Blinded By The Light (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Blinded By The Light (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Based on a true story, Blinded By The Light is an odd film.  It has real heart and soul, capturing the late 80’s political and social atmosphere well, but in a year where we’ve had films about the music of The Beatles (Yesterday), Elton John (Rocketman) and Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody), a near two hour love fest of Bruce Springsteen struggles to stand out.  It’s also an incredibly televisual film – lacking any real need to exist as cinematic release with director Gurinder Chadha focusing more on performance than spectacle.   However the cast are good, the music sequences work and it tells a lovely story.

Best Bit: Radio

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocket Man, Sunshine On Leith 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Rocketman (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Rocketman (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I’m not a huge Elton John fan so going into Rocketman I was probably starting from a lower position that many – in short the film had a higher bar to hit, especially coming off the back of the excellent (if flawed) Bohemian Rhapsody (also partly directed by Dexter Fletcher).  I’m happy to report that quite simply Rocketman is excellent. Taron Egerton owns his never off screen role as Elton John but as good as he is (and maybe even better than Malik was as Freddie) it’s the confident, funny and often crazy direction of Fletcher that is the star here – adeptly reflecting the life of the films subject. Yup Lock Stocks Bacon once again shows why he’s one of the best directors in the UK today.  This is a must see for fans of Elton John (and those that aren’t) and needs to be seen on the big screen for maximum impact. Such good fun.

Best Bit: Egerton is superb

Cinema, Stream, Avoid: Cinema

If You Liked this Try: Bohemian Rhapsody, What’s Love Got To do With It, 24 Hour Party People

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… Spielberg, Fox, Oscars & Gunn

Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… Spielberg, Fox, Oscars & Gunn

by RossAndPhil Ross and Phil Talk Movies The Podcasts

On this episode of the podcast we talk movie news! Yup we catch up on the latest happenings in the world of movies – from Spielberg’s campaign against Netflix, to Disney buying Fox, the Academy awards (yes I know we are late) and James Gunn coming back to Guardian’s 3.

Hosted by Award winning filmmaker Ross Boyask and blogger/writer/failed filmmaker Phil Hobden.

Films Discussed: A Quiet Place, Marvel, Guardians Of The Galaxy 3, Greenbook, Bohemian Rhapsody, Suicide Squad, Spiderman: Into The Spiderverse, New Mutants, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Jack Reacher, First Man, Steven Spielberg, Netflix

For more on Ross Boyask search @RossBoyask on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Also check out @EvoFilmsUK online.

For more on Phil Hobden check out www.philhobden.co.uk , Twitter (@PhilQuickReview) and Instagram (RossAndPhilTalkMovies)

#RossAndPhil #RossAndPhilTalkMovies #MoviePodcasts #Podcasts

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Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… Films They Have Watched Vol. 5

Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… Films They Have Watched Vol. 5

by RossAndPhil Ross and Phil Talk Movies The Podcasts

 

On this episode of the podcast we talk about films they have watched recently. Yup it’s our fifth review round up show so we bring you some films that are old, some that are new, some that are borrowed and maybe a couple of that are blue.  Oh and Alita – Battle Angel.

Hosted by Award winning filmmaker Ross Boyask and blogger/writer/failed filmmaker Phil Hobden.

Film Discussed: After The Screaming Tops, Supersonic, World War Z, Scum, The Rock, Back Panther, The Departed, Children Of Men, Robocop, Alita – Battle Angel, IO, Dumplin, Close, King of Thieves, Robin Williams Come Inside My Mind, Anna And The Apocalypse, The Golden Child, Unbreakable, Split, Murder By Death, A History Of Violence, Hot Fuzz, Assassination Nation, Fyre, Fyre Fraud, Bohemian Rhapsody, Glass, Mary Queen Of Scotts, Juliet Naked, Michael Inside, Strangers Pray At Night, They Shall Not For Old, Escape Room Green Book, Vice, Happy Death Day 2U

#RossAndPhil #RossAndPhilTalkMovies #MoviePodcasts #Podcasts

For more on Phil Hobden check out www.philhobden.co.uk , Twitter (@PhilQuickReview) and Instagram (RossAndPhilTalkMovies)

For more on Ross Boyask search @RossBoyask on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook

   

 

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Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… The 2019 Oscar Nominations & More

Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… The 2019 Oscar Nominations & More

by RossAndPhil Ross and Phil Talk Movies The Podcasts

 

On this episode of the podcast we talk about the 2019 Oscar Nominations as well as break down a few key bits of movies news and talk about a few films we’ve seen.

Hosted by Award winning filmmaker Ross Boyask and blogger/writer/failed filmmaker Phil Hobden.

Films Discussed: Bohemian Rhapsody, Black Panther,  A Star is Born,  Crazy Rich Asians, BlacKKKlansman, Stan and Ollie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,  Roma, Mary Poppins Returns, Killing Eve, Bodyguard, The Kominsky Method, If Beale Street Could Talk, Creed, Aquaman, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Roma, Never Look Away, Free Solo, Isle of Dogs, First Man, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Detainment, You Were Never Really Here, A Quiet Place, Mission: Impossible, Ghostbusters 3

For more on Ross Boyask search @RossBoyask on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Also check out @EvoFilmsUK online.
For more on Phil Hobden check out www.philhobden.co.uk , Twitter (@PhilQuickReview) and Instagram (RossAndPhilTalkMovies)

#RossAndPhil #RossAndPhilTalkMovies #MoviePodcasts #Podcasts

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Phil’s Best & Worst 2018 Films.. The Final Edition (31st December 2018)

Phil’s Best & Worst 2018 Films.. The Final Edition (31st December 2018)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

So this is my semi-regularly updated of the BEST and WORST of the films from 2018 (2018 Films), as well as the best films I missed from last year and, of course, the Phil’s Quick Capsule Review Sharknado Award.

All in my very humble opinion…

 

BEST Films Of 2018… So Far:

  1. Coco
  2. Mission Impossible: Fallout
  3. I, Tonya
  4. A Quiet Place
  5. Mary Poppins Returns

Honourable Mentions:  Mandy, My Generation, Lady Bird, Revenge, Mollys Game,  Upgrade, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, You Were Never Really Here, Bumblebee, The Festival, Calibre, Avengers: Infinity War, Game Night, Black Panther, Ready Player One, Office Uprising, The Post, Bohemian Rhapsody

 

WORST Films Of 2018… So Far

  1. The Cloverfield Paradox
  2. Fifty Shaded Freed
  3. Annihilation
  4. A Wrinkle In Time
  5. Mile 22

Dis-Honourable Mentions: Gotti, The Spy Who Dumped Me,Red Sparrow, The Commuter, The Humanity Bureau, Renegades, Peter Rabbit, Ocean’s 8, Death Wish, Hellraiser: Judgement, Day Of The Dead : Bloodline, Godzilla: Planet Of The Monsters Part 1, Extinction, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Patient Zero, Isle Of Dogs, Tremors: A Cold Day In Hell, All The Money In The World, The First Purge, The Ballard Of Buster Scruggs, Redcon-1

 

 

The 2018 Sharknado Award for Films So Good (!) They Cant Be Rated:  

The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time

 


The 2018 Films I just couldn’t Finish…

Once Upon a Time in Venice

Great Films Of 2017 That I saw In 2018:

The Disaster Artist, The Babysitter, Mayhem, Icarus, The Greatest Showman, The Big Sick, LA 92, Better Watch Out

 

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Phil’s 5 Best Films of 2018

Phil’s 5 Best Films of 2018

by Phil Hobden 2018: In Review Quick Review Year In Review

And that’s it.  Another year in the rear view mirror and another reason to take a look back at the BEST, WORST and, well, others of 2018.  So here it is… my pick of the Best Films of 2018.

 

Film of The Year: Coco

In Brief: Coco has No1 spot for almost the whole year.  Yup in a year of great Animation (once again!) it’s yet another Pixar film that nails the top spot.  Coco is just amazing.  Emotionally engaging, heartfelt and funny it’s everything Animated cinema can be and more.


2. Mission Impossible: Fallout

In Brief: : The 6th Mission Impossible film delivers some of the biggest, best and most impressive action sequences ever committed to film.  It’s tense, well crafted and modern action cinema at it’s best.


3. I, Tonya

In Brief:  I, Tonya is Goodfellas on Skates.  No it is.  Really.  Robbie is sublime, the direction on point and humour expertly delivered.


4. A Quiet Place

In Brief: Another low budget horror , A Quiet Place is without a doubt one of the most tense films of the year.  Also here’s  first TWO Emily Blunt films in the top 5.

 

5. Mary Poppins Returns 

In Brief: Damn it who knew? A funny, charming, engaging throw back to days of old that just get’s you from the start.  They really don’t make them like this any more…

 

6. Mandy – Mandy is a surreal, trip of a movie full of OTT gore, OTT action and OTT violence

7. My Generation – A top notch documentary starring Sir Michael Caine.

8. Lady Bird – An excellent Award smashing coming of age drama

9. Revenge – Violent, original and unlike anything else this year

10. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri – Award darling, it’s the performances that sit at the centre of this film that make it stand out

 

Bubbling Under:  Molly’s Game, First Man, You Were Never Really Here, The Festival, Calibre, Avengers: Infinity War, Game Night, Black Panther, Ready Player One, Office Uprising, The Post, Bohemian Rhapsody

 

 

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Grosse Point Geek’s 2018 In Review

Grosse Point Geek’s 2018 In Review

by Phil Hobden A Blog Year In Review

Each year Will and Phil compare notes on their favourite and least favourite films of 2018… here’s Will’s look at what’s been and what he’s most looking forward to in 2019.

 

Top Ten Best:

 

  1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri (just superb – loved it)
  2. First Man (brilliantly directed and the moon landing sequence was brilliant)
  3. The Darkest Hour (had me in tears)
  4. Mission Impossible Fallout (a genuine summer blockbuster, featuring a proper movie star doing his own stunts and the kind of balls to the wall action scenes we have haven’t seen in years)
  5. BlackKKKLansman (funny and brilliant – I usually don’t like Spike Lee but this was incredibly good)
  6. Bohemian Rhapsody (Rami Malik’s performance was incredible and the Live Aid concert re-enactment at the end was gobsmacking)
  7. Avengers Infinity War – (exciting, fast paced, funny, great action, a cracking villain and THAT ending – roll on Avengers Endgame)
  8. A Star Is Born (a trio of incredible performances  – Lady Gaga was a revelation, Coopers acting and direction were brilliant plus Sam Elliott was astounding)
  9. Creed 2 (not as good as Creed or Rocky Balboa – but still great and had lots of heart)
  10. 12 Strong – balls to the wall action, great story, v well-acted

 

 

Top Ten Honouree mentions

 

  1. Deadpool 2 (v funny and extremely clever in parts)
  2. A Quiet Place –  (tense and scary  – a great directorial debut from John Krasinski)
  3. Hunter Killer (ridiculous but really great fun with a smashing performance from Gerard Butler)
  4. Ant Man and The Wasp (not Marvels best but I really liked it)
  5. The Meg (complete nonsense but a good laugh)
  6. Rampage (utterly insane but top drawer entertainment)
  7. Skyscraper (a Die Hard clone but who cares when its this much fun?)
  8. Mile 22 (I must be the only person on the planet who liked this one!)
  9. Mamma Mia 2 (a genuinely lovely film that had heart and soul and wanted nothing more than to entertain and have people leave the cinema with a big smile on their faces)
  10. Outlaw King (well made, top final battle and a great turn from Chris Pine)

 

Top Ten Worst

 

  1. Death Wish (terrible terrible terrible.  Bruce  – you obviously can’t be bothered anymore so either start putting in the effort or do us all a favour and give it up)
  2. Red Sparrow (what should have a been a balls to the wall action caper turned out to be nothing more than catastrophically over long and boring as all hell)
  3. Pacific Rim Uprising (not as bad as the first one but still rubbish)
  4. Equalizer 2 (utter pants, dull and completely pretentious to boot)
  5. Love Simon (I liked the message it was trying to give but hated the way it did it)
  6. Ladybird (yes I know it was loved by the critics but I HATED this film with a vengeance!)
  7. Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald (so boring I nearly fell asleep- this franchise needs a new director – fast)
  8. Ghost Stories (complete bilge and made no sense)
  9. 15:17 To Paris (now this was awful – Clint we love you but dear God mate what were you thinking?????)
  10. Mortal Engines (not the worst film I’ve ever seen and certainly gets an ‘A’ for effort but this just didn’t work at all)

 

 

Biggest Letdown:

 

The Predator  – someone PLEASE tell Shane Black that he isn’t as good as he obviously thinks he is  -also somebody please explain to me how in the hell they managed to blow this one????

 

2019 Most anticipated:

 

  1. Avengers: Endgame
  2. Star Wars Episode IX
  3. Rambo: The Last Blood (yeah I said it!)
  4. Angel Has Fallen (yeah Hobden you read it right -I said that too!)
  5. Captain Marvel
  6. Glass
  7. Godzilla King Of The Monsters
  8. Hellboy
  9. Spiderman: Far From Home
  10. Captive State
  11. Brightburn
  12. Hobbs and Shaw
  13. The New Mutants
  14. X-Men Dark Phoenix
  15. Fighting With My Family

 

See you next year!

 

Author: Will Strong 

 

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Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… The Best & Worst of 2018

Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… The Best & Worst of 2018

by RossAndPhil Ross and Phil Talk Movies The Podcasts

 

On this episode of the podcast we talk about the year that was as we wrap up 2018 into an hour (ish) of podcast. What were our highs and lows, our best and worst and who won what in the Annual Phil’s Quick Review Awards?  Find out as we dive into the year that they call 2018.  Yup that one.

Hosted by Award winning filmmaker Ross Boyask and blogger/writer/failed filmmaker Phil Hobden.

Films Discussed: Coco,  Mission Impossible: Fallout, I Tonya, A Quiet Place, Mary Poppins Returns ,Mandy, My Generation , Lady Bird ,  Revenge  , Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri , Molly’s Game, First Man, You Were Never Really Here, The Festival, Calibre, Avengers: Infinity War, Game Night, Black Panther, Ready Player One, Office Uprising, The Post, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Humanity Bureau, All The Money In The World,  Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Patient Zero, Isle Of Dogs, Tremors: A Cold Day In Hell, The First Purge, Ralph Breaks The Internet, Fifty Shades Freed, Annihilation, A Wrinkle In Time, Mile 22, Gotti, The Spy Who Dumped Me , Renegades , Red Sparrow, Ocean’s 8, Cloverfield Paradox, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse, The Meg, Bright, Kickboxer, Bumblebee, Escape Plan 2, Mute, Extinction, Pitch Perfect 3, The Babysitter, Better Watch Out, Coco, A Star Is Born, Incredibles 2, Aquaman, Creed 2, Fast 5, Last Movie Star, Batman Ninja, Prayer Before Dawn

#RossAndPhil #RossAndPhilTalkMovies #MoviePodcasts #Podcasts

For more on Phil Hobden check out www.philhobden.co.uk , Twitter (@PhilQuickReview) and Instagram (RossAndPhilTalkMovies)
For more on Ross Boyask search @RossBoyask on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook

#RossAndPhil #RossAndPhilTalkMovies #MoviePodcasts #Podcasts

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Grosse Pointe Geek’s Ten Favourite Scenes of 2018

Grosse Pointe Geek’s Ten Favourite Scenes of 2018

by Phil Hobden A Blog Year In Review

Grosse Pointe Geek’s picks his Ten Favourite Scenes of from the movies of 2018…

12 Strong

The Tiangi Gap Battle – Chris Hemsworth, plus the special forces and their Afghan allies mount up and charge a fifteen thousand strong Taliban army on horseback – what follows is a veritable cacophony of bombs, bullets, grenades, explosions and gunfire that is made all the more incredible due to the fact the film is based on a true story and this battle actually happened!

 

Mission Impossible: Fallout

The last 20 minutes   – an astounding feat of eye-popping action choreography and amazing stunt work  – and yes that really is Tom Cruise flying that helicopter.

 

Avengers: Infinity War:

Thor’s arrival in the battle of Wakanda – “Bring Me Thanos!” (an entire army proceeds to soil themselves)

 

Solo: A Star Wars Story

The Kessel Run –very well handled by director Ron Howard and sadly pretty much the only thing this film got right.

 

Blackkklansman:

Looking to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan  – African American Police Detective Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) gets on the phone to the head of the local KKK chapter and tries to join up – the looks on his colleague’s faces (especially Adam Driver’s Flip Zimmerman) is absolutely priceless.

 

Mile 22:

Iko Uwais vs the assassins. An enormous bout of bone crushing fisticuffs that has to be seen to be believed.

 

First Man

The Moon Landing.  Neil Armstrong (a brilliant Ryan Gosling) pilots the Eagle towards the moon’s surface  – edge of the seat exciting and the standout sequence in one of this year’s best films.

 

Deadpool 2:

The Opening five minutes and the two end credit sequences  -by turns extremely rude, very clever and downright hilarious.

 

Bohemian Rhapsody

Live Aid  – Rami Malik literally transforms into Freddie Mercury in an incredible recreation of what is widely agreed to be the greatest live performance of all time.

 

Creed 2:

The training montage plus Adonis vs Viktor’s climactic boxing match

 

 

Author: Will Strong 

 

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