What Movie Are You Watching Or Watched Today?

[BelfastsLittlesHobo]

Heat (1995)

Heat is an ultra stylish thriller directed by Micheal Mann. It stars Al Pachino and Robert De Niro beside an incredible ensemble cast. It is essentially a ‘cops and robbers’ story reinvented and woven expertly by Mann into a slick genre defining crime caper.

Set in Los Angeles, Mann portrays the city like never before. If L.A is pivotal to classics such as ‘Chinatown’ or ‘L.A confidential,’ then the same is true with Heat. Mann provides us with vibrant locations, from beautiful cityscapes off sunset boulevard to a genuine illegal cock fighting ring and of course downtown
L.A where the films fantastic shootout takes place- which is pretty much unparalleled in modern cinema. (Interestingly US Special forces show the shootout during basic training).

Like some of Mann’s previous work such as The Last Of The Mohicans the cinematography is at times stunning. The helicopter and LAX sequences are of particular note. Lighting is also an important aspect of the movie with the films palette consiting of mostly grey and light blue tones similar to Mann’s ‘Manhunter’ except it’s used to greater effect here. one scene in particular is shot with De Niro’s character looking out to sea from his bay window, with blue tint used to reflect De Niro’s sombre mood.

The movies score is a percussive avant-garde collection not unlike some of Mann’s other movies. It changes with the mood of the film with tribal drums punctuating the action. Particularly powerful is Moby’s contribution to the score, his song ‘God moving over the face of the waters’ adds to a moving and surprisingly poginant ending as the two leads are immortalised on screen.

Arguably the films most anticipated moment is the coffee house scene where for the first time in movie history De Niro and Pachino lock horns in what turns out to be an acting masterclass. The scene is shot along the axis of action using two cameras shooting over the actors shoulders. It is shot very subtly unlike the big showdown one might have expected from these two legends first on screen meeting together. What we get instead is sharp dialogue punctuated by loud silences and intence stares. Its clear the two charaters are comfortable with each other while discussing their dreams as they become physiologically intimate. De Niro in particular is incredible and his line “I’m never going back” in reference to returning to jail, resonates in the latter part of the movie.

Of all the themes running through Heat the most prevailing is the thin line that exsits between what is right and what is wrong. During the film this line is often blured with the viewer empathizing with the more sinster characters at times. It is in the complexities of the often strained relationships Micheal Mann has created that our sympathies waver between the charcters and it is these complexities which make Heat an enduring masterpiece.

10/10

[cagliostro]

I've been watching Elvis Costello's series Spectacle. Lots of great interviews and the occasional great collaboration. My favorites so far have been with Smokey Robinson, Lou Reed, and the Police (despite how big a prick Sting was).
I'd love to see the Pogues on that show one day. And of course Bob Geldof.

[RoddyRuddy]

White Irish Drinkers (2010)
Two brothers looking for a way out Brooklyn in 1975.
Director: John Gray Writer: John Gray Stars:Nick Thurston, Geoffrey Wigdor and Stephen Lang.
Top film.

Contagion (2011)
Despite all the money spent on it and star cast its dull as ditch water.

Kill the Irishman (2011)
Danny Greene life story, a tough Irish thug, president of longshoreman's local ,working for mobsters in Cleveland and the resulting War That Crippled the Mafia.
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh Stars:Ray Stevenson, Christopher Walken and Vincent D'Onofrio .

[old barney greyheron]

Watched The Road last night..as bleak and brilliant as the book..i'm gonna watch it again in a bit.

[RoddyRuddy]

Legend of the Bog (2009)
Stars:Vinnie Jones, Jason Barry and Nora-Jane Noone
"Bog Man" grunting several phrases in Irish Gaelic, [eg "Uisce" (water) ,"Saoirse" (freedom)and God forbid "Pogue Mahone"] does little to add to a poor film.

Into the West (1992)
Stars:Gabriel Byrne, Ellen Barkin ,David Kelly ,Rúaidhrí Conroy,Brendan Gleeson , Colm Meaney and Ciarán Fitzgerald .
Lovely family film . The child lead parts[Ciarán Fitzgerald as Ossie and Rúaidhrí Conroy asTito ] are perfectly played. David Kelly adds a bit of magic and Irish mythology.Brendan Gleeson plays the evil Inspector Bolger ,its the second film this week I have seen that he plays the role of a garda man and I have found both films really enjoyable.

[RoddyRuddy]

Paradise Alley (1978)
Stallones directing debut wrestling film.Stars:Sylvester Stallone, Lee Canalito and Armand Assante . As well as Tom Waits as Mumbles .

You Kill Me (2007)
Stars:Ben Kingsley, Téa Leoni and Philip Baker Hall.An alcoholic hit man goes to AA.

Both films have a less than positive image of "Irish gangs" ,but the films are still enjoyable non the less.

[Heather]

Monty Python's Life of Brian has just finished on BBC4.

No matter how many times I've watched this (must be at least twenty), I still laugh.

[firehazard]

Monty Python's Life of Brian has just finished on BBC4.

No matter how many times I've watched this (must be at least twenty), I still laugh.

Still, actually, my favourite movie ever.

[RoddyRuddy]

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Stars:Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde .Thankfully more of a cowboy than a sci-fi film , it will make a man out of you.

[RoddyRuddy]

The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
Stars:Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen , Bruce Dern , Bruce Willis and Elise Eberle .If you dare to let yourself and family have dreams/ambitions you will enjoy this.It looks good and is entertaining.The ending is out of this world.

Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
Watched this from start to finsh for the first time ever today,up until now had only seen a few choice clips.

[soulfinger]

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Frankly, we don't!

[philipchevron]

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (BBC, 1979)

One of the unexpectedly pleasant offshoots of not having watched any television for almost a decade is catching up on reputed "classics". Though TTSS is almost quaint, in some respects, by the technical standards of today's TV dramas, it has something one sees less and less of as time goes on (though cable TV drama has been reversing the trend) - brilliant actors making quiet, thoughtful, well-informed choices unencumbered by the need to parcel up the drama into 12-minute bursts.

Hywel Bennett, Alec Guinness, Ian Richardson, Warren Clarke, Michael Jayston, Beryl Reid, Ian Bannen, Michael Aldridge, Sian Phillips, Anthony Bate, George Sewell, Bernard Hepton, Terence Rigby, Alec Sabin, Alexander Knox, Joss Ackland, Patrick Stewart, John Standing, Susan Kodicek, John Wells and the rest: bravos to you all.

The BBC DVD comes with an utterly fascinating interview with John Le Carre. I had no idea he was quite such an intelligent and interesting man. Quite the George Smiley, in fact.

[RoddyRuddy]

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Frankly, we don't!

At first I thought this was some Monty Python's Life of Brian joke before I realised that there was a 2011film with this as the title.Great review Soulfinger.

[BelfastsLittlesHobo]

Die Hard 1 & 2. I will save three and four for tomorrow. No matter how many times I see them they never get old!

[philipchevron]

Anonymous (Anonymous, 2011)

Written by and starring Anonymous.

There. That takes care of that.