Talk About Movies: Part 4

When You Finish Saving the World is excellent. Zomg a good-spirited movie about recognizably human people interacting in everyday life, I thought they were gone forever! And some actual adults (ie not teens or 20somethings) who still count for something, how weird is that.

Writer-director Jesse Eisenberg has a very bright future indeed.

A24

28 Years Later, Danny Boyle, 2025

Excellent, nerve-racking sequel that was shot back-to-back with its sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set to be released in January 2026.

28 years after the second outbreak, the Rage Virus has been eradicated in continental Europe, and the British Isles remain under indefinite quarantine. A self-contained community of survivors lives in a village on Lindisfarne, an island connected to the mainland by a heavily fortified tidal causeway. Among the residents are Jamie (Aaron Taylor Johnson), a scavenger; his wife, Isla (Jodi Cormer), who suffers from an unexplained illness; and their 12-year-old son, Spike (Alfie Williams). Ralph Fiennes also stars, and Jack O'Connell plays a character we meet at the end who I assume will be the main star of the movie to come next year.

The performances are universally excellent, but this is mostly Williams' movie, as the story is told mostly through his eyes. This is his debut, and he is remarkable.

Boyle ands writer Alex Garland have created a weird, tension-filled, quiet movie that is both incredibly gruesome and violent and a gorgeous, moving meditation on love and death and community.

There is a sequence in this film that just about moved me to tears - I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil it, but holy cow, it was sad and beautiful and maybe the most lyrically gorgeous scene Boyle has ever put to film. And Ralph Fiennes proves yet again why is one of the greatest actors on the planet.

The movie was shot on iPhones but still looks great, and while I'm not a fan of some of the choppy editing choices, it is, I assume to differentiate the violence of the zombies and those who have to kill them from the times when people work together to build family and community.

Boyle also briefly intercuts bot documentary footage and old movies scenes into the film of past British war defense...I think he might be saying, that defense of the homeland is what the UK is really all about. And whether it's from invaders or zombies, it is something all Brits have in their blood.

This is a weird movie...more independent, Shallow Grave and Trainspotting Boyle/Garland than big-budget Boyle/Garland. And unlike many of their previous collaborations, it does not suffer from 3rd act problems - although the ending is a bit...overly energetic for what came before.

Very good movie.

I haven't seen a new Wes Anderson film in quite some time. I think I fell off after The Life Aquatic, but not for any particular reason. I've enjoyed all of the ones I've seen, and Rushmore is still in my top 10 of all time. I'm not sure why I decided to watch The Phoenician Scheme, but I'm very glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Having said that...

To anyone who has seen Wes' latest, where does it rank amongst his other films?

His A Real Pain was one of my favorites last year.

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What’d she think? I’m hoping mine will appreciate its greatness, she’s not a vampire movie buff unfortunatley but I’ve still got high hopes

Im really excited for 28 yrs later. I read today that 28 days later came out 23 years ago. Now THAT one made me feel old

Both these paintings were by 1906-70 artists. Midway & that five hour French movie in the woman’s apartment.

She loved it

I think The Phoenician Scheme is one of Wes Anderson's most accomplished works... but not necessarily his 'best film' or his most 'accessible peace' for those that are on the fence about his movies.

there is a technical element to this film that exhibits a furtherance and growth of WA's technique, and some of the long form close ups are pure works of Art.

the score is simply amazing.

The narrative on the nature of modern political society and family structure was pretty awesome and very poignant for our time.

I absolutely loved the 'Opening Credit' sequence... the best Ive seen since Anora.

Post Script... The Art that was used in the film were all real original 'Master's Works'...

all Wes Anderson films are worth watching...they are all entertaining and fun to varying degrees.

NY Times currently polling readers for their top ten films of the 20th century. I could have picked a hundred but went with these.

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In many ways, Paddington 2 is the perfect movie.

Are those in order?

Twenty first century.

here is the link to cast your own ballot - and post it here!

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/reader-ballot-movies-21st-century.html

nytimes

Vote for Your 10 Best Movies of the Century

My ballot:

but it would be ten different movies on another day lol

And I forgot Certified Copy, but I'm glad it's on John's list.

I'd have a hard time coming up with a top 100 of the 21st century, so this was just about impossible.

this was the list I was going by that I made in about ten minutes:

Amelie
Mad Max
Ida
Lost In Translation
Grand Budapest
Inglorious Basterds
Parasite
No Country For Old Men
Spotlight
Sideways
Moneyball
Moulin Rouge
The big Short
Force Majeure
Mulholland Drive
The Lives Of Others
Let the Right One In
In the Mood
Her
Lord Of the Rings
Past Lives
Before Sunset
Mandy
Coherence
The Nice Guys
Spiderman Into the Spiderverse
Blade Runner 2049
Arrival
Decision To Leave
United 92
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Anatomy Of a Crime
Memento
Jesse James
Oceans 11
Gone Baby gone
The Silence (German)
Sex and Lucia
Michael Clayton
Only Lovers Left alive
I Am Love
Cache
Enemy
It Follows

I have a hard time separating movies that aren't singular and are part of a bigger story, like the Before movies, Kill Bill, and the Lord Of the Rings. The Before movies would definitely be in my top ten, but as one artistic unit, not as 3 separate films

Mandy is a bold choice... props

LOL I adore that movie

Nice list but you’re missing Sinners

I added Chocolate, the Thai martial arts flick, but it didn't show in the final image.

he's kinda sensitive about that movie

Yes, 21st century. Not in order.

Given a few more choices, I would pick Cemetery of Splendor, Holy Motors, Perfect Days, Shoplifters, Her, Personal Shopper, Tangerine, No Bears, Wall-E, and A Ghost Story.

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I had to throw Shoplifters off at the last moment to make room. I tried to make picks that wouldn't otherwise get a lot of action.