bretttaylor-04022 Reviews

Hereditary (2018)

Hereditary

[9/10 · 16 November 2023]

Creepy atmospheric horror.

It seems quite unique. To begin with it feels disturbing without actually pulling the trigger and then slowly it gets more and more disturbing.

The look is so eerie, just the miniature model of the house the Mum is making. It takes some great twists to get to the final reveal.

It is refreshing how this is a horror that creates the fear in atmosphere and slow disturbing images and not by over doing the jump scares.

It is one of the best horrors in the past 10 years.

Creepy atmospheric horror.

It seems quite unique. To begin with it feels disturbing without actually pulling the trigger and then slowly it gets more and more disturbing.

The look is so eerie, just the miniature model of the house the Mum is making. It takes some great twists to get to the final reveal.

It is refreshing how this is a horror that creates the fear in atmosphere and slow disturbing images and not by over doing the jump scares.

It is one of the best horrors in the past 10 years.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Tarantino can do whatever he wants at this point

[10/10 · 14 November 2023]

Tarantino is one of the greatest because he never sells out, he only makes what he wants to make.

He uses bits from lesser known films and makes his own somehow original movies.

This is his biggest in scale to this point. The violence is so over the top as is everything, but of course the dialogue is not over the top.

It just looks amazing, the costumes, the way it shifts to Anime and then black and white.

Uma Thurman is great as the bride out for revenge.

The soundtrack is also amazing.

Tarantino is one of the greatest because he never sells out, he only makes what he wants to make.

He uses bits from lesser known films and makes his own somehow original movies.

This is his biggest in scale to this point. The violence is so over the top as is everything, but of course the dialogue is not over the top.

It just looks amazing, the costumes, the way it shifts to Anime and then black and white.

Uma Thurman is great as the bride out for revenge.

The soundtrack is also amazing.

The Guilty (2018)

The Guilty

[8/10 · 13 November 2023]

One Man on a Phone for nearly 90 minutes makes a more compelling movie than at least 90% of CGI obsessed, franchise money grabbing pictures of the 2010's.

One man who works in the emergency call centre gets a phone call what he believes is a kidnapping and tries to help the victim and solve the crime from his desk.

This officer has been demoted to the call centre and unlike the 1000's of other disgraced police officer having to solve a crime in rouge style, this one isn't kicking down doors and pointing guns in peoples faces. This one has to go rouge using a phone.

It is incredible how much action there seemed to be in this despite it just being one Man on the phone and his reactions as everything happens off screen.

It also has lots of twists and turns along the way.

Contempt (1963)

Contempt

[8/10 · 13 November 2023]

Even though my biggest fantasy is to become a movie director, I do not find Directors, Producers and Writers make interesting characters. They are hard for me to relate to. Especially European ones.

Also this is slightly pretentious for me. It teases titillation and is dressed up as high art.

What makes this a (Low) 8 for me is its visual style (I am aware that it contradicts my last comment), also its strange editing where it feels non linear. The Love plot is believable.

Even though my biggest fantasy is to become a movie director, I do not find Directors, Producers and Writers make interesting characters. They are hard for me to relate to. Especially European ones.

Also this is slightly pretentious for me. It teases titillation and is dressed up as high art.

What makes this a (Low) 8 for me is its visual style (I am aware that it contradicts my last comment), also its strange editing where it feels non linear. The Love plot is believable.

The Cranes Are Flying (1957)

The Cranes are Flying

[8/10 · 12 November 2023]

I thought this was good.

The camera is at times in the main characters Squirrel/Veronika's face in an uncomfortable way.

It is quite a bleak story in many ways,

I thought this was good.

The camera is at times in the main characters Squirrel/Veronika's face in an uncomfortable way.

It is quite a bleak story in many ways,

I thought this was good.

The camera is at times in the main characters Squirrel/Veronika's face in an uncomfortable way.

It is quite a bleak story in many ways,

I thought this was good.

The camera is at times in the main characters Squirrel/Veronika's face in an uncomfortable way.

It is quite a bleak story in many ways,

The Great Escape (1963)

The Great Escape

[8/10 · 8 November 2023]

I do think that this is good, but it falls a little short at becoming what i would consider my top 250.

The POW camp for me just comes across as not that bad. It also feels like it is very Hollywood. It is like a bigger Bridge Over the River Kwai, which i also think has similar issues.

It's positives are it looks good and feels like a true cinematic experience. It has a very good cast and although Steve McQueen is the top billed star you feel he is equal with Bronson, Attenbrough, Plesence ,Coburn, Garner and co.

Also the title music is one of the most whistleable tunes ever made.

Overall a good film.

Scream (1996)

Scream

[8/10 · 7 November 2023]

I think the worst thing about this is it's sequels and how it influenced a revival in terrible slasher movies.

It is a sort of spoof, but then becomes what it is spoofing.

Wes Craven or Wes Carpenter as one of the characters call him starts to parody his own work, but it is till a slasher movie.

Halloween is also the major influence here too.

It is entertaining, but it just doesn't feel excellent.

I think the worst thing about this is it's sequels and how it influenced a revival in terrible slasher movies.

It is a sort of spoof, but then becomes what it is spoofing.

Wes Craven or Wes Carpenter as one of the characters call him starts to parody his own work, but it is till a slasher movie.

Halloween is also the major influence here too.

It is entertaining, but it just doesn't feel excellent.

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Game changing Cinema

[10/10 · 6 November 2023]

Propaganda, art , whatever, it is just incredible.

Nothing comes close to this scale in 1925. This uses real locations and boats.

The story might be considered Communist propaganda, but it is trying to promote true and pure Socialism.

The crew of the Potemkin do not actually kill anyone and get their results in unity where as the enemy have to use weapons.

The whole massacre on the Odessa steps is so excellently done. It is horrifying, yet so beautifully filmed.

Propaganda, art , whatever, it is just incredible.

Nothing comes close to this scale in 1925. This uses real locations and boats.

The story might be considered Communist propaganda, but it is trying to promote true and pure Socialism.

The crew of the Potemkin do not actually kill anyone and get their results in unity where as the enemy have to use weapons.

The whole massacre on the Odessa steps is so excellently done. It is horrifying, yet so beautifully filmed.

Jurassic Park (1993)

10/10/10/10

[10/10 · 26 October 2023]

What can you say. Let me start by Spielberg in 1993 in my opinion doing this and Schindler's List in the same year for me is the greatest achievement by any director ever.

I could watch this every day and not get sick of it.

Spielberg at his peak was so good at building tension in a story that you sort of already know going in.

It is not just the story and the characters that are excellent, it is basically every scene. All the little touches. Also i think the CGI still looks good today.

It is somehow believable too, I forgot to mention the music too.

This for me is the best blockbuster movie ever made.

Contact (1997)

Contact

[8/10 · 22 October 2023]

This was alright.

A bit too long, it tackles Alien contact in a realistic way.

I thought it got a bit too over sentimental at times. The aliens getting the opening to the 1936 Olympic Games was believable too, because Nazi Germany wanted to use those games to appear like a peaceful nation to the outside World, but this doesn't quite seem to get touched upon.

I don't know what to make of them using real footage of Bill Clinton.

This was alright.

A bit too long, it tackles Alien contact in a realistic way.

I thought it got a bit too over sentimental at times. The aliens getting the opening to the 1936 Olympic Games was believable too, because Nazi Germany wanted to use those games to appear like a peaceful nation to the outside World, but this doesn't quite seem to get touched upon.

I don't know what to make of them using real footage of Bill Clinton.

News from Home (1976)

News From Home

[10/10 · 21 October 2023]

I honestly did not know what to expect.

The Synopsis read "Chantal Akerman films New York accompanied by her reading letters from Home of her Mother" and that is exactly what it was.

I like films that are inspiring in the way that as your watching it, you start to think i can do that, you just need a camera.

It is fascinating seeing New York in the 70's and it looks so familiar because of all the other films i have watched set in New York.

Her Mother comes across as slightly annoying and still trying to be overbearing even though she is 1000's of miles away.

The beauty is in the simplicity of the idea and the mundanity of what she films.

Shutter Island (2010)

Shutter Island

[9/10 · 13 October 2023]

Not a typical Scorsese film.

On the other hand Scorsese is good at getting the viewer to think like the main character and by the end of this you are not quite sure if DiCaprio is insane or has been set up.

This has a very strong cast.

It is very puzzle like.

It also looks good.

Not a typical Scorsese film.

On the other hand Scorsese is good at getting the viewer to think like the main character and by the end of this you are not quite sure if DiCaprio is insane or has been set up.

This has a very strong cast.

It is very puzzle like.

It also looks good.

Not a typical Scorsese film.

On the other hand Scorsese is good at getting the viewer to think like the main character and by the end of this you are not quite sure if DiCaprio is insane or has been set up.

This has a very strong cast.

It is very puzzle like.

It also looks good.

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)

Fear Eats the Soul

[9/10 · 9 October 2023]

It was good.

A Widow falls in love with a much younger Moroccan man and that is really all there is to it.

The relationship is quite uneventful, but they face prejudice everywhere they go and she is disowned by her Family and Neighbours.

They then go on holiday and her Family and Neighbours and Work colleagues start to accept the relationship because they realise that they all need her help with something and she just forgives them.

The last quarter is where the relationship starts to have issues internally.

It was good.

A Widow falls in love with a much younger Moroccan man and that is really all there is to it.

The relationship is quite uneventful, but they face prejudice everywhere they go and she is disowned by her Family and Neighbours.

They then go on holiday and her Family and Neighbours and Work colleagues start to accept the relationship because they realise that they all need her help with something and she just forgives them.

The last quarter is where the relationship starts to have issues internally.

Nights of Cabiria (1957)

Nights of Cabiria

[8/10 · 8 October 2023]

Giulliete Masina has such an emotive (Think That's the right word) Face, Like in La Strada she would have been one of the best in the silent era.

I am beginning to like Fellini's earlier films, They are a bit different from his 60's films.

Giulliete Masina has such an emotive (Think That's the right word) Face, Like in La Strada she would have been one of the best in the silent era.

I am beginning to like Fellini's earlier films, They are a bit different from his 60's films.

Giulliete Masina has such an emotive (Think That's the right word) Face, Like in La Strada she would have been one of the best in the silent era.

I am beginning to like Fellini's earlier films, They are a bit different from his 60's films.

A Face in the Crowd (1957)

A Face in the Crowd

[9/10 · 8 October 2023]

I liked this more than the directors better known works, A Streetcar Named Desire and On the Waterfront.

Lonesome Rhodes a small town drunk becomes a local radio star with a small town tales and songs. He is capable of stirring up hysteria and his fans follow his every word. He then becomes a TV star and the same happens on a bigger scale and then he tries and fails at becoming a spokesman for a Presidential candidate.

Andy Griffith gives one hell of a performance and you start to get caught up in it yourself.

I think the second half is not as strong as the first half, but it does have a dramatic ending.

Z (1969)

Z

[8/10 · 7 October 2023]

From the opening bit of credit, Any similarities to persons living or dead is on purpose, you are hooked.

It's in French, but clearly the Country this is happening in is not France. Based on real events in Greece.

It is a great conspiracy laden plot.

From the opening bit of credit, Any similarities to persons living or dead is on purpose, you are hooked.

It's in French, but clearly the Country this is happening in is not France. Based on real events in Greece.

It is a great conspiracy laden plot.

From the opening bit of credit, Any similarities to persons living or dead is on purpose, you are hooked.

It's in French, but clearly the Country this is happening in is not France. Based on real events in Greece.

It is a great conspiracy laden plot.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

The Sixth Sense

[9/10 · 4 October 2023]

This was made at a time when all big movies had big twists at the end and along with this came people who thought it was funny to spoil these twists and this was the biggest of the later.

I actually think it works better when you watch it again knowing ( I ticked yes in spoilers) that Bruce Willis is dead.

My minor criticism is I think it could have done with being a bit longer and maybe we could have got to see Cole help more ghosts. It's nearly an hour when you find out that he can see ghosts and then it covers a bit too much in the second half.

Both Bruce Willis and Hayley Joel Osmont are great.

Gattaca (1997)

Hidden Gem

[10/10 · 2 October 2023]

I had not heard until a few weeks ago.

I have no idea how it escaped me and it must have escaped Millions more, sort of buried in the past.

It is very intelligent, but not that difficult to follow so long as you pay attention.

The concept of determining your qualifications by blood is believable and this is a good dystopian film. It's a bit like a Black Mirror episode in 1997.

Jude Law and Ethan Hawke were two actors I used to get confused and mistake them for each other and it is strange that is one of the plot points.

The main message i got from this is anyone can achieve anything no matter what other people say.

Throne of Blood (1957)

Throne of Blood

[7/10 · 1 October 2023]

Very similar to Ran.

I find Kurosawa to be quite overrated and the same goes double for Shakespeare.

Also I find his films that focus on warring armies confusing.

This, Ran and Kagemusha, I just, I don't know they just make my brain start to hurt.

Having said all that you Can't take away the spectacular sort of battle sequences, also eyebrow lady is quite scary and the end where he gets hit by 100's of arrows is good.

This 600 words is also annoying it was annoying having to write essays pretending to analyse how amazing Shakespeare was when i was 15 and now I have to do it when I'm in my 40's.

Shakespeare and if he never existed absolutely nothing would have been written after him, absolutely nothing and Kurosawa is also amazing and absolutely no other films would have been made had he also not existed. In fact if both of them had not have existed there would be no World at all.

Gandhi (1982)

Gandhi

[9/10 · 1 October 2023]

I have been watching the IMDB top 250 and this is the film that gets me the 2022 Completion medal and i achieved it on the 1st of October on the eve of The International Day of Non-Violence, Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday which I only knew about now, That's a coincidence I just felt like sharing.

Kingsley is brilliant as Gandhi and I don't believe anybody could have done a better job.

It is very Cinematic and has a real Epic feel to it.

The amount of extras is some scenes is incredible.

This does make you want to learn more about the great man.

I did not know anything about his time in South Africa until i watched this.

The Irishman (2019)

The Irishman

[7/10 · 30 September 2023]

I don't know, but something seemed off to me.

The CGI de ageing doesn't really work and it has an elderly feel to it.

It doesn't feel like a Scorsese movie. It is lacking his usual energy and even the soundtrack isn't as good as usual.

It's like Netflix threw money about saying we want De Niro, Pacino and Pesci and it also looks more like a TV show than a movie.

It is still Ok, I think Stephen Graham is my favourite character in this. De Niro is good when he's playing closer to his actual age and Pacino is good too.

I don't know, but something seemed off to me.

The CGI de ageing doesn't really work and it has an elderly feel to it.

It doesn't feel like a Scorsese movie. It is lacking his usual energy and even the soundtrack isn't as good as usual.

It's like Netflix threw money about saying we want De Niro, Pacino and Pesci and it also looks more like a TV show than a movie.

It is still Ok, I think Stephen Graham is my favourite character in this. De Niro is good when he's playing closer to his actual age and Pacino is good too.

The Truman Show (1998)

The Truman Show

[10/10 · 29 September 2023]

The concept seemed more believable when it came out.

A 24 reality hour TV show where the main star is unaware he is in a show.

Jim Carey is at his best here as the star who suspects something, but doesn't quite know what.

Everyone including the viewer knows the twist except Truman and you're routing for him to find out.

Ed Harris is also great as the shows creator and God like figure to the World he has created.

The fantasy world looks so good too. The humour is subtle as well.

The ending is brilliant where Truman is about to leave and the shows creator speaks to him in a God like way.

Brilliant.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Wizard of Oz

[9/10 · 29 September 2023]

This is a film that is timeless.

It's from 1939 and everyone knows it.

It has the best use of Technicolor up to that point in history.

Also this must have been at Cinemas during the outbreak of World War II a time of Universal uncertainty, so it would have been the perfect escapism when it was made.

What's not to like, the songs, the Colour, the overall message that whatever you want is something you had all along.

Judy Garland is excellent as Dorothy.

This is a film that is timeless.

It's from 1939 and everyone knows it.

It has the best use of Technicolor up to that point in history.

Also this must have been at Cinemas during the outbreak of World War II a time of Universal uncertainty, so it would have been the perfect escapism when it was made.

What's not to like, the songs, the Colour, the overall message that whatever you want is something you had all along.

Judy Garland is excellent as Dorothy.

The Sound of Music (1965)

Sound of Music

[9/10 · 25 September 2023]

Straight away it looks great, It has that the bigger the screen the better it will look feel to it.

To begin with I found singing Nuns slightly nauseating.

Then Julie Andrews starts to look after the Von Trapp family and she basically brainwashes them with singing and somehow brainwashes you.

As well as excellent location filming, every shot is perfectly placed. The choreography is also spectacular.

Also a great placed Intermission Card (Something that should should be in movies over 150 minutes now)

Then it ends with a great mid 60's style escape from the Nazis.

I think anyone who tells you they don't like this has not actually watched it from start to finish and are just judging it on the clips.

Unforgiven (1992)

Unforgiven

[9/10 · 24 September 2023]

Clint Eastwood for me is normally the guy in Westerns that can take out 10 guys with one revolver.

Here he is a shadow of that guy. He's trying to go straight, full of regret also he can't shoot straight, He struggles to ride a Horse, Gets ill easily and you think he's never going to get there and when he finally becomes the typical Clint Eastwood, he's the scariest he's ever been.

A prostitute is cut up by a Cowboy and the sheriff played brilliantly by Gene Hackman sort of lets them get away with it, so the other prostitutes band together to get a reward for killing the man.

It's the journey that is great.