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Anything But You review

"Anything But You" has joined an ever increasing number of movies that have a specific set of traits that I appear to enjoy. They're all romcoms and modern adaptations of Shakespear plays. I didn't know the latter about ABY before I went and saw it - the trailer looked like any other romcom. But it became very apparent as the movie progressed because they kept having quotes from the Bard popping up on the scenery and props - like on a wall or the spine of a book - very much like chapter headings. Plus there are some scenes that look like they could have been lifted from a play where 2 characters talk loudly and pointedly knowing full well they're being overheard by one of the protagonists. Not that it means much to me, but it's based on Much Ado About Nothing - despite the aforementioned love of the niche genre, I don't know much about the original plays. But Shakespear knew his stuff and the modern remakes keep enough of the good stuff to make them very enjoyable.

My thoughts on Argylle

I really really enjoyed Argylle. I don't tend to try and over think movies to work out their twists, so naturally was surprised by the various twists in this one. And there were an awful lot of twists. And lots of cool action shots too. Henry looked a little odd with his weird Guile-like square shaped buzz cut thing going on with his hair, but he's clearly having fun being an action spy book character doing outlandish things. Also Bryce was awesome 😍

This is definitely on my list of movies to grab when it comes out on shiny disc.

The only thing I wasn't impressed by was the cat. The poor thing spends most of the film stuck in a backpack looking out through a glass dome, which gave the impression it was all done with CGI - like when you see a character pasted badly onto a window as the camera pans backwards. And there was the really out of place "designed for 3d" shot of the cat being catapulted upwards when the protagonists land on the crash mat next to it. The cat does get let out of the bag (chortle) and it looks like a real one, maybe there really was an actual cat involved.

A review of Poor Things

I watched Poor Things the other week. Based on the trailer I had expected a zany reimagining of the Frankenstein with a bit of role reversal and a lot of feminism. I should have probably paid a small amount of attention to the censors' warnings as I did not expect the vast amounts of nudity and sex. Which I didn't have a problem with, but I'd invited a friend along based on my analysis of the trailer and suddenly seeing a naked Stone riding cowgirl without warning was definitely a surprise.

Other than that, I think I wasn't too far wrong about the film. I'd say that the creation (Stone) was definitely not the monster - instead it was the male characters that tried to use and control her for their own ends that fit that bill. From the hideously disfigured scientist who brings her back to life, to the many men who only see her as a beautiful woman to take advantage of because she has the knowledge and wonder of a child. Stone plays the part perfectly, as her child like wonder leads her to explore all the world has to offer - food, travel, drink, dancing and of course sex.

I am also curious about the setting. It's clearly in some alternative version of the Victorian era, but not quite steampunk. The vehicles look sleak and modern, but belch forth thick clouds of greenish smoke, so I wonder if they've found something other than coal to power things with. Plus the medical tech is completely fantastical as even in this modern day, we can't bring back the dead to life.

Anyway, we both enjoyed it and I can certainly see plenty of awards heading its way.

PS yes, I am very far behind on writing about my cinematic adventures...very very far behind 😮

Chilli season 2024 is go!

I have just planted some seeds. Many appendages crossed they turn into plants 😁

The Boy and The Heron / Next Goal Wins

Last week I went and saw the latest Studio Ghibli movie, The Boy and the Heron which was exactly what you'd expect from them - a beautiful anime with a very trippy and confusing plot. A boy loses his mother in a fire during WWII and a few years later moves to the countryside with his dad to live with his aunt who is now his step-mother and carrying a future sibling. A magical heron/spirit/man tells him that his mother is still alive and off he goes on an weird adventure full of magic and wonder to rescue his her.

Today I saw Next Goal Wins, which was very funny and reminded me a lot of the first movie I ever saw in the cinema as an independent person - Cool Running. This movie is based on the true story of the American Samoa internal football team. A team who probably still retain the biggest loss in football history - 31 to nil - in a Worldcup qualify many years ago.