What’s Been Watched This Month – September 2020

Wolfman's Cult Film Club 20 Comments

Here’s what square eyed Mikey Wolfman been watching throughout September 2020.

My daughter when off to University this month. Strange for us all especially during these crazy times. It was a relief soon after to hear she has settled in well with a fun household. So lectures are mostly online and they are in and out of mini lock-downs every other day. However she’s having fun and it’s certainly an experience. Zoom calls keep me from howling and wailing in the dead of night.

The TV

Just before she took off for Uni we watched the absolutely brilliant Flight of the Conchords series together. Loaded it up on hard drive too so if ever feeling down she can play an episode to cheer. The songs and silliness is our kind of humour. So loved revisiting. Pure gold.

The second season of The Boys is rocking it’s way through as much UN-PC stuff as it can. Still nothing compared to the comic books. LOL.. I really enjoying seeing where they will take the super smashing gang to next.

The Films

16 films this month and a total of 174 this year
889 since the start of the blog in January 2017.

The Transporter (2002) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 6.8
Really good action packed Jason Statham film. I’d seen it when it came out but it was great to watch again after a night down the boozer. The oil garage scene is brilliantly choreographed.

A New Leaf (1971) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 7.4
A fun Walter Matthau film directed by and also starring Elaine May. Silly and fun with a great review to be found over at All Things Thriller.

Taxi Driver (1976) – Wolfman Rating 10 – IMDB Rating 8.3
It was a pleasure to introduce Taxi Driver to my two kids. Man I loved watching it again. Seen it so many times but not so recently. Robert De Niro is fascinating as the anti-hero. Martin Scorsese’s eye is incredible. That end scene when the camera lifts and moves out through the building gets me every single time. Masterful.

Winchester ’73 (1950) – Wolfman Rating 8.5 – IMDB Rating 7.6
Anthony Mann directs James Stewart in this superior western. A duo that would make many more films together. I did a review and it kick started a new review format for westerns on my movie site. You can check Winchester 73 here.

Tenet (2020) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 7.8
This was the event of the year after/during the pandemic crisis. To be actually able to get back in the cinema. To be honest there’s nothing much to draw me back to the cinema but this new Christopher Nolan film was essential for the big screen. It was just my family of four, a group of 3 and a couple. 9 people in all. It was like having our very own big screen. We as a family really loved it. Absolutely loved it. We felt like we understood it. Visually stunning and some masterful artful set pieces. Breathtaking at times. My only dig at it was I wished they had got a Russian actor instead of Kenneth Branagh! Don’t get me wrong, he does the accent well and is menacing and well acted etc but it’s Kenneth Branagh doing a Russian accent and it slightly took me out of the picture. He wasn’t needed imho. However I can’t wait to watch it again. The end is so damn cool too. A battle so original that you won’t see anything like it again. ….. What will get us back to the cinema you may ask?….. DUNE!

High Noon (1952) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 7.9
Billy no mates, Gary Cooper wanders around town like a dead man walking. At noon death will come stalk him down. You can read my review of High Noon here.

Mulan (2020) – Wolfman Rating 6.5 – IMDB Rating 5.4
No where near as bad as everyone saying. It looks beautiful but you wonder why when the original cartoon is so good that they didn’t just recreate that. It does follow most of it but it leaves out it’s heart. They don’t really use the gang, no Khan her beloved horse. They leave Mushu out, I guess for magic, spirit reasons but then add in a whole new magic, witch subplot. Family dinner with roasty made it enjoyable however it could of easily of been so much more.

Buck and the Preacher (1972) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 6.5
Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte in a western together! Awesome! Wanna read more? You can here on my Buck and the Preacher review.

Cemetery Man (1994) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 7.2
Know as Dellamorte Dellamore in it’s original Italian title. This is an English speaking warped and twisted, sexy and bonkers zombie comedy mash up with Rupert Everett. Any good you may ask? You can read my review for Cemetery Man here if you wish.

Good Time (2017) – Wolfman Rating 8 – IMDB Rating 7.4
My son Kofi recommended me this. It’s excellent. Stars Robert Pattinson as a two bit loser as he goes from one “Good Time” to another. A messed up twisted journey through New York City. The soundtrack is constant but feels a complete part of the trip. It’s dark in nature but never goes too far and is filled with comic moments. I’d never heard of it and really enjoyed it. It’s on Netflix at the moment.

Only the Brave (2017) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 7.6
A difficult one to say anything bad about because of it’s nature. It’s cliche and so over melodramatic with some OTT cheesy acting. BUT man it packs a very emotional end punch, all the more devastating knowing it was real. Made all the more relevant with all the fire crews tackling the Los Angeles fires in recent news.

The Killers (1946) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 7.8
A perfect film. The beginning hit men scene just blew me away. A film I will be seeing again soon. One I’d love to do a review on but not gonna get to it for sometime with my backlog. So please check out Diary Of A Movie Maniac great review.

Rio Grande (1950) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 7.1
Hehe I meant to watch Rio Bravo (I did see it but look out for the review in October) but got the wrong film. DOH! It’s John Wayne and it’s got Rio in the title. No bad thing. There’s some real funny scenes, mostly with the straw chewing country bumpkins. Where you think they are just simple folk but these two are really switched on and show everyone up with their skills. The riding two horses whilst jumping scene was frantic.

The Belles of St. Trinian’s (1954) – Wolfman Rating 7 – IMDB Rating 6.8
The St. Trinian’s films are a British comedy classic, tradition. However apart from seeing bits here and there over the years as a kid, I hadn’t actually watched a whole film. As Jay over at Cinema Essentials is revisiting the series!!! Yeah I’m not too sure either lol, so I thought I would watch the first one. Mainly because of the brilliant Alastair Sim who plays the headmistress and her twin brother in twin roles. It’s a whole heap of fun. It must of been a total riot to film. It was sad to look up Belinda Lee and read a very tragic end to the young actress.

The Equalizer 2 (2018) – Wolfman Rating 6.5 – IMDB Rating 6.7
Loved the first one. I had doubts going into this one as I’d heard it didn’t live up to the first. Sat there thinking I was really enjoying it. Then the final act came and instantly erased all the better stuff. The writing let it down and the ridiculous storm town shootout was so stupid. When you think back to the plot you then realise they didn’t really have one. Denzel Washington was great again but what a shame.

Enola Holmes (2020) – Wolfman Rating 7.5 – IMDB Rating 6.7
Nice to sit and watch Enola Holmes with Mrs Wolf (she watched it twice and gave it 8/10). She loves Sherlock films and this was a lovely spin on the tale. So good to see Millie Bobby Brown out of the Stranger Things role. She holds the lead so very well. It’s beautifully filmed and a perfect family film. With lots going on and Enola breaking the forth wall on many occasions. Henry Cavill is too beefy for Sherlock and walks around like he’s a Victorian Witcher but he’s very likable. Read it was gonna get a theater release but with the pandemic shizzle Netflix got their hands on it.

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There’s a few extra films this month I’ve seen which I really want to do reviews on so I’ve held them back. Two westerns, a film noir, a VHS memories one, a war film with a twist, a cult classic, a boxing tale and a Cold War Hopefully over the weekend I will have a new one out. Hope you can join me.

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 look to see what’s been watched. All the best……… The howling one, Mikey

20 thoughts on “What’s Been Watched This Month – September 2020”

  1. Just finished reading and commenting on Mike’s list of September films…you and he both watched quite the mixed bag of films. The ones above I’ve seen: Taxi Driver, Winchester ’73, High Noon, The Killers…and all outstanding. Only one other I’ve seen from your list…Rio Grande, which I saw maybe a decade ago, and I remember it being pretty good. Funny that you thought you were watching Rio Bravo! D’oh, indeed!

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    • I know right DOH! indeed on Bravo. Blooming Duke and his Rio western’s. Think he’d come up with some name more original! LOL
      Watching it I recalled tiny bits from seeing it as a kid and maybe a “spot light” on an actor, maybe “Dean Martin” on TV clips. But it was well cool to see now. Got two maybe reviews first then Red River first and then Rio. At sometime this month. Getting them lined up ready to shoot-em down like old empty whiskey bottles on a stable fence.

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  2. I love the pics you use for these posts. Where do you dig them up from?!

    Winchester 73 is good. I watched Taxi Driver last year. Very impressive, I think it may be Marty’s best. I have a part written post on this. Really need to finish it!

    I like Nolan up to a point. He’s at least trying to make the blockbuster brainier. But I’m losing enthusiasm for his films a little, they’re doing my head in a bit. Does everything have to be so damn complicated?!

    Didn’t even know there’d been an Equalizer 2! Not seen the first one, but these films just seem to be cashing in on the name and don’t bear any relation to the original. I want The Equalizer to be a paunchy, grey haired English guy with an old Jag, like Edward Woodward. I don’t think Denzel fits the profile!

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    • Haha thanks Jay. If any in films ones pop up I screen grab those but the retro ones I’ve either collected over the years or dig through pin-interest. I’m not sure many are actually tellies but hey they look the part.

      I think I’m Taxi Driver is my best! King Of Comedy way high too but I do need to see that one again for a refresher. Been many years.

      Haha “Does everything have to be so damn complicated?!” I know what you mean but I’m happy for him to be out there on his own giving us these mind puzzles embedded in action movies. For me, I’m always onboard. However like I’ve said before, Dunkirk might actually be my favorite! Yeap I know right, not the usual one to go for. The editing in that film blew me away, completely. The only one I had to go straight back the next to watch again. Then twice more on home cinema.

      I got the paunch! Damn it human form me lost my blooming hair. It would be grey though! Can I use my old Mondeo?
      Yeah Denzel is too far removed from the greatness of Edward Woodward. But in this revamped world he does a pretty good job, esp on the first one.

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      • The fact that they aren’t all TVs just makes it all the more amusingly strange. I like that weird bendy computer monitor. Makes me want to ditch the ipad.

        The problem with some of the Nolan films is I always feel like I should be taking notes, like I’m going to have to sit an exam at the end of it or something. It took me ages to realise that Dunkirk was going backwards and forwards in time. It was only when the Spitfire crashed twice and I thought “He must be REALLY unlucky” (!) that I twigged.

        I’m not convinced Edward Woodward wasn’t wearing a syrup in The Equalizer, so maybe you could go that route. I don’t think the Mondeo is really going to make the grade though. Sorry about that! Old XJs are cheap as chips, though.

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      • haha no problem at all Glen. That’s a fine scene. I remember it well from the first time round. I need to add that to my drunk from the pub Friday night Statham action movie watch.
        Like on the oil fight in the first one, that’s some creative choreography take-down pressure.

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  5. Great block of films, Mikey. (Thanks for the shout out.)…Tenet…a 9 on the Wolfie meter?…I gotta see it. I’ve heard mixed things about it, but I’m in per your recommendation…so you’re responsible. Ha! I’m glad you liked Good Time. I liked too. It was so frantic! It had me on the edge of my seat. I’m becoming a big fan of the Safdie brothers films.
    Congratulations to your daughter and you and the Mrs.! Does she know her major, yet? Very exciting times for her, no doubt.
    –Pam

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    • Thanks Pam and no worries on the link. I like doing it when I can.
      9 for me for Tenet. I can see why that would seem high for some who aren’t so keen. I love it when a director tries something different and mindbending and I’m a sucker for sci-fi. There’s so many bits in the film that had me so excited. So many scenes I’d love to say but I’ll zip it. I wholeheartedly see why it’s not for everyone, but for me, to quote Dickens, “I was as giddy as a drunken man!”
      Plus the whole event of going to the cinema after such a long time added to the experience. Can’t wait to see it again. Maybe it will drop a point, maybe it will gain one!! I can’t wait to find out.

      I haven’t seen Uncut Gem’s yet. Heard it’s a bit shouty! If it’s on par with Good Times then I need to get my skates on! Yeah that was frantic, esp with the constant soundtrack. It worked well. I was hooked in early on.

      Thank you Pam. Yeah she off. 19 years of me caring and protecting and now she’s in a covid infected campus going crazy with her flat mates on freshers week. Now they all have it, along with most of the accommodation flats, and are now in isolation. One way to get herd immunity I guess.
      She is studying English Literature and Art History with one of the first projects, looking into Rear Window. Which we watched together not too long ago. Result 🙂

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  6. Wow, yeah, reading the above comments about your daughter at school and now I see her focus in overlapping areas of interest with you !! I understand your concern considering the times and all, but I think I agree with what Pam said. You guys’ll have some great movie conversations ahead of you, I think!
    We haven’t seen Tenet either and I kinda look forward to it. Hubby seems to have something against Nolan along the lines of pretentious and believes he’s smarter than he actually is, lol. Whether or not that’s true, I still did enjoy Inception A LOT.
    Interested now in The Killers due to this write-up of the opening scene with the hit men. Now I want to see the opening scene too. (And the rest of the movie, of course).
    RE: Robert Pattinson; have not seen that movie, but I’m pleased that he broke out of Twilight universe and has shown his acting chops over and over. I think he’s really good in everything he does.
    Lastly: the machine at the start of your blog looks almost exactly like the contraption I learned to caption on oh so many years ago! In fact, I had just moved to NYC because of that job. I walked into the office, met the people, the manager showed me the captioning contraption (complete with light stick: that’s what that pen-like thing is hanging off by the connecting wire) and I thought to myself, “I am not going to last here for a week,” and was convinced I’d never get the hang of it and was gonna get fired and end up having to go hooking at night on ninth avenue. I was still young enough then to consider prostitution as a part-time fallback. Lucky for me (and NYC) that never came to pass, lol ………..

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    • Oh my days! PFML (Please forgive my lateness)
      Remember those letters. I hope not to use them again but deep down I know I will otherwise why am I writing this stupid sentence!

      Thank you so much for the nice words on my Nyah going off to Uni. She’s back this weekend for a week and I can’t wait to get her. So excited. Hopefully a film or two will be watched but I’ll keep it to myself as I know she will be wanting to see her friends. Though I will drop a few tiny hints Hehe. TBH she will probably sleep for a week. It’s been a rave every night from the sound of things.

      Haha yes pretentious does come up a lot. Though I’m not so sure. I like that he’s trying to give a big action film without having to dumb it down. Hopefully they will re-release Tenet when the cinemas go back again. I’m pretty sure I’ll go see it again when they do. The concept is right out the box tbh but not as mindblowing as some say. We all seemed to get it and we are not eggheads or total sci-fi nerds. I do LOVE science fiction though so I’m bias. However like I have said before Dunkirk might be my fav of his.

      Now that’s two words that sound brilliant together “captioning contraption” lol What a great job tale and you know what Stacey you had me in stitches with………
      “and was convinced I’d never get the hang of it and was gonna get fired and end up having to go hooking at night on ninth avenue. I was still young enough then to consider prostitution as a part-time fallback. Lucky for me (and NYC) that never came to pass, lol ………..” LOL LOL

      The Killers 1946 is ace. If you wanna watch the opening scene with the hitmen, most of that scene is here

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  7. Thank you so much for the link!
    It was great.
    The dramatic shadows, the tough talk, trying to order from the dinner menu–twice! Lol
    THis is my favorite part, tho: when the counterman hands the customer his food (Adam, at the end of the counter), Adam, who’s reading the paper, doesn’t even look up and says, “Ketchup,” and the counterman then pushes the ketchup forward that was sitting, like, 2 inches from Adam’s face that Adam didn’t even bother noticing or getting for himself. Omg, I would have been fired from that job in the first 24 hours, LOL
    Thanks again, that was fun.

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