Movies: Last Movie You Watched and Rate it | {Insert Appropriate Seasonal Greeting Here}

[OzzyFan]

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2002) - 6/10

Have to give it up to Nic Cage for being able to take the piss out of himself but that all adds to a gimmicky feel. Some amusing parts here and there but the gimmick is overextended into a ~2 hour film with some bad subplots and a story you care less about than the actual scenes between Cage and Pedro Pascal. It's not exactly Adaptation either but I guess some people really like Nic Cage and would probably love this.

To be fair, you are dealing with 2 charismatic actors at the top of their overly charming game in the film, and that's also kind of the point. It's all meta/mockery on different levels, not just on the Cage level, and almost entirely played for laughs.

 

[Chili]

Barfly-1987

'Well hey, anybody can get a job. It takes a man to make it without working.'

An old favorite, a well written tale about two heavy drinkers who meet and form an interesting pair. Henry (Mickey Rourke) the lazy barfly/brawler/poet and Wanda (Faye Dunaway) the free spirit who doesn't ever want to fall in love. It reminds me of films like Five Easy Pieces and The Big Lebowski, some other dudes drifting through life and the ladies who are attracted to them. A simple story, some memorable lines and the two leads are great.

Two Way Stretch-1960

A holiday camp type prison with a lenient warden and amiable guards. A great place to plan something...unless...Fun stuff with Peter Sellers and his mates planning a job from within. Spot on cast from Lionel Jeffries, the by the book 'screw' to a cameo from Wilber, the cross walking pigeon. Some great gags, another fun British comedy from the era.

The Miracle Worker-1962

A family hires a young woman, Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft) to help their daughter Helen Keller (Patty Duke), who is blind and mute. A big challenge as the girl is used to getting her own way from doting parents. There is an incredible scene early on, no dialogue just a battle of wills as Bancroft and Duke have a physical struggle, both equally determined. They had played the same roles on broadway and both won academy awards here. Very impressive that the film stays on subject without becoming melodramatic or sentimental. What a dramatically different role for Anne Bancroft then Mrs Robinson.

 

[OzzyFan]

The Killer (1989) (subtitles)
3.35 out of 4stars

“A disillusioned assassin accepts one last hit in hopes of using his earnings to restore vision to a singer he accidentally blinded.”
An excellent action thriller that rightfully deserves its acclaim of being amongst the top action films ever made. John Woo’s stylish gunplay is intensely violent art. From the choreography, to the speed of scenes filmed (especially slow motion usage), to the flow, to the scenes themselves, to all the movement going on, and all in front of attractive cinematography. The scenes are a thing of chaotic beauty: flooded with clouds of gun smoke, littered with flashes from gunfire, shells jumping, guns recoiling, characters flying or moving all over the place, and noticeable bullet impacts on casualties with surrounding debris flying around. It’s joyous high body count entertainment. Chow Yun-fat plays the smooth anti-hero with assurance and elegance. The film also has themes of the meaning of friendship and ethics/honor code. The scale differences and similarities between the assassin and cop on ethics, and their opinions of justice, is an interesting one, albeit the purpose or motives behind each actions are originatingly different. Throw in a little romance and you have the film. Woo’s impact is notable on filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and the Wachowski’s (The Matrix Trilogy).

V for Vendetta (2005)
3.35 out of 4stars

“In a future British dystopian society, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of "V", plots to overthrow the tyrannical fascist government - with the help of a young woman.”
An excellent political thriller with action elements that explores the heart of revolution and corruption with gusto. Captivating and thought provoking, irregardless of your stance on the film’s messages. Lots of good dialogue within. Dives into the horrific potential and actual abuses and manipulations of government bodies, alongside the strategy and progression ideologies of an effective rebellion. While showing a tilted point of view with clearly defined villains and heroes, it does not pull punches on the moral grayness of the “heroes” actions of violence, law breaking, and beyond. I won’t get into specifics, but it’s effective and enlightening on small and large scales. Sprinkles so many ideas throughout, some a bit indirect, that I can see viewers being both astonished and confounded. So so much to like and transplant though.

The Elephant Man (1980)
3.35 out of 4stars

“A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication.”
An excellent biographical drama that is a portrait of society’s sympathy and rejective cruelty toward a fellow human being with drastic deformities. The old sayings “Hard times reveal true friends” and “Difficult times show true colors”, are defining statements on John (Joseph) Merrick’s/The-Elephant-Man’s entire life, externally and internally. The Elephant Man himself is a sort of litmus test for humanity’s range of compassion, or animosity. In that regard, it’s bittersweet but an altogether depressing statement: that part of society will never be able to assimilate such a person, thus all of society will never be able to assimilate such a person. Society in totality is too insensitive and/or overbearing. Mr. Merrick, played excellently by John Hurt, underneath it all and even after constant abuses and hardships was still (and apparently always was) an intelligent, emotionally expressive, and kind human being. A judgmental society was part to blame also for Mr. Merrick’s situation, labeling before understanding/knowing, another knock on humanity’s resume. But still, good found its way through and gave Mr. Merrick deserved better living conditions. The makeup effects were so great, that the Academy Awards created the Award for Best Makeup the following year because of public uproar from there being no recognition for this film’s achievements in that regard. And Anthony Hopkins is great as always too.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

The Killer (1989) (subtitles)
3.35 out of 4stars

“A disillusioned assassin accepts one last hit in hopes of using his earnings to restore vision to a singer he accidentally blinded.”
An excellent action thriller that rightfully deserves its acclaim of being amongst the top action films ever made. John Woo’s stylish gunplay is intensely violent art. From the choreography, to the speed of scenes filmed (especially slow motion usage), to the flow, to the scenes themselves, to all the movement going on, and all in front of attractive cinematography. The scenes are a thing of chaotic beauty: flooded with clouds of gun smoke, littered with flashes from gunfire, shells jumping, guns recoiling, characters flying or moving all over the place, and noticeable bullet impacts on casualties with surrounding debris flying around. It’s joyous high body count entertainment. Chow Yun-fat plays the smooth anti-hero with assurance and elegance. The film also has themes of the meaning of friendship and ethics/honor code. The scale differences and similarities between the assassin and cop on ethics, and their opinions of justice, is an interesting one, albeit the purpose or motives behind each actions are originatingly different. Throw in a little romance and you have the film. Woo’s impact is notable on filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and the Wachowski’s (The Matrix Trilogy).

V for Vendetta (2005)
3.35 out of 4stars

“In a future British dystopian society, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of "V", plots to overthrow the tyrannical fascist government - with the help of a young woman.”
An excellent political thriller with action elements that explores the heart of revolution and corruption with gusto. Captivating and thought provoking, irregardless of your stance on the film’s messages. Lots of good dialogue within. Dives into the horrific potential and actual abuses and manipulations of government bodies, alongside the strategy and progression ideologies of an effective rebellion. While showing a tilted point of view with clearly defined villains and heroes, it does not pull punches on the moral grayness of the “heroes” actions of violence, law breaking, and beyond. I won’t get into specifics, but it’s effective and enlightening on small and large scales. Sprinkles so many ideas throughout, some a bit indirect, that I can see viewers being both astonished and confounded. So so much to like and transplant though.

The Elephant Man (1980)
3.35 out of 4stars

“A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication.”
An excellent biographical drama that is a portrait of society’s sympathy and rejective cruelty toward a fellow human being with drastic deformities. The old sayings “Hard times reveal true friends” and “Difficult times show true colors”, are defining statements on John (Joseph) Merrick’s/The-Elephant-Man’s entire life, externally and internally. The Elephant Man himself is a sort of litmus test for humanity’s range of compassion, or animosity. In that regard, it’s bittersweet but an altogether depressing statement: that part of society will never be able to assimilate such a person, thus all of society will never be able to assimilate such a person. Society in totality is too insensitive and/or overbearing. Mr. Merrick, played excellently by John Hurt, underneath it all and even after constant abuses and hardships was still (and apparently always was) an intelligent, emotionally expressive, and kind human being. A judgmental society was part to blame also for Mr. Merrick’s situation, labeling before understanding/knowing, another knock on humanity’s resume. But still, good found its way through and gave Mr. Merrick deserved better living conditions. The makeup effects were so great, that the Academy Awards created the Award for Best Makeup the following year because of public uproar from there being no recognition for this film’s achievements in that regard. And Anthony Hopkins is great as always too.

IMO you're overrating all 3 films, but most of all, your choreography and violence art comments on The Killer reminds me of that Fonfrède dude who wrote a "theoretical book" on asian cinema out of his ass (not a ditch at you at all, just a flashback).

 

[OzzyFan]

IMO you're overrating all 3 films, but most of all, your choreography and violence art comments on The Killer reminds me of that Fonfrède dude who wrote a "theoretical book" on asian cinema out of his ass (not a ditch at you at all, just a flashback).

I'm certainly no expert, just calling things as I see them from my view. And I definitely admit I overrate some films, especially ones I enjoy a lot, some personal elements are definitely involved in that. As far as your specific The Killer comments, do you feel Woo is overrated? Art is incredibly beholder variable imo, and the style or essence of the action in the film just overjoyed me. For comparability's sake, do you have anything or movie of similar ilk or presentation you'd offer as a comparison of better quality of the "style"? Not notably more contemporary of course.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

I'm certainly no expert, just calling things as I see them from my view. And I definitely admit I overrate some films, especially ones I enjoy a lot, some personal elements are definitely involved in that. As far as your specific The Killer comments, do you feel Woo is overrated? Art is incredibly beholder variable imo, and the style or essence of the action in the film just overjoyed me. For comparability's sake, do you have anything or movie of similar ilk or presentation you'd offer as a comparison of better quality of the "style"? Not notably more contemporary of course.

Woo could be considered both over and underrated, as he's often the butt of the joke when it comes to manierism and overdoing it.
As for better films, I wouldn't know, as I find the genre of very little interest - but that's just me. I mean, isn't it similar to praising the artistic merits of John Wick? Yeah, cute, but limited. This sounds so very elitist, so I'll remind everyone that I'm a big Jason Voorhees supporter.

 

[OzzyFan]

Woo could be considered both over and underrated, as he's often the butt of the joke when it comes to manierism and overdoing it.
As for better films, I wouldn't know, as I find the genre of very little interest - but that's just me. I mean, isn't it similar to praising the artistic merits of John Wick? Yeah, cute, but limited. This sounds so very elitist, so I'll remind everyone that I'm a big Jason Voorhees supporter.

Gotcha, don't necessarily agree but understand the opinion for sure. Everyone has their own niches too. And October does have a Friday the 13th this year.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) - 7.5/10

Short indie film portraying strange slices of American life made by Miranda July. I'm overrating it a bit as it isn't as deep or melancholic as it thinks it is but I really like Miranda July and wish she made more films and acted in them too, could watch her strangeness for hours.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2002) - 6/10

Have to give it up to Nic Cage for being able to take the piss out of himself but that all adds to a gimmicky feel. Some amusing parts here and there but the gimmick is overextended into a ~2 hour film with some bad subplots and a story you care less about than the actual scenes between Cage and Pedro Pascal. It's not exactly Adaptation either but I guess some people really like Nic Cage and would probably love this.

Yeah, Nicolas Cage is pretty much a walking gimmick at this point. It's way too self-aware to be effective.

Barfly-1987

'Well hey, anybody can get a job. It takes a man to make it without working.'

An old favorite, a well written tale about two heavy drinkers who meet and form an interesting pair. Henry (Mickey Rourke) the lazy barfly/brawler/poet and Wanda (Faye Dunaway) the free spirit who doesn't ever want to fall in love. It reminds me of films like Five Easy Pieces and The Big Lebowski, some other dudes drifting through life and the ladies who are attracted to them. A simple story, some memorable lines and the two leads are great.

There were a lot of decent artist 'biopics' during that era (in the sense that they were about famous artists but didn't follow today's formula, which is utterly brutal) with a lot of pretty great performances. Rourke as Bukowski is one of them, though he's way too handsome. Uma Thurman is pretty terrible in Harry and June (1990) about Henry Miller in Paris but there's some really electric moments in that movie.

 

[Chili]

Yeah, Nicolas Cage is pretty much a walking gimmick at this point. It's way too self-aware to be effective.



There were a lot of decent artist 'biopics' (in the sense that they were about famous artists but didn't follow today's formula, which is utterly brutal) with a lot of pretty great performances. Rourke as Bukowski is one of them, though he's way too handsome. Uma Thurman is pretty terrible in Harry and June (1990) about Henry Miller in Paris but there's some really electric moments in that movie.

We could probably do a thread on biopics. A few that come to mind:

The Buddy Holly Story: Gary Busey and his band mates played Buddy Holly's songs so well.

Walk the Line: I love the opening of that film as Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) is about to play his prison gig. Reese Witherspoon knocked it out of the park as June Carter.

Man on the Moon-Jim Carrey channeled Andy Kaufman and it's a great tune.

Hitchcock- read a biography on him and thought they really nailed it, including Alma's huge influence on many of his films. Hard to go wrong with Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins.

Chaplin-Pretty hard to play The Tramp, Robert Downey was good.

There are a bunch of films on Lincoln, my favorite is probably Young Mr Lincoln (1939) with Henry Fonda as Lincoln in his earlier years.

History has always been a favorite of mine so I do enjoy these type of films...as long as they aren't too fictionalized.

 

[shadow1]

I'm certainly no expert, just calling things as I see them from my view. And I definitely admit I overrate some films, especially ones I enjoy a lot, some personal elements are definitely involved in that. As far as your specific The Killer comments, do you feel Woo is overrated? Art is incredibly beholder variable imo, and the style or essence of the action in the film just overjoyed me. For comparability's sake, do you have anything or movie of similar ilk or presentation you'd offer as a comparison of better quality of the "style"? Not notably more contemporary of course.

Woo could be considered both over and underrated, as he's often the butt of the joke when it comes to manierism and overdoing it.
As for better films, I wouldn't know, as I find the genre of very little interest - but that's just me. I mean, isn't it similar to praising the artistic merits of John Wick? Yeah, cute, but limited. This sounds so very elitist, so I'll remind everyone that I'm a big Jason Voorhees supporter.

I'm a fan of The Killer (cue birds flying through candles). Like Ozzy, I love the style and gunplay sequences. I do find it to be very heavy on the melodrama though.

I always lump A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled together (Once a Thief, despite the Chow Yun Fat/John Woo combo, is too different of a film). I feel A Better Tomorrow is the best of the three, with some melodrama but in general a more grounded/satisfying plot, and memorable action sequences peppered in. The Killer dials up the action and melodrama, but with a more over-the-top plot. Hard Boiled completely throws the plot in the toilet in favor of all out action. Pick your poison.

 

[MVP of West Hollywd]

The Defiant Ones (1958) - Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier are runaway convicts chained together. Not perfect, the scenes with the police and the horny gal they meet are not quite as good, but man oh man both actors kill it. Some of the dialog-less scenes with them trying to get through a river and stuff are really well shot. They should definitely remake this.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

A Bug’s Life (1998) - 8.5/10

What can I say about this one that hasn’t already been said? Following Toy Story it was the second film in what became a long list of smash hit animated movies by Pixar. You can tell they were really starting to hit their stride here.

It’s basically Kurosawa’s epic 1954 film Seven Samurai, but they’re bugs. Seriously…

On “Ant Island” the colony of ants(villagers) have to give their food to the grasshoppers (bandits) every harvest season, but this year’s offering falls short. The ants decide they need some warrior (Samurai) bugs to defeat the grasshoppers. Against the elder’s initial protest they assemble a team of warriors to fight.

After finding the group of soldiers, they devise a plan to lure in the enemies and gain the element of surprise. This eventually ends up with a huge fire. Fully realizing their power in numbers the colony overwhelms the invaders, vanquishing their foes and protecting their land forever.

I love this example of such an iconic film from a wildly different era, culture, and genre being adapted to a children’s movie with such success.

Being a kids movie obviously the pacing is quick. There are a few tame references slipped in for adults, but nothing too spicy. The jokes hold up impressively. Each character in the group of warriors has their own unique voice and accent without being too stereotypical, even by 1998 standards.

Edit: never thought I’d dive that deep into an animated kids movie, but here we are. Lol

 

[Neil Racki]

The Witness - watched it bc of good reviews here and my lady love harrison Ford

f***ing A that movie sucked .. in my humble opinion

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Seems like Blood Meridian will be adapted @KallioWeHardlyKnewYe @Ceremony by the same director who adapted The Road

 

[Ceremony]

Seems like Blood Meridian will be adapted @KallioWeHardlyKnewYe @Ceremony by the same director who adapted The Road

I know James Franco was trying to do it for a while, at least that's not happening.

I don't think you can film Blood Meridian in such a way where the power of the book is retained. I think it will be changed too much. I might even go and see it if it ever comes out.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Seems like Blood Meridian will be adapted @KallioWeHardlyKnewYe @Ceremony by the same director who adapted The Road

I'll believe it when I'm in the theater and the credits have finished rolling!

Hillcoat's an alright choice in the scheme of things. But we'll see.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Harper. I'm a sucker for down-on-their-luck detectives investigating L.A. conspiracies. When that smart-ass detective is played by cucumber cool Paul Newman, well where's this move been all my life? Cracking script from William Goldman ... "You have a way of starting a conversation that ends a conversation" ... and a movie star performance from Newman as a man who knows he's probably going to take a beating for it, but he says what he says anyway. He's the sorta guy who unravels the whole mess not because it's the right thing to do, but because he has to to solve the small corner of it he's being paid to solve. Strong supporting cast.

The Drowning Pool. Newman returned as Harper a few years later in a perfectly cromulent, but but definitely inferior sequel that sends him to New Orleans to unravel a similar nest of disappearances and business interests. Fine enough, but a step back in all aspects from the first one.

I would've watched at least five more of these if they kept making them.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

I know James Franco was trying to do it for a while, at least that's not happening.

I don't think you can film Blood Meridian in such a way where the power of the book is retained. I think it will be changed too much. I might even go and see it if it ever comes out.

Franco would have been a brutal choice. You just know he'd have done something profoundly stupid and self-serving.

For me, there's two things that I hope the film doesn't do:

- Try and stuff the entire book/all of its ideas into the film.
- Center the film solely around The Kid and Judge Holden.

I think those two things would be pretty crucial mistakes that could sink the film.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Franco would have been a brutal choice. You just know he'd have done something profoundly stupid and self-serving.

For me, there's two things that I hope the film doesn't do:

- Try and stuff the entire book/all of its ideas into the film.
- Center the film solely around The Kid and Judge Holden.

I think those two things would be pretty crucial mistakes that could sink the film.

I would be STUNNED if they didn't do the second. That is exactly what I expect.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

I would be STUNNED if they didn't do the second. That is exactly what I expect.

Yeah, that'd be a pretty poor decision and part of me thinks it'd be something that the money bags would require.

 

[Ouroboros]

When Hillcoat originally wanted to make a Blood Meridian film, he claimed that McCarthy himself had offered to write the adaptation/screenplay. Not sure if that's still the case given the man's age, but that would probably go a long way to assuaging people's doubts.

 

[kihei]

I couldn't get through Blood Meridian. The adaptation would be a monumental challenge.

 

[Nakatomi]

Air (2023) Directed by Ben Affleck 3A

Air is the ultimate "dad" movie.. Except for old white guys, I can't imagine who would want to see this movie. Why anyone younger would be interested in watching a two-hour hymn to Nike shoes and high-profit capitalism is beyond me? Sonny Vaccaro (a very paunchy Matt Damon) decides to go on a holy mission to sign the young Michael Jordan to what will become an epic shoe contract. He has to convince his quirky boss (Ben Affleck), skeptical fellow executive (Jason Bateman), and, most importantly, Jordan's shrewd mother (Viola Davis). That's the movie, folks. Affleck as director mucks around with busy camera movement for no reason and creates a lot of phone-call filler to pad the woefully thin story. Michael Jordan is air-breshed out of the movie despite being the story's reason for existence. What does it say about us as a society that Hollywood now is making movies about marketing schemes and selling them as entertainment? I can't decide whether that's the height of cynicism or stupidity. And yet again we have a movie about a black cultural icon populated almost exclusively by white people. Surely Affleck and Damon can come up with better, more worthy stories to tell than this vapid two-hour Nike infomercial.

A thought: perhaps people who like this movie should be called "Airheads."

A new theater opened near me recently and was giving a free screening for a different movie every day of its first week. Air was the free one on the day I happened to go, and I got my money's worth

About the only thing I can say in defense of the movie is that the pacing felt quite good considering so much of the film is just boardroom meetings or phone calls.

Though the big speech just felt like a pitch rejected by Don Draper, haha.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

Pauline At The Beach (1983) - unable to rate

This movie may make you hate French people talking in French and being French. It's like Rohmer wants to play up the stereotype at times. But man life was simple pleasures in the 80s.

Man On The Moon (1999) - 7/10

I think it's an average film but a strong performance. Jim Carey's performance of Kaufman through every scene whether it be funny or cringey or pathetic gets stronger and stronger as this film carries on. But the film is really typical disjointed 90s biography-fare. Also how did Courtney Love get cast in 3 separate biopics as the....nvm.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

Pauline At The Beach (1983) - unable to rate

I have it at 7/10