After a seemingly endless drop in to the bowels of depression it is time to continue with recording my quest. It is now day 35 of this task. I have fallen pretty far behind. It is now going to take a hell of a challenge to get back on track.
Film 17: The Hobbit
When the Lords of The Rings films came out I had no expectations as I find the books to be fairly tedious. Peter Jackson brought that world to life though. With the exception of the repeated false endings at the of Return... it is nearly flawless epic film-making. The Hobbit however is dull and tonally messy. Riddles In The Dark which is a brilliantly written sequence in the book, misses the point completely. Why is the cave better illuminated than outside the cave. Without the dark you don't feel any worry that Bilbo will be ok. At least the second one has a big fuck off dragon in it. That is bound to be better, right? ★★
Film 18: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Nope. ★
Film 19: Sexy Beast
Remember when Sir Ben Kingsley wasn't a pay-cheque hungry screen chewer? He is demented in this film and is genuinely scary. Ray Winstone plays as great understated former criminal who just wants to be left alone to drink and shag in the sun. Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant. ★★★★
Film 20: Miller's Crossing
I really like the Coen Brothers' films. I really like prohibition era films. I really like every one in this film. Yet strangely what should have been a slam dunk for me left me wishing that the two bothers could compromise slightly on making their films slightly more accessible. Didn't hate it but was underwhelmed by it. ★★★
Film 21: Frozen
Nobody does this sort of film like Disney. The songs are great, the story is simple but doesn't treat you like a simpleton. I look forward to what will inevitably be repeated viewings with my daughter. ★★★★
Film 22: Waterworld
What was once seen as one of the biggest commercial busts of all time is not that bad. It has problems of course but Costner is at the height of his gnarled but charismatic powers and the whole experience is a fun time at the movies. Switch off your brain and just soak in its silliness. ★★★
23 - I Give It A Year
If ever there was genre that required you to turn off your brain it is rom-com. This is no exception. However once you have done that there is enough here to make it worth your while. Possibly this hit a few more beats for me as someone who has recently ended a long term relationship. Steven Merchant is on the verge of one noting his way to super-stardom. He is the stand out here but until that one note of his becomes annoying I hope he rides it to every bit of success he can. Funny yet depressing. ★★★
Film 24: Sightseers
Was it a horror? Was it a comedy? Drama? I am not sure. When it was good, it was brilliant. There were some mis-steps that jarred me out of the film but it was still enjoyable. It just felt like he wasn't quite as good as it could have been. The idea of hand-knitted crotch-less knickers and matching bra will live with me far longer than is probably mentally safe however. ★★★
Film 25: Bad Santa
It was Christmas dammit! Once you got past the profanity there wasn't a great deal to this film. But what awesome profanity. Tony Cox plays a great asshole dwarf of which there can never be enough in movies. Was still more sympathetic than Thorin et al ★★★
