Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

Blade Runner (1982) w/ Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos - my son owns the version below w/ a digital copy which he gave me a 'pass' to watch using our MoviesAnywhere accounts; so I streamed the 4K UHD 'Final Cut' version - now considered a neo-noir Sci-Fi cult classic (more HERE) - the video/audio looked just outstanding on my 4K HDTV; review of the physical package for those interested.  Highly recommended for fans of the film and to those who may have never seen it (4K version available for rental or purchase on iTunes, if you have the equipment).  Dave

[Karl Henning]

Blade Runner (1982) w/ Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos - my son owns the version below w/ a digital copy which he gave me a 'pass' to watch using our MoviesAnywhere accounts; so I streamed the 4K UHD 'Final Cut' version - now considered a neo-noir Sci-Fi cult classic (more HERE) - the video/audio looked just outstanding on my 4K HDTV; review of the physical package for those interested.  Highly recommended for fans of the film and to those who may have never seen it (4K version available for rental or purchase on iTunes, if you have the equipment).  Dave

Still a great favorite.

[aligreto]

Sound of Metal





A rock drummer experiences a rather sudden loss of his hearing. This film depicts the effects that has on his life and his relationship with his performing partner and wife. Very interesting and worth a watch. A strong performance from Riz Ahmed.

[Karl Henning]

So I've finally watched David Lean's Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.

[SonicMan46]

So I've finally watched David Lean's Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.

Hi Karl - several favorite productions of Dickens' classics in my collection - was just curious which ones I owned - Criterion has both in DVD format; own their 'Oliver Twist'; the 'Great Expectations' BD received a good review HERE, for those interested (reviewer did feel that it still outdid the Criterion DVD) - great films!  Dave

 

[steve ridgway]

So I've finally watched David Lean's Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.

I wish I'd been able to watch Great Expectations before doing an exam on it in school. It would have saved several months of tiresome reading.

[SonicMan46]

The Father (2021) w/ Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, and others - short synopsis below from Rotten Tomatoes, 98% critics rating there.  The Oscars are this Sunday and we have now seen just 3 of the nominated films (others are 'Nomadland' and 'Mank' - the list of all 8 nominations quoted below).  Tonight we plan to stream 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' off Netflix.  Dave

Anthony is 80, mischievous, living defiantly alone and rejecting the carers that his daughter, Anne, encouragingly introduces. Yet help is also becoming a necessity for Anne; she can't make daily visits anymore and Anthony's grip on reality is unraveling. As we experience the ebb and flow of his memory, how much of his own identity and past can Anthony cling to? How does Anne cope as she grieves the loss of her father, while he still lives and breathes before her? THE FATHER warmly embraces real life, through loving reflection upon the vibrant human condition; heart-breaking and uncompromisingly poignant -- a movie that nestles in the truth of our own lives. (Source)

Best Picture Nominees: "The Father", "Judas and the Black Messiah", "Mank", "Minari", "Nomadland", "Promising Young Woman", "Sound of Metal", "The Trial of the Chicago 7"

 

[aligreto]

The Father (2021) w/ Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, and others - short synopsis below from Rotten Tomatoes, 98% critics rating there.  The Oscars are this Sunday and we have now seen just 3 of the nominated films (others are 'Nomadland' and 'Mank' - the list of all 8 nominations quoted below).  Tonight we plan to stream 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' off Netflix.  Dave

 

That sounds like something that we would enjoy, Dave.

[SonicMan46]

That sounds like something that we would enjoy, Dave. - RE: The Father w/ Anthony Hopkins

Hi Aligreto - excellent film relative to the topic w/ Hopkins portraying gradual memory loss well - back in the mid-70s after my radiology residency, I owed Uncle Sam 2 years in the Army; was one of four radiologists at Ft. Bragg (Fayetteville, NC - the first or second largest base at the time and probably still) - one of my colleagues who stayed in Southern Pines (famous for golf) called me a few years back and asked 'who' I was? - I explained but he did not remember me at all - a scary experience - wife and I are in our 70s now and indeed the film was unsettling - highly recommended.  Dave

[SimonNZ]

How is this amazing one of a kind film not more famous? How could I not have seen it before now?

Once again some of the most creative photography I've seen in any film, all the more remarkable because It's done in super-long constantly moving shots (but without any of the slow-pace feel you get when Bela Tarr does that).

War presented as the games of grown children, little more than "You chase me then I chase you" and all the make it up as you go along of such.

Supposedly commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. The Russian authorities were appalled.

Must explore more by this Hungarian director Miklós Jancsó who I don't know at all.

[aligreto]

Hi Aligreto - excellent film relative to the topic w/ Hopkins portraying gradual memory loss well - back in the mid-70s after my radiology residency, I owed Uncle Sam 2 years in the Army; was one of four radiologists at Ft. Bragg (Fayetteville, NC - the first or second largest base at the time and probably still) - one of my colleagues who stayed in Southern Pines (famous for golf) called me a few years back and asked 'who' I was? - I explained but he did not remember me at all - a scary experience - wife and I are in our 70s now and indeed the film was unsettling - highly recommended.  Dave

Hi Dave,
Interesting stories and comments there. Thank you. I am a very long term fan of Hopkins so I look forward to seeing this one.

[André]

Last October I watched Zéro de conduite and L'Atalante. This weekend I watched À propos de Nice, Taris and the Criterion supplements. These include a fascinating TV program by Eric Rohmer interviewing François Truffaut on Vigo and particularly L'Atalante. What a brilliant and keen intellect Truffaut was. By contrast Rohmer appears rather snob and conventional. There is also a 1964 98 minute film/interview of 'survivors' (actors, technicians, producer) of L'Atalante that sheds fascinating light on Vigo's creative genius. I was surprised to see how much influence photographer Boris Kaufman had on Vigo's work (he shot all his films except for the short Taris). Kaufman was the younger brother of Dziga Vertov (Man with a Movie Camera) and the influence of Vertov's Kino-Pravda movement is quite obvious in À propos de Nice, for which Kaufman is also credited as co-director.

This is one of the most illuminating items in the Criterion collection.

[SimonNZ]

I haven't seen that one but will seek it out. Thanks for posting.

Perhaps the most famous Jancsó film is:


Which I first saw many years ago and was quite knocked out by it.  Can't imagine the Russians would have been too thrilled by its depiction of Hungarian nationalism crushed under a brutal autocracy.

Thanks for that. I'll see if I can track it down.

The local dvd store had two others of his, and I've got this one out to watch with a friend this coming weekend:

[aligreto]

I Kill Giants





This is ostensibly a fantasy film but it also works, successfully, for me on other emotional and psychological levels as the two worlds are successfully interwoven. I found it to be well written and presented with wonderful performances from all concerned, particularly from Madison Wolfe. It is a tad slow to develop but it is well worth staying with it if you are in the mood for something just a little different. I certainly enjoyed it.

[milk]

This is a pair. I like Judd Hirsch falling down drunk and River Phoenix breaking into a home to play Beethoven on the family piano. The above doc was great too.

[SonicMan46]

OSCARS 2021 - SOME SURPRISES!

Well, we decided to watch this year's Oscar Show, a mixture of online and social distancing, the latter at Los Angeles' restored historic Union Station - went from 8 PM to 11:15 PM EST with way too many commercials!  The presentation was OK (I'd probably do a 3*/5* rating - this morning on NPR, several of the guests discussing the show gave lower ratings) - the main surprise was switching the order of 'Best Actor' and 'Best Movie' which I thought was stupid, but the prediction was that the now departed Chadwick Boseman would win the acting Oscar; well, the award went to Anthony Hopkins in The Father - having seen both films, I agree that Hopkins deserved the honor more, but just my two cents?

Below from HERE, the winners of the major Oscars, including a delighted Chloé Zhao for Best Director of Nomadland, also voted Best Picture. We had seen nearly 4 of the best film nominations (started the '....Chicago 7' and turned off), the others Nomadland, Mank, and The Father.  Believe that we had made wise decisions, i.e. those three won at least 7 Oscars, and are worth a watch - cannot comment on the others up for the award.  Dave

[Brahmsian]

OSCARS 2021 - SOME SURPRISES!

Well, we decided to watch this year's Oscar Show, a mixture of online and social distancing, the latter at Los Angeles' restored historic Union Station - went from 8 PM to 11:15 PM EST with way too many commercials!  The presentation was OK (I'd probably do a 3*/5* rating - this morning on NPR, several of the guests discussing the show gave lower ratings) - the main surprise was switching the order of 'Best Actor' and 'Best Movie' which I thought was stupid, but the prediction was that the now departed Chadwick Boseman would win the acting Oscar; well, the award went to Anthony Hopkins in The Father - having seen both films, I agree that Hopkins deserved the honor more, but just my two cents?

Below from HERE, the winners of the major Oscars, including a delighted Chloé Zhao for Best Director of Nomadland, also voted Best Picture. We had seen nearly 4 of the best film nominations (started the '....Chicago 7' and turned off), the others Nomadland, Mank, and The Father.  Believe that we had made wise decisions, i.e. those three won at least 7 Oscars, and are worth a watch - cannot comment on the others up for the award.  Dave

Also watched it from beginning to end, Dave.

It was a 2.5 or 3 out of 5.  I don't like how they zip through the In Memoriam segment in lightning speed.  They could have skipped a few things altogether (like the ridiculous game of identify the tune and whether it was nominated for an Oscar, won an Oscar, or neither).  Skip that segment to allow more time to read the "In Memoriam" names.

The switching of the order of the best actors, directors and best pictures was quite odd.

Under a normal (non-COVID) film year, I doubt several of these films would have been Oscar nomination worthy, particularly "Promising Young Woman".  It was an ok, entertaining film, but definitely not Oscar worthy (and I say this as a big Carey Mulligan fan).  My two cents.   

Glad Nomadland won, and especially Frances McDormand.

[SonicMan46]

Hi Ray - well, I could deduct for the incessant commercials, and completely agree about the memorial tribute - could not even read the entire names of many, especially those that I did not know.  Also agree w/ your other comments about elimination of a number of the scenes (although Glenn Close was cute dancing -  ).   ; but glad that we did stream the ones watched. AND some 'records' set, e.g. Anthony Hopkins being the oldest 'Best Actor' nominated in a competitive category and Choé Zhao, as 'Best Director' , second woman to win but first 'ethnic female' winner also.  Dave

[Karl Henning]

I wish I'd been able to watch Great Expectations before doing an exam on it in school. It would have saved several months of tiresome reading.

That's the trouble, when it's for school, it's a chore.  I read it as a non-student, and loved it. Like Twain's dictum:  work consists of what a body is obliged to do, play of what a body does free of obligation ....

[Karl Henning]

Hi Dave,
Interesting stories and comments there. Thank you. I am a very long term fan of Hopkins so I look forward to seeing this one.

Have you seen Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Fergus?