I watched this last night and agree. He’s a tremendous actor. HOWEVER, DO NOT LOOK THIS UP ONLINE - the cast credits spoil the movie immediately, BIG TIME. I’m not exaggerating. Just go watch it on Netflix or Kanopy or wherever. I wouldn’t even look up the description because it strongly hints at things to come.
Definitely. I was lucky to be completely oblivious to the big reveal. When it came — KABOOM! Couldn’t have been happier with a film.
I tried watching “Wicked”…and absolutely hated it! I must be in the minority. It was an immensely popular film adaptation of one of the most popular stage shows of the last couple of decades, and being an “Oz” fan from way back, I thought I would enjoy it.
I made it through about half of its 160-minute running time and shut if off. It was a feast for the eyes, I’ll grant you that. But it was filled with boring, repetitive songs that constantly interrupted the action. I’ve always rather enjoyed musicals, but the music has to be GOOD.
And this was only PART ONE?!!!
It was like watching an opera, a form of artistic expression that I know I would also find tedious.
Wow. The first act of Wicked has some of the best songs.
Dafuq? Personally, I was considerably older than 9 in 1983, and I still go to movies quite a bit. Where’d you get the idea that 50+ is too old to go to the movies?
Nearly 50% of US adults 50-64 went to movies in the past 12 months:
I’m specifically talking about the ones interested in nostalgia based movies, not just general movie goers. I also admit I am speculating on a possible explanation on why nostalgia movies haven’t done well despite being good films.
Went to see The Invite this weekend.
It’s very good! Sharply observed, well acted, inevitably a bit stagey seeing as its an adapted play, but the direction is sharp and keeps things pacey.
It’s a culture clash/comedy of manners - on one side, an uptight, unhappy couple (Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde - also the director) struggling to deal with the fact that life has got away from them somewhat, on the other an achingly trendy and mutually happy couple (Edward Norton, Penelope Cruz) who throw the foregoing into sharp relief. The Invite in question is a catalyst for examining/stress-testing these relationships, there are flirtations, revelations, shifting dynamics, precipices walked up to and either tiptoed back from or hurled into - all with a strong comedy vein, most overtly from Seth Rogen, which doesn’t undermine the dramatic foundations.
The last 15 minutes lose a lot of subtlety and become extremely didactic in a way that is clearly deliberate, but all in all a good night out at the movies.
After finishing the last season of Dark Winds with Franka Potente playing a psycho hired killer, we decided to watch her breakthrough film from 1999, Run, Lola, Run for the first time since it was in theaters. I’d forgotten how funny it actually is - the humor in German films often alludes me. My only complaint is the pompous opening narration and unnecessary literary and sports quotes. A very fun film.
Having Potente and Udo Kier show up in that season was an unexpected delight.
I agree. I saw this movie when it was new, and thought it was great. I mentioned this to a foreign student, who agreed with me. Apparently the guy who played “Rabbi” Jacob, Louis de Funes, was extremely popular and appreciated overseas, but practically unknown in the US.
I just saw Truck Turner (1974) with Isaac Hayes as Mack ‘Truck’ Turner. Pretty formulaic blaxploitation, but what made it fun (for me anyway) was Lt. Uhura playing a foul-mouthed madam, at one point saying that her girls were “going to learn how to sell [hoo-hoo] in Iceland.”
I saw Wicked on stage in London, after reading the book, and loved it. Pretty costumes, singing and dancing… these days I hear the tunes on the Broadway Channel and barely remember what it was all about.
The Dink (Apple TV)
If the funniest person in your comedy is John McEnroe, you have a problem. I play pickleball nearly every day, but I sure didn’t need to see a movie about it.
Where Addie and Moze pull the con with the “birthday” $20 bill. Probably caused me to never trust anyone.
Two nights ago was 1982’s Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,(TCM) the Steve Martin mashup of film noir clips in a new film, directed by Carl Reiner. The blending is seamless but a lot of times the noir scenes added don’t add anything. The plot makes minimal sense. But it is enjoyable. You’d like it more if you recognize the referenced films, which I did not in 1982.
Last night’s movie was 1981’s Pennies From Heaven, with Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters and Christopher Walken, from TCM. I’d seen it about 30 years ago and didn’t remember a thing, which is usually not a good sign, but I wanted to give it another chance. The concept was good, but - I’d call it a failed experiment. I think the biggest problem is the lead - I don’t think Martin was right for the role. The affect, the tone, of the film is too flat.
The original British miniseries with Bob Hoskins was much, much better.
Pennies From Heaven failed because people saw Steve Martin in it and thought it would be a madcap comedy, whereas it’s about as dark a comedy as you can get. The rapid switches between the fantasy musical numbers and the worsening reality for the characters will give you emotional whiplash.
In conclusion, fuck you Dennis Potter, you demented genius.
That’s a good one and certainly shows Tatum at her best but for me it’s the change scam with its smooth patter. The topper is hearing the car start and drive away as the cashier is trying to figure it out.
Yes. I don’t know if they all did but in the mid-eighties when the PBS station in San Jose was having a pledge drive it would run The Singing Detective on consecutive evenings.
Mind blown.
Chicken for Linda! (Linda veut du poulet !)
French animation. Only an hour and 13 minutes long.
Linda’s mother Paulette punishes Linda for something she didn’t do. When Paulette learns she made a mistake, she promises Linda to make it up to her by doing anything she asks. Linda wants a dish of chicken with peppers, which her father used to make. This leads to a comedy of errors as Paulette tries to fulfil the request.
This movie isn’t a great work of art, but it’s very entertaining. The animation is charming, the characters are well-drawn (both literally and figuratively), and it’s funny.
Watched Creep over the weekend, which has its own 2015 thread here, but I decided not to bump it. In any case, we enjoyed it for what it was, and Mark Duplass played manic stranger pretty well. I don’t know that I’ll watch Creep II though.
Shelter 2026 Jason Statham
I like Statham’s action movies and have watched all of them multiple times.
I’ve eagerly waited for Shelter to release.
I’m a little disappointed. I think it’s too bleak and depressing. The Big Brother surveillance is very oppressive.
Statham is usually the planner and man of action. He’s the hunter.
This time he’s the rabbit being chased.
It’s not a bad movie. But, I’m not excited by it either.
6.5 out of 10