Movies you've seen recently (Part 1)

Cafe Society
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8th movie: THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN.

I’ve seen IN BRUGES like 1,100 times, and did enjoy THREE BILLBOARDS, so I’m a McDonough fan. This was excellent as well, even if it was of a very different character from those two (though, I could make a case that the two characters played by Gleason and Farrell are ancestors of the guys in IN BRUGES).

I don’t have much to say about this film, other than I know it was necessary for the plot to kill Jenny, but I was very sad. I also inadvertently snorted VERY loudly in the theater when Gleason begins his confession with “I killed a donkey today’.

Barry Keoghan was just terrific. Wonderful dialogue. Also, the old lady who is essentially a banshee of Inisherin, her I kind of grew to appreciate .

I was worried that the plot would involve a character spending the entire movie engaging in nonsensical behavior, but it did not happen. 88/100.

9th movie: THE FABELMANS. This is as Very Sincere movie about growing up Spielberg (even if it doesn’t say so) and loving film, and long sections of it felt very familiar to me, and sometimes just exaggerated for effect (though I could make the case that what’s viewed through the eyes of a kid is exaggerated). Lots of great individual moments, but a little too much homage-to-film for me. I’d rather watch Super 8 next time. 70/100.

At long last, the last movie, #10: ELVIS. I don’t really enjoy Baz Luhrmann, and Elvis as a musician kind of bores me, but I did like parts of this very much – in particular, the concert scenes were really impressive. Austin Butler also seemed made for this role. But did I need 2 hrs 39 mins of this?

I went in with low expectations and it exceeded them, but that’s about it. A funny way to wrap watching nine movies in three days. 60/100.

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Fuck, I forgot to mention what was either Star Wars theft or Star Wars homage. Add that to my complaints, sir!

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As a Tarantino fan, there is no theft, only homage.

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Maserschmidt, have you seen Calvary yet? Another McDonough film, with Brendan Gleeson stunningly good as the embattled priest of a small Irish town. Very powerful, with flashes of gallows humor.

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That’s his brother, John Michael McDonagh, and I haven’t seen it yet…but I’ll give it a look!

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Calvary is indeed his brother’s best movie. The Forgiven is also excellent from him; I highly recommend it.

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Ouija: Origin of Evil

Never watch the original Ouija movie, but do check out this prequel that is superior in every way. Directed by Mike Flanagan, who clearly shows what a great director can bring to a movie. The script is hardly amazing, but the filmmaking is. For about the first 45 minutes, you nearly forget this is a horror movie.

I do think it devolves into standard stuff a bit near the end, but everything is well made and it is edited at a brisk pace the keeps things moving.

I lied the movie quite a bit, but I am also glad that Flanagan moved onto better things as his career progressed from here.

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Baz Luhrman always gives you more than you want.

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There’s more where that came from!

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No! I don’t want any more!!!

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I’m glad there’s no extended cuts of Spielberg movies, there already seems to be nobody who can tell him to cut that spare hour he has in every one of his movies.

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Not a movie per se, but last night we went to a showing of the 5 nominees for Best Documentary Short.

All 5 were excellent in their own way; I’ve made my pick for the winner (which wasn’t, actually, my favorite of the 5),

The trailer for one of them ends with perhaps the most astonishing shot I’ve ever seen.

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Just watched this. Your summary is right on the mark. I can see the parallels to 12 Angry Men in that there are 2 camps grappling with a fundamental decision: stay or leave (vs. guilt/not guilty). But as you point out, that’s about as far as the similarity goes as these women need to decide for their entire community. Super moving and extremely powerful. I though it was excellent (great performances by so many), and I can see why it is up for best picture.

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It’s joke! When you Give me that look, it’s a joke!

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THE BANSHEES OF INISHERI

Stone walls DO a prison make!

Too many cuts!

Loved the dog tugging implement out the door.

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The Intern (2015). Robert DeNiro is a 70 year old retired widower who decides to take an internship at an internet clothing company, founded and run by Ann Hathaway.

So DeNiro and Hathaway hook up and live happily ever after, right? Ewwww, no, that would be gross (Rene Russo is also around as DeNiro’s age-appropriate romantic interest). It’s a rom-com without the rom. It’s not as awful as I thought it was going to be…actually, kinda cute.

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Five too many!

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I’ve been wanting to watch Women Talking but I can’t find anyone else to watch it with me.

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I watch a good chunk of my movies alone. I don’t find I mind at all.

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BBC apparently thought that bringing back “Luther” as a two-hour movie was necessary. I’m halfway through it and it’s so over-the-top outlandish as to be mesmerizing. Andy Serkis is a master criminal who knows all and sees all, a trope that I really hate. And one can’t help but think one is watching Gollum trying to act. It’s on Netflix, if you’re interested.