May Film Reviews | Monthly Roundup

Hello planet explorers, it's that time of the month again where we review all of the cinematic beauties, and unfortunate uglies, that we have watched during the past month. As ever, let us know what you thought of these films in the comments and feel free to recommend some films that you've been watching lately too!  

1. the pixar story (we liked it!)

2007 | 87 min | documentary 

A look at the first years of Pixar Animation Studios - from the success of "Toy Story" and Pixar's promotion of talented people, to the building of its East Bay campus, the company's relationship with Disney, and its remarkable string of hits. 

B: We weren't actually intending to watch this documentary but after spending far too long browsing Netflix, we clicked through out of interest. Whilst it's a little outdated, this documentary was hugely inspiring and totally worth a watch for fellow Disney Pixar fans. 

L: This was a really nice surprise! Like Bee said, we just put it on after over-browsing Netflix and I'm so glad we did. It documented the fascinating journey that Pixar has taken from its small shaky beginnings to the massive success it is today. I had no idea what a prominent role Steve Jobs played in the creation and progression of the Pixar universe!

2. ALAN PATRIDGE: ALPHA PAPA (bee LIKED IT!)

2013 | 90 MIN | COMEDY

When famous DJ Alan Partridge's radio station is taken over by a new media conglomerate, it sets in motion 

a chain of events which see Alan having to work with the police to defuse a potentially violent siege. 

B: I re-watched this film with my parents because they wanted to watch a light comedy with me. They both found it very funny. You can see our initial review of Alpha Papa over on our April Film Reviews post, if you're interested.

3. dumb and dumber (we liked it!)

1994 | 107 min | comedy 

The cross-country adventures of two good-hearted but incredibly stupid friends. 

B: Dumb and Dumber is a film that's highly regarded and referenced in popular culture so we thought we'd finally get around to watching it about twenty years too late! Whilst there were some funny moments, I'm not entirely sure the comedy has stood the test of time. I'm sure it's a film that I would've really liked as a child but it's definitely no Ace Ventura! I think we'll watch the new film when it comes out though, just out of interest! 

L: I'm not going to lie, while I liked this film, I did come away feeling pretty disappointed. I think I watched Dumb and Dumber when I was very little but most of what I saw seemed new to me. The problem with this film, for me, was that it seemed like Jim Carrey's practice performance for better and funnier things to come. His character in this film pales in comparison to my all time favourite character by him, Ace Ventura, and I just didn't find Jeff Daniels that funny (apart from when he was pooping, of course). 

4. the wolf of wall street (we loved it!)

2013 | 180 min | biography / comedy / crime

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. 

B: This was seriously good viewing, if a little WTF at times. I can't quite believe that this was based on someone's real life...I mean, seriously?! Jonah Hill puts in a dazzling performance, which is ridiculously refreshing to see from him. This film is an experience in itself and one that will definitely leave you with a lot to think about. It's quite a long film though so make sure you're sitting comfortably!

L: This was the film that may have changed my opinion on Jonah Hill. It's nothing personal but I was just getting a bit sick of seeing him in films playing the same character. In The Wolf of Wall Street, however, I thought he was brilliant and, of course DiCaprio's performance was awesome. The film itself is crazy and it'll leave you wondering how any of it can be based on reality.  

5. jack ryan: shadow recruit (luke thought it was ok!)

2014 | 105 min | action / CRIME / mystery 

Jack Ryan, as a young covert CIA analyst, uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U. S. economy with a terrorist attack. 

L: This film was okay. I'd say it's worth a watch if you find yourself struggling to find a film and you fancy something with some action and don't want to think too much. I'll warn you though the first 5-10 minutes are pretty rubbish but get through that, and the really weird choice of backing music in the first few scenes, and you might be surprised. There's an awesome fight scene in a room...if that's a spoiler then I apologise profusely. 

6. sightseers (luke thought it was ok and bee liked it!)

2012 | 88 min | adventure / comedy / crime 

Chris wants to show girlfriend Tina his world, but events soon conspire against the couple and their dream caravan holiday takes a very wrong turn. 

B: This film was unlike anything I have ever watched before! Don't be fooled by it's light exterior, because it's actually really dark and brooding. That said, I quite liked it. I thought the dialogue was wonderful and it was nice to watch something that was a little different to anything I've seen before. Not one for the squeamish, though! 

L: The best word to describe this film is probably unique. Don't watch the trailer for it, if you haven't already, as it shows most of the funny bits. I also found the trailer to be quite misleading because it makes it seem lighter than what it actually is. It's actually pretty dark. It's so dark, in fact, that it made me feel guilty about all those times I jokingly said I wanted to enact vengeance on certain people for throwing their McDonald's rubbish out their car window...and surely that's not a good thing. 

7. elysium (luke loved it!)

2013 | 109 MIN | ACTION / DRAMA / SCI-FI

In the year 2154, the very wealthy live on a man-made space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth. A man takes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarized worlds. 

L: I finally got round to watching Elysium this month after being a little skeptical what with everyone telling me it wasn't as good as District 9, one of my favourite sci-fi films also directed by Neil Blomkamp. Saying that though, I really liked Elysium. The robots were awesome and the art direction and sort of darker / gorier sci-fi was refreshing and made a nice change from your average sci-fi flick. It's just such a shame that Jodie Foster's character never really developed into anything interesting and the plot itself was fairly basic. However, I don't really think this is a film focused on plot. It's more about setting, the basic ideas that it's built from and just giving us, the viewing public, something that is clearly inspired by the district 9 universe, a universe that I personally love.  

8. THE LEGO MOVIE (WE LOVED IT!)

2014 | 100 min | animation / adventure / comedy 

An ordinary Lego construction worker, thought to be the prophesied 'Special' is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the Lego universe into eternal stasis.

B: This film was superb. The best animation I've watched in a long while! It was ridicuously well concieved, really funny and the cast was bloody brilliant. If you've ever wanted to listen to Liam Neeson's high pitched voice, this is the film for you. Watch it...you won't regret it!

L: Everything is awesome...about this film. Yep, that pretty much sums it up! The things that make it so awesome, you ask? Chris Pratt voicing the main character, Morgan Freeman's performance, Liam Neeson's performance, LEGO Batman, the animation and the potential for future films. It made me think back to Wreck-It Ralph and evaluate just how much potential it had and, subsequently, squandered. 

9. Adaptation. (BEE liked IT!)

2002 | 114 min | comedy / crime / drama

A lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean for the screen. 

B: I saw this on Netflix and thought I'd give it a watch because I'm quite interested in adaptation and I also have a soft spot for Meryl Streep. I'd not read The Orchid Thief, the book that it was focused on, but it didn't really matter at all. I'm guessing that this film was made to make a point about adaptation itself, to satirize Hollywood's formula for dramatic film making to the point of absurdity. It was quite interesting to watch, as a result, but there were points where I did find myself a little wide-eyed like 'SERIOUSLY?!'. I did, however, love the use of voice over, particularly at the beginning. I wouldn't necessarily pick it out to watch any time soon but if you're interested in the art of adaptation or the works of Kaufman then you should give it a watch. 

10. anita and me (bee liked it!)

2002 | 92 MIN | COMEDY / DRAMA

Meena, a 12 year old living in a mining village in the Midlands in 1972, is the daughter of Indian parents who've come to England...The idyllic existence is upset by the arrival in the village of Anita...Anita is 14, blonde and beautiful. She becomes part of Anita's world but events do not run smoothly. 

B: My Mum was watching this the other evening so I decided to watch along whilst editing. It was quite a funny watch with an interesting cast and spot on cinematography and colouring.  It was a little similar in themes to East Is East, and whilst it was nowhere near as good, it was still a watch that I don't regret in the slightest. You should give it a watch if you're interested in its themes, or have an appreciation for really bloody good soundtracks!

11. x-men: days of future past (we liked it!)
2014 | 131 min | action / adventure / fantasy 
The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants. 

B: I approached this film as someone who had only seen X-Men: First Class so you'll have to take my review with a pinch of n00b salt! This film had a lot going for it but, if I'm honest, I think it was a little lacklustre. There were quite a few characters that I felt could have been developed a lot better and I think there were times when the plot could have been a little clearer. I think my favourite thing about this film was Quicksilver because I'm quite the Evan Peters fan. He was seriously badass and had a pretty good wardrobe to boot. If you're a fan of the franchise, you should definitely go and watch it.  

L: I want to love this film, I really do, but something is stopping me and I can't quite work out what it is. I think it's because of how complex the premise of this film was. It links into some of the previous films, but disregards some of the others completely. I can't help but feel that by trying to make this film fit perfectly into the future past mould, it suffered greatly. You get a bit of the X-Men from the past and some of them from the future but never a complete package. To put it simply, you never get one whole juicy chicken. Instead, you're made to fight over a leg or a wing...I think I'd rather have the whole chicken! In a film which is supposed to be about a team of X-Men, it's a shame that only individuals stand out. But, hey, nods to: James McAvoy, Micheal Fassbender, Peter Dinklage and Jennifer Lawrence. They were the ones that stood out for me.



12. the virgin suicides (bee liked it!)
1999 | 97 min | drama / romance
A group of male friends become obsessed with five mysterious sisters who are sheltered by their strict, religious parents. 

B: I posted my Virgin Suicides book review two years ago and ever since then I've been meaning to watch the film adaptation. Better late than never, eh?! Coppola's vision was well executed, pairing gentile cinematography with the book's beautiful dialogue to create a pretty faithful film. The majority of the book's thematic concerns were explored, particularly the issue of decay and despair in the suburbs. However, at times, Coppola's film deviated from the book a little and I think, as a result, it didn't quite capture the intense fragility that made the book so deliciously dark and endearing. I would recommend the film though because, whilst it's not quite as good as the book, it's still a poignant watch. 



13. godzilla (it was a bit poo, rly!)
1998 | 139 min | action / sci-fi / thriller
An enormous, radioactively mutated lizard runs rampant in Manhattan. 

B: Sometimes I get forced into watching films and I spend the entire time thinking WHY?!?!?! This was one of them. The casting was terrible, as was the representation of women. I enjoyed the 90's movie tropes, particularly the heartfelt speech towards the end, but otherwise I could've cried. Having said that, the part where they defeat Godzilla babies by throwing gumballs and basketballs at them was another highlight...Skip this one and go straight for the latest adaptation, if I were you!

L: Well...I remember this being a lot better back in 1998 but, then again, I was 7 so I'll forgive myself. I just really hate the casting in this film and Godzilla has strange skinny chicken legs in it. Admittedly, I can see it being difficult making a film about a giant reptilian monster that is both relateable and believable but its the simple things they get so wrong in this film. I wish I hadn't watched this film again...

14. GODZILLA (we liked it!)

2014 | 123 MIN | ACTION / adventure / SCI-FI 

The world's most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence. 

B: This film wasn't bad but I wasn't crazy about it. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to see Aaron Taylor Johnson putting in a good performance because I've still got a little bit of a Angus Thongs crush on him still! Bryan Cranston was amazing, as ever. There's nothing that man can't do! The special effects were awesome but I don't think they were enough to make me really like this film. I think I felt a little let down by the plot in parts and, personally, I felt that the pacing was poor throughout.

L: The more I think back to this film the more I like it. If you compare it to the Godzilla of 1998 then it is a full blown masterpiece!!! I watched Edwards' previous offering Monsters when it came out back in 2010 and thought it was good, particularly with the small budget it was made with. With Godzilla, Edwards had loads of money thrown at him and, for the most part, I think he pulled it off. Yeah, Godzilla looks a little big-boned in parts but he undoubtedly looks more or less how the giant creature should. I like how the film was approached too. It seemed to be a lot more realistic and suspenseful in parts and Godzilla really does seem more like a walking natural disaster. I'll warn you now though, I was surprised by the rather short role of one of the characters had and it still annoys me that they made that decision. You'll see what I mean when you watch for yourself. As for the main protagonist, I thought Aaron Taylor Johnson put in a solid performance but he was certainly not the best character we encountered in this month's films. 

MOVIES WATCHED THIS MONTH: 14

IF YOU ONLY WATCH ONE OF THESE MOVIES IT SHOULD BE:
B: The Lego Movie

L: The Lego Movie

NOW THAT WE'VE SHARED WHAT WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS MONTH, TELL US...

•  What have you been watching?  

• Have you seen any of these films? If so, what did you think?

LEAVE US YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW or tweet us @tftcblog. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to subscribe through Bloglovin and check us out on Twitter. We'll see you on Sunday.

with regards, THE FINER THINGS CLUB.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @TFTCBLOG | FOLLOW US ON BLOGLOVIN

EMAIL US AT: THEFINERTHINGSCLUBBLOG@GMAIL.COM

Favourite Fictional Characters | TV & Film

We've been working on an exciting project lately that has lead us to indulge in long conversations about our favourite fictional characters, so we thought we'd share a few of them with you. It'd be really interesting, and extremely helpful, if you could share your favourite fictional characters from TV and film in the comments too! Thanks, guys. We're hoping to bring you lots of adventure posts this summer, so watch this space!

michael scott 

B: I think Michael Scott is one of the cleverest fictional characters of all time. He pretty much always says the wrong thing, apart from those rare occasions when he shows a great deal of compassion towards his colleagues. I don't know anyone that doesn't note Michael Scott as one of their favourite things about The Office. He just brings such an interesting dynamic to the show and to comedy, in general. If you haven't watched it, you really really should. 

georgEs hautecourt 

B: The Aristocats was one of my favourite films as a child and I'm still incredibly fond of it. Whilst I was a big Marie fan, Mum tells me that I always used to laugh hysterically at Georges whenever he popped up on screen, probably because he reminded me of my Grandad - who was equally as eccentric. I adore Georges, from his ridiculous glasses to his fragile dance moves. I still laugh whenever I think of this exchange between him and Edgar, the butler, who is trying to help him up the stairs after Georges refuses to use the 'bird cage' of an elevator: 

E: May I give you a hand, sir?

G: You wouldn't have an extra foot, would you, Edgar? 

lumpy space princess 

B: OH MY GLOB! I'm not even that far into Adventure Time yet but I already love Lumpy Space Princess, like seriously. LSP has some pretty important things to say and I'm looking forward to listening to more of them. 

april ludgate 

B: April just gets me, you know?! I just absolutely love her brand of dead-pan apathetic humour. I can usually be found laughing along to every single one of her scenes because I just get what she means. She's pretty much my patronus. I'm also totally all over her and Andy. They just work. 

WALTER BISHOP  

L: What a great character John Noble created! While I did enjoy Fringe, it did struggle to keep the quality flowing from the first season to the last. However, the one character who stuck with it, and who I loved from start to finish, was Walter Bishop. He has got to be one of the funniest and oddest characters I have seen in a TV series and I find I just can't stop smiling when he's on screen, even if he does have some nasty skeletons in his closet.

harvey specter 

L: Suits is one of the newer TV series I've started watching but it didn't take many episodes for me to like the characters and care about the stuff that goes on around them. While Donna Paulsen and Louis Litt get honorable mentions, Harvey Specter, played by Gabriel Macht, wins it for me. He's practically Bruce Wayne...if he decided to take another path in the realm of justice.  

john mcclane 

L: I couldn't have a fictional character list without including a character played by Bruce Willis could I?! There's not too much explaining to do here really as John McClane is one of the most iconic action heroes of the 20th century. Saying that, I really wish they hadn't dragged him into this century. I think Die Hard 5 was the only film that made me cry last year...

daryl dixon

L: I found it difficult to choose just four fictional characters for this post but I'm going to give Daryl a mention. Bee and I just finished watching the latest season of The Walking Dead, which was awesome by the way, and the episodes following Daryl were the best. He's one of the characters I've grown to love as the seasons have gone on because you can see just how much his character has developed from his introduction in the first season. 

NOW THAT WE'VE shared some of our favourites with you, tell us...

•  Who's your favourite fictional character from TV and FILM? 

• What character has shaped you the most?

• What character would you like to be more like? 

LEAVE US YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW or tweet us @tftcblog. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to subscribe through Bloglovin and check us out on Twitter. We'll see you on Wednesday.

with regards, THE FINER THINGS CLUB.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @TFTCBLOG | FOLLOW US ON BLOGLOVIN

EMAIL US AT: THEFINERTHINGSCLUBBLOG@GMAIL.COM

April Film Reviews | Monthly Roundup

We've been watching films, again. How predictable! Leave us your recommendations in the comments below and you'll be granted good luck and good fortune for the rest of your days...Okay, maybe not but it'd be nice to do so anyway, right?!   

1. how i live noW (BEE LOVED IT!)

2013 | 101 MIN | action / drama / thriller

An American girl, sent to the English countryside to stay with relatives, finds love and purpose while fighting for her survival as war envelopes the world around her. 

B: I read the book last year and really enjoyed it, so I watched the film as soon as I saw it pop up on Netflix. I really enjoyed how the film was done stylistically, and I think the actors were absolutely brilliant in their roles. It was as horrifying as the book and I think that's important to note because I was a little worried that they'd tone it down a lot for a younger audience or try and overly romanticize it all. The soundtrack was also pretty good. Whilst some things had been changed for the screen, I did respect the majority of the creative decisions that were made. Obviously, you don't really get the scope and character development that you do with the book but, overall, I really enjoyed this film. A pretty faithful adaptation of a seriously impressive YA novel. Pick up the book and then enjoy the film if I were you. 

2. the hunger games: catching fire (bee loved IT!)

2013 | 146 MIN | Adventure / sci-fi / thriller

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.

B: We reviewed Catching Fire in our January film reviews but I recently re-watched it with my family. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around, if not moreso, and I'm ridiculously excited for the third installment that's out later this year. 

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3. captain america: the winter solider (we loved it!)

2014 | 136 min | action / adventure / sci-fi

Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the 

Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

b: This film was seriously impressive! Fantastic action scenes mixed in with a well thought out plot, it's pretty much all you could want from a superhero film. I thought the actors were superb and it has got me even more excited for Guardians of the Galaxy which I didn't think was possible...

L: I loved this film because it had everything I could have hoped for. The action was awesome, the overarching story intriguing, and it was even better than the first film which I loved. The only weakness I'd say was the main villain, he's certainly no Joker. Aside from that, this film is probably my favourite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date. It's even even better if you watch the Agents of Shield TV series which runs alongside all of the latest films. On a final note, I definitely think Nick Fury should take a break and present Pimp My Ride...that car!

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4. there will be blood (we liked it!)

2007 | 158 min | drama

A story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the 

early days of the business. 

B: I think the best thing about this film was the superb performances that both Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Dano put in. There were some really interesting scenes in this film because it dealt with concepts and ideas that were pretty new to me. Whilst it's quite slow, and quite quiet, I imagine it's a film that some of you would enjoy.

l: Just to clarify, this is not a documentary about giving blood. In fact, it couldn't be further away from such noble deeds. It follows the life of a brilliantly cast, and acted, silver-miner-turned-oil-man and his journey from the end of the 19th Century into the 20th. The clash between business and religion is a particularly interesting part of the film but it is Daniel Day Lewis who will keep you fascinated from start to finish. 

5. alan patridge: alpha papa (we liked it!)

2013 | 90 min | comedy

When famous DJ Alan Partridge's radio station is taken over by a new media conglomerate, it sets in motion 

a chain of events which see Alan having to work with the police to defuse a potentially violent siege. 

B: This film is piss-your-pants funny for AP veterans and n00bs alike. I haven't laughed at a film as much as I did with this one for bloody ages, so it was ridiculously refreshing to watch. Watch this if you're in need of a good laugh. You won't be disappointed. 

L: I had no idea what the film was about when I went into this one. Needless to say, there were plenty of laughs. I ended up liking it. The fact that the radio station was at the centre of a hostage situation made it unique, and Steve Coogan's infamous character had me laughing and smiling throughout. Comedy seems to be the one film genre I struggle to find good films in on a regular basis but I'm glad I gave this film a watch.  

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6. the avengers (bee loved it!)

2012 | 143 min | action / fantasy 

Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. assembles a team of superheroes to save the planet from Loki and his army. 

B: This was another re-watch because I was horrified that my Dad hadn't seen it yet. If you're a big superhero fan, this film is an absolute must-see. It's got all the action, fight scenes and witty dialogue that you could want. Seriously good stuff. 

7. o brother, where art thou? (i loved it!)

2000 | 106 min | comedy / crime

In the deep south during the 1930s, three escaped convicts search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman 

pursues them. 

B: I'd been meaning to watch this film for ages so I was rather chuffed when my Dad requested that we watch it together last Sunday. I was absolutely enthralled by this film, and I honestly haven't stopped thinking about it since! I found everything about it fascinating, from the picture perfect cinematography to the flawless soundtrack. It's based on Homer's Odyssey and it was really intriguing to see how they adapted the tale and applied it to a completely different setting and era. In my opinion, they completely pulled it off. This film deals with some dark topics but it's really really good. Watch it now and attempt to tell me otherwise! My favourite Coen Brothers watch of the month. 

8. raising arizona ( bee liked it!)

1987 | 94 min | comedy / crime

When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cope decide to help themselves to one of another family's

quintuplets, their lives get more complicated than they anticipated. 

B: Not content with watching just one Coen Brothers movie last weekend, Dad decided to put this film on for us to watch post-roast dinner. Whilst nowhere near as snappy as their latest offerings, I quite liked Raising Arizona. Very young Nicholas Cage was a particular highlight - I know, who knew?! This is the sort of film you pop on on a lazy Sunday and come away not necessarily singing its praises but admitting that it was a 'good' watch, nonetheless. 

9. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 3D (WE liked iT!)
2014 | 142 MIN | ACTION / ADVENTURE / FANTASY
Peter Parker runs the gauntlet as the mysterious company Oscorp sends up a slew of supervillains against him, 
impacting on his life.

B: I'm a bit of a sucker for the re-boot because I happen to love both Garfield and Stone. Their chemistry on screen is absolutely stunning and, when I think about it, all of the actors involved put in really strong performances here. Garfield, for me, is 100x better than McGuire when it comes to his interpretation of Spider-Man's sense of humour and underlying sarcasm, and I think it really envelopes you in. Yes, the film does get a little gimmicky at times but I think that's what I love about Spider-Man himself. He knows it's all a little ridiculous but he enjoys it. It's definitely a must-see for all those who have a soft spot for superhero movies and not just because of the stunning visual effects and action scenes. It's definitely a film that will leave you with a lot to think about afterwards though...I'm still struggling to process it all, if I'm perfectly honest. 

L:I wanted to love this film, I really did, but it just felt like it was missing something. Don't get me wrong, I certainly liked this film and, like Bee said above, Garfield's Spider-Man is awesome. I just felt it struggled to be its own film at times, and I was surprised how attached it was to the first film. It kind of felt like a hangover from the previous film in parts and its own story kind of suffered for that. I am still waiting for a villain to take this reboot by the scruff of the neck, and maybe we see one in the making towards the end of this film...

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10. we're the millers (we liked it!)

2013 | 110 min | comedy / crime 

A veteran pot dealer creates a fake family as part of his plan to move a huge shipment of weed into the U.S.

from Mexico. 

B: This was a pretty funny film, surprisingly! There was great chemistry between the characters, the jokes were flowing, the plot was easy to follow and there were some really great scenes involving the hilarious Nick Offerman and Kathryn Hahn. The only gripe I had with the script was the re-occurring jokes about Rose's profession. It got a little tiresome, if I'm honest. I'd advise you to not watch the trailer beforehand because it includes a lot of the best gags! Otherwise, this was a comedy that I would recommend to all and one that I would probably re-watch if I fancied something light.  

L: I really wasn't sure about this film and, as a result, it took me a while to be persuaded to watch it but after all that I ended up enjoying it. I think Nick Offerman played a large role in me enjoying this film because I just find that guy hilarious - even though he is starting to become somewhat type cast in the roles he plays. I liked all four of  the main characters as they all contributed in their own way and created what I feel is a decent comedy film. 

11. fargo (we thought it was okay!)
1996 | 98 min | crime / drama / thriller 
Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson. 

B: My third Coen Brothers watch of the month! I'd heard so much about the TV adaptation so I approached this film with quite high expectations. Honestly, I wasn't bowled over by it. It was 'good'. It was 'okay'. Steve Buscemi, as ever, put in a good performance but I think the pacing was a little off. It wasn't really what you'd expect from something that calls itself a thriller, really. The concept was really interesting but the film just didn't wow me like I was hoping it would. You can definitely see just how much the Coen Brothers have progressed over the years! I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for the impending adaptation though. 

L: Now since all the critical praise for the new FARGO TV series I thought I'd best watch this film to see where it all began and I was a little disappointed. I didn't find any of the characters to be particularly interesting, with Steve Buscemi's performance the only one that stood out for me. I just felt the film never really developed into anything thrilling and there was no real pace to the film. Maybe it's one of those films I could learn to appreciate more on a second viewing, but I don't think that will come by any time soon.  

MOVIES WATCHED THIS MONTH: 11

IF YOU ONLY WATCH ONE OF THESE MOVIES IT SHOULD BE:
B: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
L: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

NOW THAT WE'VE SHARED WHAT WE'VE BEEN watching this month, TELL US...

•  What have you been watching?  

• Have you seen any of these films? If so, what did you think?

LEAVE US YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW or tweet us @tftcblog. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to subscribe through Bloglovin and check us out on Twitter. We'll see you on Wednesday.

with regards, THE FINER THINGS CLUB.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @TFTCBLOG | FOLLOW US ON BLOGLOVIN

EMAIL US AT: THEFINERTHINGSCLUBBLOG@GMAIL.COM