h-talbot Reviews

Munich: The Edge of War (2021)

Nice cinemography

[7/10 · 30 January 2022]

Good film with some good acting. I particularly liked the costumes and the fact each character were speaking their own mother tongue rather than a German speaking in an English or amercian accent.

Deepwater Horizon (2016)

Great film

[9/10 · 23 January 2022]

I watched this shortly after watching Chernobyl and the similarities are without a doubt. I didn't actually realise how big the explosion was and the film Wass excellent balance between what happened and the causes of the explosion. I noticed in typical American style the American flag was still flying without getting burnt but I can forgive this patrioritism.

Last Breath (2019)

Very moving

[10/10 · 16 January 2022]

I watched this not reading anything about it beforehand. This was an excellent watch with a great score. Amazing story which shows the perils of some peoples jobs in life. Definitely worth a watch for an emotional yet serious documentary.

The Salisbury Poisonings (2020)

Worth a watch

[8/10 · 30 December 2021]

This is a mini series of only 3 episodes which sticks to the main facts of what occurred. I couldn't stop comparing it to Chernobyl. The plot and acting was very good. I just wish they delved a bit deeper into the dark world of the Russian side of the secret service and how they got into country etc. However I suspect there is a lot of missing information from Mi6 which may never be released to fill those gaps. I'm guessing this will be re-done again in a decade or so when we get more juicy info on what the Russians were upto.

Succession (2018–2023)

Stick with it!

[9/10 · 18 December 2021]

I have to say I came to this show relatively late. I found the first couple of episodes a bit boring, the dark humour was difficult to get initially and the weird camera movements was unconventional. HOWEVER, my advice to future watchers - stick with it! Everything starts making sense eventually and you understand that all the main actors are actually weird and sadistic people but that's the whole point of the plot. I can promise you that if you stick with the show to episode 10 you will be hooked. The show just shows how morally corrupt people actually can be and you will start laughing at the dark humour. I'm looking forward to the second season.

The Siege of Jadotville (2016)

Great understated film

[9/10 · 30 October 2021]

I watched this film knowing nothing about the history surrounding this battle. As I watched with an open mind, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was was - acting was great, perfect traditional fighting scenes without too many effects to ruin the gritty experience. The plot was also intriguing and at times I had to remind myself that this actually happened. Definitely worth a watch. You will find that this movie is probably the most understated movie of the year.

Dune (2021)

Not my type of film

[4/10 · 25 October 2021]

I watched this in the cinema with no expectations and only an open mind. I have never read the book and the most I knew about the film was a 10 minute read of the cinema newsletter giving an overview of the plot.

I have to say I didn't particularly enjoy the storyline. It's a very long movie and I'm not sure if all the scenes were needed. There were some unnecessary fillers. The only positive I found was the scenes were obviously well made, some good acting and visuals but the actual story didn't entice me. I won't be going to watch the next inevitable 3 hour movie.

The Dissident (2020)

Great documentary film

[9/10 · 24 September 2021]

I watched this thinking to myself it's going to be so depressing that I'll just turn it off half way through. I was however pleasantly surprised at how gripping it was and it filled all the gaps that the mainstream media had left out. Very sad reality of what power can do to a leader and a country.

Saint Judy (2018)

Underrated in my opinion

[8/10 · 23 January 2021]

I was surprised this didn't get higher reviews. I always find true stories make better films as it often includes emotive issues which are experienced by some of the viewers. I really enjoyed watching this on a Friday evening and the film highlights the issues that occur in society but often overlooked by mainstream society. Yes the score could have been better and perhaps parts of the acting, but the content and message was definitely worth the watch.

Dark Waters (2019)

Subject matter great, film good

[7/10 · 2 January 2021]

I watched this film primarily due to the cast rather than knowing what it was about. I enjoyed it, especially knowing the subject matter is interesting to pretty much anyone who has heard of the issues with certain chemicals in our world and the detrimental effects it can do to us. It reminded me of the tobacco scandal and society's research into the harmful effects of cigarette smoking (think The Insider). There were a couple of things lacking in this movie though - the killer punch ending and the music. For such kind of dramas dealing with real life issues you really need an excellent score to be in tune with everyones mood whilst watching.

Mud (2012)

Not amazing

[5/10 · 16 August 2020]

Watched this one evening and at the start it looked promising. However as the film went on it became quite boring and I didn't know how the story was going to end. The ending for me was pretty funny uninspiring. Won't be watching this film again.

Concussion (2015)

Brilliant true story

[8/10 · 16 August 2020]

Really enjoyed this film which had excellent acting all round and managed to pull off a film that told a true story of the potential brain damage that can occur in American football and the sad deaths of some players. The moral of the story is about the truth and the difficulties individuals in life go through to tell the truth, regardless of religion or race. It reminded me of the film "The Insider" which looked at the truth behind the Tobacco industry and the lengths they went through to stop the truth coming out.

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Tarantino Classic

[8/10 · 9 January 2016]

I went to see this eagerly anticipated film in the cinema on release day. As someone who is in their late twenties, I started getting into Quentin Tarantino films after watching Inglorious Bastards. It is clear that Quentin has carved a niche area of filmography which not many other directors can match.

Prior to going to watch this film, I was acutely aware of the negative reviews of the film. However, after watching the film, I can only praise the cinematography and plot.

The cinematography, acting, plot and score are all beautifully thought out and it was a pleasure to watch. If you like Inglorious Bastards, Kill Bill and Django, you would love this film. In typical Quentin style, the film is segmented into chapters. There is no doubt that Tarantino has amazing skills at keeping the watcher captivated, and his attention to detail is unreal. This is a film that you have to watch a second time to get the nuances and hidden meanings that riddle this film.

In terms of the plot, if you watch the whole film from start to finish, you will be amazed at how the film ends. For the first time you would have no idea that the film would finish in that way. The plot also had a hint of Reservoir Dogs (a classic must see) to satisfy the older viewers.

I admit, this film is not for everyone. For example, I would never recommend this film to my parents who will not understand the dark humour that keeps this film going. I was laughing at points where in another film I probably wouldn't laugh. There is also lots of shooting (the second half of the film) which is typical of a Tarantino film. Lets put it this way - you will not be going to see this film for a romantic drama. Tarantino is not for the mainstream audience - hence the 18 certificate. The language is crude but needs to be in order to set the scene.

Nevertheless, the above does not detract from the fact that this film is yet another masterpiece from Tarantino. The dialogue and acting was amazing and I love how Tarantino really puts an effort into developing the personality of the characters.

I would highly recommend watching this and giving the film a chance. If you want a film set in the 1800's but with a deep meaning, check out There Will be Blood.

Enemy at the Gates (2001)

Average at best

[4/10 · 31 December 2015]

We ran out of movies to watch that were available and thought we would take a punt on this film. However, we switched it off and watched some comedy instead after watching 1 hour into the film. Although the storyline was promising and the initial acting was OK, it was extremely off-putting to have British and American accents in a film that was based on a German army invading Russia...the authenticity in the acting is just not there (compared to Downfall for example, which is much better made and acted in the home language, German). It appears the Director was just relying on heavy hitting actors to pull the weight rather than thinking about the accents they actually had. For example, a Russian soldier ran into a building and then commented about how he had been shot through his "pants" referring to trousers (very American). Whilst most people wouldn't care about these things, I do pay great attention to detail and I would prefer a film that was as authentic as possible and the acting is a great part to how authentic a film is. I certainly won't be watching this again. If you want a bog standard American film to watch, then go ahead, but if you want a drama that was believable, avoid.

Into the Wild (2007)

Oscar material

[8/10 · 12 January 2008]

I watched this movie on the aeroplane after searching through the movie list and not finding anything else interesting to watch. I didn't even know what the film was called until the ending credits. However, what I saw was amazing - the acting and scenery was excellent and the plot was thought provoking. More people should watch this to appreciate the message to us all. I was also surprised to see it was was actually a true story which made it even more interesting (I love films that are based on true stories). It is one of the best movies i've seen that portrays the contrast between a materialistic world vs the natural world that is at the core of the universe. This is a film that can easily be overlooked but not forgotten.

August Rush (2007)

Imaginative with Oliver Twist undertones

[8/10 · 23 November 2007]

I have to admit I was skeptical at first as to how good this film was going to be but seeing as though other friends were going I thought i'll give it a go. I wasn't disappointed. It turned out to be much better than I expected. This is a film that would appeal to those who have a good imagination to really appreciate the plot. I thought the music was excellent and best heard in the cinema to really get the effect and thought provoking (after you tend to listen to random sounds!). As for the storyline, Robin Williams did come across as a Fagin character and you somehow still feel a sorrow for him at the end. The acting from Freddie Highmore was excellent and I liked the emotions that he managed to portray throughout the movie. I would definitely recommend the movie just for the music - very relaxing!