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

[cocotaffy]

I watched What will people say yesterday and first off, don't watch it if you're feeling down that day. It is a compelling story but I was wondering all along if it was in any way exaggerated or way too full of cliches. After watching it I had to check a bit more about it and it turns out it is based on the director's life. This kind of subject drives me bonkers because I just can't get how social pressure can get so much out of hand. Still an interesting movie with a very strong performance from the young actress.

 

[Buzz]

Brie Larson shared a workout video on instagram and dang I am impressed!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiW41jpAqJe/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_mid=XDGIYgAAAAHe0CNkployBXpDGVwu

 

[watchthis!!]

Midnight Sun got dumped on by pretty much everybody, but as a teen (weepy) romance, I think it succeeds at what it was trying to be. Definitely a two-hanky movie. Bella Thorne's character has a rare disease that keeps her from being exposed to sunlight, which leads to her leading a very secluded life. She can go out at night, which is when she meets the crush of her life, Patrick Schwarzenegger. Some would say his performance is pretty white-bread, but the girl's role is the star of this one, so he's just there to be non-threatening and pretty. He does both well. Rob Riggle has some nice moments as Thorne's father. An added bonus is some pretty good music by Thorne.

Trailer for Midnight Sun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEskVQgtwaI

 

[manhn]

I kinda adored Midnight Sun. The central couple were really cute. The friend and dad were well developed.

 

[Vash01]

A local theatre is showing ‘Gone with the wind’ tomorrow. Just one show on one day. I am going. Hoping to get a ticket.

 

[skatesindreams]

It deserves to be seen on a big screen, in a theatre.

 

[Vash01]

It deserves to be seen on a big screen, in a theatre.

Agreed.
I am going to miss at least half of the Golden Globes because GWTW is a very long movie, but I have set my dvd to record the GG. I can watch it later.

 

[watchthis!!]

I just saw that Lee Daniels (The Butler, Precious) will be directing a re-make of Terms of Endearment with Oprah Winfrey playing the Shirley MacLaine role. No other news of who will be in the movie yet.

 

[Vash01]

I just saw that Lee Daniels (The Butler, Precious) will be directing a re-make of Terms of Endearment with Oprah Winfrey playing the Shirley MacLaine role. No other news of who will be in the movie yet.

I hate remakes of good movies.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Saw Fantastic Beasts on the weekend. Quite disappointed, particularly after I enjoyed the first one so much. My friend I was with also felt the same way. It doesn't stand alone as a movie - will need to see the sequel to get the resolution. I hadn't read that before I saw it. But it just didn't have the humour of the first one, probably because the characters were more of surprise in that one so I had greater expectations this time around. I though Johnny Depp as Grindelwald was good but Eddie Redmayne kind of annoyed me with the looking under his fringe thing.

 

[MacMadame]

Eddie Redmayne kind of annoyed me

He annoyed me in the first movie too.

 

[vgerdes]

Saw Fantastic Beasts on the weekend. Quite disappointed, particularly after I enjoyed the first one so much. My friend I was with also felt the same way. It doesn't stand alone as a movie - will need to see the sequel to get the resolution. I hadn't read that before I saw it. But it just didn't have the humour of the first one, probably because the characters were more of surprise in that one so I had greater expectations this time around. I though Johnny Depp as Grindelwald was good but Eddie Redmayne kind of annoyed me with the looking under his fringe thing.

Eddie Redmayne's acting quirks have always kind of annoyed/irritated me. I enjoyed the movie in spite of that, although I agree it wasn't as good as the first. Jude Law makes a good Dumbledore, and I did like Johnny Depp as Grindelwald. Deliciously creepy.

 

[Buzz]

Tickets for Captain Marvel is on sale now.

 

[Vash01]

Going to see GWTW on Wed. At a local theatre. I went there yesterday but they had a very long line to get in. This theatre does not have reserved seats and the theatre was small. They had not even opened, while people were waiting in line. It was a zoo, with more people coming in. I decided to return my ticket and come back Wed. They have two shows that day. It may mean less crowded or shorter lines.

The good thing was that I could watch the Golden Globes from the start.

 

[Vash01]

Into the Spider-Verse is very good. The animation is fantastic, the story is solid. It's an excellent origin story. I didn't figure out who did the voice for Doc Ock until the end credits and was very disappointed in myself because I've seen that person in a bunch of things.

I can't oversell how good the animation is though. It's such a gorgeous movie and I wish I had time to see it in theatre again. I'm definitely more than a little exhausted of the barrage of superhero movies but I never felt that while watching Spider-Verse.

I saw it today and concluded that animated superhero movies are not for me. Actually I don’t normally see Superhero movies. The animation was good but I had a tough time with the perpetual attack on my senses. Sorry. We must be different.

It won the Golden Globe last night. It encouraged me to see it. Didn’t work out for me.

 

[Buzz]

A new Captain Marvel trailer was released today.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GX33bIOA5aA

 

[watchthis!!]

Under the Skin is a sci-fi movie from 2013 starring Scarlett Johansson. It blew my mind. Which is surprising because it's a fairly slow movie and hardly has any dialogue. Plus it feels very far away from being anything like a Hollywood movie...pretty much the opposite of an Avengers movie perhaps. I don't think it would be right to say anything about the movie, even in spoilers, but I will say that if you're game for a moody, contemplative sci-fi-ish movie that's kind of art-house-ish (I mean that in the best possible way), then consider seeing it. The director is Jonathan Glazer, whose only other directing gig was way back in 2000, for Sexy Beast, starring Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley and Ian McShane. Kingsley was nominated for an Oscar for his role in that movie.

Trailer for Under The Skin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S1yhSp5jaI

 

[Kasey]

"David Bowie: The last five years" is a documentary of the great man, showing unseen live footage, and following him on tours and his final few years of making art, through his own voice and those of the people around him on tour and who worked with him. Just a fascinating perspective of such an immensely talented and fascinating man. He'll forever be one of my heroes.

 

[manhn]

I finally saw A Quiet Place. I really kinda loved it. Not just a well done horror movie (which it is--I hope it gets some recognition for its sound design), it's also a thoughtful and elegant piece on family. What I most appreciated about the movie is that the characters did not denigrate to a "Lord of the Flies" type of bedlam. They protected each other.

This, Crazy Rich Asians, and Star is Born. I have been quite pleased with my mainstream movie offerings so far.

 

[tony]

Saw Escape Room last night and I wanted to love it, as I love both the idea of escape rooms and a good mystery. I know this was rated PG-13 and not supposed to be a horror film (thankfully), but it seemed like some of the scenes were edited really hastily and too quick to build the suspense they could've had, and the end of the movie gets a little rushed. There's an interesting if not confusing ending, leaving the door wide open for a second installment -- but the I see the reviews are very mixed.

 

[mrinalini]

Just saw Chloé Zhao's The Rider - what a lovely, moving film! It covers so many meaningful themes and you will love Brady; it really is a film that sneaks up on you as I found myself tearing up at the end! Very simply made (with just six crew members and for next to nothing) and with very little dialogue but so much more profound than many other more self-important films (like First Reformed, which I also just saw). The story behind how the film came to be is a fascinating one, and I'm amazed that someone with the filmmaker's background could bring such tenderness and sensitivity to such subject matter - how gratifying to see that Ms. Zhao is now hitting it big!

If it can sneak in a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, I will be thrilled...I'm hoping it will do what it did with the National Society of Film Critics when it unexpectedly beat Roma.

 

[SandraMGfan]

Saw The Favourite this week. Quite enjoyed it: interesting story, great acting, weird ending.
One of those movies that is great but might not be for multiple viewings!

Could someone explain why it was in the comedy category at the Golden Globes? While there are a few funny moment, that was definitely a drama, borderline tragedy to me.

With this and The Crown this year, Olivia Colman is definitely going to be getting lots of awards nominations! Playing an England Queen (any of them!) seems to always pay off!

 

[Vash01]

Got back from seeing Gone with the Wind in a theatre. My all time favorite movie, and it was great to see it on the big screen, with others. Applause at the end. Vivien Leigh is brilliant as Scarlett O’Hara. I can’t help gushing over this movie. Going to read the book again, very soon. I do have it at home., though the copy is very old.

ETA- In response to my comment on GWTW on facebook, a friend directed me to a theater in another part if the valley. They show classic movies once a month. On Jan. 19 they are showing GWTW. I may see it again.

 

[Kasey]

Just came back from seeing "On the basis of sex", the Hollywoodized biopic of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and her first civil rights/discrimination case. Knowing that it is of course dramatized for Hollywood, it was still quite well done and well acted. There was one point with a certain cameo appearance that had some of our audience applauding (something I never understand in a movie theater, but hey, whateva!) I don't go to the movies often except around Oscar time, and while I don't know that this was Oscar-caliber, it wasn't a total waste of my time either. I'd hit it with a 7/10 (but of course, keep in mind that last year's Oscar winner only got a 5/10 from me, so that's not too bad!)

 

[Vash01]

Saw 'On the basis of sex' today. It was at the top of my list, because I adore RBG. Felicity Jones is very believable as young RBG. Armie Hammer does well as her supportive husband Martin. The movie moves slowly, and sometimes gets bogged down by legal details (I have no law background, so it was a bit hard for me). Still, a very well made and well acted movie. Definitely worth my time. 8/10.

 

[Buzz]

Saw “A Dog’s Way Home” and absolutely loved it!
https://deadline.com/video/a-dogs-way-home-review-ashley-judd-w-bruce-cameron/

 

[Kasey]

Saw “A Dog’s Way Home” and absolutely loved it!
https://deadline.com/video/a-dogs-way-home-review-ashley-judd-w-bruce-cameron/

I was afraid to see that. Anything Hollywood with a dog, bad things happen!!

 

[Japanfan]

I was afraid to see that. Anything Hollywood with a dog, bad things happen!!

I can't watch dog movies in which the dog (or other animals) speak a human language.

 

[Buzz]

As long as a movie stars animals I will go see it. The plot of the movie is partly driven by BSL because the dog is a pitbull which leads to trouble for her family and to them getting separated. You know I had to see it and cheer the poor pup on! No animal actually speaks. All we hear is a voiceover for Bella.

 

[Japanfan]

As long as a movie stars animals I will go see it. The plot of the movie is partly driven by BSL because the dog is a pitbull which leads to trouble for her family and to them getting separated. You know I had to see it and cheer the poor pup on!

In my view the pit bull is unfairly maligned. I just love pitties' big, soft heads!

So now maybe I have to watch the movie - if I can get through it.

No animal actually speaks. All we hear is a voiceover for Bella.

It's the voiceover I'm referring to - of course animals can't speak human languages.