Pedantic point but a new adaptation of a book/play is not a remake.

This is about a B for me. The first three-quarters of the film are pretty great (there’s a very good scene where you see the transition from poor Chicago to wealthy Chicago in the space of a few minutes), so it’s a shame that the final stretch seems to settle everything in such a perfunctory fashion. Still good though.…

First bunch of reviews I’ve seen seem pretty good. As Grandpa Simpson would say, ‘Hot diggity! That’s good enough for me!’

Hirokazu Kore-Eda’s film After Life is one of the best films ever made, let alone the best of 1998.

No idea what Gallo being a dick with awful political views has to do with anything. By that logic, The Searchers should never be in any Best Films Ever lists.

Order of business no. 1 - give Amy Adams and Michelle Williams Oscars (preferably for decent films)

Michael Cera probably still relieved he wasn’t at that interview.

If the album’s any good (which admittedly it probably isn’t), I don’t really care how much rubbish he spouts. People should call him out on this stuff, but I’ve long since reconciled myself to the fact that Kanye West is a pillock whose music I like. I mean, I don’t see everyone clamouring to chuck of Jean-Luc…

*shrugs* I’m not about to stop watching Seinfeld because of Michael Richards or The Larry Sanders Show because of Tambor or Jeremy Piven so I’m going to hell anyway. I can watch something and not particularly like some of the people involved in it (though I know everyone will draw their own personal lines)

Kore-eda is one of the best directors in the world, so pleased to see him win the Palme. Can’t wait to see the Spike Lee and Pawel Pawlikowski films too

Why’d they let him come back? Because his ‘look how outrageous I am!’ films guarantee publicity.

I’m a big fan of Hombre Lobo and Wonderful Glorious/Tomorrow Morning are both pretty good. End Times and The Cautionary Tales were both way too one-paced for me though.

Best Picture
Will win: The Shape of Water
Should win: Dunkirk

Stuff I’ll be getting this month:

This film is an absolute delight, and there’s one bit which is evidence that a joke can still be funny as hell even when you can clearly see it coming. Hugh Grant in particular is having a ball, and he’s well worth the Best Supporting Actor BAFTA nomination he’s just got.

Jared going mad (or at least, mad by Jared standards) at Richard in Silicon Valley.

‘Poopfare? You reckless child!’

Definitely agree with that bit in Call Me By Your Name and the twist in Spider-Man was great. Other stuff I loved this year (based off UK release dates, so there’s some ‘actually 2016' stuff in there too):

Another Day of Sun (La La Land)
Police statement (Manchester by the Sea)
‘What’s a faggot?’ (Moonlight)

Not sure anyone would have predicted that a new Mad Max film would be:

Loved this film, the final scene in particular is up there with The Long Good Friday for just focusing on a character’s face and the emotions that play across it. Plus the Sufjan Stevens songs in it are great.

I think this is a bit harsh, it’s a B minus for me. The relationship between Jazz and her father is very well done in my opinion, and I think it’s a engaging read, but the story feels strained at times, as do the attempts to write ‘Feisty Woman 101'. Points for effort I guess, if not for execution.