Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

The Breadwinner (2017) - animated film - first synopsis below - beautiful artistry and story - ratings: 7.7/10, IMDB; 95% Rotten Tomatoes; and 4.8/5 stars on Amazon - streamed from Amazon - Susan & I both enjoyed - highly recommended (4 1/2* on Amazon for me).

The Hostiles (2018) w/ Christian Bale & Wes Studi - another streamer from Amazon - see second synopsis below - ratings: 7.2/10, IMDB; 73% Rotten Tomatoes, and 4.1/5 stars on Amazon - watched myself and like these kinds of stories of the late 19th century West - beautiful filming but slow at times - recommended if the topic is of interest (3 1/2* to 4* on Amazon for me).  Dave

Parvana is an 11-year-old girl growing up under the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. When her father is wrongfully arrested, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy in order to support her family. Working alongside her friend Shauzia, Parvana discovers a new world of freedom-and danger. With undaunted courage, Parvana draws strength from the fantastical stories she invents, as she embarks on a quest to find her father and reunite her family. Equal parts thrilling and enchanting, The Breadwinner is an inspiring and luminously animated tale about the power of stories to sustain hope and carry us through dark times

Set in 1892, Hostiles tells the story of a legendary Army Captain (Christian Bale), who after stern resistance, reluctantly agrees to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief (Wes Studi) and his family back to tribal lands. Making the harrowing and perilous journey from Fort Berringer, an isolated Army outpost in New Mexico, to the grasslands of Montana, the former rivals encounter a young widow (Rosamund Pike), whose family was murdered on the plains. Together, they must join forces to overcome the punishing landscape, hostile Comanche and vicious outliers that they encounter along the way.

 

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Branagh's Henry V. Meh. The St. Crispin's day speech was impressive but mostly because of the music. Not so much because of the words. I've never read the original Shakespeare play (the history plays of his are my most neglected area when it comes to Shakespeare (although I'm a huge fan of King John) and I am also not familiar with what changes or cuts Branagh made. Falstaff I know not to have been in the original play. If the Shakespeare play is anything like this flick, I am not very interested. Not too many memorable quotes.

[Ken B]

Branagh's Henry V. Meh. The St. Crispin's day speech was impressive but mostly because of the music. Not so much because of the words. I've never read the original Shakespeare play (the history plays of his are my most neglected area when it comes to Shakespeare (although I'm a huge fan of King John) and I am also not familiar with what changes or cuts Branagh made. Falstaff I know not to have been in the original play. If the Shakespeare play is anything like this flick, I am not very interested. Not too many memorable quotes.

A dissenting opinion here: that's a great movie.

[George]

Was pretty good.

[Karl Henning]

A dissenting opinion here: that's a great movie.

Agreed.

[North Star]

A dissenting opinion here: that's a great movie.

Agreed.

Ditto.

[aligreto]

Up in the Air.

[Moonfish]

Red Sparrow

Better than I expected....

[listener]

from a mind like John Waters via Ed Wood and Golam & Globus
a French-language edition of the Indonesian "classic" THE REVENGE OF SAMSON
directed by Suswaru Gautama Putra and starring a bulky Australian bodybuilder, Paul Hay, as Samson and local heartthrob Suzzana as Delilah.

[André]

Okay, but no great shakes IMO, as the plot is a foregone conclusion. Hard to believe Spielberg directed it. Someone from his workshop, probably. Meryl Streep is good.

[Madiel]

A couple of nights ago: Deadpool 2.

A real delight. Despite the absurd violence, and sometimes because of the absurd violence. Parts of it are just so goddamn funny.

[Draško]

[TheGSMoeller]

Annihilation (2018) from Alex Garland, writer/director of Ex-Machina.
Fascinating, and frightening, and also beautifully filmed.

[asin]B079ZSSHP2[/asin]

[drogulus]

     "2001" -- The Monolith and the Message

     This is Roger Ebert's review from 1968.

[Draško]

Alicia Vikander is superb, but the movie is just a cliche upon a cliche upon a cliche.

Before being held accountable for any alleged harassment James Franco should be tried for crimes against cinema.

[André]

     "2001" -- The Monolith and the Message

     This is Roger Ebert's review from 1968.

A superb review, and a great web site. Love his « 300 best » list (and his thorough, perceptive reviews of course).

[Moonfish]

Following André's lead.
I didn't find this film that interesting but pursued it to the end. Definitely worthwhile for experiencing Meryl Streep's characterization of Katharine Graham and, of course, for getting a sense of the importance of a free press (especially in today's political climate!!). However, I think the writers could have added many more complex psychological dimensions related to the press and the political dynamics of the Vietnam war.  The film felt like it was simply touching the surface and going through the motions to bring forward the message of a free press. Three stars.

[Karl Henning]

I've just found this:

http://gatewayfilmcenter.org/2001-a-spaceodyssey-1968-50th-anniversary-in-70mm/

If the film is going to play in Columbus, Ohio in a few weeks, then it's sure to be in Boston at some point...

I have seen! What a magnificent experience!

[aligreto]

The Burning Plain





A very good film but sometimes difficult [for me] to follow as it frequently switches between different time frames in the story.

[Draško]

I really liked this, one of better fashion documentaries. Not because of some fantastic cinematic achievement (it's quite conventionally made) but because Van Noten's personality. He is the antithesis of usual notion what top fashion designer is like. A middle aged Belgian who looks and dresses like an accountant, is very down to earth, analytical (he loves planning, timetables and such), and unusually capable to clearly and simply articulate what he does and how he does it, has quite clear view of his career and its ups and downs and how it all functions. Quite a boring person when you look at it, but quite informative documentary.