Good films I watched this weekend (Vol 2)
Discussion
Inherent Vice - really enjoyed but glad I watched the review on Film 2015 first, which warned that there was no point trying to follow the investigation plot, an art house version of American Hustle, with a lot of dope smoking including the director I suspect, great visuals and music, and some very funny quirky humour. And Joaquín Phoenix is excellent 8/10
Shaun the sheep - charming and very clever, but not as good for adults as I was expecting but great for kids, I would not bother going on my own but 7/10
Shaun the sheep - charming and very clever, but not as good for adults as I was expecting but great for kids, I would not bother going on my own but 7/10
Veeayt said:
Birdman - so great. A film where actors can actually act, with a story that can't be simply invented. 10/10
10/10 for the acting for sure. Saw it last night having heard next to nothing about it. Really don't think there was a bad performance in it. Story would be spoilt by talking about it..Maps to the Stars
Just came out on Blu-ray/DVD this week, so I thought I'd give it a review.
I'm a fan of David Cronenburg (Videodrome, Existenz, The Fly, Crash, History of Violence, Eastern Promises).
My best description is that he produces 'nasty little films' that have very 'dark' feeling, a particular topic, and particular scenes that will stick with you for hours/years after the film's finished.
That said, some of his most recent films, Cosmopolis and A Dangerous Method have been 'meh' at best.
The film follows a web of characters in Hollywood. A child film star and his parents (John Cusack father who is a motivational speaker), Julianne Moore who is an ageing actress, a chauffeur played by Robert Pattinson, and Mia Wasikowska who is an 18 year old trying to get a job in Hollywood.
She succeeds, being a 'chore w
e' for Moore. You then find there are a lot more to the connections between the characters. Carrie Fisher plays herself for 60 seconds. Her role is certainly apt when the secrets of the characters are played out, and her casting must have been deliberate.
Was it good? The acting's superb. It's also almost like 'Cronenburg goes David Lynch' at times. If you like their work, you'll probably like this. If you're looking for a Hollywood blockbuster, you'll likely dislike it. The stories and undertones are underplayed here, and the style is not for everyone.
For everyone who'll give it an 8, two more will give it a 5.
But an 8 from me.
Just came out on Blu-ray/DVD this week, so I thought I'd give it a review.
I'm a fan of David Cronenburg (Videodrome, Existenz, The Fly, Crash, History of Violence, Eastern Promises).
My best description is that he produces 'nasty little films' that have very 'dark' feeling, a particular topic, and particular scenes that will stick with you for hours/years after the film's finished.
That said, some of his most recent films, Cosmopolis and A Dangerous Method have been 'meh' at best.
The film follows a web of characters in Hollywood. A child film star and his parents (John Cusack father who is a motivational speaker), Julianne Moore who is an ageing actress, a chauffeur played by Robert Pattinson, and Mia Wasikowska who is an 18 year old trying to get a job in Hollywood.
She succeeds, being a 'chore w
e' for Moore. You then find there are a lot more to the connections between the characters. Carrie Fisher plays herself for 60 seconds. Her role is certainly apt when the secrets of the characters are played out, and her casting must have been deliberate.Was it good? The acting's superb. It's also almost like 'Cronenburg goes David Lynch' at times. If you like their work, you'll probably like this. If you're looking for a Hollywood blockbuster, you'll likely dislike it. The stories and undertones are underplayed here, and the style is not for everyone.
For everyone who'll give it an 8, two more will give it a 5.
But an 8 from me.Psychobert said:
10/10 for the acting for sure. Saw it last night having heard next to nothing about it. Really don't think there was a bad performance in it. Story would be spoilt by talking about it..
I've read trivia for it, and it says that since most of the filming were done in long takes, both Norton and Keaton mantained a list of the actors who made the most mistakes during it. Turns out (unsurprisingly) it was Emma Stone.Ex Mechanica
About time we had a 9/10 from me but I thought it was brilliant.
Last week, a g/f mentioned she had just seen it, enjoyed every moment and I replied that the trailer had me hooked and had to see it. For me the next big question was <PH mode on> Does he or doesn't he (?) cos the robot looked like she had all the kit, but she wouldn't tell me. Naturally there is a lot more going on.
No Spoiler - just go an see it and stay with it.
Oh and the scenery is spectacular too.
Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoQuVnKhxaM
About time we had a 9/10 from me but I thought it was brilliant.
Last week, a g/f mentioned she had just seen it, enjoyed every moment and I replied that the trailer had me hooked and had to see it. For me the next big question was <PH mode on> Does he or doesn't he (?) cos the robot looked like she had all the kit, but she wouldn't tell me. Naturally there is a lot more going on.
No Spoiler - just go an see it and stay with it.
Oh and the scenery is spectacular too.
Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoQuVnKhxaM
BryanC said:
Ex Mechanica
About time we had a 9/10 from me but I thought it was brilliant.
Last week, a g/f mentioned she had just seen it, enjoyed every moment and I replied that the trailer had me hooked and had to see it. For me the next big question was <PH mode on> Does he or doesn't he (?) cos the robot looked like she had all the kit, but she wouldn't tell me. Naturally there is a lot more going on.
No Spoiler - just go an see it and stay with it.
Oh and the scenery is spectacular too.
Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoQuVnKhxaM
Agreed, very good film. Very atmospheric and has a good breathing pace.About time we had a 9/10 from me but I thought it was brilliant.
Last week, a g/f mentioned she had just seen it, enjoyed every moment and I replied that the trailer had me hooked and had to see it. For me the next big question was <PH mode on> Does he or doesn't he (?) cos the robot looked like she had all the kit, but she wouldn't tell me. Naturally there is a lot more going on.
No Spoiler - just go an see it and stay with it.
Oh and the scenery is spectacular too.
Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoQuVnKhxaM
Veeayt said:
I've read trivia for it, and it says that since most of the filming were done in long takes, both Norton and Keaton mantained a list of the actors who made the most mistakes during it. Turns out (unsurprisingly) it was Emma Stone.
I'm going to have to catch up on a couple of Bafta winners as the acting in Birdman was mostly very good. Couple of older movies I've seen recently that I've not seen in the thread so far, (but in fairness I haven't read the whole thread yet)..
Serenity and Judge Dredd, (not the Sly version) - both entertaining sic-fi rambles..
I'm sure Pan's Labyrinth will have had a mention here for good or bad, but I liked it..
Pi (1998 version) is worth a look. I remember really liking it when I saw it years ago.. Must try to find it again..
Midnight in the garden of good and evil.
Stuck in a hotel last week with slow internet and 5 channels I watched this.
Enjoyed it. Something a bit different having never heard of it so not knowing what it was about and no internet to check I ended up watching the whole thing it finished at about 2am.
7/10
Stuck in a hotel last week with slow internet and 5 channels I watched this.
Enjoyed it. Something a bit different having never heard of it so not knowing what it was about and no internet to check I ended up watching the whole thing it finished at about 2am.
7/10
ash73 said:
A couple of notable omissions during the memorial section too.
Bob Hoskins. Who else?I have seen The Theory of Everything and enjoyed it, but I think it is over-rated. The lead performances are good, although interpretations of disability are always praised disproportionately. It was a straightforward, unremarkable biopic of a remarkable man.
I watched Jupiter Rising this weekend and still not sure what to make of it? The film (by the Wichowskis's) was great with the space/off-world visuals (and slightly biased as set in my current hometown of Chicago), but it seemed like it was aimed at young kids regarding the story line and I bet eddie raymayne was slightly regretting it putting in an uncomfortable performance...
6/10 for story, but 10/10 for the visuals (in 3d).
6/10 for story, but 10/10 for the visuals (in 3d).
Alex said:
I have seen The Theory of Everything and enjoyed it, but I think it is over-rated. The lead performances are good, although interpretations of disability are always praised disproportionately. It was a straightforward, unremarkable biopic of a remarkable man.
I agree with this assessment 100%. My wife liked it so I think that highlights the differences in our taste in films. I'd prefer the earlier film about his scientific discoveries and proposals I think. This was more a family drama, albeit about an amazing human being, as you rightly said.Gassing Station | TV, Film, Video Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff