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

[watchthis!!]

Saw Captain Marvel today. Really enjoyed it. One of the stronger stories for Marvel movies in my opinion. Wonderful cast as well. Glad to see it's doing so well. Oh, and there were a few comedy bits I really appreciated as well.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Has anyone seen Us yet? I really liked Get Out but I am not a horror movie fan. Still the trailer looked very good.

 

[Vash01]

Has anyone seen Us yet? I really liked Get Out but I am not a horror movie fan. Still the trailer looked very good.

It is on my list to see but I am not a fan of horror movies either.

 

[Aussie Willy]

It is on my list to see but I am not a fan of horror movies either.

Okay you can see if first and then let the rest of us know what it is like

 

[Kasey]

I like some horror, and loved "Get Out", but "Us" looks terrifying to me! And yes, another one who wants to see "Hotel Mumbai".

 

[Kasey]

Saw "Hotel Mumbai" this afternoon. It was brutal, and seriously intense, as well as brilliantly done. Even though I know that there is some "hollywoodization" of it (such as the main character's storyline), it blends in quite well with the true events that the film is based on. Dev Patel and Armie Hammer were both at their best, and none of the supporting cast struck an off note. It was a bit terrifying for me, as I have an irrational phobia of an armed attacker in my place of work (having had to deal with an armed visitor once, and my sister's hospital having a gun attack on campus while she was at work); so that made it a bit more on the edge of my seat for me. But really, very well done.

 

[Vash01]

Saw "Hotel Mumbai" this afternoon. It was brutal, and seriously intense, as well as brilliantly done. Even though I know that there is some "hollywoodization" of it (such as the main character's storyline), it blends in quite well with the true events that the film is based on. Dev Patel and Armie Hammer were both at their best, and none of the supporting cast struck an off note. It was a bit terrifying for me, as I have an irrational phobia of an armed attacker in my place of work (having had to deal with an armed visitor once, and my sister's hospital having a gun attack on campus while she was at work); so that made it a bit more on the edge of my seat for me. But really, very well done.

I want to see it this weekend but I may wait until next week and see it on a weekday. The shows seem full, though I could get a ticket this weekend. I remember reading news of this attack when it happened.

I saw ‘Gloria Bell’ today, because I wanted something that I could relax in. So Hotel Mumbai And Us were both out. I had seen the trailer of Gloria Bell a few times and I thought it maybe interesting. It is very slow moving. Julianne Moore looks beautiful and she is very good in the title role. She saves this movie, with great screen presence and totally becomes Gloria. She is also the Executive producer. She is Oscar nomination worthy. The only other cast member with significant scope is John Turturro, and I am not sure he was the best Choice for that role.

The story picks up in the second half but it is too late by then. There are some loose ends like her neighbor who lives upstairs, the family of the male lead, and not enough is revealed at the end.

I had difficulty sympathizing with the main character because of the way she treats her cat ( she does better later, so fortunately the cat survives). They must have starved a cat or may be they found one off the street, but it was disturbing to watch. If it is the former, it would be animal cruelty.

I read that it is based on a Chilean movie and directed by the same director. I had not seen that version. The American one was not that great but at least Julianne Moore saved it from becoming a very boring movie. 7/10.

 

[Icetalavista]

I saw "Us" last night. Every time you think it can't get crazier, it does. Nyongo is in almost every frame and she is great. Elizabeth Moss has a smallish role but is very good. It's very different in tone from "Get Out." Without spoiling it, I will simply say Peele throws things at us I never saw coming. I read that the actors who played the two kids in the family really enjoyed playing their doppelgangers . This one will stay with me. Peele brings up a # of very disturbing issues. But it is bloody and intense.

 

[Vash01]

I saw "Us" last night. Every time you think it can't get crazier, it does. Nyongo is in almost every frame and she is great. Elizabeth Moss has a smallish role but is very good. It's very different in tone from "Get Out." Without spoiling it, I will simply say Peele throws things at us I never saw coming. I read that the actors who played the two kids in the family really enjoyed playing their doppelgangers . This one will stay with me. Peele brings up a # of very disturbing issues. But it is bloody and intense.

Sounds like it may not be for me. I can’t handle too much violence and/horror.

 

[snoopy]

I saw Gloria Bell today too. I lasted 45 minutes and then I walked out.

 

[Japanfan]

I saw ‘Gloria Bell’ today, because I wanted something that I could relax in.

I had difficulty sympathizing with the main character because of the way she treats her cat ( she does better later, so fortunately the cat survives). They must have starved a cat or may be they found one off the street, but it was disturbing to watch. If it is the former, it would be animal cruelty.

Animals cannot be harmed in the making of a movie, SFAIK, given that there is always a disclaimer saying so at the end of a film with animals in it.

 

[snoopy]

The cat in the movie was a sphinx cat, it’s like one of those ugly dogs. Hairless and scrawny. That is how it looks naturally.

 

[annie720]

Just saw Hotel Mumbai. Thought it was very well done, though hard to watch at times. Hubby thought it was excellent.

 

[Japanfan]

The cat in the movie was a sphinx cat, it’s like one of those ugly dogs. Hairless and scrawny. That is how it looks naturally.

Right, those cats. I'm sure the people who own them love them well enough. One would hope in any case, as one would hope for any animal.

 

[Aussie Willy]

I saw "Us" last night. Every time you think it can't get crazier, it does. Nyongo is in almost every frame and she is great. Elizabeth Moss has a smallish role but is very good. It's very different in tone from "Get Out." Without spoiling it, I will simply say Peele throws things at us I never saw coming. I read that the actors who played the two kids in the family really enjoyed playing their doppelgangers . This one will stay with me. Peele brings up a # of very disturbing issues. But it is bloody and intense.

Thanks for the review. I think I will have to give it a miss. But it is great that Peele is really making a name for himself as a film maker and doing a genre that lots of people do like.

 

[Vash01]

Just got back after seeing ‘Hotel Mumbai’. Very intense and brutal but very well made. I had mentally prepared myself for the violence and brutality. I had also followed the news on my tv here in Phoenix, when this happened, so I remembered the event on which this movie is based. I believe most of the characters in the movie are fictional, but they feel real. Head chef Oberoi is real, based on the post script (played by Anupam Kher). Some of the staff may have been real too.

Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Anupam Kher are well known actors and they are good. I had never heard of the female lead (supporting actress?). She was good too, but the best thing about the movie is the pacing- edge of your seat throughout. Hard to imagine the horror of what happened there. Excellent cinematography- beauty of the hotel before the attack and later shots of the hotel burning.

I remember visiting that hotel a few times but I never stayed there . It was before this attack. It was beautiful.

9/10

 

[watchthis!!]

Morris from America is a 2016 drama starring Craig Robinson about an American man and his son living in Germany where his father is working. Robinson's role is actually a supporting role to Markees Christmas, who plays Robinson's son. He does a great job carrying the movie. Overall, I fell the movie is worth recommending, my only complaint is that the script is somewhat uneven. I see at different sites that the movie is described as a comedy-drama or a romantic drama. To me, it was a drama that has some lightness to it and is about a boy entering his teen years and dealing with his feelings towards an older woman. Who is 15.

Trailer for Morris from America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8HY-6F4Y_I

 

[Buzz]

Avengers Endgame tickets went on sale about midnight and we got another sneak peek. Of course I got my tickets already!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Opbfh4wNu7Q

Edited to add:
Websites are reportedly having so much trouble keeping up with demand that at least one of them crashed!
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/final-avengers-endgame-trailer-advance-ticket-sales-clog-sites-1198761

 

[Buzz]

Canada’s own Cineplex is also having problems and is currently down! That is where I got my tickets at 2am this morning. LOL (benefits of working night shift. )
https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/marvel-fans-crashed-cineplexs-website-trying-to-buy-tickets-to-the-new-avengers-endgame-movie

 

[Japanfan]

Canada’s own Cineplex is also having problems and is currently down! That is where I got my tickets at 2am this morning. LOL (benefits of working night shift. )
https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/marvel-fans-crashed-cineplexs-website-trying-to-buy-tickets-to-the-new-avengers-endgame-movie

The system wasn't working when I last attempted to buy movie tickets online, and that was a few months ago.

 

[Buzz]

Just visited the site and it is working just fine now. The opening weekend for this movie is going to be out of this world. Cineplex is where I get all my tickets for a while now.

 

[allezfred]

Watched Bohemian Rhapsody on my flight to Japan last month. Thought it was a bag of shite and the Live Aid bit at the end looked like the producers had run out of ideas.

Saw Vice coming back and there was some incredible acting from Christian Bale and Amy Adams in particular.

 

[manhn]

Yep. I saw Bohemian Rhapsody. I thought it was all so badly done, everything just looked so cheap.

 

[Buzz]

According to Variety Captain Marvel just crossed the $1bn mark.
https://variety.com/2019/film/news/captain-marvel-1-billion-box-office-1203175093/

 

[Erin]

Speaking of seeing movies on planes, I saw Green Book on my way to a vacation and Vice on the way back. Green Book was OK but super predictable and trite. I was able to skim a book at the same time and not feel like I missed anything. Vice was a lot better, I thought it was clever and entertaining with great performances although there were some disturbing things in there.

I saw Bohemian Rhapsody ages ago as a compromise movie I went to with a few other people and basically I just sat back and enjoyed the music and didn’t stress too much about the rest. It was not a great movie but it entertained me for two hours so I can’t complain about that.

I have a lot more flights coming up in the next couple months and that’s where I seem to see all my movies so maybe I can catch up now.

 

[watchthis!!]

Rock The Kasbah is Bill Murray playing the same character for the 38th time. Why is he still being hired to act?? The movie would have been so much better if he was missing completely. Others in the cast include Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanel, Danny McBride, Scott Caan, Bruce Willis and Taylor Kinney (Chicago Fire, Lady Gaga's ex). Could we have a movie with just them instead of Murray being in almost every scene? Anyway, the movie is decent enough, in spite of Billy's presence. Murray's character goes along with Deschanel's character where she is hired to sing for troops in Afghanistan. She freaks out and flies back home, unknowingly having taken Murray's money and passport. Murray comes across an Afghani woman with an amazing voice at the same time the country is watching Afghan Idol. Murry finds a way to get her on the show.

This movie is loosely based on the documentary Afghan Star, where a woman did sing on Afghan Idol, singing in English, dancing and not wearing her hijab, all of which caused on uproar. I'm thinking that documentary might have been more interesting to watch than Rock the Kasbah...

Trailer for Rock The Kasbah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_Xev0-h5iE

 

[Japanfan]

Speaking of seeing movies on planes, I saw Green Book on my way to a vacation and Vice on the way back. Green Book was OK but super predictable and trite. I was able to skim a book at the same time and not feel like I missed anything.

I just watch 'Green Book' on Pay-Per-View this evening. I usually don't see films in the theater when I think they will work fine on the small screen, as the price is $7.00 for two of us, rather than $13.00 for one at the theater.

I really enjoyed it, actually. I thought Ali and Mortensen were both excellent, and played off each other well. And the film integrated moments of levity with the more serious themes well. Not a great film by any means, but I got my money's worth.

I am confused as to why Mortensen got a nomination for Best Actor, and Ali for Best Supporting Actor, as they pretty much had equal screen time.

 

[Jimena]

I haven't been on this thread before but I had to comment on Joker. I've always loved Joaquin Phoenix. I think he's an incredible actor. I just saw the trailer and I. Am. So. Excited!!!!!!

Totally dark and twisted. I love it. Cannot wait.

 

[watchthis!!]

I just watch 'Green Book' on Pay-Per-View this evening. I usually don't see films in the theater when I think they will work fine on the small screen, as the price is $7.00 for two of us, rather than $13.00 for one at the theater.

I really enjoyed it, actually. I thought Ali and Mortensen were both excellent, and played off each other well. And the film integrated moments of levity with the more serious themes well. Not a great film by any means, but I go my money's worth.

I am confused as to why Mortensen got a nomination for Best Actor, and Ali for Best Supporting Actor, as they pretty much had equal screen time.

Actors are put forward for nominations by their movie studio. The studios want as many nominations for their movies as they can get. So if they have two lead performances that could get nominations, then one will be put forward for main actor and the other for supporting actor. This happened with Brokeback Mountain as well.

 

[Japanfan]

Actors are put forward for nominations by their movie studio. The studios want as many nominations for their movies as they can get. So if they have two lead performances that could get nominations, then one will be put forward for main actor and the other for supporting actor. This happened with Brokeback Mountain as well.

IIRC, there have been movies for which two actors were nominated for the same category.