill. But it will never put you off her, it just makes her feel even more real. The film might be called The Bright Side but it's never afraid to show you the darker sides too.

The Bright Side is in cinemas now. It's very good indeed. Go on, support Irish film. 

It's gone hot again.

Me today. Just when you think summer is over there's one last sting in the tail.

It'a an evening to watch something set somewhere cold.

Ice Station Zebra would get the job done but the downside is you'd die of boredom.

Cliffhanger's always an option. Cliffhanger's great.

As is John Carpenter's The Thing.

The Grey. Liam Neeson fighting wolves in remote Alaska would definitely hit the spot. Plus it's a genuinely brilliant movie that people won't take a chance on for some reason.

The Hateful Eight? Wind River? Force Majeure. Winter's Bone? Let Me In? Ravenous? Alive? Christ, all these snowy films are very grim aren......

COOL RUNNINGS!!!

Yup. Better than any Mr Freeze.

31 Day Movie Challenge For the Summer Months - Day 31

A film beginning with R.

Robocop. Brilliant. Subversive. Sly. Hilarious. Vicious. Extremely precient, almost terrifyingly so. Clarence Boddicker. Chairman Dick. The Old man. Emil + toxic waste + car = insanity. 

That ending.

"That's some fine shooting son. What's your name?"

"Murphy."

THE END.

Perfection

17 films on TV for you this week

Fighting With My Family   Sat   21/8   CH4 @ 21.00

The Knight's are a family of wrestlers and bouncing each other off the canvas keeps them close. That is until daughter Saraya applies to join World Wrestling Entertainment inc and gets accepted which leads to more than a bit of strife. The true story of wrestler Paige is a lot warmer and funnier than you'll expect. The usual sport movie cliches are there but the films energy and fizz will mean you won't care. Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Nick Frost and Jack Lowden all go well together.

Lords Of Chaos   Sat   21/8   Film4 @ 23.15

In the early 90's the young men of Oslo took their metal music very seriously and efforts to one up each other led to a crime spree that made worldwide news. At the centre of it all were musicians Øystein Aarseth and Kristian Vikarnes. A true story so bonkers it will seem like fiction, laced with treacle black humour and some almost unwatchable bloodshed. It's not for the faint of heart but great acting from Rory Culkin and Jack Kilmer add lightness to it.

The Drummer And The Keeper   Sat   21/8   RTE1 @ 23.55

Gabriel is a drummer with a bipolar disorder. Christopher is a teenager with Asperger's. Thrown together at a football game as part of their treatment they form a bond. This Dublin set drama is a captivating look at the therapeutic power of friendship. It's a tough watch in places but it builds to a heart warming finish. Jacob McCarthy & Dermot Murphy lead a lovely Irish cast that also includes Peter Coonan and Niamh Algar. Warning - lego fans may be traumatised

The Straight Story   Sun   22/8   Film4 @ 11.00

A health scare has given Alvin a fright and when his brother fails ill he decides to visit him. But he lives in Iowa, his brother is in Wisconsin and his only mode of transport is a little lawn tractor. David Lynch's road trip story from 1999 is a glorious slice of Americana. Sentimental but never mawkish, it's a film that laughs with but never at it's hero. Richard Farnsworth is just super as the man with the plan.

The Lady Vanishes   Sun   22/8   BBC2 @ 13.15

While travelling on a train across Europe a young woman makes friends with an elderly lady who all of a sudden disappears from the train. No one else seems to know who the older woman was at all. One of Hitchcock's earliest thrillers is a doozy of a watch, full of suspense and so so watchable. So influential too. Margaret Lockwood, May Whitty and Michael Redgrave are all magnificent.

Of Mice And Men   Sun   22/8   TG4 @ 16.35

The Great depression has American in upheaval and brothers George & Lennie are trying to survive whatever way they can. Gentle giant Lennie is often misunderstood and one day his behaviour is going to cause real trouble. Adapted from John Steinbeck's 1937 book it's a beautiful looking and brilliantly acted look at loneliness and the myriad forms of human interaction. John Malkovich, Gary Sinise and Sherilyn Fenn do wonderful work.

If....   Sun   22/8   Great! Movies Classics (formerly Sony Movies Classics) @ 22.00

English public schools. Vile places. Hotbeds of snobbery, torture and abuse. Three pupils have had enough of the school sanctioned violence carried out by older students and they decide to.... Lindsay Anderson's 53 year old satire of the English social class system was very controversial on release and still packs a hell of a punch. A funny, subversive and vicious watch lead by a wicked turn from a baby faced Malcolm McDowell.

Dance With A Stranger   Mon   23/8   Film4 @ 00.45

An English woman named Ruth Ellis made history in 1955 and this film tells us her dark story. She ran a club frequented by the rich and shameless and her dalliances with the men she met never ended well. Miranda Richardson is amazing in the lead role, turning in one of those performances that make you forgot you're watching an actor at work. Ian Holm and Rupert Everett offer strong support in a film you'll need to psyche yourself up for.

Black Panther   Mon   23/8   RTE2 @ 21.00

His father, the king of Wakanda, is dead and now T'Challa aka Black Panther must step up and lead his country against those that wish it harm. Arguably the jewel in Marvel's crown, it's a hell of a ride. Yeah it follows the usual comic book movie formula but it also steeps itself in African culture in a way rarely seen in western cinema and it's all the better for it. The late Chadwick Boseman is a mighty hero and Michael B. Jordan nails the bad guy(?) role.

Rough Cut   Tues   24/8   Talking Pictures TV @ 02.55

Jack and Gillian. Partners in crime. Two successful jewel thieves who've decided to work together to get their mitts on millions in precious stones. Hopefully nothing romantic will happen to complicate matters. Burt Reynolds was always at his best in comedies and this entertaining and energetic Hitchcockian tale uses him well. Charming turns from Lesley-Anne Down and David Niven add to it's fun.

Hallam Foe   Wed   25/8   Film4 @ 01.15

From his tree house in the woods Hallam loves to spy on people. He's a weird chap, he hates his stepmother and his problems stem from a tragedy in his past. A move to Edinburgh might be just what he needs. A dark and dreamy coming of age film that might give you the ick but Jamie Bell is so good in the lead role that you'll eventually be able to look past his damage and see the broken heart trying to fix itself.

Phil Lynott : Songs For While I'm Away   Wed   25/8   RTE1 @ 21.35

72 years ago a mixed race boy was born to an Irish mother who returned to Ireland to raise him. He was an unusual sight in late 50's Ireland but he was happy and into music which eventually led him to Thin Lizzy. A well put together look at Philo, an Irish legend, laced with his fantastic music and contributions from friends and family. It's a bit too coy about his personal problems at times but if you're a fan you'll really like it.

Personal Shopper   Wed   25/8   BBC2 @ 23.15

Maureen is a young woman working in the Parisian fashion world. She's also engulfed by grief and sorrow after a family tragedy and she's waiting for a sign connected to an oath she once took. An unusual and unsettling drama to say the least that's best watched knowing as little as possible. A restrained but very affecting performance from Kristin Stewart makes this a compelling watch.

Wind Chill   Thur   26/8   The Horror Channel @ 00.55

On the day before Christmas eve a couple are heading home and decide to take a shortcut through the snowy wilderness. As you can probably guess things go sideways for them. Really sideways. Wind Chill starts off relatively normal before descending rapidly into a blast of surrealistic horror that's by turns bleak, terrifying and claustrophobic. It's not an enjoyable watch but it's an interesting one. Emily Blunt and Martin Donovan do well here.

Suddenly, Last Summer   Fri   27/8   Great! Movies Classics (formerly Sony Movies Classics) @ 01.15

From the pen of Tennessee Williams comes a dark tale of a woman troubled by something she witnessed on holiday the year before and the lengths to which her aunt will go to hide what exactly happened. A dark, decadent and sultry slice of Southern Gothic melodrama that was X-rated on it's release 63 years later and still feels quite forceful today. Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift and Katharine Hepburn are unsurprisingly, all excellent.

Mean Girls   Fri   27/8   ITV2 @ 21.00

The world of American high schools is a scary and complex place as 16 year old Cady Heron finds out when her family return from working in Africa and she goes to class for the first time in her life. Tina Fey's 2004 comedy is a smart, knowing and funny look at the hierarchies and horrors of what many people call the best times of their lives. The fools. Lindsay Lohan, Lizzy Caplan, Rachel McAdams, Amy Poehler and Amanda Seyfried all rock their roles.

Jimmy's Hall   Fri   27/8   Virgin Media One @ 23.00

After 10 years in the United States Jimmy's come home and he's brought ideas with him. Ideas that don't sit well with a church run state or with the garda siochana who enforce the rules. When he starts opening people's minds he's a goner. Ken Loach directs an angry and caustic look at post civil war Ireland and the social mores that held us down for decades. Barry Ward, Simone Kirby and a vicious Jim Norton all hit the spot. 

A retweet is always appreciated if you find this guide helpful in discovering something new or rediscovering an old fave. Thank you.

Snake Eyes : G.I. Joe Origins

Snake Eyes isn't a good film but it does prove one thing to be true. Men never really grow up. Blokes aged between 40-50 will see the ninja packed trailer and be filled with longing for the days of Shô Kosugi starring Cannon films on VHS, in all their BBFC butchered, panned and scanned, badly dubbed glory. Boys aged 10 will watch the same trailer and climb the walls with excitement. They havent been burned by hundreds of good trailers for bad films like we have so it makes sense for them to want to watch it. Us? We have no excuse ........ but there's ninjas.

A young boy runs through the woods as the sound of the bullet that killed his father rings out behind him. As a man the sound still haunts him and his only desire is to murder the man who orphaned him. Now called Snake Eyes (Henry Goulding, way too good for this), his fighting skills catch the eye of the Yakuza who recruit him into their ranks with a promise of information on his father's killer but when he can't bring himself to gun down a traitor by the name of Tomisaburo (Andrew Koji) he finds himself on the run again, this time with his new friend who promises him entry to the crime fighting Arashikage clan as a thank you for saving his life.

GI Joe : The Rise Of Cobra came out in 2009. It was exceedingly cheesy and very silly but it was also a lot of fun. GI Joe : Retaliation came out in 2013. It was a reboot of sorts, killing off most of the first film's cast and adding Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis and somehow, a few exciting scenes aside, turned out to be extremely dull. Now in 2021 the franchise is rebooted again as an origin story, this time for Snake Eyes, always one of the more popular Joe characters and it again proves true the law of diminishing returns. It is a dud. A big dark, way too serious dud

There was potential here, loads of it. A majority Asian cast that took its Japanese location work seriously, plenty of Samurai and Ninja imagery that harked back to all those movies that made us action film fans back in the day, a first 30 minutes (swords + truck cab = the film's one laugh) where you'd be thinking to yourself "maybe it's not as bad as everyone is saying." Then the rot sets it with a story who's ending you can see a mile away, wave after wave of faceless goons being chopped down in terribly shot action scenes that unforgivably waste the talent of the likes of Iko Uwais (playing a teacher warrior called Hard Master, who's one big scene is the best in the film) and then, painfully and oh so awkwardly the wedging in of franchise faces like Baroness (Úrsula Corberó) and Scarlett (Samara Weaving) just to tie Snake Eyes to future franchise entries. 

Entries that probably won't happen now. Covid fear has killed box office takings and word of mouth from this bomb won't bode well for a future installment. Why make a film aping the action classics that put Asian cinema on the map and give it to a director, Robert Schwentke, who cannot direct action scenes? It makes no sense whatsoever. There's so much talent out there now in Asia, ploughing out brutally blunt and memorable action films and the bloke who directed R.I.P.D. gets the gig?

Nonsensical.

Snake Eyes is out now in the cinema. One nice looking fight scene in a rainy alleyway and a few minutes of Iko Uwais coolness aren't enough to save this one. Don't let your children or your inner child talk you into going to see it.

Streaming sucks

Decided to introduce a couple of people to Open Range tonight. The Kevin Costner / Robert Duvall masterpiece from 2003 thats my favourite western of the 21st century.

With no disc on hand we watching a streaming version and the film came to a halt because of a poor internet signal not once, not twice but eleven fucking times. Most of which, of course, happened during that brilliant shootout at the end, killing the momentum of the film.

Its a fucking heartbreaker and part of why I'll keep buying physical media until I can't anymore. When you're at the mercy of an internet signal you never know when it's all going to go tits up and when it does it will invariably be at the best part of the film. 

Costner had the right idea. Walk up to it and shoot it in the head.

A bit of self care

First time inside a pub since March 2020. So excited i took an upright picture. For shame.

My word. It's cream. It's the beer version of the first time you watched The Godfather part II

The danger zone. When its that beautiful that your mind automatically starts thinking about another. It's like Netflix nudging you towards another episode when you're still watching the first one.

Just look at it. Worth waiting for as John Mills said at the end of Ice Cold In Alex.

All good things come to an end. Will the sequel be as tasty? 

Yes it was.

31 day movie challenge for the summer months - Day 30

 

Fave childhood film. Superman II. Always. Brilliant. Those black clad bad guys. The scene at Niagara falls. The opening Eiffel tower moment to the metropolis thrashing confrontation. Even the horrible moment where that bastard truck driver beats up a superpowerless Clark Kent is worth it for the bit where he gets justice against him later. The parts where Terence Stamp's cockney accent just can't help but bust through making General Zod sound like he's from Albert Square.

It's still the best superhero film ever made imho.

CODA

"Do you know why god made farts smell? So deaf people could enjoy them too."

A joke told by a deaf father to his daughter who can hear. One of many lovingly crafted and deeply human moments in CODA (Child Of Deaf Adults), a new film available on Apple TV now.

Gloucester, Massachusetts, a fishing village on the Atlantic in the the north east of the USA. Life in the industry is tough as ever increasing margins cut into the money the fishermen break their backs for everyday. The Rossi's are one such fishing family. Father and son Frank (Troy Kotsur) and Leo (Daniel Durant) are out on the water and mother Jackie (Marlee Matlin) deals with the money side of the business. All three are deaf and communicate with the world through daughter Ruby (Emilia Jones), the only family member who can hear. There's constant pressure on her to support her family and bullies in school mocking their condition has turned her into an introvert. The one thing she can find time for is singing because she can practice in her house as loudly as she wants and a decision to join the school choir ran by Mr Villalobos (Eugenio Derbez, very entertaining) opens up a new path in life for her. But it's a path that might take her away from the people who need her the most. 

CODA's a film about the choices we make at critical junctures in our life. What matters, the past or the future? Some will go forward without a second thought, others will let fear of letting go tank their decisions but the lucky few will get the best of both worlds. CODA layers on an added element with it's look at a culturally deaf family (all played by deaf actors apart from Emilia Jones) and their struggle to deal with a world where everything is geared against them. Without Ruby they'll struggle but if she stays she'll be sucked into an adult life she doesn't want. They can't appreciate her gift and that fact kills her father Frank. Throw in the pressure her teacher Mr V is putting her under to fully utilise her voice and you have a story that sounds like a big ol' ball of stress.

But it's not. It's funny, it's upsetting, it's touching, it's complex. It's full of feeling but never feels forced or mawkish. Kudos to director Sian Heder for pulling that difficult trick off. It's a film about deaf people that isn't afraid to paint them as less than perfect. A lot of films about people with medical issues tend to portray them as angelic beings but here they're just as flawed, as selfish and angry as everyone else. A gorgeous vignette between mother and daughter sees Jackie telling Ruby about her hopes for Ruby early in her life and to a hearing audience what she says might sound harsh but to them it's a bonding experience that makes perfect sense both to them and in the context of the storyline. It will also remind you of just why Matlin won that Oscar 36 years ago for Children Of A Lesser God. If you make it through the moment without a tear in your eye you've a heart of stone.

Irish actor Ferdia Walsh Peelo turns up as classmate Miles, the reason Ruby signed up for choir. It's no big spoiler to say that they grow close throughout the film but their relationship is the only part of the story that feels superfluous. It's an aspect of the film that could have been easily lifted out leaving more time for that warm and loving depiction of the Rossi family life. They fight, they butt heads but there's a love and openness there that gives CODA real soul. Ruby signing for them in the doctors office and finding out way too much about her parent's love life. A brother sister argument from the heart where words feel like violence. A father and daughter sitting out under the stars and eventually a signed rendition of a famous song that will give you a smile a mile wide.

CODA is streaming online now. It's a lovely antidote to the CGI nonsense taking over the cinemas this summer.

31 day movie challenge for the summer months - Day 29

 

The Iron Giant. Hands down. A masterpiece. The story of a boy and his massive robot. It's a glorious watch and if the end doesn't make your lip tremble and you eyes watery well then...... you just have no soul.

Waaaaahhhhhh

Free Guy

Before you go any further there's one question for you. Do you play computer games? Or more accurately, have you played a computer game in the last 20 years? If the answer is yes, then proceed with caution. If the answer is no, stop reading now and go about your day.

Free City's an unusual place. Tanks roam the streets, people burning from head to toe run around screaming and financial institutions are robbed with alarming regularity but the citizens of the city never even bat an eyelid. It's because they are NPC's (Non playable characters), created to fill the streets of the most popular video game on earth. One of these NPC's is Guy (Ryan Reynolds), a bankteller who does the exact same thing every single day of his life, until one day he sees the woman of his dreams and he steps off his beaten path into a whole new world of wonder. The woman is the avatar of Millie (Jodie Comer), a programmer who's coding was stolen from her and used to create Free City. Her mission is to search this computer generated metropolis until she finds the information she needs. But she might require assistance and who better to help her than one of it's digital denizens.

As soulless blockbuster films go Free Guy is one of the better looking ones but there's nothing else here. It's fast food cinema. An hour after it's over you'll be hard pressed to remember much about it. It's story of a man realising his entire existence is a lie was done a thousand times better 23 years ago in The Truman Show. That was a story with heart and substance. Here we get smug one liners, glib encounters and so much CGI your eyes will start twitching 30 minutes in. Add in Ryan Reynolds in full Ryan Reynolds mode and it's a recipe for a big ol' headache. The odd blockbuster is worth a pain in the brain but this film doesn't do a tap to earn it. It's most crowdpleasing moment is a cheap one, stolen directly from Hollywood's two biggest franchises. If you've kids with you they may cheer but your eyes will roll at yet another reminder that Disney now owns everything. It's not quite as cringy as Ready Player One but it's close.

Jodie Comer plays two parts in this, Millie and her computer game counterpart. CGC Millie is the one punching, kicking and killing her way across Free City but real Millie is one of the few good things about this film with Comer's expressive acting giving us one character that feels some bit real. Sadly the real life part of the film also gives us Taika Waititi turning into a horribly thin, one note performance as her code thief boss Antwan that shows he's at his best behind the camera. Every time he opens his yap the little bit of life left in the film dissipates and by the axe wielding, city dissolving climax that he's slap in the middle of you'll be well beyond the point of caring.

Free Guy is in cinemas everywhere now. If you've a gamer in your life you might get something from it. If not don't bother.

18 films on TV for you to dive into this week

Piranhas   Sat   14/8   BBC4 @ 21.00

The neighbourhood of Rione Sanità in Naples is a dangerous place, falling apart, rife with poverty and riddled with crime. A group of teenage boys see what the gangsters running the place have and they want it too. An award winner from 2019, it's a tough, upsetting look at the abject misery that lies at the heart of one of Italy's most famous cities. The acting from a mostly amateur cast won't always convince but it's a hefty watch nonetheless.

Green Book   Sat   14/8   BBC2 @ 22.00

Famed musician Don Shirley is heading to the deep south on a music tour but the colour of his skin will cause him problems. In steps Tony Lip, fixer, bodyguard, man in the know & absolute slob, to help him out. Set in 1962, it's a drama that isn't without problematic moments but at it's heart it's a funny and sometimes affecting look at bigotry and unlikely friendships. Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen work well together.

Upgrade   Sat   14/8   CH4 @ 23.45

Grey's in a bad way. An accident has ruined his life and left him a quadraplegic. But some ultra modern technology is about to give him his body back. And a whole host of other skills too. This 2018 sci-fi thriller is an amusing and extremely violent slice of escapism that's packed with bonkers fight scenes and some rather dark themes and ideas. Logan Marshall-Green has a whale of a time in the lead role.

Unless   Sun   15/8   RTE1 @ 00.10

In snowy Toronto a well off family's life is thrown into upheaval when they discover their daughter has dropped out of college and is now living in a shelter and spending her days sitting on the streets. Irish director Alan Gilsenan's 2016 film is a heartfelt tale that's prone to pretension in places but a stunner of a turn from the always brilliant Catherine Keener as a heartbroken mam will keep you going until the end.

Dora & The Lost City Of Gold   Sun   15/8   CH4 @ 15.45

A childhood spent exploring jungles and ancient ruins comes in handy for Dora when her parents go missing while investigating Incan ruins. Now her and her friends need to take care of business. This adaption of the children's tv show is an entertaining watch for all the family, like a junior Indiana Jones but without the violence and horror. Isabela Merced is a fun lead and Eva Longoria and Michael Peña enjoy themselves as her parents.

Hunter Killer   Sun   15/8   CH4 @ 22.00

An American submarine has gone missing. The Russian president has been kidnapped. The two events are connected but how? Joe Glass, sub commander and Lieutenant Bill Beaman, Navy Seal, one underwater and one on land, will find out. Pure boys own adventure stuff here, but enjoyably done with all the tension, machismo, explosions and headshots you'll ever want. Gerard Butler, Common and Toby Stephens add to the mix.

The Other Side Of Hope   Mon   16/8   BBC2 @ 00.05

From Syria to Helsinki, it's been a horrible ride for Khaled, who's been torn from his sister along the way. He takes a restaurant job with Waldemar, a man risking all his money on his new business. A satire of first world reactions to third world issues and a striking watch, funny, upsetting, resolutely humane. Hardship and humour, just like in life, goes hand in hand. Sherwan Haji & Sakari Kuosmanen do great work together.

Catch-22   Mon   16/8   TG4 @ 00.15

On a small Italian island in the midst of WW2 a pilot called Yossarian is trying to prove he's insane so he can get kicked out of the army. But army politics and regulations are making his mission impossible. 51 years old and still capable of shocking you, Catch - 22 is a dark dark comedy and a hell of a watch. A chaotic, horrifying, hilarious, blistering look at the madness and stupidity of war. Alan Arkin leads a stunner of a cast containing too many famous faces to mention.

Animal Farm   Mon   16/8   Film4 @ 13.10

The pigs, sheep, chickens and horses of Manor farm have had enough cruelty inflicted upon them and Farmer Jones has been kicked out on his ear. Life is sweet for a time but paradise is interrupted when some of the animals start getting notions. A 67 year old animated masterpiece that's a powerful metaphor of the dark side of political ideals. No matter how well intentioned things begin, ego and weakness will always ruin them. Not really one for kids.

Shazam!   Mon   16/8   RTE2 @ 21.00

Young Billy's been chosen by magical powers and given a gift, the ability to conjure a superhuman when he chooses. Life becomes excellent until he realises that when superpowers appear, so do supervillains. Aw man, this one is such a laugh, a comic book film that's not all about bad guys trying to take over the earth, but one that more interested in heart and humour instead. Lead actors Asher Angel and Zachery Levi are having fun here and it shows. 

The Seventh Veil   Tues   17/8   Talking Pictures TV @ 21.00

A woman, once famed for her piano skills has seen her life take a tragic twist and now while suffering from amnesia has began to work with a psychiatrist to figure out the puzzle that is her past. A slowburn but exceedingly compelling slice of English film noir and a well put together mystery that benefits from a trio of muscular performances from Ann Todd, Herbert Lom and a nasty James Mason.

Searching   Tues   17/8   Film4 @ 23.20

When his daughter Margot goes missing, John is understandably freaked. The cops aren't finding anything so John gets to work himself and the first place he looks for clues is on her laptop. Searching takes an age old tale and puts a modern spin on it and the result is a delightfully unique and twisting experience. It won't age the best but it's very of the now. John Cho does strong work in the lead role.

Entertainment   Wed   18/8   CH4 @ 02.50

The comedian is tired, broke and sick of it all. He's crossing the desert to see his estranged daughter and money is low, so the stage beckons, a place where you can feel utterly alone despite being in front of a room full of people. A sad film about a broken person, filled with striking imagery and cringing one liners. It sounds miserable but it's an interesting watch with fine acting from Gregg Turkington and John C.Reilly.

The Old Man & The Gun   Wed   18/8   Film4 @ 21.00

Forrest Tucker knows life is catching up on him and so he decides to go out with a bang, escaping from jail, robbing banks and falling in love one last time. The last leading role of Robert Redford's before he retired from acting is a special one, wistful, nostalgic, full of reminders of why he's been famous for six decades now. The story itself is simple, elegant and well told and a lovely showing from Sissy Spacek gives it soul.

Midnight Special   Wed   18/8   BBC2 @ 23.15

Alton is a different kind of boy and when his father sneaks him away from those who want to exploit him the U.S. government decides to get involved. Jeff Nichol's low-key sci-fi drama roadtrip movie is an intriguing watch. It's not fully successful but it will keep you watching. The cast though is top notch with Michael Shannon, Adam Driver, Kirsten Dunst & Joel Edgerton all doing impressive work in their parts.

Gold   Fri   20/8   RTE2 @ 21.00

Remote Indonesia. There's gold in them thar hills and prospector Kenny Wells can smell it. So can geologist Michael Acosta. They team up and head in. Does success or failure await? A somewhat shallow but diverting look at a business ran by absolute chancers and led by pleasing turns from Edgar Ramirez and a different looking Matthew McConaughey. Bryce Dallas Howard and Corey Stoll provide solid support.

Destroyer   Fri   20/8   BBC1 @ 22.35

Undercover work years before has taken it's toll physically and psychologically on Erin Bell and when a face from the past appears she takes a chance to exorcise her demons once and for all. Oh man, it's a gruelling look at the dark underbelly of society but an extremely committed performance from Nicole Kidman will keep you watching to the bitter finale. A rotten Toby Kebbell and Tatiana Maslany do good things with their parts.

Blue Velvet   Fri   20/8   Film4 @ 23.05

Jeffrey makes a strange discovery one day and his investigation makes him realise that there's something very odd going on behind the white picket fences of the small town he calls home. David Lynch's deep dive into the darker side of small town life is a stunner. Packed with terrifying performances and moments that will haunt you for an age. Kyle Maclachlan, Isabella Rossellini & an unhinged Dennis Hopper are all on fire.

Any chance of a retweet? Ah go on sure. 

31 day movie challenge for the summer months - Day 28

My favourite director? Do I have a favourite director?? I've directors who's films I own plenty of but a favourite? Jeez. Hmm. 

Fuck it. Strangers On A Train. My favourite Alfred Hitchcock film. Funny, dark, twisted, tense as hell and it has one of the most unsettling tennis matches you'll ever see.

The Courier

If you had knowledge of something terrible on the horizon would you try and stop it even if it meant your own life would be ruined? Most of us wouldn't. We'd put our heads down, chug along and let the inevitable guilt eat us alive. Only the rarefied few will ever stand tall, step out of line and risk it. The Courier is the true story of one such person. But that person isn't the one on the film posters you'll see.

It's the early 1960's. The cold war is in full effect. Soviet - US relations are on a knife edge. Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze), a Russian official with access to very sensitive information about the USSR's nuclear capabilities is worried about the future and an unstable leader with access to world ending weaponry. He decides to leak the information to the west and the MI5 in conjunction with the CIA hire Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch), an ordinary businessman who sells machinery to factories, to travel to Moscow and meet with Oleg under cover of work, so they can swap info which Greville will then smuggle out. The two men become fast friends and when Oleg travels to Britain he forms a bond with Greville's wife Sheila (Jessie Buckley) too. But all good things must come to an end and when Greville's frequent trips catch the eye of the KGB, well let's just say......

At times The Courier feels like a love story about two men keeping their forbidden romance a secret. Terse looks, secret hotel room rendezvous, conversations where every word is loaded. But you'll soon realise it feels like that because you're worried about them both and for good reason. The stakes are massive, the Brit might go to the gulag but the Russian faces a point blank bullet, they've families who's lives will be ruined, their actions if discovered could trigger all out war but it's mostly because Merab Ninidze and Benedict Cumberbatch are so damn good in their parts. Merab, warm and relaxed on the outside but riddled with anxiety within, Cumberbatch, with a nervy and oh so proper exterior but fun loving when he's not on edge. Together their friendship works, built on vodka and ballet. It gives the film an emotional core that makes it's suspense really work. When you give a fuck you'll give a fuck, you know.

Then a decision is made two thirds of the way through the film to sideline Oleg, the hero of the story in favour of Greville. Cumberbatch, the film's big star takes centre stage and as the film takes a dark turn, we lose the chemistry built and the dramatic fizz of the first 80 minutes of the film is stripped away. Oleg is barely glimpsed again and in a story decision that feels genuinely disrespectful, gets a postscript just before the credits roll. Cumberbatch tries (his physical transformation is unsettling) but the film never really recovers when it's just about him. But at least our own Jessie Buckley gets a look in at this point, having been mostly ignored up to now, with a stiff upper lip filled conversation that will remind you of how good she can be.

The Courier is a handsomely mounted and very well acted production that excels by taking an intimate look at a crazy era in history. Partly set during the Cuban missile crisis, it takes a terrifying time and places it firmly in the background of the story, choosing to focus in on a very unlikely but rewarding relationship. If only it didn't choose to ignore half of that friendship in it's most vital moments.

The Courier is out in cinemas from tomorrow.

31 day movie challenge for the summer months - Day 27

 

Singles. Cameron Crowe. 1992. A love story set right in the middle of grunge era Seattle. Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, The Screaming Trees, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone and then some Jimi Hendrix and Smashing Pumpkins sprinkled on top. The film is fun but the soundtrack fucking rocks.

The two stand out tracks - 

Mother Love Bone - Chloe Dancer Crown Of Thorns

 

 The Lovemongers - The Battle Of Evermore

The latter is a Led Zeppelin cover and eclipses the original imo.

A perfect pairing of sound & vision. Beautiful Girls and Neil Diamond

"Where it began

I can't begin to knowin'

But then I know it's growin' strong

Was in the spring

And spring became the summer

Who'd have believed you'd come along

Hands, touchin' hands

Reachin' out, touchin' me, touchin' you

Sweet Caroline

Good times never seemed so good"

We've heard it a million times. 

When it starts we all groan. 

When it plays there tends to have been drink taken.

And then.

That Neil Diamond gets under your skin doesn't he.

The boys of Knightsridge, Massachusetts are home for a high school reunion. Adulthood hasn't turned out the way they expected but once they're together again it's like they never left each other's sides. The drinks are flowing, they all want to show off to the prettiest woman in the bar, there's a piano in the corner and one of them just happens to be a classically train pianist.

It's not flashy, it's badly sung by a pile of drunken dudes but it feels real. No Hollywood sheen, no dance moves or spectacular voices, just a rare cinematic capture of the slow end to a night out with your oldest boys.

I love it. 

Previous pairings

Breaking Bad

Ghost Ship

Southpark The Movie

28 Days Later

La Haine

The Skeleton Twins

Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid

Notting Hill

Summer Of Sam

Vamp

American Me

Beetlejuice

Rio Bravo

Hard Boiled
8 mile
Wheels On Meals
The Office (UK)
Do The Right Thing
Se7en
Mad Men
The Colour Of Money
Rules Of Attraction

Jackass II

Game Of Thrones 

Apocalypse Now

Blade

Big
Miller's Crossing

The Blues Brothers

Straight Outta Compton

The Princess Bride

American Honey

Snake In The Eagle's Shadow

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

The Untouchables

Airplane!

Dazed And Confused  

Kickboxer                                  

Grosse Point Blank

Mean Streets

Watership Down

Casablanca

Zodiac

Jackie Brown
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Deliverance
The Omen
Copland
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
The Mission

Before Sunset

Carlito's Way
A Knight's Tale
Platoon
Before Sunrise
Rushmore
An American Werewolf In London
Dazed And Confused
Boogie Nights
Raging Bull
Almost Famous
Once Upon A Time In The West
Goodfellas

Last Of The Mohicans