What movies have you seen recently?

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Bada Din

A 'Bollywood' film from the late 1990s, the first one I've ever watched. Not bad, even for something that goes on for almost 2 hours. Don't think I could make a habit of watching films that always seem to include a singing and dancing routine every twenty minutes or so however, even if it was well done here.

Interesting how many of the characters switch from their native language to English at regular intervals, the so-called 'Hinglish' - this is apparently a common phenomenon amongst modern middle-class urban Indians. The film stars Shabana Azmi, who looks absolutely gorgeous here, I couldn't believe she was 48 years old at the time.

My Cousin Vinny.

‘Safe’ from 1995 starring Juliana Moore.

Set in 1987 the character Moore plays Carol White is suffering from an environmental illness that compromises her immune system. She isolates in a New age retreat meant to cleanse.

Meant as an AIDS allegory the film also takes on the gaslighting of women in regard to health issues, the New age “fad” and the wealthy SoCal lifestyles of the era.


Although her illness is different then COVID-19 I find some relevancy to the current moment whereby people are starting to return to normal lifestyles. Like Carol White the “vulnerable” population today is increasingly forced to choose between being seriously ill and isolating from the world. Like for Carol White the concerns of those still choosing to isolate/self lockdown are being dismissed as “all in the head”.

The film gained lots of publicity at the time, and is still regarded as one of the best indie films yet it somehow it had passed me by. I was listening to a Podcast discussion when COVID-19 came up yet again and somebody referenced the film.

mission to mars [highly recommended]

Chappie
Very interesting science fiction film.

Looks and Smiles

Ken Loach films are not for everyone, but I like them on the whole. This one, from 1981, looks at the plight of working-class young people in the North of England in the early part of Margaret Thatcher's premiership.

Filmed in a semi 'Cinema Verité' style, and in black-and-white: was the latter choice because of budget constraints or was it for artistic reasons? The heavy South Yorkshire, and also Newcastle (Geordie) accents used throughout the film might make the dialogue difficult to follow at times, even for viewers in many parts of the UK.

His House (Netflix). Superb horror debut by Remi Weekes. It reminded me of Under the Shadow, and that can only be a good thing.

"A Call to Spy" - 2020 film about female spies for Great Britain in occupied France during WWII.

Very good film about a forgotten part of history.

Over the Moon
Temple Gradin
The Accountant
The Other Son
Furlough
The Chronicles of Evil (this was the best!)