Film reviews part 8 (in order of viewing)

Naked (1993). CINEMA. 15.11.21. For me, this was markedly weaker than “Bleak Moments”, which I also viewed recently. The character played by Greg Crutwell was one-dimensional and almost unwatchable, so disgusting he was. Unfortunately, the Sandra character was also a sort of caricature, and whereas the film never fell short of being entertaining (in the broadest sense) – except after Sandra appeared – it felt empty and sort of pointless. The character and relationship studies weren’t quite interesting or intense enough to make this a film like “Bleak Moments”. 7½/10

Paths of glory (1957). 18.11.21. The effective courtroom scene made me sit up and take notice but the ending was disappointing. All a bit pat; a modern remake might be good. 6½/10

Man Up (2015). 21.11.21. Middling romcom, ok if you’re in the mood. 6½/10

What we do in the shadows (2014). 24.11.21. On-the-mark funny: a little gem. 8/10

A salesman (2016). 26.11.21. Not as tight, involving or thought-provoking as “A Separation” (by the same director), but still sufficiently entertaining. 7½/10

Vice (2018). 2&3.12.21. Hatchet job on Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and the Bush administration generally. Doubtless much of it is true, but this is essentially one-dimensional soap opera, and the goodish score given reflects this type of (very cheap) entertainment value instead of true artistic merit.7/10

The Band Wagon (1953). 7&8.12.21. Fun, feel-good, sumptuous confection with quite a sharp script (doubtless ultra-contemporary at the time – for instance the Brando and Oscar & Hammerstein references – and which hasn’t dated), a few good songs, and an unusual / unexpected 'show within a show’ near the end, which unfortunately detracts. 7/10

Manchurian Candidate (1962). 13&14.12.21. Directed in quite an old-fashioned way perhaps (even for 1962), which is a pity because it had a lot going for it, such as Angela Lansbury’s great performance. The whole was better than the sum of its parts. 7/10

Escape from Alcatraz (1979). 16.12.21. A solid but dead-straight, unimaginative retelling of a true story. I can see how this might have got good reviews in 1979, but it doesn’t hold up in comparison with more recent prison films such as Shawshank Redemption or A Prophet. 6/10

Why don’t you just die (2018). 19.12.21. Taken on its own childish terms this outrageous meaningless black comedy is sort of fun, and always involving. Tarantino-esque, but inferior to his best stuff. 7/10

Film reviews part 7 (in order of viewing)

Witness for the prosecution (1957). 17 & 18.9.21. All three leads seemed to be rather odd casting – why couldn’t they have got an Englishman to play the defendant? – and the woman at Euston seemed particularly unconvincing. Also, the subplot regarding the barrister’s health was a touch overdone and the ending was altogether too rushed and staged. But the sheer force of the story was more than enough to counter these small issues. 8/10

To catch a thief (1955). 19.9.21. Filmed in the south of France and beautifully shot, on first viewing the film seemed a bit too clever for its own good - but I imagine “everything” might fit into place on another viewing. It is worth noting that Variety said the film had “some plot weaknesses”, which sounds consistent with my viewing. Remarkable cameo from Hitchcock. The review score takes into account the general gorgeousness of the film! 7/10

White, white day (2019). 6.10.21. So nearly turned off in the middle but something small happened to persuade me to keep watching. Dreary, pretentious and unoriginal in all the important respects (there are far, far too many of this sort of foreign film and I’m concerned I will be wasting hundreds of hours watching them). The premise is quite an interesting one though, and the main actor’s performance was excellent. 4/10

Southside with you (2016). 16.10.21. Charming offering with some thought-provoking dialogue. 6½/10

Capernaum (2018). 17.10.21. Not a film I would want to watch twice due to its depressing nature. Incredible performances from an all-amateur cast – consistent with my theory that amateurs can produce performances every bit as powerful as professionals. A well-made film that should be seen (but not for ‘entertainment’ in the narrow sense). 8/10

Life and death of Colonel Blimp (1943). 18-20.10.21. A film of clear quality and sophistication, especially in the dialogue. 8½/10, but might have been 9/10 if viewed contemporaneously!

The hate u give (2018). 23 & 24.10.21. Some complex situations and dialogue save this from being too run of the mill. A weak final few scenes though. 7/10

Yentl (1983). 25.10.21. Ponderously directed, especially in the second half, with a preposterous plot and awful songs, the film nevertheless usually stays the right side of watchable, and the ‘revelation’ scene is touching. I disagree with Roger Ebert: in direct contrast with him, I thought the middle part of the film was the worst. 6/10

Bleak Moments (1971). CINEMA. 28.10.21. Superlative character and situation study, if a touch self-conscious on occasion. If the film was judged on the pathos of the acting alone, this would get 10/10. 8½/10

Ghost stories (2017). 9&10.11.21. So-so light horror; entertaining enough to sit through. 6/10

Film reviews part 6 (in order of viewing)

Man in the white suit (1951). 29.7.21. More a drama than a comedy. Unformulaic and good touches to the script, and credits the viewer with intelligence. It feels quite cumbersomely directed though. 7/10

Lady Bird (2017). 1.8.21. Entertaining meander through a section of an – on the face of it – unconventional young woman’s life. Laurie Metcalf’s excellent portrayal of the mother reminded me of Shirley Maclaine’s character in Terms of Endearment. However, the film is ridiculously over-rated. 7/10

Goldstone (2016). 5.8.21. Not good enough to see in its entirety (watched half).

Limehouse Golem (2016). 6.8.21. Neat little film, adapted by Jane Goldman, although a bit too fast and slick to get the most out of the quite fascinating story. 7/10

Memento (2000). 19.8.21. Gimmicky thriller with not much beneath the surface and a disappointing ending, but the gimmick ensures it is never less than gripping. 7/10

Cold comfort farm (1995). 20.8.21. Quite intriguing/ promising first half but failed to live up to its potential as the second half falls flat. It should be noted that this was a tv film. 6/10

Deer hunter (1978). 23&27.8.21. The whole is distinctly better than the sum of its parts, which alternate between extreme tedium and extreme horror. Lots of contrivances don’t help. Overlong and grossly overrated, and yet somehow – taken as a whole and despite all the mess – it is a literate piece of film-making. 5/10

Meet me in St Louis (1944). 28&29.8.21. Sumptuously photographed, frilly, fluffy, and chronically pleasant. But that isn’t enough to make a great film. An extra mark for at least two good songs. 7/10

Other side of hope (2017). 13.9.21. A typically slightly oddball international film. It holds the attention throughout, and one or two early scenes seem poignant and suggest promise, but ultimately the film amounts to nothing. The random acts of violence also felt contrived and unrealistic. 6/10

The guardians (2017). 16.9.21. Excellent, in a hypnotic way, for the first two-thirds, but spoilt by a plot contrivance which didn’t ‘sit right’ and the usual, throw-away ending. A shame, because if the quality of the plot would have matched that of the ambiance and quiet character studies – or even, perhaps, if there would have been hardly any plot to speak of at all – this would have been so much better. 7/10

Film reviews part 5 (in order of viewing)

 

Don’t look back (1967). 16.6.21. Entertaining Bob Dylan documentary. 8/10

Yesterday (2019). 17.6.21. What has happened to Richard Curtis? Poor material and even more poorly directed. Slow and stodgy. So glad I didn’t see this in the cinema. Watchable only because of the “fun”, pulpy story. 5/10

Letter from an unknown woman (1948). 27.6.21. Charming little romantic melodrama, literate and well-paced. Excellent performance from Jane Fontaine. 8/10

An impossible love (2018). 1.7.21. Very engaging, and an interesting thought-provoking message spelt out near the end, but I would have liked to have seen the Rachel character fleshed out a bit more: she was a bit too one-dimensional. 8/10

How the west was won (1962). 3.7.21. Not good enough to see in its entirety (watched an hour).

Blazing saddles (1974). 6&7.7.21. One can see how this would have been eye-catching at the time but today the broad parody / ‘fourth-wall’ idea seems dated, and there is not much more of interest than in a carry-on or Airplane film, although quite a few gags and sketches (still) hit the mark. A shame Richard Pryor was dropped, as perhaps his presence would have elevated the material somewhat. 6/10

Out of sight (1998). 12.7.21. Not good enough to see in its entirety (watched about 40 mins).

Molly’s game (2017). 15.7.21. Over-fast, earnest and clichéd, with a script that doesn’t ring true. It got noticeably better in the second half, including a very well-crafted moment relating to Molly and her father near the end, but ultimately not much more than a spectacle. 6/10

Wilde (1997). 25 & 26.7.21. Just not involving enough; for instance it was difficult to become invested in the affair between Wilde and Bosie despite, or perhaps because of, the film blowing it up into such a big thing. 5/10

Gravity (2013). 28.7.21. Gripping start but quickly deteriorated into very clichéd, unimaginative, generic thriller territory. Disappointing after such a promising start. 5/10

Film reviews part 4 (in order of viewing)

Promising young woman (2020). Watched some time in May '21 and forgot to make a review. But from memory 6/10

Long shot (2019). 15.5.21. Not good enough to watch in its entirety (watched about 50 minutes).

Calamity Jane (1953). 16.5.21. Surprisingly good songs and a strong performance from Doris Day. Entertaining / highly watchable. 7/10

Zulu (1964). 18-20.5.21. Largely heavy-going, but a smattering of nice touches and, generally, good pacing (for a slow film) sort of save the day. It feels 'sincere'. 7/10

Loving (2016). 30.5.21. Too laid-back (understatedness does not always work out), and, actually, too conventional. All in all a drag. 5/10

Moonstruck (1987). 2.6.21. Amiable, but rather staid and dated after a promising start. 6/10

20^th century women. 4.6.21. Not good enough to watch in its entirety. (Watched half.)

The fits (2015). 5.6.21. Watchable and well-paced, with a moral message it would seem. But let down by the stupid ending, and ultimately too lightweight. (In this case, amateur quality and minimalism added no appeal.) 5/10

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975). 6.6.21. It is tempting to forgive this film almost anything, such is its wistful cinematography, mellow direction and hints at ultimate truth-beauty. The supernatural elements grate, however, as they are unnecessary, and ultimately the film doesn't have enough meat on its bones. 7/10

24 hour party people (2002). 13.6.21. Not good enough. (Watched half.)

Film reviews part 3 (in order of viewing)

Whiplash (2014). 18&20.3.21. Taut, original and quite brilliant film, despite there being essentially only one plot line. Also the gratuitous swearing was unnecessary and detracted from it. The 3-dimensional character of Fletcher was very believable, and the fact that he didn’t get his comeuppance and the couple didn’t get back together felt true (they broke up because of totally believable reasons with nobody really to blame, and it would have felt wrong for them to reconcile) and was refreshing. 8/10

Wonder (2017). 23&24.3.21. Schmaltzy feel-good movie that was nonetheless more than a little idiosyncratic. Holds the attention throughout. 7/10

Dogman (2018). 27.3.21. Coherent and always involving, although the intended message of the ending wasn’t easy to decipher. Good performances from the two leads. The atmospheric photography / ambience was a plus. 7/10

Foxtrot (2017). 30.3.21. Started off really well but unfortunately it turned into something like art house cinema: an essentially pointless ‘second act’ preceded an at first puzzling final act: puzzling until it was clear what had happened. But by then – after so much screen absence – we no longer much care for the parents, and what is on offer is pretty conventional, sustained artificially by the beautiful soundtrack from the film ‘Wit’. 6/10

Detroit (2017). 2.4.21. Too convoluted. The motel incident was almost too painful and claustrophobic to watch while the rest of the film was all over the place. The film felt basically shallow despite the hugely important, worthy themes; indeed, the direction was curiously uninvolving. The screenplay, too, was lacklustre. 5/10

Climax (2018). 4.4.21. A shocking spectacle - with perhaps the crudest dialogue in a film (which was all improvised) - and essentially pointless. Not much else to say. 5½/10

Topkapi (1964). 19.4.21 and 20.4.21. Good-looking but dated. Female lead, the Turkish sights and sounds and Peter Ustinov are highlights, but too ‘loose’: not enough to hold the attention. 5/10

Elephant man (1980). 21?.4.21. Elegant thriller. Perhaps a bit too slickly directed by David Lynch as it could have been a bit more emotionally involving. The plotline was also a touch crude. But more than enough style and substance to make up for these small issues. 8½/10

Philomena (2013). 1 5.21. Mildly enjoyable, formulaic true-story drama of a disgusting scandal involving nuns in Ireland (although apparently much was embellished / exaggerated). Judi Dench doesn’t quite pull it off unfortunately. 7/10

Internal Affairs (1990). 9.5.21. Preposterous and slightly uneven ‘pulp’ thriller, very much of its time (I think), but not completely formulaic. Doesn’t engage as much as it could do. Richard Gere miscast perhaps. 7/10

Film reviews part 2 (in order of viewing)

Look back in anger (1959). 3.2.21. First half very theatrical and affected. Richard Burton and/or his character are boring and obnoxious, constantly spouting melodramatic theatrical guff. Very tiresome. [After writing this review, I saw that the Guardian review of the original play in 1956 said exactly the same thing]. Unrealistic ridiculous chip on his shoulder about being working class. Second half, after he gets together with Helena, generally better, but went downhill again after his wife comes to the station. Very different from "Saturday night Sunday morning" in character despite both being kitchen sink dramas. Similar in respects to "Streetcar named desire". It could have been executed far, far better but it still has an appealing quality to it, especially in the second half, and one or two choice lines amid all the pretentiousness. Helena's decision to leave the relationship at the end didn't ring true in terms of real life, but Osborne clearly wanted to show that at the end of the day she didn't have the resolve and spirit to put her love before her friend's sorry state. 6/10

Jeffrey Bernard is unwell (1999). 8&9.2.21. Film of the play with Peter O'Toole being excellent. Standard theatre fare with a handful of mild laugh out loud moments. Attention just about maintained throughout. 6/10

Pili (2017). 9.2.21. Sparse but pleasing and entertaining. Not at all pretentious or contrived. The actors were in fact the type of characters they portrayed, including the lead who really was a farm hand. 65% of the cast is HIV positive. 8/10

Lady Macbeth (2016). 15.2.21. Taut, sparse thriller, excellently paced, just 1h20. Like a very dark fairy tale. Essentially the whole thing was unoriginal and there were no major twists, but it was all executed perfectly. 8/10

Edie (2017). 16.2.21. Nice, mildly funny, well-paced, gentle but predictable. 7/10

Stronger (2017). 21.2.21. Full of good scenes, well-paced, and excellent performances from the two female actresses. Sum of the parts better than the whole: the storyline was pretty predictable and standard Hollywood. 7/10

American animals (2018). 23.2.21. Original, gripping, ‘tight’ docudrama with interesting themes and a good soundtrack. Astonishing how inept the young thieves were. 8/10

Pride and Prejudice (1940). 5.3.21. Excellent comedy-drama. Outstanding tight screenplay. 9/10

Frantz (2016). 7.3.21. Very tender, touching, stylish, atmospheric drama with wonderful lead performance. 9/10

Peterloo (2018). 16&17.3.21: Valiant effort, felt very authentic, and a period piece is the perfect showcase for Mike Leigh’s fondness of human eccentricity. It didn’t exactly drag but neither was it particularly gripping, and one wonders if the characters of the middle and upper classes were really quite so awful and one-dimensional. The ending was also somewhat lacklustre. 7/10

Film reviews part 1 (in order of viewing)

Donnie Brasco (1997). 6.1.21. Very mediocre, a sort of 2^nd rate Goodfellas. 4/10

Midnight Cowboy (1969). 7.1.21. Won best Oscar but over-rated. No plot to speak of and characters not interesting enough. 5/10

Death of Stalin (2017). 12.1.21. Very watchable....I suspect I would enjoy it slightly more second time around. First time it’s all too new and too fast. Written by Armandu Iannucci. 7/10

Dunkirk (2017). 14.1.21. Disappointingly as I expected. Wall to wall action, usually hard to follow and very uninvolving. No character studies. 4/10

All the President’s Men (1976). 18.1.21. Would need to watch again to understand it properly....often too difficult to follow (e.g. too many names). It was ok but could have been much better. The dialogue and interpersonal relationships in Spotlight were much more interesting. 6/10

Sweet sixteen (2002). 19&20.1.21. Very good; holds the attention throughout. Only minor gripe is we were never told whether he killed his best friend (it was frustrating and served no purpose to leave that unresolved). Same writer as the brilliant "I Daniel Blake"...and same director of course. 8/10

A prophet (2009). 23&24.1.21. Second time seen. Gripping thriller. Slightly complicated towards the end but maintains the attention / excellent pacing. Incredible performance from Niels Arestrup. 8/10

P'tang, yang, kipperbang (1982). 29.1.21. Pretty run of the mill, certainly not one of Rosenthal's best. Alison Steadman quite annoying. 6/10

Nocturnal animals (2016). 30.1.21. Pretty good thriller but the symbolism, although not too complicated, didn't quite work for me. One or two contrivances too (what if the guy she married the second time wasn't having an affair....) Possibly somehow 'fake' at the end of the day. 7/10

The conversation (1974). 1.2.21. Much preferred it on second time of watching but pace tended to drag / lacked incisiveness and scenes relating to hotel room were confusing regarding what he actually saw. Good twist at the end. Decidedly inferior to "The Lives of Others", which it is loosely similar to. 7/10

Films and TV which I own and intend to buy

To give you some idea of the type of films I 'love', below is a list of the films and tv programmes which I currently own, and those I either wish to buy or watch again. Many of these I have owned for years and years, having first seen them as a child....but which I still can happily watch after all these years. They are in no particular order.

Perhaps my three favourite films of all - or at least those I consider the most perfect entertainment - are Terms of Endearment, Gosford Park and Reservoir Dogs: very different from one another in trivial ways of course, but all three absolutely brilliant. 

DVDs I own

In the heat of the night      

Episodes (S1 to 3)  

Dallas S7

Ken Loach at the BBC       

Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid

Full monty                            

Shooting Party                    

They think it’s all over        

Fargo                                     

Judgment at Nuremberg    

Green Wing (both series)  

Blue collar                            

Yes Prime Minister

Give my regards to Broad Street

Superman 3

Royle Family series 1-2     

Witness

Cosby Show series 2         

Cosby Show series 3         

Shrek 2                                 

Boogie Nights                      

A beautiful mind                 

Sexy Beast                           

Last tango in Paris

Hostel films                          

From Russia with love

Billy Elliot                               

Apocalypse Now                 

Good the bad and ugly      

2001: space odyssey          

Cinema Paradiso                

The accused                        

McVicar                                 

Wicker Man                          

Stella Street  (series 1 and 2)                   

Taste of honey                                

Breaking the waves            

Woodstock                           

Fanny and Alexander        

To kill a mockingbird          

Black Narcissus                  

Life of David Gale               

Carry Ons                             

Austin Powers                     

In the name of the father   

Year of the horse                

On the waterfront                

Far from heaven                 

Raging Bull                          

London Collection              

Gone with the wind            

Cagney and Lacey (from ep.82)   

Kill Bill vol 1                         

Boys from the blackstuff    

Peter Falk interview                        

Citizen Kane                        

Ryan’s daughter                 

Snow White                         

Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

Ali G                                      

Misery                                               

Up the junction                    

Archipelago                         

Requiem for a dream         

Grease                                  

OFAH: the frog’s legacy    

Rashomon                           

Vera Drake                           

House of cards trilogy        

The frost programme          

Minder (Series 3,5,6,7)                   

Truman show                      

Ali (when we were kings / rumble in the jungle)           

For a few dollars more       

Last waltz                             

Life is sweet                         

Milk                                        

The Omen                            

Goldfinger                            

Scrooge / dreamchild         

OFAH (dates)                       

National Lampoon’s Vacation      

OFAH series 1                     

Dick Cavett Show (3 sets) 

Railway children                 

Some like it hot                    

Charlie and Chocolate factory                             

4 weddings                          

Hi-de-hi s3 / 4                      

Passion of the Christ                     

Leon                                      

Cat on a hot tin roof            

Complete bagpuss             

Imagine                                 

Boys from Brazil                  

Scrooge                                

Clockwise                             

Into the wild                         

Madness of King George  

Changeling                          

Usual Suspects                   

Adam’s rib                            

Our Friends in North (dvds and videos) 

Queen and Country                                      

Terms of Endearment        

Superman / Superman 2   

A Separation                        

Cabaret                                  

Saturday night sun morn (x2)       

Notting Hill                           

Taxi driver                             

King and I                             

Mulholland Drive                

Due Date                              

HIGNFY                                

The Apartment                     

Taking of Pelham 1,2,3      

Marathon Man                     

Spider                                               

Day of Jackal                       

Hard Men                             

Dr No                                     

Bob Dylan                            

Dallas S10                           

Rocky III                                

Blair Witch Project              

MBB last orders                   

Spurs golden goals            

Pulp Fiction                         

George Harrison                 

Dallas Series 1 and 2         

Legends of the fall              

Friends                                 

Family Way                          

500 days of summer           

Shirley Valentine                

MBB Jungle Bks                 

Our Relations                      

Downfall                               

Lourdes                                

Neil Young                           

Tootsie                                  

Poseidon Adventure          

Godfather                             

Fame                                     

Somewhere in time            

Gosford Park                        

Hand that rocks the cradle

Pauline at the beach          

There will be blood             

Angry silence                      

Kill Bill 2                               

Fiddler on the roof dvd       

Dial M for murder                

Cape Fear                            

The Office                            

The Graduate                      

Reservoir Dogs                   

Midnight Express                

Sixth sense                          

Terminus                              

Columbo Vol 2                    

Doubt                                    

Guess who’s coming…     

The Hitcher                          

The Class                             

Trainspotting                        

Regan                                               

Streetcar named desire      

Beyond the clouds             

Churchill hollywood yrs     

Hatufim s1 and s2              

Dallas early years               

Piano Teacher                     

Burn                                      

Baby Jane                            

Whicker’s World (x3)          

Brighton Rock                     

Inglourious Bastards          

Groundhog Day                  

Braveheart                           

Lives of others                     

Rocky 2                                 

Ladykillers                            

Il Postino                              

West side story                    

Flame in the streets            

Him and her                         

Jagged edge                        

American Beauty                

Usual Suspects                   

12 angry men                      

Rocky                                    

Bobby Fischer                     

Serpico                                 

10 commandments             

HIGNFY guests                   

Brideshead revisted                       

Sliding doors                                   

Columbo 1^st season                       

Oliver                                     

Meet the parents                 

Bullets over broadway       

Mrs Miniver                          

Sound of music                   

Annie                                    

The Sting                              

Godfather part 2 (video)     

Gandhi                                  

Rocky Horror                        

Falling Down                                   

Brief Encounter                   

Laurel and Hardy video     

Jack Rosenthal                   

Abigail’s Party                     

My left foot                            

Godfather video                  

Fiddler on Roof video        

An inspector calls               

Shawshank Redemption (video and dvd)          

Miami Twice                         

Hannah and her sisters     

Columbo double shock     

Y tu mama tambien            

Jackie Mason                      

Educating Rita                    

Good Will Hunting              

Gavin and Stacey               

Goodfellas                            

Fawlty Towers                     

Yes Prime Minister S2       

Around the world in 80 days         

Shrek                                    

Wit                                         

Porky’s                                  

To Hull and back                 

Mississippi burning             

 

To buy at some point - if not on e.g. Netflix

I Daniel Blake

Scream of fear / taste of fear

Browning version

Heidi volumes 1 and 2

Face to face dvds

Bleak moments

All hi-de-hi (9 series)

Two days, one night

Minder (Dennis Waterman years)

Spotlight

The trip (Brydon / Coogan)

The L-shaped room

Play for today Vol 1 (and any subsequent releases)

Alan Clarke at the BBC???

Citizen Jane: Battle for the city

Imogen’s face

Touch and go: 1990s Martin Clunes drama

Heimat inc 2 prequels

Marnie

Alan Bennett at the bbc and Talking Heads

Grange Hill S5 and 6

This is England (film and tv series)

Incredible hulk

Wake in fright

Metroland (Betjeman)

Nothing like a dame

Detour (1945)

Sorcerer

Gunfighter (1950)

I never sang for my father

Naked kiss

Monsoon wedding

The Philadelphia Story

Edna the inebriate woman

The lady vanishes

Dead End (1937)

Holiday affair

Laughter in paradise

Penny serenade

Hateful Eight

Gideon’s Day

A likely story

Woman in a dressing gown

Harvey

The producers

Spotlight

The heartbreak kid

Gone to Earth (on youtube)

Paradise: Love

Father of the Bride

Flight of the Phoenix

Films by Eric Rohmer (director of Pauline a la Plage)

Romantics anonymous

Cold feet

Mad men

Breaking bad

Inbetweeners (3 series and films)

Corleone (the complete series)

 

Excellent films to see again, maybe just short of wanting to buy (“merit")

 

All 8/10 films on films watched list

Spiral Staircase

The prestige

Only two can play

League of gentlemen

The servant

Ball of fire

Quadrophenia

Marriage story

Moonlight

October man (not currently on dvd)

The Straight story

The swimmer (intriguing)

Hell or high water

The chase

Jubal

3 billboards......

Rob Roy

the wicked lady (1945)

Too late for tears

Carol

Tale of tales

No love for Johnnie

Thunder rock (due to its inspiring end message)