Rate The Last Movie You Saw

The Hit (1984) -

If you also like philosophy in your crime movies, this one is for you. We're lucky enough to get a movie featuring just Terence Stamp, John Hurt or Tim Roth, but here, they're together figuratively and literally in that they spend most of the movie in the same car. Despite most of the runtime occurring in this car, it manages to be as complete an examination of our relationship with death I can remember seeing. Stamp's Willie Parker, who went into hiding in Spain after ratting out his cohorts, but who can hide no longer, is the portrait of acceptance. A scene where he explains his philosophy is so well-acted, he could sway you regardless of your belief system. On the other end of the spectrum is Roth's Myron, who believes he is impervious to death and who likely got into contract killing because he gets high on inflicting pain and causing destruction. Even though I wanted to punch him whenever he spoke, he gives my favorite performance. In between are Hurt's hardened veteran criminal - a type-defying role that scares like Kingsley's one in Sexy Beast does - and del Sol's hostage who, like we would in her shoes, tries every which way to get the heck out of there. On that note, this movie is definitely not just a series of ruminations. While I love movies like this that generate suspense via editing, camera trickery, special effects, etc., I approve of how director Frears does this via acting only and for how long he manages to prolong it. Mike Molloy's cinematography makes Spain out to be a sun-bleached and beautiful expanse, which contrasts well with the much less optimistic vibe in the automobile. Paco de Lucia guitar-laden score also adds just the right vibe of fatalism.

Like many other great movies in this genre, it has a simple and elegant story you could describe in two sentences yet manages to make every action speak volumes. While life and death are oft explored in all genres, there is something special about how it reminds you that we all end up in that car and for how it makes you wonder who you would be in it. I discovered this movie because it's in the Criterion Collection, and like my favorite ones in it, you start by wondering why - after all, it was not a great success - and end up understanding exactly why when it's over. Granted, Roth was a newcomer, but I know...a movie with Terence Stamp and John Hurt was not a great success? Get out of here!

Le Lac des cygnes is the first ballet in the world to be filmed and shown in the IMAX format, and the experience is the next best thing to watching it live at the Opéra de Paris.

Probably not much needs to be said about the Tchaikovsky classic, being performed by world-class dancers with Nureyev’s 1986 choreography.

What is remarkable here is the ability of the IMAX version to really transport you to a live stage but with the added capability of those IMAX cameras to follow everything up close - including a few overhead shots that feel like a bit of a tribute to the great Busby Berkeley.

Sae Eun Park as Odette/Odile is easily the standout here, in a performance that absolutely deserved to be preserved in the world's biggest film format.

Despite a running time of approximately 138 minutes, the film practically flies by, leaving viewers enraptured by the intensity of the ballet.

Hmm, I normally don't grade fragments - but of what I saw, a 3, maybe 3.5

Fighting Friends (1929)
After whipping up a new signature, I began to wonder about directors with a lot of lost media, like Ozu or Mizoguchi; was I close to seeing all of their surviving work? With some study I was able to narrow it down, with Mizo there were 5, most of them fragmented, with Ozu, only 2 - I found both at YouTube and gave 'em a watch - the first, a complete, short doc (The Lion Dance (1936), a bit dry, call it a 2.5), and this one, where only 15 of 77 minutes survive.

I wonder what else there was of the story -what was in that other hour- because what we have is pretty self-contained, with a beginning, middle, and end (2 pals help a woman, and both fall for her - who will she choose... then a twistaroo). I mean there could be more set-up, more fleshing out of each character, and there had to be a few more little adventures for the trio, but that seems like a slight premise to hang a feature on. But hey, it's Ozu, even early in his career, making comedies, he was pretty good at his craft.

So, while I can't really grade it, what we have was pretty cute, amusing in spots. I enjoyed it.

And that's it, unless they find another somewhere, somehow (we can always hope), I've completed Yasujirō's filmography.

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Completed Extant Filmographies: Luis Buñuel, Federico Fellini, Satyajit Ray, Fritz Lang, Andrei Tarkovsky, Buster Keaton, Yasujirō Ozu - (for favorite directors who have passed or retired, 10 minimum)

The Creator - This turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. I can't pinpoint an exact reason but figure it was first and foremost the script. I also felt that John David Washington was miscast. Maybe that had more to do with the script as well but I can think of several other young-ish actors who could have gotten more mileage out of the character. The FX however were great, first rate.

The trailer was what had convinced me I was really going to dig this movie. I've always had a weakness for the battle-scarred-warrior-caring-for-a-young-child trope. And the young actress playing Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles) contributed mightily to whatever good feelings this engendered. But then whatever positives were to be found were anchored to a weak story and muddled narrative. So that when it came time for the crescendo and coda I was left strangely unaffected.

And when you can't deliver on the payoff it's pretty much a lost cause.

65/100

SF = Z

Viewed: Blu ray



[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

The latest adaptation of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is likely to be considered the definitive adaptation of the novel of the same name (I don't think I ever got to watch the 1983 made-for-TV version).

I almost always enjoy holiday-themed movies, and this one is definitely one of the better ones to get a theatrical release in recent years; it's hard to think of a better family movie playing in theaters right now.

There's plenty of winning child performances, which are probably better than you'd expect; and for the nostalgic among us, the period detail (it's never spelled out but it sure feels like it's set in the 1970s) feels just perfect.

My Favourite Cake (2024) - I have a soft spot for films that reflect on life, and this vulnerable, tender Persian gem does a lot of it during (mostly) the course of one day of it's story, in a familiar (if not cliche) manner of progression until it's heartbreaking end.

Lili Farhadpour and Esmaeel Mehrabi are adorable to watch and the direction is simple yet precise... says a lot about Iran too, along with aging and daring to embrace every remaining moment you got.

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HEI guys.

I rarely write a review but really want to with this film. It is not for the light-hearted movie goer. This movie is on the extreme spectrum of films, in which I have seen several. It's been a long time since I first watched this, back in 2012/2013.

At the beginning, a prostitute, we shall call "Bunny", lives her life providing sexual pleasures for her next meal and her next fix of cocaine. She gets so wasted, she has no clue or care, that they abuse her and steal from her.



This film is beautifully shot in black and white. There are scenes that are grainy and quick flashes. They are visually extreme and at times, hard-core. It's an avant-garde experimental film, in the raw sense.

I put spoiler tags as not everyone may want to see or read.

The Naked City (1948, Jules Dassin) - A+

Possibly the best police procedural film. Some great and moody on location filming and Barry Fitzgerald is charming and delightful as the Irish NYC police detective.

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"A candy colored clown!"
Member since Fall 2002
Top 100 Films, clicky below

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Chungking Express - (1994)

This obviously had a huge impact on me, and works even better when seen in conjunction with Fallen Angels, which continues the kind of 'short story' unrequited love make-up of this 1994 classic. Faye Wong and the second story kind of outweighs or dominates the opening, but everything is so good at the same time. Wong Kar-wai can express the mood love puts you in and he builds all kinds of slow-burn narratives around it that explore novel topics in original ways. Relationships with inanimate objects, relationships based on the sharing of a space instead of life, relationships expressed through the consumption of consumer goods - these themes don't sound like they'd add up to much, but when you see the way this has been filmed and follow the bittersweet narration it really makes one dizzy and had me in a very introspective and emotional mood. He uses music in such fantastic ways. His partnership with cinematographer Christopher Doyle should be legendary. Can't wait to see this again.

9/10


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Rapiña - (1975)

This was really good - another Carlos Enrique Taboada film that I got to see as part of the "Mexican Gothic" boxed set. What happens when a dirt-poor Mexican woodchopper stumbles upon a horrifying plane crash, and decides that looting is his ticket out of poverty? His mind is so focused on this because he overhears a local doctor refer to all the local villagers as "animals" and ignorant cretins, and wants better for his child who is yet to be born. Your stomach will turn as Porfirio (Ignacio López Tarso) and Evodio (Germán Robles) steal from and desecrate the dead for their own gain, but events further down the track are even more shocking as the unexpected windfall has unintended consequences. This is impactful and continually compelling stuff - a morality play that scorches from start to finish.

8/10


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Instinct - (1999)

This movie cheats. At the start, we're given Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Ethan Powell, a man who has lived with gorillas for years and has apparently completely reverted to being one of them (and an aggressive one at that.) Of course, we're to learn more as the film progresses and Dr. Theo Caulder (Cuba Gooding Jr.) tries to reach him and try and connect with the person. It's later that we find out In the end Powell's behaviour never really made sense to me. His story about living with the gorillas was genuinely touching though - I like that kind of stuff.

5/10


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Blacker Then Night - (1975)

Intelligent and well-shot, with superb production values and set design, this is a horror film with a really satisfying literary feel to it. Carlos Enrique Taboada put a lot of thought into the films he made. Full review here, in my watchlist thread.

8/10

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Tonight I watched Hideout. on Freeve. Overall it's all right. I could have done without the ending being like that. I hoped it'd end with

I don't know if the film is supposed to be an entry way for the cast and crew into the film industry or just what. It felt like budding amateurs determined to turn professional and wanted this to start that journey. I would say that, despite the ending, they did a fairly good job. Some of it wasn't that good, they didn't have a lot of time, and most of the people have very few IMDb credits so I can't imagine they have much experience with something like this.

Some of the progression was weird and felt like they missed a few shots. It happens with shoe-string-budget films, although it was jarring. It could have been tighter overall. I will say I'm glad I watched Hideout. I hope they continue.

Oh and I thought their Kyle, played by Bryan Enright, did a really good job. He really capture insanity and panic and stressed really well. Kudos to him.

There was supposed to be a spoiler here but I don't see it in the post on the thread. I can see it in the editing screen on my end, but I don't see it on the page. I've never posted a spoiler so I don't know if that's normal.

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I destroyed the dastardly dairy dame! I made mad milk maid mulch!

The Host - (2006)

6/10

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

L'Eclisse (1962) Antonioni
You either have to mark it as 0 on account of 2 appalling racist comments which had no purpose in the film other than to seemingly announce that Antonioni was a dog whistling racist, or you have to give it at least 9.5 and recognise it as a (pointlessly flawed) masterpiece.

Visually/cinematographically, it has to be in the top 5 most beautiful films ever made. It is also a magnificent expose of seduction/courting, and emphasises it with repeated attention to the first kiss.
Also, important to remember that it was made at the height of the cold war, bearing in mind that the final shot makes reference to possible nuclear war. This film was Antonioni's advertisement for life.

Very slight deduction on account of the lack of chemistry between Delon and Vitti, who unlike Cardinale he just doesn't fancy. Superb acting nonetheless, especially from Vitti.
There are too many images to know where to possibly begin or end.

Sideways (2004)


Finally found a way to watch this (Hulu), and I would say it met my expectations given its award history. The flawed characters definitely make you uncomfortable at various times, and there is much more talk about wine than I would ever care for. But the comedy, dialogue, and everything make for a great movie, even though I may never watch it again.

I need to see this again. It’s been a long time.

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

Lol you shock me by saying you seen it before.

It just doesn't seem your type.

Just chiming in to say I adore both The Host (#3 on my Joon-ho list) and Sideways (also third, but on the Payne list of course... it would be rather strange if I put it on Joon-hos. lol)

Me, I was trying to decide what I want to watch next, when it dawned on me that I need to get to Cabrini (2024) since it's due back at the library in a few days. Grade it when I see it, but man, looking at the popular reviews at Letterboxd and one person gave it a mere 2, the other the full 5. Hmm, well now they have me curious.

Not sure I have a type. I will watch anything that entertains me.

Unsure of what you mean by “the file” in your comment.

I have this on my list but haven’t got around to it yet. (My list is about 15 years old, I add to it but still have so much to catch up on). Does sound like something up my street though.

The Sugarland Express (1974)

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