Reno
The In Kraut
This type of "landscape porn" heritage cinema isn't my thing anyway, so I never watched The Field. Just the title puts me to sleep.
What DVD / Video did you watch last night? (pt3)
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Reno
The In Kraut
Not what i'd call heritage cinema though. It's great for a film to feature beautiful locations, what bores me is when that's the main thing going for them.
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krtek a houby
Anger is Hi-NRG
This type of "landscape porn" heritage cinema isn't my thing anyway, so I never watched The Field. Just the title puts me to sleep.
It's a fair stab at puncturing arrogant US imperialism, so it gets a thumbs up from me
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
It’s like a film length Stella ad
Reno
The In Kraut
I will admit, it surprised me by the next two episodes.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
check out A Very Long Engagement
Reno
The In Kraut
I bailed half way through that one.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
I loved it but it did remind me of Stella Artois adverts
Chz
Stark Raving Sane
Watched The Predator on C4 tonight.
Christ, it's been a while since I've seen something so howlingly bad. Bad lines, bad CGI, plot holes roomy enough for a good sized moving van... I suppose the acting didn't suck as hard as it could given the rest of it. If the objective was to make 2010's Predators look like a decent film, then job done.
Christ, it's been a while since I've seen something so howlingly bad. Bad lines, bad CGI, plot holes roomy enough for a good sized moving van... I suppose the acting didn't suck as hard as it could given the rest of it. If the objective was to make 2010's Predators look like a decent film, then job done.
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
Watched this on Shudder the other day and really enjoyed it. Very effective without trying to be an all-out horror vehicle. I fucking loved the creepy toy bunny
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
Three Alex Ross Perry films The Color Wheel, Listen Up Philip and Queen of Earth (which I saw previously at the cinema).
The first is very American indie comedy for the first two-thirds (black and white, embarrassment jokes, unlikable egoists as the main characters) and while there is the odd funny scene I was pretty underwhelmed given it’s reputation. Then the last third is totally different, far more interesting and surprises you. A very strange movie.
In my view Listen Up Philip is the strongest and most complete film of the three, again egoist middle class characters behaving like assholes but the quality of the writing, acting (I’m not sure I’ve even seen Jason Swartzman give a better performance) and pacing raise it above the average. The narration which could easily been an annoying gimmick actually works really well.
Queen of Earth is a movie I feel I should like more than I do, I like the genre of films, descent in madness, (see Cold Day in the Park, below) and Katherine Waterson and Elizabeth Moss are very good but it just does not quite come together
That Cold Day in the Park - Before seeing this on MUBI and the BFI list of his underrated films I was not familiar with this Altman picture. Which is a real shame as it is very good. Altman’s body of work is so good that this is not quite one of his essential films - unlike say 3 Woman, which has some similar themes - but it is miles better than anything a lot of directors will make in their careers. Absolutely worth checking out - available on BFI subscribers.
Rosebud - One of Otto Preminger’s last films a sort of espionage action. Despite the dodgy politics (the portable of the Palestinian’s is abysmal) and frequent silliness it is not totally terrible. Worth checking out for Peter O’Toole’s performance (just about the right side of hammy), an appearance by a very young Isabelle Huppert and, brilliantly, Dickie Attenborough playing an English convert to fundamentalist Islam. Also interesting to compare with the recent adaptation of le Carre’s Little Drummer Girl, very different views and styles on related material.
The Dark Past - One of those 50s films where psychologists can unlock the keys to the mind - it must have been great being a psychologist in the middle part of the 20th century. Here Lee J Cobb manages to resolve the issues of murderer William Holden while being held hostage. Not first class noir but good fun and worth checking out as an excellent example of its type.
Rolling Thunder - One of those films that has a (Vietnam) veteran having to go seek revenge for the killing of his family, but better than the usual fare of that sub-genre. Mostly due to the Paul Schrader script which, as you might expect, has a more psychological angle than most. Tommy Lee Jones has a good supporting role but the biggest surprise is how good William Devane is as the lead. For me Devane was one of those actors that play the sort of rich, smart bad/amoral guys in minor films/TV, like he did in Knot’s Landing. But here he is really very good, I guess he took the stereotyping to keep in work but it is a shame as he obviously had/has more quality than that.
The first is very American indie comedy for the first two-thirds (black and white, embarrassment jokes, unlikable egoists as the main characters) and while there is the odd funny scene I was pretty underwhelmed given it’s reputation. Then the last third is totally different, far more interesting and surprises you. A very strange movie.
In my view Listen Up Philip is the strongest and most complete film of the three, again egoist middle class characters behaving like assholes but the quality of the writing, acting (I’m not sure I’ve even seen Jason Swartzman give a better performance) and pacing raise it above the average. The narration which could easily been an annoying gimmick actually works really well.
Queen of Earth is a movie I feel I should like more than I do, I like the genre of films, descent in madness, (see Cold Day in the Park, below) and Katherine Waterson and Elizabeth Moss are very good but it just does not quite come together
That Cold Day in the Park - Before seeing this on MUBI and the BFI list of his underrated films I was not familiar with this Altman picture. Which is a real shame as it is very good. Altman’s body of work is so good that this is not quite one of his essential films - unlike say 3 Woman, which has some similar themes - but it is miles better than anything a lot of directors will make in their careers. Absolutely worth checking out - available on BFI subscribers.
Rosebud - One of Otto Preminger’s last films a sort of espionage action. Despite the dodgy politics (the portable of the Palestinian’s is abysmal) and frequent silliness it is not totally terrible. Worth checking out for Peter O’Toole’s performance (just about the right side of hammy), an appearance by a very young Isabelle Huppert and, brilliantly, Dickie Attenborough playing an English convert to fundamentalist Islam. Also interesting to compare with the recent adaptation of le Carre’s Little Drummer Girl, very different views and styles on related material.
The Dark Past - One of those 50s films where psychologists can unlock the keys to the mind - it must have been great being a psychologist in the middle part of the 20th century. Here Lee J Cobb manages to resolve the issues of murderer William Holden while being held hostage. Not first class noir but good fun and worth checking out as an excellent example of its type.
Rolling Thunder - One of those films that has a (Vietnam) veteran having to go seek revenge for the killing of his family, but better than the usual fare of that sub-genre. Mostly due to the Paul Schrader script which, as you might expect, has a more psychological angle than most. Tommy Lee Jones has a good supporting role but the biggest surprise is how good William Devane is as the lead. For me Devane was one of those actors that play the sort of rich, smart bad/amoral guys in minor films/TV, like he did in Knot’s Landing. But here he is really very good, I guess he took the stereotyping to keep in work but it is a shame as he obviously had/has more quality than that.
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platinumsage
HaveMyPassword123
Butterfly Effect - A good movie, despite the derision of critics. I'd never heard Ashton Kutcher before but apparently he's supposed to be a twat. Thought he might have been married to a Trump but I now see that is Jared Kushner.
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
That looks top, cheers for the heads up Reno
Reno
The In Kraut
I also enjoyed Another Round, the Mads Mikkelsen film which got a lot of critical acclaim and awards attention this year, but I liked this one even better. It’s not as much of an action movie as the trailer makes out, it's an offbeat and often very funny character study about a group of neurotic and dysfunctional men.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
I liked Another Round
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Watched Atlantis. A Ukrainian film set in the near future. A dystopian look at the aftermath of conflict. Totally unromantic look at war.
An ex soldier eeks out an existence delivering water to soldiers in the now peaceful zone. Bits of film reminded me of Tarkovsky. There is little dialogue the story is mainly told through set piece images. Unrelenting grim.
He falls in with a group of people who are recovering dead bodies of those who died in conflict and giving them a decent burial. The autopsy scene is truly harrowing. The film is partly about how ordinary people are damaged by war.
Visually its stunning from start to finish. I would have liked to see this in cinema.
An ex soldier eeks out an existence delivering water to soldiers in the now peaceful zone. Bits of film reminded me of Tarkovsky. There is little dialogue the story is mainly told through set piece images. Unrelenting grim.
He falls in with a group of people who are recovering dead bodies of those who died in conflict and giving them a decent burial. The autopsy scene is truly harrowing. The film is partly about how ordinary people are damaged by war.
Visually its stunning from start to finish. I would have liked to see this in cinema.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Two episodes of The Good Lord Bird , fuck knows who streams this but its great. Ethan Hawkes as a demented anti slavery Christian not so much as putting the world to rights but making a decent attempt to put a dent in pro slavery. Could have done with his sort in the take the knee issue
krtek a houby
Anger is Hi-NRG
Season 3 of Master of None. Aziz Ansari mostly behind camera this time as the story focuses on Denise and her wife's relationship. Very different from the previous seasons (almost like a different show) and ultimately, very moving.
Reno
The In Kraut
In The Heights, new movie musical which has been getting rave reviews, based on the Lin-Manuel Miranda stage show. It's about 3 days in the life of a largely Latin community in Washington Heights, NYC. I saw this on stage when I still lived in London and didn't care for it. I was so bored, I actually walked out during the break. I liked the film better but still thought it was only ok and I'm someone who really likes musicals (as long as it isn't Andrew Lloyd Fishface). It passes the time pleasantly enough though. This has a large cast of characters with several plot-lines interweaving and its nicely directed. I just found the drama underpowered, there doesn't seem to be much at stake and the characters weren't that compelling. The music is fine, mostly Latin and rap. There is a musical number where two characters dance up the facade of a building, which I liked.
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krtek a houby
Anger is Hi-NRG
One of Many
Short Russian film from 1927 on the perils of Hollywood idols.
John Wick Chapter 3
Keanu breaks the rules in increasingly spectacular set pieces. Possibly the greatest movie ever made.
Short Russian film from 1927 on the perils of Hollywood idols.
John Wick Chapter 3
Keanu breaks the rules in increasingly spectacular set pieces. Possibly the greatest movie ever made.
LeytonCatLady
Well-Known Member
Father Ted (Chirpy Burpy Cheap Sheep and Speed 3 from series 3).
krtek a houby
Anger is Hi-NRG
Man With a Movie Camera
Astonishing and hypnotic Russian "documentary" from 1929, showcasing a day in the lives of citizens at work and play in 3 cities.
The version watched had the excellent 2002 The Cinematic Orchestra soundtrack, which really complements the film, rather than come across as anachronistic.
Astonishing and hypnotic Russian "documentary" from 1929, showcasing a day in the lives of citizens at work and play in 3 cities.
The version watched had the excellent 2002 The Cinematic Orchestra soundtrack, which really complements the film, rather than come across as anachronistic.
Reno
The In Kraut
The Satanic Rites of Dracula, the sequel to the fabulous/hilarious Dracula AD 1972. Hammer horror films are cinematic comfort food for me but that one is a bit of a chore. There are a few atmospheric shots of London in the first half and I appreciated that they tried to introduce a science fiction element, the film just feels too long even at 87 minutes.
Massacre at Central High, from 1976. I've always been aware of this from Danny Peary's Cult Movie books but never seen it. Interesting mixture exploitation film and political allegory, which looks like it may influenced Heathers. Apparently the Italian version was called Sexy Jeans and they added pornographic inserts.
Massacre at Central High, from 1976. I've always been aware of this from Danny Peary's Cult Movie books but never seen it. Interesting mixture exploitation film and political allegory, which looks like it may influenced Heathers. Apparently the Italian version was called Sexy Jeans and they added pornographic inserts.
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redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
Billy Liar - Never seen this before, not totally what I was expecting with the fantasy sequences. Courtney is good as a dreamer who lack the courage to really make things happen and Julie Christie brings her usual touch of class.
He Walked by Night - Anthony Mann directed noir, the LAPD have to track down a criminal who knows police procedure and changes their MO. Not quite in the first class of noir films nor quite the quality of Mann's later westerns but a good tight film that makes an enjoyable 90 minutes
Kansas City Confidential - Excellent Phil Karlson noir. Our hero gets mistakenly picked up by the police after a robbery and decides to go looking for revenge on the robbers. Some great scenes and it looks good. Plus a young Lee van Cleef turns up. Check it out.
Four Roads - Short film shot during COVID by Alice Rohrwacher, who decided to go out and meet her neighbours during lockdown. Just 8 minutes long but rather moving and it looks absolutely gorgeous.
Bully - Larry Clark's tale of young kids getting up to murder - literally. I saw this all the way when it first came out in 2001, 20 years on it's flaws are evident (it is 15 minutes too long) and while everything I've read about Clark suggests he's a wanker (putting it nicely) he is able to capture a real feel of sleazy youth. It still has a certain something.
Things of Life - Wonderful. A man is involved in a car crash and we journey through his life through his memories - his time with his wife, mistress, son, friend. Totally brilliant, 90 minutes with no wasted time and no missing pieces, paced expertly.
He Walked by Night - Anthony Mann directed noir, the LAPD have to track down a criminal who knows police procedure and changes their MO. Not quite in the first class of noir films nor quite the quality of Mann's later westerns but a good tight film that makes an enjoyable 90 minutes
Kansas City Confidential - Excellent Phil Karlson noir. Our hero gets mistakenly picked up by the police after a robbery and decides to go looking for revenge on the robbers. Some great scenes and it looks good. Plus a young Lee van Cleef turns up. Check it out.
Four Roads - Short film shot during COVID by Alice Rohrwacher, who decided to go out and meet her neighbours during lockdown. Just 8 minutes long but rather moving and it looks absolutely gorgeous.
Bully - Larry Clark's tale of young kids getting up to murder - literally. I saw this all the way when it first came out in 2001, 20 years on it's flaws are evident (it is 15 minutes too long) and while everything I've read about Clark suggests he's a wanker (putting it nicely) he is able to capture a real feel of sleazy youth. It still has a certain something.
Things of Life - Wonderful. A man is involved in a car crash and we journey through his life through his memories - his time with his wife, mistress, son, friend. Totally brilliant, 90 minutes with no wasted time and no missing pieces, paced expertly.
Reno
The In Kraut
The Hand from 1981. This as the second film Oliver Stone directed, a studio horror film after making a low budget horror movie called Seizure. It's starring Michael Caine as a comic book artist who, after loosing his hand in a car accident, comes to suspect that his hand has taken on a life of it's own. I never liked Stone as a filmmaker but at least this is pre-VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT MATTER. It's not a good film by any means, but it's very entertaining.
Is that a remake? I just recall seeing an old black and white film with what sounds like the same plot...
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