Network, 1976 - ★★★★★

Network, 1976 - ★★★★★
REVIEWED

"I just ran out of bullshit"

Howard Beale (Peter Finch)

This corporate satire is director Sidney Lumet's (with the aid of writer Paddy Chayefsky) supremely sharp and articulate masterpiece. Plot follows a soon to be put to pasture news anchorman Howard Beale. Out of shock and his own self emptiness he suffers a mental breakdown and tells his dwindling viewer base hes going to kill himself live on air. His outburst sparks a ratings surge, so much the execs at his TV Network, decide to capitalize on Howard's new found public popularity for their own benefit.

Story plays out like an allegory for Illuminati styled faceless elites in power, and how global corporations have become bigger than countries & religions. Though the central theme is clearly manipulation, like how television media manipulates its viewers and also those who work in it.

The actings superb, its Peter Finch who steals the film, but both William Holden & Faye Dunaway give brilliant powerhouse performances. So do both Robert Duvall and Ned Beatty.

[PRFR: Personal Reasons For Remembering]

Its 70's chic at its very best, Holden

Originally taken from Letterboxd

Trainspotting, 1996 - ★★★★★

Trainspotting, 1996 - ★★★★★
REVIEWED

"Would sir care for a starter of some garlic bread perhaps?"

Swanney (Peter Mullan)

"No, thank you. I will proceed directly to the IV of hard drugs, please."

Renton (Ewan McGregor)

Just had the massive urge to rewatch this again over the weekend, with all the hype over the sequel finally getting the green light along with Boyle having a new movie out. Not sure what I think about the sequel, but if anyones going to make it glad its Boyle.

Choose... amazingly bleak humor (which remains immensely quotable).

Choose... fantastic music (which ranges from timeless rock, 90s Brit indie and often quirky incidental elevator music).

Choose... fine performances and direction (arguably the best picture entire cast and crew have ever made).

Choose... Kelly Mcdonalds T'n'A

Choose to wind up at the end of the 90 minutes feeling totally entertained.

[PRFR: Personal Reasons For Remembering]

The whole damn package is still amazing, little I didn't remember from last time I caught it (a good 2 or 3 years back). I had forgot how great Ewan McGregor used to be, I last caught him in that dull lifeless tsunami movie. And how much time both the characters of Tommy & Swanney got.

Originally taken from Letterboxd

Legend of the Witches, 1970 - ★★★★½

Legend of the Witches, 1970 - ★★★★½
REVIEWED

"The symbolic whippings let him understand, from now hes subject to the disciplines of the cult."

Narrator

Viewed as part of my Beware the Docs of March Marathon 1. Brilliant and somewhat eerie B&W documentary oddity, covering English witches and paganism from medieval times through to modern day. It works as both a nature style docu with a narrator describing the actions of a witchcraft cult, and also includes the history of their beliefs, and how it predated Christianity.

For an old vintage film it really kicks ass, its got it all from debasing Christianity, a cock sacrifice, hallucinogenic herbs, sound induced trances and naked pagan fertility ceremonies. A little bit of the documentary uses old paintings or stock footage, but theres also heaps of marvelously filmed b&w footage of black masses and a bizarre Cornish witchcraft Museum, thats got jars of mutilated sex organs among its many delights. I was fascinated throughout, I learnt so much about my own countries darker history, plus it packed lots of boobs which sealed the deal for me. Its also given me a new twisted catchphrase "Piercing the wafer".

It could be argued that much of this is sensationalized performance pieces and not authentic witches in action. But aren't all docs subjects slightly playing up towards the camera, anyway out of all the great docs I've caught in March, this was probably my favorite (certainly in my top 3). I'm coming to the end of March now, but anyone recommend me any docu oddities please do so HERE.

Originally taken from Letterboxd