MFKZ

MFKZ
Release Date: 11th October 2018
Directors: Shojiro Nishimi & Guillaume ‘Run’ Renard
Ankama Animations 

MFKZ, or Mutafukaz as it’s known as outside of public display posters, is the hip hop of anime, giving weeaboo rappers the chance to star in the anime they love to tweet about so. Vince Staples and RZA are just some of the voice talent involved, living their best dreams as they bring the grimy cockroach infested city living to life. That is the dream… right?

An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn

An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn
Release Date: 23rd October 2018
Director: Jim Hosking 
Picturehouse Entertainment 

After The Greasy Strangler put me off sausage for two days, and had myself and my partner at the time chanting ‘Hootie Tootie Disco Cutie’ at one another until we couldn’t tolerate each other’s presence to the point of romantic self dissolution, I knew I was down for whatever came next.

So here it is, whatever came next. For one magical night only.

Or numerous if you own it on DVD.

Dogman

Dogman
Release Date: 19th October 2018
Director: Matteo Garrone 
01 Distribution 

They’re really scraping the barrel when it comes to superhero names these days, right? Okay, it isn’t about that kind of Dogman, but merely a man who deals with dogs, and isn’t that something everyone can get behind?

After watching a rather crummy fireworks display somewhere in Edinburgh, I decided to see a movie at the nearest indie cinema to try to salvage the night. This was the pick due to good word of mouth, and I sat at the very front to read the subtitles, for I forgot my glasses. And with my eyes so close to that screen, I felt like I was up close and personal with all those dogs on display. If only I could have reached out to stroke them… then I too could have become a Dogman. But hopefully not that Dogman, no one would want to be that guy.

Mirai

Mirai
Release Date: 2nd November 2018
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Toho

I spent a good chunk of my childhood in the midst of a spat with my sister, I’m sure every single one of us with a brother or sister can say the same. Mirai takes such spats and mixes it with the future and the past, for that’s the only way to truly get over a wild sibling squabble. If only I knew, if only you knew. But for every sibling that pops up from here on out, take heed…

Mandy

Mandy
Release Date: 12th October 2018
Director: Panos Cosmatos
RLJE Films 

Manchester Home’s FilmFear event throughout October was a great way to see classic horror movies blown up onto a big screen, that’s how I experienced The Fog after all, but a few new movies crawled into the mix, with Mandy being the biggie. A biggie so big the one night showing sold out swiftly, and I was left moaning about it to whoever would listen. ‘It’s this year’s Drive, what are they thinking?!’ I think I told one guy four times in four hours, that’s how Mandy mad I was.

Thankfully Mandy was almost straight to DVD, and so if anyone wants to borrow it, hit me up. Just remember to return it, or else I’ll go all Nic Cage on your ass. And only a certain subset of people are into that sort of thing. I know I am.

The Fog

The Fog
Release Date: February 8th 1980 (30th October 2018 Home Manchester Showing)
Director: John Carpenter 
AVCO Embassy Pictures 

The recent FilmFear at Manchester Home has been a great way to stay spooked throughout October, and The Fog was one of the few I went to see, still buzzing off seeing our main man John Carpenter perform live at Manchester Albert Hall. I hadn’t seen this classic creeper before, but I’d seen snippets of foggy murder play out to a radical 80’s synth soundtrack live, so felt right at home at Home when it came to witnessing the seaside murders for the first time.

I’m just glad Manchester hasn’t had a foggy night since.

First Man

First Man
Release Date: 12th October 2018
Director: Damien Chazelle 
Universal Pictures 

I mentioned this movie at work a few days before I went to see it. My colleague suddenly got real angry about it, calling it a film of false dramatisation of an event which didn’t need such dramatisation. He was seething, throwing things around the office, and threatened to break my face if I went to see it.

Of course he did none of these things, that’s just me adding false drama.

Which First Man does not do. I know, I checked that History versus Hollywood website.  (Besides, I know why he was angry with the movie, something to do with an American flag…)

Tetsuo: The Iron Man

Tetsuo: The Iron Man 
Release Date: 1st July 1989 (9th October 2018 Home showing)
Director: Shinya Tsukamoto
Kaijyu Pictures 

Home Manchester recently had an event on titled ‘Asia Triennial Manchester/ Adventures in Super 8: the early films of Japan’s punk generation’. Phew! Tetsuo: The Iron Man was the leading movie, and a lecturer tried to lecture us all about just what this here film is all about, spouting words such as ‘Gundam’ ‘Akira’ and so and so and so.

But really, to describe Tetsuo: The Iron Man with words just doesn’t do it, and I’m going to fail too.

So.

No, I’m Iron Man. 

Venom

Venom
Release Date: 3rd October 2018
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Sony Pictures

I’d already seen the reviews for this movie prior to watching it myself. Normally I’d steer clear, I already find most of the ‘good’ Marvel movies a little dry, but I had a hangover, and bad movies are perfect cures, seriously, try it sometime. Venom is a pretty terrible flick no doubt about it, but as my head soaked up the Symbiote mess, I was finding myself in quite a state. And then I think I lost my headache.

The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski
Release Date: 6th March 1998 (28th September Home Manchester showing)
Directors: The Coen Brothers
Working Title Films

The Big Lebowski is something I may or may not have written about once upon a time on a blog one distant URL away… Seven years have passed since then, and I’m a completely different person (or so I like to think), and whilst my words come out a little differently these days, my feelings for The Big Lewbowski are still as strong as they were way back when. And seven years is nothing really, considering the movie is now twenty years old! And to celebrate, cinemas have been showing it on the big screen once again. Far out, dude.