What’s Been Watched This Month – March 2018

I do like a list, hope you do too! Here’s what has been watched in March 2018.

Top on the TV watch roster this month was Counterpart with the great J.K. Simmons. Not only do you get one J.K. Simmons you get two for your viewing pleasure. Set in two  parallel dimensions, revealing little pieces of the puzzle in an intelligent way, this sci-fi drama feels more like a Cold War drama. What I love best is that it reminds me of one of my favourite series from a few years back called Manhattan, which unfortunately got cancelled but features the same slow burn vibe and a bunch of actors from that great series. Worth checking out both I’d say.

Getting my Netflix subs paid for, I just finished HBO’s massive documentary series The Defiant Ones. Superb editing crosses the paths of the two stars, Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine as their destiny in the music business meet together.  Very recommended if you have an interest in music history.

Right on to the important stuff, the films.

20 films this month and a total of 62 this year
327 since the start of the blog in January 2017.

Split Second (1953) – Wolfman Rating 8.5 – IMDB Rating 6.9
Naughty Stephen McNally gets a group of hostages caught up in an impossible predicament. Wolfie write up here.

Side Street (1950) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 7.2
Postman Farley Granger gives into to temptation and instantly regrets it. Wolfie write up here.

The Lady from Shanghai (1947) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 7.7
Sexy Rita Hayworth entices Irish salt of the Earth Orson Welles into a bizarre murder plot. The mirror set piece is a delight.

I, Tonya (2017) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 7.6
Really wanted to like this more though the beginning hour is very good. Margot Robbie and Allison Janney were superb throughout.

The Enforcer (1976) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 6.8
Clint Eastwood is back as Dirty Harry, this time with rookie cop Tyne Daly as his annoying shadow. I’m a big fan of the series and this one and the original are my favs. I can’t do a post to all the films so go check Todd’s reviews on the whole series over at his site Cinema Monolith. His review is spot on and we both gave it the same rating.

Weird Science (1985) – Wolfman Rating 8.5 – IMDB Rating 6.6
Hehe I’ve been trying for sometime to drop this film into the world of my two kids! Not sure it hit as well as I had hoped hehe but it did cause a fair few laughs. For me though it was yet another nostalgic ride into my teenage years. Bringing back my love for OMG Kelly LeBrock and remembering all the chaotic crazy antics which ensue. John Hughes is and always will be a total legend.

Bad Boys (1983) – Wolfman Rating 8.5 – IMDB Rating 7.2
Sean Penn gets slammed up in juvie jail with lots of famous to be faces. Wolfie write up here.

The Suspect (1944) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 7.5
If I’m honest I haven’t seen many Charles Laughton films before, I’m on the case for Witness For The Prosecution soon. Had read good things about The Suspect and the short runtime suited viewing on a school night. Set in London in the early 1900’s an unhappily married man gets smashed down constantly by his nagging wife. Along comes sweet, beautiful and totally out of his league Ella Raines.

Brute Force (1947) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 7.7
Burt Lancaster is banged up like sardines behind bars in director Jules Dassin penitentiary thriller. It packs quite the punch I’ll tell you. My little write up is just over here.

Deadpool (2016) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 8
Marvel smashed this hilarious super tale right out the park. Watched it at the cinema with my daughter Nyah on release and then I got to introduce it to my son Kofi when it arrived on Netflix. We both laughed our asses off. Very much looking forward to part 2 this year.

State Of Grace (1990) – Wolfman Rating 8.5 – IMDB Rating 7.3
Not sure how I had missed this Sean Penn gangster movie back in the day! But what a superb watch it was. Great cast with Ed Harris and John Turturro but the scene stealer everytime had to go to Gary Oldman. Wow what a performance! Maybe his best??

Pathfinder (1987) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 7.4
Bleak and cold survival movie, Scandinavian style. Worth a look. Wolfie write up here.

Annihilation (2018) – Wolfman Rating 6.5 – IMDB Rating 7.1
Was super psyched when I heard Alex Garland, who made the incredible Ex Machina, had a new film coming. Eagerly awaiting the cinema release, to then being surprised it went to straight to Netflix in Europe, under the banner of it probably being too intelligent for people! Well I’m not sure about that but it could be the fact that it’s not as good as it could of been and after maybe not performing well in the States, they had a panic attack and sold it to Netflix…….  I loved the creative idea but the film really lacked any emotion response at all. You really didn’t give two hoots about anyone, no character build up, which unfortunately killed it for me. Add to that some really strange story lines that don’t go anywhere and ideas which started but fizzled out. BUT with that said I must add, this film had created a discussion and debate between family and friends which has been so warmly welcomed. That a film could create such dialogue and thoughts is big praise in itself. So much respects to Alex Garland for taking the vision and chance with this movie, so can’t wait for his next project. I’ve seen Ex Machina three times and really can’t recommend watching that enough.

Terror on a Train (1953) – Wolfman Rating 6.5 – IMDB Rating 6.2
Glenn Ford comes to England to chill out. Gets a ear bashing from his wife, gets fed tea and sandwiches by the Old Bill before taking on the ticking clock of a hundred bombs onboard a train. I really enjoyed this, be sure to read Mike’s Take On The Movies review where I got the heads up on it.

Ministry of Fear (1944) – Wolfman Rating 8.5 – IMDB Rating 7.2
Fritz Lang directs Ray Milland in this twisting mystery tale of Nazi spies in a dream like story. I loved it.. Wolfie write up here.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) – Wolfman Rating 6 – IMDB Rating 7
Fun family Easter watch with a roast dinner on our laps but nothing special and no way as fun as the original unfortunately.

The Browning Version (1951) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 8.2
Splendid emotional English school based drama starring Michael Redgrave. Wolfie write up here.

K-9 (1989) – Wolfman Rating 5.5 – IMDB Rating 6
Hungover 80’s buddy cop movie with Jim Belushi and his lovable Alsatian partner that happened to be on TV as I sat there feeling sorry for myself after a big night on the town. It didn’t have the sad ending I remembered!! Thankfully!! I would of been a blubbering wreck.

Jubal (1956) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 7.1
Another Glenn Ford recommend by fellow film blogger, check his review over at Mike’s Take On The Movies.

Rushmore (1998) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 7.7
Introduced this Wes Anderson film to my daughter before we ventured off to see his new one Isle Of Dogs. Maybe my 4th time seeing it over the years. The hilarious love triangle between Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray for the affection of Olivia Williams is just wonderful.

 

There was actually another two I saw which should be on this list but I so want to do a post on them I had to cross them over, two 10/10 films in my eyes. Pop on back to see what they are if you are intrigued.

It was yet another fun month, any goodies in there you have seen and liked? Thoughts, recommends etc always welcome.

Keep watching the screens. Thanks for having a gander. Michael Wolfster