Last Movie You Watched

[Ken B]

Absolutely.

The Matrix series gets progressively worse, though the first one was great. The third one I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

The Matrix was terrible, without being quite Star Wars Sequels terrible. I found watching it only unpleasant, not actually damaging. 

[George]

Been recently getting through season two of Better Call Saul

Can't wait for the next season! (February 2017)

[listener]

BANLIEU 13 /  DISTRICT 13
script and production by Luc Besson
a wall is around a Paris suburb containing the city's most criminal elements, kidnapping, bomb with timer and lots of parkour (street running)
very, very well made action thriller that gets everything done in 81 minutes.

[aligreto]

Last night: Matrix Revolutions....

[James]

Goodfellas
1990 ‧ Crime film/Drama film ‧ 2h 28m

A young man grows up in the mob and works very hard to advance himself through the ranks. He enjoys his life of money and luxury, but is oblivious to the horror that he causes. A drug addiction and a few mistakes ultimately unravel his climb to the top. Based on the book "Wiseguy" by Nicholas Pileggi.

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[Drasko]

Ozuesque.

[SimonNZ]

^I've got that one in my queue. You'd recommend it?

[Drasko]

^I've got that one in my queue. You'd recommend it?

Yes, I would. Classic Japanese subtle family drama. Very nice.

[James]

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
2016 ‧ Fantasy/Science fiction film ‧ 3h 3m

It's been nearly two years since Superman's (Henry Cavill) colossal battle with Zod (Michael Shannon) devastated the city of Metropolis. The loss of life and collateral damage left many feeling angry and helpless, including crime-fighting billionaire Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck). Convinced that Superman is now a threat to humanity, Batman embarks on a personal vendetta to end his reign on Earth, while the conniving Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) launches his own crusade against the Man of Steel.

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[André]

[Mister Sharpe]

Im Juli I brought this home from the public library three or four years ago and my wife asked, "Why did you get that out, looks awful!"  She liked it so much on first viewing she wanted to see it again immediately.  A week later she ordered our own copy.  A sort of modern, European update of "It Happened One Night," it's funny, charming, and romantic.  More happy coincidences than Dickens and while that may turn some off, it's part of the point - it's a magical world. Inside humor as talented director Fatih Akin appears as a gun-pointing border guard.  A lot of fun and infectious soundtrack to boot. 

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[bhodges]

Have only seen this once, about 6-7 years ago on the big screen. A magnificent film.

I love the Rota soundtrack, too (probably old news  ).

--Bruce

[Cato]

This held up quite well, except for a scene where "WHY?" is plastered across the screen several times in ever larger type, as outrage against sniffy, puff-sleeved, snuff-sniffing aristocrats spreads through Paris.


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[Mister Sharpe]

This held up quite well, except for a scene where "WHY?" is plastered across the screen several times in ever larger type, as outrage against sniffy, puff-sleeved, snuff-sniffing aristocrats spreads through Paris.

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It's a great film(!) and at the time of its release (1935) thought widely to be one of the best ever.  I don't mind the superimposition of WHY? on the screen as a visual shorthand to convey rising emotions.  German expressionist films use that technique sometimes (most famously in Caligari to convey obsession) and Soviet propagandists did as well to varying effect. 

[SonicMan46]

This held up quite well, except for a scene where "WHY?" is plastered across the screen several times in ever larger type, as outrage against sniffy, puff-sleeved, snuff-sniffing aristocrats spreads through Paris.

When I was a 'kid', this was probably the film where I just fell in love w/ Colman's voice which still has a mesmerizing effect on me - thought I had the movie burned to a DVD-R, but not in my database - will check the TCM channel for a possible upcoming showing - Dave

[Cato]

When I was a 'kid', this was probably the film where I just fell in love w/ Colman's voice which still has a mesmerizing effect on me - thought I had the movie burned to a DVD-R, but not in my database - will check the TCM channel for a possible upcoming showing - Dave

My wife and I were just talking about that topic a day or two ago.  The classic actors (like Ronald Colman) had voices which made them distinctive: today, outside of Patrick Stewart (now in his 70's) Russell Crowe and George Clooney, the younger generations of actors do not seem to have that.

Think of how distinctive the voices were of Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Clark Gable, Jean Arthur, Cary Grant, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, James Mason, Yul Brynner and even character supporting actors/actresses like Royal Dano, John Carradine, Agnes Moorhead, etc.. 

I might find it difficult to identify the voice of e.g. Ryan Gosling or James Franco or Ben Affleck.

[North Star]

My wife and I were just talking about that topic a day or two ago.  The classic actors (like Ronald Colman) had voices which made them distinctive: today, outside of Patrick Stewart (now in his 70's) Russell Crowe and George Clooney, the younger generations of actors do not seem to have that.

Think of how distinctive the voices were of Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Clark Gable, Jean Arthur, Cary Grant, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, James Mason, Yul Brynner and even character supporting actors/actresses like Royal Dano, John Carradine, Agnes Moorhead, etc.. 

I might find it difficult to identify the voice of e.g. Ryan Gosling or James Franco or Ben Affleck.

What about the voices of Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Williams, Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Sean Bean, Jeremy Irons, Kenneth Branagh, Alan Rickman, Morgan Freeman, Clarke Peters, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Julia Roberts, Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, or Judi Dench?

[Ken B]

What about the voices of Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Williams, Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Sean Bean, Jeremy Irons, Kenneth Branagh, Alan Rickman, Morgan Freeman, Clarke Peters, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Julia Roberts, Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, or Judi Dench?

The cartoon voices I recognize most easily are Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

[Brian]

Among younger actors, Jesse Plemons, Seth Rogen, Tessa Thompson, Nick Kroll, Donald Glover, Chris Pratt, Key & Peele, Nina Hoss, Jason Statham, Neil Patrick Harris ... some people I think of as having, though not gravitas, certainly distinct and interesting voices.

[Cato]

Among younger actors, Jesse Plemons, Seth Rogen, Tessa Thompson, Nick Kroll, Donald Glover, Chris Pratt, Key & Peele, Nina Hoss, Jason Statham, Neil Patrick Harris ... some people I think of as having, though not gravitas, certainly distinct and interesting voices.

Those are the only two I have heard of! 

What about the voices of Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Williams, Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Sean Bean, Jeremy Irons, Kenneth Branagh, Alan Rickman, Morgan Freeman, Clarke Peters, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Julia Roberts, Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, or Judi Dench?

The highlighted voices have some distinction to my ear, but they are the older ones (60's and 70's, Maggie Smith is 81 or so): I do not recognize some of the names, but I suppose I am listening for gravitas, as Brian mentioned, and I some of them would qualify (e.g. Jeremy Irons, although - to my ears - his tone (depending on the role) has an undercurrent of a George-Sanders ironic self-loathing in it.)

Anyway, I need apparently to check out the voices unknown to me (e.g. Robbie Coltrane, Sean Bean)  0:)

Here is a character actor with a great voice in the Gregory Peck - Patrick Stewart tradition:

Jonathan Adams:

https://www.youtube.com/v/VYLRWtgphy4