Movie Review - I Came By

Director: Babak Anvari
Genre: Thriller
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, George McKay, Kelly MacDonald, Percelle Ascott, Varada Sethu
 
Description: Young graffiti artist Toby (George McKay) discovers a shocking secret that puts him in danger.

Review: Toby and Jay are graffiti artists, who spray the words “I came by” on the walls of rich citizen’s homes they break into. Sir Hector Blake, a former judge, is the next victim, but something more is going on in that house. Something they were never prepared for.

Hugh Bonneville is best known as the charming man of the house in “Downton Abbey” and “Paddington”. His role is slightly different in “I Came By” and I always love seeing actors stepping away from their roles and doing something completely different. And I might say, he does a formidable job.

The film is best watched without knowing too much. Don’t even watch the trailer. Because then this film will be more exciting and surprising. I basically watched this movie because Stephen King recommended it in an article I read. And when someone knows suspense and thrillers well, it’s King.

“I Came By” is an exciting and layered thriller, which offers plenty of surprises. It also manages to add some social commentary on racism, nepotism and parenting. And the way the story is told is not standard. The character you’re exploring the story with, changes along the way. Multiple times. Which makes it even more interesting.

“I Came By” is a nice surprise. I’m quite shocked that a lot of people are not as positive about the film, because I believe it’s a really good, solid and exciting thriller.

Rating: 4/ 5

TV Show Review - Truth Seekers

Season: 1
Genre: Comedy/ Horror
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2020
Starring: Nick Frost, Malcolm McDowell, Samson Kayo, Emma D’Arcy, Simon Pegg, Kelly Macdonald, Susie Wokoma    

Description: A team of part-time paranormal investigators use homemade gizmos to track the supernatural, sharing their adventures online. As their haunted stake outs become more terrifying they begin to uncover an unimaginable, apocalyptic conspiracy.

Review: “Truth Seekers” on Amazon Prime lacks the magic from previous collaborations of Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. Maybe because they hardly share any screen time together. But still, it’s a pleasant horror comedy full of geeky references that you will finish in a heartbeat.

The term horror might be a little strong, since it’s as scary as “Stranger Things”. And it’s not as funny as and Edgar Wright movie starring Frost and Pegg. But there’s a good chance that the charming ghost hunters will catch you during the eight half-hour episodes.
Telecom technician Gus spends his free time as a paranormal researcher. He gets the help of his new colleague Elton John, himself with an aversion to ghosts, and Astrid, who is chased by ghosts. The trio applauded on the sidelines by Gus’ father-in-law, Elton’s sister Helen and Gus’ boss Dave.
“Truth Seekers” doesn’t spend time on dubious heroes. Behind the smiles of the amiable characters are hidden mysteries that will connect all of them like a pieces of a puzzle.
“Truth Seekers” is a fun and quick watch. Not something memorable, but still enjoyable.

Movie Reviews - Holmes & Watson

Director: Etan Cohen
Genre: Comedy/ Adventure
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Rebecca Ferguson, Kelly Macdonald, Ralph Fiennes, Pam Ferris

Description: A humorous take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic mysteries featuring Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.

Review: “Holmes & Watson” has a golden duo: stars from the movies “Step Brothers” and “Talladega Nights”, John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell. Together again in a comedy, so it must be fun. Well, no! It’s one of the worst comedies I’ve seen the past years.
Sherlock Holmes is known as one of the best detectives in the literary world. His intelligent friend Dr. John Watson assists him. “Holmes & Watson” is a humoristic and more absurd take on this duo and they are definitely not the master detectives they are in the novels.
Such funny actors in a non-funny comedy. How is it possible? Because it’s a giant shit-show. It’s painful to watch and you just want it to end. And it’s kind of insulting to the fantastic characters that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once created. They didn’t deserve to be portrayed like this or to be ridiculed.
If you haven’t seen “Holmes & Watson”, please keep it that way.

Rating: 1/ 5

10s Movie Review - Trainspotting 2

Director: Danny Boyle
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kelly Macdonald

Description: After 20 years abroad, Mark Renton (Ewam McGregor) returns to Scotland and reunites with his old friends Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Spud (Ewen Bremner), and Begbie (Robert Carlyle).

Review: A life, a job, a career, a family and luxury. At the beginning of the first “Trainspotting”, lead character Mark Renton didn’t want to think about all this. He was hanging out with his friends, hoping for a heroine kick. ‘Rent Boy’ wanted a clean sleight and got clean. But his friends had a bad influence on him.
Doyles work of art from 1996 pictured the relentless subculture. What made “Trainspotting” so good, were the quick montages, rough edges and a pulsating soundtrack.
Boyle waited so long for a sequel, because he wanted his actor to physically look older. Twenty years later it looks like Mark is finally leading a normal life. He lives in Amsterdam, has a solid job and is even married. He returns to Scotland to settle some issues. He visits Spud, who is still an addict and has a struggling relationship with his ex and son. Simon is leading a life a crime, but has big plans for his pub. And then there is Begbie, who has been in jail for twenty years. He wants his son to follow in his footsteps and is out for revenge on Mark.
“Trainspotting” was a unique film. “Trainspotting 2” is a really good sequel. The evolved dynamic between the characters is the best part of the film. The film isn’t as intense and visually rough as the first. But still has a lot of depth.
Real friendships last a lifetime, that’s one thing that’s sure. Even with the unstable factors present.
History repeats itself, but also manages to adapt and change. “Trainspotting 2” is a solid sequel, totally worth waiting those 20 years for.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movue Challenge 2017 - # 7: Trainspotting

Director: Danny Boyle
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 94 minutes
Year: 1996
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, Kelly MacDonald

Description: Renton (Ewan McGregor), deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends.

Review: Mark Renton is a junkie and seems to like his lifestyle. While he is telling us how great it feels, we see reality. The viewer gets the chance to form an opinion.
Danny Boyle is a fantastic director. He always manages to set the tone of a scene, by using color and his way of filming. The sometimes unrealistic images, that show how Renton feels at that moment, and the soundtrack turn this film into one long trip.
Ewan McGregor plays the main character. But there is a lot going on around him. Ewen Bremner plays Spud, Renton’s best friend. He is hilarious! And Robert Carlyle, as Begbie, should be unlikeable with his temper and violent way of life. But somehow, he is a joy to watch.
“Trainspotting” is funny (not humor for everyone), original and wonderful. One of Danny Boyle’s best films.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 98: Gosford Park

Director: Robert Altman

Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Crime

Runtime: 137 minutes

Year: 2001

Starring: Kelly MacDonald, Clive Owen, Michael Gambon, Alan Bates, Ryan Phillippe, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, Kristen Scott Thomas, Jeremy Northam, Richard E. Grant, Stephen Fry, Bob Balaban, Eileen Atkins, Charles Dance, Emily Watson, Camilla Rutherford

Description: The lives of upstairs guest and downstairs servants at a party in 1932 in a country house in England as they investigate a murder involving one of them.

Review: The start of the film sets the tone. This is not an ordinary detective, but an analysis of the English society of the 1930s.

On a rainy day, made Mary and her lady Constance Trentham leave for a hunting weekend. The head of housekeeping, at the mansion they are visiting, is Mrs. Wilson. It’s soon clear that nobody is called by their name, but by the name of the people they are serving. The tone is set.

Meanwhile many different characters are introduced. Upstairs we meet actor and singer Ivor Novello and his movie producing American friend Morris Weissman; the casual Isobel and her sister Sylvia; crafty Freddie Nesbit and his plain wife Mabel. We see lots of married couples, bt everything is a lot more complicated. Downstairs we have servant Henry, an arrogant young man; Butlers George, Arthur and Probert; alcoholic head butler Jennings; Head of the kitchen Mrs. Croft. Upstairs people don’t talk that much about each other, but downstairs is where the gossip starts.

It’s a pretty complicated setting, lots of characters you meet and have to get to know. You have to pay attention to keep up and to discover all the intrigue. But during all this puzzling, you enjoy all the humor that is in this film. Good dialogues, great acting and fantastic actors.

Halfway through the film, someone is murdered, which also gives this movie a detective story touch. You could criticize this, but the context is much more important than the story. Because the context is brought to the surface, the characters come to life. And also the acting makes this happen, actually by all the actors. Both the bigger and the smaller roles are performed very well. It shows that “Gosford Park” has been made with a lot of love and enthusiasm.

“Gosford Park” is a classy, yet funny and surprising costume drama. I highly enjoyed it.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Archers

I recently saw "Brave" for the first time and that made me think of this top 5. The best movie archers.

5. Clint Barton/ Hawke Eye (“The Avengers”)
He is part of the ensemble, but doesn't have any superpowers. His bow and arrow do the trick.

4. Neytiri (“Avatar”)
She is the Na'vi princess of the Omaticaya clan. She is good with her bow and she can quite do some damage because of the size of the arrows.

3. Princess Merida (“Brave”)
Merida is a character with a strong will and a young woman who just wants to make her own decisions. Her mother doesn't like it that Merida is so good at archery.

2. Katniss Everdeen (“The Hunger Games”)
Katniss taught herself to shoot a bow and arrow, just for the simple reason of survival. As you can see, it can come in handy. Katniss really rocks this weapon.

1. Robin Hood (“Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”)
Robin Hood is the most well known archer in the history of the world and also in the movie history. My favorite indeed!

They almost made the top 5: Kili ("The Hobbit")