The "last movie I saw" thread

[Jeff Lebowski]

I don't think Jake Gyllenhaal has been given enough credit for his performance. Although Carell was good in Foxcatcher, I think I'd have given JG an Oscar nomination ahead of him. That may be the toughest category this year, though.

Yeah, he was fantastic.

I disliked the ending but came to appreciate it on more thought. I think the message is that broadcast news is loaded with sociopaths just like this.

[creekster]

Nightcrawler. Outstanding.

Really? What did you like about it that put it in the outstanding category?

edit: ok, you didn't like the ending. Then maybe I do understand.

[jay santos]

Longer response:

We saw the movie a few days ago and I really enjoyed it. I am old enough to remember a lot of the events in the film. When he published "A Brief History of Time" I bought a copy and read it. Great book. He took advanced theoretical physics and explained it in a manner accessible to the masses. The fact that he was so brilliant and still so capable while being in his physical condition and talking with a computer voice captivated the public and made him a celebrity of sorts.

As for the theory of everything, you have quantum mechanics (including electromagnetic theory) that explains very small particle behavior. Then you have the theory of relativity (including gravity) that explains the behavior of large objects. Each theory works really really when applied to objects of the right size, but completely breaks down when you swap. Hawking theorized that there might be one grand theory (i.e., set of equations) that would explain the behavior of everything, at all levels. Hence, the "Theory of Everything". There is a fairly recent theory called "string theory" that comes close to fitting the bill. However, others have made convincing arguments that a unifying theory of everything will never be found (reality is not that simple). Even Hawking has backed off. There is a very nice summary here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything

As for benefit to humanity, these fundamental physical theories (gravity, motion, electromagnetics) form the basis for virtually every type of modern engineering. The emperor is fully clothed. Hawking and company are pushing the frontier on this stuff. Some of it is more related to understanding the history and future of the universe, but what could be a more interesting and impactful branch of basic science?

thanks for this, btw. So "theory of everything" basically is an attempt at combining quantum theory and theory of relativity which right now don't cross over? Makes sense, I guess.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Really? What did you like about it that put it in the outstanding category?

edit: ok, you didn't like the ending. Then maybe I do understand.

Disliked is too strong. It was not what I expected, but I am OK with it. Overall, I thought it was a very nice thriller.

[Katy Lied]

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good Day.

I cracked up all through this movie rental from Redbox. I dunno- maybe it was because I have a son going to the prom who is also taking Drivers Ed, and another son similar in age to the protagonist, so everything that mortified the kids in the movie also mortifies my kids. The funniest part was elbowing them in the ribs saying "This will totally happen to you!"

Seemed like I thought it was a lot funnier than they did, which makes me laugh even more.

[PaloAltoCougar]

One of the bigger surprises I've had watching movies with my wife was the time we watched, and we both quite liked, Kickass, a very violent but funny would-be-superhero movie. She doesn't enjoy violence in movies, but the mayhem in that movie was so over-the-top it didn't bother her, and she saw it for the comic book that it was.

So it was again last night when we saw Kingsman. Given RCV's and others' tepid reviews, I had low expectations but, like KL, I enjoyed it. Lots of humor and the explosive conclusion is so over-the-top and weirdly artistic, with a majestic musical backdrop (Pomp and Circumstance!), that we laughed our way to the finish. An early theme is how Colin Firth's character [now that I think about it, I guess Mr. Darcy's participation influenced Mrs. PAC's enjoyment] could change a street urchin into a sophisticated gentlemen, and Firth rattled off lots of movies that had featured such makeovers, none of which the gangster kid recognized, until on his own he volunteered, "Oh, like My Fair Lady?" Later in the film, after the kid dons a great looking suit, his aide says, "Lookin' good!", to which the kid responds, "Feeling good!", a nice reference to the closing lines of Trading Places.

I had a final laugh when, as we walked out of the theater, the missus asked, "Was that R-rated?" Like Samuel L. Jackson could ever have a speaking part that didn't result in an R-rating.

[TripletDaddy]

Why has nobody admitted to watching 50 Shades of Gray? Katy Lied? soccermom? UVACoug? come on!

[creekster]

Why has nobody admitted to watching 50 Shades of Gray? Katy Lied? soccermom? UVACoug? come on!

Et tu?

[Joe Public]

Why has nobody admitted to watching 50 Shades of Gray? Katy Lied? soccermom? UVACoug? come on!

HBCoug did just that a few posts up.

[Northwestcoug]

One of the bigger surprises I've had watching movies with my wife was the time we watched, and we both quite liked, Kickass, a very violent but funny would-be-superhero movie. She doesn't enjoy violence in movies, but the mayhem in that movie was so over-the-top it didn't bother her, and she saw it for the comic book that it was.

So it was again last night when we saw Kingsman. Given RCV's and others' tepid reviews, I had low expectations but, like KL, I enjoyed it. Lots of humor and the explosive conclusion is so over-the-top and weirdly artistic, with a majestic musical backdrop (Pomp and Circumstance!), that we laughed our way to the finish. An early theme is how Colin Firth's character [now that I think about it, I guess Mr. Darcy's participation influenced Mrs. PAC's enjoyment] could change a street urchin into a sophisticated gentlemen, and Firth rattled off lots of movies that had featured such makeovers, none of which the gangster kid recognized, until on his own he volunteered, "Oh, like My Fair Lady?" Later in the film, after the kid dons a great looking suit, his aide says, "Lookin' good!", to which the kid responds, "Feeling good!", a nice reference to the closing lines of Trading Places.

I had a final laugh when, as we walked out of the theater, the missus asked, "Was that R-rated?" Like Samuel L. Jackson could ever have a speaking part that didn't result in an R-rating.

Please tell me that was tongue-in-cheek.

[Commando]

I'm surprised about all the positive reviews for Kingsman. It looked extremely dumb in the previews.

[Armenag]

Nightcrawler. Outstanding.

Richard Dutcher is suing the makers, claiming it copies his film Falling. The bit here about a white shirt is funny, but he may have an argument (speaking ignorantly, as I have seen neither):

http://www.sltrib.com/news/2199122-155/utah-filmmaker-richard-dutcher-says-nightcrawler

Anyone seen both?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Richard Dutcher is suing the makers, claiming it copies his film Falling. The bit here about a white shirt is funny, but he may have an argument (speaking ignorantly, as I have seen neither):

http://www.sltrib.com/news/2199122-155/utah-filmmaker-richard-dutcher-says-nightcrawler

Anyone seen both?

That's funny. As if anybody ever actually watched Falling.

[Armenag]

Having now read through the IMDB page, it sounds like the odds of Gilroy's having seen it are a bit low. I had never heard of it. With reason, it turns out. Never been released in domestic format.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Your review caused me to go back and find what I wrote about it when it first came out. Sorry to quote myself, but as long as we're discussing the movie....

I always thought Will Forte and Fred Armisen were underrated on SNL, especially Forte. It's nice to see them having good post-SNL careers.