Rate The Last Movie You Saw [Archive] - Page 311

WHITBISSELL!

06-29-23, 05:11 PM

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Nope - Brother and sister OJ & Emerald Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya & Keke Palmer) are trying to keep their father Otis Sr.'s (Keith David) horse ranch in business. Neither character is what you might call noticeably likable. OJ is taciturn and closed off while Emerald is a glib sort of hustler, loquacious and seemingly untethered. Either way Peele doesn't spend much time, if any, delving into their motivations. I suppose he trusts his audience to discern that this is how each is processing and dealing with the sudden death of their patriarch. Problem being that this is how the film starts. Otis Sr. dies mysteriously after a series of unexplained events that end with a coin lodged in his brain. Like I said, it's over before there's any real setup and since the remainder of the film springs from that I think it's a legitimate gripe.

The mystery behind Otis Sr.'s death is gradually revealed and there are numerous supporting characters introduced including Brandon Perrea as Angel Torres. He's a Fry's Electronics grunt the siblings approach for help in capturing videographic evidence of the unexplained phenomenon. When that fails they try and entice famed documentarian Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott) by appealing to his never ending pursuit of "the perfect shot". The other major player is Ricky 'Jupe" Park (Steven Yeun) a former child star who now owns and operates Jupiter's Claim, a Western theme park that abuts the Haywood's horse farm. Despite being played by one of my favorite actors I thought his was the most problematic character in terms of what he brought to the story. There's probably a point that Peele was trying to make but I wasn't sure it ever landed. (And yes, I've since read up on the "addiction to spectacle" angle and Jupe's part in it. I just felt it could have been a bit more clearly delineated.)

When I finished this I thought it was largely a misfire on the part of Jordan Peele. I felt there were too many disparate elements that didn't mesh so I immediately put it down to a weak script. But then after thinking about it I allowed for Peele's prodigious intellect. While it didn't clear up the nagging doubts I had I figured a lot of it simply went over my head.

80/100

matt72582

06-29-23, 05:56 PM

Secret and Explicit (The Aims and Acts of Zionists)

https://youtu.be/WYafIkhryLU

Takoma11

06-29-23, 06:46 PM

https://filmgrimoire.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/dear-zachary.png

Dear Zachary, 2008

In 2001, Andrew Bagby was found dead after arranging to meet the girlfriend he’d just broken up with in a state park. When his girlfriend, Shirley Turner, realized she was a suspect in his death, she fled to her home country of Canada. While the wheels of justice slowly turned, Andrew’s friends and family were shocked to learn that Shirley was pregnant with Andrew’s baby. Andrew’s childhood friend, Kurt, began assembling footage and interviews to create a film scrapbook about Andrew for the son he would never know, Zachary.

Highly emotional and full of rage, the film’s highly subjective bent is both its strength and its detriment.

3.5

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2395634#post2395634)

Gideon58

06-29-23, 06:59 PM

Gideon58

06-29-23, 07:02 PM

Valley of the Dolls (1967)

3

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/43kxj1gcewWJNlzqGmPkZXE3fek.jpg

3 bags of popcorn? Seriously?

Gideon58

06-29-23, 07:36 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDc3NzNkYjQtN2Y4MS00YWE5LTk4ZWEtY2Y4Mjg3ODhlMGZhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTEzMTI1Mjk3._V1_.jpg

4

matt72582

06-29-23, 08:34 PM

Secret and Explicit (The Aims and Acts of Zionists)

https://youtu.be/WYafIkhryLU

Well, more censorship. I should have titled it "The Aims and Acts of Arabs" and would have no problems.

Fabulous

06-29-23, 09:52 PM

The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (1939)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/jl8Te0ZZXxO6iBuQmZgZSZqqCnd.jpg

PHOENIX74

06-29-23, 11:47 PM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dc/Poster_of_the_movie_The_Offence.jpg
Copyright held by the film company or the artist. Claimed as fair use regardless., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30947465

The Offence - (1973)

What we have here is an extraordinary Sidney Lumet-directed film lost in my huge Lumet blind spot, for he really did have a long and prolific career. This is the first film Sean Connery appeared in after his last official outing as James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever, and while at first the part of a misogynistic and violent Detective-Sergeant fits him like a glove, once you've seen the whole film you'll understand how unusual this role was for the actor. Wikipedia describes it as a "crime neo noir drama film" - but I'd just say it's psychological. It delves into an area I've thought about occasionally, namely 'what happens to detectives who are exposed to ghastly horrors during their career?' In it, Detective-Sergeant Johnson (Connery) kills a suspect, and what at first looked like a procedural focusing on a serial child rapist, instead turns into a procedural that deals with what happens to Johnson after killing a man in the interview room. Slowly, we get inside his head, and what's there isn't pretty at all. This film is pretty unusual, and not your usual crime caper - instead spiraling into madness in unexpected and interesting ways. Connery stretches himself more than I've ever seen him do before. Based on a stage play by John Hopkins.

8/10

Act III

06-30-23, 01:45 AM

Act III

06-30-23, 01:50 AM

93368

Face/Off (1997)

I've seen Face/Off several times but all I can remember is the epic ending scene from that church gunfight onward. Strange to have no recollection of the rest of the movie. Small things that annoy me about this movie are that they dont think, hey check fingerprints you dont need blood samples for proof and hey nobody would agree to switching faces if it were possible. But the movie is great. The hardest part is convincing yourself one is the other.

10/10

JJHorror

06-30-23, 02:10 AM

The House by the Cemetery 3

Takoma11

06-30-23, 08:30 AM

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jBVm39VyeWo/WOqz5OKOCTI/AAAAAAAABJg/a9MgI6RM0oQrXsUorZGoxgOg1JINN0rjgCLcB/s1600/manwith1.jpeg

Man With a Movie Camera, 1929

In a series of montage sequences, a man with a movie camera captures life in a city.

There’s something really delightful about a movie that is so overtly experimental and, for lack of a better word, “artsy.” The film wears on its sleeve the questions “what can a camera do?” and “what can I make you feel?”, and watching how the film explores those questions is really cool.

4

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2395692#post2395692)

Takoma11

06-30-23, 08:32 AM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-YwnFqLWJN8I%2FW1LTroTySmI%2FAAAAAAAAJDQ%2FS5d3-LljGs0-yA6_2CgYZWpdPIKZSevuwCLcBGAs%2Fs1600%2FThieves%252BLike%252BUs%252B5.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=db77df15394aa6b6c0b41538942de888ad4535b41d597951020ab31dae88b70d&ipo=images

Thieves Like Us, 1974

Bowie (Keith Carradine) breaks out of prison with Chickamaw (John Schuck). The two later join forces with T-Dub (Bert Remsen) to commit a series of bold robberies. While laying low, Bowie meets the lovely Keechie (Shelley Duvall), but he has no intention of giving up his life of crime.

Glad I watched it, but just not my cup of tea. (Or should I say, not my bottle of Coca-Cola).

3.5

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2395694#post2395694)

Daniel M

06-30-23, 11:59 AM

Ratings dump... if you want to talk about anything please reply!

Mr. Deeds Goes To Town (Frank Capra, 1936) 3.5

Häxan: Witchcraft Through The Ages (Benjamin Christensen, 1922) 4.5

Winter Light (Ingmar Bergman, 1963) 4.5

The Wind (Victor Sjöström, 1928) 5

Faust (F.W. Murnau, 1926) 5

The Big Gundown (Sergio Sollima, 1966) 3.5

The Hanging Tree (Delmer Daves, 1959) 4.5

Midsommar (Ari Aster, 2019) 2

Silence (Martin Scorsese, 2016) 4

Hell or High Water (David MacKenzie, 2016) 1.5

Comanche Station (Budd Boetticher, 1960) 4.5

Ministry of Fear (Fritz Lang, 1944) 4

Lonely are the Brave (David Miller, 1962) 3

Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig, 2017) 3

The Little Mermaid (Rob Marshall, 2023) 3

Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Marielle Heller, 2018) 3.5

Shadows (John Cassevetes, 1958) 3.5

Life is Sweet (Mike Leigh, 1990) 3

Takoma11

06-30-23, 12:15 PM

Silence (Martin Scorsese, 2016) 4

I really enjoyed this film. I thought that the performances were really excellent, and it really put Andrew Garfield on my radar after also being like "Whoa" about his performance in tick tick BOOM.

Comanche Station (Budd Boetticher, 1960) 4.5

I am a big fan of Boetticher's Westerns. Some of them have a lot more nuance than you might expect from the plot descriptions. Have you seen much else from him?

Takoma11

06-30-23, 12:16 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fhivos.org%2Fassets%2F2022%2F03%2Fkapana-screenshot-.jpeg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=904ec00f308e09d08b77a4bfaf2b8021aa0b922d7d40e439e79b45d9cc5dd8c6&ipo=images

Kapana, 2020

George (Adriano Visagie) is an insurance broker who one night meets a kapana stall owner named Simeon (Simon Hanga). The two dive into a pretty hot and heavy relationship with the tacit approval of George’s friends and family. But when Simeon discovers that George has been hiding important information from him, the men experience a rift.

A low-key film with some surprising and endearing elements, this one was a pleasant surprise.

3

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2395727#post2395727)

Takoma11

06-30-23, 12:18 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.moma.org%2Fd%2Fassets%2FW1siZiIsIjIwMTYvMDYvMjEvYWUxOHVmdXNzX1RoZV9NaWxreV9XYXl fMTkzNl80LmpwZyJdLFsicCIsImNvbnZlcnQiLCItcXVhbGl0eSA5MCAtcmVzaXplIDEyMDB4ODEyXiAtZ3Jhdml0eSBDZW50ZXI gLWNyb3AgMTIwMHg4MTIrMCswIl1d%2FThe_Milky_Way_1936_4.jpg%3Fsha%3Daece5b5a7b9cb338&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=1c2d85e79f43d2620994d0c5bb9618cfaa95594705ea6f7b22bd5807942de5d4&ipo=images

The Milky Way, 1936

Burleigh Sullivan (Harold Lloyd) is a milkman, who one night finds himself defending his sister, Mae (Helen Mack) against two men who are harassing her in the street. A scuffle ensues, and one of the men is knocked out when Burleigh ducks at an opportune moment. But the man he knocked out is Speed McFarland (William Gargan), the current middleweight champion. Soon, unscrupulous promoter Gabby Sloan (Adolphe Menjou) is arranging fights for Burleigh, who doesn’t realize all of his victories are rigged.

Very silly and mostly very sweet, this is a fun non-silent film from Lloyd.

3.5

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2395729#post2395729)

Jackie Daytona

06-30-23, 12:25 PM

I'm long overdue for a watching of Häxan.

ScarletLion

06-30-23, 12:28 PM

'Master Gardener' (2023)

Directed by Paul Schrader.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7n20oy2JiGs/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEjCNACELwBSFryq4qpAxUIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJDeAE=&rs=AOn4CLBTFAhU35CuMAfznkP7sNxdRHuikg

Think it's about time Paul Schrader moved past his same old plotline of isolated man with former violent past keeps a diary (Country Priestesque like) and then gets involved in violence again through a series of misfortunate events. It worked well in Taxi Driver and to a lesser extent First Reformed. But it's getting old.

I get that this is part of an unofficial trilogy with First Reformed and the Card Counter, but it's working less and less with each effort. This time a gardener has to mentor a young tearaway and the obvious happens again.

The flashback scenes are dated and unconvincing, Sigourney Weaver's character is overwritten and yet her arc creeps up very quickly with little backstory. Some characters develop too fast and just feel unnatural. Joel Edgerton carries the film and yet it's still a relatively poor one. Time for Schrader to move on.

5.9/10

3

Daniel M

06-30-23, 12:32 PM

I really enjoyed this film. I thought that the performances were really excellent, and it really put Andrew Garfield on my radar after also being like "Whoa" about his performance in tick tick BOOM.

I have seen most of Scorsese's films but going into this year I still had a handful left to get to. Loved The Age of Innocence on first viewing earlier in the year and then this was great too.

Over the last couple of years, I have become increasingly interested in religion so this felt like the perfect time to finally check it out. Gorgeously shot and exquisitely acted, which makes the portrayal of pain and the human consciousness all the more effective. Not seen the Garfield film you mention.

I have Bringing out the Dead, Kundun, The Aviator, Boxcar Bertha and New York, New York left to watch from his narrative feature films, I think.

I am a big fan of Boetticher's Westerns. Some of them have a lot more nuance than you might expect from the plot descriptions. Have you seen much else from him?

I LOVE Boetticher. I've seen most of his Scott "Ranown" collaborations now and I've enjoyed them all.

I'd rank them:

Ride Lonesome
Comanche Station
The Tall T
Buchanan Rides Alone
Decision at Sundown

And would consider the top three to be great films.

Agree with your description. I love the simplicity of his films, simple landscapes and often one-location interiors that he utilises so effectively. A master of simplicity in mise-en-scene in communicating certain moral themes in subtle but revealing interactions through characters.

I think he and Mann are a great sort of bridge between classic Hollywood and the 60s revisionism of Peckinpah, Spaghetti and so on.

I watched an interesting Western today called Hangman's Knot by Roy Huggins (who wrote The Fugitive TV show) which felt a lot like a Boetticher film too, starring Scott, Lee Marvin and Donna Reed. Also, check out The Hanging Tree if you haven't, I was reading a piece about how if you love Mann and Boetticher you should check out Delmer Daves. I had only seen 3:10 to Yuma from him before which I should probably rewatch.

ScarletLion

06-30-23, 12:54 PM

doubledenim

06-30-23, 01:15 PM

Ratings dump... if you want to talk about anything please reply!

Hell or High Water (David MacKenzie, 2016) 1.5

I second that! If I needed more movies on a “Favorites” list, its ticket is getting punched.

Torgo

06-30-23, 01:31 PM

I prepare to read Daniel M's movie ratings like ship captains prepare to read damage reports. ;)

honeykid

06-30-23, 01:55 PM

Ratings dump... if you want to talk about anything please reply!

The Wind (Victor Sjöström, 1928) 5

Usually when I see a Daniel rating, I've either not seen the film or sigh and wonder where I went wrong in my early recommendations to you. :D

But this makes my heart sing. I'm hardly an expert on this, but it's the best silent film I've seen and I've seen a few people refer to it as the peak of silent movie making.

Stirchley

06-30-23, 02:30 PM

93374

Zero interest in Jordan or basketball, but this movie, mostly thanks to Damon, is a lot of fun. Enjoyed it very much.

Takoma11

06-30-23, 06:05 PM

I'm long overdue for a watching of Häxan.

It's really good. I completely misunderstood the ending the first time I watched it, and after having it explained to me, rewatched the last 20 minutes and really enjoyed it.

Over the last couple of years, I have become increasingly interested in religion so this felt like the perfect time to finally check it out. Gorgeously shot and exquisitely acted, which makes the portrayal of pain and the human consciousness all the more effective.

I think it's a really interesting exploration of the external vs internal nature of religious belief.

I LOVE Boetticher. I've seen most of his Scott "Ranown" collaborations now and I've enjoyed them all.

I'd rank them:

Ride Lonesome
Comanche Station
The Tall T
Buchanan Rides Alone
Decision at Sundown

And would consider the top three to be great films.

Agree with your description. I love the simplicity of his films, simple landscapes and often one-location interiors that he utilises so effectively. A master of simplicity in mise-en-scene in communicating certain moral themes in subtle but revealing interactions through characters.

Agreed roughly on your ranking, though I might put The Tall T above Comanche Station and Decision at Sundown above Buchanan Rides Alone.

I watched an interesting Western today called Hangman's Knot by Roy Huggins (who wrote The Fugitive TV show) which felt a lot like a Boetticher film too, starring Scott, Lee Marvin and Donna Reed. Also, check out The Hanging Tree if you haven't, I was reading a piece about how if you love Mann and Boetticher you should check out Delmer Daves. I had only seen 3:10 to Yuma from him before which I should probably rewatch.

I'll put these on my watchlist. I consider myself to be something of a Western novice, but I'm slowly working my way through some good ones.

Allaby

06-30-23, 08:05 PM

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) There are some things I liked here and others that didn't work for me. I liked the opening sequence and there were some good adventure sequences towards the end. I thought Phoebe Waller-Bridge was miscast and they could have done more with some of the other characters. I really didn't like the way they handled one character's fate in particular. The film is longer than it needs to be, but there are enough moments of classic Indy charm to still make it worthwhile. 3

JJHorror

06-30-23, 08:56 PM

3 bags of popcorn? Seriously?

Is that too low?

Citizen Rules

06-30-23, 08:58 PM

Is that too low?Yup, too low!:p I'd give Valley of the Dolls 4

Takoma11

06-30-23, 09:38 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic1.colliderimages.com%2Fwordpress%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F12%2Fviolent-night.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=c9a379b56c006899a993b567e6d279bb3fe8d89b25ee7166b312e679b8299824&ipo=images

Violent Night, 2022

Santa (David Harbour) is deep in an alcoholic bender, stumbling and bumbling through a night of Christma deliveries. At the same time, a man named Jason (Alex Hassell), his estranged wife Linda (Alexis Louder), and their young daughter Trudy (Leah Brady) make their way to the home of Jason’s obscenely wealthy and profane mother, Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo). Unfortunately, a crew of criminals, led by Scrooge (John Leguizamo), have chosen this night to take the family hostage and extort the family fortune from them.

This movie was roughly what I expected, but sadly it was nothing more than what I expected. The reindeer were the best part.

3

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2395876#post2395876)

Takoma11

06-30-23, 10:50 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tropiccinema.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F04%2Fbeau-is-afraid-review-wpvk-superJumbo.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=5484253ca164f30b84dc4531727828fba1347f99d616cb51a2e3ca721d93bd20&ipo=images

Beau is Afraid, 2023

Beau (Joaquin Phoenix) is afraid. Racked by anxieties and doubts, he is meant to go on a visit to see his mother, the wealthy and powerful Mona (Patti LuPone). But Beau’s fear is not just in his head: he lives in a world that is violent and unpredictable, and every time he ventures out of his home, something very bad happens. After some alarming news from home, Beau redoubles his efforts to get home, and is seriously injured. He wakes up in the home of couple Grace (Amy Ryan) and Roger (Nathan Lane), but his quest to get to his home has only just begun.

It’s hard to rate a film where I consider the two-thirds to be great and the last act to be borderline unwatchable. I could never watch this movie all the way through again. Just know that despite my rating below, I consider the first 80-90 minutes a 5 film, and will probably revisit those parts in the future.

3.5

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2395887#post2395887)

PHOENIX74

06-30-23, 11:55 PM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2d/Passion_Fish.jpg
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4946410

Passion Fish - (1992)

If you'd told me that a 135-minute drama that moves at a glacial pace would have been the best movie I'd watch yesterday I'd say, "Well...that must be the only movie I watch." But it's not the case. Passion Fish has a lot of heart. John Sayles developed his idea for the film from observing the way wheelchair-bound patients in hospital would interact with people they were forced to be in the same proximity with - fighting boredom while at the same time having personalities that clashed. Here's what I jotted down on Letterboxd immediately after watching it - "I was too young to notice this heartfelt, winsome film about recovery when I was young - but now can see that it really deserved it's two Oscar nominations. One for Mary McDonnell's strong performance (only a couple of years on from her Dances With Wolves success) and John Sayles' writing - his career also peaking. It is slow - but that's the whole point, as so is recovery. Alcoholism, injury-related, psychological or drug-related - two steps forward, one step back - in lush Louisiana, the fiercely unruly soap-star May-Alice (McDonnell) and Chantelle (Alfre Woodard) forge an uneasy nurse/patient alliance which slowly blossoms into friendship. Don't expect a lot of action - this film soaks into you, and is about inner journeys. David Strathairn and Vondie Curtis-Hall feature as two able love interests. It's quality drama, and demands patient contemplation."

7.5/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/Memoirs_of_a_Geisha_Poster.jpg
By IMDb, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3210355

Memoirs of a Geisha - (2005)

Technically well-made, I really thought Memoirs of a Geisha would be better than what I got. Narrowing it down to the flat-footed screenplay, I see that Robin Swicord wrote the scripts for many films I don't like all that much. A bit more depth and intelligence and this would have been unstoppable - it's really a beautiful film to look at, but Chiyo's (Ziyi Zhang/Suzuka Ohgo/Shizuko Hoshi) journey as a Geisha is full of dumb metaphors, cliched lines and predictable story beats. If you're interested, then read the book. The film was generally hated in Asia, and had a mixed reception in the English-speaking world. For me, it was one of those films that just made me feel empty throughout - a complete lack of emotional or intellectual engagement. A shame, because of its stunning cinematography, costumes, art direction, sound and score.

5/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6e/Skyscraper_%282018%29_film_poster.png
By http://www.impawards.com/2018/skyscraper_ver2.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56478846

Skyscraper - (2018)

I kinda liked Skyscraper the first time I saw it, but this second watch has me lowering the rating a little. The film's high points action-wise show that Rawson Marshall Thurber knew how to build suspense and really draw out those edge-of-your-seat moments. As to why some action scenes are kind of rushed and fumbled - I can only think that Thurber thought too much of a good thing would wear an audience out. I was also a little perplexed as to why it takes 40 minutes for any skyscraper-related fun to start - that one is beyond me, and even when we get some, we spend a lot of action-related time on the ground. This film tries hard to be Die Hard 2018, but I think we'd have got more value if more set-pieces from The Towering Inferno had of made it in. Anyway, Dwayne Johnson is a bone fide good action star - I just wish we'd had more vertigo-inducing fun with the fact that this is set in the tallest skyscraper imaginable - there's a lot of wasted time elsewhere with scenes you'd find in the most mediocre of action films.

5/10

skizzerflake

07-01-23, 02:21 AM

This is such a good one - John Carpenter's The Fog. A remote northern California town is haunted by the ghosts of sailors betrayed by the town long ago. It was shot in and around the atmospheric Point Reyes lighthouse, north of San Francisco.

John Carpenter, in his autuer mode, wrote the script, produced, directed, acted, wrote the music and played some of it on piano. It's a movie that has a musical pace. The music and sound FX drive the plot, the sound effects and the pacing of the film. The horror action is paced by soft jazz and DJ "Stevie Wayne". It's the movie that made John Carpenter into the Fellini or Bergman of the horror genre. Throats get cut, and the movie has two scream queens, Adrien Barbeaux (Carpenter's wife at that time) and Jamie Lee Curtis in an early role. Not to be missed.

I first saw it when I was barricaded in a beachfront hotel room during a hurricane strength Nor'easter. Fortunately, the power did not go out so I watched this while the building shaked and while waves rolled underneath the building, which was up on stilts.

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOZwnivtLbc

Fabulous

07-01-23, 03:50 AM

My Brilliant Career (1979)

3

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/tXCqZldwccITkWfeuW2crvDUaew.jpg

iluv2viddyfilms

07-01-23, 04:19 AM

The Naked Spur (1953, Anthony Mann) - A

Act III

07-01-23, 04:48 AM

93394

The Lone Ranger (2013)

This movie looks so good and is filled with great visuals start to finish you want to give it a ten but then there some things here that really bother me that I cant ignore. Parts of it are wacky and daft and how they string some things up its very uncanny, down to impossible luck. Then I saw the Disney stamp at the end and said to myself, no wonder. Fantastic movie I'm adding it to my collection.

8/10

ScarletLion

07-01-23, 06:20 AM

'Murina' (2022)

https://media-cache.cinematerial.com/p/500x/ultrelkv/murina-british-movie-poster.jpg?v=1659796641

Croatian drama about a girl named Julija (Gracija Filipovic) who wishes to flee her nasty father who beats her and locks her up while her mother just watches on. Julija isn't allowed the freedom that other teenagers seem to enjoy. By day the family seems to live an idyllic life harpoon fishing in the crystal blue waters. Things take a turn when a wealthy old friend of her father's comes to stay and she tries to escape with him.

Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic's film seems to be a feature length version of her earlier short 'Into the Blue' and is shot on the beautiful Croatian coastline. It's part arthouse drama, part fairy tale and is executively produced by Martin Scorsese.

The title 'Murina' is Croatian for 'eel', a creature which we see frequently in the film. Perhaps the eel symbolises Julia tricking her way out of the abusive relationship into new beginnings that she craves. Or maybe the eel is her father, constantly slithering around Julija, controlling her.

Will Julija escape and attain the freedom she deserves or forever be trapped in the middle of nowhere? Either way, Murina is a thoughtful, interesting debut.

7.2/10

3.5

Daniel M

07-01-23, 06:39 AM

I'm surprised you didn't like Hell or High Water, I thought it was great. Some classics there though - winter light and Haxan are amazing.

I second that! If I needed more movies on a “Favorites” list, its ticket is getting punched.

Yeah, sorry. Definitely has the ingredients that would normally make me like a film, a modern take on a Western but I think my main problem was the extremely unlikeable characters. I just found the whole thing unpleasant, people who weren't nice in any way doing horrible things, especially toward the end where he unloads on people with a machine gun, I found it quite unsettling and uncomfortable, to be honest.

I prepare to read Daniel M's movie ratings like ship captains prepare to read damage reports. ;)

This sounds like the type of thing I should put in my signature :D

Usually when I see a Daniel rating, I've either not seen the film or sigh and wonder where I went wrong in my early recommendations to you. :D

But this makes my heart sing. I'm hardly an expert on this, but it's the best silent film I've seen and I've seen a few people refer to it as the peak of silent movie making.

Only seen two Sjöström films, both amazing. Need to get to The Phantom Carriage next.

Takoma11

07-01-23, 09:58 AM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-IMj61FdvmLg%2FW9oBRQXPCiI%2FAAAAAAAAV5A%2FG3ggjwmyEkQ6GEhW0XW2gA-WEWlpTt27gCLcBGAs%2Fs1600%2FTales%252Bfrom%252Bthe%252BHood%252B1995%252Bmovie%252Bpic1.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=6938bf801a23b043f1735996b5d2a7b53fbdee354649c107cd1de433847c2f53&ipo=images

Tales from the Hood, 1995

Three drug dealers, Stack (Joe Torry), Ball (De’aundre Bonds), and Bulldog (Samuel Monroe Jr), arrive at a funeral home to get a stash of drugs from the funeral home’s director, Mr. Simms (Clarence Williams III). The eccentric Simms leads them through the home, telling them the horrific stories behind the different deceased bodies on display.

Anchored by a hilarious and outlandish performance by Williams, this anthology delivers a potent mix of horror and humor, grounded in wide-ranging social commentary.

4

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2395966#post2395966)

Allaby

07-01-23, 06:34 PM

The Swearing Jar (2022) Directed by Lindsay MacKay, who also directed the wonderful and underrated Wet Bum, this romantic drama stars Adelaide Clemens, Patrick J. Adams, Douglas Smith and Kathleen Turner. The film is really well written and tells the story in a smart and surprising way. Adelaide Clemens is fantastic and Kathleen Turner is very good too. The Swearing Jar is funny and sad and sweet and beautiful. Highly recommended. 4.5

Takoma11

07-01-23, 08:41 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloodygoodhorror.com%2Fbgh%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fd7_full_image%2Fpublic%2Fpromos%2F vih%2520group.JPG%3Fitok%3Dii9qNaqF&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=6733f2dd6f122b608f48a9c6e9bca5bb0ca651f408ec5994ee521c3dbac6189f&ipo=images

Vampires in Havana, 1985

In this animated romp, Count Dracula’s son, Werner, has discovered a cure for sensitivity to sunlight, which he tests on his unwitting nephew, Pepe. Pepe is involved in trying to overthrow the government, while at the same time an American crime syndicate gets word of the cure. Also after the cure are a group of European vampires. Pretty soon, Pepe’s revolutionary activities are all tangled up in various vampires trying to find the formula.

An interesting film, but it doesn’t quite turn the corner to be really good.

3

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2396037#post2396037)

Corax

07-01-23, 09:10 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloodygoodhorror.com%2Fbgh%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fd7_full_image%2Fpublic%2Fpromos%2F vih%2520group.JPG%3Fitok%3Dii9qNaqF&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=6733f2dd6f122b608f48a9c6e9bca5bb0ca651f408ec5994ee521c3dbac6189f&ipo=images

Vampires in Havana, 1985

In this animated romp, Count Dracula’s son, Werner, has discovered a cure for sensitivity to sunlight, which he tests on his unwitting nephew, Pepe. Pepe is involved in trying to overthrow the government, while at the same time an American crime syndicate gets word of the cure. Also after the cure are a group of European vampires. Pretty soon, Pepe’s revolutionary activities are all tangled up in various vampires trying to find the formula.

An interesting film, but it doesn’t quite turn the corner to be really good.

rating_3

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2396037#post2396037)

Looks like a Count Chocula advert

Takoma11

07-01-23, 09:29 PM

PHOENIX74

07-01-23, 11:33 PM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/81/Poster-pursuithappyness.jpg
By The poster art can or could be obtained from Columbia Pictures., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6239907

The Pursuit of Happyness - (2006)

I'm not too sure about stockbrokers being the happiest people on Earth, and I'm not completely sold on the idea that you can buy true happiness with enough cash, but The Pursuit of Happyness is an excellent rags to riches story, and I will go along with the fact that financial security is an essential part of eventually finding happiness. This was made way before Jaden Smith become so damn easy to dislike, so the Smith/Smith team-up doesn't destroy this as much as later ones did - and Will Smith does a fine job as Chris Gardner, a real-life figure who went from homeless bum to millionaire by knuckling down with a stockbroking internship and unearthing his moneymaking talent. Rating this purely as a film is easy - it's great. Rating it all-up, considering how I feel about stockbrokers, greedy rich people and the message this film is sending is much more difficult. Italian director Gabriele Muccino, only half able to speak any English, did such a magnificent job here that I just want to acknowledge this as a film - perfectly proportioned, well acted and very much anchored as a believable early 80s-era film.

7.5/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Meet_the_parents_ver2.jpg
By May be found at the following website: http://www.impawards.com/2000/meet_the_parents_ver2.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8801307

Meet the Parents - (2000)

What can I say - a great comedy, now 23 years old and followed by a slew of terrible sequels. Robert De Niro really showcases his comedic skills here - why not when you're as talented as he is. Meet the Parents gets a lot of mileage out of the familiar fear of coming into contact with potential in-laws, and knowing that you're not going to measure up - it can be one of the most awkward moments you have in life, especially if you desecrate a loved one's ashes, flood the back yard with sewage, lose the cat, set fire to a beautifully crafted wedding stage, be a 9-5 nurse amongst high rollers, break the bride's nose and get erroneously caught with a hash pipe and bondage gear. I hate when that happens. Ben Stiller is quite good at projecting utter panic and lies with such a lack of grace he nearly rises to De Niro's level. He's a little too prolific for my tastes, but he nails one now and then.

7/10

Thief

07-02-23, 12:06 AM

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
(2021, Watts)

https://i.imgur.com/038Iz5S.jpg

"My Aunt May taught me that everyone deserves a second chance. That's why I'm here."

Marvel successfully brought back the "friendly neighborhood" as part of their Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2017 with Holland as the "web slinger". No Way Home, the second sequel in that series, follows Peter Parker (Holland) as he's trying to find some sense of normalcy after being far from home, snapped out of existence by Thanos, and trying to "get back home again". However, when his identity is revealed to the whole world, affecting the lives of his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon), Peter tries desperately to give them a "second chance".

I'm still conflicted about my feelings on this film. There are some clever aspects to its meta approach and it was certainly nice to see people like Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield take another shot at their characters. However, it still can't help but feel like a heavy-handed wink, wink to the audience; especially when you have characters throwing meme-like lines ("I'm something of a scientist myself") just to make us chuckle.

Grade: 3.5

Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2396052#post2396052)

Takoma11

07-02-23, 12:06 AM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia-prod.fangoria.com%2Fimages%2FTake_Back_the_Night_2.width-800.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=b461cf2e23dbe6c4e368aa4162446c3d0e0d7b641861e1d687ca41ad4c1e5179&ipo=images

Take Back the Night, 2021

Jane (Emma Fitzpatrick) is an artist who, walking home alone after a party, is physically attacked and sexually assaulted by a strange creature. In the aftermath, she becomes determined to understand what went after her, but she faces skepticism from her concerned sister (Angela Gulner) and the detective (Jennifer Lafleur) investigating the attack.

A lot of really interesting ideas go nowhere, hamstrung by a lack of cohesion and a particularly terrible CGI effect.

2.5

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2396053#post2396053)

Fabulous

07-02-23, 01:27 AM

The Valley of Decision (1945)

2.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/yfd5hQMky9HttGy56BV3ZVKiV3D.jpg

Jeff

07-02-23, 02:47 AM

4/5 -- my 1st Mae West, what a character!!!

https://pics.filmaffinity.com/Go_West_Young_Man-380713654-large.jpg

Act III

07-02-23, 03:38 AM

93406

Hodejegerne (2011)
or Headhunters in English

This Norwegian movie starts off slow but picks up speed and gets intense. The story stays fresh and doesn't offer the usual and thats what makes watching this one plenty of fun. Sex, violence, action, thriller.

8/10

StuSmallz

07-02-23, 05:06 AM

I'm surprised you didn't like Hell or High Water, I thought it was great.Well, while I wouldn't go that low for it, HOHW was still a case of a well-written screenplay that was let down somewhat by very flat, pedestrian direction; I mean, I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a shootout in a movie that was that violent, but also somehow so... unexciting at the same time. (shrug)

Daniel M

07-02-23, 06:51 AM

Evil Dead Rise (Lee Cronin, 2023) 1

Violent and humourless.

Little Women (Greta Gerwig, 2019) 3.5

Impressively crafted with a lot of care and love for its characters.

First Man (Damien Chazelle, 2018) 2

For a film so focused on the "human side" of the moon mission this film had absolutely nothing to say. He lost his kid, so then he was super serious and focussed on his work. How fascinating.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, 2018) 3

Enjoyable fun.

The Earrings of Madame de... (Max Ophüls, 1953) 4.5

A masterpiece in camera movement.

Ida (Paweł Pawlikowski, 2013) 1.5

Boring and offensive attempt at imitating style whilst trying to say a lot but ultimately saying nothing about a whole range of stuff.

Showing Up (Kelly Reichardt, 2022) 3.5

A great filmmaker at the top of her game, subtle layers of revelation building up to a surprisingly great, moving end. I was reminded almost of the "descisive action" that Schrader talks about in his Transcendental Cinema writings.

Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game (Austin Bragg, Meredith Bragg, 2022) 3.5

Great watch that is edited together in such a fun, compelling way.

Far From The Madding Crowd (Thomas Vinteberg, 2015) 1.5

A labourous, reptitive bore. Maybe it's the fault of the original novel, but there's nothing really interesting about the direction too.

We Can't Go Home Again (Nicholas Ray, 1973) 4.5

A fascinating experimental film from a master filmmaker.

Master Gardener (Paul Schrader, 2022) 4

An excellently crafted film of hypnotic beauty that I found very moving. The storyline has the potential to come across as ridiculous and I'm sure many will find it so, I guess it comes across as you much you accept the sincerity of Schrader's writing intentions.

The Covenant (Guy Ritchie, 2023) 2.5

Great first half. Ritchie gets criticism for over-stylising his films but the way he shoots the action scenes is really good and extremely coherent and immersive. The action feels perilous and there's a real sense of despair. Then comes the second half where it just feels like a silly action movie with no real jeopardy.

Lynch/Oz (Alexandre O. Philippe, 2022) 3

Some interesting parts, I enjoyed certain sections which were more essay films on cinema as a whole rather than just talking about Lynch and specific links to The Wizard of Oz.

Drugstore Cowboy (Gus Vant Sant, 1989) 4.5

An immersive film that feels alive, brimming with energy in a perfect match of style and content. Again, real sincerity from the filmmaker that approaches the characters and world in a non-preachy way.

Gerry (Gus Vant Sant, 2002) 4

Won't be everyone's cup of tea but I loved this foray into slow cinema. Never felt slow, I was absolutely transfixed by the "action" on screen. Beautifully photographed with clever, humourous writing as we descend into peril.

The Turin Horse (Béla Tarr, Ágnes Hranitzky, 2011) 5

After watching Gerry I finally decided to get around to this highly regarded arthouse film. An easy five stars, just an absolute masterpiece. Incredible, awe-inspiring cinema.

honeykid

07-02-23, 09:27 AM

Drugstore Cowboy (Gus Vant Sant, 1989) 4.5

An immersive film that feels alive, brimming with energy in a perfect match of style and content. Again, real sincerity from the filmmaker that approaches the characters and world in a non-preachy way.

Again, it's nice to see you rate a film I love so well. Surely I recommended this to you way back when you joined? If I didn't, that's a miss on my part.

Raven73

07-02-23, 09:54 AM

The Satanic Rites of Dracula
5/10.
As much as I like Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, this is one of the worst Dracula movies I've seen. Suede-vest wearing snipers on motorbikes, vampires sleeping in cellars practically rigged with items that can apparently kill them, silver bullets in a vampire movie... the cheese is especially pungent in this one.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWI4OThjZWMtMTY3OS00NTc4LTlkMTMtZGI0YTMwMGRkOGUzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjIyNjE2NA@@._V1_.jpg

Takoma11

07-02-23, 11:48 AM

Far From The Madding Crowd (Thomas Vinteberg, 2015) 1.5

A labourous, reptitive bore. Maybe it's the fault of the original novel, but there's nothing really interesting about the direction too.

I really love this movie (and quite enjoyed the novel on which it is based).

For me it isn't repetitive because as the film goes on, the power dynamics between the two of them shift as their life circumstances change. It's a classic "they're perfect for each other, but can't make it work" trope, but I like both of the characters a lot and find their mistakes relatable.

I also thought that the movie looked really beautiful in its various shots of the fields and woods.

Daniel M

07-02-23, 01:44 PM

Again, it's nice to see you rate a film I love so well. Surely I recommended this to you way back when you joined? If I didn't, that's a miss on my part.

Too far back to remember but glad to see more common ground :D I haven't really watched a lot of Gus Van Sant but have heard good things. Any more favourites from him?

Daniel M

07-02-23, 01:49 PM

I really love this movie (and quite enjoyed the novel on which it is based).

For me it isn't repetitive because as the film goes on, the power dynamics between the two of them shift as their life circumstances change. It's a classic "they're perfect for each other, but can't make it work" trope, but I like both of the characters a lot and find their mistakes relatable.

I also thought that the movie looked really beautiful in its various shots of the fields and woods.

Maybe I was in a bad mood the day I watched this, but I found the characters to be quite unlikeable and annoying, even Mr Oak. It did have good production values and looked nice at times. From the first 30-45 mins I thought I was going to like it but I lost interest as it went on.

Takoma11

07-02-23, 02:15 PM

Maybe I was in a bad mood the day I watched this, but I found the characters to be quite unlikeable and annoying, even Mr Oak. It did have good production values and looked nice at times. From the first 30-45 mins I thought I was going to like it but I lost interest as it went on.

People not liking the characters has been a common refrain from people who didn't like this one, and I've come to accept it as a "your mileage my vary" element. (Though people who said Bathsheba was an "ungrateful b*tch" for rejecting Gabriel's marriage proposal in the beginning can go jump in a lake).

For me, I like that they are more flawed than what you usually see in such period pieces. I LOVE that Bathsheba gets swept away with lust and ends up hitching herself to a total piece of crap. I find Gabriel's pride and anger to be very relatable, and it makes sense that he'd have this lingering bitterness. Both of them are kind of salty personalities in their own way, but when push came to shove, they did right by other people. They also both work really hard to be successful, are willing to get their hands dirty, and I find that very engaging on a character level.

I also think that it creates an interesting scenario in the beginning, where what Gabriel thinks he should be offering Bathsheba (money, security, material goods) isn't what she needs. The way she says, "I already have a piano" just kills me. So many movies set in this time period hinge on women who need to marry for financial security, and I loved seeing a movie where that wasn't the case.

I'll also confess that on a more base level, I find both Mulligan and Schoenaerts very appealing and attractive people. Heck, everyone in this movie was cute. I'm not saying that's why I love it so much, but it doesn't hurt.

Marco

07-02-23, 06:36 PM

Padre Pio (2022)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/15/Padre_Pio_2022.jpg
I found this to be a very unsatisfying film, indulgent and simplistic. Ferrara, in my view, tries to take his realism and short cuts too far. As a spectacle it is simply a mess. Actors waiting for the other to remember their lines so they can blurt out theirs. In all honesty the true story is not an under 2 hours cinematic matter so it was condensed well. It just did not flow storywise.

1.5

Allaby

07-02-23, 06:48 PM

Cannibal Holocaust (1980) This was brutal, but wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. For the most part, this is effective and works pretty well. I didn't like the animal cruelty and felt it was unnecessary and excessive. As disturbing as the film is, there is definitely significant artistic merit here. 3.5

WHITBISSELL!

07-02-23, 07:26 PM

https://cinephellasdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/screen-shot-2022-11-24-at-8.09.06-am.png

https://www.hbomaxtoolkit.com/uploads/a_christmas_story_christmas_01_280c3240fc.gif

A Christmas Story Christmas - This is an odd time to be reviewing this but I did watch this last December or so. I have a backlog of around 50 films stretching back to last year that I never wrote up. A Christmas Story has morphed into such a beloved classic that when news of a sequel went around it elicited more than a fair share of cringing. But, for all the ways it could have gone horribly wrong, it turned out to be a pleasant enough surprise. Nowhere near it's predecessor of course. The absence of Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon being it's biggest drawbacks. But it does acknowledge "The Old Man" in a respectful manner and Julie Hagerty does okay filling in as Ralphie's mom.

Nostalgia is such a tricky thing to employ. You can't go heavy on it and you have to pick and choose the right moments. It helps that they not only brought back Peter Billingsley as Ralphie but Ian Petrella as Ralphie's little brother Randy. There's also Scott Schwartz as Flick, RD Robb as Schwartz, Zack Ward as Scut Farkus and Yano Anaya as Grover Dill. Along with small Easter eggs like a glimpse of the Chinese restaurant in the background in one of the scenes. The plot is sort of basic with a married-with-kids and grownup Ralphie on the verge of having to walk away from his dream of being a writer. Having to revisit his childhood home when he learns his father has passed away Ralphie also shoulders the responsibility of providing his children with the sort of Christmas he remembers.

If you're fond of the original I think there's enough here for you to cut this some slack. Director Clay Kaytis avoids excessive schmaltz and there is an element of discernment running throughout.

70/100

Citizen Rules

07-02-23, 07:44 PM

A Christmas Story Christmas - This is an odd time to be reviewing this but I did watch this last December or so. I have a backlog of around 50 films stretching back to last year that I never wrote up. A Christmas Story has morphed into such a beloved classic that when news of a sequel went around it elicited more than a fair share of cringing. But, for all the ways it could have gone horribly wrong, it turned out to be a pleasant enough surprise. Nowhere near it's predecessor of course. The absence of Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon being it's biggest drawbacks. But it does acknowledge "The Old Man" in a respectful manner and Julie Hagerty does okay filling in as Ralphie's mom.

Nostalgia is such a tricky thing to employ. You can't go heavy on it and you have to pick and choose the right moments. It helps that they not only brought back Peter Billingsley as Ralphie but Ian Petrella as Ralphie's little brother Randy. There's also Scott Schwartz as Flick, RD Robb as Schwartz, Zack Ward as Scut Farkus and Yano Anaya as Grover Dill. Along with small Easter eggs like a glimpse of the Chinese restaurant in the background in one of the scenes. The plot is sort of basic with a married-with-kids and grownup Ralphie on the verge of having to walk away from his dream of being a writer. Having to revisit his childhood home when he learns his father has passed away Ralphie also shoulders the responsibility of providing his children with the sort of Christmas he remembers.

If you're fond of the original I think there's enough here for you to cut this some slack. Director Clay Kaytis avoids excessive schmaltz and there is an element of discernment running throughout.

70/100I watched A Christmas Story Christmas last Christmas too. I was glad to see it didn't suck, which I expected. I agree with everything you said and want to add that the film handles Scutt Fargus' adult character very well...I like how his and Ralph's interaction played out, very satisfying. BTW up until I read your review I always thought the bullies name was Scott Fargus. I learn something new each day!

JJHorror

07-02-23, 08:18 PM

The Beyond (1981) 2

GulfportDoc

07-02-23, 08:51 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=93394

The Lone Ranger (2013)

This movie looks so good and is filled with great visuals start to finish you want to give it a ten but then there some things here that really bother me that I cant ignore. Parts of it are wacky and daft and how they string some things up its very uncanny, down to impossible luck. Then I saw the Disney stamp at the end and said to myself, no wonder. Fantastic movie I'm adding it to my collection.

8/10
I was really looking forward to this one, as I grew up on The Lone Ranger and Tonto. But I was stunned at not only that it a misfire, but that Walt would be spinning in his grave at how his Disney company has become determined to tear down the American culture.

I can't blame any of the actors. Everyone wants a big payday. But I cringed when I considered what kids thought when Depp's character kept belittling The Lone Ranger, who had always been a great role model. Jack Sparrow did not make a good Tonto.

GulfportDoc

07-02-23, 08:57 PM

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Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, 2023

Margaret (Abby Fortson) goes through a lot of emotions when her parents (Benny Safdie and Rachel McAdams) pick up and move the family from the city to the suburbs. While Margaret makes friends with a group of girls, including her neighbor, Nancy (Elle Graham). The girls support each other through bras, boys, and periods, but Margaret finds herself questioning a lot of aspects of her life, including her friend group.

Full of fun performances and honest coming-of-age moments, this is a very sweet look at what it means to try and find yourself.

rating_4_5

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2396042#post2396042)
Both thumbs up for this one. I rated it the same as did you:
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret(2023)

This is a cute, witty, delightful and touching picture that will likely make a star out of the actress who played the title character Margaret, 15-year-old Abby Ryder Forston. Margaret is a young lass who, along with a few of her school friends, is facing the start of the transition to puberty, with all of its angst, excitement, and physical changes that occur with these 11 or 12 year-old girls.

Margaret is crushed when her family decides to move from Manhattan to a New Jersey suburb because she’ll lose all of her friends at that critical age. But at the new suburban high school she soon falls in with a trio of female classmates, all of whom are full of wonderment and anxiety about the physical transformation that they are about to undergo, along with their attraction to, but shyness around boys.

At one point Margaret criticizes Laura (Isol Young) --an unusually taller and physically more developed classmate-- for reportedly letting boys “feel her up”. This shames the girl, who later tells Margaret that Margaret couldn’t possibly understand how awkward and embarrassing it is for Laura to be shunned because she’s so different physically than most of the other girls. Margaret later realizes how wrong she was to criticize Laura, and that she can relate to Laura’s isolation. Margaret searches her out and pulls her into Margaret’s group.

The important subtext is Margaret’s tendency to pray to God for relief and guidance despite her confusion about what God is, all the while trying to decide to which if any religion she wants to adhere. Her father is Jewish and her mother is lightly Christian, but from strong and determined Christian parents. Margaret tries them all, even though she’s seriously pressed by her father’s (Benny Safdie) mother (Kathy Bates) to become Jewish.

Her mother (Rachel McAdams) does not encourage Margaret towards any religion at all, and she and her husband are still miffed that her mother’s folks more or less cut off relations with her because she married a Jewish man. That circumstance later comes to a head when they all squabble over which religion Margaret should follow. In the end, Margaret goes her own way.

The standout performance of course is Abby Ryder Forston’s portrayal of Margaret. Her friend Nancy (Elle Graham) is likewise enjoyable. Rachel McAdams as the mother is almost too strong a presence, both in beauty and allure. One not quite so beautiful would have been a little more fitting. Benny Safdie is almost a tack-on as the father. Possibly selected because they needed someone who looks stereotypically Jewish (Salfdie is Jewish). There isn’t a lot of chemistry between McAdams and Safdie, but their relationship is only an incidental part of the story. Kathy Bates turns in another perfect performance as Margaret’s attractive and fun grandmother.

It’s refreshing to see a successful and well done picture made like they used to be. Despite the subject matter, they avoid low humor along with sexual displays and foul language. The screenplay by director/writer Kelly Craig perfectly relates all the travails, excitement and wonderment typically experienced by 11 or 12 year-old girls as they start the journey into sexual maturity.

Doc’s rating: 9/10

Takoma11

07-02-23, 09:30 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisurebyte.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F12%2Fdungeons-and-dragons-honor-among-thieves-poster.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=ff4bc699c1bbc7402388b74c677d01eb3e38db3f8536fc3790af328a7d1bad8e&ipo=images

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Theives, 2023

Bard Edgin (Chris Pine) turns to a life of theft after the murder of his wife, teaming up with barbarian Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith), conman Forge (Hugh Grant), and the mysterious Sofina (Daisy Head). When Edgin and Holga are captured and imprisoned, Forge pledges to take care of Edgin’s daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman). But when Edgin and Holga break out of prison, they discover that Forge and Sofina have been behind their misfortune and must fight to get Kira out of his grasp.

Existing in a strange space between “better than it should be” and “yeah, that was alright”, this is a fun enough romp that doesn’t quite rise above bland modern fantasy tropes.

3.5

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2396148#post2396148)

Fabulous

07-02-23, 09:55 PM

Keeper of the Flame (1942)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/v4miV3UFsTD7322mfljM2CNfdzO.jpg

Takoma11

07-02-23, 11:32 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fd2j1wkp1bavyfs.cloudfront.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F06%2FNope1.jpg%3Fq%3D50&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=0671cb8757585934efd2c883186cf2267150f77d830e1128521b6eec73f6ad5d&ipo=images

Nope, 2022

OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) run a floundering business renting horses to film and print projects. Financially stressed in the wake of their grandfather’s mysterious death, OJ is slowly selling off his horses to Jupe (Steven Yeun), a former child star who runs a Wild West theme park nearby. But soon it becomes clear that *something* is out there, and OJ and Emerald must figure out how to protect themselves and their livestock.

Somewhat oblique in its themes, this is nonetheless an effective and compelling horror film.

4

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2396172#post2396172)

Act III

07-02-23, 11:51 PM

I was really looking forward to this one, as I grew up on The Lone Ranger and Tonto. But I was stunned at not only that it a misfire, but that Walt would be spinning in his grave at how his Disney company has become determined to tear down the American culture.

I can't blame any of the actors. Everyone wants a big payday. But I cringed when I considered what kids thought when Depp's character kept belittling The Lone Ranger, who had always been a great role model. Jack Sparrow did not make a good Tonto.

That isn't what I saw, but I was interested in knowing why this lone ranger character was being played so feebly, youd think hed be more bold and gritty but he was way too clean and goody 2 shoes. I blame Disney for that. But it was a great movie, at least I thought so. Theres always next time. Theyll retell it again in some new way

PHOENIX74

07-03-23, 12:01 AM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Not_Another_Teen_Movie_poster.jpg
By http://www.impawards.com/2001/not_another_teen_movie.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2504579

Not Another Teen Movie - (2001)

There are some things I have to grudgingly give to Not Another Teen Movie - some of the no-holds-barred jokes work, although just as many crash and burn. It throws so many against the wall that some simply have to stick. Depending on what moment you'd walk in on, you could either judge this as great or absolutely horrible - but at least it has some watchable value. It also loves the films that it's spoofing, and is so full of Easter eggs and references to teen films from the 80s and 90s that it would take a long time to note them all. Every genre spoof movie that came after this was so bad that it's unfairly lumped in with the likes of Scary Movie or Epic/Disaster Movie, but it's definitely better. Chris Evans would go on to achieve a rich kind of glory due to the Captain America/Marvel Universe films. When it's bad, it's bad, but when it's good it's funny.

5/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2c/Tomcats_film.jpg
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2767366

Tomcats - (2001)

Ever since reading Roger Ebert's review in "Your Movie Sucks" I've been curious about Tomcats. He describes watching the film as "reckless wrongheadedness" and describes the depressing fact that in it, "women are so consistently and venomously humiliated, as if they were some kind of hateful plague." His review starts by noting that "The men in Tomcats are surrounded by beautiful women, but they hate and fear them." It's that kind of teen sex romp, and my Letterboxd review simply said "This has to be the most depressed I've ever been made by a madcap comedy." It's rarely funny, bar a couple of moments, and the group of protagonists are the most unlikeable bunch I've ever seen in a film like this. They're the misogynistic jerks who would be the villains in any other teen movie. Ebert's review is a great read though.

2/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/National_Lampoon%27s_Barely_Legal_Coverart.png
By From hotmoviesale., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18007192

Barely Legal - (2003)

Barely Legal is less obnoxious than Tomcats, but I've never been as bored watching a movie for a long, long time. It's three leads have absolutely nothing going for them, and are charisma black holes. In it, three high school teens decide to make a porno so they can earn enough money to buy a car. They're just kids - so of course many disasters ensue. It's not remotely funny, and not remotely interesting. Seeing out it's 88 minutes was torture - it felt like a 3-hour epic, and thus ended my teen sex comedy marathon. I'd could never watch this again without crying tears of frustration and agony.

2/10

Jeff

07-03-23, 12:04 AM

3.5/5 A delightful romp, with Meryl Streep in a delicious role

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/pv-target-images/a75494543f891f19d11b0ead0c256a983c92e738ed3e5c5c18b58bf68ed498f5._UY500_UX667_RI_TTW_.jpg

Act III

07-03-23, 02:35 AM

93448

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

There's a lot of good things to say about this movie. Ultra HD. Explosions galore. Monster trucks.

That first hour was continous action in ultra HD. I could only say that I wish that I went to see this in the theater. But unfortunately about halfway through the movie when it slowed down it seemed sort of lacking and I was thinking damn why didnt they cut this out? That seems harsh but then it got near the end 30 minutes and the the action picked up once again it didnt hold up to that first hour. So thats why I say 7/10 because its like half an awesome movie.

I was originally going to rewatch the Gibson max series first before watching this but I decided to see the new installment on a whim and was happy that I averted getting a terrible movie.

And another thing about that HD. That first hour exploited all the qualities of ultra HD but then it was like, in the second half, they completely abandoned exploring what they could do with it. So it was like, is the second half made by the same guy that made the first half?

7/10

WHITBISSELL!

07-03-23, 02:53 AM

https://scifistdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1955_day_the_world_ended_018.jpg

(The) Day the World Ended - Found this on Plex which is one of the myriad streaming services on Roku. I was in the mood for some 50's era sci-fi and got tired of scrolling through titles. Not the best way to pick a film but I've had lightning strike in the past. This was not that. What it was was Roger Corman's fourth film from American Releasing Corp. and was filmed in 10 days on a 96,000 dollar budget. It's not a bad looking film per se and does star Richard Denning of Creature From the Black Lagoon fame as it's requisite stalwart hero. Not much setup as a group of stragglers make their way to an isolated house in a canyon. Inside the home is crusty ex-sailor turned survivalist Jim Maddison (Paul Birch) and his daughter Louise (Lori Nelson).

The visitors include thuggish Tony Lamont (Mike Connors of Mannix fame but listed in the credits as Touch Connors), his girlfriend and burlesque dancer Ruby (Adele Jergens), a prospector named Pete (Raymond Hatton) and his mule Diablo, and geologist Rick (Denning) and Radek (Paul Dubov) a guy Rick picks up and totes to the house after stumbling across him on the trail. Since the premise is never explained but merely alluded to Radek is shown to be suffering from radiation burns along with a soupcon of mutation. This is mostly manifested by what looks to be aluminum foil and a starfish hot-glued to his face. It also causes him to keep asking for red meat. The Big Brother: Nuclear Holocaust contestants settle in for a waiting game. There are disagreements that include Tony lusting after Louise and Radek going on nocturnal walkabouts. Oh and there's a strange creature loitering in the vicinity but it isn't fully revealed till the final moments.

There aren't any surprises to be had here and anyone will be able to figure out where it's going but Corman does show a facility for staging and for allowing the actors to breathe. I can't in good conscience recommend this but I've seen much worse. It's an inoffensive little movie and when the "creature" is finally revealed you might get a kick out of it and it might elicit a genuine belly laugh.

60/100

Stirchley

07-03-23, 01:18 PM

Stirchley

07-03-23, 01:21 PM

I really love this movie (and quite enjoyed the novel on which it is based).

For me it isn't repetitive because as the film goes on, the power dynamics between the two of them shift as their life circumstances change. It's a classic "they're perfect for each other, but can't make it work" trope, but I like both of the characters a lot and find their mistakes relatable.

I also thought that the movie looked really beautiful in its various shots of the fields and woods.

I love the original. Seen it many times. Zero interest in the re-make. Love the book too.

John-Connor

07-03-23, 01:37 PM

SPARTACUS 1960 Stanley Kubrick (RE-WATCH)
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/aheSIG4h3JNxWeDvdb1NxKzgjaM.jpg

4.5

Still one of the most epic widest wide screen spectacles ever. A must for your War countdown ballot. Absolutely forbidden to watch on a small screen.

Takoma11

07-03-23, 01:37 PM

I love the original. Seen it many times. Zero interest in the re-make. Love the book too.

I assume when you say "original" you mean the 60s version? There's also a 1915 version and 1998 TV movie.

I've heard very good things about it and it's on my watchlist.

Stirchley

07-03-23, 01:39 PM

I assume when you say "original" you mean the 60s version? There's also a 1915 version and 1998 TV movie.

I've heard very good things about it and it's on my watchlist.

Correct.

JohnReese

07-03-23, 03:01 PM

Superman the Movie 5/5

matt72582

07-03-23, 03:58 PM

Casablanca - 8/10
Saw this a handful of times many years ago. Saw it for the first time in over a decade, and picked up a few things. Very subtle; taking .0001 seconds, but said a lot. Probably not a movie I'll see again - not wanting to get burned out, and have a lesser memory of this movie.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/CasablancaPoster-Gold.jpg

Daniel M

07-03-23, 05:37 PM

Asteroid City (Wes Anderson, 2023) 4.5

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53e9f17be4b08138fefa58f0/1683043734938-VHOAN5ZD1SGNWVM2AF9G/asteroid+city+crop.jpg?format=2500w

Order versus chaos, the desire to succeed in our ambitions. Making sense of our place in this vast universe. “The time is always wrong”, there are no easy answers, human relationships can’t be reduced to rules and structures however hard we try manage them. A poignant, beautiful movie on human expression and endeavour.

Takoma11

07-03-23, 08:56 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yLTClM2W0Tc%2FU7fx3Lkp2WI%2FAAAAAAAAUnQ%2FwHZUYidJ6uk%2Fs1600%2F20140628_122006.png&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=c36a114ae4b1918b8794f9bfc5a31681f9310121dd6940262d86dbf3f6d70501&ipo=images

Rocky, 1976

Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is a small-time boxer who against all odds gets offered the opportunity to fight ace boxer Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in a heavyweight championship bout. While training for the fight, Rocky strikes up a romance with the shy Adrian (Talie Shire), who lives under the abusive thumb of her brother Paulie (Burt Young), Rocky’s friend.

Full of heart and great character work, this is an incredibly endearing drama-romance.

4.5

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2396377#post2396377)

Fabulous

07-04-23, 03:04 AM

Winchester '73 (1950)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/61hVrvuqp7wUib6iIHm2AjKppCS.jpg

Act III

07-04-23, 03:09 AM

93468

Born On The Fourth Of July (1989)

Vietnam era film based on a true story. Some parts are hard to watch as you see the struggle of the main character. Has some charming scenes and bits but overall not my sort of thing. The drama doesn't get unbearable though and you get a reality check on how fortunate you really are.

6/10

PHOENIX74

07-04-23, 05:04 AM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c3/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Dial_of_Destiny_theatrical_poster.jpg
By Lucasfilm / Walt Disney Pictures - https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/indiana-jones-and-the-dial-of-destiny-trailer-unveiled-at-star-wars-celebration/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73491192

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny - (2023)

I guess it's fair to say you have to do a fair bit of suspending disbelief with Indiana Jones and everything which comes with that particular franchise - more so as he approaches extreme old age, although I have to admit that Harrison Ford looks good for however old he is in this. For me, this movie was the proverbial mixed bag - a bag filled with candy, some sweet and delicious, and some I have to psychologically spit out. I'm a lover of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. After that, the franchise became cartoonish - including Last Crusade. This extraordinarily belated adventure has both moments of intense nostalgia, and action payoffs that actually work. It also has it's fair number of moments which didn't sit so well with me. I'm not going to go into any detail, because I'm sure most people who are looking forward to it want to be surprised about where it goes and what happens. All I can say is that the climax really worked for me - and although the rest of the film is middling at best, that crazy last act was perhaps the best in the series since Raiders. A bit of a shame the rest of the film didn't match it. Enjoyed watching it nevertheless, which is more than I can say for Crystal Skull as far as my memory serves.

6/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/38/Mermaidsposter.jpg
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16452267

Mermaids - (1990)

In 1990 I was of an age to be completely plugged in to all the music videos going around at the time - no matter if I liked them or not, I'd watch the countdown. As such, I probably saw the video to Cher's "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" six million times, and despite that (or perhaps because of it) I never saw Mermaids - until now. Richard Benjamin is a very middle-of-the-road director in my eyes, and this is a drama which befits his status. He was a replacement of a replacement to a film that was going to be much darker. A mother (played by Cher) and her two daughters (played by Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci) move to a new town. All three are eccentric in their own way, and Cher's character, Rachel, who often moves them around, meets Lou Landsky (Bob Hoskins), who will have a hard time convincing her to commit to him. Meanwhile, Charlotte (Ryder) becomes zealous about religion and a local, good looking guy, Joe (Michael Schoeffling) despite the whole "she's only a schoolgirl" thing, which isn't really brought up in the film, surprisingly. Anyway, it's okay but I doubt I'll ever go back to see it again, or recommend it too strongly - though Ryder has many really funny moments. Sometimes a movie has bad things that happen - called drama - and sometimes studios balk at the idea of presenting the audience with anything challenging or troublesome, which is when they'll excise the drama and Mermaids is what we're left with.

6/10

ScarletLion

07-04-23, 05:31 AM

‘Frailty’ (2001)

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51m9X3Jc9KL._AC_UL600_SR600,600_.jpg

The late Bill Paxton’s directorial debut. A lot to unpack here. It’s way more dark and disturbing than I’d have thought. Fenton (Matthew McConaughey) turns up at the doors of the FBI claiming to know the culprit of the ‘God’s Hands’ serial killer, a case which was never solved. The lead detective Doyle (Powers Booth) is sceptical but listens, and we go on an unreliable narrator type of journey through history.

Paxton plays the dad who starts to unravel mentally and see visions telling him to do dark things. There are twists and turns (some a lot more predictable than others), and although it’s dated, there are some massively creepy moments and it’s pretty well written given the screenwriter Brent Hanley has barely done anything before or since.

Not a world-beater but a solid bit of entertainment.

3.5

ScarletLion

07-04-23, 09:25 AM

O Bi, O Ba: The End of Civilization (1985)

Directed by Piotr Szulkin

https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/387458719-79eda2c84a1d14abe5b89079e818008f7313d1654d3150ae74fea1d1f8376b3f-d

Pretty extraordinary Polish film depicting the lives of a few thousand people living in a huge dome, after a nuclear holocaust. Szulkin seems to have got a lot out of a huge warehouse / aircraft hangar and a couple of fluorescent blue lights, in some scenes the lighting is reminiscent of the Ridley Scott’s noiry blue Blade Runner world…..but Szulkin managed it with a presumably tiny budget. The people are slowly dying, they are running out of food and to top it off the big dome they are living in is cracking.

The big hope these people are clinging on to is that one day soon, an ‘ark’ will arrive and rescue them. Our lead character ‘Soft’ (Jerzy Stuhr) is high up in whatever faux rankings these people trust in, and he’s ordered to find an engineer to fix all the cracks in the dome. Meanwhile, his lover ‘Gea’ and her friends who appear to be prostitutes, practice tightrope walking in a secluded area of the dome in order to be first on the ark when the day comes, as they’ll walk over all the other common people. Oh and one guy mashes up loads of books in order to feed the resulting pulp to the people to keep them alive.

The film is perhaps a commentary on the way the world is going, and the way religion can provide hope / false hope for many. It is a remarkable achievement though.

It’s bleak but beautiful.

8.2/10

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/sm/upload/nc/xp/80/dq/obi-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg

4

Takoma11

07-04-23, 11:20 AM

‘Frailty’ (2001)

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51m9X3Jc9KL._AC_UL600_SR600,600_.jpg

The late Bill Paxton’s directorial debut. A lot to unpack here. It’s way more dark and disturbing than I’d have thought. Fenton (Matthew McConaughey) turns up at the doors of the FBI claiming to know the culprit of the ‘God’s Hands’ serial killer, a case which was never solved. The lead detective Doyle (Powers Booth) is sceptical but listens, and we go on an unreliable narrator type of journey through history.

3.5

Frailty was such an amazing surprise when it came out and when I first watched it. I don't remember what I was expecting (maybe more of a generic serial killer thriller?), but I was really blown away. And I think that the performances are absolutely fantastic.

ScarletLion

07-04-23, 11:29 AM

Frailty was such an amazing surprise when it came out and when I first watched it. I don't remember what I was expecting (maybe more of a generic serial killer thriller?), but I was really blown away. And I think that the performances are absolutely fantastic.

Exactly. I was expecting something alot more generic too. But there are shocks:

The bit towards the end where the younger kid comes at the camera with the Axe was terrifying and very well directed. I miss Bill Paxton.

Takoma11

07-04-23, 11:38 AM

Exactly. I was expecting something alot more generic too. But there are shocks:

The bit towards the end where the younger kid comes at the camera with the Axe was terrifying and very well directed. I miss Bill Paxton.

Agreed. It's full of unexpected moments and it's also a lot more nuanced and uncomfortable, especially in the relationship between the brothers and how that evolves.

Allaby

07-04-23, 11:46 AM

Braindead/Dead Alive (1992) I thought this was too gory and it was just being icky and gross for the sake of it. I want more in a film than just gore. There were a couple moderately amusing scenes, but I didn't find it that funny or entertaining. It also felt longer than it was and I wasn't impressed with most of the performances. 2.5

Yoda

07-04-23, 11:53 AM

Frailty is a fun, wild ride. I've seen it a few times and I think I need to watch it at least once more.

Allaby

07-04-23, 11:54 AM

Yeah, Frailty is fantastic. I've only seen it once, but I liked it a lot.

Citizen Rules

07-04-23, 12:45 PM

SPARTACUS 1960 Stanley Kubrick (RE-WATCH)
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=93462

rating_4_5

Still one of the most epic widest wide screen spectacles ever. A must for your War countdown ballot. Absolutely forbidden to watch on a small screen.Convinced! I'll rewatch it before War countdown deadline.

Deschain

07-04-23, 01:14 PM

Frailty is great, I don’t know who is on that poster.

Takoma11

07-04-23, 02:47 PM

Frailty is great, I don’t know who is on that poster.

LOL.

crumbsroom

07-04-23, 03:29 PM

Frailty is very strong.

Yoda

07-04-23, 03:43 PM

I actually regret describing it as "fun" and "wild" above, because it also feels serious, disturbing, and foreboding. It never turns its subject matter into some kind of cheap excuse for what it wants to do (IE: another exorcist movie that's about exorcisms just so it can have girls walk like spiders and say shocking things, or whatever, and not because it's actually interested in the idea). The characters play it really straight, with genuine conviction (because all the principals are really good actors), and it helps the film straddle that "what's actually happening here?" vibe that it's going for in a way it wouldn't if the actors weren't as good.

So yeah, it's fun, but it's fun because I find it fun when a film can walk those lines, and does audacious things like that. Lest I inadvertently persuade someone reading that Frailty is a summer comedy romp or something.

Torgo

07-04-23, 04:40 PM

Deep Cover - 4

It's always nice to discover a hidden gem, especially one in a genre '90s cinema did right more often than not: the crime thriller. Clearly inspired by that decade's notorious drug war, it finds Cincinnatti cop Stevens (Fishburne) working an entirely different beat: the drug smuggling underworld of L.A. A man whose addict father died in his arms as a child, he has always been adamant about not wanting to turn out the same way. However, when things don't go according to plan and he becomes unsure about who to trust, it's not the only one of his vows he starts questioning.

If the synopsis sounds like one you've heard many times before, I don't blame you, but it does many things to stand out from this crowd. For one, it has guts in the way it calls out those who have made the drug war seemingly unwinnable on both sides of the law. In other words, it makes Traffic seem like a light slap in the face in this regard. Also, if action is what makes you seek out movies like this, I'll warn you that there are only a few such scenes, but their quality outweighs the quantity. Even a slap fight between Goldblum's lawyer/trafficker David and Greg Sierra's Gallegos gave me chills and made me wince. I also must give credit to the sharp and poetic writing - it even has actual poetry, I might add - the highlights being whenever Stevens and David are one-upping each other and when Stevens trades barbs with his superior (a delightfully smug Charles Martin Smith). Your mileage may vary when it comes to the movie's look and feel. I never tire of L.A.'s vibes regardless of the movie's age, but if you wouldn't say the same, you may be disaatisfied in this regard since I recognized many of the filming locations. With that said, if you enjoy this genre as much as I do, especially when the hero has divided loyalties and there is a historical context, it's worth seeking out. What's more, it also has the guts to directly ask you what you would do in Stevens' situation.

Fabulous

07-04-23, 04:48 PM

The Harvey Girls (1946)

3

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/kC4AOQAvk9g6oybMpniplAiKkbw.jpg

WHITBISSELL!

07-04-23, 05:10 PM

https://www.cageyfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/between-midnight-and-dawn_01.jpg

Between Midnight and Dawn - 1950 noir with Edmond O'Brien and Mark Stevens as Officer's Dan Purvis and Rocky Barnes. They're best friends who served in WWII together and they're now street cops in an unnamed city. Dan is the misanthrope of the two and has most of humanity pegged as unprincipled and treacherous. Rocky, being the more easygoing one, is willing to meet people halfway. While on their appointed graveyard shift they take note of one female dispatcher's voice. When they finally put a face to the voice it's Katharine 'Kate' Mallory (Gale Storm). She's the daughter of a police officer killed in the line of duty and she has a strict rule against getting involved with another policeman.

Both men take a run at asking her out with and the three start going out together on platonic terms, but Rocky ultimately succeeds in winning Kate over. This is where the film takes a bit of an odd turn. They keep going out on "dates" with Dan playing third wheel and no one seems to mind. The audience never quite comes to understand Purvis' motivations but in the post credits commentary Noir Alley host Eddie Muller alluded to an element of homosexuality in the relationship. That might or might not clarify things but it's not really integral to the story.

The two partners end up arresting gangster Ritchie Garris (Donald Buka) in the first act. He then swears to even the score and this chain of circumstances takes up the last two acts of film. Somewhere in there Rocky and Kate find the time to get married which means everything is in place for things to shake out in standard fashion. Most viewers will be able to guess where it's all headed. I didn't find this to be essential viewing except maybe for noir or Edmond O'Brien fans.

65/100

Mr Minio

07-04-23, 06:35 PM

Inquietude (1998) - ★★★ (Remarkable)
AKA Anxiety, dir. Manoel de Oliveira

https://i.imgur.com/zkhb6YOl.png

While this turned out not to be the last Manoel de Oliveira film I still hadn't seen, - it seems that I've still to watch at least three of them - it'll be hard for the remaining few to top this one in terms of quality, be it the lustrous, humbly aesthetic cinematography most exemplified in the last story, or narrative brilliance that it sports in its first third. The second story is a little bit of both, connecting the two stories with the character played by the illustrious Spanish actor Luís Miguel Cintra, de Oliveira's regular. Inquietude is an intriguing film because it betrays de Oliveira's two greatest strengths: verbose journeys into the world of literary adaptations and remarkable aesthetic sense.

Manoel de Oliveira is a special filmmaker. Not only a great auteur (one of Portugal's greatest, though there's no denying this rather small country has a cornucopia of incredible auteurs, from Paulo Rocha to Margarida Cordeiro, to João César Monteiro, to Pedro Costa, to Miguel Gomes, to Rita Azevedo Gomes) but also a centenarian who could direct a great movie at the age of 23 (Labor on the Douro River in 1931) as well as 106 (The Old Man of Belem in 2014). Which other director achieved that? Maybe Kaneto Shindo comes close save for two decades (the first film in 1951, the last in 2010).

https://i.imgur.com/sd5thdSl.png

There is a scene in this film where Leonor Baldaque, playing a country girl who discovers her fingertips are made of gold, sits on a bench and looks in the distance like a woman from a Baroque painting. The natural light of the sun illuminates her photogenic face, revealing its contours and expressions, its grace and mystery. She is joined by de Oliveira's grandson Ricardo Trêpa, playing her boyfriend, who gazes ahead, into the distance. They are both touched by the light that connects them, the light that is the source of beauty.

This scene brings to mind the greatest profundity to be found in the works of Straub- Huillet, the filmmakers who devoted their lives to capturing the essence of Communist materialism through near-spiritual means. Like Straub-Huillet, de Oliveira uses his camera as a tool of revelation, as a way of accessing the hidden dimensions of reality. But he doesn't make the mistake of the French duo of mixing humble aesthetics and prolix dialogues or proclamations. The first story of the film is the most talky but also the least visually attractive. The last has the least talking of them all but emanates visual beauty.

https://i.imgur.com/5kFBAHXl.png

At this point, I'd love to rewatch the film just so that I could focus on the initial two-thirds of it. But the last story, and how it achieves eternal beauty full of humility and grace is everything I can think (and talk) about right now. The Portuguese maestro creates a dialogue between the past and the present, between the human and the divine, between the material and the immaterial. He seeks to restore a lost art of portraying both body and soul, an art that respects the beauty of film (not digital), beauty (not prettiness), and Light (not darkness), an art that challenges and inspires senses.

De Oliveira’s visuals are more naturalistic and less artificial than those of Eugène Green, another filmmaker who manages to achieve a similar grace in his mise en scène. Green talks about the Light. De Oliveira shows the Light. And he does it so subtly that you might very well miss it. Even though I just compared the two great auteurs of cinema, De Oliveira does not rely on overtly stylized gestures or lifeless performances to convey his vision. His approach is much more balanced.

https://i.imgur.com/hZGu0yMl.png

This was my 37th de Oliveira film. It makes me want to rewatch those of his oeuvre that I saw years ago. Especially Abraham's Valley, which, in hindsight, is probably my favorite of his. But also Francisca, Doomed Love, The Satin Slipper, The Cannibals, The Divine Comedy, The Letter, A Talking Picture, and Magic Mirror, all of which are singular works of art.

I wish more directors made films like this. Shot films like this. Made films that make me feel like this.

Fabulous

07-04-23, 07:15 PM

Rachel, Rachel (1968)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/8sKavMkM73mvjhr2JxrYPZ26vcb.jpg

matt72582

07-04-23, 09:07 PM

Rachel, Rachel (1968)

rating_3_5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/8sKavMkM73mvjhr2JxrYPZ26vcb.jpg

I only gave it a 7.5/10, but I really love this movie. I really liked her. Narration. She was so delicate, and in a tough situation. Great first scene.

'The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds' (Newman directs that one, too) is a good one, too, but I don't remember much, even though I gave it the same score.

WHITBISSELL!

07-04-23, 09:42 PM

Rachel, Rachel (1968)

rating_3_5

A young girl's strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/WrJ8x0niiblWEoo7hE/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e475cmhhi7r36stkbe45x0z25drjjswyv5xeh44vusx&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g

shahatboy

07-04-23, 10:45 PM

rating_4_5
a rewatch but it feel like a first time watch . Great film, weird music.

https://imgc.allpostersimages.com/img/posters/the-third-man-1949_u-L-PTZWPO0.jpg

rating_3

https://i3.ytimg.com/vi/Xzf1YCEkLDI/hqdefault.jpg

rating_3

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRHljAHjL4fdnTtCg3sdaIfzc0QZZ8YzLCymLcip3cW_Q&s

rating_3_5
this one was a bit long.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/61/6a/83/616a83ef85ee76bf8f62c58168c6586e.jpg

JJHorror

07-04-23, 10:56 PM

Zombie Flesh Eaters 3.5

PHOENIX74

07-05-23, 12:02 AM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/Ladies_in_Lavender_Poster.jpg
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17009109

Ladies in Lavender - (2004)

Where do I start with this? Charles Dance's only film as director or screenwriter - and I'm not quite sure what to make of lone films made by famous actors. Passion projects? Failed attempts to turn filmmaker? Or is it just a change of pace, without the intention of going on with the career change? Anyway, Ladies in Lavender is interesting. Judi Dench and Maggie Smith play Ursula and Janet Widdington, two elderly spinsters who rescue a young man, Andrea Marowski (Daniel Brühl), when he washes up on the shoreline near their cottage. Nursing him back to health, they fall in love with him in their own ways. A mix of maternal and romantic passion, emotions that have been dormant for decades. Their stories aren't trotted out via exposition but instead come in dreams and the odd comment - stories of loss and missed opportunity. Meanwhile, Marowski is discovered to be a virtuoso violin player, and while the Widdington's jealousy guard their captive joy, a young woman, Olga Danilof, recognizes his talent and wants to help him, while the town doctor, Mead (David Warner), who has his own 'way too old' eyes for Olga, suspects him of being a spy. A film that builds to a really emotional denouement - it's a really sad kind of film, at least to me.

6/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3f/The_History_Boys_%28film%29.JPG
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18569193

The History Boys - (2006)

Okay - there was a bit of a barrier between me and this film because of the way it treated the subject of a teacher groping his high school students, and also a budding teacher-student relationship. Is there any situation that makes either of those things okay? This film is based on an Alan Bennett play which won an Olivier Award and a Tony Award - so I guess it's all context and meaning. Anyway, this is about a bunch of quite brilliant boys studying for the final exam which will hopefully place them in the university they want to go to - whether that's Oxford or Cambridge, which are damn hard to get into, or some other place I've never heard of. Douglas (Richard Griffiths) is their familiar old loveable teacher who has opened up a world of reading, music and language (while always inviting any student who is willing to accept a ride home with him) and then the newcomer, Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore) who encourages the boys to be different, and is all the way about how they express their knowledge instead of the knowledge itself. While the kids are cheeky, there's a friendly and intelligent kind of edge to their rebelling which makes them all really likeable.

6/10

Act III

07-05-23, 01:31 AM

93473

Air Force One (1997)

The dialog is cheesy in parts but not terrible. The action and story is solid. You get the notion its going to be a dumb cliche movie but every scene surprises you and when you get to the end you're really into it. There's a lot of gunfire on the plane and you'd think that would be enough to end the flight but thats the only innacuracy I can see. Great movie.

9/10

Jeff

07-05-23, 02:29 AM

Stagecoach - 1939 -- 5/5 amazing to see this influential western for the 1st time, the scene with the Apaches attacking was thrilling!!

StuSmallz

07-05-23, 02:39 AM

93448

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

There's a lot of good things to say about this movie. Ultra HD. Explosions galore. Monster trucks.

That first hour was continous action in ultra HD. I could only say that I wish that I went to see this in the theater. But unfortunately about halfway through the movie when it slowed down it seemed sort of lacking and I was thinking damn why didnt they cut this out? That seems harsh but then it got near the end 30 minutes and the the action picked up once again it didnt hold up to that first hour. So thats why I say 7/10 because its like half an awesome movie.Well, you're probably the first person I've ever seen say that Fury Road was too slow/too long at all; I actually felt (https://letterboxd.com/stusmallz/film/mad-max-fury-road/) it should've been longer, and taken some time to actually firmly establish the relationships between Joe and Furiosa/the "wives" instead of what it did (which was next to nothing in that regard), though I do like the movie a lot besides that mistake.

Act III

07-05-23, 02:49 AM

Well, you're probably the first person I've ever seen say that Fury Road was too slow/too long at all; I actually felt (https://letterboxd.com/stusmallz/film/mad-max-fury-road/) it should've been longer, and taken some time to actually firmly establish the relationships between Joe and Furiosa/the "wives" instead of what it did (which was next to nothing in that regard), though I do like the movie a lot besides that mistake.

There was plenty of space when the screen went blue, or they could have flashed back to the home base area that they returned to. It seems in reflection that the second half of the movie should have developed those parts of the story.

JJHorror

07-05-23, 03:27 AM

Evil Dead Rise 3

StuSmallz

07-05-23, 04:54 AM

There was plenty of space when the screen went blue, or they could have flashed back to the home base area that they returned to. It seems in reflection that the second half of the movie should have developed those parts of the story.Blue screen? If you mean the quick flashbacks we see, I guess they could've spent more time with those, but I don't think it was neccessary, since I appreciate the "unanswered questions" Miller left there about Max's haunted past (and the same goes for the suggestion about the home base, which I can't imagine would've added anything of worth); my suggestion about establishing the character dynamics more is the only major thing I would've changed about it. Edit: Oh, I guess by "blue screen", you mean when they're driving slower through the desert at night. Well, I still don't think they needed to expand that anymore.

ScarletLion

07-05-23, 06:04 AM

‘Olivier, Olivier’ (1992)

Directed by Agnieszka Holland

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BODg2MTU4OTExM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzg1ODI4MQ@@._V1_.jpg

‘Olivier, Olivier’ focuses on a dysfunctional family in France. Dad is a vet, mum is a housewife, and the two children seem fairly happy if a little odd. One day, Olivier, the son disappears. This severely affects the parents, understandably, and the family fractures as a result.

What happens over the next hour of the film is part psychological thriller, part study of grief and a whole lot of mystery. I could not stop thinking about the fine Jonathan Glazer film ‘Birth’ during this one, which came 12 years later – I don’t think that’s a spoiler (especially given Olivier, Olivier’s movie poster / cover) but surely Glazer must have been hugely inspired by this film, as it covers so many themes that are essentially identical. The performances are really notable, especially from young Gregoire Colin (Olivier) – I agonized over where I’d seen him before, until I realised he was in Claire Denis’ masterwork ; ‘Beau Travail’.

The viewer is left picking up the pieces towards the end 30 minutes that features one extremely harrowing scene, and the film comes together quite well in terms of a resolution. Despite a few scenes early on that feel rushed, there are moments of real emotion, mystery and agony, which show how good a Director Holland is.

7.8/10

4

Act III

07-05-23, 10:37 AM

Blue screen? If you mean the quick flashbacks we see, I guess they could've spent more time with those, but I don't think it was neccessary, since I appreciate the "unanswered questions" Miller left there about Max's haunted past (and the same goes for the suggestion about the home base, which I can't imagine would've added anything of worth); my suggestion about establishing the character dynamics more is the only major thing I would've changed about it. Edit: Oh, I guess by "blue screen", you mean when they're driving slower through the desert at night. Well, I still don't think they needed to expand that anymore.

Well it was a mindless action movie but it did seem even a bit too shallow for that, so when it slowed down it remained very empty.

TheDoctor

07-05-23, 11:04 AM

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/575adcf11bbee0fd2d9aa5f8/1504040155919-FR8LVQ7TK5ECI8ZOAY7X/Brawl+in+cell+block+poster.jpg

I talked to a few of my pals who thought this movie was stupid/weird but i guess they don´t know what "grindhouse" actually is like.

4 of 5 broken skulls!

Stirchley

07-05-23, 01:31 PM

93486

Huge fan of the director, but this one is underwhelming to say the least. And grainy photography which I always dislike. Interesting movie though to some extent & I did finish it.

Gideon58

07-05-23, 02:00 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMmRhYTg0N2QtMWZhMS00OWQwLTk1ZmEtMmUyMTY0NTE4YWUwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzQ1ODk3MTQ@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.j pg

4

Allaby

07-05-23, 02:14 PM

Children of Paradise (1945) This is very highly regarded by all the smart cool kids. I finally watched it and I wished I could say I loved it, but I was really underwhelmed. I liked the cinematography and the sets and costumes are lovely. The problem is I didn't find the story engaging, compelling or even very interesting. Performances were good though and I thought the screenplay was fine. The film felt far too long and I personally don't feel the runtime was justified. At least I was able to cross it off the list. 3

John-Connor

07-05-23, 02:37 PM

This is very highly regarded by all the smart cool kids. I finally watched it and I wished I could say I loved it, but I was really underwhelmed. I liked the cinematography and the sets and costumes are lovely. The problem is I didn't find the story engaging, compelling or even very interesting. Performances were good though and I thought the screenplay was fine. The film felt far too long and I personally don't feel the runtime was justified. At least I was able to cross it off the list. 3
You forgot the title or poster, but I'm assuming it's Children of Paradise. Haven't seen it yet but placing it on the bottom of my watchlist because of your thoughts on it.

Allaby

07-05-23, 02:40 PM

You forgot the title or poster, but I'm assuming it's Children of Paradise. Haven't seen it yet but placing it on the bottom of my watchlist because of your thoughts on it.

Good catch! You are correct. It is Children of Paradise. Everyone else seems to love it though, so I don't know how much stock people should put in to my thoughts. :(

Fabulous

07-05-23, 04:21 PM

Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)

3

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/pWf2g3ElYGRCDl0TA0upIiomIi5.jpg

matt72582

07-05-23, 05:28 PM

Right Now, Wrong Then - 7/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/63/Right_Now%2C_Wrong_Then_%28poster%29.jpg

matt72582

07-05-23, 05:32 PM

Good catch! You are correct. It is Children of Paradise. Everyone else seems to love it though, so I don't know how much stock people should put in to my thoughts. :(

I bailed out on this movie after 20 minutes despite all the love for it. It's one I will probably see, simply running out of movies, but probably not anytime soon.

Gideon58

07-05-23, 07:39 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWNiYzEzNDUtZjA3MS00NGVlLTg1MjMtZGFjN2E0YmQxYWIzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTUzMTg2ODkz._V1_.jpg\

3.5

Takoma11

07-05-23, 11:04 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.popcorncinemashow.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F08%2FDont-Open-till-Christmas-1984-1024x538.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=514a3faf997d0a3deef962d84de90b88e748210cbca34f3a316977dadc6e8589&ipo=images

Don’t Open Til Christmas, 1984

On the streets of London, someone has it out for anyone dressed as Santa Claus. Men dressed as Father Christmas are being butchered in brutal fashion, and police detectives Harris (Edmund Purdom) and Powell (Mark Jones) have few leads outside of a young man named Cliff (Gerry Sundquist) who was present for two of the killings, including the murder of the father of his girlfriend, Kate (Belinda Mayne). As the killings continue, Kate also begins to investigate.

While not exactly a good movie, this is an interesting case of a slasher that diverts from tropes in unpredictable ways.

3

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2396841#post2396841)

Act III

07-06-23, 12:38 AM

93482

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

This was a damn good shoot 'em up military style action suspense that reminds me of 90's action movies but with a new sharper picture and more convincing combat. A lot of intense battle scenes, a lot of casualties and the bad guy is what you'd expect someone to be who would invade the white house, not some cartoonish goon in a costume.

9.5/10

Takoma11

07-06-23, 12:46 AM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.denofgeek.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F09%2FJessica-Chastain-in-Eyes-of-Tammy-Faye.jpeg%3Ffit%3D1275%252C675&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=f3e018da2b01395f3c3bbcb91a0a6aa47ee3e1440e7df7d9a30862c852402b6e&ipo=images

The Eyes of Tammy Faye, 2021

This biopic follows the life of Tammy Faye Bakker (Jessica Chastain), who grew up in Minnesota and then met and married Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield). The two went on to be a major presence in the field of televangelism, at times clashing with contemporary Jerry Falwell (Vincent D’Onofrio). As their fame grows, questions arise over the financial aspect of their business, and personal conflicts come between Jim and Tammy Faye.

Full of solid performances, I found myself wishing for something either more camp or more straight-forward.

3.5

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2396853#post2396853)

MovieBuffering

07-06-23, 02:27 AM

In the Heat of the Night - 1967

First Sidney Poitier movie that I can remember sitting down and watching fully. I vaguely remember the tv show in the 90s. I really dug it for the most part. I know it was 1960s Mississippi but some of the racism stuff felt really thick and cartoony. Not to slight it, most of it might have and would have happened. It was really saved though because the actual murder mystery was very compelling. It was very fun to watch the police chief and Mr Tibbs mutual respect grow trying to figure out the gripping case. Poitier was awesome as the stoic Tibbs and the police chief was pretty good as well. Even though that chewing gum got a bit annoying. I really enjoyed it.

3.5

https://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/films/2f6cfde2bc9491f552e034f0de2a80a6/FhVr9CKMTklty4MLxK6jqhVuFQaDM1_large.jpg

StuSmallz

07-06-23, 02:41 AM

Well it was a mindless action movie but it did seem even a bit too shallow for that, so when it slowed down it remained very empty.Man, calling Fury Road a "mindless Action movie" is just... I really don't know how to respond to that, to be honest.

JJHorror

07-06-23, 02:57 AM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTYyOTAxMDA0OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzgwNTc1NA@@._V1_.jpg
2.5

PHOENIX74

07-06-23, 04:00 AM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Lifeboat1.jpg
By http://www.impawards.com/1944/lifeboat.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17058037

Lifeboat - (1944)

Despite the fact that the Second World War is receding into the far off distance, Lifeboat is still a compulsively enjoyable watch. Many directors would have struggled with the limited setting, but Hitchcock, much like he did with Rope, proves that you can sustain tension and drama in the one place with enough characters and high enough stakes. Of course, being wartime propaganda, the German connives and can't be trusted - but most people who saw this film at the time complained that the Germans were portrayed in too positive a fashion. Goes to show what public opinion is worth. Hitchcock's Nazi villain makes the entire group of lifeboat passengers his quarry and tries to fool them into captivity while avoiding it himself - and to me that's not positive, just resourceful. Anyway - the running-time breezes by as various disasters make it seem this small boat with such an eclectic assortment of passengers is doomed. Really enjoyable film to this day.

8/10

https://i.postimg.cc/ZnGk8bzb/sayonara.jpg
By Warner Bros. Pictures Distributing Corporation - Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=118763727

Sayonara - (1957)

Well, this was certainly interesting in varied ways. Taking on racism, Sayonara can't help but be a fraught journey into the realm of awkwardness - probably due to how rare it was for a big studio to undertake such a project during the 1950s. For example - I can't for the life of me figure out why Ricardo Montalbán plays a Japanese guy in this instead of a..well, a Japanese guy! He comes complete with fake slanted eyes and accent, and the result made me very uncomfortable. Marlon Brando's acting is nearly too good for the type of film this is - his Southern Major Lloyd Gruver brings a raucous American lack of cultural awareness, and as such we have parts of Sayonara there we're meant to be grimacing at. What saves it is the miraculous decision to go with the dark, tough ending - a marriage between Joe Kelly (Red Buttons) and Katsumi (Miyoshi Umeki) giving a tragic example of what banning interracial marriages leads to. What a sad, sad secondary story we have there. Brando and Miiko Taka fare better, and the addition of a soft-skinned young James Garner makes this worth seeing. You just have to allow the film a little leeway, even though the production is on location in Japan, it does seem like director Joshua Logan might be a little out of his element. Not totally though - there's lots of kabuki, Japanese puppetry and culture included.

Anyway, if there's one element of Japan Logan and co really embrace strongly, it's the male-oriented and dominated one. This one featured at the '58 Oscars - missing Best Picture and Actor for Brando, but winning Red Buttons and Miyoshi Umeki statuettes for their tragic arcs. A strange time capsule - teaching anyone who sees it now in the wrong way, but still well worth a look for Brando and co - not to mention how the 50s tried to tackle the race issue.

7/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/94/The_Words_2012_Film_Poster.jpg
By The cover art can or could be obtained from IMP Awards., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34360006

The Words - (2012)

This film just didn't pan out - and I think it should have been scrapped. It's a story within a story within a story - and when you have so many degrees of reality and fiction mashing together parts aren't going to receive their due attention. In the end the story with Dennis Quaid and some floozy, relating a tale about Bradley Cooper's Rory and wife Zoe Saldana (Dora), who has himself stolen a story from "The Old Man" (Jeremy Irons) about his younger self (played by Ben Barnes) and his French wife and sick (soon to be dead) baby - well, nothing gets time to breath or live, and as a result The Words leaves you as soon as the credits are rolling - when you walk away you'll forget it ever existed.

3.5/10

Jeff

07-06-23, 08:04 AM

Jules and Jim - 5/5 -- in the process of going through the plentiful extras. Have always loved it, and even more now, have started reading Goethe's Elective Affinities which plays a part in this film and was also one of Fassbinder's favorite books. So far learning from the commentaries, Truffaut later on didn't like how much he moved the camera, a naive film it was thought of, but is also part of its charm, a film where there's a youthful esprit involved taking risks not being bogged down by too much experience.

BKB

07-06-23, 08:57 AM

I'm in the process of watching Robert Deniro in RONIN

Marco

07-06-23, 12:46 PM

Prisoners Daughter (2022)

This is an OK but rather predictable film, the acting is decent but the script clunky and lukewarm. I love to see Brian Cox acting so it was a treat, the side-stories not too much and they dragged it into the melodrama. I didn't realise it was Kate Beckinsdale playing his daughter till the credits rolled.

Pretty decent. More Brian please.
2.5

Gideon58

07-06-23, 03:31 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTk1MTkwMzU4Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjY0MDE1NTE@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg

4

Fabulous

07-06-23, 05:14 PM

Donkey Skin (1970)

3.5

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/2k2raQazRpeLKEo6YkB59fTCVXH.jpg

Gideon58

07-06-23, 06:31 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYzdkMGY1NmMtMjIxZi00YmM5LWFiOTgtNzkzMGQ3YjcxZTc0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjQ0NzE0MQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.j pg

4.5

GulfportDoc

07-06-23, 08:22 PM

I only gave it a 7.5/10, but I really love this movie. I really liked her. Narration. She was so delicate, and in a tough situation. Great first scene.

'The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds' (Newman directs that one, too) is a good one, too, but I don't remember much, even though I gave it the same score.
"Gamma Rays" was an unusual film for its day, but I loved the great Joanne Woodward in the picture.

GulfportDoc

07-06-23, 08:40 PM

GulfportDoc

07-06-23, 08:43 PM

Donkey Skin (1970)

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/2k2raQazRpeLKEo6YkB59fTCVXH.jpg

I prefer Trout Mask Replica...

93515

PHOENIX74

07-07-23, 12:24 AM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/66/Thomascrownposter1999.jpg
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9653199

The Thomas Crown Affair - (1999)

I ruined The Thomas Crown Affair for myself by thinking about Jeffrey Epstein - enigmatic billionaire who owned jet planes and islands while also being oversexed and seemingly above the law. I wonder if this movie could have been made today, knowing what we now know, and how it could be associated with that kind of character. I don't think so. The movie itself isn't bad, and in fact the reverse heist at the end was rather clever. It's hard for me to rate - it's completely on me that I was thinking of that predator, because the character of Crown (Pierce Brosnan) is meant to be more of a romantic type instead of criminal by the end. Brosnan injects his character with an uneasy kind of impenetrable mystery so we're unsure as of how to take him - and I have the feeling Epstein would have been pretty close to this. Rene Russo is really great - and gives a performance I rate highly. I'll give it an "okay" rating, because the movie is fine, but I found Thomas Crown unfortunately repulsive - my fault, and I know I wasn't meant to. Just by association.

6/10

JJHorror

07-07-23, 03:24 AM

https://bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/From-Dusk-Till-Dawn.jpg

4

John-Connor

07-07-23, 04:30 AM

THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI 1957 David Lean (RE-WATCH)
93536
2h 41m | Adventure | Drama | War
Writer: Pierre Boulle, Carl Foreman
Cast: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa

Commander Shears:
You make me sick with your heroics! There's a stench of death about you. You carry it in your pack like the plague. Explosives and L-pills - they go well together, don't they? And with you it's just one thing or the other: destroy a bridge or destroy yourself. This is just a game, this war! You and Colonel Nicholson, you're two of a kind, crazy with courage. For what? How to die like a gentleman, how to die by the rules - when the only important thing is how to live like a human being!... I'm not going to leave you here to die, Warden, because I don't care about your bridge and I don't care about your rules. If we go on, we go on together.

4+ (85/100)

Torgo

07-07-23, 12:48 PM

Beau Travail - 4

This haunting and contemplative French military drama lets the images do the talking and with an economy of narration and dialogue in a way that rivals how Terrence Malick does it. The images are just as beautiful and memorable as the ones in his movies, although brutal may be the best way to describe them since the main setting is a sun-bleached Foreign Legion outpost in Africa. Life there is as routine as the soldiers' training regimen, but it soon changes once recruit Sentain (Colin) arrives, who gains the admiration of Commander Forestier (Subor) and thus the ire of Chief Warrant Officer Galoup (Lavant).

So, what's with the new guy? Your take on him will likely vary with the one of Galoup, who narrates, and therein lies a clever framing device. The movie shifts between Africa and Galoup's present day life in France, which makes it play out like a reckoning. As the Legion creed in the introduction plainly indicates, it's with military life, and if the movie reveals any of its constants, it's repetition. Aside from the R&R at a local dance club, what I'll recall first whenever I think about this movie are all those majestic training exercises which it amusingly contrasts with domestic ones like cleaning and hanging laundry. From all this routine to its resulting conformity to the desire to earn the commander's respect like a son desires their father's, it's easy to see how a hotbed of division could form between Galoup’s master and Sentain’s student. At the same time, we're graced with the reactions of the locals, which include curiosity, concern, amusement, and as the American advertisements plastered on their walls indicate, powerlessness to stop it.

Again, the imagery is as painterly as it is memorable, but that does not mean that the scenery chews the actors. I like how Colin not only makes Sentain a man with a hard exterior yet tender and human interior, but also a worthy foil for our narrator. As for Lavant, he comes across as a fearless performer who you can imagine would do anything a director asked of him and not just because of the ending which I dare not spoil. As it is with a lot of movies that flit back and forth in time, there are a few moments here and there where it's unclear whether it's the past or the present. Other than that, this is as pure a glimpse into the military and its effect on the psyche as it is one into the world of men, those in the first world in particular. What's more, despite how dangerous the movie convincingly makes these worlds out to be, it manages to conclude on a hopeful note.

ScarletLion

07-07-23, 12:50 PM

Takoma11

07-07-23, 12:54 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fhdqwalls.com%2Fwallpapers%2Fkate-winslet-and-leonardo-in-titanic-movie-wallpaper.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=9026169a9bd032fc94662187924d28dd3c318a883cd9b5d54c118f61ac92f73d&ipo=images

Titanic, 1997

A modern-day group of explorers investigating the wreckage of the Titanic are thrilled when they are contacted by a woman, Rose (Gloria Stewart), who was actually aboard the fateful voyage. Rose tells them the story of her journey on the ship as a young woman (Kate Winslet) who is engaged to a terrible (and terribly wealthy) man named Cal (Billy Zane). Overwhelmed by her future prospects, Rose finds a whirlwind romance with Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), a lower-class passenger who is traveling to America in hopes of a better future.

All in all, an enjoyable and epic-scale romance.

4

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2397159#post2397159)

Stirchley

07-07-23, 01:45 PM

Stirchley

07-07-23, 01:45 PM

THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI 1957 David Lean
93536
2h 41m | Adventure | Drama | War
Writer: Pierre Boulle, Carl Foreman
Cast: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa

4+ (85/100)

Brilliant movie.

Stirchley

07-07-23, 01:46 PM

Jeff

07-07-23, 02:08 PM

Yes, i love the music there more, due for a re-watch!!

Good film. My favorite Truffaut is Shoot the Piano Player (1960). Have you seen it?

John W Constantine

07-07-23, 03:08 PM

And that ending - amazing.
It's just the rhythm of the night.

Gideon58

07-07-23, 04:09 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNmRiZDZkN2EtNWI5ZS00ZDg3LTgyNDItMWI5NjVlNmE5ODJiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjQwMjk0NjI@._V1_.jpg

4

Fabulous

07-07-23, 04:32 PM

The Jazz Singer (1927)

3.5

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/vT0xOLaGzYqgsFnHP3wUb0IaRPR.jpg

Takoma11

07-07-23, 07:06 PM

Beau Travail - 4

From all this routine to its resulting conformity to the desire to earn the commander's respect like a son desires their father's, it's easy to see how a hotbed of division could form between Galoup’s master and Sentain’s student.

The exploration of explicit and implicit power dynamics/hierarchies is really interesting.

Also, staying vague, I was very relieved by a certain someone's fate at the end

And now go watch Sebastiane!

GulfportDoc

07-07-23, 09:03 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNmRiZDZkN2EtNWI5ZS00ZDg3LTgyNDItMWI5NjVlNmE5ODJiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjQwMjk0NjI@._V1_.jpg

rating_4
Gideon, I think you're a true romantic..:) I liked the film too, and if memory serves, wasn't this picture the one that Clint showed the Hollywood crowd that he wasn't a knuckle dragging Neanderthal, and that he could make a "sensitive" film as good as the next guy.?

Reminds me of when Katherine Hepburn did Rooster Cogburn (1975) with John Wayne. Everyone wondered how they could possibly get along. But Hepburn said that she was really impressed with Wayne's class and talent. BTW they were both born in the same month in 1907.

PHOENIX74

07-07-23, 11:09 PM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Vatel_%28film%29.jpg
By https://abogadodelchef.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/vatel2.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45466832

Vatel - (2000)

The history lover in me gobbled up Vatel, and by the end I was at serious odds with reviewers who find the film dull and without merit. It goes back to 1600s France - King Louis XIV (a superb Julian Sands) is on the throne and about to visit a country estate for the weekend. The estate is owned by Prince Louis de Bourbon (Julian Glover) and it falls upon his right hand man François Vatel (Gérard Depardieu) to organise the festivities. Prince Louis is broke and in debt - he's hoping desperately for the King's favour to save him, so Vatel can't afford one single mishap lest the weekend turn sour. Apparently this means not one dropped and broken bowl, imperfect meal or any other slight infraction. The shows that Vatel puts on, along with the feasts, are breathtaking. I've never seen anything like it. The decadence of King Louis XIV and his entourage are likewise incredible. For example, the King's brother is a notorious paedophile, and thinks nothing of plucking any random boy out to interfere with openly - and when he's not doing that he's ruining Vatel's creations for the pure fun of it - with his childish group of laughing hangers-on.

Along with the King comes the contemptuous Marquis of Lauzun (Tim Roth) along with the King's latest sexual plaything, Anne de Montausier (Uma Thurman) - whom Lauzun is also lusting after. The likes of Timothy Spall and Richard Griffiths round out the cast. There is a moment of animal cruelty - not directly shown, but performed just offscreen. It was believed at the time that if you plucked the still beating heart from a bird and squeezed it over the foot, it would help cure gout - or at least lessen the symptoms. When the entourage's birds are all let out of their cages by a senior member of the royals it falls upon Vatel to donate his much-loved parrots to be torturously killed for the quack remedy. Other than that there are various intrigues and much amazing spectacle. So much effort - blood, sweat and tears, often literally - goes into pleasing the King. The sheer gilded enormity of beauty is something the world may never see the likes of again. The sacrifice and painful fate of Vatel provides an interesting context in which to view all of this, and I enjoyed this movie more than just about anyone else as far as I can see.

7/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Chicken_run_ver1.jpg
By Impawards.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23364278

Chicken Run - (2000)

When I was younger I did a bit of a tour of Russia and met this lady who really loved this movie. If we ever needed to hurry for any reason, she'd shout "chicken run!" which I found adorable. Anyway - there's not much to say about this film except that it's a lot of fun, and chickens appear to be the perfect creatures for Peter Lord to turn into cute claymation characters. This film is basically The Great Escape with chickens, and it has some wonderful set-pieces such as the chicken pie machine segment where Ginger (voiced by Julia Sawalha) and Rocky Rhodes (Mel Gibson) find themselves in a spot of bother. I love the fact that all the hens (and two roosters) have very visible (in fact, prominent) teeth.

7/10

Jeff

07-08-23, 01:02 AM

Enter the Dragon - 3.5/5 -- Bruce Lee would have made a good James Bond.

Act III

07-08-23, 01:28 AM

93598

The Gauntlet (1977)

Interesting movie. Wouldn't say it's a classic at any stretch but it isn't particularly bad either. I would rather see this than many of the movies I've seen. The story is a good one but some of the things like the shootouts are... not believable. Why this hasn't been remade is a wonder because they'd have a hayday and go to town on this plot.

6/10

John-Connor

07-08-23, 04:45 AM

11 HARROWHOUSE 1974 Aram Avakian
93611

It was all good for 93% of the movie, nice mix of humor and suspense. Smooth performance by James Mason. Then it somehow turned into a nonsensical goofy Cannonball Run flick. Definitely won't break into my top hundred all time Heist films list.

3

Jeff

07-08-23, 05:10 AM

Almost done Thief - 1981, and it's like geez, this ain't gonna end well, but it's fascinating to see John Belushi in a serious role. 3/5

Mr Minio

07-08-23, 11:53 AM

Harry and Tonto (1974)

https://25.media.tumblr.com/42ebcb73dde80d053c5f8e162f8555fa/tumblr_mt1bdcBD341snmmclo1_500.gif

matt72582's all-time favorite is a great, adorable film. But the last third in Vegas brings it down. Still a lovely movie as a whole. I wonder if Yamada had seen it before writing the much superior Yellow Handkerchief. You know, Mazursky walked so that Yamada could run.

PS: Harry is basically how I imagine Matt in 20 years.

Takoma11

07-08-23, 11:56 AM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmamasgeeky.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F01%2Fthe-little-things-movie.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=e417235248d097ccb011027fa0ab300284305a49db5d230a30df2ccf16add3b0&ipo=images

The Little Things, 2021

Deke Deacon (Denzel Washington) is sent to LA to pick up evidence related to a case, and ends up accompanying a recently promoted hotshot detective named Baxter (Rami Malek) to a crime scene that bears some striking similarities to a case Deacon worked years earlier. As the two men begin working together--with a major focus on creepy weirdo Albert (Jared Leto)--Deacon must confront some demons from his own past.

Despite a strong cast, this one can’t escape the sense of “should have been better.”

3

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2397445#post2397445)

Torgo

07-08-23, 12:10 PM

And now go watch Sebastiane!Whoa, I guess it's not the only movie about soldiers in the desert with homoerotic undertones. It's time I've seen a Jarman as well.

Also, thanks ScarletLion. It's my first Denis film and I'm eager to see more. 35 Shots of Rum looks like a good place to continue. As for Lavant, looks like his work and Carax is a good place to continue.

jal90

07-08-23, 12:15 PM

I, a negro - Moi, un noir (Jean Rouch, 1958) rating_4

https://cartelera.elpais.com/assets/uploads/2021/02/05030126/F_23451.jpg

First time watching a Jean Rouch film, the immediate thought is that this is really a sign of new times of social and political awareness in the cinema that was made by First World authors. Contrarily to the merely touristic view of previous ethnographic cinema, Rouch's work immediately puts itself in a position of political activism through the characters. The movie is a stance against cultural colonialism, lack of prospects for immigrants and war veterans and has some strong and resonating antiauthoritarian themes. It displays local cultural manifestations with an amount of respect beyond the condescending and degrading approach that was common before.

But it's not without its issues; particularly the ethnofictional approach, while certainly very innovative and in the end one of the main inspirations behind not only the French New Wave movement but an entire shift in the way film as a whole could be conceived and approached, also tends to manipulate the images to fit a preestablished narrative, set by Rouch himself. Which could be considered an instrumentalization of the character and society it depicts, with good intent in mind, no doubt, but also ultimately compromising the sincerity of the images.

Anyway, it was a great watch and it really makes you think about the implications of viewing film and specifically ethnography through the film lens. It is also a very important and influential work that predates and explains a lot of the later avant-garde film movements.

Gideon58

07-08-23, 01:03 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNGMxN2Y4MmUtYzJhNi00OWU1LThiNmItOTVhNGNiMzAzYTc4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjc1OTk4NjA@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.j pg

1

Takoma11

07-08-23, 01:06 PM

Whoa, I guess it's not the only movie about soldiers in the desert with homoerotic undertones. It's time I've seen a Jarman as well.

Well, in Sebastiane there's nothing under about the tones, but there are a lot of interesting parallels between the films. And as far as Jarman's movies go, I think it's probably one of his most accessible when it comes to being a coherent narrative with dialogue and stuff.

Takoma11

07-08-23, 02:50 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.looper.com%2Fimg%2Fgallery%2Fhow-accurate-is-the-movie-double-jeopardy%2Fintro-1594053842.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=0145968c5aaa80322ac148398eff21d8a3f97bb295282872693a80a5ec723183&ipo=images

Double Jeopardy, 1999

Libby (Ashley Judd) is married to the charming Nick (Bruce Greenwood), living a life of luxury along with their son Matty (Benjamin Weir). But that all changes when a boat trip ends with Libby awakening covered in her husband’s blood and Nick nowhere to be found. Libby is convicted of Nick’s murder, but comes to suspect that he is still alive and has run off with the family friend to whom Libby entrusted Matty’s care. Advised by a fellow inmate that thanks to double jeopardy laws, Libby can take Nick out with no consequences, Libby decides to jump bail and track down her husband. Standing in her way is Libby’s parole agent, not-so-recovered alcoholic Travis (Tommy Lee Jones).

On the whole, this is a fun and thrilling film, and I find it incredibly rewatchable.

4

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2397479#post2397479)

Fabulous

07-08-23, 05:05 PM

The Tenant (1976)

3.5

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/oVtC10gcnPshUOl36G5JQbYbs2x.jpg

Gideon58

07-08-23, 05:33 PM

https://oregonconfluence.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Kansas-City-Bomber-Hot-Wheels-horizontal-600x474.jpg

2

Corax

07-08-23, 06:14 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=93598

The Gauntlet (1977)

Interesting movie. Wouldn't say it's a classic at any stretch but it isn't particularly bad either. I would rather see this than many of the movies I've seen. The story is a good one but some of the things like the shootouts are... not believable. Why this hasn't been remade is a wonder because they'd have a hayday and go to town on this plot.

6/10

To sell it you'd have to explain it as The Raid meets Speed.

Takoma11

07-08-23, 09:00 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstraightfromamovie.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F05%2FPaterson-movie.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=a9b06201a2b8443247e0879cbce4591fd2fb4c5a6985e952e9c607768843bfa6&ipo=images

Paterson, 2016

Paterson (Adam Driver) is a bus driver living and working in Paterson, New Jersey. Paterson is a poet, keeping an old notebook full of poems he writes before his shift and during his breaks. The film follows several days in the life of Paterson and his wife, Laura (Golshifteh Farahani), and their dog Marvin. We watch Paterson observe and interact with various members of his community.

This simple and sweet slice-of-life film embodies the gentle optimism of its protagonist.

4.5

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2397529#post2397529)

Act III

07-08-23, 09:27 PM

To sell it you'd have to explain it as The Raid meets Speed.

Well, I think the deal with the line of cops at the end was sort of a parody of Star Wars with the storm troopers, so it was a case of sacrificing the integrity of the story to visually double up on another movie being released almost simultaneously. Maybe its what they call a tribute an homage or recognition?

Or better yet, both Star Wars and The Gauntlet got this same idea from something else that we are unaware of.

But it was completely unrealistic, that would never happen like that.

Corax

07-08-23, 09:50 PM

But it was completely unrealistic, that would never happen like that.

Realistic movies always whine about possibilities and likelihood.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.quotesgram.com%2Fimg%2F51%2F77%2F1354431391-Sean-Connery-The-Rock_2.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=996fdd5a5d2aff8f8e7d7974af8890b501eb67059f4fa07719b941943c8ab1a6&ipo=images

Unrealistic movies go home and f*** the prom queen.

Act III

07-08-23, 10:05 PM

Realistic movies always whine about possibilities and likelihood.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.quotesgram.com%2Fimg%2F51%2F77%2F1354431391-Sean-Connery-The-Rock_2.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=996fdd5a5d2aff8f8e7d7974af8890b501eb67059f4fa07719b941943c8ab1a6&ipo=images

Unrealistic movies go home and f*** the prom queen.

I see what you say but The Gauntlet was realistic except for the the shootouts, so maybe it was an artistic statement. Why only get nutty on the shootouts but then do everything else normally? Ah, whatever. It was an okay movie but couldve been better.

TheVanillaGorilla

07-08-23, 10:08 PM

Mr nobody.... 6 and a half out of 10

Corax

07-08-23, 10:39 PM

I see what you say but The Gauntlet was realistic except for the the shootouts, so maybe it was an artistic statement. Why only get nutty on the shootouts but then do everything else normally? Ah, whatever. It was an okay movie but couldve been better.

I'm just s**t-posting, so don't mind my comment too much.

If I were posturing at seriousness here, however, we might note that a uncertain "unreality" can be earned so long as you play by the rulesof realism in other respects. Tolkien commented that he had his characters walk around Middle Earth and ride horses, because he was already asking quite a bit of the reader with all of the magic. Or consider the end of JAWS. The film is reasonable and then Brody shoots an air tank which makes a shark explode fifty feet into the air. Someone on set reportedly commented that this was entirely unrealistic to which Spielberg commented something to the effect that "if they have followed me this far, they will commit to the end." And he was right.

PHOENIX74

07-08-23, 10:57 PM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/Hell-is-for-heroes-movie-poster-md.jpg
By May be found at the following website: https://www.cinematerial.com/movies/hell-is-for-heroes-i56062/p/xglo1osh, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63469770

Hell is for Heroes - (1962)

Hell is for Heroes blew my expectations sky high - I was expecting your average war film from the period. Up to a point, the film was giving me exactly what I expected. It was blurring the lines between war, action and comedy. Hell, it introduces Bob Newhart to feature films, and he even gets to do a few of his comedy bits (I love Bob Newhart.) Then, late in the film, it takes a Spielberg Omaha Beach turn, and characters who I thought would certainly be there at the end start getting blown to bits. My whole take on this glorifying war, and even making it look fun, needed some adjustment - and I was glad because I could accept the fun parts of the film much more readily now. Steve McQueen is good in this, as a battle-hardened soldier who is a human being beyond repair. A young James Coburn also shows up. It's really well directed by Don Siegel, and strikes hard at a lean 90 minutes - for it's day a classic World War 2 film.

8/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/Twenty_eight_weeks_later.jpg
By Impawards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20372711

28 Weeks Later - (2007)

For the most part, I enjoyed this sequel to 28 Days Later more than the original. There was only one aspect that really turned me off - and that's during the action sequences where the filmmakers insisted on using shaky-cam and quick-cutting to emphasise chaos. It confuses my eyes and brain, and when I can't tell what's happening I just start to switch off entirely. I don't like my movies to be completely confusing. Otherwise this was a very straightforward and interesting take on the genre - because unlike the apocalyptic scenario I was expecting, this film starts with the zombie plague over and humans starting to resettle England. Do things go wrong? Of course they do - in a very unexpected fashion. Robert Carlyle, Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne and Idris Elba add star power to what's usually a much more low-budget genre. This one is a lot of fun.

6/10

Act III

07-08-23, 11:19 PM

I'm just s**t-posting, so don't mind my comment too much.

If I were posturing at seriousness here, however, we might note that a uncertain "unreality" can be earned so long as you play by the rulesof realism in other respects. Tolkien commented that he had his characters walk around Middle Earth and ride horses, because he was already asking quite a bit of the reader with all of the magic. Or consider the end of JAWS. The film is reasonable and then Brody shoots an air tank which makes a shark explode fifty feet into the air. Someone on set reportedly commented that this was entirely unrealistic to which Spielberg commented something to the effect that "if they have followed me this far, they will commit to the end." And he was right.

How the movie introduces you up in the first scenes sets your expectations for the rest of the movie, so its all relative to the upfront presentation. But some moviemakers like to tweak those sensibilites and add surprises and imbalance the norm.

That follow/commit excerpt can go either way. Like watching an awesome movie for two hours then at the last minute they sneak something in fully offensive and detestable to you, youre like well, how can I say I like this movie because its like saying you like that thing at the end.

A good example is The Wolf of Wall Street where its a great movie but then one of the characters glorifies incest and then youre like man if I say I like this movie people of that undesireable type will be like hey man, I hear you.

Now you dont want that to happen do you?

Act III

07-09-23, 01:42 AM

93621

Non-Stop (2014)

You'd probably like this one of you like "whodunnit?" suspense action movies. Like Clue on a plane with some surprises. Some fistfights, gunplay, a couple brawls. Nothing lewd, obscene or gross. No sex, no nudity.

7.5/10

Kayden Kross

07-09-23, 12:12 PM

Deschain

07-09-23, 01:29 PM

Nausicaä

07-09-23, 02:00 PM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/Theatrical_poster_for_Dungeons_and_Dragons%2C_Honor_Among_Thieves.jpg/220px-Theatrical_poster_for_Dungeons_and_Dragons%2C_Honor_Among_Thieves.jpg

3.5

SF = Z

[Snooze Factor Ratings]:
Z = didn't nod off at all
Zz = nearly nodded off but managed to stay alert
Zzz = nodded off and missed some of the film but went back to watch what I missed
Zzzz = nodded off and missed some of the film but went back to watch what I missed but nodded off again at the same point and therefore needed to go back a number of times before I got through it...
Zzzzz = nodded off and missed some or the rest of the film but was not interested enough to go back over it

WHITBISSELL!

07-09-23, 03:52 PM

https://media1.giphy.com/media/CFePnBKl9oX7BwFCgI/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47d5ki61dwlnolqk35vnrp09neqa4fvrce3i3ziot5&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g
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65 - Despite the setup this was ultimately an underwhelming watch. There are any number of reasons you can point to or maybe a combination of all. A subpar script from Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (the guys responsible for writing A Quiet Place). Uninspired direction from Beck and Woods. You can't really lay the blame on the casting. There's only four people in the credits and one of them is Adam Driver who's usually money in the bank. Makes you wonder why he would sign up for something like this. He apparently got his usual salary of around 3 million so maybe he wanted work with the guys responsible for AQP? They should have brought along John Krasinski to direct.

Anyway, Driver plays Mills, the pilot of an interstellar charter ship ferrying passengers across a vast distance that will keep him from his family for two years. The ship runs into an unmapped asteroid belt and crash lands on a nearby planet. I don't how much of the setup is considered a spoiler since the details are included in the actual title and in the title card at the very beginning. Driver is from the planet Somaris and he ends up marooned on Earth 65 million years ago. An Earth where dinosaurs still hold sway. But even that encouraging detail is largely nullified by the creature design. Instead of halfway believable dinosaurs the production decided to go with inexplicably foreign looking specimens. If you're going to make the crux of the plot that this is Earth 65 million years in the past why do that? Were there copyright issues? Did they think Spielberg was going to come after them? That's just one of the many things that they get wrong.

There a second survivor in the crash and this is foreshadowed by the prelude with Mills' daughter back on Somaris. It's that kind of script. There's also a scene where Mills is exploring the planet and runs across a "geological anomaly" of sorts that you'll be able to figure out is gonna play a part later on. And it does. It's that kind of script. The people watching this with me enjoyed it and it is an innocuous enough offering. Nothing to make your blood boil or make you regret watching it. You might end up lamenting the waste of talent and potential.

50/100

matt72582

07-09-23, 04:04 PM

Zandy's Bride - 8/10
Re-watch... I need something to dream with. And a sure movie... Gene Hackman sends for a woman to marry, and Liv Ullman shows up and he knows right away that she lied about her age, etc.. :)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b0/Zandy%27s_Bride_FilmPoster.jpeg

Takoma11

07-09-23, 04:06 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mondo-digital.com%2Ffearnoevilbd2.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=0a2d331c3f9dd8c615f0cdd5cd4adde00081ddd6d1359fd97b112e1dec3816da&ipo=images

Fear No Evil, 1981

A priest kills a man he believes to be Lucifer, and as he dies the man laughs that he will return. Decades later, a couple have a child named Andrew (Stefan Arngrim), who from the beginning seems to be accompanied by strange events. When Andrew is a senior in high school, the strange and violent events escalate. One of Andrew’s classmates, Julie (Kathleen McAllen) begins having odd visions and makes her way to Margaret (Elizabeth Hoffman), who tells her that Julie is the embodiment of the archangel Gabriel and that Margaret herself is the embodiment of Mikhail. Together, the two women must stop Andrew before he brings large-scale destruction to their town.

I wish that the last act was stronger. But honestly, I could see this becoming a frequently rewatched low-key favorite.

4

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2397633#post2397633)

jal90

07-09-23, 04:45 PM

Go, go second time virgin - Yuke yuke nidome no shojo (Kôji Wakamatsu, 1969) rating_4

https://i0.wp.com/www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk/reviews/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/review_GoGo.jpg

An unpleasant pinku captivated by sexual violence, but more closely associated to a radical nihilistic viewpoint on life and generational transition in 60s Japan. Wakamatsu uses the themes of sexual abuse and violence to build an extreme yet poignant story of two poor souls who are not going to survive their trauma because there is nothing beyond it for them. The main character, Poppo, is abused right at the beginning of the film; and since then, neither she or us as spectators will be able to leave the building, as a metaphor that her trauma has become an indelible part of her identity.

Partly pure pinku exploitation, partly a formal New Wave-styled film, and partly a strong and radical political manifesto by one of the most decidedly political directors of the Japanese film scene, Go, go second time virgin is short but not sweet at all, and one of the crudest metaphors I've seen on youth angst and lack of prospects for their present and future. It's also a very competent film itself on the matter of dealing with trauma, but I don't think that is the main theme; rather a vehicle for radical self-expression and a narrative symbol of the incapacitating feeling that young people back then had within a social, cultural and moral statu quo they didn't belong to.

Wakamatsu stylizes this film a lot to enhance the experience, and two of the most mesmerizing resources are, on the one hand, the scarce yet very impactful use of color, that represents mainly shocking and scarring moments in the past, and the music on the other, which plays quiet ballads at some of the most horrific scenes. All in all, what it manages to generate with this treatment of violent themes and stylization is a lasting effect beyond the visceral reaction, and that together with its hopeless and nihilistic feel, leaves a mark by the end.

Fabulous

07-09-23, 05:05 PM

Eating Raoul (1982)

3

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/fVE95lHDCtWJxT2h71bvD5XD25r.jpg

Nausicaä

07-09-23, 08:29 PM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c4/65_film_teaser_poster.jpg/220px-65_film_teaser_poster.jpg

2.5

SF = Z

I echo everything WHITBISSELL! said above.

[Snooze Factor Ratings]:
Z = didn't nod off at all
Zz = nearly nodded off but managed to stay alert
Zzz = nodded off and missed some of the film but went back to watch what I missed
Zzzz = nodded off and missed some of the film but went back to watch what I missed but nodded off again at the same point and therefore needed to go back a number of times before I got through it...
Zzzzz = nodded off and missed some or the rest of the film but was not interested enough to go back over it

GulfportDoc

07-09-23, 08:49 PM

Almost done Thief - 1981, and it's like geez, this ain't gonna end well, but it's fascinating to see John Belushi in a serious role. 3/5
Took your tip and watched Thief last night. I'd seen it when it came out, and remembered a good deal of it.

It was a perfect role for James Caan, which he didn't disappoint. Tuesday Weld is not only enjoyable to look at, but she turns in a good performance here. I was impressed by her acting in the scene in the diner where Caan tells her that he wants her to be with him. She was stunning.

I almost didn't recognize Dennis Farina. I think that was his first film gig. Then he really broke out in Crime Story (1986-88) as Lt. Mike Torello-- a series I LOVED.

For me the two major flaws were that they didn't say what Caan was going to do for money at the end of the film or if he ever got back with Weld. I think Mann didn't know how to end it...:)

Jeff

07-09-23, 10:15 PM

I was glad the ending wasn't what i was expecting, just him being busted or killed. Not knowing at the end makes us fill in the gaps.

Took your tip and watched Thief last night. I'd seen it when it came out, and remembered a good deal of it.

It was a perfect role for James Caan, which he didn't disappoint. Tuesday Weld is not only enjoyable to look at, but she turns in a good performance here. I was impressed by her acting in the scene in the diner where Caan tells her that he wants her to be with him. She was stunning.

I almost didn't recognize Dennis Farina. I think that was his first film gig. Then he really broke out in Crime Story (1986-88) as Lt. Mike Torello-- a series I LOVED.

For me the two major flaws were that they didn't say what Caan was going to do for money at the end of the film or if he ever got back with Weld. I think Mann didn't know how to end it...:)

WHITBISSELL!

07-09-23, 10:29 PM

https://media.tenor.com/v_gHo5tYuAAAAAAC/my-name-is-otto-otto.gif
https://64.media.tumblr.com/a2c35f14f9aadad4cb090c4f7c796cbe/311461a7962611a6-c8/s1280x1920/c8826de9ae92a5cc9ff3566d52133447e2df9ce7.gifv

A Man Called Otto - Another collaborative viewing. Some films you don't really seek out but this was a Tom Hanks vehicle and he's usually pretty dependable. I'm trying to think of the last time I was actively disappointed or even regretted watching one of his films. The closest I can come is Captain Phillips and even that one didn't really feel like a waste of time. It was just a little underwhelming for some reason. Strictly a personal reaction so I didn't mind when this was "suggested". It gives off a bit of Gran Torino vibe since his character Otto Anderson is also a reclusive widower. Without the unapologetic bigotry though. I'm not sure Hanks has it in him to pull off an openly unlikable character. Here he's mostly annoyed. At his neighbors, delivery drivers and just about anyone who doesn't measure up to his vision of how the world should or ought to be.

Anyway, the catalyst for change/engine driving the plot is the arrival of new neighbors, a pregnant Marisol (Mariana Treviño), her husband Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and their daughters Abbie (Alessandra Perez) and Luna (Christiana Montoya). The most important thing being that Otto was in the process of offing himself. His schoolteacher wife of many years has passed away and Otto has figured it's time to check out. The rest of the movie involves Otto meticulously planning and then going on a mass shooting spree. NO, OF COURSE IT DOESN'T.

The spunky Marisol eventually breaks down the walls that Otto has built and helps him to remember and appreciate the good things life has to offer. The script maybe lays on the neighborhoods quirkiness a little thick but this isn't meant as a dark, gut twister of a film. Treviño does a really good job of making you believe that Marisol is the right person at the right time to pull Otto out of his doldrums. Hanks is of course a pro and knows what he's doing. And even though it's not exactly a challenging role or movie it's probably enough to satisfy most people. It is what it is.

75/100

Takoma11

07-09-23, 10:35 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyeforfilm.co.uk%2Fimages%2Fnewsite%2Fhowing_600.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=12e4103477e9b9f1a6b67555446557b9f8ec517339b890edf667d82476c86598&ipo=images

The Howling, 1981

Television news anchor Karen White (Dee Wallace) nervously takes part in a sting operation to catch a man who has been murdering woman in Los Angeles. The killer, Eddie (Robert Picardo) is eventually trapped and killed, but Karen is very traumatized by the experience. When she and her husband Bill (Christopher Stone) are sent off to an isolated resort area to recuperate, things take a turn for the worst--it seems that several of the resort residents are hiding a very hairy secret.

The effects alone are worth the price of admission, but the rest is underwhelming.

3

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2397683#post2397683)

PHOENIX74

07-09-23, 11:25 PM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/Butch_sundance_poster.jpg
By Tom Beauvais - Movieposter.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5714787

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - (1969)

There's a moment in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid that exemplifies the difference between these outlaws and many of the other cinematic portrayals of bank robbers on the run. Bolivian bandits have this time robbed them, and when the two have these unapologetic thieves at gunpoint, Cassidy (Paul Newman) nervously explains to the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) that he's never shot or killed a person in his life. To Cassidy it's all excitement and games - he's polite, jovial and often jokes around. When a bank changes to a system that makes it harder to rob, he wonders aloud why they'd do that and spoil all the fun. It's why we get a "Raindrops are Falling on My Head" segment with Newman riding around with Etta Place (Katharine Ross) on a bicycle, later riding alone and doing stunts. When serious heat emerges, and Cassidy along with the rougher Kid are outmatched, their pursuit plays out in one of the most extended chase sequences in film history - including the famous Redford "I can't swim!" moment when the two jump from a cliff face into a raging river. Their comedic bumbling in Bolivia, and unhappy arrival in that Third World country, tops off a film with two of the most charming and charismatic villains you'll ever see on celluloid. An essence is captured that connects with the audience in myriad ways - we love them, and yearn for them to escape. The robbers, in this film, are the good guys.

8/10

PHOENIX74

07-09-23, 11:57 PM

Non-Stop (2014)

You'd probably like this one of you like "whodunnit?" suspense action movies. Like Clue on a plane with some surprises. Some fistfights, gunplay, a couple brawls. Nothing lewd, obscene or gross. No sex, no nudity.

7.5/10

I watched this one (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&highlight=non-stop&p=2348318#post2348318) late last year. Thought it was entertaining - gave it 7/10.

Little Ash

07-10-23, 12:08 AM

Little Ash

07-10-23, 12:09 AM

Act III

07-10-23, 12:57 AM

93636

Silent Rage (1982)

That was a pretty damn good movie. The story was great. I don't know how to say this, but you watch this film and then you watch a newer action movie of the same type and in the new movie the actors seem desentised and somber in contrast. Like, in these 70's and early 80's films, theyre more genuine as though they weren't acting, but as normal real people would act in this situation. It was a full well rounded story and when you get to the end you feel like the movie is too short. Other than some shaky cameras in the opening scenes and a few technical things here and there, I like this one a lot.

8/10

SpelingError

07-10-23, 01:50 AM

The Swimmer (1968) - 4

I had this film on my radar for quite a while as I heard nothing but great things about it. Having finally watched it, it lived up to my expectations as, from the first moment of the fluid camera work and the juxtaposition of Lancaster's burly demeanor and his gentle curiosity as he explored the woods, I was hooked. The subtle undercurrent of dread grabbed me right away and refused to let up. The first act, for instance, matched Ned's emotional journey very well. Though everything about it seemed serene at first glance, something felt off the more I thought about it. The opening credit music felt somewhat melancholy, the energetic swells of the soundtrack when Ned jumped into the first pool hinted that he had already reached his emotional climax, and the perplexed reaction Ned's friends had towards his plan suggested they knew troubling things about his past which Ned himself seemed to be in denial of. Since the various pools he frequented throughout the day provided us with more insight towards his prior mistakes, it's as if a dark cloud constantly loomed over him. Considering how every pool added to his disillusionment and that he had to descend to get to them (he started out at the top of the valley), the film became an allegory about the dark side of the American dream. The further he moved down the valley, the more his pristine dropped until he got to a point where he no longer fit into society. Like many other people of his social status, finding success means you may become absorbed in egotistical and material shallowness in the process. Though you may be living a dream at one point, it can quickly turn into a nightmare once you give into unethical and self-destructive urges. This became clearer for Ned the further he descended. Given the casting of Burt Lancaster (an actor who was famous for his looks), the film also doubles as a critique of masculinity. Ned's tough guy demeanor seems to represent masculinity or manliness (in addition to how he spends practically the entire film in his swim trunks), but the more you learn about his past, the more pathetic he seems and the clearer it becomes that his rough outer appearance is used as an attempt to mask his flaws. The final scene could be criticised as being too literal, but I think the culmination to the film was inevitable and the only true ending it could've had. Topped with some gorgeous nature photography and cross-dissolves, this film was right up my alley and I definitely look forward to revisiting it at some point.

StuSmallz

07-10-23, 03:14 AM

Corax

07-10-23, 04:35 AM

Well, I haven't seen it, but according to Wiki it has been re-evaluated by some since its release: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showgirls#Critical_re-evaluation

Also, I remember my parents "boycotting" a local theater that played it at the time because they were big prudes... :p

Satire is a tricky business. Make too close an approximation of a bad movie and what have you made but a bad movie?

John-Connor

07-10-23, 04:37 AM

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 2023 James Gunn
93637
2h 30m | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi
Writer: Jim Starlin, Stan Lee
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sylvester Stallone

..maybe I wanted a Zarg-Nut!
It’s too late, they’re all gone..

The trap isn't a trap if you know the trap is trying to trap you, it's a face off.

The main storyline is simple but effective; kick a5s, save the children, save the animals..Word! (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hnvM29VgrXU) The flashbacks we're well done, pretty intense and suspenseful. Excellent close quarters fight choreography near the end! And as expected they came with another very enjoyable Awesome Mixtape.

4- (77/100)

Stirchley

07-10-23, 01:18 PM

Has Showgirls reputation improved over the years? I feel like more people appreciate it now than when I first started posting on RT in 2004. I watched it for the first time this week, it's ridiculous but I enjoyed it. And longer than I would have expected, it's like a rags to riches tit flick.

Seen it a few times. I’ve always liked this movie.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/Butch_sundance_poster.jpg
By Tom Beauvais - Movieposter.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5714787

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - (1969)

There's a moment in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid that exemplifies the difference between these outlaws and many of the other cinematic portrayals of bank robbers on the run. Bolivian bandits have this time robbed them, and when the two have these unapologetic thieves at gunpoint, Cassidy (Paul Newman) nervously explains to the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) that he's never shot or killed a person in his life. To Cassidy it's all excitement and games - he's polite, jovial and often jokes around. When a bank changes to a system that makes it harder to rob, he wonders aloud why they'd do that and spoil all the fun. It's why we get a "Raindrops are Falling on My Head" segment with Newman riding around with Etta Place (Katharine Ross) on a bicycle, later riding alone and doing stunts. When serious heat emerges, and Cassidy along with the rougher Kid are outmatched, their pursuit plays out in one of the most extended chase sequences in film history - including the famous Redford "I can't swim!" moment when the two jump from a cliff face into a raging river. Their comedic bumbling in Bolivia, and unhappy arrival in that Third World country, tops off a film with two of the most charming and charismatic villains you'll ever see on celluloid. An essence is captured that connects with the audience in myriad ways - we love them, and yearn for them to escape. The robbers, in this film, are the good guys.

8/10

One of my fave movies. Seen it a million times.

Gideon58

07-10-23, 01:46 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWFmOTU2ZjctN2VhMS00Yzg4LWIyOGEtMTgwZTdjYTMyZjNkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQwMTY2Nzk@._V1_.jpg

1.5

WHITBISSELL!

07-10-23, 03:05 PM

That title makes me think it's a Microsoft production.

"From the studio that brought you Minesweeper ..."

Stirchley

07-10-23, 03:18 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWFmOTU2ZjctN2VhMS00Yzg4LWIyOGEtMTgwZTdjYTMyZjNkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQwMTY2Nzk@._V1_.jpg

1.5

This looks so bad.

Fabulous

07-10-23, 04:27 PM

Inside Moves (1980)

3

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/lZcV4tzRsDEAVl5a3H3rNlmT4k2.jpg

Gideon58

07-10-23, 04:50 PM

This looks so bad.

It was

chawhee

07-10-23, 05:37 PM

Clerks II (2006)
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/03/bf/4f/03bf4f3134db64ebc6f2ab107f4415c2--poster.jpg
4
I enjoyed the original Clerks, but I still prefer this one with the extended character cast. I have seen people here post generally favorable reviews of Clerks 3, but I still have serious doubts about that one being as good as the first two (which makes me reluctant to see it).

matt72582

07-10-23, 05:42 PM

Profound Desire of the Gods - 6/10

Could have been better. Too much time spent on bullshit. And another religious ceremony, but of course the scene has to be the length of a Grateful Dead concert, where they jam for twenty minutes on the same two chords. Any competent director could have made a sharper satire. I'd even change the ending a bit.. Right after the "FIVE YEARS LATER" caption, I'd have that old man busking his bamboo guitar singing about coca-cola, and their new god, for the billboards are taller than the previous god. And then to show rampant poverty thanks to "progress", have a guy two seconds (and two steps) later on the street dying. "Looks like he needs a Coca-Cola" despite the scientist thinking aloud that any liquid would save his life, "But Coca-Cola saved his life" and the reinforcement of "God" and commerce merge (maybe with Pepsi, since incest is a huge theme of the movie).

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/Profound_Desire_of_the_Gods_1968.jpg

Deschain

07-10-23, 05:50 PM

Gideon58

07-10-23, 06:56 PM

Gideon58

07-10-23, 07:28 PM

https://hollywoodposters.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BestYearsTC.jpg

5

GulfportDoc

07-10-23, 09:08 PM

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - (1969)

There's a moment in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid that exemplifies the difference between these outlaws and many of the other cinematic portrayals of bank robbers on the run. Bolivian bandits have this time robbed them, and when the two have these unapologetic thieves at gunpoint, Cassidy (Paul Newman) nervously explains to the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) that he's never shot or killed a person in his life. To Cassidy it's all excitement and games - he's polite, jovial and often jokes around. When a bank changes to a system that makes it harder to rob, he wonders aloud why they'd do that and spoil all the fun. It's why we get a "Raindrops are Falling on My Head" segment with Newman riding around with Etta Place (Katharine Ross) on a bicycle, later riding alone and doing stunts. When serious heat emerges, and Cassidy along with the rougher Kid are outmatched, their pursuit plays out in one of the most extended chase sequences in film history - including the famous Redford "I can't swim!" moment when the two jump from a cliff face into a raging river. Their comedic bumbling in Bolivia, and unhappy arrival in that Third World country, tops off a film with two of the most charming and charismatic villains you'll ever see on celluloid. An essence is captured that connects with the audience in myriad ways - we love them, and yearn for them to escape. The robbers, in this film, are the good guys.

8/10
I agree with your rating. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was an ideal vehicle for Newman & Redford, whose perfect pairing reached it’s ultimate in The Sting 4 years later. The story was fresh, absorbing and unique in the western movie style. The comic undertone kept the film from being too serious. There was a nice love story between the Katherine Ross and Redford characters, which adds a nice dimension. I’ve always felt the song “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” --although cute and catchy-- did not fit the era of the movie, despite its winning Burt Bacharach an Oscar for Best Original Song. Good song, but it felt incongruous in that setting. BCSD was a really great film for its day. I actually watched it again the other night, and it still held up.

Takoma11

07-10-23, 11:42 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcreepycatalog.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2023%2F04%2FYoure_Killing_Me_2023_eden_phone_video.jpg%3Fw%3D768%26i s-pending-load%3D1&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=1536ab289e448ff3fe42fafb2150bcb3c04bee2fd00b5b806298e1a8d3d66270&ipo=images

You’re Killing Me, 2023

Coming from a working-class home, Eden (McKaley Miller) is determined to get a recommendation from a local senator to boost her college acceptance odds. Her plan involves crashing a house party being thrown by the senator’s son, Schroder (Brice Heller), and somehow convincing him to put in a good word for her. But while trying to help a drunk friend, Zara (Keyara Milliner), escape the clutches of Schroder’s good friend Gooch (Wil Deusner), Eden stumbles on something that connects Schroder and Gooch with the disappearance of a local girl. Soon it’s a game of cat and mouse between Eden and Schroder, and Schroder has the home court advantage.

Grating characters and a litany of terrible choices mean that this one doesn’t even pass the low bar of a late night trashy thriller.

2

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2397919#post2397919)

Act III

07-11-23, 03:58 AM

93672

Dark Angel (1990) (Worldwide)
and I Come In Peace (U.S.A.)

I thought maybe this was based on a comic book but apparently not. This movie has everything a kid in the 1990's would enjoy, and I probably would have liked this one a lot back then. Being an adult now its pretty charming and gives a sense of nostalgia but doesnt quite do it for an action movie. It is rated R but should be rated PG-13. Fans of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would like this.

5/10

PHOENIX74

07-11-23, 05:41 AM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/LaPiscinePoster.jpg
By http://www.movieposterdb.com/poster/f5b1bdfb, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26989066

The Swimming Pool (La Piscine) - (1969)

Jean-Paul Leroy (Alain Delon) and Marianne (Romy Schneider) are enjoying some time off away from home - lazing by a friend's swimming pool while they're away, and maintaining a very French level of eroticism - with two people as good looking as they are, it's almost mandatory. Intruding into this love nest is one of Marianne's old flames, Harry Lannier (Maurice Ronet) who pops in with daughter Penelope (Jane Birkin), who is in her teens. Jealousy slowly begins to gain the upper hand during their time together, and when secrets begin to spill the stage is set for catastrophe. This film is the very definition of a slow burn, but it's psychological aspects are brilliantly well handled by Le Samouraï Delon, and there's always something simmering under the surface in each character's mind. In fact, most of the action takes place in the minds of our characters, and Jacques Deray knows how to get all of the performers to really show that to us, and take us on this journey. Really good film - but don't see it if you struggle with movies that are a little slow-paced.

7.5/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4c/TheOthers.jpg
By May be found at the following website: AllMovieReplicas.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20966967

The Others - (2001)

It's amazing, but knowing the secret twist to The Others doesn't take away any of it's atmospheric chills (it's pretty chilling to me that it's already been over 20 years since it came out.) It might even be a bit better when you know what's what. Nicole sells her tightly-wound, near-hysterical mother of two otherworldly pale kids, Nicholas (James Bentley) and Anne (Alakina Mann) really effectively. Meanwhile, the help (Fionnula Flanagan, Eric Sykes and Elaine Cassidy) know more than they're letting on in a house that seems to be full of bustling ghosts and strange occurrences. When Charles Stewart (Christopher Eccleston) returns from a war long over, and then soon leaves "back to the front" you know that all's not well. It all depends on perspective in this effectively spooky, foggy and gothic spook-fest.

7/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5c/NoHardFeelingsPoster.png
By Sony Pictures Releasing - Sony Publicity, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73639597

No Hard Feelings - (2023)

No Hard Feelings was really funny in patches - which just goes to show that it's a little uneven, and Jennifer Lawrence's character a little too distasteful at times. Just change each character's sex and you'd have an all-out horror movie on your hands here. Still, those comedic moments that hit were great - and seeing Matthew Broderick (who has one of the film's best lines) made me very, very happy.

6/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f1/Mandolinfilm1.jpg
By impawards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9841695

Captain Corelli's Mandolin - (2001)

Nice photography - those Greek islands sure do look a treat. Other than that, nearly every single part in Captain Corelli's Mandolin feels somewhat miscast, and the screenplay obviously does the book no favours. Political issues became fraught with the production team also, muddying the water even more. Nonetheless, I respect the film for paying tribute to the 1943 Massacre of the Acqui Division and the earthquake of 1953, which appears to have been brought forward a year or two. Penélope Cruz was nominated for a Razzie for her performance - you can see that she's checked out, and knows things aren't working. There's much that's good and bad in this - but it's certainly watchable.

6/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2e/Diaboliquement_votre.jpg
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11074301

Diabolically Yours (Diaboliquement vôtre) - (1967)

Diabolically Yours starts like a wacky comedy, and ends like a serious Hitchcock thriller - writer/director Julien Duvivier seems to have wanted the film to be both, but the narrative is outworn and I've seen every twist and turn done so much better in so many other films. Lacking in originality, and not landing many of it's punches, it just scrapes along on the back of Alain Delon's charisma and Senta Berger's impossibly hot and steamy sexuality. Watching them is enjoyable at times, but there's a distinct lack of satisfaction in how this film plays out. It doesn't know what it wants to be, and is nowhere near as clever as it thinks it is.

5/10

Pippo

07-11-23, 09:37 AM

Thief

07-11-23, 11:14 AM

AMBUSH
(2001, Frankenheimer)

https://i.imgur.com/MLb0am2.png

"Listen carefully. It's going to happen very quickly. If you deviate from my instructions, we will open fire."

Ambush follows an unnamed driver (Clive Owen) as he is transporting an old man (Tomas Milian). As the title and the above quote implies, they are ambushed on a remote road by a van full of armed men determined to capture the old man as they claim he is the courier for "2 million dollars in stolen, uncut diamonds". Will the driver deviate from their instructions or will he follow them?

This is the fourth of these BMW short films dubbed The Hire that I see, but it's actually the first from the series. It is directed by John Frankenheimer and it features one of the things that he's been known for: thrilling car chases (see Ronin). I think it's safe to say that the driver does deviate from the instructions and tries to make a way out of this ambush, which puts him face to face with incoming trucks, road blocks, and whatnot.

Grade: 4

Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2397976#post2397976)

Fabulous

07-11-23, 01:04 PM

Salt of the Earth (1954)

3.5

https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/xsMWbVQDDMP3mH8YajEXsxt2iWa.jpg

matt72582

07-11-23, 01:37 PM

The Gene Krupa Story - 7/10

https://youtu.be/XT1b3FfOsCM

LChimp

07-11-23, 02:59 PM

https://cdn.awsli.com.br/2500x2500/1610/1610163/produto/177684655/poster-capitao-america-guerra-civil-a-d0ff8f1a.jpg

Re-watch

WHITBISSELL!

07-11-23, 03:17 PM

AMBUSH
(2001, Frankenheimer)

https://i.imgur.com/MLb0am2.png

Ambush follows an unnamed driver (Clive Owen) as he is transporting an old man (Tomas Milian). As the title and the above quote implies, they are ambushed on a remote road by a van full of armed men determined to capture the old man as they claim he is the courier for "2 million dollars in stolen, uncut diamonds". Will the driver deviate from their instructions or will he follow them?

This is the fourth of these BMW short films dubbed The Hire that I see, but it's actually the first from the series. It is directed by John Frankenheimer and it features one of the things that he's been known for: thrilling car chases (see Ronin). I think it's safe to say that the driver does deviate from the instructions and tries to make a way out of this ambush, which puts him face to face with incoming trucks, road blocks, and whatnot.

Owen and Milian are pretty good but this is not a performance or character-driven short. This is purely done for the thrill of the ambush and the chase and Frankenheimer does a great job keeping the direction tight and concise. Everything does happen very quickly and they do open fire, but you should listen carefully and follow my instructions: watch this, because it's short and it's a lot of fun.

Grade: rating_4 That was pretty good. Thanks for the rec. 👍

Thief

07-11-23, 03:41 PM

That was pretty good. Thanks for the rec. 👍

👍 There are eight short films in the series. I've seen 6 and with the possible exception of one or two, they've all been pretty solid shorts. If anything, it's interesting to see directors like Frankenheimer, Wong kar-wai, Ang Lee, or Tony Scott take a crack at such a "marketing ploy". But the thing is that I see more artistic liberty in all of these than I see in a lot of feature films nowadays.

EDIT: For what it's worth, other than Ambush, these are the ones I've reviewed already.

Beat the Devil (https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2323436-beat_the_devil.html) (Tony Scott)
Hostage (https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2384811-hostage.html) (John Woo)
The Follow (https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2374439-the_follow.html) (Wong kar-wai)

I've seen two more which I will review soon.

Gideon58

07-11-23, 04:24 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTUwYmYwMzUtYmIyZS00OWM3LWE3MWEtM2NjYTk0NzhiM2NmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDAyNjg5MzY@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.j pg

3

Thief

07-11-23, 04:55 PM

CHOSEN
(2001, Lee)

https://i.imgur.com/DZNS0K9.png

"We are very grateful. Soon you will see the important role you played in his life."

Some people believe we are put in certain places, moments, situations with a special purpose. That we all have important roles to play in other people's lives. That belief permeates within the aptly titled Chosen, another BMW short film from The Hire series. This time, our nameless driver (Owen) is "chosen" to drive an Asian boy (Mason Lee) who is believed to be "chosen" for some holy task by the monks protecting him. Of course, that means our driver won't have an easy task ahead of him while driving him from the docks to a safe house.

As the driver has to evade a group of kidnappers around the docks, director Ang Lee combines the use of some classical music with an almost operatic movement of the cars through the cargo containers. Considering the short has almost no dialogue, it is nice to see the way Lee uses a combination of music, clever direction, editing, silences, and glances between the driver and the boy to build a simple story. There are also a couple of neat twists and touches in the end that I found to be effective and well executed.

Grade: 3.5

Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2398044#post2398044)

Thief

07-11-23, 05:32 PM

STAR
(2001, Ritchie)

https://i.imgur.com/X2UM4HL.jpg

"Show her the sights. Give her *everything* I've paid you for; breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

Star is yet another BMW short film, where our unnamed driver (Clive Owen) has to drive someone from A to B. This time, the passenger is a spoiled singer played by Madonna (at the time married to the director of the short, Guy Ritchie). So as the singer berates everyone around her, including our driver, he is determined to "show her the sights".

This is another perfect example of how each of these short films are perfect capsules of their respective directors because this is pure Ritchie. From an opening, fourth-wall breaking monologue by the driver to the combination of some fast-paced cuts and slow-motion direction, all the while peppered with Ritchie's style of humor.

Grade: 2.5

Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2398054#post2398054)

GulfportDoc

07-11-23, 08:23 PM

The Swimmer (1968) - rating_4

I had this film on my radar for quite a while as I heard nothing but great things about it. Having finally watched it, it lived up to my expectations as, from the first moment of the fluid camera work and the juxtaposition of Lancaster's burly demeanor and his gentle curiosity as he explored the woods, I was hooked. The subtle undercurrent of dread grabbed me right away and refused to let up. The first act, for instance, matched Ned's emotional journey very well. Though everything about it seemed serene at first glance, something felt off the more I thought about it. The opening credit music felt somewhat melancholy, the energetic swells of the soundtrack when Ned jumped into the first pool hinted that he had already reached his emotional climax, and the perplexed reaction Ned's friends had towards his plan suggested they knew troubling things about his past which Ned himself seemed to be in denial of. Since the various pools he frequented throughout the day provided us with more insight towards his prior mistakes, it's as if a dark cloud constantly loomed over him. Considering how every pool added to his disillusionment and that he had to descend to get to them (he started out at the top of the valley), the film became an allegory about the dark side of the American dream. The further he moved down the valley, the more his pristine dropped until he got to a point where he no longer fit into society. Like many other people of his social status, finding success means you may become absorbed in egotistical and material shallowness in the process. Though you may be living a dream at one point, it can quickly turn into a nightmare once you give into unethical and self-destructive urges. This became clearer for Ned the further he descended. Given the casting of Burt Lancaster (an actor who was famous for his looks), the film also doubles as a critique of masculinity. Ned's tough guy demeanor seems to represent masculinity or manliness (in addition to how he spends practically the entire film in his swim trunks), but the more you learn about his past, the more pathetic he seems and the clearer it becomes that his rough outer appearance is used as an attempt to mask his flaws. The final scene could be criticised as being too literal, but I think the culmination to the film was inevitable and the only true ending it could've had. Topped with some gorgeous nature photography and cross-dissolves, this film was right up my alley and I definitely look forward to revisiting it at some point.
Nice review! I saw the film upon its release simply because Burt was in it. The ending took me totally off guard, and caused me a bit of a downer for a few hours. Good picture though. Very unusual story.

Lancaster was a sneaky great actor. I loved him in the old noirs, and even the new ones such as Sweet Smell of Success (1957). But one of my favorites of his was Atlantic City (1980). The man really took the art of acting extremely seriously.

GulfportDoc

07-11-23, 08:32 PM

The Gene Krupa Story - 7/10

https://youtu.be/XT1b3FfOsCM
A very well done portrayal of the great drummer, Gene Krupa. Whole bunches of artistic license were taken, but Mineo did some great impersonations of Krupa's drumming. There's a great scene where the noted drummer Shelly Manne appeared to inspire Krupa to overcome his fear of audience rejection when it was time for a solo. I'll have to give that one a re-watch.

PHOENIX74

07-11-23, 11:25 PM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/Ripleys_game_poster.jpg
By http://www.impawards.com/2003/ripleys_game.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31183005

Ripley's Game - (2002)

I really liked The Talented Mr. Ripley, and the idea of another story which features the character much later in life is really unusual and interesting. Throughout a lot of the former film, Matt Damon's Ripley is in panic mode, and finds himself in situations he's not used to - put there by his own Antisocial Personality Disorder and lack of conscience. This Ripley, John Malkovich's, has been manipulative and deceitful for so much of his life he knows exactly what he's doing, and the financial benefits have allowed him to gain an appreciation for the fine arts. When Ripley's Game gets going, you think you know exactly where it's story is heading, but this movie is not going where you might think it is - events skew the plot in unexpected directions, and the plans Ripley has for a person he obviously hates - one who has insulted him - change in extremely unpredictable ways. The character becomes much less loathsome and there's a somewhat redemptive arc in store for him. There's plenty of murder and intrigue, and Malkovich does a fine job embodying a man undergoing constant reinvention and growth. The book was originally adapted by Wim Wenders - The American Friend features Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz in the two main roles, and I'm very interested in it now.

7/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6d/Muriels_wedding_poster.jpg
By IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22622080

Muriel's Wedding - (1994)

I don't even know where to start with Muriel's Wedding - it's a hard film to describe. It was Toni Collette's huge breakthrough, playing Muriel Heslop. Muriel is far from any ordinary protagonist. Being naïve, socially awkward, lacking smarts, and having questionable morals are qualities you just don't expect in one - but in this weird comedy, all the characters are distasteful in some kind of way. It's only late in the film you clearly see that it's theme of wanting to be popular and accepted above all else makes sense. Muriel's father, Bill Heslop (Bill Hunter) is a politician - self absorbed to the point of never truly being invested in his wife and kids. You see that Muriel is very much like him - and her yearning to get married just to be the center of attention is understandable to a certain point. She grows a lot through the film, and although she's still a little silly you can see she's finally on the right track. The film itself is funny in an extremely eccentric kind of way and has a superb soundtrack. A far from ordinary Australian comedy - but not everyone's cup of tea I'd expect.

7/10

Edit - I think I really underrated Muriel's Wedding - it's great.

Takoma11

07-11-23, 11:35 PM

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimg-s-msn-com.akamaized.net%2Ftenant%2Famp%2Fentityid%2FAA13ezAU.img%3Fh%3D315%26w%3D600%26m%3D6%26q%3D60%26o% 3Dt%26l%3Df%26f%3Djpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=81f44536e386a876acb832bd39aa41294649a59ccb204c21d5df3622c834963f&ipo=images

The Fire That Took Her, 2022

One afternoon, after a charged domestic altercation behind a gas station, Judy Malinowski’s boyfriend poured gasoline all over her and then set her on fire. Despite suffering horrific burns---which would go on to require over 59 surgeries--Judy lived, but it was clear that she would not survive for long. This documentary follows the investigation of the case by police, and also the legal drama in which lawyers tried to make it possible for Judy to have a chance to testify in advance of what would become her murder trial.

As with many documentaries, sometimes it’s hard to separate the quality of the film from the story that it is telling. The film is more than competent, and the story is entirely compelling. I couldn’t look away.

4

Full review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2398149#post2398149)

doubledenim

07-11-23, 11:44 PM

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (2023)

A lesson for all the kinetic, high-action wannabes (The Gray Man) in how it’s done.

3.5

Captain Steel

07-12-23, 12:14 AM

Inside Moves (1980)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzhiODQxZDEtMGYyNC00ZDdmLTlhM2QtMGNkNWRiMmMwNjg1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTY5Nzc4MDY@._V1_.jpg

I think I avoided this movie when it came out because I thought it was about basketball.
And while basketball is part of the plot, it's only part of one character's background. It's really a film about overcoming disabilities & finding belonging.
There are some genuine smiles and tears throughout.

4

Act III

07-12-23, 01:35 AM

93698

Mad Max (1979)

I must not have seen this one before, what I remember is Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. The movie takes place on a country prairie-land along a coastal highway. Think wild west with motorcycles instead of horses. I guess civilization hasnt died yet and although advertised as futuristic it looks like typical 70s everything. A bunch of things bug me about this, but the wealth of car stunts and road brutality make up for those things.

7/10

ScarletLion

07-12-23, 05:57 AM

'Memoir of a Murderer' (2017)

Directed by Shin-yeon Won

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/Memoir_of_a_Murderer_-_%EC%82%B4%EC%9D%B8%EC%9E%90%EC%9D%98_%EA%B8%B0%EC%96%B5%EB%B2%95.jpg

Not to be confused with another Korean film, (the excellent) ‘Memories of Murder’ and also not to be confused with the Japanese film ‘Memoirs of a Murderer’ which seems so be a remake of this film, bizarrely released in the same year. There seems to be a lot of memoirs and memories of murders and murderers in Japan and Korea. This film is based on a Korean best selling novel by Young-ha Kim.

Anyway, this is director Shin-yeon Won’s crime thriller that focuses on a serial killer (Byung Su) who hasn’t committed a crime for 17 years. He now lives a peaceful life with his teenage daughter, having retired as his profession as a vet. One day, he’s involved in a collision with another car, who appears to be another serial killer with a body in the boot. This ties in with recent spate of killings that have resurfaced in the area. What follows is Byung Su trying to piece together how to catch this killer amid the guilt he feels at his own terrible past. There’s only one problem – he has dementia, so has to record his movements on a tape recorder as he keeps forgetting who he’s met and what he has discovered. In this respect, it plays a lot like Nolan’s ‘Memento’.

There are more action segments and set pieces than I was expecting, the film unfolds over several time-lines and requires a lot of belief to be suspended. But the twists and turns (some predictable, some not) are a thrill ride and there is a lot of fun to be had with this film if the viewer can just let it ride out and not expect it to be a meticulous crime drama rooted in reality.

7.2/10

3.5

John-Connor

07-12-23, 07:34 AM

LIFEFORCE 1985 Tobe Hooper (re-watch)
93699
1h 41m | Action | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Writers: Dan O'Bannon, Don Jakoby, Michael Armstrong, Olaf Pooley
Cast: Steve Railsback, Peter Firth, Frank Finlay, Mathilda May, Patrick Stewart

A nice blend of Sci-Fi and Horror. An original approach to the Vampire origin story that claims Vampire’s are extraterrestrial life forms. The film is in a unique space between B-film/cult classic and big budget/blockbuster. The film shows qualities and characteristics for both these types of film. In my opinion if you watch it with the expectation of a big budget B-film or VHS rental classic, then your expectations will be met with satisfaction.

3+ (63/100)

Act III

07-12-23, 11:40 AM

93700

Bullitt (1968)

Sort of a boring movie. I fell asleep at about the 1 hour mark and had to rewatch the second half. Not much action, except for a car chase in the middle and the ending 10 minutes, an unremarkable foot chase. This movie is like a 1960s time-capsule so its interesting in that light but overall, simply another boring cop movie. High quality, none of that trashy hippie stuff.

6/10

WHITBISSELL!

07-12-23, 12:39 PM

https://i.gifer.com/2x49.gifhttps://thumbs.gfycat.com/AnchoredHeartfeltBasilisk.webphttps://www.movieforums.com/community/customavatars/avatar121176_5.gif

Citizen Rules

07-12-23, 01:02 PM

LIFEFORCE 1985 Tobe Hooper (re-watch)
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=93699
1h 41m | Action | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Writers: Dan O'Bannon, Don Jakoby, Michael Armstrong, Olaf Pooley
Cast: Steve Railsback, Peter Firth, Frank Finlay, Mathilda May, Patrick Stewart

A nice blend of Sci-Fi and Horror. An original approach to the Vampire origin story that claims Vampire’s are extraterrestrial life forms. The film is in a unique space between B-film/cult classic and big budget/blockbuster. The film shows qualities and characteristics for both these types of film. In my opinion if you watch it with the expectation of a big budget B-film or VHS rental classic, then your expectations will be met with satisfaction.

rating_3+ (63/100)
VHS rental classic! I like that in fact that's when I seen it back in the mid 1980s when going to the local independently owned video rental store was a blast! Now there gone. Kinda hard for me to remember Lifeforce after 38 years but I do remember liking it as it was quite different.

https://i.gifer.com/2x49.gif

Wheel hop! Needs traction bars!

Stirchley

07-12-23, 01:40 PM

Act III

07-12-23, 02:08 PM

Boring? OMG, one of the greatest movies ever made. An American classic. :rolleyes:

It was a nicely shot time-capsule that shows a great plethora of 1960s era things in high quality, of course, anyone that was around back then is going to fawn over this movie. But the story is slow and boring, put me to sleep. The one big action scene was nice but cant make up for the other faults in the plot. And some of the actors are slightly detestable to me.

honeykid

07-12-23, 02:17 PM

Boring? OMG, one of the greatest movies ever made. An American classic. :rolleyes:
No, boring pretty much sums it up. But then, it is Steve McQueen and I've never understood the appeal of him as an actor, either, so maybe they're intwined?

Stirchley

07-12-23, 02:31 PM

No, boring pretty much sums it up. But then, it is Steve McQueen and I've never understood the appeal of him as an actor, either, so maybe they're intwined?

Yikes, I can’t even with this. :eek:

WHITBISSELL!

07-12-23, 02:58 PM

Wheel hop! Needs traction bars!If you look closely it just ran over Act III's avatar and is grinding it to dust. :cool: :D

Gideon58

07-12-23, 04:06 PM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWVkOTBjMWYtNzE4Zi00MGU5LWI0YTktZWM2ZmQ2ZDFiYzU3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjE4NzUxNDA@._V1_.jpg

4.5

chawhee

07-12-23, 06:18 PM

Takoma11

07-12-23, 07:39 PM

Annihilation (2018)
https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/5zfVNTrkhMu673zma6qhFzG01ig.jpg
4.5
Still one of my favorite movies, though imperfect. The way it makes my brain think...its just the ending that seems a note off.

I know I've mentioned it a billion times, but the YouTube channel Folding Ideas did a video about this movie that I really think is great.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/Ripleys_game_poster.jpg
By http://www.impawards.com/2003/ripleys_game.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31183005

The book was originally adapted by Wim Wenders - The American Friend features Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz in the two main roles, and I'm very interested in it now.

7/10

I preferred The American Friend by quite a margin. The inclusion of Ripley's Game on Ebert's Great Movies list somewhat puzzles me, honestly.

Fabulous

07-12-23, 07:58 PM

Funeral Parade of Roses (1969)

3

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/wRBjG7wFxb4ewOWKWAarfbKARtK.jpg

GulfportDoc

07-12-23, 09:11 PM

Bullitt (1968)

Sort of a boring movie. I fell asleep at about the 1 hour mark and had to rewatch the second half. Not much action, except for a car chase in the middle and the ending 10 minutes, an unremarkable foot chase. This movie is like a 1960s time-capsule so its interesting in that light but overall, simply another boring cop movie. High quality, none of that trashy hippie stuff.

6/10
At the time Bullit was fresh and innovative in several ways. It featured a new kind of detective who had charisma, and was willing to buck the system. And that car chase scene was probably the greatest ever done up to that time-- thought by many to be the grandaddy of the car chase. It spawned that wonderful chase scene in The French Connection (1971). It also had a very nice jazz score by Lalo Schifrin. And the whole mood of the film was unusual and attractive for 1968.

By now of course everything it that film has been done over and over thousands of times with many variations. It's tricky to gauge a picture like that 50+ years later. But it had a fantastic reception and a huge following at the time.