Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

Justified is an excellent show. I've watched the entire series twice. Big fan of Walton Goggins.

Hi George - same here, i.e. x2 - tried to get my wife interested but she 'gave up' after a few episodes - could not get into or dislike the characters.  I'll likely watch again - own 3 seasons on Amazon Prime in SD - would love to see the HD versions on my new 4K HDTV and often cheaper to just buy the complete physical package - on DVD, the set is available for $40 only (the cost I'd pay to watch those seasons that I don't own) - NOW, I would greatly prefer the BD box but @ $100 not going to happen, plus when I look at Amazon Prime for HD upgrades of those seasons owned, the B*%^TARDS want $25 for each season!  NOW, if that BD box comes down to $50 or so and/or if I get some Amazon cash from my AMEX card, then maybe a consideration?  Dave 

[SonicMan46]

This is a fascinating documentary and many people's favorite. I liked it very much though it's not exactly my favorite doc ever made. But I can see why people find it so important. It's fascinating. I think the struggle here, political, social, moral, whatever it is, is one part of this and the other is the culture of the people - their music, way of speaking, etc. This is something to behold and maybe something mostly lost. I really wouldn't know what Kentucky is like these days. The most amazing part of this is the women. They're fearless, strong, funny, brave, crazy, etc. I guess there are a lot of "characters" here but it feels like the women steal the show.

Watched and enjoyed last night on my HBO+ steaming membership, and it was the Criterion version!  Before COVID we took a lot of car trips, either to the coast or mountains, and often in adjacent states - we've been in Harlan county in southeast Kentucky near the Cumberland Gap National Park; also, have been to West Virginia a half dozen times, including several visits to the Beckley Coal Mine Museum, where a tour on a coal train into the mine is available - the guides were real coal miners - highly recommended for those in the area (not even sure if it's open at the moment w/ the pandemic?).  Dave

[LKB]

The Natural

There's no other film which so emphatically expresses what we wish our heroes could be, baseball or otherwise.

[Karl Henning]

The Natural

There's no other film which so emphatically expresses what we wish our heroes could be, baseball or otherwise.

Sweet!

[aligreto]

Something's Gotta Give





This is light and trite and about finding Love in later life. I like Nicholson, Keaton and Reeves. This was a re-watch but I still found it entertaining.

[VonStupp]

Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021)
Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek
Antonio Bandares, Morgan Freeman

This sequel is sillier and even more curse-laden than the 2017 original. Pretty, mindless action, set in the Mediterranean.

[VonStupp]

The Natural

There's no other film which so emphatically expresses what we wish our heroes could be, baseball or otherwise.

Don't remember much of this movie, but Randy Newman's score comes to mind as something that caught my attention.

VS

[SonicMan46]

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) w/ Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre and others; Frank Capra, director - one of the unique Hollywood comedies that still is funny and entertaining w/ the three stars below who could so easily switch from this type of role to series drama, especially Grant. Short synopsis below - more at the link for those interested; comes in #30 on AFI 100 Laughs films - highly recommended.  Dave

Arsenic and Old Lace is a 1944 American black comedy film directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre, Jack Carson, and Edward Everett Horton. It was based on Joseph Kesselring's 1941 play, Arsenic and Old Lace. The script adaptation was written by Julius J. & Philip G. Epstein. The contract with the play's producers stipulated that the film would not be released until the Broadway run ended. The original planned release date was September 30, 1942. The play was a tremendous hit, running for three and a half years, so the film was not released until 1944. (Source)

   

[Karl Henning]

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) w/ Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre and others; Frank Capra, director - one of the unique Hollywood comedies that still is funny and entertaining w/ the three stars below who could so easily switch from this type of role to series drama, especially Grant. Short synopsis below - more at the link for those interested; comes in #30 on AFI 100 Laughs films - highly recommended.  Dave

   

Great fun!

[milk]

Chungking Express - I didn't like it that much either. I do love Wong Kar Wai's In The Mood For Love and it's sequel, 2046.

I'm gonna give these a shot then. Thanks!

[milk]

Watched and enjoyed last night on my HBO+ steaming membership, and it was the Criterion version!  Before COVID we took a lot of car trips, either to the coast or mountains, and often in adjacent states - we've been in Harlan county in southeast Kentucky near the Cumberland Gap National Park; also, have been to West Virginia a half dozen times, including several visits to the Beckley Coal Mine Museum, where a tour on a coal train into the mine is available - the guides were real coal miners - highly recommended for those in the area (not even sure if it's open at the moment w/ the pandemic?).  Dave

That sounds like a cool trip. I'd love to ask more questions to local people about the topic. I wonder if the culture is gone: the music, way of life and way of expressing themselves. In the movie, the men stand around Whittling wood!! That's real! I never thought that was a real thing! The movie give one a lot of affection for the people and their struggle. 

[milk]

Did I already put this up here? This is a marvelous creation. It's just so much fun. Leigh takes you into the nitty-gritty of the creation of a theatrical work of art from beginning to end and he does it with eyes of love. There really is nothing quite like this. This also will satisfy those who are interested in the historical period.

[aligreto]

All Is Lost





This was posted recently and it was a re-watch for me. It is one of those films where there is not much action but there certainly is a lot going on at the same time. The dialogue is minimal but the ambient sound of the film is wonderful. The soundtrack is pretty good too. 

[VonStupp]

Did I already put this up here? This is a marvelous creation. It's just so much fun. Leigh takes you into the nitty-gritty of the creation of a theatrical work of art from beginning to end and he does it with eyes of love. There really is nothing quite like this. This also will satisfy those who are interested in the historical period.

Agreed. A Gilbert & Sullivan biopic that entwines relationships with the manic energy of putting on a show (The Mikado, I think?). A nice balancing act if I remember correctly.

VS

[George]

I'm gonna give these a shot then. Thanks!

No problem, hope you enjoy them. 

[SonicMan46]

As Good as It Gets (1997) w/ Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear and others - Nicholson in a great transition from basically an 'asshole' to a considerate and generous human being - fun to watch as is Hunt, both won the Best Acting Oscars for the year - highly recommended.  Dave

As Good as It Gets is a 1997 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by James L. Brooks, who co-wrote it with Mark Andrus. The film stars Jack Nicholson as a misanthropic, homophobic and obsessive-compulsive novelist, Helen Hunt as a single mother with a chronically ill son, and Greg Kinnear as an artist who is gay. Nicholson and Hunt won the Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, making it the most recent film to win both of the lead acting awards, since 1991's The Silence of the Lambs. It was also nominated for Best Picture but ultimately lost to Titanic. It is ranked 140th on Empire magazine's "The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time" list. (Source)

 

[VonStupp]

Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986)

A gentle, slice-of-life, coming-of-age drama/comedy. I like these types of movies; they may not move heaven and earth, but it is a cozy ride. Plus, a solid ensemble of character actors (It's been a while since I have thought of Fyvush Finkel).

VS

[aligreto]

As Good as It Gets (1997) w/ Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear and others - Nicholson in a great transition from basically an 'asshole' to a considerate and generous human being - fun to watch as is Hunt, both won the Best Acting Oscars for the year - highly recommended.  Dave

 

That is my favourite Nicholson film. However, the entire cast were excellent, particularly Hunt.

[Karl Henning]

That is my favourite Nicholson film. However, the entire cast were excellent, particularly Hunt.

+ 1

[JBS]

Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986)

A gentle, slice-of-life, coming-of-age drama/comedy. I like these types of movies; they may not move heaven and earth, but it is a cozy ride. Plus, a solid ensemble of character actors (It's been a while since I have thought of Fyvush Finkel).

VS

I had the opportunity to see both the film and stage (via a touring company) versions of Biloxi Blues, the next installment of the trilogy which started with BBM.  I found the stage version better, for reasons inherent in the different mediums: no distractions in the background, lighting cues that focused one's attention, no camera close-ups, etc.  The movie softened the dramatic elements and highlighted the comedic elements in contrast to the stage version.  I have to wonder how that applies to all of Simon's works.