Rate The Last Movie You Saw

Tools    






Sweet Smell of Success (1957) hit me over the head with a 2x4 labeled "WHY HAVEN'T YOU SEEN ME BEFORE?!?" This movie, unfortunately, has flown under my radar for my 30 years of existence on this planet, with it only coming to me attention a few months ago. I noticed that it was playing at a local theater near me this past weekend, so I was originally going to go see it there, but we got some bad weather over the weekend, and frankly, it shouldn't be this cold in Louisiana at this time of year, so I stayed in bed and rented it instead.

I'm surprised this movie doesn't get more mainstream attention - especially for its script and score. Though released in 1957, Sweet Smell of Success feels both modern and timely. I'm still tossing over who's performance I am most in awe of: Burt Lancaster or Tony Curtis? While Lancaster's J.J. Hunsecker basically weaponizes the English language, the desperate sliminess of Tony Curtis' Sidney Falco just oozes on screen.

I can't recommend this film enough, seldom do you hear dialogue like you hear it in Sweet Smell of Success.

RATING:
I actually saw it on Friday night. Was going to post a review later today, but Lawrence of Arabia was fresher on my mind. lol

I wish I could say I loved it as much as you, but unfortunately, I didn't.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad movie AT ALL... it just didn't grip me and blow me away the way I had hoped.

I felt it could have been enhanced with a better performance from Susan Harrison. I felt her acting was wooden, even bordering on pretty bad.

Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis were both excellent, as you correctly stated, but I dunno... can't quite put my finger on it... Sweet Smell Success simply didn't capture my attention the way my other 50s favorites did.

I'd give it a 7/10. But I'm very glad you loved it, and I can see why you did.





Matilda (1996)




La famille Bélier (2014)
For the Foreign Language Hall of Fame



Famille Bélier is a simple, predictable movie with a lot of cliches, is tematically reminiscent of the drama "Beyond the Silence", but was designed primarily as an entertaining comedy, it was absolutely charming, funny and moving.
Young Louane Emera impresses in her lead role with her powerful, natural portrayal.
The course of the movie is a typical one:
And from this point on, the end is easy to guess. The film's final scene, and a heart-tugging musical number by Paula, is trying hard to win the audience over - melodramatic one, but it can not leave you indifferent.
__________________
A normal man? For me, a normal man is one who turns his head to see a beautiful woman's bottom. The point is not just to turn your head. There are five or six reasons. And he is glad to find people who are like him, his equals. That's why he likes crowded beaches, football, the bar downtown...





Lucky (2017) by John Carroll Lynch

As an ode to Harry Dean Stanton it worked quite well, even though a few scenes seemed quite pathetic and the manuscript did not work out that well. In between there were a few really good reflections on death and being-towards-death. To sum it up, a nice little film, but nothing special.






Re-visiting this movie. Bit of a slog, but made it through. Dark, grim, vulgar, coarse, funny, sad.
__________________
I’m here only on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. That’s why I’m here now.





RAMPAGE
(2018)

If you're looking to suspend disbelief, and go watch a fun popcorn movie that is so over the top and with plot holes as big as Texas, then this latest flick starring Dwayne Johnson is your movie.

__________________
“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!” ~ Rocky Balboa





THE COMMUTER
(2018)

Liam Neeson announced not too long ago that he was retiring from his late-career action movie star status. But yet, he returned to the genre with The Commuter. Let's just say he needs to take his announcement more seriously, and do it right away.







THE COMMUTER
(2018)

Liam Neeson announced not too long ago that he was retiring from his late-career action movie star status. But yet, he returned to the genre with The Commuter. Let's just say he needs to take his announcement more seriously, and do it right away.


Blame it on the success on the TERRIBLE Taken franchise.



Blame it on the success on the TERRIBLE Taken franchise.
Taken was the movie that made Neeson a full-fledged action star.
The first movie in the series wasn't too bad. But then the second and third were flat-out terrible.
Some of his other stand-alone action films were pretty good, but The Commuter is bad. Really bad. Hopefully, this will convince him and his agent that it's time to hang up the cell phone and gun (both of which have become a Liam Neeson action movie trademark), and start making serious dramatic films.



Taken was the movie that made Neeson a full-fledged action star.
The first movie in the series wasn't too bad. But then the second and third were flat-out terrible.
Some of his other stand-alone action films were pretty good, but The Commuter is bad. Really bad. Hopefully, this will convince him and his agent that it's time to hang up the cell phone and gun (both of which have become a Liam Neeson action movie trademark), and start making serious dramatic films.
I didn’t even like Taken. The New York Times said The Commuter stinks.



Acceptance (Sanaa Hamri, 2009)

It's certainly no high-achiever



The circle

This is a Netflix original movie . It's a good solid movie for the most part. The ending let it down. It just fell flat and was disappointing.




Sweet Smell of Success (1957) hit me over the head with a 2x4 labeled "WHY HAVEN'T YOU SEEN ME BEFORE?!?" This movie, unfortunately, has flown under my radar for my 30 years of existence on this planet, with it only coming to me attention a few months ago. I noticed that it was playing at a local theater near me this past weekend, so I was originally going to go see it there, but we got some bad weather over the weekend, and frankly, it shouldn't be this cold in Louisiana at this time of year, so I stayed in bed and rented it instead.

I'm surprised this movie doesn't get more mainstream attention - especially for its script and score. Though released in 1957, Sweet Smell of Success feels both modern and timely. I'm still tossing over who's performance I am most in awe of: Burt Lancaster or Tony Curtis? While Lancaster's J.J. Hunsecker basically weaponizes the English language, the desperate sliminess of Tony Curtis' Sidney Falco just oozes on screen.

I can't recommend this film enough, seldom do you hear dialogue like you hear it in Sweet Smell of Success.

RATING:
I agree, GL. "Success" is a wonderful film. You're right about the dialogue. And Curtis played against type as a weasel very well. One of his better roles. The film seems somehow modern, even though it was from '57.

I'm your neighbor from the next state to your east.

~Doc



Small Faces (1996)




Scottish film that focuses on three teen boys who live with their mom. One is an artist, one is in a gang, and one is just 13 and finding his way. I'd call it part kitchen sink and part gang film. Either way it's good drama.



A Quiet Place. A family struggles to survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by monsters attracted by sound. Emily Blunt stars in this watchable enough but rather overhyped modern horror that has some tense moments but isn't, in all honesty, anything particularly amazing.



A Quiet Place. A family struggles to survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by monsters attracted by sound. Emily Blunt stars in this watchable enough but rather overhyped modern horror that has some tense moments but isn't, in all honesty, anything particularly amazing.
So how bad was it?, popcorn-wise?



The Bib-iest of Nickels
(I made sure to make the mask the thumbnail of the video, because I find that mask creepy as hell. Haha.)

The Poughkeepsie Tapes is a horror mockumentary that focuses on a fictional serial-killer who produces "snuff films" of his victims, and is done to come off like a real documentary, with experts, witnesses, that kind-of stuff. The film has a few real creepy moments with the killer, but, overall, the acting is so-so, and they made a few weird choices with the documentary approach (his snuff films have sound-effects and music during them, with, in my opinion, ruins the "real" feel they meant to have). Might be worth checking out for fans of the genre, but not casuals.



Black Panther (2018)

I've been somewhat of a fan of this character since he was in the Marvel comic book, but I confess my like of him came more from the look (the suit) of the character and his fighting abilities. I didn't receive a lot of exposition from the comics I read about his homeland and people. I mostly read his exploits when they had Marvel "Team-Ups." So, the introduction to his home of Wakanda in Africa was a real eye-opener in the best sense. This was a world-building movie but don't let that put you off at all. Everyone has a beginning but not every character in the Marvel canon gets a trio of movies or a stand-alone movie where their background is introduced. I'm glad they gave Black Panther his own film. The land of Wakanda (the hidden part) is magnificent and the visuals just pop on the screen. I thought the first fifteen minutes or so moved a little slow, but all of a sudden, I was in this world and enjoying everything in it. The sequence where T'Challa / Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman} becomes KIng T'Challa and is challenged, from start to finish, was just splendid. All the different tribes standing in the side of the cliff openings, wearing the multi-colored robes and gowns, above the waterfalls where the challenge fight took place, was just beautiful. I honestly wished it had lasted longer.

Wakanda is also highly technologically advanced and has been for a long time. The main tech in the city is T'Challa's own younger sister, Shuri (Letetia Wright), who steals a lot of the scenes she's in by bringing a sense of humor to the proceedings and a bit of disregard for tradition. The major resource for the Wakandans is the metal Vibranium, the same material that Captain America's shield is made of. Everything in the city is powered by it and it is ingrained into Black Panther's suit and makes him nearly invulnerable. But, some bad guys, led by Andy Serkis in a scene-chewing role, steal some Vibranium and try to sell it to interested parties. This part of the movie is almost like a James Bond film, where Shuri plays the "Q" role, fixing her brother up with a necklace that he needs only to hit a claw hanging from, and instant suit! Plus, various nefarious (hey, that rhymed) parties gathering at a casino in Korea to bid on the stolen resource.

There is a mysterious player in the proceedings, played with bitter viciousness by Michael B. Jordan, in a very well-acted role. He comes to be T'Challa's worst enemy. Martin Freeman is back from Captain America: Civil War as CIA Agent Everett K. Ross, who turns out to be an invaluable help in the final battle, with a major ground war occurring between tribes. Danai Gurira is super as Okoye, the chief of the King's personal guard and a total bad ass with a spear. I loved this character and Gurira's performance. Lupita Nyong'o is luminous as T'Challa's one-time love who wants to help needy people on the outside of the hidden Wakanda even if it means exposing their secrets. Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker are on hand as, respectively, T'Challa's mother and his most-trusted advisor.

There are awesome chases with real cars and flying vehicles being controlled by virtual reality doubles in the lab. There are fights galore and some gunfights. I could go on forever but I feel I've already enthused about this movie enough. If you haven't seen it, try to catch it at the cinema. I'm glad I did as the big screen was just filled with amazing Marvel wonder.



__________________
"Miss Jean Louise, Mr. Arthur Radley."