Movie News, Reviews, and Discussion Super-Thread

[team filler]

source chode was just a knockoff quantum leap

[TVC15]

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/c/callmebyyourname.htm

This indicates no non-statue dong hanging.

[Nintex]

Watched Three billboards outside Ebbing Missouri . Great film, I understand why Sam Rockwell got a BAFTA his performance was intense.
The movie just kept surprising me with the narrative and didn't go quite like you'd expect. A lot to think about.

[Great Rumbler]

My Asia trip continues. Watched Attack the gas station. What an amazing movie. Makes me want to have a horrible childhood and subsequently rage against society. But only if all is forgiven in the end. Too much of a chicken otherwise. We should have recreational gas stations everywhere to allow our youth to integrate into society better.



Plan for tonight: Shaolin Soccer.

Have you seen The Quiet Family? Get on that, it's got a lot of the same kind of dark-but-still-silly humor that Attack the Gas Station and Save the Green Planet have.

[Momo]

I enjoyed attack the gas station quite a bit.

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

man, how great is the score in that movie. It might be Joe Hisashi's best work. 90's Kitano was something special I tells ya.

[VomKriege]

I may be biased because it's the first one I saw but I think Sonatine is the best film he's made.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Excluding Getting Any ? of course

[close]

Saw The Lobster and while I expected the style of the film due to having seen Dogtooth, I was still very much surprised by most of the plot turns and situations. It perhaps lasts a tad longer than it should (the second half lags a bit) and just like Dogtooth you're left a bit dumbfounded by the overall story. In the end, it's a series of vignettes that are often compelling, it's a fun movie in how fresh and weird it plays out the general premise and the cold, cruel absurdity of the tone is enough to stand on its own... But I'm unsure if there's any higher meaning to it all or if Lanthimos is just a very dry, twisted Wes Anderson (not that there's anything wrong with the latter). Léa Seydoux was very good in this or at least an excellent fit for the part.

Also saw Loveless from Andreï Zviaguintsev, a very harsh portrait of modern day life in well-to-do urban Russia (or Europe, really) built upon the vanishing of the child of a couple on the verge of divorce. It's not a thriller but the search for the kid is front and center and a strong backbone to built the drama of terrible parents breeding terrible parents of their own & terrible authorities (the police basically points from minute 1 the parents to a civilian, volunteer group far more effective than they are, and their obvious experience in the matter is -as a reviewer noted- more disquieting than reassuring). And to cap it all, even in the face of tragedy, the movie seems to conclude that people won't improve despite the ordeal. It's my first Zviaguintsev picture : it's shot beautifully, probably the most pleasant thing I watched in a while. It's also fairly restrained with no emotional blackmailing whatsoever despite entering the intimacies of its character pretty deep (some graphic sex in there, though nothing pornographic). On some other aspects it's maybe a tad more on the nose (the radio is speaking of how Jill Stein was refused access to a debate for the US presidency -in 2012-  QUICK SOMEONE TELL POLIERA SO THEY CAN INFORM MUELLER) with regards to the comments on Russian society but never to the point of caricature. The last shot in particular is a bit overt but it's the nature of film to boil down meaning down to a visual symbol so what can you do ?

EDIT : Reading an interview, it seems harsh insults are not allowed in Russian films, as the director tells he has replaced some of them with a silence. 

[Corporal]

Slipped on ice and hurt my ankle and wrist. Ow. Must've looked quite funny though. Fuck all of this, though. So, Movie Sunday:

It had to happen. All this moonspeak from my previous sessions tempted me to watch some Anime again.

Ghost in the Shell. The not-raped-by-Oshii edition. Because, why not start with something familiar.
Dang, that movie is still just as great as I remember it. There are some quibbles, but the mix of cyberpunk, police/spy movie, action flick and whatever else you can cram in there is just so tasty. Sure, the paint is coming off after all those years. There's a bunch of times where delivery just doesn't work, or artwork just seems odd, or simply because so many movies have been inspired by this one, etc... And I'm still getting unreasonably tripped up by people using fancy keyboard typing hand replacements in a world stuffed to the gills with all sorts of wireless and wired man-machine interfaces. Rule of cool, I guess.

Still, man, this anime thing was great, I should dig out my old stuff and watch some Eat-Man, Trigun, Vampire Hunter D or maybe a bunch of Ghibli goodness.

Yet, since it was "recommended", I then tried watching GITS 2 Innocence. I mean, yeah, the last time I hated it, but what could possibly go wrong. Sigh.
What a load of bullshit. It's such a tremendous downgrade in every regard. Yuck. I feel dirty even typing about it. Who do I sue for this?

So yeah. Friendship ended with Anime, now real movies are my best friends again.

So I watched Leon (The professional). Gary Oldman is just so amazing. Love the weird little fucker. Especially when he works in weird roles where he can go balls to the walls crazy. I also really like Reno in this, he's just so awkward and stymied. However, under Besson he has no growth potential. He has like one setting, awkward French  Bruce Willis with some flavour of the month. Which is why I cooked while Wasabi was playing in the background. (Also, no Oldman in that one, I think, so whatever.) Still a fun movie though.

Cutting potatos and onions with a wobbly hand is annoying. Work, dammit, or I'll hack you off and toss you into the stew you defective piece of bruised flesh.

Which brings me to the now.

ALAAAAARM-Zeit. Das Boot, bitches. Sadly, only the directors cut. One of these days I'mma set aside a day and watch through the whole miniseries. Still, for me the best scene in the movie is at the very end. I really love the way Lt. Werner reacts. Kinda like how I'd suspect an ape would react to a similarly traumatising event. Just stripped away of all his humanity, shivering in sheer disbelief and horror, shrinking back, balling up, not knowing what to do, absolutely helpless. Good show by Grönemeyer. Looking forward to it.

And after this, I'll be giving myself a dose of downfall. Gonna go all in on this WW2 thing. It's so crazy that most of this was not filmed in Berlin, but in Russia. Most, if not all extras are Russians. I can't even begin to imagine how this must have felt for everyone on set.

If I'm still awake after that I'll add on a bit of killin gnatzees. Inglorious Basterds. I adore Landa in this movie. Dunno whether it's the way he's written, or whether it's the acting. Who knows. He's just such a charming asshole.

Have you seen The Quiet Family? Get on that, it's got a lot of the same kind of dark-but-still-silly humor that Attack the Gas Station and Save the Green Planet have.

Thanks for the tip. Will do. I'm always up for some whimsy humour.

[Great Rumbler]

Still, man, this anime thing was great, I should dig out my old stuff and watch some Eat-Man, Trigun, Vampire Hunter D or maybe a bunch of Ghibli goodness.

[Freyj]

Annihilation whips ass

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

I wanna congratulate Corporal for having great taste. Report back on The Quiet Family please if you get the chance. Its been on my To Watch list for a loooooong time. As its an early Kim Je-Won film, I have to see it.

I'm pretty sure its Japanese remake is much better known in the west, Takashi Miike's Happiness of the Katakuris, helped perhaps in no small part due to the sheer novelty of having that same premise as a musical with zombies and claymation in it.

And while we're shitting/praising anime, lemmie get a shot in at the new, live action Fullmetal Alchemist movie that just premired on Netflix. Its terrible. I knew almost nothing of its source material and now I dont care to ever learn more about it.

[Stoney Mason]

Watched Thor: Ragnarok  [usual caveat. I don't generally watch superhero movies. Haven't seen any prior Thor movie nor any of the avenger films]

Warning:Old man yells at cloud post.


This movie reminds me of a modern serial TV show. By that I mean it only makes context in the sense of having seen 5 to 7 movies minimum before that. If you watch this outside of that context its a god damn mess that doesn't really make sense. And ultimately I have a feeling that's the large part of the appeal of these marvel movies. They've created a movie franchise that is very basic film-making with the hook that this is all familiar comfort food like television with characters and story lines that connect and make people feel comfortable. I can appreciate that appeal intellectually. I guess I just wish they were better movies.

This movie feels like a combination of a traditional super-hero material slammed together with guardians of the galaxy. The humour feels more forced than in Guardians for me. It often feels like one of those Amy Poehler/Will Ferrell movies where everybody is ad libbing and quipping with each other. Which I guess would be fine if this movie was going for a subversion of all these super hero tropes but its not. It's extremely traditional so its a little weird to me but maybe that's just a personal taste thing. I mean I could tell this movie wants to keep it light and I'm fine with that except when the movie wants to get "serious".

Overall movie is super corny and cheesy and generally those are two things I like. I know that this is a mostly intentional direction. And I probably prefer it to some grim-dark saving the universe comic book movie. But I also don't think its funny or wacky enough to actually be funny and wacky. It's like corporate funny and wacky masquerading as the real deal. It's a weird movie. I don't think its especially good. I don't hate it. I almost certainly will never watch it again in my life. It's a movie that is all over place. 

Oh, I think the special effects and action scenes suck and are green screen disasters. But that's the norm for these kind of movies that I've seen outside of the Captain America stuff.

[Assimilate]

Watched Thor: Ragnarok  [usual caveat. I don't generally watch superhero movies. Haven't seen any prior Thor movie nor any of the avenger films]

Warning:Old man yells at cloud post.

No need. The movie, like most Marvel flicks, are for menchildren with shitty taste. It was awful and it's ok to say so.

[Bebpo]

Man, surprised at all the Thor 3 haters here. I really liked it, it took a generic bland superhero movie and made it worth my time by being a constantly funny comedy. I'd go out on a limb and say Chris Hemsworth is the best new comedian in films in the last 5 years. Guy has top-notch comedic talent and I wish outside of Thor movies he pursued a career in comedy vs hot serious action guy. Pairing Hemsworth's comedic skills with Waititi's comedic writing and directing talent = tons of fun.

Move is better than Waititi's last movie Hunt for the Wilderpeople, but not as good as What we Do in the Shadows. It's not the best movie of 2017, or even the best Marvel movie, but it's a lot of fun, has good humor and is worth the time to view it.

[Mr. Gundam]

Put me down as someone that thinks Boogie Nights is PTA’s best. It’s not only a legitimately great movie, but it’s also a fun ride that pretty much anyone can enjoy. It’s got depth and works for a very wide audience. I love all of PTA’s stuff (haven’t seen Phantom Thread yet), but he struck the perfect balance here. One of the best casts ever, too. And that fuckin’ soundtrack is Tarantino-level quality.

I'm not sure if I like Boogie Nights or Magnolia more, but they're PTA's best work and I'm really not all that impressed with what he's made since. I loved him trying be Robert Altman.

[Assimilate]

Put me down as someone that thinks Boogie Nights is PTA’s best. It’s not only a legitimately great movie, but it’s also a fun ride that pretty much anyone can enjoy. It’s got depth and works for a very wide audience. I love all of PTA’s stuff (haven’t seen Phantom Thread yet), but he struck the perfect balance here. One of the best casts ever, too. And that fuckin’ soundtrack is Tarantino-level quality.

I'm not sure if I like Boogie Nights or Magnolia more, but they're PTA's best work and I'm really not all that impressed with what he's made since. I loved him trying be Robert Altman.

There Will Be Blood is his best work, what you talking about man? 

[paprikastaude]

The Brothers Grimsby - Okay, I laughed at the really low stuff like elephant rape, but really Sacha, "traditional" comedy movie's really isn't what we need from you. HBO's Ali G Show still the GOAT.

[Stoney Mason]

Man, surprised at all the Thor 3 haters here. I really liked it, it took a generic bland superhero movie and made it worth my time by being a constantly funny comedy. I'd go out on a limb and say Chris Hemsworth is the best new comedian in films in the last 5 years. Guy has top-notch comedic talent and I wish outside of Thor movies he pursued a career in comedy vs hot serious action guy. Pairing Hemsworth's comedic skills with Waititi's comedic writing and directing talent = tons of fun.

Move is better than Waititi's last movie Hunt for the Wilderpeople, but not as good as What we Do in the Shadows. It's not the best movie of 2017, or even the best Marvel movie, but it's a lot of fun, has good humor and is worth the time to view it.

Comedy is super subjective so I'm absolutely willing to concede that if somebody found it crazy fun that probably makes it work it for them. It's not as if there isn't anything funny in the movie. Maybe if it had the freedom outside of this genre to actually go some place interesting I think it would work. The fact that it has to fall in line with the genre conventions of this film are what I mean when I say it feels corporate funny.

There is probably a good version of this film that isn't tied to it being part a marvel movie or tied to this cinematic universe. That is a film I wouldn't mind seeing. Instead this feels like one of those horror franchises where they've done like 10 movies and have run out of stuff to do so the 11th version is a wacky version of the franchise. And while that probably is kinda cool if you are a fan of the franchise, if you aren't, it just feels like another one of those.

I guess I would compare this film to Star Trek voyage home for example but I think that movie hits its notes properly where as this movie just kinda feels weird to me.

[TVC15]

Saw Black Panther last night and it’s definitely in The upper tier of Marvel flicks, but it’s still just a Marvel flick.  Lol at the ReRe’a that we’re comparing this to, like, Do the Right Thing.

I went with two friends. Neither of them watch these. They said they’d only seen Iron Man and Guardians 1. They asked why the nerdy white Martin Freeman character was even in the movie. I didn’t really have a good answer. Was it so there’d Be a white good guy in the movie? Was it because these movies seem to have a requirement to have references to other movies in the series?

[Quaker]

I kind of didn't think Mute was that bad. I couldn't deny most of the criticisms directed towards it and it's definitely a disappointment, but it has a handful of interesting ideas in the worldbuilding, Paul Rudd's character held my interest for most of it and I loved the clearly Blade Runner-inspired Clint Mansell scored, which he is not shy about using. I'd probably but it as a high C-tier movie overall, somewhere around Blomkamp's last two movies(which I also kind of liked for many of the same reasons), but with a smaller budget. Mostly frustrated that it seems like a waste of everyone's time and I don't know who to blame(obvious answer is Netflix for not having more quality control but then again how eager are people to shit on directors having to contend with notes from producers or having final cut taken away from them.)

Put me down as someone that thinks Boogie Nights is PTA’s best. It’s not only a legitimately great movie, but it’s also a fun ride that pretty much anyone can enjoy. It’s got depth and works for a very wide audience. I love all of PTA’s stuff (haven’t seen Phantom Thread yet), but he struck the perfect balance here. One of the best casts ever, too. And that fuckin’ soundtrack is Tarantino-level quality.

I'm not sure if I like Boogie Nights or Magnolia more, but they're PTA's best work and I'm really not all that impressed with what he's made since. I loved him trying be Robert Altman.

I *adore* Magnolia and Boogie Nights but I'm impressed by how much he's managed to evolve beyond his initial overt Altman/Scorsese inspirations and craft his own style.

[BlueTsunami]

Yeah current PTA has this quiet tension and rage he's able to convey, shown in TWBB and refined further in Phantom Thread. It feels like an evolution with just how emotionally jarring Magnolia can be. These notes are now an undercurrent.

[Bebpo]

I liked TWBB, but I kinda hated The Master. Didn't see Inherent Vice and still need to see PT. I definitely liked Boogie Nights/Magnolia over TWBB, but TWBB is still real good, mostly for the performances of DDL and Paul Dano.

[TVC15]

The Master > TWBB

[chronovore]

Downloading MUTE for the flight tomorrow.

Started Netflix' Night World, which is a European film pretending to be an American horror film with the most stilted, uneven dialog I've heard in years.

Watched Lee Pace and Bérénice Marlohe stumble through Revolt, a movie that wanted to be District 9 meets War of the Worlds, but over-relies on its reasonably effective special effects, while ignoring a whole bunch of common-sense storytelling rules. It was pretty. Well, Marlohe was pretty, and the devastation and filth were compelling, visually.

[toku]

excited to hear your thoughts on mute

[Quaker]

Game Night - I thought the marketing for this was pretty cringeworthy but it turned out to be surprisingly good. It's basically the Horrible Bosses guys pretty much making an action/comedy in the style of David Fincher. The Game is the most direct influence but there's definitely a lot of Panic Room, Fight Club and The Social Network in here as far as the color grading, compositions and camera techniques go. It's funny but the action is better than a lot of recent action movies I've seen, including a brawl, car chase and an extended one-take involving a Faberge egg. It can get a little obnoxious with some of the celebrity references and it loses steam in the last 20 or 30 minutes but I had a lot of fun with it.

The Darkest Hour - I laughed when I saw the first trailer that had Gary Oldman going hard with that "tiger's mouth" speech but I thought it was alright for the most part. I didn't find the prosthetics distracting(unlike something like Leo in that Hoover biopic) and it can be a stunning looking film thanks to Joe Wright's direction but there's really no surprises here and regardless of intentions  I can't really get excited about a movie espousing patriotism/nationalism like this nowadays. That being said, I'm a lame history nerd so I wasn't disappointed and the staging and production design were enough for me to feel satisfied.

[Momo]

Taking Tomb Raider and Pacific Rim critic and audience score predictions
Tomb Raider: Critics - 45% Audience 65% (after a week)
Pacific Rim: Critics 85% - Audience 50%

[Bebpo]

Lady Bird still isn't available to rent, and I ain't paying that $15, so gonna watch Good Time now instead.

[TVC15]

Lady Bird still isn't available to rent, and I ain't paying that $15, so gonna watch Good Time now instead.

Watch Frances Ha is you haven’t seen it. It’s on US netflix at least and is Gerwiglicious.

[team filler]

More like Ladyturd

[Tasty]

Lady Bird still isn't available to rent, and I ain't paying that $15, so gonna watch Good Time now instead.

Good Time is a good time (but not for everyone.)

Good Time

Robert Pattinson completely disappears into his role of bank thief and brother to his mentally-challenged accomplice. This film's direction reminds me of mother! - you're constantly being whisked around and disoriented by close-ups, with very few wide shots (and of those, the car tracking shots are particularly mesmerizing.) The story is a bit weird and twisty, with no obviously "earned" plot developments, but that gives things a bit of a grittier, more realistic, improvisational feel. The focus here is on Pattinson's character and his brother, and in broad strokes they do both have fulfilling arcs.

This movie is definitely not for everyone, and I'm not even sure I'll remember it in a few years, but it definitely made me feel things as a result of the direction and acting.

4 / 5

[TVC15]

Lady Bird still isn't available to rent, and I ain't paying that $15, so gonna watch Good Time now instead.

Good Time is a good time (but not for everyone.)

Good Time

Robert Pattinson completely disappears into his role of bank thief and brother to his mentally-challenged accomplice. This film's direction reminds me of mother! - you're constantly being whisked around and disoriented by close-ups, with very few wide shots (and of those, the car tracking shots are particularly mesmerizing.) The story is a bit weird and twisty, with no obviously "earned" plot developments, but that gives things a bit of a grittier, more realistic, improvisational feel. The focus here is on Pattinson's character and his brother, and in broad strokes they do both have fulfilling arcs.

This movie is definitely not for everyone, and I'm not even sure I'll remember it in a few years, but it definitely made me feel things as a result of the direction and acting.

4 / 5

Remind me to watch this sometime. I’d put it in now but I don’t want to put in contact lenses this late.

[Great Rumbler]

I really don't see Pacific Rim 2 getting an 85% from critics [14 points higher than the original]. Probably more like 55%.

[Momo]

I think if del toro can convince people to unironically like fish penis, the sky's the limit.

[Tasty]

Groove

I had to stop watching this on my first watch - I was a bit drunk and not following things, and it seemed super boring. So I was a bit reluctant to return to it, but I'm glad I did. This film hits peak cheese levels at times with a group of Californian twentysomething going on about "chakras" and "chi" and shit while stoned off their asses, but I appreciated the main plotline. This movie would be a 3 except for the ending, which it lands fantastically. Lot of good vibes even if there are some cringey moments.

4 / 5


Boogie Nights

Glad I bumped this up my list after the discussion here a few days ago. Really solid dramady - long, but it never feels it. This movie made me realize that Mark Wahlberg can actually act, and the rest of the cast is phenomenal as well. I'd probably compare it in "feel" to The Big Lebowski, if that makes any sense. My only minor criticisms include questioning the relevance William H. Macy's plot. I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be played for severely dark laughs, or something more dramatic. Otherwise this hits all the right spots.

4 / 5


Europa Report

Man, I had so much hope for the premise of this movie - discovering hostile alien life on a far-away moon in our solar system. But it's presented *so* badly and ridiculously here: first starting off as a documentary about the crew and why they went missing, then cutting over to a largely found-footage style. And the found footage is done so, so poorly - possibly my least favorite use of it since V/H/S: Viral. In addition to that, the movie is just really boring with sudden TV camera "static" providing a majority of the movie's "scares." It doesn't help that this has bar-none the worst CG and effects I've seen in a theatrically released movie in the last decade. To top it off, the producer's were clearly in love with the creature they made (spoiler: some kind of glowy octopus), but it looks like absolute shit. Pass.

1 / 5


Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Fascinating documentary about Tokyo's premiere high-end sushi chef, Jiro Sukiyabashi. Eating at his very small, subway-adjacent establishment requires a month's wait time and at least a $300 commitment to what is essentially a 20-course meal. The movie focuses on different aspects of Jiro's workday and life - from sourcing the best rice and fish sellers, to discussions with his son about the difficulties the son will face when 95-year old Jiro retires or dies, to the pièce de résistance: the meal preparation for a group of customers. This meal preparation scene, set to a beautiful concerto, is more engaging than most action movie set pieces. Loved this look into one corner of the high-end fine dining space.

4 / 5


Murder on the Orient Express

Perfectly serviceable period peace rendition of a literary classic. I had not read the book nor knew the plot before watching, so the movie was more engaging to me than it might be otherwise. I did enjoy how it all played out, the ending was oddly satisfying. The style here reminds me quite a bit of Baz Luhrmann (but more subdued), which may or may not turn you off. Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite movies, so the cinematography here worked for me. Otherwise not much else to say.

3 / 5


Falling Down

Severely weird movie by Joel Schumacher that traces a psychotically-broken Michael Douglas on his warpath back to his ex-wife and child, while also spending half the running time on the cop who falls into the job of tracking him down (on his last day on the force, no less.) Douglas' rants are ripped right out of a racist z-grade comedian's 90s stand-up sketch ("What do you mean you don't serve breakfast one minute after 11:30?!" "Why are you in America if 'you no speak English??'") A lot of the film feels like a parable or fairy tale - Douglas is essentially Superman and can't be hurt or stopped on his way to his destination. I was hoping the movie would be a bit more clever and have it turn out that Douglas doesn't really exist, and that it was in the cop's subconscious or something like that. But that was not the case. Douglas is bullet proof, until the end when the movie needs him not to be.

2 / 5


Demonic

This horror movie (on Netflix right now) gets points for some genuinely spooky moments early on, but overall I felt it took too long to get going and got too stupid at the end. The plot: 20 years or something after a Satanic murder/suicide of five friends, a group goes back to the house in order to... help one of their friends who keeps having visions of it? I had a little trouble tracking the group's various motivations to go (and then later, to stay.) Unfortunately despite some fairly chilling scenes, the protagonists here are the typical IQ level of horror movie characters - that is to say, very dumb and bickering just a bit too much. I don't hate this movie, but overall it's just wasted potential.

2 / 5

[Momo]

I loved Jiro Dreams of Sushi, saw it a bit like a factual Tampopo (watch this) one of my favorite movies and a dearly intimate expression of artistry.

[Tasty]

Falling Down

Severely weird movie by Joel Schumacher that traces a psychotically-broken Michael Douglas on his warpath back to his ex-wife and child, while also spending half the running time on the cop who falls into the job of tracking him down (on his last day on the force, no less.) Douglas' rants are ripped right out of a racist z-grade comedian's 90s stand-up sketch ("What do you mean you don't serve breakfast one minute after 11:30?!" "Why are you in America if 'you no speak English??'") A lot of the film feels like a parable or fairy tale - Douglas is essentially Superman and can't be hurt or stopped on his way to his destination. I was hoping the movie would be a bit more clever and have it turn out that Douglas doesn't really exist, and that it was in the cop's subconscious or something like that. But that was not the case. Douglas is bullet proof, until the end when the movie needs him not to be.

2 / 5

You didn't understand this movie at all.

It's possible Douglas' rants were more on-point and relevant when the movie came out, but they really have not aged well after 25 years of being regurgitated by legions of low-rent comedians. Aside from that, the movie positions Douglas weirdly - is he protagonist or antagonist? He's certainly the bad guy, as he himself confirms at the end, but the movie is less clear on whether we're meant to root for him. And I don't like being forced to sympathize with bad people just because the movie thinks I should.

[VomKriege]

Tampopo is GOAT tier.

[Tasty]

Would love to watch Tampopo but it's not out anywhere but Vudu and iTunes.

[Momo]

I'd send you my blu ray as a loaner, but I'd have to come along with it to make sure you dont damage it
I'm currently trying to track down a copy of Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald, probably my favorite Japanese movie ever

[Tasty]

Physical media

Can you rip it for me?

[Momo]

I dont have a blu ray player on my PC, I watch on my PS4

[Tasty]

[Momo]

Tampopo isnt showing on mubi

https://mubi.com/films/tampopo

[Tasty]

William Foster's story is a tragedy. You're not supposed to root for him on his rampage, you're just supposed to sympathize with his descent. He's a bygone man from the past and the death of the American dream. The world is changing around him but he can't change with it and finds he has no place in it anymore. The browlines themselves are an iconic style from the 50s. He works in the department of defense, which was a constitutive part of many Americans lives until the Soviet Union went bust and those jobs disappeared. He lashes out against immigrants and rich people. A nazi thinks he's one of them, to William's disgust. He doesn't even have a place in his family anymore. His singular line in the whole movie is "I'm just trying to get home," but he doesn't have one, and trying to find it just causes havoc all over the city. He wants to be there for his daughter (aka future generations) but at the end he realizes the best thing he can do for her is just die.

The movie is timeless. It isn't a movie that was fine for its time but has dated and is racist now. It was "problematic" for that time, too. That's the point.

I'm not saying it's a bad movie because it's problematic or whatever. I'm not even saying it's a bad movie (2/5 from me means it falls just short of the baseline.) I'm just saying I don't sympathize with him much at all. Not only are his acts unreasonable (his rampage is triggered by... a traffic jam) and he seems kind of inhuman and invincible for no realistic reason, but Douglas just acts him too meanly on top of it. And in terms of servicing Douglas' plot, what use is the cop side of the movie? It's completely superfluous and only pads things out. This movie just did not gel for me (though I recognize it was entertaining at times), but obviously ymmv.

[Joe Molotov]

I think if del toro can convince people to unironically like fish penis, the sky's the limit.

Del Toro's not directing Pacific Rim 2, also you never actually got to see any fish penis.

[Momo]

wtf is even the point if it's not del fish penis directing?

[team filler]

An introvert realizes he can be whomever he wants to be on the Internet.

[Great Rumbler]

An introvert realizes he can be whomever he wants to be on the Internet.

woah if true

[Stoney Mason]

Watched The Shape of Water

Yeah this movie is problematic and its hard to imagine that this an oscar movie. It's a decent movie. It has good actors in it that all do their job well.

It's just an average movie. Or maybe a slightly above average movie but nothing to go nuts over. The main thing is this story is designed as a fairytale. And at first I thought that was kind of clever. And by the end I thought that was manipulative. Because if its a fairy tale you can't really question the movie as constructed.

It's super predictable and formulaic. [Well that's because fairytales are a formula]
It telegraphs everything in the movie super blatantly. [Well that's because fairytales should be easy to understand]
This love story while well acted seems questionable to me [Well its a fairytale. It needs a love story]

This movie also feels like oscar bait. Like its seems cynically made in that regard to be catnip for oscar consideration and that's the problem. The Oscars and Award shows reward this kind of movie because it has good actors elevating average material. But is that really what determines a best picture. Shouldn't a best picture also have like a good story and good original plotting, and good acting.

I'm being harsh and its not a bad movie but a movie like this getting nominations is exactly why Award shows often feel out of touch.

[Assimilate]

This movie also feels like oscar bait. Like its seems cynically made in that regard to be catnip for oscar consideration and that's the problem. The Oscars and Award shows reward this kind of movie because it has good actors elevating average material. But is that really what determines a best picture. Shouldn't a best picture also have like a good story and good original plotting, and good acting.

This shit has been getting worse every year at the Oscars. The tiny shred of credibility the Oscars once had is all but gone.

[Bebpo]

Saw Phantom Thread, I liked it and it's good but a little...underwhelming for PT Anderson? Like there are some great scenes, the dialogue is very well written and DDL is amazing character study, but the story itself seemed a bit shallow and not super interesting. Though it did have a nice Greenwood score too. It reminded me of There Will Be Blood as a slower paced character study film, but TWBB in comparison feels like it has much more going on thematically and is a far more interesting film. Like Phantom Thread is a B+ little film, TWBB is solid A-game PT Anderson.

Oh, it was pretty funny at parts though. The dark comedy aspect was nice. The movie reminded a lot of Mother for some reason.

Still prefer Hard Eight/Boogie Nights/Magnolia-era "fun" PT Anderson first and foremost, then TWBB and then PT. Will watch Inherent Vice soon, though wanted to finish the book first to see how it compared.

[Bebpo]

Been listening the soundtrack for the last 90 mins. Jesus, this is an amazing soundtrack. Pretty sure I like it better than the movie.

[Stoney Mason]

Trying to work my way through all the Oscar best picture noms by Sunday.

Watched Get Out tonight.

I was about 30 to 40% into this when I thought, this is okay enough but honestly its not ridiculous enough like I think it should be. And then by the end its super ridiculous and I liked it a lot more.

The premise and the ridiculousness lift the movie. It's kinda like when you watch a 70's movie and you go man they use to really make bat shit crazy horror movies. And this is a nice return to something like that where when a person tells you the plot of the movie it just sounds absurd.

It's also refreshing in the current horror market which is currently inundated with ghost/found footage movies.

Movie has plenty of flaws but its such a fun piece of trash, I kind of let them go.

[benjipwns]

i saw that chappaquiddick movie getting decent reviews from "liberal" outlets so i guess it's actually a semi-legit thriller from a real director and stuff, i assumed it was kevin sorbo produced or whatever

though i also saw one that said "so the kennedy's aren't perfect people, ho hum, not relevant in post Black Panther cinema"

[Corporal]

Watched two Irresponsible Captain Tylor and Trigun episodes, but those are series so they don't count. Still, man, Trigun artwork is rather...uh... fluid... in the first episodes. I mean, the Manga was no looker either IIRC, but jeez.

Anyway. Dug out my dark past, aka box of Anime DVDs.

The Totoro DVD box with a poster, a calendar and a small block of sticky notes was the first thing I found. And watched. Man, why can't the world be more Ghibli like. I'd even find a mate or adopt a few kids if things were always like this. I want a squirrel owl cat thing in the magical forest in my backyard as well. And a Neko bus, as terrifying as that would look like in real life. And floating islands with killerbots and transforming princes and whateverthefuckelse.

And preemptively: fuck you, I'd totally bathe with my kids, regardless of gender. Not everyone is a slobbering pedophile lusting after their own flesh and blood. (Man, I remember there being so many discussions about that...)

I'm not saying it's a bad movie because it's problematic or whatever. I'm not even saying it's a bad movie (2/5 from me means it falls just short of the baseline.) I'm just saying I don't sympathize with him much at all. Not only are his acts unreasonable (his rampage is triggered by... a traffic jam) and he seems kind of inhuman and invincible for no realistic reason, but Douglas just acts him too meanly on top of it. And in terms of servicing Douglas' plot, what use is the cop side of the movie? It's completely superfluous and only pads things out. This movie just did not gel for me (though I recognize it was entertaining at times), but obviously ymmv.

I think you and this movie are talking past each other, so to speak. Ya probably should booze up a bit, gather a bunch of friends and watch it again in a few weeks or months after it has germinated a bit inside of you. Don't try to analyze it, just take in the atmosphere.

I truly pity the protagonist in this. All he needed was a friend that would listen to him and admonish him for running away from reality. Kinda like the cop near the end. Only, obviously before he started his crusade against a hateful reality that so bitterly clashed with his hopes and dreams that he elected to build an alternate version. Oh, and minus the guns of course. Maybe a manly drunken fisticuffs on the beach or something. But no, instead he is left festering in his own despair until he finally breaks down at some otherwise insignificant obstacle. It was bound to happen. In a way, it's cathartic to witness his last struggle.

[Stoney Mason]

Another one bites the Dust.

Watched Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

That is wild weird movie.

You can't help but come into these oscar nom style movies with certain preconceived notions of these films. And for whatever reason the subject matter and initial tone of the movie made me think this was going to be a Mystic River or True Detective kinda movie. And at first I'm dinging the movie in my head because its very broad and not subtle so I'm thinking its failing in being those kind of movies.

Then that scene with the dentist happens and I realize, oh this isn't that kind of movie at all. This is sort of a darker funnier character study and slice of life movie that just happens to be centered around a murder. This isn't a detective movie or necessarily a mediation on somberness/sadness like Mystic River is. It isn't interested in being that movie. Once that clicked for me I started enjoying the movie a lot more. I like the movie a lot.

You can carp at the movie because the characters are drawn very broadly or its not a super realistic movie but I actually think that works really well in this case. You are supposed to sort of get an immediate understanding of these characters very quickly. They represent broad archetypes of small town life with just enough smaller characterization to give them some individual flavor.

As expected in this sort of film the movie lives by its acting and Frances McDormand nails her performance as does the rest of the cast. It's a movie that is super messy but I think its messy by design to get to certain places and show certain things. And while I think some of that is flawed, I like that its ballsy enough to go for it at least. Do the Right Thing is also a super messy broad movie but its that way for a reason to get you to certain places. And while subject matter wise nor tone wise is this movie anything like Do the Right Thing, it did remind me of that kind of filmmaking.

Really good movie imo.

[Tasty]

Yeah it's weird, I wanted to see it after the TIFF reviews started hitting, then it got all this Oscar buzz (but no Best Picture nom?) and my excitement started to change... not like, diminish but I started looking forward to it differently. It was no longer its own thing, but "part of the Oscars."

Weird how context and perception work. I tried to not let it impact my viewing, and you're right, it's a good movie.

[Bebpo]

Wtf is wrong with y'all  , movies are movies. Oscar bait? Maybe some sappy stuff sure, but c'mon Shape of Water was in no way made in order to get oscar appeal. It's just a Del Toro fantasy romance story he wanted to make homage to Black Lagoon. That the oscars latched onto it afterwards doesn't make it an oscar bait film.

Same with Three Billboards. That's just a really good dark comedy in line with In Bruges but more maturity. Awesome movie, great performances. Oscars didn't have anything to do with it in production I'm sure.

That's like knocking Phantom Thread for DDL's performance being oscar bait. No, he's just giving a damn good performance as always.


This thread is getting way too hipster!


PS. not saying expectations don't effect viewings. Like with Phantom Thread if it was made by anyone else I wouldn't be so critical of it, but with PT Anderson I expectations based on his past work and found it a little underwhelming because of those expectations. But I think having expectations based on what awards or oscar buzz there is is kinda silly. The awards tend to be pretty useless in general in film. Your Name didn't even get nominated 

[Stoney Mason]

Its opinion on movies. Who gives a shit. You are entitled to yours. I'm entitled to mine. You don't agree. Cool say so. But Ima keep saying my opinion on how a movie strikes me. It doesn't mean I'm right (or wrong) its just how a piece of work struck me.