[JonE(vil)]

Le doulos. 1962 France.
8/10
Crime drama that is multi layered and involves alot of 'back stabbing'. Follows two characters, one at the start, then another later who it seems, has sold him out. It shows the brutal, have it all one minute, lose it all the next nature of crime. The film works because it follows the first bloke until he is caught and imprisoned. Then follows the other bloke. There is flash backs except for a scene in the later part where they both meet and it becomes apparent what happened. This allows the third act with both of them involved to heighten the tension to quite a good ending.

[JonE(vil)]

Tsar. 2009 Russia.
9/10
​Phillip and Ivan.
​Tsar Ivan (the terrible) has his childhood friend Phillip come to Moscow and become the new head of the church. Ivan by this stage is old and pretty set in his angry ways. But very devoted in his belief of GOD. When Phil refuses to bless him on account of his murderous ways, he is charged and found guilty, imprisoned and killed.
Historical drama that shows a brutal and violent time. The tsar is set in his ways, with one particular advisor encouraging this and the monk Phillip trying to steer him the other way. The sets and costumes are amazing, with the film showing the fear of the population and some the violence that was inflicted on them. The third act ends with Ivan sitting alone waiting for the locals to show up for a fair, that is basicly a death by torture day. While Phillips body is protected by fellow monks in a building that is set on fire.
It has a large cast and shows at some points the hangers on that are keen to be in good with tsar just to protect themselves.

[JonE(vil)]

Leaving Afghanistan. 2019. Russia.
​8/10
​Rescue mission for a downed pilot of a army general.
Based on true events, which is always slightly suspect, whatever the film. It tells the story of the Soviet army in the final days of their afghan war, and there attempt to withdraw thru a pass controlled by a educated tribal leader, while negotiating for the release of what becomes two prisoners.
The film right from the start sets up a demoralized angry army in a foreign land. It has that 'shaky' style of filming thats slightly distracting at the start, but works when there is chaotic action. By no means is it a simple 'rescue' film. It has a large cast with alot of characters given enough time to show the complex and changing ways of human nature.

[JonE(vil)]

Les fugitifs. 1986. France.
7/10.
A ex bank robber trying to go straight gets taken hostage by a desperate dad.
Starring Gerard Depardieu as the ex con it kicks off nicely and has a slap stick humour with an added plot line involving the dads little girl. As it progresses it develops the characters to give the film a sense of intrigue. Typical style of '80s humour, kinda forgettable but entertaining with alot of laugh out loud moments balanced with the inevitable lull that enables the film to bounce back.
The director ended up in hollywood and went on to remake his own film for a 'english speaking' audience three years later, 3 fugitives (Nick Nolte, Martin Short) as well another of his films The birdcage.

[JonE(vil)]

For rent. 2021. Egypt.
5/10
Comedy drama about a dealing with loss.
A older bloke rents out a room in his house to a young bloke who is filling in at a office for a month. The film starts with a equal balance of humour and sadness. The old man is clearly misses his wife and is happy to have someone around. As it progress there are visions and dreams that have to do with the worker the young bloke has replaced. The second half reveals that he killed himself and the old man is also dealing with the loss of his son as well.
While the plot moves along, it loses the humour and becomes a bit of a slog. With a run of 90 mins, it lost me at the hour mark. Still interesting but i found i just wasn't as invested.

No trailer.

[JonE(vil)]

The exorcist. 1973.
10/10
A young girl is possessed and in need of an exorcism.
Disregarding the legend of of this 50 year old film.
The film starts with a hint of the inevitable showdown of Father Merrin vs the demon. From there is slowly builds, showing us central characters and giving the viewer a realistic view of life. As it progresses, it has the unique approach of having a mother know somthing is wrong with her daughter, but know one, even when faced with what looks like overwhelming evidence, seems to take her concerns seriously. Short blasts of violence elevate the tension to when Father Merrin arrives.
Classic film that shows the devotion of a mother, the titanic struggle to get help and the climatic, devastating conclusion.
Well paced, superb acting from all, esp Max Von Sydow, practical effects that stand the test of time.


Believer. 2018. South Korea.
8/10
Rewatch.
​Who is Mr Lee?.
Crime drama that has a similar style to The Usual Supects, but is more layered with a two hour run time. The first hour moves at a steady pace, then it kinda drops, but only for the last 30-40 to kick back up. Suspenseful and interesting. It gives a 'glamorized' view of the drug world but still have a heavy amount of violence and betrayal.

[JonE(vil)]

The spy who came in from the cold. 1962.
9/10
Excellent spy drama from the John Le Carre novel.
Set during the cold war, it tells the tale of a agent sent on a mission to expose and get killed another agent. It builds a solid story with a series of characters relating different lies mixed with truths. A slow burn with no action there is alot to remember as 'stories' are told.
Engaging with a unexpected twist and a somber end.

[JonE(vil)]

Juan of the dead. Cuba. 2011.
6/10
A group band together to survive a zombie outbreak. Amusing comedy with elements of horror. It has a interesting plot line that the group will kill your 'relations' for a fee. This kinda makes up the bulk of the film, as the inevitable happens and some of the crew die. Kinda drags near the end with a some what predictable conclusion, but still had a good number of laugh out loud moments.

[JonE(vil)]

Bullet 1996.
8/10
A ex con just can't change his ways.
Mickey Rourke stars with Tupac and a few others in supporting roles.
Intense crime drama about a feud between two criminals that drags others in. Butch (Bullet) Stein is played well by Rourke with a brooding anger. Tupac as Tank has menace, but kinda lacks acting skill. His character pops in and out, Ted Levine plays a very whacked out war vet, with is kinda funny but there is a lethal anger in him. It slowly escalates to a inevitable conclusion but never fails to keep the viewer interested.

[JonE(vil)]

Deliver us. 2023.
4/10
The second of good and evil.
Religious horror about a priest tasked with sorting out a nun who claims to have twins inside her, one good the other evil, which will bring about the end of days.

Starts interestingly enough, sets up the characters, a sub plot of priests that want to kill the nun and the unborns. The soundtrack is pretty constant and elevates to the highlight jump scares and dream sequences. That all combined with a over the top style of filming wears thin as the plot slowly grinds to a halt. By the 45 min mark, they were holed up in a rural cabin in the woods, owned by a 'grandfather' who just happens to be a doomsday nutter, and painter.
​I clicked thru till the end, nothing really spectacular, the paintings seemed to show the inevitable "oh it was us all along" situation.
Quirky, but entertaining only for gateway horror viewers. Belzebuth ​2017, Mexico. Similar idea, but alot better.