Movies you've just watched

[BIL]

Beautifully put, I need to watch both. I am plagued by inner demons AND surrounded by muppets!

But first imma fire up HAZE (2005), about a dude Trapped In A Hellish Maze!

Haze (2005) Blimey, that was rough. Hellish maze, more like hellish garbage chute. Punishing Japanese torture porn / guro meets classic Twilight Zone phantasmagoria. Not without craft, in spite of some tryingly outre imagery. There is a keen sense of regret and longing, once it stops the edgelord willy-waving, and at ~40minutes, it makes efficient use of time. A morbid vision too gross to casually recommend, but not without substance.

[Mischief Maker]

The Irishman

Great film, great performances, didn't feel too long, and all that. But I do have a significant critique:

Spoiler

The whole inflection point of the film, right from the opening scene where Deniro puts on his gold watch from the teamsters and gold ring from the mafia, is his choice of loyalty between Hoffa and the mob. But while the film makes it clear why Hoffa is more beloved by his daughter Peggy than his mob buddies, it doesn't make it clear why Hoffa is so beloved among the grown-up teamsters. I'm not saying change a thing about Hoffa's prima donna antics, but it needed something about the good he did for the teamster members. Because in the limited time we spent with his character in the film it makes perfect sense that the young nurse wouldn't know who he was. And that lessens the ending where Deniro's remaining life is spent in deep regret for choosing the mob over Hoffa if Hoffa just looks like another crook.

[copy-paster]

Was watching Die Hard 2 with family. I enjoyed this one more than DH1 tbh, terrific sequel and perhaps the most brutal and highest killcount out of trilogy (DH4 and 5 are not exist to me).

[BrainΦΠΦTemple]

i watched some western from the 40s the other day called yellow sky. it was pretty nEat classic fun western stuff.

and uh..yeah

[Ajora]

I watched From Russia with Love for maybe the 5th time.

[it290]

Watched Bone Tomahawk last night. Overall, this movie does a good job of combining a Western with a horror movie and has some choice character acting (Richard Jenkins as Chicory is choice). The premise itself is sorta problematic, especially the way the 'villains' are characterized as non-human, but I guess it works in genre... idk, kind of conflicted about that. A mixed bag of practical effects with some really choice parts, including a human-cleaved-in-half scene that you won't forget anytime soon and totally works in context. Also kudos to Patrick Wilson, I find him annoying as hell usually and he kind of is here, but he does a great job at conveying the mundane body horror of just... walking through a harsh landscape with a broken leg. Overall this gets a recommend from me as it's quite unique and moreover manages to be extremely entertaining which is an increasingly rare quality in movies these days.

[BIL]

I think the writing conveyed (mostly via Zahn McClarnon's cameo) that the kidnappers were utter deviants who happened to be native, and were a despised threat to white and indigenous societies alike. I'm down for even the most appalling exploitation schlock (RESEARCH PURPOSES ), but I found the film relatively considerate here.

As to The Scene, I'm enjoying some nice celery sticks as I type this and man, the textural resemblance is upsetting.

[dan76]

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
This is about as good as it gets. Best McQueen performance?

[it290]

I think the writing conveyed (mostly via Zahn McClarnon's cameo) that the kidnappers were utter deviants who happened to be native, and were a despised threat to white and indigenous societies alike. I'm down for even the most appalling exploitation schlock (RESEARCH PURPOSES ), but I found the film relatively considerate here.

As to The Scene, I'm enjoying some nice celery sticks as I type this and man, the textural resemblance is upsetting.

Yeah, I agree, but then thinking about it after viewing it occurred to me that the conceit you mentioned would likely come off as completely unacceptable were the film set in Polynesia or Africa. I don't know that I really have anything coherent to say about it, was just a note that struck me.

And .... oof celery ha

[GaijinPunch]

Richard Jewel

Concur w/ boagman. Entertaining, and I think in the world we live today where media drives the narrative it should be required watching. Solid performances for the most part, but given the cast you'd expect it. There were a few cringe worthy lines that make me think maybe Clint is a bit too old for this.

[neorichieb1971]

Wages of Fear 1953

Saw this on TV in the 90's. Noticed BFI did a 4k restore blu ray in 1080p so I got it for Christmas.

Lots of languages in this one, English, Italian but mostly French since its a French movie.

Its about an oil leak explosion which requires nitrous glycerine to blow out the flame. However the nearest nitrous is many miles away and the terrain to get it to where it needs to be isn't exactly great. One drop of this stuff will blow a hole in the ground, so many gallons of it would carve a hole out of a mountain. 2 trucks, 4 drivers and 3 days trek with a huge payroll if successful, gives you the template of a great movie.

The first half of the movie is about building the main characters desperation for cash, so it takes a while to get going.

8.5/10.

[BIL]

^ been meaning to watch that for ages, think I'll make it tonight's viewing. Have you seen William Friedkin's remake Sorceror (1977) ? As a morbid road movie it's brilliant stuff. Takes its time establishing its characters, similarly to what you describe. One of my favourite things about it... you get a real sense of each's dark corner of the world, before it straps them in for the courier job from hell.

[neorichieb1971]

^ been meaning to watch that for ages, think I'll make it tonight's viewing. Have you seen William Friedkin's remake Sorceror (1977) ? As a morbid road movie it's brilliant stuff. Takes its time establishing its characters, similarly to what you describe. One of my favourite things about it... you get a real sense of each's dark corner of the world, before it straps them in for the courier job from hell.

Nope not seen Sorcerer.. The trailer on imdb looks like shit. There is a 4k restoration on blu ray for £8 in the UK with 1 user giving a 5* for video.

I'm intrigued.

[GaijinPunch]

^ been meaning to watch that for ages, think I'll make it tonight's viewing. Have you seen William Friedkin's remake Sorceror (1977) ? As a morbid road movie it's brilliant stuff. Takes its time establishing its characters, similarly to what you describe. One of my favourite things about it... you get a real sense of each's dark corner of the world, before it straps them in for the courier job from hell.

And Tangerine Dream soundtrack.

Nope not seen Sorcerer.. The trailer on imdb looks like shit. There is a 4k restoration on blu ray for £8 in the UK with 1 user giving a 5* for video.

I'm intrigued.

It's worth £8, easily. Defo not structured like anything you've seen before.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Checked out Quentin Tarantino's latest flick by the name of Once Upon A Time in Hollywood clocking in at an impressive 161 minutes in duration. Didn't realize that the cameo appearance of Luke Perry would his final appearance in a theatrical movie release. The decision to shoot the entire film in 35mm format rather in 70mm format was one that was done because most scenes wouldn't have been possible to film in 70mm format.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

^ been meaning to watch that for ages, think I'll make it tonight's viewing. Have you seen William Friedkin's remake Sorceror (1977) ? As a morbid road movie it's brilliant stuff. Takes its time establishing its characters, similarly to what you describe. One of my favourite things about it... you get a real sense of each's dark corner of the world, before it straps them in for the courier job from hell.

And Tangerine Dream soundtrack.

Nope not seen Sorcerer.. The trailer on imdb looks like shit. There is a 4k restoration on blu ray for £8 in the UK with 1 user giving a 5* for video.

I'm intrigued.

It's worth £8, easily. Defo not structured like anything you've seen before.

Couldn't agree more. It's an absolute classic.That 4K restoration is brilliant, too.

[BIL]

The Wages of Fear (1953) Excellent movie. Four desperadoes truck lethally unstable nitro through godawful jungle, risking all for the big payday and a chance to start over. A shmupping as fuck premise that commands attention! And rewards it too, whether you go with this or William Friedkin's superb Black Label Sorceror (1977).

Having already seen Sorceror unavoidably coloured my experience, but the two films are easily diverse enough to complement one another. Fear is a more romantic, humanistic movie, as personified by the conventionally dashing Yves Montand and his improbably glamorous flame, Véra Clouzot. There is a spark of struggle and hope throughout. The protagonists have arcs - hopes, dreams, lives to return to. Sorceror is a more nihilistic take, steeped in Cold War dread. These are dead men walking, the jungle Stygian, the titular vehicles less promising of riches than a release from purgatory. IMO, watch Fear slightly buzzed and Sorceror stone cold sober.

Had the latter film come out three years later, I'd happily file it with The Thing, The Fly and The Blob in the "improbably successful 80s remake of 50s vintage" file. Good stuff all around. Watch both.

And Tangerine Dream soundtrack.

Fuckin word So good that Konami ripped it off for The Theme of Solid Snake This vibe is profound and will always be new

[GaijinPunch]

[BIL]

No exaggeration, that sleeve art compelled me to watch the movie on sight when it was posted here a few years back. And it did not disappoint! Dire desperation taken to near-hallucinatory extremes.

Nice chair btw!

[EmperorIng]

Saw Parasite tonight. Man, was the rug pulled out from under my feet. Starts off breezy and delightful, ends with sudden blunt impact. Looking up it290's post, I definitely agree that the movie does not make its message subtle, but smashes you over the head with it. Sometimes it's ok for the movie's message to be basically spelled out to you when it's one with such emotional heft. Everyone left the theater kind of dazed.

This one is worth watching!

[GaijinPunch]

No exaggeration, that sleeve art compelled me to watch the movie on sight when it was posted here a few years back. And it did not disappoint! Dire desperation taken to near-hallucinatory extremes.

Defo could make it's entry into the movie posters thread... wherever that went.

Nice chair btw!

Thanks... it wasn't transported through the jungle with dynamite, but it's journey to me was definitely arduous (It called out to me from a window in a vintage shop in Toronto).. It is Canadian, and designed by Bob Forrest circa 1971. According to this site a mere 300 were made. Digging around a bit more, there was also an ottoman made, so I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for that but I'm sure I'm unlikely to find it. (I did the upholstery myself, for the record).

[BIL]

(I did the upholstery myself, for the record).

[Sumez]

Easy Rider

I'm thankful this movie is on Netflix. I went into it knowing absolutely nothing about it outside of the superficial aspects, the fact that my dad was obsessed with it when I were a wee kid, and of course the Steppenwolf song.

I think for the first half and hour or more I had no idea what the hell I was watching. Some terrible direction choices (those transitions, what the hell?), lots of random "here's some stuff we came across on our trip through the US, lets film it and include it abitrarily in the movie", as well as grown men initially presented as badasses, acting like little kids on their motorcycles.
I figured this suffered from the same issue as a lot of other older (pre-80s or 70s) classic movies suffer where you kinda have to see them in the context of the time they were created in, which was very close to be true for this one, due to how directly it touches on the state of the US civilization at the time. I also fell directly into a trap, whether intended or not - My immediate reaction was that oh no, what's this movie doing idolizing these people. Of course, despite especially Dennis Hopper's character being a bit of a douche, the film as a whole manages to illustrate that these guys are genuinely good people.
As the movie progresses, it all starts to come together. It's an extremely subtle movie, with very few spoken lines. But the lines that are spoken all matter. I can't tell why, but it definitely made in impact. It's a super simple, basic movie - but it really doesn't need to be any more than what it is.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc11mJGre10

[vol.2]

Easy Rider

I believe that the beauty of that movie is way it captures the feeling of divide here in the US. Furthermore, it does so in a meaningful and complex way by depicting a variety of family life choices and personal approaches to life. This movie was really more part of my parent's generation, but I feel as though it has something more to say and is increasingly relevant in our current political climate.
Sure, it's done in an amateur way, and some of the directorial decisions aren't the best, but (for me anyway) it comes across as charming.

[vol.2]

Fantastic Fungi

It was worth it for the close-up time-lapse video of mushrooms growing. Also for the CGI video of cavemen tripping on mushrooms.

Bad stuff: so-so production, sub-par narration and poor editing.

6/10

[it290]

Demon Seed (1977)

This movie is pretty special. Despite the rather obvious 2001 inspiration, it manages to do many things on its own to make it very worthwhile. The AI is super devious, the plot twists are great, the analog FX are quite something to behold, and the design of Proteus' 'body' (the geometric thing) is super inventive and suitably chilling and alien. The body horror stuff is really pretty innovative for its time and well done too. A+, would watch again.

[GaijinPunch]

Junkopia short film by Chris Marker, made available by Criterion on Youtube.

Dolemite is my Name
Superb. This took me to my happy place. It also reaffirmed something we've all known forever: Eddie Murphy is hilarious.

[BIL]

Dolemite is my Name

Fucking hell, forgot about this one! Onto this weekend's viewing list for sure. Rudy Ray Moore via Eddie Murphy, sign me the fuck up.

[Strider77]

Demon Seed (1977)

This movie is pretty special. Despite the rather obvious 2001 inspiration, it manages to do many things on its own to make it very worthwhile. The AI is super devious, the plot twists are great, the analog FX are quite something to behold, and the design of Proteus' 'body' (the geometric thing) is super inventive and suitably chilling and alien. The body horror stuff is really pretty innovative for its time and well done too. A+, would watch again.

Yeah I stumbled across this about 2 years ago and expected 100 percent camp but found myself actually enjoying it for what it was.

[Strider77]

Have you seen William Friedkin's remake Sorceror (1977)

Didn't realize this was a remake... it's a really good one either way.