Last Movie You Watched and Rate It | Movie-mber Edition

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

I was just waiting for your response.

I don't even like Fando & Lis much! (I have it at 5.5/10 but haven't seen it in 20 years)

 

[Puck]

The Guardian has been running a best 50 films of the year list, they are up to # 5 today.

Da 5 Bloods has been steadily going down on everyone's list since it came out last Summer. Still at #14 though in the Guardian list.

The 50 best films of 2020 in the US: 50-5

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

The Guardian has been running a best 50 films of the year list, they are up to # 5 today.

Da 5 Bloods has been steadily going down on everyone's list since it came out last Summer. Still at #14 though in the Guardian list.

The 50 best films of 2020 in the US: 50-5

I've seen a grand total of zero films from that list. The only good film I've seen from 2020 was Mignonnes and I doubt it makes their top-4.

 

[Puck]

Bloodshot, Directed by Dave Wilson, 5.5

This one is a cross between 6 Million Dollar Man and Source Code (with Jake Gyllenhaal). I'm a big sci-fi fan but they pushed this a bit too far with the nanite recuperative powers. Well if you can believe nanites can instantly rebuild a guy's face that has just been shot off, I guess you can you can believe anything. But you can't blame the movie studio for the plotline, the movie is derived from a comic book hero, so take it up with them. The action is good, the writing, not so much. The best part goes to Lamorne Morris as Wiggins the science genius.

Given the ending, this one smells like a franchise origin story with many sequels to come (they hope, I'm not so sure). The sequel should go to Lamorne Morris as Wiggins.

 

[Puck]

I've seen a grand total of zero films from that list. The only good film I've seen from 2020 was Mignonnes and I doubt it makes their top-4.

There's still a few more to go, you might get lucky.

However the list says US films in the title. I think there are a few UK in there. Maybe they meant English language films. Don't know. So I suppose that would count out Mignonnes. (I will check out Mignonnes though, thanks for the tip)

p.s. I see it as Cuties on Netflix, will check it out

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

The Guardian has been running a best 50 films of the year list, they are up to # 5 today.

Da 5 Bloods has been steadily going down on everyone's list since it came out last Summer. Still at #14 though in the Guardian list.

The 50 best films of 2020 in the US: 50-5

Pleasantly surprised to see I've seen nine of the 45 listed (including 2 in the 5-10 range) so far and there are several others there I already had queued up for the next week or two.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

3Z

 

[Puck]

Pleasantly surprised to see I've seen nine of the 45 listed (including 2 in the 5-10 range) so far and there are several others there I already had queued up for the next week or two.

I don't quite understand the title, top 50 US films. They have Bacurau there, White Riot, The Perfect Candidate, His House. Not US fare I believe.

They might be catering to their large US audience that goes to their website.

I only noticed that after Pranzo Oltranzista's comment.

Still, a decent list for searching out new stuff. However I suspect Mignonnes won't make the list at this point.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

I suspect Mignonnes won't make the list at this point.

They don't want the backlash that comes with backing up this film.

 

[kihei]

I've seen a grand total of zero films from that list. The only good film I've seen from 2020 was Mignonnes and I doubt it makes their top-4.

I've seen sixteen of the films on the list so far. Six will likely make my top twenty this year and five made my top twenty last year including Vitalina Varela and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (added today). Real good chance First Cow will land in The Guardian's top four, too.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

I've seen sixteen of the films on the list so far. Six will likely make my top twenty this year and five made my top twenty last year including Vitalina Varela and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (added today). Real good chance First Cow will land in The Guardian's top four, too.

1st Cow is 6th

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

I've seen sixteen of the films on the list so far. Six will likely make my top twenty this year and five made my top twenty last year including Vitalina Varela and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (added today). Real good chance First Cow will land in The Guardian's top four, too.

I was wondering what you were looking at, I think you had the UK list.

 

[Puck]

I was wondering what you were looking at, I think you had the UK list.

OMG you are right, they also have a UK list. Very confusing. Same films have different numbers. This is the UK list.

The 50 best films of 2020 in the UK: 50-5

p.s. perhaps if you use a VPN you are directed to a different page depending on the country your proxy is coming from?

pps Nope that's not it. I tried a VPN from UK.

They literally have different lists for similar films in the US and UK. I saw no mention of the UK list anywhere until Pranzo mentioned it then I went and searched it out. Kind of confusing.

 

[Puck]

I'm guessing now that Guardian columnist Andrew Pulver drew up the UK list whereas the US list was drawn up by committee with US reps with opposing viewpoints coming up with slightly different films? Very confusing though.

We'll see in the next few days if Portrait of a Lady on Fire shows up on the US list.

 

[HanSolo]

My SO for some reason has this odd fascination with throwing on crappy movies on Netflix so I've got a couple of those, a rewatch, and a movie I skipped but watched with my family.

Operation Christmas Drop (3/10): It's a Christmas rom com and I gathered that from the Netflix description so I thought I knew what I'd have to tolerate. Oof. This movie is barren of any real comedy, the romance is about as hackneyed and unbelievable as Attack of the Clones if not worse, the charm you'd expect from a Xmas romcom is even more forced here than I really think I've ever seen where the hot guy gets about 60% screen time commitment establishing him as a near flawless angel who the film would have you believe is one of the greatest and most virtuous humans to ever live (and I'm really not exaggerating, I know that's par for the course for some romcoms but this movie really smacks the shit out of you with how incredible he's supposed to be), another 30% I'd say goes to building up the natives of this Guam island as truly the most happy go lucky, adorable and sweet group of people on the planet who spontaneously burst into perfect pitch sing-alongs anytime someone busts out a guitar and starts singing in the most transparent emotional exploitation I think I've seen in a film in a long time. The other 10% goes to the paper thin deconstruction of the main character's workaholic lifestyle and the central conflict of the film which, essentially boils down to the main character's boss trying to halt an airdrop of supplies for the natives as a Christmas event the military base puts on every year, which is also potentially halted by an incoming tropical storm. And the homage to the real life operation and tradition is probably the only part of the movie that isn't written at an amateur hour level (though the movie gets a 3/10 instead of a lower score since at least the writing is bad but not offensively bad). However, given this movie's dual role as a tribute to the real life Christmas Drop, the money would have been better used on a documentary of the real life tradition. Instead Netflix gives its subscribers a streaming option that can barely hold itself out as a movie that was supposed to be a happy go lucky and charming but is really more of an exercise in emotionally exploitative trash that spends far FAR too much time and effort glorifying the male love interest. Needless to say I hated it and wish I'd just gone to sleep instead of trudging through the run time.

Mr. Right 6/10: I'd say I'm a fan of both Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick but this movie was pretty whatever. The comedy is forgettable but somewhat amusing. The script is pretty dumb but not terrible. I really don't have much to say. It's just an unremarkable action rom/com that tries a little too hard to be edgy towards the end. The performances are solid but pretty far from memorable for everyone involved. Didn't feel like a total waste of time watching it but it's certainly not something I'd go back to.

RV 2/10: A 99 minute waste of a good cast's talent. When I saw her hit play on this movie my heart sank. I really should've protested. The script is so hamfisted and dumb. The comedy is so lowest common denominator it just hurts my brain just to think about. And what kills me is the script and the shooting of scenes really gives you the impression that the movie thinks its gags will be classics. Like people ten years after its release will be like "remember when Robin Williams tried to drive the RV up the most treacherous road imaginable." Yeah sure, I remember how f***ing stupid it was the first time I saw it and how absolutely poorly Williams tried to sell the "hilarity" of the situation. A huge fountain of shit flying up in the sky and coming down to soil an already desperate and dejected protagonist was unironically the perfect metaphor for the audience's experience with this film. I thought it was bad when I was younger, it's even worse as an adult.

Lion King (2019) 6.5/10: Couldn't in good faith give this movie a 7. On the plus side, it's visually impressive...for the most part. At times, in knowing it's almost entirely CG animated, the film is a stunning accomplishment. Other times, Favreau and co. stuff way too much on the screen to the point of disorientation. Rogen and Eichner do a solid job as Timon and Pumba, the redone score is acceptable, and the humor which is the bulk of what they changed in the script, mostly works. However, across its runtime, the Lion King remake never really justifies its existence. The Jungle Book, at least, was distinct enough to make it a sufficiently different experience that the remake might be worth watching 1 or 2 times. The new Lion King is a perfectly good film if you've never seen the original but given the original's existence, the remake can't be viewed as anything less than a more lackluster experience with a visually impressive CG coat of paint. I know this was the opinion of most who did see it, and was the biggest reason why I skipped it in theaters, but watching the film confirmed it. There's a big disconnect with the charm of the original, Donald Glover (who is one of my favorite entertainers working today) really didn't sell me on adult Simba, the middle portion of the film was probably longer than it was in the original but somehow found a way to feel less impactful, and less memorable. Ultimately I guess it's worth watching once but I don't think the update is worth repeat viewings.

 

[nameless1]

The Guardian has been running a best 50 films of the year list, they are up to # 5 today.

Da 5 Bloods has been steadily going down on everyone's list since it came out last Summer. Still at #14 though in the Guardian list.

The 50 best films of 2020 in the US: 50-5

I am mixed on the list, because to me, the order seems to be all wrong. Personally, I thought A Portrait of a Lady on Fire is way too high, The Painted Bird is way too low, and I did not like A White, White Day at all. I also would have put Palm Springs and Vitalina Varela higher, but lists are suggestive, and the latter definitely will only appeal to a niche market.

That said, the author does give some exposure to some underrated and overlooked works, like And then We Danced and The Assistant. Plus, there were movies that I did not know existed, but I am immensely curious about, like The Perfect Candidate, by the director of Wajdja, so I will say that the article is still worth a read.

 

[Puck]

I am mixed on the list, because to me, the order seems to be all wrong. Personally, I thought A Portrait of a Lady on Fire is way too high, The Painted Bird is way too low, and I did not like A White, White Day at all. I also would have put Palm Springs and Vitalina Varela higher, but lists are suggestive, and the latter definitely will only appeal to a niche market.

That said, the author does give some exposure to some underrated and overlooked works, like And then We Danced and The Assistant. Plus, there were movies that I did not know existed, but I am immensely curious about, like The Perfect Candidate, by the director of Wajdja, so I will say that the article is still worth a read.

I'm also curious about the Perfect Candidate, I loved Wadja for some reason. There should be a number of lists of 2020 films coming out soon. I was surprised to see how many on that list I did not know. Of course I'm living in a 2020 bubble. Hollywood is taking a pause and other film outlets (foreign, indie, art-house, streaming flicks) are taking up the slack. I think that was coming over time anyway, 2020 might have advanced it a bit quicker). List makers also try to be controversial I think, it accelerates the arguments and visibility. NYTimes came out with a list of 25 top actors for the 21st century. They included Melissa McCarthy and left out Meryll Streep. Personally I loved their inclusion of Keanu Reeves (although I did say 'really'?). Controversy in writing about films, or politics gets you arguments and eyeballs, it's a well tuned art for major writers IMHO.

The 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century (So Far)

 

[nameless1]

I'm also curious about the Perfect Candidate, I loved Wadja for some reason. There should be a number of lists of 2020 films coming out soon. I was surprised to see how many on that list I did not know. Of course I'm living in a 2020 bubble. Hollywood is taking a pause and other film outlets (foreign, indie, art-house, streaming flicks) are taking up the slack. I think that was coming over time anyway, 2020 might have advanced it a bit quicker). List makers also try to be controversial I think, it accelerates the arguments and visibility. NYTimes came out with a list of 25 top actors for the 21st century. They included Melissa McCarthy and left out Meryll Streep. Personally I loved their inclusion of Keanu Reeves (although I did say 'really'?). Controversy in writing about films, or politics gets you arguments and eyeballs, it's a well tuned art for major writers IMHO.

The 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century (So Far)

Honestly, I like this list. Streep probably should have been on there, but at the very least, it is very inclusive, as it features actors from all over the world, and it also includes lesser known names like Alfre Woodard and Rob Morgan. That already gives it more credibility in my eyes, since these lists are usually U.S./ U.K. centric, and only just includes the A-Listers. Plus, I actually did not mind McCarthy's inclusion. She is best known for her comedies, but she also gave an award-worthy performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me? To me, she is a great performer, and if she is not top 25, she is very, very close.

Of course, I have seen some great performances this century, and I would probably would have exchanged a couple of names, but this one is as fair as it gets.

 

[Puck]

Honestly, I like this list. Streep probably should have been on there, but at the very least, it is very inclusive, as it features actors from all over the world, and it also includes lesser known names, like Alfre Woodard and Rob Morgan. That already gives it more credibility than how these lists are usually tallied, since they are usually U.S./ U.K. centric, and only just includes the A-Lister. Plus, I actually did not mind McCarthy's inclusion. She is best known for her comedies, but she also gave an award-worthy performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me? To me, she is a great performer, and if she is not top 25, she is very, very close.

Of course, I have seen some great performances this century, and I would probably would have exchanged a couple of names, but this one is as fair as it gets.

Oh don't get me wrong I liked it too. I just figured they put 20 really good names there but threw in 5 for argument and controversy sake.

 

[nameless1]

Oh don't get me wrong I liked it too. I just figured they put 20 really good names there but threw in 5 for argument and controversy sake.

Perhaps. The only two that I am not sure about are Woodard and Morgan, but that is only because I am not that familiar with their works.

That said, I do believe that McCarthy belongs, and I will defend her inclusion.

 

[kihei]

1st Cow is 6th

I was going by the UK list, it seems. Not much difference, but I kind of like the UK rankings a little better than the US list. Besides it looks like my #1 for the year, First Cow, is going to do better on the UK list, so there is that.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Doctor Sleep = 9/10

I was shocked how much I liked this movie. I enjoyed The Shining but never loved it so I figured this would be underwhelming but I found this more enjoyable then the Shining

Everything about this movie was top notch including the acting from the young actress which given how poorly child actors usually are was breath of fresh air. I thought it tied in very well with Shining as a sequel

Only drawback was film felt a little longer then it needed to be. Could have cut a little bit of it without consequence to plot , etc which is why I gave it a 9

 

[Puck]

Coincidentally speaking of Wadja and Mignonnes on the same page, looks like the same subject matter too.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020) - 7/10

The ending didn't do it for me. The long car conversations got a bit too.....long. The house scene became a bit too tedious in the modern horror cliches. I guess the movie as a whole was just a big f*** but I still enjoyed and was fascinated by bits interspersed throughout enough to get past the frustration of the rest of it. Still, I'd probably like the book far more.

Such a shame that Kaufman couldn't come back and do something like Adaptation, it was grounded by his standards and far better.

 

[kihei]

Coincidentally speaking of Wadja and Mignonnes on the same page, looks like the same subject matter too.

I thought Wajda was a real charmer.