Bilbo Baggins and the Zombie War! Otherwise known as a new Netflix film called Cargo, starring Martin Freeman sporting a mild Aussie accent, shouting “FUCK!” at appropriate moments while struggling through the Outback with a baby on his back and dealing with Aborigine mysticism. I’m only halfway through this, and it’s entertaining enough. Not sure where it’s headed (hahahaha!) though.
Avengers: Infinity War - I saw it a couple of weeks ago with my daughter. I wasn’t quite up on all the other MCU movies but she told me all needed to know was the end of Thor: Ragnorok, which I hadn’t seen, so she spoilered it for me. Great movie, but I literally said, “What the fuck,” at the end. I wasn’t expecting suck an* Empires Strikes Back* ending.
Thor: Ragnarok - after seeing Avengers, I rented this, but I fell asleep halfway through (because I was tired, not bored) and I haven’t gone back to it yet.
And then there’s Hobo With a Shotgun, starring Rutger Hauer in the title role. I can’t recommend it highly enough if you’re into pretty much the sickest shit you’re likely to see in a mainstream movie. Dialogue that will curdle your milk and special effects that will singe your nose hairs. It’s awesome.
Watched Goodbye Christopher Robin. The story of the Milnes and the origin of the Winnie the Pooh stuff.
It had been on my “maybe” list for some time. The reviews are sort of lukewarm.
But it was really quite good for the most part. Definitely enjoyed it.
Some problems: They do a pointless WWII “framing” thing at the beginning and end. Since there’s already flashbacks to A.A.'s WWI terrors, this does not help. Plus, it’s misleading. Just ignore those parts.
While I am routinely astounded by child actors, I wasn’t this time. Will Tilston, who plays the ~8 year old C.R. and is in most of the movie just isn’t up to it.
Margot Robbie is great … and heartless.
Give it 4 Eeyores.
Oh, didn’t post about Professor Marston and The Wonder Women. Marston invented a lie detector and Wonder Woman … and lived with two women he fathered children with. And more. Okay film. Just amazed over and over how they managed to “get away” for the most part with their non-standard 30s-40s lifestyle.
Bella Heathcote did an especially good job. A completely transparent enigma.
Give it 3 lassos of truth.
Finally watched Captain America, Civil War. Got it from the library. I was bored the first third of it, but then, when Wakanda entered the picture, I got interested. I realized that, eventually, I need to watch ALL of the MCU movies in order, even the ones that didn’t, initially, interest me.
(I am one of those freaks who has to read every book in a series in order)
Watched Black Panther via iTunes. Enjoyed it very much. Yes, the plot was predictable, but the sets and settings so very beautiful, and it is fun to imagine the existence of such a place, and a leader like T’Challa.
I am hoping to actually get the time off to go watch *Infinity War *in the theatre.
(Life circumstances are stressful enough at present that I am only watching fun movies. When stress lets up, I will perhaps watch serious cinema again. Until then, watching the final battle scene from Thor Ragnarok makes me happy and helps me keep on keeping on.)
My Cousin Rachel, on HBO. Based on a Daphne du Maurier novel, it’s one of those “is she evil? Or is he crazy?” stories. But kind of turgid and lifeless (although pretty to look at), and by the end, I just really didn’t give a damn.
Lucky. The late, great Harry Dean Stanton as an old dude with old dude problems.
Pretty good film, a nice one to more or less go out on.
Some good supporting actors. One surprise was the guy playing barfly Paulie. I knew that face from somewhere. Indeed, quite well known back when. But clearly overdone with plastic surgery. See IMDb link for spoiler on that.
Tom Skerritt plays a fellow WWII vet, but clearly much younger than HDS. Was 12 in real life when it ended. All my family’s WWII vets are gone, so I guess Hollywood is running out of suitable age actors to play current vets.
HDS’s service history as a Navy cook on an LST was used as Lucky’s backstory. Nice to know.
Give it 4 stomach bursters.
Heh. Nice to see Stanton and Skerritt together again - they were both in Alien!
I just got finished watching the Netflix original, Mute, starring Paul Rudd and Alexander Skarsgard. I didn’t understand a single thing in it. Seriously, it’s some time in the future and Rudd’s a doctor trying to get out of Germany. He’s a caring dad, but he’s also a killer, and there’s a mute guy with a girlfriend who then disappears for the whole movie only to turn up dead at the climax of the movie because of … reasons, I’m sure. There’s another doctor who’s a pedophile but he’s good guy somehow until he’s not a good guy and he’s killed by the mute.
Seriously. I have no clue what this movie was about.
Oh, to further seal my, “are you that out of touch?” cred … I just now learned that director Duncan Jones (who also directed Moon) is David Bowie’s son.
MotW: Alex & Eve. An Aussie film. Labeled a romcom but not so much.
Compared to My Big Fat Greek Wedding by critics, but to be fair really more of an Abie’s Irish Rose premise.
He’s Greek Orthodox, she’s Lebanese Muslim. Both with families from hell. The latter significantly dilutes the “com” part.
Decent enough film. Mrs. FtG really liked it.
2 and a half baklavas.
Saw Deadpool 2. Not as fresh but a good movie (8/10)
Saw Solo. Unnecessary movie but decent (7/10).
Two recents that I wasn’t expecting to get sucked into. Both very different.
I Kill Giants
Compelling story of coping with loss, literally adapted panel for panel from a comic book. Well acted and commands attention.
Game Night
Wasn’t expecting much but was surprised by the rare blend of comedy, thriller, and action. Not even my type of humor but still had fun.
Cannot recommend Spotlight highly enough.
Dreadful subject. Incredibly well made film. I was engrossed in it from the opening scene. I have watched it several times on Netflix.
Saw Annihilation last night. I cared not for it. Okay set-up and I had no issues with the predominantly female cast, but overall it was slow and quiet, with a lack of narrative urgency, too many inconsistencies left unexplained and a profusion of random CG at the climax which did not compensate. It wasn’t even that well-shot despite the colorful mutated swamp locations. I thought the CG-gator gave the best performance.
I watched Wanted on Netflix
OK, I can suspend my disbelief in to buying that milquetoast account is actually a born assassin. Even that they can shoot bullets around corners. But when they try to get to believe that the bad guy can keep up with them in a stolen deliver van when they are driving a 100,000 sports car…fuck you. I’m out.
MotW: The Tale (HBO). Based on a real life story (for real, real this time).
Laura Dern is a woman coming to grips with something Very Evil that happened to her when she was 13.
Lots of ick due to topic. Not exactly a laugh fest. But well done not just technically but also in terms of suitable handling of the topic.
Lots of great actresses: Elizabeth Debicki, Ellen Burstyn, Frances Conroy, Laura Allen*.
- Am I ever going to get over the cancellation of Terriers?
Holy shit deadpool 2 was awesome. 9/10. These Deadpool movies are far better than the other Marvel superhero movies. The other ones (avengers, black panther, thor, etc) are decent but nothing special.
Saw this on Netflix. Engrossing and very disturbing.
Not just about prison, but the arrest, bail, what to do in jail etc…
Every poster in this thread should see it.
My most recent five:
Blade Runner 2049
Saw it for a second time on the big screen - a worthy successor to the original, which has long been a favorite of mine. Ryan Gosling is excellent as a replicant cop, and it’s great to see Harrison Ford return to the Deckard role. Terrific production design of a fully-realized, high-tech, dystopic L.A.
Restored Laurel & Hardy Shorts
A collection of black and white comedy shorts starring the one-fat one-skinny, one-American one-British pair of comedians. Very funny. The best part was “Brats,” where L&H play (thanks to different costumes and a duplicate studio set with oversized furniture) both themselves and their bratty sons.
Vincent van Gogh: A New Way of Seeing
A very well-done, beautiful documentary on the artist, his troubled personal life and his amazing paintings, now among the most valuable in the world (although he sold very few during his own lifetime). Highly recommended.
12 Days
A documentary about how French courts handle cases involving the mentally ill, who are entitled to hearings after 12 days if involuntarily committed. One very sympathetic man in Paris, we learn only at the end of his appearance before a judge, killed his own father.
Deadpool 2
Like the first one (which I’d say is a little better), it’s very funny, really raunchy, incredibly violent, and breaks the fourth wall at every opportunity. Two thumbs up.
Brats has one of my favorite lines of all time that I use on my kids all the time - the adult Laurel and/or Hardy (can’t remember which) saying to their kid versions: “If you have to make a noise, make it quietly!”