The latest 100 Sexiest Men from Attitude magazine has Ryan Gosling at #6.
He has been beaten by Zayn Malik from boyband One Direction at #5.
When you watch Gangster Squad (2013) you somewhat question Gosling's claim to be an actor is close to Malik's claim to be a musician. In fact so annoying was Gosling in Gangster Squad that it cast a shadow on his performance in Drive (2011) - a close to perfect film of the past few years.
Which is why a lot of folk are probably hoping a lot from Gosling teaming up with Drive's director Nicholas Winding Refn's newest release; Only God Forgives (2013 / ODEON Cinema, Belfast). Or at least for Gosling to get his shirt off.
A lot of the audience are leaving disappointed.
Gosling is Julian, a drug-smuggler working in Bangkok. When his arrogant brother is killed, his mother, Kristen Scott Thomas, insists he finds who is responsible and revenge is sought.
I liked this film.
I didn't love it.
From the restless audience that surrounded me, I knew they had their own mental checklist.
Nicholas Winding Refn = Cool soundtrack.
Not there.
Violent film in East Asia = Well choreographed fight scenes.
Not there.
Gosling = Shirt off.
Still there.
It has a slow pace. It has one man getting nailed to a chair. It has Kristen Scott Thomas playing as if Lady Macbeth's soul is coursing through her hateful veins.
What audiences may have to realise is that some directors actually get to make the film they want to make. And not the film they want to see. If we should be integral about such an art form, that's the way it has to be.
And here Winding Refn has made a beautiful film. I'm not sure I got the full jist. But that only leads me to watch it again. Most films today aren't like that.
Back when Drive was released I said that, 'Winding Refn is the David Lynch who makes sense.'
I can stand by that statement a little more strongly now. With my notion of seeing it again, I already feel like I'm onto a new Mulholland Drive (2001). Only God Forgives is an art-house film. A high-profile art-house film, but an art-house film nonetheless.
And that's a health warning that was silenced. It has folks buying tickets to see it, but it also has them walking for 'Exit' sooner than they wanted. The lesson of this film is; 'What you want and what you get are two different entities.'
8 / 10
Classy Saturday night in and on my box set recorded I have Perfume : The Story of a Murderer (2006 / BBCTWO). Based on Patrick Suskind's 'unfilmable' novel. Which I'm not sure I absorbed when I read it many years ago. So it's up to the wonderful Tom Tykwer to show and tell me all.
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born into poverty within 18th century France. But he has an unnatural gift.
He can smell.
He can determine scents of practically anything.
And then what should be a wonderful romp of seducing a nice lady and creating cutesy perfumes is then dropped the moment Jean-Baptiste murders an innocent flower seller. Then on his crooked adventures he goes to see how he can capture the scent of a beautiful female.
Ben Whishaw is adorable as the awkward and determined Jean-Baptiste - who's murders aren't always so sinister to him. I did feel he was becoming Norman Bates for a new generation. You fear you may be next, yet you can't help want to stroke him peacefully to sleep.
John Hurt has his classy voice provide the narration.
And one rare occurrence for film today.
A good film actually gets better one hour in. Mainly due to Alan Rickman showing up.
Buggered if I know if it's made a strong adaptation. All I know is that Perfume is a warming and wonderfully rural fantasy thriller. I shouldn't find it so charming due to all the death. But Whishaw is just too sweet.
10 / 10
Remember VHS? And the kind of 90's thriller you'd rent on such a format?
Well, one was on Syfy last week.
Strange Days (1995 / Kathern Bigalow) which is written by James Cameron. I sometimes wonder if he couldn't have let Kathern Bigalow write Titanic (1997) whilst he direct and not let it become the romance he couldn't get himself out off.
These Movie Dreams of mine occur often.
Ralph Fiennes uncovers a police conspiracy just before the turn of the century. Only problem is he's a hustler. But not just any type of hustler.
A dream hustler.
With his illegal technology he's able to transport recorded dreams, real and unreal, directly to the buyer's head.
Strange Days is a good movie. But it's long.
Colourful with all the 90's backgrounds. Awesome due to the grungy soundtrack - which includes Juliette Lewis singing PJ Harvey songs.
But long. So long.
7 / 10
Do lesbians get a good press?
Well they do now.
The Kids Are All Right (2010 / Lisa Cholodenko / Recorded from Channel 4) is now one of my favourites of the past five years. Julianne Moore and Annette Bening are a couple with two teenage children. Curiosity gets the better of their son and he manages to convince his older sister to attempt contact with their biological father.
Pleased that he has children, Paul played by Mark Ruffalo, shows up with his calm womanising ways and brings fun for the kids but insecurities to the female couple.
Very funny when it wants to be and hugely real and warm, Lisa Cholodenko has taken it well to put together such a film. A real joy.
9 / 10
Eugence Levy + Samuel L. Jackson
Eddie Murphy + Robert De Niro
Surely the buddy cop movie is dead?
Oh no. Here comes The Heat (2013 / Paul Feig / ODEON Cinema, Belfast).
Sandra Bullock playing the same character from Miss Congeniality (2000).
Melissa McCarthy playing the same character from Bridesmaids (2011).
Right, shall just get ready to rip it...
Oh my goodness!!
The Heat could possibly be the funniest film I've seen in years. Mark Kermode has talked about comedy films today having a number of big laughs - which if you hit, you're doing quite well. Now The Heat produces a good number of belly laughs. Or rather Melissa McCarthy does. As fun as Bullock is, I did sense she was hired because her name is still larger than McCarthy.
But the two have comedy down well. And I had many giggles throughout its foul mouthed raucous undercover behaviour.
What a load of Bullock!
8 / 10
No one can top that surely? Not one can give me more laughs this week.
Except for Steve Coogan.
Coogan has attempted to get Alan Partridge on the big screen for years. And now he's done it.
Alan Partridge : Alpha Papa (2013 / Declain Lowney / ODEON Cinemas, Belfast) sees the Norfolk Radio DJ under siege as a disgruntled ex-DJ Pat, played by Colm Meaney, takes control of the radio and holds various staff members hostage.
This may sound juvenile but the jokes in Alpha Papa are very...talky?
But very brilliant.
I wish I could repeat the jokes to you, I really do. But you must see Alpha Papa with a fresh mind. Allow Partridge's (and Lynn's) way of looking at the world really touch you again.
And make you wonder why this didn't happen sooner.
8 / 10
Playlist
Breaking the Same Old Ground Marilyn Manson, In Vein Alkaline Trio, Raging Storm Cyndi Lauper, The Hand that Feeds Nine Inch Nails, This is Halloween Marilyn Manson, Dead Presidents Jesus on Extasy, Target Audience (Narcissus Narcosis) Marilyn Manson, Are You All Right Joel McNeely, Aldebaran Enya, Dethbed Alkaline Trio, Julian Say Lou Lou, Living Death Nicholas Hooper, The Love Song Marilyn Manson, When It Rains Paramore, Crush The Smashing Pumpkins, The Beginning is the End is the Beginning The Smashing Pumpkins,
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