4v291o

I’ll it that I’m not a fan of the horror genre and hadn’t fully realised the extent of the gore in this rather well made, very dark comedy..

My wife who normally laps up any Ryan Reynolds movie only remained for the first half but I’m glad I persevered to the end.

The film works for me entirely because of its game trio of leads but it’s certainly a very different role for Reynolds as the shy reluctant serial killer.

Talking animals are usually a turn off for me but here, as voiced by Reynolds himself, they are an entertaining bonus especially the potty mouthed Scottish accented cat! 

Though set in America, the film appears to have been shot in which may explain the number of British and European cast .

The late director Tonie Marshall made some decent comedies but this really isn’t one of them marooning two of ’s most watchable stars in an absurd plot with very few laughs - a rom without the com!

Patrick Bruel and Sophie Marceau have both demonstrated fine comic timing in other films but had too little material here and the ing cast is rather bland.

The late veteran actor Jean-Pierre Marielle pops up briefly as himself in a bar scene but for no apparent reason.

Listed in :-

French comedies

I’m not a fan of the late director Bertrand Blier nor of the cinema of the absurd but even with my preconceived adverse bias, I’m stunned that this controversial badly acted mirthless mess won a Best Foreign Film Oscar back in 1978.

Clearly its subject matter would have handled very differently today but it makes for uncomfortable viewing.

Gérard Depardieu overacts wildly while Patrick Dewaere underplays and the beautiful Carole Laure is more like a porcelain doll than a genuine actress.

Not for me!

Listed on :-

French comedies

This seems to have been my week for watching childhood nostalgia starting with the exuberant Nonnas and ending with this snoozefest.

I think I may have watched a different film than many of my esteemed colleagues on LB as I share very little of their enthusiasm for it.

If I were a moderately successful director with a childhood as dull that depicted here, I think I would have kept it to myself.

Apart from a token element of racial tension and the extraneous inclusion of a school pep talk delivered by Donald Trump’s older sister - a high flying attorney at the time - very little happens.

The ‘80s are lovingly recreated and the young actor playing James Gray’s alter ego is just about OK while Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway are terrific as his parents but then we get the elephant in the room.

Anthony Hopkins plays SIR Anthony Hopkins, a distinguished Welsh actor masquerading as a character called Aaron Rabinowitz, who sprinkles pearls of wisdom upon his grandson without apparently being informed that he was supposed to be playing a Jewish New Yorker of Ukrainian origin.

I have issues with colour blind casting but this was tone deaf! 

Hopkins has lived in America for years. Has he not noticed that those around him speak with a different accent?

I can only assume that none of Richard Dreyfus, Judd Hirsch, Elliott Gould, Albert Brooks or Woody Allen were available. Donald Duck or even Donald Trump himself would have lent more authenticity to this portrayal.

Listed on :-

Uninspired by a true story

Yawn factor - 80%

But…

Whilst I’m no apologist for the variable quality of Guy Ritchie’s output, this remains by far my favourite and probably represents the best film in the mini genre of Geezer Gangsta comedy thrillers.

For me this is the film where Jason became The Stath, Vinnie Jones demonstrates some impeccable comic timing, Brad Pitt barely recognisable and even less comprehensible proves his inimitable charisma (along with The Mexican, the turn of the decade was a banner period for the actor) and his fellow Americans Benicio del Toro and a typically frustrated Dennis Farina are both hilarious cast against type as Jewish hoodlums.

Alan Ford is an unforgettably ´orrible villain and the supersized Ade is laugh out loud funny as the most unsuitable getaway driver imaginable.

A very young looking Stephen Graham hints at the great actor he was to become and only Jason Fleming is rather shortchanged in a very underwritten role.

In typical Ritchie style, there are numerous separate but slightly connected threads and full concentration is essential to avoid losing the plot(s).

It may be 25 years old but in many ways, it’s barely aged at all.

Previous review here.

Listed on :-

So very British

Autodestruction

With the latest and possibly final instalment of the long running franchise about to open worldwide, now seemed as good a time as any to wind the clock back almost 30 years to where it started - by Tom Cruise jumping on to a popular TV series bandwagon and getting a top notch director involved.

It proved to be a very shrewd move with a franchise that has equalled that of James Bond but with more consistency of characters.

It looks a bit aged by now - especially the computer and internet elements- but there are some classic scenes and Cruise is in top form.

Unfortunately the John Woo follow up was a letdown and might have killed off the franchise had the subsequent episodes bounced it right back up.

There are villains aplenty in the rather confusing plot. Happily Ving Rhames’ Luther introduced here as the series main regular (other than our Tom) doesn’t prove to be one of them.

Given its age, this holds up remarkably well.

Listed on :-

Autodestruction 

We’ve been expecting you, Mr…WTFRU

Misleading film titles

Warning ‼️ There are no gentlemen featured in this film.

In my previous review of this now Britcrime classic, I suggested that those who made it through to the end credits would probably need a second viewing. I was wrong - a third shot is definitely required although this attempt did somewhat help me pick my way through its complicated plot mechanics.

Not really much more to add to my previous thoughts except that I appreciated Colin Farrell’s extended cameo more this time.

However for anyone needing a crash course in English expletives, this is essential viewing.

A TV series on Netflix followed but featured none of the same characters.

Listed on :-

Misleading film titles 

So very British

The positive reviews here on LB encouraged me to try out this delightful feel good food fest and I’m convinced I put on weight just by watching it (but maybe it was the snacks we couldn’t resist!)

Based on the true of Joe Scaravella (who enthusiastically appears as a diner towards the end and in a series of photos along with the real Nonnas over the closing credits), this is an ideal vehicle for Vince Vaughn as he navigates between elation and deflation battling to get his dream restaurant up and running.

However it’s a film about grief and friendship just as much as its mouthwatering cooking scenes tickle the tastebuds.

Yes, this is a very sweet film but the secret of the recipe lies in the casting of the four veteran actresses playing the constantly bickering Nonnas of the title. They’ve all starred in some rather more violent classic pre-millennium fare and ably reduce the otherwise high calorie level of the exercise.

The only missing ingredient here is self confessed Italian food aficionado, Stanley Tucci but his Big Night co-director Campbell Scott cameos in his place.

It’s probably not a film for everyone but it should please those who enjoyed Calendar Girls or The Full Monty. I had a smile on my face throughout the running time and this will remain one of my favourite first watches of 2025.

Listed on : -

Bon appétit 

Silver surfer specials

It’s quite a novelty to write about a film seen by only around 150 LB and reviewed by 10 and which has sunk into obscurity despite a César nomination for costume design.

Even the sole available LB backdrop is from a different film!

Belgian great, Olivier Gourmet is terrific as the middle aged unmarried senior French officer who has lost half right leg in the still raging Great War and requires a full time nurse now that he’s retreated to his baronial manor. In steps young unwed mother Georgia Scalliet (who should have benefitted from a far better cinema career) with her young daughter and who desperately misses the father of the child killed in action.

With a slightly Lady Chatterly vibe developing when a deserting soldier ends up sheltering in an outhouse in return for looking after Gourmet’s horses, it’s surprising this this beautifully shot film seems to have fallen completely off the radar - I’d never heard of it before watching it.

The title doesn’t help as the only Mandarin on sight is the name one of the many horses bred by Gourmet.

Listed on:-

Misleading film titles

This is a strange one - the final film of director Philippe de Broca made as an Anglo-French co-production with several British cast including the underrated Cheryl Lunghi and substantially shot in a stately home in Dorset, yet never shown in the UK.

Worthy of a BBC miniseries, this features a top notch performance by Catherine Frot as the most fearsome, severe mother recently returned from Saigon while her two elder boys were looked after comfortably by their now deceased grandmother. 

The late Jacques Villeret is equally good in a rare dramatic role as the weak father and young Jules Sitruk as the mischievous, rebellious younger son steals many of the scenes he’s in as does Wojciech Pszoniak as the Polish priest hired to teach the children when their beloved English governess (Lunghi) is fired. However the ferocious looking cleric has a twinkle in his eye, subtly helps the children and quite fancies the deaf mute maid before he too is fired.

This is a thoroughly charming if somewhat far fetched film and deserves a much wider showing.

Following the delicious mystery thriller A simple favor, this seven years later sequel has enjoyed a less than rapturous reception here on LB but whilst it’s not quite up to its illustrious predecessor, it’s still a highly enjoyable movie in a similar vein to the Adam Sandler Murder Mystery films if, like me, you’re one of the few who it to enjoying these.

This follows the time honoured tradition of sequels of sending the cast on holiday, this time to the gorgeous Italian island of Capri.

Anna Kendrick (in her now more assured persona) and Blake Lively as elegantly mischievous as previously (and even threatening to sue Ms Kendrick over her tall all book - is she becoming addicted to litigation?) make an irresistibly watchable pairing.

Most of the ing cast are fine except Alix Newell whose sassy assistant to Ms Kendrick  quickly becomes annoying and superfluous to the film.

The film is lovely to look at and whilst it somewhat derails in its final 20 minutes, there’s more than enough to enjoy and even look forward to in a hinted threequel.

Listed on :-

Wish you were here?

Having just returned from Vietnam, this was compulsory viewing for us (even though much of the film was shot in Malaysia).

It’s a haunting and beautifully shot multi award winning epic but feels longer every time I watch it!

Full review here.

(A bonus point for anyone who spots the boss from Call my agent, Thibault de Montalembert.)

Despite a rather abrupt ending and apparently a troubled shoot (see the French Wikipedia page for more details), I rather liked this very dark comedy.

Whilst Francois-Xavier Demaison plays a character similar to many of his other portrayals, the ever underrated Elsa Silberstein is delightful as the harassed single parent who can’t pay her rent and Franck Dubosc cast completely against type is excellent in a much more serious role of an uptight, self-contained husband/father who is absolutely no fun to be or work with.

As to the ending, did they just run out of ideas or money to finish the project off? It’s a shame as this slightly spoiled a pleasant if unassuming film.

Listed on :-

French comedies

It’s hard to ignore the herd of elephants in the room when watching this film for the first time so it may be worthwhile looking at its history since it was released in the summer of 2024 at the same time as its star’s husband’s blockbuster Deadpool and Wolverine.

To describe this as a sleeper hit is a massive understatement and the fact that the happy couple’s two films topped the box office charts for several weeks seems extraordinary given that this film is in reality a rather modest melodrama.

Much as I like Blake Lively as a leading lady and she is perfectly fine here, the film only barely explores the violent relationship between the protagonists and their childhood traumas. 

The film’s running time and leisurely pacing should have given ample time to explore these issues but Justin Baldoni’s debut directing stint seems uninspired or was this affected by the alleged interference in the script and certain scenes by Mr and Mrs Reynolds?

As a brooding leading man Baldoni is also perfectly fine (though he doesn’t seem to be much fun to be with). The actor who I well from the hilarious Jane the Virgin TV series appears to have been inactive career wise for several years so the film offered him a major comeback opportunity.

Whilst I fail to understand why the film was initially so popular, the feud between the two stars which has arisen since last winter has probably made the film compulsory viewing now that it’s on streaming platforms.

One can only hope that the careers of these two actors have not been fatally destroyed by the well publicised court battle which looks likely to cost more than the film’s budget. There isn’t be some very lucky lawyers making huge earnings out of this! 

Ultimately the movie is likely to become better ed for the litigation issues than the film itself and no doubt one of the streamers will fund a movie about the whole story once the hubbub has died down.

I often have a hard time with Quentin Dupieux but this film was available with English subtitles on a long haul flight and being agreeably short I decided to get it done and dusted even though my expectations were very low.

The setting is a film being shot on a disused airfield in the Dordogne.

After the the first twenty minutes I started to get hooked despite the deliberate confusion as to whether a scene was in rehearsal for the film being shot, in the actual footage of the film or the dialogue between the actors off camera.

All four of the principals are excellent as their characters change depending on whether they are rehearsing, filming or being themselves.

The comedy satirically encomes the « me too » dilemma, sexual orientation and very cleverly the involvement of AI in filmmaking.

All in all this is my favourite Dupieux and maybe I’m evolving at last into an irer of his off kilter style. However this does not fit into the cinema of the absurd with which he’s often associated.

Listed on :-

Scene 1, Take 97

French comedies

I stumbled upon this by chance on MGM+ having never heard of it before and seemingly very few others have!

The subject matter appeared at first sight to be a bit bland (even though I certainly fall into the target demographic) but I saw that James Caan was featured in it.

In fact this proved to be his penultimate film and he was in rather better shape than in Fast Charlie as he twinkled his way into a late in life romance with Ellen Burstyn’s reluctant care home resident.

She’s in fine feisty form as she battles the mean grannies of the title and  there’s some enjoyable ing turns from an embittered Jane Curtin and would be lothario Christopher Lloyd.

So, by the closing credits I was won over by this well written, well acted little unseen gem.

Listed on :-

Silver surfer specials

Undiscovered little gems

The trivia section on IMDb paints a rather sad picture of the making of this film and the result is something of a mess.

The plot is utterly idiotic with Herbert Lom’s Dreyfus escaping the asylum into which he has been committed following a nervous breakdown and becoming a world threatening megalomaniac!

Actually the plot is pretty irrelevant as the film is principally a series of set pieces and some of the gags land surprisingly well given the film’s background problems.

On the plus side it does have Leonard Rossiter, an amusing uncredited cameo from Omas Sharif and a highly alluring femme fatale Russian agent in Lesley-Anne Down.

Like others in the series, it’s only moderately funny and the furniture destruction repeatedly resulting from Clouseau being “surprised” by his Asian manservant becomes very tiresome.

Listed on :-

Sank you veree meuch 

After an eleven year break, Peter Sellers was lured back into the role of Inspector Clouseau along with several other cast regulars. Unfortunately David Niven was unable to return to his role as Sir Charles Lytton (possibly a wise choice) but Christopher Plummer ably fills his shoes.

It’s a rather hit and miss affair with a few hysterical moments but the film seems very dated and far too much emphasis is put on Clouseau’s “hilarious” mispronunciation of certain words in English which is of course completely daft as most of those he was talking to were French.

Like others in the series, it’s actually not that funny but no worse than its predecessors.

Apparently the idea had been to make a Clouseau TV series (per the IMDb) so a lot of material was shot and later ditched although some of it appeared in a later Clouseau film after Sellers’ death.

Herbert Lom has a larger role here becoming increasingly manic as Clouseau’s frustrated superior.

A surprisingly big success when released.

Listed on :-

Sank you veree meuch

I don’t always get on with all of the films of John Woo, Nick Cage or John Travolta but this thrill a minute action packed blockbuster represents some of the best work of each them in their respective helter-skelter careers.

Both the actors excel in moving effortlessly from manic to tragic and Gina Gershon has probably never been better.

Although some of the technology looks rather outdated, the film itself approaching its 30th birthday does not.

Despite its lengthy running time, time es only too quickly but Woo’s preponderance for endless fight scenes can become a bit tiresome.

Now well established in the Classic Hollywood pantheon.

My LB buddy Andy Summers thinks I’m a bit harsh on Victor (Im)mature but I think this mirthless comedy proves my point - he’s a terrible actor even playing a character similar to his own persona. 

Sadly he’s probably the best element of the film in which everyone else overacts such that even Roberto Benigni would blush. All the dubbed Italian actors speak to each other in accented English whilst Martin Balsam and a miscast Britt Eklund are completely wasted.

This probably the worst film of Peter Seller sixties output and clearly Vittorio de Sica - a normally great director- had no clue as to how to deal with a screwball comedy as none of the jokes in Neil Simon’s script appear to land.

In the hand of a better director and, say, Tony Curtis parodying himself as an aging heartthrob instead of Mature with a perpetual grin, this might have worked.

A genuine clunker.

Listed on :-

Scene 1, Take 97

Sank you veery meuch

Three great stars and a Renault 4L!

Just as much fun as it was in its first release, the delightful chemistry engendered by Douglas and Turner rendered its JEWEL ON THE NIILE sequel inevitable starring the same fro who then argued into THE WAR OF THE ROSES.

On an adventure basis alone, the film is terrific but it’s the comedy that ensured its success. 

Listed on :-

The car’s the star

Gripping but very grim superbly realised miniseries with just a few composite characters.

One of the best TV productions of the decade

This is a thoroughly watchable slice of hokum which lifts a predictable plot well above what might have been anticipated.

This is attributable first to the three leads who as first time bank robbing old codgers have great chemistry topped perhaps by the late Alan Arkin. There are nice ing turns from Ann-Margret, Matt Dillon and a very doddery Christopher Lloyd.

Secondly the film is directed by Zack Braff, who remains such an underrated talent as either director or actor and he subtly does a cracking job here.

As a film about ageing and long time friendships, this should appeal to LB who like me are approaching their sell by date! 😂

Listed on :-

Silver surfer specials

A multiplicity of story threads, “comic” music to tell you when to laugh and some of the gamiest overacting from virtually all the cast doesn’t detract from the nostalgia value of the daft British comedy franchise from the ‘60s.

It’s far from the best of the Carry On series but each of your favourite actors from the team gets to do his or her thing and there a few genuinely hilarious moments. It is of course gloriously non-PC and I would not expect it to appeal to millennials or anyone who is not British or of British Commonwealth origin.

Listed on :-

So very British

I only watched this exercise in tedium as it happened to be on TV in our hotel room.

Some decent actors are stranded in this mindlessly plotted Band of Brothers rip off which understandably rarely saw the inside of a cinema.

However I’d never appreciated how many of the German army in WW2 were willing to demonstrate their bi-lingual skills when speaking to each other in (subtitled) German half the time before reverting to heavily accented English.

Listed on :- 

Sank you veree meuch 

Yawn factor - 90%

I very rarely watch airline versions of films as they’re usually butchered to edit out anything controversial and the noise of the engines drowns the speech. Consequently I generally opt for an old favourite with which I’m familiar.

However with the actual pope having died two days before our flight, I decided to risk it despite subtitles being unavailable. Mistake!

This had all the hallmarks of a top notch movie but I could barely hear what was going on and 30 minutes before its conclusion it suddenly jumped to five minutes before the closing credits which somewhat gave away the ending prior to my winding it back so my review is at best provisional.

Certainly Ralph Fiennes richly deserved his Oscar nom and Stanley Tucci should also have received one but I’m not so sure about Isabella Rossellini. She was fine but did she really deserve the accolades.

I’ll have to wait until next time I see it, I guess! 

In the meantime I’ll probably watch Home Alone on the return journey.

The millennium seems like yesterday so when a period piece such as this is set in the early 2000s, it’s quite unsettling. Where did the last 25 years ago?

Watching crap like this may be the answer!

It starts out in a slightly Hitchcockian manner in quaint Holland, Michigan with its Dutch traditions and by the mid section it’s merely okay but getting a tad longwinded before losing credibility in the third act.

As far as the acting goes, everyone concerned is just fine but has done much better work elsewhere. Gael Garcia Bernal seems suddenly to have leapt into middle age since I last saw him. Poor Jude Hill (so excellent in Belfast) gets little opportunity to shine here and Shiva Baby star, Rachel Sennett has only on scene - what a waste of a talented young actress.

So overall, no better than a rather dull time er.

This was my third viewing of the most recent live action Astérix movie but my first with French rather than English subtitles (on Netflix) and I was surprised to note how many of the satirical subtleties I’d missed as a result from my earlier watches.

I see that most of my esteemed LB colleagues here have been less than enthusiastic but I’m sure that unless one is familiar with French culture and humour, much of the enjoyment of the film will be lost. Indeed I got more out of this viewing than any of the previous two.

It was a huge success in cinemas in in 2023 but as Netflix picked it up for most non-Francophone markets, it has probably had less impact.

Featuring a somewhat woke Astérix and decidedly non vegetarian Obelix (hilariously played by Gilles Lellouche), this has quite a feminist friendly vibe with most of the males coming over as weak wannabes manipulated by the women in their lives - none more so than a weepy Caesar (Vincent Cassel relishing his role here).

Guillaume Canet is a very different Astérix than his cinematic predecessors but whilst he usually offers a major role to his other half, Marion Cotillard, she has little more than a seductive cameo here as Cleopatra off having an affair with her personal trainer.

Overall much the best in the franchise since the Alain Chabat classic more two decades ago.

Previous review here 

Listed on :-

French comedies

Show me the money 

I first came across this when listening to a review of it by UK film critic, Mark Kermode and gathered that despite being one of Thailand’s biggest ever cinema successes, he was not that keen.

However having visited Bangkok a few times, I was quite keen to see a Thai comedy and fortunately Netflix obliged.

This is only my second Thai film and ably depicts the lives of average citizen of the country’s capital whilst showing areas of the city not normally seen by tourists - some wealthy, others less so.

Whilst there are comedic elements, I didn’t find the film particularly funny but as a drama about impending grief and family positioning themselves in the best position to inherit, it was fascinating. I’m unclear as to whether this is a typical Thai thing or more restricted to the Chinese-Thai community of which the family is part.

The two main characters are a widow who has just learned that she has terminal cancer and her “good for nothing” grandson of whom she has seen very little until he moves in to look after her and it’s the changing dynamic between these two which is so well portrayed.

The grannie is played by Usha Seamkum, a 78 year old making her film debut and gives an extraordinary performance worthy of all the awards for which she should have been nominated. I don’t whether she will having a long career (she’s made another film since this one) but her impact is unforgettable.

Certainly a film worth seeking out if you’re interested in something a bit different.

Listed on :-

Favourite worldwide cinema

Having just watched their respective turns in the wonderful True Romance, I couldn’t resist revisiting this underrated crime comedy.

One can easily imagine Brad Pitt’s stoned slacker from the earlier film, morphing into the inept dufus he so ably portrays here, whilst James Gandolfini’s pychopathic smiling assassin could have been the twin brother of the gentle but lethal hit man who forms a genuine friendship with Julia Roberts’ neurotic damsel in distress after kidnapping her! See further detail in my earlier review.

This is a highly enjoyable if slightly violent lark with splendid cinematography and the bonus of a brief Gene Hackman cameo at the end.

It also highlights  as ably as The Sopranos what a great loss to the cinema Gandolfini’s early death was more than a decade ago.

I’m very sparing when it comes to awarding 5 stars to a film and as can be seen from the link below, in over 1600 reviews on LB, only 11 have made the list.

I’m still not sure why I have loved this film for decades so a bit of analysis might help.

Plot

Convoluted and meandering but fascinating to follow so long as you pay attention.

Script

An early Tarantino of whom I’m not always overly fond but here his contribution is beyond excellent.

Directing

I’ve always thought that Tony Scott is a more compelling director than brother Ridley and this film proves my point in my view. The pacing is brilliant, the camera angles superb and he elicits career best performances out of several of his cast.

Leading actors

Whilst I can normally take or leave both Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette, here they are sublime and their chemistry so palpable that at the romance element of the title is fully justified.

ing actors and cameos 

Well what can I say? Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Saul Rubinek, Gary Oldman, Tom Sizemore, Chris Penn and even a stoned, pre fame Brad Pitt leave indelibly impressions but none more so than James Gandolfini as the smiling but horrendously sadistic hitman.

Blink and you’ll miss Sam Jackson and you’ll barely see Val Kilmer but you’ll hear his Elvis impression!

Violence, swearing and humour

I’m not a fan of undue gore or multiple murders in a film but here there’s no way they could be reduced, nor probably could the foul language but interjecting so much humour into the chaos depicted is an extraordinarily successful achievement.

Cinematography 

From the snowy industrial grime of Detroit to the glorious sunlit wonder of Los Angeles, the contrast is stunning and adds a vital extra element.

The soundtrack 

Hans Zimmer’s haunting theme music moves me every time it slowly infiltrates a scene and it’s been my mobile’s ringtone for years.

Chris Isaac’s Two Hearts over the closing credits has a similar effect.

Has the film aged over more than 30 years?

Unlike many of its contemporaries, barely at all.

Why did not receive no major awards?

A mystery 

Summary

I’ve seen this at least five times and like the few other five star films defined why I have such eclectic taste. To my mind, it’s highly underrated and should be compulsory viewing for any cinephile but then again film viewing is a highly subjective ion.

The IMDb trivia page provides some fascinating background to the film.

(Previous review here)

For the record, this viewing was the Director’s cut currently available on Amazon Prime in the UK

Listed on :-

My 5 star ratings

What’s the score?

The only reason for watching this again is that we’re off on our holidays next week and this feel good comedy put us in just the right mood.

Actual review here.

Listed on :-

Wish you were here?

First, I’m not a fan of horror films and the subgenre of Zombie movies has me running for the hills.

However I do like films about film making and I have only disliked one of director Michael Hazanavicius’ movies so I decided to give this a go.

After about 30 minutes of colour saturated gore and minimal humour, I was thinking wtf and wondered if I’d stepped back into Quentin Dupieux territory having just watched Yannick the night before as three of that film’s cast pop up here.

Then it all started to make sense and the film making troubles encountered are hilarious with a fine role for Romain Duris as the harassed director, Bérénice Bejo (the actual director’s wife) relishing a comic kick ass role, the reliable Grégory Gadebois as a drunken co-star and up and coming Raphaël Quenard as an assistant and bit part actor with a highly embarrassing digestive condition.

Ultimately I loved this film and would recommend it as a delightful if gory satire of Zombie movies - plus it’s currently on Amazon Prime in the UK.

Listed on :-

Scene 1, Take 97

French comedies

I really struggle with director Quentin Dupieux and find it surprising that so many on LB and elsewhere fawn over his absurdist comedies.

I have little doubt that if he filmed some of his favourite actors reading last night’s TV news bulletin, it would be adored by his fans - especially as absurdity is becoming the norm in the news at the moment!

I digress - this is probably one of the director’s most straightforward films - shot under the radar in six days (see the IMDb trivia page for more details) and garnered César nominations for Pio Marmaï and Raphaël Quenard.

It’s mercifully short, I like the main cast of actors (although having seen Quenard interviewed a few times, the acting was hardly a stretch for him), the concept is quite original and I almost enjoyed the film even though it’s not particularly droll.

I did like the soundtrack music over the opening and closing credits.

However I haven’t yet been converted to the church of Dupieux.

Listed on :-

French comedies

What’s the score?

The first of the live action Astérix films is far from the best with dodgy special effects and Christian Clavier mugging for . The Chabat sequel was in a different league.

Listed on : -

French comedies

Of the five live action Astérix films to date, this is rather better than the first but a big step down from the brilliant Alain Chabat directed second film and the two that followed were both better.

There are two main problems. First the special effects look decidedly shonky and secondly, after the manic mannerisms of Christian Clavier as Astérix, the docile performance from Clovis Cornillac (normally an excellent actor) means that either he was badly directed or seriously miscast (or both). Most of the ing cast are a bit bland (even Franck Dubosc) but on the plus side Benoit Poelvoorde as a scheming Brutus is fun and Alain Delon as a self-mocking Caesar (constantly saying Avé Moi/Hail me) is hilarious.

There’s still quite a lot to enjoy and as the version seen was not subtitled, I no doubt missed several of the jeux de mots/wordplays) that my wife appreciated.

Listed on :-

French comedies

Anyone familiar with the works of director Éric Besnard, especially Le goût des merveilles, will have noticed his quirky style and plot lines where you’re never sure where it’s taking you.

This is a case in point and the less you know about the film, the better.

Both Lambert Wilson and the underrated Grégory Gadebois are on top form, it’s the latter than gives the most effective performance.

I’m invariably impressed by bear of a man and clearly this view is shared by the director as he has starred in each of the last four of his films including the forthcoming Jean Valjean where he is cast the title role of this  Victor Hugo adaptation.

The mountainous scenery here is worth the ission price alone but stick around for a film full of surprises.

Shame about the awful English title though

Listed on :-

French comedies

The star’s the car

I previously saw this only 10 months ago (earlier review here) and remarked that I would probably need a third shot at it to understand the complexities that enabled the rich to get richer and made the poor poorer.

Over the past few weeks, the shenanigans in the financial markets worldwide have made this film even more relevant although not necessarily more comprehensible.

It’s a fascinating but disturbing watch and strongly recommended for those who have never seen it but are avidly following current events.

Whilst the bar is low, this is far from being Adam Sandler’s worst film and it’s much more family friendly that most.

Overall quite an enjoyable watch

Plot absurdities abound in this slightly futuristic thriller but nevertheless the tension never lets up and the claustrophobia of life (or death) in a submarine under attack is ever present.

The casting is interesting with both Reta Kateb and Omar Sy in senior command roles and they are both excellent as usual.

A little more background into the tensions leading to Russia encroaching on Finnish territory would have been welcome though

The great thing about LB when you get to a certain age is that you can read a reminder review by an esteemed colleague of a film you’ve completely forgotten about.

In this case it was Jonathan White’s review that prompted me to dig out this witty but very dated adaptation of the Neil Simon play which also spawned a highly successful TV series.

The film’s stage origins are very obvious and the acting is sometimes rather overblown.

Walter Matthau is on top form and gets the best lines but Jack Lemmon, normally a rather tranquil presence, is required to exhibit coughs and convulsions that almost project him into Jerry Lewis territory in his role as an exasperating compulsive obsessive.

As the film and play are almost 60 years old, the script is decidedly misogynist thus may displease current sensibilities but a as a museum piece from a bygone era it’s not a bad watch.

For a film over 40 years old the special effects are superb but the dialogue is pretty dire and whole thing seems a bit dated.

Mark Hamill is not the most dynamic leading man but when Harrison Ford turns up he more than makes up for it. C3Po and R2D2 remain the most entertaining of robots.

Surprisingly violent for a U certificate

In every way, OKish and represents the last time Vincent Perez got to play a romantic lead.

Nothing startling happens and it appears that Renault partly funded the film as an elongated ment for the Zoë which came out around the same time as the film and actually gets a screen credit!

The principals are fine even though their romance is barely credible and the mountainous countryside looks lovely so it’s an easy if forgettable watch.

Listed on :-

French comedies

Low calorie Paddington.

In my earlier review, I acknowledged that those I saw the film with in the cinema enjoyed it more than I did and I anticipated it might grow on me in a second viewing.

The film has been a massive success and I believe it may have outgrossed its predecessors in the UK where it’s just popped up on Netflix. A further episode in the franchise is inevitable, I reckon.

However I still find it much the weakest of the trilogy with too many ideas revisited from the earlier films. 

That said, it’s still very enjoyable and had I seen it before the first two, I might have been more impressed.

It’s just not as sweet as the others and just like any lower calorie product, the taste is not the same.

Listed on :-

Not so very British

Roman Polanski’s fine and underrated historical courtroom drama unfortunately fell victim to its own drama surrounding allegations of inappropriate behaviour on his part.

Nevertheless the  César award winning film was a major success in where this sorry tale of antisemitic injustice is well documented and has remained a matter of controversy for many years.

The screenplay was co-written by British author Robert Harris and based in his own book about the topic.

The outstanding cast is led by Jean Dujardin in a rare serious role as the Colonel, originally partly responsible for the false imprisonment of Alfred Dreyfus before discovering the cover up deep inside the French army.

Many of the ing actors - very well known in - have little more than cameos but they nevertheless make an excellent impression.

Production values are superb both in the era recreation cinematography.

For anyone who liked A few good men or more particularly Breaker Morant, this should certainly appeal.

Listed on :-

Objection! Overruled

Watching this pretentious snooze fest highlighted why I prefer French comedy to French drama.

An exercise in navel gazing this features the titular siblings’ feud which has resulted in their not meeting for years until an “unfortunate event” requires them to be in close proximity.

No proper explanation is given for their mutual hatred and the whole of the talented cast are pretty much wasted in this tedious familial drama in which none of characters rings true especially Patrick Timsit’s character who is inserted for no apparent reason into the family circle.

I have previously appreciated the works of Arnaud Desplechin and thankfully the film is rather shorter than some of his earlier efforts but after a while I just… 💤

Listed on :-

Yawn factor - 80%

Pretentious, moi?

This belongs decidedly in the theatre of the absurd so it’s fair to say that director Quentin Dupieux has no problem remaining an acquired taste.

His films are generally very short and make little sense but within these restrictive parameters, there are a few treasures to enjoy in this bizarre exercise with Benoit Pelvoorde well within his comfort zone as the relentless cop (in a role envisaged for Albert Dupontel) but at the end of the day many viewers will find this very hard work.

Listed on :-

French comedies

Whilst barely opening out from its stage presentation, this well observed family comedy is superbly written with all the cast ideally cast.

Part of French TV’s hasty tribute to the late Jean-Pierre Bacri, here playing the less favoured brother with the also recently deceased Wladimir Yordanoff as his ambitious sibling in probably his career best cinematic outing.

Angés Jaoui is a treat as their loose cannon of a younger sister but it was Catherine Frot who won the César as the dotty wife of Yordanoff.

Listed on :-

French comedies

After a slow start, this became a riveting miniseries helped enormously by its top flight cast.

Sean Penn was unrecognisable under ageing and balding makeup but this slightly lessened his impact by comparison with his costars Dan Stevens, Betty Gilpin (resembling early Sandra Bullock), Julia Roberts looking her age and boding well for a later life career and especially Shay Whigham in an extraordinary performance as G. Gordon Liddy.

Additionally there’s a wealth of well known ing actors appearing very briefly.

Listed on :-

Binge or indigestion

Controversial but brilliantly made biopic from Martin Scorsese with a fantastic performance from Leonardo di Caprio and the breakthrough role for the excellent Margot Robbie.

A superb ing cast with blink and miss cameos makes this a must see.

.. this why our insurance s are so high!

See also:-

The car’s the star

• The French Connection
• Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
• Bullitt
• The Hard Way
• Ronin
• Fast Five
• Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
• Goldfinger
• The Union
• Baby Driver

...plus 22 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Courtroom dramas make for great cinema but they’re frequently unrealistic. 

Here are some that acquit themselves nicely and a few which should be condemned!

No particular order.

Still a work in progress.

Suggestions always welcome

• What's Up, Doc?

  The courtroom scene at the of this is hilarious but highly unlikely!

• Anatomy of a Scandal
• Anatomy of a Fall

  The courtroom scenes don’t ring true on this at all!

• A Few Good Men

  “You can’t handle the truth!”

• The Children Act
• 12 Angry Men
• The Burial
• Witness for the Prosecution
• Denial
• Mr Bates vs The Post Office

  Probably the UK’s most important miniseries of the decade

...plus 57 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

The typical French noir goes back to the ‘50s but there are some excellent recent examples.

Suggestions welcome!

• Le Samouraï
• Le Cercle Rouge
• Touchez Pas au Grisbi
• Le Doulos
• The Butcher
• Mississippi Mermaid
• A Cop
• La Ceremonie
• Tell No One
• A Gang Story

...plus 58 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Or So very British II : The Sequel and as with all good sequels the cast are sent on holiday, so this list comprises very British films but not set in England with a predominantly British cast (although the odd American or Commonwealth type is permitted!) and generally have flag waving Brits bravely showing pesky foreigners how to run their own country. Rule Britannia!

Excluded are Europuddings and films with British actors talking in foreign accents.

Suggestions very welcome

• Ice Cold in Alex

  Suggested by Andy Summers

• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• Carry On Abroad
• A Room with a View
• The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• Wah-Wah
• A Good Year
• Tea with Mussolini
• The Jewel in the Crown
• Your Christmas or Mine 2

...plus 29 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Don’t watch these on an empty stomach.

Mainly films which tickle the tastebuds and represent a feast for the eyes but a few may put you off eating for a week!

• Nonnas
• Chef
• The Menu
• Eat Drink Man Woman
• Boiling Point
• Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?
• Le Chef
• Delicious
• Lessons in Chemistry
• The Butcher's Daughter

...plus 19 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

As a proud European, I still love those films that ably demonstrate what being British is all about (now or back in the day)

So here is non exhaustive list of quintessentially British films primarily set in the UK with a predominantly British cast (even if a few are North Americans masquerading as Brits!😂)

See also the sequel list - Not so very British

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER BUT DOCUMENTARIES & SHORT FILMS NOT INCLUDED 

SUGGESTIONS WELCOME!

• Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

  ..albeit with an American leading lady!

• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
• Four Weddings and a Funeral
• Notting Hill
• Glorious 39
• Empire of Light
• The Great Escaper

  This barely qualifies as much of it was set in Normandy!

• Still Crazy
• A Very English Scandal
• National Treasure

...plus 286 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

I have a weakness for comedies in general and French ones in particular!

Some of these are not that great but there are some classics.

Sadly not all of them are available outside of .

Suggestions always welcome.

• Le Clan
• New Biz in the Hood
• A Little Something Extra

  s biggest phenomenon of 2024

• Pardon Mon Affaire

  Romcom

• C'est la vie!
• The Biggest Fan
• Alibi.com
• Asterix & Obelix: God Save Britannia
• The Crime Is Mine
• The Dinner Game

...plus 325 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

…or at least a scene stealing ing act!

Click on the specs for details.

If the car is in a franchise such as The Love Bug only the first film is added

This has turned into a really collaborative effort so many thanks to everyone for their suggestions - keep ‘em coming!

(No shorts, cartoons or documentaries included)

See also :-

Autodestruction

• Thelma & Louise

  That wonderful blue Thunderbird - Suggested by Olivier Pasco

• The Italian Job

  The three Minis and all those Fiats and Alphas -suggested by Nicolas Inard

• A Man and a Woman

  That incredibly cool white Ford Mustang which reappeared in both the sequels

• Bullitt

  Ford Mustang

• The Love Bug

  That naughty little Beatle!

• Let Him Go

  Numerous ‘60s American classics

• American Graffiti

  Numerous ‘60s American classics

• Florida

  A Renault Floride cabriolet 

• Back to the Future

  DeLorean!

• Genevieve

  A vintage car in a vintage car rally

...plus 74 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

When is 007 is not available, fortunately there are many willing to take his place but not always with great success.

However evil masterminds are frequently nonplussed when it’s not Mr Bond who turns up! Hence demanding “Who the f… are you?”

• Johnny English
• OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
• Johnny English Reborn
• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
• OSS 117: Lost in Rio
• Johnny English Strikes Again
• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
• OSS 117: From Africa with Love
• Austin Powers in Goldmember
• Get Smart

...plus 20 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

The best and worst miniseries are now often available to stream on the main platforms. 

The best of these can be every bit as good as a film but the worst can waste far too much of your time.

Here’s a selection.

Suggestions always welcome.

• Band of Brothers
• Any Human Heart
• Transatlantic
• All the Light We Cannot See
• Fool Me Once
• The Jewel in the Crown
• A Dance to the Music of Time
• Class Act
• Chernobyl
• Normal People

...plus 115 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Those familiar with Kermode and Mayo Wittertainment podcasts may recall the late Tom Wilkinson explaining why you should always ask for the “and” or “with” in the film credits. Mark Strong on the same show added that there should be a “but” where an actor was so out of sync with the rest of the cast that they almost single-handedly ruin the film.

Here are a few examples:-

• Byzantium

  Caleb Landry Jones - with that word accent

• Le Havre

  Jean-Pierre Léaud cameo

• House of Gucci

  Jared Leto and pantomime Italian accent.

• The Departed

  Ray Winstone - Wonderful film, brilliant actor but couldn’t master an American accent 

• The Black Dahlia

  Fiona Shaw’s eccentric millionaires

• Last Looks

  Mel Gibson’s abominable attempt at a British accent.

• Tulip Fever

  Zachary Galifaniatis and that West Country British accent.

• Save the Cinema

  Adele Akhtar - playing a corrupt mayor as a pantomime villain.

• A Shot in the Dark

  Herbert Lom - As Clouseau’s stressed out boss, he becomes increasingly deranged as the film progresses. However Lom’s facial expressions and speech border on pantomime. 

• Armageddon Time

  Anthony Hopkins - hopelessly miscast and making zero effort to play a New York Jewish grandfather 

If you suffer from ISSIF syndrome (I’ve started so I’ll finish), the YF may be a useful guide as to whether you want to buy the cinema ticket or press the play button.

TEAM EFFORT


A massive thank you to Eudora Fletcher , Andy Summers amongst others for their contributions here (even if I don’t always agree with them!😂)

Films that qualify may have other attributes such as such as magnificently shot scenes of meadows (grass growing) or house decoration (paint drying) but ultimately you can’t wait for the closing credits to roll.

Click on the spectacles for comments.

Suggestions always welcome with a suggested YF expressed in percentage .

Films not in any particular order.

• Le Samouraï

  YF 75% - regarded as a classic but heavy going

• You Deserve a Lover

  YF 85% - you spend the entire running time waiting for something to happen

• Corsage

  YF 60%

• Doctor Sleep

  YF 80% - it’s in the title!

• First Cow

  YF 75% - most LB I follow love it

• Annette

  YF 50% - but the music may annoyingly keep you awake

• The Power of the Dog

  YF 50% - gorgeous meadows!

• Roma

  YF 90% - excellent in many ways but so slooooow!

• Mank

  YF 80% - so much going or it but…

• Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti

  YF 85% - a good paint drying example 

...plus 85 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Some real life stories have only a nodding acquaintance with the facts but others are stick rather too closely or just plainly dull!

• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
• Mank
• Blonde
• NYAD
• Radioactive
• The Mercy
• Lincoln
• Golda
• Back to Black
• Renoir

...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Too many films, too little time so these are films where I have been dissuaded from watching by reviews from LB friends whose opinions I respect OR films I would encourage others to avoid.

Warning : Many may find the choices here controversial so don’t hesitate to offer your opinion 

Please feel free to make suggestions of your own reviews.

• For Those in Peril

  Jason Still review

• The Beast

  My review - although the film is revered by many

• Sasquatch Sunset

  2D Hero review

• Our Tiny Little Wedding
• It's What's Inside
• Serial Teachers 2
• The Last Man on Earth

  Andy Summers’ review 

• Annette

  Only if you like Sparks and incoherent storylines!

• Les Misérables

  Every line in the film is sung- unwatchable!

• The Greatest Showman

  One of the most cringeworthy musicals ever to achieve unwarranted popularity.

...plus 5 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

I’m embarrassed to it that I really enjoyed the following films  that many here would walk miles to avoid.

Other people’s embarrassing suggestions welcome (although you’ll get a credit in the narrative!)

• Alibi.com

  Not at all PC!

• Book Club: The Next Chapter

  To be watched with alcohol and in need of a holiday!

• Mamma Mia!
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

  Golden oldie favourite 

• Bad Moms
• Marley & Me

  Honestly, it’s actually very funny.

• The Proposal
• Pardon Mon Affaire

  ..umm very French!

• The Christmas Chronicles
• Hector and the Search for Happiness

...plus 17 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

There’s no doubt that a superb score or well chosen soundtrack can immensely improve the (re)watchability of a film.

Just a few examples below - many more to come

Suggestions always welcome!

• Cinema Paradiso

  That haunting Morricone score

• True Romance

  Fabulous selection of classic tracks -especially Chris Isaac’s Two Hearts to complement Hans Zimmer’s score

• Quadrophenia

  The Who - say no more

• Out of Africa

  John Barry’s score -an elegant timeless classic 

• Day for Night

  Georges Delarue’s rousing theme music gets frequently recycled but one never tired of it.

• The Big Year

  The film has been cruelly overlooked but the soundtrack alone is worth the watch especially over the closing credits 

• The Majestic

  Some excellent jazz played by Carey’s character 

• Ryan's Daughter

  Maurice Jarre’s unforgettable theme tune - suggested by Jonathan White

• The Go-Between

  Michel Legrand - the theme has been used in other films as well 

• Atonement

  Darío Marinelli and his typewriter !

...plus 43 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Suggestions welcome

• The Charge of the Light Brigade

  My electricity bill

• Up to His Ears

  The French title should read Les tribulations d’un Français en Hong Kong (which was still a British protectorate when the film was made)

• Unstoppable

  Guess what -it is!

• The NeverEnding Story

  Suggested by Martin - I was always afraid to watch this in view of the title but Martyn assures me that it does indeed finish!

• The Constant Gardener

  Suggested by Steve P who who reckons the gardener would definitely stop for a cup of tea from time to time.

• Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

  Suggested by Steve P - It certainly wasn’t (unfortunately)

• Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare

  Suggested by Steve P - ditto

• Free Willy

  Suggested by Steve P - um….

• Mission: Impossible

  Suggested by Steve P -who adds “there’s no stopping Tom Cruise “.
  
  This franchise should more accurately be entitled Mission Improbable 

• Happiness

  Suggested by Martyn- It’s about depression although it’s a comedy! Thanks for the recommendation.

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Films for old fogies like me have been surprisingly successful in the past decade - probably due to the popularity of the streamers. Yes, we retirees can manage to subscribe to Netflix and manipulate the small buttons on remote controls if we haven’t mislaid them!

• Book Club: The Next Chapter
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• All Together
• Fisherman's Friends
• The Great Escaper
• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
• The Hundred-Foot Journey
• Quartet
• Dad's Army

...plus 60 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Films in holiday settings but sometimes things don’t quite work out as planned.

• Forgetting Sarah Marshall
• Little White Lies
• Book Club: The Next Chapter
• Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
• My Father the Hero
• Roman Holiday
• The Holiday
• Aftersun
• Mafia Mamma
• Ma famille t'adore déjà !

...plus 44 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Films and miniseries about actors and film making are fascinating viewing and  provide a little insight into what makes our viewing pleasure so great.

Suggestions welcome!

• Day for Night

  THE film to watch if you’re interested in moviemaking.

• Fiasco
• Cinema Paradiso
• A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later
• My Week with Marilyn
• Archie: The Man Who Became Cary Grant
• I'm Losing My Temper
• Get Shorty
• Sibyl
• Chaplin

...plus 61 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Films which almost disappeared without trace or have never received the love they deserved.

• Big Trouble
• The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir
• The Grand Seduction
• Taj Mahal
• Darling Trap
• The Mexican
• A Village Almost Perfect!
• The Burial
• Still Crazy
• Nobody Else But You

...plus 57 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Why do filmmakers insist on diminishing their works by having characters of the same nationality talk to each other in dodgy foreign accents?  The popularity on Netflix and elsewhere of subtitled viewing should have annihilated this infuriating cinematic nonsense. 

Suggestions very welcome!

• Ferrari
• House of Gucci

  Jared Leto.. playing in a different film!

• All the Light We Cannot See
• Transatlantic

  This doesn’t quite fit the mold except that French characters talk to Nazis in English!

• Asterix & Obelix: God Save Britannia

  French actors playing with exaggerated British accents. Revenge, I suppose but the film is funny enough to overlook this.

• Waiting for Anya
• The Serpent
• War Horse
• The Eagle Has Landed
• The Hundred-Foot Journey

...plus 16 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Very much a work in progress! 😁

No particular order

• Two for the Road
• The Brain
• True Romance
• What's Up, Doc?
• Shakespeare in Love
• The Last Picture Show
• Saint Jack
• The Way We Were
• All the President's Men
• Midnight Cowboy

...plus 133 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

I very rarely award five stars but here are a few pretty much perfect films (or miniseries) in no particular order.

Cinema is however very subjective and enjoyment of depends on the viewer’s mood, elements of the film to which the viewer relates, knowledge of the locale where it was shot and the liking or disliking of the soundtrack.

Consequently I’m not expecting many here on LB to share my enthusiasm for all of these.

• True Romance

  Timeless classic from the ‘90s

• Cinema Paradiso
• C'est la vie!

  Barely seen outside but a laugh a minute classic.

• Le Clan

  Seen by far too few and probably only suited to Francophiles but endless quotable lines in our household 

• The Descendants

  A superb depiction of grief

• Band of Brothers

  The best depiction of the life of a soldier in WW2

• Waiting for Bojangles

  Sorely underrated tale of the bipolar disorder.

• Shakespeare in Love

  One of the wittiest scripts ever written and spoken to perfection by fabulous ensemble cast.

• Day for Night

  The art of filmmaking in the 80s explained in almost documentary fashion.

• Same Old Song

  Dennis Potter’s vision superbly transposed to

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Some of the world cinema films I’ve enjoyed other than French ones which I watch all the time!

• Cinema Paradiso
• Julieta
• All About My Mother
• Talk to Her
• Open Your Eyes
• The King's Choice
• The Worst Person in the World
• Pain and Glory
• Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed
• Argentina 1985

...plus 34 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Some films are lauded by critics and public alike but whilst they may be bold, adventurous or intent on making a statement, they’re just not for me.

I’ve left out the Jean-Luc Godard catalogue otherwise the list would far too long.

ANY SUGGESTIONS WILL BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED!

• Annette
• Great Expectations
• Cloud Atlas
• Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Mank
• Blonde
• Roma
• The Power of the Dog
• Drops of God
• The Science of Sleep

...plus 24 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

There’s a sub genre where a bunch of old friends reunite and squabble. Most of these ensemble dramas are French but they’re usually entertaining.

• Pardon Mon Affaire

  .

• The Big Chill
• Little White Lies
• Barbecue
• Happy 50
• We Were Young
• Little White Lies 2
• Frenchmen
• Frenchmen 2
• Frenchmen 3

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Film critic Mark Kermode coined this phrase and denotes the type of film you can sit down and watch with your granny without fear of a plethora of F-bombs or couples “getting on famously” - another Kermode and Mayo euphemism.

However, avoid Wicked little letters!
As always, suggestions welcome!

• Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
• Downton Abbey
• Tea with Mussolini
• School of Life
• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
• Quartet
• The Children of the Marshland
• Downton Abbey: A New Era
• Spread Your Wings
• Emma.

...plus 18 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Comedies featuring weddings tend to follow a fairly standard formula as the bride and groom cope with embarrassing relatives and last minute jitters. 

Most are diverting light entertainment and nearly all of this genre feature an ensemble cast.  

In the best of them, you’ll be sad to part company with these characters.

Here are a few examples - good and bad - of films where a wedding is the principal subject matter or feature heavily in the script.

Suggestions always welcome.

• C'est la vie!

  The best of the best!

• Four Weddings and a Funeral
• Monsoon Wedding
• Wedding Unplanned
• A Wedding
• Book Club: The Next Chapter
• Mamma Mia!
• Mariages!
• Our Tiny Little Wedding
• Rumor Has It...

...plus 55 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A companion list to The cinephile tourist guide to Sussex,  the other area I know well. 

Other suggestions most welcome but please state the actual shooting location.

Also please feel free to clone the idea for your locality.

• Little White Lies
• Widow's Walk

  St Palais sur Mer, Royan

• Camping

  Pyla-sur-Mer

• Little White Lies 2

  Bassin d’Arcachon

• #Iamhere

  Sate (Pays Basque)

• Dangerous Liaisons

  Biarritz 

• Camping 2

  Pyla-sur-Mer

• Camping 3

  Pyla-sur-Mer, Biscarosse

• Freedom-Oleron
• More Than Ever

...plus 26 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

This French comedy troupe formed originally in 2005 has little by little established itself as a firm favourite with viewers but rarely with critics.

Founded by Phillipe Lacheau and usually directed by or starring him, Takek Boudali,Reem Kherici, Elodie Fontan, Julien Arruti, Vincent Desagnat, and Phillipe Duquesne, these comedies are either loathed or adored.

Most feature ing roles by established French stars such as Gerard Jugnot, Christian Clavier, Didier Bourdon, Michèle Laroque and Natalie Baye.

They are generally bawdy, bordering on very poor taste and definitely not woke.

• Fifi, Juju, Tarek … L'histoire d'une bande
• Paris or Perish
• Babysitting
• Babysitting 2
• Alibi.com
• Marry Me, Dude
• Wedding Unplanned
• City Hunter
• 30 Days Max
• Superwho?

...plus 3 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Sussex has become an extremely popular tourist location in recent years with coaches and cars frequently seen from all over Europe and thanks to a viral K-Pop video it gets many visitors from South East Asia, so if your planning a trip to this lovely county, here are a few places you might recognise from the movies.

Many thanks to my county colleague on LB, Jason Still, for his valuable contribution on this

• Summerland

  Cuckmere Haven - masquerading as a fictional Kentish coastal area

• Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

  Eastbourne - where it is set but filmed in Eastbourne and Brighton

• Emma.

  Firle Place - the family home

• Quadrophenia

  Brighton and Beachy Head ( we’re some of the cliffs have eroded)

• Wicked Little Letters

  Arundel & Worthing - though set in Littlehampton

• Grace

  Brighton - the whole series is set and filmed around the town. Adapted from the popular Peter James novels

• Pride & Prejudice

  Groombridge - the Bennett family home

• The Hitman's Bodyguard

  Beachy Head - a wholly gratuitous scene on a bus!

• Blithe Spirit

  Cuckmere Haven -Judi Dench’s cottage

• The Great Escaper

  Hastings seafront - masquerading as Hove

...plus 42 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

It seems that half the world either has gone to the polls or will do later this year.

So would you vote for these guys?

Suggestions always welcome

• All the President's Men
• Presidents
• JFK
• Swing Vote
• My Fellow Americans
• The President's Wife
• En même temps
• The Independent
• Made in Dagenham
• Shock and Awe

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Predictive text can be a nightmare. Just imagine if the films listed below were victims of this abomination and how the films might have turned out if the scriptwriters had received the wrong SMSs….

Suggestions welcome

• No Time to Die

  NO TIME TO DIET - Gerard Depardieu stars as celebrity chef and Special Agent ZeroZeroHuitre combatting heinous criminals in the world of gastronomy with lethal food poisoning. Examples include L’Addition (Mads Mikkelsen) who always leaves restaurants without paying but  crucially food critic Ernst Blowjob who can kill off a restaurant with one excoriating paragraph as well as assassinating opponents with a razor lined beret hurled in their direction. 

  Olivia Colman plays 008’s boss MnM and Jessie Buckley is cast as his sidekick Arsula Undress constantly upsetting MnM with her sweary emails.

• Wonka

  W**NK*R - The Ted Lasso version - no description required!

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

  FANTASTIC BREASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM - A more adult Harry Potter (Eddie Redmayne) wonders through Soho and finds a station with only one platform- 8 1/2.  
  
  He boards a train - the Fellini express - and winds up in Cincecitta where he’s enchanted by voluptuous starlets. Suddenly after two months, he realises that he may overstay his Schengen visa days if he doesn’t return immediately. Can his magic wand help him this time?

• Inherent Vice

  INHERENT MICE - Joaquin Phoenix as an obsessed pest control operative by day but the dastardly “Joker” at night.. until he meets his worst nightmare, Batman (Robert de Niro)

• The Peacemaker

  THE PACEMAKER - George Clooney is back the E.R. but this time as a patient as a result of heart attack brought on by trying to save the world from nuclear destruction.

• Doctor Zhivago

  DR CHICAGO - Omar Sharif stars as a Russian-Egyptian refugee from the October Revolution and goes into hiding in the frozen North (of America) chased by his childhood nemesis Count Obiwonkanksi (Alec Guinness)

• Lawrence of Arabia

  FLORENCE OF ARABIA - Florence Pugh as mental patient who thinks she’s the granddaughter of D.H. Lawrence but confuses him with T.E. Lawrence. Omar Sy plays her sassy carer..

• A Shot in the Dark

  A SH*T IN THE DARK - In this reprise of the series, Clouseau (Nick Mohammed) hot on the trail of master jewel thief (Jessie Buckley) is convinced that she has swallowed the priceless gem. 
  
  He follows her into a prestigious Parisian restaurant but after eating some infected oysters, he like most of the other diners becomes violently ill and persues Ms Buckley into the Ladies at which point, there’s a power cut.
  
  Messy chaos ensues.
  
  Ruben Östlund directs.

• Invasion of the Body Snatchers

  EVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS - In this short film, Brooke Adams picks a flower from a public park and takes it home. Its spores are vacuumed up by the maid. Meanwhile, a busybody priest at the park calls the city to do some upkeep on the grounds.Credits roll.
  
  Thanks to Wes Anderson for this one - oops Wes Edwards - genuine misprint!

• Twelve Monkeys

  TWELVE MONKEES - Directed by: Terry Gilliam
  
  In a mind-bending tale that only the Psychedelic 60s could unleash, ersatz musicians Davy, Mickey, Mike, and Peter (the dummy) travel through time to save humanity from a pandemic which threatens to destroy all wacky television sitcoms and woolen watchcaps. During their travels through the 4th Dimension, they encounter 3 sets of dopplegangers and decide to band together to form The Army of the 12 Monkees. So get ready to have more fun than a barrel of you-know-whats whenever this not-so-dirty dozen walks down the street and gets the funniest looks from everyone they meet...Hey hey!
  
  Thanks to mrbalihai for one 

...plus 4 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, the streamers are now investing millions of dollars in high budget concept movies that generally do well enough for them to invest in more or make sequels.

To qualify for this list, the streamer must have commissioned or mainly funded the film or purchased it outright before any cinema release and it must be primarily comic with action sequences.

Most will have at least one well known star and international locations often with locally popular actors from the countries in which they are filmed.

In most cases, these are available online on a worldwide basis.

Please recommend any I have missed!

• Red Notice

  Netflix 

• The Union

  Netflix

• The Family Plan

  Apple TV+

• Ghosted

  Apple TV+

• Argylle

  Apple TV+

• 6 Underground

  Netflix 

• The Adam Project

  Netflix 

• Heart of Stone

  Netflix 

• The Gray Man

  Netflix 

• Murder Mystery

  Netflix 

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Some are household names,  others barely known. Some perfect their crimes in cameos while pickpockets brilliantly underplay their roles and walk away with the whole film before anyone has noticed (especially in ensemble comedies)

Master scene stealers effect their robberies from under the noses of a host of other scene stealers in the same scene.

• Shakespeare in Love

  Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Rupert Everett - many others almost succeeded.

• Paddington

  Matt Lucas - as the hapless taxi driver

• Waiting for Bojangles

  Grégory Gadebois - as he often does this time heartbreakingly as a faithful friend of the protagonists

• True Romance

  Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper

• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

  Celia Imrie, Tom Wilkinson - she’s hilarious, he’s tragic

• Love Actually

  Emma Thompson 

• The Children of the Marshland

  André Dussollier 

• Paddington 2

  Brendan Gleason, Hugh Grant

• Big Trouble

  Dennis Farina

• My Best Friend's Wedding

  Rupert Everett 

...plus 18 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Just some of the many films I can rewatch any time.

• Almost Famous
• The Dinner Game
• C'est la vie!
• New Biz in the Hood
• Barbecue
• Day for Night
• Cinema Paradiso
• True Romance
• Notting Hill
• Talk to Her

...plus 16 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

That old scriptwriter’s favourite where the protagonist suffers from total memory loss has a little known cinematic equivalent.

Are you over 65 and can’t a thing about a film you’ve seen before when you rewatch it?

If so, you may be suffering from this incurable but delightful disease - one of the major benefits of ageing!

Below are a few examples of films that may benefit from this phenomenon.

Suggestion from fellow sufferers welcome!

• The Majestic

  The genesis for this list

• Groundhog Day

  Just kidding - who could forget this?

• Mes héros
• Ladies in Lavender
• Tea with Mussolini
• A Month by the Lake
• How Do You Know
• Life As We Know It
• The Lady Banker
• Deconstructing Harry

  A star laden and underrated little gem from Woody Allen but surprisingly potty mouthed and raunchy

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A great ensemble cast makes films very rewatch friendly and by the closing you often feel you would have liked to spend more time with the characters.

Most but not all are comedies.

Suggestions welcome.

• Still Crazy
• Love Actually
• Radiostars
• Notting Hill
• Little White Lies
• Barbecue
• C'est la vie!
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• Murder Mystery

...plus 66 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

OK so I’m being controversial here in attacking films loved by so many on LB but it’s all a matter of taste and perhaps I lack it!

• Interstellar
• Roma
• Mank
• Fight Club
• Everything Everywhere All at Once
• NYAD
• Doctor Sleep
• Baby Driver
• Blue Velvet
• The Greatest Showman

Many actors change their names to something more memorable. Maybe others should have!

Hit the glasses button for commentary.

There must be many more so suggestions most welcome!

• The Italian Job

  Minnie Driver - Where was she?

• Ferrari

  Adam Driver - He doesn’t very often but he did driver a Peugeot in this!

• JCVD

  Jean-Claude van Damme - sounds a bit mild but Jean-Claude van Fxxk might have been a marketing challenge.

• Brideshead Revisited

  Jeremy Irons - I doubt that does very often

• Hereafter

  Cecile de - No she’s Belgian!

• Life of Pi

  Gérard Depardieu - Old French for becoming agnostic?

  The film title was equally misleading - no pastry in sight!

• Guardians of the Galaxy

  Chris Pratt - He’s not that bad!

• Code Name: The Cleaner

  Cedric the Entertainer - Ironic or is this  his birth name?

• The Big Short

  Jeremy Strong - Great actor but…
  
  Mark on the other hand.

• Flashdance

  Michal Nouri - His surname means « fed » in French which caused confusion with my none-English speaking in-laws when he was being interviewed 

...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Here are my Top 10 English language favourite films seen for the first time in 2024

See also Top 10 2024 French language films

1. The Holdovers
2. Oppenheimer
3. Barbie
4. The Fall Guy
5. My Old Ass
6. One Life
7. Carrington V.C.
8. The Way
9. The Instigators
10. Carry-On

My Top 10 French language films seen for the first time in 2024

See also Top 10 English language films 2024

1. Le Clan
2. A Radiant Girl
3. Nobody Else But You
4. Peaceful
5. The Brand New Testament
6. Julia(s)
7. Delicious
8. Zaï Zaï Zaï Zaï
9. Superwho?
10. Knock, Knock, It's Mom!

TV5 Monde is completely free steaming service with programming from French, Swiss and French Canadian TV channels and includes many films old and new in decent HD quality.

Some of my LB buddies deride my liking of French cinema! 😂

However for those with more discerning taste, here is a selection of just some of the films available as of November 2024.

TV5 Monde is available as an app on both iPhone and GooglePlay as well as streaming sticks such as Chromecast and many smart TVs.

Whilst it can be found in most countries and most films are available with subtitles in English and many other languages, films are withdrawn and added quite frequently.

• Take a Chance on Me
• That Man from Rio
• Two Tickets to Greece
• Adieu Paris
• Bigger Is Beautiful
• Low Cost
• The Minister
• Enormous
• Let the Girls Play
• Man Is a Woman

...plus 28 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A famous quote from Queen Elizabeth II.

However when you watch a film. sometimes you might hate it then love it on a rewatch  or vice versa.

Suggestions always welcome.

• It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

  Loved this as a kid, seemed awful decades later.

• Love Actually

  Saw this in the cinema and was unimpressed but now a perennial Christmas favourite in our household.

• The Girl on a Motorcycle

  Originally seen in my school film society, made quite an impression to the 16 year old me. Total rubbish when rewatched a few years ago!

• Mission: Impossible II
• Une époque formidable
• Little Indian, Big City

I love comedies and these are some of my favourites.

• Midnight Run
• Pardon Mon Affaire
• Ted
• Date Night
• Thunder Force
• What's Up, Doc?
• Life As We Know It
• She's Funny That Way
• Modern Romance
• The Ex

...plus 22 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Marketing a comedy in a foreign country has proved an entertaining challenge for publicity departments so sometimes they (mis)use a phrase from the country of origin- often with daft results!

Suggestions always welcome

• The Hangover

  Very bad trip - I his was the French title and the film was so successful that many lesser American comedies were retitled Very Bad (insert word here)

• Daddy's Home

  Very bad Dads - see above.

• The Other Guys

  Very bad cops - see above although the film was much better than The Hangover

• Pardon Mon Affaire

  The English title of this French hit is meaningless in French!

• Boiling Point

  The chef in - generic or what?

• Cocaine Bear

  Crazy bear in - didn’t sell well!

• French Fried Vacation

  Les Bronzés - original title- no fries appear in the film!

..as Columbo used to say.  Crime and comedy often go hand in hand. Here are a few examples.

Suggestions always welcome.

• Hit Man
• The Crime Is Mine
• See How They Run
• Knives Out
• Murder Mystery
• Glass Onion
• Murder Mystery 2
• Do You Do You Saint-Tropez
• Murder on the Orient Express
• Murder by Death

  Thanks to Snowboard Junkie for this suggestion