Not completely out of nowhere. Theo is a lesbian (it’s subtle…you have to read between the lines /s ) attracted to Eleanor, When she sees Eleanor and Dr M flirting it pisses her off (she “flies into a rit of fealous jage!”, as Inspector Clouseau put it)
I was aware of that subtext, but I couldn’t ever have picked it up from the movie.
We watched Deep Cover, a farcical comedy starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed. They are improv actors who do a low-level sting for the police and end up way over their heads.
It gets off to a slow start before building to some genuinely funny bits. I was especially impressed with Orlando Bloom here, as the hapless third-rate actor desperate to be the next Robert DeNiro. Nick Mohammed was mostly himself. The plot is completely implausible, as they tend to be.
It was a nice way to spend the night.
B-
I agree with your assessment entirely, except for the grade. I’d give it a B+.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio
It’s my favorite Tarantino film. The character of Rick Dalton is so layered. He is obviously a good actor. Even when Rick doesn’t like the smaller roles that he’s forced to accept.
There’s less violence and more focus on characters in this film. Well, except for the final ten minutes. Quentin seems incapable of making a totally violence free film. 
A+
Doesn’t everyone wish the movie ending had happened in real life? Sharon Tate, her child, and the others would still be alive.
True. But man, how satisfying is the ending section with its violence in this movie? Answer: very satisfying.
I didn’t see it in the theater, but when Leo deals with the lady in the pool, I have heard crowds both roared with laughter and cheered.
This exchange, where Brad Pitt’s character (high as a kite) is being threatened by the Manson family…
- [Cliff Booth]: [to the Manson Family] Oh… wait a minute. I know you. I know all three of you! Yeah, Spahn Ranch! Spahn Ranch, yeah! Woo!
- [turns to Katie]
- [Cliff Booth]: I don’t know your name, but I remember that red hair.
- [turns to Sadie]
- [Cliff Booth]: And you’re Sadie. I remember your white little face.
- [turns to Tex]
- [Cliff Booth]: And you were on a horsey! Yeah… you are?
- [Tex]: I’m the Devil. And I’m here to do the Devil’s business!
- [Cliff Booth]: [after a short pause] Nah, it was dumber than that. Something like Rex.
- [Sadie]: God, shoot him, Tex!
- Cliff Booth]: Tex!
…is just perfect.
The ending was immensely satisfying.
I have wondered why Squeaky was in that scene? A lot of the movie details are fairly accurate for 1968 and 1969. Tarantino choose that one exception.
I enjoyed all the references to tv shows from that period. I remember watching most of them after finishing my homework.
I don’t think she was. It was Tex (Watson), Sadie (Atkins) and Katie (Krenwinkel). Flower Child (Kasabian) took off with the car. Squeaky was the one back at the ranch keeping Bruce Dern happy.
The redhead woman confused me. I thought she was Squeaky.
I love The Frighteners. It’s a true guilty pleasure for me.
The “Little ginger-haired fucker” was Krenwinkel.
There’s just a second of film, when Cliff is sitting on the trailer on the movie set drinking milk and Bruce Lee says they should fight. Cliff sets his milk down, and says “That sounds like a great idea, Kato” and he just gets this wild look in his eyes for just a second. It always makes me laugh.
I love Tarantino. I think it’s his most thoughtful film (that I’ve seen.) By slowing down the pace I think he was able to build a more meaningful story. And while the end is gratifying, it’s also pretty sad because the whole point, you know, is that it’s fiction.
My personal favorite is Inglorious Basterds in no small part because Pitt’s delivery of “Bonjourno!” and really that entire scene is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.
And the Italian director (Antonio Margheriti) the Bear Jew was impersonating was one of the directors Rick Dalton went to Italy to work for. And Aldo (Pitt) was impersonating an Italian stunt man.
My favorite as well. It’s his absolute masterpiece and Christoph Walz deserved the Oscar.
Blazing Saddles on Prime.
Uncut as far as I can remember. Still holds up pretty well. Mel Brooks at his silliest with a good dash of social commentary.
The Last Stand 2013
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker
On Peacock for a few more days
Grade B
The beginning didn’t interest me very much. It gets much better when Arnold’s role takes charge. I wish Forest Whitaker had more to do than talking on a phone.
Arnold’s career never fully recovered from his years off screen. I’m sure he knew that going into politics came at a personal cost.
I enjoyed Last Stand. There are some great moments in the film. The cornfield car chase is very well done.
Karate Kid: Legends (2025). I had wanted to see this while it was in the Theaters because I do not think I have managed to watch any of them in that format, but missed the timing. Now that it is out on Netflix, I was able to finally watch it. Overall, it was a fine film, nothing too memorable, though the inclusion of both Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio was nice. I liked the way they tied the two through Mr Miyagi which makes some amount of sense given that Karate does have Chinese origins. Even though it did feel a little shoehorned in.
All the characters played their roles well and the story hangs together. There are all the predictable elements, though, who helps who and why was a departure from the previous formula. Jackie Chan continues to be amazing in his movement, and Ben Wang did a good job with both aspects of his character.
I liked it well enough, though I did not find it that memorable.
//i\\
The last seven or eight years of his pre-Governor films largely sucked. I think it’s a pretty flat trajectory after True Lies.