Blindspotting (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

Blindspotting (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
What a pleasant surprise Blindspotting turned out to be.  At times a knock around comedy, it’s a film that manages to be both funny and thoughtful whilst delivering social commentary without every feeling like it’s laying it on.  It just shows that indie films still have the ability to surprise, something that has happened less and less since their heyday in the 90’s.   Yes it’s violent, yes it’s full of words you wouldn’t say in front of your grandmother but it feels real and that authenticity goes a long way.

Best Bit: The last move

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Clerks, Reservoir Dogs, Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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7: True Romance (1993) – Phil’s Top 10 Films

7: True Romance (1993) – Phil’s Top 10 Films

by Phil Hobden Hall of Fame Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
True Romance is arguably Quentin Tarantino’s most enjoyable film , one of the late Tony Scott’s best and features some of the most memorable dialogue and scenes of any 90’s movies.  From the famous Hopper/Walken, to the car/cocaine scene to the deadly finale shoot out… almost every second of this film contains something special. But at it’s core it is, simply, a love story with two adorable (if slightly unhinged) lead characters played with charm and charisma by Arquette and Slater.  I adore this film and it remains a highlight of so many actors and crews careers.

What the fuck is a Drexel.  Indeed.

Best Bit: Hopper/Walken

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKSQmYUaIyE

 

 

 

Hall of Fame

 

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10: Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998) – Phil’s Top 10 Films

10: Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998) – Phil’s Top 10 Films

by Phil Hobden Hall of Fame Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Simply put I consider Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels to be one of the best British films of all time and for sure one of the best films by a debut director.  The script sparkles, the music so perfectly placed and the performances are committed, genuine and believable.  Beyond all that the editing & direction scream out at you in the best way possible.  It’s exciting, funny, endlessly quotable and stands up to multiple repeat viewings.

Best Bit: The poker game

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Snatch, Reservoir Dogs, Layer Cake

 

 

 

Hall of Fame

 

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The 25 Best… 90’s Movies!

The 25 Best… 90’s Movies!

by Phil Hobden Best... Other Cr*p

In our latest regular feature, coming out the first Friday of each month, Phil (of Phil’s Quick Capsule Review)  along with podcaster Josh Morris, Writer Mike Parkin, Grosse Point Geek’s Will Strong and Motion Picture Manic Jamie Robinson breakdown the 25 Best Films Of each major film decade.

 

This time out: The 1990’s

The close but no cigar Films: Apollo 13, Fight Club, Schindler’s List, Speed, The Usual Suspects, Dumb and Dumber, The Silence Of The Lambs, Waynes World, Empire Records, In the Line Of Fire, JKF

 

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My life In Movies… (Best Film from EVERY Year I’ve Been Alive)

My life In Movies… (Best Film from EVERY Year I’ve Been Alive)

by Phil Hobden Best... Other Cr*p

A look at the BEST films, one from each of my years on this planet…. (Yes ’86 and ’84 was impossible to split!)

… And yes a few do differ from my Annual ‘Film of The Year’.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing!!!

The 70’s

1976 – The Outlaw Josey wales
1977 – Star Wars
1978 – Dawn Of The Dead
1979 – Alien

The 80’s

1980 – Empire Strikes Back
1981 – Raiders Of The Lost Ark
1982 – The Thing
1983 – The Return Of The Jedi
1984 – Ghostbusters/ Gremlins
1985 – The Goonies
1986 – Aliens/ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off/ Top Gun
1987 – The Lost Boys
1988 – Die Hard
1989 – Tango & Cash

The 90’s

1990 – Goodfellas
1991 – Terminator 2 Judgement Day
1992 – Reservoir Dogs
1993 – The Nightmare Before Christmas
1994 – Pulp Fiction
1995 – Heat
1996 – Trainspotting
1997 – Con Air
1998 – Lock Stock & Two Smoking barells
1999 – Fight Club

The 2000’s 

2000 – Snatch
2001 – Black Hawk Down
2002 – 28 days Later
2003 – Love Actually
2004 – Shaun Of The Dead
2005 – Serenity
2006 – Children of Men
2007 – Bourne Ultimatum
2008 – The Dark Knight
2009 – Slumdog Millonaire
2010 – The Social Network

The 10’s 

2011 – Hugo
2012 – Skyfall
2013 – Rush
2014 – Wolf Of Wall Street
2015 – Whiplash
2016 – The Nice Guys

Phil Hobden
Editor – Phil’s Quick Capsule Review

Freefire – A Quick Capsule Review

Freefire – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Freefire is funny.  It’s clever. It’s exciting. And often it’s unique.  The problem comes in that it’s not enough of each of those to sustain even it’s skinny sub 90 minute running time. Yup this is classic Ben Wheatly – 50% an amazing film, 50% waffle or unfocused.  Thing is when the film sticks its landings it does it with style but by the end there was only so many betrayals, shoulder shots and swearing I could care about.  Innovate? For sure. Interesting? Yup. Good? Just about.

Best Bit: John Denver

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Reservoir Dogs, Kill List, Sightseers

IMDB Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

 

Author: Phil Hobden

Phil’s Best To Worst: Tarantino Directed Films

Phil’s Best To Worst: Tarantino Directed Films

by Phil Hobden Best... Other Cr*p

In our latest regular feature, coming out the first Friday of each month, Phil (of Phil’s Quick Capsule Review) breaks down a film related subject in order of his own personal enjoyment from Best To Worst.  

 

This time out: the films DIRECTED BY Quentin Tarantino! 

[divider]

Best: Jackie Brown

It’s Tarantino’s best work, restrained like never before (but brutal when it needs to be), it’s a great adatpation of a good book and is cast to perfection with the story & directyion being the highlight not the dialue or the actors.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

2. Pulp Fiction

It’s brilliant and a classic.  The fact I cant watch it after seeing it too much at University isn’t the films fault but whilst it’s flashy and expertly done, I still prefer Jackie Brown overall.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

3. Reservoir Dogs

A brilliant debut, raw and brutal and it still holds up today. Set the tone of Tarantino’s later work except that he has never shown restraint like he does here.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

4. Inglorious Bastards

It’s long.  It’s over written. But it has two of the greatest scenes in QT’s arsenal which saves the film from being a lot lower on the list.  Great cast, funny finale.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

5. Death Proof

Yup hated by most , I kinda like Tarantino’s grind house entry.  It’s raw, over long (as most of his post Pulp Fiction films tend to be) but at least it felt genuine.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

6. Django Unchained

Loved this on it’s release but in all honesty I’ll never watch it again.  Full of excess and flabbiness, Django is a 100 minute film stuck in the body of a 3 hour self proclaimed epic. And don’t even get me started on QT’s cameo…

★★★★★★★★★★

——

7. Kill Bill Volume 2

Kill Bill Volume 1 was more fun, but I liked Tarantino’s first western more than his actual Westerns. The ending was a kick in the face to others but I liked ho wit played out.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

8. Four Rooms

Directing on of the story segments (and the second best), it’s fun if totally forgettable Yet I’ve watched it much more than his later work and for the last time it showed that with restrictions Tarantino can deliver.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

9. Kill Bill Volume 1

It’s fine and the action is well handled but it’s overlong and spends FAR too much time paying homage and far too less time kicking behind.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

Worst : The Hateful Eight

Another film that could have been half as long and twice as good, Tarantino’s need for a strong editor and better producer are never more apparent than they are here.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

Phil’s Top 5… Film Soundtrack Albums

Phil’s Top 5… Film Soundtrack Albums

by Phil Hobden Other Cr*p Top 5

Each week Phil, from Phil’s Quick Capsule Review, takes a look at a different movie or TV related Top Five.  This time out:Film Soundtrack Albums!

So to be clear here we are not talking actual film soundtracks but the released OST soundtrack albums that are related on iTunes and (in the old days) CD’s.

Close but no cigar:O Brother Where Art Thou?, Reservoir Dogs, Goodfellas, Fight Club, Saturday Night Fever, Drive, Guardians Of The Galaxy, Shooting Fish 


5 – Trainspotting
Danny Boyle’s stand out 90’s British film also delivered a stand out multi platinum selling soundtrack album.  From Iggy Pop To Pulp, it was as eclectic as they come and, as most great OST’s should, it stood alone from the film.  A perfect slice of 90’s British film.

 

4 – The Blues Brothers
One of the best musicals delivers a stand out soundtrack with classic after classic performed by the charismatic Jake & Elwood.  Add in Ray Charles, Cab Caloway, Aretha Franklin and James Brown and you have a perfect slice of Rhythm & Blues.

 

3 – Quadrophenia

One of my favourite albums of all time, Quadrophenia is a journey which stand alongside some of The Who’s best works as well as alongside some of the best concept albums of the 60’s & 70’s.  It’s just brilliant. 

 

2 – Pulp Fiction
Tarantino delivers yet another standout soundtrack after the delights of Reservoir Dogs.  It was an album that adorned the CD collection of almost ever 90’s student and even manages to transcend the film itself.  Continuing his trend for catchy rarely heard tracks with equally catchy dialogue snippets, Pulp Fiction is a slice of a genius director at his best.

 

1 – Natural Born Killers
Yup.  Controversial for some but the Trent Reznor produced album for the Oliver Stone film is like an audio version the film itself, weaving in music, audio and sounds to deliver what is essential an audio play of the movie.  From L7 to Dr Dre and almost everything in between it’s a pulse pounding concept album in it’s own right.  Essential.

 

 

Phil’s Top 5… Tarantino Films

Phil’s Top 5… Tarantino Films

by Phil Hobden Other Cr*p Quick Review

In a new semi-regular feature, each week Phil takes a lookout a different movie related Top Five… this time out: Tarantino Films!

Bursting onto the scene in the 90’s, QT was a breath of fresh air. He fundamentally changed the way movies were written and marketed.  Then, sadly, years later he became a mass of hot air with bloated and over long critic baiting movies that you watch once but probably never again.  BUT there was a time when the former video store clerk ruled the movies.  Here are my favourite 5 Tarantino films…

 

Close but no cigar: Natural Born Killers, Deathproof

5 – Pulp Fiction
A classic for sure, but a film that (years on) I find hard to re-watch. Still it made a sub-genre all of it’s own (Tarantino-esk) , relaunched the career of John Travolta, made Bruce Willis less of a dick for a while and sold a gazillion sound track albums.  Not bad…


4 – From Dusk ‘Till Dawn
Come on… imagine if you had no idea what happens in three quarters of the way through this expertly plotted  film.  Imagine how blown away you’d be expecting another Tarantino crime film and then, from out of nowhere, there are freakin’ vampires! It’s the film that made Clooney popular, that Tarantino didn’t suck in and that Rodriguez never bettered.


3 – Reservoir Dogs
One of the best film debuts ever, Dogs is raw, violent and tense.  It’s also short, underplayed and fun.  Everything Tarantino’s films aren’t anymore. Sadly


2 – True Romance
Written by QT, directed by the late Tony Scott, starring an on the rise Christian Slater and with one of the greatest casts ever (Walken! Oldman! Hopper! Pitt! Gandolfini! and more! ) this is for me Tarantino’s single greatest script. Sharp, with crushing monologues and believable characters this is the pinnacle of his pop culture loving style.  Even years on this film is dynamite.


1 – Jackie Brown
That surprised you didn’t it!  Huh!  Admit it!  But why THSI film, probably one of Tarantino’s least loved movies.  Well whilst Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs are held aloft as QT’s masterpieces, it’s his measured and restrained take on an Elmore Leonard novel that holds the No1 spot for me.  Subtle, classy and cool this is Tarantino at his least, well, Tarantino.  And man does the film benefit from it.  It oozes a level of awesome that for me QT has never topped.  Go on give it another try… you’ll love it!

 

Filmsploitation’s 100 Best Films… #25-1

Filmsploitation’s 100 Best Films… #25-1

by Phil Hobden Uncategorized

Part Three of our run down of Filmsploitation’s 100 Best Films as chosen by a select team of hosts, podcasters, fans and writers from All Things Film, Filmsploitation and the Filmsploitation Facebook group.

As revealed on Episode 136 of Filmsploitation: The All Things Film Podcast here are our Top 25 Films!

So here’s numbers 25-1…