Last Movie You Watched

[Todd]

They filmed that on the real bridge.

Interesting.  I assumed they did establishing shots and such forth on the bridge, but parts of the last scene smack of soundstage filming.  I wonder if they mixed location and studio for the final cut.  In any event, however they filmed it, it looks like a soundstage set.

[James]

     I don't know what it's like to be unable to finish a film because it bores me. It happens sometimes with really bad films, but even then not often. People must be very different about boredom in some way. I'm not easily bored by a film even when I'm not liking it.

     The traditional "problem" with LOA is that, like the Ottoman Empire and the Arab revolt, it disintegrates into chaos. The film is truer to history than drama.

Many films are long winded & dull .. I struggle to physically sit through most of them in truth.

Thankfully, at home I can spread it out over several days.

[Karl Henning]

     I don't know what it's like to be unable to finish a film because it bores me. It happens sometimes with really bad films, but even then not often. People must be very different about boredom in some way. I'm not easily bored by a film even when I'm not liking it.

I know there's a movie I did not bother finishing, not terribly long ago.  But (and not that I mind this) I don't seem to remember it in the least.

[Bogey]

Bridge of Spies.  Extremely well crafted, as one would expect from Spielberg and crew.  The use of barrel distortion heavy wide angle lenses becomes a bit tiresome, and the bridge of the title is one nice looking set - I guess no one wanted to risk braving the elements.  The tiny homage to Kubrick is a nice touch.  (Spartacus is on the marquee of a German movie theater.)  Tom Hanks is good.  Mark Rylance is very good.  The best of the three Oscar nominees for best picture from last year that I've seen, but hardly a movie for the ages.

Enjoyed this one thoroughly.  I will revisit this one sooner than later.

[SonicMan46]

Wow!  This has been an all-around fave of mine for years!  Even the scenes with the politicians (Claude Rains at his puckish best!) I found interesting and well done.

As far as length, the length should depend on the story, and some stories might need 3 hours or more.  I think of Sergei Bondarchuk's film of War and Peace and its c. 8-hour length.

Well, I'm w/ Cato on Lawrence of Arabia - bought the BD last year w/ a marvelous AV restoration - the sound is CD quality; BUT, I did watch over two evenings -    Dave

[Bogey]

Sam Peckinpah's effort here reminded me a bit of a Tarantino films.  Kept me watching, but one watch should do.  Much prefer Ford, Hawkes, Mann and even Leone for multiple watches.

[SonicMan46]

Enjoyed this one thoroughly.  I will revisit this one sooner than later.  RE: Bridge of Spies

Bill - we saw that film last fall when visiting our son in Carmel, Indiana - he took us to a neat new theater there - an in-house brewery, restaurant, & large screen movie house, so we ordered a little lunch, some home brews, and watched Bridge of Spies - looking forward to returning.  Earlier this year, I decided to purchase the BD of the film (from our fav review site, 5/5 for video; 4.8/5 audio).  Dave

[Bogey]

Well, I'm w/ Cato on Lawrence of Arabia - bought the BD last year w/ a marvelous AV restoration - the sound is CD quality; BUT, I did watch over two evenings -    Dave

I remember how much you liked it.  That is why I gave it another go.  Very rarely do I hit the eject button on movies, but it just wore me down to that point.

[Brian]

Interesting.  I assumed they did establishing shots and such forth on the bridge, but parts of the last scene smack of soundstage filming.  I wonder if they mixed location and studio for the final cut.  In any event, however they filmed it, it looks like a soundstage set.

Part of me wonders if Janusz Kaminski's particular "wall of light" Kinkade-painting cinematography contributes to the fakeness of the look. He really goes overboard on it in this movie - a friend of mine says that when Hanks interrogates Rylance, from the light streaming in, it looks like the interrogation room "is directly in front of the sun itself." And in that last bridge set piece, there's so much light/fog that it looks like it has to be fake. But it could just be Kaminski running up his usual eight-figure electric bill.

I think this is also why Lincoln looks like it was shot entirely in four or five little rooms.

[Bogey]

Hmmm. Interesting observations, Brian.  I see it rather as cutting through the clutter, focusing on the character, and making the background just that....a background.  Sort of "minimalises" the clutter if you will, or forces the viewer to take in the background when the wish to do so.  Just my take.

[Bogey]

And two from Hitch that ring true for me:

[Bogey]

Oh, and Brian, I just watched Kaminski being interviewed and he is absolutely full of himself.

[James]

Oh, and Brian, I just watched Kaminski being interviewed and he is absolutely full of himself.

Christ .. 97% of people associated with film or tv are this way.

[Bogey]

Christ .. 97% of people associated with film or tv are this way.

[Cato]

Christ .. 97% of people associated with film or tv are this way.

This reminds me of all kinds of claims about who was responsible for the murder scene in the shower in Psycho: I recall reading that assorted cameramen and Saul Bass, who animated the credits at the beginning, all claimed credit.

e.g.

http://www.openculture.com/2013/10/who-created-the-famous-shower-scene-in-psycho-alfred-hitchcock-or-the-legendary-designer-saul-bass.html

[Bogey]

This reminds me of all kinds of claims about who was responsible for the murder scene in the shower in Psycho: I recall reading that assorted cameramen and Saul Bass, who animated the credits at the beginning, all claimed credit.

e.g.

http://www.openculture.com/2013/10/who-created-the-famous-shower-scene-in-psycho-alfred-hitchcock-or-the-legendary-designer-saul-bass.html

I have never seen this.  Quite cool, Cato!

[James]

After her marriage to a wealthy businessman (Alec Baldwin) collapses, New York socialite Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) flees to San Francisco and the modest apartment of her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Although she's in a fragile emotional state and lacks job skills, Jasmine still manages to voice her disapproval of Ginger's boyfriend, Chili (Bobby Cannavale). Jasmine begrudgingly takes a job in a dentist's office, while Ginger begins dating a man (Louis C.K.) who's a step up from Chili.

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[Bogey]

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[James]

Not the case .. I really enjoyed it actually.

[George]

LOL

I fell asleep on my first (and only) try watching that one.