The Irishman (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Irishman (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Irishman is more than just Oldfellas.  It’s a film that bares the weight of its cast and directors ageing years and experience.   Yes it’s long and yes it lacks the pace and stylish filming of either Casino or Goodfellas but it’s also not trying to be either of those films. The Irishman is a slower story, told over decades, that relishes in its character interaction and quiet moments.  It’s also not THAT violent, certainly not compared with Scorsese’s other gangster and crime films.  Nope The Irishman is a different film, genetically linked to his classic works but one that reflects the closing years of some of the most epic careers in the movie industry.  Also side note – the de-ageing technology on display here is near faultless.  Not bad for someone with a less than positive view of CGI heavy movies…

Best Bit: The technology

Cinema, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: Casino, Goodfellas, The Godfather

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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The Great Hack (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Great Hack (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Eye opening, scary, complex and fascinating… The Great Hack dives deep into the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal with a sharp eye and unflinching dedication to its subject.  As the realisation of how deep and insidious this whole thing was dawns, you cant help but feel dirty and betrayed.  It packed a huge gut punch for sure.   In short it’s pretty terrifying as it details the exploitation of personal data on the internet by those you trusted to keep it safe.  You’ll never want to use facebook again!

Best Bit: Not best but knowing you can never trust any company again ever

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists, Citizenfour

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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El Camino : A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

El Camino : A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
El Camino : A Breaking Bad Movie picks up seconds after the end of the much loved TV series.  Yup the cast have aged somewhat but that’s suspicion of disbelief aside there’s a lot to enjoy here.  Was it an essential addition to the near perfect TV show? No. In fact if you never watched El Camino you’d not be missing that much BUT if you want some serious fan service and a bow tied around the end of the show once and for all then this is the film for you.  It’s got cameos, call backs as well as a few surprises along the way and all in all it’s great fun.  One for the fans.

Best Bit: THAT cameo.  Oh and Forster’s last movie role.

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Sopranos

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Gerald’s Game (2017) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

Gerald’s Game (2017) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Gerald’s Game is yet another 2017 Stephen King adaptation.  This one sits between the most excellent I.T and the less than excellent (but still not as bad as everyone says!) The Dark Tower. With some strong central performances, a tight story and a nippy run time it works well, even if the tones and story is a little bit familiar.   Another strong Netflix original…

Best Bit: Netflix Hits again

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: IT, The Stand, Fifty Shades Of Grey, Misery

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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The Babysitter (2018) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

The Babysitter (2018) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The latest Netflix original horror film delivers two surprises… the first that it’s actually really quite excellent and the second that it comes from the directorial “talent” that is McG.  Yes Charlies Angels McG.  I know right.  That aside, The Babysitter is funny, smart and gory.  Okay so it lacks almost any actual scares but with a quick run time, great script and spirited performances this is another must see from Netflix.

Best Bit: Toy Car, Stairs, glass

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: Happy Death Day, Tucker And Dale Vs Evil, The Final Girls

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Mowgli (2019)- A Quick Capsule Review

Mowgli (2019)- A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Mowgli is the second version of The Jungle Book story to come out in just under a year.  Directed by Andy Serkis, it’s a straight to Netflix release and, as you would expect from the king of Motion capture, the film has a LOT of CGI.  It’s a shame they didn’t finish most of it. Look Mowgli isn’t bad and it’s more adult take on the source material is a refreshing take.  But it also has issues… not least where the budget seems to outstrip the vision.  Which is quite often.  It’s solid for sure but we’ve seen it all before and the story is very well told in two much better films.  So one for a Sunday afternoon when it’s wet…

Best Bit: The chase

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: The Jungle Book (2018), The Lion King (2019), The Legend of Tarzan

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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The Defiant Ones (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Defiant Ones (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I’ve been a huge fan of Dr Dre and his music for a long time.  Whether as an artist (The Chronic) or as a producer (see Eminem and MANY others) I’ve held him and his talent in high regard.  His partnership with Jimmy Iovine is at the heart of this HBO documentary which looks at their rise across the 80’s/90’s and eventually to the largest purchase of a company that Apple has ever made.  It’s fascinating stuff – from the those they have produced to the trials and tribulations, Rap wars and signings, falling outs and controversy that have happened along the way.  It’s essential viewing for anyone with even a passing interest into the history of modern music.

Best Bit: The whose who at Iovine’s wedding

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap, Straight Outta Compton, Beats Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I first heard about Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers on the Joe Rogan podcast. Yup it sounded far fetched but he at least had the courage of his convictions.  The show was entertaining.  It made the documentary with checking out. Don’t. Amateur, childish and poorly made this is a budget student film put together with all the flair of a corpse documenting his own funeral.  By far one of the worst films I’ve switched off this year.

Best Bit: That I watched on Netflix. Didnt pay. Winner.

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Avoid

If You Liked this Try: Independence Day, Alien Autopsy, Invaders From Mars

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Point Blank (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Point Blank (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Another day, another poorly reviews and received Netflix ‘original’.  This time out is a remake of the 2010 French film of the same name starring Marvel’s own Frank Grillo and Anthony Mackie. And nope it doesn’t suck as much or as bad as the critics will have you think.  In fact it’s a pretty easy to watch, ultimately forgettable romp that ticks all the usual hardboiled crime film cliches almost as if it’s working from a tick list.  What makes the film work is the paring of Grillo and Mackie who both have buckets of charisma.  So it’s a decent way to pass an evening. Nothing more or less.

Best Bit: Always Frank Grillo

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: À Bout Portant, Payback, Man On fire

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Rim of The World (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Rim of The World (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I was surprised that checking online after quite enjoying Rim of The World, the reviews had been pretty brutal.  In fact it’s probably one of Netflix’s worst rated films yet… which is odd as, whilst it’s not amazing, it more than passed the time and I wasn’t bored once.  McG’s film has a certain late 80’s charm to it… a kids own adventure film set against the back drop of an alien invasion.  The kinda film that was a staple of my childhood.  Okay so it’s probably got less budget than BMX Bandits and it feels at times like an Asylum film but it for sure doesn’t deserve the panning it’s had.  Watch it, on Netflix, and make up your own mind…

Best Bit: Capsule lands!

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: The Goonies, Space Camp, BMX Bandits 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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