Let's Talk Movies #34 - Kingsmen, Murder, Blade Runners and...IT!

[Japanfan]

Spoiler

I have to say this is one of Alexander Payne's more successful ventures. I liked it a whole lot more than Nebraska, About Schmidt, and Sideways (which I thought was overrated though I recognized the qualities that people loved).

I liked Nebraska and Sideways, About Schmidt less so.

So maybe I'll give this film a go - that is, if I can get over my resistance to ever seeing Matt Damon in a film again.

And I don't think the above is a spoiler, as it gives nothing away about the film.

 

[VGThuy]

I liked Nebraska and Sideways, About Schmidt less so.

So maybe I'll give this film a go - that is, if I can get over my resistance to ever seeing Matt Damon in a film again.

And I don't think the above is a spoiler, as it gives nothing away about the film.

Thanks for reading! Thanks for the feedback about the spoilers. I think I'll still leave the spoiler tags because it does summarize a lot of the plot points of the film and talks about characters and themes.

 

[cocotaffy]

everything[/spoiler]

Thanks for the read, it sounds intriguing especially your description of the female character so I'll definitely check it out.

 

[PeterG]

The poll for this thread has had it's last movie hit theatres, so I'll start a new thread after I've picked some poll choices. Probably covering the January to June time period. If you have suggestions for what should (or should not??) be in this new poll/thread, please post away your suggestions.

 

[Buzz]

My suggestions:

1) Proud Mary
2) Alpha
3) Black Panther
4) Death Wish
5) Red Sparrow
6) A Wrinkle In Time
7) Pacific Rim Uprising
8) Isle Of Dogs
9) The New Mutants
10) Tomb Raider
11) Avengers: Infinity War
12) Solo: A Star Wars Story
13) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
14) Deadpool 2

 

[Kasey]

Call me by your name and The Post

 

[Aussie Willy]

Currently housesitting for a friend in Hobart, Tasmania. They have a lovely cinema here called the State Cinema. It has the usually theatres but also some more intimate theatres which are large lounge chairs. Very comfortable. Went the other night with friends to see Thor: Ranganok. Even though I had already seen it, it was probably better seeing it a second time and actually funnier. The slapstick in the movie is done so well. And love the kiwi accents of some of the characters, particularly Korg.

However also last night I watch Miss Sloane on Netflix. I missed this at the cinema so wanted to catch up on it. My only problem was I was sewing while watching so maybe not concentrating as much as I could. But still found it really interesting. Jessica Chastain was good as expected and the subject matter really appropriate for these times.

After that I rewatched Chicago. Never stop enjoying this movie. One of the my favourite musicals.

 

[watchthis!!]

I don't remember Our Kind of Traitor making much of an impact at the box office, so my expectations were low. But it was a really strong movie. Great script plus it's directed by a woman (Susanna White), who has mainly directed British TV episodes so far. Shame that this didn't do better, can't figure out why. Ewan McGregor and Naomie Harris are a couple on vacation and McGregor's character is approached by a larger-than-life Russian (played by Stellan Skarsgard) in a restaurant when his wife leaves early from dinner leaving McGregor alone. He is taken to a party which is way, way more than he could have ever expected...and things just becoming bigger and wilder from there. The movie is a crime drama thriller and even though things get wild at times, there are lots of quiet, but impactful, moments which balance the whole movie out really well. Was very happen to have seen this. Damien Lewis and Jeremy Northam also have small parts in this one, so a very strong cast.

Trailer for Our Kind of Traitor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLkd0bU3EEE

 

[Aussie Willy]

Hmmm that looks interesting. Thanks.

 

[Buzz]

First box office estimates for Black Panther are in and they are looking really good. There is a chance it could open higher than Justice League.
https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/12/23/black-panther-beat-justice-league/

 

[mrr50]

I've been trying to compose a review for The Last Jedi for nearly a week. There is much I liked about it, but some was blah.

I really love Rose Tico. I agree with Mark Hamill about his disappointment in the direction taken with Luke Skywalker. I understand it was necessary to move on to the new cast and the new cast is good, but .... eh. Lastly I am thankful for Frank Oz.

It is a little long, the kids in the row in front of us had to take a break. I don't think that is a good thing since they end up missing part of the movie.

 

[Wyliefan]

First box office estimates for Black Panther are in and they are looking really good. There is a chance it could open higher than Justice League.
https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/12/23/black-panther-beat-justice-league/

They can estimate these things two months in advance now??

 

[Buzz]

Perhaps they can tell by the demand for advance tickets.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Last night's movie on my Tassie Housesitting Sewing Tour was Zero Dark Thirty. There is limited total immersion in these movies because I am on a sewing spree. However I get the gist.

Anyway it was very good. Interesting that they had a female leading the hunt for Bin Laden and Jessica Chastain was really good in the role. The other one I liked was Jason Clarke. He is one of those actors that can transform himself into his role.

 

[VGThuy]

I loved Zero Dark Thirty. Chastain was my second choice for the Oscar behind Emmanuelle Riva.

 

[PeterG]

On the news this morning, the reporters mentioned that there has been a lot of talk on some online alt-right forums about their attempts to alter the ratings of The Last Jedi on rotten tomatoes. They are not happy that a woman is the central character and feel that Star Wars is for white males. So apparently they are also displeased that there are some cast members without lily white skin as well...

 

[MacMadame]

I remember at some point in the past we were talking about Titanic and a few people said they hadn't seen it and I was surprised. Well, 538 decided for the 20th anniversary to see how many people in the US had seen it and who they were:

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-many-people-havent-seen-titanic/?ex_cid=Weekly4

 

[emason]

Count me in as one who has never seen it. It doesn’t interest me in any way.

 

[Japanfan]

Count me in as one who has never seen it. It doesn’t interest me in any way.

It's visually spectacular, and worth seeing for that reason alone - though best seen on the big screen. Although the story/romance is also compelling, and Kate and Leo are wonderful together.

 

[Aussie Willy]

After seeing the trailer, I thought it looked spectacular but it was just about a big ship sinking.

 

[cocotaffy]

After seeing the trailer, I thought it looked spectacular but it was just about a big ship sinking.

well what did you expect though ? But casting Leo and Kate was just casting gold. The chemistry just bounced off each other and this actually avoided the love story to be just another cheesy one. I know many find this movie indeed cheesy, but it's one of my guilty pleasure.

 

[MacMadame]

My problem with the movie is that it was way too long and tried to be too many things. I used to joke that there was a good 2-hour movie in the middle of that 3.25-hour mess.

 

[mrr50]

I saw A Night to Remember when I was young. I know the boat still sinks in the newer movie, so I have no desire to see it.

My husband really liked Titanic. Thought it was a wonderful movie.

 

[judiz]

Having a Jewish Christmas, going to the movies to see Downsizing and then a Chinese dinner. Merry Christmas!

 

[PeterG]

After seeing the trailer, I thought it looked spectacular but it was just about a big ship sinking.

Titanic was a biting critique of the classist oppression of the time. And if one cares to look deeper, perhaps a commentary about how we allow our society to continue this deadly oppressiveness today.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Last night's movie on my Tassie Housesitting Sewing Tour was Bernie. Starring Jack Black and Shirley McLaine it is based on a true story and done almost documentary like. In fact it has people from the community involved telling their stories about Bernie and what they thought. He plays a mortician who is a incredibly popular member of the community. She plays a horrible old lady. And they become friends. But it does take a turn.

I really enjoyed it. Jack Black is a lot more restrained than usual so is effective in the role. And it was great to hear him sing a whole range of music. I would recommend.

Also I did catch the end of the old Batman movie which has Adam West as Batman. It is so corny and so funny. You can tell none of them took themselves seriously when they made it. And to cap it off it finishes with Batman saying "Let's leave inconspicuously thought the window". Classic.

 

[PeterG]

Just finished Ziegfield Girl(1941), pretty much just to see Judy Garland. It also stars James Stewart, Lana Turner and Hedy Lamaar. Not sure if I've seen a Lana Turner movie before and I've definitely never seen Hedy Lamarr in anything before. Even though Lamarr's role isn't very large, she has a strong, understated presence with her limited time on screen. Just checked my local library and they don't have any movies by either of these ladies. But there are two other library systems that carry older movies, so I'll have to check out more of their work in time.

Anyway, I thought Ziegfield Girl was pretty strong. More a story movie than a forum to present various musical and dance numbers. Basically showing the rise (and fall, in one circumstance) of the three female leads. Turner's role is the biggest, I'd say, even bigger than first-billed Stewart. But for me, there were two highlights, one dance number and one musical number. The dance number was near the end of the movie and I thought I'd post a link to it, but I actually can't find any information about it at all. It was a strong Latin number, but that's all I can tell you. And the strongest moment goes to Garland, because of 1) that voice, 2) that star power, 3) that song and 4) the moment...where a teenage girl and her father have been rejected for their performance because of the father's uber-uptempo version of the song...and when Garland's character is given a second chance to audition, she has to go with the version she suggested to her father (and he rejected):

Judy Garland sings "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" from "Ziegfeld Girl"

Garland was always so great and making one wonder where they heck they left their hanky.... I think 1945's Ziegfield Follies was stronger than this movie, but both are recommended. Too much star power to say no to any of the Ziegield movies (including 1936's The Great Ziegfield).

 

[Seerek]

Rest in peace Heather Menzies Urich at the age of 68.

 

[snoopy]

Speaking of Jessica Chastain, saw mollys game. 100%, A+, best movie I saw all year.

It's a wordy Sorkin movie so you have the like that sort of thing.

 

[MacMadame]

I got Wonder Woman for Christmas so we watched it. They talked about the picture in that movie being in Batman vs. Superman so against my better judgement we are watching it.

IT IS HORRIBLE. That is all. I can't even give a coherent explanation because it's so bad I'm trying not to pay much attention. And I had low expectations going in.