markjephson Reviews

Elvis (2022)

A mess

[5/10 · 30 October 2022]

Overall its a mess and gets boring. Austin plays a better older Elvis, but I think this is always the case with playing Elvis, he was just too damm good looking. Overall though it's not his fault the film leaves you cold.

Tom Hanks is terrible, he steals every scene he is in and spoils it. Normally like him but this must be his worst role ever.

The start of the film is awful and Jerks about too much. The problem with thw story is its a bit like Titanic we know it doesn't end well and there is little to say that we don't already know.

The worst thing though is you watch a lot of movie without really connecting to the music. Which is a shame cos he was goos

5 stars is generous.

Stan & Ollie (2018)

Brilliantly Acted

[10/10 · 18 September 2022]

As a Laurel and Hardy fan you go into this film with trepidation, this could have been all kinds of wrong. No fear Coogan and Reilly do a brilliant job, its acted perfectly not a step wrong. Not sure how they do it but its completely believable not just some bad expressions. You forget its not actually them and the balance between them doing their act and real life is just brilliant.

The story is not only true it is unbelievable as well, never understood why people like Chaplin so much, never found him funny but their comedy is timeless and stands up today. Oscars should have been won, it's the best thing Coogan has ever done ( and he has done some good stuff )

Top Gun (1986)

Awful

[1/10 · 30 May 2022]

I have never understood why people rate this movie. It has very little story, the lead character played by Tom Cruise is not that likeable. I guess it has some good flight scenes, but that's the only thing I can think of. The eighties were my era, there are loads of films better than this. I don't mind a bit if cheese but not this (Footloose is all cheese but fun for example) I can only imagine this appealed to 8 Yr olds at them time who look back it with some kind of nostalgia.

Nobody (I) (2021)

This is brilliant

[9/10 · 6 February 2022]

Proper throw back eighties action film. Better than John Wick, and bit Die Hardish as Odenkirk plays this with just enough vulnerability. The fight scenes are proper fun and no CGI in sight ( if there is some, I didn't see it - which is the way it should be )

I clapped at the end ( at home ).

The Kid Detective (2020)

surprisingly good

[8/10 · 21 August 2021]

Watch this, it's really well done and not what you expect.

Chef (2014)

Pointless

[1/10 · 3 August 2021]

Is this even a movie? How can anyone like this - it's banal nonsense. Don't get me wrong i love a feelgood popcorn movie but this is just awful.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Brilliant

[10/10 · 28 December 2020]

This is clever, a film wrapped in a real story wrapped in fantasy, without a diserving the truth. The attention to detail is amazing. The only criticism could be you probably need to know a bit of the back story to appreciate it.

Rocketman (I) (2019)

Just awful

[1/10 · 29 March 2020]

Normally, i tend to agree with scores given to a film, and can see why something scored higher than I would.But honestly I don't get this at all. It's just complete pap. The early scenes with the child are just cringy, the film gets slightly better when he gets older but by much. This is kind of a musical, albeit a really bad one. Don't get me wrong I love a musical, I will even give Grease 2 a go but this is just horrible. The worst bit us the end as Elton appears to blame everything on everybody else, you can almost see him sticking two fingers up . I can see all the failings oh Bohemian rhapsody, but it's so much better than this.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

No Magic

[4/10 · 29 December 2019]

Disney should have been good at this, what people forget is Star Wars was a kids movie that apealled to adults ( like Toy Story ). The key to original was the humour and the wonder, none of this is in this film. The first 30 minutes seems to be a panic mismatch that was just boring, it gets better but not much. Why isn't the duo R2D2 and C3P0 in it more - you suspect it's cos the plot line was driven by Toy sales to sell that round one, whatever he is called. I watched the original with my Dad when I was ten, we both came out buzzing. Today I came out with my kid and he said - 'all that did was made me realise how good the original is were and I want to watch them again', I agreed. I hope this isn't the last one, one day somebody will come along and get it.

Warrior (2019–2023)

Good not brilliant

[7/10 · 26 August 2019]

Some people getting ahead of themselves, this ain't a ten out of ten. What it is though is a enjoyable easy to watch martial arts/gangster drama set in early San Francisco. Some of the acting feels a bit clunky but you get used to it

Shoplifters (2018)

Good but flawed

[6/10 · 16 August 2019]

I'm glad this film exists, the performance's from the kids are brilliant, the first hour promise's something really special.. but, it falls short from being brilliant - the story doesn't quite add up, the ending feels rushed and a bit anime, also they should have got some pointers from real shoplifters.

The Neighbor (II) (2017)

Not that bad

[6/10 · 15 June 2019]

Don't bother if you don't like slow films. It's not as bad as it's score, I liked the ending

Amélie (2001)

In my top ten

[10/10 · 9 December 2018]

I just love this film a rate it with Pulpn Fiction, Cinema Paradiso, Goodfellows, The Apartment. It's a film you want to watch again and again. It changes you makes you feel different, it's a work of art. I understand some people won't get it, find it smaltzy but all I can say is ii am glad I. Not one of those people. To give this film a one is just churlish and trying to be clever, I personally can't stand Ed Sheeran or Coldplay but I can recognise they are good, I just don't like them. Watch this film, I hope you are one of the many people it touches

The Last Battle (1983)

Loved this

[4 January 2004]

I am not an expert on film and saw this only by accident on TV years ago. Without knowing the title or director I have been trying to find out what it was ever since. I have just stumbled across it in my local video rental shop and it is just as I remembered. To me a film does not have to be completely original ( mad max, lack of dialogue ) or super fast, have everything explained or even add to 'our understanding of human nature' to be enjoyed. My advice is to sit back, relax and watch this to the end.

Life of Brian (1979)

Funniest film ever made

[4 January 2004]

Jesus arrives at the last supper to find the twelve disciples eating take outs. Jesus asks 'Who got those in', Peter replies 'It was Judas he has just come in to some money'. If the church is offended by this joke its in trouble. Best line in the film goes something like 'I will take a large one and a packet of gravel'.