20s Movie Review - Last Night in Soho

Director: Edgar Wright
Genre: Drama/ Horror/ Mystery
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, Terence Stamp, Sam Claflin

Description: An aspiring fashion designer (Thomasin McKenzie) is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer (Anya Taylor-Joy). But the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something darker.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE

WEEK 16: A MOVIE STARRING AN ACTOR/ACTRESS WHO IS NO LONGER ALIVE

Review: If only she had lived in the 1960s, Eloise knows. She is about to movie to London to study to be a fashion designer. Her grandmother wasn’t Eloise, that London can be a bit much.

Once in the capital, things soon turn out not to be what she expected. Soon she disappears at night in her dreams to the London of the 1960s. She puts herself in the shoes of Sandie, a young woman who wants to become a famous singer. But are they really dreams, or does she really go through time? With a director like Edgar Wright, the cinematic bag of tricks is open and what you get is a stylish affair.

Take for example a, at first sight, simple romantic dance scene between Sandie and the charismatic talent scout Jack. One moment we see he has Sandie in his arms, ant then he’s spinning Eloise around. When Sandie passes a mirror, we see Eloise in it. Something that flows together so well, takes some insane planning skills. On a story level, Wright always stuffs his films full of hints, rewarding re-watching double-time.

 It's a very different film from Wright, because the humor that we are used from his earlier work, is completely absent here. It’s a serious film with horror elements. And I praise Wright for exploring different genres, because he did an amazing job, yet again.

Thomasin Mackenzie plays Eloise and starts strongly as a grey mouse who is out of place. Later in the film she has Anya Taylor-Joy opposite her, who plays Sandie, and together they must portray a band. Both women portray their characters very well.

Edgar Wright’s take on a serious horror works very well and I’m super impressed. This shows again why he is one of my favorite directors

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Ranking the Franchise - Cornetto Trilogy (Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy)

Probably my most favorite trilogy of all-time is the so-called Cornetto trilogy, containing of the three films directed by Edgar Wright and starring Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. They are some of the funniest, smartest, cleverest and most inventive comedies you will ever see. It’s British humor, not so much in-your-face, and that’s just my kind of comedy. Even though it’s not a trilogy with sequels, since it’s three separate stories where Pegg and Frost play different characters, it is a trilogy and I can share with you what I think about them. It’s also the hardest ranking I had to do, because I want to put them all at the number one positions (since I rated all of them 5 out of 5). But I eventually did come up with a top 3.

3. The World’s End (2013)
This final part of a loosely connected trilogy focuses on five childhood friends who, twenty years after a failed pub crawl in their hometown, make a new attempt. But in the old village not everything turns out to be okay. It’s an unconventional mix of nostalgic tragicomedy and sci-fi-spectacular, with a strong cast, infectious humor and cleverly choreographed action and fight scenes.

2. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun suffers greatly from the breakup with his girlfriend Liz. His roommate Ed doesn’t have much, he’s too busy gaming, drinking and other shenanigans. Yet Ed turns out to be handy to have around, when residents of a suburb of London appear to suffer from a zombie virus. It’s the first film in the trilogy, with subtle hints and great visual humor.

1. Hot Fuzz
In Sanford, ominous things happen. The gardens are too neat, the facades too clean. No town can become ‘Village of the Year” three times in a row, without a bad practice behind it. Policeman Danny Butterman and his over-ambitious colleague Nicholas Angel are investigating. It’s a cheerful, humorous film with a great eye for detail, in which melancholy uncomfortable and masterly jokes alternate.

00s Movie Review - Shaun of the Dead

Director: Edgar Wright
Genre: Horror/ Action/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Bill Nighy, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Nicola Cummingham, Peter Serafinowicz, Penelope Wilton

Description: Shaun (Simon Pegg) decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend (Kate Ashfield), reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.

Review: Leading man and co-writer Simon Pegg didn’t give himself the most heroic role. Shaun is maybe one of the biggest losers on the big screen. But that is what makes him so common and recognizable.
It takes some time for Shaun and his friend Ed to realize that London is filling up with zombies. When they finally find out, their responds is just as ‘realistic’: throwing everything as long as it didn’t cost anything. The two think of a plan of rescuing Shaun’s mom and girlfriend and then taking shelter in their pub the Winchester.
“Shaun of the Dead” is first and foremost a romantic comedy, with a splash of horror elements. You wouldn’t expect that of a zombie movie, but that’s exactly the power of the film. The humor is typical British en when you’re a fan, like I am, this is just your movie. It’s subtle and very clever.
For fans of black comedies, “Shaun of the Dead” is the perfect movie. And this is the start of a great series of films, that made me fall in love with Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. What a threesome!

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Favorites: Hot Fuzz

Synopsis: Top London cop, PC Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is good. Too good. And to stop the rest of his team looking bad, he is reassigned to the quiet town of Sandford. He is paired with Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), who endlessly questions him on the action lifestyle. Everything seems quiet for Angel, until two actors are found decapitated. It is called an accident, but Angel isn't going to accept that, especially when more and more people turn up dead. Angel and Danny clash with everyone, whilst trying to uncover the truth behind the mystery of the apparent "accidents".

 

 

Unique Selling Point: This is how action and comedy should be mixed. This is probably my favorite out of the cornetto-trilogy.

Most Valuable Player: Edgar Wright, for writing one of the greatest comedies in movie history. Clever jokes, something that makes me laugh every time.

Best Moment: Nicholas Angel jumps over a fence, smoothly. Danny also does it, not so smoothly. “What’s the matter, Danny? Never taken a shortcut before?” Well, he clearly hasn’t.

Top 5 Thursday: Movie-Making Cliques

There are lots of directors and actors that love working together so much, they often collaborate. And we don’t get sick and tired of it, because we know it works every time! Here are my favorites.

5. The Tim Burton Gang

Tim Burton always creates the most amazing sets and worlds in movies. When you are a bit crazy as a director, you need crazy actors, like Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. They can easily adapt to Burton’s ideas.

 

4. The Apatow Gang

Judd Apatow is one of the better American comedy directors/ writers/ producers. His comedies are often raunchy, but not tasteless and almost every time memorable. He loves working with Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Leslie Mann (off course), Paul Rudd, Bill Hader, James Franco, Jay Baruchel and Kristen Wiig.

 

3. The Scorsese Gang

Martin Scorsese worked with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci a lot in the past. Some of movie history’s best were made with these guys. Think of “Taxi Driver”, “Raging Bull”, “Goodfellas” and “Casino”. Later De Niro was exchanged for Leonardo DiCaprio. “The Departed”, “Gangs of New York”, “Shutter Island” and “The Aviator” were all great movies!

 

2. The Wes Anderson Gang

Wes Anderson’s movies are just a work of art, every single time. And you only want your best actors in there. Like Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, Jeff Goldblum, Anjelica Huston, Willen Dafoe, Tilda Swinton and Edward Norton. And the list doesn’t even end here.

 

1. The Cornetto Gang

Do you think Edgar Wright knew he had found gold when he teamed up with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost for “Shaun of the Dead”? One of the best comedies ever. And then he made “Hot Fuzz” and “The World’s End”, which are also great, and one even better! It was meant to be a trilogy, but I just hope this isn’t the end of their collaboration. Other people often in these films are Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Rafe Spall.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: The Ben Stiller Gang, The Tarantino Gang, The Coen Brothers Gang

Quotables: "The World's End"

It’s really sad to hear that this is the final movie in the Cornetto series. I secretly hope there will be more movies directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. They are a trio made in heaven. But there is still enough room on my blog to talk about these amazing comedies. Here are the best quotes from “The World’s End”.

Gary King: Tonight, we will be partaking of a liquid repast as we wind our way up the Golden Mile. Commencing with an inaugural tankard in The First Post, then on to The Old Familiar, The Famous Cock, The Cross Hands, The Good Companions, The Trusty Servant, The Two-Headed Dog, The Mermaid, The Beehive, The King's Head, and The Hole in the Wall for a measure of the same, all before the last bittersweet pint in that most fateful terminus, The World's End. Leave a light on good lady, for though we may return with a twinkle in our eyes, we will be in truth blind - drunk!

Gary King: [to The Network] Oh fuck off, you big lamp!

Gary King: Get back in your rocket, and fuck off back to Legoland you cunts!

 

Gary King: Drink up. Let's Boo-Boo.

Steven Prince: 'Boo-Boo'? What is that?

Gary King: You remember "Let's Boo-Boo". You know, from Mr. Shephard's classroom, it said on the wall "Exit, Pursued by a Bear", you know, from that Shakespeare play?

Steven Prince: A Winter's Tale.

Gary King: Yeah. What was it called?

Steven Prince: A Winter's Tale.

Gary King: That's it. And if we needed to make a quick getaway, we'd say: "Exit, Pursued by a Bear". And then, it was: "Exit, Pursued by Yogi Bear". And then, it was just: "Let's Yogi and Boo-Boo". And then: "Let's Boo-Boo".

Steven Prince: So you're saying we should go?

Gary King: Yeah. Shitty, here. Isn't it?

Gary King: How is, uh...

Peter Page: Vanessa.

Gary King: No. Your wife.

Peter Page: Vanessa.

Gary King: Yeah. How's she?

Peter Page: She's good.

Gary King: Have you had sex yet?

Peter Page: We have two children.

Gary King: Ooh twice! Get you, fuck machine.

Andrew Knightley: I haven't had a drink for sixteen years Gary.

Gary King: You must be thirsty then.

 

Steven Prince: Ten people have entered in this toilet in the last five minutes and not a single one has come back out again. That's going to look suspicious.

Gary King: Gay loving!

Gary King: [having repeatedly banged his head against the wall] There, that proves I'm human.

Steven Prince: It proves you're stupid.

Gary King: Exactly! Ow!

Andrew Knightley: You said you wanted to chew the fat. I think you just wanted to drink it. We're not your friends, we're just your fucking enablers.

Gary King: Enabler? Oh that's a funny word. Gary King & The Enablers. Actually that would make a great name for the band. Steve, write that down.

In the Picture: The Characters from "The World's End"

I finally saw it this year and it met my expectations. It’s a fantastic comedy, this is how comedies should be made! And it also brought some great characters. Here are the characters from “The World’s End”.

Gary King
Played by: Simon Pegg
Gary King is a middle-aged recovering drug addict. He is still stuck in his teenage life, because he wants to get the old group of friends together again. Gary is determined to finally finish “The Golden Mile” because they didn’t manage that back in the days.

Andy Knightley
Played by: Nick Frost
Andy used to be Gary’s best friend, but nowadays Andy is a more serious man. He is a lawyer. Andy doesn’t want to be a part of the reunion, but when he starts feeling sorry for Gary he decides to take part anyway.

Oliver Chamberlain
Played by: Martin Freeman
Oliver is a serious business man, an estate agent, who is still working while trying to finish “The Golden Mile” with the guys. He only got into the group because Gary thought his sister Sam was hot.

Steven Prince
Played by: Paddy Considine
Steven used to be Gary’s fellow rock star in training. They were very similar when they were kids: Cool, good-looking and both into Oliver’s sister Sam. Steven is now an architectural consultant and hasn’t heard from Gary for a very long time.

Peter Page
Played by: Eddie Marsan
Peter is from a wealthy family and that was the only reason Gary wanted to be friends with him. As a child, Peter was bullied and when he revisits New Haven he sees his bully again.

Sam Chamberlain
Played by: Rosemund Pike
Sam is Oliver’s sister and caught the eye of both Gary and Steven. Gary had a fling with her when they were younger, but she always regretted that. Nowadays she is more into Steven.

Favorite Character: Gary King

Me & 3 Cornetto Movies

Now that I finally saw “The World’s End” I can finally put these three amazing films in this item. I love all the movies that Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost made together. They are just genius.

Shaun of the Dead
Genre: Comedy/ Horror
Year: 2004
Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Dylan Moran, Lucy Davies, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Martin Freeman
Description: Shaun (Simon Pegg) decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.
Opinion: This is what started it all. I laughed so hard when I first saw it, and maybe even harder the second time.
Favorite character: Ed (Nick Frost)
Most memorable quote: “Who died and made you fucking king of the zombies?” - Ed -
Best scene: While the jukebox (which is on random) plays “Don’t stop me now” by Queen, Shaun, Ed and Liz are beating up zombies.

Hot Fuzz
Genre: Comedy/ Action
Year: 2007
Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Martin Freeman, Bill Nighy, Steve Coogan, Paddy Considine, Rafe Spall
Description: Exceptional London cop Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is involuntarily transferred to a quaint English village and paired with a witless new partner. While on the beat, Nicholas suspects a sinister conspiracy is afoot with the residents.
Opinion: I remember that my brother and I leaned this movie from someone, saying it wasn’t all that funny. Well, they obviously don’t have a great sense of humour, because British humour doesn’t get any better than this. The story is fun and they way it’s executed is just simply brilliant.
Favorite character: Danny Butterman (Nick Frost)
Most memorable quote: “[shouting] Have you ever wondered why, why the crime rate in Sandford is so low, yet the accident rate is so high?” – Nicholas Angel -
Best scene: Danny tries to jump over a fence, like Nicholas did. Only Danny isn’t as good at it.

The World’s End
Genre: Comedy/ Action/ Science-Fiction
Year: 2013
Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan, Rosamund Pike, Pierce Brosnan
Description: Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind's only hope for survival.
Opinion: It was worth the wait. Very subtle British humour and a great way to end a trilogy.
Favorite character: Gary King (Simon Pegg)
Most memorable quote: “What the fuck does WTF mean?” – Gary King -
Best scene: The fight scene in the bathroom.

Favorite of the 3: Hot Fuzz

100 Movies Challenge 2014 - # 42: The World's End

Director: Edgar Wright
Genre: Comedy/ Science Fiction/ Action
Runtime: 109 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan, Rosamund Pike, Pierce Brosnan

Description: Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind's only hope for survival.

Review: The trio Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are back in the last part of their so-called “Three Flavors Cornetto-trilogy”. With previous successes “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” Pegg and Frost write the screenplay and play the lead characters and Wright has the honors to direct this comedy.
Twenty years ago Gary King and his friends wanted to achieve “The Golden Mile”, which means that they visit twelve pubs in their hometown Newton Haven and ending in The World’s End. They didn’t make it and now, all grown up, the group of friends is going to give it another shot. But if they will make it to The World’s End or not is the least of their problems.
If you’re a fan of the previous films, like I am, you get exactly what you want. “The World’s End” is filled with the British humor that I love, mostly very subtle and not in your face. The film brought us a very memorable fight scene in a bathroom, which you really have to watch to understand why it’s close to being classic. Off course there is again a scene featuring a fence and a very subtle cornetto remark, both only meant for the insiders.
The entire cast is perfect and they all work very well together. Simon Pegg is the star of the film though, he shines in every scene and shows us that many American comedians still have a lot to learn.
If I want a good comedy, I leave it to Wright, Pegg and Frost, a magical trio. This is really my humor and they can hardly do anything wrong in my eyes. “The World’s End” is again a great film, for the lovers. And I hope the three men decide to make another movie… or two.

Rating: 5/ 5