Non-Fortean Films

[Ogdred Weary]

A friend has seen Lords of Chaos: sent a screener.

He said it's basically OK, it's a true crime drama, nothing really about Black Metal as such, the Yank actors playing Norwegains (and a Swede) are a bit annoying. It only really focuses on Mayhem and other bands are only mentioned in passing, if at all. They use eight Mayhem songs, I thought the band had forbidden this and were against the film, it seems not, or fell out with the production after signing over the rights to their music. All members are portrayed as losers and fools- which they very much were/are, Varg most of all.

I'm morbidly curious, may see it. Don't really want to support it financially, I like Black Metal music, I've been familiar with the more sensational events in for many years and read the LoC book years ago.

 

[hunck]

Nightcrawler - on iplayer for a month

A drifter looking for a job stumbles on the chance of a freelance journalistic career by ambulance chasing & videoing crime & accident scenes in LA, selling them on to tv shows desperate to increase their ratings.

When he finds there's a lucrative market in it he starts listening to police communications for breaking incidents & racing to the scene to get there before they do. His footage gets more & more unscrupulous & extreme.

Jake Gyllenhaal as the amoral sociopath with few redeeming features & Rene Russo as the tv show news editor are excellent.

Some black humour.

 

[GNC]

Jake's eyes in that film are unbelievable.

 

[titch]

spitfire, it has all the spitfire porn you will ever need, but its the pilots that steal the show. "i looked down and seen three hurricanes charge into 300 heinkels" Its superb stuff.

 

[Bigphoot2]

The pirates! an adventure with scientists,it be right good fun, even that scurvy dog hugh grant couldn't spoil it. arrrggghhhh i gave it 8 pieces of 8 out of ten.

That was great fun. I loved it.

 

[skinny]

A friend has seen Lords of Chaos: sent a screener.

He said it's basically OK, it's a true crime drama, nothing really about Black Metal as such, the Yank actors playing Norwegains (and a Swede) are a bit annoying. It only really focuses on Mayhem and other bands are only mentioned in passing, if at all. They use eight Mayhem songs, I thought the band had forbidden this and were against the film, it seems not, or fell out with the production after signing over the rights to their music. All members are portrayed as losers and fools- which they very much were/are, Varg most of all.

I'm morbidly curious, may see it. Don't really want to support it financially, I like Black Metal music, I've been familiar with the more sensational events in for many years and read the LoC book years ago.

Just finished watching it. If I were 15 I'd say it was "fucking coool". It isn't a good film, but I enjoyed the story. It would make for a better film if they used the premise and dropped the attempt to be factual. The yank accents were fine. Norse sound a bit Merkan anyway when they speak English, so,. I got into the music via what has been loosely termed Scandy 'dark folk' - Wardruna et al. They all seem pretty puffed up with themselves as individuals, but I love the lore and the music is awesome. Wardruna's music is the best to come out of the whole lot for me so far. Don't care for Gaahl (Gorgoroth), but the rest of the band are splendid.

 

[Ogdred Weary]

Just finished watching it. If I were 15 I'd say it was "fucking coool". It isn't a good film, but I enjoyed the story. It would make for a better film if they used the premise and dropped the attempt to be factual. The yank accents were fine. Norse sound a bit Merkan anyway when they speak English, so,. I got into the music via what has been loosely termed Scandy 'dark folk' - Wardruna et al. They all seem pretty puffed up with themselves as individuals, but I love the lore and the music is awesome. Wardruna's music is the best to come out of the whole lot for me so far. Don't care for Gaahl (Gorgoroth), but the rest of the band are splendid.

I agree, I think the semi-adherence to "facts" hampers most "based on a true story" type dramas. It's an irritating half-way house, either make a drama or documentary and never ever one of those horrendous docu-dramas that were trendy a while ago.

 

[hunck]

Jake's eyes in that film are unbelievable.

Yeah, it's a superbly creepy performance.

 

[hunck]

Several Powell & Pressberger films currently on iplayer:

A Matter of Life & Death - more fortean, involving as it does a man who should be dead but isn't.

Black Narcissus

The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp

 

[Krepostnoi]

The pirates! an adventure with scientists,it be right good fun, even that scurvy dog hugh grant couldn't spoil it. arrrggghhhh i gave it 8 pieces of 8 out of ten.

This is a terrific film, agreed. I reckon one of the best gags has got to be the choice of music that plays over the final credits, given the obvious resemblance between Darwin's monkey butler and Gaz Coombes in his pomp.

 

[cycleboy2]

Several Powell & Pressberger films currently on iplayer:

A Matter of Life & Death - more fortean, involving as it does a man who should be dead but isn't.

Black Narcissus

The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp

Powell and Pressburger are cinematic gods the likes of which Britain hasn't seen since. The first few minutes of AMOLAD are among the most moving in film history, and with the naked boy playing the pipes some of the weirdest. And I didn't realise until recently that the opening shot of the universe (or galaxy) was gently parodied/referenced in the opening of... The Clangers.

Also worth watching, and in great contrast to the films you mentioned, is Michael Powell's solo outing Peeping Tom. This killed off his career in the UK but has latterly been reassessed much more positively. It's very very dark indeed.

 

[GNC]

Also worth watching, and in great contrast to the films you mentioned, is Michael Powell's solo outing Peeping Tom. This killed off his career in the UK but has latterly been reassessed much more positively. It's very very dark indeed.

It's also a bit silly. And Powell was really horrible to Pamela Green during the shoot.

 

[hunck]

Powell and Pressburger are cinematic gods the likes of which Britain hasn't seen since. The first few minutes of AMOLAD are among the most moving in film history, and with the naked boy playing the pipes some of the weirdest. And I didn't realise until recently that the opening shot of the universe (or galaxy) was gently parodied/referenced in the opening of... The Clangers.

Also worth watching, and in great contrast to the films you mentioned, is Michael Powell's solo outing Peeping Tom. This killed off his career in the UK but has latterly been reassessed much more positively. It's very very dark indeed.

Another good one of theirs - A Canterbury Tale - about a British soldier, London landgirl, & US GI's end of wartime trip through the Kent countryside along the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury. In a small town on the way they encounter a mysterious character who throws glue on the hair of women in blackouts, & attempt to find the culprit.

Unashamedly sentimental view of 'Britishness', a disappearing rural life & the Kent countryside with a bit of bizarreness thrown in.

 

[cycleboy2]

Another good one of theirs - A Canterbury Tale - about a British soldier, London landgirl, & US GI's end of wartime trip through the Kent countryside along the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury. In a small town on the way they encounter a mysterious character who throws glue on the hair of women in blackouts, & attempt to find the culprit.

Unashamedly sentimental view of 'Britishness', a disappearing rural life & the Kent countryside with a bit of bizarreness thrown in.

Fantastic film... the Glueman!!

 

[Yithian]

Another good one of theirs - A Canterbury Tale - about a British soldier, London landgirl, & US GI's end of wartime trip through the Kent countryside along the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury. In a small town on the way they encounter a mysterious character who throws glue on the hair of women in blackouts, & attempt to find the culprit.

Unashamedly sentimental view of 'Britishness', a disappearing rural life & the Kent countryside with a bit of bizarreness thrown in.

Brilliant film.
I've wandered some of the stretches of the Pilgrim's Way where it was filmed.

 

[hunck]

Brilliant film.
I've wandered some of the stretches of the Pilgrim's Way where it was filmed.

Me too - lovely part of the world.

 

[Yithian]

Alice in Chains' Rainier Fog album paints a visual for the listener, but the band is now giving the fans more bang for their buck with a new film companion featuring the music from the album.

The group teamed up with producer/director Adam Mason to create a 90-minute sci-fi film titled Black Antenna that will be rolled out in 10 episodic segments at the beginning of the new year. Each episode from the film is set to a different song on the Rainier Fog album.

Source:
http://loudwire.com/alice-in-chains-rainier-fog-album-black-antenna-film-companion/

 

[Swifty]

Powell and Pressburger are cinematic gods the likes of which Britain hasn't seen since. The first few minutes of AMOLAD are among the most moving in film history, and with the naked boy playing the pipes some of the weirdest. And I didn't realise until recently that the opening shot of the universe (or galaxy) was gently parodied/referenced in the opening of... The Clangers.

Also worth watching, and in great contrast to the films you mentioned, is Michael Powell's solo outing Peeping Tom. This killed off his career in the UK but has latterly been reassessed much more positively. It's very very dark indeed.

Both films were way ahead of their time, I'd agree to the cinematic gods description.

 

[ramonmercado]

Keep Going (Continuer): A French/Russian mother Sybille (Virginie Efira) and her 18 year old French son Samuel (Kacey Mottet-Klein) ride on horseback through the hills and steppe of Kyrgyzstan. It is an attempt by the mother to reconnect with her son but there is much tension and even violence between them. The reason for his surliness and the mother's story gradually unfolds. While there is some very good acting by the pair the real stars of the film are the horses and the wide open vistas of the Steppe. Not an unchanging panorama though, they move through scrub grass to rock, to semi-desert and wade through rivers with forested hills in the background.

They face danger not just from other people but also from the physical environment which they traverse. Mud holes in a river and even wolves howling in the distance at night pose actual and potential threats. There is also a sense of time moving on - Sybilles father used to organise horse treks through the area but now tourists journey across the Steppe in four wheel drive vehicles. Director/Co-writer Joachim Lafosse and cinematographer Jean-Francois Hensgens have delivered an engaging account of the crossing a beautiful but challenging countryside. The story may seem slight but at a running time of 84 minutes it doesn't overstay its welcome. 8/10.

 

[Swifty]

Blimey, I didn't see this coming .. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air has been remade but slightly more 'gritty' this time. I won't know what to think until I see it but our actor does a good impression of Will Smith's big cheesy grin at least and I like the bit in this where he meets Jazzy Jeff for the first time ..

I suppose it has been over 30 years now

 

[ramonmercado]

Cold Pursuit: Nels Coxman (Liam Neeson) is a snowplough driver, keeping the ski resort town of Kehoe connected to the rest of Colorado, happy in his existence until his son Kyle turns up dead, apparently from a drug overdose. But it turns out that his son fell foul of drug pushers and was murdered by them due to to a friends stupidity. Kyle's mother Grace (Laura Dern) has a breakdown from the strain of his death and the increasingly odd behaviour of Nels. Coxman is out for revenge and kills his way up the gangster food-chain in search of the big boss who ordered the hit on Kyle.

Nels shows great flair as he strangles, shoots and beats his opponents to death and disposes of their (chicken-wire wrapped) bodies in a river gorge. The big boss, Viking (Tom Bateman) believes that a rival gang is responsible for the disappearance of his dealers and declares war on White Bull (Tom Jackson). The gang war ensues as Nels continues his crusade with the help of his ex-mobster brother Brock (William Forsythe). While a strain of dark humour runs through the film, Viking's young son Kyle (Michael Richardson) provides some light relief as Viking's goons try to sneak treats to the boy in defiance of the strict diet imposed on him by his father. Kyle also helps the gang members with Fantasy Football. Emmy Rossum is Kim, a Kehoe cop who wants to bring Denver style policing to the town but is never quiet on top of the fast moving affair.

Some great scenes of the Rockies and the approaches to Denver look otherworldly by day or night, in sunshine or snowstorm. A snowplough makes a mighty weapon when it's opponent is just a car. The film has elements of an old Western about it as the "Cowboys" gang goes to war with the "Indians" gang but whilst it is a Gangster/Revenge Thriller it is also very much a Black Comedy in the mould of Fargo. Director Hans Petter Moland delivers an effective remake of his 2014 Norwegian film In Order of Disappearance (Kraftidioten), at least matching the quality of the original. 8/10.

 

[GNC]

Toy Story 4 trailer:

Not sure how I feel about this. Toy Story 3 was a masterpiece, and this kind of looks the same quality in bits, but does everything have to have martial arts in it now? Ruthless use of God Only Knows, too.

 

[Ladyloafer]

Blimey, I didn't see this coming .. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air has been remade but slightly more 'gritty' this time. I won't know what to think until I see it but our actor does a good impression of Will Smith's big cheesy grin at least and I like the bit in this where he meets Jazzy Jeff for the first time ..

I suppose it has been over 30 years now

That ain't real. It's a fan made trailer. A damn good fan made trailer.

 

[Swifty]

That ain't real. It's a fan made trailer. A damn good fan made trailer.

Are you sure? .. it's brilliant if you're right?

 

[sherbetbizarre]

New Tarantino movie this summer...

... But...

Why Bruce Lee Is All Over the Teaser for Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’

He’s onscreen for about 15 seconds of the one-minute-forty-five-second trailer, but they’re electrifying. Why is Lee there? Partly, of course, because Tarantino adores him. But this isn’t a case of a director shoehorning someone into a story. Lee played a small but significant — and very bizarre — part in the story of the Manson killings.

https://www.thewrap.com/bruce-lee-tarantino-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-mike-moh/

 

[Frasier Buddolph]

If you haven't seen "People's Republic of Desire," give it a look.

"Bleak" is probably the best word for this documentary, which covers the live-streaming craze in China. I get the impression that many of the reviewers of this film see it as purely a Chinese phenomenon, but in truth the Chinese are simply out ahead of the curve in carrying the social media culture to its inevitable extreme.

The live-streaming showroom "hosts" in this film are unexceptional individuals who somehow "clicked" with the online audience and are now trapped in a Faustian nightmare, having lost their souls in exchange for celebrity and wealth. The pressure to keep up their numbers is slowly killing them, as they try not to dwell on the fact that it could all vanish tomorrow.

Of course, money is at the bottom of it all. There are frenetic annual online competitions to vote for the No. 1 host, and the amounts of money that pour in are breathtaking. The voting, unsurprisingly, is manipulated by a handful of wealthy backers who "prime the pump" with their own money to build momentum and get the fans to spend more than they can really afford. The fans, as portrayed in the film, are often self-described "losers" with no connections, no means, and no prospects who find connection by identifying with their favorite host.

The Chinese live-streaming phenomenon, I think, differs only in degree from what is going on in the rest of the world. The constant stream of mindless drivel that spews on the comments feed could be coming from anywhere.

I'm glad I saw this film, even though it didn't leave me feeling good.

 

[GNC]

That sounds like it could push me over the edge!

 

[GNC]

Lovely chat here from Mark Kermode with Malcolm McDowell on such topics as A Clockwork Orange, O Lucky Man! (and most amusingly) Caligula:
Malcy

Mr McDowell is a treasure. Why not Sir Malcolm?

 

[Swifty]

Neil Labukes's film In The Company Of Men was extremely controversial when it was released in '97, cinemas that showed it were picketed by feminists in New York. The story follows two male work colleagues who are angry about women in the workplace, one of them (Arron Ekhart) is an especially nasty piece of work who devises a plan for them to both date the same woman without letting her know to test how honest she is before they are to both finally cruelly dump her .. just because they can for a power trip.

This film was described as a 'black comedy' when it was released although I'd describe it as a social horror, things get out of control for the three of them with some mind blowing twists in the story. Watch this one with caution, you won't come away smiling from watching it, it's a study of cruelty although it is brilliantly made.

 

[maximus otter]

How about a film I delighted in as a child, but which no-one seems to have heard of today: Sammy Going South.

Young Sammy, aged 10, is orphaned during a bombing raid on Port Said during the Suez Crisis of 1956. He decides to make his own way from Egypt to South Africa to join his only living relative, an aunt.

On the way he has numerous adventures and encounters, including becoming the protégé of grumpy old diamond smuggler Edward G. Robinson. Harry H. "Steptoe" Corbett also puts in an appearance.

I must have seen this film in the cinema two or three times as a kid; when I found out recently that it was available on DVD, I pounced without a second thought.

Highly recommended for adventurous kids of all ages.

maximus otter