Weekly Collection of Random Film Thoughts

• RIP Sidney Lumet, you were one of the very best Pre-New Wave directors. I loved Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon and Network, all would placed very highly on my favourites list. I'll be watching his final film, Before The Devil Knows You're Dead, as a sort of tribute to his death.

Quick Ratings/Reviews of The Week

Notre Jour Viendra (Our Time Will Come) - 2010 directed by Romain Gavras
8/10
Very strange film yet an excellent debut for Romain Gavras, son of legendary director Costa Gavras. Cassel was particularly excellent, this is one of his best performances, forget about Black Swan he was extremely average in that, this is a truly excellent performance from him.
As for the film itself, as I said very strange, I liked the story and it was technically very well made, beautiful cinematography and great score. But the story was completely fantastical and at times disturbing, while still staying fulling within the confines of reality.
I recommend it highly, just don't expect to fully grasp this film.

PLUG: ForgottenClassics100's Channel

The recently created Youtube Channel of the film blog Forgotten Classics of Yesteryear is an excellent place to find rare or even unavailable films for free!

Sukiyaki Western Django - 2007

Sukiyaki Western Django directed by Takeshi Miike - 2007

Takeshi Miike is a director whose films I have long avoided, I just have no desire to see films like Ichi The Killer or Audition. But I thought I might give this film of his a go as it seemed much less violent and disturbing than the aforementioned films. I was right and ended up enjoying this film a lot. This doesn't mean I have changed my mind about the rest of his work, but it does mean I'm really looking forward to his new film, a remake of 13 Assassins which looks excellent.

Now, on with the short review for Sukiyaki Western Django:

Weekly Collection of Random Film Thoughts

•  Has anyone seen Werner Herzog's new film, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, it's received such excellent reviews and I can't wait to see it especially after watching this interview in the Guardian, the problem is that I doubt it will be screened anywhere near me, for there are no indie/arthouse cinema's with 3D installations. SO has anyone seen in it in either 3D or 2D, which is better and is the film worth watching in 2D at all?

• I've been meaning to watch The Crying Game, but I know the big twist towars the end, if I know this twist beforehand do you think I will enjoy the film less then if I knew nothing. Is there a point in watching such films that rely on a big twist at all if it's been spoiled already? I'm thinking of films like Fight Club and The Usual Suspects.

Quick Ratings/Reviews of The Week

Dead Man's Shoes - 2004 directed by Shane Meadows
8/10
This was an entertaining thought provoking film by the director of the equally excellent This Is England. Clearly Meadows is one of the finest young directors working today, I look forward seeing more of his work.
Dead Man's Shoes got mixed reviews and I can see why for the film is certainly rather challenging. At times it plays out like a classic revenge film, but there are elements that elevate far above others of it's kind, notably the performance of Paddy Considine, who is excellent, and Meadows directional abilities with contrast the beauty of the English countryside with the ugliness of the people in the film.
Of course it is not perfect, there are flaws here and there, but it is definitely one of the best British films of the last decade.