List the films you've seen at the cinema: 2014

[redsquirrel]

The Wolf of Wall Street - I pretty much agree with Sue's post earlier in the thread. The film itself has some funny moments and Di Caprio and Hill are watchable, but it's far too long and self-indulgent. And the idea that it's some sort of criticism of Wall St is absurd, Belfort, and indeed the whole ethos of his lifestyle, is portrayed in an incredibly sympathetic manner, even after his abuse of his wife the film wants you to root for him (after all he didn't rat out his friend). And the portrayal of women is terrible, I mean I have no doubt that the culture it is showing is hugely misogynistic but that doesn't mean that the film has to illustrate that with it's own misogynistic portrayals of women. That's incredibly lazy/poor directing especially from someone such as Scorsese, who quite clearly has the talent to do something a lot more intelligent and subtle.

American Hustle - Utterly amazed at the amount of praise that this is getting, it's not bad but it's very, very ordinary. The average episode of of Leverage is probably better than this. I've always thought Bale was something of an overrated actor and he definitely is phoning it in here, the one interesting thing in the movie is Jennifer Lawrence who is pretty great.

Her - miles, miles better than the previous two films. I've never been a big fan of Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich is IMO one of the most overrated films around) but this is excellent. Far more depth and intelligence to it than what I've seen of his previous previous work. The plot is that in the near future humanity will start to create operating systems possessing artificial intelligence. The central drama is that Joaquin Phoenix's character, who's broken up from his wife, begins a relationship with his OS Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), but that's just the starting point, and the film is much more an examination of how humanity interacts (or doesn't) with these new intelligences as well as with each other. Amy Adams is also in this, and is about a millions times better than in American Hustle. Johansson is pretty much playing herself but that's OK and Phoenix is good as the central character. I'm not sure if it's being released in the UK yet? But I definitely recommend it.

 

[MellySingsDoom]

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) - dir. Joel and Ethan Coen - All round decent effort from Joel and Ethan Coen in their latest film, in which folk singer/guitarist (Oscar Isaac) navigates the early 60's Greenwich Village scene, and one by one burns his bridges as he struggles to get gigs, gets a female folk singer (Carey Mulligan) pregnant, and surfs from couch to couch as he attempts to establish himself as a folk musician. An ill-fated trip to Chicago sees him sharing a car with a heroin-using jazz pianist (John Goodman), and eventually he decides to rejoin the merchant navy, but even this doesn't work out for him. Thje film ends as Issac's set at a folk club is followed by that of a somewhat well-known emerging protest-folk musician, and Isaac (after taking another beating) sees his life going absolutely nowhere.

Oscar Isaac acquits himself well as the dissolute musician who just can't seem to get anywhere. Carey Mulligan is striking and mean-mouthed at the same time, and John Goodman's role is brief but still convinving. The plot moves along at a fair old pace, and there are one of two laugh out loud moments amongst the more sombre scenes of the film. The folk music soundtrack is overall fairly decent, and the film looks very good - Greenwich Village of the time being evoked pretty well. There's a long-running meme about a runaway cat, and Garrett Hedlund's short role as a near-silent, chain smoking beat poet is certainly textbook Coen territory.

So, "Inside Llewyn Davis" is a nice addtion to the Coen oeuvre, and worth seeing, even if folk music doesn't particularly interest you. One slight issue, however: in the recording session scene, an electric guitar can clearly be heard on the soundtrack, even though the scene in question has acoustic guitars only. A bit early to be citing Dylan's electric period, methinks!

 

[belboid]

you know, the big problem with Inside Llewyn Davis -they all have too many records! Carey & Justin have a good two hundred, and the uni lecturers have thousand. But the LP - and they were all LP's you could tell by the spines - had only been available for a few years, there simply hadn't been that many released. Ruined the whole film for me

 

[belboid]

.

 

[MellySingsDoom]

you know, the big problem with Inside Llewyn Davis -they all have too may records! Carey & Justin have a good two hundred, and the uni lecturers have thousand. But the LP - and they were all LP's you could tell by the spines - had only been available for a few years, there simply hadn't been that many released. Ruined the whole film for me

I hadn't thought of that point, actually! Well spotted. Goes well with the "electric folk" clanger, eh?

 

[Buddy Bradley]

you know, the big problem with Inside Llewyn Davis -they all have too many records! Carey & Justin have a good two hundred, and the uni lecturers have thousand. But the LP - and they were all LP's you could tell by the spines - had only been available for a few years, there simply hadn't been that many released. Ruined the whole film for me

Maybe they were all remaindered stock like Llewyn and Adam's boxes of albums? They say everyone has an album in them...

 

[Gramsci]

"The Wolf of Wall Street"



What a bizarre film I thought at the end of it. Leonardo DiCaprio excels himself as the Salesman/ Broker who realizes that he can sell people worthless investments. He holds this rambling long movie together. Its borders on self indulgence on the part of Scorsese. There are some great set pieces where DiCaprio "motivates" his workers.

The film is ambiguous. Is it a criticism of Wall Street? Or is there a sneaking admiration for DiCaprio and the small group of loyal guys he recruits?

The FBI agent says to Jordan he is not the usual person he he is after. Jordan was not born into money. Him and the half a dozen friends he starts off with are blue collar chancers who seize an opportunity to make big money. Does it have parallels with Goodfellas and Casino? Yes it does.


Talked about this on the Brixton film thread. Someone mentioned the way that drug taking was portrayed in a non moralistic and honest way. Which I agree with and thought was a good point.


Scorcese got away with that. No criticism that I have seen of that aspect of it.

As Jordan says near the beginning of the film its the money thats the drug. One of the things one realizes is that initially these were hard up guys who wanted to be rich. Like in his other film Casino they made enough money ( as Jordans dad said) to never work again. But they continued despite knowing the Feds were after them.

Now I have thought about it the film is an indictment of Capitalism. This is how it works. Money does not create anything real like housing or things people need. Its exactly right for Scorsese to show the link with getting high and money. Money is not some neutral socially useful thing to make our lives easier.The film works for me as its not banging me over the head Loach style.

Another thing about the drug taking was that it was not recreational. Something to do partying on the weekend. Or to wind down. It was an integral part of there lives. Same with the sex. It was most telling when the went to that foreign place "Europe". Suddenly there boorish antics were not socially acceptable. I thought the funniest scene was with the Swiss banker. Jordan was trying so hard to fit into this weird "European" politeness.

It has been criticized for its portrayal of women. Which I think is harsh. That is how it was. I talked to someone who worked in the city a while back. Hiring escorts for parties to entertain clients was normal. Probably still is now the City has been bailed out.

You could tell in the early days of financial crisis it was really hitting the City as I used to see the Lapdancers out giving out tickets for a free dance at the clubs near the City.

I liked the sprawling length of the film. It fitted into the chaos of there lives. I thought it got better as it went along.

 

[Cheesypoof]

How anybody could be pissed off by the film is beyond me, I'm trying to recall the last time I was so utterly impressed with a script, genius script, had us in stitches. Loved the editing and witty visuals which were unashamedly graphic. Acting and soundtrack pretty blinding too. As for some of the femmie type comments here, well, the film was about a shallow, money/power obsessed stock broker addicted to drugs, debauchery and excess; that shit ain't gonna be fluffy or tame is it. I'd like to see a version made by Lukas Moodyson or Lars von Trier. The film was unapologetic in delivery, just like Belfort himself. Jona Hill rules as always. I want to marry him. I'd agree with someone above that the last part of the film dragged out, even though I enjoyed it heaps I was waiting for it to end (towards the end), seemed so long.

I also liked 'The Wolf of Wall Street' - (have written more about it on the Oscars thread http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/oscars-2014.319514/#post-12893577) but a riot and a half wasnt it!!! . Also massive crush on the unbelievably sexy Jonah Hill

 

[Cheesypoof]

Saw 12 years a slave tonight, loved it. Harrowing but in an effective, non-blood curdling (ie, not like Django Unchained), and sparing way. It's an artistic film that leaves a deep impression on you, which i do think sets Steve McQueen apart from other directors. (Shame, which i also liked and didnt find pretentious or gratuitious at all, affected me in a similar way...it is good and quite rare if a movie can leave a lingering impression afterwards, i think).

 

[Gramsci]

Fill the Void -- Orthodox Jewish family drama set in modern-day Israel. Know very little about Orthodox Judaism -- despite living only a few miles away from a big Orthodox community -- so found this very interesting. And a very good film too I thought, if a bit depressing.

Definitely a film worth seeing. Did well here in London. I think due to a largely Jewish audience. ( at my afternoon screening at Renoir it was mainly Jewish ladies of a certain age).

I thought it was well made film. Good performances and also emotionally got more involving as it went along.

Its set in Tel Aviv. I used to know an Israeli. He had no time for Orthodox Jews. He was secular Tel Aviv.

It was clear the film was a labour of love by the director to portray her community in best light. But also be accurate about the portrayal.

The director apparently is a convert to Orthodox Jewish tradition. Which surprised me. I thought there whole society was claustrophobic. They only mixed with other Orthodox. Despite living in a liberal Tel Aviv they seemed to have no connection with anyone outside them. Also men and women had totally separate roles.

I think that why was it was a bit depressing. As much as it was about a growing love affair I could not but help think the two had been under subtle (and at times not so subtle) social pressures. Also the men and women were brought up not to mix naturally but always under supervision.

I would recommend this film as one of the more emotionally intelligent films I have seen recently.

 

[Sue]

Finally psyched myself up to see 12 Years a Slave and feel kind of disappointed. Not quite sure what I was expecting but it felt like a very standard 'historical' film and I'm not sure it said much we didn't already know.... (Obviously people being aware of the evils of slavery is good but I'm not sure I get the whole 'outsider tells it like it is and as an American director couldn't' thing.)

I really liked Steve McQueen's last two films and this is by no means a bad film -- I'd probably class it as quite good -- but I was expecting something really, really good. Don't know, is it getting the reception it is because of the subject matter..?

 

[Sue]

Definitely a film worth seeing. Did well here in London. I think due to a largely Jewish audience. ( at my afternoon screening at Renoir it was mainly Jewish ladies of a certain age).

I thought it was well made film. Good performances and also emotionally got more involving as it went along.

Its set in Tel Aviv. I used to know an Israeli. He had no time for Orthodox Jews. He was secular Tel Aviv.

It was clear the film was a labour of love by the director to portray her community in best light. But also be accurate about the portrayal.

The director apparently is a convert to Orthodox Jewish tradition. Which surprised me. I thought there whole society was claustrophobic. They only mixed with other Orthodox. Despite living in a liberal Tel Aviv they seemed to have no connection with anyone outside them. Also men and women had totally separate roles.

I think that why was it was a bit depressing. As much as it was about a growing love affair I could not but help think the two had been under subtle (and at times not so subtle) social pressures. Also the men and women were brought up not to mix naturally but always under supervision.

I would recommend this film as one of the more emotionally intelligent films I have seen recently.

I saw this a few hours before I saw the Wolf of Wall St -- talk about going from one extreme to the other...

 

[Sue]

Lift to the Scaffold -- Louis Malle's first feature from 1958(!) Man kills his lover's husband, things spiral out of control. Smart, slick, very enjoyable. Highly recommended, especially for those who like noir/Nouvelle Vague films. Also has a Miles Davis soundtrack for any jazz cats out there.

 

[belboid]

Wolf of Wall Street.

A truly astounding film. Astounding in just how bad it actually is. Unpleasant and unsympathetic people behaving badly. Oh look, they're taking drugs and abusing prostitutes. Again. Haha,they're ripping people off! Oh look, more drugs and prostitutes. The portrayal of women was appaling (what was the point of that woman's little story at his 'farewell'? Her story didn't make sense (5k tuition for an 8 year old??) and her whole demeanour just deeply unconvincing. All the women were shallow morons, tho the men weren't much better. All simple minded and utterly uninteresting.

Worst of all, it was often just boring.

 

[emanymton]

Wolf of Wall Street.

A truly astounding film. Astounding in just how bad it actually is. Unpleasant and unsympathetic people behaving badly. Oh look, they're taking drugs and abusing prostitutes. Again. Haha,they're ripping people off! Oh look, more drugs and prostitutes. The portrayal of women was appaling (what was the point of that woman's little story at his 'farewell'? Her story didn't make sense (5k tuition for an 8 year old??) and her whole demeanour just deeply unconvincing. All the women were shallow morons, tho the men weren't much better. All simple minded and utterly uninteresting.

Worst of all, it was often just boring.

This is why I haven't been to see it as I think I would agree 100%. It looks awful to me, I think I would just sit there for 3 hours building up my anger.

 

[DexterTCN]

This is why I haven't been to see it as I think I would agree 100%. It looks awful to me, I think I would just sit there for 3 hours building up my anger.

I laughed my arse off at it.

Comedy requires bad characters, these are very bad. The women may have been shallow (they were not morons) but not as shallow as the men.

It's a comedy and has plenty of laughs.

 

[belboid]

what? tosh!!

Comedy does not require 'bad characters' - it requires funny characters. Preferably ones you can have some sympathy with, even if you don't actually like them. these are just unpleasant cunts. The women had absoluitely no agency, they were mere conduits for men and their spunk, there was nothing to indicate they were anything but shallow money hungry morons. And it just wasn't funny. Boring, old jokes, debauchery scenes that Scorcese (and many others) have done lots better before.

he appears to have taken Belfonts book at simple face value! No recognition that it was almost definitely a pack of self-aggrandising lies. And there is just no satire on Wall Street itself, nothing, its politics are trite beyond belief.

 

[RedDragon]

Got forced into seeing Philomena, an okish film although couldn't help thinking how much better it would've been had Mrs Brown played the Judi Dench part.

 

[belboid]

I was planning on watching that later today

 

[RedDragon]

I was planning on watching that later today

TBH, It's actually a good film and well worth watching.

 

[ringo]

Dallas Buyers Club. First trip to the cinema for 12 years, bar High School Musical with the littlun. Great film, McConaughey and Leto were both great. Remembered why I hate the cinema though - all that waiting about, the tall twat wriggling in front of me so that I could see his head all the way through, two am dram types nattering throughout, people eating and drinking noisily and you can't pause it to go for a piss

 

[redsquirrel]

Lift to the Scaffold -- Louis Malle's first feature from 1958(!) Man kills his lover's husband, things spiral out of control. Smart, slick, very enjoyable. Highly recommended, especially for those who like noir/Nouvelle Vague films. Also has a Miles Davis soundtrack for any jazz cats out there.

Excellent film.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Monument Men.

Sappy, but enjoyed the story. Clooney wasn't quite as annoying as usual. He should keep the beard, it hides a smirk. Liked the performances by the supporting cast.

 

[braindancer]

Lego: the movie.

Superb! I took the kids, expecting the usual dross, but was massively impressed....

The animation is fantastic and it's got a genuinely funny dry sense of humour. We all loved it, but I think I enjoyed it even more than they did

 

[fen_boy]

Lego: the movie.

Superb! I took the kids, expecting the usual dross, but was massively impressed....

The animation is fantastic and it's got a genuinely funny dry sense of humour. We all loved it, but I think I enjoyed it even more than they did

Agreed, it's 1984 with bum gags.

 

[Cheesypoof]

Saw Philomena on holiday last week, it was really great. Heartbreaking, heartfelt and genuinely funny! I know a few Irish old ladies like that!

Going to see Dallas Buyers Club tonight. Can't wait.

 

[Cheesypoof]

Dallas Buyers Club was great, it was bittersweet, very sad but funny at the same time. Excellent performances too. Jared Leto looked so sexy in drag....you would do him whether you are a man or a woman

 

[Gramsci]

Lift to the Scaffold -- Louis Malle's first feature from 1958(!) Man kills his lover's husband, things spiral out of control. Smart, slick, very enjoyable. Highly recommended, especially for those who like noir/Nouvelle Vague films. Also has a Miles Davis soundtrack for any jazz cats out there.

I was going to see "Bastards" at Renoir but got the time wrong so went to Cine Lumiere to see "Lift to the Scaffold".

Saw it on by chance as that was what was on at the convenient time for me.

What a wonderful film. Looks as fresh now as when it was made back in 58. Great soundtrack. And I am not a jazz cat.

It is wonderfully shot. Particularly liked the way he filmed Jeanne Moreau walking in the city night.

Its also not imo classic film noir. I felt sympathy for both the ex soldier and the youth. The film was more a Greek Tragedy. As one of the police, almost joking, says at one point. Both the ex soldier and the youth are outsiders in post war France. The ones who are doing well are the self satisfied German businessman and the French arms dealer. So those who do well out of post war France are the cynical businessmen.

 

[Orang Utan]

Lego: the movie.

Superb! I took the kids, expecting the usual dross, but was massively impressed....

The animation is fantastic and it's got a genuinely funny dry sense of humour. We all loved it, but I think I enjoyed it even more than they did

I saw it this afternoon and agree.
Very witty dialogue and amazing visuals - I love how they represented water and explosions. Cloud cuckoo land was well trippy.
Loved the quasi-anarchist subtext and big business = evil message, even though it is essentially an advert for Lego.
LOL at the micromanagers and the minions in business suits.

 

[Dr. Furface]

Her - miles, miles better than the previous two films. I've never been a big fan of Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich is IMO one of the most overrated films around) but this is excellent. Far more depth and intelligence to it than what I've seen of his previous previous work. The plot is that in the near future humanity will start to create operating systems possessing artificial intelligence. The central drama is that Joaquin Phoenix's character, who's broken up from his wife, begins a relationship with his OS Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), but that's just the starting point, and the film is much more an examination of how humanity interacts (or doesn't) with these new intelligences as well as with each other. Amy Adams is also in this, and is about a millions times better than in American Hustle. Johansson is pretty much playing herself but that's OK and Phoenix is good as the central character. I'm not sure if it's being released in the UK yet? But I definitely recommend it.

Yes I really enjoyed this. It's not exactly believeable (not yet anyway) but it's not totally absurd either and it gets a lot of mileage - and a fair few laughs - out of the idea that some human beings might just be needy enough that they could become emotionally involved with an artificial intelligence. And why not? - it's inevitable that artificial intelligence will become more intelligent and seem less artificial as technological development advances ever more rapidly, potentially to the point of superceding humans in the evolutionary chain. However, that's not really the point, and in a way it's really just a romcom with an imaginative twist. Anyway, Phoenix is excellent in the lead role, as ever, and enhances his reputation as perhaps the best and most versatile contemporary screen actor, and a strong supporting cast too (would've liked to have seen more of Rooney Mara though, whose part as Phoenix's ex was little more than token). And it looks great.