The Game Changers (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Game Changers (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Game Changers takes a deep dive into plant based lifestyles (Vegan but without using the term), specifically around the impact on high level athletes, from running to MMA and pretty much everything in between.  For the most part it’s super compelling stuff. So much so you walk away seriously considering the lifestyle choices you’ve made.  That said it’s a very one sided view and balance should be sought. Produced by Jackie Chan (no really) and even featuring the Governator himself, it’s a must watch and for once manages to be (mostly) unpreachy in it’s delivery.

Best Bit: Arnie!

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: What the Health, Fyre, Supersize Me

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Bad Boys For Life (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

Bad Boys For Life (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I never thought i’d say it but Bad Boys For Life misses Michael Bay.  No really. It’s not that Bay is a good director as such (in fact he’s directed some of the worse films I have ever sat through) but his unique visual style and staging of action set pieces can carry even the worst of films if used right (see the recent 6 Underground) and whilst directors Adil & Bilall do their best to copy Bay, the film needed more confidant handling in those should stand out moments.  That said, as you’d expect, the team of Smith/Lawrence (looking a little, urm, portly) carry the film well, even if the ‘Bad Boys’ song is getting old, and the story throws in a few surprises that I didn’t see coming.  Overall then the second best Bad Boys Films and a fun afternoon at the cinema, just don’t expect anything groundbreaking.

Best Bit: Chemistry.

Cinema, Stream, Avoid: Cinema

If You Liked this Try: 6 Underground, Bad Boys, Bad Boys 2

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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In The Shadow Of The Moon (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

In The Shadow Of The Moon (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
In The Shadow Of The Moon starts off as a serial killer thriller and quickly spirals into something quite different. Okay so it’s far from perfect but at least it plays with some new concepts and ideas as the story soldiers on through decades after decades even if when the ending finally arrives it is a touch unsatisfying, with one particular turn being pretty obvious early on.  But overall In The Shadow Of The Moon is a pretty decent diversion, with a  good cast and some solid direction.

Best Bit: Ah it’s THAT film

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: Primer, Predestination, Twelve Monkeys 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Jay And Silent Bob Reboot (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

Jay And Silent Bob Reboot (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I don’t have the best history with Jay & Silent Bob as characters.  Yup Clerks, Mall Rats and the early ViewAskew movies they were great (as were the films) but I never loved Strike Back as much as most seem to.  At the same time Smith the director hasn’t made a great film in a long, long time. So is Jay And Silent Bob Reboot a return to form? Well kinda, If by form you mean puerile cock and getting stoned jokes.  Look I have huge affection for Smith – he seems like one of the good guys – but this low budget reboot is a one joke film with a few good sniggers along the way.   Those who love Smith will forgive it (like me I guess) but there is zero here to make new fans and more jokes miss than land.

Best Bit: Batfleck jokes

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Clerks

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Uncut Gems (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

Uncut Gems (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Uncut Gems is not an easy film to watch.  It’s exhausting – a two hour plus film that runs at 100 metre sprint pace… a wall of sound and noise, of shouting and aggression, of violence and people.  But it’s a bloody good one.  Sandler delivers a performance that reminds you that not only can he act (and is far better than the dross Netflix has him starring in) but in fact given the right material he could hold his own with anyone.  in fact, as the story unfolds, Sandler creates a character you oddly sympathise with him even though he is as far from likeable as you can get. It’s pretty criminal that he was snubbed at the Oscars (as was the film and directors the Safdie’s).  Outside Sandler the film is still just as good – from its direction to its support cast and phenomenal score.  Sure Uncut Gems won’t be for everyone but if you want a film that pushes your sense to the limit, that’s unlike anything I’ve seen in years then Uncut Gem is for you.

Best Bit: THAT ending

Cinema, Stream, Avoid: Cinema

If You Liked this Try: The King Of New York, Good Time, Punch Drunk Love

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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London Has Fallen (2016) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

London Has Fallen (2016) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Where as ‘Olympus Has Fallen’ was a fun if silly action film, London Has Fallen ejects all that was pleasurable about the original and replaces it with poor cgi, a terrible over ernest script and Gerard Butler pissing away any last resemblance of talent he had left.  A dirty, violent and nasty film with pretty dubious ethics at it’s heart. Yet there were was some quite enjoyable moments and for all the things it does bad, the moments it get’s right are well handled.  And if nothing else you an laugh at Butler delivering some of the worst lines ever committed to an action film… it’s all pretty pointless but there are worse films out there.

Best Bit: The final assault

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Olympus Has Fallen, White House Down, Die Hard 4.0

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Bombshell (2020)- A Quick Capsule Review

Bombshell (2020)- A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
As impressive as the three lead performances are, there’s just something about Bombshell that doesn’t quite work.  Something that stops it being great rather than just good.  For sure it’s story is shocking -that of Fox News founder Roger Ailes and a string of sexual abuse dating back years – but the film has a tendency to slip into caricature and there’s something ultimately unsettling about a film that ends up making Rupert Murdoch it’s hero.   It’s also pretty messy at times and Jay Roach’s direction is often obvious and lacking in subtlety as you may expect from the man who gave us Austin Powers. But the films saving grace is its leads.  Robbie, Theron and Kidman smash it out the park (Robbie especially) and all deliver impactful, heartfelt performances.  Without them this would for sure be lesser a film.   So a story that had to be told in a film that could be better.

Best Bit: The three leads

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Spotlight, Secretary, Broadcast News

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Phil’s Quick Capsule Review & Friends Film of The Decade – Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review & Friends Film of The Decade – Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

by Phil's Quick Review Quick Review

The votes are in … and it is, the Phil’s Quick Capsule Review & Guests list of the FILM OF THE DECADE (2010-2019).

 

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
So first time around I wasn’t blown away with Fury Road.  I found it repetitive, a bit dull and hated the way the film sidelines it’s titular character for most of the film.  Two years on… I finally got it.  Mad Max Fury Road is actually rather brilliant.  From it’s practical effects that carry weight and danger to it’s almost relentless action, Mad Max is a visually stunning ride that packs punch after punch after punch.   Theron is superb, Hardy is good (but still too muted for my taste) and the support cast memorable.  So the film STILL feels like it’s  Furiosa: Fury Road rather than a Mad Max film but oddly second time around i’d even say Max works better in a support role.  So I’m a big man who can admit his mistakes… Fury Road is a modern classic.

Best Bit: Action. Lots of it.

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Mad Max, Mad Max Beyond ThunderDome, Mad Max The Road Warrior 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

 

 

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In The Line Of Duty (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

In The Line Of Duty (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

 Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
In The Line Of Duty  feels like something that would have been better suited in the 90’s.  It’s just such an over the top, silly execution of a reasonable (but done so many time before central idea) that you wonder if you went to bed in a time machine and woke up in a sub-Shane Black movie. Lead Eckhart looks bored (and must be wondering how to fire his agent most of the time), the director is throwing in his best 90’s cliches (shouting police chief that never listens? Check!) and everyone else is wondering “Why the hell did I pay to see this”.  Okay so it’s not dull but man there is so little new here that you could rent or stream a hundred films that do it better.

Best Bit: The idea is kinda of okay

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Avoid

If You Liked this Try: Black & Blue, Training Day, End Of Watch

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Phil’s Quick Capsule Review & Friends ESSENTIAL LIST For Decade (2010-2019) Part 2: Captain America: Winter Solider, Guardians of the Galaxy, Mad Max: Fury Road, Nightshooters, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, Whiplash

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review & Friends ESSENTIAL LIST For Decade (2010-2019) Part 2: Captain America: Winter Solider, Guardians of the Galaxy, Mad Max: Fury Road, Nightshooters, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, Whiplash

by Phil's Quick Review Quick Review Year In Review

The votes are in.  The Long List been reduced to just 13… and here they are, the Phil’s Quick Capsule Review & Guests list of the FILMS TO WATCH for the Decade (2010-2019).  In no particular order:

 

#7: Captain America: Winter Solider (2014)

As Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.

 

 

#8: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.

 

 

 

#9: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper, and a drifter named Max.

 

 

 

#10: Nightshooters (2018)

An action thriller about a group of filmmakers who find themselves on the run from a violent horde of criminals after witnessing a brutal gangland execution. Unable to flee the derelict building they have been shooting in, the hapless film crew must use their technical skill and cinematic knowledge to defend themselves. The stunt man is a martial arts master, the special effects guru disregards safety and sets lethal traps, and the sound department strategically lay radio mics to detect when the hoodlums are on their way. Cue lots of thrills in a cat and mouse game of survival.

 

 

 

 

#11: The Social Network (2010)

As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea, and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business.

 

 

 

 

#12: Toy Story 3 (2010)

The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it’s up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren’t abandoned and to return home.

 

 

 

 

#13: Whiplash (2014)

A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential.

 

 

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