Rate The Last Movie You Saw

[I_Wear_Pants]

Maybe 41 minutes?

Well there's end credits too which take up a few minutes and it's an 80s movie so I don't know how long they'll take. I finished it, by the way. I forgot to see how much time was left when I resumed it so I guess we'll never know. It was a good thirty-five to forty minutes of watching what I did tonight.

[Corax]

I finished Tootsie. It was an interesting take on doing anything to get a part. The movie has its moments hither and thither with a stretch of about fifteen minutes right before the final Soap scene that really shined. It also has some mediocre moments scattered this way and that. I liked it well enough. My favorite performance was Teri Garr as Sandy.

As an aside, I wanted to tell Michael Dorsey my baby checklist for when a child is crying except the movie came out in 1982 so I couldn't. Really I had a few tasks I had engrained in my brain for when my kiddos would start crying as babies. I know this is a movie. The checklist helped me though. It kept me focused.

Probably couldn't make that film today.

[I_Wear_Pants]

Probably couldn't make that film today.

I don't know about that. There's a whole British show that is centered around a man playing a woman. Whilst inconsequential to the overall stigma, I was in a play in an intolerant town where one guy was basically a transvestite and received good press.

Now those two statements made, it is probable a movie like Tootsie would be faced with a lot of pushback and stubbornness. I don't doubt it'd be difficult. I just think it would be possible.

Addendum; I just registered your "probably" part. So we are in agreement I see.

[Fabulous]

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (2013)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/q9wnyYMAyKhOvfycUERFNKTHEaL.jpg

[Daniel M]

Juror #2 (Clint Eastwood, 2024) 4

https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Juror-No.-2.jpg?w=1000&h=667&crop=1

Eastwood shows that he's still one of the finest directors working today with this exquisitely crafted film. In terms of plausibility it certainly has its share of unrealistic moments but I think the same can be said about pretty much every legal drama, including 12 Angry Men. The film uses it's small-scale, intimate setting to touch on broader points about morality, justice and modern society.

[Corax]

Addendum; I just registered your "probably" part. So we are in agreement I see.
Case closed then. Speaking of cases, I am on to Juror #2 - it's 12 Angry Men with a silly twist. The person who really did it is on the jury! Shyamalan level-conceit of a premise. Lifetime channel-level film production. Who could ask for anything more?

[chawhee]

Zone of Interest (2023)
https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/hUu9zyZmDd8VZegKi1iK1Vk0RYS.jpg
3
I hate to say this is overrated, but it certainly fell below my expectations.

I'm not a history buff by any means, but I have a reasonable understanding of WWII era events, and I couldn't figure out who this was for. If you know the context here, this movie doesn't do much to advance knowledge or provide depth if you have given more than a passing thought of the Holocaust. If you don't know the context here, this movie won't help you understand much through its subtleties.

The juxtaposition between the family and their surroundings is horrifying, but this is basically 90+ minutes of watching a "normal" Nazi family live their life.

[LeBoyWondeur]

Nightcrawler (2014)

103257

A very enjoyable but not too memorable film and I was kinda suprised to see old youtube reviews touting it as "highly original" and "not like anything you have seen before".

It's a very well-made dark comedy/satire and they all give good performances, but I could easily picture a quirky character like Louis Bloom in a Coen brothers film.
And because, as a viewer, I want things to spiral out of control, I am sort of in the same position as the bloodthirsty Nina who demands that Louis "delivers what he promised".
In that regard it's actually rather predictable.
However, predictable doesn't necessarily equate "bad" and if you're in the mood for a fun and nasty B-movie Nightcrawler is an excellent choice. Just don't expect a game changer.

7/10

[matt72582]

https://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/images/5081-241c18ed8c204a8cbf5b96e01789d2e7/OTWF_Current_medium.jpg

My wife and I watched On the Waterfront (1954, Kazan) this evening. Great, great movie. Even though I've seen it near a dozen times, I never really noticed or paid attention to the cat in Johnny Friendly's bar. Each time I watch that movie, I'm amazed at just how fast paced it is and I'll get to the iconic back of the cab scene and be thinking... "Holy shit! We're here already?" when it shows up at about 75 or 80 minutes into the film. It's a an A+ film and the older I've gotten, the more it has solidified its position as the better of the two iconic 1950's Brando films... the other of course being A Streetcar Named Desire. If you would have asked me at age 20, I would have answered Streetcar. Still both are great, but Waterfront resonates so much more with me these days.

Also I couldn't help but enjoy joking around with my wife as we were watching the very last scene and even though it's "film sacrilegious" the important thing to note is... OK, Terry has a busted rib, broken face, trouble breathing, likely concussion, can't hardly stand up or walk straight... buy hey, "You still comin' in to work today, right bro?"


Saw this movie at 17 after totaling my mom's car.... I loved it so much, I hit REWIND and saw it again immediately after without a break. This movie got me into Brando (still my favorite) and movies in general.

[MovieBuffering]

Saw this movie at 17 after totaling my mom's car.... I loved it so much, I hit REWIND and saw it again immediately after without a break. This movie got me into Brando (still my favorite) and movies in general.

Bought it with that Criterion biannual sale last month. Should be coming in the mail next week. Looking forward to finally seeing it.

[MovieBuffering]

Some Like It Hot - 1959

Never seen a Marilyn Monroe flick. Figured I'd remedy that. Got a few films with that Criterion sale at Barnes and Noble like I said up top. Cute little film. I can't help but to think how they would screw this film up if they did it today. It would be totally politicized about trans rights or something instead of a fun little movie. You can't have a chip on your shoulder making films, it works in music and sports, rarely in film imo. Entertain first.

Marilyn really does ooze movie star in this and I've always like Jack Lemmon. It definitely feels a bit outdated in how it was acted and executed but you can forgive that because it feels harmless and fun. I enjoyed it and the end was classic :laugh: Cool it was set in Florida too ;). Not much more to say...easy watch.

3.5

https://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/films/b935a8eaff6f0e92d17b18a1cd19fdf6/5ZrsCMJikkq6bPNmWjofhZswbi544L_large.jpg

[Gideon58]

https://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/films/b935a8eaff6f0e92d17b18a1cd19fdf6/5ZrsCMJikkq6bPNmWjofhZswbi544L_large.jpg


1st Rewatch...Hey MovieBuffering, I just rewatched this movie this morning. I have to disagree with you, I think this movie is as fresh and funny as it was over 60 years ago. Monroe is absolutely delicious as Sugar Kane and Jack Lemmon's Oscar-nominaed performance as Jerry/Daphne is absolutely brilliant. 4.5

[Gideon58]

https://unhurry.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Holiday.jpeg



1st Rewatch...Absolutely love this warm and winning holiday romantic comedy that works thanks to a somewhat original story and some first rate performances. Amanda (Cameron Diaz) is a movie trailer editor who has just found out that her boyfriend (Edward Burns) has cheated on her. Iris (Kate Winslet) is a British newspaper writer who lives just outside of London and has just found out that the man she loves (Rufus Sewell) has just become engaged to someone else. Amanda and Iris hookup on line on a home swapping website and agree to move into each other's homes for the two weeks before Christmas. Amanda arrives in England and finds herself drawn to Iris' baggage-ridden brother (Jude Law). Iris comes to LA where she meets Burns' BFF (Jack Black) and forms a friendship with Amanda's neighbor, a retired Oscar winning screenwriter (Eli Wallach). Winslet is absolutely enchanting in this. This movie got by a lot of people and I don't know why because it is a delight from start to finish. 4

[Gideon58]

https://s3.amazonaws.com/nightjarprod/content/uploads/sites/130/2021/11/10160953/A5kBQsHKbIptxJyELEpHQJROCRj.jpg


Umpteenth Rewatch...Loved this movie since I was a kid. As a matter of fact, I am incapable of going to sleep on Christmas Eve until I've watched this movie. 4

[I_Wear_Pants]

https://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/films/b935a8eaff6f0e92d17b18a1cd19fdf6/5ZrsCMJikkq6bPNmWjofhZswbi544L_large.jpg


1st Rewatch...Hey MovieBuffering, I just rewatched this movie this morning. I have to disagree with you, I think this movie is as fresh and funny as it was over 60 years ago. Monroe is absolutely delicious as Sugar Kane and Jack Lemmon's Oscar-nominaed performance as Jerry/Daphne is absolutely brilliant. 4.5

Some Like It Hot is hilarious. I've watched it twice and found it a lot funnier upon my second watch. AFI has it as America's #1 comedy and I can see why. Curtis and Lemmon are awesome and Monroe is wonderful. The plot is outlandish which is fine by me. I don't think Wilder ever meant for the movie to make much sense.

[Takoma11]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.themoviedb.org%2Ft%2Fp%2Foriginal%2Fmpqs9IH6aSuyckWQyVQs1reAdmf.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=21fe07a62524d619412fd2dede7587e24770f3358f89a3de395db186ed56a660&ipo=images

In the Fade, 2017

Katja (Diane Kruger) is married to Nuri (Numan Acar), and the two have a child named Rocco (Rafael Santana). But Katja’s life is turned upside down when Nuri and Rocco are killed in a cruel hate crime. Sliding into helplessness and drug use in the wake of her immeasurable loss, Katja finds a renewed reason to live when two suspects are arrested and brought to trial. But whether they are convicted or set free, what will Katja do when she no longer has the trial to drive her will to live?

This mix of revenge thriller and courtroom drama is elevated by a fantastic lead performance.

Diane Kruger won the best actress award at Cannes for her performance in this film, and it’s easy to see why. The film veers from family drama to courtroom suspense to thriller, sliding between genres like nobody’s business. And what could have felt like a mess or given the viewer whiplash instead works surprisingly well because Kruger is an absolute anchor, pinning the story in place with the intensity of her suffering, hatred, and despair. At one point in the film, Katja doesn’t want to live anymore, and Kruger does something special in showing the way that seeking justice for her murdered husband and son reanimates her, but that suicidal despair never really leaves her.

This movie did something really interesting for me, namely that the part I liked the most was not what I expected. I love a good revenge thriller, and I have a limited tolerance for courtroom dramas. But for me, the courtroom stuff was the best aspect of the film.

3.5

FULL REVIEW (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2515467#post2515467)

[Allaby]

Santa’s Second Wife (2022) Watched on Tubi. Candice T. Cain directs this Christmas comedy where Mrs Claus dumps Santa, causing both of them to magically return to their younger, attractive forms. Hot young Santa joins a dating website and meets a single mom with three kids. This was cute. I liked the cast and the story. 3.5

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MovieLog/310toyuma.gif

3:10 to Yuma (James Mangold, 2007)

I have no idea how many times I've seen this movie now, but it never gets old. I love everything about it. The story, the cinematography, the score, the costumes, and most of all the performances. People who know my taste in movies are probably going to assume that I'm about to rave about Russell Crowe's turn here as Ben Wade - and he is excellent in the role, as is Christian Bale who I normally don't like. I also really enjoy the dynamic of mutual respect that grows between Crowe and Bale's characters, but the stand-out to me has always been Ben Foster as Charlie Prince. I love his swagger. I love his style. But most of all, I love how loyal and dedicated he is to Wade. If Charlie Prince wasn't such a horrible person, I might genuinely feel bad for the betrayal he suffered. And I do still feel a tiny twinge of pity for him in the end, so good is Foster here. It's things like this that really make me love this movie. Sure, it has its hero and its villains, but I really like the way it blurs the lines between the two. I also love the way the story ends in a way that redeems its focal characters without ever being corny or feeling arbitrary.

4.5

[matt72582]

Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley
My cousin gave me his password and this was the only thing I could find out of all of Netflix. Too bad he didn't have Criterion, which is the only thing worthwhile, unless you can stream it for free.



https://youtu.be/JHStpufGGzA

[PHOENIX74]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1f/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities_%281958_film%29_cinema_poster.jpg
By J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors - http://uk.movieposter.com/poster/MPW-40936/Tale_Of_Two_Cities.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36899507

A Tale of Two Cities - (1958)

This won't completely fill you in as to the Dickens classic, but for a British Pinewood Studios production it does a good job of transporting you at stages to revolutionary France. It truncates everything well also, so as long as you're not expecting every part of the novel it's fun enough to watch as a standalone film. Also, you get to watch a few early performances from the likes of Leo McKern, Donald Pleasence and Christopher Lee, who have small roles in this. I haven't seen many adaptations of A Tale of Two Cities, but this Dirk Bogarde-led effort isn't too bad, and is a good introduction to the likes of the story, which connects to "Little Dorrit" and "Great Expectations" in the Dickens Cinematic Universe™.

7/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cb/The_High_Bright_Sun_%281964_film%29.jpg
By Artist: Eric Pulford - http://frontrowposters.co.uk/pd-high-bright-sun-the-1966-original-british-quad-poster.cfm, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53105362


The High Bright Sun - (1964)

Okay, we're seriously slipping down Dirk Bogarde's filmography here. While it's not the least of High Bright Sun's problems, Bogarde has absolutely no chemistry with female lead Susan Strasberg, and plays a pretty stiff British Major trying to quell EOKA in Cyprus. One of the locals is played by George Chakiris, and it was when I saw him that my mind started playing "America" over and over and over again. I should have just relented and put West Side Story on instead. I don't know whose side we're supposed to be on here - except for Denholm Elliott's, because as soon as he appears he gives the film a real boost. Should I discuss the plot? Juno (Strasberg) gets herself in trouble when she spies an EOKA resistance leader at the country estate she's staying at, and since she has a kind of prickly relationship with Major McGuire (Bogarde) the various fighters decide that perhaps she should die - but it takes a long time for all that to happen. When she finally ends up at McGuire's besieged apartment they say they love each other but I have the feeling both performers hated each other. This was made in Britain, so of course we see everything from the colonist's point of view - and I think in England everybody would have stood for "God Save the Queen" before the movie actually started.

5/10

[*Sky*]

Yôjinbô (1961) – Akira Kurosawa: 7.5/10
https://64.media.tumblr.com/d984ed3996e9ebb9ca67dc85157096fb/c4d9d725918e633f-2f/s540x810/8e54eb85f95280e93bceda633c6b92b93edc8edd.gif

[Fabulous]

French Exit (2020)

2.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/9YiEWdbdga6FjTLhUgOGuPh577p.jpg

[Ultraviolence]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fu3c82dyvscg31.png%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26s%3D96df97ab4796881b6bbfa2d1e63 0a44271b01d81&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=372774201f3a5a3c8dfab425d40e73eb59ae1c8fb71431571f635cd04c64b94f&ipo=images
4
I always thought that Kitano couldn't surpass Sonatine in terms of nihilism, but I was wrong.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.themoviedb.org%2Ft%2Fp%2Foriginal%2Fp4RafgAPk558muOjnBMHhMArjS2.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=5e5b33f69cd0e59b4ce459b316744572a73e532b7aede535da1ad96d8961816b&ipo=images
1
Boring actors doing boring things. This movie is a compilation of idiotic dialog and mediocre situations.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.tmdb.org%2Ft%2Fp%2Foriginal%2F9dvhOipWaRmX4LGZ3ZoWmQmeOvm.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=41d6fc1e8cd07209c416ba03178512244a497b58ee3653c9217d61c7704fc037&ipo=images
2
Action with interesting comedy. Stallone wakes up in a world where political correctness is the new normal. The funniest thing about this movie is how it manages, in the 90s, to show the cancer of today. Political correctness must be destroyed, just like in the movie.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fcriterion-production%2Ffilms%2F9bee98615a85bea1878af49ba320ca40%2FWvMVqQiUO8W03H1PGJcf0J5s64wNJe_large.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=bcf6a625c7f1173471aab844302da5f7f70c41df8c9d02fc324a22279769e58f&ipo=images
5
Maybe, the loneliness of the tiger in the forest is bigger than that of the samurai... well, maybe... The difference is that the concrete forest is more hostile and meaningless.

[ueno_station54]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/5/1/9/1/4/51914-groundhog-day-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=9361c0080d
2.5

[Torgo]

Maxxxine (2024)

2.5

https://www.simbasible.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-12.gif

Mia Goth plays an X-rated film star breaking into horror during the 80's while the night stalker is unleashing his reign or terror. That part is awesome and I'll watch any movie with a story like that. Unfortunately it was average just like the rest of the disappointing trilogy.I didn't love this either. While I love Pearl, I can take or leave X and this movie. I wrote something about it below.

[Torgo]

MaXXXine - 2

After this movie ended, I thought about an '80s movie, but I regret to inform it is not a slasher. Instead, it is Back to the Future II. There's a scene where the villain, Biff, believes that Marty, the hero, has disappeared, so he has a flabbergasted reaction amounting to "that's it?" That's not how I want to react to any movie, but especially not one with all the promise this trilogy's second entry, Pearl, instills. Unfortunately, it falls into the same trap X falls into in that it's more love letter than anything else. I'll at least say that like in X, the look, feel, sounds and needle drops - especially a ZZ Top one - are praiseworthy. There are also a bunch of familiar faces to help close the trilogy out and they add as much substance as they can, especially Kevin Bacon's sleazy, scenery chewing P.I. and Bobby Cannavale's hilariously pitiable wannabe actor turned cop. Despite their efforts, all the payoff is slim to superficial. When I'm done watching a slasher, giallo, etc., I want to feel like I've been stabbed in the gut myself, but like in X, the resolution is too neat and clean for that to happen from Maxine's arc to anything involving the "Satanic Panic" of that decade. My limited response to what happens to Maxine is especially disappointing given how much Goth moved me in the previous two movies. Not only did she leave me cold most of the time, but she is also hard to like. There is also a general lack of surprise; in other words, if you have seen at least a few giallos, the whole thing will seem very paint by number to you.

There's another movie this made me think about that might as well have been its main inspiration, and no, it's not an '80s movie: it's Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood. Nobody writes love letters to his inspirations like Tarantino does, but he gives us so much more to chew on in that one beyond "aren't '60s movies so cool?" On the other hand, replace '80s with '60s and that is mostly what we have to chew on here. If you have also seen X and Pearl and you are more hesitant to finish it than you were before, I say grit your teeth and finish it anyway. I'll at least admit that I'm sad the trilogy is over. Now, the last season of Stranger Things notwithstanding, I also do not want to witness any more love letters, homages, what have you to Reagan era genre fare for a long time.

[Marco]

Twilight (1998)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f3/Twilight_%281998_film%29_poster.jpg
Detective noir starring Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon and Gene Hackman. Ex cop and PI Harry basically lives as a lackey for his 2 friends that are ex-movie stars. Running errands doing a bit of maintenance. This follows an incident where he get's shot retrieving their daughter from Mexico. This in turn leads to a blackmail loop that Harry ends up caught in the middle of. All the performances are great as is the direction but the actual plot mystery-wise is a lot slighter than the human aspect (although both are intertwined). Perfect watching for a rainy Monday afternoon but just lacked that honed plot that would lift it out of melodrama status.
Still 3

[Stirchley]

I didn't love this either. While I love Pearl, I can take or leave X and this movie. I wrote something about it below.

Huge fan of Mia Goth. I enjoyed the entire trilogy.

[Stirchley]

103277

Not to be vulgar, but Qualley’s press-on breasts accentuated her pretty figure in the most delightful way. If it were me, I wouldn’t let those prosthetics go.

Not a bad movie by any means. Though it fell apart in gushes of blood in the last 30 minutes or so.

Demi Moore looks excellent for her age.

103278

I see this as a young adult movie, which I didn’t know going in. Interesting story with good actors. Never heard of Canadian Maisy Stella, but she’s very talented. And Aubrey Plaza always delivers.

[Thief]

ROMANCING THE STONE
(1984, Zemeckis)

https://i.imgur.com/yB5Xmwj.jpeg


"I like you, Joan, and I hate to see you all alone, waiting for somebody who's not gonna show up."



Romancing the Stone follows romance novelist Joann Wilder (Kathleen Turner), who lives alone in her apartment while writing her novels, waiting for the moment when she gets to meet the man of her dreams. When her sister is kidnapped by a group of criminals looking for a hidden treasure, Joann must travel to Colombia to find her. In the process, she enlists the help of Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas), a rogue smuggler and adventurer.

The truth is that the sister's subplot is severely underwritten and serves mostly as a plot device to put all these characters in march towards the same goal. We can say it's all an excuse to put Joann like a fish-out-of-water in this spectacular and exaggerated situations settings and situations. Most of the first act follows that "buddy cop" vibe of two completely different persons learning to work together. They argue and bicker, and *surprise, surprise* fall in love.

Grade: 3.5


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2515677#post2515677)

[I_Wear_Pants]

I've seen Romancing the Stone once or twice and found it pretty enjoyable. It's definitely just a fluffy movie and I mean that with positivity. The film is an enjoyable jungle romp. Shutting your brain down and just grabbing popcorn and watching the film is a good way to approach it.

[Gideon58]

https://resizing.flixster.com/Z_aTWkpj0ODrHF-A0kZpphxigdU=/fit-in/705x460/v2/https://resizing.flixster.com/-XZAfHZM39UwaGJIFWKAE8fS0ak=/v3/t/assets/p28031116_v_h9_ab.jpg



3.5

[Thief]

THE GOONIES
(1985, Donner)

https://i.imgur.com/Q84lq3n.jpeg


"Goonies never say die!"



The Goonies follows a group of friends from the "Goon Docks" in Astoria, Oregon. When their homes are threatened by foreclosure because of the expansion of a wealthy country club, they set out in an adventure to find the long-lost treasure of pirate One-Eyed Willy. Meanwhile, they must also avoid The Fratellis, a family of criminals who are also looking for the treasure.

This is yet another one of those films I've seen dozens of times, but I wanted my kids to watch it. I've always enjoyed the thrills and fun of the kids' adventure and thought it would be a good fit for them. Even though there's a lot of danger and murder, I love how it's mostly treated in such a playful and whimsical way, while carrying a message of persistence and never giving up; you know, Goonies never say die!

Grade: 4.5


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2515714#post2515714)

[Gideon58]

103277

Not to be vulgar, but Qualley’s press-on breasts accentuated her pretty figure in the most delightful way. If it were me, I wouldn’t let those prosthetics go.

Not a bad movie by any means. Though it fell apart in gushes of blood in the last 30 minutes or so.

Demi Moore looks excellent for her age.

103278

I see this as a young adult movie, which I didn’t know going in. Interesting story with good actors. Never heard of Canadian Maisy Stella, but she’s very talented. And Aubrey Plaza always delivers.

LOVED The Substance

[I_Wear_Pants]

Yôjinbô (1961) – Akira Kurosawa: 7.5/10
https://64.media.tumblr.com/d984ed3996e9ebb9ca67dc85157096fb/c4d9d725918e633f-2f/s540x810/8e54eb85f95280e93bceda633c6b92b93edc8edd.gif

I haven't watched Yojimbo in some time. I've always loved it though. I have a copy here somewhere.

[PHOENIX74]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/84/Indecent_proposal.jpg
By IMPAwards.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10393325

Indecent Proposal - (1993)

It's been a lifetime since I last saw Indecent Proposal (I am now much closer to Robert Redford's character's age than I am to Woody and Demi's age) and it's interesting to reflect on how I feel about it. First of all, I remember people complaining about the ending back when it came out, and it only really works if you're looking at the movie in a certain way - probably in a way older audiences might. Also, one more non-controversial thing I can say is that nowadays $1 million doesn't really seem as awe-inspiringly gargantuan as it did in 1993. Would the movie have been better if Di (Demi Moore) had of left both men? Why is John Gage (Robert Redford) given the leeway to come out a "good guy" after his behaviour up to that point paints him as a gag-inducing misogynist and capitalist monster? He not only "buys" Di for a night of sex, but he shiftily takes Di and her husband's property in an effort to sabotage their happiness - and then proceeds to stalk Di, turning up wherever she goes - always trying to impress her with his wealth. It's a method of wooing that you often see in movies, and I often wonder if guys see it and think to themselves "that's what I'll do. I'll follow her everywhere and never give up!" Love is a game in Adrian Lyne's movie, but the possessive nature it depicts makes me want to see Di wriggle free of both David (Woody Harrelson) and John's demanding entreaties and manipulation. Trust a businessman billionaire to see love in terms of ownership, and spread that belief wherever he goes. There's really no happy ending to this one, although this movie tries as hard as it can to pin one on it.

At one stage Billy Bob Thornton shows up as a Las Vegas gambler and his character emphasises the vibe of this film as a whole. Overall it's an interesting movie but one that has been fiddled with too much by various producers and script polishers (and Robert Redford) who have robbed it of it's teeth and deeper meaning. Instead it sits in an uncomfortable mainstream place which doesn't suit the subject matter. It's still worth seeing though.

6/10

[hownos]

Tokyo Twilight (1957)

Finally saw this heavy and tragic drama about a broken family and two very different sisters. One is able to cope to a degree and the other just can't seem to find a place in the world. It all stems from their mother who left them (and a brother we don't see) when they were young to be raised by their father,

The mother comes back into their lives to a limited degree and causes more turmoil than good. I think it would have been better if she had stayed away. Which brings me to the question if we were suppose to have sympathy for the mother and exactly why did she leave? This is not explored at all in the movie. Would have been the first question I would have asked her.

An effective use of sets and weather to create a bleak and desperate mood especially the gambling joints, diners and the the snowy scenes. Just a feeling that this movie is not going to end on a happy note. It doesn't.

The actress who plays the younger sister is very good. The only downside is the length and it is slow of pace, so stick with it. 8/10

[Gideon58]

I didn't love this either. While I love Pearl, I can take or leave X and this movie. I wrote something about it below.

I liked Pearl a lot more than X as well.

[LeBoyWondeur]

Indecent Proposal - (1993)
Somehow I always confuse it with "Disclosure".

Oldboy (2013)

103297

An outrageous revenge/counter-revenge story with a cheesy villain, and I was a little bit disappointed that I could guess the big plot twist early on in the story.
Nevertheless it's non-stop entertaining and wickedly brutal therefore I'm glad I've watched it.
Apparently it's a remake of a Korean film but I never watch those, so....

6/10

[Brody At Amity]

4/5 - Unconventional and creepy.

https://i0.wp.com/bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/longlegs-new-poster.jpg?resize=740%2C1079&ssl=1

[Thief]

I WAS A STRANGER
(2019, Aylesworth)

https://i.imgur.com/0cyyiJZ.jpeg


"Everyone's running from something."



I Was a Stranger follows Eliza (Elizabeth Rodriguez), a woman who's running from her abusive husband (Jason Butler Harner) and seeks refuge in a trailer park community. As she befriends the residents, she realizes that she's not the only one running away from something.

This short film was directed by Reiko Aylesworth, who is known for portraying Michelle Dessler on Fox's 24, which is how I stumbled upon it. It is a fairly simple short with a 17-minute runtime, but I really enjoyed her approach to the material. The subject matter can lend itself to some heavy-handedness or preachiness, but I don't think that's the case here. Aylesworth's direction and the script from April Brassard tackle it with care.

Grade: 3


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2515923#post2515923)

[WHITBISSELL!]

Apparently it's a remake of a Korean film but I never watch those... :rolleyes:

[Gideon58]

https://resizing.flixster.com/-XZAfHZM39UwaGJIFWKAE8fS0ak=/v3/t/assets/p11991_p_v8_ap.jpg


1st Rewatch...Robert Zemeckis deserves the lion's share of the credit for the success of the sequel to his 1985 smash. At the end of the first film, Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) tells Marty (Michael J Fox) they must return to the future to save his kids. Upon their arrival in 2015 (which looks like 2215 here), the problem with Marty's son gets taken care f economically but Doc and Marty find there are a lot of other issues that have to be dealt with, primarily that Biff (Thomas F Wilson) is now married to Marty's mom, Lorraine (Lea Thompson). The film is initially very confusing but eventually unravels into a slam bang action comedy that brilliantly sets up a third film. My two favorite moments in the film are when 2015 Biff is correcting 1955 Biff about the use of the phrase "Why don't you make like a tree..." and when Marty is talking to Doc on the phone, while in a window behind him, you actually see the scene from the first film where George clocks Biff about to take pace. This movie is a textbook in movie continuity. They even managed to camouflage the fact that Crispin Glover refused to appear in the film as George McFly, even though Glover initiated a lawsuit anyway. 4

[Thief]

P2
(2007, Khalfoun)

https://i.imgur.com/QfIDaHU.jpeg


"Angela, I just wanted to be friends. I'm alone. I'm always alone. Why can't we just spend more time together?"



P2 follows Angela (Rachel Nichols), a young executive in Manhattan getting ready to leave work on Christmas Eve. But when she gets trapped in an underground parking garage, she starts being stalked by Thomas (Wes Bentley), a psychopathic security guard that's obsessed with her.

The premise is fairly simple, which probably brings me to my main complaint against the film, and it's that this film should've been 60-70 minutes tops. For the first act, things move at a pretty nice pace, but after an hour, you kinda get the feeling that the writers were struggling to stretch things to a certain point. All of this leads to a fairly weak last act and resolution, which kinda spoils the whole thing a bit.

Grade: 3


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2516002#post2516002)

[PHOENIX74]

https://i.postimg.cc/50pbwF9h/ran.jpg
By The poster art can or could be obtained from Herald Ace., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6714678

Ran - (1985)

Off to see Ran last night on the big, big screen at the Luna Leederville - it sets the vast epic up in my mind as more unforgettable than ever. I didn't want it to end. Ran's visuals demand to be seen on the big screen, but the human side of the epic drama also becomes more clear when the film is being presented in such an overwhelming way. The tragic power of flattery, and the inability to recognize that your biggest critic may in fact be your most trustworthy friend - in the form of a warlord and his three sons. To be fair, our King Lear substitute - Ichimonji Hidetora (Tatsuya Nakadai - Shimura had passed and Mifune was no longer talking to Kurosawa) is a bloodthirsty warlord who has done a lifetime of horrific deeds, but somehow our sympathies overflow when we see him crushed by his own progeny. My friend was amazed that Ran is rated "PG" here, which basically all but the most innocent kid's movies will get rated - there are amputations and blood is spurting everywhere in this. The mountains and plains of Mount Aso are really stunning, and so lushly green and verdant. The various colours and costumes are incredible. A cinema near where I live has been holding a Kurosawa Film Festival for the last few months, and most of his movies have had a run - I'm only very sorry that I missed Seven Samurai on the big screen - I hope I'll get a chance to rectify that. Ran was magnificent.

10/10

[ueno_station54]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/4/8/6/9/7/8/486978-gladiator-ii-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=0fb2edf525
ok so this is kind of terrible but it won me over eventually and i really like paul mescal
rating_3_5

[Captain Quint]

103314

The Monk and the Gun (2023)
There has been a couple of really good filmmakers coming out of Bhutan in the past 20 some years, Khyentse Norbu (Travellers and Magicians) is one, and Pawo Choyning Dorji, who directed Monk, is another.

This was a funny, humanistic look at differing cultures and a clash of old ways with new. Very much enjoyed it.

4

[*Sky*]

Apocalypse Now (1979) - Francis Ford Coppola: 8.5/10
https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExazhpdW1vbndqb2N2bTR2eDgzaTRtM2RjMHAxenZudThoa2Mxa3k3biZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/5yuC2vIsQJdoA/giphy.gif

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Tony Leung double bill.

Chungking Express - A+
Hard Boiled - A-

Still great and amazing after all these years... yeah start prepping for your 90's list MoFo-ers!

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Apocalypse Now (1979) - Francis Ford Coppola: 8.5/10
https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExazhpdW1vbndqb2N2bTR2eDgzaTRtM2RjMHAxenZudThoa2Mxa3k3biZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/5yuC2vIsQJdoA/giphy.gif

Did you see the redux or theatrical version? I think the theatrical is the best, but it's difficult to find.

[I_Wear_Pants]

I watched Dead Zone this evening. It's a good adaptation. The movie is a little too quick though. I know Stephen King got wordy in the original novel. The movie just feels like they had a time limit for movie length so it goes too fast. I loved the pacing of the book (although that could be because I read slowly). I like it, and Walken was great. It just needed to take its time.

Addendum; One thing with the movie is that they trimmed a lot of the flavor of the book. I think that plays a part in the pacing of each medium. The movie is fine. It just feels oversimplified, I guess. It's a commonality of Stephen King's writings to get wordy so I get some of the story would get lost. And the Castle Rock Killer sequence, while essential, didn't quite work how the movie did it. It felt forced even though it isn't. Again; it feels rushed.

Overall the movie works as a movie. It's a fine film, although I would have preferred a slower pace for what it is.

[Fabulous]

The Art of the Steal (2013)

3

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/zZ24Ahl1mzMY5ylf4zjA6Hp2Uer.jpg

[Brody At Amity]

4 STARS

Pity this one is on Apple TV as many won't get the chance to see it or even know that it exists!

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNWI2MzdiM2ItMTg2Zi00MTYwLThlZmItM2FkNWI4NjE3ZjRhXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg

One of the things I liked about it - as I have a soft spot for them - is that it's a film that takes place over one night (https://www.top10films.co.uk/5851-top-10-films-set-over-one-night/). A bit of a chamber piece with some action sequences thrown in for good measure. Pitt and Clooney are great - there's an amusing theme about aging which feels quite personal to the pair who have of course in a number of films together with the Ocean's franchise.

[Marco]

Heretic (2024)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cb/Heretic_film_poster.jpg
Quite a nifty horror/thriller. Hugh Grant plays a loner that invites 2 young missionaries into his home only to lock them up and start playing his own psychological games with them regarding the nature of religion and belief (I must say the Monopoly sequence was rather funky). So does he have an enlightened insight into the "one true faith" or is he merely a whacko?
Overall this film is good, the first 1/2 especially is foreboding and you can feel the tension. The 2nd half not so much but still watchable if a tad predictable.
[rating3[/rating]

[Marco]

Messiah of Evil (1973)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/Messiahevilmargreer.jpg
Well after seeing a few likes for this in the Horror thread I thought I'd give it a go. My main take-away from it was it had a good, surreal atmosphere but the story was a real plodder. Most of the unintentional atmosphere comes from the, frankly, pathetic acting that you are in a semi-state of wondering who has already been affected by the "Red Moon" but no, it's just awfully acted. The ending is pretty good but I found this a slog to sit through.
2

[I_Wear_Pants]

Messiah of Evil (1973)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/Messiahevilmargreer.jpg
Well after seeing a few likes for this in the Horror thread I thought I'd give it a go. My main take-away from it was it had a good, surreal atmosphere but the story was a real plodder. Most of the unintentional atmosphere comes from the, frankly, pathetic acting that you are in a semi-state of wondering who has already been affected by the "Red Moon" but no, it's just awfully acted. The ending is pretty good but I found this a slog to sit through.
2

I watched Messiah of Evil a few weeks ago for a similar reason vis I read about it here. The idea is great. The execution left me feeling empty. I never really felt like things were fleshed out, excuse my euphemism. It's not necessarily bad. It just falls a bit flat. Messiah of Evil is one of those films that could have been great that just missed the mark.

[PHOENIX74]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/King_Arthur_LotS_poster.jpg
By Warner Bros. - http://cdn3-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/gallery/knights-of-the-round-table-king-arthur-ew/arthur-poster-1200.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51139966

King Arthur : Legend of the Sword - (2017)

Talk about your Marvel Universe - there was meant to be an Arthurian Legends Universe featuring six different characters who would eventually all team up in a mega-blockbuster. That all got thrown out when this first film didn't perform at the box office. Guy Ritchie was coming off the box office bomb that was The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (which I actually quite liked), and thank goodness this bombed as well, forcing him to go back to what he does well - geezer gangster movies. Anyway, what is wrong with King Arthur : Legend of the Sword? I'd say first thing is the way every little bit of action is festooned with ugly CGI effects that take you out of whatever's going on. There's far more concentrated on the film's look than the characters within it. The way everything plays out, it really feels like a game - Assassin's Creed mixed with God of War - I wouldn't have been surprised if I saw characters jumping into hay bales or opening chests. Story-wise, Ritchie and his co-writers take the legend of King Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) and make it their own, adding an underworld element by having the future King rescued as a baby by being floated down the river in a boat - adopted by the staff at a Londinium brothel. From there it's pulling Excalibur out of a stone and on to fighting his nemesis of the day - evil King Vortigern (an excellent Jude Law) - all in good time, with the crooked gang he grew up with and his new allies fighting the powers that be. Ritchie manages to inject a lot of the hoodlum, gangster stuff we're used to seeing in his films, making this an original take on King Arthur if nothing else. A lot of people complained that this isn't who King Arthur was - but I'm always willing to check out something new, as long as it's well made. This is so much of a mixed bag however, that I can't recommend it in good faith. I didn't hate it though, even though it fails as a cohesive whole - there are some good elements, with mythical creatures that looked pretty good, and Law's seething portrayal as a slimy, power-hungry fearmonger who must kill what he loves most to hang on to the supernatural power he uses to good effect. (There's a very Lord of the Rings prologue featuring Eric Bana as King Uther Pendragon, which gives you a clue as to what this film has to offer.) The screenplay is lacking, and there aren't enough solid characters that stand out - plus also that shocking overuse of CGI to brain-numbing excess. It has to be in support of a good story, characters and such - not the be-all and end-all itself.

5/10

[Daniel M]

The Substance (Coralie Fargeat, 2024) 2

https://media.gq.com/photos/66eda35db780770f1dde0394/16:9/w_2560%2Cc_limit/MCDSUBS_EC006.jpg

The violence detracts from the message, felt like it was being deliberately disgusting and over the top for marketing purposes. The actresses are great and the message is interesting, but it was immediately obvious what it had to say in about ten minutes and the rest was just being as repulsive as it could be.

[Corax]

P2
(2007, Khalfoun)

https://i.imgur.com/QfIDaHU.jpeg




P2 follows Angela (Rachel Nichols), a young executive in Manhattan getting ready to leave work on Christmas Eve. But when she gets trapped in an underground parking garage, she starts being stalked by Thomas (Wes Bentley), a psychopathic security guard that's obsessed with her.

The premise is fairly simple, which probably brings me to my main complaint against the film, and it's that this film should've been 60-70 minutes tops. For the first act, things move at a pretty nice pace, but after an hour, you kinda get the feeling that the writers were struggling to stretch things to a certain point. All of this leads to a fairly weak last act and resolution, which kinda spoils the whole thing a bit.

Grade: 3


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2516002#post2516002)

If the premise were merely that of being lost in a large underground parking garage, they could've plausibly stretched it into a three-hour epic.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi2.wp.com%2Fgifrific.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F02%2FI-have-no-memory-of-this-place-Gandalf-Lord-of-the-Rings.gif%3Ffit%3D500%252C281%26ssl%3D1&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=38a3a249a08d5428236f60cd24bc400f7319133fbf707af4108963afffa67ed3&ipo=images

[Fabulous]

The Black Phone (2021)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/syKiIOqEoOi1Hb0Oh0n9cImcBab.jpg

[Thief]

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
(2006, Frankel)

https://i.imgur.com/dXR7o31.jpeg


"Don't be silly - EVERYONE wants this. Everyone wants to be *us*."



The Devil Wears Prada follows Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a young, aspiring journalist who finds herself working as a personal assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the ruthless editor-in-chief of Runway magazine. Despite her lack of interest in fashion, Andy wants to use the opportunity as a stepping stone for her career, but finds herself instead sucked into the excessive demands of Priestly and subsequently, the glamorous lifestyle of the fashion industry.

The main draw here is Streep, and her interactions with Hathaway's character. Streep was nominated for an Academy Award, and deservedly so. Her performance shies away from turning Priestly into a straight-forward villainess by adding several layers to her, along with other details that are on the script, and others that seem to be more of Streep's choices as an actress. Meanwhile, Hathaway perfectly portrays her character's descent (or ascent?) into this world in a way that's convincing and believable, despite being predictable.

Grade: 3.5


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2516475#post2516475)

[Captain Quint]

103375

Rumours (2024)
Apocalyptic, weird, clever, deadpan absurdity set during a G7 conference. Cate Blanchett gets to show off her dry, comedic chops, delivering her lines with straight faced sincerity that makes it all the funnier. But all the performers are in top form, and the satirical script is a hoot, and spooky, and melodramatic, and gross, as well as political and stupidly human - these prattling leaders with their foibles are utterly hopeless in a crisis, but they talk a good game. It's mostly bullshit ("Canada too fast for Germany, what does it mean?") still, it sounds important and inspiring, but yeah... mostly a lot of B.S.

4

[Thief]

BraveHeart

1) https://medium.com/@omardeleon676/braveheart-1995-summary-analysis-1d18f16aac39

Mel Gibson's best!

2) https://medium.com/@omardeleon676/the-shawshank-redemption-1994-summary-2cc092c94275

A Masterpiece!

https://medium.com/@omardeleon676

Summary of movies to save time and enjoy the simple explanation of the movie PLUS Movies & Movies & Movies Again All you need to know, Analysis and Everything.

If you are interested follow!

https://i.imgur.com/t6E0Nwt.png

[Captain Quint]

103382

Mars Express (2023)
Cerebral, mind blowing, sci-fi crime story. Its inspirations are evident (from cyberpunk to noir), yet it still came off fresh, distinct - Loved the animation. I am gob smacked.

4.5

[Darth Pazuzu]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a2/Bonhoeffer_film_poster.jpg/220px-Bonhoeffer_film_poster.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/25/Red_One_poster.jpg/220px-Red_One_poster.jpg

December 3, 2024

BONHOEFFER (Todd Komarnicki / 2024)

December 10, 2024

RED ONE (Jake Kasdan / 2024)

Bonhoeffer was pretty good. It's based on the true story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian who led a resistance to the Nazis' takeover of the church in Germany. A rather compelling tale, with Jonas Dassler turning in a very good performance in the title role. If I understand correctly, the film takes a good many liberties with the facts. The tagline for the movie is: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. But in real life Dassler had very little involvement in any attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler, and he certainly didn't fit the third label. (To be fair, he's not actually depicted killing anybody in the film.) To sum up, Bonhoeffer makes for good drama, and it's certainly a respectable biopic. But as you watch it, you sort of get the feeling that it's the kind of film where the cracks and flaws in the personalities of real-life figures are perhaps... not necessarily whitewashed, but you feel like these people are perhaps a little too prim and noble and clean-cut. In other words, a good movie about a worthy subject, but one you feel at best only pays lip service to ambiguity. I personally like my biopics a little messier, however genuinely virtuous the subject. However, I respect the fact that when the subject is Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, moral clarity may inevitably win out over shades of gray.

Red One was a movie I didn't really hold out much hope for. When I saw the trailer, it struck me as just a tad silly, an action / fantasy / comedy about Santa Claus getting kidnapped, starring Dwayne Johnson as Callum Drift, Santa's head of security. But, crazy as it may sound, we may actually have a minor holiday classic on our hands here! :lol: The story really is kind of inspirational in its own cracked way. Apparently, Santa's operation at the North Pole is part of this crazy clandestine, high-tech operation which is part of a larger organization called M.O.R.A. (Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority). J.K. Simmons plays the supernaturally-gifted, well-maintained and physically fit Saint Nick (and we learn that the man has an aversion to macaroon cookies). Chris Evans plays a bounty hunter / computer hacker / absent father named Jack O'Malley who is responsible for the abduction of Santa, and has to help Callum retrieve him in order to save Christmas, reconnect with his son Dylan... and get himself off of Santa's "Naughty List"! The abductor is an evil witch by the name of Gryla (Kiernan Shipka) who is committed to punishing the naughty, and somehow Krampus is involved in the goings on. I dunno... I sort of expected it to be worse, but I think this is an example of diminished expectations resulting in a rather pleasant surprise. (The director is Jake Kasdan, son of Lawrence. I'm thinking the apple didn't fall too far from the tree here.) Tie this one together with the recent The Best Christmas Pageant Ever as surprise holiday sleepers.

[I_Wear_Pants]

This afternoon I watched Batman Under the Red Hood. Now this one is awesome. The other two animated Batman films I watched were good. I really loved this one though. I loved the characterization in this one, and the story was exciting and well done. Right now I herald Under the Red Hood as one of my favorite Batman movies, although that's in the immediate effects of having just watched it. We'll see what happens when the newness wears off. These animated Batman movies are way better than the live-action ones.

[I_Wear_Pants]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MovieLog/310toyuma.gif

3:10 to Yuma (James Mangold, 2007)

I have no idea how many times I've seen this movie now, but it never gets old. I love everything about it. The story, the cinematography, the score, the costumes, and most of all the performances. People who know my taste in movies are probably going to assume that I'm about to rave about Russell Crowe's turn here as Ben Wade - and he is excellent in the role, as is Christian Bale who I normally don't like. I also really enjoy the dynamic of mutual respect that grows between Crowe and Bale's characters, but the stand-out to me has always been Ben Foster as Charlie Prince. I love his swagger. I love his style. But most of all, I love how loyal and dedicated he is to Wade. If Charlie Prince wasn't such a horrible person, I might genuinely feel bad for the betrayal he suffered. And I do still feel a tiny twinge of pity for him in the end, so good is Foster here. It's things like this that really make me love this movie. Sure, it has its hero and its villains, but I really like the way it blurs the lines between the two. I also love the way the story ends in a way that redeems its focal characters without ever being corny or feeling arbitrary.

4.5

I've seen both versions of 3:10 to Yuma, and I believe the 2007 version is the better of the two. For one its production values are a lot higher. The original is messy in spots. Also the remake has a few more fleshed-out scenes than the original. The original is good too. It just feels a mite sloppy on occasion.

I liked seeing Crowe in a villainous role. I thought that was cool. Overall I dig the movie. I think you like it more than I do though. It's a great film and I love the character conflict between Bale and Crowe.

[Darth Pazuzu]

I've seen both versions of 3:10 to Yuma, and I believe the 2007 version is the better of the two. For one its production values are a lot higher. The original is messy in spots. Also the remake has a few more fleshed-out scenes than the original. The original is good too. It just feels a mite sloppy on occasion.

I liked seeing Crowe in a villainous role. I thought that was cool. Overall I dig the movie. I think you like it more than I do though. It's a great film and I love the character conflict between Bale and Crowe.

As much as I love both versions of 3:10 to Yuma, I actually have a slight preference for the 1957 Delmer Daves original with Glenn Ford and Van Heflin. And the main reason there is that incredible theme song written by composer George Duning, with lyrics from Ned Washington, sung by none other than Frankie Laine. I must admit, ever since I first saw Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles from 1974, I've kind of had a hard time taking Frankie Laine seriously. Take the theme from the 1957 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, for instance: "Boot Hill, Boot Hill / So cold, so still..." :lol: But the main title song from the 1957 3:10 to Yuma is absolutely gorgeous, moving and haunting... and it's the one time I don't laugh at Frankie Laine! :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTi6HrB87PE

[I_Wear_Pants]

As much as I love both versions of 3:10 to Yuma, I actually have a slight preference for the 1957 Delmer Daves original with Glenn Ford and Van Heflin. And the main reason there is that incredible theme song written by composer George Duning, with lyrics from Ned Washington, sung by none other than Frankie Laine. I must admit, ever since I first saw Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles from 1974, I've kind of had a hard time taking Frankie Laine seriously. Take the theme from the 1957 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, for instance: "Boot Hill, Boot Hill / So cold, so still..." :lol: But the main title song from the 1957 3:10 to Yuma is absolutely gorgeous, moving and haunting... and it's the one time I don't laugh at Frankie Laine! :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTi6HrB87PE

I understand the difficulty. Blazing Saddles shines some interesting lights. And yeah there's naught wrong with preferring the original film. It's not like either version is bad. I just prefer the remake, if ever so slightly. I remember the original's ending being a mite disappointing compared to the remake's. I think that's one reason I prefer the remake. Going with either version is a solid choice of viewing.

[Darth Pazuzu]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81ndkstTsIS._AC_UY218_.jpg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91RewFdhveL._AC_UY218_.jpg

El Dorado (Howard Hawks / 1966)
Rio Lobo (Howard Hawks / 1970)

Being a big fan of Howard Hawks' classic Westerns Red River (1948) and Rio Bravo (1959), both starring John Wayne, I was rather keen on getting the other two Hawks / Wayne Westerns, El Dorado and Rio Lobo. Neither of these films ranks quite up there with those two earlier films, but El Dorado is extremely entertaining in its own right, and Robert Mitchum is just terrific as the drunk sheriff J.P. Harrah. (The scene where Wayne whacks Mitchum over the head with a frying pan, sending him cross-eyed and collapsing, is hilarious.) Rio Lobo is the weakest of the Hawks / Wayne Westerns (and it was actually Hawks' swansong), but it's still pretty good in its own right. The opening train heist of the payroll train by Confederate soldiers is just excellent, and the rest of the film has sort of a hard act to follow. (The opening titles showing the acoustic guitar playing the main theme is classic, as well.)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71V2NJ9U7sL._AC_UY218_.jpg

No Country for Old Men (Joel Coen - Ethan Coen / 2007)

I already had the original Blu-ray edition, but if Criterion's putting it out, you just have to double-dip, right? :D I watched some of the extras on the Blu-ray disc last night, but I have yet to see it in 4K UHD. I hope it looks good... :up:

[*Sky*]

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - John Frankenheimer: 8/10
https://64.media.tumblr.com/86dc0b211486d56631579c733fd6688b/tumblr_pwjleqRS2d1vtl20ro1_640.gif

[*Sky*]

Did you see the redux or theatrical version? I think the theatrical is the best, but it's difficult to find.

The theatrical! Though I would like to see the other two versions one day (redux and final cut).

[*Sky*]

I haven't watched Yojimbo in some time. I've always loved it though. I have a copy here somewhere.

Love this character.

[Miss Vicky]

I've seen both versions of 3:10 to Yuma, and I believe the 2007 version is the better of the two. For one its production values are a lot higher. The original is messy in spots. Also the remake has a few more fleshed-out scenes than the original. The original is good too. It just feels a mite sloppy on occasion.

I liked seeing Crowe in a villainous role. I thought that was cool. Overall I dig the movie. I think you like it more than I do though. It's a great film and I love the character conflict between Bale and Crowe.

I've seen both versions as well. I liked most of the original but absolute hated the ending. It completely ruined the movie for me, whereas the 2007 version is my all time favorite Western. It does help though that I'm a big Crowe fan.

[I_Wear_Pants]

Love this character.

Mifune plays a similar character in Sanjuro what came out a year after Yojimbo. It's pretty good too. I actually got Yojimbo and Sanjuro in a duo pack some years back as part of a Kurosawa-laden birthday gift haul. I think the others were Ikiru, Seven Samurai, and Ran. The only one I don't still have is Ran because I upgraded to a Blu-ray, so I still have the movie, just not the same edition.

Anyway I've always enjoyed Kurosawa's period pieces, as well as his contemporary films. Hm I just enjoy his repertoire. He's an excellent filmmaker.

[I_Wear_Pants]

I've seen both versions as well. I liked most of the original but absolute hated the ending. It completely ruined the movie for me, whereas the 2007 version is my all time favorite Western. It does help though that I'm a big Crowe fan.

I remember the ending feeling abrupt more than anything. It didn't feel as well concluded as the remake. I did like it overall. I just thought it could have been tighter in spots. It has been a while since I watched either version so my memory of them isn't perfect. Is it weird I kind of want to rewatch the remake now? I remember liking it though it has been a while.

I thought I'd add this; being a Crowe fan makes sense to me. He's a pretty good actor. I don't like every movie I've seen him do, though usually if the movie he does is poor it isn't his fault. I remember someone mentioning the Master & Commander novels some months back, and how it's a shame they didn't adapt more of them to movie what with the promise of Far Side of the World being there without much to show for it.

[Fabulous]

The Fallen Idol (1948)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/9A88YZ2qZhpE0RM7e6BDJeDX2fh.jpg

[Captain Quint]

103402

La Chimera (2023)
For some reason I've never fully connected with Alice Rohrwacher films, I don't dislike them, but... -shrug-

However, this one clicked, maybe because it's a little more somber, though there is humor and her usual eccentrics. Acting was solid, especially enjoyed seeing Isabella Rossellini in a small role. And I liked the little nod to Fellini (specifically, "Roma") - Italy still loves Fellini, you still see modern directors paying homage to him, and that's sweet, I think.

4

[Torgo]

Bottle Rocket - 4

Wes Anderson's feature debut is a funny riff on Mean Streets that recalls the old joke, "how do you make God laugh? Make a plan." As misguided as old pals Anthony and Dignan are in theirs to stick it to the man, Anderson and crew manage to make them empathetic. Who would want to end up as a stuffed shirt bully like their would-be getaway driver's brother, Future Man, anyway? When their plan falls apart - I mean, how could anyone, not just Anthony, resist falling in love with Lumi Cavazos' charming maid, Inez - Anthony's dilemma of wanting to move on while maintaining his friendship is never not real...well, as real as it can be in Anderson's heightened version of reality. The soundtrack notwithstanding, his style is actually not as overt as it is in, say, The Grand Budapest Hotel. What we do get, though, reminded me of why I keep coming back to him from everything that happens during one hilariously disastrous heist to anything James Caan's eccentric landscaping lothario does. While it's a shame that Caan and Anderson did not work again, it's tempered by the fact that Bill Murray, who took up the slack by excelling in similar roles, never stopped working with him. As for just as frequent collaborator Owen Wilson, this movie would not work without him as Dignan.

This movie successfully reminds us, for better or worse, that even a life plan with as many contingencies as the one in Dignan's notebook is subject to change. It also reminds us that the few of us who are able to stick to their plans are not the kind of people who deserve to be so lucky. It is an impressive debut, but I would not put it on my short list of favorite Wes Andersons. Your mileage may vary on Luke Wilson, who I found to be a presence vacuum. Also, despite what trademark Anderson quirk we do get, I would not, unlike pretty much every other movie of his, describe the whole product as original. I still consider it a great movie, not to mention another reason why 1996 deserves to be called "the year of the independent film " If you need one more incentive, I'll add that Owen Wilson debuts his signature "wow" here.

[Stirchley]

103407
103408

Ugh. Both very lame.

[Stirchley]

103409

Good indie movie. Both leads excellent. I enjoyed it.

103410

Another indie movie. Nothing happens in this movie, but I liked it for what it is.

[Marco]

Gladiator II (2024)

As a film on its own it's a bit overblown and the story is creaky as hell. TBH I didn't understand Denzel Washington's character and his motivations at all. Mescal is ok but far from inspiring. Some of the CGI is very iffy and the final confrontation is flat. But it is watch-able
2.5

[ueno_station54]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/4/2/6/4/6/42646-big-money-hustlas-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=ff3f966f5f
i've been getting into ICP recently so figured i'd give this a watch. it has some moments.
3

[Fabulous]

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

4

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/7WdvQjsRorlIlI8itYb371ZUET1.jpg

[Captain Steel]

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

https://themagnificent60s.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/they-shoot-4.jpg?w=882
Jane Fonda, Red Buttons, Susannah York, Michael Sarrazin, Bonny Bedelia & Bruce Dern

I'd heard this title most of my life and just assumed it was some "Black Beauty" type movie about horses.

Boy was I wrong!

This is one unique move that pulls no punches. I won't post spoilers, but will say that when you think of the various ways this story could play out and believe they won't go there when it comes the most negative of extremes... they go there.

It's almost hard to believe there was a time when the country was so desperate that people would risk their health & their lives (and in one case even their unborn child's life) to engage in a competition just for the promise of a little money (or that such deadly contests were ever allowed). But the depression-era "dance marathon" depicted in this movie descends into something reminiscent of ancient gladiatorial games where crowds would gather to watch the debauchery of contestants dropping dead from exertion or exhaustion (if not from actual combat).

At times, I got the same feelings from this movie as I got from watching Rollerball (1975). This isn't a sports movie, but since it involves a physical competition with a last-couple-standing type of contest, it bears many similar aspects.

An eclectic cast with Gig Young stealing the show as the ethically-questionable Master of Ceremonies who will go to any lengths for the equivalent of ratings (which in this case translates into sponsor & spectator dollars as he continually ups the ante for the suffering contestants with various types of elimination derbies).
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS_SmUiT-dtJCF2qJgNnkaFQIXtD9YKN9_v69RvBzg7USvrIsbIkun0GukMW6qmHpWqRjalHzOnwScuPR3BmFF8KjP3VBLSGEzWOmpQZ0KeSP ohf1-1fYGntgCHYH91VpSNSnRRPA_8Gb/s1600/Al+Lewis+Gig+Young+They+Shoot+Horses.jpg
Al Lewis & Gig Young

As bleak & almost sickening as this movie is, I loved it because it hooked me & really caught me off guard with how it ended.

5

[Captain Steel]

Now THAT was weird! :)

[PHOENIX74]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/72/Whiskey_Tango_Foxtrot_poster.png
By http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/641845-whiskey-tango-foxtrot-trailer, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48846390

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - (2016)

You could wince at the fact that this movie about embedded journalists in Afghanistan during that "Operation Enduring Freedom" period has been given the Tina Fey comedy treatment - but to be fair, Kim Barker's non-fiction book The Taliban Shuffle, on which this is based, had a comedic slant to it. There's only so far you can go though, and as such this film is constantly thudding back down to Earth as serious matters keep arising - you can't avoid that in a story like this. I did enjoy watching the talent on display though - namely Fey herself and the high standard ensemble that included Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Christopher Abbott, Alfred Molina and Billy Bob Thornton. That's enough to ease any discomfort related to a film set in such a troubled land. Being a female reporter is an especially challenging assignment for anyone in Afghanistan, even with the temporary ousting of the Taliban - and I have to admit that I am curious about Kim Barker's book now, so I have to at least give this a rating that reflects that it's not a total pile of rubbish. It just struggles as far as tone is concerned. It's not really a comedy. It's not really a serious film, or a war film. It never settles into one particular groove. There's a deleted scene where Kim Baker [sic] (Fey) accidentally bumps into a couple of fellow reporters at a notorious prison, and starts giggling and laughing with them as dead bodies are being dragged into a pile - somewhat resembling a Nazi concentration camp. You get the contrast there - and how uncomfortable it feels to acknowledge just how numbed these reporters become to horror and tragedy. That's the strongest theme here, but it's not explored with artistic panache, which is a shame. Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa had only ever made lighter fare - silly comedies and kid's films, and that it exactly where this went awry.

5/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/27/Sanctuary_poster.jpg
By Neon - IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73526403

Sanctuary - (2022)

Looked forward to this one, and it didn't let me down - exceeding my expectations. It would make an interesting double feature with Dogs Don't Wear Pants, and I mean that as the highest praise. Full review here (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2516722#post2516722), in my watchlist thread.

9/10

[Deschain]

Sanctuary - (2022)

Looked forward to this one, and it didn't let me down - exceeding my expectations. It would make an interesting double feature with Dogs Don't Wear Pants, and I mean that as the highest praise. Full review here (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2516722#post2516722), in my watchlist thread.

9/10
Yesssss. Sanctuary is excellent and I hope more people check it out.

[Takoma11]

Yesssss. Sanctuary is excellent and I hope more people check it out.

I am excited to watch it. But the Dogs Don't Wear Pants reference makes me a little nervous!

[PHOENIX74]

I am excited to watch it. But the Dogs Don't Wear Pants reference makes me a little nervous!

No need to worry about that - Sanctuary isn't like DDWP in that kind of way. I just thought it would make an interesting double feature in the sense of the kind of things they explore in their own different ways.

[Takoma11]

No need to worry about that - Sanctuary isn't like DDWP in that kind of way. I just thought it would make an interesting double feature in the sense of the kind of things they explore in their own different ways.

It was the (Dogs Don't Wear Pants spoilers)stuff with the tooth being pulled that I could not handle.

[stillmellow]

Moana 2


https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZDUxNThhYTUtYjgxNy00MGQ4LTgzOTEtZjg1YTU5NTcwNThlXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg


Gorgeous movie. It's well written, with extremely likable characters. I enjoyed it a lot.


However, it simply isn't necessary or original, from a story perspective. We're essentially repeating the first movie over again, with a couple new characters. And they even tease another sequel. Where they will most likely do the same thing a third time.


It's still a lot of fun. And Matangi (bat lady) is my new crush.


👍

[stillmellow]

https://youtu.be/zGWDPpsXWE0?si=ul9FPZOWuK_H9MPa

[PHOENIX74]

It was the (Dogs Don't Wear Pants spoilers)stuff with the tooth being pulled that I could not handle.

There was so much of Dogs Don't Wear Pants that I found right on the edge of "have to look away" territory.

[I_Wear_Pants]

I watched a documentary on the art of D&D called Eye of the Beholder: Art of D&D this evening. It took a bit of time because of dinner and children. I thought it was neat, although there were some slow spots in the first half. It was fun learning about D&D art. I think it helps that I'm a huge D&D nerd so it is right up my alley.

103419

[Nausicaä]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f9/Let_Me_Fall.jpg/220px-Let_Me_Fall.jpg

3.5

SF = Zz

Viewed: Amazon Prime



[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

[Fabulous]

MacArthur (1977)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/5EyOBn7UkMw57NY6ljLd4HzAiyj.jpg

[iluv2viddyfilms]

The Apartment- A+
Polyester - B

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOWMwYjYzYmMtMWQ2Ni00NWUwLTg2MzAtYzkzMDBiZDIwOTMwXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg



4.5

[MovieBuffering]

Gone With The Wind - 1939

Finally saw the movie. Really impressive achievement visually being 1939. Super ambitious. Complex characters especially the protagonist Scarlett. Clark Gable distractingly looks alot like Clooney lol. Can't imagine going to a theater in 1939 and watching that, must have blown people's socks off. I see why it has so much staying power. Personally, I very much enjoyed the movie up until intermission. I was in it. I liked alot after that as well. I read it had 3 directors...imo you can really feel the 3 directors in the last hour and change of the movie. It started to drag and I feel become unsure of itself towards the end, not withstanding the classic end. It just jumps all over the place. It gets too jarring in some spots to me.

Listen it is a sprawling epic. I just think the first 2 1/2 hours is so much better than the back half. Another thing I did like was showing the race relationship between the servants and masters. There seemed to be love instead of just pure evil. Obviously slavery was an abhorrent thing but I bet a lot of relationships were like the ones in this movie, caring for each other (all be it with terrible inequality). I think it's pretty cool Hattie won an Oscar for her role.

Anyways I wonder why when they talk about strong female lead stuff today they don't bring up Vivan Leigh and Scarlett O'hara more. She was awesome in the flick and pretty self made and motivated after overcoming adversity. I don't know, my 2 cents on it. Definitely glad I got this one under my belt.

3

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSN30VdJzxS3W1laJmH-6XF_E2F3bm3ny9vwqQe3SGPvfaBF0EakPaoXsFLGUQVgmd36SdMA

[Tugg]

Juror #2 (2024) 3.5
Nothing mind blowing, but a good watch or more.
https://beam-images.warnermediacdn.com/BEAM_LWM_DELIVERABLES/4220da5f-0fec-4aac-8768-8cd7761e46d1/383f29a4-b05b-4c99-92ed-211474fcc801?host=wbd-images.prod-vod.h264.io&partner=beamcom&w=500
Nutcrackers (2024) 3
I'm being generous here.
https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nutcrackersre-1-e1732720184903.webp
Last Known Location (2024) 2
Ridiculous ending to a ridiculous movie.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQaa8q0DJrwty6s3265phSCsb88o5tpm_74iw&s
Carry-On (2024) 3
Good for one watch. No more.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/dit6oDxCADZrekkeW-rnEr6vcYhEY65ydjDtN06akRu9yrY2dNAs9B8WLTK6JzI4aEmfG0Mdl61Nse6wbliA36WbW_AWLRNFcw

[ueno_station54]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/5/1/8/2/4/51824-rumble-fish-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=a1e8015e5a
normally not the kind of movie i'd go for but it has enough out-there choices to grab my attention (seeing the bizarre shot where the guy gets hit with a motorcycle on twitter is what put this on my radar). not really sure if the emotions really come through but the vagueness of that also has an interesting feel to it.
rating_3_5

[cricket]

Babe (1995)

3+

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uwOwbMrpXuU/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEhCK4FEIIDSFryq4qpAxMIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJD&rs=AOn4CLCZ-Kn8WRVdID1Ujp670usfCINCxA

#60 on the current 90's list, it's well made and James Cromwell is good as always. The animals are cute and I'm a sucker for animals. That's about it. I wonder if it finds it's way onto the upcoming 90's countdown.

[Nausicaä]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/25/Red_One_poster.jpg/220px-Red_One_poster.jpg

2.5

SF = Z

Viewed: Amazon Prime


https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZDV1eHM5Z2d6ZDR4cTl6eXJwaXEzODFuNDdtaDQzZGlzcTZreTNyYSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/l3HlQI1QeG4odOrIEQ/giphy.gif


[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

[I_Wear_Pants]

I finally was able to finish Quiz Show. It's about as good as I remember, which is to say great although not spectacular. I liked it plenty. I realized something about the movie; nothing really changed in the movie. All of these events transpired, and naught changed. No one gained anything. People had to divert except no one accomplished anything.

[*Sky*]

In the Heart of the Sea (2015) - Ron Howard: 5.5/10
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFrUAd-nG4lU6EoB-uc9KcgVa7njuPxhR-Cgo6loit6TDoYOHem7IgwMtFaVz4KaQSQXsZmhtkEHYHGrBpJGVgd-FIV9xOHlbalwAPiyWjSNZxBDwpCq1HM2bsRD7zO0nru96ooiz8csoJSK7eTf-6Ihm-cr1_EtbMofkyh3Ni8k0con42bjoJokuHmzn/s600/heart%20whale.gif

[*Sky*]

Mifune plays a similar character in Sanjuro what came out a year after Yojimbo. It's pretty good too. I actually got Yojimbo and Sanjuro in a duo pack some years back as part of a Kurosawa-laden birthday gift haul. I think the others were Ikiru, Seven Samurai, and Ran. The only one I don't still have is Ran because I upgraded to a Blu-ray, so I still have the movie, just not the same edition.

Anyway I've always enjoyed Kurosawa's period pieces, as well as his contemporary films. Hm I just enjoy his repertoire. He's an excellent filmmaker.
That he is!

[I_Wear_Pants]

That he is!

I have eight of his films on DVD, I believe. That sounds right anyway. I really want to get Throne of Blood, and Dersu Uzala at some point soon. Sometimes I wonder how I'd handle the emotions of Kurosawa's Ran now my life has mellowed out some. Without going into detail, I've had a bumpy time until recently, and I've relaxed a lot over the past twelve months, and my mental health has improved, so it'd be interesting to see how I'd handle it. (It wasn't addiction in case you were worried about that).

[Gideon58]

I finally was able to finish Quiz Show. It's about as good as I remember, which is to say great although not spectacular. I liked it plenty. I realized something about the movie; nothing really changed in the movie. All of these events transpired, and naught changed. No one gained anything. People had to divert except no one accomplished anything.

I was very impressed with Quiz Show...a li nk to my review:

https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/1663159-quiz_show.html

[I_Wear_Pants]

I was very impressed with Quiz Show...a li nk to my review:

https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/1663159-quiz_show.html

Yeah it's a great film. I hoped it was better than I remembered, and it was as good as I remembered. I rather agree with your overall assessment. None of this is meant with any sort of negative connotation. Quiz Show is a strong film. It just was a little off-target for me.

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjE4MTYyOWYtYjBjNy00NjBiLThhYWEtNzQ2MmE4MzY4ZGI2XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg



Umpteenth Rewatch....Never gt tired of this instant classic from 1989, considered by many to be the ultimate "chick flick", but I like it too. Herbert Ross' sensitive direction, a glorious all-star cast, and one of the most quotable screenplays ever make this film appointment viewing. Julia Roberts received an Oscar nomination for her performance, but for me the standout performance in this film is by Sally Field...watch her in that scene where Roberts has the seizure in the beauty parlor and at the graveyard. Field gives a one-woman acting course in this film. 4

[Allaby]

The Santa Class (2024) A woman who runs a Santa school meets the real Santa...but he has amnesia! Can she help Santa remember who his and save Christmas? I loved this. The cast is wonderful, the two leads have great chemistry and it is one of the funniest and most entertaining Hallmark movies I have ever seen. I really liked Santa, the puppet (or figure), and the Paul "character". Best Hallmark Christmas movie this year and one of the best films of the year. 4.5

[I_Wear_Pants]

The local amateur live theatre did Steel Magnolias some years back. I believe it was 2013. I went to it on Members' Night, which is a free dress rehearsal for theatre volunteers. I was the only one who saw the whole thing (there was one person who saw the first act and one person who saw the second act). What I remember is the cast of six women doing a very good job although minimal specifics. I kind of remember one of the young women dying and a lot of the plot centering around her overall health throughout the play. Reading your paragraph I can't be far off with words like "seizure" and "graveyard". I'm trying to remember if she died on stage or off. I know there was a lot of drama in the parlor centered around the wake of her death. I can't remember who all of the actresses were except the one who died. I mean she died in the story. So near as I know the actress is fine. I didn't really know her.

I remember bumping into the other young actress from Steel Magnolias at a job fair, I think it was, about a year later and I recognized her before she recognized me. Then she was like, "Yeah! You were in the front row and the only one in the audience!" I nervously told her she was good and that I liked it, to which she was grateful.

[PHOENIX74]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/57/Poster_of_the_movie_South_Pacific.jpg
By Derived from a digital capture (photo/scan) of the Film Poster (creator of this digital version is irrelevant as the copyright in all equivalent images is still held by the same party). Copyright held by the film company or the artist. Claimed as fair use regardless., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28623748

South Pacific - (1958)

Some songs went on to become part of the cultural zeitgeist, and some songs have been kind of forgotten - at least as far as our shared consciousness goes. It's always a blast to finally peg these songs to their point of origin - I never know where they came from. "Happy Talk", "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" (a boon for shampoo commercials), "Some Enchanted Evening" and "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" are the most used. I've been watching a bit of war mixed with comedy, war mixed with music - who ever knew war could be such a versatile subject? I've seen a few of Joshua Logan's movies now : Picnic, Sayonara, Fanny, Camelot - and I'm pretty sure I've been in Paint Your Wagon's proximity for it's duration. There's an ostentatious bigness to a lot of those movies, and for sure South Pacific kept me happy even during it's weirdness (those colour filters certainly were a choice!) I never expected racism to become an actual topic - especially in relation to main characters we're meant to like. I didn't watch the Roadshow version unfortunately - I've just learned about that now - I have the 2-disc edition of the film which includes that version. I hope to watch it one day.

7/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/The_Lincoln_Lawyer_Poster.jpg
By The cover art can or could be obtained from IMP Awards or Lions Gate., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29909865

The Lincoln Lawyer - (2011)

This was one a little disappointingly vanilla plain - I was expecting clever twists, but there were only predictable ones. I was expecting moments of shock, but there were only moments of mild excitement. Matthew McConaughey suits his character - shifty lawyer Mickey Haller - but William H. Macy didn't fully inhabit a role that was a little too gritty for his general wheelhouse (rough and tough investigator Frank Levin.) Haller is hired to represent playboy Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe) on assault charges, and finds that he has even less of a moral compass than he does - so much so he'll murder to keep his lawyer from withdrawing from the case and throwing him to the wolves. It all ends up connecting with a case from Haller's past. I feel like I'm writing a book blurb here, and for some reason nothing felt really fresh or interesting to me - I usually don't mind courtroom dramas, but when they lean more towards being thrillers they're not my kind of thing.

5/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/87/Amazinggraceposter.jpg
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8533094

Amazing Grace - (2006)

Interesting biographical/historical film which features the abolitionist fight in Britain led by William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) from 1782 to 1807 when he finally, finally, managed to see a law passed banning the slave trade throughout the British Empire. The anecdotes regarding what slaves transported from Africa to Jamaica and the like went through will make your skin crawl - cruelty beyond your imagining. Backing the somewhat unremarkable Gruffudd up is a stacked cast which features the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, Toby Jones and Rufus Sewell - it makes the difference between this being completely forgettable or halfway decent. The only sour note for me was all of the applauding and celebrating a bunch of wealthy white men were doing congratulating themselves on doing something that should have been done far sooner. I'm certainly very lucky to have lived the life I so far have. (And yeah, ex-slave trader John Newton (Finney) penning the Amazing Grace hymn is part of the narrative here.)

6/10

[iluv2viddyfilms]

The Wild Bunch (1969, Sam Peckinpah) - A+

How many times have I seen this movie, ten, twelve, fifteen times? Each time I do I see and feel something just slightly different than the previous time. The whole thing is a 2.5 hour long elegy and leaves me with an overwhelming feeling of sadness by the time all the carnage is done with. It damn near leaves me on the verge of tears. It's a tone poem and the chaos is punctuated by profound moments of silence, somber music, celebratory reflections on the simplicity of the good moments in life and how for each and every one of us, they'll all be gone and swept away before we even realize it. A great film and masterpiece in every sense of the word and there's so much depth here that unfortunately gets overlooked by the violence on the surface.

[Gideon58]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/34/On_golden_pond.jpg/220px-On_golden_pond.jpg



Umpteenth Rewatch...This 1981 Best Picture nominee is just as warm, moving, and heartbreaking as it was in '81. Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda were teamed for the first time onscreen as Ethel and Norman Thayer, who return to their summer cabin by the lake to celebrate Norman's 80th birthday with the arrival of their estranged daughter Chelsea (Jane Fonda), her fiancee Bill (Dabney Colemam) and Bill's son Billy Jr (Doug McKeon). Old resentments between Norman and Chelsea bubble to the surface while Bill and Chelsea ask Norman and Ethel to look after Bill's son for the summer. The bonding between Billy and the Thayers is a joy to watch and Henry Fonda not only provides plenty of laughs in his final feature film role, but ignites the tear ducts as well. That scene where Norman goes into the woods to pick strawberries and can't find his way home still breaks my heart every time as I watch it, or the look on his face when he realized he almost burned the cabin down. A nd don't sleep on that first scene with Henry Fonda and Dabney Coleman, it gets better with each viewing. It's a lovely motion picture. After decades in the business Heny Fonda finally won his first and only Oscar for Best Actor and Hepburn won her fourth and final statue for Best Actress. Ernest Thompson also won an Oscar for adapting his own play into a screenplay. BTW, the young man who plays Sumner, the teenager who gasses up the Thayer's boat is Christopher Rydell, son of the film's director, Mark Rydell. 4.5

[MovieBuffering]

On The Waterfront - 1954

Took me a minute to warm up to it but great flick. The car scene with his brother sure lived up to the hype. Brando was great but everyone knows that. Interesting setting working the docks. Not much more to say. I see why it's a classic. The girl and the persist always being johnny on the spot was a bit weird but I'll forgive it. I enjoyed it.

3.5

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTx6_MeKNLYMQ_Wt1V3e32Aoxrc86ftE9sGEw&s

[sawduck]

The Substance 9/10 - What a wild crazy entertaining movie, one of the best of the year. Demi Moore is often overlooked but she gives the performance of her life here,Margret Qualley and Dennis Quaid are also great in this.

Saturday Night 8/10 - I have never seen an episode of saturday night live so i wasn't sure if this movie was for me but i loved it, a cast of fantastic young actors make this a joy to watch

Problemista 8/10 - Another top movie of 2024

Snack Shack 7.5/10

Conclave 8/10

[Fabulous]

Ready or Not (2019)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/lg6umZ6dzD39zyiYamktfvJCFzs.jpg

[chawhee]

Moana 2 (2024)
https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w780/gyDpttDrIS5fJkzQ5u4sSLGqSgX.jpg
4
Doesn't quite live up to expectations with the original being so great, but this was still pretty good. Nothing seemed to match its predecessor, from story to jokes to songs. Yet it's still enjoyable on it's face.

[ueno_station54]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/1/0/8/3/7/6/3/1083763-carnage-for-christmas-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=6f5a16ea2d
i keep waiting for Alice Maio Mackay to take a step and each new movie is like, the tiniest tip-toe forward.
rating_3

[Robert the List]

Strike (1925) 9.75
The blueprint for a film masterpiece.
A guidebook for film making.

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYzA2MmMzNGUtMDY1NC00MDQwLTk1NTItZDdmZDBlYWY1MzlhXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg



2nd Rewatch...Joan Crawford really chews the scenery in this technicolor melodrama playing a tough as nails Broadway diva who falls for the new pianist in her show (Michael Wilding), who is blind and wth whom she shares a past she has forgotten about. Crawford is the show here, giving her fans exactly what they expect from her and Majorie Rambeau is terrific as her alcoholioc mother. 3.5

[Gideon58]

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4th Rewatch...Believe it or not , this film features my favorite Harrison Ford performance. Ford plays a rich and brilliant attorney who goes out to the corner store one night for cigarettes. A robber comes into the store and changes Ford's life forever when he shoots him in the head. We watch Henry face a long rehabilitation where he has to learn how to walk and talk again, but the drama isn't over when Henry tries to return to work before he's ready. This movie is just heartbreaking and I have never enjoyed Ford onscreen more. 4

[exiler96]

Day for Night (1973) - The following is what I had on my bingo card for this movie (spoilers ahead)

1. A director who’s unsure what he wants...
2. Or does know but has to handle challenges of filmmaking
3. All kinds of loons a.la Hail Caesar! It’s all worth it for the joy of making films
4. Snob critics, out of touch actors
5. A sweet kid at the center

Well I got the 2, 3 and half of the 4 right... but what gets me about Truffaut in his best moments (which applies to 99% of here) is his wave of humanity that just washes over the viewer.
Yes it's an unfiltered documentation on how a portion of filmmaking process is done but he never loses care for these character. The international actress, her outsider husband, the man-child romantic, the helpful crew members, the senior one who shockingly passes away at the end and he's the one to affect the whole production, the cat who doesn't play along... you could feel the affection he has for them in the general picture, however questionabale their actions are. Lots of movies have been made in recent years as "LoVe LeTtErS to ciNeMA" (which shaped the basis of my expectations numbered above) but none of them touched me or made me laugh like this one did...

https://blog.laemmle.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ac-dayfornight-a-650x366.jpg

strong 8/10, maybe a 9...

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOTg2NDU4Mjg2NV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjQ0MDIyMDI@._V1_.jpg


Umpteenth Rewatch...I have no idea how many times I've watched this movie but I never tire of re-watching it and if I run into it, I will always watch. In probably the biggest hit of his career, Jack Black plays Dewey Flynn, a wanna be rock and roller who takes a job as a substitute teacher at a grade school under the indentity of his best friend and instead of teaching, turns the students into a rock and roll band. This was the defining role of Black's career and made him an official movie star. Joan Cusack also manags to garner laughs as the tight-assed school prinicpal. Mike White, who plays Dewey's BFF, would go on to create the HBO series The White Lotus. 4

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/817bjzxjSXL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg


5th Rewatch...My favorite Steven Spielberg film, a textbook on the art of cinematic storytelling. This is the fact based story of a 17 year old con man named Frank William Abignale Jr (Leonardo DiCaprio), the son of a con man (Christopher Walken), who goes on a nationwide crime spree which includes cashing over a million dollars in fraudulent checks, and impersonating a doctor, a lawyer, and a pilot. Frank Jr's crimes find him in an intricate cat and mouse game with an FBI agent named Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks). Spielberg's splendid direction is the reason this movie is mesmerizing from start to finish. I love near the beginning of the film where we see Frank appear on To Tell The Truth. DiCaprio was robbed of an Oscar nomination for his charismatic performance as Frank Jr, though Walken's lovely performance as Frank Sr did earn him a supporting actor nomination. The solid supporting cast includes Martin Sheen, Amy Adams, Jennfer Garner, James Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, and Ellen Pompeo. John Williams' music also snagged a richly deserved nomination. Slam-bang entertainment from the mighty Spielberg. 4.5

[Gideon58]

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Umpteenth Rewatch...The strongest of the four films starring Christoper Reeve finds the Man of Steel finally heading toward romance with Lois Lane while battling three criminals from Krypton who were imprisoned by Superman's father and have escaped. Reeve is sincere in the starring role and Gene Hackman steals every scene he's in as Lex Luthor. Love Terrence Stamp as General Zod too. 4

[Takoma11]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimages2.9c9media.com%2Fimage_asset%2F2022_7_6_f58e1465-f518-49c3-a9d8-c19faa9c1cd6_jpg_2000x1125.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=75d2266a5f0bfa350281e19bcf80ddc993a8b71a2a1d157b7d4c0102e4b12ec6&ipo=images

The Worst Person in the World, 2021

Julie (Renate Reinsve) sets out into the world uncertain of what she wants to do with her life. While she is good at navigating social situations, she fails to find a passion and thus pursues various vocations in fits and starts. Just as quickly as she hops from job to job, she hops from one romance to another.

This is a well-acted, grounded-but-empathetic film about the dangers of always watching the horizon.

4

FULL REVIEW (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2517558#post2517558)

[Siddon]

https://cdn.flickeringmyth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1219693756-600x300.jpeg

Flow (2024)

In what has been a stellar year for small indie films this might be the best of the bunch. Flow is the story of a cat in a flood on earth...maybe. The film is a paradox a series of complex 2001 esque influences combined with the very simple story of a cat and other animals just trying to survive a disaster. This is perhaps the first sign of generations inspired by Miyazaki to go out and put their own imprint on cinema.

It's a silent film of sorts an adventure that's filled with gorgeous vistas and interesting ideas. It's a boat ride with animals with the star being the cat but it's not only about the cat. This film offers a number of character studies from the other animals that many a YouTube will dissect and discuss over the next year or so.

I fully expect this film to be a double nom...and perhaps a double winner when the Oscars come around.

rating_5

[Siddon]

https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sep5re-jpg.webp

September 5th (2024)

Sometimes you need to just hold a movie...give it some space when current times and other films have already come out. On it's own merit September 5th is a good film...I think if it came out a year from now it would have been great. The problem with September 5th is it's basically Saturday Night but with terrorists and it just felt like a cheaper version of the story.

This is the story of 24 hours or so when Black September kidnapped and murdered Jewish coaches and athletes during the Munich Olympics. If you saw Spielberg's Munich this works as a companion piece. This is a film about technology and tension how a group of night shift ABC sports producers dealt with this giant story falling right on top of them. And it's a good movie but the politics of October 7th is an albatross for the film. We never get to deep into the politics of Palestine, Germany, and Israel rather we get some clumsy gender and race stuff.

And this is the problem with September 5th (and Munich) the focus is on mood and atmosphere in a time when you need to have a stronger perspective and point of view. It also doesn't help that the lead is John Magaro who is very Jewish playing a character who in real life was incredibly white. Some of you will be able to turn your brains off to the propaganda but I couldn't which is a shame because the film has merit. The story could have been told well, but it felt like a direct to streaming film that got raised up to prestige this year and it really shouldn't have.

rating_3_5

[*Sky*]

Django (1966) - Sergio Corbucci: 6.5/10
https://i.makeagif.com/media/8-31-2015/z80nnv.gif

[*Sky*]

Babe (1995)

3+

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uwOwbMrpXuU/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEhCK4FEIIDSFryq4qpAxMIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJD&rs=AOn4CLCZ-Kn8WRVdID1Ujp670usfCINCxA

#60 on the current 90's list, it's well made and James Cromwell is good as always. The animals are cute and I'm a sucker for animals. That's about it. I wonder if it finds it's way onto the upcoming 90's countdown.

One of my faves and the film that got me obsessed on pigs. Babe is adorable and the music and bucolic atmosphere are dreamy, cosy and epic all at once, so much nostalgia!

[I_Wear_Pants]

I watched Batman Bad Blood tonight. It's awesome. The fisticuffs are exciting, the story is good, and the flow is great. I loved it. It's my favorite of the four animated straight-to-DVD Batman animated films in the 18-movie collection I've watched so far. Maybe I should just buy my own copy. I'll have to look for it.

[Fabulous]

Kiss the Girls (1997)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/zHesVfMLLSqbtJyDsyx2fzjcAt7.jpg

[Captain Quint]

Wolfs (2024)
Jon Watts is an average director who makes average movies, and while this has several peaks, there are also too many valleys, scenes that ran overlong, moments where I lost interest - I don't know, it was just a movie, neither here nor there. 2.5 or 3

[Thief]

ENTER THE NINJA
(1981, Golam)

https://i.imgur.com/orMJhLJ.jpeg


"Preposterous or not, sir, we're dealing with a highly disciplined person who like in ancient times excels in martial arts, swordsmanship, archery, and poisons."



Enter the Ninja follows Cole (Franco Nero), an American ninja and former soldier. After completing his ninjitsu training in Japan, he travels to the Philippines to visit his best friend Frank (Alex Courtney) and his wife, but finds himself in the middle of a clash between Frank and a ruthless businessman that wants his land. Cole then has to use his ninja skills to protect his best friend.

Seeing it now wasn't as novel as it was back then. The truth is that the film has a lot of flaws, starting with a poorly conceived script and a weak lead in Nero. I mean, he does have the tough look, but there's literally no other emotion in him. As a result, his backstory with Frank, and the ill-conceived attempt at a relationship with his wife, don't work at all. If anything, the bad guys had a more assorted array of colorful and fun characters.

Grade: 2


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2517697#post2517697)

[Torgo]

ENTER THE NINJA
(1981, Golam)

Oh well. That's my favorite of the three Ninja movies. If anything, I'm a bit more partial to Mr. Nero (obviously).

Anyway, I'm eager to read your thoughts about the other two if you plan on watching them. I thought the second one was sleazy crap and the third, while an improvement, does not quite reach the heights of the first one. It's the silliest and most shamelessly "'80s" one, though.

[Thief]

Oh well. That's my favorite of the three Ninja movies. If anything, I'm a bit more partial to Mr. Nero (obviously).

Anyway, I'm eager to read your thoughts about the other two if you plan on watching them. I thought the second one was sleazy crap and the third, while an improvement, does not quite reach the heights of the first one. It's the silliest and most shamelessly "'80s" one, though.

The plot of the third one seems crazy :laugh:

[Stirchley]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/817bjzxjSXL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg


5th Rewatch...My favorite Steven Spielberg film, a textbook on the art of cinematic storytelling. This is the fact based story of a 17 year old con man named Frank William Abignale Jr (Leonardo DiCaprio), the son of a con man (Christopher Walken), who goes on a nationwide crime spree which includes cashing over a million dollars in fraudulent checks, and impersonating a doctor, a lawyer, and a pilot. Frank Jr's crimes find him in an intricate cat and mouse game with an FBI agent named Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks). Spielberg's splendid direction is the reason this movie is mesmerizing from start to finish. I love near the beginning of the film where we see Frank appear on To Tell The Truth. DiCaprio was robbed of an Oscar nomination for his charismatic performance as Frank Jr, though Walken's lovely performance as Frank Sr did earn him a supporting actor nomination. The solid supporting cast includes Martin Sheen, Amy Adams, Jennfer Garner, James Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, and Ellen Pompeo. John Williams' music also snagged a richly deserved nomination. Slam-bang entertainment from the mighty Spielberg. 4.5

Hugely entertaining.

[Stirchley]

103504

Terrific French movie. Re-watch.

103505

Good indie movie.

103506

Terrific movie many people have never heard of. Re-watch.

[Torgo]

The plot of the third one seems crazy :laugh:MKS gave it his highest possible rating if I remember correctly. Enjoy!

[mrblond]

Joe Bonamassa Guitar Man (2020)

A documentary about this superb blues-rock musician, covering his music life from high school till nowadays. I'd like it showed a bit more of Joe's personality and life outside the stage and studio.
The film was presented at CineLibri film fest. It is one of a few events when I visit a movie theatre since a decade time.
Anyway, I follow Bonamassa music career, especially his participation in Black Country Communion and his performances with Beth Hart.
4
80/100103507

[Stirchley]

Joe Bonamassa Guitar Man (2020)

A documentary about this superb blues-rock musician, covering his music life from high school till nowadays. I'd like it showed a bit more of Joe's personality and life outside the stage and studio.
The film was presented at CineLibri film fest. It is one of a few events when I visit a movie theatre since a decade time.
Anyway, I follow Bonamassa music career, especially his participation in Black Country Communion and his performances with Beth Hart.
4
80/100103507

Great guitarist I always forget about.

[Gideon58]

https://resizing.flixster.com/-XZAfHZM39UwaGJIFWKAE8fS0ak=/v3/t/assets/p8655_v_v13_aj.jpg


Umpteenth Rewatch...What can be said about this Christmas classic that hasn't been already said. Peter Billingsley redefines adorable as Ralphie and the late Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin are perfection as his parents. 4

[Torgo]

The Match Factory Girl - 4

The third part of the Proletariat trilogy is essentially Kaurismaki with the gloves off. A movie that would pair well with Takeshi Kitano's Violent Cop or Robert Bresson's L'Argent, the director does not beat around the bush here on his thoughts and feelings about evil begetting evil and the increasingly unbalanced scale of justice between poor and powerful. Expertly setting the tone with a news report on the Tiananmen Square massacre, he moves on to establish one of his most pitiable protagonists - and perhaps in all of film - in Iris (Outinen). Besides her titular dead-end job, she is in abusive relationships with her parents, only finds joy in the pages of books and always leaves bars alone. On the one night someone shows interest in her at one, it happens to be the worst kind of person for her imaginable: Aarne (Vierikko), who like Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut is a guy used to solving all his problems with money. What follows has Iris seeking justice for his crimes and eventually those of everyone like him while not exactly retaining what humanity she has left in the process.

Kaurismaki and Outinen have become one of my favorite director/performer relationships, with this being the best instance I've seen yet. The dialogue is incredibly sparse - it's 25 minutes until a main character says something and it's fitting that it's an insult to Iris - but Outinen succeeds at letting us inside Iris's head anyway. As for Aarne, with his wolfish beard and steely expressions, Vierikko appropriately makes him out to be more monster than man. Did Kaurismaki influence Kitano? I cannot find evidence of such, but if it's not the minimal dialogue and lack of camera movement that makes you wonder, it's how stark and subtlety-free each crime, attempt at retribution, etc. comes across. We never see the aftermath of the worst offenses, but we simply do not need to. Also, Kaurismaki sure knows his way around Helsinki, especially when it comes to choosing which parts represent Iris's world and which represent Aarne's. If it's not how decrepit or kitschy Iris's is and how clean, shiny and new Aarne's that says it all, it's how jarring the director makes them contrast.

Simply put, this movie functions quite well as a middle finger to the decade that preceded it, especially to the forces that pressed the iron boot even harder on the face of the working class and to those who yearn to kiss it anyway. It also succeeds in proving that subtlety is not always a virtue, which, however, is why I cannot say this is one of my very favorites by the director. What keeps me coming back to him is how he manages to express multitudes with such a minimal approach. As satisfying and true the starker drama in this entry may be, I ended up appreciating the outcome more than liking it as a result. I still understand why this would be considered the best Finnish movie of all time and encourage you to seek it out, but not without seeking out the trilogy's preceding entries first, of course. I'll add that all three movies, but especially this one, could not be a better antidote to an '80s nostalgia overdose.

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNjg5ZGNiNDktNDZkZC00ODU4LTk4MTYtYmQ3MTIzYjViZjBiXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg


2.5

[mrblond]

Snerting [Touch] (2024)

Directed by Baltasar Kormákur

An aging Iceland widower turns back to his college years memory and undertakes a search for his love of these years, a Japanese girl...
As the title says, it is a touching movie at some moments.
3.5+
73/100
103529

[ueno_station54]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/2/1/4/5/5/21455-big-money-rustlas-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=5966346e77
makes me appreciate their previous film a bit more given this is the same thing just watered down and it still isn't really thaaaaat bad.
2.5

[Thief]

FROM BENEATH
(2012, Doucette)

https://i.imgur.com/P3vDzzw.jpeg


"I can't control myself anymore. I don't know why I keep doing things and it's all because of this... thing."



I've taken a knack for watching Tubi during my lunch hour, specifically for low demand watches like low budget horror thrillers or 1950s creature features. From Beneath falls in the former category. It follows a young couple: Sam and Jason (Lauren Watson and Jamie Temple) as they head out to visit Sam's sister, who just moved to a secluded farmhouse with her family. However, as Sam and Jason arrive, her sister is nowhere to be found while Jason ends up being bitten by a mysterious organism... from beneath!

But for every little workable flair with the camera, there are ten lines of cringey dialogue or bad delivery from the two leads. Not only is the dialogue terrible, but the performances from Watson and Temple are plain bad. Moreover, their reactions to the things that start happening are dumb and make no sense at all. The two characters behave more as if they just found out the toilet overflowed, instead of the two being attacked by a murderous organism that's taking over one of them.

Grade: 1


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2517913#post2517913)

[Captain Quint]

103538

Fancy Dance (2023)
Lily Gladstone and Isabel Deroy-Olson are outstanding in this coming of age, road picture, missing person-crime, mashup. It's as slow unfolding tale, patient, but not dull, there is tension, and much heart. It's playing on Apple TV+

4

[Fabulous]

The Funeral (1984)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/3C9SbB3tCx5fc4Oi16HcORp1rLM.jpg

[Thief]

20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH
(1957, Juran)

https://i.imgur.com/CQvycRL.jpeg


"Fascinating... Horrible, but fascinating."



That's how a representative of the Italian government describes the situation of this film, where an alien creature was brought from Venus by American astronauts. Unfortunately, the ship crashes near the coast of Sicily with only Colonel Bob Calder (William Hopper) surviving. 20 Million Miles to Earth follows the attempts of Calder and the government to stop the creature once it gets loose and on the rampage.

The special effects are perhaps the film's biggest asset, which is understandable since the creature and some of its setpieces were done with stop-motion animation designed by Ray Harryhausen. The end result is pretty impressive for the time, with some of the effects in these setpieces being pretty seamless and well executed. Notable examples are the creature escaping from a barn, fighting an elephant, and his final rampage through the streets of Rome. Horrible, but fascinating.

Grade: 3.5


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2518007#post2518007)

[mrblond]

The Great Escaper (2023)

Directed by Oliver Parker
Starring Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson

Came across to it previous week on the television.
A comedy-drama film about a WWII veteran who lives in a retirement home together with his wife. One day, he undertakes a gambling trip to France to take part in the 70th anniversary celebration of the war end. Many touching moments especially the scene with the German officers when all gave a respect to each other and the memory of their fallen friends.
3.5+
74/100
103560

[GulfportDoc]

103564

Juror #2 (2024)

This is a trustworthy good old fashioned studio film, the likes of which are no longer common in modern times. It’s a well thought out story that quickly puts both the protagonist and audience in a quandary that inexorably causes unrelenting tension and suspense that doesn’t let up until the final scene.

Nicholas Hoult stars as Justin Kemp, a recovered alcoholic whose wife (Zoey Deutch) is expecting a baby. To his and her chagrin he’s been selected for jury duty in a murder trial. As he hears the evidence against the accused killer, he gradually realizes that he may have been involved in the incident. As his culpability becomes apparent to him, how will this knowledge guide his actions in the jury deliberations, and also at home?

Toni Collette shines as a determined prosecutor who is looking for slam dunk win to help in her campaign for District Attorney, and Chris Messina delivers a nuanced and varied performance as the public defender who represents the accused. In addition we’re treated to a few famous veteran actors in surprisingly smaller roles: J.K. Simmons as a juror who raises doubt about the defendant’s guilt; Kiefer Sutherland plays Justin’s AA sponsor who is also a defense attorney; and a solid turn by Amy Aquino (Lt. Grace Billets in Bosch) as the trial judge.

Several characters are trapped in moral dilemmas. Justin is pulled into conflict with his wife, his 12-step principles, his sponsor, the attorneys, and his basic morality. The prosecuting attorney soon faces a circumstance which conflicts with her early determination, her zeal to become D.A., and her eventual truth seeking. Simmons’ juror wrestles with his sworn duty which is in contrast to his previous work as a police detective. And Justin’s wife struggles to protect her baby and husband from her fear that Justin may have been involved in the crime.

There are a few mentionable detractions. The lead could have been better cast than with Nicholas Hoult. His inherent diffident personality did not really fit the story. In a way Hoult put me in mind of director Eastwood’s real life personality. Perhaps Hoult was signed because he is a very popular actor with the younger set.

The story itself is appealing and somewhat fresh, whose essence is very reminiscent of an Alfred Hitchcock suspense tale. But some of the dialogue, especially in the jury deliberations scenes, was almost trite. For example Cedric Yarbrough’s performance as the angry black male juror was burdened with rather hackneyed lines, which, despite his best efforts, sounded inauthentic. Gabriel Basso as the accused suffered with poor dialogue, so one could never really feel his anguish. It’s surprising that Jonathan Abrams was tasked with the screenplay, given his lack of previous credits. Surely Eastwood could have lassoed a heftier writer. And, presumably as an “in” joke, Eastwood’s daughter Francesca was cast as the murder victim, and she did a fine job.

Warner Bros. reportedly had intended the picture originally as a streaming release, but after the positive stir, they released it in a very limited fashion to theaters. I think it would have done well as a major general release. Keep in mind that Clint Eastwood has made billions of dollars for Warners over the years. Much has been made of this as supposedly being Eastwood’s final directed film. Hopefully he’ll change his mind. There have been few directors left who can spin a tale as can Eastwood. Most of his pictures feel very authentic and true to life. Maybe he has another one left in him.

Doc’s rating: 7/10

[I_Wear_Pants]

I finally finished Twelve O'Clock High. I found it a solid film. It was very well done. I thought Peck and his support were great and the story is strong. It was worth watching, even if it did take me four days to get through it vis external distractions.

[Allaby]

Christmas, Every Day (2024) Watched on Youtube. This is a really interesting short documentary, only 13 minutes, directed by Faye Tsakas. It's about tween (now teen) influencers/models/actors Peyton and Lyla Wesson and their parents. The short is thought provoking without being heavy handed and allows the viewer to come to their own conclusions. It raises questions in a way that feels honest and natural. I think it could have been longer and explored more of the girls' lives. A follow up short could work too. Definitely worth checking out. 4.5

[PHOENIX74]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/af/Best_little_whorehouse_in_texasposter.jpg
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9765814

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas - (1982)

I'd seen The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas numerous times during the 1980s - I'm not sure if it was because I really liked it, or simply because it was popular and available. There were songs in it that I'd completely forgotten in the interim, but most of the film felt quite familiar. Watching it again was like visiting someone that I knew from high school but hadn't seen for a long time - someone I really wasn't good friends with, but didn't mind all the same. There are a few good numbers - "A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place", "Texas Has a Whorehouse in It" and especially "The Sidestep" with Charles Durning, which is one moment where the film really shines. "Hard Candy Christmas" is pretty good as well. The inclusion of Jim Nabors in the cast highlights the hokey nature of some of the comedy in this - there's so much mugging for the camera, but I guess that's also the nature of musical comedies. I often wonder what the stage show was like. Anyway, it's part of my collection now, and part of my early film-watching history.

6/10

[*Sky*]

Spotlight (2015) – Tom McCarthy: 8/10
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58e45a52ebbd1a24417fdf93/1497499966182-21D75NII9XY040W4IDD2/spotlight.gif?format=500w

[I_Wear_Pants]

I like Spotlight. Its biggest drawback was coming out the same year as Big Short, which was also an Oscar-contender, and winner, and they are very similar films. I saw Big Short first, which I am convinced is why I prefer it. Spotlight is still a great film.

[Siddon]

Spotlight is great except for that one scene with Keaton and Ruffalo fighting...which was just really random and out of place for the film.

In hindsight it wasn't even a top ten film that should have won BP that year (The Revenant, Sicario, Inside Out, Anamolisa, Ex Machina, Straight outta Compton, The Big Short, Mad Max Fury Road, The Witch, and Creed).

It's also weird that Tom McCarthy has only made two films since Spotlight.

[mrblond]

103595

Nights of Cabiria (1957)

Directed by Federico Fellini
Starring Giulietta Masina

Finally, I saw this Fellini movie. I found it a step below La Strada, the other of the Masina's lead roles.
Noticeable Chaplin influences in this film.
3.5+
73/100

[Stirchley]

103599

Re-watch. Good movie, but I prefer the French version of this story.

Re-watch good movie. Bel Powley really good.

103601

[Daniel M]

Christmas Eve in Miller's Point (Tyler Taormina, 2024) 3.5

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/11/07/multimedia/07christmaseve-review-pbvf/07christmaseve-review-pbvf-videoSixteenByNine3000.jpg

Full of energy, great camerawork and editing.

[Marco]

The Sadist (1963)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7b/Sadistmp.jpg
Another late nighter on Talking Pictures TV. 3 teachers are heading to a baseball game when they encounter car trouble and, worse, 2 sadistic spree killers (based on the Charles Starkweather murders). The attitudes of the 2 misanthropes towards authority is dialed up to 10 when they learn their occupations. Lots of little set pieces as the teachers try and outwit the murderer in charge but they can never get past his malevolence.
Another lesser known selection from Talking Pictures that I really enjoyed, the atmosphere is eerie and sinister which is well done as most is filmed al fresco.
3.5

[ueno_station54]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/3/6/3/1/3/36313-tales-from-the-hood-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=ddf2d396a5
4

[mrblond]

103621

Pinocchio (2019)

Written and Directed by Matteo Garrone
Starring Roberto Benigni and Federico Ielapi

Nice Italian movie with beautiful cinematography, presenting the story about the famous wooden boy.
Alas, shameless Hollywood cartels launched their versions immediately after this, to put it in the shadow but the Italian film is quite better.
4-
78/100

[Allaby]

I'm Not a Robot (2023) This live action Dutch short comedy made the Oscar shortlist and is currently available on Youtube. After a woman fails to complete an online Captcha, she starts to wonder if maybe she is a robot. I enjoyed this. It had some funny moments and was genuinely interesting. 4

[matt72582]

On The Waterfront - 1954

Took me a minute to warm up to it but great flick. The car scene with his brother sure lived up to the hype. Brando was great but everyone knows that. Interesting setting working the docks. Not much more to say. I see why it's a classic. The girl and the persist always being johnny on the spot was a bit weird but I'll forgive it. I enjoyed it.

rating_3_5

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTx6_MeKNLYMQ_Wt1V3e32Aoxrc86ftE9sGEw&s




The movie that got me into movies along with "The Godfather" at 17.. I saw it, loved it, hit rewind, and saw it again with no break in between. Brando is still my favorite.

[Fabulous]

I'll See You in My Dreams (2015)

3

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/k4lnvJwf8sUoJyaimTIv49M0rMw.jpg

[*Sky*]

I LOVED this film, it moved me to tears. I was even tempted to give it a ten at one point.
The Time Machine (1960) - George Pal: 9/10
https://66.media.tumblr.com/57e2dab45be8a24b2e8ad94fa50225e4/tumblr_n83gts44ES1ttw2neo8_250.gif

[MovieBuffering]

The movie that got me into movies along with "The Godfather" at 17.. I saw it, loved it, hit rewind, and saw it again with no break in between. Brando is still my favorite.

Shawshank did that for me. I was like 9 or 10 when I first saw it on TNT. It was the end with Morgan Freeman at the wall. It fascinated me. I was like this movie is different in quality. Never get tired of it.

[PHOENIX74]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/26/London_Has_Fallen_poster.jpg
By Believed to be Millennium Films - http://www.impawards.com/2016/london_has_fallen_ver4.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44205040

London Has Fallen - (2016)

I like having interesting films to talk about, tell people about or else just be enthused about - but sometimes there's lamenting and occasionally, like in this instance, terrible shame for having even watched one. I have family members that kind of like the Has Fallen series of films, and I was presented with the first one 4 or so Christmases ago while I was staying at their place on the East Coast - it wasn't great, but wasn't terrible, so I tried this one. Terrible mistake. London Has Fallen is brain-achingly stupid (not that the first one was all that intelligent, but apparently the collective IQ of the people making these films has fallen it seems.) Acting tough now requires one to talk like Batman in Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, so Gerard Butler (as Secret Service Agent Mike Banning) and Aaron Eckhart (as President Benjamin Asher) speak in low-toned grunts through the entire chest-thumping murderthon. It seems that Britain has allowed an entire terrorist army infiltrate every agency in the nation, and someone springs an attack which somehow takes out most of the prominent world leaders attending the British Prime Minister's funeral - but this entire force combined is no match for Mike Banning alone armed only with his wits. 500 stabbings and shootings later, along with 138 quips delivered in low grunting tones, and we're finally free of this offensive piece of trash. The special effects are puzzlingly sub-par and the whole endeavour reeks of creative bankruptcy. I hated this movie - and everything about it apart from Morgan Freeman.

2/10

[matt72582]

Shawshank did that for me. I was like 9 or 10 when I first saw it on TNT. It was the end with Morgan Freeman at the wall. It fascinated me. I was like this movie is different in quality. Never get tired of it.


That movie was ALWAYS on TNT, along with "A River Runs Through It"

[SpelingError]

Timeless Bottomless Bad Movie (1997) - 4.5

Having seen this shortly after watching Korine's Trash Humpers and rewatching Gummo could've invited unflattering comparisons given how exceedingly well I responded to the latter film, but I felt this stood just fine on its own. Almost all of it portrays countless vignettes of crimes and various types of atrocities, but saying this is all Korine and Sun-woo care about is unfair and misses the underlying sadness at the heart of them (that said, I was lukewarm on Trash Humpers, which felt stripped of most of what made Gummo so great). Acknowledging the kinds of characters who commit these acts and the reality and social issues of their surroundings causes what's depicted to cut real deep. Which can be easy to overlook, but these people are anything but privileged. In the case of Bad Movie, it mainly concerns runaways, vagrants, homeless youth...people on the fringe of society. Sun-woo is able to capture all this without judging his subjects. Though this film is directed as a mockumentary, much of the street fights/violence are depicted so realistically, the lines between what was real and what was staged frequently felt blurred. Part of this may be due to the rawness of the handheld camerawork which made the film look super cheap (I don't mean this as a criticism), but seeing the youth vandalize public property or get in brutal fist fights super close to numerous bystanders and motorists made me ask "How did they stage that?" to the point I was unsure if they actually did. A gang rape near the end felt particularly disturbing for this reason. It's prolonged, yet depicted so plainly. This is no Gummo, but then again, few films are (controversial take?). It's undoubtedly required viewings for all fans of Korine.

[SpelingError]

Timeless Bottomless Bad Movie (1997) - 4.5

Having seen this shortly after watching Korine's Trash Humpers and rewatching Gummo could've invited unflattering comparisons given how exceedingly well I responded to the latter film, but I felt this stood just fine on its own. Almost all of it portrays countless vignettes of crimes and various types of atrocities, but saying this is all Korine and Sun-woo care about is unfair and misses the underlying sadness at the heart of them (that said, I was lukewarm on Trash Humpers, which felt stripped of most of what made Gummo so great). Acknowledging the kinds of characters who commit these acts and the reality and social issues of their surroundings causes what's depicted to cut real deep. Which can be easy to overlook, but these people are anything but privileged. In the case of Bad Movie, it mainly concerns runaways, vagrants, homeless youth...people on the fringe of society. Sun-woo is able to capture all this without judging his subjects. Though this film is directed as a mockumentary, much of the street fights/violence are depicted so realistically, the lines between what was real and what was staged frequently felt blurred. Part of this may be due to the rawness of the handheld camerawork which made the film look super cheap (I don't mean this as a criticism), but seeing the youth vandalize public property or get in brutal fist fights super close to numerous bystanders and motorists made me ask "How did they stage that?" to the point I was unsure if they actually did. A gang rape near the end felt particularly disturbing for this reason. It's prolonged, yet depicted so plainly. This is no Gummo, but then again, few films are (controversial take?). It's undoubtedly required viewings for all fans of Korine.

I might as well ping ueno_station54 for this.

[Gideon58]

[QUOTE=Fabulous;2518450]I'll See You in My Dreams (2015)

3

LOVED this movie...Blythe Danner is very special to me...a link to my review:

:https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/1701158-ill_see_you_in_my_dreams.html

[Stirchley]

Christmas Eve in Miller's Point (Tyler Taormina, 2024) 3.5

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/11/07/multimedia/07christmaseve-review-pbvf/07christmaseve-review-pbvf-videoSixteenByNine3000.jpg

Full of energy, great camerawork and editing.

Atrocious. Bailed out. Waste of a streaming fee.

[Stirchley]

103639

This version is by far the best of these two movies.

103640

Good movie, but the Danish version is much darker & works better. James McAvoy over-acting & chewing the scenery somewhat.

103641

I could listen to Hugh Grant all day. Beautiful voice. Good movie. Two female leads excellent too.

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTdhNTVhZjgtMzIwMC00OGFiLThlNWUtYjBlMGNlNDdhNzNlXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg


1st Rewatch...I think I enjoyed this exuberant MGM film version of a classic Broadway musical more on the rewatch. The story takes place at fictional Tait College where we meet the quarterback and big man on campus Tommy Marlowe (Peter Lawford) who may not be able to play in the big game unless he passes French, so he seeks help from campus brain Connie Lane (June Allyson). The story has just enough meat on it not to get in the way of some fantastic song and dance numbers including "Lucky in Love", "Be a Ladies Man" "The Best Things in Life are Free", the spectacular dance number "Pass that Peace Pipe", led by the extraordinary Joan McCraken (which earned the film's only Oscar nomination for Best Song), the finale "Varsity Drag", and my personal favorite, Lawford and Allyson's "The French Lesson". The musical numbers really bring this one to life, anchored by some spectacular choreography, but I have not been able to find out who choreographed this movie. The choreography looks like Busby Berkeley, but I have been unable to find any credit for the choreography for this movie. 3.5

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMDM1YzdlZjAtZWFiZS00ZjYyLTgxYzctNzBiYmE0OWFiMGU1XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg


1st Rewatch...One of Alfred Hitchcock's cringiest efforts that most people either really really love or really really hate. The story takes place in the penthouse apartment of Brandon (John Dall) and Phillip (Farley Granger) who have just murdered their friend David Kentley and placed him in a chest in the front room, a few hours before they are to have a dinner party where the guest include David's girlfriend, his parents, and his best friend. Also on the guest list is a former college professor (James Stewart) who begins to piece together what has happened. For me, this is classic Hitchcock, people murdering for sport and hiding the body in plain sight. Fans of a later Hitchcock classic called The Trouble with Harry should have a head start with this. BTW, even though it isn't stated outright, the story implies that Brandon and Phillip are lovers, pretty bold for 1948. Dall and Stewart are excellent. 4

[Gideon58]

https://moviemem.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/WHOSAFRIADOFVIRGINIA1SHHRws.jpg


Umpteenth Rewatch...My second favorite movie of all time and the origin of my avatar. . Robbed of the Oscar for Best Picture of 1966, this is Mike Nichols' sizzling film version of Edward Albee's groundbreaking play about two college professors and their wives who get together for a drunken night of secrets, lies, resentments, and some very hurtful "games." I was first exposed to this film in my 10th grade acting class when my teacher wanted to show us "what really great acting was." Elizabeth Taylor won her second Oscar for her performances as the harridan Martha, and this Oscar she deserved. Taylor's performance continues to fascinate every time I watch this film and then hubby Richard Burton was robbed of the Best Actor for playing her emasculated husband George. Sandy Dennis won the Best Supporting Actress for the pathetic Honey though George Segal lost Best Supporting actor for his strong and sensitive Nick. Mike Nichols was also robbed of the Best Director Oscar, the film features incredible camera work, especially some strong work with hand held camera. The film also won Oscars for Black and White cinematography and Costumes. A thunderous film experience if you have the stomach for it. 5

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91ctxDWvXvL.jpg



1st Rewaqtch...Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers first appeared together in a Dolores Del Rio movie called Flying Down to Rio for RKO and pretty much stole the movie from Del Rio. Astaire and Rogers would make eight more musicals at RKO, and after the eighth, The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, they decided not to work together as both desired to do different things. The following year, Rogers would win the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in Kitty Foyle. There is a school of thought that this film is a mirror of what was really going on with Astaire and Rogers as they play Josh and Dinah Barkley, Broadway musical comedy team who split when a French playwright asks Dinah to star in a straight play he's written about Sarah Bernhardt. Actually, this 1949 film was written as a reunion for Fred Astaire and Judy Garland, who had triumphed the year before in Easter Parade, but Garland was having health and marriage problems that made her unavailable, paving the way for Fred and Ginger reunite after ten years, and for the first time, at MGM, and in technicolor. Musical highlights include "Swing Trot" (which unfortunately gets hidden by the opening credits), "Me One and Only Highland Fling", and the ridiculously imaginative "Shoes with Wings on". There's also a great tap number on an empty stage stops the show. May I also say that Ginger has rarely looked as beautiful as she does here. 3.5

[Stirchley]

https://moviemem.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/WHOSAFRIADOFVIRGINIA1SHHRws.jpg


Umpteenth Rewatch...My second favorite movie of all time and the origin of my avatar. . Robbed of the Oscar for Best Picture of 1966, this is Mike Nichols' sizzling film version of Edward Albee's groundbreaking play about two college professors and their wives who get together for a drunken night of secrets, lies, resentments, and some very hurtful "games." I was first exposed to this film in my 10th grade acting class when my teacher wanted to show us "what really great acting was." Elizabeth Taylor won her second Oscar for her performances as the harridan Martha, and this Oscar she deserved. Taylor's performance continues to fascinate every time I watch this film and then hubby Richard Burton was robbed of the Best Actor for playing her emasculated husband George. Sandy Dennis won the Best Supporting Actress for the pathetic Honey though George Segal lost Best Supporting actor for his strong and sensitive Nick. Mike Nichols was also robbed of the Best Director Oscar, the film features incredible camera work, especially some strong work with hand held camera. The film also won Oscars for Black and White cinematography and Costumes. A thunderous film experience if you have the stomach for it. 5

Great movie.

[ueno_station54]

I might as well ping ueno_station54 for this.
this has been on my radar for a minute, i have some friends that absolutely love it.

[mrblond]

The Son (2022)

Written and Directed by Florian Zeller
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Vanessa Kirby and Anthony Hopkins

After the highly acclaimed The Father (2020), Zeller creates kind of continuation in the same style and ideas. Well, this time the screenplay is not that convincing and interesting as his debut. Anyway, it is not a bad movie.
3+
65/100
103652

[Thief]

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE
(2009, Hood)

https://i.imgur.com/TyjIWWp.jpeg


"You wanted the animal, Colonel. You got it."



The biggest liabilities that X-Men Origins: Wolverine has are that it's predictable and it's dumb. Its predictability comes from following many of the typical action film conventions and tropes. You kinda know what's gonna happen, plus you get lots of explosions and cringey one-liners. Its dumbness comes from how none of the things that happen make sense. Like Stryker deciding to erase Logan's memory only after he puts the adamantium in him, or how they never mention the adamantium bullets until it is convenient to do so.

However, the film kinda makes up for its faults with its performances. There are a lot of wasted characters, but the core of Jackman, Schreiber, and Danny Huston as Stryker, was great. You can pretty much feel Jackman's commitment to the character, even when spewing stupid lines. As for the latter two, they offer two very different but effective layers of villainy. Schreiber is chewing scenery like a madman while Huston delivers a more restrained antagonist, but both work; at least as well as you would expect from the material.

Grade: 2.5


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2518719#post2518719)

[matt72582]

Secret and Explicit (The Aims and Acts of Zionists)

Documentary with a lot of quotes and archival video footage. Available for free on Archives.



https://mjff.ru/img/Film/LybyPRp2.jpg

[matt72582]

Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble In Mind


More music than interviews. And I don't like his music. My first band played two of his songs reluctantly. He seems like a good interview, but they are such short clips scattered with little cohesiveness.


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e0/Jerry_Lee_Lewis-Trouble_in_Mind-movie_poster.png

[I_Wear_Pants]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMDM1YzdlZjAtZWFiZS00ZjYyLTgxYzctNzBiYmE0OWFiMGU1XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg


1st Rewatch...One of Alfred Hitchcock's cringiest efforts that most people either really really love or really really hate. The story takes place in the penthouse apartment of Brandon (John Dall) and Phillip (Farley Granger) who have just murdered their friend David Kentley and placed him in a chest in the front room, a few hours before they are to have a dinner party where the guest include David's girlfriend, his parents, and his best friend. Also on the guest list is a former college professor (James Stewart) who begins to piece together what has happened. For me, this is classic Hitchcock, people murdering for sport and hiding the body in plain sight. Fans of a later Hitchcock classic called The Trouble with Harry should have a head start with this. BTW, even though it isn't stated outright, the story implies that Brandon and Phillip are lovers, pretty bold for 1948. Dall and Stewart are excellent. 4

I'm curious why you call it cringey and then praise it. I think I missed something. Yeah Rope is one of my favorite from Hitchcock. Maybe #4 or #5 in my list of my top of his films. Yes the allure of the long shots was the draw, and then the cat-and-mouse game they played was what kept me engrossed. I've always loved the film.

As an aside, I did a play version of Rope a couple of years ago. I played one of the party guests. They changed the script from stage to screen quite a bit, and then we changed the script even more to adapt to our cast. It was fun. One person who saw it is a professional comedian, and he said vehemently that my performance was the best and funniest, so that's cool. I should mention that he liked the rest of the cast too. He said we were all good. He just said I was the best of the eight cast members. He even called me "local acting royalty". I'm not making any of this up. I've been tempted to go to his record store and chat with him about doing some comedy on stage except I never know when he'll be there.

Anyway it's a great movie.

[Fabulous]

Boy Kills World (2023)

3

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/cnQI1M057kW0MHTmkQY4VeT6eCe.jpg

[mrblond]

The Out-Laws (2023)

I've not seen so dumb film for a long time. They included Pierce Brosnan to save the movie but with so mediocre screenplay and directing it was mission impossible. Just skip this film. I give one star only for Brosnan. It is enough for he just sitting there.
1
20/100
103667

[Torgo]

Didi (2024) - 4

Social media as we know it today was not around when I was in school. No offense to those whose school experience resembles Chris Wang's in this movie, but I'm thankful it wasn't. A sort of Lady Bird for the late '00s, this is a funny and painfully true comedy about one young Taiwanese-American man’s hellish summer between grades 8 and 9. The theme in Lady Bird that resonates the most with me is how pretending to be someone you're not in order to be happy tends to do anything but. This one also tackles it, particularly how well social media enables that impulse. Whether it's Chris pretending to love A Walk to Remember to impress a crush or hiding his most juvenile YouTube videos to do the same for skateboarders he hopes to befriend and film, I shouted at him to move his mouse pointer in the opposite direction as if it would make a difference. If it's not the pressure to be cool Chris contends with, it's of being in a high expectations family for which the movie provides an enlightening insider's perspective. Is there anything wrong with skateboarding and filmmaking being your passions at Chris's age? I don’t think so, but since they're not music, sports or math, he sadly comes to resent his heritage. It doesn't help that he shares his home with a bullying, college-bound older sister, an old school grandma and mother (a very good Joan Chen) he cannot relate to...or can he? The scenes where it is just Chris and his mom, an unsuccessful working artist, are the most poignant ones, especially for how Chen conveys the mother's own struggles with expectations. With all this drama, it may be hard to believe this is a comedy, but you will surely laugh regardless of your generation. After all, sibling rivalries, trying to act "gangsta," awkward first date conversations, etc. are not native to Gen Z, are they? That the best scenes like these have hallucinatory animated sequences make them all the better.

Chris Wang’s summer of 2008, like at least one of the summers of our youths, definitely does not resemble the one in Alice Cooper’s classic anthem. The movie works as well as it does for how it shows that summers like these are more pathway than roadblock. If you noticed that Chris and the director have the same last name, for instance, you may be on to something. Whether you are Chris’s age or if your school years are far behind you, you will find something to laugh at in one scene and ways to manage your own awkward memories in the next one. Also, unless you also cope with social media by barely using it, the movie may help you integrate it into your life better. Regardless, it will make you pine for the days when you could make everything on your webpage, MySpace, etc. fuchsia while having Paramore songs play in the background.

[ueno_station54]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/1/0/3/8/9/5/6/1038956-yule-log-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=c8c0c31ccf
adorable
rating_3_5


https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/3/4/2/6/9/34269-killjoy-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=fd1b17852a
has so many shots that you know looked so cool in the dp's head. Angel Vargas is great tho.
rating_3_5

[I_Wear_Pants]

So that's Batman vs Robin watched. It's such an awesome film. I loved it. I don't know if it deserves full marks or if it falls just short. I think my indecision means it doesn't. It's hard to decide. Some of it does require some plot acceptance, which is fine; it's Batman. I did really love the film though. I'll think about it.

[skizzerflake]

Nothing appealing in the theater tonight, so it's "off the shelf", in this case, that all-time, romantic pot-boiler, Casablanca. This is probably the most perfect, old-school movie ever made, quick, to the point, relevant to 1942, with terse, well paced dialog, Humphrey Bogart as Rick, the cynical Casablanca saloon keeper, Dooley Wilson, as Sam, the saloon band leader, singing As Time Goes By...."play it again, Sam", Ingrid Bergman, looking absolutely radiant, villainous nazis, refugees, secret passes, creepy Peter Lorre as a human trafficker, Sidney Greeenstreet as the smuggler, worldly Claude Rains as the chief of police, the best monochrome cinematography EVER, and all of this with zero FX, just sets, props, acting and lights. It's amazing to watch it.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkL9l7qovsE

[PHOENIX74]

Three Bogart films from his "just below the A-plus shelf" catalogue of films :

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b2/Dark_Passage_%28film%29_poster.jpg
By C@rtelesmix, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1668883

Dark Passage - (1947)

We don't see Humphrey Bogart's face until the hour mark (nearly exactly the hour mark) in Dark Passage - but that's because Vincent Parry (played by Bogie) has a facelift to elude detection by the authorities, and his "after" look is all H.B. I was thinking, "hey, they got to film an awful lot of this without needing Bogart at all." It's your typical "man escapes from San Quentin to prove his innocence on murder charges" story, and includes the woman who followed the trial and simply knew he was innocent - Irene Jansen (Bogie's wife, Lauren Bacall), who finds him, hides him, falls in love with him and helps him. In the meantime poor Vincent's friends are being knocked off, and he's receiving blackmail threats from an intruder who knows his secret identity - $60,000 or he's going to the cops. This one has a lot of dark, noirish style to it, and that's mostly thanks to Bogart himself and director Delmer Daves, who'd go on to make classics like 3:10 to Yuma. It kind of had the feel of a Hitchcock film to it - heaps of eye-catching suspense such as a fight for a gun with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, or the way everything is framed from Vincent's point of view during the first half of the movie. It all adds up to a point where it's more a film you can't take your eyes off than just a typical entry of it's time, and could possibly be squeezed into that top shelf of films belonging to this remarkable lead actor.

8/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/AcrossthePacific.jpg
By http://www2.drnoir.com:9008/pictures/AcrossthePacificHS.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12007479

Across the Pacific - (1942)

The dream team featuring director John Huston and actors Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor and Sydney Greenstreet get back together, but the result is not up to Maltese Falcon standard here. To be fair, Huston had to rush off to war (the rest of the film being directed by Vincent Sherman) and the movie feels a little muddled, with it's propaganda edge and the fact that the ship our characters are on doesn't end up going across the Pacific as originally intended, and as the title to this film promised. Instead, the Japanese seem intent on bombing the Panama Canal for some reason, and disgraced former U.S. Army officer Rick Leland (Bogart) finds himself spying on the good ship Genoa Maru, where his love interest, Alberta Marlow (Astor) and nemesis Dr. Lorenz (Greenstreet) are involved with the Japs. It's not the worst film going around - the fine cast can't help but inject their charisma into the flailing screenplay and seeing Bogart go up against Greenstreet yet again was something I relished.

7/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/57/All_through_the_night_poster.jpg
By http://www.movieposterdb.com/poster/31c09ea4, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25386921

All Through the Night - (1942)

There's a weird mix of broad comedy and wartime espionage in this 1942 propaganda comedy film featuring Humphrey Bogart, Conrad Veidt, Peter Lorre and a very young Jackie Gleason and Phil Silvers (the latter of whom you only see briefly at the start of the film.) It's not altogether silly, but every time something silly is awkwardly inserted into a scene the movie kind of lost me a little. Bogart plays gangster Alfred "Gloves" Donahue, determined to track down the people who killed Mr. Miller (Ludwig Stössel) - the man who makes his favourite cheesecake I kid you not, and it's no secret that the Nazis did it, and that the Nazis have a secret society of fifth columnists wreaking havoc in Manhattan and the surrounding areas. Donahue and his retinue of flunkies will defeat this threat to the United States - but sadly, he'll never again taste as nice a cheesecake. There's plenty of action to be sure, and Bogart is of course great, but the tone this strikes felt very odd to me.

6/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5d/TheWoodsman2004Poster.jpg
By Newmarket Films - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361127/mediaviewer/rm4054300672, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56728286

The Woodsman - (2004)

I'm guessing people will keep rediscovering The Woodsman and Kevin Bacon's most daring career choice. A difficult but memorable watch. Full review here (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2518573#post2518573), in my watchlist thread.

8/10

[Fabulous]

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/mR4PeGrxdEoAc1i5kN7Q2lOFAA5.jpg

[I_Wear_Pants]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/3/4/2/6/9/34269-killjoy-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=fd1b17852a
has so many shots that you know looked so cool in the dp's head. Angel Vargas is great tho.
rating_3_5

Those are some very Pennywise teeth.

[Fabulous]

Plus One (2019)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/cIoLhCUBkWEyQUJrtKONVR9RwJX.jpg

[Gideon58]

The Son (2022)

Written and Directed by Florian Zeller
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Vanessa Kirby and Anthony Hopkins

After the highly acclaimed The Father (2020), Zeller creates kind of continuation in the same style and ideas. Well, this time the screenplay is not that convincing and interesting as his debut. Anyway, it is not a bad movie.
3+
65/100
103652

Your feelings about this movie are on the money…not even close in quality to The Father

[mrblond]

Leave No Trace (2018)

Good movie about a military veteran father with post-traumatic stress disorder who lives in the forest with his young daughter.
There are some not very logical things in the story but anyway, it is a good film with a moving final of mind realization.
4-
78/100
103678

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BN2FhMWRiODYtMTQwMy00OTE2LTlhZjMtNWRmYmIyZjYwYTk1XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg


3rd Rewatch...Even though this is the third film version of this story, this 1998 film is the most dated. Meg Ryan plays the owner of a small children's bookstore and Tom Hanks plays the manager of a monster book chain who find themselves as business competitors unaware that they have been corresponding online and keeping it from their partners (Greg Kinnear, Parker Posey). The story first came to the screen in 1940 as The Shop Around the Corner with James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan. Nine years later it was turned into a musical called In the Good Old Summertime. This version finds Hanks and Ryan corresponding online. It's actually laughable watching the two of them dial onto AOL (remember AOL?) and waiting for the connection to announce that they've got mail. I actually laughed out loud when Ryan mentions that she "wondered over into a chatroom." Do they still have chatrooms? The undeniable chemistry between Hanks and Ryan still makes it worth sitting through. 3

[Gideon58]

https://resizing.flixster.com/ed2AojQyB14NL-AazK2JZ5-LhhY=/fit-in/705x460/v2/https://resizing.flixster.com/-XZAfHZM39UwaGJIFWKAE8fS0ak=/v3/t/assets/p28287563_v_h9_ad.jpg



2.5

[Thief]

12 HOUR SHIFT
(2020, Grant)
A film with the number 12 (Twelve, Twelfth, etc.) in its title

https://i.imgur.com/scgMi3C.jpeg


"You know, my mama always said: 'Never trust a skinny woman. While we're eating, they're plotting'."



That's what Cathy tells fellow nurse Mandy (Angela Bettis) in passing in the opening of this crazy, black comedy/thriller; but damn, is she plotting or what? 12 Hour Shift follows Mandy, a drug addicted nurse that's part of an organ traffic ring. As she tries to get a kidney out with her cousin Regina (Chloe Farnworth) during the titular shift, all sort of bizarre things start happening around her.

One of the beauties of these monthly challenges I do is when you stumble upon a film you had never heard about, and which you probably wouldn't have heard otherwise, and it ends up being a pleasant surprise. That is the case of 12 Hour Shift, which ended up being a neat mixture of hilarious twists, criminal mishaps, and dark humor.

Grade: 4


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2519142#post2519142)

[*Sky*]

The Hateful Eight (2015) - Quentin Tarantino: 5/10
The music is what I liked best, in my opinion the best feature of the film by far.

[MovieBuffering]

That movie was ALWAYS on TNT, along with "A River Runs Through It"

lol I'm 37. TNT was a constant loop every other weekend of Forrest Gump and Shawshank. Probably why they are my two favorite movies :lol:

I could not help myself...anytime I was flipping through and they played either one I stopped :lol:

There were some other movies I can't quite remember off the top of my head TNT would play as well but I don't remember A River Runs Through It as much. I tried to watch that movie a few years back and it just bored me to tears. Never finished it.

[MovieBuffering]

I like Spotlight. Its biggest drawback was coming out the same year as Big Short, which was also an Oscar-contender, and winner, and they are very similar films. I saw Big Short first, which I am convinced is why I prefer it. Spotlight is still a great film.

Huh? Am I not reading this right? You are saying Spotlight's biggest drawback was coming out the same year as The Big Short? But Spotlight won the Oscar for best picture that year (It deserved it). In fact it won 2 Oscars and the Big Short won 1. Your reasoning is backwards and flawed if I read that right.

I saw the Big Short once and have never cared to go back and revisit it...especially with how sanctimonious Hollywood has gotten with politics. It's probably dead on with it's interpretation I just don't have the energy to watch it, I don't remember a thing about the flick really. Maybe Steve Carrell's scene in the strip club, that's about it.

Spotlight should have been a bore but it was executed pretty damn flawlessly. It's also an ironic film because it's shedding light on a subject that I fear Hollywood has a problem with too. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[I_Wear_Pants]

Huh? Am I not reading this right? You are saying Spotlight's biggest drawback was coming out the same year as The Big Short? But Spotlight won the Oscar for best picture that year (It deserved it). In fact it won 2 Oscars and the Big Short won 1. Your reasoning is backwards and flawed if I read that right.

I saw the Big Short once and have never cared to go back and revisit it...especially with how sanctimonious Hollywood has gotten with politics. It's probably dead on with it's interpretation I just don't have the energy to watch it, I don't remember a thing about the flick really. Maybe Steve Carrell's scene in the strip club, that's about it.

Spotlight should have been a bore but it was executed pretty damn flawlessly. It's also an ironic film because it's shedding light on a subject that I fear Hollywood has a problem with too. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I may have worded it poorly. Spotlight and Big Short are incredibly similar and I saw Big Short first so I feel like I prefer Big Short due to the familiarity of the film I saw first. Now that I think about it, I don't care to watch Big Short again, although it might be interesting to revisit Spotlight to see if it holds up vis I've only seen it once. I didn't mean Spotlight is bad or did anything wrong. I only meant my viewing order influenced my opinions of the films. I didn't mean to speak for anyone than myself. I do apologize for the miscommunication kind sir.

[I_Wear_Pants]

I watched The Mob this evening for the Noir Hall of Fame. It's great. The tension and performances were really good. The story had some plot armor which they made work. I found it to be quite a solid film. Would recommend. Just so Citizen knows, I did post my thoughts in the Noir Hall thread before I posted in this thread.

Yeah Broderick Crawford's character isn't very smart. He does portray a bumbling New Orleans ex-con pretty well though.

[MovieBuffering]

I may have worded it poorly. Spotlight and Big Short are incredibly similar and I saw Big Short first so I feel like I prefer Big Short due to the familiarity of the film I saw first. Now that I think about it, I don't care to watch Big Short again, although it might be interesting to revisit Spotlight to see if it holds up vis I've only seen it once. I didn't mean Spotlight is bad or did anything wrong. I only meant my viewing order influenced my opinions of the films. I didn't mean to speak for anyone than myself. I do apologize for the miscommunication kind sir.

lol I wasn't angry or anything my bad. I was just saying your reasoning for Spotlight being slighted because they were both Oscar worthy and came out the same year is flawed if that's what you meant by Big Short being superior. Spotlight won the Oscar.

You should give it another shot. It's really dark subject matter but I think it's the best executed investigator/newspaper movie I can remember. Has no right being as entertaining and gripping as it was. It's just newspaper reporters investigating a slow drip of a story. Helluva feat imo.

[PHOENIX74]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/44/Bullets_or_Ballots_1936_poster.jpg
By Derived from a digital capture (photo/scan) of the Film Poster/ VHS or DVD Cover (creator of this digital version is irrelevant as the copyright in all equivalent images is still held by the same party). Copyright held by the film company or the artist. Claimed as fair use regardless., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34288030

Bullets or Ballots - (1936)

Pretty straightforward this one - from the days when Humphrey Bogart only made up the supporting cast as a gangster and Edward G. Robinson headed the bill as Detective Johnny Blake. This one involves racketeers, the numbers game and Joan Blondell as a dazzling dame (can I say dame? I've been hearing it a lot these last 4 Bogart movies) who's good but dabbles in certain rackets. Bogart plays a great bad guy - menacing as hell, while Robinson also has the ability to give off a certain aura of invincibility. Very much of it's era.

6/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f5/Dreamgirls.jpg
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7490489

Dreamgirls - (2006)

Dreamgirls didn't live up to the hype I'd been hearing about it for such a long time, and it's one that I really missed around the time it was being released - curiously, because with Eddie Murphy being nominated for an Oscar that sort of buzz should have pricked my ears. Full review here (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2519166#post2519166), in my watchlist thread.

6/10

[I_Wear_Pants]

lol I wasn't angry or anything my bad. I was just saying your reasoning for Spotlight being slighted because they were both Oscar worthy and came out the same year is flawed if that's what you meant by Big Short being superior. Spotlight won the Oscar.

You should give it another shot. It's really dark subject matter but I think it's the best executed investigator/newspaper movie I can remember. Has no right being as entertaining and gripping as it was. It's just newspaper reporters investigating a slow drip of a story. Helluva feat imo.

They're neck-and-neck in terms of quality. Big Short is about an economic disaster and they managed to make it engaging, and Spotlight is a newspaper investigation and somehow engaging. Neither film sounds remotely interesting on paper to more than a niche market, and each film is awesome. The only reason I prefer Big Short is because I saw it first so it was fresher for me than Spotlight is. That's all. I do wonder what I'd think if I saw Spotlight first. We'll never know of course. It's just something to ponder, for me, anyway.

I'm going to watch a few more library movies before rewatching Spotlight, as "rewatching" means "checking out from the library". I can get to it in good time.

[stillmellow]

Triangle of Sadness

I'm not saying it's a 'bad' movie.... but this seriously won the top prize at Cannes Film Festival?

This is not a top tier movie. This is an okay movie. It's certainly not that funny. It's like Infinity Pool without the horror or sci-fi elements.

Meh.

[Fabulous]

His Three Daughters (2023)

3.5

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/6MuKvMcnNdgbfhc7HRGDbDSJuR7.jpg

[Daniel M]

Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger 3.5

I could listen to Scorsese talking about films all day, so this was always going to be good. Quite incredible that he travelled to England and brought Powell over to America to give him a new lease of life. Touching.

Anora (Sean Baker, 2024) 3

Baker is clearly a talented director with an eye for compositions but in his previous work this is matched by having sympathetic characters, which don't really exist here for the first half at least. A lot of shouting and frenzy, but the third act won me round.

Carry-on (Jaume Collet-Serra, 2024) 2

Was pretty much what I expected it to be, light entertainment. A bit like Trap though where it starts off interesting as psychological thriller using the space of the environment an the unknown to subtlety craft a mysterious thriller but then when the action starts to manifest in the second half it unravels. Lacks the humour of Die Hard or even something like Con Air so will quickly be forgotten.

Love Streams (John Cassavetes, 1984) 4.5

I've loved the last few Cassavetes films I've watched and I think his style definitely appeals to me now that I'm older. I've had a good upbringing but there are certainly elements of the dysfunctional characters that I've experienced in my lifetime. Interesting how the camerawork is so different here, more formal, but the performances so "raw". In many ways it felt like the swansong of a dying artist, not dissimilar to another film I loved watching this year, All That Jazz.

[mrblond]

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011)

Highly acclaimed Turkish movie about group of characters in the provincial Turkey sometime in 2000's. It is mostly about a slice of life and characters involved than the murder everything is set around.
I felt some similarity in the atmosphere with Hell or High Water (2016) excluding all the action.
4-
78/100
103695

[SpelingError]

Anora (Sean Baker, 2024) 3

Baker is clearly a talented director with an eye for compositions but in his previous work this is matched by having sympathetic characters, which don't really exist here for the first half at least. A lot of shouting and frenzy, but the third act won me round.

This was kind of how I felt for a little while, but once Vanya's immaturity became clear to Anora in the final act, it made all the frenzy beforehand feel especially tragic. Anora was essentially tricked by Vanya and the amount of suffering she and Vanya's family went through was all a by-product of Vanya's flaw of making everyone/thing worse around him. The best way I can describe it is: What if Good Time or Uncut Gems were from the perspective of a side character looking in from the outside and gradually realizing the true colors of the lead character? I imagine the film will flow better with a rewatch with me.

[chawhee]

Kinds of Kindness (2024)
https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/37Z_Vf1jpcZrbQQQAmxNKA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/deadline.com/a486c3d61d67952bafe3549c7af051cb
3
This isn't even really a movie, but more like 3 Twilight Zone-type episodes? And it's not bad, but it doesn't feel that original or thematic or commendable. If you are curious, watch the 1st "episode". If you liked it, continue; if not, don't because it doesn't really get better.

[Allaby]

The Six Triple Eight (2024) Watched on Netflix. I thought this was an effective and engaging story. I liked the performances. 4

[jackkyy]

I watched Heretic last might with hugh grant, good psychological horror, nothing deep but i think he definitely has more range than just rom-coms. 8/10.

[GulfportDoc]

103710

Conclave (2024)


This is the most substantive and engaging film I’ve seen in several years. It’s an intelligent adult tale of intrigue and suspense with a dream heavyweight cast that languishes in the mix of superb direction, cinematography, set design and highly effective but spare music scoring.

Hearing of the film, my first thought was how could another story about a papal conclave --the selection of a new Pope by the College of Cardinals-- be fresh and interesting, when several films or series with similar content have been produced in the past few years.


However Conclave quickly forged its own genuineness from the very first few scenes, and continued to inspire fascination all the way to the end. Ralph Fiennes as the Cardinal-Dean who is tasked with overseeing the election of a new Pope is stunning in his nuanced and complex portrayal-- surely to be an award nominating performance. Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow display their craft as two fine veteran actors. And Isabella Rossellini channels her famous mother (Ingrid Bergman) as she inhabits Sister Agnes’ rock solid earnestness and fealty to her charge.


The story is not so much an attempt to expose or even document true legislative Vatican practices, as it is a well crafted behind the scenes thriller. There is a surprise ending that no one could see coming. In my view the twist it contained was not only unnecessary but modishly pretentious. Still, that unlikely development did not lessen the heft of the entire absorbing story that preceded it.


Doc’s rating: 9/10

[matt72582]

Hillbilly Elegy - 6/10

I gave it a higher score than usual because it was the Vice-President Elect of the US, J.D. Vance, so it was more engaging had it not been about him, and I would have turned it off. But I didn't, which is an accomplishment for me, especially since I haven't been watching movies because I'm out of movies to watch, but this transcends movies. But the writing is bad, the acting is bad (especially the characters who play JD and Usha). I know very little about Vance, but just from what I've seen during election-time, and a few articles, there could have been a lot of other things to help this movie out.. His mom could have rationalized her drug use by telling her how bad the withdrawals were (a message to the audience, too), or Usha meeting his mother.


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/40/Hillbilly_Elegy_%28film%29.png

[Captain Quint]

Blood for a Silver Dollar (1965)
Watched in Italian, with subs - while it's set in the USA, it just sounded better, more authentic that way - Not a bad spaghetti western, but not Giuliano Gemma's most dynamic acting (he was much better in the Ringo films) ★★★½

Argylle (2024)
Matthew Vaughn started off so well, and I did enjoy the first Kingsman film, but it's been downhill after that. This wasn't unwatchable, but it was much too much, I got pretty sick and tired of it - could have used some tightening up, but even then... ★★½

Caligula: The Ultimate Cut (2023 - original release 1979)
Never saw the much-maligned original cut but have read that this is an improvement. It really captures the decadence, and I applaud the effort to redeem it, but all told, I found it average at best. ★★★

[Marco]

Spencer (2021)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/Spencer_%28film%29.png
I really dunno why I sat through this. I'm not a fan of the royal family but this seemed to appear a decent enough idea with good actors. In fact it's a tabloid writers wet dream on an oft covered rather dull story of 2 people that are dull but have plenty of money and entitlement. And, hey hey, the money and privileged life isn't making them happy. The paralells between Anne Boyleyn are frankly ludicrous. Leading to a complete farce of a last scene where Diana takes the 2 sons to a Macdonalds to the tune of Mike and the Mechanics. The RF and security just let an unstable woman drive off with the future king, yeah, ok. 1/2 a point for Stewart.
0.5

[ueno_station54]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/5/1/5/5/6/51556-die-hard-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=e24e92754d
totally get why this is a classic but for me an action movie needs scenes that activate the animal brain and it really only has one shot that gets to that level.
rating_3


https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/sm/upload/zl/no/np/nn/aY1q9dTGC8u8TUsAgnpJHsdAdJZ-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=6bf4242f8d
i don't really f*ck with Satoshi Kon the way i used to anymore but this is still a really cute movie despite having all the same issues his other films have.
rating_3_5

[Thief]

MILAGRO EN YAUCO
(1996, Colberg)

https://i.imgur.com/Dbq1I0y.jpeg


"But we're rich! We have the farm, this house, and I have Pancho."



Milagro en Yauco is based on a local Christmas song, which basically tells the story of the birth of Jesus, but from the perspective of a humble Puerto Rican kid that wants to give something to the newborn child. The film follows young Juancito who lives with his parents, Juan and Mercedes, on a farm in the town of Yauco. When his father receives some not so good news from his doctor, the prospects of a good Christmas are threatened. But can a "miracle" save the Christmas for them?

Again, this film was released locally on TV back in 1996. I think I saw it back then, but I hadn't seen it since until my wife decided to put it to the kids this morning. It is a very low budget production, but with a lot of heart. The story is very simple, but earnest and very family-oriented. It also takes advantage of most of its cast being singers and weaves a couple of musical numbers into its story.

Grade: 2.5


Full review on my Movie Loot (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2519517#post2519517)

[PHOENIX74]

Caligula: The Ultimate Cut (2023 - original release 1979)
Never saw the much-maligned original cut but have read that this is an improvement. It really captures the decadence, and I applaud the effort to redeem it, but all told, I found it average at best. ★★★

A friend and I had been fascinated by the original for quite a few years - one crazy mess of a movie that falls apart as you watch it, but still transfixes in it's deliberate ugliness, brutality, horror and gaudy sickness. A movie destroyed in the post-shooting phase of production. We both went to see the recent reconstruction and our shared opinion was of the sort that "They've taken Caligula and made a normal, average everyday movie out of it." It was stunning in the sense that it was possible to make a normal movie out of what we'd been seeing for all these years. Makes it hard to judge it's worth because it's hard to remove that sense of surprise from the process of watching it, but it's interesting to hear opinions from people who have never seen the 1979 monstrosity.

[MovieGal]

A friend and I had been fascinated by the original for quite a few years - one crazy mess of a movie that falls apart as you watch it, but still transfixes in it's deliberate ugliness, brutality, horror and gaudy sickness. A movie destroyed in the post-shooting phase of production. We both went to see the recent reconstruction and our shared opinion was of the sort that "They've taken Caligula and made a normal, average everyday movie out of it." It was stunning in the sense that it was possible to make a normal movie out of what we'd been seeing for all these years. Makes it hard to judge it's worth because it's hard to remove that sense of surprise from the process of watching it, but it's interesting to hear opinions from people who have never seen the 1979 monstrosity.

I love Caligula. Plus it has Malcolm McDowell <3

[PHOENIX74]

I love Caligula. Plus it has Malcolm McDowell <3

He didn't always pick the best projects to lend his talents to, but I think that McDowell will go down as one of the greats regardless - especially because of his iconic roles.

[*Sky*]

Conclave (2024) - Edward Berger: 8/10
https://64.media.tumblr.com/2546314b76144283e4383204a6f6db0d/70f2e4f0a3034f03-c8/s540x810/09a154e6460daf87d86f238d7b074595e9f0c595.gif

[MovieGal]

He didn't always pick the best projects to lend his talents to, but I think that McDowell will go down as one of the greats regardless - especially because of his iconic roles.

I love the original film

I have always had an interest in Gaius Julius Ceasar Augustus Germanicus who we know as Caligula.

Malcolm McDowell just adds a nice touch to his chaotic behavior.

[PHOENIX74]

I love the original film

I have always had an interest in Gaius Julius Ceasar Augustus Germanicus who we know as Caligula.

Malcolm McDowell just adds a nice touch to his chaotic behavior.

Did you see John Hurt play Caligula in I, Claudius?

https://i.postimg.cc/HWtN3NpX/hurt.jpg

[PHOENIX74]

It took some thought to arrange yesterday's movies in order from best to worst, but after some thought I find myself surprised by my own verdict...

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/The_Life_and_Death_of_Peter_Sellers_starring_Geoffrey_Rush.jpg
By HBO - https://www.blu-ray.com/The-Life-and-Death-of-Peter-Sellers/132379/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68882132

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers - (2004)

The modern biopic can be a very confining type of movie for any filmmaker to try and make their own, but Stephen Hopkins succeeds in various ways that help transfer the very unique and mysterious personality ascribed to Peter Sellers into a 2-hour film. Geoffrey Rush can't pass himself off as Sellers but makes up for that by really giving one of the performances of his career, successfully allowing us (with the help of Hopkins and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely) to almost walk around inside the man's mind. It's a hall of mirrors in there, and what we find is a stunted child-like creature - almost a sociopath really, with his lack of empathy and singular obsession with the characters he'd create at the expense of his own personality. It might be because the subject is so interesting, but in any event the movie has the rewarding feeling of a fictional tragedy, and allows some sympathy for this man who was so good at what he did that he seemed to lose contact with himself. Watching Sellers play the part of significant others in his life, portraying them as he would have liked them to have acted as opposed to the way they did, was an interesting little addition to what is an already fascinating biographical movie - and as I've said, provides a key to the mind of someone nearly inscrutable.

8/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cd/The_Special_Relationship_poster.jpg
By Amazon.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27610653

The Special Relationship - (2010)

I spent the whole time prior to watching this thinking it was about Tony Blair and George W. Bush. Dennis Quaid has played President Reagan, President Clinton and even the fictional President Joseph Staton, but I'm surprised he never played Bush. Anyway, this movie ended up being better than I thought it would be - perhaps because I was relieved not to have to relive the whole ugly Iraq affair once again, and instead take a trip further back to a more hopeful era. Michael Sheen made a whole career out of playing Tony Blair and Quaid really surprises by disappearing into a very flattering portrait of the 42nd President. The "special relationship" the title refers to is that between Britain and the United States, and by proxy that between the British Prime Minister and the U.S. President. We see Blair go from thinking he has a bona fide friend in Clinton to becoming more and more shaped by the process of being a politician and as such losing touch with the needed vulnerability to really have a friend like that - so that when we end with Bush grabbing the presidency there are some dark overtones. In the meantime Clinton chafes at this turn of events, and goes from mentor to rival - a lost opportunity for the so-called "center-left" to take advantage of the momentum the 1990s had for centrists.

7/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f2/The_Danish_Girl_%28film%29_poster.jpg
By May be found at the following website: IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47650689

The Danish Girl - (2015)

At times while watching a movie it'll feel like the film has no personality of it's own - so while The Danish Girl isn't a badly made movie, it's certainly very measured and proper in an almost banal kind of way. I only learned after watching it that many trans people loathe if for the way it portrays Lili Elbe - but it's not something that I could easily pick up on myself, and I count myself as someone sympathetic and inclusive. This is an easy film to push aside though, so while I thought it was okay it's not one that I'll return to or think much about regardless. Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander are both exceptional in this though - a couple of powerhouse performances.

6/10

[MovieGal]

Did you see John Hurt play Caligula in I, Claudius?

https://i.postimg.cc/HWtN3NpX/hurt.jpg

Yea

[StuSmallz]

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/5/1/5/5/6/51556-die-hard-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=e24e92754d
totally get why this is a classic but for me an action movie needs scenes that activate the animal brain and it really only has one shot that gets to that level.Which is?

[Corax]

Black Moon Rising 2/5
https://target.scene7.com/is/image/Target/GUEST_c4b08381-d273-4051-813e-5377be287f70?wid=488&hei=488&fmt=pjpeg
A car that runs on water is stolen from a trio of engineer-entrepreneurs. Tommy Lee Jones has stuffed some evidence for some federal investigation into the car, so he wants to get to the car to get his evidence so he can get his fed handlers off his back. Linda Hamilton wants the car, because she thinks it's cool.

They're all idiots. The people who made the car? Idiots. Why did you leave this in a parking lot in L.A.? Also, you developed the tech, so you can make another one. More important, you just solved ENERGY. FOREVER!!!! The engine design that runs a car, can also spin a turbine. Energy solved. You're welcome. Who cares if the car can exceed 200 MPH? Seriously? Who cares?!? YOU OWN THE WORLD. The people who invented this engine say, "This is the biggest thing since the turbo-charger." No, dumbass, this is the biggest thing since language or agriculture! Tommy, why are you hiding evidence in a location you don't control? Linda, why are you in this movie? Is this the best your agent could do? And given that you're the super-driver, why is Tommy driving the car in the end? Finally, why did you need to shoot people in the head before the big finale with the car? It's already been established that the car is bullet proof. Did you just want to bust a few caps to compensate for being stuck riding shotgun?

[Tycoon]

Apparently, I'm the only one not that amazed by Conclave.

[ueno_station54]

Which is?
during that one shootout where he shoots that guys knees out and he goes slowly flying head first through some glass. that shit was raw.

[Marco]

The Underneath (1995)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/UnderneathPoster.jpg
Twisty turny noir thriller adapted from a book and remake of a previous film (Criss Cross). Michael returns to his hometown after fleeing due to gambling debts for his mothers wedding. Soon he lands a job with an armoured van company via his soon-to-be stepfather and hooks up with the woman he left years ago when he did a flit. She's now with a local mobster (the brilliant William Fichtner). He falls into old habits and needs to find a way to get the money to pay off his debts pronto. Soderbergh was very non-complimentary about this film saying it was the worst thing he had done. Whereas I see it as a tightly scripted modern noir even though the characters are a bit one dimensional, esp Michaels brother as the corrupt local cop. Great surprise ending. Weird cameo by Shelley Duvall as the nurse :)
3.5

[Tycoon]

https://de.web.img3.acsta.net/img/7f/8c/7f8cf120831959014f69038bfc97ba34.jpg

The characters have weird motivations, it lacks of a good direction and it's pretty monotone.
Pity because some great actors are involved. Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Damon Herriman or Michael Shannon with a minor role.
A movie about a biker club with good intention first that goes terribly wrong and turns into a gang could be very interesting.

6/10

[Stirchley]

Did you see John Hurt play Caligula in I, Claudius?

https://i.postimg.cc/HWtN3NpX/hurt.jpg

He was brilliant as Caligula. Loved it when he introduced his horse to everyone. :p

[Stirchley]

103734

French movie. Quite a bit lost in translation (the French are very talky), but I enjoyed it. No clue if the school kids are real or just extras, which confused me.


103735

Naomi Scott is a powerhouse in this and does a perfect American accent. (Brits seem to be very good at this.) Not really my cuppa tea, but I finished it.


103736

Good movie with an interesting storyline. I usually dislike courtroom dramas, but it was okay in this movie. Nicholas Hoult (also doing an excellent American accent) is really good in this. Hoult grew up to be a very handsome man.

[Gideon58]

Sorry, I had a lot of issues with Juror No 2...a link to my review:

https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2519026-juror-2.html

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BODY2YjhiODUtNzVlNy00ZjE1LWFjOWEtYTI0ZGVjM2ZjZGEyXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg


1st Rewatch...One of the earliest of the backyard musicals that Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland did together. Mickey plays Jimmy Conners, a high school drummer who wants to have his own band with gal pal Mary (Garland) as his vocalist. He wants to enter his band in a high school band contest to be judged by bandleader Paul Whiteman and has to put on a melodrama in order to raise the money for the trip. Rooney is excellent in this movie...was surprisingly moved by the scenes with his mother, but Busby Berkley's direction is kind of lackluster, except for one spectacular production number called "La Conga". The film also felt about seven hours long. 3

[Gideon58]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71BQJDUJtHS.jpg


1st Rewatch...The first two thirds of this movie about a young man from a steel mill town who wants more than anything to play football for Notre Dame are contrived and melodramatic, but the final third of the film beginning when Rudy actually gets to run out of that Notre Dame tunnel is just glorious. Sean Astin shines in the title role and Jerry Goldsmith's music is sublime. 3

[Gideon58]

https://themotionpictures.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/wam2.jpg?w=1200



1st Rewatch...This fictionalized look at the composing team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart does come alive during the many musical highlights where MGM once again proves they had more stars than in the heavens. Highlights include Perry Como's "Mountain Greenery", Betty Garrett's "There's a Small Hotel", Judy Garland's "Johnny One Note' and her duet with Mickey Rooney, "I Wish I Were in Love Again" (the last time Garland and Rooney would perform onscreen together) and let's not forget the spectacular "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" ballet starring Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen. The scenes of the eternally blah Tom Drake Drake as a Rodgers and Mickey Rooney in one of his most annoying performances as Hart really slow things down, but the musical numbers almost make up for them. 3.5

[Stirchley]

Sorry, I had a lot of issues with Juror No 2...aa link to my review:

https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2519026-juror-2.html

Good review. Don’t disagree. Liked it despite.

[FilmBuff]

Sorry, I had a lot of issues with Juror No 2...aa link to my review:

https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2519026-juror-2.html

In many ways it's a real clunker, which is sad because it might be the last film Eastwood will direct.

I wish he'd gone out on a higher note than that.

[Takoma11]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FM%2FMV5BYzNjYjVlYjgtY2VlOC00NmM4LWEzYjAtOTdiNTdlNGZiYWQyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjUyND k2ODc%40._V1_.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=18a39632b85679b3c2d51efb367c2ea3eb55f2a6f63c819e42b7335a05b812d6&ipo=images

Proof, 1991

Martin (Hugo Weaving) has been blind from childhood, and is sharply averse to the idea that people might use his blindness as an excuse to deceive him or, worse, pity him. Martin takes photographs of everything he comes across, getting others to describe what is in the photos. Martin strikes up a friendship with Andy (Russell Crowe), a young man who works in a cafe that Martin frequents. Andy becomes Martin’s trusted photo “translator”, but their relationship is threatened by Martin’s housekeeper, Celia (Genevieve Picot), who is romantically fixated on Martin.

A very engaging film, particularly in the first half.

3.5

FULL REVIEW. (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2519898#post2519898) If you are a fan of Crowe or Weaving, highly recommend this one!