[JonE(vil)]

The apprentice. 2024.
7/10
The rise of Donald Trump.
Bio pic drama with a main focus on the business side of Trump and his relationship with Roy Cone. The film has a steady pace, and includes some people who came to be globally after his election in 2016. It takes a familiar line as a drama, showing a upbeat start with some tragedy later on and above all odds end. Where it kinda differs is that is shows how Roy tutored Donald in the art of the con, and unlike him, who seemed to keep tabs on people, Trump was eager for more and had no problem shutting them out. The director, (Holy spider) a Iranian, now living in europe, is able to give it that outsiders view.
The film also benefits from the immense amount of video clips and other assorted stuff over the last years that reinforce the personality that we see created.

[JonE(vil)]

Brothers. 2024.
8/10
A family heist.
Starring a group of good actors, the film follows them as they go in search of some emeralds. The story was by Ethan Cohen, screenplay by another writer. It has all the hallmarks of a Cohen film, crime comedy, lots of action, plot twists, drama and a woodchipper. Very entertaining with a solid pace, the film is a brisk 90mins. Fans of the Cohen brothers will be entertained.

[JonE(vil)]

Seven cemeteries. 2024.
4/10
Danny Trejo leads a groups of zombies against a cartel.
Entertaining low budget horror comedy, that skips along to a predictable end. The quirky element is that he is saved from death by a witch, who like him and the other main character, has been wronged by a cartel leader. The zombies are run of the mill characters brought back to life. Strange, but fun, from a actor whose not great, but very memorable.

[JonE(vil)]

On the waterfront. 1954.
10/10
A lone dock worker takes a stand against a corrupt union.
Starring Marlon Bando in the lead as a dock worker, who at the start has a part in the death of his friend. Is forced to take a side as the investigation into the docks heats up.
Great drama that starts with the murder and lays out the opposing sides. With a steady pace, it ramps the tension as loyalties are tested and characters are killed. Brando does a great job portraying a ex prize fighter that was in rigged matches for them. Well directed with multiple actors bringing an intense performance, that warrants this films status as a classic.

[JonE(vil)]

A certain killer. 1967 Japan.
7/10
A ex army serviceman is hired by a gang to kill a rival.
Small core cast of three, the film follows them as the killer is hired to do a job. From there he takes on a second larger job with one of the henchmen from the gang. Solid script with a just under 90 minute run time. It shows a careful, steady bloke, who is in control and plans ahead. No fast paced scenes make for a largely compelling crime drama.

[JonE(vil)]

Conclave 2024.
7/10
​Thriller about who will be the next pope.
When the pope dies, all the cardinals gather, are sealed away and asked to vote for the one among them to lead the church.
From the director of the remake of All quiet on the western front, it tells the story of a small number of cardinals that are in the race.
The film has a steady pace with the main characters each with a different, but convincing style. The composition of the scenes is also very particular. Following behind the actors or having large overviews. Plot wise, it is a good thriller, but as it goes along it becomes not to hard to predict the end. But there enough twists for it to be still engaging.

[JonE(vil)]

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[JonE(vil)]

A tale of two sisters. 2002. South Korea.
10/10
Two girls live with their father and their step mother, who the don't like.
Classic psychological horror that even on third watch doesn't fail to shock. The story is solid and well crafted, with a cast of 4 characters set in a house with no-one else. The plot mainly deals with the relationship between the step mother and the girls., one being a little timid. There are subtle clues and some nightmare scenes mixed in. But the interior of the house and, soundtrack create a very disarming look and feel. When it reveals all near the end, it has built the tension up, not to a unrealistic level, but one that leaves the viewer with a sense of appreciation.
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[JonE(vil)]

Death by metal. 2016.
​6/10
Doco about the band Death from Florida.
Fans of death metal in general will know the band and maybe the history, depending on where your were at that time.
This doco lays out the history of the band, and in particular, Chuck Schuldiner.
It presents a mater of fact timeline with the different members and others. There is some interview footage with Chuck. It is interesting to watch and see how Death started and progressed, along with the problems they had along the way with Chuck.
Overall a run of the mill doco, with no real surprises. But a nice tribute to a uniquely talented musician that pushed himself and the genre of death metal.

[JonE(vil)]

The Fake. 2013. South Korea.
7/10
A ex con goes up against a con man fronting a church.
Intense animated drama that was pretty bleak and didn't let up.
With a number of characters and a very well thought out plot, it has alot going on. Centers on a very angry ex con, his wife and daughter. Takes the first half to set everything up and then things really start to happen. Overall its a brutal film that works because its animated, and lets it go places that would just to too much if filmed with real actors.
A solid film for fans of Korean cinema.