Netflix recommendations

[chilango]

I really liked it too.

I wondered if it was also intended to be an allegory of the pandemic and anti-vaxxers and 'Covid is a hoax'ers.

I mean, the Don't Look Up-ers and the Don't Look Down-ers are clearly Trumpers and not-Trumpers, and echo the situation where we have people ignoring scientists and listening to politicians who tell them to consume bleach and anti-worming medication largely used on animals.

And as the scientists are warning doomsday is approaching, the politicians are being swayed by the interests of big business.

Or maybe I'm reading too much into it?

I watched it expecting yet another disaster movie, and I do love a cheesy disaster movie, but it wasn't, in that they sent up the genre (albeit they didn't send it up to the extremes that Airplane sends up that genre of disaster movie or how Scream sends up horror movies), it wasn't a total send up, I thought it was more tongue in cheek than straightforward comedy, but it was also funny.

...oh it was totally allegorical, and not that subtle about it imo, for Covid, for the climate.

It's problem is that the reality that it is satirising is worse and more in your face than any allegory could pull off in fiction.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Calibre - Excellent little romp through Scotland when two lads go on a hunting trip and it all goes wrong.

Was expecting generic deliverance but got something actually good.

I really liked it too.

I wondered if it was also intended to be an allegory of the pandemic and anti-vaxxers and 'Covid is a hoax'ers.

I mean, the Don't Look Up-ers and the Don't Look Down-ers are clearly Trumpers and not-Trumpers, and echo the situation where we have people ignoring scientists and listening to politicians who tell them to consume bleach and anti-worming medication largely used on animals.

And as the scientists are warning doomsday is approaching, the politicians are being swayed by the interests of big business.

Or maybe I'm reading too much into it?

I watched it expecting yet another disaster movie, and I do love a cheesy disaster movie, but it wasn't, in that they sent up the genre (albeit they didn't send it up to the extremes that Airplane sends up that genre of disaster movie or how Scream sends up horror movies), it wasn't a total send up, I thought it was more tongue in cheek than straightforward comedy, but it was also funny.

From what I little I've read of it they started filming before Covid and since then they've just been unable to keep up with the sheer levels of insanity happening.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Don’t look up. Rotten reviews but I enjoyed it. Non exactly subtle or lol but very definitely a product of recent times.

 

[Aladdin]

Don’t Look Up.

Stellar cast. I really enjoyed it. It’s had some stinking reviews, but I thought it was witty and well acted. Visually a little gimmicky- like McKay’s previous film Vice - and some easy targets (Streep’s female Trump-style POTUS is glorious) -this is broad-strokes satire… but there are some witty lines and clever turns. And the editing in the first Oval Office scene is exceptionally clever in conveying multiple conflicting characters’ inner thoughts.

Big names..
Entertaining . I enjoyed it.


Starting The Silent Sea now..

 

[Infidel Castro]

Don't Look Up!

Frankly, it's not the film we want but it's the film we deserve.

All Leonardo does as far as his acting is concerned is drop the 'o' from the end of his name.

Jennifer Lawrence is excellent.

It's not subtle. It's not funny. It's like a limp, resigned slap in the face.

...and it's all the better for it.

You're supposed to get pissed off and frustrated by this film and it excels at that

The post credits ending is awful, predictable and undermines the genuine emotions of the 'main' ending.

There's some lovely montages scattered amongst the film

It's slapstick played out of despair, not for laughs. After all, satire is redundant at this point.

I'm not surprised some people hate it. After all it's basically just screaming you "You bunch of fucking idiots, we're all going to fucking die!" at us for an hour and a half.

I really liked it.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS
POSSIBLE SPOILERS









I loved it. Laughed out loud a lot, but then felt the walls closing in, in a horribly familiar way. I thought the mid-credit snippets worthwhile, particularly the first one which gave me a great lift after the low that followed the ending (how I felt as opposed to the quality of it).

I appreciate the film is a condensed commentary/satire on Trumpian politics in the face of a climate emergency, but I couldn't help but equate the plot with what we've seen from our UK government in regard of its handling of Covid, either in terms of its plentiful fuck ups or its scandalous sideshows,even the way they've walked away from the issues of Omicron this Christmas (just going to the restroom). The only thing the ground control scenes at the end are missing is the sound of Simpsons-esque receding/running footsteps, a la Lionel Hutz.

And finally, the victory of tech/business over science - so depressing.

So many mixed/bad reviews about this film make me think I'm a rube, but I know what I like and I liked this film loads. Prescient and hit a nerve.

 

[MrCurry]

Any chance of using spoiler tags Infidel Castro, if you’re going to talk about how the movie ends?

 

[Infidel Castro]

Any chance of using spoiler tags Infidel Castro, if you’re going to talk about how the movie ends?

I didn't go so far as to warrant them in my view. Nothing given away.

 

[MrCurry]

I didn't go so far as to warrant them in my view. Nothing given away.

I took what you wrote to mean the movie ended on a low, which was redeemed by clips within the credits. I’ve not yet watched it, so don’t know what the setup towards the ending might be, but if it’s the typical jeopardy situation where the audience is hoping the world is somehow saved, then I’m going to have your comment in the back of my mind.


Well anyway I suppose I’ll find out when I watch it. Apologies if I harangued you unnecessarily

 

[Infidel Castro]

I took what you wrote to mean the movie ended on a low, which was redeemed by clips within the credits. I’ve not yet watched it, so don’t know what the setup towards the ending might be, but if it’s the typical jeopardy situation where the audience is hoping the world is somehow saved, then I’m going to have your comment in the back of my mind.

Well anyway I suppose I’ll find out when I watch it. Apologies if I harangued you unnecessarily

You're right. Apologies.

E2A - have flagged it. Early morning, brain in the shed.

 

[DaveCinzano]

We're really enjoying Dogs of Berlin. It's a cop show based around the murder of a football star, with nazi/Turkish gangland and sports betting/corruption themes. The subtitles are a bit fast but it's really nicely filmed, more intelligent than this type of show usually is, and has some great characters.

Finally finished it - had been savouring rather than bingeing...

I like that it didn't tie up all the many, many threads, and whilst another season wouldn't be something I'd say no to, I also would be happy if it was just left as a single miniseries

 

[sojourner]

Enjoyed Power of the Dog last night. More than a touch of the Annie Proulx about it.

 

[Mation]

Don't Look Up!

Frankly, it's not the film we want but it's the film we deserve.

All Leonardo does as far as his acting is concerned is drop the 'o' from the end of his name.

Jennifer Lawrence is excellent.

It's not subtle. It's not funny. It's like a limp, resigned slap in the face.

...and it's all the better for it.

You're supposed to get pissed off and frustrated by this film and it excels at that

The post credits ending is awful, predictable and undermines the genuine emotions of the 'main' ending.

There's some lovely montages scattered amongst the film

It's slapstick played out of despair, not for laughs. After all, satire is redundant at this point.

I'm not surprised some people hate it. After all it's basically just screaming you "You bunch of fucking idiots, we're all going to fucking die!" at us for an hour and a half.

I really liked it.

It's not at all subtle, I agree, but I did find it very, very funny, as well as desperately sad. Loved it to bits.

 

[MBV]

I'd recommend 'The Last Mountain' on iPlayer.. if you haven't seen it.. about Alison Hargreaves and Tom Ballard.. slow burner but worth sticking with.. great scenery as well.

I also have The alpinist to watch.



(sorry not on netflix)

 

[T & P]

Don’t look up. Rotten reviews but I enjoyed it. Non exactly subtle or lol but very definitely a product of recent times.

It’s very funny and watchable. We loved it. One of those occasions when one should ignore reviews.

 

[Aladdin]

Starting A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood


Eta..

Nick Drake's Northern Sky is playing.

I'm really hopong this will be good

 

[Gramsci]

The Nightingale

The Nightingale (2018) ⭐ 7.3 | Adventure, Drama, Thriller

2h 16m | 18

www.imdb.com

Rape revenge "western" set in 19c Tasmania. Poor Irish women embarks on journey to catch the English soldiers who raped here. Forms unlikely bond with her Tasmania tracker.

Whilst being in the genre of Western / exploitation cineme genre this film is at heart about colonialism in particular English Imperialism. Takes an Australian to graphically portray English Imperialism for what it was. Not a civilising mission but a form of barbarism.

It also has good take on " white suprmemacy". The Tasmanian tracker learns that not all white people are the same. The Irish were Englands first colony. Almost as oppressed as the Tasmanians.

Looked this up and the British colonialist actions in Tasmania are now considered to the example of ethnic cleansing.

Explainer: the evidence for the Tasmanian genocide

That colonial wars were fought in Tasmania is irrefutable. More controversially, surviving evidence suggests the British enacted genocidal policies against the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

theconversation.com

 

[Epona]

The Nightingale

The Nightingale (2018) ⭐ 7.3 | Adventure, Drama, Thriller

2h 16m | 18

www.imdb.com

Rape revenge "western" set in 19c Tasmania. Poor Irish women embarks on journey to catch the English soldiers who raped here. Forms unlikely bond with her Tasmania tracker.

Whilst being in the genre of Western / exploitation cineme genre this film is at heart about colonialism in particular English Imperialism. Takes an Australian to graphically portray English Imperialism for what it was. Not a civilising mission but a form of barbarism.

It also has good take on " white suprmemacy". The Tasmanian tracker learns that not all white people are the same. The Irish were Englands first colony. Almost as oppressed as the Tasmanians.

Looked this up and the British colonialist actions in Tasmania are now considered to the example of ethnic cleansing.

Explainer: the evidence for the Tasmanian genocide

That colonial wars were fought in Tasmania is irrefutable. More controversially, surviving evidence suggests the British enacted genocidal policies against the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

theconversation.com

I've been dithering about watching that, the premise sounded good to me but I don't like a lot of violence in films (not just not like, cannot watch really - Mirror-touch synesthesia - Wikipedia) and the descriptions I've read make it seem like there might be some.

 

[Hollis]

Don't Look Up... I was sceptical when I put it on, but I loved it! Plenty of lols here. Mark Rylance steals the show for me.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

I've been dithering about watching that, the premise sounded good to me but I don't like a lot of violence in films (not just not like, cannot watch really - Mirror-touch synesthesia - Wikipedia) and the descriptions I've read make it seem like there might be some.

It is not an easy watch Epona . Excellent film IMO but very nasty and brutal.

 

[Epona]

It is not an easy watch Epona . Excellent film IMO but very nasty and brutal.

Thanks, I'll give it a miss then

 

[Spymaster]

The Coldest Game, is a decent spy romp if you're into the genre. Not quite as far fetched as Bond, or as bleak as Le Carre, it's set against the background of the Cuban Missile crisis, with an international chess match thrown in. It has quite a few historical references that'll be familiar to anyone with an interest in the period. It's very obviously fiction though, with some good plot twists/betrayals. Pay attention. Miss a few crucial bits and you'll be lost.

 

[Aladdin]

Starting A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood


Eta..

Nick Drake's Northern Sky is playing.

I'm really hopong this will be good

Sort of liked this.

Spoiler

Tom Hanks...looks plastic in it and its not like anything I've watched before. Ultimately becomes about a father / son relationship and making peace.. it was ok. Fine to watch at Christmas with a box of maltesers. Ultimately an uplifting film. Looking at the good side of humanity .. seeing the best in people

 

[Aladdin]

The Coldest Game, is a decent spy romp if you're into the genre. Not as far fetched as Bond, or as bleak as Le Carre, it's set against the background of the Cuban Missile crisis, with an international chess match thrown in. It has quite a few historical references that'll be familiar to anyone with an interest in the period. It's fiction though, with some good plot twists/betrayals. Pay attention. Miss a few crucial bits and you'll be lost.

Nice one.
Will give this a watch.

 

[DaveCinzano]

The Coldest Game, is a decent spy romp if you're into the genre. Not quite as far fetched as Bond, or as bleak as Le Carre, it's set against the background of the Cuban Missile crisis, with an international chess match thrown in. It has quite a few historical references that'll be familiar to anyone with an interest in the period. It's very obviously fiction though, with some good plot twists/betrayals. Pay attention. Miss a few crucial bits and you'll be lost.

It was a lot better, and a lot less superficial, than I was expecting

 

[Aladdin]

Never Rarely Sometimes Always.

Spoiler

Excellent film about a 17 year old pregnant girl. Brilliantly acted in a very quiet subtle way.
One of the best films I've seen in a while.
The vulnerability of the two girls on their journey to New York is brilliantly portrayed. Along with the opportunistic and abusive behaviour of some of the people (men) they meet.

 

[Spymaster]

Started The Girl from Oslo last night. It's a 10 part Norwegian poloitical thing about a girl captured by ISIS in Egypt and attempts to get her released. Pretty solid by the look of the first episode. It's subtitled but a lot of it's set in Israel where the dislogues in English.

 

[krtek a houby]

Just finished Maid. If that doesn't hoover up all the Emmys, there's no justice.

 

[Aladdin]

Just finished Maid. If that doesn't hoover up all the Emmys, there's no justice.

100% agree

 

[Boudicca]

I'm half way through the Cook of Castamar, excellent Spanish period nonsense with great costumes.

 

[T & P]

Cobra Kai is back!