The "last movie I saw" thread

[Commando]

Savages


Ok. Things I enjoyed: Benicio Del Toro, some of the cool scenery, and delving into the super-violent Mexican Cartels Hollywood style. John Travolta's turn as a DEA agent (that plastic surgery is very evident, though dood- change doctors). I Also like Taylor Kitsch in most stuff regardless since I enjoyed FNL so much.

Things I didn't enjoy: Oh my goodness, can Oliver Stone be more of a pretentious hack with his nose up his own ass, please? I understand he smokes a lot of weed, which of course benefits this drug piece by lending real credibility to the script, and is also very amusing to think about because... you know how you'll be at a party and some person who is high as a kite tries to philosophize and sound very deep and smart, but because you are semi lucid and have a brain realize instantly that person is an ass clown? Oliver Stone is that guy. You'd think that after all these years he'd mature as a filmmaker and stop making white trash bullshit. Too harsh? Sorry 'bout that, but it just got under my skin a bit. Also, there is a bit of very unnecessary violence toward the middle of the movie that seemed exploitive and non plot facilitating. (In an Oliver Stone flick? You don't say! ) Oh- also, there is really cheesy, wanna-be deep thoughts/poetic narration at the beginning and ending of the movie that doesn't fool even the most low-brow movie goers (even the folks who were applauding and yelling at the screen during the movie groaned at the stupid voice-overs). Skip this one.

[Green Lantern]

Valhalla Rising
Bronson

The last two are Nicolas Winding Refn's first two films. He did last year's Drive (my favorite of the year, which is also on streaming, btw), and I've heard a lot of talk about his other two pictures, so I'm going to check them out.

Hey, if you end up liking those two (and they are both fairly awesome in very different ways) you should check out Refn's first films, known collectively as the Pusher Trilogy. They are three semi-related films about the Danish criminal/drug underworld and are all quite good (if often unrelentingly bleak.) I'd love to hear what you think about those.

Also, because of the several recent references on this thread, my wife and I threw on Punch-Drunk Love last night for the first time since the theater. Man, what a great movie. PT Anderson uses color and music about as well as anyone I can think of. Can't wait for The Master.

[MarkGrace]

Hey, if you end up liking those two (and they are both fairly awesome in very different ways) you should check out Refn's first films, known collectively as the Pusher Trilogy. They are three semi-related films about the Danish criminal/drug underworld and are all quite good (if often unrelentingly bleak.) I'd love to hear what you think about those.

For some reason I thought Valhallla and Bronson were his first two, but I was checking out his imdb the other day and was way off. I need to grab that Pusher trilogy as well.

[Commando]

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Another coming-of-age movie with a very unique setting. Here, the scenery is the star, but the actors are pretty fun to watch as well. The trailers don't do it justice or accurately portray what you're in for, which is a pretty to watch, emotionally driven flick.

Not the most breathtaking plot in the world, and I think it's just a touch too long for what I think it's trying to accomplish, but worth a see.

[RobinFinderson]

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Another coming-of-age movie with a very unique setting. Here, the scenery is the star, but the actors are pretty fun to watch as well. The trailers don't do it justice or accurately portray what you're in for, which is a pretty to watch, emotionally driven flick.

Not the most breathtaking plot in the world, and I think it's just a touch too long for what I think it's trying to accomplish, but worth a see.

I'm glad you liked it. Faith and I caught a showing last night. Because of the visuals, I think this is a strong candidate for the big-screen experience. It is an art-house film with a narrow plot, but I personally found the plot to be incredibly 'breathtaking.' It is the story of a six-year-old coming to grips with the fact that she will soon be alone in the world, and finding the emotional and physical strength to face what is coming.

Anyhow, I absolutely loved this film, and can't recommend it highly enough. I wonder what the director will do next.

[BoylenOver]

I'm glad you liked it. Faith and I caught a showing last night. Because of the visuals, I think this is a strong candidate for the big-screen experience. It is an art-house film with a narrow plot, but I personally found the plot to be incredibly 'breathtaking.' It is the story of a six-year-old coming to grips with the fact that she will soon be alone in the world, and finding the emotional and physical strength to face what is coming.

Anyhow, I absolutely loved this film, and can't recommend it highly enough. I wonder what the director will do next.

I really enjoyed it, too. The girl's performance is incredible. "I hope you die, and when you do, I'm gonna go to your grave and eat birthday cake all by myself."

[MarkGrace]

You guys are really trying to avoid my Beasts thread aren't you.

Put me in the crowd that isn't sure what to make of the girl's performance. Most of her character is accomplished through voiceover narration, so I'm not sure how much to give her credit for. That said, there is something about her that's captivating to watch. As for the dad, and that's another performance people seem pretty split on, I lean toward not necessarily loving him. I would have liked to see him do something other than shout. But I guess there are pluses and minuses to casting non-professional actors.

I would actually like to see this again away from the theater. Being able to watch it without a pounding headache from the handheld camera would give me more opportunity to think about the symbolism/themes/arcs, etc.

[SportUTE]

On Netflix -

"Triumph of the Will" - Unedited propaganda film from the 1934 Nuremburg Nazi Party rallies. It was all there just one year after Hitler took the Chancellorship.

Horrifying and fascinating.

[TripletDaddy]

"Triumph of the Will" - Unedited propaganda film from the 1934 Nuremburg Nazi Party rallies. It was all there just one year after Hitler took the Chancellorship.

Horrifying and fascinating.

If you liked Triumph of the Will, you should watch Birth of a Nation. It is excellent.

[CardiacCoug]

Has there been any discussion of The Imposter on here? That's one I definitely want to see.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2012/07/13...c-bourdin.html

I remember reading this New Yorker article a few years ago. Definitely one of those stories where truth is stranger than fiction. If you made up this story it would be deemed too improbable -- especially the fact that the kid didn't have the same eye color. Then the series of events after the imposter gets to Texas and figures out who probably killed the actual kid. Just a crazy story.

[Commando]

Has there been any discussion of The Imposter on here? That's one I definitely want to see.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2012/07/13...c-bourdin.html

I remember reading this New Yorker article a few years ago. Definitely one of those stories where truth is stranger than fiction. If you made up this story it would be deemed too improbable -- especially the fact that the kid didn't have the same eye color. Then the series of events after the imposter gets to Texas and figures out who probably killed the actual kid. Just a crazy story.

ooh - i've been wanting to see this. I'd forgotten about this.

[Commando]

Ruby Sparks


I really love Paul Dano. He's so great. This movie was pretty awesome. Mostly a light comedy with fantastic writing and acting that also has some pretty heart racing moments of psychological thrill mixed in, that turns out to be a lot deeper and more insightful than its promise. I also noticed it's directed by the duo of Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, (who directed the SP videos to Tonight, Tonite and 1979 in the 90's).

I highly recommend it. Rated R for some language, but no violence, nudity, and has an overall pretty clean feel. Waay more emotional than I thought it would be. Good stuff, though.

[Green Lantern]

Has there been any discussion of The Imposter on here? That's one I definitely want to see.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2012/07/13...c-bourdin.html

I remember reading this New Yorker article a few years ago. Definitely one of those stories where truth is stranger than fiction. If you made up this story it would be deemed too improbable -- especially the fact that the kid didn't have the same eye color. Then the series of events after the imposter gets to Texas and figures out who probably killed the actual kid. Just a crazy story.

My comment on The Imposter is that when they tell you to arrive for your Sundance Film Festival movies 15 minutes early, take them at their word, because as soon as they start letting those waitlist people in, you are screwed. I still have my unused ticket.

[Commando]

My comment on The Imposter is that when they tell you to arrive for your Sundance Film Festival movies 15 minutes early, take them at their word, because as soon as they start letting those waitlist people in, you are screwed. I still have my unused ticket.

That really really sucks!

[TexTechCoug]

Not that I had high expectations, but Total Recall was lousy. I did learn it was based on a story by Phil K Dick.

I am not super familiar with Dick, but one night I read some of his bio and a collection of his writings called Exegesis. Dick had some form of psychotic episode/religious epiphany that left him writing volumes of bizarre meandering stuff for the rest of his life. I think I'd like to read the story on which the movie was based.