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The Bar

Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 5:37 pm
by jonbly
8/10 - Solidly made, with enough plot turns to keep you engaged.

Re: The Bar

Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:07 pm
by Jon H
This was smart. The contrast between the unknown terror outside the bar against the human weaknesses on display inside it made for a very effective and tense film. Very good, very Spanish. 8/10

Re: The Bar

Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:35 pm
by DavieT
Another great movie from Alex de la Iglesia. An engaging plot and well played. Best one of the day for me.

Re: The Bar

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 11:15 am
by Oswald Cobblepot
Absolutely loved this, one of my favourites of the festival.

Funny, clever, fast paced, and really well thought out. The constantly changing loyalties were believable and the characters were all great.

Re: The Bar

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:22 pm
by WraithApe
A virtually single location location film where a bunch of strangers are holed up together in a bar in central Madrid after some strange events force them to accept that leaving the bar might not be such a hot idea. The brilliant title sequence, of microscopic ticks and worms shot in macro, sets up a situational dark comedy with characters under the microscope. Really well written and acted by all involved. 8/10

Re: The Bar

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 7:05 pm
by The Soapmaker
Loved it. I've seen a lot of Alex de la Iglesia films (although not the more recent ones) and I know he can be hit-or-miss, but in this one he nailed it.

Great transition from comedy to full-bore thriller and a really strong ensemble cast. I was a little uncomfortable at the beginning with the similarities to recent terror attacks, but I liked the way he turned the plot away from that whilst still employing the sense of paranoia. I also liked the way the virus itself never really became a factor but was used as a McGuffin to drive the plot along.

Probably my favourite film of the weekend.

Re: The Bar

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 8:29 am
by danthsmith
I loved this. Another one-set and mobile phone film, the theme of this FF. It got lost in the sewers slighly but overall very smart.

Re: The Bar

Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 12:24 am
by ChrisReynolds
The acting and characterisation is good and sells the rising tension, anger and desparation. A lot of the time in these limited location movies, things can get boring and repetitive, but the compelling performances and direction hold interest all the time. It just seems to lack something: there isn't as much flair or invention as in Iglesia's other films, and at the end it seems to lack any final twist or point, with the situation dissipating leaving unanswered questions. There are various little annoyances like a room being incinerated to ash but a cell phone left in there remaining intact and in working order. More work on the script could have made this a must-see film by fixing these problems but instead we're left with an entertaining film with flaws.

Re: The Bar

Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:06 pm
by BaronSqwelch
I really enjoyed it. Subtitles in row D of the Arrow screen were a struggle tho.

But my kink is watching people grease themselves up so I left very happy :lol:

Re: The Bar

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 7:57 pm
by TheDukeAbides
Slightly too long and drawn out but well acted and nice characterisation and realisation.

One of the best of the weekend.

6/10