MOVIES: What are you watching?

Recently

Money Monster

Better than I expected, but my expectations were low.

Get Out

This was the opposite. Based on what I read here and other places I had very high expectations. Too high, because I was a little disappointed. Very good for sure and probably is the best I've seen this year.

Wise Blood

Interesting flick. Black humour from John Huston which must have pissed off a few people when released in 1979. Good enough to make me want to read the book. Brad Dourif is pretty good at playing twisted and demented characters.

quote:

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Got a bunch of golden globe nominations. It should. Terrific movie.
The old Irish ballad, The Last Rose of Summer, is part of the soundtrack, sung by Renee Fleming.
It is stunning and otherworldly.

quote:

Originally posted by steve8:
Get Out

This was the opposite. Based on what I read here and other places I had very high expectations. Too high, because I was a little disappointed. Very good for sure and probably is the best I've seen this year.

I am sorry to hear this.

quote:

Originally posted by steve8:
Wise Blood

Interesting flick. Black humour from John Huston which must have pissed off a few people when released in 1979. Good enough to make me want to read the book. Brad Dourif is pretty good at playing twisted and demented characters.

I loved this movie when I saw it when it was first released. So wacky and quirky. I haven't seen it since, but for a few years now it's been on my list to revisit. I'm curious to see if it has held up.

Personal Shopper

Carnage

Loving Vincent

Love this movie. Here is a link to it. Go see it if available in your area

http://lovingvincent.com/

Song to Song

Didn’t work for me.

Paris can wait. Lots of wine and food references but it a great film. Simple and unoffensive.

quote:

Originally posted by Mimik:
Paris can wait. Lots of wine and food references but it a great film. Simple and unoffensive.

Pretty sad when "simple and unoffensive" = a great film, even with lots of wine and food references.

A Christmas Carol - the George C. Scott version.

quote:

Originally posted by The Old Man:

quote:

Originally posted by steve8:
Get Out

This was the opposite. Based on what I read here and other places I had very high expectations. Too high, because I was a little disappointed. Very good for sure and probably is the best I've seen this year.

I am sorry to hear this.

You did see the last sentence of my post right?

Some of my high expectations were due to your raving about this movie several times in this thread. You even included it in your top 10 films of this century (so far). In hindsight, that should have been a warning to lower my expectations.

quote:

Originally posted by steve8:

quote:

Originally posted by The Old Man:

quote:

Originally posted by steve8:
Get Out

This was the opposite. Based on what I read here and other places I had very high expectations. Too high, because I was a little disappointed. Very good for sure and probably is the best I've seen this year.

I am sorry to hear this.

You did see the last sentence of my post right?

Some of my high expectations were due to your raving about this movie several times in this thread. You even included it in your top 10 films of this century (so far). In hindsight, that should have been a warning to lower my expectations.

I respect your movie judgment, but I actually have moved this up to the best film of the century. Perhaps you had heard too much about the movie. I consider it almost flawless, my only nitpick was there was no need to have his photo next to the auction scene (how brilliant though to use bingo cards?)

But here's the real deal, if you saw this film on HBO you missed almost 30% of the movie due to their horrible decision not to show the movie in its OAR--original aspect radio. This is a topic of discussion easily found all over the internet and it's really a shame. A quick example of what this does is ruin the director's framing--did you notice the exterior of the house's symmetry? It's not possible on HBO.

This aspect problem was one that I tried to explain to many, many people when I was in the video business during the 80s to 90s during the VHS days--almost every movie you watched on VHS was missing 25% to 35% of the frame.

Again, if you watch this film, and many others, on HBO, you don't see almost 1/3 of the movie. And I don't think, just like a painting or sculpture you can't totally appreciate it if that much of it was blocked from your view.

Things to Come

It has not been a good year for film IMO, but this film is in the running for my top 10 of the year.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Friday night.
The kids and wife loved it. I'm still undecided on where I'd rank it.

A little binging on films the past 48 hours. Watched the following 3:

Blade Runner 2049
Lady Bird
The Post

I've ranked those in order of preference, with Blade Runner being the least favorite (by far). I was a bit underwhelmed by Lady Bird given the high praise I've read, but found The Post to be well done and well acted.

I am in no way a film aficionado, so do with this as you will.

The Last Jedi: ***1/2 My fourth favorite film in the franchise. Behind Empire, New Hope, and Rogue One, in that order.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
The Last Jedi: ***1/2 My fourth favorite film in the franchise. Behind Empire, New Hope, and Rogue One, in that order.

Rogue One? Really, I hated it.

Wind River

Manifesto

Love Cate Blanchett but this was pretty heavy handed.

quote:

Originally posted by Jcocktosten:

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
The Last Jedi: ***1/2 My fourth favorite film in the franchise. Behind Empire, New Hope, and Rogue One, in that order.

Rogue One? Really, I hated it.

No, I lied.

quote:

Originally posted by snipes:
Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Friday night.
The kids and wife loved it. I'm still undecided on where I'd rank it.

Same, kind of, my boys loved it, my wife gave it a 6 or 7 out of 10, I'm still trying to figure out where I land. Don't want to drop any spoilers, so I'll table my comments for a week or so.

The Hitman's Bodyguard

I love action flicks, and what could be better than Samuel L Jackson as a total bad-ass. The movie was filled with action but great comedic moments with Ryan Reynolds. People who loved Deadpool will enjoy this one.

A Man Called Ove

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
A Man Called Ove

Loved the transformation in Ove!

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
A Man Called Ove

Have not seen the film. The book is very popular. FKG has been on me to read it for some time

The Post...it's not Redford/Hoffman, but a well made, tasteful movie. Exactly what you expect, nothing more.

The Shape of Water...terrific individual performances, score and feel. Worth seeing.

Downsizing...clever idea, heavy handed messages (along with The Post, btw), loses focus after 30 minutes. Christoph Waltz is entertaining.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi...bored to tears (along with my son and wife). Not really sure how this got good, or even tepid reviews. Beats out Episode 2 (Clone Wars) by a nose as worst film of series.

Last few months

Baby Driver
Would have been better with unknown/less popular actors (i.e. Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx- under served by their scripts), and Spacey had a bad hair piece. A better wheel-man movie is Drive with Ryan Gosling.

The Dark Tower
Never read the books, but they must have ruined this with 1:34 min run time. Seemed chopped to death.

The Mummy (Tom Cruise)
A mess. Terrible.

Incendies
Another gem from Denis Villeneuve.

Alien: Covenant
Meh

T2: Trainspotting
Not as edgy as 1, but better filmed.

American Made

Entertaining enough, I suppose. Blow was better.

The Last Jedi, again. On true 70mm IMAX, because that's how I roll. Even more fun the second time (with better seats).

Bright. *
I normally like Will Smith films, but lately he's become Cuba Gooding Jr., post Jerry Maguire.
I plowed through Bright in about five sittings, and yes, this damn movie is dreadful, but it never entered Battlefield Earth territory, which is kinda what I was hoping for. Hard pass unless one of your friends/family is on the cast/crew, then watch it if you're folding laundry or something.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Bright. *
unless one of your friends/family is on the cast/crew, then watch it if you're folding laundry or something.

So it's a "Watch-it-if-you're-folding-laundry" movie then. Right, got it!

quote:

Originally posted by bman:

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Bright. *
if one of your friends/family is on the cast/crew, then watch it if you're folding laundry or something.

So it's a "Watch-it-if-you're-folding-laundry" movie then. Right, got it!

Oops.

The Greatest Showman

Wow! Was not expecting that

Gran Torino: ** 1/2

Clint at his Clintiest best. Not Clint's most amazing film, certainly not his worst.

Two "small movie" winners last night. One a theatrical release, and the other a BBC/PBS co-production.

The Child In Time - based on the novel by Ian McEwan with Benedict Cumberbatch and Kelly MacDonald. Two terrific actors at the top of their game. The sub-plot is a bit forced, but man the acting is superb.

Lady Bird - no need to elaborate as it has been discussed here already. Terrific writing and directing debut from Greta Gerwig. Totally charming.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Fascinating how it took a story of a mother grieving the rape and murder of her daughter and deftly juggled black humour with dark drama. Excellent.

3 Billboards...probably the best movie I've seen all year...lock up best actress oscar for McDormand. And a few others perhaps.

All The Money In The World...walked out after 60 minutes it was so dull...movie was only interesting when Plummer was on screen, though visually it looked fantastic. I wouldn't be surprised if Spacey/Plummer switch was made to generate publicity after they realized what a stinker they had on their hands!

Molly's Game...entertaining, especially for me as I had some aquaintances who played in the game and I play too much poker!

quote:

Originally posted by Wino90210: I wouldn't be surprised if Spacey/Plummer switch was made to generate publicity after they realized what a stinker they had on their hands!

You actually think this? Did you read the Spacey accusations? Do you think coming forward is easy?

Molly's Game

I liked it but was a little disappointed frankly. Perhaps my expectations were too high. Idris Alba needs to be in more movies.