Last Movie You Watched

[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.

[VonStupp]

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.

I would imagine Brighton Beach is probably better on stage as well; the claustrophobia of the apartment this extended family is living in seems like it would be more effective on stage. Neil Simon's way with conversation remains stagey in the film, but New York as a set piece opens up that dialog a little bit. Can't say I laughed a whole lot, but it was amusing enough.

Haven't seen Biloxi Blues (1988) in a while, but Christopher Walken was mighty memorable and quite scary as the unpredictable and unstable drill sergeant. It would be great to have seen these on stage, I hope it was a good time.

VS

[Pohjolas Daughter]

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.

I remember reading that Robert Redford lost a goodly chunk of hearing in one of his ears during the coarse of making that film. 

From a website called helpingmehear.com (an article about notable actors that wear hearing aids)

"4. Robert Redford
Robert Redford was fortunate to have great hearing at an age when over 50% of people have disabling hearing loss. But sadly, during the 2013 filming of All Is Lost, he chose to do his own stunts. These included repeated submersion in water and being sprayed by a water cannon. He developed an ear infection that caused 60% loss of hearing.

Redford recounted in an interview, "I went to a hearing guy in Utah, and he said, "You've lost a substantial part of your hearing." I asked, "Am I going to get it back?" He said, "No.'"

Faced with this prognosis, Redford chose to get hearing aids."

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Empire of the Sun



Had never seen this movie before, but due to comments by relm1 in the film music thread, I decided to get ahold of a copy to watch.

Excellent film!  Really enjoyed learning about the topic (Japan's invasion of Shanghai in 1937 including eventually an apparently safe enclave, known as "the International Settlement". Within it, British, American and European businessmen lived a privileged life--along with their families--and were waited on by their Chinese servants.  It focuses on their struggle for survival after the invasion.).

It's seen from one young boy's eyes--J. G. Ballard (who apparently lived through this himself as a lad and wrote a book about his experiences).  The young James (Jim) is played by a young Christian Bale.  The movie is from 1987.

The DVD that I watched also has a flip side with commentary and shots of the filming (watching a bit of that now).

PD

[Karl Henning]

I remember reading that Robert Redford lost a goodly chunk of hearing in one of his ears during the coarse of making that film. 

From a website called helpingmehear.com (an article about notable actors that wear hearing aids)

"4. Robert Redford
Robert Redford was fortunate to have great hearing at an age when over 50% of people have disabling hearing loss. But sadly, during the 2013 filming of All Is Lost, he chose to do his own stunts. These included repeated submersion in water and being sprayed by a water cannon. He developed an ear infection that caused 60% loss of hearing.

Redford recounted in an interview, "I went to a hearing guy in Utah, and he said, "You've lost a substantial part of your hearing." I asked, "Am I going to get it back?" He said, "No.'"

Faced with this prognosis, Redford chose to get hearing aids."

PD

That's a damned shame! Not long ago I re-watched "Nothing in the Dark" from Season 3 of The Twilight Zone, in which he plays across from the great Gladys Cooper. He's very young in there, but by no means bad.

[SonicMan46]

Empire of the Sun

 

Had never seen this movie before, but due to comments by relm1 in the film music thread, I decided to get ahold of a copy to watch.

Excellent film!  Really enjoyed learning about the topic (Japan's invasion of Shanghai in 1937 including eventually an apparently safe enclave (the International Settlement) within it where British, American and European businessmen (perhaps others?) lived a nice life--along with their families--and were waited on by their Chinese servants.  It focuses on their struggle for survival after the invasion.

It's seen from one young boy's eyes--J. G. Ballard (who apparently lived through this himself as a lad and wrote a book about his experiences).  The young James (Jim) is played by a young Christian Bale.  The movie is from 1987.

The DVD that I watched also has a flip side with commentary and shots of the filming (watching a bit of that now).

PD

+1 - own the BD inserted above - a fan also, especially of the 'young' Christian Bale who I felt was fantastic in the film; not loved by all, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes & 7.7/10 on IMDB - my package has a second DVD disc which I've not even watched (believe a doc on Warner Brothers and the war narrated by Spielberg).  Dave

[Pohjolas Daughter]

That's a damned shame! Not long ago I re-watched "Nothing in the Dark" from Season 3 of The Twilight Zone, in which he plays across from the great Gladys Cooper. He's very young in there, but by no means bad.

Don't know that episode; perhaps I'll need to visit (re?) it. 

+1 - own the BD inserted above - a fan also, especially of the 'young' Christian Bale who I felt was fantastic in the film; not loved by all, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes & 7.7/10 on IMDB - my package has a second DVD disc which I've not even watched (believe a doc on Warner Brothers and the war narrated by Spielberg).  Dave

Yes, I thought that he was quite good too!  Also enjoyed in particular:  John Malkovitch and Joe Pantoliano.

I'm part-way through the "extras".  On the disc that I'm watching, it's one of those 2-sided DVDs.  By the way, some of the people (some of whom are extras) that they interview, were alive during the actual invasion and remember it!

PD

[mahler10th]

Recently watched "The Day After Tomorrow" made circa.2004.  Nice that they made and environmentally conscious movie in 2004.  Nice too that it had a setting in Scotland.  Shame it was the biggest load of tosh I've watched in years.      Truly awful.  However, I watched "The Killing Fields" made 20 years earlier, a harrowing movie about the Khmer Rouge, but a truly brilliant movie in every respect.  Had me in tears.  Movie making at it's best.

[LKB]

I remember being appalled by The Killing Fields in the theater decades ago. And if memory serves, the Cambodian actor who won an Academy award for his performance was murdered years later...

Yup. I don't often resort to Wikipedia, but this time it felt appropriate:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haing_S._Ngor

[mahler10th]

I remember being appalled by The Killing Fields in the theater decades ago. And if memory serves, the Cambodian actor who won an Academy award for his performance was murdered years later...

Yup. I don't often resort to Wikipedia, but this time it felt appropriate:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haing_S._Ngor

Yes, I read that some years ago.  A truly sad end to such a fine talent.  A real shame.

[Karl Henning]

Recently watched "The Day After Tomorrow" made circa.2004.  Nice that they made and environmentally conscious movie in 2004.  Nice too that it had a setting in Scotland.  Shame it was the biggest load of tosh I've watched in years.      Truly awful.  However, I watched "The Killing Fields" made 20 years earlier, a harrowing movie about the Khmer Rouge, but a truly brilliant movie in every respect.  Had me in tears.  Movie making at it's best.

If you've not yet seen Spaulding Gray's Swimming to Cambodia, you're in for a treat!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

...However, I watched "The Killing Fields" made 20 years earlier, a harrowing movie about the Khmer Rouge, but a truly brilliant movie in every respect.  Had me in tears.  Movie making at it's best.

That was a great movie!  Like you and LKB, I remember being horrified and upset by what I was watching.

I remember being appalled by The Killing Fields in the theater decades ago. And if memory serves, the Cambodian actor who won an Academy award for his performance was murdered years later...

Yup. I don't often resort to Wikipedia, but this time it felt appropriate:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haing_S._Ngor

So very sorry to hear that he was murdered--particularly after all that he went through!   

PD