‎Matt Lally’s reviews • Letterboxd

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In the Name of the Father 1993

★★★★★ Watched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
What a film. You have a great cast here including the brilliant Daniel Day Lewis playing the real life Gerry Conlan and Pete Postelwhaite as his father Guiseppe. This is the true story of the Guildford four, the men who were tortured and forced confessions to being members off the IRA and to a bank robbery. Emma Thomson is outstanding as the lawyer who seems to truly believe in Gerry. This is raw powerful stuff that’s incredibly well acted. It has a grittiness that makes it feel more like a documentary. It’s a brilliant film that pulls no punches
A Bronx Tale 1993

★★★★★ Watched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
I’ve got to give iDe Niro massive credit here. He directs and stars in this gangster drama that is way more than the sum of its parts. De Niro plays Lorenzo, a family man with a very strong set of morales. He has a young son Cogliari who gets enticed by the glamorous world of gangsters led by the top man Sonny who rules the neighbourhood and becomes a second dad to Cogliari. As the years go by…
Carlito's Way 1993

★★★★½ Watched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
This is a near perfect gangster drama. Pacino is a force of nature here playing Carlito, the now mellowing more worldly gangster who was once a killer, and now newly released man back on the streets of his old neighbourhood. You’ve got a terrific cast here including the unrecognisable Sean Penn as his friend Dave Kleinfeld who is the very dodgy lawyer who gets Carlito released. You’ve then got Penelope Anne Miller who is Carlitos old flame, Vigo…
Falling Down 1993

★★★★ Watched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
This is a treat with Micheal Douglas in scene stealing form. He plays William D-Fens who has clearly hit an all time low and decided he’s going to right some wrongs. He takes a walk around the city which has some serious consequences. The scenes in the newsagent, burger bar and golf course are now considered some of the best scenes in recent history. You then have the great Robert Duvall playing the cop chasing him. This is…
Rocky Balboa 2006

★★★★ Rewatched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
I was so pleasantly surprised with this movie. Time has moved on and Rocky now owns a restaurant and is mourning his wife Adrien who has died a years ago. He’s living in the past until ESPN create a digital fight between Rocky in his prime and the now Champ Mason Dixon which sees Rocky beating Mason. This gets people talking and the promoters ask for an exhibition fight with the two. You’ve got Paulie returning and and…
Rocky V 1990

½ Watched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
This has to be one of the worst big budget movies ever. I’m a Rocky fan but nothing works here. You have Rocky who has lot everything and is now back in the old neighbourhood and decides to train the up and coming Tommy Gunn. You also have Stallone’s son who is now a teenager getting bullied at school. Unfortunately when Tommy becomes the champ largely due to Rocky turns rotten. You then have a fight scene which is completely and utterly daft. Some of this is truly cringing
Rocky IV 1985

★★★ Watched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
Admittedly this is completely ludicrous but it still works as entertainment. All the character’s return reprises their old roles. We have the ultimate boxing machine in Viktor Drago who is the seemingly unstoppable Russian boxer. Stallone is likeable as ever as Rocky. This film has a faster pace to it than the others. Of course the same ingredients are here. The movies heart and fight scenes, montages and soundtrack help it along. The stakes are raised this time and I have to say the final fight is simply incredible
Rocky III 1982

★★★ Watched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
While this isn’t as good as the first two movies, it’s still pretty entertaining. This replaces the first two movies rawness with a more light touch. So Rocky is the champ and has it all. Money, cars and a mansion with his wife Adrien. But of-course a challenge presents itself in the shape of Clubber Lang (Mr T). Their are more obstacles for Rocky to overcome. The truth is it’s a simple plot but it works well as…
Rocky 1976

★★★★ Watched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
While I don’t think Rocky is the masterpiece that some do, it’s still a very good film. Stallone is made for the role. The cast though fairly unknown at the time are all suited to the roles that remained theirs for decades to come. Talia Shire is the shy girl Rocky falls for, and Burt Young is the slightly insane brother Paulie and Carl Weathers is charismatic as Apollo and Burgess Meredith is terrific as Mickey who is…
The Bourne Ultimatum 2007

★★★★★ Rewatched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
This is the best of the Bourne movies in my opinion. It’s got a break neck pace and from the beginning some incredible fight scenes. You’ve got a great cast here with some new additions including David Strathairm as CIA agent Noah. The shaky camera scenes have never work better in some of the foot chase scenes and you get to see how innovative Bourne is in dangerous situations. The soundtrack adds to the tension and Damon has never been better as Bourne
The Bourne Supremacy 2004

★★★½ Watched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
This is definitely a solid thriller that’s well made but I felt it was a bit too dark for me. Bourne is being hunted by an elite assassin played very convincingly by Karl Urban. Theirs an intricate plot which has Bourne globe trotting. Theirs loads of action again with some great fight scenes and car chases. What separates Bourne from other spies is his intelligence and coolness under pressure which is on show here. Joan Allen as Pamela Landey and Brian Cox as Ward Abbott are good additions
The Bourne Identity 2002

★★★★½ Rewatched 13 Mar 2023

SPOILER FREE
It’s genuinely safe to say this movie changed action movies with the style of martial arts fighting and shaking camera work. Damon is perfect for the role. Theirs a great supporting cast including Julia Stiles, Chris Cooper and Clive Owen. Theirs a furious pace from start to finish and some great action scenes including the car chase in France. Franke Potente is very good too and the plot is like a jigsaw puzzle that you are piecing together along with Bourne. Add to that a great soundtrack abd this has to be up their with the best action thrillers

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