NPR

Fonz wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 5:40 am

EnergiseR2 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 08, 2023 5:39 pm Tenet is amazing. I would expect no less of you and I think you said it was shite previously which means you hadn't even seen it then or was that his other masterpiece Interstellar. I take your point on the lead.

Nolan has a lot of haters for some reason, at least on the internet. I think he shits gold. Still have to see Tenet though, can't help but feel the fact they went with a no-name lead kind of dampened mine (and perhaps others') enthusiasm.

He also has a lot of fanbois, of which I have been one in the past. The Tenet Reddit is full of them.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Oct 31, 2022 7:40 pm I really want to see The Banshees of Inisherin, I like the two main leads, they were terrific in In Bruges - Gleeson is a handy fiddler too, which is always a plus in my book.

I liked his character in Gangs of New York

Beautiful but very somber film. Can't understand people saying it is boring. It is magnificent from start to finish.

I'm with Fester, recent Nolan doesn't impress me. Interstellar's garbage third act and Tenet's inability to make me give a shit about what's going on have poisoned the well, not sure I'll bother with anything of his going forward. Inception was the last film of his I actually liked.

In something of a sop to ER, as much as I love some of the stuff he's produced in that time, Guillermo del Toro hasn't directed anything good since Pan's Labyrinth. I know he loves monsters/horror and wants to protray those things sympathetically, but it mostly just ends up with overwrought dramas in halloween costume. Admittedly, I haven't yet caught up with Nightmare Alley.



Some stuff I watched over the festive period
Death Proof (full cut) - the cut down version in the Grindhouse double feature was kind of directionless until the final car chase, I've always kind of wondered if the full thing would add bits in that improved things. It does not. The car chase is still over-long and not particularly engaging. Garbage film, easily the worst thing Tarantino's ever done and that's coming from a staunch critic of all his other 21st century work.

Scream 5 - wasn't expecting much and it still lived down to those expectations. Nowhere near as amusing as previous installments and really lacking either suspense or gore on the horror side of things. Coming 11 years after the last one you have to assume it was made purely to hang onto the rights.

Kid Detective - decent enough little indie where former town wunderkind Adam Brody has stalled badly in life and just about ekes out a living as a private detective. We follow him stumble through finally unravelling his greatest failure. I think Brody's a really underrated actory and is always a charming screen presence.

Gretel & Hansel - a much darker take on the fairy tale than we traditionally see, probably closer to the original text than most adaptations are in that respect. Leans heavily into the witchiness and struggle of wills between Gretel and the crone who takes the children in. Worth seeing if you like occult horror

Lamb - nothing happens until the last 10 minutes and when it does it's just silly. A crushing disappointment after reading some glowing reviews, but this really fulfils stereotypes about aimless Euro arthouse fare.

Deerskin - Slightly surreal and comedic protrait of a man slowly unravelling in rural France, eventually turning to violence to ensure his deerskin jacket is the only jacket in the world. Unusual role for Jean du Jardin who is excellent.

Sea Fever - solid little horror mostly set on a small Irish fishing boat that strays into a prohibited area of the sea whereupon the crew encounter a hitherto unknown parasite. Being released just before the covid pandemic hit probably did it no favours given its subject, but well worth a watch I'd say.

Rams - having heard about the upcoming re-make starring Sam Neil I thought I'd give the original a try. Sheep farming Icelandic brothers who scarecely speak come into conflict as a discovery threatens their livelihoods and existential purpose. A sparse film that meanders towards its conclusion. Not essential viewing, but definitely something there for those who show an interest in more meditative fare.

Hellraiser - I know it didn't get particularly good reviews and it's not a great film, but it is solid. By the standards of the Hellraiser franchise that's a a fairly glowing endorsement

Event Horizon - A re-watch, they just don't make 'em like this anymore. Absolutely top-notch sc-fi horror. I'd completely forgotten that this was a Paul W.S. Anderson film. That he went from this to a career mostly comprised of dreadful vehicles for his wife (Resident Evil series, Three Musketeers reboot, Monster Hunter ) is a real shame.

I enjoyed The Festival of Troubadours (Asiklar Bayrami) on Netflix. The storyline is a bit cliched - man goes on roadtrip with terminally ill estranged father - but it's nicely shot and the acting is good. The real strengths of the film are that it is set in the less commonly filmed central and eastern parts of Turkey and Turkish traditional folk music plays a strong role, so it was quite novel for me even as someone who watches a fair amount of Turkish cinema.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Oct 31, 2022 7:40 pm I really want to see The Banshees of Inisherin, I like the two main leads, they were terrific in In Bruges - Gleeson is a handy fiddler too, which is always a plus in my book.

I liked his character in Gangs of New York

Me and a pal went into the O'Neills in Mornington Crescent after a Breeders gig at Koko, and he was there in the corner, fiddling away with an Irish folk band. Capped off a very pleasant evening.

The Last Duel
Mad that Scott is still making filums and this isn't bad. I love a medieval swords flick so would watch this anyway booty the 3 perspective structure works quite well and the performances, especially Comer's are excellent.

Another round
I'm not sure there's such a thing as a "bad" Mads Mikkelson filum and based on this, we'll be waiting a while yet for one. Decent, funny and touching. 4 middle aged guys test out a theory that you need to be a little bit sozzled to succeed in life.

Did catch up with Nightmare Alley, wish I hadn't bothered. Another gorgeous del Toro film with entirely unengaging on screen action. Had to pause it and go for a bit of walk round the garden at one point to avoid falling asleep.

EnergiseR2 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 11, 2023 3:47 pm Socks and Fester can suck my tiny cock. Particularly socks as interstellar is a masterpiece

Cut the last third off it and it's a decent watch.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Sun Jan 15, 2023 10:57 pm Another round
I'm not sure there's such a thing as a "bad" Mads Mikkelson filum and based on this, we'll be waiting a while yet for one. Decent, funny and touching. 4 middle aged guys test out a theory that you need to be a little bit sozzled to succeed in life.

Quality flick.

I thought Everything Everywhere was okay, fun, but not much more.

We went to see Tár yesterday, I really enjoyed it, the others in my company thought it okay but far too long (it's 2 hrs 37mins and not an explosion in sight).

White Noise on Netflix is excellent.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:12 am I thought Everything Everywhere was okay, fun, but not much more.

We went to see Tár yesterday, I really enjoyed it, the others in my company thought it okay but far too long (it's 2 hrs 37mins and not an explosion in sight).

White Noise on Netflix is excellent.

it has a 5,7 on IMDB... love it or hate it?!

boere wors wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:36 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:12 am I thought Everything Everywhere was okay, fun, but not much more.

We went to see Tár yesterday, I really enjoyed it, the others in my company thought it okay but far too long (it's 2 hrs 37mins and not an explosion in sight).

White Noise on Netflix is excellent.

it has a 5,7 on IMDB... love it or hate it?!

I won't spoil it by saying too much, other than if someone came to it expecting something in particular, they will be surprised, perhaps disappointed.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:41 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:36 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:12 am I thought Everything Everywhere was okay, fun, but not much more.

We went to see Tár yesterday, I really enjoyed it, the others in my company thought it okay but far too long (it's 2 hrs 37mins and not an explosion in sight).

White Noise on Netflix is excellent.

it has a 5,7 on IMDB... love it or hate it?!

I won't spoil it by saying too much, other than if someone came to it expecting something in particular, they will be surprised, perhaps disappointed.

5.7 is 'festering pile of shite' territory. The reviews on IMDB are relatively consistent in their criticisms.

I generally set 7.0 on IMDB as my low bar for movies.

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:56 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:41 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:36 am

it has a 5,7 on IMDB... love it or hate it?!

I won't spoil it by saying too much, other than if someone came to it expecting something in particular, they will be surprised, perhaps disappointed.

5.7 is 'festering pile of shite' territory. The reviews on IMDB are relatively consistent in their criticisms.

I generally set 7.0 on IMDB as my low bar for movies.

Thats why I am asking. 5.7 is shockingly bad.
And yes, 7.0 is generally the benchmark, especially with newer films. Older films and comedies down to 6,2.

boere wors wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 12:17 pm

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:56 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:41 am


I won't spoil it by saying too much, other than if someone came to it expecting something in particular, they will be surprised, perhaps disappointed.

5.7 is 'festering pile of shite' territory. The reviews on IMDB are relatively consistent in their criticisms.

I generally set 7.0 on IMDB as my low bar for movies.

Thats why I am asking. 5.7 is shockingly bad.
And yes, 7.0 is generally the benchmark, especially with newer films. Older films and comedies down to 6,2.

And any multi-part series (GoT, Breaking Bad etc.) deduct 1.5 to get a useful comparison.

boere wors wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 12:17 pm

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:56 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:41 am


I won't spoil it by saying too much, other than if someone came to it expecting something in particular, they will be surprised, perhaps disappointed.

5.7 is 'festering pile of shite' territory. The reviews on IMDB are relatively consistent in their criticisms.

I generally set 7.0 on IMDB as my low bar for movies.

Thats why I am asking. 5.7 is shockingly bad.
And yes, 7.0 is generally the benchmark, especially with newer films. Older films and comedies down to 6,2.

It was described as an absurdist comedy-drama. It satirises the genre it purports to be.

I enjoyed it, though obviously that is not a universally held opinion.

Avatar: The way of water is just a spectacular watch, even more impressive than the first.
As everyone points out it's really long at 3 hours plus but at no point did it seem padded out. Also includes what I assumed to be Hollywood's version of a big blue Maori tribe who nearly broke into an impromptu haka.
Something for everyone

Watched Prey, the Predator movie that came out last year. Thought it was really good tbh.

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:50 pm Watched Prey, the Predator movie that came out last year. Thought it was really good tbh.

Yes, it's worth watching. There are aspects of it that are fairly predictable but it's still satisfying.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Sun Jan 15, 2023 10:49 pm The Last Duel
Mad that Scott is still making filums and this isn't bad. I love a medieval swords flick so would watch this anyway booty the 3 perspective structure works quite well and the performances, especially Comer's are excellent.

Just watched it this weekend and it is decent. Obviously Comer is the heart of the movie but I thought Matt Damon was also good in his role of being quite the prick.

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:50 pm Watched Prey, the Predator movie that came out last year. Thought it was really good tbh.

Loved it. Keen to watch the Comanche language version too.

Watched RRR the other day. Bollywood-style 3hr+ action epic. It's insane. Quite possibly some sort of nationalist propaganda but holy fuck that film is mad in all the best ways.

There will be blood on the telly last night. What a cracking filum. Still debating what level of humanity Plainview had if any.

Did you find yourself identifying with Plainview ER?

This isn't recent, but I found this at the library the other day. It's a small film, but had me thinking a lot about this real event ... the Germans executing average people in retribution for the assassination of an officer. Messed up situation to be in, wondering did people in that situation just give up or hope there'd be a last-minute reprieve? Why not make a break for it or try and take someone down with you if death is inevitable? But I especially had thoughts about the amount of French police/officials complicit in it (if movie events were depicted as history played out).

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 3:30 pm

boere wors wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 12:17 pm

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:56 am
5.7 is 'festering pile of shite' territory. The reviews on IMDB are relatively consistent in their criticisms.

I generally set 7.0 on IMDB as my low bar for movies.

Thats why I am asking. 5.7 is shockingly bad.
And yes, 7.0 is generally the benchmark, especially with newer films. Older films and comedies down to 6,2.

It was described as an absurdist comedy-drama. It satirises the genre it purports to be.

I enjoyed it, though obviously that is not a universally held opinion.

Catching up with this thread...

I enjoyed it. It's definitely 'out there' so it's going to challenge the square box types but it's different and takes some entertaining turns. Possibly a bit long but I'll qualify that in saying my viewing times align with fatigue filled days off and rugged sleeping patterns.

It's definitely not festering pile of shit material. Some people just prefer shiny things and explosions.

Everything everywhere all at once, decent but has more plots holes than a Swiss cheese.6.5/10
White Noise was a bit too artsy for my liking.5.7/10

Me and the family are having a bit of a Musical theme atm for our family viewing.
Must say my favourite is Hairspray closely followed by Les Mis.
Little Shop of Horrors with the alt ending is good as well.

Niegs wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 12:54 am This isn't recent, but I found this at the library the other day. It's a small film, but had me thinking a lot about this real event ... the Germans executing average people in retribution for the assassination of an officer. Messed up situation to be in, wondering did people in that situation just give up or hope there'd be a last-minute reprieve? Why not make a break for it or try and take someone down with you if death is inevitable? But I especially had thoughts about the amount of French police/officials complicit in it (if movie events were depicted as history played out).

Probably a subject for another thread but nobody really knows how they'll react in such a position until they are in it and most seem to go very meekly.

Netflix had a documentary on Einsatzgruppen units and the atrocities they carried out. Had to stop after a few episodes but it was striking how compliant the victims were. For the Babi Yar massacre, victims had to lie down on top of previous victims so they could be shot. The episode I stopped at detailed how mothers in Estonia had to hold their children over their heads to make it easier for the executioners to shoot them.

Don't think it's healthy to think too deeply on such things.

Stumbled upon this. A great courtroom drama centred on the Korean War.

EnergiseR2 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 30, 2023 12:09 am Watched Everything etc. Its diverting but it's straight up badly directed. It's what you would expect if normal people like you or me tried to make a Christopher Nolan film. You'd get your mate in and call yourself the Daniels. It's actually quite depressing to think it's going to win the big one when it's so average. Its got far too much going on and it doesn't join up as they lose control. The acting is ropey as fuck sometimes probably as the actors haven't a fucking clue what's going on but also because some of them are just a bit shite like Temple of Doom boy. I really can't think why it's taken off. The fact it has all the Chinese lads we loved over the years in it? Is that it?

Not that I've seen it, but I gather it has the whole multi-dimension thing going on and it released at the same time the most recent Dr. Strange film was covering similar ground. A lot of critics seemed to be falling over themselves to make comparisons and sneer at the latter, holding up the former as an indie film doing a topic better than the mighty House of Mouse. Marvel films are on a popularity dip and there's a bunch of industry types ready and waiting to put the boot in. If nothing else, the two so often being mentioned together has vastly inflated the profile of Everything.

We Watched "Tell No One" on Prime last night.

I wasn't expecting much as I hadn't heard of it but it was really good. It's a French thriller in which Dr Alexandre Beck is mourning his murdered wife when discovery of two bodies near where she was killed eight years before throws up some suspicions on the doc. Mysterious emails throw him into further confusion.

Worth a watch.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:14 am We Watched "Tell No One" on Prime last night.

I wasn't expecting much as I hadn't heard of it but it was really good. It's a French thriller in which Dr Alexandre Beck is mourning his murdered wife when discovery of two bodies near where she was killed eight years before throws up some suspicions on the doc. Mysterious emails throw him into further confusion.

Worth a watch.

Actually watched that a few months ago, enjoyed it a lot

We watched You People, the new Netflix romantic comedy with Jonah Hill last night. It is generally unfun. I expected there to be ample grounds for comedy with the Jewish family/Black Muslim family setup but there were too few jokes and I spent most of it thinking that Americans are just nuts about race.

robmatic wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 11:06 am We watched You People, the new Netflix romantic comedy with Jonah Hill last night. It is generally unfun. I expected there to be ample grounds for comedy with the Jewish family/Black Muslim family setup but there were too few jokes and I spent most of it thinking that Americans are just nuts about race.

Yup, pretty much what I thought too, though I did laugh a couple of times.

I also thought that the painting in Eddie Murphy's attic must be in a hell of a state.

Spielberg was better when he just did action. His "auteur" filums are fücking painful and Jesus, his go at middle Eastern politics (Munich) was genuinely dangerous.

Watched the new Black Panther film tonight.
Worse than watching Wales yesterday TBF.

C69 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 11:16 pm Watched the new Black Panther film tonight.
Worse than watching Wales yesterday TBF.

Yup, very disappointing. I actually wanted to turn it off at one stage.

LenCohen wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:21 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:14 am We Watched "Tell No One" on Prime last night.

I wasn't expecting much as I hadn't heard of it but it was really good. It's a French thriller in which Dr Alexandre Beck is mourning his murdered wife when discovery of two bodies near where she was killed eight years before throws up some suspicions on the doc. Mysterious emails throw him into further confusion.

Worth a watch.

Actually watched that a few months ago, enjoyed it a lot

Watched it over the weekend. Enjoyed it. Amazon saying it's 2022 when it's from 2006...

Kristin Scott Thomas being french

Forced myself to see Inherent Vice through to the end rather than switch it off halfway. A decision I regret. What a patience-testing, incoherent mess. I could hardly believe it was by the guy who gave us Punch Drunk Love and The Master.

robmatic wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 11:06 am We watched You People, the new Netflix romantic comedy with Jonah Hill last night. It is generally unfun. I expected there to be ample grounds for comedy with the Jewish family/Black Muslim family setup but there were too few jokes and I spent most of it thinking that Americans are just nuts about race.

The trailer was conspicously laugh free. Glad I gave it a miss.

Babylon is mad, long (like they all seem to be now) and over the top yet apparently based on real stars and their excesses.
Big fan of Margot Robbie so good to see a lot of her

Bullet wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 10:05 pm Avatar: The way of water is just a spectacular watch, even more impressive than the first.
As everyone points out it's really long at 3 hours plus but at no point did it seem padded out. Also includes what I assumed to be Hollywood's version of a big blue Maori tribe who nearly broke into an impromptu haka.
Something for everyone

Saw this a while ago and your first sentence is definitely bang on. It reminds me of those Ultra HD uber colourful nature shorts that they show in electronics stores to show off how great their new TV's are.

Unfortunately in terms of plot it is in the same category. It's just fucking awful - one great big excuse for Cameron to show off his new toys (which are impressive) without a single thought to anything else. It's really long with plenty of time to develop some characters, but no, lets just resurrect the old bad guy for some unknown and unecessary reason. TBF if I start listing what's wrong with it I'll be here all fucking day.

I genuinely can't reconsile the fact that I have helped to promote this utter pile of shite by paying for a cinema ticket. Of course I blame my wife for insisting we go see it, but Jesus this taught me to stick to some principals at least and not concede everything for the sake of an easy life.

Whatever about people giving out about the direction Nolan went with Tenet (and I agree with Fester - its a mess), it hasn't spoiled his reputation one iota, least not for me. However the man that made Terminator, Aliens and True Lies is a washed up fucking hack!

I've actually found that rant quite therapuetic

Anyone who participates in the endless stream of biopics or dramatisations of real events can fuck off. People who actually lived and things that actually happened should not be subject to the fact stretching and subverting efforts of the screenwriter. Truth and fact matter and all of these pictures take liberties while presenting themselves as faithful depictions.

It seems particularly ghoulish to turn an incident such as Emmett Till's death into an entertainment piece.