Movie News, Reviews, and Discussion Super-Thread

[Great Rumbler]

Tho Kelsey Grammer deserves more props for Beast. God tier performance tbh.

Frasier as Beast was genius casting.

[etiolate]

I am watching The Spy Next Door and it's like a Jackie Chan flick written by a kid. It's bordering on terrible to terribly amusing. In the first third of the movie, Chan has a magic spy belt that he can basically use as a police baton. I don't know how. He also tosses a 7 year old girl into the air so she'll fall face first into her pajamas.

[Madrun Badrun]

I miss prime Chan so much.  Think he might be my favorite actor ever. 

[Stoney Mason]

The Hidden Fortress: I gotta say, the "Lucas stole everything from The Hidden Fortress" deal is pretty overstated.

I've never heard anyone but complete morons say that.

[Great Rumbler]

The main thing that Star Wars took from Hidden Fortress was the idea of telling a story from the perspective of a character that isn't really that important to the story [Hidden Fortress had the two peasants, Star Wars had C3PO and R2-D2]. Well, and they both have princesses, I guess.

[TVC15]

Dog Day Afternoon: Decided to keep the Lumet goodness flowing  Young Pacino's wide eyed mania (which is quite a bit different from Old Pacino's wide eyed mania) being worn down to a sweaty nub of regret, paranoia, and sadness over the course of 2 hours. The commentary on the state of America in the 70s where armed bank robbers could be cheered on by onlookers because fuck it the "good guys" are crooks anyway. The lead being a bisexual man married to a man with gender dysphoria (with part of the reason for robbing the bank being so there would be money for the sex change operation) and it being played straight without judgement (minus a few snickers) in 1975. The exhaustion after the two phone calls to his two wives finally breaking Sonny.

Of course the Stockholm syndrome involved with the hostages in the bank isn't really examined, but clearly there in the movie and in the real event. Add to that the claustrophobic nature of a movie being essentially 3 locations all within 50 feet of each other, the complete lack of score and only diegetic music sources used once in the opening, with extremely brief snippets of songs played via radio later in the film. It also helps that most of it was shot pretty much in order, so the actors were feeling the same things as their characters as the story progresses.

It's so good. I don't know if I think it's as good as Network or not, but it's pretty much on the same level, and the idea that Lumet did them back to back is insane.


 

You watch Serpico yet? Not as good as Dog Day or Network but it’s Lumet and it’s got a similar vibe. Another classic Pacino performance, too.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Ok Mr Mare. Feast your ears on this Spin Doctors mix!

[TVC15]

Dog Day Afternoon: Decided to keep the Lumet goodness flowing  Young Pacino's wide eyed mania (which is quite a bit different from Old Pacino's wide eyed mania) being worn down to a sweaty nub of regret, paranoia, and sadness over the course of 2 hours. The commentary on the state of America in the 70s where armed bank robbers could be cheered on by onlookers because fuck it the "good guys" are crooks anyway. The lead being a bisexual man married to a man with gender dysphoria (with part of the reason for robbing the bank being so there would be money for the sex change operation) and it being played straight without judgement (minus a few snickers) in 1975. The exhaustion after the two phone calls to his two wives finally breaking Sonny.

Of course the Stockholm syndrome involved with the hostages in the bank isn't really examined, but clearly there in the movie and in the real event. Add to that the claustrophobic nature of a movie being essentially 3 locations all within 50 feet of each other, the complete lack of score and only diegetic music sources used once in the opening, with extremely brief snippets of songs played via radio later in the film. It also helps that most of it was shot pretty much in order, so the actors were feeling the same things as their characters as the story progresses.

It's so good. I don't know if I think it's as good as Network or not, but it's pretty much on the same level, and the idea that Lumet did them back to back is insane.


 

You watch Serpico yet? Not as good as Dog Day or Network but it’s Lumet and it’s got a similar vibe. Another classic Pacino performance, too.

Of course, many times. I love Serpico.

Before the Devil Knows Your Dead is also really good. I put it off for a while because I figured it got a lot of acclaim due to it being Lumet’s final film, but it really is a great movie. I’m not going to compare it to Network or Dog Day, but it’s probably his best film since his 70s heyday.

[Transhuman]

The Hidden Fortress: I gotta say, the "Lucas stole everything from The Hidden Fortress" deal is pretty overstated.  Yeah there are some obvious parallels, but it's pretty surface level stuff, and you can point to 20 other movies that you could say were just as influential on Star Wars. As it's own piece divorced from its influence on Star Wars that seems to inexorably link the two, it's pretty good. Felt like R2 and C3PO got caught doing something stupid or making things worse a few too many times for it to still be funny the last couple of them. That's really my only complaint about the movie.

My dumb friend thinks that Rogue One: A Star Wars story stole the plot of Seven Samurai, which is distinguished mentally-challenged because Rogue One takes place in space and doesn't have any villagers trying to protect their rice. My friend thinks because he has a blog he knows things.

[Transhuman]

"Wild Things" is lurid trash, with a plot so twisted they're still explaining it during the closing titles. It's like a three-way collision between a softcore sex film, a soap opera and a B-grade noir. I liked it.

Rating
3/4 Stars

-Roger Ebert

Even Roger Ebert thought with his dick sometimes.

Is your friend named Bobby?

How'd you know that

[BlueTsunami]

Pacific Rim 2:

[TVC15]

"Wild Things" is lurid trash, with a plot so twisted they're still explaining it during the closing titles. It's like a three-way collision between a softcore sex film, a soap opera and a B-grade noir. I liked it.

Rating
3/4 Stars

-Roger Ebert

Even Roger Ebert thought with his dick sometimes.

Is your friend named Bobby?

How'd you know that

Makes me wonder why he hated Blue Velvet. I’m wondering if he had some sort of hardon for a virginal and pure Isabella Rossellini and Lynch ruined it for him.

[BlueTsunami]

It gets better on rewatches when you go at it from a certain angle regarding the play in point of views and what the characters represent to pther characters. Its purposefully obtuse which doesnt make for a good initial watch.

Blue Velvet is one I can watch over again by choice. Baby wants to fuuuUUuuck!

[Bebpo]

Was reading up on The Endless which should open here next week or so and it reminded me I really needed to watch Spring. That was great! Much different movie than I expected when I heard Lovecraftian coming of age. Straight from the start the dialogue/acting performances are a bit amateur but really likeable. Reminded me a ton of Before Sunrise. Fairly charming 20-something coming of age romance in a euro town (*cough*cough* Before Sunrise) x Lovecraft. Doesn't work 100%, but overall good movie!

It also struck me how you could remake the movie in anime and it'd be 100% identical. It's like a moe lovecraft thing they'd do no sweat in anime.

Looking forward to checking out The Endless.

[TVC15]

Blue Velvet is an easy GOAT candidate for me.

[Momo]

I like Lynch's weird shit, but i'd never really rank it high up on my movie lists.

[BlueTsunami]

I mean, its all subjective. But what Lynch provides is a sense of heightened reality that oscillates between nostalgia and absolute nihilism. Something about feeling that wonder about the world, love, and everything that makes you feel fuzzy inside and having that snatched away in a scene or arch. A loss of innocence. Its more about touch feel than technical prowess with him. And that will get me everytime.

[BlueTsunami]

All of Twin Peaks was boring except the finale of the second season (I have not seen the third yet but I'll get around to it).

Oh honey, avoid the third season if you felt most of the OG seasons were boring. Maybe someone has already made a cut of the third season that expedites things but as it stands its extremely challenging.

[Assimilate]

Twin Peaks had some monumental scenes. Classic shit. Same with Blue Velvet. But as a whole experience most of Lynch is a challenge to watch. The Twin Peaks revival...god, i could barely get through it but it had yet again another fantastic fucking scene this time with Michael Cera

[BlueTsunami]

I love S3 Twin Peaks for its highs. It was basically Lynch edging for most of it. That final scene still haunts me.

[BlueTsunami]

HelllllOooooooOoooooo

[Momo]

If I had to pick someone to identity with in a David Lynch jig it would be Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides, because he gets to take Sean Young's Chani as a concubine

[BlueTsunami]

I pretty much yell out THE SLEEPER MUST AWAKEN when I orgasm

[Momo]

[VomKriege]

Bullitt ooook. Beyond the car chase I didn't find this to be particularly engaging or interesting at all. Steve McQueen's baby blues and turtle necks can only carry so much.

It's a decent cop movie but yeah it is kinda of its time and fairly plain now.

[Atramental]

[Bebpo]

Was reading up on The Endless which should open here next week or so and it reminded me I really needed to watch Spring. That was great! Much different movie than I expected when I heard Lovecraftian coming of age. Straight from the start the dialogue/acting performances are a bit amateur but really likeable. Reminded me a ton of Before Sunrise. Fairly charming 20-something coming of age romance in a euro town (*cough*cough* Before Sunrise) x Lovecraft. Doesn't work 100%, but overall good movie!

It also struck me how you could remake the movie in anime and it'd be 100% identical. It's like a moe lovecraft thing they'd do no sweat in anime.

Looking forward to checking out The Endless.

Following up on this, was reading up on reviews on the movie (mostly positive, 88% RT) and found this counter-point review:

https://www.flickfilosopher.com/2015/04/spring-movie-review-shes-waaay-out-of-his-league.html

Which literally just boils down to "Girl is too hot for guy, so this being a romance boy-girl movie with this pair, it's male ego stroking wish fulfillment"
And while I agree with a single point the review makes in the spoiler heavy version of that critique:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

https://www.flickfilosopher.com/2015/04/spoiler-alert-about-the-ending-of-spring.html

I agree that the time period of the movie in 5 days is too short, and a 2,000 year old immortal woman giving up immortality for a guy she met 5 days ago is unrealistic. I think the ending would've been better with them enjoying their "finite" time together until the very end and then the main dude having to run off and never see her again.

But I get the writer/directors wanted to get that final hand-holding Cthulhu shot in, which on its own is a nice little scene, so can't fault them too much for going with an unrealistic and a bit cheesy ending.

[close]

The whole "romance movies are male wish-fulfillment if the girl is hotter than the guy" angle seems...dumb? Isn't romance & chemistry highly subjective in the first place? Watching Spring, I really liked the main guy. I thought he was good looking like a younger American version of Thom Yorke, and funny, and confident and had charm. The main gal was quirky, standoff-ish, a bit crazy and good looking (all for reasons explained by plot). Seemed like a good believable match to me. Plus like I said, romance is subjective and not entirely about looks, so the criticism that because subjectively the gal is more attractive than subjectively the guy, the movie is male wish fulfillment just doesn't make sense to me.

Anyone here seen the movie. What do you think about that critic's argument?

[Joe Molotov]

I went to Best Buy today and they had Last Tango in Paris on Blu-Ray in stock and it was on sale too.

[BlueTsunami]

Man why the fuck isnt Filmstruck on PS4 already. Have this subscription I barely use cause I need to fire up my laptop just to access it. Tryna watch Tarkovskys 'Solaris' for the first time

[TVC15]

Man why the fuck isnt Filmstruck on PS4 already. Have this subscription I barely use cause I need to fire up my laptop just to access it. Tryna watch Tarkovskys 'Solaris' for the first time

Read some Stanislaw Lem. read Pirx the Pilot!

[paprikastaude]

https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/bitter-court-battle-over-mad-max-fury-road-blocks-two-new-movies-20180412-p4z98o.html

[Joe Molotov]

smh

[Great Rumbler]

smh

[BlueTsunami]

smh

[I'm a Puppy!]

[BlueTsunami]

Just finished the OG adaptation of The Big Sleep. Man Lauren Bacall is a stunner. All dat sass.

[BlueTsunami]

Tarkovskys Solaris. No multi paragraph writeup can express what I just watched. Its not worth it, I cant express it.

[I'm a Puppy!]

Tarkovskys Solaris. No multi paragraph writeup can express what I just watched. Its not worth it, I cant express it.

What you mean? It totally makes sense. Especially the ending with the raining indoors and all that.

[BlueTsunami]

Tarkovskys Solaris. No multi paragraph writeup can express what I just watched. Its not worth it, I cant express it.

What you mean? It totally makes sense. Especially the ending with the raining indoors and all that.

Not so much the literal writeup, that much is apparent. But what it made me feel emotionally and how it dealt with loss, the human condition, humanity in general.

[I'm a Puppy!]

Tarkovskys Solaris. No multi paragraph writeup can express what I just watched. Its not worth it, I cant express it.

What you mean? It totally makes sense. Especially the ending with the raining indoors and all that.

Not so much the literal writeup, that much is apparent. But what it made me feel emotionally and how it dealt with loss, the human condition, humanity in general.

This scene man. This scene.

[BlueTsunami]

Tarkovskys Solaris. No multi paragraph writeup can express what I just watched. Its not worth it, I cant express it.

What you mean? It totally makes sense. Especially the ending with the raining indoors and all that.

Not so much the literal writeup, that much is apparent. But what it made me feel emotionally and how it dealt with loss, the human condition, humanity in general.

This scene man. This scene.

I Can't get over how much emotional breadth the film was able to convey, especially in Kris's arc. You see a man taken to the edge and then reformed, made tender again. And it all feels absolutely earned.

[BlueTsunami]

Fallen Angels by Wong Kar-Wai

Really loved the kinetic style in this. Angles, wide shots close in, city movement, quick cuts. Pulls you into the frame alongside whoever inhabits it.



Music was killer too. A bunch of goosebumps moments coming off the almost manic highs to these subdued lows. The jukebox scene in particular with the assistant was so damn good. The close in framing, tracing your eyes over the woman and the jukebox. The bright colors lighting up her partially obscured face. It was equal parts cool and sexy.



The main critique would be the sections with the mute. They felt like they could have been trimmed back a bit to create a tighter pacing from start to finish. Was a bit biased towards his scenario where I was way more interested in the melancholy states of the assassin and the assistant.

[Momo]

[Bebpo]

I watched Truth or Dare as the "let's watch a cheap shitty movie while drinking with friends"

I...think that was the worst horror movie I've ever seen. It's not even so bad it's good. It's that studio type of UTTER BLAND. There's no scares, there's no tension, there's no gore, there's generic SAD TEEN DRAMA, there's no funny, there's no creativity, there's paper thin characters, THERE'S NO ENEMY/MONSTER/GHOST TO EVEN BE SCARED OF...it's a bad script (written just for the ending twist) and a really really bad director or someone whose just towing the line and not willing to make anything with an ounce of character to it.

Yeah, this is one of the few movies that feels like a total waste of celluoid. No redeeming qualities at all. I want my two hours back

Fallen Angels by Wong Kar-Wai

Really loved the kinetic style in this. Angles, wide shots close in, city movement, quick cuts. Pulls you into the frame alongside whoever inhabits it.



Music was killer too. A bunch of goosebumps moments coming off the almost manic highs to these subdued lows. The jukebox scene in particular with the assistant was so damn good. The close in framing, tracing your eyes over the woman and the jukebox. The bright colors lighting up her partially obscured face. It was equal parts cool and sexy.



The main critique would be the sections with the mute. They felt like they could have been trimmed back a bit to create a tighter pacing from start to finish. Was a bit biased towards his scenario where I was way more interested in the melancholy states of the assassin and the assistant.

Yessssssssssssssssss

Fallen Angels -> Chungking Experess -> In the Mood for Love, are all beautiful poetic perfection. I like 2046 & The Grandmaster as well, but those 3 are perfect. WKW is such an amazing director!

[chronovore]

Virginia Madsen is god-emperor-tier beautiful.

[Joe Molotov]

Just rewatching one of my favorite movies, The ‘Burbs. The new BD release from Shout Factory is pretty nice.

[Bebpo]

Isle of Dogs - I love Wes Anderson movies, have since Rushmore, and this was cute and fun (though I enjoy his animated films like this and Fantastic Mr. Fox less than his live-action films). But, yeah the whole thing about the movie getting flack for weaboo cultural appropriation is pretty legit criticism. The film is masquerading as a Japanese made film...but made by white people and presented as the fetishized western view of Japan and Japanese people and Japanese pop culture. Like it didn't bother me that much and I still enjoyed it. But when I imagine a Japanese made AMERICA film masequerading as an American made film featuring nothing but the western stereotypes of white people in Japanese anime/tv/films/game shows...that would be pretty cringy/lame, so I see the issue. I saw Isle of Dogs with a Japanese friend and it definitely bothered her a bit.

Also, I'm a little surprised how weaboo this movie is considering Wes Anderson's been around forever at this point with so many movies to his name and I never once felt any of his stylistic nods to cinema were Japanese inspired. He never struck me as someone really into Japan, but there's no way Isle of Dogs could be made by someone who isn't a huge ass weaboo.

[I'm a Puppy!]

I'll be honest. I always thought of Wes Anderson as a one trick pony.
You need awkward scenes with a certain aesthetic? He's your guy.
Not that it's a bad thing, you really only need to watch one of his movies to get the gist of things.

[Bebpo]

I'll be honest. I always thought of Wes Anderson as a one trick pony.
You need awkward scenes with a certain aesthetic? He's your guy.
Not that it's a bad thing, you really only need to watch one of his movies to get the gist of things.

A good movie's a good movie. Yes, stylistically his films are similar, but the films themselves are pretty different tales. Life Aquatic is a hilarious ensemble comedy, Moonrise Kingdom is a touching coming of age film, Grand Buddhapest is a silly caper film, The Royal Tenenbaums is probably his most unique film since it's more like a Noah Baumbach film about a dysfunctional family than anything else.

I put Moonrise Kingdom with Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now, Millenium Actress as some of my favorite films of all time. It's incredibly good imo.

[Quaker]

Like it didn't bother me that much and I still enjoyed it. But when I imagine a Japanese made AMERICA film masequerading as an American made film featuring nothing but the western stereotypes of white people in Japanese anime/tv/films/game shows...that would be pretty cringy/lame

So...Metal Wolf Chaos?

[BlueTsunami]

Antichrist is literally the best film opening I've ever seen. Now for the rest of the film.

[I'm a Puppy!]

I don't like cringe humor or cringe-fests in general. I find it cheap and hamfisted. Ergo, it's not surprising I'm not a big fan of Wes Anderson. I certainly get what he's going for, I just don't care for it.

[nudemacusers]

Antichrist is literally the best film opening I've ever seen. Now for the rest of the film.

Wife and I watched it years ago together. Great movie, powerful psychological erotic horror. Uh sticks with you.

[nudemacusers]

Saw disaster artist. Was ok. More of a novelty piece than a strong film. I could write more I guess but the movie is just the room + window dressing.

[I'm a Puppy!]

I don't like cringe humor or cringe-fests in general. I find it cheap and hamfisted. Ergo, it's not surprising I'm not a big fan of Wes Anderson. I certainly get what he's going for, I just don't care for it.

As a guy who similarly doesn't care much for cringe humor Wes Anderson's is incredibly mild on that front, never really bothers me. I'd hate to see how you'd react to Nathan For You, Review and Last Man Standing.

Yeah, I've specifically avoided those cause my friends are like "Oh ho ho man, you'd HATE these movies"

[Bebpo]

Surprised about the lack of Wes Anderson enthusiasm here. Kinda figured for hipster cinema fans in their 20/30/40s he's one of the top adored directors.

Going from that, what are your guys/gals favorite directors? For me I'd pick Anderson, Soderbergh, Fincher, Speilberg, PTA, Kubrick (rip), Coen Bros, Villeneuve, Satoshi Kon (rip), and if they keep on their excellent track records a bit more Fukunaga & Saulnier. I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch though. There's also guys who I love but have done some great films & some weaker stuff like Michel Gondry, Terry Gilliam, Spike Jonze, Edgar Wright.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

A Quiet Place

Maybe the most overrated movie I've ever seen?

[I'm a Puppy!]

yeah maybe Cringe isn't the right word.
I do like some Eric and Andre and LOVE the Coen Bros.
But yeah, I think you nailed it with the whole "effiminate unpopular guy" thing.

[I'm a Puppy!]

Surprised about the lack of Wes Anderson enthusiasm here. Kinda figured for hipster cinema fans in their 20/30/40s he's one of the top adored directors.

Going from that, what are your guys/gals favorite directors? For me I'd pick Anderson, Soderbergh, Fincher, Speilberg, PTA, Kubrick (rip), Coen Bros, Villeneuve, Satoshi Kon (rip), and if they keep on their excellent track records a bit more Fukunaga & Saulnier. I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch though. There's also guys who I love but have done some great films & some weaker stuff like Michel Gondry, Terry Gilliam, Spike Jonze, Edgar Wright.

That's a pretty good list but you're missing Fellini, Renoir, Kurosawa, Takeshi, Tarkovsky

[TVC15]

I can cum to Antichrist all day