What are you watching tonight?

[Harry Genshaw]

Finally watched the documentary on Reagan that was on BBC4 the other night. Absolutely brilliant. One of the best docs I've seen in a while.

[William the White]

Watched Burned by the Sun - Russian, subtitles - tonight.

Summer, 1936, a country dacha outside Moscow, where a Red Army colonel, and revolutionary hero, his young wife, and adored daughter are taking a break with their family. They are having a great time, despite the arrival of an old lover of his wife, who has been living in exile as a 'counter revolutionary'.

Then the NKVD turn up to arrest him.

Based on a true story the final sequences pack a real emotional punch. but there's a pretty languid hour and a half before it gets there. Glad I've seen it, though wouldn't again. 3/5.

[jmjhb]

Don't watch the sequel, it's terrible!

[Prufrock]

Lovefilm came through with American History X - which looks like it might be a mistaken choice for my taste... And Morgan: a Suitable Case for Treatment, just released on dvd and been on my list for months before... They got it to me within a few days of release... Good stuff, now to see how badly it's dated...

What? It's in English?

Quality film. Brutal and a touch depressing. Should be right up your street.

Try watching it before writing it off!

I did - tonight. Brutal, certainly. But not very good. Didn't earn the redemption story. The prison stuff so familiar it was stale. Cameron, the racist leader, pretty unbelievable. But kept there till the end.

It came yesterday through LoveFilm and I watched it tonight. The best film I've seen in years although I didn't think, reading the previews, that it was possible to write a film that sounds more like something I'd like!

I think perhaps your job, and particularly the screenwriting thing you do mean you can sometimes get bogged down in the technique, and the craft of telling a story. You need to open your mind . I can see some of your criticisms, particularly the prison, but the film doesn't IMO set out to tell a real-life story, rather to capture a mood, and a frustration, and I think it really 'gets' that feeling of impotent, perhaps adolescent, rage. As for earning the retribution story, I don't think he earned it, though he thought he had, and that is why he is further 'punished' at the end.

[William the White]

Lovefilm came through with American History X - which looks like it might be a mistaken choice for my taste... And Morgan: a Suitable Case for Treatment, just released on dvd and been on my list for months before... They got it to me within a few days of release... Good stuff, now to see how badly it's dated...

What? It's in English?

Quality film. Brutal and a touch depressing. Should be right up your street.

Try watching it before writing it off!

I did - tonight. Brutal, certainly. But not very good. Didn't earn the redemption story. The prison stuff so familiar it was stale. Cameron, the racist leader, pretty unbelievable. But kept there till the end.

It came yesterday through LoveFilm and I watched it tonight. The best film I've seen in years although I didn't think, reading the previews, that it was possible to write a film that sounds more like something I'd like!

I think perhaps your job, and particularly the screenwriting thing you do mean you can sometimes get bogged down in the technique, and the craft of telling a story. You need to open your mind . I can see some of your criticisms, particularly the prison, but the film doesn't IMO set out to tell a real-life story, rather to capture a mood, and a frustration, and I think it really 'gets' that feeling of impotent, perhaps adolescent, rage. As for earning the retribution story, I don't think he earned it, though he thought he had, and that is why he is further 'punished' at the end.

Really glad you enjoyed... and, obviously, sorry i didn't... i think i do watch movies (and TV and drama) with a particular eye, and i do think that my job sharpens the critical instinct... but, hey, it's there - and no one has to take my opinion on anything...

[Prufrock]

But of course, and as I say, I can see how as a human story it isn't particularly convincing. In the end I think Edward Furlong (who I knew I recognised- Johnyy Conner!!) and particularly Norton sell the emotion behind it. I think the central theme and the neo nzi motif are handled really well too. They manage to make a point without being condescending, which in a film of that sort I think is rare. There is no-body better at doing angry disaffection that Norton IMO. Fight Club and this both in my top 5 I think. 'Tis a shame you didn't find it convincing, as others have said, I thought it would be something up your street.

[General Mannerheim]

'Animal Kingdom' Australian crime family caper thingy. Think A Prophet meets Neighbours! really really good though!

[Prufrock]

Also, watched both American History X and A Prophet on Blu-Ray on our kids PS3, the picture is good obviously, but it's HD telly so that's kinda standard, but the sound on it.....foooook me. The bit at the end of AHX where the cars are going past and you thing he is going to get shot. Jeeebus. Hairs on neck job.

[William the White]

But of course, and as I say, I can see how as a human story it isn't particularly convincing. In the end I think Edward Furlong (who I knew I recognised- Johnyy Conner!!) and particularly Norton sell the emotion behind it. I think the central theme and the neo nzi motif are handled really well too. They manage to make a point without being condescending, which in a film of that sort I think is rare. There is no-body better at doing angry disaffection that Norton IMO. Fight Club and this both in my top 5 I think. 'Tis a shame you didn't find it convincing, as others have said, I thought it would be something up your street.

I do recognise, of course, the impulse behind the film - and feel sympathetic to it... I can't remember enough about the film to comment in detail on it, sorry... but, enough to offer a thought...

My definition of sentimentality is 'unearned emotion'... I just felt this film had its emotion on its sleeve... from start to finish...

Top 5?

[Lord Kangana]

If its above Dodgeball, I'm not talking to him ever again.

[CrazyHorse]

Watched part three of Sky's Mad Dogs last night. Cracking line up of actors in it and started off well but last nights was a bit dull, mostly padding and not much story. Last one next week, looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Watching that King's Speech tonight.

Couldn't be more underwhelmed.

[boltonboris]

Inception. The last night's Marchlands.. Without Beer.

Biggest game of the season tomorrow. Not even dampening my lips with a solitary glass of wine..

Saturday night However...............

[William the White]

Watching that King's Speech tonight.

Couldn't be more underwhelmed.

I saw this just before leaving for the cinema. I was almost certain then that I'd really like the film.

And, lo and behold, I do. Very unpromising material turned into genuine drama, strong emotional undercurrent without ever getting sentimental, nicely structured powerful climax and resolution, well acted, and even had a great (perhaps unintentional) comic turn from Timothy Spall as Churchill. Very good.

[CAPSLOCK]

Its on my hard drive for when I can get Hotel Inspector backlog watched

[Bruce Rioja]

Have to say that I've never really had much time for westerns. However, just watched Unforgiven.
Absolutely superb. Having watched it I'm still not sure as to whether Eastwood played the goodie, the baddie or both?!

[General Mannerheim]

Watching that King's Speech tonight.

Couldn't be more underwhelmed.

I saw this just before leaving for the cinema. I was almost certain then that I'd really like the film.

And, lo and behold, I do. Very unpromising material turned into genuine drama, strong emotional undercurrent without ever getting sentimental, nicely structured powerful climax and resolution, well acted, and even had a great (perhaps unintentional) comic turn from Timothy Spall as Churchill. Very good.

i was convinced id hate it, but made myself watch it as it was the last of this years oscar noms id not seen. ended up very pleasantly surprised, really enjoyed it. brilliant film. still behind True Grit & Black Swan in best film stakes for me, and Social Network, Inception & Toy story 3 too tbf, but Firth certainly deserves his best leading actor gong!

[William the White]

Watching that King's Speech tonight.

Couldn't be more underwhelmed.

I saw this just before leaving for the cinema. I was almost certain then that I'd really like the film.

And, lo and behold, I do. Very unpromising material turned into genuine drama, strong emotional undercurrent without ever getting sentimental, nicely structured powerful climax and resolution, well acted, and even had a great (perhaps unintentional) comic turn from Timothy Spall as Churchill. Very good.

i was convinced id hate it, but made myself watch it as it was the last of this years oscar noms id not seen. ended up very pleasantly surprised, really enjoyed it. brilliant film. still behind True Grit & Black Swan in best film stakes for me, and Social Network, Inception & Toy story 3 too tbf, but Firth certainly deserves his best leading actor gong!

Hoping to get to True Grit in the Valley on Sunday...

[clapton is god]

Hoping to get to True Grit in the Valley on Sunday...

You'll be glad you made the effort!

[General Mannerheim]

yes you will, its tremendous! no subtitles tho although they would have been handy for some of Cogburns' dialogue!