Come meet fellow film fans for drink and discussion upstairs in the Curzon Cinema bar. We will chat about what films we've seen at home, in the cinema, what we did/didn't like...and what we'd recommend.
Please only RSVP if you intend on turning up, you certainly don't need to see all the featured films...But it helps if you've seen at least one!
Although we discuss both new and old movies, here are some new releases (and one classic) you may wish to see and give your views on....
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Sinners
A fascinating supernatural tale which blends African American History with supernatural Southern American gothic. It is 1930s America, and some twin brothers have made a name for themselves, and return home to the the deep south, which is firmly in the grip of racist Jim Crow laws. However when they arrive, dark, supernatural things start to happen, and some mysterious strangers start to meddle in the affairs of their community…However these interlopers may not be totally ‘human’. Michael B Jordan stars with Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Creed) directing.
Julie Keeps Quiet
Award winning film from Belgium. Julie is a teenager who is part of an elite tennis academy, in a couple of years she hopes to go pro and become a tennis champion. In the mean time though she must stick to a repetitive regime of training, controlled diet, and coaching. However this enclosed world is rocked when it comes to light that one of the coaches has been using his position to sexually abuse young athletes. The victims are encouraged to come forward, but Julie doesn’t, speaking out could derail her training and jeopardise her career…However keeping any trauma locked away can wreak havoc on her mental health. What has happened, what will she do?
The Penguin Lessons
Steve Coogan stars in this film based on a true story. It is the mid-70s and English teacher Tom Michell is teaching in Argentina during the years of the countries brutal military dictatorship. Whilst on holiday in Uruguay he spots a beleaguered penguin at the beach and intervenes to save it…But then the persistent penguin refuses to leave his side. Despite his attempts to get rid of this penguin, Tom must reluctantly hide it in his school residence, hoping the other teachers and pupils don’t discover it.
Warfare
Hit studio A24 are back with a new release Hot on the heels of last years hit Civil War, Alex Garland directs this adrenaline fuelled film based on events during the Iraq War. An elite US Navy seal team has been inserted deep into enemy insurgent territory in order to conduct a reconnaissance mission. The team are soon compromised however and so must fight their way to survival. Co-Director Ray Mendoza fought in the conflict and brings his real life experiences to the big screen.
How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Netflix)
This critically acclaimed ‘tragi-comedy’ from Thailand lands on Netflix. A Thai family are devastated to learn that the elderly matriarch of the family, Mengju has cancer and will likely only live for another year. M, her grandson has been struggling, he wants to make it big as videogame streamer but has so far failed to make an impact. Then M has a brainwave, he knows his grandmother is wealthy, if he dedicates himself 100% to looking after grandma, then maybe he can become the main beneficiary in her will!
The Legend of Ochi
A24’s latest release is a fantasy adventure which stars Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson and Finn Wolfhard. Yuri (Helena Zengel) is brought up to a small community on a secluded island. One thing they are told is not to go out at night as that’s when the feared Ochis come out. As a tradition many young islanders have to join the islands defence force to protect against these creatures. But one morning, Yuri finds a lost and injured baby Ochi and decides to take it back to its natural habitat…it will be a perilous quest and one done against the knowledge of her elders!
Havoc (Netflix)
In 2011 director Gareth Evans made a huge impact on the action genre with The Raid. After years making his TV series Gangs of London he is returning to moviemaking, teaming up with Tom Hardy. Walker is a detective in a crime riddled city, after a drugs deal goes south he must fight his way through the criminal underworld to rescue a VIPs son. His quest will be filled with violence, and on the way he will find deep secrets about the city’s corruption.
Classic film
The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009)
Available on Disney+
Chosen by: Tom B
British crime noir and thriller from the late 2000s starring Gemma Arteron. Two criminals, Vic and Danny conjure up a scheme to get rich by kidnapping Alice Creed, the only child of a wealthy family. However the carefully laid out plan starts to go awry when twists and turns start to happen that affect the balance of power. also Alice may be a lot more formidable, and not as submissive as her kidnappers have bargained for…
