Movies: Last Movie You Watched and Rate It

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Valley of Love (2016) Directed by Guillaume Nicloux 6A

Gerard Depardieu and Isabelle Huppert, the Tracy and Hepburn of post-French New Wave film, reunite for the first time in nearly 40 years in a movie that is more curiosity than substantive work but still worth seeing. The premise is, well, peculiar. A long-divorced couple reunite and travel to Death Valley in California and Nevada at the behest of their dead son whose last wish before committing suicide was that they do so. He claims that on one of the seven sites that he has laid out for them to visit, he will return to corporeal existence if only briefly. The mother is hopeful; the father scoffs at the notion but goes along with it anyway. The movie only obliquely dwells on the premise using it more as a means of establishing a character study of a failed relationship. Both Depardieu and Huppert are marvelous. Despite the fact that Depardieu is the size of a small water buffalo and Huppert is still slender and lovely, the pair share a lived-in kind of rapport that is impossible to fake. We see exactly why these two people loved one another and why they nonetheless eventually drove each other crazy. Huppert and Depardieu are not only among the best actors of their generation, they are among the best actors in film history. You could scan each of their filmographies and be hard put to find a single false moment in any of their performances. It is great to see them ply their trade together once again, elevating a relatively slight movie in the process.

subtitles

Is that really Gerard Depardieu in the pic?

Wow... I haven’t seen him in 25 some years... My Father the Hero or Man in the Iron Mask would have been the last film I saw him act in.

 

[Mario Lemieux fan 66]

Red Sparrow: 6.5/10

ready player one: 6/10 Decent first hour and then it goes downhill fast.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Is that really Gerard Depardieu in the pic?

Wow... I haven’t seen him in 25 some years... My Father the Hero or Man in the Iron Mask would have been the last film I saw him act in.

He gained 10 pounds for every year you didn't see him.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

He gained 10 pounds for every year you didn't see him.

Sadly your math looks like it works out quite closely...

 

[Spring in Fialta]

You Were Never Really Here (2018) - I liked it a lot but found it a bit confusing at times - and I'm sure this was the intent. With that said, Ramsay uses many creative narrative techniques to tell her story and create her aesthetic (such as the main character's rescue mission which involves rapid cuts through the use of a security camera) which end up paying off almost every single time. Very stylish use of music as well - which works perfectly to pace the film from scene to scene and serves to immerse the viewer in the action - and you're left with a movie that takes an often tired genre (crime thrillers) and finds a way to tell a relatively by the book story in a refreshing way and sprinkled with absurdist moments which work well with the mood and atmosphere of the film and it's main character. And that goes without saying, but Joaquin Phoenix is perfect, as usual.

 

[brokenhole]

The Killing of a Sacred Deer..very different psyc/horror. Film and directed style reminded me a bit of Kubrik. 8.5/10.

 

[Trap Jesus]

The Killing of a Sacred Deer..very different psyc/horror. Film and directed style reminded me a bit of Kubrik. 8.5/10.

Watched this recently myself. Favorite film of last year for me.

The only real criticism I've heard of it is that there doesn't seem to be a need to have everyone speak in the monotone pattern that Lanthimos has become known for, but I was completely fine with it; just helped to add a more surreal element to the movie. It also adds a ton of humor. This movie did a great job at spelling drama with dark humor for the first bit of the movie, and then as it goes along, it genuinely blurs the two and there are numerous scenes where it's genuinely disturbing, but hilarious at the same time.

I loved The Lobster, but think it's interesting to compare it to The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Everything about the way The Lobster was shot and how the soundtrack was worked in was bland and static. It was obviously intentionally done that way to fit into the very rigid and regimented world, but it was interesting to see a completely different look by the same director/cinematographer. As great as the writing was, and as awesome as the performances were, I thought the cinematography was the main standout. Every shot in this was interesting and purposeful. The closeups, the intentionally mis-framed shots where they show way too much space above the character, the creeping shots with the ever so subtle zooms, the tracking shots at interesting angles, etc. Simple shots like that one scene where Farrell and Kidman are having a conversation in the kitchen and the camera starts behind Farrell's shoulder and creeps into a close-up on Kidman's face. Such a pleasure to watch, and having only seen one other movie by this director/cinematographer, it was a complete 180 from what they had done before.

Also, how does Barry Keoghan not get nominated for anything outside of the Spirit Awards? Such a unique and chilling performance.

 

[ProstheticConscience]

He gained 10 pounds for every year you didn't see him.

Another famous proponent of the Marlon Brando diet plan. IIRC Depardieu refused to pay taxes in France and spent all the savings on candy bars and deep-fried lard.

 

[Puck]

The Third Murder (7.5)

A smart, brooding philosophical courtroom drama with many twists that has you guessing until the end. It's not the classic type of Holllywood high-adrenalin thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, but it is a well thought out play that draws you in and keeps you thinking on all cylinders trying to figure out what the hell is going on here. This film has many layers. First there's the murder 'mystery' storyline that's apparently an open and shut case (he's guilty), all the subsequent twists are 'yes but how guilty is he'. Second, there is the fascinating look into the Japanese legal system. Then there is the philosophical dimension, with all the musings about fatalism, truth, the right to judge. And running throughout is the political dissention on capital punishment. There is a lot served on this plate, sometimes you wonder if the Director bit off more than he could chew in this project. He is very successful at keeping you off-balance, keeping you guessing, keeping you thinking. But there is so much going on here at many levels, I was drained by the time the end credits were rolling (although that was probably also a function of having to read all the subtitles and trying to keep up in a complicated movie) . This is the kind of film that you will want to watch with others (I did thankfully) because it's an experience you'll like to discuss after it's over (to try to figure out if you got it right).

I liked it. A lot.

p.s. good interpretation by all the actors but the one that had me for some strange reason was the eldest lawyer in the defense legal team (guy with a mustache). I was often drawn looking at his performance and forgetting to read the subtitles. I don't know why, maybe it's because he had the most expressive face (least subtle) compared to the more stoic rendition by those around him (less exaggerated).

 

[kihei]

Lean on Pete (2018) Directed by Andrew Haigh 7A

Charley (Charlie Plummer), a 16-year-old with an ever shrinking number of significant others, finds himself on his own after a series of unfortunate occurrences. With no humans around with whom he can connect emotionally, he befriends Pete, a racehorse well past his prime who is targeted for destruction. They journey off into the desert where things go from bad to worse. Lean on Pete is a coming-of-age tale that plays like an updated American take on 400 Blows, director Francois Truffaut's New Wave masterpiece about a somewhat younger boy struggling to find sense and connection in a world that has no time for him. Early on, the movie focuses on Charley's relationship with his personable but deadbeat dad who offers virtually no stability of any kind. Desperate for cash, Charley helps out a cantankerous horse owner (Steve Buscemi) who is willing to give him work, which is where he meets and befriends Pete. However, it is not until Charley and Pete head out for the wide open spaces of Oregon and Wyoming that the movie finds another level of meaning. Plummer is great throughout. Despite how fresh and innocent he seems, Charley has some tough, testing times ahead. Plummer's accomplishment is to show both his character's impulsiveness and his essential goodness while never losing track of his vulnerability, of the fact that he is still more boy than man. The beautiful landscape cinematography, dwarfing human cares, provides an almost mythic dimension to the spell the movie casts.

 

[Led Zappa]

Lean on Pete (2018) Directed by Andrew Haigh 7A

Charley (Charlie Plummer), a 16-year-old with an ever shrinking number of significant others, finds himself on his own after a series of unfortunate occurrences. With no humans around with whom he can connect emotionally, he befriends Pete, a racehorse well past his prime who is targeted for destruction. They journey off into the desert where things go from bad to worse. Lean on Pete is a coming-of-age tale that plays like an updated American take on 400 Blows, director Francois Truffaut's New Wave masterpiece about a somewhat younger boy struggling to find sense and connection in a world that has no time for him. Early on, the movie focuses on Charley's relationship with his personable but deadbeat dad who offers virtually no stability of any kind. Desperate for cash, Charley helps out a cantankerous horse owner (Steve Buscemi) who is willing to give him work, which is where he meets and befriends Pete. However, it is not until Charley and Pete head out for the wide open spaces of Oregon and Wyoming that the movie finds another level of meaning. Plummer is great throughout. Despite how fresh and innocent he seems, Charley has some tough, testing times ahead. Plummer's accomplishment is to show both his character's impulsiveness and his essential goodness while never losing track of his vulnerability, of the fact that he is still more boy than man. The beautiful landscape cinematography, dwarfing human cares, provides an almost mythic dimension to the spell the movie casts.

Think I'm gonna like this one.

 

[Puck]

Just a drive-by post. Didn't want to start a new thread. Just a FYI.

The Tribeca Film Festival is on now.

Here is a link to the feature list
Tribeca: Liz Garbus' N.Y. Times in Trump Era Doc, Female-Directed Films Highlight Festival Lineup

The NYT top 17 selections
17 Movies to Enjoy for the Tribeca Film Festival’s 17th Edition

Vulture's top 17 picks
17 Films You Should See at This Year’s Tribeca Film Festival

I guess 17 is a magic number because it's the 17th annual.

 

[OzzyFan]

The Cat Returns (english dubbed)
2.5 out of 4stars

Fun kids fantasy adventure anime movie. Solid and entertaining.

 

[Mario Lemieux fan 66]

isle of dogs: 7.8/10 One of the best film of the year so far.

In the Fade: 7.4/10

 

[kihei]

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo 7A

All Marvel universe heroes are called into action to stop a villain who wants to save the universe by killing off half of its various inhabitants. I enjoyed it; I thought it was a very good popcorn movie, one that will surely please most followers of this sort of thing. There are a ton of action sequences, but none of them stand out until the end. That aspect of the movie really needs a re-think and more imagination. Much of the action, especially early on, is shot in extreme close-up with the result that I kept wanting the camera to move back so that I could get a better perspective of what is going on. A good story and a somewhat complex villain keep the movie rolling along with relatively little drag. With the exception of the Guardians of the Galaxy crew and sometimes Thor and Loki, the rest of these superhero characters wear out their welcome really fast with me. So the fact that so many heroes needed screen time was actually a plus and kept me from becoming bored. However, the real saving grace of the film is humour. There are more funny one-liners in this movie than in any five Judd Apatow movies. The ending is both unexpected and a trifle on the cynical side, but so are most marketing ploys. Nothing to get riled up about, though. By this time, this franchise knows how to play its audience like a violin.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

Is that really Gerard Depardieu in the pic?

Wow... I haven’t seen him in 25 some years... My Father the Hero or Man in the Iron Mask would have been the last film I saw him act in.

More like My Father the Hero Sandwich, amirite?!?

 

[kihei]

More like My Father the Hero Sandwich, amirite?!?

Bagette, bozo. (I wonder if anyone will get that line. Oh, well....).

 

[kihei]

The Rider (2018) Directed by Chloe Zhao 7B

Shot on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, The Rider tells the story of a Brady (Brady Jandreau), a young rodeo star who is now incapacitated due to a serious head injury. As he slowly mends, he starts to come to the realization that he may never again be able to do the one thing that he truly loves: ride horses. The Rider is a lament for a lost dream and for a young man who no longer feels he has any real reason to exist. All of the principal actors are amateurs playing versions of themselves. While this approach worked poorly in Clint Eastwood's The 5:17 to Paris, where the real heroes played themselves, here thanks to Brady Jandreaus's charisma as an actor, the feelings portrayed seem vividly genuine. As a result an intimacy is captured that is very hard to come by at the movies. Director Chloe Zhao uses the community and the beautiful countryside to ground her film in a reality that few of us have experienced but with which all of us can empathize. Some of the best scenes are between the usually stoic Brady and his mentally challenged but chipper sister and between Brady and Lane Scott, Brady's bull riding best friend who is permanently hospitalized as a result of his far more serious head injuries. In these moments with sister or with best friend, The Rider achieves an emotional depth that is almost breathtaking.

 

[aleshemsky83]

The Week Of

I tend to check in on these sandler netflix movies and none of them have really grabbed me. For some reason this movie seems really different from other sandler movies. The thing that really stuck out to me that I found interesting is that it seems to be an actual real lower middle class home and community theyre filming in. all the locations just seem really authentic. You know how in a lot of movies "regular people" live in these bizarre mansions? Well in this movie the house is really tiny and all the situations that arise seem really authentic problems that come up when people are coming over.

The movie is pretty average, outside of Steve Buscemi. Holy cow something about him in sandler movies just kills me, hes great here.

6.5/10

 

[Nalens Oga]

Blackboard Jungle (1950something) - 7/10

Rumble Fish (1983) - a very stylistic 6.5/10

I just got access to Kanopy TV via school. Man do they have a lot of Criterion films on there. The quality is closer to a bit below DVD than HD but good enough for me. I've seen a lot of the better ones but they have lots of good foreign ones to go through, currently watching the charming Earrings of Madame De.

 

[ProstheticConscience]

The Lobster

with Colin Farrell and various other people.

Why? Why does this movie exist? What's the bloody point? Why is my wife sitting on the couch watching this while our Netflix queue continues to mushroom? It's not like we didn't see this and get bemused before.

WHY?!

 

[OzzyFan]

Avengers: Infinity Wars
3.25 out of 4stars

It delivers on it's expectations, but it's not perfect. The more you hear about the movie, the more that will be spoiled for you, so that's a warning and I'll keep this review obscure and indirect as possible. Very enjoyable, endless action, good bits of humor, enough intelligence/intrigue, and manages to do what it sets out to do very well albeit not fluidly given the juggling of so many different characters that have storylines that don't knit so that tightly together (which is expected if you see how/what they use the different storylines and characters for). Kihei's review is spot on.

 

[John Price]

Avengers: Infinity War
3.8 out of 4 stars

Other than a few cosmetic concerns the movie was a nonstop thriller from start to finish, and a lot of the criticisms were unwarranted. This movie was absolutely amazing and the two and a half hours just flew by, you never noticed. There was the same amount of cheese as previous Marvel films but a dark element that really made it so amazing.

 

[Shareefruck]

Where does this one rank? Is it better than the previous ones?

 

[Merya]

Annihilation 9- Greatly recommended to everyone with netflix, there's not much or any better content in there.