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danieljfarthing
Reviews
Borderlands (2024)
Well-cast, silly, fun, forgettable, light, cartoonish sci-fi actioner
In cartoonish sci-fi actioner "Borderlands" mega-corp boss Edgar Ramírez hires bad-ass inter-galactic bounty hunter Cate Blanchett to rescue daughter Ariana Greenblatt from his top soldier Kevin Hart who's taken her to the Mad Maxian planet of Jamie Lee Curtis, Gina Gershon, Haley Bennett (cameo) & the (annoying) voice of Jack Black... a planet at the centre of prophecies that may shape the universe (cue battles with beasts, psychos & Janina Gavankar's stormtroopers). Experienced co-writer (with first-timer Joe Crombie) / director Eli Roth plays it silly & forgettable but it's also easily digestible & fun. Consider it "Guardians Of The Galaxy"-lite (very lite).
The Last Time I Committed Suicide (1997)
Disappointing true-tale period drama with a weak & dislikeable protagonist
The problem with 1997's 1946-based true-tale drama "The Last Time I Committed Suicide" is 20yr old protagonist Neal Cassady (later a key player in the 'Beat Generation') charmlessly played by Thomas Jane (who'd mature to better work). He has girls aplenty, a blue-collar job, and pals like Adrien Brody & Keanu Reeves - but his 'dream' is to settle into domesticity... which is offered him by friends of his 'best' girl Claire Forlani who want to set them up on that exact path. Will he take up their offer... or waz it up the wall at the bar? On his debut writer / director Stephen Kay wants to paint Cassady as a free-living hero... but actually paints him as a weak selfish so-n-so. Flush it.
Kneecap (2024)
Contemporary Irish true tale kicker & banger - superb
Tho its politics will turn many off, Irish contemporary true-tale "Kneecap" is a kicker. It's the origin story of the titular rap trio (playing themselves - surprisingly well) of 'lowlife scum' Móglaí Bap & Mo Chara and respectable teacher DJ Próvai who harnessed the lads' angry, frustrated, drug-fuelled, rebel yells (strongly flavoured by the pride of Bap's folks Michael Fassbender & Simone Kirby (both superb)). Rising as champions of the Gaelic language (to the dismay of many on all sides of them) they're still now making a mark in cultural history. This the first non-documentary movie from director Rich Peppiatt (who co-wrote it with the band) is a wee banger!
Spun (2002)
Iconic, stylish, pacy & energetic drug-culture rip-snorter banger
2002 drug-culture rip-snorter "Spun" ROCKS. Over a few manic strung-out days it follows junkies ('I'm not hooked') / small-time-dealers inc Jason Schwartzman (& landlady Debbie Harry), Brittany Murphy (RIP), John Leguizamo & Mena Suvari - as well as Mickey Rourke making their gear in his makeshift lab (and HIS boss Eric Roberts - in hilarious cameo) AND ludicrous cops Peter Stormare & Alexis Arquette. Writers Will De Santos & Creighton Vero (who only ever wrote one other film between them) aren't big on plot, but with director Jonas Åkerlund (on his English language debut) they load up on style, pace & energy. An iconic BANGER, it is indeed a trip.
Rebel Ridge (2024)
Excellent, polished thriller with great performances
In excellent, polished thriller "Rebel Ridge" black Marine Corp vet Aaron Pierre runs foul of deep-south small-town cops Don Johnson, Emory Cohen, David Denman & Zsané Jhé... sparking a confrontational chain of events that escalates with tension (slowing a tad 3/4 of the way thru) pulling in the likes of AnnaSophia Robb & James Cromwell. Writer / director Jeremy Saulnier deserves huge credit, not least for eliciting such awesome performances from his cast - all the cops are great (Johnson's been under-rated his whole career - so good) and Pierre in a role reminiscent of "First Blood" surely deserves a Stallone-esque career ahead, as he's outstanding. It's a terrific film.
Trap (2024)
Dire thriller so amateurishly written by Shyamalan at a new low
Writer / director M Night Shyamalan's various bids to repeat his "The Sixth Sense" success have been up & down - but dire thriller "Trap" is a dreadful new low. Average joe Josh Hartnett (wasted here) takes daughter (with Alison Pill) Ariel Donoghue to the concert of pop queen Saleka Shyamalan (M Night's actual daughter - and he plays her uncle in cameo)... but the whole gig is a 'trap' (duh). The premise is original, but the relentless flood of SO MANY ridiculous little plot holes & laughable implausabilities destroy it. Shyamalan must have auto-acceptance on his scripts, as this amateurish garbage would never pass regular scrutiny. It's a total turd. Flush it.
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)
Britain's solidly gritty equivalent to Hollywood's "Rebel Without A Cause"
In 1962 b/w drama "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner" ansty, angry, disaffected teen Tom Courtenay is sent to borstal (with the likes of John Thaw) for robbing an office with James Bolan. There its discovered that Courtenay's an excellent runner, and govenor Michael Redgrave (assisted by Arthur Mullard) sees a path to respectability for him (and kudos for himself) if he can beat public school champ James Fox in an upcoming prestigious cross-country race... it's all a bit much for Courtenay to process. Written (by Alan Silitoe) & directed (by Tony Richardson) with grit, it's Britain's equivalent to Hollywood's "Rebel Without A Cause". Solid.
Longlegs (2024)
Solid psychological thriller that's a bit too simplistic to match the genre greats
In '95-based psychological thriller "Longlegs" new, introverted, FBI agent Maika Monroe & senior agent Blair Underwood probe the brutal & seemingly systematic wiping out of entire families... with only coded letters as their clues. With Monroe so good again (she's an actress with superb range), Nicholas Cage (under heavy prosthetics) enjoying himself as the uber-creepy main suspect, and director Osgood Perkins stylishly toning it like "Seven" (with thematic hints of "Silence Of The Lambs") this one SHOULDA been great... but Perkin's relatively simple screenplay ultimately holds it back. So while still a solid genre entry, it does lag those aforementioned greats.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Marvel's most irreverent & fun sub-franchise returns with a bloated star cast & polished CGI
Per its title the 2nd "Deadpool" sequel "Deadpool & Wolverine" unites the superhero characters of Ryan Reynolds (sassy) & Hugh Jackman (grouchy - and back from the 'dead') - to fight each other and baddies like Matthew Macfadyen, in a bloated sea of CGI (polished by director Shawn Levy) & star-cameos (Jon Favreau, Channing Tatum, Chris Evans, Henry Cavill, Jennifer Garner, Wesley Snipes, and more). With its fast talkin' filth (superbly written by Reynolds, Levy and three co-writers) and fourth-wall breakage (oft at Hollywood's expense) it maintains the 'Deadpool' rep of being Marvel's most irreverent, fun sub-franchise. Those into the 'MCU' rejoice.
Doctor Jekyll (2023)
Modest but enjoyably fun little modern Brit 'horror'
Modest Brit 'horror' (not really) "Doctor Jekyll" updates / reimagines the 'The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde' novella, with titular Dr Eddie Izzard (charismatic as ever - great) as a reclusive trans descendent of Robert Louis Stevenson's original schizophrenic 'monster'. Through assistant Lindsay Duncan, she hires recovering-addict ex-con Scott Chambers (terrific) as her carer... but a deeper plot's afoot, and Chambers has his own issues to deal with. Throw in a Simon Callow cameo and it's clear that the cast, director Joe Stephenson, and particularly first-time writer Dan Kelly-Mulhern had fun here, and why not? It won't change history, but is an enjoyable little jaunt.
Eddie. (2024)
Poor, dull, uber-low-budget, film-student blue-collar drama
With uber-low budgets and inexperienced casts & crew, some film-student films should stay in film school, like dull blue-collar drama "Eddie" from first-time writer / student Dylan Grey Martin. Titular old convenience store owner Joseph Miller leads a sad & lonely life (as shown in tediously sluggish detail) until in a moment of fate and critical decision-making he crosses paths with chronically broke dad Ross Rebennack... and something interesting actually happens, before the whole thing descends back into amateur melodrama (with the likes of junkie James Timphony). So poorly acted & written, if this represents the future of film then the industry's in trouble.
Kinds of Kindness (2024)
More abysmal, soporific, self-indulgent, art-house garbage tripe from Lanthimos & Filippou
Films with Yorgos Lanthimos directing someone else's writing can be superb, like "Poor Things", but films with him directing his & co-writer Efthimis Filippou's writing end up as abysmal art-house garbage like "The Lobster", "The Killing Of A Sacred Deer" and the latest tripe "Kinds Of Kindness" comprising three unrelated, tedious, nonsensical tales (so not one coherent movie at all) each with same core cast inc Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone, Willem Defoe, Mamoudou Athie, Hong Chau, Margarat Qualley & Joe Alwyn. That's a great if under-rated cast to waste, but this stinking self-indulgent crap wastes it indeed. It's a 2hr 44m soporific turd... flush it.
Greedy People (2024)
Solid & surprisingly dark small town dramedy that starts too light & silly
In surprisingly dark (ultimately) small-town crime dramedy "Greedy People" a sleepy US island community's new cop Himesh Patel accidentally kills a lady... sparking a twisty tale involving $1m, Patel's wife Lily James, his brash partner Joseph Gordon-Levitt (over-doing it), their boss Uzo Aduba, the victim's hubbie Tim Blake Nelson, her masseuse Simon Rex, hit-men Jim Gaffigan (cameo) & José María Yazpik, and even (briefly) Joey Lauren Adams & Traci Lords. Director Potsy Ponciroli struggles with tone, but Mike Vikadinovich's first solo screenplay ultimately brings it all decently home (after starting too light & silly). It's yet another solid genre entry.
Fresh (1994)
Good, gritty, tough inner-city drama with implausible twists
In gritty 1994 inner-city drama "Fresh" titular 12yr old up & coming street hood Sean Nelson runs smack for Giancarlo Esposito and crack for Ron Brice, but - secretly hates the life (with good reason - a couple of the more powerful scenes are hard to watch) and the tough chess lessons that dad Samuel L Jackson give him (despite a no contact order) inspire him to big moves in real life, not just on the board. Despite how implausibly it all goes down, and Jackson's role being far too minor (considering what a star he was even then) writer Boaz Yakin's directorial debut stands up decently after 30yrs, and it's no great surprise that he went on to have a long, decent and ongoing career.
Fresh (2022)
Disasterously dire psychological-thriller that plays more like a cheap, nasty horror. Terrible.
In dire psychological-thriller "Fresh" unhappily single Daisy Edgar-Jones (poor again) is whisked off her feet by 'too good to be true' (ya think?!) Dr Sebastian Stan (fine actor - wasted here) who takes her away on a trip (despite red flags & the concerns of her bff Jojo T Gibbs (the best of a bad bunch here))... then the opening credits roll (after 33mins - interesting) and the whole sorry affair collapses into the story & characters of a pathetic, cheap, nasty horror flick. First-time director Mimi Cave & second-time writer Lauryn Kahn totally poop the bed on this one, getting so much so wrong with tone, gaping plot holes, etc that it is a disaster, a distatefully rancid turd... flush it away.
The Union (2024)
Light, silly & forgettable actioner that's still watchably bright, polished & fun
Marky Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry & JK Simmons have all dipped from their brilliant best of late, but in light actioner "The Union" they all relax to good effect. New Jersey blue-collar Wahlberg gets pulled by ex-gf Berry into her titular secret London-based US govt agency (with the likes of Jackie Earle Haley - all under Simmons) to help stop mastermind criminals selling deadly secrets to international baddies like Russia & Iran. Joe Barton's screenplay is silly (and full of little holes) but director Julian Farino, his cast, & the global locations give enough bright polish to make it fun & entertaining. While pretty forgettable, it's still certainly watchable. Fair dinkum.
Ravenous (1999)
Bloody, macabre, twisy yet dragging period actioner that's not worth reaching back 25 years for
In 1999's 1843-based bloody & macabre actioner "Ravenous" US Army Captain Guy Pearce (more restrained than usual) is assigned to a remote California fort (with the likes of David Arquette & Neal McDonough - all under Colonel Jeffrey Jones) where half-dead stranger Robert Carlyle arrives with a gruesome tale of cannabalism from the nearby mountains. On investigating his claims a whole new level of horror is unveiled... and that's just the start of it. The debut screenplay of Ted Griffin (who'd later write "Ocean's Eleven") twists yet drags, and isn't particularly helped by journeyman director Antonia Bird. It's a quirky film, but not one worth reaching back 25 years for.
Jackpot! (2024)
Low-brow comedy so dumb that it wastes the fine talent involved
John Cena is Hollywood's funniest man, but his films can be rather low-brow... though none as deliberately low-brow as dystopian action-comedy "Jackpot". The premise of Rob Yescombe's first solo screenplay is that in 2030 anyone killing the California lottery winner on the day of their win gets the booty. Awkwafina (another funny talent) wins, so everyone in LA's out to kill her except professional protectors Cena & Simu Liu (or ARE they?!). Cue low-budget fight scenes, various cameos (inc Sean William Scott & Machine Gun Kelly), and some fun lines. Director Paul Feig is notoriously up / down... and though this one has its giggles it's so dumb it's a down. Flush it.
Lowlife (2017)
Superbly dark, brash, clever & violent, mainly thru its brilliant writing
Through its five first-time writers (inc Ryan Prows - also on his directorial debut) 2017's superb "Lowlife" blends three gritty stories in dark, brash, clever & violent style. Ashamed to work for scum mobster Mark Burnham, killer Ricardo Adam Zarate still yearns to pass on his luchador legacy to his son that Santana Dempsey carries. Struggling motel owner Nicki Micheaux needs Burnham & Dempsey to save her dying husband's life. Shane Ogbonna (another co-writer btw) has ex-con Jon Oswald help him after crossing Burnham. With low budget & relatively unknown cast / crew it STILL excels. Prows hasn't made another full film since... but hopefully he will.
Twisters (2024)
Blockbuster natural disaster thriller that's 90% stunning effects and 10% lame guff
Like 1996's "Twister" that it sequels / homages, 90% of the appeal of blockbuster natural disaster thriller "Twisters" is its epic visual effects, with all else being just guff - and that's ok, as director Lee Isaac Chung's set pieces are so amazing they more than make up for accomplished writer Mark L Smith's screenplay being so forgettably weak. Nerdy Daisy Edgar-Jones (over-actress) & gung-ho Glen Powell (2024's breakout star) chase tornados with their teams & support (inc Edgar-Jones' mum Maura Tierney) across Oklahoma... where they may just conquer the beasts forever AND fall in love - but so what, as this one is ALL about those WILD storms, right?
Widow Clicquot (2023)
Relatively dry but well performed period drama that will be of particular interest to wine enthusiasts
Relatively dry period drama "Widow Clicquot" is the true story of how in the late 16th century the titular Barbe Nicole Clicquot (rising star Haley Bennett - excellent) inherited the Clicquot vineyards of Champagne from crazy genius husband Tom Sturridge, and with steely determination (and the support of Sam Riley) fought off largely chauvinistic pressure from those around her (including Ben Miles & Paul Rhys) AND oppressive Napoleonic laws, to forge a legacy living on today through Veuve Clicquot. Thomas Napper directs solidly, and Erin Dignam's screenplay (cut with flashbacks) is interesting, tho perhaps only REALLY interesting to wine enthusiasts.
The Instigators (2024)
Superbly cast, entertaining, jaunty, polished blockbuster buddy heist caper
In superbly cast blockbuster buddy heist caper "The Instigators" stoic Matt Damon & carefree Casey Affleck are mis-matched strangers hired (by Michael Stuhlbarg (terrific) with Alfred Molina) to rob Boston's crooked mayor Ron Perlman (with lawyer Toby Jones) - but when things go badly wrong the duo are forced on the run (assisted by Damon's shrink Hong Chau) from the likes of Paul Walter Hauser (underused) & Ving Rhames. Director Doug Liman applies the requisite polish, and the screenplay from Affleck & debutant Chuck MacLean keeps events moving at a jaunty pace. It's not world-beating or world-changing, but it sure is entertaining. Recommended.
Treasure (2024)
Noble but dark & sombre father / daughter true-tale drama
In 'inspired by truth' father / daughter drama "Treasure" 36 yr old Jewish New Yorker Lena Dunham visits Poland (in 1991) with dad Stephen Fry (not good - largely due to his effected accent) to see where he grew up before WWII, when he & his business-owning family were displaced from their home to the Auschwitz death camp... a past he's always been reluctant to discuss with her. Director / co-writer (with John Quester) Julia von Heinz keeps her first English-language movie as light as possible, but obviously the subject matter is dark & sombre. It's a noble film, on a subject all should be educated on... but it sure isn't easy 'feel good' viewing.
The Runner (2015)
Morose & melodramatic political drama wasting fine acting talent
Writer / director Austin Stark likes good actors to play lame, dislikeable characters in underwhelming socio-political dramas. Before co-helming period dud "Coup" his 2015 debut "The Runner" was even worse, wasting the talents of Nicholas Cage & Sarah Paulson (!). Caught in an affair, upcoming Louisiana politician Cage resigns (as advised by his team inc Paulson), loses wife Connie Nielsen, & hits the sauce (following alcoholic politician dad Peter Fonda)... but thru it all might a political comeback be on? Being so morose & melodramatic in tone though, nobody watching is even likely to care. Stark sadly is not one to watch... but they cannot all be Ti West, right?
The Dead Don't Hurt (2023)
Well performed, authentic feeling, but miserably downbeat & relentlessly dreary Western
In miserably downbeat western "The Dead Don't Hurt" pioneers Viggo Mortensen & Vicky Krieps set up modest home just outside a small California mining town where Danny Huston & Garrett Dillahunt are mayor & local business big-wig respectively. But when Mortensen goes off to fight in the Civil War, Dillahunt's psycho son Solly McLeod takes a shine to Krieps... and things get dark. All performances are terrific (especially McLeod) and it has an authentic feel, but its relentless dreariness (right through the final credits) make this one a tough 2hrs+. Mortensen's second movie as writer / director probably won't have many scrambling to check out his first. Bleak fare indeed.