Nick McB’s Film Reviews

56 Films have been rated or reviewed by Nick McB.

Breaker Upperers, The (2018): Enjoyable sex–positive NZ comedy.; DVD $19.95 | Blu-Ray $24.95
T2 Trainspotting (2017): Has some effective moments, but feels like a pointless sequel overall.
Get Out (2017): Very satisfying horror.
Never Dead, The (Phantasm) (1979): Some scary moments due to the spooky score and to Angus Scrim's character.
Nobody Knows (Dare mo shiranai) (2004): Draining.
Death Proof (2007): Tarantino tries desperately hard to make a cult movie in the vein of American International Cinema, but winds up with a clunky bore fest. Totally unsexy too. The only enjoyable aspect is Zoe Bell\'s New Zealand accent.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Inglourious Basterds (Inglorious Bastards) (2009): Pointless and pretentious, and proof for those who think Tarantino has been a waste of time since Jackie Brown.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Wolf Creek (2005): Annoyingly stupid victims undermine the effectiveness somewhat but otherwise the nasty horror elements are in tact. Those who enjoy movies such as Hostel and Eden Lake will enjoy it.
Eden Lake (2008): A nasty piece of work that is very effectively done.; DVD $29.95
Escape from Alcatraz (1979): As always, the Siegel/Eastwood combination delivers the goods in this well directed, well paced prison escape movie.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Deranged (1973): A classic horror movie with a strong cult following. Great performance by Blossoms.
Snowtown (2011): A very discomforting and challenging experience to sit through, but a well made film that is chillingly true to the real life story.; DVD ~~$34.95~~ $19.95
Frightmare (1974): A very tidy horror movie with a great 70s British vibe.
Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (2012): A comprehensive line up of living legends tell us how they do it, making a treat for hip hop fans, engagingly presented by Ice T.
Mesrine (Killer Instinct, Public Enemy Number 1) (2008): Exciting and well made. The main character is not sympathetic and it comes as a relief at the end of the lengthy Part 2 when he his finally gunned down in a scene that was inexplicably previewed at the outset of the movie –– a poor directorial choice.; DVD $19.95
Camille 2000 (1967): An enjoyable melodrama enhanced by a great Piero Piccioni score. Features Metzger's trademark beautiful people, lush sets and unashamed libertinism (enhanced with his next three features). The blu ray would get an extra star.
Freestyle - The Art of Rhyme (2000): A documentary of a New York subgenre of hiphop. Biggie, Tupac and Eminem barely appear so the summary put up by Aro is misleading.; DVD $19.95
Forbidden Legend, The - Sex & Chopsticks 1 & 2 (2008-2009): Lack\'s the amusing story and slapstick of Sex and Zen. What is left is pure soft–core porno; very nicely shot with beautiful Japanese actresses. The kinky Part 2 is much better than the somewhat dull Part 1.; DVD $29.95
Notorious (2009): Competent biopic that is extremely well cast, props to Jamal Wollard for such a convincing lead.
Armageddon (1998): It is easy to understand why we sneer at Michael Bay after sitting through this clunker.
Kurt and Courtney (1997): Entertaining enough, but there is something distasteful about his reliance on the likes of dodge bikers and Courtney\'s deranged father to further his dubious hypothesis.
Biggie and Tupac (2002): About as reliable as any Broomfield documentary; that is, not very. lt\'s also hard to maintain concentration following his meandering theories.
Charley Varrick (1973): Another great 70\'s action movies, when action movies were not as formulaic and conventional as they have become. Stylish Don Siegel direction and a typically excellent Lalo Shifren score help things along.
Looking For Eric (2009): By Ken Loach standards this is light entertainment compared with some of his more grueling efforts, and no weaker for it.
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge (2001): Rather silly but otherwise very sweet.
Virgin Spring, The (1960): No one does seriousness as well as Bergman, another classic in true meaning of the word.
Seventh Seal, The (1957): Every single frame is iconic.
Witchfinder General (The Conqueror Worm) (1968): A cult classic with Vincent Price genuinely disturbing rather than hammy.
Venus in Furs (Paroxismus) (1969): Great jazz score and great presence from Klaus Kinski. Must be close to Franco\'s best film
Memories of Murder (Salinui chueok) (2003): Outstanding.
Boiling Point (3-4x10) (1990): Made by Kitano when his career was on the way up.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Outrage (2010): Not as original or as moving as his 1990s gangster films, but stylish and entertaining.
Kids Return (1996): Outstanding and underrated Kitano feature from when he was at his peak.
Cedar Rapids (2011): Enjoyable feel good comedy that is very nonjudgmental about taking drugs and female sexuality (including adultery).
Wildboyz (TV Series) (2003-2005): Amusingly juvenile and homoerotic, Steve O and Pontius prove to be charismatic stars of the show, along with the animals as well as the awesome Manny Puig.
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (2010): Rather uninvolving and pleased with itself.
Lickerish Quartet, The (1970): Rather pretentious, but in a good way.
World's Greatest Dad (2009): Top class black comedy that is not sentimental at all. The son is one of the best teenage characters ever.
Checkmate Provenzano (2007): Unwatchable unless (a) you already have good familiarity with Provenzano\'s arrest; and (b) you can read and understand Italian. None of the written Italian is translated.
10 to Midnight (1983): Sleazy Dirty Harry rip off. You could do worse!
Hated (1994): The reason this doco is so short is there really wasn\'t too much to GG Allin. A minor cult phenomenon at best, but fills up 50 minutes ok.
Wadd: The Life and Times of John C Holmes (1998): Excellent life and times doco (if you\'re interested in this kind of stuff).
Mr. Majestyk (1974): Excellent actioner. What is not to love about movie where the hero is a melon farmer, and played by Charles Bronson!?
Cyrus (2010): The lame, punch–pulling ending was very disappointing.
Mother (2009): Gripping and disturbing, and up to the quality of the director's previous films.; DVD $19.95
Crows O (Kurôzu zero) (2007): A return to form, suggesting Miike is better when he is less experimental (and self–indulgent), at least judging by his recent work.
Cannibal Ferox (Make Them Die Slowly, aka Woman From Deep River) (1981): While there is some slicing and dicing of naked bodies in this movie, the directors achieve nothing in that department compared with the censor who went wild with his knife.
Bloodsucking Freaks (1978): So reprehensible it has to be seen to be believed. A cult classic. It features a series of appalling set pieces with a very satisfying finale.
Ebola Syndrome, The (1996): Absolutely hilarious. Goes way beyond bad taste in every sense. Everyone out there who thinks "political correctness has gone made" needs this movie as an antidote.
Story of O, The (1975): Overrated and dull. Those unaware of Radley Metzger's The Image may find it "kinky" and "disturbing" but Metzger really demonstrates how to demonstrate those qualities.
Immoral Tales (1974): The snail–like pacing and poor first two episodes detracted markedly, despite the copious nudity and much better final episodes.
Score (1973): Radley Metzger is the greatest soft core (and hard core) porno director, ever. This is one of his very best, and easily his most enjoyable.
Underbelly - Season 1 (TV Mini-series) (2008): One of the best true–crimes series ever. Ranks with Blue Murder as an Aussie classic.
Underbelly - Season 3 (TV Mini-series) (The Golden Mile) (2010): This series suffered because many of the characters relevant to this era are still alive. Therefore the makers tended to soft–soap them, especially John Ibrahim.
Serpico (1973): The lead character is so annoying and the film so earnest and self–regarding. This film pales compared to Prince of the City, sadly only available on VHS.
Blue Murder (Mini-Series) (1995): This is a true crime, cult classic, particularly for those fascinated by tales of gangland Australia.

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Nick McB’s Film Reviews