The "last movie I saw" thread

[Donuthole]

Birdman

Really great. The camerawork in this is really cool as the whole movie is basically shot to look like a one-take tracking shot. The camera is always in motion, not in an FNL cinema verite type way, but rather in smooth constant movements that just kind of float around every scene. I've never seen anything else that looks like this. It's also got this layered story, which seems to be full of meta commentary about some of the actors involved (Keaton, Norton).

Pretty nice change of pace for Inarritu as well. Amores Perros/21 Grams/Babel/Biutiful all feel like they came from the same director, but this is a real departure. If you saw this without knowing who directed, you wouldn't guess it was the same guy as those other films.

I really hope this makes it to LV, but I'm starting to have my doubts.

[Green Monstah]

I saw Fury and generally agree with PAC's review. I cringed throughout the movie, but the characters were amazing. IMO, this is a must-see. I can't wait to watch it again so I can pick up on everything I miss.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I saw Fury and generally agree with PAC's review. I cringed throughout the movie, but the characters were amazing. IMO, this is a must-see. I can't wait to watch it again so I can pick up on everything I miss.

You want to watch it again so you can get things you missed? You mean like hearing the same recorded words again and again? Interesting. Some would say "bat shit crazy", not me, but some would.

[old_gregg]

Fury. War movies aren’t what they used to be. As a kid, I loved movies like The Guns of Navarone, The Longest Day, Patton, The Dirty Dozen, and the older but entertaining John Wayne-type war films (Flying Leathernecks, Sands of Iwo Jima, etc). But those movies were very sanitized, blood was rare, and deaths tended to be clean and noble. There was a reason my dad and his fellow veterans never talked about the War, and why they rolled their eyes at most war movies.

Although there were a few “war is hell” films even back in the day, things really changed with Saving Private Ryan, whose Omaha Beach scene was groundbreaking and very real. Fury takes this to an even grittier level, where every battle scene is covered in muck and blood, and no death is ennobling. Heads and limbs being blown off, soldiers putting guns to their heads to end their misery, finding pieces of dead comrades--we've seen it before but perhaps not as much or as relentlessly as here. The movie follows the crew of a tank that’s been through Africa, France and Belgium, and is now in Germany, a few weeks before the end of the war. There’s a lot to talk about here, including a very discomfiting scene involving Brad Pitt and the newest member of his team (a more likeable version of Ryan’s Upham, whose conscience makes the rest of the team angry and very threatening) with two women in a captured German town. There’s also a small but interesting theme involving horses at the beginning, the middle and end of the film. Directed by David Ayer (Training Day), like his previous movies this one doesn’t sugar coat anything. It’s a very good film, but it’s not especially entertaining. In fact, it’s nasty, brutish and long. Definite thumbs up, but you may want to leave the wife at home.

you should consider a new career in reviewing movies. this is a really great post.

[Blueintheface]

The wife and I played hooky on Thursday and caught Fury. PAC's review is spot on.

[Pelado]

you should consider a new career in reviewing movies. this is a really great post.

PAC can do anything.

[Green Monstah]

You want to watch it again so you can get things you missed? You mean like hearing the same recorded words again and again? Interesting. Some would say "bat shit crazy", not me, but some would.

Not in my own voice, though.

[Moliere]

PAC can do anything.

This isn't true. He can't lactate.

[Pelado]

This isn't true. He can't lactate.

Don't be so sure.

[PaloAltoCougar]

PAC can do anything.

Just saw this. Thanks, but as they say, that’s not what she said. In any case, I doubt I could handle your situation with such grace and optimism, so there’s that.

Back to the movies, we’ve seen Dear White People, St. Vincent and Nightcrawler in the past few days, all three of which have been getting strong reviews.

DWP was a bit of a disappointment, suffering from some weak direction, occasionally bland dialogue, and my lack of recognition of current pop references. Best thing in the movie was probably Dennis Haysbert’s performance, no surprise given his brother’s fine career as a WR on BYU’s ’84 team

St. Vincent was a good if modest film, saved by the always great Bill Murray—I’m happy to watch the guy in the most mundane or settings. The movie was weakened by what I thought was an overly sentimental and rather implausible ending. Melissa McCarthy gives a low-key, even nuanced performance for a change, with a few nice lines, including the explanation for her infertility, “My fallopian tubes recoiled in horror at his [her ex’s’] sperm.”

Nightcrawler was the most interesting and best-made of the bunch, but it’s a very uncomfortable two hours. Jake Gyllenhall gives an outstanding performance some have likened to Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver, but I think it was more like DeNiro in King of Comedy, as Jake’s Louis Bloom is every bit as unctuous, creepy and scheming as DeNiro’ s Rupert Pupkin. Adding to the creep factor is the twisted relationship between 30ish Gyllenhall with Rene Russo (the director’s wife) who still manages to put the sex in sexagenarian. It’s an over-the-top critique of the news gathering business (with overtones of Network). There are a few implausibilities, but it’s a fascinating film, with an extremely tense, terrifying and disturbing conclusion. I’d love to see the final 20-30 minutes again, including a great car chase that’s much more than the usual time-worn offering. Definitely not for everyone.

[creekster]

Nightcrawler was the most interesting and best-made of the bunch, but it’s a very uncomfortable two hours. Jake Gyllenhall gives an outstanding performance some have likened to Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver, but I think it was more like DeNiro in King of Comedy, as Jake’s Louis Bloom is every bit as unctuous, creepy and scheming as DeNiro’ s Rupert Pupkin. Adding to the creep factor is the twisted relationship between 30ish Gyllenhall with Rene Russo (the director’s wife) who still manages to put the sex in sexagenarian. It’s an over-the-top critique of the news gathering business (with overtones of Network). There are a few implausibilities, but it’s a fascinating film, with an extremely tense, terrifying and disturbing conclusion. I’d love to see the final 20-30 minutes again, including a great car chase that’s much more than the usual time-worn offering. Definitely not for everyone.

I liked the film, and agree that Gyllenhal's performance was amazing. But I thought the end was very unsatisfying. It felt more like an unfinished film school character study. The ending was neither good nor bad, just an end. It is worth a view.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Watched The Conjuring on Halloween. Campy, cliche, and over the top but still fun.

[UVACoug]

Birdman

Really great. The camerawork in this is really cool as the whole movie is basically shot to look like a one-take tracking shot. The camera is always in motion, not in an FNL cinema verite type way, but rather in smooth constant movements that just kind of float around every scene. I've never seen anything else that looks like this. It's also got this layered story, which seems to be full of meta commentary about some of the actors involved (Keaton, Norton).

Pretty nice change of pace for Inarritu as well. Amores Perros/21 Grams/Babel/Biutiful all feel like they came from the same director, but this is a real departure. If you saw this without knowing who directed, you wouldn't guess it was the same guy as those other films.

Saw this on Friday. Not really a fan of Inarritu at all, but Birdman was pretty good ... although I agree with the critics that say the script was a bit banal. The camera work was very engaging, as one would expect from Lubezki. Overall I enjoyed it, but it is probably a bit overpraised by some.

[Topper]

Saw The Intouchables. A French film about a man from Senegal who as to be the arms and legs of a wealthy invalid. They make for quite an odd couple each helping the other to get in touch with his own values. You also kniw it is based upon some real events. A surprisingly good film.

Alao saw Django Unchained. One of Torrentino s best. Foxe is fantastic as Jackson.

[Commando]

Alao saw Django Unchained. One of Torrentino s best. Foxe is fantastic as Jackson.

He actually plays Django.