Bria Lou Reviews

Next on the list was 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'. This isn't one I was particularly looking forward to.  I've never been a huge fan of Westerns, so watching what is probably the most famous Western for 2 and a half hours wasn't high on my to-do list.  But because of that, it was actually a much more intriguing watch than I thought it would be. It took me quite a while to really get into it, but once I got the plot and focused on it, I found the story was a great one. What made it great for me more than anything was the characters. I really enjoyed watching them interact. And as someone who had only seen Clint Eastwood in 'The Bridges of Madison County' and 'Million Dollar Baby' before this, I definitely gained a newfound respect for him as an actor. Whenever I think of Westerns, my mind instantly goes to 'Back to the Future 3', even though the actual movies aren't like this in any way. But this movie was the first to directly remind

While attempting to go straight, former criminal Moke's (Josh Brolin) efforts are derailed when he is reunited with his twin brother Jady (Peter Dinklage), who convinces him to join a cross-country road-trip to retrieve the score of a lifetime. I remember seeing the trailer for this a few months ago and being surprised by the actors involved, because no one seemed to be anticipating its release at all. I wasn't particularly interested in the plot, but as a fan of a few of the actors in it, I wanted to see it. And after watching the film, I understand why no one was really talking about it. But let's start with the good things! The characters are great. Jady and Moke are fun characters to spend time with, and the actors had great chemistry. If nothing else in the film felt realistic, their brotherly banter worked. At the beginning, it was funnier than I expected it to be. This unfortunately didn't last and the film got less and less funny as it went on, but for a while t

  This is the second movie for the bucket list that I forgot to write a post for! I saw this back in May so my memory might be a bit rusty, but it was a re-watch so I'm pretty clear on the plot and how I feel about it. I liked this movie. I probably liked it the same amount this time that I did on my first watch. It's a great story, told in a really interesting way. And while I probably didn't find it completely interesting the whole way through, it was worth it to get to the twist. For me, a plot twist is such an underrated device. I love them so much I actively seek them out in both movies and books. A good plot twist can make an otherwise bad movie re-watch-worthy. There are a few twisty movies on the bucket list, and this one has one of the best twists. Even if you don't like the movie as a whole, the twist makes everything so much more interesting. Another thing the twist does is make you want to watch the film all over again. I saw it months ago now, and I really

  Amidst a series of murders in LA, aspiring actress Cheryl (Anna Kendrick) crosses paths with a serial killer (Daniel Zovatto) on a dating show. I was really excited to see this film as soon as I saw the trailer. Even in that short space of time it got across a tense, sinister atmosphere that made the film seem like a really interesting watch, especially being a true story. Thankfully I loved the film, and the atmosphere it created was part of the reason why. From the first scene we understand the tone and can already kind of guess how the rest of the film will feel. The tension was created expertly. There were multiple times while watching the film where I was holding my breath without realising, and this feeling didn't go away until the film was over. In the last 30 minutes particularly, I actually had to pause the film to remind myself to breathe because it was that intense. Those 30 minutes were so well written and crafted - I don't think I've even seen a full-on horro

  This is one of two Bucket List movies that I forgot to write... which tells you how much of an impact it had on me! I didn't know anything about this film before I put it on. I didn't know the genre, who was in it, or anything apart from the runtime. Going in blind to this film this late in the list felt really weird because the film actually felt kind of familiar. Obviously before starting the bucket list challenge I knew that there would be a few films based on or set in a war, but I had no idea how many! So this one felt a bit like some of the other movies I've already watched, and it wasn't one of my favourites. It had some great moments, but when I think about the film overall I didn't really get anything from it. I never felt connected to the characters or the story. So as well made as it was, it wasn't one I particularly enjoyed, and it's not one I'm rushing to re-watch.

While struggling with a sick wife and two children, Nick (Michele Morrone) hires an AI android called Alice (Megan Fox) to help out around the house. But when Alice becomes self-aware, Nick finds that he and his family are suddenly in danger. I've watched a few AI-based horror movies in the last month or so, so I was in the mood to give another one a shot. As I'd somewhat enjoyed the others, I thought I'd like this one too. Unfortunately, I didn't like this one much at all. For a start (and this is my fault as I've already mentioned seeing a few films with this concept recently) but the AI-gone-bad premise is no longer new. And when a film uses the concept but doesn't bring any new ideas, it starts feeling a bit stale. This one didn't really have anything new to add to that conversation, and so it didn't feel original. Having said that, I did like that it got right into the story straight away. We know the family, we know their circumstances, we know how

  The next bucket list pick was a much-anticipated re-watch! I left this one for the bottom half of the list, like a good few others, so I could have something to look forward to towards the end. This is such a lovely film! I was actually really surprised to see it on the bucket list. I knew it was very well-liked by both critics and fans, but I had no idea it had been nominated for (and won) Oscars, so that was a nice surprise. The comedy genre is really sparse on the list, and while this is also a drama, it's so nice to have something light-hearted here - especially because light-hearted films like this can often provoke a bigger emotional reaction than intense dramas. For me, as good as the direction and writing of the film is, the best thing about it is the characters and the actors who play them. This family feels like a real family from their first moment on screen. The characters are all written really authentically, they compliment each other and the actors had great chemis

In 1982, Viv Delaney is working the night shift at the Sun Down Motel when she mysteriously disappears. 35 years later her niece Carly decides to investigate. Working the same shift as her aunt decades later, can Carly discover the truth about the motel before she suffers the same fate as Viv? I've been trying to get a bit more into horror and after reading 'Clown in a Cornfield' earlier in the year, I wanted to find something with similar spooky vibes. I'd heard great things about this one! I liked this book. It wasn't perfect, but it was a really enjoyable read. I really liked reading the story from both Viv and Carly's points of view. I'm not usually a fan of more than one point of view in a book, but I think this one did that really well. Both of the characters felt like the main character and they were both really interesting to read about. The story works because reading Viv's point of view gets the reader invested in the mystery. So when we get to

  My next pick for the bucket list was Memento, which I was really looking forward to! I'd seen this once before a few years ago and really liked it, so I was glad to see it on the list. In true Nolan fashion it's time-bending in a way that could have easily been confusing if the wrong person had directed it. In fact I think it's probably one of the least confusing Nolan movies because of how well it's directed. It's also written really well. When you watch the scenes play out, you realise how much time and thought has gone into every single thing that happens. For me, the best part of that was when things that seemed insignificant suddenly became really important as we went further into the past. One thing I didn't know before this second re-watch is that the film (which is originally played in reverse order) has the option to be played in a linear order. I haven't looked into watching it chronologically because I love the originality of the reverse order,

  When two fixers are hired to solve a problem, they find themselves unexpectedly working together when the situation spirals out of control. I was looking forward to this film. Being a fan of the Ocean's movies I already know how well George Clooney and Brad Pitt work together, so even though I wasn't 100% sure about the plot, I knew it would probably be a fun watch at least. I liked the film, but my first instinct ended up being completely right - I liked the characters and didn't really like the plot. The story takes a while to get into. And again this may be because I wasn't fully on board with the premise. But in saying that, it does get better after the first half hour, when the characters have settled into their roles and the audience know a bit more about what to expect. The film is completely held up by the chemistry between Clooney and Pitt. They work really well together and make you want to keep watching the film. If there had been two different actors starr

  Next up for the bucket list was a re-watch that I was really looking forward to! I saved this film for as long as I could because I love it so much and wanted to have something to look forward to later in the year. Though having said that, I only saw the film in its entirety for the first time last year, so my love for it is definitely a new-ish thing! So this was only a second watch. And just like with the first watch, I loved the film. In fact, I think I loved it more the second time around. For a start, I found it a lot more emotional this time around. And not just at the end, but I found the beginning of the film, in the present, surprisingly emotional too.  This film is on the classics list for many reasons, and one of those reasons is because of the chemistry between Jack and Rose (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet).  Those two characters had an amazing love story, electric chemistry and they share some beautiful iconic scenes. As good as the film's writing and d

Two estranged friends reunite to carry out a dangerous plot. I'd never even heard of this film when I sat down to watch it. The premise was so vague that it really could have gone in any direction, and I didn't really have high hopes. Thankfully, the film is deceptively good, and not really what you'd expect. The first thing I have to talk about are the performances. The main characters are played by Naomie Harris and Natalie Dormer, and they both completely carry the film. They play their individual characters really well but also work really well together. Their characters are also really interesting. They are women from two different walks of life that blend well together. If the film didn't have any twists and continued how it starts, it would be really fun to watch the path these characters take together. The film is very dialogue-heavy, and at times feels like a play - I only found out after watching that it actually was adapted from a play. As well as the film fo

This was probably the most iconic film on the bucket list - and therefore the most intimidating! The Godfather has been on my to-watch list for years, but I never got around to it. Partly because it seemed long and intimidating, partly because the plot never really grabbed me. But I'm glad it was on the list so I could have an excuse to force myself to watch it! The film is so iconic that if you haven't seen it, you have no idea how many other movies and TV shows it influenced, and how many pop culture references it created. The most notable references for me come from Family Guy and Modern Family, both of which have episodes that essentially copy entire scenes from the movie. But back to the film itself - I thought it was good. I liked the premise, it was well-written and directed, and the characters were created really well.  It was a bit hit-and-miss for me in the sense that there were scenes I didn't care about, but there are also scenes that have really stuck with me,

Not only was this a first-time watch, but it was my first time watching anything James Bond related. It's a franchise that has completely passed me by. And although I have seen many, and liked many, spy movies, this was a series that I never really had any desire to watch. I was actually quite surprised it was on the list - I think I'd assumed that if any James Bond movie was considered a classic, it would be one older than this. Nevertheless I did enjoy the film. It wasn't the best thing I've ever seen, but it was an enjoyable 2.5 hours. Like a lot of these older action based movies, my favourite thing was the love story within it. I loved the way the characters interacted with each other, and Daniel Craig and Eva Green had great chemistry! The rest of the plot I could take or leave. It was interesting, but it didn't feel like a wholly different story from other spy movies I've seen. Having never seen other James Bond movies I can't really make a judgement

  When a family are selected to test a new digital assistant, they soon find that AIA is more dangerous than they ever thought possible. This premise feels like it's been done upwards of 10 times in the last two years. But I happen to find the idea of AI perfect for a horror film, so I'll always come back for more! I didn't love this movie, and can definitely see its flaws, but I did actually have a good time with it.  For a start, the opening scene felt really silly and unrealistic, but it did have a lot of potential and was an interesting watch. However the tone of it felt a bit off compared with the rest of the film. I thought the main family felt really authentic, and they all worked well together. I'm particularly a huge fan of John Cho, so it was nice seeing him in this. And he was great! While the idea itself seems stupid and unrealistic, there is an undercurrent of fear knowing that if this product was marketed correctly, it's not crazy to think that people

  This was a highly anticipated re-watch. I actually saved this film for later in the year because it was something to look forward to. I don't remember the first time I saw this film, but it's always been one I've loved as both a horror fan, and as a fan of Stephen King adaptations. And while this isn't my personal favourite Stephen King adaptation (there are too many to mention, but Stand By Me and Misery are definitely my standouts), it's undoubtedly one of the absolute best, which is why it's on this list. There's something really interesting about watching a character slowly descend into madness, and it's done so well in this one partly because of the writing and directing, but also because Jack Nicholson did such an amazing job with the character. But the actors playing the supporting characters, such as Shelly Duvall, Scatman Crothers and particularly Danny Lloyd all did an amazing job with their roles. There are a lot of movies on the bucket list

  It's really fitting that this one is on the bucket list, considering the sequel is coming out soon. I didn't know anything about this movie before watching it, so as you can guess, this was a first-time watch. I had no desire to see it previously. I enjoyed the film more than I thought I would. Initially, I think the setting, and the fact that it's described as a 'historical epic' made it feel really intimidating, so I was glad that it was actually quite accessible. The story was an interesting one. You're immediately interested in the characters and you're curious to see how they'll end up. It's also really well-written and directed. You can tell that the filmmakers were really passionate about the story and tried to make it feel as authentic as possible. But the best thing about the film is definitely the acting. All of the actors played their roles amazingly well, it's no surprise that so many of them have become (if they weren't already

  After the murder of her twin sister, Darcy (Carolyn Bracken) uses haunted items to exact revenge on those responsible. I knew nothing about this film until I sat down to watch it, and if I'm honest, I didn't really have high hopes. The premise, while interesting, is vague - which can either be a good thing or a bad thing. Thankfully this time around it was a good thing, because I absolutely loved this film! Going in blind for a film like this is really fun - you're completely along for the ride from the second it starts. The opening scene set the tone really well. It was tense, scary, and pulls you in so well that you're immediately connected to the characters. And this continues throughout the film. The filmmakers expertly created a creepy, tense atmosphere that never really went away. Everything that happens keeps the audience completely glued to the screen while also hiding behind their hands waiting for the next scare. I loved the dynamic between Darcy and Yana (C

Next up for the bucket list was a first-time watch! I had heard of this movie but I didn't really know what it was about, so it was never on my to-watch list.  After reading the description I immediately recognised the premise, and knew that I had seen films based on it. The most recent of which was The Upside. But what I didn't know, was that The Upside, particularly at the beginning, is pretty much a shot-for-shot remake of this film. At the time I enjoyed The Upside, but I felt like something was lacking. I knew it was based on a similar premise as other films but I had no idea it was a remake. But now it makes complete sense, because The Intouchables was everything I wanted The Upside to be. The actors had amazing chemistry, the script was so well written, it hit the right beats both comedically and emotionally, and it was just overall a really great watch. But seeing The Upside did dampen the experience a bit for me, especially because they took so much from this movie tha