Quick Ratings/Reviews of The Week

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead - 2008 directed by Sidney Lumet
9/10
Due to Lumet's death last week, I decided I would watch at least one of his films in honour of his memory. I chose his last one, which has received much praise and features many excellent actors such as Philip Seymour Hoffman and Albert Finney.
Despite the films tone, which can be best described as sombre, bleak and at times horrific yet always realistic, I really enjoyed it. Lumet went out on a very high note, which is something that can't be said for all great directors.

Weekly Collection of Random Film Thoughts

• I can't say that I was looking forward to Peter Jackson's The Hobbit much when it was first announced.  But after seeing this video I have changed my mind, Jackson is obviously very passionate about the film and is the best choice for director of the film, even if I still believe this film should have been made before the LOTR trilogy. Despite my few reservations when it comes to the LOTR films, I still think they are very good adaptations of the books and I'm sure The Hobbit is going to be just as good; although the fact that there seems to me much added material worries me a bit. And of course it is being shot in 48 fps, the first film in history to be shot in that format. So, good luck Peter Jackson!

Black Dynamite - 2009

I wrote this post as part of the LAMB's Movie of The Month event.

This is a film that might appear silly and cheap at first, and of course that is the whole point, but it must also be noted for it's amazing success among film buffs and critics, as well as the fact that it is in my opinion one of the best comedies of the decade.

I will admit that I did not expect much from this film, I am not at all familiar with the blaxploitation films, although I did have a general idea of what they were like.
In fact the grindhouse/exploitation side of Cinema is one I know next to nothing about apart from what I have read, it has just never really appealed to me. But I still ended up loving this film, I've seen it many times since and like it more each time which is quite rare for me.

It ranks among the very small gathering of films from the last decade that actually made me laugh (in a good way, not in the "this film is hilariously bad" kind of way) , and I recommend it to pretty much everyone.

My Cinematic Alphabet

This has been going around quite a few blogs recently, so I thought I would give it a go, it's harder than it seems as their are loads of great films beginning by A, but not so many beginning by X, for example.
Also my choices aren't necessarily my favourites, just what came to mind upon the moment.

Naturally I tried to choose the not so obvious choices, I wouldn't want my alphabet to be exactly the same as everyone else's and I'm pretty pleased with the result.

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.