Here’s what the Wolfman has watched in February 2019.
I dipped my toes into Netflix’s new superhero series The Umbrella Academy. It didn’t take long before I was hooked by the quirky charm of this dysfunctional family. Some of the characters are difficult to like at first but they all warm to you with some very emotional well acted scenes. They are all caught up in a time travelling mystery as they have to band together to prevent an upcoming doomsday. It wraps things up enough to have a satisfying end I thought.
Didn’t watch many TV series this month but went film crazy! I saw a lot so buckle up here they come!
Wolfman’s Rating System Explained – We All Have A System Don’t We?
26 films this month and a total of 54 this year
546 since the start of the blog in January 2017.
The Meg (2018) – Wolfman Rating 6 – IMDB Rating 5.7
Yes of course it’s stupid but hehe it was a lot of fun. Jason Statham was his usual self. Yep it’s got a 70 foot shark.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 7.2
With it’s oscar nod I thought I’d give this a go. It was really enjoyable. Richard E. Grant was pretty much Withnail revisited and a joy to watch. Never seen a Melissa McCarthy movie before, look forward to checking her other dramatic roles! lol…
Fyre (2019) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 7.3
More enjoyable watching the carnage unfold on such a horrible bunch of people! Andy the BJ King was the funniest I laughed at a doc for ages.
The Reckoning (1970) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 7
Nicol Williamson pops back to Liverpool for a touch of revenge. Check my post for more on my Wolfie Write Up Here
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 7.8
Introduced this amazing little gem to my daughter Nyah. She loved it as much as I loved watching it again. If you haven’t seen it before make sure you add it to your to watch soon list.
Green Book (2018) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 8.3
Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen are most excellent in this buddy road movie set in the 60’s American south.
Billy Budd (1962) – Wolfman Rating 10 – IMDB Rating 7.9
You know what I’m still thinking about this one. It just keeps appearing in my mind. Terence Stamp is just brilliant alongside such a fantastic cast. You can read my thoughts on my Wolfie Write Up Here
The Witches (1990) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 6.9
It was on Netflix and I just had to rewatch this macabrely brilliant family film from the pen of Roald Dahl. Anjelica Huston is devilishly sinister as the Grand High Witch.
Deadlier Than the Male (1967) – Wolfman Rating 6 – IMDB Rating 6.4
Jame Bond style stuff with sexy lady assassins. You know you want to pop over to my Wolfie Write Up Here for the pictures!
Widows (2018) – Wolfman Rating 5.5 – IMDB Rating 7.1
What a load of overrated rubbish. It was really bad! Such a shame as it had so much potential. Especially as the TV series it was based was so good. They could of cut the Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall scenes completely out and it may of helped.
A Man Escaped (1956) – Wolfman Rating 10 – IMDB Rating 8.2
Robert Bresson directs a perfect prison escape movie about a captured French Resistance fighter. Wolfie Write Up Here
Girl with Green Eyes (1964) – Wolfman Rating 8.5 – IMDB Rating 7.1
Would love to do a post on both these two Woodfall films but unfortunately not enough time. Maddy over at Maddy Loves Her Classic Films did a great post exploring the production company. I loved both the Rita Tushingham films, with Green Eyes just edging above Honey for me.
A Taste Of Honey (1961) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 7.6
See above, Girl with Green Eyes.
Highway 301 (1950) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 6.9
A great film noir bank robbing movie with a psychotic Steve Cochran in the lead. Was put on to this one by Kristina from the Speakeasy blog. No point me doing a review when she has a superb write up herself. Check it out here.
The Two-Headed Spy (1958) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 7.1
Another film I’d liked to have done a post on but way too little time. Boo. The superb Jack Hawkins plays a German spy right in the heart of Nazi war offices. Look out for little cameo roles from Michael Caine and that man whos in everything, Donald Pleasence.
6 Days (2017) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 6.2
Remember watching this SAS siege take place on the TV as 9 year old. Mark Strong is always a good addition to any movie and Jamie Bell pulled the tough guy role off pretty well. It was on Netflix and I watched it with my son Kofi. It was really very good and we both enjoyed it.
The Fate of the Furious (2017) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 6.7
Family film on Netflix. I’d only seen the first one haha didn’t realise his was number 8! It was stupid fun. I actually quite enjoyed it.
The Great Wall (2016) – Wolfman Rating 6.5 – IMDB Rating 6
Another family film on Netflix. TBH I wasn’t fussed to ever see this especially as Matt Damon was in it but in all fairness it wasn’t too bad at all. It certainly looked expensive and the colour coded outfits stole the show.
Seven Days to Noon (1950) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 7.2
Great British thriller from the Boulting Brothers. Wolfie Write Up Here
Abducted in Plain Sight (2017) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 6.8
Bonkers story which felt completely made up but then you realise no one really could be that silly could they? And it hits home that it is in fact real and another reason religion can make people rather stupid. Plus a certain WTF reveal gave Andy King from the above Fyre documentary a run for his money! hehe
Three on a Match (1932) – Wolfman Rating 8.5 – IMDB Rating 7.3
Three school friends Joan Blondell, Ann Dvorak and Bette Davis are reunited and find the tables have turned. A lot is squeezed into the hour run time. Thanks to the Speakeasy blog again for the nod to this great film.
The Most Dangerous Game (1932) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 7.2
Another 30’s pre-code era film ticked off. Loving dipping my toes into this era. Insane hunter tracks down his next vitium for sport on an island.
Green for Danger (1946) – Wolfman Rating 8.5 – IMDB Rating 7.6
Alastair Sim is just wonderfully perfect in great whodunnit murder mystery. Wolfie Write Up Here
The Informers (1963) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 7
I really have so much fond memories of it already and was caught hook line and sinker with the whole story. I had such a great time with this film and Nigel Patrick is fabulous. Wolfie Write Up Here
Across the Bridge (1957) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 7.3
Rod Steiger goes on the run in this superb Ken Annakin directed thriller. Wolfie Write Up Here
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 8.6
The best Spiderman film by quite some distance. Effortlessly perfect from the banging soundtrack to the original looking animation that looked ripped of the pages of a comic. It was self aware riffing on earlier Spiderman films and made the transition with Miles Morales character fit like a glove. It had tension and menace and equal measures of humor. I know for a fact I will be watching it again soon and maybe it will make my 10 grade! Deserved it’s Oscar win ten fold.
It was yet another fun month. We were a way for a few days so hit the action family action movies on Netflix. Plus tried to catch a few of the Oscar nominated films. Also went quite heavy on the British movies ticking a fair few off my to watch list. Any goodies in there you have seen and liked? Thoughts, recommends etc always welcome if you fancy too.
Keep watching the screens. Thanks for having a gander. Michael Wolfster
Wolfmans Cult Film 
So many great films there. So happy to hear how much you enjoyed Girl With Green Eyes. Thanks for the shoutout to my Woodfall post.
The Witches is so scary. Watched it a few weeks back for the first time since I was a kid. I now remember why I never wanted to see that again! Some scary stuff. The witch makeup is impressive. Love how that’s a story for children LOL.
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Roald Dahl just had the most wonderful way of scaring the bejesus out of us under the disguise of a “kids” story. LOL and we all loved him for it. The little girl stuck in the painting getting old is truly devastating! So shockingly terrifying.
Rita was fantastic. Such a wonderful young actress to carry both of those films. Her interactions with her tall friend Lynn Redgrave were brilliant. And didn’t Murray Melvin have such a strange look. Like he was related to Odo from Deep Space Nine hehe.
The Blackpool seaside scenes where amazing. Loved both films. I’m after The Trap with Oliver Reed to see next for more Rita.
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A Man Escaped is well made though the title of the film seemed very revealing. Bresson is a master so my conclusion is that it’s “how” and not “if” that is important with that story.
I’ve never heard of Billy Budd but sounds like a must-see! Glad I skipped Widows.
Anjelica Huston freaked me out in The Witches 🙂 Kind of in that disturbing children’s fantasy territory as is some of Guillermo del Toro’s work. By coincidence, I just discovered Del Toro was attached to direct a remake! Now with Robert Zemeckis at the helm set for a 2020 release.
Anyway, enjoyed your mini-reviews
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Be interested to see what Robert Zemeckis comes up with though I think I’d preferred Del Toro’s stop-motion idea.
Haha yes the A Man Escaped title does somewhat give it away but it’s not completely accurate 🙂 … Yep you are total right it’s the “how”. It’s all about the journey and the build up.
Billy Budd certainly stays with you. Well worth your time.
Arrrrgh Widows such a missed opportunity. Sure theres people who love it, so don’t take my word for it but yeah I might of just saved you two long hours of your life!! lol.
Thank buddy for the great comments.
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So much to comment on so I’m gonna ramble on here.
Widows fine with me and Viola Davis was excellent.
Most Dangerous game heat and been done to death since . Run for Cover with Widmark a good redo.
I look forward to green book. Was interested long before awards season.
You need to see St. Vincent with Melissa McCarthy and Bill Murray. Totally awesome drama with Bill’s quirky style.
Cheers.
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Haha my quip about looking forward to seeing Melissa McCarthy other dramas backfired on me! LOL. She has done some! And in a Bill Murray film I haven’t seen. Off right now to get it written on the list. Whilst I’m there, Run Of Cover will be added. Thank you very much Sir Mike.
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Catching up on my blog reading after time away and first of all thanks for all the mentions, glad you liked those and will head over to the individual reviews for more. Seconding the Run for the Sun recommend with Widmark, that’s one of the best takes on that plot.
I enjoyed The Great Wall for the same reasons, you might like Spy, with McCarthy and Rose Byrne and best of all Statham spoofing his screen persona. Also as a Stamp fan I am totally sold by your 10 on Billy Budd, must see!
Just in case I don’t blog this at my place, I’ve been busy rewatching lots of Randolph Scott 50’s westerns (Tall T and Seven Men from Now, my faves), Upgrade was pretty cool, Shock to the System, Man in the Dark, Hereditary, all recommended!
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I did try and get a western in each month a while back but I lapsed on that. Seven Men From Now may of been the last one I saw. It was really great and was surprised to see Lee Marvin turn up. It was my first and only Randolph Scott film! Can you believe it. The Tall T is now on my list… Hehe I do have a soft spot for Statham, he does keep the cheesy action star flag flying. I really liked Upgrade. Will investigate the others, thanks Kristina.
I’m very positive you are going to really like Billy Budd. It’s one that stays with you. Hope you get to see it soon.
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yes Lee so good in Seven Men, and he was also in another Randolph western I saw last week, Hangman’s Knot. Tall T is just super, Richard “Paladin” Boone is the baddie in that one.
I wish the big budget movies would give Jason Statham back, I want him to make a couple fast pulpy actioners a year like he used to. There’s always Scott Adkins in the meantime.
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Honestly I wasn’t that much of a fan at first (not including Lock Stock, that was just first rate). But one day he just clicked. Yeah his acting might be the same each film but I like the way he’s self aware of it. He’s seems happy to set himself up. Crank was when it changed for me though I did really like The Transporter. I don’t know Scott Adkins. “Triple Threat” sounds like it could be very good when it’s released.
PS I did watch Spy at the weekend. LOL he was very funny.
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I missed this one in my in-box…sorry about that! Yeah, I’d recently watched ‘The Meg’ as well, simply for Statham, who I like…lord, so many Jaws references. Though I guess any big shark film will be considered a Jaws rip-off! I’m very interested in the noir film Highway 301, since I’d never hear of it before. And I did find Deadlier Than the Male, so I’ll be watching that at some point. And The Two-Headed Spy…is it anything like The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant? 😉
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Jeepers creepers what the hell Bruce Dern! The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant. I just watched the trailer lol makes Ray Milland’s The Thing with Two Heads look like a total masterpiece! What the fooooook were they both thinking? Sure times weren’t that bad!
The Meg was real silly and rather a lot of fun a lot of the time.
I’m sure you will really enjoy Deadlier Than The Male, it’s entertaining and real easy on the eye 😉
Steve Cochran is tough and bad in Highway 301. It’s a great noir. Cheers Todd.
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What the hell, indeed! You need to have a Two-Headed Marathon doubleheader (!) some night…trust me, it’ll be an evening you’ll never forget!
And thanks again for the heads (!) up and assist with Highway 301…looking forward to it!
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