Movies

Carry on (the Netflix thriller not the Kenneth Williams films), is complete Bumpkim. I am not saying I didn’t enjoy it but Die Hard 2 was better and that was one of the weakest Die Hard films. Anyway very very silly with utterly terrible acting. Although I do seem to enjoy everything Jason Bateman does nowadays.

Love lies Bleeding is another bag of spanners altogether. Great acting. Gritty action. Despicable characters and an absolute mental fever dream at the end of the film. It kind of has a there will be blood ending vibe to it.

I liked it a lot and not because it’s a lesbian murder/revenge thriller film. Lots of flying things (more than Carry on anyway….).

Chicago: Giant Lesbian.

Come on. 1 and 3 are fantastic and 2 is fine. The other 2 are not.

Well true the last Die Hard in Russia was unwatchable, I actually liked the D.C. one (even if the fighter jet scene was beyond unbelievable).

Chicago: Die Hard Die Hard.

Will almost certainly finish as my movie of the year. The only thing that has a chance to dethrone it is Nosferatu, which I'm seeing on Boxing Day.

Finally got round to watching Pig. Excellent watch. Adds to the mystique of Nicholas Cage who can pull off a performance that good amongst all the other shit he does.

Pig was by far his finest performance. The scene with his former Apprentice Chef is an absolute classic.

Chicago: Watching pigs fly.

Pay no heed to the whiny incels, Joker: Folie a Deux is a terrific piece of work. Only minor complaint is that it could have done with more Gaga, she is fantastic.

Anora. Damn. Funny and dark, and one of the most ambiguous but undeniably sad endings I can remember. I think it's probably a brilliant movie but it will take me a day or two to get my head round it.

Red One - Utter Bollocks

We plan on seeing Anora and we seem to be in a post Russ Panorama where we are watching the films he has already seen. Having some time off is weird and yet fucking great. So without further ado, The Substance.. what an utterly bonkers film. It has a great idea and it goes full on Requiem for A Dream x 10. Shit, I could reference another film too but it would give it away.. (Kurt Russell)….

Blimey. It left me scratching my head whether I truly loved it or figured it had gone way too far over the top. For the record, Requiem for a Dream is the much better film but this one has some great ideas about how mental people are (Burds in particular),

Anyway, some sloppy Triceratops… wouldn’t watch it with your children (especially teenage daughters) unless you want to teach them a lesson about it being impossible to obtain perfection. For the record, Demi Moore is fantastic in this film.

Chicago: Growing old disgracefully.

Nosferatu is very good and Robert Eggers is the perfect director to be remaking it. I found Orlok to be just a little OTT but there were some lovely nods to the original, if you're a fan of Gothic horror you'll like this and if you aren't then you won't.

It won't finish in my top 3 or even top 5 of the year.

Challengers was good but something was missing and I can't put my finger on what.

Zendaya being more naked? I really liked Challengers. The problem was, maybe the two main male characters weren't particulary likeable.. Anyway, it was fun.

I am begining to think Sane Russ is starting to have good taste because we also liked: Joker: Folie a Deux.

It is a different kind of film. Almost low key. It destroys the myth of the super villain and whilst the first Todd Phillips film explored what happens to someone who is pushed and pushed until he cannot take it anymore, the sequel deals with the fallout. It really is interesting. I can see why it didn't do well at the box office as it is not an action film. It is more of a meditation on grief and lonelyness. I would give it a shot, but just don't take too many downers before watching it. I have seen far far worse this year.

Chicago: Singing for my supper.

Fly me to the moon is lightweight as anything but it's fun - Tatum and Johansen are both really good - and for free on apple tv was a decent way to spend a couple of hours.

The Fall Guy was way more fun than I expected, I have a lot of nostalgic warmth for the original series but they absolutely did it justice. Perfect popcorn fodder.

My top 5 movies of 2024, in order (had to be 2024 releases that I saw in 2024 to qualify):

HMs: Monkey Man, Challengers, Dune: Part Two

5. Civil War
4. Joker: Folie a Deux
3. Anora
2. The Substance
1. Love Lies Bleeding

2024 releases that I didn't see but I suspect would have been in consideration had I done so: The Brutalist, Babygirl, Conclave