VHS and Betamax You Have Recently Rented

[Devon Malcolm]

He has branched out a bit more since Uncut Gems. He did that sci-fi drama, Spaceman, even though it wasn't very good. People raved about Hustle and he played a support role in You're So Not Going to My Bat Mitzvah, which was really good. He's a good dramatic actor but perhaps not good enough to do that more frequently and not get found out.

Edited November 4, 2024 by Devon Malcolm

[Surf Digby]

4 hours ago, Mr_Danger said:

You get your foot in the door with Sandler and there’s every chance you end up getting a handsome wage to go and live in Hawaii or Bora Bora for a few months on his next shit straight to Netflix comedy.

Is that why 25% of the cast is his family?

[SaitoRyo]

Scream 1,2 & 3

I was ill the weekend before last so decided to stick Scream 2 on as I've seen it a bunch but not for a long time. I enjoyed it, watched the third, and then went back and watched the original. I still like them all, as they have that nice, nostalgiac familiarity to them. They're not perfect and the first one is far and away the best of the bunch, but they're an easy way to kill a couple of hours (no pun intended).

Men in Black II

I watched the first MIB film a few months back and loved it. I liked it when I was younger and all, but was struck by just what a fun, well-made blockbuster it was. This one? Not so much. The storyline is weak, the effects are worse than the first film and it just feels all very rushed and cobbled together. It has its moments and the interaction between Smith and Jones is enjoyable, mind. I've heard the third one is better? Haven't seen it, but might yet check it out. 

Citizens Band

Quirky late 70s indie comedy/drama from Jonathan Demme. Focuses on the inhabitants of a small town who are connected by their use of CB radios (and in some instances a lot more). I enjoyed it, even if it's not tremendous or anything (and doesn't have much of a plot to it). More than anything, I just miss this era of filmmaking, where people could take chances and do something a bit different. Demme was a talent.

[SuperBacon]

22 minutes ago, SaitoRyo said:

was ill the weekend before last so decided to stick Scream 2 on as I've seen it a bunch but not for a long time. I enjoyed it, watched the third, and then went back and watched the original

Sorry but I can't actually handle this. You watched 2, 3, 1???

I need a paracetamol. 

[SaitoRyo]

21 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

Sorry but I can't actually handle this. You watched 2, 3, 1???

I need a paracetamol. 

So did I, given how shit I was feeling at the time of watching the second one! But yeah, I thought that would be a one-off and I'd seen them so many times in my youth that the order really didn't seem to matter too much. I did notice how less bloodier and more comedic the third one is, which was apparently a studio response to Columbine. Also Sidney's barely in it, which was apparently a contract/scheduling thing.

[Devon Malcolm]

2 hours ago, SuperBacon said:

Sorry but I can't actually handle this. You watched Scream????

Fixed.

[FLips]

Murder Mystery

Not sure why I've been watching so much Adam Sandler lately but here we are. Actually not too bad. Has the advantage of a cast rather than being filled with his mates; there's no Kevin James or Rob Schneider here. Sandler plays it pretty straight by his standards too so he has better chemistry with Jennifer Aniston than he would doing his usual "hot blonde falls in love with an idiot" routine.
It's not Knives Out levels of writing but it's a decent whodunnit.

[Merzbow]

Anora

Yeah this deserves all the love it's getting, I was apprehensive going in and I definitely understand thinking Sean might be a tourist yet again but he's made one hell of a hilarious chaotic film that for most of it's run time just doesn't stop, the escalation is masterful. Mikey deserves any and all awards, I don't remember such a star making performance like that. I'm kinda in love.

MadS

What if a zombie film was made by an edgy French director from the 00's that's evoking that entire period? The guy who made the 2006 movie Them has written and directed this and it's a much better film than that one, again like Anora it's pure chaos that never lets up. Brilliant energy and all done in a single long tracking shot, some of the acting is suspect and there's a few things I found corny. A solid three lines of experimental illicit substances out of five.

[SaitoRyo]

Retroactive

Decent, dark indie action/thriller from 1997 about a female criminal psychiatrist who has to go back in time (several times) to prevent a murder after getting picked up on the side of the road by psychotic criminal Jim Belushi. It's quite stylish and full of shoot-outs and exploding cars and whatnot. Belushi really hams it up as the villain and it's got that nice, sweaty desert vibe. E. Emmett Walsh shows up, because of course he does. Over and done in 85 minutes. You could do a lot worse.

[Devon Malcolm]

19 minutes ago, SaitoRyo said:

Retroactive

Decent, dark indie action/thriller from 1997 about a female criminal psychiatrist who has to go back in time (several times) to prevent a murder after getting picked up on the side of the road by psychotic criminal Jim Belushi. It's quite stylish and full of shoot-outs and exploding cars and whatnot. Belushi really hams it up as the villain and it's got that nice, sweaty desert vibe. E. Emmett Walsh shows up, because of course he does. Over and done in 85 minutes. You could do a lot worse.

Love this one! Shannon Whirry is in it in one of her rare non-'erotic thriller' roles. Back in the day, Kim Newman wrote about it in an excellent '10 Best DTV Films' article for Empire. I do love a timeloop film.

[SaitoRyo]

11 minutes ago, Devon Malcolm said:

Love this one! Shannon Whirry is in it in one of her rare non-'erotic thriller' roles. Back in the day, Kim Newman wrote about it in an excellent '10 Best DTV Films' article for Empire. I do love a timeloop film.

I'm not fussed on the whole timeloop thing, but this one worked for me. It's quite high-concept for what I am presuming was a very modestly budgeted film and they really did nail the whole 'criminal on the loose in the desert' thing. Surprised the director didn't get a shot to do much else after it, to be honest.

[Devon Malcolm]

9 minutes ago, SaitoRyo said:

Surprised the director didn't get a shot to do much else after it, to be honest.

Got to admit that I loved Bats, a stupid-funny horror film of the highest order. But he also made Roadkill 2 and it was appalling, so maybe he reached his peak with Retroactive and Bats.

[SaitoRyo]

22 minutes ago, Devon Malcolm said:

Got to admit that I loved Bats, a stupid-funny horror film of the highest order. But he also made Roadkill 2 and it was appalling, so maybe he reached his peak with Retroactive and Bats.

I think you might be right. I will, however, be checking out those erotic thrillers starring Shannon Whirry.

For research. 

[Carbomb]

Was it an industry regulation back in the 90s that all softcore female leads had to be called Shannon? There seemed to be a fair few.

[Mr_Danger]

My Old Ass

Lovely little coming of age film with a bit of daftness thrown in. Girl takes mushrooms, Aubrey Plaza as the girls older self shows up and gives her advice including to stay away from a boy who shows up the next day and is completely lovable. Felt really authentic in its depiction of a modern day 18 year old girl about to enter real life  to the point that even a boring old middle aged bloke like me could empathise with her. The main girl and lad are really good as is Aubrey Plaza in her small part, obv.