Rate The Last Movie You Saw

The Crying Game - (1992)

First time watching. 7/10

__________________
You don't remember me? We spoke on the phone two days ago. I told you I would find you.

(MILLS, 2008)

I'm glad to hear this.
That video game is the best Horror story I've encountered in the last 10-15 years and when I heard they were making major changes for the movie I was kinda upset. Glad to hear it came out well.

Diner (1982) - Somewhat of a disappointment as this was one of those films I had heard great things about throughout the years but seems like it's a very "you had to have been there and then to see it!" kind of work... I appreciate the influence it must've had on American independent cinema but I found myself rather disinterested in following these guys by the the 40-minutes mark, and the rest of it felt like a drag.

Not to say it's without any nice thing though; there are few performances to be enjoyed (the clear standout being Rourke) and several good moments (It's hard not to smile at the frustrated, spontaneous piano playing scene for example) but just wasn't all that... It might improve for me after a while. "hang out" movies are like this to a degree... 6/10.

__________________
HEI guys.

Story of Ellen, a young woman dealing with anorexia. She's trying to overcome the disease with all the struggles in her life.

I thought it was a very well made film. Keanu Reeves plays her doctor, who helps her through her treatment and recovery.

The Order (2024)

Excellent drama based on the real-life story of The Order, a Far-Right White Supremacist group that carried out assassinations and bank robberies in the Pacific Northwest during the 1980’s. Nicolas Hoult and Jude Law give career-best performances as the leader the Order and the FBI agent who seeks to bring him down. Although the movie recounts events that took place four decades ago, it is highly relevant for our time.

Dead Man Walking (1995)



A film that gracefully tackles the combination of three topics: religion, trauma, punisment.
It's not bags of fun and it's not a film that's going to please everyone (certainly not in this day and age) but overall I find it intelligent and as restraint as possible considering the heavy subject matter.

The religious aspect is the most intriguing one because it raises the question "how bad do I have to be before Jesus turns his back on me?"
Or, at what point does a life become completely worthless?
I was reminded of what Sister Peter Marie said in an episode of OZ.
"God is not where he's wanted, he is where he's needed".
I guess it makes sense that nobody needs it more than an evil, dehumanised person.

The story makes it clear (enough) that this is not about the redemption of Poncelet, it's about confession. I feel the moment when he vocally owns up to his crime isn't really about him, it's more like a closure for his victims. At that point it was the only and also most needed thing he could do, and what happens to him afterwards isn't important.

Based on real-life experiences by Helen Prejean, and part of the story deals with her opinion on capital punishment which slightly undermines the dilemma caused by religious choices.
When you choose that kind of life, are you in a postion to say "no" when someone asks for help (or just a moment of your time), even if that person appears to be rotten to the core? Is it humanly possible to follow the example of Jesus Christ?

Missing (1982)

__________________

[ J ] - [ S ] - [ F ]

By Shutter - The film poster can be obtained by its original film distributor, Shutter, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71371938

Hellbender - (2021)

What can I say? I was hoping for Blair Witch, but what I got was more or less teen horror that veered towards creatures I guess you could call "fear eaters" or "soul devourers" embroiled in a mother/daughter coming of age story. I was lulled in by the excellent reviews this got (97% on Rotten Tomatoes, but with a 55% audience score) and the fact it looked freaky and scary. The budget was a mite lower than I expected and although there are some very nice visuals they're marred by frequent instances of really awful CGI effects. The title should have given it away. Hellbender? The dialogue is as daft as "hellbender" sounds, and although it frequently threatens to, the movie never really shifts into high gear in any frighteningly satisfying way. The visions these faux witches see along with a very promising opening scene hit just the right tone, but the rest lacked intensity and the kind of mystery that I get a kick out of when I watch films of this specific genre. I mean, it wasn't entirely devoid of that, but just went in a direction that was more intent to explore the mother/daughter bond which Hellbender is about. I liked parts, but was overall disappointed. I've probably been a bit hard on the film and overlooked a few other positive aspects because it didn't click to such a degree.

5/10

__________________

I need to watch Dead Man Walking again (and not because I've done some evil thing recently).



The Outsiders (1983) - Another story about young misfits which romanticizes that world first and smacks some sense to it later. Somewhat over-shadowed by Francis' other '83 output in recent years if you're talking to the artsy kids, but no less a satisfying experience. If Rumble Fish brought Jarmusch to mind (though I should note that it came out before any actual Jarmusch film), this one gives Nicholas Ray.The muscial score especially sounds like classical hollywood (take the tune during the fire rescue scene as an example) and the cinematography echoes the greats; however intimate most of the situations are. It references alot of great artists and works of art too - directly or indirectly (Gone with the Wind, The Night of the Hunter, Brando).

And there's the cast of course, which people think of the most here. Early Tom Cruise, Early Patrick Swayze, early everybody - and they all look good and work together like a real ensemble; with the Dillon, Macchio and Thomas Howell leading the pack... 7.5/10

Irreversible - (Gaspar Noé, 2002)

Original cut. 6/10

Sorry you were disappointed with this movie, I love it

Hell, yes, it’s a classic of American cinema.

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

Good movie based on a true story. I enjoyed it.



Re-watch. My favorite storyline of a woman’s journey.

Heat Lightning, the film, brings the thunder to the sisters' doorstep in the form of two mysterious men with mysterious motives, one of which might have a past with the oldest sister, Olga. But as much as she says she's different and tries to stay different, George (Preston Foster) seems determined to get her back, for one reason or another. This is also interspersed with the sisters' interactions with other customers that end up stranded at their station for the night.

This is a Pre-Code film that was recommended by a guest on my podcast. It features most of the traits of a Pre-Code film with sharp dialogue, lots of sexual innuendo, and a bleak ending. I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded and how you can see the emotional machinations this man uses to break Olga. We find out early on that his motivations aren't honest, and in a way I'm sure so can she; which I think makes the path they take more interesting to think about.

Grade:


Full review on my Movie Loot

__________________

Winter Spring Summer or Fall (2024) Jenna Ortega is wonderful (as always), but Percy Hynes White felt miscast and isn't able to match her. The story is just average and fairly predictable and cliched. Worth watching for Jenna.

By Studio and or Graphic Artist - Can be obtained from film's distributor., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63091746

The Green Knight - (2021)

I remember when this came out - everyone here was talking about it, and so I made a determination to see it. A bit late, but I got around to it all the same. Very entertaining and visually delightful, with great effects and sound - I'm not all that into Arthurian legend and knew nothing about Gawain, but it seemed like a very watchable "quest" movie. Dev Patel plays King Arthur's nephew as a real 'babe in the woods', with very straightforward ideas about what 'honor' and being a knight really means. Hopelessly naïve at times, he struggles with the challenges of travelling alone while on his way to keep an appointment with the Green Knight (Ralph Ineson), constantly coming across people and/or creatures who are far more worldly and can manipulate him. I was shaking my head at times, but we were all young once I guess. As far as fantasy goes, I'm thinking this is one of the better entries of the decade so far.

8/10

SF = Zzz

Viewed: Amazon Prime

From the trailer I was expecting a more mindbending/psychedelic style sci fi horror, quite disappointing.


[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

Mr. Mom (1983)

I watched The Odd Job that Graham Chapman and Brandon McKenna wrote that came out in 1978 tonight. Holy crap is it hilarious. I did a Pants-length review on the Review tab that, more or less, states I found it a laugh a second. It's so hilarious. I am unabashed saying Graham Chapman is one of my favorite showmen. Yes he had his eccentricities, and he did need to sober up. Once he did, he rocked, as evident here (he sobered up after Holy Grail what came out three years prior). Excellent film. Perfect comedy.

__________________
"Some day this war has to end."
"Wash your mouth out with soap!"

Oh I thought that was a Korean film that came out in like 2002 or so. I must be thinking of something entirely different.