Forums >Off the Beaten Path>RA Movie Thread
god hates us all
Saw American Hustle and it felt like Scorsese-light. Can't wait to see Wolf of Wall Street.
Interval Junkie --Nobby
I'm not sure if this makes any sense, but Martin Scorsese is one of those directors whose films I tend to respect more than I actually enjoy watching.
+1, though the "respect" part is fading for me with each joyless viewing.
2021 Goals: 50mpw 'cause there's nothing else to do
Cool Jump Suit
I watched this last night on my video on-demand. Kind of a random pick for me, but I actually enjoyed it overall. Gyllenhaal was definitely terrific.....Maria Bello's performance I didn't enjoy though. I found myself constantly trying to put together the clues as to what happened to the two girls as the plot unfolded. However, I was unsatisfied with the ending (spoiler alert) as I wanted to see Jackman pulled out of the hole he was buried in and told his daughter was ok. Oh, and I also wanted to see the psycho aunt get whacked a little more viciously. She was just a complete nut job.
I am glad I saw it on-demand though. After watching the movie I watched in reverse so I could try to pick up on things I missed the first go around. I recommend it.
I went and say Prisoners last night with wife and son. I'm going to try hard not to spoil the movie for anyone. Prisoners: Staring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard and Viola Davis. Summary: Two girls disappear during daylight walking from one home to another. The police apprehend the prime suspect but don't have enough evidence to charge him so they release him. Keller (Jackman) decides to take matters into his own hands when the thinks the police aren't doing enough to find his missing daughter. Analysis: Good movie with good tension, characters, dialogue and acting. Many fine performances by all the major players but I single out Gyllenhaal (Loki, lead detective) as the best performance. I think with some tweaks this movie could have gone from good to very good or great. There are a few times the movie asks us to suspect a little disbelief a little too much. A child's disappearance is a serious and soul shaking matter no doubt and one that as a father I have fortunately never had to endure (and hopefully never will). However, I tend to question Keller's action as the movie progresses. He seemed to go from concerned/protective father to raging lunatic a little too quickly and neatly. The ending was satisfying but everything wrapped up a little too neatly in about a 10 minute time span. With this type of movie a more satisfying ending would have been to leave a few questions unanswered but I know this isn't typical. The movie presents some good talking points and themes for future discussions. This isn't always the easiest to accomplish so I applaud the director. Considering the touchy subject matter there are a lot of nuances and thought provoking moments. Warning: There are some scenes in this movie that are disturbing due to their graphic content. Overall: 7/10 socks.
I went and say Prisoners last night with wife and son. I'm going to try hard not to spoil the movie for anyone.
Prisoners: Staring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard and Viola Davis.
Summary: Two girls disappear during daylight walking from one home to another. The police apprehend the prime suspect but don't have enough evidence to charge him so they release him. Keller (Jackman) decides to take matters into his own hands when the thinks the police aren't doing enough to find his missing daughter.
Analysis: Good movie with good tension, characters, dialogue and acting. Many fine performances by all the major players but I single out Gyllenhaal (Loki, lead detective) as the best performance. I think with some tweaks this movie could have gone from good to very good or great. There are a few times the movie asks us to suspect a little disbelief a little too much. A child's disappearance is a serious and soul shaking matter no doubt and one that as a father I have fortunately never had to endure (and hopefully never will). However, I tend to question Keller's action as the movie progresses. He seemed to go from concerned/protective father to raging lunatic a little too quickly and neatly. The ending was satisfying but everything wrapped up a little too neatly in about a 10 minute time span. With this type of movie a more satisfying ending would have been to leave a few questions unanswered but I know this isn't typical.
The movie presents some good talking points and themes for future discussions. This isn't always the easiest to accomplish so I applaud the director. Considering the touchy subject matter there are a lot of nuances and thought provoking moments.
Warning: There are some scenes in this movie that are disturbing due to their graphic content.
Overall: 7/10 socks.
So bittersweet,This tragedyWon't ask for absolution;This melody,Inside of me,Still searches for solution.A twist of faith,A change of heart Cures my infatuation.A broken heart, Provides the sparkFor my determination.
I dove into GoodFellas again yesterday on Amazon Prime. I haven't seen it many years, and it's one film that I'll probably revisit many more times before I shed this mortal coil. Interesting to see how many actors from The Sopranos were in this movie. It was the first time I noticed Tony Sirico (Paulie). This movie kicks mob movie ass. One of the few "perfect" movies.
I put on Lean On Me with Morgan Freeman. It doesn't hold up. I found myself laughing at the most angry and bullying principal in existence cleaning up a school that seemed completely unbelievable in how much of a "jungle" it was. It was way over the top.
Revisited Lost In America. Albert Brooks' comedy. Still holds up (though some of the tracking shots seem pointless---unlike the famous long tracking shot at the Copacabana in GoodFellas--that had purpose). The scene between him and the casino manager is classic and still hilarious. Julie Hagerty showed some major chops in this one.
Check out this podcast from The Tobolowski Files (mp3, 47 min)
Listened to it while running today. Stephen Tobolowski is the character actor who played Ned Ryerson, the obnoxious insurance salesman in Groundhog Day. In the podcast he tells great stories about his experiences from auditioning for Groundhog Day, making the film, working with Bill Murray, through the final day. A "behind the behind the scenes" as he puts it. Check it out. It's very good. The MP3 should open in your browser. The source page is: http://www.slashfilm.com/the-tobolowsky-files-ep-29-the-classic/
Proboscis Colossus
So, a few weeks back, I listened to an episode of Kevin Pollak's Chat Show on which he interviewed Bobcat Goldthwait. Yeah, "Zed" from the Police Academy movies (and sometime participant on "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me"). Got me curious as to what he's up to these days besides WWDTM, so I Netflixed his comedy special, "You Look Different, Too." Meh. A few chortles here and there, but nothing revelatory, except his "real" persona is much more enjoyable than the yowling maniac you remember him for.
So I wanted to give his writing/directing a shot, which he says he feels much more comfortable doing these days. Listening to him talk about it, the passion and method remind me a lot of Kevin Smith before studios started throwing money at him...and the studios have not been throwing money at Bobcat, by the sound of it. I cued up World's Greatest Dad and watched over my last two treadmill sessions.
Wow. Loved it. It definitely deserves the "dark comedy" designation, though I'd really put this one more into a category I'd call "dark drama." Not a lot of yuks, even dark ones, but what there is is a lot of fairly introspective writing about how our easily our perceptions of a person can shift to fit our individual world view, even if the catalyst for that shift defies all previous experience. He uses pretty broad strokes - with the exception of the main character (played by the mellow version of Robin Williams) and maybe the principal, all of the other characters are pretty one-dimensional, but put together in such a way that I don't view that as a bad thing.
The pacing is a little wonky...I think I need to watch it again to see if I missed the transition from the first act to the second, or if the first act was just really, really long (quite possible - I was on a treadmill, where everything seems really, really long), but wow, the payoff was huge - the scene where he finds his son's body (that's not a spoiler, it's in the synopsis) is incredibly effective, wonderfully shot and edited, and is now on the shelf with some of the most powerful sequences I recall ever seeing on film.
Looking forward to seeing some more of Bobcat's stuff...maybe he can fill the void left when Kevin Smith imploded.
"God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people
One day at a time
It's been mentioned before but speaking of F-bombs, I just finished re-watching In Bruges with my daughter. It's got to be one of my all time favorite movies.
It's been mentioned before but speaking of F-bombs, I just finished re-watching In Bruges with my daughter.
It's got to be one of my all time favorite movies.
It's funny how people are so different! My husband and I watched this the other night and didn't enjoy it AT ALL. Too violent and strange.
SPOILER ALERT FOR BOARDWALK EMPIRE SEASON 4 FINALE!!!
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did anyone else find the S4 finale ending uncharacteristically sensitive? i did, and it was well-placed. Richard's been the most endearing character by far, and it's sad that he won't be in S5; possibly a few others could take on his mantle, doubt it.
best thing on TV - Scorsese & Wahlberg are proving a formidable combo.
My leg won't stop mooing.
i think i've got a calf injury.
DH and I went and saw Lone Survivor on Saturday night. Damn. I had just finished the book about a week before and thought I was prepared, but I left the theater with tears streaming down my face. Great movie. Seriously, something everyone should see. I was honestly impressed by all of the actors. They really brought these guys to life. Marcus Luttrell has a cameo in the movie which is cool. The village scenes were shortened, but the battle scene was amazing. Apparently that's the area he refused to allow them to screw up and it shows. My heart was racing the entire time. As far as I could tell, the rest of the theater loved it as well. It was amazing, I've never seen a movie where the audience filed out in complete silence that way. Everyone was just stunned. Even if it's not your type of movie, it's definitely worth seeing.
oscar nominations are posted!
Gravity -- ugh.
Aaaand...as usual I've seen none of the best picture nominees. Mostly because we hardly every go to the theater, and all these were late in the year & haven't come to cable/DVD/On Demand yet.
It is a surprise that Inside Llewyn Davis wasn't nominated? It is to me, I thought it got rave critical reviews. And I really want to see it, although it seems very depressing.
Dave
Aaaand...as usual I've seen none of the best picture nominees. Mostly because we hardly every go to the theater, and all these were late in the year & haven't come to cable/DVD/On Demand yet. It is a surprise that Inside Llewyn Davis wasn't nominated? It is to me, I thought it got rave critical reviews. And I really want to see it, although it seems very depressing.
I wonder if it came out too late? I mean, I know it's "out" now, but I think only in limted release, is that right? MTA: at least, it was only in limited release before the new year.
I've only seen Gravity (which I liked - sorry, bhearn!). Really want to see most of the others, though, especially 12 Years A Slave.
rectumdamnnearkilledem
It has some technical noms, but no acting/directing.
Gravity is the only one I've seen. Kinda surprised that the 2nd Hunger Games installment didn't receive any noms. I really thought it was outstanding. The first film was good, but the 2nd was a much more legitimate production.
Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to
remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.
~ Sarah Kay
I'm disappointed that All Is Lost did not receive a nomination, as it is my favorite movie of 2013 by a long mile, and it earns five stars in my book. At the very least, Robert Redford should have received a Best Actor nomination.
I've seen 12 Years a Slave (four and half stars), Gravity (four stars) and The Wolf of Wall Street (four stars). I'll probably rent Nebraska, Captain Phillips and Her at some point, but I will not bother going to see them at a theater.
Although I've seen the trailers, read the glowing reviews, and seen the nominations just now, I do not have the slightest remote inclination to see American Hustle. Nothing that I've seen or read about this movie quickens my pulse at all. The actors do not look like 1970s people at all to me, and, in fact, they look even more over-the-top than the people in the Anchorman movies.
I really want to see The Hunt and The Great Beauty, both of which are nominated in the Best Foreign Language film category.
The Foreign Language nominee, The Missing Picture, uses clay figures to depict the Khmer Rouge killings in Cambodia. I have not seen this, but I'm interested, to say the least.
Nobody leaves this place without singing the blues.