CS Film Club II

The Long Good Friday

Bob Hoskins and Helen Miren (A young Pierce Brosnan as well) star in The Long Good Friday, a British gangster film filled with double crosses, murder, and deceit. Not too mention a killer theme from the film's composer, Francis Monkman, which presides over the beginning and end of the film. Friday follows Hoskins character Harold Shand, a London gangster looking to make some legitimate business dealings with some American folks. Shand wants to make a real estate deal that would clean up London's run down docklands, however, as we find out in the opening frames, after a money dealing goes wrong, Harold's world starts to close in on him. Mysterious occurrences happen that result in the death of some of Shand's closest conidants, leading him down a path of revenge, as he tried to attempt to find out who is behind these attacks.

There is a lot to love about Friday, primarily Hoskins performance, which is electric from the opening frame to the last. One scene in particular, towards the end, with his associate Jeff plays out real well as a culmination of the story, and it packs a real satisfying punch. Outside of Hoskins and the already noted score, there is an authentic seediness throughout that really provides the audience to see the world the way Shand does. Though the film was written and completed by 1979, it didn't get released until 1980, and by all accounts, this is a film that does a good job of showing London in a bit of a transition between two decades. There is an overwhelming sense of greed in Friday, and this helps inform you with the story you are about to watch. 

Shand fancies himself a hard-working blue collard businessman, a relic of the past, trying to build a better future for himself and his country as he attempts to go clean. He alludes to a lot of these ideas not only throughout the film, but none more memorable than his speech in the beginning when he claims to be a "businessman with a sense of history". There is a lot at play here thematically, grappling with class divides, wealth, power, and the screenwriter and director do a good job of providing nice visual context and a strong script to back up these ideas. Mirren and Hoskins play well off each other, with Hoskins showboating his lifestyle and love of money, Mirren plays a more diplomatic role, trying to help Shand see the bigger picture, trying to guide him through the power ranks. 

Ultimately, a very enjoyable trip that was able to both be thrilling, entertaining, and filled with deep subtext during what sounds to be a pretty grim time where London was in a transitional phase. It's hard to watch this and not think of it's influence on an array of british film makers and actors, which alone is impressive.

In for next round

8/10

I've wanted to watch Under the Silver Lake for a while.  I've heard mixed things but sounds like it could be a good watch.  I also want to see how they depict Silver Lake which is douchey hipster central.

Just a little bump in case any of you were wondering how to fill your time this weekend.

Dracula - donny
PG Cooper - Doomsday
thebtskink - Nilade
donny - PhantomKnight

And you're on MINE.

Gonna try and watch Wednesday or friday.

Bit distracted with sports lately and I wanted to watch this one with my gf too.

It's going great but i need to adjust for a change in my viewing habits. Ex. AMC Stubs is nearing a need for cancellation.

Spartan 

Val Kilmer stars in Spartan, a 2004 David Mamet film, in which he plays a US Marine gunnery sergeant tasked with finding the U.S. Presidents daughter, who, they soon fear might be apart of a sex traffic operation. Early on we follow Kilmer as he is analyzing and selecting the best candidates for a special forces unit, which introduces us to Curtis (Derek Luke) and Sgt. Jacqueline Black (Tia Texada). There are a lot of moving parts throughout with a somewhat quick runtime, but Spartan can remind you at times of Mamet's previous works with his dialogue and character archetypes. One of the main takeaways hers is that I miss Val Kilmer being in movies. 

As I referenced above, Spartan revolves around the search and rescue of the Presidents daughter, played by Kristen Bell, but you quickly discover there is more than what it seems, and eventually turns into something of a cover-up/conspiracy story. Kilmer sort of starts off the role in a somewhat expected manner, playing a hard nosed, do what it takes Military character, and that's pretty much what he is in the end, but he is able to play it in a way where he starts to show a level of care for some of the characters, particularly Luke and Texada, when he shares scenes with them. His characters ultimate desire to just get the job done, and find Bell is highlighted throughout, not only in the dialogue but the characters actions. He speaks and acts like you think a Marine in his position would. 

I do think with a run-time of under 2 hours, some of what Mamet is tackling here felt a bit stretched thin, and to a certain extent, a somewhat predictable ending. The film does quickly jump into the story, which I like, but I also feel we could have had a little more of the conspiracy related angle drawn out. There are some nice twists and turns, and you get some key scenes toward the end that fill in some of the pertinent information, particularly a moment with Kilmer and a female secret service agent. I really enjoyed the back and forth with Kilmer and Luke's characters, but I ultimately feel Luke's character was a bit short changed in this, and too much an accessory to the plot. There's a big moment, about an hour in, just when you think the story will kick into high gear with these two guys, that sort of takes the wind out of those sails. 

All in all though, I have to say with Mamet's writing and Kilmer's performance, it is an enjoyable picture. You also do have some great supporting roles from the likes of Ed O'Neill and William H. Macy, who are always so great when they get the chance to play smaller supporting roles.

7/10

In for next round. 

Watch out everybody.

Getting my movie in early when so many others are late...I finally understand your pain Doomsday.

Due to your sympathies I shall wait no longer!

Who's all in for next round?

I'll sit this one

In