Hey everyone, watching a good film is the one thing I absolutely adore. It is the thing I do. After all, don’t forget, with a group of dedicated people, I helped to run a community cinema for several years in a small town near where I live now. There’s a whole story there about how one runs an enterprise like that. We were at our best when we ran it from 2013 – 2018. We had a break from it and then, of course, Covid came along, and I take my hat off to the people who took over the community cinema, as they had such a huge task to keep up the interest in films through the pandemic.
When they dropped it (tbh, you do burn out from all the responsibility) we decided to ‘help’ the others stepping in. Long story short, we ended up running it again with 3 other people, all of us in our late 70s. And the end of that community cinema came about when we realised we desperately needed to get more help and support. Sadly, after much begging and all sorts of entreaties, the only help people would give us was – to put out the chairs. Sigh. That is like the frosting you put on top of the icing, that you put on top of a solid cake. There is, quite obviously, so much more to running a monthly community event than – chairs!!!
What I am saying here is at the peak of our community cinema time we knew a lot about film. We belonged to a couple of film buff societies, one of which had days in London where they previewed new films. We read magazines dedicated to film, we listened to film critic podcasts, and we read all the reviews. We knew our films and always chose ones that people might have missed or were slightly out of the ordinary – just to push the envelope so to speak.
And I still read those reviews.
So, when I read reviews from both The Guardian and the Observer with both critics giving 5* to this film. When I heard from a friend that the Times film critic had given this film 5* and, apparently, he never does that. When I read a review in The New World (once The New European) that this film was a masterpiece and heard Mark Kermode on YouTube also saying it was a masterpiece. I thought – hmm, we really should see this film.
And the film is? One battle after another. We saw it yesterday and it deserves all those rave reviews. But. It won’t suit everyone as it’s an assault on your senses. It is, as one critic said, a helter-skelter of a caper. Is it a serious film? Yes. Is it a comedy? Yes, it’s truly quite funny in parts. Is it about the dystopian future? No, it is more about present day, but that’s not the point. It is a proper film, one that makes time pass in a flash. You are lost in that world. We were mesmerised. Not once did I look at my watch and it is 162 minutes long. But phew, what an experience.
So, Penny, stop raving. What is it about. It’s actually quite difficult to describe and if I did it badly you might say, nope, not for me. It is about the counter-culture and the gun-culture in the States, and the weird far Right cults that exist, but it is also a story of a father and daughter and their love for each other – and it isn’t just a simple version of that either. Read this link for more details of the plot, which I won’t give here.
But what amazing acting coming from the lead actors; Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. Especially, Sean Penn – what a performance! Both should get Oscar nominations, and this film should definitely get the Best Picture Oscar.
Btw, readers from the States, how is this film viewed? The film is, after all, very much against the ghastly incarceration and treatment of immigrants coming across the border. Won’t say any more. But I would be so interested in an American’s point of view.
Obviously, I would give this film 5* and possibly (rather like the Spinal Tap 11) more stars than 5!
Other films that I have watched and given 5* to are:
Sing-Sing starring Colman Domingo, which is not only uplifting it is so very heartening to watch. Set in the prison of that name it is based on the theatre project in Sing-Sing that exists in real life, giving prisoners the opportunity to act and put on productions in the prison. Again, we were totally absorbed in this film. At the end when we watched the credits, I hadn’t realised that the people, supposedly playing prisoners putting on a theatre production, were or had been prisoners IRL. That was very humbling to realise. Why – because they were so good in their roles. The director must have been a genius. At the end of the film watching the credits we saw clips of the actual productions put on in Sing-Sing – also humbling. The whole film is well worth watching and can still be seen on Amazon.
Another film, I though incredibly interesting is The Life of Chuck starring Tom Hiddleston and Chiwetel Eijefor and based on a short story written by Stephen King. Now, to describe it is to, not really describe it. You have to watch it and work out what it means. In addition to this slightly puzzling description (look, the whole film is puzzling) the film’s story arc is told in 3 Acts with Act 3 coming first, then Act 2, and Act 1 last. And furthermore, if you think that reading the short story might explain it, you won’t get it from that as the film follows the story faithfully, so you still won’t understand what has happened. Jeepers, you must be thinking, I’m not watching that. But. It is fascinating to be in this parallel reality of a Stephen King story.
Go watch as, of course, you can work out the meaning – it’s just not obvious. I love films that make you think!
Two lovely quite niche, independent films that are a delight to watch are, first of all, The Last Journey. Now funnily enough this comes over as a fictionized film, a tale of an old man and his son and their journey from Sweden to the south of France in a battered old car. It is also about the son’s refusal to accept his father’s frailty. That struck a chord with me, as I know my kids think of me as still in my 60s, old but not old. The story line ends, after many challenges, on a beach in the south of France, where the son has put up a large sheet and there filmed for his father, are all the students of this Francophile teacher telling the old man that his love of France came through his teaching, and that they remember him with great affection and respect for his ability to enthuse and inspire his students. At the end of that I defy you not to be in tears.
The amazing thing about this film is that it is not a fictionalised film and just another story, this is a real-life documentary film with the son and his friend doing the filming, and that old man is actually his father. The quality of the filming has come about because the two of them are very well known film-makers in Sweden (the Guardian says they are the equivalent of Ant and Dec. Is that a good thing!) hence the quality of their photography and film editing. So, not a made-up story, instead it is a fascinating and very sweet and lovely documentary that is well worth watching. I think you might be able to see it on Apple. Not sure where else.
Another niche but absolutely charming film is Jane Austen Wrecked My Life. What surprised me is that I absolutely adored it despite it being a Rom-com. But. This is a very intelligent Rom-com as there are many literary references especially, natch, about Jane Austen. The plot is, a lovely young French woman runs a bookshop that specialises in Jane Austen and other English classics. She is also a blocked writer of a novel. Unbeknown to her, her colleague sends an application to a Jane Austen workshop in England. She doesn’t want this but goes and is picked up at the station by the great, great, great nephew of Jane Austen. Who doesn’t like Jane Austen. They don’t hit it off. But eventually….
It is a lovely soothing, and quite intellectual watch in both English and French, btw. Do try and see it. I expect it was shown in very few cinemas, which is such a shame as it is a film of some quality. It is apparently now available on Apple and Amazon Prime.
At this point, you might be thinking, gosh Penny, what about the Downton Abbey film and the Richard Osman film? Sigh, and apologies, haven’t seen them as they’re just not my scene! Perhaps you can tell, I do like a thought-provoking film like One battle after another, and The Life of Chuck. Both of which I would see again. Plus I love delightful, niche films that are fleetingly in a few cinemas and then disappear. All five of those btw, I would have shown at the community cinema. We were well known for showing these sorts of films.
Do tell if you watched any of the films I’ve said are worth watching. And of any other you think might appeal.
With love, Penny
P.S. An update. I saw the film, One battle after another, yesterday and today I bought the book, Vineland by Thomas Pynchon. This is because the director of said film, Paul Thomas Anderson, has wanted to make a film of this book for decades. But wondered whether he could, probably not, he seems to have concluded. But inspired by the book, he has written a version of Vineland as the basis of the film. Having read 30 pages I can see the book has the same helter-skelter pace of the film, and I recognise the characters but I can see it is not the same. But wow, am I going to enjoy this book! Quite a contrast to Sally Vickers, having just read 3 of her books one after the other. She is an author I love but she is very English. Not so Thomas Pynchon and Vineland, where I see on the back of the book it is lauded as exhilarating and funny – and also a major political novel. It has the just the kind of grittiness I love and will be a roller coaster read as it dives deep into parts of American culture that I know very little about.
That really is all now, and thank you so much for reading this to the end.
Thank you Penny. I really value your recommendations.
I do love my films and all the above are excellent. The first won’t suit everyone, but my word, what a film!
Thanks so much Janet 😊
I would also watch the last four films you’ve written about, again and possibly again! They were totally absorbing, utterly enjoyable, moving and exercised the brain in many different ways. I agree, they are definitely 5* films! I think I feel too tired to wacth ‘One Battle after Another’! Thank you for this blog. love, Penny H
I cannot wait to see The Life Of Chuck with Bill – it’s on Amazon but too expensive at the moment. We’re waiting for it to come down in price.
I’m so glad you suggested we watch Sing-Sing as that was such an uplifting film. And I should have said, that apart from the first one (which is absolutely a marmite kind of film) I aways went with a good friend who felt the same way about films.
And I’m really quite sad I can’t share all 5 of these films with the old Newhaven Community Cinema. That was quite a big part of running the cinema, the sharing of great films that people wouldn’t ordinarily go to see. In its heyday it really was successful and we must hold on to that. Good times, Penny, good times and thank you so very much for being part of that time 😊
Whilst not a film, I saw InterAlia at the cinema last night. It was packed and you could have heard a pin drop. It was phenomenal but also terrifying for those of us with either children or grandchildren in today’s world. How do boys navigate their first sexual experience? How do girls cope with the fact that most boys have seen porn from an early age? There was so much more packed in which raised many questions. What would we do in that situation? Definitely not to be missed.
I’m ashamed to say I had to look up InterAlia and yes, I get the audience reaction you had when you saw it. Sounds as though it might be rather like Adolescence which was a gut-punching experience to watch.
Yes. How do we safe guard our young boys when serpents like Zuckerberg et al, are in control of social media??? Geez, I thought parenting was tricky enough in the 80s and 90s, but it was nothing to life and parenting today. How though, can we put the genie back into the bottle??? How do we, undo the knowledge that the internet is there – with anything, absolutely anything and everything there to see – at the youngest of ages. Can we ban phones for the young? Teenagers love to defy parents – just not sure how we can prevent such harms while billionaires are considered (by a few) to be the ‘kings of the world’. And here’s me watching films on Amazon!!!!! The thing to do, I think, is tax them properly. And regulate – a lot. But that has to be done by politicians so it is beholden on us to vote for the people who would do this. Sadly, the calibre of politicians isn’t that high now. But taxing these vipers would help.
Actually I thought I’d finished but I’ve suddenly recalled a ?Congress hearing in the States on social media and Zuckerberg. This was some years ago. It was quite clear the ancient politicians i) didn’t understand social media and ii) Zuckerberg kept a poker face and said, over and over and over again, “I am so sorry. I don’t know about this. I am so sorry. We’ll see what we can do” But did anything change – zilch.
I get totally how you felt. Films and films of theatre productions are the most important media out there. Long may good films and theatre continue.
Thanks Catherine 😊
Hi there, Penny,
We saw One Battle After Another last week and, like you, loved it. We came out chatting, chatting, chatting, and agreed, there’s so much to it, let’s see it again. I agree with you on the two leading men: excellent. Likewise, the daughter and her mother. BTW – what a great name the daughter has IRL: Chase Infinity!
As you know, we also ran a community film club and had a similar experience around sharing responsibilities. We were happy to do most of the work because we wanted to see the films. But then, when we weren’t able to, it struggled along .. and eventually, folded.
I’m not as fussed about reviewers’ opinions as you (and Derek). I get fed up with overly clever/bitchy/spiteful reviews. I like Mark Kermode with Simon Mayo. Too bad Radio 5 Live dropped them, but I follow them online.
I’ve enjoyed films since I was a child: Saturday morning pictures and during the week with my Grandmother and Aunt on Monday evenings and Tuesday/Thursdays with my Dad – which, alas, all stopped when we got a ‘telly’. Then, along came commercial television with serials and cheap adverts – never seen before: so exciting! And, too many jingles still rattling round in my brain.
In my desire to be ‘modern’, I so wanted an armless ‘TV chair’ – yes, that’s how they were marketed! And ‘TV dinners’. (Cheap food on a tray to be heated in the oven – so modern, so sophisticated!) My Grandmother treated me to a TV dinner, which I remember eating while watching Emergency Ward Ten. I couldn’t believe it was so awful. My Mother, in her matter-of-fact manner, asked, “What did you expect?” And my father refused to buy me a TV chair for my birthday. The truth is, I thought my life would be transformed: we would be modern. But, guess what – I’m still sitting in armchairs!
All the best, ‘Old-fashioned’ Mary x
Hi Mary and so glad to hear you too watched One battle – what a film! I can’t stop thinking about it. As you know some films just disappear from ones mind the moment the film ends, not this one. And having seen it, this helps me to read Vineland which is quite tricky with all it’s American counter-culture druggy talk (don’t let me put you off saying that) but the director absolutely got that fast helter-skelter buzz you get whilst watching the film, from the book.
And you too understand the willingness (and the love of film) we felt when running the community cinema – but when you need help or, someone who might take it over, and sadly no-one steps forward, it has to end and end it did.
OMG I remember Emergency Ward 10!!! Watched every episode! But I never went to Saturday morning cinema – parents wouldn’t allow it.
I wouldn’t say you are old-fashioned Mary instead what we both have are long memories. I especially remember how you bought a ticket at any time and you could sit through everything and then start re-watching the cycle (of main film, 2nd film, newsreel, and cartoon). Me and my friends, we decided to do that every now and then.
Very best to you Mary and see you soon 😊
I haven’t seen any of these films, Penny. But, I am going to hunt down the first! Actually, I may look for all of them because I like watching things that make me think, too.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
The thing is Marsha we are so lucky where we live having an independent cinema that isn’t part of a big chain and therefore shows most of the blockbusters, but also many niche and interesting films that go only to a few cinemas. Actually we had the same in Brighton so we have been spoilt for years with the very wide selection of types of films we can see from American Marvel series etc etc to obscure foreign films – we can see them all.
Oh Marsha do see the first one, I’d really like your opinion on it. It’s only just been released here and in the States and it must be in the big cities in the States. But it is about the counter-culture and very much updated from the Pynchon book that highlights the 80s. Not once though, does it mention Maga or ICE but there is one shocking moment (well it shocked me) when some incredibly suited, and booted, weaponised and armoured, guys were in a helicopter and across their chests were the words POLICE. Geez, although a few of our police are armed I hope it never gets that bad here. Hopefully you don’t have that many in the States either?????
Very much a film for today – that director – genius! But will Americans like it????
You’d love the other films as these are not controversial at all. Thanks Marsha 😊
Police are definitely covered with body armor and heavily armed here. Even in my small town, they wore the body armor and carried at least one weapon. So, unfortunately, it really is the norm for us. We were in a restaurant when a large group of policemen came in. We started chatting with them. They were part of a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team. I asked about having a gun in the house because a deputy had told Mike every citizen should have a gun to protect themselves and their property. This guy agreed and said it would take them several minutes to respond to a home invasion, but if we had a gun, we could handle it ourselves. That’s how bad the gun culture is in this country. I didn’t even let my boys have play guns (except for squirt guns).
I am afraid I don’t have much to say about film these days Penny. The last one I saw in a theater was about two years ago. There is a big multiplex quite near me but confess I find going there intimidating on my own. When I first moved here there was a much smaller theater also very close, only one screen at first and then two and open parking, not a vast indoor garage which I don’t like. I had no problem taking myself there. But now It’s an Asian restaurant and a Chipoltle franchise. As a young bride my husband and I loved going to all the foreign films which were popular at the time, Japanese, the French New Wave, Bergman and all the Danish films, Indian. We were both grad students, he doing some teaching, me with a small stipend so no real money but we were able to go weekly and even have a bite to eat before. Now all of these places which showed foreign and independent films are gone. There is actually one but it not really near me so I hesitate to go alone. I suppose the answer to seeing anything of value is to purchase a streaming service. So far I have resisted, usually I can find something on Public TV and there is always a good book. Now with all the funding cut from public broadcasting by the awful man in charge of everything I may have to reconsider. All is not bleak culture wise, As I have said before my daughter and her husband are amateur actors and usually manage to get themselves into local productions which of course I happily attend. In two weeks I see my son in law Kevin in a stage production of ” Calendar Girls”. My daughter is in “The Prom” beginning in November, and a new tradition is attending a staged reading of ” It’s A Wonderful Life” in early December. Well that’s it,
Love, Darby
We are so spoilt as for years we went to an independent cinema in Brighton and now in really, the quite small town we live in, we too have an independent cinema that shows the blockbusters but also the niche, and the foreign films that are such joy to watch. There are 3 screens, two that are big, but nothing like the size of screens and seating you get in the big multiplexes, and one teeny screen which I can just about tolerate as there are only 5 rows of seats with I think under 10 seats in each row – so really small.
As for streaming, well, if you do go for that, you have to accept that 90% is utter dross and only 10% is worth watching, but for us film buffs we do need to see some of the better mainstream films that we miss because of appointments etc. Or we say, hmm, this one is for viewing on one of the screening platforms we have rather than going to the cinema. And oh gawd, I’m going to say it, of all the platforms, Amazon is best for mainstream films – blast. Actually Netflix is not bad these days for funding new films and claiming them for their own so they go on to the platform either without full screening in cinemas or very soon after. Even tv, as Netflix funded Adolescence which was a sensational and incredibly hard watch and actually incredibly pertinent to today generating a lot of debate about parenting.
Actually one very good example of Netflix screening a good film is Katherine Bigelow’s latest A House of Dynamite, which tells of a nuclear missile discovered making its way to the States and the war room doesn’t know why and has to react in 18 minutes – when it lands. And the film is told in that same 18 minute segments from about 5 different points of view. Apparently it’s a grown up Dr Strangelove. It came out in the cinemas early in October and will be on Netflix late October. We are waiting for that as Netflix, once you’ve paid the subscription that’s it, it’s free.
Oh I love to hear about your cultural life. It is much richer than mine and wow – daughter acting again! So good! And Calendar Girls will be such fun. I also loved hearing about your early days of watching good films. You obviously had good taste from the get-go. Mine (re films) had to develop over the years.
Thanks as ever Darby – it’s always lovely to hear from you 😊
I always enjoy your movie reviews Penny and keep a look out for them to arrive down here, which seems to often take a while. Our cinema here is pretty mainstream but there is an independent cinema in Hobart that we enjoy. I must admit to often preferring something light and entertaining rather than deep and meaningful.
If you prefer lightness then the two last films are absolutely for you. Especially the Jane Austen one – it is delightful and just lovely. I highly recommend this one as a near perfect film.
Thanks Jill 😊