Author | Lightnews

Niam

Niam

@niamsuggitt.bsky.social

60 followers 130 following 1.5K posts

The burden of cold and ever-recurring existence weighed down his spirit. Here he was again.

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Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 5h

So Charlie?

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 22h

Working on it, working on it!

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 22h

Probably this reversible Japanese Fleece Vest from South2 West8. Very versatile and makes me feel like I'm in 'Evil Does Not Exist'.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 1d

I generally say I prefer the Coens in comedic mode, but watching this... maybe I don't? This is one of the best crime movies of all time after all.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 1d

Deakins' cinematography is of course excellent too, the vistas of Texas are incredibly cinematic anyway but rarely have they looked better.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 1d

All of the minor background faces are amazing as well, so many superb faces in one scene characters.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 1d

All of the performances here are amazing, Bardem has become a bit of a meme (FRIEND-O) but Chigurh is brilliantly terrifying. Brolin, MacDonald and Woody Harrelson (I forgot he was in this!) are also great, but it's Tommy Lee Jones who steals it for me, just so good.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 1d

But it's still surprising, the way Josh Brolin's character is killed is so shocking, and then the fact that we never really find out what happens to Kelly MacDonald or Bardem. The ambiguity of it is great, and it fits with Tommy Lee Jones' existential questioning.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 1d

But overall I think I liked this more on second viewing, I think on first watch I was a bit annoyed by the deliberate deflation of the ending, how it never actually pays off. But now I see that it's all incredibly intentional and serves the wider, more important theme.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 1d

My main memory of that viewing was my two female friends making fun of me for wincing so much at the scene where Chigurh performs surgery on himself... and I must admit I winced again this time!

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 1d

After filling in all my Coen Brothers gaps earlier this year, I was still left with a few I'd not seen in ages and wanted to re-watch, one of which is 'No Country For Old Men' which I watched tonight for the first time since seeing it in the cinema when it came out.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

Flawless Victory; I thought I’d missed out on Geese tickets but they moved it to a different venue and ladies and gentlemen… we got ‘em

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

In the middle of the most recent LRB right now, but controversially I might pop out for a little coffee afterwards.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

Nope, I need to see her those, and her documentary as well.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

Listening to Operation: Doomsday and like I assume everyone from Leeds, can't shake the feeling that I probably walked past MF Doom in the street and never even knew.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

So overall whilst this is by no means essential it's still good fun for this LOTR fan. Just hearing some of those Howard Shore themes again got me going... I've not watched the series since seeing them in the cinema last year... could it be time again soon?

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

The voice acting was solid, Brian Cox of course the standout, but it was also cool that Lorraine Ashbourne had a sizeable role, what with her being married to someone... precious to the series.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

As this is very much a side story it does mainly avoid 'prequelitis' but there are some moments, but most of them are actually good? Like a posthumous appearance from Christopher Lee and I have to admit that when Gandalf was mentioned... I got a bit emotional.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

The main character being Hera, daughter of the King is fun, and it definitely makes sense that Miranda Otto is the narrator as there are clear links to Eowyn.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

The plot is fairly simple but enjoyable, and most of the characters are a bit deeper than you might think at first. The villains definitely deliver, Wulf does some shit I did not expect in a cartoon.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

The animation style was much more of a traditional anime than I expected but it worked, particularly in how it combined cel animation with CGI backgrounds.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

The Peter Jackson films are hugely important to me so anything connected to them has a lot to live up to, and whilst this isn't as good as those 3 classics, it's still definitely up there with Rings Of Power and the Hobbit movies.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

Tonight's feature presentation was 'The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim' which I actually thought was pretty decent.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

Truly in awe at the Faithful ineptitude on display in the Celeb Traitors.

Niam @niamsuggitt.bsky.social · 2d

Just valour theft. Apparently a lot of sports copied it from cricket.