Just watched this film (knowing nothing about it other than what I read in a very brief synopsis - one that didn’t give the game away). It’s powerful and really rather good.

Another fine documentary about the causes of the economic shit-heap we’re all currently up to our necks in - all except the scoundrels that caused it that is; they seem to have walked away with billions, and not a prosecution in sight. Little wonder they’re all lobbying away - desperate to prevent the introduction of any legislation that might stop them doing something similar in the future.
If anyone is wondering what the “occupy” protests are about, this is a good place to start.

I watched this last night - it’s really rather good.

Last month I watched a rather fine film - In Bruges. So, when I saw it in my local supermarket for around £3, I bought it and watched it again. It’s more than fine - it’s excellent.
In Bruges is a black comedy / thriller in which a pair of hit-men (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) are ordered by their boss (Ralph Feinnes) to lie-low - in Bruges (it’s in Belgium). There they encounter a pregnant hotelier, some American tourists, a racist dwarf, a couple of prostitutes, a drug-dealer who, along with her ex-boyfriend, mugs tourists as a side-line, a few Canadians, an arms dealer, the police,… The dialogue is very funny, though the ‘language’ is somewhat… robust - but hey, they’re hit-men on the lam, not a school trip from Cheltenham Ladies College. Things also get a bit violent, and this isn’t funny - most of the time. It’s beautifully filmed in one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe - Bruges; a city that I’ve visited, and where I too was trying to keep a ‘low profile’ (but that’s a story for another time). I thought the contrast in the personalities of the central characters was well played, Ken: more mature, contemplative, cerebral and full of guilt; Ray: young, bored, full of nervous energy - and guilt. This results in interesting and very amusing interplay between them. Ralph Feinnes puts in a fine performance as Harry, the gang-boss and ‘honourable’ psychopath with a penchant for foul language and violent rages.
A special mention should also go to Colin Farrell’s eyebrows for a performance surely worthy of an Oscar nomination in the category “best supporting role”.

P.S. If you’re thinking of watching this movie may I advise against checking it out on IMDb first - it’s full of spoilers!

I watched an interesting movie last night. A thing called District 9. I bought it because (a) the cover looked interesting, and (b) it was cheap. But I have to say it was a pretty good film and worth every penny. You know how the blurb on the box says things like, “A truly terrific sci-fi thriller unlike any you’ve seen before”, “startlingly original” and “stunning special effects”; but it’s usually just hype’ and you end up disappointed? Well this time, it was all true.

The film starts out in a kind of rough-cut ‘documentary’ style which I initially found a bit annoying but, in retrospect, actually works well as a ‘set up’ to its more traditionally ‘cinematic’ body. I also found the central character’s casual racism intensely annoying (sci-fi’s new ‘n word’ - “prawn”), but even though Sharlto Copley’s character (Wikus Van De Merwe) has deplorable attitudes and language, I couldn’t help but warm to him in the end (though I still wouldn’t want to go for a beer with him!)

I thought there was a bit of a ‘plot hole’ that could have done with filling, but maybe I’m being picky. Overall though - a thoroughly enjoyable film. One that I shall be watching again in the very near future.

Here’s the ‘official’ trailer (you can click-though if you want the HD version):