DECEMBER 2017 - FILMS + TV

A bit of enjoyable viewing in December, but in truth Christmas telly was a bit crap! No change there then.

Child 44 (2015)

From Google...

In 1950s Soviet Russia, secret police agent Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy) loses everything when he refuses to denounce his wife, Raisa (Noomi Rapace) as a traitor. Finding themselves exiled to a grim provincial outpost, Leo and Raisa join forces with Gen. Mikhail Nesterov (Gary Oldman) to capture a serial killer who preys on young boys. They soon find that their investigation threatens a system-wide cover-up enforced by Vasili (Joel Kinnaman), Leo's psychopathic rival.

An okay film recorded off the TV. A bit slow and I didn't really get into it, so kind of watched with one eye only. I like Tom Hardy and his Russian accent which was the most memorable bit of the film. I have the book which my sister highly recommended to me - Tom Rob Smith. Wrong choice maybe I would have been better reading than viewing.

Maigret in Montmarte (2017)

From IMDB.....

Crime · Maigret investigates the random murders of a Countess and a showgirl and discovers a dark secret that links their past lives at the Grand Hotel in Nice.

Festive viewing and surprisingly I quite enjoyed it. I think reading one of the books a year or so ago has softened me to the Parisian detective. I've avoided Rowan Atkinson for a few years now, ever since Blackadder and The Thin Blue Line, preferring to stick pins in my eyes whenever Mr Bean or Johnny English threatens to appear on telly and assault me. He's not bad as a serious actor.

Girls Trip (2017)

From Wikipedia....

Girls Trip is a 2017 American comedy film starring Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, and Jada Pinkett Smith. The film is directed by Malcolm D. Lee and written by Kenya Barris and Tracy Oliver, from a story by the pair and Erica Rivinoja, who based the script off their own experiences with their female friends.

One my daughters insisted we watch after requesting the DVD for Christmas. A bit like a female version of Hangover. Women on tour behaving badly. I wonder if Jada Pinkett Smith will be attending this year's Oscars as she's a definite shoe-in for Best Female Actor. Perhaps we can celebrate together, right after I scoop the Nobel Prize for Literature. Okay, a few laughs, but not as funny as my daughter led me to believe.

The Red Turtle (2016)

From Google....

A massive sea turtle destroys a stranded man's raft every time he tries to sail away from a tropical island.

Another Christmas DVD, an animated Studio Ghibli film, and one which you spent as much time afterwards puzzling over WTF that was all about, as you did watching the film itself. Proper strange and I've kind of decided it's open to whatever interpretation or meaning you want to attribute to it. My verdict - can I have my time back?

Sightseers (2012)

From Google.....

A couple's (Alice Lowe, Steve Oram) cross-country road trip takes a deadly turn when they decide to start killing everyone who annoys them.

Second time of watching and it never gets old. My kind of film - deadpan black comedy horror.

John Wick (2014)

From Google....

Legendary assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) retired from his violent career after marrying the love of his life. Her sudden death leaves John in deep mourning. When sadistic mobster Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen) and his thugs steal John's prized car and kill the puppy that was a last gift from his wife, John unleashes the remorseless killing machine within and seeks vengeance. Meanwhile, Iosef's father (Michael Nyqvist) -- John's former colleague -- puts a huge bounty on John's head.

Another enjoyable film. Keanu Reeves who I haven't seen for a few years kills a mightily impressive number of people when his character an assassin is unwisely provoked. Not everyone's thing but I enjoyed it. Looking forward to watching the cunningly titled sequel - John Wick 2.

The Impossible (2012)

From Google....

In December 2004, close-knit family Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand. But the day after Christmas, the idyllic holiday turns into an incomprehensible nightmare when a terrifying roar rises from the depths of the sea, followed by a wall of black water that devours everything in its path. Though Maria and her family face their darkest hour, unexpected displays of kindness and courage ameliorate their terror.

Based on the horrific Tsunami which struck in the Indian Ocean and wiped out over a quarter of a million people. Compelling viewing and the story of one British families experience.

R.I.P.D. (2013)

From Wikipedia...

R.I.P.D. is a 2013 American fantasy action comedy film starring Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds. Robert Schwentke directed the film based on a screenplay adapted from the comic book Rest in Peace Department by Peter M. Lenkov. The film also stars Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker, Stéphanie Szostak, and Marisa Miller.

One word summary - awful. I think Kevin Bacon's 30 second EE adverts offer more in the way of laughs and overall entertainment. Apparently there might be a sequel to this, surely not.

47 Metres Down (2017)

From Google...

Young sisters Kate and Lisa and travel to Mexico for a vacation filled with sun, fun and adventure. Lisa needs some extra persuasion when Kate suggests that they go diving in shark-infested waters. Safe in their protective cage, the thrill-seeking siblings come face to face with a group of majestic great whites. Their worst fears soon become a reality when the cage breaks away from their boat, sending them plummeting to the ocean floor with a dwindling supply of oxygen.

An enjoyable movie night in with a DVD some popcorn. Predatory sharks and trapped in a cage on the bottom of the sea, fueling my twin fears of claustrophobia and being under water. Really enjoyable and yes I jumped out of my skin and sat on my hands a few times. Matthew Modine has a small role. Don't know who anyone else was.

Bancroft (2017)

A four part ITV drama during December. Sarah Parrish is a high ranking police detective seeking a promotion with the spectre of a cold case murder from 27 years ago, when she was a patrolling uniformed officer threatening her status. Kind of absorbing mostly, I did feel let down by the ending and by all accounts I wasn't the only one.