mistermansfield Reviews

Blonde (2022)

Brilliant piece of art

[10/10 · 19 November 2022]

I have seen every Marilyn Monroe film, read multiple biographies - and her own autobiography, as well as having watched dozens of documentaries, and I have to say I really enjoyed this almost 3 hour film.

A lot of the criticisms are about the scenes with her topless and/or crying. Well, welcome to Marilyn's world. I think that "Blonde" gives the average viewer a true glimpse into what it must have been like to be Marilyn.

Yes, she had a lot of good times, a lot of fun and a somewhat privileged life as a movie star, but behind all the glitz and glamour there was a frightened, lonely and often lost little girl. Marilyn's life was fraught with insecurity, and I think the content of this film demonstrates that very well.

I also love the artistic angle this film has taken, with many scenes shot in black and white, and then there is the three-way love scene with its special effects. Lighting is used to its fullest extent, as well.

I came away from this film feeling emotionally drained; feeling - really feeling, what life was like for Marilyn Monroe the majority of the time.

For anyone not wanting to watch yet another remake of the highlights of Marilyn's life, I highly recommend "Blonde". It will give you more of an insight into Marilyn than any other piece of film I can think of.

Matriarch (I) (2022)

Brooding and atmospheric gem.

[9/10 · 22 October 2022]

I love it when I watch a film that I know nothing about only to discover it is a hidden gem. While this film may not appease those horror lovers who like lots of blood and huts, I found this more atmospheric horror a breath of fresh air. Or rather, of earthy air.

Another aspect I really loved was the fact that at no point could I guess what was going on, until it was revealed, obviously. And even then there a bit still left up to my imagination.

A third factor I enjoyed was the film's basis in folklore. People, at one stage, actually believed in...I won't give it away... such things. Without the aid of science, technology and the wealth of knowledge we have at our fingertips these days, people living on the land believed in many things that are a mystery to us these days.

Finally, I'd like to add a comment about the brilliant acting by both female leads. The tension between them was palpable and added considerably to the bleak, mysterious atmosphere.

Take a look at it. Recommended.

Midnighters (2017)

A Pleasant Surprise

[7/10 · 17 September 2022]

I watched this movie without knowing anything about it. I wasn't expecting much as it is a free movie on Youtube. However, when it finished I realised how engrossed I was in it. In fact, I would go as far as to say this is a damned good movie.

The plot is pretty good, too. It begins as a few other other horror movies do - driving home at night and then...BANG...they hit something with their car. This is where it takes an exciting turn away from other films. I really loved the story and the various turns and twists. And they are really well done. In some films, the story seems to be written to accommodate the twists, but in this movie you don't see the twists coming and they blend in so well with the story that they are entirely believable.

I highly recommend this movie to those who want something a little different from their horror / thriller movies.

The Exorcism of God (2021)

Devilishly Delightful

[6/10 · 15 September 2022]

I think "The Exorcist" is the best horror film ever made. Therefore I am highly skeptical that I will enjoy any film with the word "Exorcist" or "Exorcism" in it because you can't beat perfection, and "The Exorcist" is perfection.

This film starts off brilliantly. I enjoyed the different angle the film took and the acting was brilliant. The possessed victim looked amazing and I thought, "Hey, this film is pretty good". And it was. The whole film was pretty good, but it could have been amazing.

For me, the thing I didn't like was the possessed extras. They were more like Zombies (which don't interest me at all). They could have been a bit more demonic and a bit more threatening. I know they were supposed to be minions of a sort, but the main possessed person was so good, it's subordinates could have at least been more 'animated'.

Then there is the ending, with something entirely predictable along with something entirely unpredictable. Clever.

Overall, while it didn't terrify me, this film is entertaining and well-worth a watch.

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

What a Jurassic Disappointment.

[4/10 · 15 September 2022]

I am writing this as a HUGE fan of the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World trilogies, and when I heard this was to be the last one, I was devastated. However, that was before I watched it.

After the crushing disappointment of the film itself, I tend to agree that this should be the last one. The ideas appear to have dried up and it is the bits and bobs they had left over from the other films that were coddled together to make this dull and lifeless finale.

The dinosaurs seemed superfluous to the actual story. In fact, it seemed like another installment of "Taken" with dinosaurs added to spice it up.

It was also a nice idea to bring the cast of J. Park and J. World together, but again, it seemed just for effect. At the end of the day, there was no real reason for doing this.

To conclude, while I have watched the other Jurassic films at least 3 times each, I won't be giving this one another look. I choose to remember, instead, the 5 good ones and the enjoyment I got out of watching those.

A Town Full of Ghosts (2022)

A Town Full of....Something

[4/10 · 15 September 2022]

This is another of those films that wouldn't have been missed had it not been made. The acting was decent, but really...aren't we all over found footage films? I know I am. In about 2019. Besides, this movie offers nothing new to the genre. The ending is a bit of a mess, and the viewer is left to create this part. It seemed to me that the writer just wanted to finish the story.

Oh and the found footage within the found footage was just a bit too convenient, and too produced, to be credible. This coupled with the rushed ending makes me wonder the reasoning behind it since the film is only just over an hour long.

It's not a bad film. It's just not original and comes off as a bit of fluff when compared to what's already out there.

Cracow Monsters (2022– )

Crappo Monsters

[3/10 · 3 May 2022]

This has all the elements of the type of TV series that I like, but for some reason it fails. I suspect it might have been better had the Americans not dubbed it. Some of the voices don't match the characters. I'd rather read subtitles. But perhaps it is more than that.

Anyway, I'd recommend watching old re-runs of Buffy instead.

Dune (2021)

Paint drying.

[1/10 · 15 March 2022]

Oh please if I could just go back in time, I would rather spend 2.5 hours watching paint dry. This proves that no matter how much money you throw at a film project, if the story is bad, the actors are bad and the direction is bad, then you just can't save it.

And a special mention of the role of the boy's mother, whatever the hell her name was. What a whiny, miserable, depressing thing she was. I kept hoping someone or something would put her out of her misery.

The special effects were fantastic. Although special effects do not an attention-grabbing movie make. I wish I had nicer things to say about this film, but I don't. I feel like I wasted 2.5 hours of my life. In the end, I didn't care who won or who got what or who died or lived.

Grimsey (2018)

Cerebral, Atmospheric and great track to finish with

[7/10 · 24 February 2022]

Obviously this movie isn't for everyone, but I loved it. Not much happens in the way of action, but emotionally, you go on a journey with a man, Bruno, who is trying to find his lover, Norberto, in Iceland. It is more of a reflective, thoughtful piece; very true to life. Who wants to talk a lot when you are in this situation?

Once in Iceland, Bruno meets Arnau, who becomes a close friend as they traverse Iceland together, hot on the path of Norberto.

Arnau kind of falls for Bruno and he also knows how Bruno's journey is going to end. But like all great friends, he stays with Bruno through thick and thin.

Some people might be disappointed with the way it ends, but you have to think about it. When you realise something is over, it's over. And the best thing to do is leave with your dignity.

Besides, the very end of the film is more hopeful.

And then you get the great little dance track at the end.

Working Girls (2020)

You Think Your Life is Hard

[8/10 · 11 February 2022]

Working Girls, or Filles de Joie, is a brilliant Belgian film which gives us an insight into the world of three women who are doing what they have to in order to make their way through life.

None of them has it easy and, just like all of us, they have things in their private lives that they battle behind closed doors.

This film is about the close bond between three working girls, Axelle, Conso, and Dominique, and the private misery each of them is dealing with in their personal lives.

The three lead actresses are beyond amazing and turn in gritty performances that both mesmerise and pull you slowly in until by the end of the film you feel you know them intimately.

I was recommended this film by a mate and now I want to recommend it to as many people as possible. It's an intimate slice of life that shines a light on the lives of a sometimes forgotten group of people.

And all the while you are reminded that working girls are indeed people.

Sputnik (2020)

Science Fiction You Hang Out to Watch

[8/10 · 11 February 2022]

I love this movie. It is the kind of original science fiction I yearn for but rarely encounter. Great acting, interesting plot and wonderfully scary aliens. Highly recommended. Russians make great sci fi films.

Unhinged (I) (2020)

Gee! You make one wrong choice.

[7/10 · 10 February 2022]

I watched this because there was nothing else to watch...and I'm glad I did. I read the blurb and wondered how they were going to make any sort of a story out of road rage.

But, boy, did they ever.

Like most people, I have encountered road rage and even flipped the bird a few times myself. I might think twice about doing so after watching this movie. Russell Crowe was brilliant. In fact, the whole cast was great.

The thing I liked most was the way the tension was created and never really relented. But the story came together organically. There didn't seem to be any filler. I felt her panic and her terror. Her decisions and actions were real life in the given situation.

The only thing I could possibly pick on was how long it took the cops to locate a man who had done...what he had done (no spoilers). Surely the area and surrounding areas would be swarming with cops. Especially when 911 was dialled.

Anyway, those things didn't prevent me from totally enjoying this film.

Malignant (I) (2021)

Original Horror to Keep You Guessing

[8/10 · 27 January 2022]

"Horror" covers a pretty broad swathe of movie types, and while this horror movie didn't provide me with any frights, it certainly held my attention for the duration.

I watched this after a friend recommended it. Well, actually he raved about it. I was skeptical. He had also raved about "Hereditary" which I thought was good, but not great. And definitely not scary. Then again, I have watched hundreds of horror movies in the past and it takes a lot to impress me.

I liked this movie because the plot was original, even though I guessed about 2/3 of the way through what was happening. I wasn't exactly right, but close.

However, I totally recommend this movie for the pace (all thriller, no filler), the original story line, the acting, and just the overall package. My only teeny tiny groan was why did one of the characters go to a spooky old building to investigate at night? Wouldn't any normal person - if they had to go - go during the bright hours of day? I know it's what happens in horror movies, but the characters in this movie are otherwise so everyday and believable. (With perhaps one exception, of course.)

Anyway, totally enjoyed this movie. Highly recommend it. It might not be a scary horror, but it is a brilliant thriller.

Titane (2021)

French Surrealism

[7/10 · 26 January 2022]

I don't really know what I just watched. It was incredibly weird, but nevertheless watchable. In fact, I might even go as far as to say it was mesmerizing.

I'm sure there were some really deep themes, of which I could glean only a handful. But maybe that's a lacking in myself. These themes - as far as I could make out - include love and loss, rage, psychosis, and identity. Even a slight hint of incest.

But there are still a couple of pretty pertinent things that remain a mystery. Big mysteries!

I would recommend this film to those who want to lose themselves in one woman's psychedelic / psychotic journey, or for those who enjoy analyzing and could possibly apply meaning to scenes and images that I don't think were included for fun, but which I can't work out.

Nevertheless, I would recommend people check it out - if only for the originality and creativity. It won't be for everyone. It starts off rather sedately and then gets deeper and deeper into the bizarre. Personally, I love cinema that pushes boundaries and dares to be different - even if it fails, which this one definitely doesn't.

So be brave. Try something new. Expect to be challenged, and perhaps even a little offended, and definitely expect to see something different.

And I can't sign off without congratulating the performance of the two leads - Agathe Rousselle and Vincent Lindon. Both did brilliant jobs, especially Agathe since this was her feature film debut.

Bokeh (I) (2017)

We're on a road to nowhere....

[3/10 · 25 January 2022]

I watched this movie without knowing anything about it. And I came out at the end still not knowing much about it.

Perhaps I wasn't in the mood, but I found this tedious to watch. Both the lead actors were brilliant. It wasn't their performance that let this film down, it was the lack of a story. And without spoiling anything, I hate the type of ending this film has.

No. As far as I am concerned, this movie meandered, rather like an Icelandic stream through the countryside. It was a road to nowhere, having a conclusion of sorts, but leaving the viewer to feel rather unsatisfied.

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

An Exquisite Masterpiece

[10/10 · 10 January 2022]

I have seen this movie around 5 times and each time I find something new and wonderful. Both Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet are perfect in their roles; the tension building up to their first encounter part of the gripping plot.

Then there is the nostalgia angle. I was about the same age as Elio in 1983 and the movie brought back fond memories of that less complicated and happier time. And if you love the Psychedelic Furs - "Love My Way", you will see what I mean.

There are many things going on this film from the pretence of being something you're not, the absolute ecstacy of discovering the power of sex with someone you care for, and then the heartbreak of losing them.

I love how this film shares with you, and invites you, to participate in the highs and lows so that you are so drawn in you feel a part of it all. Then there is the beautiful Italian scenery where the story takes place; the lazy Mediterranean summer when the upper middle class can laze about, eating al fresco and dancing far into the night.

I cannot rave about this film enough, so I might stop here. But highly recommended.

Venus in Fur (2013)

Hypnotic and entrancing

[6/10 · 8 January 2022]

I didn't know what to expect from this film, and as it started I thought I had made a mistake. However, Emmanuelle Seigner gave such a powerful performance right from the get go that I stayed with it. And I am glad that I did. The film starts of rather light-heartedly, but then it gradually gets deeper and darker.

Emmanuelle is in charge right from the beginning of the movie and carries it almost single-handedly to its surprise ending.

Red Snow (I) (2021)

This is embarrassingly bad.

[2/10 · 4 January 2022]

The Academy Award for the worst performance in a movie goes to Dennice Cisneros. Dennice, I am no actor, but subtlety seems to work for other actors. Your expressions are too exaggerated. Your acting needs way more work. I was embarrassed for you.

The plot was fairly original just not very well executed. Perhaps we can lay this fault at the feet of the writer and the director. Someone should have told Dennice she looks ridiculous.

Luke, on the other hand, was fine. The only performance that was slightly believable.

Overall, give this mess a huge miss. I mean get a passport and fly through international air space to get around if necessary. Just awful. Cringeworthy.

Sequin in a Blue Room (2019)

Amazing Insight

[6/10 · 31 December 2021]

At the beginning of this movie, I thought it was going to be no more than soft porn with little to no story line, and so I wasn't paying that much attention. But as the movie progressed, I got hooked.

This shows exactly what it is like to be that age and gay. The fun of sexual encounters. Wanting variety. Quantity not quality. The thrill of the unknown and 'taboo'. And I also knew people like Sequin, who played on their looks, got whatever they wanted, and did some pretty nasty stuff - including outing people to their family.

The gay sub-culture can be a pretty scary place and it can suck you in. The drugs. The sex. The danger of playing games you don't know how to win. This movie captured everything in a natural way and brought back quite a few memories.

I think the lead actor, Conor Leach, did an absolutely amazing job. What an actor. He had me hating him - because I knew people like him, then I really wanted the married man - B - to find him and belt the crap out of him (and was disappointed it was only a couple of punches), but then I understood him. And finally I was happy for him. It's rare for an actor of any calibre to make you feel so many things for them.

The rest of the cast was fantastic, too. Considering the budget of the film, we are lucky enough to get people who can act up a storm. Natural performances. Easy to watch. But I have to come back again to Conor Leach. What a performance.

In Fabric (2018)

Surreal but satisfying

[7/10 · 27 December 2021]

I watched this movie purely on the off-chance that it might be a pleasant distraction. I'd never heard of it, but thought why not?

Well, I am glad I did. This surreal movie was strangely absorbing. Not entirely sure what it was about, yet it was engaging and I loved the 1970s imagery. The sales assistants were weirdly mesmerising. Were they animated store dummies or not? By the end, I decided they were.

This a dark film with all the feel of a nightmare that is not exactly terrifying, but disturbing and uncomfortable nevertheless.

I love it when I take a chance on an unknown film and it pays off like this one did. It won't be everyone's cup of tea as it doesn't have a simple, straightforward story-line. However, if your tastes lie somewhat more in an artistic, experimental direction, check this movie out. I loved it.

The White Crow (2018)

A film par excellance!

[9/10 · 25 December 2021]

This movie is a masterpiece. It focuses mainly on the defection of acclaimed ballet dancer, Rudolph Nureyev, to the west. It gives the viewer mere glimpses into his childhood, and, as well, into his personality, which seemed to be volatile at times to the point of being downright rude. However, we understand that it was only because he was in a hurry to get to where he was going - namely, the world stage.

The character and personality of artists - especially great ones - are often different to those of the everyday person, and it's to be expected. When you are as driven as Rudolph was to succeed, you don't have the time or patience to tolerate things you don't have to.

It was beautifully shot and captured the era very well. Oh, I cannot finish without mentioning the tense ending. So well done. I could really feel the 'trapped rabbit', intense panic Rudolph must have felt at the airport. Highly recommended.

Adopted (2021)

Abysmal

[1/10 · 25 December 2021]

I understand that everyone has to start somewhere, and this is obviously someone's first movie. However, since I paid to watch it, I feel I have the right to comment.

Where do I begin? The script is beyond terrible - unrealistic and simplistic. Nothing subtle or nuanced about it. The acting is wooden and unsure. The person playing the adopted girl wasn't even attempting to act.

The plot moves at such a glacial pace it becomes excruciating. The first half an hour seems like a race to see how many times the cast can say the word "Adoption". It's about as subtle as a train smash.

It takes almost the first hour - and it's only 1 hour 12 minutes long (thank god) - to get to the part that is supposed to be horror. But there's no need to be woken up - as I assume you will have fallen asleep, or, like me, gone off to do the dishes - because the horror was no more horrific than a pimple on date night. Okay, the pimple on date night is more horrific. The horror of this movie is that people have to pay good money to see it.

When I say this movie is bad, pleeease believe me. It's a shocker. And not in the good way.

Escape 2120 (2020)

Cringeworthy

[1/10 · 22 December 2021]

Oh dear. Somebody call Over-actors Anonymous. The script was appalling. The actors delivered their lines like they were doing a high school play. With a bigger budget, a script writer who can write, and actors who can act this actually might be a watchable movie. As it is, I sat there feeling embarrassed for the actors. David Afflick as the baddie was especially bad. Cringe-worthy, in fact. Not recommended under any circumstance. I'd rather read a bus timetable.

Pig (I) (2021)

More like PIG SWILL

[3/10 · 26 November 2021]

What the hell was that about? About an hour too long, that's what.

Nicholas Cage was brilliant, as usual, but by about half-way through I was going to call the police to put out APB on the story.

Or what there was of a story. I could tell you the entire plot of the film in a single, relatively short sentence. There wasn't even anything philosophical about the film, although I suppose if you look hard enough you can come up with something. A journey that doesn't reward you for taking it, making you wish you'd spent your money elsewhere.

The New World (2005)

Sublime

[10/10 · 21 November 2021]

This is one of my all-time favourite films. The scenery. The story. The wonderful orchestration. I can't fault anything. It seems to me to represent the white Europeans as the greedy, violent, unintelligent grunts they were, and the native Americans as the sharing, understanding and willing to learn people they were.

Then the film changes from having the white Europeans out of their depth in the wilds of "The New World" to the juxtaposition of Pocahontas in England.

Plenty to think about in this film, and if thinking is not your thing, there is the abandonment of Pocahontas by John Smith and the tragedy of her untimely passing just when she finds happiness.

I cannot help but cry at the end, every time I watch this movie. It is powerful.