Last Movie You Watched

[VonStupp]

Masterminds (1997)
Patrick Stewart

Not a recommendation, but it was fun to watch Patrick Stewart do his thing in a low-budget, post-Star Trek role.

Following in a long line of movies where private schools are under siege. I prefer both Taps (1981) with Tom Cruise and George C. Scott and Toy Soldiers (1991) with Sean Astin and Louis Gossett Jr. from this ilk of films.

VS





Safe House (1998)
Patrick Stewart, Hector Elizando, Kimberly Williams

Blurring the line between senility and danger, I really like the idea of this one, despite the TV movie feel. Making oneself feel relevant, despite the physical, mental, and societal difficulties of aging, is a topic that never gets old.

What a treasure I find Patrick Stewart, even if the big screen was never his best avenue.

VS

[SonicMan46]

Cold Mountain:





This is basically the story of love in a time of war with the world falling apart around it.

Hi Fergus - read the book and saw the film on release in the theater, but have not re-watched; however, the locale of Cold Mountain is just a 4 hr drive from home (see map); Asheville and environs has been an oft visited area for us over the decades (i.e pre-COVID) - we've hiked (easy trails) the mountains in the past but never visited Cold Mountain (pic below from the Wiki article quoted) - the trail described would not have been a go for us - due to potential filming costs and lack of historic buildings, the film was made in Romania instead.  Dave

Cold Mountain falls in the mountain region of western North Carolina, United States. The mountain is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains within the Appalachian Mountains. Cold Mountain is part of Pisgah National Forest. Cold Mountain is about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Asheville. It rises to 6,030 feet (1,840 m) above sea level. The peak is accessible only via an extremely strenuous branch of the Art Loeb Trail with a 10.6 miles (17.1 km) round trip and an elevation change of 2,800 feet (850 m). The mountain was made famous as the story location in the 1997 novel Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. A major motion picture based on the novel was distributed by Miramax Films in 2003. The movie was actually filmed in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. (Source)

 

[aligreto]

Hi Fergus - read the book and saw the film on release in the theater, but have not re-watched; however, the locale of Cold Mountain is just a 4 hr drive from home (see map); Asheville and environs has been an oft visited area for us over the decades (i.e pre-COVID) - we've hiked (easy trails) the mountains in the past but never visited Cold Mountain (pic below from the Wiki article quoted) - the trail described would not have been a go for us - due to potential filming costs and lack of historic buildings, the film was made in Romania instead.  Dave

 

That was a very interesting read, Dave. Thank you for that 

[Iota]

Very good indeed. What stood out particularly for me was the intimacy of the relationships, and real-life feel of the dialogue for a Western. As well as an unusual soundtrack. All of which gave it a very distinctive tone. An excellent quartet of lead actors too. I was fully engaged all the way.

[aligreto]

The Nest:





An English entrepreneur living in America decides to relocate his family to a mansion in rural England. Life is idyllic. However, things soon unravel and reality begins to loom large. I enjoyed it.

[milk]

I'm so surprised that this holds up. I laughed all the way through. It's like a Marx Brothers movie in a way. I think it's the slick balance of elements that makes it work.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I share Karl's feelings that music in the cinema is almost invariably too loud for my own enjoyment these days.
Recently:




I was very struck by Bradley Cooper being able to deliver such a magnetic, concentrated performance and direct at the same time. I know it's not uncommon, nonetheless in the setting it seemed a pretty superhuman feat. (He also co-wrote it.)

The film improves as it goes and ends up delivering quite a punch or three. Cooper gets everything just right, Lady Gaga is no slouch either, and Sam Elliot is excellent as the older brother. Quite a weepy at times, though it earned those moments I felt.

Greatly enjoyed that movie.  I saw it in an actual theater (don't go that often...certainly not now!).

And I agree with you two regarding sound in the theaters; they crank it up WAY too loud.  I bring earplugs or at least use some tissue in my ears.  I want to keep my hearing--not lose it!

Last night, re-watched Shutter Island with a friend who hadn't seen it before.  He loved it (and enjoyed the music in it too).  I was happy to see it a second time around though the hard part with movies like these is that the surprises are now gone.  It was interesting though that I caught some things that I had missed the first time through...and nice to hear it through a decent set of speakers vs. t.v. too. 



PD

[Karl Henning]

Re-watched the 1961 West Side Story last night. I nearly chuckled audibly on realizing the Twin Peaks connections: Richard Beymer (Tony/Ben Horne) and Russ Tamblyn (Riff/Dr Jacoby)

[SonicMan46]

Re-watched the 1961 West Side Story last night. I nearly chuckled audibly on realizing the Twin Peaks connections: Richard Beymer (Tony/Ben Horne) and Russ Tamblyn (Riff/Dr Jacoby)

Hi Karl - except for the music and choreography, I was never a fan of that film (not in my collection) and have not seen since the '60s (guess that I never liked the main characters and their dubbed singing?) - BUT, I am looking forward to seeing the remake - in theaters now but will be streaming on HBO Max and Disney+ - when - not sure?  Dave

[Karl Henning]

Hi Karl - except for the music and choreography, I was never a fan of that film (not in my collection) and have not seen since the '60s (guess that I never liked the main characters and their dubbed singing?) - BUT, I am looking forward to seeing the remake - in theaters now but will be streaming on HBO Max and Disney+ - when - not sure?  Dave

Dave, I see your point. I guess the music and choreography have sufficed for me. And Ned Glass and John Astin, I suppose. I fully expect the music to carry any remake. Watching last night, I chuckled at the odd bowdlerized line in concession to the censors/nannies: not only does the "spit" hit the fan (which may have been a concession of Sondheim's for the stage) but we couldn't have anyone say "sperm" on the silver screen. So instead of "sperm to worm" we hear "birth to earth."

[SonicMan46]

Dave, I see your point. I guess the music and choreography have sufficed for me. And Ned Glass and John Astin, I suppose. I fully expect the music to carry any remake. Watching last night, I chuckled at the odd bowdlerized line in concession to the censors/nannies: not only does the "spit" hit the fan (which may have been a concession of Sondheim's for the stage) but we couldn't have anyone say "sperm" on the silver screen. So instead of "sperm to worm" we hear "birth to earth."

- in your honor below - Dave 

[milk]

I'm on Episode 5 (of 6 on Amazon). I never liked the Dead but this is fascinating. They're perhaps the only band that stuck to ideals, at least most of the way through, that set up a way of existing that countered music marketing and money-making generally.
I don't get the music, don't understand it. But I do appreciate them for what they were and for being the only ones. It's interesting because I simply do not find them interesting musically. Anyway, this doc is recommended. 

[Karl Henning]

High time I watched it, too: Double Indemnity

[aligreto]

Redemption of a Rogue:





This is an Irish film and it is quite quirky, zany and filled with black humour. I laughed my way through it because it is so creditably Irish in its own way.

[Papy Oli]

Redemption of a Rogue:




This is an Irish film and it is quite quirky, zany and filled with black humour. I laughed my way through it because it is so creditably Irish in its own way.

Just checked the teaser on Netflix.

Now, I have added it to the Watch list, so I have...

Just because I need to find out if he bought the 8mm or the 10mm or the 12mm or 14mm rope.

And what he did with it....

He hasn't got the face of a guy wanting to tow a cow !!     

[aligreto]

Just checked the teaser on Netflix.

Now, I have added it to the Watch list, so I have...

Just because I need to find out if he bought the 8mm or the 10mm or the 12mm or 14mm rope.

And what he did with it....

He hasn't got the face of a guy wanting to tow a cow !! 

These are very big decisions 

You have a good sense of humour so you should enjoy it if the Irish humour makes sense and appeals to you. 

[Karl Henning]

High time I watched it, too: All About Eve

[SonicMan46]

High time I watched it, too: All About Eve

Hey Karl - you're certainly picking some of the classics in my collection, both excellent BDs.  Dave

[Todd]

Tenet.  First the plusses.  The film looks magnificent, and boasts some large set pieces with physical effects aplenty blended in with ample CGI.  It's high concept.  Also, it has Elizabeth Debicki.  Now the minuses.  It's too long, and while the overall plot is sensible enough for a time travel caper, the little details find Mr Nolan obsessing over plot details too arcane to follow or care about.  Also, it has Kenneth Branagh pretending to be, I think, a Russian oligarch.  Denzel's son in the lead does appear to have inherited a good portion of his father's charisma, though not necessarily the acting chops.  At times his voice sounds very similar to his father's when he was younger.

I'm hoping Nolan can make another great flick or two, though his next one, Oppenheimer with Cillian Murphy in the lead, does not instill confidence.

[VonStupp]

The World According to Garp (1982)
Robin Williams, Glenn Close
John Lithgow, Mary Beth Hurt

A bit of an emotional roller coaster, and oddly broken into up-and-down dramedy vignettes. I have never read John Irving's source material.

While this is RW's film, Glenn Close as the emotionally shut-off mother who walks backwards into leading a feminist movement, John Lithgow as a sincerely portrayed, transgender ex-pro football player, and Mary Beth Hurt as Williams' wife, make the film.

A fun appearance by Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn too!

VS