What films have you watched recently?

guitargeek62 · August 2023

ICBM said:

Don’t Look Up

Black satire with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett and Mark Rylance. An imminent extinction-level comet impact is basically a stand-in for climate change.

I’d missed this at the time, but it seems possibly even more relevant now, given the current wildfire and ocean temperature situation.

Terrifyingly brilliant and perceptive. Streep and Blanchett in particular are outstanding, DiCaprio and Lawrence are excellent, Rylance is creepily good, the rest of the cast are note-perfect too, the plot and script are superbly sharp, the CGI space stuff is spot on and even the science isn’t far off the mark.

Up there with Dr. Strangelove. We’re probably doomed as a species.

10/10

(Netflix)

Come now, it's an absolutely appalling film that happens to be based on an unfortunately real prospect. Idiocracy was a much better satire of present-day politics, mass media, and celebrity-culture.

2/10 from me.

Offset · August 2023

guitargeek62 said:

ICBM said:

Don’t Look Up

Black satire with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett and Mark Rylance. An imminent extinction-level comet impact is basically a stand-in for climate change.

I’d missed this at the time, but it seems possibly even more relevant now, given the current wildfire and ocean temperature situation.

Terrifyingly brilliant and perceptive. Streep and Blanchett in particular are outstanding, DiCaprio and Lawrence are excellent, Rylance is creepily good, the rest of the cast are note-perfect too, the plot and script are superbly sharp, the CGI space stuff is spot on and even the science isn’t far off the mark.

Up there with Dr. Strangelove. We’re probably doomed as a species.

10/10

(Netflix)

Come now, it's an absolutely appalling film that happens to be based on an unfortunately real prospect. Idiocracy was a much better satire of present-day politics, mass media, and celebrity-culture.

2/10 from me.

I agree with your synopsis and rating. I found it borderline unwatchable. Still, it gives an interesting insight into how differently some of us view the same film.

Chalky · August 2023

Don't Look Now - if it matches your political and social viewpoint, you'll love it. If it doesn't, then you won't. On a pure entertainment level, it has very little to offer.

Winny_Pooh · August 2023

Purely based on entertainment value, Don't look up was funny, just not that funny. 6/10

Winny_Pooh · August 2023

Rewatched:

Nightcrawler

Nearly flawless as thrillers go. Socially and psychogically aware. Compelling acting, set pieces and a lean smart script.

9/10

Offset · August 2023

Brooklyn 45 (2023) Prime

This is a supernatural drama set at the end of WW2. Four military vets meet at the Brooklyn apartment of their CO for drinks. Joining them is the civvy husband of one.

'Hock', their CO (played by the excellent Larry Fessenden), reveals he has turned to spiritualism to contact his deceased wife who recently committed suicide. As the reasons for her taking her own life are revealed, Hock admits he dismissed her fears and now wishes to contact her to seek forgiveness. It's quickly revealed that the real reason he invited his friends over was to conduct a seance. As the evening unravels, dark secrets surrounding those present are revealed; tragedy ensues and deep-rooted prejudices emerge. That's all I can reveal about the plot :-)

This is a really fantastic little movie. Largely shot in the main room of the apartment it's well acted, nicely paced and has a clever plot. Whilst initially important, the supernatural element almost becomes incidental to the storyline which ends up being more about the darker, unexpected side of humanity. The era is captured nicely as well and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Recommended.

9.5/10

boogieman · August 2023

Firstly, I’ll point out this was my sister in law’s choice, but actually none of us (Bro and sis in law, plus the missus and myself) were in the mood for watching anything too heavy or meaningful.

Ticket to Paradise. George Clooney and Julia Roberts in a cheesy romcom where they play a bitterly divorced couple who have to fly out to Bali because their daughter has decided to marry a local guy after a holiday fling. The plot is so transparent you can guess the ending about 10 minutes in…at a guess it was written by a 14 year. Clooney is so annoyingly smug throughout that I felt like punching him, while Roberts is just plain annoying. It’s all set in a totally unrealistic, rose tinted perfect place complete with beautiful sunsets, cute children, funny dolphins and happy smiling natives.

Unless you’re into large doses of saccharine schmaltz, avoid.

breakstuff · August 2023

boogieman said:

Firstly, I’ll point out this was my sister in law’s choice, but actually none of us (Bro and sis in law, plus the missus and myself) were in the mood for watching anything too heavy or meaningful.

Ticket to Paradise. George Clooney and Julia Roberts in a cheesy romcom where they play a bitterly divorced couple who have to fly out to Bali because their daughter has decided to marry a local guy after a holiday fling. The plot is so transparent you can guess the ending about 10 minutes in…at a guess it was written by a 14 year. Clooney is so annoyingly smug throughout that I felt like punching him, while Roberts is just plain annoying. It’s all set in a totally unrealistic, rose tinted perfect place complete with beautiful sunsets, cute children, funny dolphins and happy smiling natives.

Unless you’re into large doses of saccharine schmaltz, avoid.

Not that I'd watch it anyway as I hate romcoms, but that does sound particularly horrific. A movie for the Instagram generation by the sounds of it

Offset · August 2023

Casino (1995) Prime.

Scorsese. Crime. De Niro. Pesci. Stone.

10/10.

Philly_Q · August 2023

Killer Book Club (Netflix)

Extremely generic slasher in the Scream/I Know What You Did Last Summer mould. Not absolutely intolerable, but really not worth watching. I've saved you the trouble.

There was one point of note, it's a Spanish film - in Spanish, although an English dub is available - but all the on-screen text on phones, computer screens etc is in English. If I was a Spanish viewer I think that would piss me off quite a bit.

SpoonMan · August 2023

I quite enjoyed 'Don't Look Up!'.
Obviously OTT and comical but still quite on the point and clever. Some great characters and an unusual style, which I can understand some not liking.
I agree with @ICBM though that there was a very worrying/anxious element in that the "hero's" just found themselves banging their heads against a brick wall.

I liked the bit about the general lying about the snacks

I'd certainly say it's worth a watch if you are at all into that kind of thing, but don't expect any revelations or mind-blowing insight. It just ripps the piss out of western/American society, politics and media.

Pjon · August 2023

Chalky said:

Don't Look Now - if it matches your political and social viewpoint, you'll love it. If it doesn't, then you won't. On a pure entertainment level, it has very little to offer.

I'm guessing you meant Don't Look Up, but I watched Don't Look Now (1973) a few months ago. I remember my mother saying how creepy she found it. It was very much of it's time, rather melodramatic and ended in a borderline Hammer climax, I thought. Sutherland and Christie are always watchable but I can't say that I'll get flashbacks if I ever visit Venice, or see small children in red raincoats!

Philly_Q · August 2023

Pjon said:

Chalky said:

Don't Look Now - if it matches your political and social viewpoint, you'll love it. If it doesn't, then you won't. On a pure entertainment level, it has very little to offer.

I'm guessing you meant Don't Look Up, but I watched Don't Look Now (1973) a few months ago. I remember my mother saying how creepy she found it. It was very much of it's time, rather melodramatic and ended in a borderline Hammer climax, I thought. Sutherland and Christie are always watchable but I can't say that I'll get flashbacks if I ever visit Venice, or see small children in red raincoats!

Wow, I still find it very disturbing and I think it's aged well. It's an absolute classic.

boogieman · August 2023

The Deepest Breath. Really intense and extremely moving film about free diving, even more so for being a true story. Definitely don’t watch it if you’re feeling down but it’s a great film.

Stratavarious · August 2023

Thirteen Days

Never clocked this film before. About the Cuban Missile Crisis and set in the Whitehouse. Made in 2020.

Just good solid cinema, well paced with decent level of drama. Apparently much of the script was based on actual tape recordings of Whitehouse meetings,

A nice find… 8/10

rze99 · August 2023

Storyville iHuman

BBC film/Documentary. 95 mins iPlayer

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006mfx6/storyville

Thought provoking insights and interviews with leaders in the field of AI. There some beautiful images and graphics alongside some genuinely startling insights into the minds of those exploring the capabilities of AI, their reasoning and their perspective on the intended and unintended human impacts of applying AI to our lives. The section on the Chinese state's application of social technology is disturbing. There is more that I wish they'd included - dilemmas in AI decision making in automated vehicles, grafting of AI into pigs, etc. but this is otherwise an excellent and visually appealing summary of where we are.

Recommended 7/10

Also recommended

Slaughterbots
Short dystopian fake documentary on AI weaponry. Anyone following the Ukraine war or where USA big tech contracts are going will find this a bit too real.

SPECTRUM001 · August 2023

Shrews said:

Hannah and her Sisters

I love Woody Allen. Manhattan amd Annie Hall are two of my favourite films. But this one sent me to sleep. Had no charm, the comedy was poor and I just wanted to slap Woody around his weedy chops for making such drivel.

2/10

Ha - a good testament to why differing opinion is so valuable ! Mine’s a slightly different take -

Hannah and her Sisters

For me this is one of Woody Allen’s last great films (though Manhattan Murder Mystery was a hoot, and somehow predated an internet generation’s obsession with sleuthing).

Michael Caine, Mia Farrow and Barbara Hershey are all outstanding, but Diane Wiest - what a performance ! The film is affluent and steeped with luxury but is pure escapism, and definitely worth watching during the Christmas hols.

Woody plays his usual paranoid schizoid Creative, but takes a backseat to allow the central characters a little more room - and it really does work. Marriage, Divorce, Infidelity and Guilt are all explored en masse, alongside the utter pain of love. The comedy is less slapstick and more middle class, but actually very subtle.

In some ways all very twee, but I forgive it, as the film is so damn watchable (unless you can’t stand Woody Allen - in which case it is over-indulgent tripe).

In my top five Woody Allen flicks - 9/10

LionAquaLooper · August 2023

Meg 2.
What a piece. Of. Shit.

Philly_Q · August 2023

I desperately want to see Slotherhouse.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/aug/30/slotherhouse-movie-review-killer-sloth

Offset · August 2023

Philly_Q said:

I desperately want to see Slotherhouse.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/aug/30/slotherhouse-movie-review-killer-sloth

Nooooooo...

stufisher · September 2023

Apologies ... not been on this thread for ages so I may be stating the obvious.

Just watched Green Book again ... hadn't seen since its release ... fantastic movie and based on a true story.

It has great relevance to many discussions in this forum ... music, racism, class, dilemma, people.

Mortenssen plays a blinder!

stufisher · September 2023

BTW ... it'll be on BBC iPlayer

Brio · September 2023

Meg 2.
Great. Like the first but they realised we want to see more gratuitous comedy deaths.
perfect brain off viewing. 2/10.

Blueingreen · September 2023

SPECTRUM001 said:

Shrews said:

Hannah and her Sisters

I love Woody Allen. Manhattan amd Annie Hall are two of my favourite films. But this one sent me to sleep. Had no charm, the comedy was poor and I just wanted to slap Woody around his weedy chops for making such drivel.

2/10

Ha - a good testament to why differing opinion is so valuable ! Mine’s a slightly different take -

Hannah and her Sisters

For me this is one of Woody Allen’s last great films (though Manhattan Murder Mystery was a hoot, and somehow predated an internet generation’s obsession with sleuthing).

Michael Caine, Mia Farrow and Barbara Hershey are all outstanding, but Diane Wiest - what a performance ! The film is affluent and steeped with luxury but is pure escapism, and definitely worth watching during the Christmas hols.

Woody plays his usual paranoid schizoid Creative, but takes a backseat to allow the central characters a little more room - and it really does work. Marriage, Divorce, Infidelity and Guilt are all explored en masse, alongside the utter pain of love. The comedy is less slapstick and more middle class, but actually very subtle.

In some ways all very twee, but I forgive it, as the film is so damn watchable (unless you can’t stand Woody Allen - in which case it is over-indulgent tripe).

In my top five Woody Allen flicks - 9/10

Pretty much agree with that. For me his most enjoyable film, even if Annie Hall possibly pips it as his best. My only problem is that I’ve seen it too often - I haven’t watched it for ages and quite probably won’t again.

rze99 · September 2023

Life
Space thriller/horror movie 2017
Film 4

The crew of an ISS are tasked with retrieving and then analysing Martian material samples from a recovered and damaged explorer craft before returning to Earth.

In the Martian samples there is a minute seemingly organic item, One of the crew tries harder to get it to grow than perhaps is wise.

No spoilers but if you like Alien and Gravity (like I do) you'll enjoy the ride, though the movie is not as good as either not least due to the numerous logic, plot and continuity holes as well as distinct borrowings from predecessors.

Strong performances from Rebecca Ferguson and Jake Gyllenhaal especially and the odd twist here and there keep you fairly well hooked and the FX are well rendered.

I didn't know much about this at all and I didn't look up reviews except scores and it was all the better for it.

Enjoyable but derivative romp. Crack the popcorn but it might not taste the same all the way to the end.

6.510

boogieman · September 2023

LionAquaLooper said:

Meg 2.
What a piece. Of. Shit.

Given the first one was an absolute screaming pile of shite, why expect anything different?

I flew back home yesterday and watched a couple of films on the way.

Banshees of Innisheran. Gentle paced and whimsical at first but it slowly develops quite an undercurrent of violence, something that I wasn't expecting at all. Nicely filmed and superbly acted by all, but especially the two leads. I really got pulled in. Excellent.

Men. Folk horror film, which I usually enjoy. This is a modern tale of a woman, who’s had some trauma in her life, going to stay at a rambling country house to recover. Quite corny in places, almost edging on comedy, especially some of the characters like the letch vicar and the Tim Nice But Dim landlord, but it gradually develops a good bit of tension and an unsettling atmosphere with some definite touches of the BBC MR James stories about it. (Which is no bad thing). The ending’s very odd and the special FX are really overly-ladled on at this point, but overall I quite liked it. Worth a watch, even though it’s no Wicker Man.

Haych · September 2023

I’ve been away so have seen quite a few recently.

A Man Called Otto

Really touching story and a better film than I expected, 8/10

Dungeons and Dragons

Again, far better than I expected, well made and quite funny. Highly entertaining. 7/10

Bohemian Rhapsody

Mixed feelings about this one. I’m not a Queen/Mercury aficionado but felt like it skimmed the surface of both stories and I didn’t like Remi Malek’s portrayal of Freddie - he still seemed to be doing his Bond villain character to me. Where did they get the Brian May clone though!! 6/10

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Meh, typical teen action thing. 5/10

Minions: The Rise of Gru

Brilliant fun, fantastic movie, loved it. 9/10

Behind Enemy Lines

Good movie, wrong actor. Owen Wilson just isn’t convincing in this true story action film, otherwise quite a good film. 7/10

Chalky · September 2023

Philly_Q said:

Pjon said:

Chalky said:

Don't Look Now - if it matches your political and social viewpoint, you'll love it. If it doesn't, then you won't. On a pure entertainment level, it has very little to offer.

I'm guessing you meant Don't Look Up, but I watched Don't Look Now (1973) a few months ago. I remember my mother saying how creepy she found it. It was very much of it's time, rather melodramatic and ended in a borderline Hammer climax, I thought. Sutherland and Christie are always watchable but I can't say that I'll get flashbacks if I ever visit Venice, or see small children in red raincoats!

Wow, I still find it very disturbing and I think it's aged well. It's an absolute classic.

Yes I meant Don't Look Up. I remember back in the 70s seeing Don't Look Now with a girl and we enjoyed the famous sex scene. But the shock scene rather put the damper on things for both of us!

Offset · September 2023

Lansky (2021) Netflix

Harney Keitel stars as Meyer Lansky, the notorious mob boss and head of a huge gambling empire. Now retired and in his old age, Lansky hires a formerly successful but now-struggling writer to document his remarkable life. Meanwhile however, said writer has been forced to work for the FBI who want one last shot at getting their hands on Lansky's ill-gotten gains.

This is a tour-de-force performance from Keitel. Although the elderly Lansky appears charming and is obviously extremely astute, Keitel manages to imbue a totally ruthless core into his character. It really is a great piece of acting as he also manages to make the ageing mobster likeable. The flashbacks to his early life and subsequent career show him for what he really was however - a man driven by money and power who would do whatever it took to achieve both.

I was rooted to this film from start to finish. It is not without its' faults - some of the flashback sequences feel a little flimsy and rushed, and Bugsy Siegel's character is pure cliche. However Keitel's mesmeric performance makes up for these shortcomings and I found the whole thing thoroughly enjoyable.

Keitel - 10/10
Overall - 8/10

Winny_Pooh · September 2023

Gaurdians of the galaxy 3

Maybe I'm over Marvel movies but the formula is wearing thin. On paper, it's visually compelling, has character development etc but not that fun compared to the first movie. Also has some confusing ethics about who's good/bad & who dies and lives.

5.5/10

You hurt my feelings

A kinda neo-Woody Allen movie but less obviously laugh out loud. A pleasant laid back watch for you and a significant female other.

7/10

Incredible but true (on MUBI)

Quirky, darkly amusing, odd but light hearted too.

7/10

And for all of you interested in MUBI, it's worth doing for a month and bingeing the good stuff:

Decision to Leave - Brilliant thriller
10/10 !!!
Cold war - romantic and dark Soviet era drama
9/10
Toni Erdmann - funny, warm, quirky, thoughful
10/10
Bacurau - violent, empathetic, neo-western vibes in Brazil
8/10
The perverts guide to ideology - cool doc about movies itself with that old weirdo Zizek
7.5/10
Fantastic Mr Fox
8/10
Shiva Baby - ascerbic, witty
7.5/10
Bergman Island - for fans of Bergman and female writer directors, meditative, relational.
8/10
The worst person in the world - romantic, slightly sad and exuberant too.
8/10
Big short
8/19
Force majeure - European dark satire at it's best
9/10
Oldboy
8/10
Paris Texas
8/10

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