Last Movie You Watched

[Mister Sharpe]

If'n I get my work done, I'll be watching for the fifth or sixth time :

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Later this week, we're looking forward to a mini-Robert Donat revival inc:  39 Steps; Goodbye Mr. Chips; Vacation from Marriage.  Surprising how many of  his films are op.

[Todd]

Doctor Strange.  Visually impressive, with visual influences from The Matrix, Inception, Ghostbusters, and the 1978 Superman, the film kind of plods along.  It appears to work for fans of the comic book and/or Benedict Cumberbatch, and I suppose it's not the worst superhero film I've seen, but I'm hoping I can avoid any sequels or crossovers.

[aligreto]

The epic, Reds....

[SimonNZ]

^Jack Nicholson's finest performance, imo.

[Ken B]

^Jack Nicholson's finest performance, imo.

There's more than one?

[SonicMan46]

Last few nights, some new BDs for my collection - all new additions (a rarity for me, usually do DVD replacements):

Boy On A Dolphin (1957) w/ Alan Ladd & Sophia Loren in her American film debut - short synopsis first quote below; not a great film, but Sophia is beautiful, filmed in the Greek isles, and a decent restoration.

Devil's Disciple, The (1959) w/ Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, & Laurence Olivier - based on the George Bernard Shaw story about the American Revolutionary War and Burgoyne before his defeat at the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777 - really worth a watch if you've not seen this film - the B&W AV restoration is quite good.

A Little Chaos (2014) w/ Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Alan Rickman - short synopsis in second quote below; purchased this film just from the review and enjoyed; beautifully filmed - Rickman directed and played Louis IV - also worth a watch, but not sure if I'll keep the BD?  Dave

Phaedra is a poor sponge diver on the lovely Greek isle of Hydra. While diving, she discovers an ancient brass and gold statue of a boy riding a dolphin, which is said to have the magical power to grant wishes. Her shiftless boyfriend wants to sell it to an unscrupulous art collector, but Phaedra wants to give it to anthropologist Jim Calder, who would return it to the Greek government.

A romantic drama following Sabine (Kate Winslet), a talented landscape designer, who is building a garden at Versailles for King Louis XIV (Alan Rickman). Sabine struggles with class barriers as she becomes romantically entangled with the court's renowned landscape artist, André Le Nôtre (Matthias Schoenaerts).

   

[Karl Henning]

I did, yes I did . . . I watched Dr Strangelove again, last night.

It helped.

[James]

The Marx Brothers - Silver Screen Collection
The Marx Brothers – Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo – are the reigning kings of comedy and remain one of the most iconic comic teams of all time. From their early days on Vaudeville and Broadway through their wildly popular motion pictures, the Marx Brothers kept audiences of all ages laughing out loud with some of the most hilarious routines ever imagined. The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection Restored Edition captures the very best of the comedy team and includes the only five movies to feature all four brothers. Filled with unforgettable comedy sketches, musical numbers, witty dialogue and plenty of gags, this must-own collection includes The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers and their most popular film, Duck Soup.

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[André]

Like other Thomas Vinterberg movies, this is a profoundly unsettling, deranging movie. A bit like von Trier's The Dancer: when you think it's already bad, you ain't seen anything yet. 2012 Cannes Best Actor award for Mikkelsen. Denmark's entry in the best foreign picture for the Academy Awards.

[André]

On a lighter note, this splendid 2-minute clip by Tati is a gem:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3IWqrwC8Ntk

[Spineur]

On a lighter note, this splendid 2-minute clip by Tati is a gem:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3IWqrwC8Ntk

Excellent !  I wonder how Tati would imitate a white US cop stopping a clunker driven by a black teenager ?

PS: my favorite Tati is "Jour de Fête".

[André]

Jour de fête is classic screwball Tati, with a finesse inherited from Harold Lloyd. "Classic" Hulot (Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot and Mon Oncle) eventually gave way to bittersweet - if not frankly bitter - social criticism in Playtime and Trafic. The latter was initially regarded as a rehash from a tired amuseur.

Bresson's last films (Lancelot du Lac, Le Diable probablement and L'Argent) were also initially met with incomprehension. Truffaut's last films were challenged, too.

Over time, their deep sociological and psychological implications made their way into the viewers' minds. They are by no means favourites but they are not the cinematic pariahs they appeared to be when released.

[SimonNZ]

Highly watchable, well crafted and lots of fine imaginative detail along the way, but ultimately not quite as successful as director Jeff Nichols earlier Take Shelter. But I'll now be interested in anything he does in the future.

Has anyone here seen his film Mud with Matthew Mcconaughey? The trailer didn't interest me at the time, but now I may need to go back and check it out.

[Todd]

Has anyone here seen his film Mud with Matthew Mcconaughey? The trailer didn't interest me at the time, but now I may need to go back and check it out.

Yes, and it is good overall, but the ending is a bit over the top.

[Todd]

Keanu.  Key and Peele make a movie.  A couple more or less normal guys get mixed up with drug dealers over a kitten.  Formulaic in structure, and not as yuk filled as I would have liked until the third act, the surprisingly violent movie is a modestly entertaining flick.  Their TV show is better.

[Mister Sharpe]

Watching this again; oppressively dismal as it is, it's also brilliant :

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[listener]

from the Shaw Brothers again,  HK 1973 RIVER OF FURY
Danny Lee's first starring role, with Lily Ho, Ku Feng.
Not really very good, reviewed for the record to note there are several Chinese opera scenes with a story that has a company going from village to village, then small towns and larger ones with theatres matching.  If interested in theatre production you will find this interesting.   Short bare breasts scene, two fights all cobbled together with cocaine smuggling and a rapacious mother who breaks up a happy couple.  about 80 minutes

[Karl Henning]

Last night, I watched Annie Hall again; probably have not watched it since seeing it in the cinema, back at about the time it was released.  Many consider it one of Allen's greatest films;  maybe they're right.  I don't think it a bad film at all.  My contrarian case consists of little more than:

1. All his "usual elements" are in use here (in good use, certainly) . . . Allen playing a character who is some version of autobiography;  his typical (and, in my experience, reliably enjoyable) comedy act / comic screenwriting;  a relatively serious narrative exploring relationships;  a cast whose core includes members of his regular ensemble.  My point:  I don't necessarily see this particular film as outstanding in this regard.

2. The script is excellent (and maybe this, plus everything else, is enough).  My recent viewing of Crimes and Misdemeanors, Shadows and Fog, and re-watching Stardust Memories, has opened my eyes to how very often he writes an excellent script, and how varied his tone can be.  My point:  Again, I'm not sure I see Annie Hall as quite a stand-out.

3. Personal response #1:  While the script is reasonably true to life in the arc of a non-fairytale relationship which tails off (and a good script, we all agree), myself, I feel a kind of "and so?" at the film's end.  There is (we may say) "too much of Woody" in the film for it to play as an impartial quasi-documentary of a failed relationship;  and enough Woody that, I think an ending montage of "all the moments" feels rather faute de mieux.

4. Personal response #2:  Whether it is because the scene echoes others in his œuvre, or because it may actually overdo the tone of hectoring, the "So, what, you mean you're not coming back to New York with me?" at the alfalfa sprouts café jars my ear too much.

5. Personal response #3:  The "nested playwright" scene, where Singer/Allen directs two actors in a literal recap of the alfalfa sprouts café confrontation, just annoys me a little, but critically.  I'm not saying it's a bad idea, as an idea; nor saying that it isn't shot/staged well.  It is perhaps just my personal dissatisfaction, related to my overall nagging dissatisfaction with the whole story arc, above.

So, glad I watched it again, but . . . not a personal favorite in his canon.  And obviously YMMV.

[Karl Henning]

I am conscious of stating my (respectful) objections to Annie Hall;  but I am not sure that I offered sufficient plaudits for some particularly good bits:

◙ The animation bit is good fun
◙ The children describing their adult selves
◙ "Grammie Hall" at table
◙ The mordant tape-editing studio, inserting the laugh-track
◙ Singer trying to relive the "lobster hunt" moment with another girl
◙ Jeff Goldblum . . . lawd, I had forgotten all about his telling someone on the phone that he has forgotten his mantra
◙ Shelly Duvall's Rolling Stone reporter ("transplendent")
◙ Paul Simon
◙ The sneeze
◙ "Are we driving through plutonium?"

An enviable wealth of brilliant moments, and overall a touching narrative;  I do get why the film is highly regarded. (Having already set my objections forth, I withdraw.)

[Drasko]