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

[canbelto]

Finally saw One Battle After Another. Although I think the final third of the movie was masterful, with the car chase and rescue, I thought the first hour or so was very slow. Definitely took awhile to get started. I loved Leonardo di Caprio and Sean Penn though. Great acting. And I loved the soundtrack and music. Definitely a very Paul Thomas Anderson film.

I was kind of surprised that in the end,

Spoiler: OBAA

it was really a father daughter film. I felt like that was when the movie finally clicked into focus, when I realized that Bob was going to do everything he could to rescue Willa.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Finally saw One Battle After Another. Although I think the final third of the movie was masterful, with the car chase and rescuing Willa, I thought the first hour or so was very slow. Definitely took awhile to get started. I loved Leonardo di Caprio and Sean Penn though. Great acting.

I see that OBAA is now available for streaming on HBO. I thought OBAA went fast and didn’t feel at all like two hours and forty minutes. The cinematography was incredible and I wished I had seen the car chase in IMAX when I had a chance.

 

[Kasey]

Just finished watching "Frankenstein" on Netflix. Not my kind of movie generally, but it was beautifully filmed, and the acting was very good. A little too much gore for my taste.

 

[MacMadame]

Just finished watching "Frankenstein" on Netflix. Not my kind of movie generally, but it was beautifully filmed, and the acting was very good. A little too much gore for my taste.

It was stunning! I found the story much more engrossing than the typical takes on the story. I haven't read the book but it just felt like a more faithful adaptation.

 

[canbelto]

I watched Sinners. I am usually not into vampire horror movies, but loved this one bc it was more of a slice of life of Jim Crow Mississippi. Amazing music, production values and acting.

 

[ilovepaydays]

I watched Sinners. I am usually not into vampire horror movies, but loved this one bc it was more of a slice of life of Jim Crow Mississippi. Amazing music, production values and acting.

IMHO, looking at everything with a film: directing, acting, screenplay, cinematography, editing, music, technical + the project management (budgeting and promotion) + how well the film performed = Sinners is probably the best film of 2025.

Problem is, too many critics are only about “the feels” when they react to films. Sinners deserve more credit for taking a $90M production budget and turning it into a $368M box office performance. Plus, it held ticket sales for awhile in a way that that OBAA (and likely also Marty Supreme) just didn’t. I saw Sinners for a second time about an month after its release and showings were still packed.

 

[canbelto]

The end credit scene is a 4 hanky scene. But I did notice something:

Spoiler: Sinners epilogue

When Stack and Mary walk into the bar, it's dark out. When they leave, you can see the sun through the window. I choose to believe that Stack and Mary chose to die after seeing Sammie one last time.

 

[skipaway]

I’m back home from watching Marty Supreme. Because it’s still in it's opening weekend, I will put my review in spoiler.

My sister and I left at the 30 min mark. I found it pretentious and the character so unlikable. I see an Oscar for best picture in it’s future.

 

[my little pony]

yeah everything about it turns me off so I really dont want to see it though I do try to see all the award contenders. since it is so off-putting to me, historically speaking this means it will win everything and be overwhelmingly adored.

 

[MacMadame]

yeah everything about it turns me off so I really dont want to see it though I do try to see all the award contenders. since it is so off-putting to me, historically speaking this means it will win everything and be overwhelmingly adored.

I may watch it on streaming. We'll see.

 

[just tuned in]

yeah everything about it turns me off so I really dont want to see it though I do try to see all the award contenders. since it is so off-putting to me, historically speaking this means it will win everything and be overwhelmingly adored.

 

[canbelto]

I watched Frankenstein again. I saw it on my ipad a few days ago but this time saw it on a big tv. Much, much better. The vibrancy of the cinematography popped out a lot more. I also love how Guillermo del Toro humanized The Creature. Thought Jacob Elordi was magnificent, and the final third of the film (told from the Creature's perspective) was the best part of the film.

But the film took some weird liberties with Mary Shelley's book. I didn't get why Elizabeth in the film had a changed last name and was Victor's BROTHER'S fiance. I don't get why the Creature didn't directly kill Elizabeth. I thought that the Creature killing Elizabeth (whom he adored) was the best part of Mary Shelley's book.

I really liked Mia Goth as Elizabeth. I usually love Oscar Isaac but thought he way overdid Victor's evilness. Made him into a cartoonish villain.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Box Office Mojo - U.S. Domestic Box Office: Weekend 52

So……I don’t think Marty Supreme actually did well. Maybe it was the reactions from those of us who saw it Christmas Eve and Day and it affected its opening weekend?

The current global box office for Avatar: Fire and Ash is at $760M and Zootopia 2 is at $1.4 billion.

I’m not seeing anything notable opening next week.

 

[Buzz]

Loved Zootopia 1 but haven’t seen part 2 yet. But I’ll wait until it hits Disney. BTW Sony’s Spiderverse movies are now on Disney. They used to be on Netflix. So much for my secret hope of a crossover between the two universes. LOL

 

[ilovepaydays]

Loved Zootopia 1 but haven’t seen part 2 yet. But I’ll wait until it hits Disney.

I saw Zootopia 2 on opening weekend and was fortunate to find a Dolby Cinema showing. Well worth it. My rating is 9.0/10 and I think that the story actually improved from the first film. I also think the animation is a bit better than KPop Demon Hunters but I think KPDH is going to sweep the awards season.

BTW Sony’s Spiderverse movies are now on Disney. They used to be on Netflix. So much for my secret hope of a crossover between the two universes. LOL

Speaking of Disney, they are the first (and will likely remain the only) studio to reach $6 billion in total global box office in 2025.

 

[MacMadame]

I usually love Oscar Isaac but thought he way overdid Victor's evilness. Made him into a cartoonish villain.

I read that he did that on purpose.

 

[canbelto]

I read that he did that on purpose.

I guess they wanted to contrast how tender the Creature/Elizabeth relationship was compared to Victor's relationship with Elizabeth.

 

[vgerdes]

Box Office Mojo - U.S. Domestic Box Office: Weekend 52

So……I don’t think Marty Supreme actually did well. Maybe it was the reactions from those of us who saw it Christmas Eve and Day and it affected its opening weekend?

I think it did better than you realize.

Per Variety: ‘Marty Supreme’ Cements Timothee Chalamet as King of the Christmas Box Office

$27 million isn't bad for what is essentially an indie movie (despite its budget). Yes, it still has a way to go to make its "nut," so to speak, but it is considered a success as of this moment.

 

[ilovepaydays]

I think it did better than you realize.

Per Variety: ‘Marty Supreme’ Cements Timothee Chalamet as King of the Christmas Box Office

$27 million isn't bad for what is essentially an indie movie (despite its budget). Yes, it still has a way to go to make its "nut," so to speak, but it is considered a success as of this moment.

The production costs for A24 were ~$70M. With marketing/promotional costs and theaters getting their cut, films typically need to make double at the box office just to break even.

The next couple of weeks willing be very telling.

 

[canbelto]

More Oscar bait films: just saw Sentimental Value.

I thought it has some of my favorite themes (family estrangement, using art to reconcile and heal), and the acting is incredible. I really loved Renate Reinsve as Nora and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as Agnes. And of course Stellan Skarsgaard is amazing. I always stan Elle Fanning.

But ... this didn't do it for me. Felt like the movie was overlong, with some great moments and a lot of navel gazing. These glum family dramas really do need some black humor (think Succession) to lighten the load. It's a good movie, but I wouldn't rewatch it.

There is one really great scene though. Elle Fanning (Rachel) does a table reading for a role where she's miscast. She reads poorly, and you can see Gustav (Skarsgaard) immediately lose interest and become cold and distant. Love that scene bc it's so true for creatives. For them, you're only as good as the art you produce.