Movie review - "A Futile and Stupid Gesture" (2018) ****

 Lots of fun. Wittiest dialogue in a film since I don't know when. The self referential stuff doesn't always play well (eg comments about women, blacks) though sometimes to be fair it does (eg covering who ws important in the magazine). So much fun to see Joel McHale playing Chevy Chase. Cast is full of people like Emily Rossum and Natasha Lyone. I think star Will Forte means more in America.

One of Netflix's best ever original movies. It seems to have just been and gone and not lingered in the memory, when it should have.

Movie review - "Zombies 3" (2022) **

 I know why they went for aliens, I get it... it doesn't feel right somehow though. It felt as though the newcomers should be something more earth bound - like say mermaids or something. There's too much plot towards the end.

But a nice cast, and breezy tunes. There's even a hint at a lesbian relationship between a werewolf and an alien. Why is that girl on the screen the whole time?

Movie review - "Zombies 2" (2020) **1/2

 They bring in werewolves for this. Song and dance numbers are still great as are the stars. The love triangle hinted at with the leads might've been more effectively developed. Bright and cheerful. Good fun.

Script review - "Mr Horn" by William Goldman

 Goldman refers to this as a "bad experience" in his memoirs. It was filmed, as a TV movie. This script is better than that. I haven't done a comps analysis. This film is really good.

It's long - over 200 pages - and splits into two. I could see where it could be edited. You could get going with the story quicker. Sometimes Goldmans' prose is deceptive - you read it and go "wow this is a movie" but it doesn't necessarily play. But I think most of this would played.

It's in two parts. Part one is about the search for Geronimo, focusing on Horn's relationship with Al Sieber, and sub relationship with an officious army officer, plus the side bars of Crook and Miles. Part two is Horn as a bounty hunter/hired killer for the rich.

Lots of finicky changes in the TV movie. For instance, when Horn and Sieber first encounter Indians in the script it's at night and Horn senses Indians first before we see them. In the movie, we see a cut of the Indians and it's in the less scary day. It cuts a scene where Horn hears Geronimo's two lieutenants talking in Apache, unaware he can hear - this was a dumb cut. So too was reducing the stupidity of Lt Lawton. The suspense is reduced. Horn's achievement in the first battle is reduced. That sort of thing.

Movie review - "Deep Water" (2022) **1/2

 Adrian Lyne returns to the movies - not exactly the big screen, but with a tale in his wheelhouse: sexual jealousy. It's made with polish and some excellent actors - Affleck and Ana de Armas are genuine stars.

I think the story would've had more resonance if still set in the 1950s - I'm sure kinkiness still goes on, I just think the reality of why you'd be stuck in that marriage when it didn't please you would've "sold" more.

The discovery of a dead body doesn't happen until an hour into the film. De Armas takes probably two too many lovers (after a while it's like "alright already"). And I think the ending of the book was more believable.

Tracy Letts is great as an all too believable self important writer. Very good cast. Affleck and de Armas are terrific - Affleck has all this pain on his face, and you'd put up a lot for de Armas.

Movie review - "Zombies" (2018) ***

 Bright, charming musical with an engaging sense of the absurd (including direct to camera address), likeable cast, well covered serious subtext, and some really terrific song and dance numbers. What a talented cast! Meg Donnell was particularly impressive.

Movie review - "Blonde" (2022) **1/2

I loved how the film got people arguing about a movie again, as in it's the foyer of a film festival. The music is divine. The photography. Many of the images have stayed with me. It's long. Don't think it needed to be. It makes the same point again and again - she was mistreated by men. And her crazy mother.

People say it's made up. Well, a lot of it could've happened. Joe di Maggio did beat her. Zanuck could've raped her. She could've had a fling with JFK.  You didn't head the head job scene, I don't think. I know why it was there. I just didn't think it didn't need to be.

It was a slog at times, it was hard at times. I get why people don't like it. But it stimulated me.

Ana de Armas is terrific.