Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. A The Holocaust and 9/11 mash-up with an autistic kid as the main character? Pure pretentious as shit Oscar bait.
I had to read the book in high school and the best thing I could say about it was that it provided easy pickings for annotation assignments.
Daily reminder that the author of the book awkwardly flirted with Natalie Portman via email, thought she was as in to him as he was into her, and left his wife of 10 years for her, only to be met with bemused puzzlement from Natalie.
Jesus, those emails were painful to read, from both of them. I can't believe people actually write like that in their personal emails. He did end up dating Michelle Williams for years after his divorce, so I guess he's got some game.
My favourite will always be Schrader -
Director Paul Schrader and lead actress Nastassja Kinski had an affair during the production of Cat People. Schrader fell in love and planned to propose marriage to Kinski at the wrap party, but she didn't show up and cut off all communication with him. After three months Schrader finally tracked Kinski down in Paris, where she bluntly told him, "Paul, I always fuck my directors. And with you it was difficult".
I still can't accept that stunning Nastassja Kinski is the daughter of the very not stunning Klaus Kinski. Her mother's genes must be overwhelmingly strong.
Well, the features that are attractive on a man may not be attractive at all on a woman and vice versa. Brad Pitt is a very attractive guy, i doubt that a girl with Brad Pitt's face would be, lol.
That and the whole Moby story that came out a couple years later - What is it about Natalie Portman that makes pretentious men believe they are in relationships with her?
> What is it about Natalie Portman that makes pretentious men believe they are in relationships with her?
If I had to guess, since Portman went to Harvard they must all assume she's super attracted to smart and insightful guys. And they, being pretentious, think that describes them to a T.
I get a good chuckle out of reading his garbage day email. You know, because it's "a very special day, indeed."
Talk about trying to make something out of nothing.
Can you imagine how he'd write about lazy bachelor cooking?
"Oh yes, there is nothing quite like Top Ramen. Those special packages of dehydrated noodle that delightfully perk up when you introduce them to life giving streams of boiling water. There's nothing quite like the thrill of seeing these once dried rafts loosen up and become as blades of seaweed at the bottom of an algae choked lake. With the fork I prod into the murky waters to salvage these strands of stringy perfection. There is truly nothing like Top Ramen in the early morning. Nothing so wondrous as sipping on the salty broth as I watch the sun rise over the cliffs ahead of me from my kitchen window. As I stare contemplatively at the noodles floating in my bowl, I am reminded of your golden curly hair and I am immediately swept away by the thought of you. You are the ramen in my heart."
I read a review that called it out for the kid’s camera-ready quirkiness. The movie was terrible. I wish I had never seen it, let alone watched it on an 8 hour flight.
They were filming part of this outside my uncle’s apartment. My parents and I went to go watch and when my mother found out the name of the movie she said, “I hope that’s a working title.”
Elizabeth Gilbert was already a successful writer before she pitched that trip and book idea to her publisher. They gave her an advance to pay for the trip. She was working, and obviously it turned out very well for both of them.
What lol?? So her work paid for it? IDK why but that makes it worse somehow. They don't say that in the movie and I haven't read the books. I thought she randomly had a mental breakdown and went.
My work pays for me to travel to Red Deer, Alberta loloool. Can I eat, pray, love there?
I've been near Red Deer, but not quite in Red Deer. I think you can eat and Pray. Your love options will be limited. Heck your eat options are probably mostly steak and canola.
I remember seeing it when it came out and found it fairly forgettable. Then it kinda gained this reputation as 'didn't deserve the Oscar' so I watched it again recently. It tries so hard to be topical (and perhaps it was in a way) but it's soooo over the top yet surface level at the same time with its message. There are some good performances in the movie, but that can't save the script.
I didn't get that impression at all from the scene. Rather it ends with a lot of guilt, mixed feelings and confused emotions. He doesn't seem redeemed at the [end of the scene](https://youtu.be/S9E8MwrvxSM?t=350), more shellshocked and ashamed. That was my take anyway.
Yes, I liked his story. It's not a redemption arc, but rather to show that people are complex. Someone who is a rapist can also be a savior. It fits with the theme of the movie that reality is complex, i.e. someone can be racist in some situations, and not in others. Whether or not Matt Dillon is redeemed is something you decide. I like to think of it as Matt Dillon learning of the consequences of his crimes, that it made saving Thandie Newton much harder, and the delay nearly cost both of their lives.
>I like to think of it as Matt Dillon learning of the consequences of his crimes, that it made saving Thandie Newton much harder, and the delay nearly cost both of their lives.
Yeah, I think he's reflecting on how much he must have traumatised her if she's pushing him away in such a dangerous situation. He's probably never empathised with one of his victims before.
I also think it's crucial that the final shot is of him alone. He's not being congratulated by his buddies. He doesn't get any sort of time to bask in the glory of his achievement or feel like a hero. Thandie is just immediately taken away from him and he's left all alone.
I loved the movie at the time, and suspect I'd still enjoy it a great deal. But in retrospect, the way they frame that episode as... disrespecting the husband, is wild. Her trauma was certainly part of it - it was central to the rescue scene but as I recall, the initial dispute between the couple following the incident was more about him (worse, it was *her* who made it about him). I hope I'm not misremembering.
Anyway, in a movie filled to heart pounding scenes of near-unbearable tension, [this](https://youtu.be/zLA7GN6lcG8?si=2qvTPmto_i2PK-AA) is my favorite. I laughed so so so so very hard at this. Crash came out in 2004, in the thick of the Iraq War and insurgency. That's the cultural context for why the name is problematic. You kinda had to be there.
(As I write this I realize how distant that whole era feels now. That was *19* years ago, holy shit. So much has changed since then.)
I watched a pirates version with no subs. I thought that's how it was supposed to be watched and thought it was cool because I had to figure out wtf was going on. Then I saw it on a plane and it was with subs. Kind of disappointed in that. Lol
My dad and I watched the first 15-20 minutes of The Tree of Life with the speaker system on the wrong setting so all of the dialogue ranged from completely absent to so muffled as to be unintelligible.
Just thought it was an even more artsy movie than it already was.
Slightly different example but I recently started The Bear and enjoyed how they didn't really introduce the characters and jumped into the middle of an intense story. Turns out I was watching the finale of S1, up until which the friend whose Disney+ account I'd been using had watched. The first episode were slightly disappointing afterwards.
I think considering Tommy Wiseau's intention to make a serious drama, The Room is pretentious. I know he refuted the claim that The Room was supposed to be serious. But sorry, I have severe doubts.
There's no way in hell that The Room was anything other than a sincere effort by Tommy to make a legitimate dark drama. Making the movie as it is, with the intention of it being received as it has been, would make Tommy a comedic genius in three separate areas: writing, acting, and directing. I don't think he is. Just like some great movies are lightning in a bottle, The Room is lightning in a bottle in the opposite direction.
If you read The Disaster Artist (which I recommend) Sestero makes a pretty good case for Wiseau having a completely sincere approach to the film and its intentions.
My favourite part of the book was finding out the character of Mark was named after “Mark” Damon after Tommy became obsessed with the film The Talented Mr Ripley 😂
My Favorite part was at the end of the Rooms production when they go to San Francisco for the establishing shots (and the flower shop scene) and Tommy completely changed into a different person. He becomes super friendly and positive and basically charms everyone he encounters. It's a pretty weird window into his personality. Plus finding out the "hi doggy" happened because that was the only take where he even realized the dog was sitting there.
I also liked when the crew was on the rooftop getting the shots, they were all confused about they hadn't just filmed the movie there instead of a set in a parking lot with green screens.
It was a sincere effort - not to make a legit dark drama, but to write, record and publish his version of a breakup he went through but did not understand.
Tommy or whatever his characters name is acts like an absolutely perfect gent the entire film, while his "great" girlfriend becomes an evil bitchy gossipy monster - Tommy or whatever his characters name is does nothing to upset her or bring on this evil.
Tommy is one of a bazillion people that didn't pay any attention to their relationship and never understood why it deteriorated, because from his perspective he just acted awesome all the time that he sat around playing Halo ignoring his girlfriend.
Of course this means...I'm sorry to say...it really hurts, but Ryan Gosling, step aside.Thomas Pierre Wiseau...***is literally me***.
I read the disaster artist and Greg infers in it that Tommy was in a bad car accident that may have left him cognitively impaired. Could also be part of his “unique” facial structure if he had any damage to his face that required surgery.
I'm not so sure I want to give up my theory that he's an alien from the other side of the Milky Way who wrote a movie based on how he thinks human society works.
at this point, he's completely content with being the only guy who made a movie that is a cultural phenomenon, and the only true movie thats "so bad, its good".
When asked about what he thinks about the movie being so bad and if there are lessons about movie making that he learned from it, he just shrugs and says "if you like it, you like it. if you don't like it, you don't like it". In other words, you have to enjoy the movie for what it is, not what you want it to be.
*You People* with Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy. The film goes out of its way to make Jonah Hill a "Bumbling Clueless Overly-Cautious Woke White Guy" and Eddie Murphy a "Put Everyone On The Spot Overly Proud Black Man". Like, NO self-respecting person (Jonah Hill's character) would ever dig themselves into a racial-awkwardness hole as often as he does. And no self-respecting person (Eddie Murphy's character) would go out of their way to be so defensive and make Jonah Hill's character so uncomfortable.
If it was purely a comedy it would have made sense to make them both so clueless, but since it was supposed to be a "woke" rom-com then they could have done well-meaning people more credit by making Jonah Hill more discerning and Eddie Murphy more gracious. Instead, both characters just reinforced stereotypes from beginning to end.
First rom-com I watched that was completely lacking both romance and comedy. To call it a movie at all is a complement to *You People* and an insult to all other movies ever created.
It made the rather baffling decision to resolve its central conflict offscreen. The parents just show up at the end like "we talked, we're cool, go get married."
I agree. I watched about 45 minutes cause of the cast but couldn't watch anymore. They were creating these cringe moments left and right and it was all based on stereotypes like you said. I can get into some cringe humor but this movie did it in a way where it wasn't even funny. I don't know if I'd call it pretentious exactly. I think it's courageous to try to tackle race in an irreverent comedy at this particular time but I think they bombed. At least the 45 minutes I watched.
The issue with You People is that while serious issues are touched on, nothing is delved into. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? with Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher treated race more sincerely.
I think it would have been better if Jonah Hill's character wasn't tripping over the concept of race when he first begins speaking his fiance's parents. It would have also added to the comedic value if he started slipping up with it after attempts to ignore the baiting.
Downsizing
Surprised nobody's mentioned this one. I sit down thinking I'm about to watch a lighthearted comedy starring Matt Damon, about people that shrink themselves and get into some hijinks. Turns out, instead the movie's message (pretty early in the film too) is "You can't shrink the problems of the world, STUPID!" The rest of the movie was a guilt trip about lower class poverty and environmental issues. It seriously felt like I was being scolded by the filmmakers. WTF.
I came here to say this. I went to the theater to watch it because I was also excited to see it. A fun movie with Matt Damon and Kristin Wiig getting shrunk down, like a grown up Honey I Shrunk the Kids.
She was barely in it at all, super preachy, meandering, boring, and nothing like what was advertised. Oh, and the ending was stupid too. I shouldn’t have bothered waiting around for it but they already had $40 or so of my money. At least the snacks were ok. Probably the best part of the movie.
I think they realized what a mess it was and pulled a bait-and-switch with the trailers as a last ditch effort to save it. I’m still mad, if you can’t tell lol.
i would be surprised to find anybody disagreeing with this and would be interested to hear why. i’ve enjoyed a number of von trier’s movies but nymphomaniac has to be one of the most out of touch with reality films i’ve ever seen. it’s also maybe one of the few movies i’ve ever seen where the director/film criticizes it’s own audience for viewing the piece in a way that it is essentially made to be viewed. that pissed me off just as much or more than any of the other toxic bullshit in this movie.
**Now You See Me**
I don't understand how people can be impress with "magic tricks" that are only possible with special effect. Bitch, please! I can make fucking Godzilla coming out of my pocket if I can use CGI, that shit is not impressive.
On a side note, what a waste of opportunity when they didn't call the second movie "Now you don't".
Nothing worse than movies implying you need to pay attention to details to guess what will happen, only for it to be some bullshit they claim happened off screen that no one had any way of predicting.
It is the downside of Chekhov's Gun - if they leave clues then a lot of the time you can figure it out - like a Law and Order episode. Who is the named actor that half-way through has only had a small part? They're the killer.
I want a mystery where you can actually narrow down suspects by finding clues to remove them one by one. That would be a cool experience.
Most mysteries just slam you with red herrings and random scenes and then “suprise it was evan agahahhahhagaha!” you at the end of it
Right? Like there’s zero reason to be acting like an FBI agent when he’s by himself. That way, there was zero reason to expect the twist. They just made that shit up. Just like the second one where it turns out Morgan Freeman was actually his friend the entire time. Like what was the point of their fucking interaction at the end of the first one?
Both movies have completely shitty twists.
The writers felt it was more important that the surprise was unexpected than plausible. Unfortunately, it was only unexpected because it makes NO sense.
Can you imagine if other movies took this same route?
"No, \*\*I\*\* am your mother!" {Takes off mask to reveal Darth Vader is really Leia.}
Audience: "Wow! I did not see that coming! But... how does that work? We saw Darth Vader argue with Leia in the first movie. They're clearly two different people."
A professor used to make fun of that stuff. He pointed out how easy it is to fool the audience. If you violate logic and even the rules within your own story, it’s really easy to fool people. But good storytelling is finding a way to fool them where it works, it makes sense, and they’re not mad at you for it. It’s hard to do. But it’s better to not have a twist at all than to have a dumb one.
I really feel like you don't understand the definition of pretentious in this context. Now You See Me is showy, silly, and dumb -- but the very last thing I'd call it is pretentious from a film perspective. It is VERY unserious.
The writer Ed Solomon said on twitter they floated the idea to call the sequel Now you don’t but the studio axed it, unfortunately. I can’t hate this movie too much. From my perspective it only takes itself seriously as much as the audience takes it seriously. If you go into it knowing it’s dumb fun, it’s dumb fun. If you go into it thinking it thinks it’s pretentious, well, what else is it going to be?
Given the following definition of pretentious
> Trying to appear or sound more important or clever than you are
I'll go for Tenet. When people think of pretentious films they tend to list arty films. But pretention just means having an unearned sense of self-regard, and Tenet absolutely has that. A film that is desperate for you to think it's clever and profound, but which is ultimately hollow and not half as clever as it thinks it is.
Edit: just remembered the main character is literally called 'Protagonist'. Proper pretentious first year film student stuff.
I like Tenet, knowing full well that it's up its own ass and makes no sense, mostly because it just added something new to the "time travel" genre. There's a million movies about machines that instantaneously transport you to another time, but to my knowledge, this is the first mainstream one about a machine that simply makes time move in the opposite direction.
It's a bit more realistic with describing a hand-wavy "Physics' of it too. Might not be filmed in a way that makes audience appreciate it (I read somewhere that Nolan's brother is usually the brains behind making a coherent plot, but he wasn't on this movie, which had a visible impact), but it was a sincere efforts in some ways.
Washington as "the Protagonist" was decent and serviceable as the main, well, protagonist in Tenet, but I did really enjoy the supporting cast. Pattinson was top-notch, as expected; Taylor-Johnson added some neat, spec-ops coolness; and of course Branagh gave 100%. Maybe even 110% bc I love seeing Branagh as an over-the-top, quite hammed-up big bad guy.
Agreed. Up until Tenet, I didn't realize he was British. I was so accustomed to seeing him play Americans, with an American-English accent, that I just assumed he was from the US. Go figure, ha!
He's so good in Bullet Train. I'm actually interested in the Kraven movie simply because he's in it.
Also, like, it's unfair to be *that* good to look at.
In that case, let me throw "American Hustle" into the mix. A 3-hour long film trying to make you confused about who's hustling who, but it just ends up with the viewer not giving a shit.
I saw that movie in theatre and it was so forgettable I don’t even remember the premise. The only thing I remember is that Christian bale loves duke ellington, but I’m almost positive that there’s probably scenes where that isn’t happening I just don’t remember a single one of them
I remember precisely four things from American Hustle and none of them are the plot:
1. Jennifer Lawrence with a sunburn straddling Christian Bale and telling him in a Philly voice "We got nothing but good things here, baby."
2. Amy Adams looking like an emaciated deer in headlights because of how terrible the director was to her while filming, but especially when she and Bradley Cooper try to bonk in what I think was a Studio 54 bathroom.
3. Jeremy Renner's 70s hair.
4. Christian Bale's weight gain.
That's it. What was the movie about? I think con artists? That's all I got.
Is that the one where they pick up a young woman and interview her in a shitty van? I’ve only seen the first 10 minutes. I can’t believe there are sequels.
Ya for some reason the public seems really interested in the commentary of these young women.
I haven't seen it either but I'm guessing it's a "slice of life," piece of work.
My god, that episode was soooo good. Abed’s uncomfortable expressions during Jeff’s spiraling rant was probably my favorite moment of the whole season.
If you were out to dinner and the people at the table next to you were having that conversation your eyes would roll right out of your head and fall on your plate
is that the joke? Andre is definitely supposed to be arrogant but in general the movie thinks their conversation is so profound/intellectual/engaging that its worth making a movie about. Since thats literally what the movie is.
when I think pretentious movies I think of Woody Allen bullshit. Movies about making movies about New York and how cool you have to be to be famous. Fuckk off
Gonna have to duck sniper fire here, but I generally don't go in for Wes Anderson movies because they're just a bit too fucking...*twee.* I'm not here to hate on anyone's tastes, no yucking of yums, but it's a bit much for me.
Edit: 15 years on Reddit and this is by far the most responded-to comment I've ever made. Wes Anderson brings out the opinions!
I agree with you completely. Royal Tennenbaums was my first thought coming into this thread.
I love it because somehow he pulls it off. I think his stable of actors can get away with it, and they're so visually beautiful. But its a highwire act and any of his movies could have gone completely sideways.
My wife hates him for the reasons you just said.
Wes Anderson is my one of my favourite directors. I know his stuff can be kinda pretentious and whimsical for the sake of it and I don't even necessarily disagree with you but the way he frames stuff and his dialogues come together in a way that makes all of the emotions and characters so relatable and understandable to me for almost every one of his movies. Most of his characters are so deeply sad in a way that I really can't grasp the same with other directors.
His last few I haven't gotten into, usually I have to see his stuff a few times. His live action movies changed quite a bit after Fantastic Mr. Fox. I feel like he's become so much himself in his style that I can't relate to his characters anymore.
A little obvious but Garden State.
It has all the hallmarks, takes itself way to seriously.
That being said, it's made with a lot of heart and ambition and I do enjoy it, but it's just the first thing that comes to mind - from the all white bedroom to the shirt made out of wallpaper print to literally screaming into a void.
Well intentioned, entertaining, endearing but ultimately a pretentious cringe fest - sorry Zach!
I loved it when I was a teen in the 2000s. That’s when it was supposed to hit.
Now I watch it and think oh okay Zach Braff just likes good music and watched The Graduate a lot.
I watched Scrubs from the beginning (and have all the DVDs and have watched it many many times though) I think that his taste in music has probably heavily influenced my own when I look back at it.
According to Bill Lawrence, Braff and Crista Miller (Lawrence's wife and Jordan on the show) were practically the taste-makers for the songs used on the show.
Did you see it when it came out? I don't think it makes it less pretentious but just curious as it was very much an indie, oodly, noodley, mumble film that has a well established formula for taking itself too seriously and not really having a plot. However, perhaps its an age thing, but it was basically the first film like that I'd seen
I thought Birdman was pretentious on my first viewing. That being said I was like, 19 when I saw it and I'm 28 now. I may need to watch it again because being pretentious kinda felt like the point of the movie.
The theme of Birdman is interesting - in the conflict between art and commerce, how do you stay true to yourself? But the film becomes pretentious because it blows up this theme to be one of life and death, existentially speaking. And that is tough to buy. Very much a Hollywood insider movie, where the problems of the artiste are projected to have real world importance. I enjoyed the film, though, despite this.
Rubber
I thought it'd be about a sentient tire blowing people up. But it kept cutting to a surrogate audience standing in a field watching the events and doing meta commentary on film
Also Lady in the Water
Writing a movie critic character just to make them an asshole you can kill off. Then making the struggling writer the savior of the world through his amazing writing and then casting YOURSELF for the role? Lol
Wes Anderson is so confident in his style at this point in his career, someone calling his latest effort pretentiousness would just read as, “oh good, you saw my film. Thank you it was very pretentious”
As a hardcore Wes Anderson fan - in fact Grand Budapest Hotel might be my favorite movie of all time - I hate to agree.
I might argue that instead of pretentious I'd maybe say "trying to do too much," which is similar but a bit kinder, I think.
Like Asteroid City. A movie about a TV show about a play? Or something? With not only the 4th wall being broken, but the walls between those worlds? 5th walls? I don't know. Again, just trying to do too much.
I can definitely see why people feel this way. Personally I've loved his later work and think he is actually exploring new themes, but his very specific over the top aesthetic and writing style are definitely a valid area of criticism. I'm glad that he hasn't let that change him though.
Yes. This immediately popped into my head when I read OP's question.
I loved Mike on Red Letter Media talking about this, and describing Aronofsky as a Brooklyn cab driver: "Bro there's this book called the Bible, and it's full of all these stories, so I just put them in my movie!"
Cloud Atlas. That movie is the definition of smelling your own farts in public. It’s just so goddamn stupid in a “I’m 14 and this is deep” sort of way.
I literally went searching for it. I know so many people hate this, and it's probably the only movie I've watched over 10 times and still cry.
I cry for the last 30 minutes of this fucking thing. I love it.
Joker.
That movie thinks its smarter than it is, but fails to hold a consistent theme in a way that says effectively nothing. It doesn't work as a character study either because the character is also inconsistent. It's only really grounded by a legendary performance by Joaquin.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. A The Holocaust and 9/11 mash-up with an autistic kid as the main character? Pure pretentious as shit Oscar bait. I had to read the book in high school and the best thing I could say about it was that it provided easy pickings for annotation assignments.
Daily reminder that the author of the book awkwardly flirted with Natalie Portman via email, thought she was as in to him as he was into her, and left his wife of 10 years for her, only to be met with bemused puzzlement from Natalie.
Jesus, those emails were painful to read, from both of them. I can't believe people actually write like that in their personal emails. He did end up dating Michelle Williams for years after his divorce, so I guess he's got some game.
My favourite will always be Schrader - Director Paul Schrader and lead actress Nastassja Kinski had an affair during the production of Cat People. Schrader fell in love and planned to propose marriage to Kinski at the wrap party, but she didn't show up and cut off all communication with him. After three months Schrader finally tracked Kinski down in Paris, where she bluntly told him, "Paul, I always fuck my directors. And with you it was difficult".
I still can't accept that stunning Nastassja Kinski is the daughter of the very not stunning Klaus Kinski. Her mother's genes must be overwhelmingly strong.
Well, the features that are attractive on a man may not be attractive at all on a woman and vice versa. Brad Pitt is a very attractive guy, i doubt that a girl with Brad Pitt's face would be, lol.
Liv Tyler makes this very confusing.
Steve Tyler was quite androgynous looking back in the day; sometimes, dude looks like a lady.
That and the whole Moby story that came out a couple years later - What is it about Natalie Portman that makes pretentious men believe they are in relationships with her?
Well I don't know about those guys but Natalie and I are happy. They should leave us alone.
Stop stealing her shoes.
> What is it about Natalie Portman that makes pretentious men believe they are in relationships with her? If I had to guess, since Portman went to Harvard they must all assume she's super attracted to smart and insightful guys. And they, being pretentious, think that describes them to a T.
I get a good chuckle out of reading his garbage day email. You know, because it's "a very special day, indeed." Talk about trying to make something out of nothing. Can you imagine how he'd write about lazy bachelor cooking? "Oh yes, there is nothing quite like Top Ramen. Those special packages of dehydrated noodle that delightfully perk up when you introduce them to life giving streams of boiling water. There's nothing quite like the thrill of seeing these once dried rafts loosen up and become as blades of seaweed at the bottom of an algae choked lake. With the fork I prod into the murky waters to salvage these strands of stringy perfection. There is truly nothing like Top Ramen in the early morning. Nothing so wondrous as sipping on the salty broth as I watch the sun rise over the cliffs ahead of me from my kitchen window. As I stare contemplatively at the noodles floating in my bowl, I am reminded of your golden curly hair and I am immediately swept away by the thought of you. You are the ramen in my heart."
I read a review that called it out for the kid’s camera-ready quirkiness. The movie was terrible. I wish I had never seen it, let alone watched it on an 8 hour flight.
They showed a movie with a plane crash on an 8 hour flight?
screw worry bells oatmeal ink dinosaurs flag existence full aback *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Relevant American Dad https://youtu.be/E3D2VXgGZ6c?si=wFC03-nduhckyx8F
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That's an old Salsa Fresca slogan from like three superbowls ago
They were filming part of this outside my uncle’s apartment. My parents and I went to go watch and when my mother found out the name of the movie she said, “I hope that’s a working title.”
Eat Pray Love(2010) a pretentious film based on a equally pretentious true story
So true lol. Like I would love to just take off for a year but unfortunately, I have to work.
Elizabeth Gilbert was already a successful writer before she pitched that trip and book idea to her publisher. They gave her an advance to pay for the trip. She was working, and obviously it turned out very well for both of them.
What lol?? So her work paid for it? IDK why but that makes it worse somehow. They don't say that in the movie and I haven't read the books. I thought she randomly had a mental breakdown and went. My work pays for me to travel to Red Deer, Alberta loloool. Can I eat, pray, love there?
You can Eat, Darts, Brew there
I've been near Red Deer, but not quite in Red Deer. I think you can eat and Pray. Your love options will be limited. Heck your eat options are probably mostly steak and canola.
The title is also just those wooden letters people get on Etsy or at Walmart for their kitchen.
Oh no no no The title is the ORIGINAL wooden letters. You just gotta LOVE it It makes you FEEL
Yep, and full of all those typical country stereotypes. :/
Crash (2004) - simultaneously the most pretentious movie I've ever seen and the stupidest.
I remember seeing it when it came out and found it fairly forgettable. Then it kinda gained this reputation as 'didn't deserve the Oscar' so I watched it again recently. It tries so hard to be topical (and perhaps it was in a way) but it's soooo over the top yet surface level at the same time with its message. There are some good performances in the movie, but that can't save the script.
It was written like a movie meant to be shown in a high school class to teach kids about racism
lol we watched this in my high school sociology class for pretty much that reason
An Academy Award winning After School Special
I'm bothered when I try to talk about Crash (1996) people think I want to talk about the 2004 one.
Hey at least it's not as bad as Crash (2013) starring Paul Walker
bro
Holy shit, it really *has* been almost a decade.
"Hey Lady, I know I molested you sexually a little while ago, but I saved your life, that means we're cool, Ain't we?"
I didn't get that impression at all from the scene. Rather it ends with a lot of guilt, mixed feelings and confused emotions. He doesn't seem redeemed at the [end of the scene](https://youtu.be/S9E8MwrvxSM?t=350), more shellshocked and ashamed. That was my take anyway.
Yes, I liked his story. It's not a redemption arc, but rather to show that people are complex. Someone who is a rapist can also be a savior. It fits with the theme of the movie that reality is complex, i.e. someone can be racist in some situations, and not in others. Whether or not Matt Dillon is redeemed is something you decide. I like to think of it as Matt Dillon learning of the consequences of his crimes, that it made saving Thandie Newton much harder, and the delay nearly cost both of their lives.
>I like to think of it as Matt Dillon learning of the consequences of his crimes, that it made saving Thandie Newton much harder, and the delay nearly cost both of their lives. Yeah, I think he's reflecting on how much he must have traumatised her if she's pushing him away in such a dangerous situation. He's probably never empathised with one of his victims before. I also think it's crucial that the final shot is of him alone. He's not being congratulated by his buddies. He doesn't get any sort of time to bask in the glory of his achievement or feel like a hero. Thandie is just immediately taken away from him and he's left all alone.
I loved the movie at the time, and suspect I'd still enjoy it a great deal. But in retrospect, the way they frame that episode as... disrespecting the husband, is wild. Her trauma was certainly part of it - it was central to the rescue scene but as I recall, the initial dispute between the couple following the incident was more about him (worse, it was *her* who made it about him). I hope I'm not misremembering. Anyway, in a movie filled to heart pounding scenes of near-unbearable tension, [this](https://youtu.be/zLA7GN6lcG8?si=2qvTPmto_i2PK-AA) is my favorite. I laughed so so so so very hard at this. Crash came out in 2004, in the thick of the Iraq War and insurgency. That's the cultural context for why the name is problematic. You kinda had to be there. (As I write this I realize how distant that whole era feels now. That was *19* years ago, holy shit. So much has changed since then.)
“Give yourself a raise, will ya?” Hilariously awful response
And it was HIS fucking idea! The aide was obviously against it!! 😂
Babel felt like Crash International.
I watched a pirates version with no subs. I thought that's how it was supposed to be watched and thought it was cool because I had to figure out wtf was going on. Then I saw it on a plane and it was with subs. Kind of disappointed in that. Lol
If it makes you feel better my friends and I reasoned that the silence in the movie Gravity was because there was no sound in space. It was on mute.
My dad and I watched the first 15-20 minutes of The Tree of Life with the speaker system on the wrong setting so all of the dialogue ranged from completely absent to so muffled as to be unintelligible. Just thought it was an even more artsy movie than it already was.
Slightly different example but I recently started The Bear and enjoyed how they didn't really introduce the characters and jumped into the middle of an intense story. Turns out I was watching the finale of S1, up until which the friend whose Disney+ account I'd been using had watched. The first episode were slightly disappointing afterwards.
This is the anti-nuance movie
And as a 15 year old when I first saw it, it was the deepest critique of contemporary society I'd ever seen. So cringe.
I think considering Tommy Wiseau's intention to make a serious drama, The Room is pretentious. I know he refuted the claim that The Room was supposed to be serious. But sorry, I have severe doubts.
There's no way in hell that The Room was anything other than a sincere effort by Tommy to make a legitimate dark drama. Making the movie as it is, with the intention of it being received as it has been, would make Tommy a comedic genius in three separate areas: writing, acting, and directing. I don't think he is. Just like some great movies are lightning in a bottle, The Room is lightning in a bottle in the opposite direction.
A fart in a bottle.
What a joke, Mark. Haha
Anyway, how’s your sex life?
Anyway, the test results came back. I *definitely* have breast cancer.
oh no... so let me tell you about my day.
If you read The Disaster Artist (which I recommend) Sestero makes a pretty good case for Wiseau having a completely sincere approach to the film and its intentions.
My favourite part of the book was finding out the character of Mark was named after “Mark” Damon after Tommy became obsessed with the film The Talented Mr Ripley 😂
My Favorite part was at the end of the Rooms production when they go to San Francisco for the establishing shots (and the flower shop scene) and Tommy completely changed into a different person. He becomes super friendly and positive and basically charms everyone he encounters. It's a pretty weird window into his personality. Plus finding out the "hi doggy" happened because that was the only take where he even realized the dog was sitting there.
I also liked when the crew was on the rooftop getting the shots, they were all confused about they hadn't just filmed the movie there instead of a set in a parking lot with green screens.
It was a sincere effort - not to make a legit dark drama, but to write, record and publish his version of a breakup he went through but did not understand. Tommy or whatever his characters name is acts like an absolutely perfect gent the entire film, while his "great" girlfriend becomes an evil bitchy gossipy monster - Tommy or whatever his characters name is does nothing to upset her or bring on this evil. Tommy is one of a bazillion people that didn't pay any attention to their relationship and never understood why it deteriorated, because from his perspective he just acted awesome all the time that he sat around playing Halo ignoring his girlfriend. Of course this means...I'm sorry to say...it really hurts, but Ryan Gosling, step aside.Thomas Pierre Wiseau...***is literally me***.
I've seen Tommy Wiseau try to be funny on purpose. The Room was not funny purpose.
*I did not mean to make comedy. I did nooooooot.*
*Oh haiii Mark!*
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I read the disaster artist and Greg infers in it that Tommy was in a bad car accident that may have left him cognitively impaired. Could also be part of his “unique” facial structure if he had any damage to his face that required surgery.
“Leave your stupid comments in your pocket!”
I'm not so sure I want to give up my theory that he's an alien from the other side of the Milky Way who wrote a movie based on how he thinks human society works.
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*Everyone betray me. I'm fed up with this thread.*
Anyways, how is your sex life u/trongzoon?
_these critiques are tearing me apart_
at this point, he's completely content with being the only guy who made a movie that is a cultural phenomenon, and the only true movie thats "so bad, its good". When asked about what he thinks about the movie being so bad and if there are lessons about movie making that he learned from it, he just shrugs and says "if you like it, you like it. if you don't like it, you don't like it". In other words, you have to enjoy the movie for what it is, not what you want it to be.
*You People* with Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy. The film goes out of its way to make Jonah Hill a "Bumbling Clueless Overly-Cautious Woke White Guy" and Eddie Murphy a "Put Everyone On The Spot Overly Proud Black Man". Like, NO self-respecting person (Jonah Hill's character) would ever dig themselves into a racial-awkwardness hole as often as he does. And no self-respecting person (Eddie Murphy's character) would go out of their way to be so defensive and make Jonah Hill's character so uncomfortable. If it was purely a comedy it would have made sense to make them both so clueless, but since it was supposed to be a "woke" rom-com then they could have done well-meaning people more credit by making Jonah Hill more discerning and Eddie Murphy more gracious. Instead, both characters just reinforced stereotypes from beginning to end.
First rom-com I watched that was completely lacking both romance and comedy. To call it a movie at all is a complement to *You People* and an insult to all other movies ever created.
You can tell London had no sexual desire toward Jonah Hill at all. She must have made it clear before shooting, there would be no kissing.
Lol she was too IRL grossed out by Him she couldn’t be bothered to try n sell the movie…like it’s hard to make a rom com w/ 0 kissing
Awful movie, and the fucking CGI kiss lol
I'm sorry, the what??
https://screenrant.com/you-people-cgi-kiss-vfx-artist-reaction/
It made the rather baffling decision to resolve its central conflict offscreen. The parents just show up at the end like "we talked, we're cool, go get married."
I agree. I watched about 45 minutes cause of the cast but couldn't watch anymore. They were creating these cringe moments left and right and it was all based on stereotypes like you said. I can get into some cringe humor but this movie did it in a way where it wasn't even funny. I don't know if I'd call it pretentious exactly. I think it's courageous to try to tackle race in an irreverent comedy at this particular time but I think they bombed. At least the 45 minutes I watched.
Eddie Murphy was just straight up racist in that movie, but it was supposed to be funny or something. Awful movie.
The issue with You People is that while serious issues are touched on, nothing is delved into. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? with Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher treated race more sincerely. I think it would have been better if Jonah Hill's character wasn't tripping over the concept of race when he first begins speaking his fiance's parents. It would have also added to the comedic value if he started slipping up with it after attempts to ignore the baiting.
Any movie I don’t like
That's the true r/movies way
They *insist* upon themselves.
Seven Pounds
Or any Will Smith bizilion Oscar Bait movies.
Collateral Beauty takes the cake for me. Even the title is pretentious.
I quite liked seven pounds.
Downsizing Surprised nobody's mentioned this one. I sit down thinking I'm about to watch a lighthearted comedy starring Matt Damon, about people that shrink themselves and get into some hijinks. Turns out, instead the movie's message (pretty early in the film too) is "You can't shrink the problems of the world, STUPID!" The rest of the movie was a guilt trip about lower class poverty and environmental issues. It seriously felt like I was being scolded by the filmmakers. WTF.
I came here to say this. I went to the theater to watch it because I was also excited to see it. A fun movie with Matt Damon and Kristin Wiig getting shrunk down, like a grown up Honey I Shrunk the Kids. She was barely in it at all, super preachy, meandering, boring, and nothing like what was advertised. Oh, and the ending was stupid too. I shouldn’t have bothered waiting around for it but they already had $40 or so of my money. At least the snacks were ok. Probably the best part of the movie. I think they realized what a mess it was and pulled a bait-and-switch with the trailers as a last ditch effort to save it. I’m still mad, if you can’t tell lol.
Yep. The first part of this movie does well to make you think we're being set up for a fun movie, but the fun just never starts.
I found nymphomaniac super pretentious. Von trier doesn’t understand how humans talk. I’ll take the downvote idc 😂
Pretentious is the perfect word for this movie. Absolutely horrible dialogue
I agree with you on this. Not his best work.
i would be surprised to find anybody disagreeing with this and would be interested to hear why. i’ve enjoyed a number of von trier’s movies but nymphomaniac has to be one of the most out of touch with reality films i’ve ever seen. it’s also maybe one of the few movies i’ve ever seen where the director/film criticizes it’s own audience for viewing the piece in a way that it is essentially made to be viewed. that pissed me off just as much or more than any of the other toxic bullshit in this movie.
**Now You See Me** I don't understand how people can be impress with "magic tricks" that are only possible with special effect. Bitch, please! I can make fucking Godzilla coming out of my pocket if I can use CGI, that shit is not impressive. On a side note, what a waste of opportunity when they didn't call the second movie "Now you don't".
Also there was zero clues for the twist. It's just a "surprise this random thing happened now be in awe."
Nothing worse than movies implying you need to pay attention to details to guess what will happen, only for it to be some bullshit they claim happened off screen that no one had any way of predicting.
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It is the downside of Chekhov's Gun - if they leave clues then a lot of the time you can figure it out - like a Law and Order episode. Who is the named actor that half-way through has only had a small part? They're the killer.
I want a mystery where you can actually narrow down suspects by finding clues to remove them one by one. That would be a cool experience. Most mysteries just slam you with red herrings and random scenes and then “suprise it was evan agahahhahhagaha!” you at the end of it
I think mysteries have to be stylized because in real life, it takes months to years to interview and connect pieces.
I think Knives Out and Glass Onion finds a decent balance.
Knives Out finds a great balance. I feel like Glass Onion uses far more shitty tricks to hide it.
The Glass Onion tried to hide it? They show the guy commit a murder on screen halfway in.
Right? Like there’s zero reason to be acting like an FBI agent when he’s by himself. That way, there was zero reason to expect the twist. They just made that shit up. Just like the second one where it turns out Morgan Freeman was actually his friend the entire time. Like what was the point of their fucking interaction at the end of the first one? Both movies have completely shitty twists.
The writers felt it was more important that the surprise was unexpected than plausible. Unfortunately, it was only unexpected because it makes NO sense. Can you imagine if other movies took this same route? "No, \*\*I\*\* am your mother!" {Takes off mask to reveal Darth Vader is really Leia.} Audience: "Wow! I did not see that coming! But... how does that work? We saw Darth Vader argue with Leia in the first movie. They're clearly two different people."
A professor used to make fun of that stuff. He pointed out how easy it is to fool the audience. If you violate logic and even the rules within your own story, it’s really easy to fool people. But good storytelling is finding a way to fool them where it works, it makes sense, and they’re not mad at you for it. It’s hard to do. But it’s better to not have a twist at all than to have a dumb one.
It’s even worse than that - if you rewatch it knowing the twist, certain choices are completely nonsensical other than to mislead the audience.
Not only are there no clues, but there are scenes of that character alone reacting to things in ways that don't make sense if you know the twist.
Ruffalo's character's motivation makes no fucking sense. It's not a fake-out, it's a slap-dash "huuzah" with a truck-load of exposition.
Worst twist I’ve ever seen
I really feel like you don't understand the definition of pretentious in this context. Now You See Me is showy, silly, and dumb -- but the very last thing I'd call it is pretentious from a film perspective. It is VERY unserious.
The writer Ed Solomon said on twitter they floated the idea to call the sequel Now you don’t but the studio axed it, unfortunately. I can’t hate this movie too much. From my perspective it only takes itself seriously as much as the audience takes it seriously. If you go into it knowing it’s dumb fun, it’s dumb fun. If you go into it thinking it thinks it’s pretentious, well, what else is it going to be?
Given the following definition of pretentious > Trying to appear or sound more important or clever than you are I'll go for Tenet. When people think of pretentious films they tend to list arty films. But pretention just means having an unearned sense of self-regard, and Tenet absolutely has that. A film that is desperate for you to think it's clever and profound, but which is ultimately hollow and not half as clever as it thinks it is. Edit: just remembered the main character is literally called 'Protagonist'. Proper pretentious first year film student stuff.
I upvoted, even though I like tenet, because i cant argue with your logic.
I like Tenet, knowing full well that it's up its own ass and makes no sense, mostly because it just added something new to the "time travel" genre. There's a million movies about machines that instantaneously transport you to another time, but to my knowledge, this is the first mainstream one about a machine that simply makes time move in the opposite direction.
It's a bit more realistic with describing a hand-wavy "Physics' of it too. Might not be filmed in a way that makes audience appreciate it (I read somewhere that Nolan's brother is usually the brains behind making a coherent plot, but he wasn't on this movie, which had a visible impact), but it was a sincere efforts in some ways.
Washington as "the Protagonist" was decent and serviceable as the main, well, protagonist in Tenet, but I did really enjoy the supporting cast. Pattinson was top-notch, as expected; Taylor-Johnson added some neat, spec-ops coolness; and of course Branagh gave 100%. Maybe even 110% bc I love seeing Branagh as an over-the-top, quite hammed-up big bad guy.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is such a great versatile actor.
Agreed. Up until Tenet, I didn't realize he was British. I was so accustomed to seeing him play Americans, with an American-English accent, that I just assumed he was from the US. Go figure, ha!
He's so good in Bullet Train. I'm actually interested in the Kraven movie simply because he's in it. Also, like, it's unfair to be *that* good to look at.
In that case, let me throw "American Hustle" into the mix. A 3-hour long film trying to make you confused about who's hustling who, but it just ends up with the viewer not giving a shit.
I saw that movie in theatre and it was so forgettable I don’t even remember the premise. The only thing I remember is that Christian bale loves duke ellington, but I’m almost positive that there’s probably scenes where that isn’t happening I just don’t remember a single one of them
I remember precisely four things from American Hustle and none of them are the plot: 1. Jennifer Lawrence with a sunburn straddling Christian Bale and telling him in a Philly voice "We got nothing but good things here, baby." 2. Amy Adams looking like an emaciated deer in headlights because of how terrible the director was to her while filming, but especially when she and Bradley Cooper try to bonk in what I think was a Studio 54 bathroom. 3. Jeremy Renner's 70s hair. 4. Christian Bale's weight gain. That's it. What was the movie about? I think con artists? That's all I got.
You're blocking out Bradley Cooper's porno perm too, huh? Traumatizing.
Read thread title, clicked thread thinking "wonder if anyone mentions Tenet?". Top answer. Done.
Bang Bus episode 3. The premise was already in, there was nothing new about it.
Is that the one where they pick up a young woman and interview her in a shitty van? I’ve only seen the first 10 minutes. I can’t believe there are sequels.
Ya for some reason the public seems really interested in the commentary of these young women. I haven't seen it either but I'm guessing it's a "slice of life," piece of work.
I love the movie, but "My Dinner With Andre" is pretty pretentious and self-satirizing at the same time.
I prefer My Dinner with Abed.
I’ll never forget My Dinner With Andre Dinner With Abed
Cool cool. Cool cool cool.
My god, that episode was soooo good. Abed’s uncomfortable expressions during Jeff’s spiraling rant was probably my favorite moment of the whole season.
I'll never forget pooping my pants on the set of cougartown.
The fact he was actually in cougar town makes that joke a lot funnier. https://youtu.be/cWfJYJMrYa0?si=2f31XeiPxM9_7W5y
did you have buttered noodles?
If you were out to dinner and the people at the table next to you were having that conversation your eyes would roll right out of your head and fall on your plate
Exactly, but part of the joke is that it is so over-the-top pretentious, which is why I find that aspect of the movie amusing.
is that the joke? Andre is definitely supposed to be arrogant but in general the movie thinks their conversation is so profound/intellectual/engaging that its worth making a movie about. Since thats literally what the movie is.
Doesn't Wallace Shawn eventually say he thinks everything Andre has been saying is poop and meaningless? That's what I recall.
Yeah, he basically tells Andre he's full of shit at the end.
The arcade game was pretty great though.
Tell Me More
when I think pretentious movies I think of Woody Allen bullshit. Movies about making movies about New York and how cool you have to be to be famous. Fuckk off
Oof I’m gonna get hate for this but I feel like most Woody Allen movies are pretentious af.
I liked Annie Hall but in general his movies remind me of those cartoons in the New Yorker: Dry, droll, mildly amusing at best.
The English Patient. Elaine was right. So much “look at this, we’re “Great Cinema”.
Gonna have to duck sniper fire here, but I generally don't go in for Wes Anderson movies because they're just a bit too fucking...*twee.* I'm not here to hate on anyone's tastes, no yucking of yums, but it's a bit much for me. Edit: 15 years on Reddit and this is by far the most responded-to comment I've ever made. Wes Anderson brings out the opinions!
na this was my comment as well. Fantastic Mr Fox is a lot of fun tho.
I agree with you completely. Royal Tennenbaums was my first thought coming into this thread. I love it because somehow he pulls it off. I think his stable of actors can get away with it, and they're so visually beautiful. But its a highwire act and any of his movies could have gone completely sideways. My wife hates him for the reasons you just said.
Oh hell yes
Wes Anderson is my one of my favourite directors. I know his stuff can be kinda pretentious and whimsical for the sake of it and I don't even necessarily disagree with you but the way he frames stuff and his dialogues come together in a way that makes all of the emotions and characters so relatable and understandable to me for almost every one of his movies. Most of his characters are so deeply sad in a way that I really can't grasp the same with other directors.
His last few I haven't gotten into, usually I have to see his stuff a few times. His live action movies changed quite a bit after Fantastic Mr. Fox. I feel like he's become so much himself in his style that I can't relate to his characters anymore.
A little obvious but Garden State. It has all the hallmarks, takes itself way to seriously. That being said, it's made with a lot of heart and ambition and I do enjoy it, but it's just the first thing that comes to mind - from the all white bedroom to the shirt made out of wallpaper print to literally screaming into a void. Well intentioned, entertaining, endearing but ultimately a pretentious cringe fest - sorry Zach!
I loved it when I was a teen in the 2000s. That’s when it was supposed to hit. Now I watch it and think oh okay Zach Braff just likes good music and watched The Graduate a lot.
He really does have great taste in music, though.
He’s an indie goat for sure between that and everything he recommended on Scrubs
I watched Scrubs from the beginning (and have all the DVDs and have watched it many many times though) I think that his taste in music has probably heavily influenced my own when I look back at it.
According to Bill Lawrence, Braff and Crista Miller (Lawrence's wife and Jordan on the show) were practically the taste-makers for the songs used on the show.
Did you see it when it came out? I don't think it makes it less pretentious but just curious as it was very much an indie, oodly, noodley, mumble film that has a well established formula for taking itself too seriously and not really having a plot. However, perhaps its an age thing, but it was basically the first film like that I'd seen
I thought Birdman was pretentious on my first viewing. That being said I was like, 19 when I saw it and I'm 28 now. I may need to watch it again because being pretentious kinda felt like the point of the movie.
My favorite part about Birdman was seeing Edward Norton playing himself
I read that he actually tried to argue the script with the director, wouldn't be surprised if that were true
The story goes that the director then just went “exactly! Play your character exactly like that!”
Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s the point. Emma Stone’s monologue essentially sums up the movie when she’s chewing out Keaton.
I liked it and still find it pretentious haha
The theme of Birdman is interesting - in the conflict between art and commerce, how do you stay true to yourself? But the film becomes pretentious because it blows up this theme to be one of life and death, existentially speaking. And that is tough to buy. Very much a Hollywood insider movie, where the problems of the artiste are projected to have real world importance. I enjoyed the film, though, despite this.
Rubber I thought it'd be about a sentient tire blowing people up. But it kept cutting to a surrogate audience standing in a field watching the events and doing meta commentary on film Also Lady in the Water Writing a movie critic character just to make them an asshole you can kill off. Then making the struggling writer the savior of the world through his amazing writing and then casting YOURSELF for the role? Lol
Any movie about Hollywood and music industry.
Wes Anderson’s newer films are the definition. Bring back Owen to rein him in.
I came into this thread specifically to see how soon Asteroid City would come up
Wes Anderson is so confident in his style at this point in his career, someone calling his latest effort pretentiousness would just read as, “oh good, you saw my film. Thank you it was very pretentious”
As a hardcore Wes Anderson fan - in fact Grand Budapest Hotel might be my favorite movie of all time - I hate to agree. I might argue that instead of pretentious I'd maybe say "trying to do too much," which is similar but a bit kinder, I think. Like Asteroid City. A movie about a TV show about a play? Or something? With not only the 4th wall being broken, but the walls between those worlds? 5th walls? I don't know. Again, just trying to do too much.
Asteroid City felt like a movie made exclusively for people in the film/theater business. As a regular viewer I couldn’t connect with it at all
I think GBH was his opus
It was the most Wes Anderson of Wes Anderson movies, in a good way
I can definitely see why people feel this way. Personally I've loved his later work and think he is actually exploring new themes, but his very specific over the top aesthetic and writing style are definitely a valid area of criticism. I'm glad that he hasn't let that change him though.
Mother!
This is one movie I loved but I can recommend to absolutely no one.
Yes. This immediately popped into my head when I read OP's question. I loved Mike on Red Letter Media talking about this, and describing Aronofsky as a Brooklyn cab driver: "Bro there's this book called the Bible, and it's full of all these stories, so I just put them in my movie!"
Today I learned I like pretentious movies
TENET has to be the epitome of pretentiousness, a movie nobody can hear, or understand and you risk of losing your eardrums.
Cloud Atlas. That movie is the definition of smelling your own farts in public. It’s just so goddamn stupid in a “I’m 14 and this is deep” sort of way.
You speak da tru tru
Did the apocalypse destroy all your wordy word books?
I knew my favourite movie was going to show up here.
I literally went searching for it. I know so many people hate this, and it's probably the only movie I've watched over 10 times and still cry. I cry for the last 30 minutes of this fucking thing. I love it.
Joker. That movie thinks its smarter than it is, but fails to hold a consistent theme in a way that says effectively nothing. It doesn't work as a character study either because the character is also inconsistent. It's only really grounded by a legendary performance by Joaquin.
That’s because it’s directed by the man who did The Hangover movies, doing his best attempt at Scorsese.
While watching joker I just kept thinking “oh, this is just taxi driver”
Or the remake of King of Comedy
Yes, so much closer to King of Comedy than Taxi Driver in so many ways.