Let's Talk Movies #35 – Sparrows and Panthers and Dinosaurs…Oh My!

Which Movies Might You See? (Multiple Votes Allowed)

  • Feb. 16th - Black Panther – Action adventure with Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyo

    Votes: 32 60.4%
  • March 2nd - Red Sparrow – Mystery thriller with Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton and Mary-Louise Pa

    Votes: 15 28.3%
  • March 9th - A Wrinkle In Time – Adventure fantasy with Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Oprah Winfr

    Votes: 26 49.1%
  • March 16th - Tomb Raider – Action adventure with Alicia Vikander, Walton Goggins and Kristin Scott T

    Votes: 10 18.9%
  • March 30th – Ready Player One – Sci-fi adventure with Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke and Simon Pegg

    Votes: 10 18.9%
  • May 4th - Avengers: Infinity War – Adventure fantasy with nobody famous

    Votes: 27 50.9%
  • May 18th - Deadpool 2 – Adventure comedy with Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin and T. J. Miller

    Votes: 19 35.8%
  • May 25th - Solo: A Star Wars Story – Adventure fantsy with Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover and Woody

    Votes: 27 50.9%
  • June 8th - Ocean's 8 – Action thriller with Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway

    Votes: 24 45.3%
  • June 22nd - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – Action sci-fi with Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and

    Votes: 22 41.5%

  • Total voters
    53
Happy Death Day is a pretty good popcorn movie. A young university student ends her day being attacked and killed, but then immediately wakes up to discover it's the morning...of that same day, all over again. She has to go through the same day and either avoid her murderer...or figure out who the murdered is and stop him/her. Happy Death Day doesn't have the same depth as a movie like Get Out (the DVD case mentions this movie is from the producer of that movie), but the script and direction are pretty good still. Jessica Rothe as the lead character does a pretty good job of making us dislike her self-absorbed and rude character, but then make us gradually change our minds and root for her as she re-lives the day of her death and realizing more each time what a miserable person she has been (there's a reason for that which is covered nearer the end of the movie). Worth seeing if you like a scary mystery thriller type of movie. :)

Trailer for Happy Death Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NTaDm3atkc
 
Ed Sheeran In Talks For New Beatles-Related Movie
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/ed-sheeran-beatles-movie/

The plot is about man who is the only person on the planet who can remember the music of the Beatles. Sheeran will write for the soundtrack rather than act in the movie. Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) will direct before he starts on the new 007 movie. Two actresses so far are mentioned to star in this movie, Lily James and Kate McKinnon. Sounds like it could be very funny! :)
 
Saw Love, Simon. LOVED it. A very sweet story with beautiful performances, and strongly realized characters, main and supporting. May this open the door to more and more diverse storytelling. I hope teens find this movie and find some resonance with it.

Well I just got back from love Simon. My mom and I went. Visiting her for a vacation and we both loved it

I saw Love, Simon today. I liked it (but was hoping to LOOOOVE it). I agree with jl22aries that the story is sweet and the performances are good. What kept me from LOOOOving it was the uneven script. I'm going to spoiler my thoughts for those who still want to see this...

It didn't make sense to me in 2018 for a high school student to be struggling with coming out so much. And if I'm wrong on this, then it didn't make sense for this teen to be struggling with coming out to his friends and family...who were seemingly the best people a teen could have in their life to come out to. I also felt at times like the movie wasn't set in the world of today, like the scenarios and reactions were more for a teen coming out in the '80's. I even wondered to myself if I was confused about when the movie takes place and then had to remind myself that everybody has a phone and texting is referred to often.

Nick Robinson does a good job as the lead, he's building up a nice resume with movies like The Kings of Summer, Jurassic World and Everything, Everything. Logan Miller stands out as the awkward friend Martin, partly because I just saw him recently in season seven of The Walking Dead and his role/performance in that is so different than in Love, Simon. Katherine Langford as the best friend is problematic in that her performance and appearance is pretty much exactly the same as her starring role in 13 Reasons Why. I'm confused as to why this movie's director (and Langford herself) didn't change up her appearance and didn't find ways to differentiate this character from the one she played in 13 Reasons Why. Even the neighbourhood shots we see all these teens hang out in look almost identical to the neighbourhoods we see in 13 Reasons Why. All of this distracted me from getting into Love, Simon as much as I wanted to.

I recommend Love, Simon, but just wish the writing and directing were as strong as most of the performances we see elevating this movie in spite of the director and screenwriter.
 
I saw Love, Simon today. I liked it (but was hoping to LOOOOVE it). I agree with jl22aries that the story is sweet and the performances are good. What kept me from LOOOOving it was the uneven script. I'm going to spoiler my thoughts for those who still want to see this...

It didn't make sense to me in 2018 for a high school student to be struggling with coming out so much. And if I'm wrong on this, then it didn't make sense for this teen to be struggling with coming out to his friends and family...who were seemingly the best people a teen could have in their life to come out to. I also felt at times like the movie wasn't set in the world of today, like the scenarios and reactions were more for a teen coming out in the '80's. I even wondered to myself if I was confused about when the movie takes place and then had to remind myself that everybody has a phone and texting is referred to often.

Nick Robinson does a good job as the lead, he's building up a nice resume with movies like The Kings of Summer, Jurassic World and Everything, Everything. Logan Miller stands out as the awkward friend Martin, partly because I just saw him recently in season seven of The Walking Dead and his role/performance in that is so different than in Love, Simon. Katherine Langford as the best friend is problematic in that her performance and appearance is pretty much exactly the same as her starring role in 13 Reasons Why. I'm confused as to why this movie's director (and Langford herself) didn't change up her appearance and didn't find ways to differentiate this character from the one she played in 13 Reasons Why. Even the neighbourhood shots we see all these teens hang out in look almost identical to the neighbourhoods we see in 13 Reasons Why. All of this distracted me from getting into Love, Simon as much as I wanted to.

I recommend Love, Simon, but just wish the writing and directing were as strong as most of the performances we see elevating this movie in spite of the director and screenwriter.

Regarding to your spoiler... high schools much like most places on this rock called Earth are breeding grounds of hate. Im not sure why you thought a high schooler today would not have a hard time coming out. The world has changed some, yes, like maybe 1.5% (and thats being optimistic) but being out gay and proud at a high school these days is no Heaven on Earth.

Im confused by your thoughts. Now there is social media that we didnt have in 80s when I made my round through high school. You are bullied 24X7 now, not just solely at the lunch table like it was in my days.

And I think this movie takes place in Georgia. As in the deep south. As in conservative (red) state, so Im amazed he even came out at all.
 
I live in Alberta, which is a heavily conservative province, I grew up in the church and I figured out I was bisexual a little over a year and a half ago. I also live with my parents at the age of 30 because I made some poor financial decisions and then had some health stuff that has since resolved itself but did leave me without a lot of money for rent.

I can't come out because if I do my parents will freak out, probably start praying for me to be set free from my same-gender attractions and/or probably kick me out. My brother knows, he and I think very similarly about a lot of things so I knew he would be fine. A bunch of my co-workers know because they aren't connected to the part of my life that still goes to church. One of my co-workers keeps telling me I can't know that I'm attracted to women until I've gone out with a man first, she's very old school, won't listen when I tell her that's not how it works but that's her problem. I know, one of these days, I will end up coming out and it's inevitably going to result in my life changing quite dramatically.

Love, Simon did show here, I even had time to go see it. But I couldn't because there were 3 christian movies out at the same time and the risk of running into people from church was too strong. Also because my parents are crazy snoopy and always ask about the movies I'm going to.

I've read stories from kids who thought their parents would be supportive who aren't and end up kicked out. A significant amount of homeless teens are LGBTQ. That's not even getting into the additional complications transgender people face.

Things have improved a lot, but there is still a long way to go.
 
Trailers For Movies Released 2018-04-20th
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuI4-fSHhipRM-XJf9LTvSAneBfEsmiwR


April 20th - I Feel Pretty (Wide) – Comedy with Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Busy Phillips, Naomi Campbell and Lauren Hutton

April 20th - Traffik (Wide) – Thriller with Paula Patton, Missi Pyle and Omar Epps

April 20th - Super Troopers 2 (Wide) – Comedy crime mystery with Lynda Carter, Rob Lowe, Fred Savage, Jim Gaffigan and Will Sasso

April 20th - Kodachrome (Netflix) – Drama with Elizabeth Olsen, Amanda Brugel, Ed Harris, Jason Sudeikis, Bruce Greenwood and Dennis Haysbert

April 20th - Duck Duck Goose (Limited) – Animated with Jim Gaffigan, Zendaya, Carl Reiner, Jennifer Grey, Craig Ferguson and Stephen Fry

April 20th - Little Pink House (Limited) – Drama with Catherine Keener, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Callum Keith Rennie

April 20th - Dolphins (Wide) – Documentary. From imdb.com: “Dolphin society is tricky, and the coral reef that (youngster) Echo and his family call home depends on all of its inhabitants to keep it healthy. But Echo has a tough time resisting the many adventures the ocean has to offer.”

April 20th - Corbin Nash (Limited) – Action horror thriller with Corey Feldman, Malcolm McDowell, Rutger Hauer and Bruce Davison

April 20th - Edge of Isolation (Limited) – Horror thriller with a new cast. From imdb.com: “Stranded deep in the woods, a young married couple is taken in by an isolationist family, one that lives off the blood and plunder from lost hikers, and they want the couple to stay for the rest of their lives.”

April 20th - Imitation Girl (Limited) – Sci-fi drama, new cast. From imdb.com: “A mysterious young woman materializes in the middle of the southwest desert, where each step teaches her about her new world and her new body. As she assumes a new life, she discovers she has a twin with whom she shares more than just an outward appearance.”

April 20th - The Devil and Father Amorth (Limited) – Documentary. From imdb.com: “Father Gabriele Amortha performs his ninth exorcism on an Italian woman.”

April 20th - Ghost Stories (Limited) – Horror with Martin Freeman. From imdb.com: “Arch skeptic Professor Phillip Goodman embarks upon a terror-filled quest when he stumbles across a long-lost file containing details of three cases of inexplicable 'hauntings'.”

April 20th - Genesis (Limited) – Sci-fi with a new cast. From imdb.com: “…explores the nature of free will and what it means to be human, against a post apocalyptic backdrop where the remnants of mankind attempt to create A.I. to save them from extinction”

April 20th - Love and Bananas (Limited) – Documentary. From imdb.com: “Ashley Bell and a team of elephant rescuers led by world renowned Asian elephant conservationist Lek Chailert, embark on a daring 48-hour mission across Thailand to rescue a 70-year old captive blind Asian elephant and bring her to freedom.”

April 17th – Who’s Jenna (Limited) – Comedy, new cast. From imdb.com: “When Jonathan Burke, a financial advisor, starts dating Jenna Casey, an aspiring lawyer, Johnathan's best friend Andy Romeo is convinced she looks exactly like a famous adult film star…”

April 20th - Godard Mon Amour (Limited) – French comedy drama with Louis Garrel and Bérénice Bejo

April 20th - Beyond The Clouds (Limited) – Family drama from India. From imdb.com: “When on the run from the cops , Amir finds his estranged sister Tara, who in a bid to protect her brother lands up in jail. Their entire lives have been clouded by despair as unexpectedly the light shines on them…”

April 18th - This Is Our Land (Limited) – Drama from France. From imdb.com: “An engaged but apolitical nurse gets involved in a far-right political party. Based on numerous recent events in France, it becomes about how Front National operates and how it is perceived by the French.”

April 20th - Lou Andreas-Salomé, The Audacity to be Free (Limited) – Romantic drama from Germany. From imdb.com: “Born 1861, Lou Andreas Salomé shuns traditions in pursuit of intellectual perfection, inflaming the hearts and minds of the early 19th Century's greatest thinkers including Friedrich Nietzsche, the poet Rainer Marie Rilke and Sigmund Freud.”
 
Regarding to your spoiler... high schools much like most places on this rock called Earth are breeding grounds of hate.

Some are, some aren't. My best friend teaches in an elementary school and my sister is a secretary at an elementary school. Both have mentioned numerous times how their schools have strict anti-bullying policies. At my friends' school, there have been two openly trans students and there would be hell to pay if anybody picked on them. This is how open things are at an elementary school, I imagine things would be better in the local high schools, with gay/straight alliance groups, etc. In my city of 70,000 people, the school board refused to host a meeting if a neighbouring school board member attended who had spoken against the school district's pro-LGBTQ stance. The meeting had to be held elsewhere because neither that school board member or the local school board would back down. And provincially, British Columbia has an equal number of counter-protestors show up whenever any anti-LGBTQ group shows up anywhere. Maybe British Columbia is different than other states and provinces in North America? But here, the prejudiced people are more likely the ones who have to watch their backs.

Im not sure why you thought a high schooler today would not have a hard time coming out.

Sorry, I didn't mean my thoughts to be about any high schooler in the world. I only meant to be talking about the one character in this movie. :)

Im confused by your thoughts. Now there is social media that we didnt have in 80s when I made my round through high school. You are bullied 24X7 now, not just solely at the lunch table like it was in my days.

I experienced bullying at school by students, by teachers, then after school on sports teams (that I quit when my Dad finally let me) and then after school and on weekends by my father. So I get the 24x7 bullying thing, having lived through it. I didn't have the luxury of turning off my Dad with the flick of a switch like high schoolers today can do with social media. :(
 
Watched another oldie, The Last Picture Show. Great cast: Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman, Ellen Burstyn, Randy Quaid and Eileen Brennan. Johnson and Leachman won Oscars for their supporting performances. Director Peter Bogdonovich in the DVD extras says he told Johnson he would win an Oscar if he took the role (it took him some convincing). Bridges and Burstyn were also nominated for an Oscar for their performances. Burstyn's role is pretty small in this. And Bridges' role is almost a lead role, along with Timothy Bottoms (who was really good). I thought the performances were the best thing about the movie as overall, it's kind of slow and uneventful. I guess the movie is trying to show what life is like in a small, dying Texas town. So no wonder the movie is kind of lifeless, that was the goal. Just doesn't make for a thrilling movie-watching experience. Luckily the cast is so strong and vibrant. Otherwise, the movie would have been a complete write-off.

Trailer for The Last Picture Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LrMutOPC-o
 
I saw 'I Feel Pretty' last night. It was really good, very funny and enjoyable. Mostly female audience, lots of laughs out loud, the audience really enjoyed it too. Good message about females/looks and how they are treated and friendships.
Michelle Williams in a part I have never seen her do - I think she had fun.
Lauren Hutton - perfectly cast in a small role - and showing some of her modeling photos.
And it is PG-13 - so pretty clean movie, not as raunchy as I thought going in.
 
Watched another oldie, The Last Picture Show. Great cast: Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman, Ellen Burstyn, Randy Quaid and Eileen Brennan. Johnson and Leachman won Oscars for their supporting performances. Director Peter Bogdonovich in the DVD extras says he told Johnson he would win an Oscar if he took the role (it took him some convincing). Bridges and Burstyn were also nominated for an Oscar for their performances. Burstyn's role is pretty small in this. And Bridges' role is almost a lead role, along with Timothy Bottoms (who was really good). I thought the performances were the best thing about the movie as overall, it's kind of slow and uneventful. I guess the movie is trying to show what life is like in a small, dying Texas town. So no wonder the movie is kind of lifeless, that was the goal. Just doesn't make for a thrilling movie-watching experience. Luckily the cast is so strong and vibrant. Otherwise, the movie would have been a complete write-off.

Trailer for The Last Picture Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LrMutOPC-o

I loved Ellen Burstyn in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (which was the catalyst for the sitcom Alice). Jodie Foster is a hoot. I must watch it again some time.

Three Bogdanovich films I love are What's Up, Doc?, Paper Moon, and The Cat's Meow.
 
We watched 'Whiplash' the other night, motivated by J. K Simmon's role in the television series 'Counterpart'.

What a gem of a movie, albeit also very disturbing.

Talk about Stockholm Syndrome. Wowsers! It's kind of like the love / hate relationship some folks here have with Phil Hersh.

Great film, though.
 
*** LADY GAGA ALERT****

My friend who works in Marketing over at Warner Bros says that execs think "A Star Is Born" with Gaga and Bradley Cooper is so good that they have reassigned its premier to Oscar campaign Season.

****I now return you to your regular skating forums****


As long as she has Barbra's poodle perm, I'll be happy.
 
I saw 'I Feel Pretty' last night. It was really good, very funny and enjoyable. Mostly female audience, lots of laughs out loud, the audience really enjoyed it too. Good message about females/looks and how they are treated and friendships.
Michelle Williams in a part I have never seen her do - I think she had fun.
Lauren Hutton - perfectly cast in a small role - and showing some of her modeling photos.
And it is PG-13 - so pretty clean movie, not as raunchy as I thought going in.

Michelle Williams was a revelation. I loved the speech Amy's character gave towards the end of the film, too.
 
Re-calculating.

I saw A Quiet Place today.

Re-calculating.

I thought it was a well-made movie and the cast were great.

Re-calculating.

I just saw the quiet place. Dumb boring and scary.

Re-calculating.

I agree with the dumb and scary, but I wasn't bored.

Re-calculating.

There were a number of scares, but there were way too many plot holes for me to just go along with the ride.
The barefeet, the not keeping your children within your eyesight when that's easily done, the nail left as is, the not having a noise distraction set-up (other than the rocket), the not having a safety spot meet-up location (multiple safety spots, actually).
There's more but those are the irritating things that come to mind as I write this.

Re-calculating.

I did like the movie for the positive things I mentioned and I recommend it if you're able to be more forgiving of there being a LOT of things in the script that should have been fixed before filming started.

Re-calculating.

Yes, I was forced to watch this uber-annoying Jeep Compass advertisement again before today's movie, for like the BILLIONTH time. Is it airing in the U.S. or only Canada? :revenge: :soapbox: :yikes: :angryfire
 
Just watched Battle of the Sexes. I wished I liked it more than I did. I found the story of some of the female players forming their own league really interesting. The actual Bobby Riggs stuff was much less interesting, I am tired of that type of character. I just do not find it interesting finding the "human side" of these sorts.

Emma was great as Billie Jean King, but her love interest was such a dud. Loved Sarah Silverman and the actress who played Rosie Casals.
 
Just watched Battle of the Sexes. I wished I liked it more than I did. I found the story of some of the female players forming their own league really interesting. The actual Bobby Riggs stuff was much less interesting, I am tired of that type of character. I just do not find it interesting finding the "human side" of these sorts.

Emma was great as Billie Jean King, but her love interest was such a dud. Loved Sarah Silverman and the actress who played Rosie Casals.

Battle of the Sexes was very good.

Two things that stood out for me was how the first WTA circuit was sponsored by Lady Fair Cigarettes (twice the taste in half the time for the gal on the go), and the deliciously unflattering yet accurate portrait the film painted of Margaret Court. (This film had to have been competed before Pastor Court blew her gasket and carried on about marriage equality in Australia).
 
Saw the British movie Finding your Feet at the theater over the weekend. I was a little hesitant to see it since the approval ratings aren't particularly high, but I liked it a lot. Very sweet movie with characters I ended up caring about. And our large theater was packed! Probably helped that it was a snowy day.
 
So "A League Of Their Own" has been on TV a lot lately. Whats everyone's opinion on this? I JUST STILL LOVE IT.. And my 40-yr something ass still sometimes cries at the end....LOL

I think this is Rosie's, Madonna's and Geena's best performances.

In 91 they came to Chicago and filmed the audition scene at Wrigley. I kinda remember it still as I grew up there and lived not too far from there.

I Wiki'ed the movie to see where some of the other scenes were shot. The bar where Madonna dances the jig with the Military guy was filmed at a bar in suburban Berwyn. I didnt know that. The train station where Dottie and Kit go from Oregon to Chicago is also not far from Berwyn.

The etiquette school where the girls learn to be more "refined" was on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

A lot of the other stuff, (roads travelled and other baseball diamonds were in Indiana.) Some of it no longer there.

This movie and its theme song are just GREAT!!!!

Can u believe it came out 26 years ago???? Mama Mia!!!!
 
I LOVE A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN! Rosie (an underrated actress) and Madonna were so great. Buddy/Friend chemistry doesn't get the same attention as romantic chemistry, but I love movies and shows where you feel the actors do like hanging out with each other.

I loved Geena in The Accidental Tourist, so that is a toughie. I would also state that Jon Lovitz gace his best performance here.

ETA: I think Battle of the Sexes should have gone the League of Their Own route, ignoring the Bobby Riggs stuff and focused on the women forming their own tour.
 
Alone In Berlin is a movie about a German couple (played by Emma Thompson and Brendan Gleeson) during World War II. Their son dies in battle and this shakes them up enough to question what is really happening around them. Gleeson's character decides to write various anti-war/anti-Nazithoughts on postcards and then leave them to be found in various spots around Berlin. When Thompson's character finds out what Gleeson is doing, she pretty much demands to be part of the project. Soon enough, these postcards start being turned in to Nazi officials. Daniel Bruhl plays a police officer who the Nazis have/make work for them. He is assigned this case and the movie is about the German couple trying to avoid Bruhl while continuing to put out anti-war cards throughout Berlin. The cast, the script and the direction are all top-notch. I totally recommend this movie.

Trailer for Alone In Berlin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcpv3l6csBw
 
So "A League Of Their Own" has been on TV a lot lately. Whats everyone's opinion on this? I JUST STILL LOVE IT.. And my 40-yr something ass still sometimes cries at the end....LOL

I think this is Rosie's, Madonna's and Geena's best performances.

In 91 they came to Chicago and filmed the audition scene at Wrigley. I kinda remember it still as I grew up there and lived not too far from there.

I Wiki'ed the movie to see where some of the other scenes were shot. The bar where Madonna dances the jig with the Military guy was filmed at a bar in suburban Berwyn. I didnt know that. The train station where Dottie and Kit go from Oregon to Chicago is also not far from Berwyn.

The etiquette school where the girls learn to be more "refined" was on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

A lot of the other stuff, (roads travelled and other baseball diamonds were in Indiana.) Some of it no longer there.

This movie and its theme song are just GREAT!!!!

Can u believe it came out 26 years ago???? Mama Mia!!!!

I was very impressed with how the lady playing Geena's character at the reunion, looked so much like Davis.

Great physical casting.
 
I watched Tracks with Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver. It's based on a true story of a young woman crossing 1,700 miles in the Australian desert with four camels and a dog after training for two years to ride those camels.
First off, I love those two actors who tends to give subtle and understated performances. This movie is no exception which is vital because there's not many characters and Mia's performance is key to draw you in. Her background story and motivations are smartly weaved with her journey which makes you care for her when at the beginning her portrayal seems a bit cold. She slowly opens up accompanied by the trustworthy photographer played by Adam Driver.
A rewarding watch with a gorgeous cinematography of the Australian desert, a slow burner which will stay with you.
 
If you are planning on watching Avengers Infinity War avoid Forbes magazine at least until after you see the movie. They apparently published an article listing every single spoiler imaginable. Such killjoys.
 
I love this thread. Two more movies added to my queue that I may never have heard of if not for this thread.

The most recent film I watched in a theater was A Quiet Place. I enjoyed it, would recommend it, but was not "glued to my seat" like some reviewers were. After seeing it, I read quite a few reviews listing the numerous plot holes. I did notice a few of them, but it's a movie made to entertain, and it did.

At the theater, there was a family in the row in front of me. One of the kids could not have been older than 4. I think the movie was a bit scary for a 4 year old, but none of my business. I was shocked that he sat quietly during the whole movie.
 

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