I’m watching the new Road House right now and I’ve really been enjoying it. But then Conor McGregor came on screen. He’s horrible. He can’t act. They dubbed him for some reason. He’s really ruining this movie. I hope I can get over it.
Watched The Company of Strangers (1990) on Kanopy — a Canadian “docufiction” film. Seven women (all but one elderly) have their tour bus break down, and spend several days in an abandoned country house. Reviews say the dialogue was improvised and consisted of the women sharing their actual life stories.
I liked the film a lot. I’ve become sensitive to Big Emotions and overblown plot machinations, and this film was blessed relief. Some of the line deliveries were wonderful, and the speech overlaps just about perfect.
An A- I suppose. Very low budget. In the States it was released as Strangers in Good Company.
Destroy all Neighbors
Not recommended.
This stars Jonah Ray(MST3K!) and Alex Winter(Bill and Ted’s!)…but is not a very well made or interesting movie. It is kind of a gross out funny horror-comedy thing, but none of it really works all that well. It actually doesn’t go far enough or lean in enough to its premise. I was slightly amused at times, but even Alex Winter isn’t given enough to do and he is probably the main draw of the movie.
Yeah, just kind of a misfire.
Poor Things (Hulu, 2023) - A Steampunk tale about modern man’s desire, fear, trepidation, hope and lust after and for female sexuality. Dragged over nearly 2 and a half hours of various explicit scenes intended to shock, but in the end just bored me. The colors and Art Nouveau style, particularly the French Whore House, were a feast for the eyes however:
Not Recommended.
I don’t think the explicit scenes were “intended to shock”, that’s just Yorgos Lanthimos’s style. Anyway, as I noted earlier, I was sufficiently impressed by Poor Things that I went on a Yorgos Lanthimos kick and have since watched four of his immediately preceding films, and I’m glad I did.
Lanthimos’ bleakness contrasting with his opulent visuals, Wes Anderson’s elaborate stagecraft, and Roy Andersson’s… Roy Anderssoness, as well as a lot of the “dark and arties” all over the streamers these days all owe a debt to Peter Greenway (The Draughtsman’s Contract, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, etc.). Worth a retrospective at this point.
Ghostbusters
I always enjoy the original. I’m always amazed at how well they did with production.
I’m surprised at how many younger people have only seen the recent revivals. Seeing the original cast reunited and helping the new cast will be so special.
The original is very, very OLLLLLDDDD 
. 1984 was 40 years ago, way past a generation and soon to hit two. You could have been born the year it came out and be married with kids in college by now (heck, it is even possible you could be a grandparent).
The years have gone by so quickly for me. Ghostbusters is a good candidate to show the grandkids after they’ve seen the current films. The costumes, sets, props, and car are still the same.
They wouldn’t know any prior work by Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray on SNL or other projects. That shouldn’t matter. There’s no reason to mention it. The cast’s work on GB doesn’t need star power to sell the movie.
I was reading a paywalled article about making GB. Aykroyd’s grandparents and parents were involved in psychic/paranormal research. He used that background for the tech dialog in GB and make it sound authentic. The green blob ghost that’s constantly eating at the hotel is a tribute to John Belushi.
The interest in psychic phenomena goes back to his great-grandfather at least:
Thanks for the link. It explaijns why Aykroyd’s character is so intense in GB. Murray is the skeptic looking for women until the weird stuff happens.
I watched Wonka last night and was (pleasantly) shocked at how much I enjoyed it. I resisted seeing it, partly because of Chalomet (he did a great job though) but mostly because I love the original but did not love the remake with Johnny Depp.
The plot is not particularly important to the adults watching - kids might like it- but the individual little performances by several familiar celebrities are really amusing. Hugh Grant’s Oompa Loompa was the best part. I got a very Paddington 2 vibe (also a great “kids movie” that any adult can enjoy).
I thought I was going to hate him, but I loved him!
FYI, both movies share the same writer and director.
You should see him go on about his vodka brand.
I am currently watching the Bollywood version of Child’s Play-Papi Gudia-The Sinful Doll.
I just made a short list of overlooked movies worth seeking out. If you need something to watch, these are great ones.
Thanks for this. I’ve watched and enjoyed 3 of these (Censor, The Reflecting Skin and You Won’t be Alone) and would recommend them. I Want to Eat your Pancreas has to be worth a look 
**American Fiction ** Really liked it. A spot on satire of this stupid age, along with a well done family dramedy. The jokes clicked with me.
Poor Things. Well made, but it didn’t work for me. Godwin seemed to care for Bella and wouldn’t have left her in Duncan’s hands. Duncan was shrewd enough to realize that Bella couldn’t be left alone. (I know, men in real life think too much with their little head) If Bella had the brain of a child was she capable of consenting to furious jumping? The end story with the general could have been cut. I did like Bella as a character. Emma Stone did a great job. The thing looked glorious.
Fury Dark and gritty war flick. The ending was over the top, but exciting. I didn’t hate Shia LaBeouf.