Talk About Movies: Part 4
Somehow threads merged, so here's part 4 of our ongoing movie discussion.
FlowHumanity has vanished. The only survivors are animals, a cat, a few dogs, a stork(?), a capybara, and a lemur are the stars of the film. They contend with a flood and survive, somehow uniting despite their differences. There is no dialogue. The characters make animal noises. The cat, the star of the film, acts like a real cat. Watch for the cat chasing a spot of light that'
I keep meaning to see this....not sure why I haven't. Waiting for it on the big screen, I think...it plays here at our art house theater now and then
interesting...looks like White can pull it off...he's got Bruce's distinct vocal inflection down.
I can't recommend A Different Man from A24 highly enough... Adam Pearson is a great talent.
Also... Under the Skin
Watched two movies yesterday (I'm off for the summer with nothing to do).
First, Remember My Name by Alan Rudolph. I've had a copy of the songs by Alberta Hunter used in the film (the eponymous "Remember My Name" is a great blues tune) for years but had never seen the movie. Geraldine Chaplin is cold and a bit terrifying as the ex-wife of Tony Perkins. Most of the film consists of her stalking Perkins's current wife. Nice performances from the leads, and there's a great scene in a bar, but I found the movie a little flat. Worth a look though.
Next, Spotlight, the film about the Boston Globe investigation into the cover-up of Catholic priests sexual abuse of both boys (mostly) and girls. The film won the Academy Award for best picture and best screenplay. The acting from all the leads is terrific. The scenes of two of the victims being interviewed are heartbreaking. One standout scene features a tough guy from Southie who wants his name withheld but after recounting his story, tells the reporter to use his name.
Great performances by Mark Buffalo, Rachel McAdams, and, especially Michael Keaton who might be the best actor of this generation. The screenplay, editing, directing, and score are superb. The film is exciting, too, as the Spotlight team discover more and more information about the abuse and cover-up.The abuse and the cover-up by the Church are well-known in Boston, but the cover-up reached, seemingly, to everywhere.
Spotlight is the equal to All the President's Men. Both films should remind us of the importance of a free press, especially these days when claims of fake news are everywhere.
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Good review of Spotlight. I was completely infuriated after watching, which I guess means they got the point across.
Everyone involved with that evil should have been punished to the fullest extent possible.
interesting. i've often thought some of his good films are overlooked.
Spotlight is the equal to All the President's Men. Both films should remind us of the importance of a free press, especially these days when claims of fake news are everywhere.
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I’m not going to watch Spotlight but I’m sure it’s great as well as infuriating.
Keaton is about 6.5 years older than DDL, so I’m not sure what constitutes a generation of actors.
The free press, while absolutely vital, is in its current depredations almost entirely due to its own volitions.
A bit off topic but bear with me. Don’t ask why, but I was googling people born in 1906 who died in 1970, and one name leapt off the page.
Hint: He was born in San Francisco.
Hint 2:
Spoiler
He died in Pebble Beach.
Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)
As the old adage goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Absolutely switch brain off fare, but as usual, delivers in what it sets out to do and I gotta say, the Tony Todd scene was legit poignant for me.
Deep Cover, a silly movie about 3 improve comedians roped into undercover work to take down London drug dealers and killers, is, well, silly. But Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, and Nick Muhummad as the three make it work. Bloom is freakin' hilarious. With Paddy Considine, Ian McShane, Sean Bean, and Sonoya Mizuno. Very entertaining but light as a piffle.
Lol for a moment I thought you meant the Lawrence Fishbourne early 90s crime flick and was like "Silly? Blasphemy"!, before reading the rest 😆
No technically about it. He also said the Red Dragon movie was a reboot, not a remake.
Well to get really technical, and pedantic they're all adaptations of novels and Lambs is actually a sequel to Manhunter. But you can call Manhunter and indeed Red Dragon as prequels also, in fairness.
The Red Dragon movie isn't a reboot, it's actually a more faithful adaptation of the novel than Manhunter, although I personally think Manhunter is a far better film.
28 Years Later. A full generation (and some...) has passed. And it transpires through the evolution of humanity's livelihood. Paradoxically coerced into going back to the ways of ore. Forced into being warrior. And transitioning to a man at a very early age. It also is apparent in the evolution of the zombies : while some have elevated themselves to "Alpha" levels, others are despicably slow. And hideous.
If the first half of the movie establishes the framework for this post-apocalyptic universe - there will be 2 eventual movies released in the series, one in January of 2026 (sin Boyle/Garland as director/writer) and a final one reuniting the duo - and was an adequate addition to the 28 Days franchise, the 2nd half of the film wholeheartedly touches on existential and dare I say Freudian themes 
. A son defying/transcending the authority of his father. With an unflinching devotion to his mother. Followed by an abnormal birth. A bizarro death. All fit for a dying, albeit beautiful, world.
I absolutely loved it. And it might be my favorite installment of the franchise ♥
Disclaimer : I can fathom the general audience liking it less that the original and perhaps even 28 Weeks Later, as the action might be lacking a little and the philosophical aspect, a bit too subtle...
Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)
As the old adage goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Absolutely switch brain off fare, but as usual, delivers in what it sets out to do and I gotta say, the Tony Todd scene was legit poignant for me.
It won't convert anyone but will satisfy fans of the Final Destination movies. If you told me Tony Todd passed immediately after filming his scene I would believe you. It was sad watching hm on screen one last time. He was such a strong physical presence. To see him so frail was difficult for me. Major nitpick, the lead actress was miscast as a college student. She looked like a 38 year old soccer mom. If they just said she's a divorced woman with no children I would have bought in.
you learn something new everyday... I never knew that Warren Beatty was Shirley MacLaine's Brother.
My wife has been interested in watching Wes Anderson, so we watched Royal Tenembaums a few nights ago. I hadn't seen it in about 20 years. It was fantastic. Then two nights later we watched The Grand Budapest Hotel which was wonderful. I had forgotten how many wacky things happen in the movie. The plan is to watch Rushmore tonight or tomorrow night.
i think darjeeling limited is the only film i've seen to accurately capture the expat experience - most films which attempt to depict it just fall into cliches
I didn’t like Red Dragon much when it was released but after a years later hotel rewatch, it’s actually pretty good, though not close to Manhunter. Maybe the best of that subspecies; the diametric opposite of the Carrie & Rollerball abominations.
And, with time, the Depp Wonka is OK. I had not read the book in in decades and was startled by how mean-spirited some of it was. Still a masterpiece and it’s understandable considering when/where it was written but still took me aback.
Ah, to be at the pub where Dahl, King, and Block (Burglar) bemoan how Hollywood ruined their books. Block’s essay is worth searching for, restrained though it is.
