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Post by dsbeadle on Jan 27, 2024 8:58:17 GMT
Welcome to the weekly watch thread hosted by me, post your weeks viewing, rate other peoples viewing, have conversations but be respectful.
HAD ALMOST FINISHED WRITING THIS UP WITH LONG REVIEWS BUT THEN IT CRASHED AND I LOST IT ALL!
FIRST TIME VIEWING
Calcutta (1946, John Farrow)
blu ray
5.5/10
Ferrari (2023, Michael Mann)
5.5/10
The Female Animal (1958, Harry Keller)
blu ray
5/10
Street Smart (1987, Jerry Schatzberg)
5/19
Outside the Law (1956, Jack Arnold)
blu ray
4.5-5/10
REPEAT VIEWING
Broken Flowers (2005, Jim Jarmusch)
blu ray
8.5/10
Silver Linings Playbook (2012, David O. Russell)
blu ray
7.5/10
Red Rock West (1993, John Dahl)
blu ray
7/10
FIRST TIME TV VIEWING
Wrestlers (2023, Docuseries)
Netflix
Good TV
Fool Me Once (2024, mini-series)
Netflix
Junk TV
WEEKLY FILM AWARDS
BEST FILM: Broken Flowers
BEST ACTOR: Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook
BEST ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Jeffrey Wright - Broken Flowers
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz - Ferrari
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Marc Reshovsky - Red Rock West
BEST EDITING: Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers - Silver Linings Playbook
BEST SCORE: Danny Elfman - Silver Linings Playbook
BEST WRITING: David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook
BEST DIRECTOR: Jim Jarmusch - Broken Flowers
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Post by amoody408 on Jan 27, 2024 13:35:33 GMT
Ferarri - Watching very soon!
Broken Flowers - 8.5/10 - LOVE IT
Silver Linings Playbook - 8.5/10 - Love it as well!
Mine:
Self-Reliance (Dir. Jake Johnson) via Hulu) - Starring Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Lloyd,
This was actually better than I expected, though the third act is a bit lazy. Had some very good comedic moments in first half and overall just creative concept. 7/10
Uncle Kent (Dir. Joe Swanberg) via Tubi
5.1
A decent quirky lo-budget debut from Swanberg. Since i liked some of his recent works, i went back to watch some earlier stuff. Although lacking in certain areas, the film shows Swanberg’s potential as a story-teller, which he ends up refining in later works. 6.5/10
Yalda, a night for forgiveness (Dir. Massoud Bakhshi ) via Kanopy. Starring Sadaf Asgari, Behnaz Jafari, Babak Karimi, Arman Darvish
6.4
An interesting drama from Bakhshi that did decent aroudn the festival circuit, when it was releasedm with some great acting from Jafari and Karimi. Heavy subject matter, and the film does well to show some of the realities of Iranian culture under the current regime 7/10
I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Dir. Charlie Kaufman) via Netflix - Starring Jesse Plemons, Jessie Buckley, Toni Collette, David Thewlis, Guy Boyd, Hadley Robinson, Gus Birney, Abby Quinn,
6.6
Not for everyone but i enjoyed Kaufman’s film about a young woman (Buckley) who takes a trip with her new boyfriend (Plemons) despite questioning wanting to be with him. This trip to their farm opens up her eyes to a lot of things. Dialogue heavy, a lot of crazy references, but just oddball and quirky enough for my taste, plus Kaufman really is impressive when he’s on his a rate pen game. 7.5 /10
About Dry Grasses (Dir. Nuri Bilge Ceylan ) via GoMovies - Starring Deniz Celiloglu, Merve Dizdar,
8.1
Ceylan’s film about a young Art teacher, whom is finishing his 4th year of compulsory service in Anatolia, and wishes to be transferred to Istanbul
but then his character is called into question when acccusations of him getting to close to his students have emerged . The dinner table scene with the three men was an amazing dialogue and peak of the film to me. Although some may argue its Merve Dizdar’s long dialogue with the main character and her breakout scene which earned her the Best Actress at Cannes, overall these dialogues and several others throughout 2nd and 3rd act really make the film . - 9/10
Airplane! (Dir. Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker) via AMC+. Starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Karreen Abdul-Jabbar, LLoyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Lorna Patterson
7.7
A hilarious spoof of a bunch of 70s films. Found it very entertaining and witty. THe final act is really brilliant, loved the airport gates bit. 810.
Hereditary (Dir. Ari Aster ) via Max, Starring TOni Collette, MIlly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne,
IMDB Rating: 7.3
Had to revisit this impressive atmospheric debut from Aster, about a grieving family that experiences haunting moments following the death of Annie (Collette)’s mom. One of my favorite films of past several years- 9/10
Waves (Dir. Trey Edward Shults) via Kanopy, Starring: Taylor Russell, Kelvin Harrison, Alexa Demie, Justin Chan, David Garelik, Sterling K. Brown, Clifton Collins, Albert Link, Lucas Hedges,
7.5
A heartfelt story sees a family with a strong father figure and a son whom hides an injury because of pressure he feels by needing to succeed in wrestling. But the story is deeper than these surface level plot details, its really about pressure and relationships in the family, as well as the dynamics between the characters. Very solid effort from Shults. 7.5/10
Backstabbing for Beginners - (Dir. Per Fly ) via GO Movies . Starring Ben Kingsley, THeo James, Jacqueline Bisset, Belcim Bilgin, Rossif Sutherland
6.3
Interesting enough, good, but not great, the cursing from Kingsley’s character was a bit excessive. Rest of cast was good, i felt KIngsley was overracting at times, although stellar in other scenes. Interesting enough premise/story, esp if you are into spy/international politic storylines like me. Theo James is good enough in the role 7.5/10
Earth Mama (Dir. Savanah Leaf ) via Kanopy , Starring Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Keta Price, Doechii
6.7
A heartfelt story which sees Tia Nomore giving a great performance as a pregnant single mother and her Bay Area trials & tribulations. Erika Alexander is also very good in this. A nice take on our country’s flawed care system. Potent writing, a heavy subject matter, Leaf gives us a fresh perspective on something that could easily be portrayed unrealistically or unfairly. Another indie that delivers on multiple levels - 8.5/10
The Kitchen (Dir. Daniel Kaluuya & Kibwe Tavares) via Netflix . Starring Kane Robinson, Jedaiah Bannerman,
5.3
Had to check this out as a big fan of Top Boy, and despite low IMDB rating i heard some positives about this. Also wanted to watch something kind of lighter at this juncture, anywho the story is about a ghetto in dystopian London, and follows Izi and Benji as they navigate living in this community which refuses to abandon its roots. Kane Robinson solid here in the lead, and there was some very good moments and plot here, unfortunately not the best direction and a bit draggy, but nonetheless worthwhile IMO. 6.5/10
TV:
Pachinko (Created by Soo Hugh) via Apple TV+ -
IMDB: 8.3
Season 1 Episode 1 - 9/10
Maid (created by) - via Netflix -
IMDB : 8.4
Season 1 Episode 2- 9/10
Season 1 Episode 3 - 9/10
Summer of Rockets (Created by Stephen Polkiaoff) via Amazon Prime (also Available on Roku, Kanopy) -
IMDB : 7.0
Season 1 Episode 1 - 8/10
Ghoorbagheh - TV via Iran Proud -
IMDB Rating: 8.2
Season 1 Episode 1 - 8/10
Minx - TV - via Starz -
IMDB Rating: 7.6
Season 1 Episode 2- 7/10
Based on a True Story - TV via Peacock) -
IMDB Rating: 7.3
Season 1, Episode 2 - 7/10
Adult Material (HBO Max)
Season 1 Episode 3 - 8/10
Rabbit Hole (Created by Glen Ficarra & John Requa) - Kiefer Sutherland via Paramount +
IMDB: 7.5
Episode 2 - 7/10
Best Film: Hereditary (Ari Aster) Honorable Mention: About Dry Grasses (Nuri Bilge Ceylan).
Best Actor: Jesse Plemons (I”m Thinking of Ending Things) Honorable Mention: Deniz Celiloglu (About Dry Grasses) .
Best Actress: Toni Collette (Hereditary) Honorable Mention: Jesse Buckley (I’m THinking of Ending Things), Merve Dizdar (About Dry Grasses) & Tia Nomore (Earth Mama).
Best Supporting Actor: David THewlis (I’m THinking of Ending Things. Honorable Mention: Christopher Lloyd (Self-Reliance), Musab Ekici (About Dry Grasses) & Sterling K. Brown (Waves)
Best Supporting Actress: Taylor Russell (Waves) Honorable Mentions: Toni Collette (I’m Thinking of Ending THings) & Behnaz Jafari (Yalda, A Night for Forgiveness) .
Best Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan (About Dry Grasses) & Ari Aster (Hereditary) (TIE)>
Best Screenplay: Charlie Kaufman (I’m Thinking of Ending Things). Honorable Mention: Airplane, Savannah Leaf (Earth Mama).
Best Cinematography: Pawel Pogorzelski (Hereditary). Honorable mention: Cevahir Sahin & Kursat Uresin (About Dry Grasses), Brendan Steacy (Backstabbing for Beginners).
Best Editing: Oguz Atabas & Nuri Bilge Ceylan (About Dry Grasses). Honorable Mention: Lucian Johnston & Jennifer Lame (Hereditary).
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Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Jan 27, 2024 14:12:30 GMT
Street Smart - 5/10
Silver Linings Playbook - 7/10
Mine:
Dawn of the Dead (1978) - 9/10
Great zombie classic.
Halloween Ends (2022) - 5/10
Weak but watchable Micheal Meyers entry.
Miss Congeniality (2000) - 5/10
OK Sandra Bullock comedy. Short on laughs but a likable cast.
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous (2005) - 3/10
Pretty lame and unnecessary sequel. Starts out fair enough but by the end I was just bored.
That Awkward Moment (2014) - 5/10
Romantic comedy with a good cast. I actually did not want to see this but the DVD was a gift. Its not that bad just nothing special.
Never Let Go (2015) - 4/10
Basically Taken but with the mother trying to get her daughter back.
Clown Motel (2023) - 2/10
Really lame horror film with Tobin Bell.
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Post by politicidal1 on Jan 27, 2024 18:48:45 GMT
First Viewings:
Tall Man Riding (1955) 6/10
Comanche Station (1960) 5/10
The Late Show (1977) 7/10
Sisu (2023) 8/10
Girls in Prison (1956) 4/10
Raw Deal (1948) 6/10
Please Murder Me (1956) 5/10
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) 6/10
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Post by Teleadm on Jan 27, 2024 20:01:20 GMT
dsbeadle, I abolutely feel with you about writing long reviews and then PC crashes! From your list... Calcutta (1946, John Farrow) OK old-fashioned drama-adventure using an exotic name and using news-reel or travelogue footage while never stepping outside Paramount studios. 6/10. Street Smart (1987, Jerry Schatzberg) The one Christopher Reeve forced Canon to do before playing Superman again. I know it has it's supporters, sadly I'm not one of them. 6/10. Broken Flowers (2005, Jim Jarmusch) Quirky and very funny, needs a re-watch since I only gave it 7,5/10. Silver Linings Playbook (2012, David O. Russell) A tough movie to watch, but rather satisfactory by the end 7,5/10. Here are my latest... A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 2019 directed by Marielle Heller and based on real events. It's a bit hard to review a movie about an apparent legend of American Television that I've nearly never heard of. It's undoubtedly a well made movie and a lot of details has been brought into it. Sadly I felt a bit aloof about the subject, but it's not a bad movies as a whole. 7/10. Beverly Hills Cop 1984 directed by Martin Brest. Lots of nostalgia watching this movie, that was still as entertaining as I remembered it. Back in the days when you had to find a pay-phone to make a call. Back in the days when Eddie Murphy was still something fresh and new. Even I danced to the Neutron Dance at discos. 8/10. The Train Robbers 1973 directed by Burt Kennedy. Not one of John Wayne's more memorable later career movies, but rather entertaining nonetheless. Vastly helped by not taking itself too serious. About locating gold loot in the vast Mexican deserts. 6,5/10. The Hallelujah Trail 1965 directed by John Sturges and based on a novel by William Gulick. Denver miners needs whiskey before winter comes in their bars, so a load of barrels have to be transported through the prairie, and hostile territory, and the U.S. cavalry unwillingly have to escort it. Balancing between Temperance women, Miners free army, Irish teamsters, sand storms and thirsty Native Americans. Entertaining and funny in parts benefitting from that most of the leads playing their roles straight, but it's way too long. Great Elmer Bernstein score and great scenery. 6,5/10. Djävulens öga aka The Devil's Eye 1960 directed by Ingmar Bergman and based on a Radio play by Oluf Bang. Even the great directors sometimes had to do something to fill out their contracts. The Devil has a stye in his eye because a girl is too virginical and believes in love and marriage, so he sends his best seducer, Don Juan, to destroy the girl, but the great lover falls in love instead. Visually it's great, but comedy wasn't Bergman's forte except once (Smiles of the Summer Night). 6/10. Journal d'un curé de campagne aka Diary of a Country Priest 1951 directed by Robert Bresson and based on a novel by Georges Bernanos. The new young priest of a small French community has difficulties in communicating with his parish, everything he do is missunderstood by the locals. He lives ascetic, eats badly and has bad stomach aches that could be serious. I guess I wasn't in the right mood to watch this movie that some calls a masterpiece. Undecided/10.
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Post by dsbeadle on Jan 27, 2024 20:42:35 GMT
Ferarri - Watching very soon! Broken Flowers - 8.5/10 - LOVE ITSilver Linings Playbook - 8.5/10 - Love it as well! Mine: Self-Reliance (Dir. Jake Johnson) via Hulu) - Starring Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Lloyd, This was actually better than I expected, though the third act is a bit lazy. Had some very good comedic moments in first half and overall just creative concept. 7/10Uncle Kent (Dir. Joe Swanberg) via Tubi 5.1 A decent quirky lo-budget debut from Swanberg. Since i liked some of his recent works, i went back to watch some earlier stuff. Although lacking in certain areas, the film shows Swanberg’s potential as a story-teller, which he ends up refining in later works. 6.5/10Yalda, a night for forgiveness (Dir. Massoud Bakhshi ) via Kanopy. Starring Sadaf Asgari, Behnaz Jafari, Babak Karimi, Arman Darvish 6.4 An interesting drama from Bakhshi that did decent aroudn the festival circuit, when it was releasedm with some great acting from Jafari and Karimi. Heavy subject matter, and the film does well to show some of the realities of Iranian culture under the current regime 7/10I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Dir. Charlie Kaufman) via Netflix - Starring Jesse Plemons, Jessie Buckley, Toni Collette, David Thewlis, Guy Boyd, Hadley Robinson, Gus Birney, Abby Quinn, 6.6 Not for everyone but i enjoyed Kaufman’s film about a young woman (Buckley) who takes a trip with her new boyfriend (Plemons) despite questioning wanting to be with him. This trip to their farm opens up her eyes to a lot of things. Dialogue heavy, a lot of crazy references, but just oddball and quirky enough for my taste, plus Kaufman really is impressive when he’s on his a rate pen game. 7.5 /10About Dry Grasses (Dir. Nuri Bilge Ceylan ) via GoMovies - Starring Deniz Celiloglu, Merve Dizdar, 8.1 Ceylan’s film about a young Art teacher, whom is finishing his 4th year of compulsory service in Anatolia, and wishes to be transferred to Istanbul but then his character is called into question when acccusations of him getting to close to his students have emerged . The dinner table scene with the three men was an amazing dialogue and peak of the film to me. Although some may argue its Merve Dizdar’s long dialogue with the main character and her breakout scene which earned her the Best Actress at Cannes, overall these dialogues and several others throughout 2nd and 3rd act really make the film . - 9/10Airplane! (Dir. Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker) via AMC+. Starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Karreen Abdul-Jabbar, LLoyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Lorna Patterson 7.7 A hilarious spoof of a bunch of 70s films. Found it very entertaining and witty. THe final act is really brilliant, loved the airport gates bit. 810.Hereditary (Dir. Ari Aster ) via Max, Starring TOni Collette, MIlly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne, IMDB Rating: 7.3 Had to revisit this impressive atmospheric debut from Aster, about a grieving family that experiences haunting moments following the death of Annie (Collette)’s mom. One of my favorite films of past several years- 9/10Waves (Dir. Trey Edward Shults) via Kanopy, Starring: Taylor Russell, Kelvin Harrison, Alexa Demie, Justin Chan, David Garelik, Sterling K. Brown, Clifton Collins, Albert Link, Lucas Hedges, 7.5 A heartfelt story sees a family with a strong father figure and a son whom hides an injury because of pressure he feels by needing to succeed in wrestling. But the story is deeper than these surface level plot details, its really about pressure and relationships in the family, as well as the dynamics between the characters. Very solid effort from Shults. 7.5/10Backstabbing for Beginners - (Dir. Per Fly ) via GO Movies . Starring Ben Kingsley, THeo James, Jacqueline Bisset, Belcim Bilgin, Rossif Sutherland 6.3 Interesting enough, good, but not great, the cursing from Kingsley’s character was a bit excessive. Rest of cast was good, i felt KIngsley was overracting at times, although stellar in other scenes. Interesting enough premise/story, esp if you are into spy/international politic storylines like me. Theo James is good enough in the role 7.5/10Earth Mama (Dir. Savanah Leaf ) via Kanopy , Starring Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Keta Price, Doechii 6.7 A heartfelt story which sees Tia Nomore giving a great performance as a pregnant single mother and her Bay Area trials & tribulations. Erika Alexander is also very good in this. A nice take on our country’s flawed care system. Potent writing, a heavy subject matter, Leaf gives us a fresh perspective on something that could easily be portrayed unrealistically or unfairly. Another indie that delivers on multiple levels - 8.5/10 The Kitchen (Dir. Daniel Kaluuya & Kibwe Tavares) via Netflix . Starring Kane Robinson, Jedaiah Bannerman, 5.3 Had to check this out as a big fan of Top Boy, and despite low IMDB rating i heard some positives about this. Also wanted to watch something kind of lighter at this juncture, anywho the story is about a ghetto in dystopian London, and follows Izi and Benji as they navigate living in this community which refuses to abandon its roots. Kane Robinson solid here in the lead, and there was some very good moments and plot here, unfortunately not the best direction and a bit draggy, but nonetheless worthwhile IMO. 6.5/10TV: Pachinko (Created by Soo Hugh) via Apple TV+ - IMDB: 8.3 Season 1 Episode 1 - 9/10Maid (created by) - via Netflix - IMDB : 8.4 Season 1 Episode 2- 9/10Season 1 Episode 3 - 9/10Summer of Rockets (Created by Stephen Polkiaoff) via Amazon Prime (also Available on Roku, Kanopy) - IMDB : 7.0 Season 1 Episode 1 - 8/10Ghoorbagheh - TV via Iran Proud - IMDB Rating: 8.2 Season 1 Episode 1 - 8/10 Minx - TV - via Starz - IMDB Rating: 7.6 Season 1 Episode 2- 7/10Based on a True Story - TV via Peacock) - IMDB Rating: 7.3 Season 1, Episode 2 - 7/10Adult Material (HBO Max) Season 1 Episode 3 - 8/10Rabbit Hole (Created by Glen Ficarra & John Requa) - Kiefer Sutherland via Paramount + IMDB: 7.5 Episode 2 - 7/10Best Film: Hereditary (Ari Aster) Honorable Mention: About Dry Grasses (Nuri Bilge Ceylan). Best Actor: Jesse Plemons (I”m Thinking of Ending Things) Honorable Mention: Deniz Celiloglu (About Dry Grasses) . Best Actress: Toni Collette (Hereditary) Honorable Mention: Jesse Buckley (I’m THinking of Ending Things), Merve Dizdar (About Dry Grasses) & Tia Nomore (Earth Mama). Best Supporting Actor: David THewlis (I’m THinking of Ending Things. Honorable Mention: Christopher Lloyd (Self-Reliance), Musab Ekici (About Dry Grasses) & Sterling K. Brown (Waves) Best Supporting Actress: Taylor Russell (Waves) Honorable Mentions: Toni Collette (I’m Thinking of Ending THings) & Behnaz Jafari (Yalda, A Night for Forgiveness) . Best Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan (About Dry Grasses) & Ari Aster (Hereditary) (TIE)> Best Screenplay: Charlie Kaufman (I’m Thinking of Ending Things). Honorable Mention: Airplane, Savannah Leaf (Earth Mama). Best Cinematography: Pawel Pogorzelski (Hereditary). Honorable mention: Cevahir Sahin & Kursat Uresin (About Dry Grasses), Brendan Steacy (Backstabbing for Beginners). Best Editing: Oguz Atabas & Nuri Bilge Ceylan (About Dry Grasses). Honorable Mention: Lucian Johnston & Jennifer Lame (Hereditary). Self Reliance- glad you liked it, I found it a pleasant surprise 6.5 im thinking of ending things - interesting but not totally successful 6/10 Airplane! - a classic, very funny 7.5 hereditary - a hodge podge of better films but it has some well executed moments 5.5 |
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Post by dsbeadle on Jan 27, 2024 20:44:34 GMT
Street Smart - 5/10 Silver Linings Playbook - 7/10 Mine: Dawn of the Dead (1978) - 9/10
Great zombie classic. Halloween Ends (2022) - 5/10
Weak but watchable Micheal Meyers entry. Miss Congeniality (2000) - 5/10
OK Sandra Bullock comedy. Short on laughs but a likable cast. Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous (2005) - 3/10
Pretty lame and unnecessary sequel. Starts out fair enough but by the end I was just bored. That Awkward Moment (2014) - 5/10
Romantic comedy with a good cast. I actually did not want to see this but the DVD was a gift. Its not that bad just nothing special. Never Let Go (2015) - 4/10
Basically Taken but with the mother trying to get her daughter back. Clown Motel (2023) - 2/10
Really lame horror film with Tobin Bell. Dawn of the Dead (1978) - 7/10 Great zombie classic. Halloween Ends (2022) - 4/10 |
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Post by dsbeadle on Jan 27, 2024 20:46:55 GMT
First Viewings: Tall Man Riding (1955) 6/10 Comanche Station (1960) 5/10 The Late Show (1977) 7/10 Sisu (2023) 8/10 Girls in Prison (1956) 4/10 Raw Deal (1948) 6/10 Please Murder Me (1956) 5/10 Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) 6/10 Tall Man Riding (1955) not seen since I was a kid Comanche Station (1960) not seen since I was a kid The Late Show (1977) 7/10 Sisu (2023) 6/10 Raw Deal (1948) 7/10 |
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Post by dsbeadle on Jan 27, 2024 20:49:10 GMT
dsbeadle , I abolutely feel with you about writing long reviews and then PC crashes! From your list... Calcutta (1946, John Farrow) OK old-fashioned drama-adventure using an exotic name and using news-reel or travelogue footage while never stepping outside Paramount studios. 6/10. Street Smart (1987, Jerry Schatzberg) The one Christopher Reeve forced Canon to do before playing Superman again. I know it has it's supporters, sadly I'm not one of them. 6/10. Broken Flowers (2005, Jim Jarmusch) Quirky and very funny, needs a re-watch since I only gave it 7,5/10. Silver Linings Playbook (2012, David O. Russell) A tough movie to watch, but rather satisfactory by the end 7,5/10. Here are my latest... A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 2019 directed by Marielle Heller and based on real events. It's a bit hard to review a movie about an apparent legend of American Television that I've nearly never heard of. It's undoubtedly a well made movie and a lot of details has been brought into it. Sadly I felt a bit aloof about the subject, but it's not a bad movies as a whole. 7/10. Beverly Hills Cop 1984 directed by Martin Brest. Lots of nostalgia watching this movie, that was still as entertaining as I remembered it. Back in the days when you had to find a pay-phone to make a call. Back in the days when Eddie Murphy was still something fresh and new. Even I danced to the Neutron Dance at discos. 8/10. The Train Robbers 1973 directed by Burt Kennedy. Not one of John Wayne's more memorable later career movies, but rather entertaining nonetheless. Vastly helped by not taking itself too serious. About locating gold loot in the vast Mexican deserts. 6,5/10. The Hallelujah Trail 1965 directed by John Sturges and based on a novel by William Gulick. Denver miners needs whiskey before winter comes in their bars, so a load of barrels have to be transported through the prairie, and hostile territory, and the U.S. cavalry unwillingly have to escort it. Balancing between Temperance women, Miners free army, Irish teamsters, sand storms and thirsty Native Americans. Entertaining and funny in parts benefitting from that most of the leads playing their roles straight, but it's way too long. Great Elmer Bernstein score and great scenery. 6,5/10. Djävulens öga aka The Devil's Eye 1960 directed by Ingmar Bergman and based on a Radio play by Oluf Bang. Even the great directors sometimes had to do something to fill out their contracts. The Devil has a stye in his eye because a girl is too virginical and believes in love and marriage, so he sends his best seducer, Don Juan, to destroy the girl, but the great lover falls in love instead. Visually it's great, but comedy wasn't Bergman's forte except once (Smiles of the Summer Night). 6/10. Journal d'un curé de campagne aka Diary of a Country Priest 1951 directed by Robert Bresson and based on a novel by Georges Bernanos. The new young priest of a small French community has difficulties in communicating with his parish, everything he do is missunderstood by the locals. He lives ascetic, eats badly and has bad stomach aches that could be serious. I guess I wasn't in the right mood to watch this movie that some calls a masterpiece. Undecided/10. Just one of yours this week Beverly Hills Cop - I’m a fan, very entertaining and very rewatchable 8/10 |
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sog
Elliot Carver
Posts: 488
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Post by sog on Jan 27, 2024 21:44:29 GMT
Welcome to the weekly watch thread hosted by me, post your weeks viewing, rate other peoples viewing, have conversations but be respectful. HAD ALMOST FINISHED WRITING THIS UP WITH LONG REVIEWS BUT THEN IT CRASHED AND I LOST IT ALL! FIRST TIME VIEWINGCalcutta (1946, John Farrow) blu ray 5.5/10 Ferrari (2023, Michael Mann) 5.5/10 The Female Animal (1958, Harry Keller) blu ray 5/10 Street Smart (1987, Jerry Schatzberg) 5/19 Outside the Law (1956, Jack Arnold) blu ray 4.5-5/10 REPEAT VIEWINGBroken Flowers (2005, Jim Jarmusch) blu ray 8.5/10 Silver Linings Playbook (2012, David O. Russell) blu ray 7.5/10 Red Rock West (1993, John Dahl) blu ray 7/10 FIRST TIME TV VIEWING Wrestlers (2023, Docuseries) Netflix Good TV Fool Me Once (2024, mini-series) Netflix Junk TV WEEKLY FILM AWARDS BEST FILM: Broken Flowers BEST ACTOR: Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook BEST ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Jeffrey Wright - Broken Flowers BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz - Ferrari BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Marc Reshovsky - Red Rock West BEST EDITING: Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers - Silver Linings Playbook BEST SCORE: Danny Elfman - Silver Linings Playbook BEST WRITING: David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook BEST DIRECTOR: Jim Jarmusch - Broken Flowers Hello again!
Broken Flowers (2005, Jim Jarmusch) - Never been a fan of this one. I usually like Jarmusch but it just doesn't work for me. 4/10
funny, I just ordered a copy of Red Rock West so I'll likely watch it next week or the week after depending on when it arrives.
Mine (Heads up, it’s mostly Asian movie week with only a break from them to watch some Westerns):
A Legend or Was It? (Keisuke Kinoshita, 1963)
If you check on IMDb it list this as a war film, which is pretty fitting to a degree. There is only one scene that shows a battlefield and it is a brief flashback at the start, but the film takes place during the closing days off WWII in Japan, it focuses on a family who decline a marriage proposal from the son of the village head after one of the sons comes home and reveals that the main in question committed war crimes. The villagers though take the side of the powerful family and make what they now consider the “outsiders” lives a living hell. It’s a slow drama that we can all see from the start is leading up to violence. One of the few movies I’ve seen recently that had moments that genuinely made me feel sick watching it. For that alone, it should get a higher rating as it accomplishes its goals. 8/10
Ride On (Larry Yang, 2023)
In many ways this feels like a farewell from Jackie Chan to his fans. In a kind of “what if” movie, Jackie Chan plays a stuntman who took one too many blows to the head and lost out on his career as he was never quite able to make it as an actor. After a video of him and his horse escaping some debt collectors goes viral, he’s given another chance at stardom. Realistically this movie should probably get a six out of ten because, while entertaining, it seems to lose track of the several plotlines running throughout it, but as someone who has loved Jackie Chan movies since I was a kid, I really enjoyed it. 7/10
Burst City (Gakuryû Ishii, 1982)
What the hell was this movie about? I honestly can’t tell you, but it’s the sort of madness in cinema that I love. It’s a Japanese cyberpunk punk rock musical. Plot makes little sense, looks like it was shot on a budget that consisted of “we use anything we can get our hands on” and it’s wacky as can be. Great fun, aesthetically pleasing, and I enjoy the spirit of the thing even if I feel like I missed what was actually going on to a degree. 6/10
Hangman's Knot (Roy Huggins, 1952)
Not bad but I’ve got a big issue with any movie that tries to portray those “poor” Confederate soldiers as the victims of the story. Lee Marvin is in it though and that’s worth something I guess. 4/10
Gate of Flesh (Seijun Suzuki, 1964)
Another film in which Seijun Suzuki takes a standard and formulaic studio plot and decides to be creative with it. Not his best endeavor but I love and respect the guy’s films for his love of giving the studios what they asked for on paper, but in a way no one would have ever predicted. 7/10
Tokyo Fist (Shinya Tsukamoto, 1995)
This is a weird film, as honestly most of Tsukamoto’s films are. It’s about a man who takes up boxing after an old schoolmate of his, who is a boxer, steals his girlfriend away. It’s a lot more complex than that, but that’s at least how he sees it. This is not your traditional underdog story. You know the violence is coming, and unlike other films where a man learns to fight because of an ex, you know here there’s not going to be a heartwarming resolution. It’s going to be bloody and it’s going to hurt. 8/10
Sweet Home (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1989)
This movie is just freaking awesome from start to finish. Cheesy 80s horror at its finest, with a fun little plot, great monster designs and some pretty good comedy. Solid J-Horror, though it feels nothing like the director’s other works (which tend to be more cerebral slow burn horrors). That said, it’s probably the most fun I’ve had with a movie this year. 9/10
Still Walking (Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2008)
This is the second films I’ve seen by Kore-eda (first being After Life). I can see why so many consider him a master of humanist dramas. This is a film that one could argue not much happens in, but it’s a beautiful and quite touching drama looking at a family during one and about half of a day. It’s sweet, a touch melancholy and it’s very real. I wish I had more to say as I really loved this, but I feel my words will do it little justice. Highly recommended. 9/10
Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (Shunya Itô, 1972)
Surprisingly good woman in prison movie that feels like a grindhouse film shot as an arthouse one. Some amazing creative choices that kept me fascinated the entire time. 8/10
The Stranger Wore a Gun (André De Toth, 1953)
Not a bad little western, though I swear it's one of those movies that the studio handed someone the title and said "write a script for that". Scott is playing the hero as per usual, but one filled with a lot of guilt which gives him a bit (though not TOO much) more depth. Again we have Lee Marvin playing a bad guy and frankly I'll watch pretty much anything with him as an antagonist. Interestingly it looks like it was originally filmed to be shown in 3D so expect lots of things thrown at the camera. 6/10
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sog
Elliot Carver
Posts: 488
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Post by sog on Jan 27, 2024 21:47:31 GMT
First Viewings: Tall Man Riding (1955) 6/10 Comanche Station (1960) 5/10 The Late Show (1977) 7/10 Sisu (2023) 8/10 Girls in Prison (1956) 4/10 Raw Deal (1948) 6/10 Please Murder Me (1956) 5/10 Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) 6/10
Huh. I also watched some Randolph Scott movies this week.
Tall Man Riding (1955) - Had to look this one up because I'd forgotten I'd seen it. It's not bad, but as my last comment implied, I didn't find it that memorable. 6/10
Comanche Station (1960) - My least favorite of the Scott/Boetticher productions, but I didn't think it was too bad. Enjoyable for one watch. 6/10
Sisu (2023) - One of the most ridiculously over the top films I've ever seen. Pretty fun, but man, it gets out there towards the end. 7/10
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) - It's been years since I've seen it, but I remember really liking this one. 8/10
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sog
Elliot Carver
Posts: 488
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Post by sog on Jan 27, 2024 21:49:54 GMT
dsbeadle , I abolutely feel with you about writing long reviews and then PC crashes! From your list... Calcutta (1946, John Farrow) OK old-fashioned drama-adventure using an exotic name and using news-reel or travelogue footage while never stepping outside Paramount studios. 6/10. Street Smart (1987, Jerry Schatzberg) The one Christopher Reeve forced Canon to do before playing Superman again. I know it has it's supporters, sadly I'm not one of them. 6/10. Broken Flowers (2005, Jim Jarmusch) Quirky and very funny, needs a re-watch since I only gave it 7,5/10. Silver Linings Playbook (2012, David O. Russell) A tough movie to watch, but rather satisfactory by the end 7,5/10. Here are my latest... A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 2019 directed by Marielle Heller and based on real events. It's a bit hard to review a movie about an apparent legend of American Television that I've nearly never heard of. It's undoubtedly a well made movie and a lot of details has been brought into it. Sadly I felt a bit aloof about the subject, but it's not a bad movies as a whole. 7/10. Beverly Hills Cop 1984 directed by Martin Brest. Lots of nostalgia watching this movie, that was still as entertaining as I remembered it. Back in the days when you had to find a pay-phone to make a call. Back in the days when Eddie Murphy was still something fresh and new. Even I danced to the Neutron Dance at discos. 8/10. The Train Robbers 1973 directed by Burt Kennedy. Not one of John Wayne's more memorable later career movies, but rather entertaining nonetheless. Vastly helped by not taking itself too serious. About locating gold loot in the vast Mexican deserts. 6,5/10. The Hallelujah Trail 1965 directed by John Sturges and based on a novel by William Gulick. Denver miners needs whiskey before winter comes in their bars, so a load of barrels have to be transported through the prairie, and hostile territory, and the U.S. cavalry unwillingly have to escort it. Balancing between Temperance women, Miners free army, Irish teamsters, sand storms and thirsty Native Americans. Entertaining and funny in parts benefitting from that most of the leads playing their roles straight, but it's way too long. Great Elmer Bernstein score and great scenery. 6,5/10. Djävulens öga aka The Devil's Eye 1960 directed by Ingmar Bergman and based on a Radio play by Oluf Bang. Even the great directors sometimes had to do something to fill out their contracts. The Devil has a stye in his eye because a girl is too virginical and believes in love and marriage, so he sends his best seducer, Don Juan, to destroy the girl, but the great lover falls in love instead. Visually it's great, but comedy wasn't Bergman's forte except once (Smiles of the Summer Night). 6/10. Journal d'un curé de campagne aka Diary of a Country Priest 1951 directed by Robert Bresson and based on a novel by Georges Bernanos. The new young priest of a small French community has difficulties in communicating with his parish, everything he do is missunderstood by the locals. He lives ascetic, eats badly and has bad stomach aches that could be serious. I guess I wasn't in the right mood to watch this movie that some calls a masterpiece. Undecided/10. I've seen a few of yours this time!
Beverly Hills Cop 1984 directed by Martin Brest. - Been a long time since I've seen this one and it's due a rewatch, but I always liked it. 8/10
The Train Robbers 1973 directed by Burt Kennedy. - Not one of Wayne's best, but worth a watch. 7/10
Djävulens öga aka The Devil's Eye 1960 directed by Ingmar Bergman and based on a Radio play by Oluf Bang. - Very flawed, but I honestly liked it. It was nice to see Bergman do something so different. 7/10
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Post by Carl LaFong on Jan 27, 2024 22:33:59 GMT
The House with Laughing Windows (1976) - 7/10
Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972) - 4.5/10 (Spanish audio with dodgy subtitles.)
Witchhammer (1970) - 7.5/10
The Devil’s Disciple (1959) - 6/10
Private Buckaroo (1942) - 5/10
Haxan (1922) - 7/10
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Post by dsbeadle on Jan 28, 2024 2:06:51 GMT
Welcome to the weekly watch thread hosted by me, post your weeks viewing, rate other peoples viewing, have conversations but be respectful. HAD ALMOST FINISHED WRITING THIS UP WITH LONG REVIEWS BUT THEN IT CRASHED AND I LOST IT ALL! FIRST TIME VIEWINGCalcutta (1946, John Farrow) blu ray 5.5/10 Ferrari (2023, Michael Mann) 5.5/10 The Female Animal (1958, Harry Keller) blu ray 5/10 Street Smart (1987, Jerry Schatzberg) 5/19 Outside the Law (1956, Jack Arnold) blu ray 4.5-5/10 REPEAT VIEWINGBroken Flowers (2005, Jim Jarmusch) blu ray 8.5/10 Silver Linings Playbook (2012, David O. Russell) blu ray 7.5/10 Red Rock West (1993, John Dahl) blu ray 7/10 FIRST TIME TV VIEWING Wrestlers (2023, Docuseries) Netflix Good TV Fool Me Once (2024, mini-series) Netflix Junk TV WEEKLY FILM AWARDS BEST FILM: Broken Flowers BEST ACTOR: Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook BEST ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Jeffrey Wright - Broken Flowers BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz - Ferrari BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Marc Reshovsky - Red Rock West BEST EDITING: Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers - Silver Linings Playbook BEST SCORE: Danny Elfman - Silver Linings Playbook BEST WRITING: David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook BEST DIRECTOR: Jim Jarmusch - Broken Flowers Hello again!
Broken Flowers (2005, Jim Jarmusch) - Never been a fan of this one. I usually like Jarmusch but it just doesn't work for me. 4/10
funny, I just ordered a copy of Red Rock West so I'll likely watch it next week or the week after depending on when it arrives.
Mine (Heads up, it’s mostly Asian movie week with only a break from them to watch some Westerns):
A Legend or Was It? (Keisuke Kinoshita, 1963)
If you check on IMDb it list this as a war film, which is pretty fitting to a degree. There is only one scene that shows a battlefield and it is a brief flashback at the start, but the film takes place during the closing days off WWII in Japan, it focuses on a family who decline a marriage proposal from the son of the village head after one of the sons comes home and reveals that the main in question committed war crimes. The villagers though take the side of the powerful family and make what they now consider the “outsiders” lives a living hell. It’s a slow drama that we can all see from the start is leading up to violence. One of the few movies I’ve seen recently that had moments that genuinely made me feel sick watching it. For that alone, it should get a higher rating as it accomplishes its goals. 8/10
Ride On (Larry Yang, 2023)
In many ways this feels like a farewell from Jackie Chan to his fans. In a kind of “what if” movie, Jackie Chan plays a stuntman who took one too many blows to the head and lost out on his career as he was never quite able to make it as an actor. After a video of him and his horse escaping some debt collectors goes viral, he’s given another chance at stardom. Realistically this movie should probably get a six out of ten because, while entertaining, it seems to lose track of the several plotlines running throughout it, but as someone who has loved Jackie Chan movies since I was a kid, I really enjoyed it. 7/10
Burst City (Gakuryû Ishii, 1982)
What the hell was this movie about? I honestly can’t tell you, but it’s the sort of madness in cinema that I love. It’s a Japanese cyberpunk punk rock musical. Plot makes little sense, looks like it was shot on a budget that consisted of “we use anything we can get our hands on” and it’s wacky as can be. Great fun, aesthetically pleasing, and I enjoy the spirit of the thing even if I feel like I missed what was actually going on to a degree. 6/10
Hangman's Knot (Roy Huggins, 1952)
Not bad but I’ve got a big issue with any movie that tries to portray those “poor” Confederate soldiers as the victims of the story. Lee Marvin is in it though and that’s worth something I guess. 4/10
Gate of Flesh (Seijun Suzuki, 1964)
Another film in which Seijun Suzuki takes a standard and formulaic studio plot and decides to be creative with it. Not his best endeavor but I love and respect the guy’s films for his love of giving the studios what they asked for on paper, but in a way no one would have ever predicted. 7/10
Tokyo Fist (Shinya Tsukamoto, 1995)
This is a weird film, as honestly most of Tsukamoto’s films are. It’s about a man who takes up boxing after an old schoolmate of his, who is a boxer, steals his girlfriend away. It’s a lot more complex than that, but that’s at least how he sees it. This is not your traditional underdog story. You know the violence is coming, and unlike other films where a man learns to fight because of an ex, you know here there’s not going to be a heartwarming resolution. It’s going to be bloody and it’s going to hurt. 8/10
Sweet Home (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1989)
This movie is just freaking awesome from start to finish. Cheesy 80s horror at its finest, with a fun little plot, great monster designs and some pretty good comedy. Solid J-Horror, though it feels nothing like the director’s other works (which tend to be more cerebral slow burn horrors). That said, it’s probably the most fun I’ve had with a movie this year. 9/10
Still Walking (Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2008)
This is the second films I’ve seen by Kore-eda (first being After Life). I can see why so many consider him a master of humanist dramas. This is a film that one could argue not much happens in, but it’s a beautiful and quite touching drama looking at a family during one and about half of a day. It’s sweet, a touch melancholy and it’s very real. I wish I had more to say as I really loved this, but I feel my words will do it little justice. Highly recommended. 9/10
Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (Shunya Itô, 1972)
Surprisingly good woman in prison movie that feels like a grindhouse film shot as an arthouse one. Some amazing creative choices that kept me fascinated the entire time. 8/10
The Stranger Wore a Gun (André De Toth, 1953)
Not a bad little western, though I swear it's one of those movies that the studio handed someone the title and said "write a script for that". Scott is playing the hero as per usual, but one filled with a lot of guilt which gives him a bit (though not TOO much) more depth. Again we have Lee Marvin playing a bad guy and frankly I'll watch pretty much anything with him as an antagonist. Interestingly it looks like it was originally filmed to be shown in 3D so expect lots of things thrown at the camera. 6/10
Not seen any of yours this week |
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Post by dsbeadle on Jan 28, 2024 2:47:35 GMT
The House with Laughing Windows (1976) - 7/10 Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972) - 4.5/10 (Spanish audio with dodgy subtitles.) Witchhammer (1970) - 7.5/10 The Devil’s Disciple (1959) - 6/10 Private Buckaroo (1942) - 5/10 Haxan (1922) - 7/10 None of these |
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