Rate the last movie you watched.

[Flibster]

Started early this morning...

LA Confidential

Still fantastic.
Guy Pearce in one of his two or three good performances.

9/10

[Briggykins]

State of Play - Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams

Standard conspiracy thriller stuff really. Russell Crowe is a journalist investigating a murder and attempted murder, Ben Affleck is a Congressman whose assistant apparently commits suicide, and Rachel McAdams is gorgeous and lovely.
The film doesn't offer anything new - it's very light and offers no depth to its characters, but skips along nicely and the plot works well, although...
Spoiler Alert! - Highlight below to read!

Even I saw the twist at the end coming (which is unusual for me, I'm usually blindsinded by the obvious.

End Spoiler Alert!
I've not seen the BBC original of the same name that it was based on - I imagine if you have, there's little point in watching this. It isn't as good as other conspiracy films (and nowhere near as good as Crowe's own The Insider), but if you like that sort of thing you'll probably enjoy it.
I'd give it 6/10.

[Belmit]

100 Feet

Famke Janssen is a woman on house arrest for the murder of her husband, for apparently defending herself against domestic abuse. The cop assigned to the case is the partner of the now-deceased husband so he's still particularly angry about the whole thing, as he thinks the murder was unnecessary. Quite why he's the one dealing with it when there's a conflict of interest there, we can only speculate.

Not sure why the film's title centres mainly on the fact that she can't go more than 100 feet from a base unit as she has an ankle bracelet that sets off an alarm - it's a plot device that gets used, but isn't really central to the story. I guess it helps that we know for sure that she can't leave the house or she'll get slung back in jail.

Essentially it's a ghost story. Her husband's spirit is still in the house and starts beating on her again. Seriously. There's no 'is it all in her mind?' or 'there's a rational explanation...', it's definitely her dead husband's ghost. Once you realise that there's not much more to it than that there's nothing to really keep you watching.

On the whole it's a suspenseful affair, with some poltergeistery and the occasional shock tatic, and then about ten minutes before the end there's just a horrifically violent and gruesome bit which felt quite extreme by comparison.

Passed the time, and Famke Janssen is quite yummy, but not much to recommend it on.

4/10

[Glaucus]

GRAN TORRINO

Walt Kowalski, an iron-willed veteran living in a changing world, who is forced by his immigrant neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices. The people he once called his neighbors have all moved or passed away, replaced by Hmong immigrants, from Southeast Asia, he despises. Resentful of virtually everything and everyone he sees, Walt is just waiting out the rest of his life, until the night his teenage neighbor Thao tries to steal his prized '72 Gran Torino, under pressure from Hmong gang-bangers. But Walt stands in the way of both the heist and the gang, making him the reluctant hero of the neighborhood-especially to Thao's mother and older sister, Sue, who insist that Thao work for Walt as a way to make amends. Though he initially wants nothing to do with these people, Walt eventually gives in and puts the boy to work, setting into motion an unlikely friendship that will change both their lives.

10/10
What can I say a true master piece. I want say anything as don't wont to spoil the plot. But this is a must Must Must watch film.

[Flibster]

Number 2...

Bride of Frankenstein

One of my all time favourite horror films. As such, it's another thats going to be remade soon.

Boris Karloff continues to be perfect as the monster and the supporting cast ranges from cheesy to creepy. Ernest Thesiger as Dr Pretorius is just plain creepy. Elsa Lanchester is running a double header as both Mary Shelley and the Bride - definably better as the Bride though.

What always surprises me is the effects scene when Dr Pretorius presents his creations. For 1935 it's pretty damn impressive.

8.5/10

[Flibster]

Aaaaan 3.

The Apartment

Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine and some other people in a completely inoffensive 60's romantic comedy. Jack Lemmon is great though.

Not terrible, but not mind blowing fantastic either. Interestingly features a suicide attempt by overdose which I suppose for mainstream cinema in the 60's must have been quite shocking.

7.5/10

[Greenlizard0]

The Boat That Rocked

This cool little Brit film charts the story of a fictious radio station called Radio Rock that broadcasted from the sea a pirate radio station. We follow the story from when the old school, staunch and cob web like government, who are fans more of classical music, than rock and roll try to seek a way to close these radio stations down. Initially they're not illegal, however they don't own a license.

We follow the often very funny times aboard the ship as a new crew mate arrives and begins to be groomed by the people already on board.

This film is well acted, and has a good cast including Bill Nighy and Robert Seemore-Hoffman. The sound track is obviously a carefully selected set of tracks from around the era.

6.5/10

[Garp]

Mona Lisa

Neither Lana nor I know how this got on our netflix queue, neither remembers adding it!

7/10

Interesting film, usual tour-de-force 80s british actors: Bob Hoskins in the lead role as a man just out of prison having been inside for several years, Robbie Coltrane as his best friend and Michael Caine as a local kingpin. Cathy Tyson does a good role as a high-class hooker. Those of you who ever saw Band Of Gold will be familiar with her already in such a role. Oh and a sound track that features Phil Collins.

Bob Hoskins is a simple man, just out of prison having take the flack for Michael Caine for something, but goes back to working for him anyway, primarily as a driver dropping off porno movies that Caine's underlings produce. He is also assigned to be a driver for Cathy's character.

The film gets steadily darker mainly revolving around Bob Hoskins being this fairly simple man trying to figure out just what on earth is going on around him, and do what he sees as the right thing, though he's clearly lost amongst the dark behaviour of many in the underground pornography and hookers business.

There are a few plot twists, some unexpected, some fairly predictable but none of them particularly pivotal to the film. The plot isn't really the films strength, instead it's much more focused on the characters involved and their development through the events going on in their lives.

I thought it was a pretty good movie. Well acted all round for the most part, though Michael Caine was sadly just "Michael Caine" yet again. Could have been any one of his forgettable characters, but then there really was nothing for him to get his teeth into. He was perfect for the role though.

Bob Hoskins and Cathy Tyson were excellent, however. Particularly Bob Hoskins who understandably got an oscar nomination for the role.

[Wossi]

Chasing Amy.

Kevin Smith's 3rd film and some say arguably his best. I probably wouldn't go as far to say that myself but I did really enjoy it. It was interesting to see some of the actors that are a staple of Kevin's films and it was weird seeing a young Mat Damon. Ben Affleck plays his part very well even though his character turns out to be a complete tool, although I can't quite see why Jason Lee won a best supporting actor for this as he didn't really seem to do much.

7.5/10

[Belmit]

Originally Posted by Wossi

I can't quite see why Jason Lee won a best supporting actor for this as he didn't really seem to do much.

Wasn't that just an Independent Spirit Award though?

That sounds quite dismissive, I'm sure it's a great honour!