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chrismorrell

Member since 12/15/2007, last signed in last week.
"christheskins"
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Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz
Pegg Wright and Frost's masterp ...
By chrismorrell in chrismorrell Blog
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 "This is so well put together ,my first cinema visit of last year ,i laughed out loud all the way through..cast list is a "who's who" of top Brit comedy acting,and did you recognise the eyes of Cate Blanchette behind the mask at the crime scene?..Zowee! Format borrows from all the genres they can fit in "buddie"/"horror"/"revenge"/"a ction"/"agatha christie"(?)..and every one of their favourite movies from "the Wicker Man" to "Point Break" via "Scream" "Straw Dogs" "The Omen" and "Bad Boys 1&2"...loved it loved loved it! " [More]

Happy Go Lucky by Mike Leigh
By chrismorrell in chrismorrell Blog
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 "No not the 1942 musical with Betty Hutton..but Mike Leigh's latest slice of life affirming life... This has just started showing,in the U.K...not sure if it will get a U.S release or not...I heard Leigh talking about it on the radio a week ago,i already very much like actress,Sally Hawkins,and this is her first "leading role".. Her character may seem unbelievably positive and optimistic,irritatingly so to some but i've met people like this...and she shows depth as a credible primary school teacher... If you are a Mike Leigh fan then you will not be dissapointed..the female/family banter is wonderfully funny and engaging,and these scenes, along with the "Flamenco" classes are intelligent fun, and went down a storm in the cinema. We know that there will be a strong counterpoint coming ,a rude awakening.. We get a totally unrealistic one that strikes a completely false note,manipulative and just daft...but,leaving that aside,there is a "tour de force" of a performance from the superb ... " [More]
The Big Bang Theory [TV Series]
The Big Bang Theory [TV Series]
Potential classic,definitely ma ...
By chrismorrell in chrismorrell Blog
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 "I watched the first two episodes on download a while back..Not sure if it has been on"proper" t.v over here ...Most familiar face is that of Johnny Galecki (Darlene's boyfriend from "Rosanne".)..he is great,like a young Jason Alexander...the other main guy is reassuringly odd-looking,and gets the "Niles" lines to Galecki's "Frazier"..."sound-bite" reference could be, the "Myspace/YouTube Friends"..these are the "overachieving" losers as opposed to the Judd Apatow variety. another main character has all the "physical" humour a la "Kramer" ..the "love interest" is cute,but not an "uberbabe" ,the theme is by a "They Might Be Giants" soundalike..it just keeps ticking all the right boxes to be a massive hit,but i found it ultimately resistable.This is so well written,so slick,i was laughing out loud all the way through,how come i havnt been back for more already?Maybe i just "got it" too quickly? Now Rizzo has reminded me,i may go back for more laughs. " [More]
Dog Soldiers
Dog Soldiers
Does what it says on the tin
By chrismorrell in chrismorrell Blog
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 "A group of soldiers ,holed up in a farmhouse,quite a cute farmer's daughter on hand..WereWolves!!! are trying to get them..they have a limited supply of ammunition(now THAT part is definitely NOT fantasy) ..basically,what's not to like?..pushes all the right buttons,with a very good cast..Sean Pertwee , i always enjoy watching( i loved his Dad in "Dr Who"and "the Navy Lark" on radio, for years).. Kevin Mckidd ,who is apparently a current U.S tv star?,(cant remember the name of the show,something about time travel)..most will remember him from "Trainspotting"..i used to get him mixed up with Daniel Craig (James Bond)..it's all good... " [More]
Volver
Volver
Re:The idea of female hysteria ...
By chrismorrell in Female Hysteria
"Black and White images of Barbara Stanwick ,Joan Crawford and Bette Davis ,screaming,with mascara running down ... The current top hysteria gal,must surely be Naomi Watts.(my all time fave).she does runny-nosed crying soo well..."Mulholland Drive" spoilt me for movie watching for ages,has anyone ever ,before or since given such a gut-wrenching total,turning inside out performance?.. "21 grams" gave her another grief- stricken sob of a workout. Even in her "bad" films,(like"Ring" and "Funny Games" )we know we are getting some masterly screaming etc... Thinking back...check out all that screaming at the start of "Kiss Me Deadly",courtesy of Cloris Leachman ,totally ace..ah,then what about Madeliene Khan in High Anxiety?..back to David Lynch,and wigg-out duties are taken up by Laura Dern in "inland Empire" parts of which i worry about seeing again... A definite Queen of the Hysterics is Carmen Maura (more recently found hiding from Penelope cruz in "Volver",along with the other To ... " [More]
A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange
Re:Some quotes I use a lot
By chrismorrell in Best movie quotes
""I dunno...er..what are the hours?"..(last line) from "This Is Spinal Tap"..along with "But enough of my yakkin".."she means Dolby" ,basically,the whole film... i just assume that things like "These go to eleven" ,and "they were still booing him when we came on",are just in general usage. "Viddy well little brother" "yah Blockos" "oh my brother" and "Appy-polly- logies"..from "A Clockwork Orange" ... "Cleaning Woman!" and "You need a cup of my famous java!" ...from "Dead Men Dont Wear Plaid" "Can you prove to me that you are twenty one?" from "Raging Bull" "There's a man...in back of this place" ..."he's the one who's doing it"..."i can see him through the wall!"... from "Mulholland Drive"...oh and when i hear talk of David Beckham i say "Dr Beckerman?" from "Ghostbusters"..oh,and "That's a Dooooseeee!" from "Groundhog Day" ..bugger! i could carry on for ever with this ...it seems i havnt had an original thought since 1980,when i started quoting " Gregory ... " [More]
2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey
Re:Top 5 Most Important America ...
By chrismorrell in Top 5
"Do you think it may be worthwhile to debate whether 2001 is perhaps more accurately a British film?[/quote] Hey Rizzo..this seems odd,surely i should not be able to edit your posting ..(?). Not sure if i've come across this before on Spout..(just slap me if it's perfectly normal)... Anyway,thanks for sticking up for the U.K... wasnt "2001" made at Shepperton?(lots of stuff still is)...where a bunch of boffins basically made plastic models suspended on wire ,in a black room,look like the Universe?Chris Morrell " [More]
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Dee No1 Ladees' Detective Agencee
By chrismorrell in chrismorrell Blog
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 "I didnt have much time for the novels that this derives from,but ,felt i should give Anthony Minghellas last work ,a watch,and ,of course it was an exclusive for us U.K cineastes..The books are meant to be funny,but were also easily derided as simplistic,and a bit dodgy,as they are written by a "posh" white englishman,and the characterization seems not a little trite,verging on the racist...but maybe that's just my lilly livered liberal ass? Screening on BBC T.V. on Easter monday (DVD release soon i guess?) and downloaded via the "I-Player" Anthony Minghellas film,screenplay by Richard Curtis,captures the tone of the written stuff,and improves on it ,i feel..The premise of the self-appointed detective is ridiculous,verging on the patronisingly naive ,but makes for undeniably funny stuff. Jill Scott is Precious Ramotse,a woman of "traditional build" ,who knows right from wrong and has a sure eye for punctuation.The tone is mostly archly comic,and undeniably heartwarming, with a h ... " [More]
Half Nelson
Half Nelson
No redemption and that's fine
By chrismorrell in chrismorrell Blog
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 "Grabbing a cliche..this is truly heartwarming..shows true friendship/connection,whatever you want to call it...A slice of life,(there's another cliche for you),that takes you to the brink of "the dark side",but pulls back,as we look in on these characters. I found myself hoping,all the way through this that it wouldnt seek a "redemption" for the character,wouldnt try to "close" the story. I found myself relieved,and gladdened that all is unresolved. Not everyones cup of tea,obviously.Not a "big" film,but a signature performance from writer/director and main player. Probably a one-off. " [More]
House of Flying Daggers
House of Flying Daggers
Razor Romance
By chrismorrell in chrismorrell Blog
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 "Quite possibly, the most achingly romantic film of the decade, preposterous violence, used largely to symbolise true love, realised and unrequited.If you don’t cry at this, you've got a heart of stone. " [More]
La Belle Noiseuse
La Belle Noiseuse
Good looking mouthy cow!
By chrismorrell in chrismorrell Blog
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 "I found this an obsessive masterpiece...and became obsessed with it myself. As an Artist ,i was attracted by the pretention of it...and i must admit,that i was equally attracted by the beautiful Beart body...she is naked for long periods.The quest is to capture something other than the physical, however,and that reaching for the intangible comes over as a brooding,scary thing.Jane Birkin,as the wife,the original muse,sees herself being replaced ,quite literally painted over... but she remembers and understands why.The "life drawing" sessions play out in real time ,and we see the hands of a genuine draftsman at work..but the discourse and fractious relationship between artist and model is where the real creative process resides. " [More]

Lists

Films I've seen (99)
Films I've seen
Films I want to see (2)
Films I want to see
My favorite films (1)
Vertigo,A touch of Evil,Taxi Driver,Eraserhead,Mulholland Drive, The Big Lebowski,Inland Empire, ...
Films I want to buy (0)
Films I want to buy
recent cinema visits (0)
Eastern promises, The Bourne Ultimatum,Last King of Scotland, Hot Fuzz.. An even spread througho ...