Last Movie You Watched

[aligreto]

Wife and I streamed Wind River from Amazon last night and enjoyed - the Wind River Indian Reservation is located in Wyoming but the film was made near Park City, Utah (see map below); the Utah scenery was spectacular, as I'm sure is also true at the Wyoming location, just east of the Grand Teton National Park - at the end of the film this statement is displayed "A title card states that missing-persons statistics are kept for every demographic group except for Native American women, whose numbers remain unknown.", which is rather disturbing (a little more information in the attached PDF which is from comments about the movie on IMDB).  Dave
.

I am delighted that you enjoyed it Dave. It is a definite recommendation. 

[SimonNZ]

[Madiel]

The annual Scandinavian Film Festival is wrapping up here, so I though I'd summarise all the films that I saw. None of them were poor.

While We Live (Danish): I think this was the best film that I saw, certainly the most carefully constructed. It's a drama about a man who has left his former home some years previously, being drawn back by events. But the film deliberately delivers information quite gradually about the relationships between all the characters and what exactly happened to drive him away in the first place. There's a particular point where things finally click... and then you, the audience, have to sit through a tragedy you already know about before you get to the ultimate resolution.

Darling (Danish): A film about ballet, centred on a ballerina who copes very poorly with a career-ending injury and takes out her issues on those around her. I guess it's really more about the characters than the dance itself, but the dance is still a sizeable component and the characters are certainly interesting.

Under the Tree (Icelandic): There's a tree. It's casting a shadow on the neighbour's porch. Also, the son of the tree owners has just been thrown out by his wife, who caught him with a raunchy video. And things escalate from there as disputes get increasingly out of control. It's kind of a drama, kind of a very very black comedy. And it's rather good. Plus the musical score is awesome.

Amateurs (Swedish): A struggling town tries to present itself favourably so that a German company will build a new superstore there and create jobs. Much of the film focuses on a couple of students who, after the town council gives up on trying to get the kids to do a promotional film on the cheap, keep making their own film. It's a realistic slice of life kind of film, with a fair focus on race and immigration.

A Horrible Woman (Danish): Single guy meets girl. Guy finds relationship with girl developing quickly and upending his life. Is she doing it on purpose, manipulating him, gaslighting him, or is this just what being in a couple is like? Maybe not the deepest film, but quite fun and the script is clever in how the "horrible woman" sometimes says at key moments the exact opposite of what she's said earlier.

[aligreto]

American Assassin





Don't waste your time!

[Karl Henning]

American Assassin



Don't waste your time!

An old friend of mine saw this in the cinemas the season it opened, and found it moving.

But . . . I have not seen it, myself . . . .

[Karl Henning]

Karl - a MUST in my mind - own the BD which replaced my DVD - if you stream from Amazon, just 3 or 4 bucks (SD vs. HD) - enjoy -   Dave

Amen!   0:)   The Blu-Ray has a restored print, and the color is very sharp!

Very much enjoyed this, gents, thank you.

[SonicMan46]

Amen!   0:)   The Blu-Ray has a restored print, and the color is very sharp!

Very much enjoyed this, gents, thank you.

Karl - glad that you enjoyed!  Dave

[Karl Henning]

And ... Last Man Standing, again.

[SonicMan46]

Sergeant York (1941) w/ Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Joan Leslie (teenager at the time); Howard Hawks, Director; Max Steiner, Original Score - I was watching a new WW I documentary acquisition - made by CBS in the 1960s; narrated by Robert Ryan; restored for the 100 anniversary of the ending of the 'Great War' (November 1918) - excellent video footage from the period - highly recommended - BUT, after the second disc, I decided to watch the film w/ Coop - more on TCM HERE about making the film which was not as easy decision for the actor; nominated for 11 Oscars, winner of 2!  Dave

 

[George]

This was incredibly powerful. I want to see it again, soon.

[aligreto]

Edge of Fear

[SonicMan46]

Over the last few nights, a couple of recent films streamed from Amazon:

Lean On Pete (2018) w/ Charlie Plummer, Travis Fimmel, & Steve Buscemi - short synopsis first quote below - kind of a horse story for a while, but mainly a teenage 'growing up' story; ratings:  7.3/10, IMDB;  92%, Rotten Tomatoes; and 3.6/5*, Amazon - I'd agree w/ the Amazonians, i.e. 3 1/2*/5* - the critics seem to be more appreciative.

Chappaquiddick (2018) w/ Jason Clarke, Kate Mara, & Bruce Dern as the dying Joe, Sr. - most know the story but short synopsis below; ratings not great:  6.6/10, IMDB; 80%, Rotten Tomatoes; and 3.4/5*, Amazon - mixed portrayal of Ted Kennedy by Jason Clarke - the film kept our interest, but would not want to see again - I'd probably do 3* on Amazon - worth a watch if interested in the topic.  Dave

Fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson (Charlie Plummer) arrives in Portland, Oregon with his single father Ray (Travis Fimmel), both of them eager for a fresh start after a series of hard knocks. While Ray descends into personal turmoil, Charley finds acceptance and camaraderie at a local racetrack where he lands a job caring for an aging Quarter Horse named Lean On Pete. The horse's gruff owner Del Montgomery (Steve Buscemi) and his seasoned jockey Bonnie (Chloë Sevigny) help Charley fill the void of his father's absence-until he discovers that Pete is bound for slaughter, prompting him to take extreme measures to spare his new friend's life. Charley and Pete head out into the great unknown, embarking on an odyssey across the new American frontier in search of a loving aunt Charley hasn't seen in years. They experience adventure and heartbreak in equal measure, but never lose their irrepressible hope and resiliency as they pursue their dream of finding a place they can call home.

On July 18, 1969, Sen. Ted Kennedy drives his car off of a bridge on Massachusetts' Chappaquiddick Island. The accident results in the death of passenger Mary Jo Kopechne, a 28-year-old campaign strategist who worked for Kennedy. The ongoing investigation into the mysterious and scandalous events forever alters his political legacy -- and ultimately changes the course of presidential history.

 

[aligreto]

Sweet Virginia





A low key but entertaining thriller which kept my attention.

[Karl Henning]

Imogen Poots is a fabulous name.

[SimonNZ]

At the local film festival tonight: a restored print for the 30th anniversary of Wings Of Desire.

This was actually my favorite film when I was much younger so it was great to see it again and on the big screen.

I couldn't discern if the black and white was sharper, I did notice more detail, though thats probably just due to the screen size - but the colour parts, particularly after the "fall" were much more vivid.

Its not the subtitling I'm used to from my old much watched VHS copy, and while I thought some things might be clearer or more literal, I lamented the loss in a few places of having all the passing thoughts however fleeting subtitled. This was most noticeable in the library scene where the VHS had everything in quick succession, but here it was only the main three or four. But elsewhere most everything was covered.

There's also an odd translation choice in Marion's big final speech where the repeated word "alone" ("Now I can say it as tonight, I'm at last alone." "Only with him could I be alone") is changed to "lonely". That may somehow make sense in German with different connotations, but it really doesn't in English.

[aligreto]

China Moon 





An enjoyable thriller.

[Karl Henning]

I don't believe I have seen Madeleine Stowe in anything apart from Twelve Monkeys.

[aligreto]

I don't believe I have seen Madeleine Stowe in anything apart from Twelve Monkeys.

I thought that she was good in the above with Ed Harris giving a fine performance.

[SonicMan46]

I don't believe I have seen Madeleine Stowe in anything apart from Twelve Monkeys.

Hey Karl - I've seen a handful of her films, but my favorite is the Last of the Mohicans from 1992 (own as a BD) - she was in her mid-30s and is so attractive and alluring; a good looking 'couple' w/ the much younger Daniel Day-Lewis. One of my main attractions to this movie is that much of the filming took place in the North Carolina mountains - quote below lists the locales, most of which Susan & I have visited often - one scene from the movie is over a bridge (3rd pic below) which is on the Biltmore Estate (Bass Pond) - the last is my own image from a walk around the pond (taken on a 2015 visit) - if you've not seen the film, then highly recommended.  Dave

Despite the film taking place in upstate New York, according to the film credits, it was filmed mostly in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Locations used include Lake James, Chimney Rock Park and The Biltmore Estate. Some of the waterfalls that were used in the movie include Hooker Falls, Triple Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and High Falls, all located in the DuPont State Recreational Forest. Another of these falls was Linville Falls, in the mountains of North Carolina. Scenes of Albany were shot in Asheville, NC at The Manor on Charlotte St. (Source)

 

 

[Karl Henning]

Cheers, Dave!