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Reviews
RRR (Rise Roar Revolt) (2022)
Once Upon a Time in India
This film channels a lot of the same energy as late 80s early 90s Hong Kong Kung Fu flicks like Once Upon a Time in China and Fist of Legend as well as a bit of Infernal Affairs chucked in the mix.
That is not to say it is in any way a rip off of tribute to those films, just has similar vibes, but very much Indian.
It also has much bigger production values and access to CGI that the Hong Kong films didn't.
Also, now the action landscape has changed, RRR has a wider appeal than Jet Li (and some) Jackie Chan flicks from that period, but I thought it worth mentioning that if you do like that period of cinema, you will LOVE this film.
The Assassination Bureau (1969)
Spirit of an Ealing Comedy, Energy of the Avengers
This is a gem of a film, it has the spirit and dry wit of an Ealing Comedy (Kind Hearts immediately springs to mind) and the larger than life energy of the Avengers as well its Pop Art aesthetic, translated to the turn of the century.
The comedy/action rattles along nicely in an unapologetically episodic way. You can see the plot beats coming a mile off, but the film leans into it and carries the audience along with it.
Everyone involved, especially Rigg and Reed, looked like they were having a lot of fun and it shows on screen. The film doesn't take itself too seriously and so any short comings in the special effects department just add to the silliness.
If you're not into British comedy from around this time, this film is not going to convert you, but if you do like this sort of thing, it's an excellent find.
Giri/Haji (2019)
Really Rather Good
A very well balanced series, that juggles a lot of characters, a lot of plot point very very well.
Great acting, good dialogue, wry humor and a real sense of place both for Tokyo and London.
Highly recommended.
An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn (2018)
If you're in the right mood - amazing, if you're not...
I loved this film, the blend of low budget David Lynch and alternative comedy (think the shows the cast have appeared in, especially Matt Berry) really worked.
You've got to be prepared to buy in to it and go where it takes you and you've got to be the mood for a less than main stream film.
Part comedy, part mystery, part comedy mystery, part homage to low budget 80s films (although you could argue just low budget films in general) if you're in the mood it's excellent, if you're not, well, you'll probably turn it off after 20 minutes.
Playhouse Presents: The Snipist (2012)
Seek this out.
Excellently shot, brilliantly acted in an (appropriately) low key way with a strong script keeping it all together. It draws from the same well as downbeat 70s horror and sci-fi; 'Survivors' especially springs to mind, but it's more than that, it taps into a lot of modern fears. I watched it because of my love of Matthew Holness' 'Garth Marenghi's Darkplace', although I knew this wasn't going to be a comedy. I was initially saddened this he wasn't doing more funny stuff, but after watching this and seeing how well he was able to pull off a last-days-of-man-apocalyptic-isolation-and-potential-decline-into- madness type thing, I can see why he wanted to branch out. Someone who can frame shots with such emotional precision shouldn't just be working in the comedy field. Seeing this has really made me excited about what Holness will do next, we could be looking at the birth of the next great British director... and no, he didn't pay me to write this. Honestly, if you can, watch this short film.