Movies you've just watched

[NYN]

Nebraska

Bruce Dern. The Odenkirk. Other people. Colour shot converted to monochrome. The awesome.

[xxx1993]

Ambulance was pretty fun! Got everything you’d typically see in a Michael Bay movie. Shootouts, gunfights, car chases, explosions…

[BitGid]

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Beautiful cinematography, genius dialogue, incredible stand-out editing, just an all around amazing story.
I really enjoyed this. In my head, it was the spiritual sequel to Noah Baumbach’s earlier film, “The Squid and the Whale” (2004). Always enjoy Adam Sandler’s more dramatic work.

[EmperorIng]

So I ultimately saw 4 Lynch movies at the festival over last week. They were, in order

Wild at Heart
The Straight Story
Lost Highway
Blue Velvet

I am so used to late-era Lynch (and the Return being so fresh in my mind) that I didn't realize how... 'straightforward' his movies were at one point. Blue Velvet was positively easy to follow! I never not knew what was going on. In some ways it felt a little plain given what I have come to see in Mulholland Drive, The Return, Fire Walk with Me, all the other short movie weird shit...

Wild at Heart, though it had some great scenes (and I loved Nic Cage and Laura Dern's performances... and of course Bobby Peru), kind of felt a bit like Lynch on autopilot. The Wizard of Oz homages got a little cheesy and grating, and it kind of just felt like a grab-bag of Lynch tricks I saw in other movies but here it wasn't as effective. I liked it but I don't think I'll come back to it for some time.

The Straight Story as Ronyn intimates was a delightful experience and honestly, the extremely slow pace of the dialog, punctuated by lots of silences, felt very Lynchian as he would continue to develop in his later work. I thought Farnsworth was wonderful for a guy who spends the whole movie basically not walking (for sad reasons as it turns out) and the whole movie was very charming and heartwarming.

Lost Highway was the real surprise. I loved just about everything about this movie. I think if I can make any criticism is that the music felt a little dated in its reliance on 90s... grunge? numetal? Perhaps the classic Lynch 50s/60s stuff would have made it feel more timeless but that is such a small complaint. The weird, warping narrative felt like in some ways a trial run for Mulholland Drive but it had such a great potency about it. This is a movie I want to rewatch to see everything I missed.

I feel like I have less to say about Blue Velvet. I liked it! It was not as weird as its reputation or director's reputation made me expect, so I can see why it was such a big hit back in the day. I feel like the talk of it as a "fucked up movie" (from the older people in my extended family) has dimmed because Lynch has gone on to make so many more fucked up things, lol. The straightforward narrative, a simple crime-noir framework, just let me soak in the off-kilter atmosphere.

[drauch]

I think if I can make any criticism is that the music felt a little dated in its reliance on 90s... grunge? numetal?

Yeah, this drags down the movie a looot for me. Most of the music is so indicative of teenage angst in the 90s that it's hard to not grimace when hearing it. He did at least finally get to put This Mortal Coil's Siren cover in a movie, which rules; and, of course the opening Bowie track is great.

I do miss more 'restrained' Lynch. I started ranting but erased it. I'll leave it at this

[xxx1993]

Okay, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was really good! Already one of my top 10 movies of this year, and a candidate for the best video game based movie ever!

[EmperorIng]

You would think I'd get tired of these reviews but i never do! Keep 'em coming! Did you see Morbius yet??

[xxx1993]

Unfortunately, Morbius I’m gonna have to wait on DVD, Blu-Ray, or streaming, as much I wanted to see it in theaters…

[lilmanjs]

Last movies I've watched are The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Robocop, The Deer Hunter, Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, Le Cercle Rouge all on 4K. The Flight Of The Phoenix (original) and The Street Fighter on blu ray. All classics but have to say Robocop was the most fun watch yesterday in Director's Cut form.

[BIL]

I've been revisiting the first two Godfathers recently, myself. Marvelous films for long evening watches. I know the third just as well, but I'm super comfy forgetting it exists now. I don't hate it, it's just not in the same universe, quality-wise. I actually like the ending from a karmic standpoint. Shame they wouldn't pay Duvall.

Actually, it's crazy how much shit Coppola had to navigate around to deliver the original movie in its final state. Apparently Pacino was for the chop initially. Not a fan of the wacky persona he's been dining out on since the 90s, but in the 70s he was quality. Jack Nicholson turned down the role, reportedly saying he didn't think he could pull it off for lack of heritage. James Caan did splendidly, so I don't think that'd have been an issue... but Pacino portrayed a sympathetically mirthless descent into evil I can't quite picture Nicholson in.

Robocop does tend to best other films, though, no matter the genre. Helps that it's a perfect example of the very thing it's blackly satirising, a brutal slug of Reagantastic 1980s ultraviolence. Artistry of rarely absolute control.

[NYN]

I thought Farnsworth was wonderful for a guy who spends the whole movie basically not walking (for sad reasons as it turns out)

I re-read the chapter in Room to Dream to answer the gal's question. Lynch writes that after Farnsworth got cast they got bummed out because he couldn't commit and left out exactly as to why. Lynch then asked John Hurt and he said he would do it, their first film after The Elephant Man. Hurt IMHO is a prince and it would be a fine film, too. But then Farnsworth got well enough that he could say he could finish it. So they changed again and Hurt totally understood, no hard feelings. Even the background stories are as pleasant as the movie. And wow, an example that movie people had integrity, once.

Thanks for you fresh perspectives. Very cool that you had first contact the way they were invented: the big screen.

It's fun to watch a Lynch and anticipate when Jack Nance in his many guises appears. He's in Dune, too. Find all the Nances. (You can stop looking after Lost Highway, his last role.)

I dig Lost Highway, too. Want to re-watch it again soon. Maybe that's the weirdo talking, but I think of it as a dark comedy.



Soft spoiler:

Spoiler

When the couple meets the enigmatic stranger at the party with gizmo in hand and he basically says: This is a cell phone. I am at two places at the same time. Want proof? I am in your house right now. Speak to "me". Wrap your mind around that, you fuck. I lose my marbles at that point, it's so fun.

[xxx1993]

Wasn't too crazy about All the Old Knives. Yaksha: Ruthless Operations, on the other hand, was a fun little foreign action thriller.

[GaijinPunch]

Lost Highway was the real surprise. I loved just about everything about this movie. I think if I can make any criticism is that the music felt a little dated in its reliance on 90s... grunge? numetal? Perhaps the classic Lynch 50s/60s stuff would have made it feel more timeless but that is such a small complaint. The weird, warping narrative felt like in some ways a trial run for Mulholland Drive but it had such a great potency about it. This is a movie I want to rewatch to see everything I missed.

I always thought BIll Pullman was some cheese ball until I saw hi in this. Then recently heard him on Marc Maron's podcast. Interesting fellow -- would love to have a beer with him.

I need to revisit Lost Highway. I saw it on release, waaaaay back. I remember my GF and I ate the time kind of laughing at the credit roll b/c it was so WTF.

Yeah, this drags down the movie a looot for me. Most of the music is so indicative of teenage angst in the 90s that it's hard to not grimace when hearing it. He did at least finally get to put This Mortal Coil's Siren cover in a movie, which rules; and, of course the opening Bowie track is great.

What was this? I need to get back and see this. Been a huge fan of TMC for forever.
Here is a very early version of it live. There was another cut of this on YT years ago that showed the being introduced. My memory isn't what it used to be but I thought she introduced them as The Cocteau Twins which is obviously far more accurate.

Fun Facts:
- Dead Can Dance covered it on their 2012/2013 tour. Saw them in Tokyo. Pretty amazing.
- Liz Frazier revisited this tune in 2012 with a relatively fresh take on it.
- It was originally a B-Side

[GaijinPunch]

Actually, it's crazy how much shit Coppola had to navigate around to deliver the original movie in its final state.

Isn't there a movie coming out about that?

[BIL]

Seems so! Sounds interesting.

I could swear I remember hearing Frank Sinatra was in contention to play Vito, another hellacious near-miss.

[drauch]

Yeah, this drags down the movie a looot for me. Most of the music is so indicative of teenage angst in the 90s that it's hard to not grimace when hearing it. He did at least finally get to put This Mortal Coil's Siren cover in a movie, which rules; and, of course the opening Bowie track is great.

What was this? I need to get back and see this. Been a huge fan of TMC for forever.
Here is a very early version of it live. There was another cut of this on YT years ago that showed the being introduced. My memory isn't what it used to be but I thought she introduced them as The Cocteau Twins which is obviously far more accurate.

Yeah, it's towards the end of the movie. He initially wanted to use it in Blue Velvet but couldn't due to rights at the time. Glad he finally got it in .

Hadn't seen the DCD take. Pretty rad.

[vol.2]

Speaking of Coppola, I saw The Conversation last week at a revival screening. I've seen it before, but never on a giant screen like that. It was totally worth it.

Rumor has it that it was basically ghost directed by someone (can't remember who) because Coppola got the green light on GF2 during shooting and he skipped the set, leaving it the hands of others.

Anyway, I'm sure most of you have seen it, but it's a powerful film, full of prescient commentary on privacy and responsibility. Just wonderful watching Hackman getting torn to bits little by little.

EDIT: The guy put in charge of the movie when Coppola left to start the GF2 was Walter Murch, the sound guy on the film. According to rumors, he also was given free reign on production and cut out the original plot of the movie, which was supposedly a horror film. He was the one who made it focus on surveillance. He wasn't in the "director's chair," but was essentially producing it, according to rumor.

[EmperorIng]

I saw the 4k restoration of The Conversation last year, it was a really good time. I love how neurotic Hackman is and how we keep picking apart that one 'conversation' over, and over again.

[BIL]

Great film. I like to think of poor gone-too-soon John Cazale as the SuperGrafx of Hollywood. Only a brief catalogue of work, but it's all good times. Interested to hear of its horror roots - there's definitely a vestige of mortal terror in there, along with an almighty sledgehammer of neuroses on poor Gene Hackman's tormented dome.

[vol.2]

Great film. I like to think of poor gone-too-soon John Cazale as the SuperGrafx of Hollywood. Only a brief catalogue of work, but it's all good times. Interested to hear of its horror roots - there's definitely a vestige of mortal terror in there, along with an almighty sledgehammer of neuroses on poor Gene Hackman's tormented dome.

I did some homework, and this information came from the person who did the optical printing on the film. She became a film professor at Cal Tech and related this information to her students. One of my buddies was in her class. As far as I'm concerned it's legit.

[BIL]

It seems so obvious once it's pointed out, haha. Could picture some wickedly dark/creepy stuff in a more overtly horror-leaning film about a neurotic professional snooper... a real rabbithole nightmare. I'm sure there's something like that out there already.

[Mischief Maker]

The Batman and Mask of the Phantasm

Hey, loved "The Batman!" probably my second-favorite of the live-action Batman movies.

I really like how Batman goes through an actual character growth arc, unlike all the other movies where it's all about his wonderful toys and where he gets them.

Spoiler

At the start he's basically Rorschach with a trust fund, by the end he's starting down the road toward being the more compassionate Batman of the Animated Series.

To people drawing similarities between this and the Nolan movies, I say this is what the Nolan movies would have been like with an actually decent script and none of that terrible quick-cut editing. Heath Ledger's performance is the only thing Nolan has over this. Also holy shit Zoe Kravitz is better than the horribly-miscast Anne Hathaway as Catwoman.


But then HBO Max suggested I might want to finally see Mask of the Phantasm after all these years, and subsequently all my enthusiasm for "The Batman" melted away.

Phantasm is so much better as a character study, an action movie, a comic book adaptation, everything!

The original Christopher Reeves Superman is about the only other superhero movie I've seen that fully embraces its comic book world without betraying the studio's disdain for the genre with excessive Marvel snark, or overcompensating Snyderverse edginess.

Spoiler

I saw the twist coming a mile away, but the experience didn't suffer for it.

[null1024]

I saw Sonic 2, entirely because people said it was better than the first movie.
Not amazing, not terrible.

I can't say that it isn't better, but that really isn't the highest bar to jump. It gets better in the second half of the movie, just like the first movie did.
I still have no idea why people are quite so happy with these movies. It's certainly a nice looking movie, and it has a few cute references, but the dialogue is still quite miserable to endure.

[xxx1993]

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Fun movie with Nic Cage being Nic Cage!

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

The Batman

Didn’t really think this lived up to the hype. Pattinson does a awful acting job here. Guy has no personality whatsoever. No where near as good as Bale. Wasn’t impressed with Kravitz either. The movie is just way too dark. I mean why does everything have to be so tragic. I think most people are getting tired of this kind of stuff. I wouldn’t be surprised if super hero movies went back to being campy and silly like the original Batman tv series. Why does these new movies always have to be so tragic. Jeez

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

The Bride With White Hair - 7.5/10
I think it's the best Wuxia film I've ever seen. Peter Pau delivers great visuals, the costumes are interesting, there's a surprising amount of gore, Brigitte Lin's stare is intoxicating, and Leslie Cheung is wonderful as usual. The story is a variation of Romeo & Juliet and it works pretty well.

[vol.2]

definitely better than ashes of time

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

definitely better than ashes of time

Ashes of Time IMHO was so pretentious and uninteresting that I had to switch it off 20 minutes in (something I honestly rarely do), and this is coming from a huge Wong Kar-Wai fan. Obviously I can't say anything about the rest of the film, but if it's as aggressively arty-farty as that first part, it's his one shit film.

[vol.2]

i think the genre demands of the film didn't match his directorial style

[xxx1993]

Just saw the anime Netflix movie Bubble… I have no comment.