Let's Talk Movies #36 - 2020 - Yep it is a new decade

[Jay42]

5/10 - Mister Roberts is a 1955 comedy drama starring Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell and Jack Lemmon. In the final days of World War II, the crew of Navy supply ship become increasingly frustrated with the ship’s captain (played by Cagney). I thought the cast gave their all in this movie, but I didn’t find the script that interesting. I am probably in the minority thinking that as at imdb.com, the movie has a high 7.7 rating and at rottentomatoes.com it scores very high with both critics (93% fresh) and the audience (85% fresh). Plus it was nominated for a best picture academy award and Jack Lemmon won for best supporting actor.

Mister Roberts was the #2 movie at the box office in 1955, (Lady And The Tramp came in at #1).

Trailer for Mister Roberts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzdnxnhxyX0

It’s kind of a slow movie, especially for a war movie, I’ve always liked it though and I still think either it or 12 Angry Men should have been Henry Fonda’s Oscar winning movie.

There’s a sequel to it that centres on Ensign Pulver that recasts everyone that my parents really like and I’ve always found to be kind of an odd movie. Every actor that was recast is like the opposite acting style from their original actor and it’s sort of odd. Robert Walker Jr. does his best as Ensign Pulver but he’s no Jack Lemmon.

 

[watchthis!!]

WARNING: Do not watch this movie if you are hungry!!!

Spinning Plates is a 2012 documentary about three very different restaurants. Alinea is a fine cuisine restaurant in Chicago which receives three Michelen stars during the making of this movie (the top rating, which only two restaurants in the U.S. received). Breitbach’s Country Dining is a very successful 150 year old family business. And lastly, a struggling Mexican restaurant run by a husband and wife in Tucson, Arizona. As I warn, this movie will make you want to EAT LOTS OF FOOD!!! How the filmmakers cover these three restaurants is very well done and then in the final third of the movie, surprises await you as a viewer in regards to each of the three restaurants. I really enjoyed this one even though I’m not really a foodie or a big documentary fan, for that matter. But I'm glad to have watched this.

 

[PeterG]

My last classic movie review (well, for now):

6/10 - We’re No Angels is a 1955 comedy starring Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov and Basil Rathbone. Three prisoners escape from an island prison in French Guiana just before Christmas. They agree to fix the ceiling of a store on the mainland so as to steal clothing and supplies at nighttime. But they end up becoming attached to the family that owns the store.

I thought this was a fun movie and the cast was great. But I didn’t love it as much as other movie viewers, once again it’s rated higher than by me at imdb.com (7.5 out of 10) and at rotentomatoes.com (81% fresh by the audience).

Trailer for We’re Not Angels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COGLBSB7Fwg

 

[Sylvia]

BELFAST trailer #1 (I like this one better than #2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja3PPOnJQ2k

I haven't been in a movie theater since January 2020 (Little Women) but I may return for Belfast.

 

[VGThuy]

BELFAST trailer #1 (I like this one better than #2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja3PPOnJQ2k

I haven't been in a movie theater since January 2020 (Little Women) but I may return for Belfast.

I hear it’s the favorite for Best Picture at the moment.

 

[Buzz]

Just got back from watching the Eternals and loved it! It’s not crazy good but it is really good. I really wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did given the mixed reviews. This definitely isn’t your typical superhero flick and contains more than one twist and turn that will get you thinking. Oh yeah there are two post credit scenes so don’t leave!

 

[emason]

The Big Sleep: It's a problematic movie because of the Raymond Chandler novel from which it is adapted. The plot of the book is dense and doesn't always make sense, so likewise the movie.

Spellbound: I love this movie, one of my Hitchcock faves.

Mr. Roberts: Another absolute fave of mine. It's adapted both from a book and, more importantly, a stage play made from that book. Stage plays are difficult to open up successfully into movies, but I'll happily watch this movie any time it turns up on TCM.

 

[PeterG]

And now for something a bit more modern...

6/10 - Once Upon A Time In America is a 1984 crime drama which follows Robert DeNiro’s character (nicknamed Noodles) from childhood through to his later years. The movie is about how hard a life a poor young person leads on the streets of 1930’s New York. And how this can set one up for a life of hardships. The DVD I got was the extended version, with a running time of over four hours. Originally, the director (Sergio Leone) planned on making this two three-hour films. But it was first released in the four hour (plus) version, then cut down to 229 minutes and finally 139 minutes. Critics and audiences reacted negatively to the edited versions of the movie. It did receive five BAFTA nominations and two Golden Globe nominations, but had no wins.

I found the move to be very long. (No surprise there, I guess.) The performances were decent, but you know there won’t be a happy ending, so it’s four hours of hardships until an unhappy ending. Not the greatest way for me personally to spend my time. But it’s a well-made movie. The movie cost 30 million to make and took in under six million at the box office. So a major flop at the time.

Once Upon A Time In America co-stars James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Treat Williams, Tuesday Weld and Danny Aiello. I guess with time, people warmed to this movie as right now it has an 8.3 out of 10 rating at imdb.com, making it the 74th most popular film of all time on that website. And at rottentomatoes.com, it is also rated very highly with a 87% fresh rating by critics and 93% fresh for the audience score.

Trailer for Once Upon A Time In America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcpCRyNo8T8

 

[clairecloutier]

Regarding Belfast, I’m suddenly wondering— Do people from Northern Ireland describe themselves as Northern Irish, or just Irish??

 

[Vash01]

I watched Cruella on DVD. I watched it only because Trusova skated to it, but I really enjoyed the movie. Emma Thompson should get Supporting Actress Oscar nom and Emma Stone should get Best actress nom (less likely because usually this category has many deserving candidates). Interesting story, great costumes.

 

[Davy88gtbwxyc]

"Dolores Claiborne" is a movie that I can only describe as uncomfortably gripping.

It kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't help but applaud the actors performance.

It starts off with a bang while sinking its teeth into you and refusing to let go until the very end.

Strained relationship dynamics at play between mother and daughter come to a peaceful conclusion, and a nasty perpetrator meets a satisfying death.

This is the second movie that I've seen with Kathy Bates in a starring role, the first one being "Misery" and both were well worth the watch to me.

 

[manhn]

You have never seen Fried Green Tomatoes?!?!

 

[mjb52]

I'm watching The American Friend on Criterion because I'm an unbearrrrrrable film snob and I can't get over how much the wife of Bruno Ganz' character looks like Natalia Mishkutenok to me. Am I seeing things? Has anyone seen this movie? What do you think? It's really distracting. It's very good by the way. I'm halfway through and since it's based on a Patricia Highsmith Ripley novel I can deduce that there will be one or more twists and I think it's somewhat obvious (but we'll see) what at least one of them is but it still has me on the edge of my seat. Dennis Hopper is in it and is comparatively normal (though not normal) by his standards. It does remind you of why the Bechdel test was invented though because the female parts are pretty thankless.

 

[skatingguy]

You have never seen Fried Green Tomatoes?!?!

Or Primary Colors

 

[Japanfan]

I'm watching The American Friend on Criterion because I'm an unbearrrrrrable film snob and I can't get over how much the wife of Bruno Ganz' character looks like Natalia Mishkutenok to me. Am I seeing things? Has anyone seen this movie? What do you think? It's really distracting. It's very good by the way. I'm halfway through and since it's based on a Patricia Highsmith Ripley novel I can deduce that there will be one or more twists and I think it's somewhat obvious (but we'll see) what at least one of them is but it still has me on the edge of my seat. Dennis Hopper is in it and is comparatively normal (though not normal) by his standards. It does remind you of why the Bechdel test was invented though because the female parts are pretty thankless.

I saw it many years ago as a film studies student. Wim Wenders IIRC? I liked it very much.

And was always fond of Dennis Hopper. I even liked his movie 'The Last Movie'. I think that I was the only person to like, aside from the jury at the Venice Film Festival, who gave it some sort of award.

Hopper made the film at his drug and alcohol bottom, and it is quite absurd, though to me it spoke of spiritual seeking.

Lots of odd quirks to it. For example, a shot of Hopper driving a drunk down the road. Then the screen fills with the words 'Scene missing', and we go back to Hopper driving the truck.

 

[PeterG]

You have never seen Fried Green Tomatoes?!?!

Bates was nominated for a BAFTA film award for this movie...but in the supporting actress category.

Or Primary Colors

Bates was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Primary Colors. But...also in the supporting actress category.

 

[manhn]

That is category fraud. Bates’ character very much guides the audience through the movie.

 

[annie720]

Saw the new Tom Hanks film Finch tonight on Apple TV. A post-apocalyptic story of a dying man, his dog and a robot. It's sweet at times, but a little bland.

 

[PeterG]

That is category fraud. Bates’ character very much guides the audience through the movie.

More or less of a category fraud when Jake Gyllenhaal's performance was put forward as supporting actor in Brokeback Mountain while Heath Ledger's performance was for leading actor? Imagine if Leonardo DiCaprio was put forward as best actor and Kate Winslet was put forward as best supporting actress for Titanic!

 

[Vash01]

Watched an Indian (Hindi) movie last weekend. The title Zhank Zhanak Payal Baje (Payal are the tiny bells worn on the ankles of the dancers; the first two words are the sound made by the bells).

The story and conversations are a bit strange (a tough patriarch wants his son win a certain competition which he himself had won decades earlier, and wants to bar his son from falling in love with his dance partner) but the dances (Style - Katthak, in India) are great. There is a villain, a love triangle, some comedy (unnecessary, IMO).

The movie has English subtitles, which helps a great deal. Some songs can be fast forwarded through but those with the dances should be watched. Both lead actors/dancers are very good. The male dancer was a maestro.

It is very long (2.5 hours). The DVD has an option for Songs only (includes dances), but without knowing the story they won't make sense.

 

[watchthis!!]

More movies from Entertainment Weekly’s fall movie preview:

Two movies coming out on November 19th:

C’Mon, C’Mon is a black-and-white drama written and directed by Mike Mills. Two of Mill’s previous film are Beginners (Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor) and 20th Century Women (Annette Bening and Billy Crudup). C’Mon, C’Mon stars Joaquin Phoenix as a man who cares for (and bonds with) his nephew over the course of a cross-country trip.


Mothering Sunday is a drama-romance starring Olivia Colman and Colin Firth. It’s about “…a maid living in post-World War I England [who] secretly plans to meet with the man she loves before he leaves to marry another woman” (imdb.com)


And these three are coming out on November 24th:

Encanto is an animated musical pandering to…oops catering to the Hispanic audience. The director and writer have been attached to a lot of animated movies including Zootopia, Moana, Frozen II, Raya and the Last Dragon, Tangled and Lilo & Stitch. The music is by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The voice cast includes John Leguizamo, Diane Guerrero (Orange Is The New Black), Wilmer Valderrama and Alan Tudyk.


The Humans is a drama starring Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer, Beanie Feldstein, Steven Yeun and June Squibb. The Humans is about a family at Thanksgiving who talk a lot. And then talk some more.


Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City is the only of these five movies that I am excited to see. It is a re-boot of the Resident Evil series and goes back to the beginning, where pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corporation, who picks up and leaves the town where they began, leaving behind…trouble. This action re-boot has a female lead, Kaya Scodelario, who was in three Maze Runner movies as well as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

 

[VGThuy]

I love 20th Century Women, so I’m curious to see how C’mon C’mon will come out. I’ve been looking forward to The Humans for a while. Film adaptations of plays can be hit or miss, so I hope for a hit here.

 

[Buzz]

‘Eternals’ Is Weekend King(o) With $91M Overseas & $162M Global Bows – International Box Office

UPDATE, writethru: Disney/Marvel’s Eternals has come in ahead of projections with an opening weekend of $90.7M at the international box office, and $161.7M global when paired with domestic. This gi…

deadline.com

 

[Vash01]

BELFAST trailer #1 (I like this one better than #2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja3PPOnJQ2k

I haven't been in a movie theater since January 2020 (Little Women) but I may return for Belfast.

I have not been to a movie theater since Jan or Feb 2020. I won't go to a theater for Belfast either. I just don't know what will drive me to do that.

 

[Baby Yoda On Skates]

Last night I saw Dune with my husband. It was our first date and the first movie we'd seen since Rise of Skywalker. We both thought Dune was fabulous. It was visually appealing, the acting was good, and the story made sense. Neither of us have read the books, but I did buy the first one to see how it all goes.

We walked out of the theater and he immediately started raging against George Lucas for completely ripping off Dune when he wrote Star Wars. I was dying.

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

I watched Notorious again and I have to say I don't enjoy this Hitchcock movie as much as his others. I go a few years and think this is something I want to watch again and do. Then I wish I would have spent the time on a different Hitchcock film. Not sure what it is about this one specifically.

 

[vgerdes]

‘Eternals’ Is Weekend King(o) With $91M Overseas & $162M Global Bows – International Box Office

UPDATE, writethru: Disney/Marvel’s Eternals has come in ahead of projections with an opening weekend of $90.7M at the international box office, and $161.7M global when paired with domestic. This gi…

deadline.com

Saw Eternals on Friday. I liked it overall, but it dragged a bit at times. I think the sheer size of the cast was kind of cumbersome, though the quality of the individual performances was top notch (in most cases). I'd maybe give it 6.5 or 7 out of 10.

 

[Jay42]

Encanto is an animated musical pandering to…oops catering to the Hispanic audience. The director and writer have been attached to a lot of animated movies including Zootopia, Moana, Frozen II, Raya and the Last Dragon, Tangled and Lilo & Stitch. The music is by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The voice cast includes John Leguizamo, Diane Guerrero (Orange Is The New Black), Wilmer Valderrama and Alan Tudyk.

The lead in Encanto is voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, most known for playing Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine though she has been making a name for herself in voice acting as well over the last few years. I’m not enamoured with Disney using Lin Manuel Miranda for everything Hispanic musical they want to make. Partially because Latin America is vast and I think it would be fun to see more variety. The other reason is because Lin Manuel Miranda’s lyrical style has kind of gotten old for me. I get that his name brings a guarantee of attention and that makes money, but I crave variety and would like to see more. Disney can afford to take a risk on an unknown. Their animated movies are practically guaranteed moneymakers anyway.

Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City is the only of these five movies that I am excited to see. It is a re-boot of the Resident Evil series and goes back to the beginning, where pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corporation, who picks up and leaves the town where they began, leaving behind…trouble. This action re-boot has a female lead, Kaya Scodelario, who was in three Maze Runner movies as well as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

I’m intrigued by this mostly because of just how bad the original run of Resident Evil movies had gotten by the end. I’m not great with zombie horror but it’ll be interesting to see if they can resurrect the movie franchise.

 

[PeterG]

6/10 - The Shipping News is the 2001 film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by E. Annie Proulx. It is directed by two-time Oscar nominee Lasse Hallstrom (The Cider House Rules). Hallstrom also directed What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Chocolat, and approximately 32 ABBA videos!

It's tough to state whether I “liked” the movie as the subject material is so dark. Topics such as suicide, adultery, abortion, black market adoption, abandonment, death by leukemia and parents teaching their child to swim by throwing them over the side of the boat are all within this movie. So…somewhat on the dark side, I’d say. But the movie does have a great cast. Kevin Spacey is the lead with Judi Dench, Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett, Pete Postelthwaite, Scott Glenn, Gordon Pinsent and Rhys Ifans also starring.

Spacey and Dench were both nominated for BAFTA awards for their performances and Spacey received a Golden Globe nomination and Dench was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Trailer for The Shipping News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLPKXPviEqU

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

Got to see Dune outside of the theater because a friend has HBO and allowed me to login on their account after I gave them my Peacock sign in for Halloween. I think I like the remake better but it's been a while since I've seen the original. I need to watch that again for a better comparison. Overall I can't wait for part 2 to see the rest.

ETA: Now on to Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Seize the day people! Live while you can!