Rate The Last Movie You Saw

Re-watch, with my son. It's actually better than I remembered. Kinda makes me want to watch the old MCU movies again

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There has been an awekening.... have you felt it?

Probably on my Top 5 MCU films, or close to it.

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Set in the years after World War II, The Thick-Walled Room follows a group of Japanese soldiers imprisoned for crimes against humanity committed during the war. Throughout the film, they go from coping with the real guilt and regret of their actions to struggling and questioning the reasons for their imprisonment. Part of their resentment is reflected in the above line, which one of them quotes in the last act. I don't know where the quote comes from, but it seems to capture the way that these prisoners are being used as scapegoats for the decisions of higher-ranking officers and leaders, who they were following orders from.

Overall, the film has an interesting and thought-provoking premise. Most of these subplots are quite serious and profound, especially coming from Kobayashi, who was a war prisoner himself. Unfortunately, his decision to spread the narrative among so many characters results in the plot feeling somewhat scattered and without focus. There are also a few expository sequences that feel clunkily written, and the pace of the film is not as tight as it should have. There are some solid performances, though, and Kobayashi does craft some powerful images and moments. There's a scene in particular that stuck with me, where a character is being haunted by visions and images of the crimes he committed as the walls around him break down in a hallucinatory sequence.

Grade:


Full review on my Movie Loot

You were warned.

Day of the Outlaw (1959)

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[ J ] - [ S ] - [ F ]

Operation Pacific (1951) on dvd in preparation for the war countdown. This was fairly entertaining with some good action and decent performances. It won't make my ballot, but it is worth a watch.

I am a big fan of this movie. But I haven't seen it since the nineties. but I had it on videotape and watched it a lot. It was definitely in my top ten in my thirties.

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To Leslie - (2022)

In my opinion, $190,000 is a problematic amount to win in a lottery. You could afford to buy yourself a modest house and car etc - but with little left over to simply enjoy. Of course, I don't think I'd burn through it on drink and drugs like Leslie (Andrea Riseborough) does. It's this massive fall from grace that makes To Leslie interesting - and just as well, because I've seen my overwhelming share of redemptive alcoholic plot arcs in my lifetime. Riseborough also comes through performance-wise. It's hard watching her rejection by all those who used to love her before they were burned, after she's evicted for non-payment of rent - and this includes her son. During the film's first half we get to see just why she's being rejected - Leslie seems a hopeless case. She lies, steals and does anything she can for a drink. Like I said, we've seen it all before, but there's enough here to admire performance-wise, and I'm fascinated by those people who waste their lottery-winning fortunes, and the misery that brings them (call it lottery schadenfreude.)

7/10


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Side Effects - (2013)

This was a very interesting Steven Soderbergh film that I'd never come across before. Soderbergh seems to be an expert at sneaking films by me. The side effects from medications used to treat depression is an unusual subject to be building a psychological thriller around - and I felt just a tiny bit let down that this had a few twists and turns, sending it to familiar places. Overall though, Jude Law makes for a good psychiatrist (he'd fool me) and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Channing Tatum and Rooney Mara solidify a film that spends a good deal of time showing us what depression wreaks, how doctors promote certain pharmaceutical companies and how the justice system can be played when it comes to mental illness.

7/10


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Miss Sloane - (2016)

I love Jessica Chastain in this, and I love thrillers that involve Washington politics, corruption and heroines with intricate, impossibly brilliant plans. In this Madeline "Elizabeth" Sloane (Chastain), a lobbyist at a high-powered firm, decides to work against her own bosses when it comes to a bill which would make it harder for unbalanced people to buy guns in the U.S. - and she has her work set out for her. Mark Strong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sam Waterston and John Lithgow round out a first-rate cast. Chastain really gives her character power, charisma and a subtle clue that doing what she does is destroying her from the inside out.

8/10


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Whip It - (2009)

This Drew Barrymore-directed coming of age "sports" film is okay, but not quite my cup of tea. I think the sport of roller derby is too complex, and the film doesn't really land on a method of showing us how points are scored, so we depend on Jimmy Fallon's commentary. I am a fan of Juliette Lewis, and I like Drew Barrymore and the guy who was once Ellen Page - and that made the film enjoyable enough. It's fun seeing such a small lady somehow get involved with such a violent sport - and while not always believable, I'd prefer it to what her mother is trying to hoist on her - beauty pageant queen. It's rowdy and fun, and seems perfect for girls and younger people.

6/10


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Adventureland - (2009)

I'm one of the few people who doesn't really like Adventureland all that much - I think Jesse Eisenberg is more suited to Mark Zuckerberg/Lex Luthor type roles, and not romantic ones. Sit him next to Ryan Reynolds (which is exactly what this film does) and the differing sex-appeal vibes destroy his character. Perhaps my love for The Way Way Back and other coming of age, "finds work at a theme park" movies means there was no room in my heart for Adventureland, but I couldn't get into it without comparing it to all the other films of a similar ilk - and having an absolutely incredible soundtrack just made me feel that this film was trying to coast on the music it had selected.

5/10

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Patton (1971 Best Picture Winner): 7/10.


It gets a lot right, but suffers from poor editing. While I can watch a long film, this is one I feel could've used some trimming. As is, it's prob a one-and-done for me (I remember watching part of it years ago).


It's definitely not my favorite Best Picture Winner of the 70s.

he last movie that I watched was "Black Adam" and I would rate 9/10.

Time Share (2018) -

Fans of The White Lotus should check out this pretty good Mexican film set at a similarly bougie resort. It follows father Pedro, mother Eva and their son Raton, whose vacation gets off on the wrong foot when a double-booking forces them to share their room with another family, and things get only less fun for them from there. Meanwhile, there's Andres, a middle-aged laundry worker who is having strange visions, and Breaking Bad's R.J. Mitte as Tom, who...let's just say is a guy who likely idolizes Alec Baldwin's character in Glengarry Glen Ross.

Having stayed at a similar resort before, I will give the movie credit for getting their vibe right, whether it's the "forced fun" of the dance at the pool, the lavish cafeteria with its contrastingly disappointing entrees and salespeople who interrupt your relaxation with additional shakedowns. In short, its not-so-favorable stance towards capitalism drips from every frame, my favorite way being how the resort's Blade Runner-like pyramid-shaped main hotel looms over everything, sometimes in unexpected ways. The performances also keep things interesting, especially the underused R.J. Mitte, whose insincerity got under my skin in the best way, and Miguel Rodarte's Andres, who makes even Milton from Office Space seem dignified. It's in the movie's mystery and thriller elements, though, where it doesn't get to the fireworks factory. In other words, they amount to a classic example of too much buildup and not enough payoff. Pedro eventually gets to vent all his frustrations, but despite his impassioned performance, it's too little, too late. To make matters worse, the conclusion is more whimper than bang. If the capitalism and social division commentary in The White Lotus keeps you coming back for more, this movie should tide you over until the next season. If it’s everything else that does it for you, a rewatch is a better use of your time.

Terrific review

PT 109 (1963)

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Look, I'm not judging you - after all, I'm posting here myself, but maybe, just maybe, if you spent less time here and more time watching films, maybe, and I stress, maybe your taste would be of some value. Just a thought, ya know.

Iranian cinema & the director/writer is in prison because of this movie.

It’s a very good movie in 4 parts. The acting is terrific & I really enjoyed it, dark as it is.

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I’m here only on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. That’s why I’m here now.

Thank you for reminding me to watch this! I think Mohammad Rasoulof was released earlier this year with Jafar Panahi. A disgrace that they were locked up in the first place.

Maybe. I did wiki him, but got confused by his prison journey. Love Jafar Panahi.

It is disgraceful, but what can one expect from such an effed-up country.

@crumbsroom You might like this. It's by the same guy who made Halley. It's on Netflix.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - If I Leave Here Tomorrow

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I'll keep my eyes open for it