August 2025 Name of the Rose (1986) and 1917 (2019) at Wendy and Rays

Hi everyone, this was the session held at Wendy and Rays. Name of the Rose was Ray’s choice, and 1917 was Becks – this was the “winners vote” selection made by Beck as the Gold Moscar winner for the previous year. Both very solid substantial films led to plenty of discussion.

Name of the Rose (1986)

This was one film which stuck from my child hood. It lost a lot of the intellectural rigour infused into the book by Umberto Eco. A pity as that was what drove brother William to be the type of guy he was, and made him stand for the things he stood for, despite the pressure of the church. Its quite central to the story. Without it, it is hard to fully understand Brother William. However the film does still carry the atmosphere and creepiness of the Abbey, the monks and the murders very well. The sense of mystery and wonder of the library is also there. It was a competent effort in film making and it still has its moments.

Quotes:
Ray: “I really liked Name of the Rose. I read the book. The force of reason versus the power of the church.“
Andy: “I enjoy a film that bashes the church“

Ray on Ron Perlman “stupido! stupido!“
Wendy: “They did have fun casting a lot of hideous looking monks!“
CJ: “William was in awe at the greatest collection of books in all Christendom… I was in awe at the great collection of weird looking people“

Andy: “Isn’t it now, Franciscan monk robes are designed by Gucci??“

Ray: “Sean Connery is one of the greatest actors“

Andy: “I liked it, but it’s a bit dated. Some of the camera work is a bit sloppy“

Wendy: “I thought it was great“

Renny: “I didn’t enjoy it so much…“

Renny: “What a weird library!“
Andy: “The same designer as Hogwarts“

Sylvia: “That was a very 1980s film. I didn’t get that from the book“

Andy on the rose: “What was the point?“
Sylvia on the sex scene: “It was gratuitous“

Scores:
Wendy 4.0
Ray 4.0
CJ 4.0
Sylvua 3.0
Andy 3.5
Beck: abstain (I didn’t enjoy the 10 minutes I watched)
Renny 3.0

1917 (2019)

I found this film fascinating as it was WW1 (not WW2) and I had not really seen that war depicted in such a dynamic and vivid way. The gold standard for me are films like Apocalypse Now, Private Ryan, Band of Brothers but those are Vietnam and WW2. It was refreshing to see WW1 done with the full glory of modern special effects and stylistic flair. The one-take concept was also interesting (it wasn’t really one-take but it was done in a way which seemed like it) and it led to a momentum and relentless pace which is distinctively modern in style. A very adroit effort worth a watch.

Quotes:

Beck: “It was all in one take. I enjoyed it!. Really engaging. It didn’t stop to dwell.“
Beck: “I was getting LoTR vibes… Sam and Frodo walking“

Beck: “The one who is very chatty… I thought he’s not gonna make it is he?“

Sylvia: “I wasn’t looking forward to seeing this film but it went very fast. But Benedict Cumberbatch – that took me right out of the film!“
Andy: “Why were the commanders all famous actors?“

Sylvia: “It was very well visualised. I don’t know if “enjoy” is the right word, but I respected the film.“

Beck: “I found it “vivid” in a gentle way. Quite quiet. not a war – right in your face. It was manageable. It allows you to absorb it, without overwhelming you.“

Renny: “I said early on, I don’t have a good feeling about this. But then I could just watch it. I knew one of them is gonna die“

Wendy: “I saw it a few years ago. I didn’t want to watch it again. It was so relentless. You don’t get a break in war. I got the message“

CJ: “I loved it. WW1 is not so often seen in modern films“

Ray: “It was ok. Not the best war movie I’ve ever seen“

Scores:
Beck 4.0
Andy 4.0
Sylvia 4.5
CJ 4.5
Ray 3.0
Wendy 3.0
Renny 4.5

Summary:
Thats all folks. Until next time,
CJ

April 2025 Mad Max Furiosa and Woman at War at CJ and Rennys

Hi everyone. This was the one held at CJ and Rennys place. The two films are Furiosa nominated by Andy, and Woman at War nominated by Sylvia. Both very different types of films. Lets get right into it:

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Furiosa is the second of a new breed of Mad Max films in recent years. The first being “Fury Road“. Club Moofie were somewhat mixed as to which was the better film of the two. It is high voltage, over the top kind of stuff, stylistically and visually quite like Fury Road.

Whether you like this or not will depend on if you can just suspend some disbelief and get into the fantasy of it. I for one could not, but the majority didn’t seem to mind so much.

Quotes:
Sylvia (to Andy): “Andy why did you nominate Furiosa?“
Andy: “Because it was unreal! Because its got orange in it and I like it. Lots of orange. Lots of metal…. The End“

Andy on Chris Hemsworth: “It was a good decision to give him that nose“

Sylvia: “I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one (Fury Road)“
Ray: “I thought the other way around. The second (Furiosa) was more involved. I enjoyed it more“

Sylvia: “There was hardly any dialogue for Anna Taylor Joy. She was so strong and powerful and committed. I really enjoyed that about the character (ATJ). I really liked Praetorian Jack. I didn’t feel so good about Chris Hemsworth. I couldn’t get past the fake nose.“

Sylvia: “After a while there were too many explosions“

Renny: “There didn’t seem to be much purpose for the first half (of the movie). Why did she (ATJ) get so little speech? Other people are yapping away.“

Wendy: “It felt like a ordeal. I liked Fury Road more.“
Beck: “…just say it. you fancied Tom Hardy..“
Wendy: “My feeling was “oh thank god its over”“

Beck: “I really liked it. I felt bashed around by the end of it“

Scores:
Andy: 4.0
Sylvia: 3.0
Wendy 3.0
Beck 3.5 (3 & 3/4)
Ray 3.5
Renny: 2.0
CJ 2.0

Woman at War (2018)

Most definitely out there on the quirky scale! I quite agree with some of the quotes made here – I also really enjoy the weird ones and this definitely fits the description. This film was highly enjoyable, unpredictable and totally interesting all the way. Highly recommended.

Quotes:
Sylvia on why she nominated it “I found a website with 100 great films that flew under the radar. I hadn’t seen it.“
Sylvia: “I really really enjoyed it. This is the kind of film I really like. A particular character, a little bit weird, then these musicians follow her around, then adpoption, Ukraine, then shes a twin! I had no idea what she was going to do. Its a bit like that film “Rams”. Really funny, strange, witty, clever, she was fantastic. Just wonderful. I liked everything about it. The visual, the colour, the ending.“

Renny: “I really liked it too. Strange musicians. I felt connected to the character.“

Renny: ..”but the twist of the twin. It was too convenient. I didn’t like it.“
Andy: “I just went along with it. I enjoyed it. I used to seek out films like this…. before I became a slave to Marvel.“

Andy: “The story is very “tidy”.“

Ray: “A quirky little movie. I liked the twist at the end. I didn’t see that coming. Not out of Hollywood. Enjoyable“

Wendy: “I really liked the film. I liked their jumpers“

Beck: “There was nothing which was talking a familiar pattern. So unique“

Scores:
Andy 4.0
Ray 3.0
Wendy 5.0
Sylvia 5.0
Beck 4.0
Renny 3.5
CJ 4.5

Summary:
Thats all folks! until next time,
CJ

October 2025: Edge of Tomorrow and Mickey 17

Halloween edition

It was a fun filled afternoon hosted by Beck & Jon, filled with ghoulish costumes, a delicious meal of lasagne (two types), sides, and spooky cake. Special mention for best Halloween costumes must go to Sylvia’s Lily Munster and Andy’s chest bursting alien creation.

Club moofie very skilfully paired two time loop movies, aka Groundhog Day – Edge of Tomorrow and Mickey 17.

Edge of Tomorrow

 

Club moofie liked the clever use of the time loop in this movie. A lot of movies use the time loop and a lot times, the ending is disappointing or forgettable. But the characters cleverly use the time travel to win a war and through the strength of Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt’s acting, they pulled the movie together to its conclusion. Also noted was the editing and pacing of every repeat which was sharp. And yes, there is a flaw in the time loop ending, but don’t think too much about it.

Quotes

Beck: [on Emily Blunt] I thought her top lip should get a Best Supporting Actress Award.

 

Renny: [on Tom Cruise] I liked how he wasn’t too over the top.

 

Renny: It was sweet. She didn’t realise he knew her whole life story before. He loves her. I also thought the aliens were quite cool.

 

Renny: [On the ending] There’s always a weakness on how to finish the movie but it didn’t let me down. I was still excited at the end.

 

CJ: [on Tom Criuse]: He’s really versatile. He’s got range. He’s good at comedy and he’s good at being bewildered.

 

CJ: [on the repetition /Groundhog Day aspects] but this one came to a solution. He’s also becoming a better person each time.

 

Sylvia: I thought the bit part actors were good. For example, Noah Taylor as the scientist. The Tom Cruise character had to figure out the best way to convince people.

 

Beck: I finally saw it from beginning to the end. I enjoyed it.

 

Andy: I enjoyed it. Very convoluted but that’s the fun of it. The beach scene was very D-Day.

 

Ray: You know he’s a hero but it was the only way he was going to get out of the most horrible day of his life.

 

Scores

Renny:                  4

Ray:                         3.5

Andy                       4

Beck:                     4

Sylvia:                    4.5

CJ:                      4.5

Wendy:                 4

 

 

Mickey 17

Club moofie had mixed views on this film. Some found it repulsive, so much so some couldn’t finish it, some found it enjoyable and refreshing. Personally, I thought the film declined from being a B-grade schlock to an F-grade schlock. None of the characters were likeable. Some, like Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette characters, were way over the top. The different parts of the film didn’t make sense. As one member of club moofie said, ‘I feel like the director was trying to say something. But I don’t know what’.

 

Quotes

Beck: [on why she chose it] I was curious because Parasite was so good. Let’s see what other tricks he has.

 

Sylvia: [on the expendibles] The cruelty to the characters. All the illnesses he endured were so visceral, testing vaccines, eating the steak at the dinner party… Mark Ruffalo’s character was so Trump-ish. So I had to stop watching it. I thought it was clever. As a satire, it was quite a satire.

 

Sylvia: Sounds like the director was trying to pack too much into it. It had everything including the kitchen sink. It was grotesque.

 

Andy: I found it soothing. It was refreshing to see what they would do with this new world.

 

Sylvia: I found something about a human coming out of a machine chilling.

 

Sylvia: [on Toni Collette’s character] What is her thing about sauces?

 

Ray: After the first 5 minutes, I thought it was going to be interesting. But I thought it was hammy. Hammily acted and corny. I thought the story was stupid and slow.

 

Renny: The first part was good when he comes back to life. When the new one arrives and they need to find a way to co-exist. But then the when the creepers arrived, it lost the interesting elements of the film. It descending into the leaders taking over, the mission fell apart, the scientists were slacking off and joking around…

 

Renny: [on the ending] they blow everything up…

Ray: [who did not watch the ending] Do they blow up the script writers?

 

CJ: It started off interesting, and with a lot of potential. What if this? What if that? But I found it disappointing. When they went into all the different ways you can die, it was sort of fun. But then halfway, this thing about saving the creepers and the big fight at the end, none of these concepts got explored.

 

Beck: I enjoyed it. If it hadn’t gone into the animal bit. The beginning and the ending were too different.

 

Ray: It didn’t succeed as a comedy. It was too boring.

 

Sylvia: The repulsive factor overwhelmed me.

 

Scores

Beck:                     3.5

Sylvia:                   1.5

Renny:                  2

CJ:                            2

Ray:                         1.5

Andy:                     3

Wendy:                 1

Amadeus and Persuasion, Feb 2025

Err, looks like I am pretty late on this post, too! In February, we met to discuss two rather brilliant movies, Amadeus and Persuasion. Thank you to CJ and Renny for hosting, and providing delicious food as always! I’m afraid I can’t remember what it was, but I know it was good! And so, to our movies…

Amadeus (1984), Directed by Miloš Forman

What a movie! What actors! What MUSIC!! This one got a pretty positive reaction all round, and why ever not when it is close to cinema perfection. Each actor, especially F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce, were totally committed to their performance. Miloš Forman created a gorgeous evocation of the time period and the frenzy of music, life and overall fervour is palpable. Here’s what Club Moofie said.

Quotes:

Wendy: We watched it because we were reminiscing about Vienna, then Ray told me it was filmed in Prague.

Andy: They were a smutty family.

Ray: Sounds like the David family but without the talent.

Renny: Mozart had a sister (nicknamed ‘Nannerl’) who was also a prodigy. There was nothing much for her and Amadeus to when they were traveling with their father, so they would make up music together. While the later letters she sent him weren’t kept, Nannerl kept Mozart’s letters. Nannerl was the main source of info about Mozart’s life. Some of her pieces might have been incorporated into Mozart’s work.

CJ: I remember it from when it came out. I loved it then and I love it now.

CJ: We saw the director’s cut. Salieri strips off in front of Constance. I turned to Renny and said, that definitely was not in the movie before!

CJ, on the scene where Mozart dictates to Salieri: An insight into actual music creation.

Ray: We went to Mozart’s party house.

Andy: The Figaro house …

Wendy: Simon Callow looks like he’s actually singing Mozart.

Renny, on Amadeus: He seems so unaware of everyone, like a little kid. An irritating character.

Beck: I wasn’t sure what to expect as it’s been a long time, but I really enjoyed it. F. Murray Abraham was very engaging.

Beck: There was a tipping point – my sympathy was with Salieri, but it tipped when Mozart is suffering.

Andy: Someone once said, ‘talking about music is like dancing about architecture’.

Wendy: We went to see the Musicwerein, the home of the Vienna Philharmonic. They played the best of Mozart, and all the musicians were dressed in period costume.

Ray: I was surprised there was no mention of Beethoven in the whole movie.

Scores:

Wendy: 4.5

Ray: 4

Renny: 4.5

CJ: 4

Beck: 4

Andy: 4 (4.5 if there would have been boobies)

Sylv: 5

Persuasion (2007), Directed by Adrian Shergold

Another winner (for the most part … I’m personally not a fan of the very extended kiss at the end), this beautiful made-for-TV adaption starred the brilliant Sally Hawkins. Her Ann Elliot lights up the screen in a way that I have not seen before. Poor thing had to do quite a bit of running at the end, and perhaps the breaking of the fourth wall didn’t suit all tastes, but a fab production none-the-less, which made me and Andy watch Northanger Abbey (good, but not as good as Persuasion), made around the same time. Miss Austen, you are a legend.

Quotes: (You may notice that CJ really liked this film …)

Beck: Can I persuade you to talk about Persuasion?

CJ: Jane Austen is my favourite author and this is my favourite book.

CJ: If you get the chance, I probably recommend you don’t watch the Netflix one.

CJ: In the Wet Mouse Version, she (the central character) is very much a wet mouse … but I still really liked it.

CJ: Sally’s performance is the centre of everything. She really drives the move. Ann Elliot is the centre of the movie.

CJ, on breaking the fourth wall: I think that works; it tells you more about what’s going on in her mind.

CJ: The other thing I really liked was the music. The music tells the emotions of the characters.

CJ: I really loved it. It’s got a lot of heart. It’s true to the book. It’s one of my favourite movies, actually.

CJ: We’ve taken the waters at Bath. It was horrid..

Renny: We had Devonshire Tea at the Jane Austen Museum. We had the Mr Darcy special!

CJ: The time it took to finally kiss her …

Sylv: That was tooooo long …

Andy: No, that was great!

Beck, about the kiss: The saliva and the wetness … nooooo.

Renny: At first, the romantic part was not so good – there was no initial meeting or build. I’ve seen others with CJ—

CJ: Do you call them CJ movies?

Renny: It was quite different. It shows this feeling between two people who had a past together.

CJ: There’s regret, sadness and melancholy, but then there is regeneration.

Sylv: What did you think of Wentworth?

CJ: He didn’t have much to do, really. He just had to look good and say the lines.

Andy: The Dad! What a peacock! OMG …

Wendy: If you were an actress, you’d love to play the sick sister …

Renny: I think this Ann Elliott is my favourite.

Ray: I only made it through the first 20 minutes – and then I realised it was not for me. I thought it might be like Gosford Park.

Renny: I did see the Borg queen without make up (Lady Russell). I was waiting for her to say, ‘You will be assimilated.’

Wendy: I watched the older one … and I liked the Wet Mouse. I kept comparing the two. I think Wentworth was better in the Wet Mouse version. That movie did it for me. The scene towards the end where they connected … you can’t top that.

Beck: I liked the breaking of the fourth wall. It felt like it tranversed across the years – to me, a woman now, from her, a woman from long ago.

CJ: What Sally Hakins did was just right.

Beck: Great pairing of films!

Andy: Yeah – the events took place about 10 years apart

Scores:

Wendy: 4

Ray: Abstain

Renny: 3.5

CJ: 5

Beck: 3.5

Andy: 4

Sylv: 4

Super Late Moscar round up for 2024 … doh!

Wow, so sorry folks – didn’t realise that I never posted about our last Moscar event – and now the next one is nearly here! Doh! Here are the results from last year’s do.

CLUB MOOFIE IS PROUD TO PRESENT:

THE 2024, 17^th Annual MOSCAR AWARDS

1a. The 2024 Club Moofie Award for BEST ACTOR goes to:

Burt Lancaster (Elmer Gantry)

Voted for by: Wendy, Sylvia and Ray.

Also nominated were: Michael Caine (Sleuth); Jonathon Groff (King George III, Hamilton); Steven Yuen (Nope); Daniel Kaluuya (Nope); Marcel (Marcel); Stephen Root (Office Space) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator).

1b. Special Award (1)

The 2024 Club Moofie The Snack Attack Award for Moofie Snack Appreciation goes to:

Seb

For his continued love of popcorn and lamingtons. This is Seb’s second (and consecutive!) win in this category.

2a. The 2024 Club Moofie Award for BEST ACTRESS goes to:

Jean Simmons (Elmer Gantry)

Voted for by: Wendy, Renny, Sylvia, Ray and CJ.

Also nominated were: Isabella Rossellini (Marcel); Linda Hamilton (The Terminator); Shirley Jones (Elmer Gantry) and Jenny Slate (Marcel).

2b. Special Award (2 and 3):

The 2024 Club Moofie The Bucket List Award for Most Well-Travelled Club Moofie Members goes to: and it’s a three-way tie!

Wendy, Ray and Moscar

For their travels in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. A special mention must be made here of their visits to The Sound of Music locations. Good work, dedicated Club Moofiers!

3. The 2024 Club Moofie Award for WORST ACTOR/ACTRESS goes to: and this is a first, with a six-way tie!

Michael Caine, when he came back as Inspector Doppler (Sleuth); Bill Paxton (The Terminator); Michael Wincott (Nope); Lance Henriksen (The Terminator); Seth Rogen (Dumb Money) and Jennifer Aniston (Office Space)

Voted for by (in order): Wendy, Sylvia, Andy, Ray, Renny and CJ.

Also nominated were: The mermaid lady in Local Hero (Jenny Seagrove); any of the other punks in The Terminator; Earl Boen (The Terminator); Burt Lancaster (Local Hero) and Peter Riegert (Local Hero).

4a. The 2024 Club Moofie Award for BEST SCRIPT/DIALOGUE goes to:

Sleuth

Voted for by: Sylvia, Andy, Renny and CJ

Also nominated were: Elmer Gantry and Office Space (equal second); Marcel and Hamilton.

4b. Special Award (4):

The 2024 Club Moofie Clockwatchers Award for Best Quote by a Club Moofie Member goes to:

CJ

For his comment on his last, not-so-great job during our discussion on Office Space:

CJ: By the way, I took the stapler with me when I left.

5a. The 2024 Club Moofie Award for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY goes to:

Nope

Voted for by: Sylvia, Andy, Renny and CJ

Also nominated were: Marcel and Local Hero (equal second); Song of the Sea; The Terminator and Sleuth.

5b. Special Award (5):

The 2024 Club Moofie Love at First Sight Award for Most Entranced Club Member goes to:

Beck

For her reaction to Marcel, the Shell with Shoes on:

Beck: I want Marcel. I loved it. Beautiful. Very refreshing.

6. The ‘He took my stapler’ Award for the Actor/Actress you would most like to see fired or retired:

Gary Cole (Office Space)

Voted for by: Andy and Beck

Also nominated were: Ricky, the failed child star from Nope (Steven Yuen) – Wendy; Greg Pitts (Drew in Office Space) – Sylvia; Seth Rogen (Dumb Money) – Ray; Richard Riehle (Tom Smykowski, product manager, Office Space) – Renny; and Daniel Kaluuya (Nope) – CJ.

7a. The ‘A space in my heart gets bigger and louder every day’ Delightful Mollusc Award for the Actor/Actress you’d love to share a shell with: and it’s a tie!

Marcel (Marcel) and Arnold (twelve-gauge autoloader, 45 long slide with laser sighting, phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range…) Schwarzenegger (The Terminator)

Voted for by: Sylvia and Wendy (Marcel), Renny and CJ (Arnie)

Also nominated were: Phillipa Soo from Hamilton – Andy; Burt Baby (Burt Lancaster) – Ray; and Paul Dano – Beck.

7b. Special Award (6):

The 2024 Club Moofie Spellbound Award for Most Enduring Cinema Crush goes to:

Andy

For his longstanding admiration of Sleuth. This is Andy’s second (and consecutive!) win in this category.

Andy: As with Ingrid Bergman, I’ve been in love with this film for more than 30 years. Johny Jack Tar out-acted Arnold Schwarzenegger.

8a. The 2024 Club Moofie Award for WORST FILM goes to:

Nope

Voted for by: Wendy (twice), Sylvia and CJ

Also nominated were: Dumb Money and Elmer Gantry (equal second); Song of the Sea and Marcel.

8b. Special Award (7 and 8):

The 2024 Club Moofie The Cake Eaters Award for Best Club Moofie Dessert goes to: and it’s a tie!

Renny and Sylvia

For Linzer Torte (Renny) and Black Forest Cherry Cake (Sylvia)

AND DRUM ROLLLLLLLLL …………

11. The 2024 Club Moofie Award for BEST FILM goes to:

Marcel, The Shell with Shoes on

Voted for by: Sylvia and Beck

Also nominated were: Hamilton and The Terminator (equal second), Elmer Gantry, Local Hero, Nope, Song of the Sea, Sleuth and Office Space.

The BEST FILM award will be accepted by BECK as this was her inspired nomination.

SCORES FOR 2024:

Our Highest Scoring Film for 2024 was: and it’s tie here, too, folks!

Hamilton and Song of the Sea, with 4.1 out of 5.

In contrast, Marcel scored 3.9 during the year.

List of averaged scores:

Hamilton                                                         4.1

Song of the Sea                                              4.1 *

Elmer Gantry                                                  3.9

Marcel: The Shell with Shoes On                  3.9

Sleuth                                                             3.9

Local Hero                                                      3.9 **

The Terminator                                               3.7

Office Space                                                   3.3

Nope                                                               2.9

Dumb Money                                                  2.6

* Driven up by Seb and Ray scoring this one together

** Includes Seb’s score of 5 out of 5 (reduced from his original score of 10).

Good work, folks! Let’s see what 2025 brings us! Happy Moofie viewing!

June 2025: Wicked and Paddington 2

In the winter meeting of Club Moofie, we met at Sylvia & Andy’s cosy place where Sylvia cooked up a feast of home-made banh mi, Korean bulgogi, eggplant, stir fry greens, and for dessert, an unusual but tasty sweet potato & tahini cake. What a treat!

Wicked

Club moofie were a bit split on this one. Some absolutely loved it, some were a bit disappointed. I fell in the latter camp as I had such high expectations. I do love musicals and Gregory Maguire is very clever. Maybe you’d enjoy it more if you had read the book or seen the musical. I also didn’t realise it was Part 1 – doh!

Quotes

Wendy: It needed to get into it faster.

Ray: It was alright if you’re a 10 year old …

Sylvia: There were no machine guns.

CJ: I didn’t like it. It was a big razzle dazzle production but the emotional content wasn’t there. [On Glinda] I continued to dislike her all along, even after she helps Ephalba.

Sylvia: You didn’t have to like her. She’s very vain and very … errr, pink.

Renny: I didn’t get into the musical part of it as I thought I would. The turning of Madame Morrible was too sudden.

Ray: The singing was good but the songs weren’t great.

Andy: [On the music] I liked how they didn’t do too much singing. You need to nail it like Barbara [Streisand].

Sylvia: I absolutely loved this movie. I saw it in the cinema. It was full of spectacle and colour. The set, the two lead characters, Jeff Goldblum. The dance scene between Glinda and Elphaba was beautiful.

Andy: It’s a 5 out 5. Growing up with musicals, if you want to do it, this is how to do it. This is the best that people can do. It’s such a joy. It’s a master work. I loved it, loved it, loved it.

Andy: Who’s it for? It’s for teenage girls.

Sylvia: Total escapism.

Scores

Wendy:                 2.5

Andy:                     5

Renny:                  3.5

CJ:                        2.5

Ray:                      2.5

Sylvia:                   5

Paddington 2

This film was chosen by Renny who says Hugh Grant said it was his best performance and I totally agree. Hugh Grant stole the film and looked like he thoroughly enjoyed playing the villain (and unusually attractive nun). Playing a has been actor and master of disguise, he got the best scenes, from the dog food commercial to the ending musical number.  We completely enjoyed the rollicking adventures of Paddington and his sweet wholesomeness, and what amazing animation from the filmmakers.

Quotes

Renny: He’s such a nice bear.

Renny: [who enjoyed it a lot] The prison, the jailbreak, the cooked desserts, the marmalade sandwiches, one orange at a time, making friends in prison, the pop-up book with clues to the treasure….

Puppy: [on the funny bits] One little red sock made it all pink!

Sylvia: [On Hugh Grant] He’s very good at playing bad. He’s very good and funny when he does different voices.

CJ: I think Hugh Grant carries most of it. When did he get this good?

CJ: [on the film] it rolls on. I liked how it didn’t have too much action.

Ray: It reminded me of Grand Budapest Hotel, particularly the prison scenes. Clever script. Entertaining. Fast paced.

Andy: [On the British production] It kept Paddington’s philosophy. If you’re nice, you’ll get it back. They didn’t overdo it. A bit like Amelie. Delightful. They kept the sweetness of the original story.  About being nice. Brendan Gleeson was fantastic.

Sylvia: The styling, the jail, kitchen, costumes, circus, pop-up book, the Brown’s house. So beautiful. A great cast.

Scores

Renny:                  4.5

CJ:                        4

Puppy:                  4

Ray:                      3.5

Sylvia:                   5

Andy:                    5

Wendy:                 4.5

February 2024: The Terminator and Sleuth

The Terminator (1984, Science-fiction/Action, directed by James Cameron)

Several folk at Club Moofie have a soft spot for The Terminator (from memory, it was unanimously voted into the 2024 schedule) (and none more so than CJ – see below quotes. While it was shot in 1984, and there are some aspects that have dated a touch (the hair, the nightclub, perhaps some of the special effects, Bill Paxton) it still holds up to this day. There’s plenty of originality, plenty of tension, and all achieved with minimal dialogue (much of which has gone down in cinematic history and is regularly quoted, eg. ‘I’ll be back’.)
Interestingly, in the film it is said that machines take over the world by the year 2029. Given that we watched this 2024, that’s only a few more years to go, folks!!

Quotes:
Sylv: I haven’t seen it before.
Everyone: Whaaaat???

Wendy: I bet no one came out with a company called ‘Skynet’.
CJ (?): It’s what people call a company that overreaches.

Rennie, about CJ: He constantly quotes the film.
CJ: It has minimal dialogue. It is totally efficient in what it has to say.
CJ (?): I know it’s dated but it didn’t bother me.
CJ (?): The second movie was probably better, but the first movie is the concept, introduces the original ideas.
CJ (?): Reminds me a bit of No Country for Old Men – a modern day terminator. Anton Chigurh is relentless. He’s a sociopath. The terminator is a mechanical sociopath.
CJ (?): An auteur’s vision – James Cameron’s vision. No influence from studios.

Ray: Linda Hamilton’s role changes by the second one.
Wendy: She screams well.
CJ: She’s a good screamer.

Beck, on The Terminator character: Why did he at one point look like he lost his eyebrows?
Wendy: He looked pretty good when he first arrived!
Beck: Nice buns!

Andy: He’s got those useless bombs! Crap bombs, Kyle!
Beck: I would have waited ‘til he was closer – maybe jam one up his nose.

Wendy: The psychologist … (Wendy and CJ both shake their heads).
Ray: He was the worst in the film.

Ray: Somehow their missions get swapped and the Terminator becomes the father of the resistance.

Andy: What’s he [Kyle] doing at the dock? He’s supposed to get rid of the Terminator and he has a bit of nigh nigh!

Sylv: It had a budget of 64 million.
Beck: So where did that budget go on this one?

Scores:
Wendy: 4.5
Ray: 4
Sylvia: 3
Andy: 3
Beck: 3
Renny: 4
CJ: 4.5
Seb: abstain

Sleuth (1972, Thriller/mystery, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz)

Another movie greatly loved by at least two of our club’s members, Sleuth is a rather bonkers yet masterful two-hander featuring a young Michael Caine and the great Laurence Olivier. Both of these actors juggled the dialogue and constant twists and turns beautifully, the music got a special mention, and several comparisons to Knives Out were made. Johny Jack Tar made an impression, too (not a face to forget). Some were less convinced by this camp, wordy classic, but for me at least, it was a bit of fun.

* A little movie trivia here: Sleuth was directed by long-time Hollywood great Joseph Leo Mankiewisc, who directed All About Eve, Julius Caesar, Guys and Dolls and Cleopatra, among other films. His brother was the legendary screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, who most famously co-wrote Citizen Kane with Orson Welles (one of our previous Club Moofie Moofies), but was the author and producer of many, many other films. His life and the development of the screenplay for Citizen Kane was documented in the 2020 film Mank, directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, The Social Network – another Club Moofie Moofie).

Quotes:
Beck: I have a confession to make: I might have nodded off at a crucial point.
Andy: Why? Didn’t you recognise Michael Caine with a big nose?

Beck, about the timing of the plot: How long—
Andy: Two days.
Beck: I was asleep for two days?

Beck: Maybe it was the low resolution – it was quite hypnotic. I was a bit angry at it being out of focus for the first 20 minutes – I also couldn’t hear it.

Andy: As with Ingrid Bergman, I’ve been in love with this film for nearly 30 years. Johny Jack Tar out-acted Arnold Schwarzenegger.
CJ: I loved it, too. Johny Jack Tar’s face has been burned into my brain since I was a kid.

Wendy: Some of things in this were in Knives Out.
Ray: Lots of stuff in those rooms – I’d hate to be the house cleaner.
Andy: It has the Egyptian game found in King Tut’s Tomb.
Ray: It’s the 70s weirdo stuff.

Andy, about the Jude Law version: I wouldn’t deign to watch it.

Beck, about Michael Caine: Why did he do it?
Andy: He wanted to put an extension on his house.

Renny: I wasn’t expecting any of what happened. [Online critics] said it was a bit like Knives Out, but there were only two characters. I didn’t think there would be only two people. And I wasn’t convinced that you could keep flipping it that many times.
Wendy: They got a bit too clever for themselves. They needed to stop that.
Wendy (?): It was too much like a play. Knives Out had more elements and the girl, who you had empathy for.

Scores:
Wendy: 3.5
Ray: 3
Sylvia: 4
Andy: 5
Beck: 3.5
Renny: 3.5
CJ: 5
Seb: abstain

Aug 2024 Song of the Sea and Marcel

Beck’s is the place to be for fantastic food and film watching! Thank you Beck for hosting a great session with amazing food and the chance to watch Song of the Sea. Song of the Sea is another of the Cartoon Saloon series which also includes the much loved, WolfWalkers (2020) – currently the highest scoring Club Moofie film EVER!

Along with Song of the Sea we also reviewed the gentle, lovely and quirky little snail-thing film, Marcel.

Without further ado…

Song of the Sea (2014)

Song of the Sea follows the story of a 10-year-old Irish boy named Ben (David Rawle) who discovers that his mute sister Saoirse – whom he blames for the apparent death of his mother – is a selkie, who has to free faerie creatures from the Celtic goddess Macha. (from Wikipedia).

I’d agree with Sylvia here (see comment below), while it was commendable, it was not as compelling as Wolfwalkers. I did enjoy it but as I write this months later there isn’t as much that is memorable to recall in the Song of the Sea. Meanwhile Wolfwalkers is still quite fresh in my mind.

Quotes:

Sylvia: “Thanks Andy for suggesting it. I really Enjoyed it. Beautifully animated. Beautifully masterfully designed.”

Sylvia: “I did not enjoy it as much as WolfWalkers. It was not as engaging. I didn’t understand why the mother had to go away.”

Wendy: “It was quite psycho analytical”

Wendy: “I was confused because she looked like the grandma.”
Andy: “No, they were doing ‘parallels’. She reminded me of the mother from Spirited Away.”

Wendy: “There were lots of sad moments. When the kids were taken away.”

Beck: “I liked the way the little girl moved. The animation”

Seb: “I liked the bit where she smashed her head in the cake”
Renny: “What else?”
Seb: “I don’t know. They guy with the long hair”

Wendy: “I thought normally owls are friendly”
Andy: “These were possessed”

Scores:

Beck 4.5
Sylvia 3.5
Andy 4.0
Ray 4.5
Wendy 3.5
Renny 4.0
CJ: 4.0

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Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021)

This is a film posing as a documentary about the experiences of a film maker Dean who moves into an Airbnb and befriends a tiny shell creature, Marcel who lives with his grandma, Connie. Marcel is kind, whimsical and thoughtful, and has a loving relationship with Connie. Dean’s short film about Marcel goes viral and they become celebrities.

You would never think there is enough material in this concept to sustain a whole film and yet it does. It was lighthearted and funny and yet carried some emotional weight. The relationships between Marcel, his Connie, his extended mollusc family were rich and caring. The film is more ‘human’ and life affirming than many ‘human’ films out now.

Quotes:

Beck: “I want Marcel. I loved it. Beautiful. Very refreshing. The level of detail. Reminded me of Wallace and Grommit… but please, don’t do a sequel!”

Beck: “it was a very touching scene where the grandme died. Where she wondered off with the bug.”

Sylvia: “This is the second time (she has seen it) and its more beautiful. I loved it. It was emotionally deep. So much wisdom in Grandma. Marcel is such a caring character.”

Sylvia on the social media: “sometimes he (Marcel) has to scream. He has to let it out.”

Wendy on Marcels voice: “He has a distinctive voice. Like he has no nose”
Sylvia: “… he doesn’t have a nose!”

Wendy: “It was very well done”

Ray: “I think the whole thing is way too long”

Renny: “I didn’t connect to it either”

CJ: “I browned out a few times. But the relationship with his grandma was touching”

Andy: “first time (I saw Marcel) I got more because it was so novel”

Andy: “Isabella Rosellini. She comes from the garage. That explains the different accent”

Sylvia: “I loved the dog”

Scores:

Beck 5.0
Sylvia 5.0
Andy 4.5
Ray 2.5
Wendy 4.0
Renny 3.0
CJ 3.5

Conclusions

Thats it for now. All the best and see you next time
CJ

June 2024 Elmer Gantry and Local Hero

Elmer Gantry and Local Hero were the two films on review for this June session of Club Moofie. It was held at yours trulys. It was so nice to have everyone over. Special thanks to Sylvia for that amazing birthday cake and for all who came and joined us for this very nice gettogether.

Without further ado.. to the movies…

Elmer Gantry (1960)

Elmer Gantry is a hard-drinking, fast-talking traveling salesman with a charismatic personality who infuses biblical passages and fervor into his pitches as a way to ease and collect money. He is drawn to the roadshow of Sister Sharon Falconer and is immediately attracted to the revivalist’s saintly aura. As the troupe leaves town for Kansas, Gantry sweet talks her naïve assistant Sister Rachel into disclosing information regarding Falconer’s past, which he uses to con his way into her good graces. He joins the troupe preaching “Christ in commerce” and how he is a saved salesman. Gantry and Falconer develop a “good cop/bad cop” routine, with Gantry telling the audience members that they will burn in Hell for their sins and Falconer promising salvation if they repent (paragraph from Wikipedia).

It was a product of the Hollywood machine so it had the big stars, the production look and feel of Hollywood, and yet we were quite surprised that the content made it intact past the studio’s editors and executives with its pointed satire and uncomfortable criticisms of church and society. Very much a surprise that the Hollywood machine could produce this. I could only image that the said executives didn’t read the crib notes their PAs prepared for them, and allowed it through to production unchecked while they were sipping cocktails at the country club.

Special mention: The prostitute was Shirley Jones from the Partridge Family. I thought that face looked familiar.

Quotes:

Ray on his selection: “It was a fantastic performance (Burt Lancaster) and it is relevant at the moment given american (Trumpian) politics..”

Ray: “How fickle the mob is. It is not necessarily about religion”

Ray: “The script is fantastic. A close adaptation of the book”

Ray: “He was quite progressive. The warmth of his characters comes off on screen”

Ray on Elmer and his moral ambiguity: “was he a charlatan or not? I think he wasn’t a charlatan. He stands and takes the pillaging from the mob when they’re against him.”

Ray: “He has no malice in him. It’d be very entertaining to have a beer with him”

Wendy: “I really like this film but I had trouble with Sharon’s moral ambiguity. It is an interesting film to be made in America.”

Wendy: “I don’t like the characters (Elmer and Sharon). I like the journalist…”
Sylvia: “.. and he’s the atheist!”

Wendy: “he’s a guy who just tumbles through life opportunistically”

Andy on the journalist: “I think he represents the creatives of hollywood. He’s not swayed by them.”

Sylvia on Jean Simmons/Sharon: “I felt she had equal weighting in this film. Jean Simmons was very good.”

Ray: “She believed she had the power of the lord to heal. Elmer did not. He sells this (religion) like he sells vacuum cleaners.”

Renny: “I found his oratory quite good…. but his huge smile… its too much!”

Renny: “I liked her (Sharon). She had her team. She was a true believer. Her team helped with setting it up around her. I just couldn’t like him.”

Ray: “This is entertainment. Elmer Gantry was an entertainer. His job is entertainer”

Scores:

Sylvia 4.5
Andy 3.0
Ray 4.5
Renny 2.5
Seb 4.5
Wendy 4.5
CJ 3.5

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Local Hero (1983)

What a great little quirky movie. As Renny said below, I too was not prepared for this but was delighted to see it. I was very much taken in by the quiet small town charm and wit. Its several months writing this now since I saw it but of the two films (Elmer and Local Hero) I actually remember this one more and with happier memories. Less is more. A very enjoyable and memorable film.

Quotes:

Ray on why he chose this film: “We could have a Bert Lancasterathon. Its a quirky little movie. Set in a beautiful place. It has a good mood to it. Something worth preserving and not for economic gain.”

Sylvia: “I really very much enjoyed it. It is such a beautiful place.”

Sylvia on Peter Capaldi: “I’ve never seen him so young”

Sylvia: “One thing I didn’t understand – how the whole town got together and decided to sell?”

Sylvia on Denis Lawson: “He was the pilot in Star Wars, Wedge Antillies.”

Wendy: “It was charming and funny.”

Wendy: “The interactions with the marine biologist was funny.”
Ray: “How did she not know it was turning into an oil refinery?”

Renny: “I was not prepared for something so quirky and funny. The moment we entered the town it was so interesting. The Rabbit. Look at the plate. It was his food!”

CJ: “It reminded me of Hamish McBeth.”

CJ on the names and metaphors: “The two women were “Stella” and “Marina” (the sky and the sea)”
“The Rabbit was the gatekeeper of the town.”

Scores:

Renny 3.5
Seb 10
Wendy 3.5
Sylvia 4.5
Andy Abstain
Ray 3.5 (I would give it 3.0 but the music gets 3.5)
CJ 3.5

Conclusions

That’s it for now. Ciao ciao until next time!

CJ

November 2024: Office Space and Dumb Money

Office Space (1999)

Anyone who has been a slave to office work will relate to this one. Who hasn’t done repetitive boring work? (but really changing dates of the year in code?) Who hasn’t wanted to bash up the photocopier? And all the quirks of modern offices – report templates, sitting in cubicles, conforming to company policies (how many pieces of ‘flair’ are you going to wear?) and working with weirdos like Milton, with his bottle glasses, who was fired but didn’t know it. Lots of classic scenes and laughs.

Quotes

Renny: It shows you the minimum you have to do to stay employed.

Renny: We watched it a second time. It was just as funny as before.

CJ: [on not enjoying his last job]: By the way, I took the stapler with me when I left.

Renny: Everyone’s worked in those places with those cubicles. Most of the jobs people have are not that exciting. This company is sucking me dry.

Ray: And the weird people you have to work with.

Ray: Interesting seeing all those actors. A blast from the past.

Sylvia: It was funny seeing all the floppy disks.

CJ: [on the opening scene, where the main protagonist is sitting in traffic] It reminded me of driving to Auburn.

Ray: I quite enjoyed it. The humour was more subtle. A good pace. The whole scene was funny. Geez, how the office has changed so much.

Sylvia: It would be interesting to be hypnotised and then get promoted.

Beck: I must admit I watched it at 9am this morning. It was easy to watch.

Scores

Renny:                  3

CJ:                            4

Beck:                     3.5

Andy:                     3

Sylvia:                   3

Ray:                         3.5

Wendy:                 3

Dumb Money

This film tells the story of GameStop, of Roaring Kitty (a dude posting from his basement) and the power of the average Joe to influence the vultures on Wall St. I don’t know anything about stocks and admittedly, we had to stop a few times so that some of the terminology could be explained to me, but I thought it was fascinating and funny, though generally, club moofie did not think so. What struck me from the film were: the desperation (in putting everything on one bet), the inequalities and shoddiness of the financial system, and the power and momentum of social media.

Quotes

Sylvia: The style, the gangster music, the loud music, the swearing, the aggressive talking, I was too old for it. But I did think it was a fascinating story. Paul Dano is always great.

Renny: It was not my comfort zone either. I was thinking of ‘The Big Shot’ on the housing crisis in US.

Renny: I enjoyed it bringing it to a movie. I remember hearing about it [GameStop]. The phenomenon of distrusting institutions. Bring it down. Bring down the institution. Take it back. Fight. A movement to hold.

Wendy: Their stocks going up had no impact on the company or the employees of the company, despite making mammoth profits. Shows the inequalities in the financial institution and the arrogance of the hedge funds towards ‘Dumb Money’.

Renny: Shows the impact of social media to sway. I liked that it showed how it impacted different people – the nurse, college students, store clerk.

Andy: I don’t have the gene for finance. It leaves me cold. The stock market is an evil thing. It’s arsehole men trying to make money.

Beck: I watched it with the kids and we asked, ‘How do stocks and shares work?’

Beck: I don’t mind the underdog. But I don’t know if I can score it. Can I do a provisional score?

Ray: [on why he disliked it] A lot of mumbling. It was over simplified. Good vs Bad American film. A basic plot.

Scores

Renny:                  2

CJ:                            3

Beck:                     3.5

Andy:                     abstain

Sylvia:                   1

Ray:                     2 – I was going to give it 1 but I’ll give it 2 for the profanity

Wendy:                 4