Films you have seen at the cinema 2022

[Sue]

Titane by Julia Ducournau. Her second feature (after Raw) and winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

I must admit I was disappointed. All felt a bit too random/implausible which I could've lived with if I'd cared about the main character. Except I didn't really apart from a bit right at the start.

It's got something (there were certainly a few moments when the entire audience gasped and others where I laughed quite inappropriately) but not enough of whatever that something is.

Saying that, I'm still looking forward to seeing her next -- whatever else this is, it's not dull (in fact it's quite audacious at times) which is more than you can say of lots of directors.

Spoiler

It reminded me quite a lot of Aronofsky's mother! which I liked.

I bought a good friend a metal hair chopstick thing for Christmas. Must remember not to piss her off...

 

[Orang Utan]

I saw it too. Still reeling from it to be able to be articulate about it. Nowhere near as good as Raw but the early part of the film works very well as a spree kill thriller, but the next bit is hard to get a handle on. Very good soundtrack, some great scenes set to music that help tell the story.
Two of the most committed and physically gruelling performances I’ve seen in a while, but neither of the two main characters elicit much sympathy. The barely sketched supporting crew of people deserved filling out more, esp the junior member of the closely knit crew of sapeur-pompiers that works for the older main character, but that bit never goes anywhere.
Soundtrack, though, proper good, esp the use of The Zombies’ She’s Not There.
3 titanium hairpins out of 5

 

[belboid]

Licorice Pizza

Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted pile of shite. An unbelievable central relationship and completely contradictory female lead.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Lamb Lamb

Wonderfully shot. Just beautiful imagery of Iceland. The story is mad as fuck and is sparsely described as "A childless couple discover a mysterious newborn on their Icelandic farm" but this doesn't cover it at all.

Some of the images from the film on IMDB might draw you in enough to see this. Recommended. 7.5/10 of the Throbbing Scale.

 

[krtek a houby]

Spiderman No Way Home.

One for the fans. Luckily, am a fan.

Thoroughly enjoyable and a nice nod to the franchise's.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Boiling Point.

Absolutely on-the-edge-of-your-seat gripping movie set in a busy high-end Bistro on the busiest night of the year. One scene, one camera and - apparently - all shot in one take with no cuts. The single-take format is totally warranted for this film, it totally immerses the viewer in the nervous energy of the kitchen and restaurant. So many relationships and characters are brilliantly captured in this film and there are plenty of laughs mixed in with the tension and anxiety. Absolutely outstanding raw emotional lead performance from Stephen Graham, unbelievable to think he can pull that off in just one take.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Licorice Pizza

Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted pile of shite. An unbelievable central relationship and completely contradictory female lead.

Seeing this on Friday. Was very excited for it based on the reviews - coming of age movies are more-or-less my favourite when they're done right. Saw the trailer at the cinema yesterday and didn't think it looked great. Hoping I'm - and your -wrong though.

 

[Orang Utan]

Boiling Point.

Absolutely on-the-edge-of-your-seat gripping movie set in a busy high-end Bistro on the busiest night of the year. One scene, one camera and - apparently - all shot in one take with no cuts. The single-take format is totally warranted for this film, it totally immerses the viewer in the nervous energy of the kitchen and restaurant. So many relationships and characters are brilliantly captured in this film and there are plenty of laughs mixed in with the tension and anxiety. Absolutely outstanding raw emotional lead performance from Stephen Graham, unbelievable to think he can pull that off in just one take.

I saw the original short of this and it was impressive enough!

 

[Dr. Furface]

Titane by Julia Ducournau. Her second feature (after Raw) and winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

I must admit I was disappointed. All felt a bit too random/implausible which I could've lived with if I'd cared about the main character. Except I didn't really apart from a bit right at the start.

It's got something (there were certainly a few moments when the entire audience gasped and others where I laughed quite inappropriately) but not enough of whatever that something is.

Saying that, I'm still looking forward to seeing her next -- whatever else this is, it's not dull (in fact it's quite audacious at times) which is more than you can say of lots of directors.

Spoiler

It reminded me quite a lot of Aronofsky's mother! which I liked.

I bought a good friend a metal hair chopstick thing for Christmas. Must remember not to piss her off...

When I saw it there were about 6 people there at the start but after about 20 mins 2 of them walked out. I felt like joining them as it was obviously preposterous bilge but I had nothing better to do so stuck with it. I was just about pleased I did because after I'd accepted it was garbage I did find it quite entertaining if only out of curiosity as to how much more stupid it would get, and also to see what she would er, 'produce' - which sadly was ultimately a big let down. Best I can say for it is that it did have a few WTF! scenes and it was occasionally hilarious, whether intentionally or not I'm not sure, but that doesn't much matter.

 

[Dr. Furface]

.

 

[Sue]

Licorice Pizza

Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted pile of shite. An unbelievable central relationship and completely contradictory female lead.

Agreed. And I thought the episodic thing just didn't hang together very well. It was also too long and pretty dull for significant stretches.

Spoiler

And however you slice it, an adult having a romanticish relationship with a child is grim.

Don't know, I've seen all PT Anderson's films but the last one I thought was good was There Will Be Blood. Feels like he's lost his touch really. I mean his last however many films haven't been terrible, they've just been a bit dull, too long and very much style over substance. He's clearly capable of making much more interesting films. Meh.

 

[belboid]

Agreed. And I thought the episodic thing just didn't hang together very well. It was also too long and pretty dull for significant stretches.

Spoiler

And however you slice it, an adult having a romanticish relationship with a child is grim.

Don't know, I've seen all PT Anderson's films but the last one I thought was good was There Will Be Blood. Feels like he's lost his touch really. I mean his last however many films haven't been terrible, they've just been a bit dull, too long and very much style over substance. He's clearly capable of making much more interesting films. Meh.

It can't have helped that I had to go for a piss and missed what everyone says is the best scene


(I’m just sitting down to rewatch Inherent Vice. I suspect I partly enjoyed it just cos so many in the cinema obviously hated it, the dvd has been in its wrapper for at least four years.)

 

[krtek a houby]

It can't have helped that I had to go for a piss and missed what everyone says is the best scene


(I’m just sitting down to rewatch Inherent Vice. I suspect I partly enjoyed it just cos so many in the cinema obviously hated it, the dvd has been in its wrapper for at least four years.)

Loved Inherent Vice

 

[belboid]

Loved Inherent Vice

Twenty minutes in and I am seriously considering putting the subtitles on.

 

[Orang Utan]

Just going in to a Nightmare Alley and House Of Gucci double bill. Sacked off Memoria and/or Belfast earlier. May do em tomorrow.

 

[Orang Utan]

^^^
glad I posted that as a bookmark so I remembered to update this morning.

Nightmare Alley is better than House Of Gucci, but both weren’t up to much, though I’m not surprised at either film’s failure to engage or convince.

Production design, as ever, is the best thing about Nightmare Alley. Quite like the Freaks-remix premise but it went on far too long and the second half falls apart after the intriguing set up. Some fine actors wasted here and are lost amongst all the foam marble sets and a surfeit of Art Deco plastered with gold lead.

I watched House Of Gucci at a Friday ‘late-night’ screening in the city centre, so I expected a Showgirls-type crowd enjoying the campery and the Allo Allo accents, but I was the only person roaring with laughter at some of the dialogue, especially when Jared ‘six full hours in make up and a little bit of acting magic’ Leto is delivering it. I wouldn’t go so far to say he’s the best thing in it but his scenes are the only enjoyable ones in a rather dull, long and pointless biopic of a rather dull and ugly-souled family who made ugly shoes and ugly handbags. Fuck knows why Scott wanted to make it, but looking back, I feel that way about most of his output tbf.

 

[Reno]

I find del Toro the most overrated director working, every film of his is over-produced and over art-directed and he always loses the plot in the mix. His characters usually are appallingly simplistic, yet every new film of his gets greeted with fawning anticipation. As far as I'm concerned The Devil's Backbone was his only truly great film, even the much admired Pan's Labyrinth was just a coarser retreat of that film.

I'm amazed at how many films Ridley Scott manages to crank out at his age and they all are on quite a large scale. After a promising debut he made two rock solid masterpieces and he has been disappointing me ever since. The Last Duel at least got better received than House of Gucci, some critics think it's among his best films but it was a resounding flop (no doubt in part due to COVID). Nearly everybody I know went to see House of Gucci, all hoping for a bit of camp, bitchy fun and they all complained at how dull it was.

 

[Orang Utan]

I find del Toro the most overrated director working, every film of his is over-produced and over art-directed and he always loses the plot in the mix. His characters usually are appallingly simplistic, yet every new film of his gets greeted with fawning anticipation. As far as I'm concerned The Devil's Backbone was his only truly great film, even the much admired Pan's Labyrinth was just a coarser retreat of that film.

I'm amazed at how many films Ridley Scott manages to crank out at his age and they all are on quite a large scale. After a promising debut he made two rock solid masterpieces and he has been disappointing me ever since. The Last Duel at least got better received than House of Gucci, some critics think it's among his best films but it was a resounding flop (no doubt in part due to COVID). Nearly everybody I know went to see House of Gucci, all hoping for a bit of camp, bitchy fun and they all complained at how dull it was.

Wish I’d seen the Gucci nonsense at the Prince Charles - it could be fun with the right audience.

 

[Dr. Furface]

Ascension. Observational documentary looking at different aspects of the modern Chinese economy and society, moving from people looking for low paid jobs through to people who are so wealthy because those people are working for them. In between there's scenes inside food factories, people doing mind-numbing conveyor belt jobs, making sex dolls, training to be security guards and butlers, etiquette and marketing trainees, gaming and social media pros, and more. It's very 'watchable' - there's some amazing images, and it has a bit of a Koyaanisqatsi vibe about it. Thankfully there's no commentary and it doesn't need one - the economic and cultural message is inescapable. Recommended.

 

[paul mckenna]

Agreed. And I thought the episodic thing just didn't hang together very well. It was also too long and pretty dull for significant stretches.

Spoiler

And however you slice it, an adult having a romanticish relationship with a child is grim.

Don't know, I've seen all PT Anderson's films but the last one I thought was good was There Will Be Blood. Feels like he's lost his touch really. I mean his last however many films haven't been terrible, they've just been a bit dull, too long and very much style over substance. He's clearly capable of making much more interesting films. Meh.

Inherent Vice and The Master to a less degree weren't up to his normal levels but his last one Phantom Thread is fantastic. Really hope Licorice Pizza is good

 

[Orang Utan]

Would a viewing of Licorice Pizza benefit much from a signed screening? I have a ticket for one cos I've often struggled to hear/process PTA's dialogue scenes even more than I do normally, which is quite a lot!

 

[Orang Utan]

Twenty minutes in and I am seriously considering putting the subtitles on.

ah not just me then

 

[Sue]

Inherent Vice and The Master to a less degree weren't up to his normal levels but his last one Phantom Thread is fantastic. Really hope Licorice Pizza is good

I thought The Phantom Thread was pretty meh. Looked nice, but apart from that...

 

[paul mckenna]

I thought The Phantom Thread was pretty meh. Looked nice, but apart from that...

For me, it gets better each time i watch it. Dunno if it's Daniel Day Lewis or PTA who's most to thank but he plays one of those characters that have proper depth. It's probably the best portrayal of manic depression out there

 

[Sue]

Nightmare Alley. More of a straight film than Del Toro's fantasy usual but too long and way too slow. The first half set in the carnival is better than the second and I think a lot of that is down to it being more of an ensemble effort.

In the second half, it relies a lot more on Bradley Cooper who's playing an unsympathetic character and just doesn’t have the presence or charisma to pull it off. I really think he's just not a very good leading man. (I haven't seen ASIB mind.)

Rooney Mara's part is underwritten and while Cate Blanchett is good as ever, her motivation/relationship with Cooper just don't make sense.

The hotel sets are absolutely beautiful mind. Think I should probably watch the original.

 

[Sue]

For me, it gets better each time i watch it. Dunno if it's Daniel Day Lewis or PTA who's most to thank but he plays one of those characters that have proper depth. It's probably the best portrayal of manic depression out there

Hah, I just thought the DDL character was an annoying controlling twat.

 

[rubbershoes]

Would a viewing of Licorice Pizza benefit much from a signed screening? I have a ticket for one cos I've often struggled to hear/process PTA's dialogue scenes even more than I do normally, which is quite a lot!

No need imo. My hearing's shit and I managed fine with Licorice Pizza

 

[Doctor Carrot]

I just don't understand the fascination with Paul Thomas Anderson's films. Magnolia and There Will Be Blood are good but the last 3 of his I've watched have been really incomprehensible and pretty boring. It makes me not want to risk liquorice pizza.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

I just don't understand the fascination with Paul Thomas Anderson's films. Magnolia and There Will Be Blood are good but the last 3 of his I've watched have been really incomprehensible and pretty boring. It makes me not want to risk liquorice pizza.

Liquorice Pizza - didn't do it for me. It's got good performances, is very artistically shot and, If you're into 70s nostalgia, its got great set design. Personally though, I barely laughed throughout this (although to be fair there is one very funny scene during a petrol shortage), but more importantly, I didn't buy into or have any investment in any of the characters. I want a coming of age movie to really hit me in the feels. I want to root for the characters, feel the weight of their dilemmas and witness their change and growth. For me, Liquorice Pizza didn't deliver any of that - it had an implausible and toxic relationship (its toxicity is not what's implausible about it) at its heart and no real structure (very PTA in that respect). Overhyped imo.

 

[Doctor Carrot]

Liquorice Pizza - didn't do it for me. It's got good performances, is very artistically shot and, If you're into 70s nostalgia, its got great set design. Personally though, I barely laughed throughout this (although to be fair there is one very funny scene during a petrol shortage), but more importantly, I didn't buy into or have any investment in any of the characters. I want a coming of age movie to really hit me in the feels. I want to root for the characters, feel the weight of their dilemmas and witness their change and growth. For me, Liquorice Pizza didn't deliver any of that - it had an implausible and toxic relationship (its toxicity is not what's implausible about it) at its heart and no real structure (very PTA in that respect). Overhyped imo.

Sounds like another style over substance film for him then? Think I'll give it a swerve. People seem to really gush over it though and his last two films. They just didn't work for me and sounds like Liquorice Pizza won't either.