Last Movie You Watched

[Karl Henning]

Last night, Sleuth with Michael Caine  & Olivier (1972)
Tonight, Deathtrap, Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve & Dyan Cannon (1982)

[George]

Artsy movie night.

[Karl Henning]

Willy Wonka & L'usine de chocolat

[Karl Henning]

Blade Runner (Final Cut, which is what I'm accustomed to watching)
Then, out of curiosity, the 1992 theatrical release, which was, of course, how I first saw the movie.

[Daverz]

Last night, Sleuth with Michael Caine  & Olivier (1972)
Tonight, Deathtrap, Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve & Dyan Cannon (1982)

I remember seeing Deathtrap in the theater when it came out.  At one point there's an unexpected kiss between Caine and Reeves, and a woman in the theater yelled out "Say it ain't so, Superman!"

[Madiel]

Just watched: Portrait of a Lady on Fire



Well worth it. For starters, the cinematographer deserves every accolade. So often the film looks like a piece of art. And the use of music, though very minimal, is very effective, with The Four Seasons packing a rare emotional punch.

[71 dB]

[asin]B0825CGWDF[/asin]
A rather unoriginal and lame ending to the saga, but this wasn't as bad as I feared. The trailer contains pretty much the bad stuff so there wasn't really negative surprises. Jar Jar Abrams tries hard and some things actually work well. C-3PO is surprisingly enjoyable in this one for example. Better than Ruin Johnson's mess aka The Last Jedi.

[asin]B08K9LDMWR[/asin]
Well-written and directed (Vince Gilligan) stylish story of Jesse Pinkman's escape to a new start in life. Younger viewers may find this slow and lacking action. Dave Porter's music wasn't as good as it could have been.

[Karl Henning]

I remember seeing Deathtrap in the theater when it came out.  At one point there's an unexpected kiss between Caine and Reeves, and a woman in the theater yelled out "Say it ain't so, Superman!"

When they did, I thought how (had I watched the movie when it was released) that would have made the younger me quite uncomfortable.  That's acting.

[Todd]

Peterloo.  Mike Leigh's take on that unfortunate event from Manchester's past.  A mixed bag.  On the one hand, the men in power are written and portrayed in a caricatured manner, with some nearly foaming at the mouth in their denunciations of the working class masses.  It's almost cartoonish.  Too, Leigh's script often sounds very play-like, with extended speeches and sequences written in a manner not entirely believable even when adjusting for time and place.  On the other hand, even the most abstruse dialogue possesses a certain energy, and certain vitality, a certain relish in its own wordsmithing that one can't help but enjoy it, whether it's Mr Hunt's stirring oratory, or some more high born ladies talking over some working class women.  Ultimately, though, the film succeeds in the visual realm.  Some botched CG scenics aside - eg, the nascent industrial Manchester skyline - Leigh and cinematographer Dick Pope deliver a montage of wonderful compositions and set pieces.  One speech hall looks like a painting.  The proper use of wide screen composition (one shot with a married couple in bed flanked by candles is simple yet striking) impresses throughout.  Deft use of light and shade in the same frame shows a careful eye.  Wonderful use of physical sets and locations, including some breathtaking shots out of doors, adds life.  Judicious use of motion, be it tracked shots or drone shots, works even in the context of period drama.  It definitely doesn't work in every regard, but one never doubts its bona fides as a serious work of art.

[SonicMan46]

Popeye (1980) w/ Robin Williams & Shelley Duvall; Robert Altman, director - mixed reviews on release and some saying a BOMB, but wife and I enjoyed and have watched over the years on DVD and now the new BD below - has now become kind of a 'cult classic' for those who like the term; the performances of Williams and Duvall are wonderful and Shelly just nails Olive Oyl.  A recent review HERE that may convinced some of wanting to view the musical comedy.  Extras include a documentary that is well done - the village of 'Sweethaven' was constructed on Malta where the film was made.  Recommended to all but especially fans of the late Robin Williams.

Rachel and the Stranger (1948) w/ Loretta Young, William Holden, & Robert Mitchum - short synopsis below; reviews variable although well-loved by the Amazonians; I really enjoy the film, but wife was more mediocre.  The blu-ray release is excellent - Mitchum does a lot of singing which is quite good; he was also an outstanding mimicker of accents, and for those who want an example, try to play some snippets from the third pic below (available on Spotify, as I recall; or one example HERE).  Recommended for the story and fans of the actors in their youth!  Dave

In the Ohio wilderness during pioneer times, widower David Harvey (William Holden) wants a wife to help rear his young son (Gary Gray). He purchases indentured servant Rachel (Loretta Young) for $18, and they are soon wed. Unsurprisingly, the three don't make a happy family. Harvey only views the marriage as a convenience, while his son resents his new mother. But when Harvey's friend (Robert Mitchum) takes a liking to his new wife, he realizes he might feel something for Rachel after all.

   

[SimonNZ]

the men in power are written and portrayed in a caricatured manner, with some nearly foaming at the mouth in their denunciations of the working class masses.  It's almost cartoonish. 

I believe Leigh either quoted almost directly or modeled the dialogue of all the characters in rehearsal sessions from existing speeches and letters. What can be done if they really were that unreasonable?

Or to put it another way: if your political posts on this site were put verbatim into the mouth of a film character would the result appear a caricature of a right-winger? Would others say that nobody talks like that?

[milk]

I just started this but I'm already feeling its charm. I've never been a huge Dylan fan but I've been listening to him more lately. Big stars who live that long usually lose the mythos. Dylan seems to still carry that mystery. Anyway, what's really great is the early early years and the influences of true originals that pop out of American underground while "how much is that doggy in the window" kept everyone in "normal" America none-the-wiser. I'd never heard of Odetta, for example. When you look at what went on in certain back alleys at that time you kind of think a bum from the right street then could tell you much more interesting stories than today's best sellers. It is an Odyssey.

[George]

I just started this but I'm already feeling its charm. I've never been a huge Dylan fan but I've been listening to him more lately. Big stars who live that long usually lose the mythos. Dylan seems to still carry that mystery. Anyway, what's really great is the early early years and the influences of true originals that pop out of American underground while "how much is that doggy in the window" kept everyone in "normal" America none-the-wiser. I'd never heard of Odetta, for example. When you look at what went on in certain back alleys at that time you kind of think a bum from the right street then could tell you much more interesting stories than today's best sellers. It is an Odyssey.

For years, I never "got" Dylan. Then I saw this documentary and everything clicked.

[milk]

For years, I never "got" Dylan. Then I saw this documentary and everything clicked.

it's great so far and it does show you what made this cultural revolution, from New York to London, happen. Dylan's life really does tell a story that's larger than any one being.

[George]

it's great so far and it does show you what made this cultural revolution, from New York to London, happen. Dylan's life really does tell a story that's larger than any one being.

Absolutely. When he plugged in for the first time at Newport 1965, everything changed. And Mike Bloomfield's guitar is on fire!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8yU8wk67gY

[Karl Henning]

I just started this but I'm already feeling its charm. I've never been a huge Dylan fan but I've been listening to him more lately. Big stars who live that long usually lose the mythos. Dylan seems to still carry that mystery. Anyway, what's really great is the early early years and the influences of true originals that pop out of American underground while "how much is that doggy in the window" kept everyone in "normal" America none-the-wiser. I'd never heard of Odetta, for example. When you look at what went on in certain back alleys at that time you kind of think a bum from the right street then could tell you much more interesting stories than today's best sellers. It is an Odyssey.

Love this.

[SimonNZ]

Not essential or original, but I thought much more watchable and enjoyable than the poor reviews would suggest.

[drogulus]

Not essential or original, but I thought much more watchable and enjoyable than the poor reviews would suggest.

     I think she's great in a number of films, for instance Take Shelter, Zero Dark Thirty and Miss Sloane.

[SimonNZ]

     I think she's great in a number of films, for instance Take Shelter, Zero Dark Thirty and Miss Sloane.

Agreed. And thinking about her filmography I remembered she'd been in a film previously to Ava with Colin Farrell, Liv Ullmann's superb filming of Strindberg's play Miss Julie, which I'd now like to see again:

[Todd]

Avengers: Age of Ultron.  I had no intention of ever watching this, but I was forced to watch to accommodate a family member during this merry time of year.  It's so bad that even James Spader is bad.  James Spader!  Try as I might, I can't think of even one redeeming thing about this cinematic craptacular.  Hours I will never get back.