The Watch List – 26th July

Posted on July 26, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

It’s Monday again, so I wanted to write a quick post about what I plan on watching/reviewing this week. I tested negative again today, which means that I can leave the house again tomorrow. I had 6 days off work and had to stay inside the entire time, typical. At least I got the back lawn mowed. It’s a pretty steep hill, and took a while. When I move, there won’t be a garden.

Anyway. I have a few trips to the cinema lined up. Tomorrow is the unlimited screening of Last Letter from your Lover. I’ll be honest, this isn’t something that appeals to me, but Tabby likes the look of it and it’s free. I do like the cast and will give it a go, who knows? Wednesday is when I get to see Old. I’m really looking forward to this one. I’m a big fan of Shyamalan’s work and think this looks great.

On Friday I’m planning on doing a double bill with Jungle Cruise and Suicide Squad. I think Jungle Cruise looks good, I like The Rock and it looks like it will be a fun adventure. Suicide Squad looks awful. I wasn’t a fan of the first one, but this looks so bland and generic. I heard good things about the trailer, but when I actually saw it I was disappointed. I don’t watch trailers online, so it wasn’t because I was hyped up about it, I saw it before something at the cinema. It honestly looked boring. If the jokes in the trailer were rubbish, how bad must the film be? I’m seeing it essentially because me and Tabby are big fans of Margot Robbie and watch everything she’s in.

From my DVD rental list, I have Ring of Bright Water, Riddick and Following on the way. Bright Water, because my Mum recommended it. Riddick because that’s the next Franchise Catch Up I’m working on and Following because it’s Nolan’s first film and I’ve never seen it.

I’m hit or miss with Nolan to be honest, I loved Tenet and Memento, Insomnia and The Prestige are alright. I absolutely hated Dark Knight Rises, it’s in my top 5 most hated films. Inception is okay, but one of the most overrated films ever. Dunkirk is so cold and emotionless, you need to watch it with a blanket to stop from freezing (From a technical look, it’s a wonderfully made film).

Being back at work full time, I don’t have plans for anything else. I’m sure some will change as the week progresses.

Have you seen any of the above? Love it, hate it? Let me know in the comments. No spoilers for Old please.

Thanks for reading and until next time,

Ashley

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Patrick – Film Review

Posted on July 26, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Richard Franklin

Starring: Susan Penhaligon, Robert Helpmann, Rod Mullinar, Bruce Barry, Julia Blake and Robert Thompson

Rating: ★★★

Patrick is a supernatural thriller-horror that tells the story of a comatosed patient who can control the world around him with his mind. The film isn’t about this though, the film is about the misogyny of the 1970s and how subtle and blended into society that is, a theme that is still relevant in the world today. Kathie Jacquard, played by Susan Penhaligon (A Fine Romance, A Soldier of Orange) is caught in a world run by the men around her. She can’t get anyone to believe that Patrick has psychokinetic powers, even her boyfriend who believes that someone can levitate, won’t believe her and it’s obvious why.

There are moments where another nurse is trying to look after Patrick, plugs in a heater which fuses only for the doctor to yell at her and send her home. Kathie’s soon to be ex-husband breaks into her flat and attacks her, believing that all women have a rape fantasy. Just to name a few moments. The whole film is filled with uncomfortable moments with men abusing with little consequence. Patrick himself only wants Kathie to himself.

Three years before Kathie gets her job at the hospital, Patrick kills his mum and her boyfriend not wanting to share her with anyone else. This is the moment that put him in a coma, although it is never explained completely why. When Kathie tries to discuss this with the doctor, he dismisses her and then goes on to explain why Patrick reacts to being touched, not only by telling her, but showing her by killing a live frog in front of her and shocking it so it jumps from her hand. He then tells her not to get ‘wet knees’ from a dead frog. He talks to her as if she is an idiot, and there’s no real need for it.

Watching this in 2021 the killing of the frog is one of the more shocking moments, mainly because you know they couldn’t have had effects to make it look that convincing and it must have been real.  There is another moment later in the film involving another dead frog, so if you’re squeamish or don’t like the idea of animals being hurt for no real reason then this is probably not worth watching.

The story in itself is decent. Kathie is takes a job at the local hospital (The matron doesn’t want to hire her, as she doesn’t have a stable domestic life, but guess who overrides that decision…) and ends up taking a shine to Patrick, and the mystery that involves him spitting whenever anyone gets closer or touches him. A series of odd occurrences then take place, leading Kathie to believe that there is more going on than what meets the eye. The truth is finally made clear once Patrick speaks to her through her typewriter, taking control of her at first to type out the words and then the machine itself.

The pacing is a bit slow and could be done with some tightening up. At nearly 2 hours, not a lot really happens and that’s what stops this from being a great film. It drags along, and the tension doesn’t sustain itself. It’s doesn’t have you engaged from start to finish and it’s such a shame. This is something that could be remade today, with very little changes to the script and could be a fantastic thriller.

Directed by Richard Franklin, who would go on to direct Road Games and Psycho II, Patrick is a memorable and interesting film. It’s so close to be excellent, but it’s still enjoyable to watch. The performances are all great, the more tense moments work and the final sequence is good enough that it overrides the poor pacing issues. 

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Deepwater Horizon – Film Review

Posted on July 25, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Peter Berg

Starring:  Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russel, John Malkovich, Gina Rodriguez

Rating: ★★★★

Most people will remember the BP oil spill of 2010 and the extreme environmental impact it had. There are news articles form within the last year explaining that the effects are still being felt. It’s the biggest environmental disaster in American history and made worldwide headlines. The Film Deepwater Horizon doesn’t focus too much on the aftermath, but the explosion on the oil rig and what led to it.

Mike Williams, played by Mark Wahlberg (The Departed), is the Chief Electronics Technician aboard the oil rig and finds that the team who were assigned to complete checks have been sent home early by BP managers. Mike and Jimmy Harrell, played by Kurt Russell (Escape from New York, The Thing) insist that a pressure check is completed on the drill. When the results come back bad with too much pressure Donald Vidrine, played by John Malkovich (Red), explains that this isn’t enough and requests a check on another line. This comes back more successful and Donald pressures the workers to progress with the drilling. The pressure builds up and an explosion engulfs the oil rig in flames.

The main cast are brilliant, presenting the real life people who were on the rig with great performances. You get to spend a good amount of time before the disaster takes place to get to know the people and that makes the second half of the film so much more powerful. Just before the credits it shows some pictures of the actual people, and while the actors don’t really look anything like them, it does bring the whole story home and makes it hit that much harder. There is also a tribute to the people who lost their lives on the oil rig, which is emotional and saddening.

Essentially the film presents to us that the disaster happened because an 18 billion dollar company didn’t want to spend $150 thousand dollars on making sure the equipment was safe and ready to go. It’s a harsh criticism of the world we live in and the lack of value global conglomerates hold for people’s lives. While the focus of the film is on the explosion and danger to human lives, the environmental impact is felt. There is a moment, when the pressure forces the oil to shoot out, that we see birds flying into the windows on the nearby boat, covered in oil. The effects on the environment were harsh and quick.

With how the film presents people showing a lack of care about drilling into the Earth, it almost feels like the planet is fighting back and could wipe out humanity very quickly. There is a scene towards the end where Mark Wahlberg and Gina Rodriquez (Jane the Virgin, Annihilation),  are forced to jump from a high deck on the rig to jump over the fire. It feels reminiscent of war films, especially when shrapnel is shooting through the water like bullets in the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan.

The effects throughout are great, the whole set piece of the oil rig looks real and imposing. When the disaster does happen, it feels real and that the people are in danger. It’s an incredible spectacle reinforcing how scary the situation must have been. The whole film flies by, with the impending disaster and then the explosion and attempt to survive and control the explosion. It moves at a quick pace and doesn’t feel boring once.

Deepwater Horizon shows the devastating effects the explosion had, not only on the environment, but on the people on the oil rig. The final ten minutes are near enough silent, showing the long term effects this has had on their mental and physical health. It’s a powerful and gripping film that will have you engaged and captivated from the start to the final moments. This is something that should have been avoided and will hopefully never happen again.

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The Village – Film Review

Posted on July 25, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, Brendan Gleeson and Sigourney Weaver

Rating: ★★★★½ 

M. Night Shyamalan is known for his twist endings and a perceived decline in quality since the 1990s. When each of his films are released, there is a massive division in opinion with a lot of negative reviews. His new film Old is no exception with massively varied reviews from extremely negative to extremely positive. It’s a good time to look back at his films and see if they are as bad as the critics at the time said.

The Village, which came out in 2004, had a lot to live up to. At that point Shyamalan’s three previous films, The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs had all received overly positive reviews. Then The Village arrived and with it a massive part of his audience was disappointed. Roger Ebert at the time gave the film a one star review, calling it a ‘massive miscalculation’ and would go on to add it to his most hated films list. More recently The Village has been re-evaluated in a more positive light. A lot has been said that this film was badly marketed and adding that to the hype of a new Shyamalan film at that time, is why it got the negative response.

The Village is about a small village in a clearing in the middle of the woods. The inhabitants are completely cut off from the towns around it. It’s not explicitly said when the story takes place, but judging from their clothing and candlelight it’s in the last nineteenth century. The woods that surround the village contain monsters, ‘Those that we do not speak of’. The villagers have a truce with the monsters and neither party crosses the border at the woods. The colour red is also off-limits inside the village, as it attracts the monsters.

Lucius, played by Joaquin Phoenix (Joker), is shy and curious, believing he can cross the woods without being harmed as the monsters won’t see him as a threat. He is in love with Ivy, played by Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World), and when Lucius is injured, Ivy must travel through the woods to the nearby town to collect medicine.

Like the best thriller/horror stories, The Village is not about the perceived threat of monsters, but the characters themselves. The characters are so well developed and realised with great and believable performances, that the monsters could be completely removed, and this would still be an engaging and gripping film. The first hour is essentially all set-up with very little happening, and it builds up the story perfectly. The characters feel real and with the amount of time you’ll have to get to know them, you will feel invested in their lives. This could be a period drama and you could quite happily forget about the supernatural element.

The cinematography by Roger Deakins is simply stunning. One of the early shots, shows one of the monsters in the reflection of a stream, the bright red rippling in the water. There is a beauty in the way that red always contracts so vividly against the muted tones of everything else. There are also nice wide shots of the village itself, capture the idyllic nature perfectly, and this contrasts with the dangerous and jagged vision of the woods.

The performances are all great, with everyone bringing gravitas to the very stylised dialogue. It may not be realistic, but it’s delivered with so much believability that the film captures your imagination. The set design and costumes all look amazing and help engage you into the film’s world.

One of the best parts of the film is the score, composed by James Newton Howard, featuring violin player Hilary Hahn. It’s sombre and subtle throughout. The score was nominated for best score at the Oscars that year but lost out to Finding Neverland. It is almost a piece of classical music, that moves through each scene and can be listened to independently of the film and still feel emotional.

The only downside to The Village is when the inevitable Shyamalan twist happens, the film does lose a little steam. When it is revealed, it’s not particularly shocking. You’ll be expecting something, knowing the director’s other work, you’ll be working it out from the opening scene. When it’s confirmed what’s happening, the building tension is dissipated. It’s only a minor distraction, as by that point you will be so invested with the characters that you’ll still be engaged until the final moment.

The Village has been judged harshly since it’s 2004 release. It’s time that this film is given the credit it deserves. The performances, cinematography and plot are all excellent. This is a gripping and emotional period drama and without going into spoiler territory too much, the themes that the later half of the film presents are thought provoking and shown in an interesting manor. Shyamalan has consistently written and directed fantastic films and The Village is not an exception to this.

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Tetsuo: The Iron Man – Film Review

Posted on July 24, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto

Starring: Tomorowo Taguchi, Kei Fujwara, Nobu Janaoka, Shinya Tsukamoto, Naomasa Musaka

Rating: ★★★★

Director Shinya Tsukamoto wanted to show the way industrialisation had affected Tokyo. Gone were the green areas he had grown up with, replaced by skyscrapers and the modern metropolis. Financing the entire project with savings from his day job, Tsukamoto wrote, directed and edited Tetsuo: The Iron Main, a horrific body-horror film that utilises stop motion and gory effects to present a world of metal.

The film starts with a man, who is listed in the credits as ‘Metal Fetishist’, he opens his leg up with a blade, shoves a metal rod into the wound and then wraps it up. After seeing his own rotting flesh covered in maggots, he runs out into the street only to be run down by a car. The film then moves to a salaryman, who spots a piece of metal when he is shaving sticking out of his face, when he touches it blood spurts out. He’s then chased by a woman who is combined with metal, who attacks him and slowly the salary man becomes the titled iron man. It was him and his girlfriend who hit the man at the beginning, and the Metal Fetishist is back to get his revenge.

Tetsuo feels like a David Lynch film that’s been combined with a David Cronenberg one. It’s shot in grainy black and white, filled with abstract moments of gruesome body horror and mutilation. There is a dreamlike quality to most of the scenes, meaning you can never tell what is actually happening and what is a dream.

The loud industrial soundtrack assaults you from start to finish. The majority of the score is comprised of machinery and buzz saws, flowing together with the striking images to make a hypnotising experience that you can’t stop watching. Combining the loud music with the aggressive close-up shots, stop motion animation and fast moving chase sequences, Tetsuo is a gripping and horrific film.

The plot is thin, with the short running time focusing on the abstract and striking images that will haunt you after the film has finished. The final product is gruesome and full of sickening images, making even the most avid horror fan feel queasy.

Tetsuo is a masterpiece of small-budget films. When it was first released in 1989, it was at a film festival in Rome, there wasn’t even enough money to add subtitles. Not that it matters, there isn’t much dialogue, and you can piece together what is happening just by what’s happening on screen.

For the small production crew, the eighteen months this took to film took its toll, with some of them leaving before the production was finished. A lot of the scenes take place in an apartment, which was actually the director’s. The crew lived on the set for a lot of the time, slowly piecing together the film in a way that’s very reminiscent of the slow production on Lynch’s Eraserhead. When the film was finally finished Tsukamoto even contemplated destroying the print, after the nightmarish production.

Tetsuo is filled with memorable, striking images and haunting sequences. The effects and prosthetics are stomach-churningly good. The story is thin, but what you are left with is an aggressive assault on your senses that will stay with you for a long time.

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