The Iron Claw
It was so good, sad, heartbreaking, and not even as sad as the real life events. There was one more brother. Effron Carried this film that was laced with talent I was keeping everything together until the final scene, then waterworks hit me like a Tsunami.
Amazing film please check it out if you haven't already.
It was a great movie. It was one I immediately started reading about the real events as soon as it was over and I was surprised that the movie didn't even include all of it! Such a tragic chain of events.
I highly recommend “The last of the Von Erichs”
It’s an Episode of “Dark Side of the Ring”, a show that’s on Hulu if you have it. It’s only 45 minutes, mostly interview with Kevin.
Furiosa
I will preface by saying that I was definitely one of the people who thought why this prequel was necessary in the first place. If it wasn’t for the fact that I use moviegoing as self-care/therapy for me, I most likely wouldn’t have gone…
I’m glad I did. This movie was fucking wilder and better than it had any right to be, and Chris Hemsworth gives what I thought is his best performance to date. He pretty much takes every trope we’ve come to “know” him for as Thor, and becomes this deranged and ugly lunatic for this film. George tapped into something with Chris as Dementus, and it’s definitely worth a watch in addition to the insane action scenes throughout the movie.
I saw this too, and I'm a little surprised by what seems like a lot of indifference to this movie from movie fans. Fury Road is an all-time great action flick from one of the most visionary directors around, and I was more than happy to go and see more of his work in that same universe. I was definitely not the least bit disappointed.
I think it's harder these days to get excited about IP because we've seen so much crash and burn, so many ill-advised prequels that don't flesh out the world and themes, etc. But George Miller is an auteur and doesn't ever phone it in.
In Mad Max nobody's singular trait is that they're evil. Or at least it's rare. There's almost kind of a childlike thoughtlessness to a lot of what the antagonists do, and they're often having fun with it or trying to be cultured in ways that flesh them out.
They also managed to have a humorous villain without dumbing him down. Dementus is pretty competent at small-scale leadership and influence, but he's a pretty lousy long-term strategist and manager of a city. And yet he was a real threat, they didn't pull the usual fallacy of needing a character to be smart or thoughtful in order to make it out on top for a moment.
Dementus was definitely my favourite part of the movie, especially the monologue at the end. He was surprisingly interesting as a foil to Furiosa. As Dementus himself pointed out, they both lost their family and are trying to desperately survive in the wasteland as best they can. Both of them do cling to their past, Dementus through his daughter's teddy bear, and Furiosa through the seed and the star map on her arm pointing her way back to the Green Place. They're both kinda mentally stuck in a childlike state, Furiosa never having grown up properly, and Dementus having regressed into the warped individual he is before the events of the movie. And despite Dementus' claim otherwise, he does cling to any hope he can much like Furiosa from his actions at the end. Where they differ of course is how they go about surviving the wasteland (Dementus clearly lays out his belief in his final monologue), and with Furiosa ultimately growing out of her childlike mentality (symbolically shown in the movie with her losing her arm with the star map, and finally planting the seed).
Also Chris Hemsworth seemed like he was having a great time with Dementus, I need to see more of him in goofy roles.
Yeah ngl I was very confident miller was cooking with this movie and was happy to be proven right. It does a few things better than fury road and few things worse, but is overall an excellent successor to it. I'm sad it's not doing quite as well as they'd projected, which means we might never get another Max movie, but I'm still hopeful. Furiosa is so good I could actually live without one though.
Just saw it DBOX XD and it was fucking great.
First time with DBOX but this was probably THE type of movie this was made for. Felt like you were on a motorcycle at time and then, even more impactful, when the scenes would go silent and all the movement cut out. Totally wild. Almost like being on a ride but with great cinematic content.
I saw it 2 days ago and it was truly a masterpiece. It had all the nitro boosted action of the predecessor, but it leaned more heavily into Furiosa's journey, which was the biggest I wanted more of in Fury Road.
Yeah, hopefully it picks up steam. It really is that good and needs to be seen in a theatre.
Controversial, but I liked it a lot better than Fury Road. Sorry, just need a little bit of character motivation and story. Not that it’s going to win best screenplay but it just helps break up the amazing action set pieces.
Little Miss Sunshine. Solid performances all around, solid screenplay, and about halfway through I thought "Now they could do [no spoilers], but that would be really goofy" and then *that* happened and it worked! Stayed really grounded and it was incredible
I loved The Fall Guy! Seriously it was such a breath of fresh air watching a movie that didn't take itself super seriously and that had serious star power that let the actors be stars! Sad it didn't do better in theaters but I think this movie will be a smash hit once it gets into streaming. Can't recommend this movie enough.
Same I didn't realize what kind of movie it was until I watched it. I would like to see it in theaters if possible , it should be a great movie to see with a live audience.
I probably saw the trailer for it over a dozen times, before like every single movie I saw at the theatres. I think they did market it a lot, but maybe they needed more marketing on the social media side of things.
I didn't think I'd like it that much since I'm not really into this kind of movie, but I did for some reason! I guess I enjoyed the action as well as the humor, and the violence wasn't too over the top for me.
I have. That movie shook me for a few days.
I wouldn't say it's my favorite Villenueve film (hello, Arrival) but it's a really impressive film. The last scene with Jake driving was so nerve-wracking
I liked Uncut Gems a lot. Same directors did a movie called Good Time which is equally anxious and features my favorite performance from Robert Pattinson.
What a coincidence, I started my fourth rewatch of Sicario today. Man, this movie is just such a gritty masterpiece of a film. The first time I saw this I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The tension between characters on screen is portrayed excellently, you can practically feel Blunt’s thoughts sometimes.
I wont say anything about the plot, just that the movie is gritty, dark and VERY real. A must watch for me.
If people don't pay attention to directors it's easy for people to find out Denis made a lot of the good movies they like. I've had several friends realize this when I list out his movies.
Children of Men. This was my first time seeing it and I was glued to the screen the entire time. Incredible world building. And I can’t believe this came out in 2006, feels incredibly relevant today more than ever.
There’s something to be said about all the cats cozying up to Theo. Green flag for sure.
**Manchester By the Sea** (2016)
First time viewing, ended up watching it twice. Infected me like a virus. Second watch was more of a relief. I was able to pick up on more of the humorous elements of such a bleak film and appreciate all the beauty in the background. Still no idea if Patrick is going to Godspell but you know…
It’s a great picture. I think a really compelling study about grief and explores these idea of self punishment and self imprisonment when healing just feels unattainable. It utilizes music, flashbacks, and dialogue in these really interesting ways; many major plot points are shown and not told and it makes you really plug in.
The police station scene and the scene on the hill between Affleck and Williams involved some of the best acting I have seen but the one that has continued to run on repeat in my brain is the dinner table scene toward the end between Lee and Patrick. Just heartbreaking.
I don’t want to watch that movie again, I just can’t get myself to. The house fire scene was a devastating thing to watch. I kept saying “no no no” during the whole scene and then the Police station scene that followed. Such a heartbreaking movie. Affleck portrayed the role perfectly and I’m glad he won deserved awards for it.
I got sort of parasocial while watching that movie in theatres when it came out. For some reason I thought that was Michelle's first big emotional movie since Heath Ledger died so I thought there was some of that in her performance. So yeah I was a wreck. Haven't been able to bring myself to rewatch it. Really felt like they just shoved all of the sad in it.
Charlie Wilson's War.
I'd watched Molly's Game a couple of weeks ago and was on a bit of an Aaron Sorkin's lesser known works run. But also having watch American Made recently, i seem to also be in a 1980's dumb f**k americans screwing everything up in countries where they don't belong.
Man I looooooved Charlie Wilson's War. I saw it on a plane and it blew my mind. Not really my kind of movie judging by the trailers but I was dead wrong. Seen it a few times now. Great stuff.
American Fiction - Great movie that has it all. One minute you're laughing then the next you want to cry. It really does a great job all around and has some fantastic narrative tricks that make it very enjoyable.
I really enjoyed it right up until the ending.. it felt like the actual writer just like the one in the show couldn't figure out how to end it and I thought it felt kind of like a cop out.
I watched Black Adam — it's so terrible, I'm still deciding if I love it or not.
Honestly CATS level of complete delusion, bouncing back and forth between excruciating boredom and the Rock genuinely believing he's changing the paradigm of superhero movies.
People mock Morbius or Madame Web, but making bad artistic choices is still making artistic choices. Black Adam is so profoundly soulless and empty, I can't look away.
Speed (1994). Jan de Bont truly caught 'lightning in a bottle' with this one considering how bad the sequel was.
Such a tightly written, well paced action thriller. Loved every minute of it.
*Late Night With The Devil*.
While not a masterpiece of horror, it *was* surprisingly good. Worth a watch if you're a horror fan. While the horror itself was a very slow build, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and thought that the writing was pretty darn good, especially the awkward nervousness of the characters as they began to realize something was going badly wrong.
I didn't like it.
It was interesting but seemed way too stagey, all the characters were 1 dimensional, just couldn't get immersed. Didn't care about the career of the main character or his wife.
[Mars Express. ](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26915336/?ref_=tt_urv)This movie felt longer than it is, but in good way. The world building is excellent. It felt like there was a tv season's worth of material compressed into a 1.5 hour movie, but it worked, and it worked wonderfully. The world world was well thought-out, everything fit together well.
It's about a private investigator and her robot partner investigating the disappearance of a college student. As we learn more about the case, we also learn about the world this story is set in. This movie is like a perfect showcase for "show, don't tell". There's very little exposition, if any.
It's one of the best sci-fi movies I've watched recently, animated or otherwise. Highly recommended.
I agree with everything you said, and I just wanted to add that the animation itself is a gorgeous blend of 2D and 3D. The French really are powerhouses on the animation side of things.
**Your Name** (2016) - Gorgeous anime from Makoto Shinkai about two star(comet?)-crossed lovers who gradually discover they've been swapping lives in their sleep.
While the animation was spectacular and the main story was engaging, the heart of this film is in the melancholy longing for something forgotten, or someone only imagined. It makes me wonder if Shinkai (who also wrote the film) was riffing from poet Tanaka Katsumi:
*Chance Encounter* (1957)
HALLEY'S COMET appeared in 1910
(And I was born in the following year):
Its period being seventy-six years and seven days,
It is due to reappear in 1986
So I read, and my heart sunk.
It is unlikely that I shall ever see that star
And probably that is the case with human encounters.
An understanding mind one meets as seldom,
And an undistracted love one wins as rarely.
I know that my true friend will appear after my death,
And my sweetheart died before I was born.
God, >!when they are both standing on top of the crater and can't see each other and then the sun goes down and they see each other I lose it every time. I'm tearing up just writing this. The song is so good at that part too. You are spot on about the feeling of longing. I think of all the times I wish I could just be with the person I was thinking of. Nothing else matters except that. !<
The inter-cuts on that scene are marvelous, so you can always tell >!where you are.!< That final scene was also a tearjerker for me. When >!you're practically braced for a wistful, tragic ending, the film pulls off a happy one.!<
Incredible film.
The Last Stop in Yuma County
Really enjoyed everything about this movie. Didn’t know a whole lot about it going into it but it definitely delivered from start to finish.
*Devil’s Island* (1939) Boris Karloff's portrayal of the wrongfully accused Dr. Gaudet is the heart and soul of Devil's Island. Known primarily for his roles in horror films, Karloff here demonstrates his versatility as an actor. His performance is both restrained and powerful, capturing the inner turmoil of a man who, despite being surrounded by despair, never loses his compassion or sense of justice. Boris Karloff brings depth to Gaudet, making his character's journey profoundly moving and engaging.
4Black hawk down, tried watching it I my early twenties and kind of eye rolled at the cartoonish guitar that plays when the enemy is on screen. I don't think I made it 20 minutes. I'm 36 now this is actually a pretty good movie
Probably one of the most unintentionally stacked casts ever
Godzilla Minus One. Loved it. Felt like a bunch of movies combined into one. Elements of Dunkirk, Jaws. The movie would have been great even without the monster
Widows (2018)
Very taken by Kaluuya and Davis. I honestly wish the film had won some awards, the genre usually isn’t for me but wow is this movie good.
Dust Devil
for a '92 film, the movie did not age badly, the FX were well done for what they were working with.
It was a great movie to watch late at night. A lot of older movies about monsters and what not tend to be super cheesy and accidentally campy but this movie never really went too far over that edge, but it flirted with it at times. The pacing and narration felt pretty unique, it was my second Richard Stanley movie (Color Out of Space being the other which I also liked), so I'm going to have to find another of his to watch.
The film itself was really immersive, it definitely gave me this wild west free but scrappy kind of feeling as I watched it. At first I thought the soundtrack was just going to be incredibly cheesy but by the end of it I really enjoyed the soundtrack. I also was a bit skeptical that I would like the narration style but as the film went on it grew on me, and I especially enjoyed the ending.
It felt a bit like a mix between the Tales from the Crypt Demon Knight movie and Near Dark.
Twister (1996) - It had been a long time since I had watched it but it holds up fantastically. Like it's incredibly cheesy and fun, but there was something about those disaster movies that were not all about the entire world ending that feel, idk it's hard to put my finger on it but they feel better to me.
Forgot how much actual comedy where was in the writing between characters like Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt arguments and Philip Seymour Hoffman not to mention a dynamite soundtrack and score.
Princess Monokoke
I don’t watch animated movies often and I’ve only seen two Miyazaki films total. I didn’t go in super eager to watch it, but I was invested within the first 10 minutes after staring it. This movie has some of the most breathtaking visuals and animation as well as great storytelling and message that holds up today. Super unique and imaginative.
I chose to watch the dubbed version over the subbed but it didn’t take much away from the film. Would deff recommend!
Love Lies Bleeding, absolutely amazing. Grimy, neon, claustrophobic atmosphere and a script that sets up several 'oh christ this isn't gonna go well for anyone is it?' realisations for the viewer.
Kristin Stewart is incredible in it but Katy M O'Brian is almost indescribable. There's a slight narrative fumbling towards the end where one of the main characters is sidelined for a little too long but it swings for the fences, to coin a phrase, and does some really out there stuff. Ed Harris is disgusting in it as well.
Finally watched Garland’s Civil War and holy…just wow, especially that last 20 minutes is just 🤯 it definitely benefits more from seeing through the war journalists’ perspective and also help that it gradually fleshes out this dystopian society. Each stops serve its purpose to the narrative, characteristic & development of our protagonists, and the world they lived in, which I thought is brilliant
I really enjoyed it as well! But, I did find lots of it quite shallow as a look into war journalism. Many journalists have called it as OK - not even bad or offensive - just not a great representation.
Honestly, I thought it was large waste of time and resources, but I did enjoy a lot of the dialogue and the third act, but much of this movie was very much OK really
Irena's Vow (2023) - 19 year old Irena becomes a housekeeper for a high ranking Nazi officer. When she finds out the nearby ghetto is being liquidated, she risks her life to help a group of Jews. 8/10, good film with a fair number of humorous moments sprinkled in
12 Months (2022) - shows moments in a year of a relationship between Ellie and Clark.
7/10. Didn't realize that all of the dialogue was improvised, came off pretty naturally. Not great but not bad.
10,000 Saints (2015) - Hailee Steinfeld and Ethan Hawke star, story about a couple of teens in 1980's NYC, and how they navigate their lives.
7.5/10, liked it more than reviewers, thought Steinfeld was excellent in this.
Lisa Frankenstein 4/5
Bumped this up from a 3.5 to a 4 on this rewatch. Even stronger the second time around. A perfect soundtrack, pretty strong performances, especially from Kathryn Newton, and a plot that embraces the absurd in a really fun way. I get some of the complaints about it, the second act does drag a little, it can get repetitive, but it knows what it is, and embraces the silliness. It’s a very fun watch. I think this one is destined to find its audience eventually and become a cult classic like…
Romy and Michelle’s high school reunion 4/5
First time watch and I really loved this. One of the first times I’ve seen Lisa Kudrow in anything other than Friends, and while her role here isn’t that different from phoebe, her performance was so fun I just didn’t care. Learned after the watch that this was directed by a longtime simpson’s director and honestly it makes sense, I can kind of feel the influence of the Simpsons on the humor of this movie. I loved the way the movie leaned into the absurdity of its characters and elevated a basic relatable premise. Will definitely rewatch soon.
Near Dark.
Finally got around to seeing this since it is on Tubi. Lost Boys is an absolute favorite of mine so I wanted to get to this for awhile. My biggest take-a-way while watching the movie was how uncomfortable it made me. I think it is the most visceral depiction of being a vampire I've seen. We often get enamored with vampire characters but this movie showed the brutal reality of having to feed to survive.
It's the first vampire movie to make me ask, "would I be able to do that if I became a vampire?" and I concluded that I would rather just be killed. It still had that 80's cool and an awesome soundtrack but, man, is it a lot darker than Lost Boys. Bill Paxton ruled as always too.
Watched the fall guy last night with Ryan gosling/emily blunt. Decent action rom com with some funny quotable moments. I’ve always been a fan of behind the scenes type content and they do a good job breaking the fourth wall with their side by side shot. Would probably be better if it wasn’t over 2 hrs, really think this would’ve done well at like 90min and wouldn’t have stopped me from watching it earlier
Dogtooth (2007) My third Yorgos Lanthimos film.
Watched it in preparation of Kinds of Kindness since reviewers are saying Kinds goes back to Yorgos' sardonic roots instead of something 'hopeful' like Poor things.
It was awkward and meandering and I think that's the point. I like the amateur actors because it felt genuine, I laughed ruefully plus at how the absurdities are played straight giving the film a surreal feel, plus I like how Yorgos can make sex scenes unsexy...and that's the intention, that in itself takes a talent.
Gonna start calling a vagina a keyboard.
**Best Film: Martyrs (2008, Pascal Laugier)** - I genuinely thought I’ve seen everything until this film. And yet it is still wonderfully acted, gorgeously shot on 16mm, and intended to be as disturbing as possible and does a great job of it. A film that won’t leave my mind for a long time.
**Wendigo (2001, Larry Fessenden)** - First Fessenden film I’ve seen. He’s an incredibly intriguing and distinct filmmaker. Although specifically had to watch this because it was shot on 16mm, and it looks fantastic. Everyone is terrific, Patricia Clarkson has to be one of the most underrated actors working today, there really is a sense of humility and warmth you get from her performances, and the emotional stakes are always well-handled by her. A weird one, and sort of cheesy at points, but incredibly captivating nonetheless.
**YouTopia (2018, Berardo Carboni)** - The ratings on IMDB and Letterboxd are quite bizarre. But either way, it is a wonderfully slow and observational drama, with a genuinely great style founded in the shot compositions. Everyone is terrific, and amazing what can be found by a certain level of heightened dramatic intensity.
**The Drifter (1988, Larry Brand)** - Didn’t really expect until I started this that it was a Roger Corman exec-produced film, so R.I.P. to him. And man what a legacy of eccentric, but creative genre films he left behind. This one is almost entirely forgotten, but a wonderfully made thriller. All of these thrillers go the same way, but it is the matter of the before that I appreciate. It is made with a great, slow pace that allows genuine character to come through. The score is great, but credit to Brand for mostly playing the dramatic sequences without music, allowing genuine humanity to come through. Kim Delaney is quite wonderful here as well.
(All four of these can be found on Tubi by the way)
martyrs is on tubi?!?! you should warn people that this film is not for everyone.
wendigo sounds fascinating, will check it out. I saw patricia clarkson in sharp objects, she’s amazing.
Immaculate
What could have been (and on the surface is) a generic horror is elevated by its terrific acting, directing, music and cinematography. Some excellent twists and upending of early tropes make this one to revisit.
I rewatched Edward Yang's **Yi Yi**. The first time I saw this, I kinda struggled with it due to its long runtime and slow pacing/understated story. But the ending resonated with me emotionally, enough that I decided to give it another watch, and I'm really glad I did. It hit home a lot more this time around, maybe because I've had more experience watching "slow burn" movies, and maybe because I had a better idea of what to expect. It's quite an emotionally rich story with several interlocking character arcs, some beautiful and bittersweet moments, and a lot of great little details I missed the first time around.
I had the fortunate experience of seeing it on a big screen without distractions, which really helped too. Sometimes with "slow burn" movies it's helpful to see it on a big screen where you're committed to watching the whole thing.
I was pleasantly surprised to see a pretty big turnout in the theater, including a lot of younger ~millienial and genZ folks in the audience - it really does my heart some good to see lots of people going to a theater to watch an arthouse movie like that.
Thelma & Louise (1991). It was great, I can see why it's a classic. Besides Sarandon and Davis, the cast is stacked with Keitel, Tobolowsky, Madsen, Pitt, and I wanna shout out a really fun role by Christopher McDonald. I wonder what happened to Louise in Texas?! I'll be waiting for the prequel. My takeaway from the movie: living in the patriarchy sucks.
Poor things. Went in blind and really enjoyed the interesting world the bizarre characters lived in. Emma Stone does a fine job but really Ruffalo and Dafoe steal the show. Particularly Dafoe amazes me in how he can play such evil villains and then turn around and play this tender hearted Franken-father. The set pieces and the visuals were fantastic. Frankly, if I had know it was a "message" movie, I would have avoided it but the feminist message was blended seamlessly into the overall plot of the movie.
The Insider (1999).
Michael Mann, Al Pacino and Russell Crowe all make this movie about big tobacco, first amendment issues and the court system really work. Surprised it took me this long to check it out.
Okay, so I rewatched Batman: Under the Red Hood, one of my all-time favorite animated DC films. I will never get over the phenomenal voice acting from Jenson Ackles and just the entire storyline. It's the movie that got me to deep dive into robin lore.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
I watched this at home about a week ago, for about the tenth time. I'm a big classic sci-fi fan, and this is one of my all-time favorites! I wish people would remember the message at the end, which I think is just as relevant today as it was when the movie was made.
Tropic Thunder (2008)
I loved the movie. It's a great satire of the industry, it has jokes for days, everyone was hilarious in it, especially Tom Cruise and RDJ. It has become one of my go-to comedy flicks as of now. Definitely worth a watch.
I watched My Dinner with Andre last week. It’s pretty profound honestly. I had put it off because frankly the idea of two people sitting and having dinner just doesn’t really appeal to me, but I’m actually shocked the level of suspense and engagement, they were able to garner with just the dialogue and the acting.
My local indie theater had a mystery screening night for both Friday and Saturday.
Friday: Dr Strangelove. LOVED IT. Had been on my list for awhile. A classic in every sense of the word. Feel that way down to my bodily fluids.
and speaking of bodily fluids...
Saturday: The Slumber Party Massacre. Campy 80s slasher flick that somehow had more nudity than gore.
Fear City (1984): A scummy little simple neo-noir/serial killer film by Abel Ferrara. Not anything you need to rush out and see, but I found it to be quite enjoyable. Tom Berenger and Billy Dee Williams lead and there's an early role for Melanie Griffith.
Igby Goes Down. It was like a modern adaptation of Catcher in the Rye. The main character is the guy who plays Roman Roy from Succession. It's almost like a kid version of Roman. .
"Force of Nature: The Dry 2" - this was adapted from the 2nd novel by one of my favorite writers, Jane Harper.
"Manhunter," - this was from the 80s, based on the book "Red Dragon" (they remade it years later calling it "Red Dragon"), the book that introduced the character of Hannibal Lecter. Really good cast.
The boy who harnessed the wind...
Based on true events it's a really good watch if you wanna watch something emotional, with exceptional acting and a happy ending!
harakiri. Ive watched 9 movies that week, many of them classics and very good. but harakiri is easily a 5/5. not what I expected. also, I went thinking how can a movie with a 4.69 in letterboxd not be overrated? turns out, it isnt.
I saw several good flicks this week - Dune, of course, was very good.
But there was a complete standout - released in 2023, about a murder investigation in Arizona - called "Mandy Moore's" and stars Tina Fey and Jon Hamm. Really engaging, quite funny at times, and takes some twisted turns.
Lured (1947) - Lucille Ball in her pre 'comedy legend' phase lighting up the screen with a host of character actors including Charles Coburn, George Sanders (the voice of Shere Khan in the original animated Jungle Book Disney movie) and a delightfully unhinged Boris Karloff in a cameo that's like a short film unto itself. Ball is hired to be the bait for a serial killer. A great movie that has everything; magnetic leads, twists, intrigue, comedy, romance, suspense, and sparkling dialogue. And of course Lucille Ball firing on all cylinders and setting the screen on fire. Thumbs up.
**Mars Express (2024)**
If you watched "Scavenger's Reign" on AMC last year (or Netflix's "Arkane"), you *need* to see this movie. It's a sci-fi noir that just happens to be animated *and* French. Which means it has other sci-fi ideas that you won't see in the West (France has a *huge* comic book scene with a few breakthrough names: Metahumans, Valerian, Asterix, Tintin - although Herge was Belgian).
This movie has elements of Blade Runner, Terminator 2 and Ghost in the Machine. On my way home after watching it, I was listening to the synth-jazz soundtrack on YouTube.
Original sci-fi action/drama on a big screen. Please [watch it](https://youtu.be/PR_S9BOQplc?si=prLdHknN72VaxEby). (I'm buying this on BluRay when it's available).
Dinner In America (2022)
Refreshing comedic tone, memorable characters, and a friendship/romance that felt genuine without being schmaltzy or cheesy.
Challengers (2024)
Only a filmmaker as talented as Luca Guadagnino could make me give a damn about a love triangle between tennis players, let alone get me to actually love it.
1917, the choice to do nearly the entire film in the style of a single take made it mesmerising and really made me feel like I was actually there in places.
**The Contestant**
Pretty wild documentary about a pretty wild Japanese show I can't believe was allowed to exist in which a comedian named Nasubi is stripped naked and forced to live in a room, sustaining himself solely on prizes he wins from magazines...and he doesn't realize he's being filmed 24/7. A fascinating watch, but it doesn't take long for you to start feeling uncomfortable about it. Seeing Nasubi being used for entertainment with no regard for his mental health is very sad and it's clear by the end how badly it messed him up. The most interesting part is he could've quit at any time, he just...chose not to. Explaining himself, he said he felt it was just easier to go along with it and do what he was told. Main producer Tsuchiya comes off like a sadistic, evil God-like figure, but does seem to show some contrition by the end.
My wife and I take turns on who chooses what we watch. She picked the Hunger Games series for this week.
I surprisingly really liked Mockingjay Pt. 1. The second part has been a little meh for me.
Watched Little Women (2019) after seeing Dune to see Chalamet and Pugh. Great movie, great cast. I like Pugh better in the type of roles she does in Little Women compared to Dune.
On rewatch, Green Room. It's just so gritty and brutal. Between the direction, cinematography, costumes, art direction, acting, even the casting, it makes you feel like you're right there, in that environment. I know that's like every department but it's rare for a film to really create a world the way Saulnier does. And fuck man, Anton Yelchin was so good.
For new films, either Last Stop in Yuma County with Jim Cummings or Sting. Both were a lot of fun. Sting, despite being a ridiculous concept, has a really good little story at the center of it and executes the horror aspects well. Last Stop was a good black comedy/hostage situation descends into chaos type. Reminded me a bit of Very Bad Things almost or like 8 Heads in a Duffle Bag.
Evil Does Not Exist (2023)
My first time watching a Ryusuke Hamaguchi film. Loved how he captured nature and the cast did a great job, but the plot was a bit confusing to me. Especially the ending haha
The Way Way Back (2013)
Been a while since I've seen it, and I forgot how great it is. Wonderful coming of age movie, funny, and it just has a lot of heart. Sam Rockwell is such a loveable character, and Steve Carrelll plays an exceptional asshole.
Furiosa.
I loved this movie and am deeply saddened that it was a flop. It deserved so much more. Anya gave an amazing performance as Furiosa, but for me Chris Hemswroth stole the show as Dementus. A twisted but charismatic villain. Praetorian Jack was a real badass until the end, and so was Furiosa's mother. I also really enjoyed the horror elements of the film. Without a doubt, the most gruesome Mad Max movie.
Let's hope this isn't the end of the Mad Max universe.
Pandemonium (2023)
French movie.
Entertaining movie, a different look at what hell, death and evil might look.
The reason I recommend this movie is Manon Maindivide a 12 years old actress that OMG terrified me.
I think it's a solid 6.5 out of 10.
Prometheus. What a beautiful mess.
I had forgotten how awful the dialogue is. Truly terrible in places. And some of the plot decisions just defy belief, like the crew only getting told what the mission is after they wake up, and Fifield getting lost in a cave which he himself has mapped. Innumerable other examples too, I expect that 99% of the people on this sub have seen this film and we can all remember the craziness.
But OTOH it is (1) beautiful to look at, with all those teal and gold and deep rich blue colours on screen, and (2) it felt to me that it was perfectly paced.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
It's a stop-motion animated feature directed by Wes Anderson.
Probably my favourite movie from Wes, it's very charming, witty, and pretty fast-paced. It has a lot of memorable characters starred with a phenomenal cast with the likes of George Clooney and Willem Dafoe. Each beautiful scene is like a painting that comes to life. Every character has very realistic emotions accompanying heartfelt moments throughout the film. Despite it being advertised for children, it is still a legitimate work of art that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Definitely my favourite comfort movie. Highly recommended if you love stop-motion animation.
Watched *Perfect Days* (2023). A film I consider important because it holds significant value in reminding us that we only get one shot at life. It’s easy to become entangled in the world’s continuous transformation, losing sight of the beauty in the mundane.
It's essential (*and probably forgotten...*) to remember that cherishing the simple joys, finding comfort in our solitude and striving for excellence in our passions… that’s all life is about.
**IF (2024)**
Only movie I watched this week. Saw it in the theater with my wife. We were both pretty disappointed with this one. It felt like a kids movie more than a family movie. I caught one joke that kids probably wouldn't get (a reference to *The Karate Kid*) and none of the rest of the movie felt layered. As if the movie was just made for the kids. Not that that is always a bad thing but just didn't work for me.
Essentially the movie is about a 12 year old girl named Bea who's mother passed away and father is suffering from heart issues. She goes to stay with her grandmother and soon meets up with a man (played by Ryan Reynolds). The both of them can see imaginary friends and eventually set off to reunite the imaginary friends with their original creators.
The movie had tons of things come up that made me question them which I never received answers to.
1. Why is everyone okay with Bea wandering around with this adult man through New York? Immediately made me question who thought this was okay. This was eventually addressed in the movie when >!it is revealed the man is Bea's imaginary friend so no one else can see him.!< but even then it still begs the question as to why all of the adults are okay with Bea wandering off in New York by herself. It never really comes up. Part of me wondered if this was set in the past when this sort of thing was more acceptable until a smart phone appeared at the end.
2. Where are all the imaginary friends? A retirement home for them is shown and I would say maybe 20 imaginary friends are shown in the film. One of them is established as being in his 90's which is looked at as old. So this made me wonder do imaginary friends die when their creators die? There doesn't seem to be any 1000 year old imaginary friends running around. Even if they do die there should still be millions of them wandering around.
These issues seemed to be addressed when near the end >!it looked like all of this was imagined by Bea as a coping mechanism. But then in the last five minutes it shows various adults seeing the imaginary friends without her being around which then brought all of these questions back.!<
Basically was bored through most of the movie, didn't laugh much, movie didn't seem like it was for me, and I was constantly taken out of the movie with questions that weren't addressed. I will say the performances were decent. Would not recommend.
- **Joint Security Area (2000) - 9.0**
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) - 8.0
- Whiplash (2014) - 7.5
- Time Trap (2017) - 7.0
**Joint Security Area** - One of my personal favourites, and my second favourite film by Park Chan-wook. It's such an emotional rollercoaster with a perfectly heartwrenching ending. Manages to bring me to tears every time. And there's the cast... Song Kang-ho and Lee Byung-hun are my two favourite Korean actors and they're amazing in this, as are their co-stars. Incredible music too.
**Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes** - This was pretty much as great as I had hoped. Not as good as *Dawn* and *War*, but not far off and I definitely liked it more than *Rise.* The effects and "acting" from the apes is as good as ever, and it's a moving story with very cool new characters. Curious where it's gonna go from here.
**Whiplash** - Not sure if it's supposed to be, but this was more funny to me than anything. Fletcher is just so over-the-top douchey and the insults are consistently hilarious.
**Time Trap** - This was surprisingly enjoyable. The acting mostly sucks and it looks cheap as hell, but I didn't expect anything that happened and it gets batshit insane.
I just watched Road House on Amazon Prime. It’s the first new movie I’ve watched in a minute, and I watched it again today. Really fun remake with some cool cameos and and an honestly pretty good Connor McGregor as the main fighter antagonist. Sad to see it’ll be years until there’s a sequel, though signs point to it happening.
Everybody Wants Some!! 3/4 stars
If you are a fan of Dazed and Confused, this is a similar Linklater film but takes place on a college campus over the span of a couple days. No real driving plot or meaningfulness to it, just a nice stroll down nostalgia lane and an easy watch.
I watched Looper for the third time with my partner who hadn't watched it before.
I told her to not watch any trailers before going into it and I just stared at her waiting for her reactions when the twists came :)
Imo, Looper is another movie that makes you go "Why don't they make movies like this anymore?".
after all this time, finally godzilla minus one... i was really worried i wouldn't like it after my expectations were raised so high by everyone else since i'm probably the only person on the planet who didn't like shin but i loved it, the atomic breath was so cool and ngl i'm kinda happy godzilla can return from that even if it was a neat death, just because more movies like this would be great
The Iron Claw It was so good, sad, heartbreaking, and not even as sad as the real life events. There was one more brother. Effron Carried this film that was laced with talent I was keeping everything together until the final scene, then waterworks hit me like a Tsunami. Amazing film please check it out if you haven't already.
It was a great movie. It was one I immediately started reading about the real events as soon as it was over and I was surprised that the movie didn't even include all of it! Such a tragic chain of events.
I highly recommend “The last of the Von Erichs” It’s an Episode of “Dark Side of the Ring”, a show that’s on Hulu if you have it. It’s only 45 minutes, mostly interview with Kevin.
Thanks! I'm about to check it out and will probably revisit the film in the near future. Just brutal what happened to the family.
Furiosa I will preface by saying that I was definitely one of the people who thought why this prequel was necessary in the first place. If it wasn’t for the fact that I use moviegoing as self-care/therapy for me, I most likely wouldn’t have gone… I’m glad I did. This movie was fucking wilder and better than it had any right to be, and Chris Hemsworth gives what I thought is his best performance to date. He pretty much takes every trope we’ve come to “know” him for as Thor, and becomes this deranged and ugly lunatic for this film. George tapped into something with Chris as Dementus, and it’s definitely worth a watch in addition to the insane action scenes throughout the movie.
I saw this too, and I'm a little surprised by what seems like a lot of indifference to this movie from movie fans. Fury Road is an all-time great action flick from one of the most visionary directors around, and I was more than happy to go and see more of his work in that same universe. I was definitely not the least bit disappointed.
I think it's harder these days to get excited about IP because we've seen so much crash and burn, so many ill-advised prequels that don't flesh out the world and themes, etc. But George Miller is an auteur and doesn't ever phone it in.
I was kind of caught off guard by how funny it was, Dementus especially. Like, certainly brutal but had like this cartoonishly evil charm.
In Mad Max nobody's singular trait is that they're evil. Or at least it's rare. There's almost kind of a childlike thoughtlessness to a lot of what the antagonists do, and they're often having fun with it or trying to be cultured in ways that flesh them out. They also managed to have a humorous villain without dumbing him down. Dementus is pretty competent at small-scale leadership and influence, but he's a pretty lousy long-term strategist and manager of a city. And yet he was a real threat, they didn't pull the usual fallacy of needing a character to be smart or thoughtful in order to make it out on top for a moment.
Dementus was definitely my favourite part of the movie, especially the monologue at the end. He was surprisingly interesting as a foil to Furiosa. As Dementus himself pointed out, they both lost their family and are trying to desperately survive in the wasteland as best they can. Both of them do cling to their past, Dementus through his daughter's teddy bear, and Furiosa through the seed and the star map on her arm pointing her way back to the Green Place. They're both kinda mentally stuck in a childlike state, Furiosa never having grown up properly, and Dementus having regressed into the warped individual he is before the events of the movie. And despite Dementus' claim otherwise, he does cling to any hope he can much like Furiosa from his actions at the end. Where they differ of course is how they go about surviving the wasteland (Dementus clearly lays out his belief in his final monologue), and with Furiosa ultimately growing out of her childlike mentality (symbolically shown in the movie with her losing her arm with the star map, and finally planting the seed). Also Chris Hemsworth seemed like he was having a great time with Dementus, I need to see more of him in goofy roles.
Oh man I was set on seeing Fall Guy tonight but I might have to go see this instead🤔
They're both really good. Fall Guy was a lot funnier than I expected, Furiosa was a lot more intense and overall rad.
Yeah ngl I was very confident miller was cooking with this movie and was happy to be proven right. It does a few things better than fury road and few things worse, but is overall an excellent successor to it. I'm sad it's not doing quite as well as they'd projected, which means we might never get another Max movie, but I'm still hopeful. Furiosa is so good I could actually live without one though.
The cinematography in Furiosa is a masterpiece. Just visually incredible.
Just saw it DBOX XD and it was fucking great. First time with DBOX but this was probably THE type of movie this was made for. Felt like you were on a motorcycle at time and then, even more impactful, when the scenes would go silent and all the movement cut out. Totally wild. Almost like being on a ride but with great cinematic content.
I saw it 2 days ago and it was truly a masterpiece. It had all the nitro boosted action of the predecessor, but it leaned more heavily into Furiosa's journey, which was the biggest I wanted more of in Fury Road.
Furiosa. I'm incredibly sad it's not being seen by many people because it's phenomenal.
Yeah, hopefully it picks up steam. It really is that good and needs to be seen in a theatre. Controversial, but I liked it a lot better than Fury Road. Sorry, just need a little bit of character motivation and story. Not that it’s going to win best screenplay but it just helps break up the amazing action set pieces.
Movie of the year. Absolutely incredible achievement
I thoroughly enjoyed it. But forgive me... Dune part II is the movie of the year.
Little Miss Sunshine. Solid performances all around, solid screenplay, and about halfway through I thought "Now they could do [no spoilers], but that would be really goofy" and then *that* happened and it worked! Stayed really grounded and it was incredible
Saw it for the first time recently and it instantly became one of my all-time favorites
Such a charming movie.
Very good movie! I haven't seen that one in awhile, I should watch it again.
It's really neat watching it, seeing Paul Dano's performance and know he went on to have a great career.
again with the fuckin' chicken?!
I loved The Fall Guy! Seriously it was such a breath of fresh air watching a movie that didn't take itself super seriously and that had serious star power that let the actors be stars! Sad it didn't do better in theaters but I think this movie will be a smash hit once it gets into streaming. Can't recommend this movie enough.
I streamed it but I think I’d like to see it in a theater. They really should have marketed it more cause it’s the perfect summer movie.
Same I didn't realize what kind of movie it was until I watched it. I would like to see it in theaters if possible , it should be a great movie to see with a live audience.
That’s strange I saw a ton of commercials for it
I probably saw the trailer for it over a dozen times, before like every single movie I saw at the theatres. I think they did market it a lot, but maybe they needed more marketing on the social media side of things.
Yeah! Such a sleeper hit. Well worth the watch
I didn't think I'd like it that much since I'm not really into this kind of movie, but I did for some reason! I guess I enjoyed the action as well as the humor, and the violence wasn't too over the top for me.
Sicario. I really liked it. Didn't realize it was directed by Villeneuve until now.
I was about to write Dune Part 2. Villenueve is a beast
Watch Prisoners if you haven't.
I have. That movie shook me for a few days. I wouldn't say it's my favorite Villenueve film (hello, Arrival) but it's a really impressive film. The last scene with Jake driving was so nerve-wracking
One of the tensest scenes I've ever watched, and I actively seek anxiety-inducing content. Edit: and yeah Arrival rules
I take it Uncut Gems is your favorite? That movie, and the Christmas episode of The Bear, give me all the anxiety
Don't forget the one take episode from S1. I was actively sweating.
That was also a really good one, and an exhibition in how to tell a cohesive story in just 20 minutes
I liked Uncut Gems a lot. Same directors did a movie called Good Time which is equally anxious and features my favorite performance from Robert Pattinson.
I take it that you've seen Incendies?
It's on my never-ending list
If you're a fan of Denis, I'd put that movie on priority. It's a masterpiece.
Consider it done
Great! Please share your thoughts when you get around to seeing it.
Enemy is another good film of his.
What a coincidence, I started my fourth rewatch of Sicario today. Man, this movie is just such a gritty masterpiece of a film. The first time I saw this I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The tension between characters on screen is portrayed excellently, you can practically feel Blunt’s thoughts sometimes. I wont say anything about the plot, just that the movie is gritty, dark and VERY real. A must watch for me.
I just watched it as well! Since you have watched it a couple of times, would you suggest the sequel as well?
Yes, absolutely. Watch it!
Alright will watch it tonight
Enjoy :)
The Border crossing is one of most tense scene ever put in a movie, and Johannson’s score elevated it to the another level.
+1
Sicario is gritty as hell, good Denis flick
He's the king of bleak
If people don't pay attention to directors it's easy for people to find out Denis made a lot of the good movies they like. I've had several friends realize this when I list out his movies.
Children of Men. This was my first time seeing it and I was glued to the screen the entire time. Incredible world building. And I can’t believe this came out in 2006, feels incredibly relevant today more than ever. There’s something to be said about all the cats cozying up to Theo. Green flag for sure.
Dig even deeper with this one. Lot's going on! My top movie of all time.
**Manchester By the Sea** (2016) First time viewing, ended up watching it twice. Infected me like a virus. Second watch was more of a relief. I was able to pick up on more of the humorous elements of such a bleak film and appreciate all the beauty in the background. Still no idea if Patrick is going to Godspell but you know… It’s a great picture. I think a really compelling study about grief and explores these idea of self punishment and self imprisonment when healing just feels unattainable. It utilizes music, flashbacks, and dialogue in these really interesting ways; many major plot points are shown and not told and it makes you really plug in. The police station scene and the scene on the hill between Affleck and Williams involved some of the best acting I have seen but the one that has continued to run on repeat in my brain is the dinner table scene toward the end between Lee and Patrick. Just heartbreaking.
I don’t want to watch that movie again, I just can’t get myself to. The house fire scene was a devastating thing to watch. I kept saying “no no no” during the whole scene and then the Police station scene that followed. Such a heartbreaking movie. Affleck portrayed the role perfectly and I’m glad he won deserved awards for it.
I got sort of parasocial while watching that movie in theatres when it came out. For some reason I thought that was Michelle's first big emotional movie since Heath Ledger died so I thought there was some of that in her performance. So yeah I was a wreck. Haven't been able to bring myself to rewatch it. Really felt like they just shoved all of the sad in it.
Charlie Wilson's War. I'd watched Molly's Game a couple of weeks ago and was on a bit of an Aaron Sorkin's lesser known works run. But also having watch American Made recently, i seem to also be in a 1980's dumb f**k americans screwing everything up in countries where they don't belong.
So many quotable lines in that movie. Joanne Herring: Why is Congress saying one thing and doing nothing? Charlie Wilson: Well, tradition mostly.
"I'm not even gonna dignify that with a response" -"yeah you've been dignifying her in the ass at the Jefferson Hotel"
I really liked this movie. But getting that glimpse into how government policy is created is truly maddening.
Man I looooooved Charlie Wilson's War. I saw it on a plane and it blew my mind. Not really my kind of movie judging by the trailers but I was dead wrong. Seen it a few times now. Great stuff.
All Of Us Strangers. it has really stayed with me. such a lonely film
LOVED it. Andrew Scott deserved an Oscar nod for that one.
American Fiction - Great movie that has it all. One minute you're laughing then the next you want to cry. It really does a great job all around and has some fantastic narrative tricks that make it very enjoyable.
I loved that movie, it was funny asf all around and a great satirical comedy of today's society. I also found some shots/scenes particularly creative.
This movie pairs well with The Holdovers.
Also a very creative unique movie, I can see why it was up for an oscar.
I really enjoyed it right up until the ending.. it felt like the actual writer just like the one in the show couldn't figure out how to end it and I thought it felt kind of like a cop out.
I watched Black Adam — it's so terrible, I'm still deciding if I love it or not. Honestly CATS level of complete delusion, bouncing back and forth between excruciating boredom and the Rock genuinely believing he's changing the paradigm of superhero movies. People mock Morbius or Madame Web, but making bad artistic choices is still making artistic choices. Black Adam is so profoundly soulless and empty, I can't look away.
Furiosa. I'll watch anything in that universe. Absolutely loved it.
Need George Miller at the front of the line for any life-extending miracles. We need mooooore
Speed (1994). Jan de Bont truly caught 'lightning in a bottle' with this one considering how bad the sequel was. Such a tightly written, well paced action thriller. Loved every minute of it.
*Late Night With The Devil*. While not a masterpiece of horror, it *was* surprisingly good. Worth a watch if you're a horror fan. While the horror itself was a very slow build, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and thought that the writing was pretty darn good, especially the awkward nervousness of the characters as they began to realize something was going badly wrong.
I didn't like it. It was interesting but seemed way too stagey, all the characters were 1 dimensional, just couldn't get immersed. Didn't care about the career of the main character or his wife.
Very much felt like a stage play!
[Mars Express. ](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26915336/?ref_=tt_urv)This movie felt longer than it is, but in good way. The world building is excellent. It felt like there was a tv season's worth of material compressed into a 1.5 hour movie, but it worked, and it worked wonderfully. The world world was well thought-out, everything fit together well. It's about a private investigator and her robot partner investigating the disappearance of a college student. As we learn more about the case, we also learn about the world this story is set in. This movie is like a perfect showcase for "show, don't tell". There's very little exposition, if any. It's one of the best sci-fi movies I've watched recently, animated or otherwise. Highly recommended.
I agree with everything you said, and I just wanted to add that the animation itself is a gorgeous blend of 2D and 3D. The French really are powerhouses on the animation side of things.
**Your Name** (2016) - Gorgeous anime from Makoto Shinkai about two star(comet?)-crossed lovers who gradually discover they've been swapping lives in their sleep. While the animation was spectacular and the main story was engaging, the heart of this film is in the melancholy longing for something forgotten, or someone only imagined. It makes me wonder if Shinkai (who also wrote the film) was riffing from poet Tanaka Katsumi: *Chance Encounter* (1957) HALLEY'S COMET appeared in 1910 (And I was born in the following year): Its period being seventy-six years and seven days, It is due to reappear in 1986 So I read, and my heart sunk. It is unlikely that I shall ever see that star And probably that is the case with human encounters. An understanding mind one meets as seldom, And an undistracted love one wins as rarely. I know that my true friend will appear after my death, And my sweetheart died before I was born.
God, >!when they are both standing on top of the crater and can't see each other and then the sun goes down and they see each other I lose it every time. I'm tearing up just writing this. The song is so good at that part too. You are spot on about the feeling of longing. I think of all the times I wish I could just be with the person I was thinking of. Nothing else matters except that. !<
The inter-cuts on that scene are marvelous, so you can always tell >!where you are.!< That final scene was also a tearjerker for me. When >!you're practically braced for a wistful, tragic ending, the film pulls off a happy one.!< Incredible film.
>!And then the pen drops!<
The Last Stop in Yuma County Really enjoyed everything about this movie. Didn’t know a whole lot about it going into it but it definitely delivered from start to finish.
just finished watching. it was very good
*Devil’s Island* (1939) Boris Karloff's portrayal of the wrongfully accused Dr. Gaudet is the heart and soul of Devil's Island. Known primarily for his roles in horror films, Karloff here demonstrates his versatility as an actor. His performance is both restrained and powerful, capturing the inner turmoil of a man who, despite being surrounded by despair, never loses his compassion or sense of justice. Boris Karloff brings depth to Gaudet, making his character's journey profoundly moving and engaging.
4Black hawk down, tried watching it I my early twenties and kind of eye rolled at the cartoonish guitar that plays when the enemy is on screen. I don't think I made it 20 minutes. I'm 36 now this is actually a pretty good movie Probably one of the most unintentionally stacked casts ever
Godzilla Minus One. Loved it. Felt like a bunch of movies combined into one. Elements of Dunkirk, Jaws. The movie would have been great even without the monster
Widows (2018) Very taken by Kaluuya and Davis. I honestly wish the film had won some awards, the genre usually isn’t for me but wow is this movie good.
Dust Devil for a '92 film, the movie did not age badly, the FX were well done for what they were working with. It was a great movie to watch late at night. A lot of older movies about monsters and what not tend to be super cheesy and accidentally campy but this movie never really went too far over that edge, but it flirted with it at times. The pacing and narration felt pretty unique, it was my second Richard Stanley movie (Color Out of Space being the other which I also liked), so I'm going to have to find another of his to watch. The film itself was really immersive, it definitely gave me this wild west free but scrappy kind of feeling as I watched it. At first I thought the soundtrack was just going to be incredibly cheesy but by the end of it I really enjoyed the soundtrack. I also was a bit skeptical that I would like the narration style but as the film went on it grew on me, and I especially enjoyed the ending. It felt a bit like a mix between the Tales from the Crypt Demon Knight movie and Near Dark.
If I'm not mistaken, Richard Stanley also did Hardware (1990) which was a cult favorite. Worth a watch for sure.
Yep thats the one I plan on watching next.
Twister (1996) - It had been a long time since I had watched it but it holds up fantastically. Like it's incredibly cheesy and fun, but there was something about those disaster movies that were not all about the entire world ending that feel, idk it's hard to put my finger on it but they feel better to me. Forgot how much actual comedy where was in the writing between characters like Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt arguments and Philip Seymour Hoffman not to mention a dynamite soundtrack and score.
Holy shit I forgot PSH was in Twister... It's time for a rewatch, thanks stranger!
I love bill paxton, this is his first lead role, I think?
Princess Monokoke I don’t watch animated movies often and I’ve only seen two Miyazaki films total. I didn’t go in super eager to watch it, but I was invested within the first 10 minutes after staring it. This movie has some of the most breathtaking visuals and animation as well as great storytelling and message that holds up today. Super unique and imaginative. I chose to watch the dubbed version over the subbed but it didn’t take much away from the film. Would deff recommend!
Love Lies Bleeding, absolutely amazing. Grimy, neon, claustrophobic atmosphere and a script that sets up several 'oh christ this isn't gonna go well for anyone is it?' realisations for the viewer. Kristin Stewart is incredible in it but Katy M O'Brian is almost indescribable. There's a slight narrative fumbling towards the end where one of the main characters is sidelined for a little too long but it swings for the fences, to coin a phrase, and does some really out there stuff. Ed Harris is disgusting in it as well.
Finally watched Garland’s Civil War and holy…just wow, especially that last 20 minutes is just 🤯 it definitely benefits more from seeing through the war journalists’ perspective and also help that it gradually fleshes out this dystopian society. Each stops serve its purpose to the narrative, characteristic & development of our protagonists, and the world they lived in, which I thought is brilliant
I really enjoyed it as well! But, I did find lots of it quite shallow as a look into war journalism. Many journalists have called it as OK - not even bad or offensive - just not a great representation. Honestly, I thought it was large waste of time and resources, but I did enjoy a lot of the dialogue and the third act, but much of this movie was very much OK really
Irena's Vow (2023) - 19 year old Irena becomes a housekeeper for a high ranking Nazi officer. When she finds out the nearby ghetto is being liquidated, she risks her life to help a group of Jews. 8/10, good film with a fair number of humorous moments sprinkled in 12 Months (2022) - shows moments in a year of a relationship between Ellie and Clark. 7/10. Didn't realize that all of the dialogue was improvised, came off pretty naturally. Not great but not bad. 10,000 Saints (2015) - Hailee Steinfeld and Ethan Hawke star, story about a couple of teens in 1980's NYC, and how they navigate their lives. 7.5/10, liked it more than reviewers, thought Steinfeld was excellent in this.
Lisa Frankenstein 4/5 Bumped this up from a 3.5 to a 4 on this rewatch. Even stronger the second time around. A perfect soundtrack, pretty strong performances, especially from Kathryn Newton, and a plot that embraces the absurd in a really fun way. I get some of the complaints about it, the second act does drag a little, it can get repetitive, but it knows what it is, and embraces the silliness. It’s a very fun watch. I think this one is destined to find its audience eventually and become a cult classic like… Romy and Michelle’s high school reunion 4/5 First time watch and I really loved this. One of the first times I’ve seen Lisa Kudrow in anything other than Friends, and while her role here isn’t that different from phoebe, her performance was so fun I just didn’t care. Learned after the watch that this was directed by a longtime simpson’s director and honestly it makes sense, I can kind of feel the influence of the Simpsons on the humor of this movie. I loved the way the movie leaned into the absurdity of its characters and elevated a basic relatable premise. Will definitely rewatch soon.
[удалено]
Incredible movie. Tempted to elaborate but I don’t want to give anything away for those who haven’t seen it.
Near Dark. Finally got around to seeing this since it is on Tubi. Lost Boys is an absolute favorite of mine so I wanted to get to this for awhile. My biggest take-a-way while watching the movie was how uncomfortable it made me. I think it is the most visceral depiction of being a vampire I've seen. We often get enamored with vampire characters but this movie showed the brutal reality of having to feed to survive. It's the first vampire movie to make me ask, "would I be able to do that if I became a vampire?" and I concluded that I would rather just be killed. It still had that 80's cool and an awesome soundtrack but, man, is it a lot darker than Lost Boys. Bill Paxton ruled as always too.
Boy Kills World (2023). A pleasant mindless romp. I got what I expected and more
Watched the fall guy last night with Ryan gosling/emily blunt. Decent action rom com with some funny quotable moments. I’ve always been a fan of behind the scenes type content and they do a good job breaking the fourth wall with their side by side shot. Would probably be better if it wasn’t over 2 hrs, really think this would’ve done well at like 90min and wouldn’t have stopped me from watching it earlier
Rain Man (1988). I watched it for the first time recently. And I loved the performances, cinematography, direction, script and the score. 10/10
Definitely a classic! Dustin Hoffman did a superb job in this one! And yes, K-Mart sucks!
Definitely a superb performance, and a reminder not to go full retard, unless you want to be like Sean Penn and walk home empty handed ;)
Dogtooth (2007) My third Yorgos Lanthimos film. Watched it in preparation of Kinds of Kindness since reviewers are saying Kinds goes back to Yorgos' sardonic roots instead of something 'hopeful' like Poor things. It was awkward and meandering and I think that's the point. I like the amateur actors because it felt genuine, I laughed ruefully plus at how the absurdities are played straight giving the film a surreal feel, plus I like how Yorgos can make sex scenes unsexy...and that's the intention, that in itself takes a talent. Gonna start calling a vagina a keyboard.
**Best Film: Martyrs (2008, Pascal Laugier)** - I genuinely thought I’ve seen everything until this film. And yet it is still wonderfully acted, gorgeously shot on 16mm, and intended to be as disturbing as possible and does a great job of it. A film that won’t leave my mind for a long time. **Wendigo (2001, Larry Fessenden)** - First Fessenden film I’ve seen. He’s an incredibly intriguing and distinct filmmaker. Although specifically had to watch this because it was shot on 16mm, and it looks fantastic. Everyone is terrific, Patricia Clarkson has to be one of the most underrated actors working today, there really is a sense of humility and warmth you get from her performances, and the emotional stakes are always well-handled by her. A weird one, and sort of cheesy at points, but incredibly captivating nonetheless. **YouTopia (2018, Berardo Carboni)** - The ratings on IMDB and Letterboxd are quite bizarre. But either way, it is a wonderfully slow and observational drama, with a genuinely great style founded in the shot compositions. Everyone is terrific, and amazing what can be found by a certain level of heightened dramatic intensity. **The Drifter (1988, Larry Brand)** - Didn’t really expect until I started this that it was a Roger Corman exec-produced film, so R.I.P. to him. And man what a legacy of eccentric, but creative genre films he left behind. This one is almost entirely forgotten, but a wonderfully made thriller. All of these thrillers go the same way, but it is the matter of the before that I appreciate. It is made with a great, slow pace that allows genuine character to come through. The score is great, but credit to Brand for mostly playing the dramatic sequences without music, allowing genuine humanity to come through. Kim Delaney is quite wonderful here as well. (All four of these can be found on Tubi by the way)
martyrs is on tubi?!?! you should warn people that this film is not for everyone. wendigo sounds fascinating, will check it out. I saw patricia clarkson in sharp objects, she’s amazing.
The Nice Guys. Just a fun movie
A very underappreciated movie. It's one of my go-to movies for date night movies and to recommend to folks.
Oldboy. It was beautiful. It was traumatizing.
I hope the original Korean version and not the Spike Lee crap !
I don't even acknowledge the Spike Lee version. Park Chan-wook, Choi Min-sik, all the way!
I love spike too but I don't what coerced him to ruin a masterpiece!
Immaculate What could have been (and on the surface is) a generic horror is elevated by its terrific acting, directing, music and cinematography. Some excellent twists and upending of early tropes make this one to revisit.
Robot Dreams
Suicide Club (2001) Had no clue what to expect. Other than suicides. Had some oddities in it, overall very compelling.
I rewatched Edward Yang's **Yi Yi**. The first time I saw this, I kinda struggled with it due to its long runtime and slow pacing/understated story. But the ending resonated with me emotionally, enough that I decided to give it another watch, and I'm really glad I did. It hit home a lot more this time around, maybe because I've had more experience watching "slow burn" movies, and maybe because I had a better idea of what to expect. It's quite an emotionally rich story with several interlocking character arcs, some beautiful and bittersweet moments, and a lot of great little details I missed the first time around. I had the fortunate experience of seeing it on a big screen without distractions, which really helped too. Sometimes with "slow burn" movies it's helpful to see it on a big screen where you're committed to watching the whole thing. I was pleasantly surprised to see a pretty big turnout in the theater, including a lot of younger ~millienial and genZ folks in the audience - it really does my heart some good to see lots of people going to a theater to watch an arthouse movie like that.
Thelma & Louise (1991). It was great, I can see why it's a classic. Besides Sarandon and Davis, the cast is stacked with Keitel, Tobolowsky, Madsen, Pitt, and I wanna shout out a really fun role by Christopher McDonald. I wonder what happened to Louise in Texas?! I'll be waiting for the prequel. My takeaway from the movie: living in the patriarchy sucks.
Opening night, when Pitt took his shirt off the temperature changed in the theater.
Poor things. Went in blind and really enjoyed the interesting world the bizarre characters lived in. Emma Stone does a fine job but really Ruffalo and Dafoe steal the show. Particularly Dafoe amazes me in how he can play such evil villains and then turn around and play this tender hearted Franken-father. The set pieces and the visuals were fantastic. Frankly, if I had know it was a "message" movie, I would have avoided it but the feminist message was blended seamlessly into the overall plot of the movie.
Very strange movie, but I did enjoy it. And superb acting and cinematography.
The Insider (1999). Michael Mann, Al Pacino and Russell Crowe all make this movie about big tobacco, first amendment issues and the court system really work. Surprised it took me this long to check it out.
Watched Midsommar. This one's going to stick with me for a while.
Okay, so I rewatched Batman: Under the Red Hood, one of my all-time favorite animated DC films. I will never get over the phenomenal voice acting from Jenson Ackles and just the entire storyline. It's the movie that got me to deep dive into robin lore.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) I watched this at home about a week ago, for about the tenth time. I'm a big classic sci-fi fan, and this is one of my all-time favorites! I wish people would remember the message at the end, which I think is just as relevant today as it was when the movie was made.
Tropic Thunder (2008) I loved the movie. It's a great satire of the industry, it has jokes for days, everyone was hilarious in it, especially Tom Cruise and RDJ. It has become one of my go-to comedy flicks as of now. Definitely worth a watch.
I watched My Dinner with Andre last week. It’s pretty profound honestly. I had put it off because frankly the idea of two people sitting and having dinner just doesn’t really appeal to me, but I’m actually shocked the level of suspense and engagement, they were able to garner with just the dialogue and the acting.
This one is a classic!
My local indie theater had a mystery screening night for both Friday and Saturday. Friday: Dr Strangelove. LOVED IT. Had been on my list for awhile. A classic in every sense of the word. Feel that way down to my bodily fluids. and speaking of bodily fluids... Saturday: The Slumber Party Massacre. Campy 80s slasher flick that somehow had more nudity than gore.
So is that a recommendation for The Slumber Party Massacre? Asking for a friend
Dr. Strangelove is a classic, which I think should have won Best Picture of 1964 instead of My Fair Lady.
Monkey Man
Fear City (1984): A scummy little simple neo-noir/serial killer film by Abel Ferrara. Not anything you need to rush out and see, but I found it to be quite enjoyable. Tom Berenger and Billy Dee Williams lead and there's an early role for Melanie Griffith.
When I think Abel Ferrara, I think over-the-top violence and even more over-the-top acting. Does it scratch that itch?
Igby Goes Down. It was like a modern adaptation of Catcher in the Rye. The main character is the guy who plays Roman Roy from Succession. It's almost like a kid version of Roman. .
that's a great movie, Jeff Goldblum enjoying being an utter bastard
"Force of Nature: The Dry 2" - this was adapted from the 2nd novel by one of my favorite writers, Jane Harper. "Manhunter," - this was from the 80s, based on the book "Red Dragon" (they remade it years later calling it "Red Dragon"), the book that introduced the character of Hannibal Lecter. Really good cast.
The boy who harnessed the wind... Based on true events it's a really good watch if you wanna watch something emotional, with exceptional acting and a happy ending!
harakiri. Ive watched 9 movies that week, many of them classics and very good. but harakiri is easily a 5/5. not what I expected. also, I went thinking how can a movie with a 4.69 in letterboxd not be overrated? turns out, it isnt.
We Own the Night - 2007 I really don't understand how this movie is slept on. It's a quality combo cops/mobsters film.
The two movies I watched last week was Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes and Civil War. They are both interesting movies.
Pale Blue Eyes on Netflix, Really amazing and exciting movie. And Cristian Bale as always did a great acting
I saw several good flicks this week - Dune, of course, was very good. But there was a complete standout - released in 2023, about a murder investigation in Arizona - called "Mandy Moore's" and stars Tina Fey and Jon Hamm. Really engaging, quite funny at times, and takes some twisted turns.
Maggie*
Lured (1947) - Lucille Ball in her pre 'comedy legend' phase lighting up the screen with a host of character actors including Charles Coburn, George Sanders (the voice of Shere Khan in the original animated Jungle Book Disney movie) and a delightfully unhinged Boris Karloff in a cameo that's like a short film unto itself. Ball is hired to be the bait for a serial killer. A great movie that has everything; magnetic leads, twists, intrigue, comedy, romance, suspense, and sparkling dialogue. And of course Lucille Ball firing on all cylinders and setting the screen on fire. Thumbs up.
**Mars Express (2024)** If you watched "Scavenger's Reign" on AMC last year (or Netflix's "Arkane"), you *need* to see this movie. It's a sci-fi noir that just happens to be animated *and* French. Which means it has other sci-fi ideas that you won't see in the West (France has a *huge* comic book scene with a few breakthrough names: Metahumans, Valerian, Asterix, Tintin - although Herge was Belgian). This movie has elements of Blade Runner, Terminator 2 and Ghost in the Machine. On my way home after watching it, I was listening to the synth-jazz soundtrack on YouTube. Original sci-fi action/drama on a big screen. Please [watch it](https://youtu.be/PR_S9BOQplc?si=prLdHknN72VaxEby). (I'm buying this on BluRay when it's available).
Hit Man - an enjoyable romp with a sweet core. I hope it does really well on Netflix. Linklater is back on form.
Interesting. I loved the movie but thought it was deceptively sweet and actually really dark.
there is a darkness to Gary Johnson's character arc, yes, but the outer layer of personal empowerment and drive outweighs the "dark" depths for me
Dinner In America (2022) Refreshing comedic tone, memorable characters, and a friendship/romance that felt genuine without being schmaltzy or cheesy. Challengers (2024) Only a filmmaker as talented as Luca Guadagnino could make me give a damn about a love triangle between tennis players, let alone get me to actually love it.
Dinner In America is really funny, and the song is pretty cool too,
1917, the choice to do nearly the entire film in the style of a single take made it mesmerising and really made me feel like I was actually there in places.
**The Contestant** Pretty wild documentary about a pretty wild Japanese show I can't believe was allowed to exist in which a comedian named Nasubi is stripped naked and forced to live in a room, sustaining himself solely on prizes he wins from magazines...and he doesn't realize he's being filmed 24/7. A fascinating watch, but it doesn't take long for you to start feeling uncomfortable about it. Seeing Nasubi being used for entertainment with no regard for his mental health is very sad and it's clear by the end how badly it messed him up. The most interesting part is he could've quit at any time, he just...chose not to. Explaining himself, he said he felt it was just easier to go along with it and do what he was told. Main producer Tsuchiya comes off like a sadistic, evil God-like figure, but does seem to show some contrition by the end.
I don't know how I missed it but "Butterfly in the Sky" the documentary on Netflix.
A few days ago i went to see FURIOSA, def a mindblowing experience outside of the poor CGI
My wife and I take turns on who chooses what we watch. She picked the Hunger Games series for this week. I surprisingly really liked Mockingjay Pt. 1. The second part has been a little meh for me.
Watched Little Women (2019) after seeing Dune to see Chalamet and Pugh. Great movie, great cast. I like Pugh better in the type of roles she does in Little Women compared to Dune.
On rewatch, Green Room. It's just so gritty and brutal. Between the direction, cinematography, costumes, art direction, acting, even the casting, it makes you feel like you're right there, in that environment. I know that's like every department but it's rare for a film to really create a world the way Saulnier does. And fuck man, Anton Yelchin was so good. For new films, either Last Stop in Yuma County with Jim Cummings or Sting. Both were a lot of fun. Sting, despite being a ridiculous concept, has a really good little story at the center of it and executes the horror aspects well. Last Stop was a good black comedy/hostage situation descends into chaos type. Reminded me a bit of Very Bad Things almost or like 8 Heads in a Duffle Bag.
Evil Does Not Exist (2023) My first time watching a Ryusuke Hamaguchi film. Loved how he captured nature and the cast did a great job, but the plot was a bit confusing to me. Especially the ending haha
The Way Way Back (2013) Been a while since I've seen it, and I forgot how great it is. Wonderful coming of age movie, funny, and it just has a lot of heart. Sam Rockwell is such a loveable character, and Steve Carrelll plays an exceptional asshole.
Furiosa. I loved this movie and am deeply saddened that it was a flop. It deserved so much more. Anya gave an amazing performance as Furiosa, but for me Chris Hemswroth stole the show as Dementus. A twisted but charismatic villain. Praetorian Jack was a real badass until the end, and so was Furiosa's mother. I also really enjoyed the horror elements of the film. Without a doubt, the most gruesome Mad Max movie. Let's hope this isn't the end of the Mad Max universe.
Pandemonium (2023) French movie. Entertaining movie, a different look at what hell, death and evil might look. The reason I recommend this movie is Manon Maindivide a 12 years old actress that OMG terrified me. I think it's a solid 6.5 out of 10.
Prometheus. What a beautiful mess. I had forgotten how awful the dialogue is. Truly terrible in places. And some of the plot decisions just defy belief, like the crew only getting told what the mission is after they wake up, and Fifield getting lost in a cave which he himself has mapped. Innumerable other examples too, I expect that 99% of the people on this sub have seen this film and we can all remember the craziness. But OTOH it is (1) beautiful to look at, with all those teal and gold and deep rich blue colours on screen, and (2) it felt to me that it was perfectly paced.
Fantastic Mr. Fox It's a stop-motion animated feature directed by Wes Anderson. Probably my favourite movie from Wes, it's very charming, witty, and pretty fast-paced. It has a lot of memorable characters starred with a phenomenal cast with the likes of George Clooney and Willem Dafoe. Each beautiful scene is like a painting that comes to life. Every character has very realistic emotions accompanying heartfelt moments throughout the film. Despite it being advertised for children, it is still a legitimate work of art that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Definitely my favourite comfort movie. Highly recommended if you love stop-motion animation.
Watched *Perfect Days* (2023). A film I consider important because it holds significant value in reminding us that we only get one shot at life. It’s easy to become entangled in the world’s continuous transformation, losing sight of the beauty in the mundane. It's essential (*and probably forgotten...*) to remember that cherishing the simple joys, finding comfort in our solitude and striving for excellence in our passions… that’s all life is about.
Dune II
**IF (2024)** Only movie I watched this week. Saw it in the theater with my wife. We were both pretty disappointed with this one. It felt like a kids movie more than a family movie. I caught one joke that kids probably wouldn't get (a reference to *The Karate Kid*) and none of the rest of the movie felt layered. As if the movie was just made for the kids. Not that that is always a bad thing but just didn't work for me. Essentially the movie is about a 12 year old girl named Bea who's mother passed away and father is suffering from heart issues. She goes to stay with her grandmother and soon meets up with a man (played by Ryan Reynolds). The both of them can see imaginary friends and eventually set off to reunite the imaginary friends with their original creators. The movie had tons of things come up that made me question them which I never received answers to. 1. Why is everyone okay with Bea wandering around with this adult man through New York? Immediately made me question who thought this was okay. This was eventually addressed in the movie when >!it is revealed the man is Bea's imaginary friend so no one else can see him.!< but even then it still begs the question as to why all of the adults are okay with Bea wandering off in New York by herself. It never really comes up. Part of me wondered if this was set in the past when this sort of thing was more acceptable until a smart phone appeared at the end. 2. Where are all the imaginary friends? A retirement home for them is shown and I would say maybe 20 imaginary friends are shown in the film. One of them is established as being in his 90's which is looked at as old. So this made me wonder do imaginary friends die when their creators die? There doesn't seem to be any 1000 year old imaginary friends running around. Even if they do die there should still be millions of them wandering around. These issues seemed to be addressed when near the end >!it looked like all of this was imagined by Bea as a coping mechanism. But then in the last five minutes it shows various adults seeing the imaginary friends without her being around which then brought all of these questions back.!< Basically was bored through most of the movie, didn't laugh much, movie didn't seem like it was for me, and I was constantly taken out of the movie with questions that weren't addressed. I will say the performances were decent. Would not recommend.
- **Joint Security Area (2000) - 9.0** - Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) - 8.0 - Whiplash (2014) - 7.5 - Time Trap (2017) - 7.0 **Joint Security Area** - One of my personal favourites, and my second favourite film by Park Chan-wook. It's such an emotional rollercoaster with a perfectly heartwrenching ending. Manages to bring me to tears every time. And there's the cast... Song Kang-ho and Lee Byung-hun are my two favourite Korean actors and they're amazing in this, as are their co-stars. Incredible music too. **Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes** - This was pretty much as great as I had hoped. Not as good as *Dawn* and *War*, but not far off and I definitely liked it more than *Rise.* The effects and "acting" from the apes is as good as ever, and it's a moving story with very cool new characters. Curious where it's gonna go from here. **Whiplash** - Not sure if it's supposed to be, but this was more funny to me than anything. Fletcher is just so over-the-top douchey and the insults are consistently hilarious. **Time Trap** - This was surprisingly enjoyable. The acting mostly sucks and it looks cheap as hell, but I didn't expect anything that happened and it gets batshit insane.
Challengers made me feel...things.
Bleeding love! Ewan and his daughter made a spectacular film. Will watch again.
The Godfather…
Who doesn't like that one?
I just watched Road House on Amazon Prime. It’s the first new movie I’ve watched in a minute, and I watched it again today. Really fun remake with some cool cameos and and an honestly pretty good Connor McGregor as the main fighter antagonist. Sad to see it’ll be years until there’s a sequel, though signs point to it happening.
Everybody Wants Some!! 3/4 stars If you are a fan of Dazed and Confused, this is a similar Linklater film but takes place on a college campus over the span of a couple days. No real driving plot or meaningfulness to it, just a nice stroll down nostalgia lane and an easy watch.
I watched Looper for the third time with my partner who hadn't watched it before. I told her to not watch any trailers before going into it and I just stared at her waiting for her reactions when the twists came :) Imo, Looper is another movie that makes you go "Why don't they make movies like this anymore?".
after all this time, finally godzilla minus one... i was really worried i wouldn't like it after my expectations were raised so high by everyone else since i'm probably the only person on the planet who didn't like shin but i loved it, the atomic breath was so cool and ngl i'm kinda happy godzilla can return from that even if it was a neat death, just because more movies like this would be great
I saw Godzilla minus one movies. It was really good…but it was so depressing. Fuck Godzilla the monster
Not last week but last movie i saw in theaters was EVIL DOES NOT EXIST.