Nine films for the September Film Fight!
Rogue Agent
#FF22 Rogue Agent starts with the worst kind of narration; all tell and now show.
— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 10, 2022
It picks up significantly, as it moves into the main story of a charismatic con man. Arterton is excellent, as usual, and Norton makes the whole thing work.
Well paced, clear stakes, worth seeing.
Three Thousand Years Of Longing
#FF22 Three Thousand Years Of Longing is intriguingly small, yet expansive.
— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 10, 2022
Set mostly in a room with an academic and a Djinn going back and forward, hearing stories that might be true or a trick. Swinton and Elba lack chemistry, but it doesn't matter.
Enjoyable, but flawed.
The Forgiven
#FF22 The Forgiven doesn't linger long on its precipitating event, quickly going to considerations and consequences.
— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 10, 2022
The cast is strong, split between the cartoonishly rich and grounded poverty; the film builds on the juxtaposition.
Dark humour, drama, and tragedy. Very good.
Fall
#FF22 Fall is an okay story of two women being stuck 2000ft up a TV tower.
— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 10, 2022
It doesn't earn its twists (which are telegraphed) and the budget shows through at times, but it does it's job of making you jump at just the right moment.
Okay, but lightweight.
Bodies Bodies Bodies
#FF22 Bodies Bodies Bodies is a tight little slasher, that encapsulates the Werewolf/Among Us experience well.
— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 11, 2022
Maybe a little predictable but fun. Doesn’t outstay it’s welcome.
Perfect popcorn fodder.
See How They Run
#FF22 See How They Run tries to spoof Agatha Christie, but comes across as a little self-satisfied.
— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 24, 2022
It all feels underwritten, with a great cast delivering lines flatly; failing to find the comedy in the farce. The structure and callbacks are painfully obvious.
Forgettable.
Funny Pages
#FF22 Funny Pages sees a young cartoonist, obsessed with the likes of Robert Crumb, devolve his life into the kind of low-life world he sees in comics.
— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) September 24, 2022
Like a Solondz film but without the bite, the plot sprawls but rarely progresses. A little twisted and funny, but also hollow.
Crimes Of The Future
#FF22 Crimes Of The Future is Cronenberg returning to his body horror roots, with an eco-tinged story of squirming surgery as art.
— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) October 2, 2022
Solid leads, but the story is muddled and meandering, with languid pacing.
Disturbing in places, leering in others. Uncomfortable, as is the point.
I Came By
#FF22 I Came By is a horror thriller, billed as a home invasion but is actually something... different.
— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) October 2, 2022
The four leads are excellent, taking their turn in the spotlight as the plot twists, and twist it does. It never quite works out how you expect; a rare thing these days.
Good
The September Winner
Not a bad month, but not a great one either; lots of solid films, but not much that’s great. I think the winner is The Forgiven for walking quite a difficult path and pulling it off.