Category Archives: 70s

Paper Moon. Little Darlings. An American Crime. My Geisha. Where Love Has Gone. Harlow. Where the Wild Things Are. Vertical Limit. The Motel Life. Wuthering Heights.

09 Tuesday Aug 2016

Posted by in 2000s, 2010s, 60s, 70s, movies

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Paper Moon

A masterpiece, the only flaw is that color film was introduced years before Paper Moon was filmed, yet the picture is black and white.

9/10

Little Darlings

The 80s and teen films. Little Darlings is fantastic, go watch it.

7/10

An American Crime

Not detailed enough, but nonetheless, a great portrayal of this tragic story.

7/10

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My Geisha

The characterisation sure seemed a little too easy, as Shirley really did look like a Geisha. The storyline though, very sixties. I won’t see it again.

5/10

Where Love Has Gone

Expected so much more.

3/10

Harlow

The 60s biopic is not entirely accurate, especially the sickness and death part. Tedious too.

2/10

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Where the Wild Things Are

If you’re over 10, you won’t find it interesting. Adorable and inspiring at times.

4/10

Vertical Limit

A disaster film not so disastrous, yet not worth remembering or even watching.

3/10

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The Motel Life

Good at parts, terrible at others. Definitely not a film I’ll ever see again.

5/10

Wuthering Heights

The MTV version staring Erika Christensen and Katherine Heigl is boring, over-dramatic and yet kind of satisfying.

3.5/10

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The Aviator. Short Term 12. Far North. Starting Over. Hustle. He Said, She Said. Fruitvale Station. Secrets of Eden. Cyberbully.

09 Saturday Jul 2016

Posted by in 2000s, 2010s, 70s, 80s, greys anatomy, Jessica Lange, movies

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The Aviator

A beautiful portrayal of obsessive compulsive disorder. OCD characters show up extremely rarely on film, usually in one episode of a TV series. A show that went into the subject a little deeper and didn’t judge it or downplay it was Grey’s Anatomy. In season 10 one of supporting characters, Miranda Bailey developed OCD behavior for a couple of episodes, before being treated and put on medication. Back in season 2 there was a patient who had a very severe case of OCD and had to be assured everything was ‘clean, clean clean’. Most of the time if there even is an OCD character, it’s only mentioned superficially. Fortunately, in The Aviator it is perfectly shown. So realistically in fact, DiCaprio had to go to therapy himself as his own OCD amplified. Shame he didn’t get an Academy Award for his fantastic performance, I’m sure he would have won if people knew about his own struggles and how he risked his sanity to some extent. Plus his Howard Hughes performance is so much more important than his The Revenant role. Another aspect of the film that caught my attention was the focus on Hugh’s famous flying accident, that many people don’t know of or don’t remember. Every film layman has seen at least 5 Scorsese’s films, sometimes by accident, and this one comes up in those 5 most popular ones. I love how Scorsese adjusted scenography and colors with each year in colored film. Notice how blue the film seems at the beginning? More often than not Scorsese’s films lack focus on his female characters, they are added as a decoration, very stereotypical, but The Aviator ladies had just enough screen time, at times I thought they actually got a little more than expected. Cate Blanchet gave a wonderful performance as usual, and her Katherine Hepburn accent was quite delightful. One thing, which I suppose didn’t happen and was added by the scriptwriter was the last scene of Howard with Ava Gardner, portrayed by Kate Beckinsale, having a final chat with Howard and effortlessly helping him get better without realizing this saying ‘Nothing’s clean, Howard. But we do our best, right?’, which calmed even me down. The film didn’t focus on Howard Hughes the director/producer, but the aviator, which is understandable since he quit cinema for planes and later was overtaken by his disorder. If you haven’t seen the Outlaw or Hell’s Angels yet, do so.

‘You don’t care about money because you’ve always had it.’

Does that look clean to you?
Nothing’s clean, Howard. But we do our best, right?

‘You listened to my phone calls?’
‘No! Honey I would never do that! I just read the transcripts.’

I don’t want them bribed, Jack. I want it done legally. I want them bought.

‘I feel like a little adventure.’
‘Do your worst, Mr. Hughes.’

9/10

Short Term 12

How have I not heard of this film till yesterday, when I saw it expiring on Netflix ? It was simply wonderful, one of the psychological meets mental issues meets social problems films. The minute I read the description on Netflix, I had a feeling this is were the film was going. Short Term 12 tells a story of a young social worker sexually abused by her father in the past who meets a young teenager who she suspects is going through similar abuse. I absolutely loved that the medusa and shark children story the girl wrote referring to her abuse, may as well have been about the girl’s relationship with a razor. The film includes some of the most accurate quote about self harm I have seen captured on film. I highly recommend this independent masterpiece to everyone.

‘When I was your age, I had to stand in a courtroom with a bunch of strangers and tell them all the ways that he abused me. What he hit me with. How he got drunk. How he forced me to take a shower with him. Got me pregnant. I sent him to prison. I didn’t talk about it. I didn’t think about it. Until I met you.’

‘Last night, that girl sat next to me and she cried and she tried to tell me the only way that she knew how.’

‘It’s impossible to worry about anything else when there’s blood coming out of you.’

‘All fucked up now, damn near 18. All the pictures in my past ain’t never fading. I’m always wishing for something amazing but when your life is shit then it ain’t no trade in so put me in your books so you know what it’s like to live a life not knowing what a normal life’s like put a label on my head so you know what it’s like not knowing what a normal life’s like look into my eyes so you know what it’s like, look into my eyes so you know what it’s like, look into my eyes so you know what it’s like to live a life not knowing what a normal life’s like.’

‘Once upon a time, there lived a young octopus named Nina and she was very happy. But then, on Monday, the Shark showed up. “Do you want to be my friend? Just let me eat one of your arms,” said the Shark. Nina had never had a friend before, so she donated an arm to her wonderful new friend. Every day that week, Nina and the Shark would play together. And every night, Nina would give him another one of her arms to eat. On Sunday, after playing all day, the Shark told Nina that he was very hungry. “I’ve already given you six of my arms, and now you want one more?” She said.“I don’t want one. This time I want them all. Because that’s what friends are for.” When the shark finished his meal that night, he felt very sad and lonely. He missed Nina very much. So, he swam away to find another friend.’

‘I know the rules: no belts, no razors, no scissors, no fucking freedom.’

‘Grace, you are a line staff. It’s not your job to interpret tears. That’s what our trained therapists are here for.’
‘Then your trained therapists don’t know shit.’

‘Take the advice you give your kids every fucking five minutes and learn to talk about what’s going on inside your head.’

‘Please don’t be offended if I’m not very friendly, but I’m going to be living with my dad soon, and I don’t really like wasting time on short-term relationships. So, you know, it’s nothing personal.’

9/10

Far North

A lovely but monotonous film starring Jessica Lange. I am not sure why Patricia Arquette’s character was a bit on the crazy side and slutty too, but the film as a whole was satisfactory. There was this one very relatable scene where Jessica’s character talks about her rushing to move out the minute she could and not thinking about coming back home and now realizing it’s nice to have somewhere to come back to and explaining to her sister that there are worse things than raising your child in the house you grew up in.

4.5/10

Starting Over

A Burt Reynolds film you only saw if you’re a huge Burt Reynolds fan or if you were a divorcee starting over in 1979. Jill Clayburgh looked so much like Diana Keaton in this film. The second hal of the film got more romantic comedy like with Burt throwing balls and making her fall into the little basin. Are we supposed to be happy he tried to get back together with his ex-wife or are we supposed to treat it as a betrayal?’ Hight difference and sexual element?’ The storyline wasn’t special but Jill Clayburgh and Candice Bergen were both nominated for an Academy Award for their roles.

6/10

Hustle

And I thought Starting Over was weak. Without a doubt the worst film of both Burt Reynolds and Catherine Deneuve. I only liked the surprisingly tragic and somewhat random ending. If you cut out the grieving parents, you’d have a really shitty film.

3.5/10

He Said, She Said

Kevin Beacon’s character was a little too shady with not being able to decide whether he does love Elizabeth Perkins’ character enough or not, once saying she loves her and another time that she can’t marry her. I am always shocked that Elizabeth’s career did not start off after this. I am glad she finally got recognition for Weeds, but her 80s/90s films and her character on Weeds are two completely separate things. The film was a bit cheesy at times, but what romantic comedy isn’t.

6/10

Fruitvale Station

A moving biopic about the 2008 New Years Eve tragedy. This films is produced by Forest Whitaker and it stars Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer. Not only was Oscar targeted as a black man, he also had to come across a dumb cop who mistook a gun for a taser. 22 is way too early to go. Thanks to Netflix for showing me this. There’s not much I need to say about this, go watch this especially now with what’s happening yet again.

‘Nooo! Don’t go. I’m scared.’
‘Scared of what?’
‘I hear guns outside.’
‘You know what, baby? Those are just firecrackers. You’ll be safe inside, with your cousin.’
‘But what about you Daddy?’
‘Me? Baby, I’ll be fine.’

‘You shot me. I got a daughter…’

‘I told him to take the train. I didn’t know they were gonna hurt my baby. I should’ve let him drive, but I wanted to keep him safe. You gotta let me hug him. Please, let me hug him. He didn’t like to be alone.’

‘Where’s daddy?’

7/10

Secrets of Eden

John Stamos as a priest, what in the world is this? No one actually suspected the priest, as it was just too obvious, so I was quite invested to see how it all came together. I don’t think I’ve seen any of these actors before other than Uncle Jesse and the Breaking Bad wife. Every once a while there’s a Lifetime film worth watching, and this isn’t it.

4/10

Cyberbully

I liked the other Cyberbully so much more. The 2010 one starring Emily Osment was filmed from the perspective of a victim of bullying and this one is about a bully being bullied. I expected something more jumpy like Unfriended or at least a better threat than a bunch of naked pictures being posted. I didn’t even know people made sites just to laugh at Youtubers for how unprepared they are, I thought It was just mean people commenting stuff on their channels, like since the dawn of the Internet. Honestly I only liked the last scene – not really a spoiler – when she yelled ‘Dad’ and you could hear him running to her. -Spoiler – I hated that we never found out who the person who did this were. Please check out the 2010 Cyberbully, it was wonderful, and skip this mediocrity.

3/10

Fathers and Daughters. Anesthesia. Miss You Already. Max. The Barefoot Executive. Bushwacked. The 33. Vacation. Wicked Little Things. The Killing Room. Charming Christmas. Indigenous. Jamie Marks is Dead.

14 Sunday Feb 2016

Posted by in 2000s, 2010s, 70s, 90s, Lauren Graham, movies, parenthood

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A bigger post, cause I owe you so many reviews. Don’t worry, they’re coming this month.

Fathers and Daughters

I did not like the direction it took, but we all know there’s usually a reason for girls to sleep around. I expected the film to be a little more emotional, but I’m still glad I reached for it. Why would Amanda’s character give that original script away? It’s such a nice little souvenir from her dad. Little Minx from The Whispers is definitely one of the kid actors to look out for.

7/10

Anesthesia

Dull characters of five separate stories that don’t exactly interact the way they should. The film should focus on the Professor’s life only, not his stiff family. How he taught, helped Kristen’s character in starting her recovery and him being stabbed. The writer of this film thought ‘oh let’s see how many problems can we fit into the film and maybe we’ll find some sort of deeper meaning at the end’. Why all the secondary characters? Why spend 1/3 of the film on the addict who tried to help the professor at the end? I watched it when I read about the attack, and honestly the attack itself, professor’s retirement speech, and Kristen’s self harm storyline were the only profound-like elements.

6.5/10

Miss You Already

We all have that one slutty friend who sleeps around, and has weird sexual encounters which put them in trouble. The film was pretty much what I expected, even though I thought it would be lighter and more uplifting, and giving some piece of hope to people who are left to deal with a loss of their loved ones. None of the characters were especially likeable, and I think it’s true that you need to leave someone behind for a while if they’re in one of their crazy spirals, so they don’t drag you down with them, but on the other hand, that’s not what a best friend would do, but there’s only so much a person can take. I heard Jennifer Aniston was supposed to play Drew Barrymore’s character. I think I would have liked her better for this. I hope she dropped it for Cake, not Horrible Bosses 2.

6/10

Max

What a enjoyable drama/adventure/family film. Yes all three in one, which doesn’t happen that often anymore. I honestly don’t think it could be much better. The final woods scene is captivating and I bet It’ll stay on minds of many pre and 13teens, like Bridge to Terabithia did on mine. The ending credits are accompanied by a rendition of Bob Dylan’s Forever Young. The film also stars Lauren Graham, who portrayed one of the main characters on Parenthood. And Parenthood has a legendary theme song, that just happens to be Forever Young. A coincidence? Maybe, but also a nice touch for someone who misses their weekly dose of tears Parenthood never failed to provide. I like Lauren as a mom, in Max she tried to get her husband and son to reunite while mourning the loss of her son, and she’s definitely the selling argument here. Max is a delight to watch I would recommend for entire family. I’ll show it to mine, and hopefully they’ll adore it as much as I did.

‘A hero always tells the truth no matter what people think about him or no matter what the consequences are. And you have always been that way Justin.’

‘Dad’s left a really weird message and disappeared.
Let’s do this.
Max… go search.’

8/10

The Barefoot Executive

Most of the time I’m disappointed with the films they give us on Netflix UK. I know Americans are getting all these nice titles and over 70 new films a day, and we the British get only one or two really crappy ones per day, and every other day we don’t get anything at all. The Barefoot Detective comes off Netflix tomorrow, so I have just finished watching it. It is a really witty Disney film from ’71. It gets funnier by the end when everyone assumes two TV executives want to jump off a building, when it’s the titled monkey who locked them out. Their own TV station films it all live and it’s just amusing. ‘They took it of the air and I don’t even know what happened to John’ don’t we all TV obsessed people know it oh so well. I was disappointed when the main character let them buy him off, but it’s a family film, so it all ended well.

‘We interrupt to bring you a special newscast of a sensational suicide try on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Our special UBC helicopter enables us to bring you an exclusive close-up view of the pair attempting suicide. These pictures, live from the scene.’
‘There you are. Another first for UBC. Oh, no!’

6/10

Bushwhacked

Not as funny as I expected it to be, would it be better if I watched it as a kid? Maybe if I was a scout. Did they really take the charges away and gave him an award for basically kidnapping the kids? Family films are so outlandish sometimes. Also, I think that was Patty form The Leftovers.

‘Ok, it’s two longs and one short.’
‘No, no, no, stop. Stop wait. Two shorts and one long.
‘Oh great! What are we supposed to do, cross that letter out?’

‘What is this, a parade? Come on! Would you move your wrinkled asses? I’m in a hurry here! Ha ha, I’m gonna run you over!’

‘Oh my God, we’re trapped with a murderer!’
‘A psycho murderer!
 ‘I don’t think they cover that in the manual!’

3/10

The 33

The Chile mine catastrophe starring Antonio Banderas and Juliette Binoche. I thought it was wonderful, and It left me tear-y eyed through most of it. It’s unbelievable that after 69 days all 33 of them made it out of the mine.

8/10

Vacation

Chevy Chase is 72? Where did the time go? Vacation is the continuation of the Vacationseries, but now starring  Clark’s son. The film reminded me of The Millers, probably, because of the road trip, just minus the fun parts, but with the awkward mother-son-sister kissing the whole 90 minutes instead. Most of the jokes were cheap, and did not remind me of the original Vacations at all. Puking and swimming in a waste lake are cheap tricks you pull when you run out of ideas. And honestly, the excessive puking only worked in Pitch Perfect, and while we’re at it, excessive shitting, in Bridesmaids. Why would the driver follow them all the way? Wouldn’t a normal person write down their registration number and called the cops? The opening and ending scenes were probably my favorite. I also liked the little brother swearing all the time. The film tried to be as funny as the original Vacations, but it failed miserably. To music lovers, Julian Casablancas wrote and sang one of the songs in the soundtrack, called 11th Dimension. Check it out if you like The Strokes.

‘This is some bullshit right here!’

‘Stop saying weird shit like that!’

2/10

The Killing Room

Similar to The Circle, but I wish the control room people would not pick who dies themselves, and they’d actually let the victims choose. Why wouldn’t families know where they went, at least one person most have told someone. Most of them did have an emergency contact, so how would none of them say they’re gonna be under this or this address. I liked it till they said it was a government project training American suicide bombers, what? That ruined the whole film for me. Would you sign up for an experiment you would not know the rules of just to get 250 dollars?

5/10

Wicked Little Things

It was a little all over the place, and you’d think the little zombies would go after people responsible for their death not kids and teenagers.

5/10

Charming Christmas

I have been following Julie Benz’s career since Dexter, well at least most of it, I have never seen Defiance or much Buffy and many other films, but I’ve seen a couple, and by some weird coincidence, I watched 3 films of hers in the last 3 weeks. If you’re patient, you’ll eventually see my notes on The Circle, which I thought was an incredible thriller, and The Search for Sophie Parker, which everyone who follows sex crimes in papers and their portrayal in films and tv, should watch. Charming Christmas, also starring David Sutcliffe, or Christopher from Gilmore Girls, was sweet and charming, and that’s about it. I see this pattern with Hallmark’s Christmas films, there’s no backbone in their stories. Even though there is one Hallmark Christmas film I actually loved (Christmas Detour), all of their other Christmas films are just bad romcoms with pairings that don’t even go well together. The storyline is almost never meaningful or interesting, it’s always just ‘finding love for Christmas’ or ‘saving Christmas’, which is not challenging enough even for lovely women who’s favorite film genre is romantic comedy. Charming Christmas was all of that, and I thought David’s character was trying to over-charm us all. No guy is that charming, and just because he loves Christmas? What about the friends/workers with their boring back stories? Who cares that some worker of the main character is a dancer and broke her leg and wants to dance?  They were just trying to fill the holes in the script in, so it reaches 90 minutes. Also, was that Jake Epstein from Degrassi?

3.5/10

Indigenous

It should have just been the biography of the blogger who got killed in one of Panama’s passages almost 3 years ago. If not, why even mention it? It’s not like the creatures took him. This was just like any other woods based horror, with The Descent’s inbreed, blind creatures. It should have just ended with them being killed, they should have skipped posting it on YouTube and declaring sightings of these creatures all over the US, but that’s low budget horror, it can almost never be just right.

5/10

Jamie Marks is Dead

I did not know Cameron Monaghan (Ian from Shameless) was in it until I watched it. I picked this film up because of the cover, and I just felt like a thriller/mystery film. The movie was disappointing, don’t ask me how can you be friends with a ghost, or touch it, I don’t think they’ve been doing any Casper film since the 90s. Why would you run away with a ghost? Why would your girlfriend be okay with you running in the woods with some ghost? Why were Liv Tyler and Judy Greer even in the film? They didn’t bring anything to the storyline. The ending was just as slow paced as the rest of the film, and I think it would have made more sense if Jamie was actually – spoiler – murdered.

5/10

 

The Goonies. The Apartment. Jaws. The Social Network. Along Came A Spider. Death Valley. Wind Chill.

06 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by in 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, movies

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Rest in peace, Edward Herrmann, a man of many talents. We’ll remember your fantastic roles in countless films. And maybe, just maybe, one day I’ll watch Gilmore Girls and instead of crying buckets of tears of grief and feeling honored to have fallen in love with your Richard Gilmore, I’ll only feel honored and proud. I hope your work will forever be loved and aknowledged.

First films of year 2015. I promised not to watch any bad or mediocre ones and I kept the promise so far, well not really, but It could have gone much worse.

The Goonies

One of my favorites of Steven Spielberg. It has everything, wit, friendship, adventure to begin with. Shame only one of the kids had great carreer, they were all incredibly bright and talented. I could simply rewatch it straight away.

8/10

The Apartment

No one is surprised about those 5 Oscars. Simply genius. So are performances of Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, but that’s no surprise either. It was funny and sad and it had the right amount of romance.

9/10

Jaws

I could not stop myself from rewatching it for the 10th time. I always loved that the show off dies, this scene remains my favorite.

10/10

Along Came A Spider

Or the first Alex Cross book. It was just as good as Kiss The Girls. I remember how mesmorised I was by James Peterson’s Kiss The Girls when I read it when I was ten. And then I saw the film and it was lacking something, but I don’t think Along Came A Spider is. Morgan Freeman is Cross and I tried to watch the new Alex Cross and I couldn’t make it past 15 minutes. I will never be able to see anyone else as Cross, as Morgan did that Morgan thing where he aces his roles every single time. It also features young Monica Potter and If you haven’t read the book, you’re in for a surprise. By the end of it I started getting nostalgic already, and all I could think of was, why aren’t all thrillers this good.

8/10

Death Valley

I watched it in honor of Edward Herrmann, sadly his character sang only in one scene. A movie itself was very mediocre. I admired the first half when the boy was the main character.

3/10

Wind Chill

I can’t explain this one, I wanted to watch a horror similar to Dead End, as I’m still not over how good it was. Even though the ending was predictable, it had so much charm. Wind Chill, though a similar storyline, fell apart really quickly. Why didn’t she go to the phone tower earlier?

3.5/10

The Heat. Europa Europa. Blue is the Warmest Color. Standing Up. Speed. Speed 2. Freaky Friday. Children of Men. Freedomland. Very Good Girls. Dead End. Stuck in Love. Miss Congeniality. Miss Congeniality 2. The Haunting in Connecticut 2. A Daughter’s Nightmare. Peace, Love & Misunderstanding. All About Steve. Texas Chainsaw 3. The Possession. Oculus. Candleshoe. All about Steve. But I’m a Cheerleader. Consent. G.B.F. Tarzan. Starving in Suburbia. Haunt. Blindness. Excision.

24 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by in 2000s, 2010s, 70s, 90s, Jodie Foster, Julianne Moore, movies

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The Heat

Without a doubt, comedy of the year. It seems impossible to choose a single best scene, but I’m gonna go with the club scene, when the guy says picture time and Sandra’s character pushes herself into the crowd and slaps his hand, while this other guy is always in the way and Mullins is trying to get all the girls away from the first guy, trying to fight the narc at the same time, saying are you fucking kidding me when she sees him. Sandra’s ‘No, No’ and Melissa’s ‘Maybe, Maybe’.

‘Excuse the shit out of me, I didn’t realize you slept in a suit.’

‘I’ll shut the door on you. You lay down here and put your head in the door. And I’ll slam it about 157,000 times.’

‘You’re giving her beauty advice? Do you even own a fucking mirror?’

‘I had a joint and a few little bags of coke. Since when is that shit illegal? ‘
The answer is always.’

‘I’m gonna say this one more time. Stand down, Officer.’
‘Fuck off, Officer.’
‘Oh, okay. Guess what? Now you’ve really done it. I’m going to call my boss.’
‘You do that, tattle-tits! Fuckin’ narc!’

‘It was a terrible resume. He mentioned prison, and in Special Skills he said, Keeping it real.’

‘My fear is that I’m gonna put you in a bikini and you’ll still look like a fucking bank teller.’

‘Jesus, what are those?’
‘Stop it, they’re my Spanx. They hold everything together.’
‘Why, what’s gonna come popping out?’

9/10

Europa Europa

A classic that needs rewatching every ten years.

10/10

Blue is the Warmest Color

A masterpiece, if it wasn’t trying that much to win the audience over with prolonged sex scenes.

‘But I have infinite tenderness for you. I always will. All my life long.’

‘Why are you lying?
I’m not lying.
Then why are you crying?
I’m not crying.’

9/10

Standing Up

A beautiful film about bullying, for some reason brought Bridge to Terabithia to my mind, being equally good. Shame I cannot find the book anywhere. I cried at the very end.

‘I thank God for sending me someone who changed my life.’

8/10

Speed

Simply one of the best 10 thriller/action/catastrophic films out there. Tjis is the third time I watched this film, first time in ten years, and I still cannot believe how could they be so stupid and did not send Annie home after the bus crash, and even though the train crash was unecessary, the film deserves a ten.

What is that smell?
It’s gas.
We’re leaking gas?
We are now.
What, you thought you needed another challenge or something?

So you’re a cop, right?
That’s right.
Well, I should probably tell you that I’m taking the bus because I had my driver’s license revoked.
What for?
Speeding.

Did you have any luck with the bomb?
Yeah, it didn’t go off.

You didn’t leave me. I can’t believe it… you didn’t leave me.
Didn’t have anywhere to be just then.

STOP! L.A.P.D! Get out of the car!
Hey man, this is MY car, I OWN this car, it’s NOT stolen.
It is now. Move over.

You’re not going to get mushy on me, are you?
Maybe. I might.
I hope not, ’cause you know, relationships that start under intense circumstances, they never last.

Annie.
What?
That’s my name, Annie.
Annie.
As opposed to “ma’am”?

10/10

Speed 2: Cruise Control 

Funny at times, not thrilling, and there’s no real action. Sandra’s character truly annoying, same with Keanu’s replacement, but the stopping the ferry by crashing into the island never dissapoints. I genuinely thought I haven’t seen the second part and then I saw the island scene and everything started coming back.

I swear, I’m never leaving the house again.

Go faster.
Give me one good reason!
If you don’t, I’ll push you off the boat.
That’s a good reason.

ANNIE! Come back, your my hostage!

4/10

Freaky Friday

An incredible entertainment every time. Don’t mention the lousy remake to me.

‘Max, you big hamburger!’

10/10

Children of men

Julianne is named the first on the film’s Imdb page and yet her character dies 20 minutes into the film, whereas Michael Caine, named third on the poster dies after 50 minutes. The plot could be better, film slightly dull at times, but the scenography and Alfonso Cuaron’s potential can be seen in every scene.

Y’know that ringing in your ears? That ‘eeeeeeeeee’? That’s the sound of the ear cells dying, like their swan song. Once it’s gone you’ll never hear that frequency again. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Julian? I haven’t seen you in twenty years. You look good. The picture the police have of you doesn’t do you justice.
What do the police know about justice?

Oh yeah, there you go, that’s what you always do when it gets tough, you walk away.
This is our stop.

6/10

Freedomland

Truly dissapointed with this one, racial issue presented too lightly, same with the mother’s alleged fault.

4/10

Very Good Girls

Nicely surprised, as it was a storyline we see every day. Possibly every teenage girl can relate to either one of the main characters. The almost sleeping with the boss, beautifully shown, again, something people of all ages can relate to, a mistake we happen to do too often when we’re furious. The parents storyline and the friendship fit in perfectly.

6/10

Dead End

Truly happy with this one, every single scene on the road were amazingly written and shot, from the daughter singing JIngle Bells, to the mother going insane, through everything in between. Humor very much in place, an excellent horror.

Was there no dial tone?
No, Laura. I just forgot the number to 911.

8/10

Stuck in Love

The writing parts, inspiring. Rest, another romantic comedy.

If love is setting a place at the table for someone who is never coming home, I think I’ll pass.

I remember it hurt. Looking at her hurt.

My biggest mistake was thinking you could fix me. Only I can fix me.

There are two kinds of people in this world: hopeless romantics and realists. A realist just sees that face and packs it in with every other pretty girl they’ve ever seen before. The hopeless romantic becomes convinced that God put them on Earth to be with that one person. But there is no God and life is only as meaningful as you fool yourself into thinking it is.

4/10

Miss Congeniality

Witty, not a ten, but very light and nice to watch after a long work week.

Miss Rhode Island, please describe your idea of a perfect date.
That’s a tough one. I’d have to say April 25th. Because it’s not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket.

I haven’t seen a walk like that since “Jurassic Park!”

The interview is the single most important part of the pageant. It counts for 30 percent of your total score.
What’s the other 70 percent, cleavage?

What is the one most important thing our society needs?
That would be harsher punishment for parole violators, Stan. And world peace!
Look I know what I’m gonna do. I haven’t done this since high school but it’s like riding a bike.
You are not having sex on this stage.
I didn’t know that was an option.

I was dating him for a little while because he told me he had an incurable disease… Yeah, I didn’t realize it was stupidity.

Hey! I’m gliding here!

This earpiece lets you hear anybody on our frequencies, and they can hear you. Don’t need that, with all this foil in my hair I’m getting HBO.

New Jersey, as you know, there are many who consider the Miss United States Pageant to be outdated and anti-feminist. What would you say to them?

Well, I would have to say – I used to be one of them. And then I came here and I realized that these women are smart, terrific people who are just trying to make a difference in the world. And we’ve become really good friends. I mean, I know we all secretly hope the other one will trip and fall on her face, and – wait a minute, I’ve already done that! And for me this experience has been one of the most rewarding and liberating experiences of my life.
My God, I did it!
And if anyone, anyone – tries to hurt one of my new friends, I would take them out. I would make them suffer so much that they’d wish they were never born. And if they ran, I would hunt them down. Thank you, Kathy.
A brief shining moment, and then that mouth!

Hart, listen to me. I’ve waited five years to run my own op. You think I’d blow it on the wrong girl?
No no no, I know the only reason you picked me was because I was the only one who looked half decent in a bikini and wasn’t on maternity leave.
No, that’s why they *let* me pick you. You wanna know why I picked you?
Lost a bet?
Because you’re smart. Because you don’t take any crap from people. You’re funny. You’re easy to talk to when you’re not armed. Look, give yourself a break. Cut Vic and the other pagent ladies some slack cause if they ever get a chance to see what I see then… they’re gonna love you.

Good evening, I know the program says I’m supposed to play the water glasses for you, but, uh, some of the girls got dehydrated.

Twenty-five years of bitching beauty queens, and what do I get? Fired! They steal my life. They steal my beauty pageant…
Hey, hey! It is not a beauty pageant, it is a scholarship program.
Yeah, yeah.
Yes!

Eyebrows. There should be two.

It’s lite beer, and she’s gonna throw it up anyway.

Look, she’s gonna cry again! “Oh, if I only had a brain.”

We recently discovered some information about the winner from New Jersey.
And her performance in a little film called “Arma-get-it-on.”

8/10

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous 

A true disappointment. ‘If only it had Michael Caine’ I kept saying throughout the film. ‘He would save this ship of boredom.’ Why do all Sandra’s characters get irritating in sequels?

I don’t recall seeing a skinny, white-ass girl growing up at the table.
Okay, first of all… thank you for calling me skinny.

2/10

The Haunting in Connecticut 2

I was not wrong when i crowned Emily Alyn Lind my favorite child actress back when I saw her in the pilot of Revenge. She did a fabulous job in this sequel, which was better than the original at times. I simply loved all of it, except for the sewing the sister part, as she should have not survived this, i want to hear the explaination for based on the true story for this scene, and everyone being fully fine seemed too easy.

7/10

A Daughter’s Nightmare

Why do I talk myself into watching lifetime films? This, like so many others, felt desperate.

2/10

Peace, Love and Misunderstanding

As if this could go well. Similar disapointed as with that Jennifer Aniston romcom where she becomes a hippie and sleeps around, since what’s mine is yours. I usually watch romantic comedies to find something good for my mom to watch, as it’s her favorite genre. Once a month I skype her with a title and I am clearly not doing it with this one as her reaction to this would be the same as with the Jennifer Aniston film I mentioned. We usually go to all Jen’s films together, so I didn’t get the chance to test it and what happened is, she slept through most of it, and when we left the cinema, she called it the stupidest thing ever, and I couldn’t agree more.

When there’s a death you get a funeral. It’s horrible, but you get to wear a black dress, and people bring you food and…
I *do* like a good casserole now and again.
But when a marriage dies you get endless debt, paperwork, and just a life you don’t even recognize.

Why does the past mean so much to you?
This coming from a woman who still thinks it’s 1967.

3/10

All About Steve

I don’t care about the bad reviews or the Golden Raspberry, as even though it was plain stupid at times, it was pretty hilarious and I adored everything that happened after she fell into the hole.

Hartman, for the love of God, stop tanning! You look like a Cheese Nip! You look like an orange with lips.

4/10

Texas Chainsaw 3D

If Tobe Hooper approves of this version, the killing the entire Sawyer family off I mean, I can tolerate it. Not much killing, not gore enough and what was gore was unecessary, rather than hardcore.

3/10

The Possession

A point for the Polish box, but the presentation of Polish people as Jews, when there is so little Jews in Poland left, you could not find one with a magnifying glass, whereas there are millions of Jews in New York is historically and anthropologically incorrect.

Where’s my box.

Zjem twoje serce. (I’ll eat your heart)

4/10

Oculus

All the flashbacks, intriguing. Acting of child actors far better than their grown up versions. Not bad, but no Insidious either.

4/10

Candleshoe

What a fun family film.

Let go of me! I’m a minor! You creeps! You lousy creeps! Sold me out to the cops, huh?
Shut up! Well, this is her! Here’s the rest of her stuff.

So, after you left, we examined the fireplace. There was a loose stone…
You’re kiddin’?
And there was something hidden in the canopy behind it.
Do you recognize this?
No.
Look closer, dear. Are you sure you’ve never seen it? It’s very important!
No. No. Although…
Uh, I don’t understand…
Oh, my dear. Oh, my dear!… Welcome to Candleshoe!

What if your real granddaughter comes back?
Perhaps she has.

You can peel and core the apples Queenie. I’m busy.

7/10

But I’m a cheerleader

Looked for this film for four years and it was one of the worst films I have seen.

1,2,3,4, I won’t take no anymore. 5,6,7,8 – I want you to be my mate. 1,2,3,4 – you’re the one that I adore. 5,6,7,8 – don’t run from me cause this is fate.

It’s really easy to be a prude when you’re not attracted to him, isn’t it?

My mother got married in pants.
Too many locker room showers with the varsity team.
Um, all girl boarding school.

I’m stuck on “5, 6, 7, 8, God is good…”
“God is straight!”
Hey, that’s good.

2/10

Consent

Again, no more lifetime for you, missy.

2/10

G.B.F

Waited a year fot this misunderstanding

Oh, my God, he’s doing it. He’s going full-Lohan.

Mini Ellen, you can’t take your poor man’s Portia to this dance. Try the pro-sodomy prom.

Don’t think me presumptuous when I say “bottoms up.”
Ugh! This tastes like ass!
Mm-hm. Perfect for you.

1/10

Tarzan

Weak.

2/10

Staring in Suburbia

Not an accurate description of an eating disorder, but they got the pro-ana lifestyle right, plus the shocker at the end makes it worth watching after all.

4/10

Haunt

Loved the ending.

4/10

Blindness

A huge no. I just wish there was a film where Mark’s character wouldn’t annoy me. I hated his character even in You Can Count on me and here, his wife volunteers to go with him to the hospital, because she loves him, so to thank her, he fucks a prostitute in the hospital, then says, if his wife wants to go get gang raped then she should, as men have to eat. I have seen one too many films with rape or sexual assault or pedophilia and yet this one left the most sour taste. I am still very angry with this film as it downgrades women, erases feminism and shows that women have no saying when it comes to their fate and that men’s priority is to get laid, preferably without a woman’s consent. Why the heck do I own it on dvd?

2/10

Excision

It was three am and I was not thinking rationally when I turned it on.

0.5/10

Absolute Power. The Details. Beyond the Poseidon Adventure. Sometimes They Come Back Again. Thinner. Cat’s Eye. Inside Man. Twelve Monkeys. The Governor’s Daughter. Closet Land. Being Flynn. The Big Lebowski. Marie and Bruce.

13 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in 2000s, 2010s, 70s, 90s, Jodie Foster, Julianne Moore, Laura Linney, Madeleine Stowe, movies, Sally Field

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Absolute Power

Clint Eastwood comes back as a director and casts himself as a thief who witnesses a crime. His character does some great sketches and the film features young Laura Linney. Overall, a good thriller that I will definitely buy on DVD.

10/10

The Details

I tried to watch it when it came out, but it seemed like just another stupid comedy. I wasn’t wrong, but it was funny at times. Laura Linney as a middle aged cat lady got my full attention, but that oh so ridiculous and try-way-too-hard sex scene was too much even for a person who thinks the highly controversial sex scenes in Savage Grace are absolute masterpieces.

5/10

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure

I do not remember much from the first part, since I haven’t seen it since the 90s, but this one was purely excellent. Sally Field and Michael Caine killed it, and the movie goes to my favorites.

10/10

Sometimes They Come Back Again

As I was checking what films to see this month, I bumped into this one, the only Hilary Swank film I haven’ seen yet. It was disappointing, but then again, I haven’t read this particular Stephen King story nor have I seen the first film.

5/10

Thinner

I remember reading this one in middle school and the film was an adequate adaptation.

7/10

Cat’s Eye

Yes, I did have a scary weekend, well at least tried to watch some remaining horrors and since I was watching Stephen King’s stories, this one seemed like a good fit when it popped up. To my dissapointment, it was nothing like Pet’s Sematary.

5/10

Inside Man

Man, was I postponing watching this one for eight years or what. Now I see why. Not enough Jodie Foster, other than that, bearable.

7/10

Twelve Monkeys

This month’s choice. I remembered a few scenes from the 90s again, but was a little surprised how well it turned out. It’s such a shame Madeleine Stowe did not have a great carrier after the 90s ended, she deserves all the attention she is getting in Revenge and so much more.

10/10

The Governor’s Daughter

The three scenes that will stay in my head are the brutal gang rape, Madeleine’s character getting attacked by the alleged rapists and the alternate ending which was that much better than what they went with. The way she was backing off when he started walking towards her and the kiss, excellent.

6/10

Closet Land

This film took my breath away, minimalism is everything. Two amazing actors, one room, no rules. Postmodernism at its best.

9/10

Being Flynn

It had a great deal of personal meaning to me, because of the writing and Julie’s character’s suicide, but I feel the film is not for everyone, and many could find it plain boring. Thankfully, I’m not that person.

8/10

The Big Lebowski

Don’t we just all love cult films? Surely I loved the Dude’s way of life the second time around too, but this time I focused on Maude Lebowski’s feminism and her vaginal art. Dude’s friend remains my favorite character though.

10/10

Marie and Bruce

I was forcing myself to love this film and it was not bad, especially the party scenes when she was listening in on everyone’s conversations, but it got bad around the time she said she wanted to go home and yet stayed. I thought Evolution was the worst Julianne Moore movie, now we have a tie.

3/10

Howards End. The Bridges of Madison County. Ironweed. Inside Daisy Clover. Eastern Promises. Out of Africa. The Last Picture Show. All is Lost. Deliverance. Timepiece. Silkwood. The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Non-Stop. The Assassination of Richard Nixon. Acceptance. Fireflies in the Garden. The Ladies Club. Vacancy.

20 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in 2000s, 2010s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, Jodie Foster, Julianne Moore, movies, Naomi Watts, Oscar nominee

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Howards End

Emma Thompson’s acting is always so profound and the film is excellent. Helena Bonham Carter and Anthony Hopkins accompany her just as good. The book is a must read.

10/10

The Bridges of Madison County

Just a love story, but what a good story it is. The scene where Meryl’s character  sees Clint’s character from her truck and knows she chose wrong and falls apart in the car and her husband is irritated with her having a meltdown, a beautifully heartbreaking scene. Fits every relationship where one simple got away. Clint does a spectacular job as a director.

10/10

Ironweed

They sure seemed very homeless. I bought it at once, the plot was all I needed and Jack and Meryl were unrecognizable. One of my favorite scene was followed by my OCD kicking in when she washed her hand in holy water, absolute perfection. This is exactly why we should not go to churches.

10/10

Inside Daisy Clover

Too teen for my taste, but it has Natalie Wood and Robert Redford in it. Although the scene where she burns down the house is a masterpiece.

6/10

Eastern Promises

I did not like it as much as I thought I would. For me it was just another Russian mafia movie, just more intriguing and has Naomi Watts in it.

You were not in fucking KGB!

6/10

Out of Africa

One of the best films ever made. What a story, the film just as good as the biography. Meryl’s Norwegian accent leaves us in awe.

10/10

The Last Picture Show

It was amazing, my favorite role of Cybil Shepherd. Oh how her character messed with boys’ minds. And how losing virginity was so important, we had to witness the nasty but in a sense relatable pool table scene, when she seduces her mother’s boyfriend. God, I just got distracted thinking of The Accused, but nothing beats The Accused. One of the best coming of age films.

9/10

All is Lost

When I heard this film was being made, I was ecstatic. Robert is finally back from his retirement/doing crappy films and it is good. Just enough symbolism in my mind to get me going. Still trying to figure out what the shoe container meant.

10/10

Deliverance

Watched it again, as I can never skip it. One of my favorite films. The rape scene leaves the viewer exhausted and angry at the world, which is just as it should be. This is exactly how low budget films should go. Watch to see excellent acting from the main four Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox and John Voight.

10/10

Timepiece

It sure had it’s atmosphere. A lovely drama, very good for Christmas.

5/10

Silkwood

Favorite Meryl Streep film and one of the best films ever made. Every single scene is breathtaking, what a heroine Karen Silkwood was. A very realistic presentation of working at a power plant/factory. Exactly the conditions you would expect in a radioactive environment. Plus Cher kills it.

10/10

The French Lieutenant’s Woman

One of the very few Meryl Streep films that I just don’t get what the buzz is about.

6/10

Non-Stop

It was all I hoped it would be. All I need is seeing my favorite actors doing everyday life things. Seeing Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson flying in economic class, sleeping on the plane and generally behaving like every other person was extremely entertaining. One of my most favorite thrillers of this century. I even stopped comparing it to Flight Plan, which is just the most addictive film for me along with Panic Room. Non Stop will be played non-stop at my house the minute I buy it on Blu-Ray.

10/10

The Assassination of Richard Nixon

Lacked something, but the failed assassination and the motive of Sean Penn’s character make it worth watching. For me personally the film just needed more Naomi Watts.

6/10

Acceptance

A disappointment, but Joan Cusack kept it funny. A very light view on college admission process, a satisfying ending.

3/10

Fireflies in the Garden

Eight months after watching it and I cannot tell you much about it. That’s how unmemorable it was. All I can tell you is that Julia Roberts played a deceased mother and there were some flashbacks. Just an average drama.

5/10

The Ladies Club

Excellent take on rape and revenge genre. Extremely underrated.

6/10

Vacancy

Lacking something, but in the end good enough.

5/10

 

The Way We Were. The Electric Horseman. An Unfinished Life. Ordinary People. Educating Rita.

17 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by in 2000s, 70s, 80s, movies, Oscar nominee

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How screwed up my life is right now if I cannot find time to post a few sentences on films I watch. I hate quoting films without writing reviews. I hate that the 12 hour shifts and lack of time forbids me from something that brings me so much pleasure. God, you used to want to do it for a living remember? I need to go back to uni or all my brains and talent will dry up. Don’t mind my background story, I’ll just get on with it.

The Way We Were

What a classic. In my opinion, Barbra Streisand’s best. The script was written by a genius, the story compelling and believable for the times it was set in.  If you ever could not make the relationship work, even though you loved someone very much, The Way We Were is perfect for you. But what beats the romantic aspects of this film is the history. American films that get all the communism and WWII facts right, instead of portraying the Vietnam War over and over, are magical. And if you miss the reluctant and easy high school years when you had no real troubles or have just recently transitioned to adulthood, you will be reminiscing those days along with going on and on about how good this film is. We all knew girls like Katie, ambitious themselves sure, but at the same dating bad boys and hoping they’d change them, convince them how enough they really are, but as a result, pushing too hard, making them feel like they expect too much of them, and pushing them away.Just off the top of my head, and because I just rewatched the whole series, remember how many times was this film mentioned in Gilmore Girls? If I remember right, I counted three times. The scene when Lorelai goes all Katie on look and calls him hours after he broke up with her and gives him a synopsis of Katie and Hubba’s storyline? I love how clingy and over dramatic this scene is.

I don’t have the right style for you do I?
No you don’t have the right style.
I’ll change.
No, don’t change. You’re your own girl, you have your own style.
But then I won’t have you. Why can’t I have you?
Because you push too hard, every damn minute. There’s no time to ever relax and enjoy living. Every things too serious to be so serious.
If I push too hard it’s because I want things to be better, I want us to be better, I want you to be better. Sure I make waves you have I mean you have to. And I’ll keep making them till your everything you should be and will be. You’ll never find anyone as good for you as I am, to believe in you as much as I do or to love you as much.
I know that.
Well then why?
Do you think if I come back its going to be okay by magic? What’s going to change? What’s going to be different? We’ll both be wrong, we’ll both lose.
Couldn’t we both win?

Maybe something terrible will happen – maybe you’ll have a good time.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we were old? We’d have survived all this. Everything would be easy and uncomplicated. The way it was when we were young.
Katie, it was never uncomplicated.

10/10

The Electric Horseman

Nicely surprised, I thought it would be just a 60s styled romance, but it was so much more than that. One of both Jane Fonda and Robert Redford’s lightest movies, but still a great watch. Jane plays a slightly annoying reporter, the piece has some thrilling moments as they run from the world and what’s even more appealing, the beautiful scenery. It would never make it this big in 2000s, thankfully It’s the 70s and every film is original and just excellent.

Mr. Steele, why were you 45 minutes late to the press conference? Well, I’d like to apologise for that. I was giving mouth to mouth resuscitation to a bottle of tequila. And, we lost her too.

10/10

An Unfinished Life

One of some best cowboy thrillers of 2000s. Oh the small town based movies where people work at their ranches or at home and face troubles like avenging a bear. Where the police will not come running when Robert Redford beats the crap out of a guy. Morgan Freeman can just sit in the same place the entire movie, and it will not stop him from acing the role. It’s such a shame the little girl who played a cutter on Greys back in season two, did not choose to pursue acting career, because her fresh talent in An Unfinished Life is just on point.

You think the dead really care about our lives?
Yeah, I think they do. I think they forgive us our sins. I even think it’s easy for them.
Griff said you had a dream about flying. Yeah. I got so high, Einar, I could see where the blue turns black. From up there, you could see all there is. And it looked like there was a reason for everything.

You’ve seen too many westerns old man.
That doesn’t exactly work in your favor.

8/10

Ordinary People

As a person who has now seen a couple dozen films on suicide and depression, Ordinary People, lacked something. It feels embarrassing to say it, because It’s Robert Redford’s directional debut and he does a great job. Donald Sutherland did not disappoint either. It’s still great, the Academy Award for best picture rightfully deserved, but something’s missing. I will definitely rewatch it in a few years to figure out what is it that I do not get and find the book. This is going to bug me for months.

Did it hurt?
I don’t remember, really.
You don’t want to talk about it.
I’ve never really talked about it. To doctors. But, not to anyone else. You’re the first who’s asked.
Why did you do it?
Uh… I don’t know. It was like… falling into a hole. It keeps getting bigger and bigger and you can’t escape. All of a sudden, it’s inside… and you’re the hole. You’re trapped. And it’s all over. Something like that. It’s not really scary… except when you think back on it. ‘Cause you know what you were feeling…

9/10

Educating Rita

And to think Educating Rita is on many British students’ reading list in high schools, some genius must have thought of that. Julie Walters’ performance left me speechless and so did the script. It’s an exceptional film, I can just imagine how good Julie must have portrayed Rita on stage. I was looking so long for this film, and the wait was definitely worth the time. Michael Caine intrigues the viewer with how easily this character comes to him.

Christ! My customer! She only come in for a demi-wave, she’ll come out looking like a flippin’ muppet!

Doctor Bryant, I don’t think you’re listening to me.
Mr Collins, I don’t think you’re saying anything to me.

Doctor, are you drunk?
Drunk? Of course I’m drunk. You don’t really expect me to teach this when I’m sober.

Why?
Darling, why not?
Oh, Trish, don’t. Come on, it’s all right, don’t cry. You’re still here.
That’s why I’m crying – it didn’t work. It didn’t bloody work.
Trish. Look, you didn’t really mean to kill yourself. You were just…
Just what, darling? Poor Susan. You think you’ve got everything, don’t you?
Trish, you have.
Oh yes. When I listen to poetry and music, then I can live. You see, darling, the rest of the time it’s just me. And that’s not enough.

Yes, well, apparently you were a little… drunk at your tutorial today.
No.
No?
No. I was a lot drunk.
Oh, Frank, why do you do it? When you’ve got… well, what haven’t you got?
A drink at the moment.

Found a culture, have you Rita? Found a better song to sing? No, you found a different song to sing, and on your lips it’s shrill and hollow and tuneless.

10/10

I’ll try to review some films tomorrow. Have a nice Wednesday!