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

[ЭPiKUilyam]

Has anyone seen "King Richard" yet? I love the Williams family, but I really really can't stand Will Smith. As in, because he's in it I don't want to see it. Is it good? I know their story by heart in all their documentaries so I'm not sure a Hollywoodified version of their life is even appropriate. At least Tonya Harding had more room for "artistic license" so to speak!! lol

 

[watchthis!!]

Four more movies from Entertainment Weekly’s Fall Movie Preview:

December 3rd – Wolf, starring George MacKay, Lily-Rose Depp and Paddy Considine. This one looks strange. It’s about people who believe they are animals. Hmm.


December 10th – West Side Story, starring a new cast with Ansel Elgort and Rita Moreno (who of course was in the original 1961 version – for which she won an Oscar). The weird thing about this trailer is that there is hardly ANY music in it. I am wondering if they don’t want to scare off potential viewers who might discover that this is one of those movie where people SING!


December 17th – Spider-Man: No Way Home, starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jon Favreau, Marisa Tomei, J. B. Smoove, Benedict Wong, Alfred Molina, and Jamie Foxx. This one looks to have a trippy storyline, with a “multiverse” enabling Jamie Foxx from the Andrew Garfield Spider-Man time frame and Alfred Molina from the Tobey Maguire movies to be part of Tom Holland’s story. Like I said…trippy!


December 17th – The Lost Daughter, starring Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ed Harris. Maggie Gyllenhaal directs for her first time. Another trippy movie. A woman becomes obsessed with another woman and her child. This movie was written by Gyllenhaal and is based on the novel of the same name by Italian author Elena Ferrante. You might remember her name being in the news as it as a pseudonym and for a while people were going a bit crazy trying to figure out who was behind the pseudonym.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

I saw Spencer. If you liked Jackie or similar heavy-handed films with lazy, on-the-nose metaphors, incomprehensible line readings from the main actress, and films that try too hard to invoke psychological horror into a biopic film while replacing storytelling with obnoxious scores and overwrought direction, then you’ll like this one.

So Kristen Stewart is the next Renee Zellweger? :sigh:

 

[VGThuy]

So Kristen Stewart is the next Renee Zellweger? :sigh:

Renee might have been better…

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

I saw Spencer. If you liked Jackie or similar heavy-handed films with lazy, on-the-nose metaphors, incomprehensible line readings from the main actress, and films that try too hard to invoke psychological horror into a biopic film while replacing storytelling with obnoxious scores and overwrought direction, then you’ll like this one.

Did you see Nicole Kidman in the biopic about Princess Grace (Kelly)? I read that it was bad. Not even campy fun bad, but just an overall unpleasant experience. I was worried Spencer would be the same... plus I'm not a fan of Kristen Stewart to begin with.

 

[smurfy]

At the time that came out there were at least 3 movies at the cinema which has stories about dementia. Having a father with the disease I could not go and see any of them.

I did see No Time to Die on the weekend. It was very good. I think the weakest role was Rami Malek as the villian. DO NOT READ MY SPOILER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING

Spoiler: I don't know what to make of the ending

Does this mean that Bond is now officially dead? Is this the end of the franchise? Someone else might be able to elaborate.

Did you stay through the credits til the end? Bond movies always have something written at the end of the credits and this one did and answers your question.
only read spoiler if you want to know.

Spoiler

This movie said ''James bond will return " In previous movies it would say 'James Bond will return in x name of movie (back when it was like every other year).

 

[smurfy]

Saw Wes Anderson's s The French Dispatch last evening. Quelle folie! My husband liked it the best of his films. I had to spend too much time trying to figure things out, which you are obviously not supposed to do.

I just saw it and I was bleh. I have enjoyed many of Anderson's movies and find them amusing. This one not so much, felt long.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Did you stay through the credits til the end? Bond movies always have something written at the end of the credits and this one did and answers your question.
only read spoiler if you want to know.

Thanks. No didn't stay to the end.

 

[PeterG]

Seeing as how Kristin Stewart might get an Oscar nomination for "Spencer" this year, I thought this article was interesting:

Kristen Stewart Said She's Only Made "Five Really Good Movies," But Here Are 10 That Should Have Earned Her An Oscar

1. Speak (2004)

2. Adventureland (2009)

3. The Runaways (2010)

4. Camp X-Ray (2014)

5. Still Alice (2014)

6. The Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)

7. Certain Women (2016)

8. Personal Shopper (2016)

9. JT LeRoy (2018)

10. The Happiest Season (2020)

I hadn't heard of the movie "Speak" before. Will watch it when I get a chance. Also in the movie are Elizabeth Perkins, Steve Zahn, Michael Angarano (This Is Us) and D.B. Sweeney. Here's the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJlfYNKNWow

 

[clairecloutier]

At the time that came out there were at least 3 movies at the cinema which has stories about dementia. Having a father with the disease I could not go and see any of them.

I don’t understand why Hollywood makes so many movies about dementia, kids dying, child abuse, etc.

There are certain things I just don’t need to see onscreen (much less pay money for and go out of my way to see in a theater).

I guess everyone’s boundaries on this stuff are different, though.

 

[vgerdes]

I don’t understand why Hollywood makes so many movies about dementia, kids dying, child abuse, etc.

There are certain things I just don’t need to see onscreen (much less pay money for and go out of my way to see in a theater).

I guess everyone’s boundaries on this stuff are different, though.

Sometimes movies about "death and disease," abuse, drug addiction, etc., can be cathartic -- but they can also be triggering for those who have experienced similar trauma. Some people can also have a very negative reaction to the emotions triggered by certain movies, even if they've never experienced the trauma depicted in them. For instance... I watched Schindler's List once. Just once. I can't do it again. It hurt me on a deeply emotional level.

ETA (in response to post below):

Our culture (US) pretends death and dying don't exist, that people don't have mental health issues or chronic illnesses. We don't talk about them and so the people that are experiencing these things often feel shame or can't get the support they need. I think shining a light on uncomfortable subjects is something movies do well and would hate to see these kinds of movies not get made just because they aren't big blockbusters like the MCU movies (that I also love).

We need all kinds of movies not just feel-good movies.

Absolutely. Just because I can't or won't watch a particular film doesn't mean someone else shouldn't be able to -- or to love it.

 

[MacMadame]

Our culture (US) pretends death and dying don't exist, that people don't have mental health issues or chronic illnesses. We don't talk about them and so the people that are experiencing these things often feel shame or can't get the support they need. I think shining a light on uncomfortable subjects is something movies do well and would hate to see these kinds of movies not get made just because they aren't big blockbusters like the MCU movies (that I also love).

We need all kinds of movies not just feel-good movies.

 

[Aussie Willy]

I don’t understand why Hollywood makes so many movies about dementia, kids dying, child abuse, etc.

There are certain things I just don’t need to see onscreen (much less pay money for and go out of my way to see in a theater).

I guess everyone’s boundaries on this stuff are different, though.

Because the world isn't a nice place and those things happen? And in real life those things are a lot more common than what you think? Dementia particularly does need movies on those subjects because it is very misunderstood and at some stage most people are going to have to deal with it, whether it be a relative or themselves. We do need movies on those subjects but people can have a choice to see them or not. I might still see those movies just at the moment I don't want to.

The latest controversial movie here where I am is Nintram. Which is Martin spelt backwards. Based on the Port Arthur massacre where 36 people were killed by a lone gunman and contributed to our gun regulations which are some of the tightest in the world. It is being shown are one cinema where I live in Hobart. The cinema has not advertised or promoted it out of consideration for the community because many people were directly impacted by it. They are still showing it for those who want to see it.

 

[clairecloutier]

Our culture (US) pretends death and dying don't exist, that people don't have mental health issues or chronic illnesses. We don't talk about them and so the people that are experiencing these things often feel shame or can't get the support they need. I think shining a light on uncomfortable subjects is something movies do well and would hate to see these kinds of movies not get made just because they aren't big blockbusters like the MCU movies (that I also love).

We need all kinds of movies not just feel-good movies.

Good point. I don’t disagree.

 

[watchthis!!]

Did you see Nicole Kidman in the biopic about Princess Grace (Kelly)? I read that it was bad. Not even campy fun bad, but just an overall unpleasant experience. I was worried Spencer would be the same... plus I'm not a fan of Kristen Stewart to begin with.

I saw it. After all the negativity heaped on the film. And after seeing it...I had no idea what people's problems with this movie were. It's a fairly standard bio pic, a high-quality one. My only guess is that the movie covered a difficult time in the life of Grace Kelly and maybe the naysayers wanted a movie about a beautiful blonde (and HAPPY, dammit!) princess?

 

[VGThuy]

One thing I didn't get about Grace of Monaco was why were we supposed to care about some rich man's paradise/tax haven?

 

[skatingguy]

One thing I didn't get about Grace of Monaco was why were we supposed to care about some rich man's paradise/tax haven?

Same reason anyone care about any super rich people, and their things.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Same reason anyone care about any super rich people, and their things.

You mean like ROYALS, for which we have a both a general and a specific thread?

Voyeurism/fantasy or wish fulfillment/envy venting, perhaps?

 

[VGThuy]

I mean the whole plotline was convincing the audience that Monaco was worth saving and it's like, why? I thought the answer would be about the culture and the people and the right of the people to self-govern, but it was all just about keeping casinos and letting rich playboys and their mistresses have fun. And there was some weird espionage subplot and Prince Renier's sister or something trying to overthrow him. All I knew was by the end of the movie, I wouldn't have cared of all their yachts had exploded with all of them in it.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

I mean the whole plotline was convincing the audience that Monaco was worth saving and it's like, why? I thought the answer would be about the culture and the people and the right of the people to self-govern, but it was all just about keeping casinos and letting rich playboys and their mistresses have fun. And there was some weird espionage subplot and Prince Renier's sister or something trying to overthrow him. All I knew was by the end of the movie, I wouldn't have cared of all their yachts had exploded with all of them in it.

How Dynasty - BB would be in paroxysms of ecstasy!

 

[Cachoo]

One thing I didn't get about Grace of Monaco was why were we supposed to care about some rich man's paradise/tax haven?

I might have an enjoyed a movie about Grace Kelly before she was Princess Grace. I was in Monaco once and it felt so odd, as a tourist, standing at some area of the palace while the Prince was there talking to acquaintances--incongruous somehow.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

I might have an enjoyed a movie about Grace Kelly before she was Princess Grace. I was in Monaco once and it felt so odd, as a tourist, standing at some area of the palace while the Prince was there talking to acquaintances--incongruous somehow.

There was a TV movie in the 1980's starring Cheryl Ladd of the "Charlie's Angels" TV series.

Grace Kelly (film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[PeterG]

I agree with what others have said, but wanted to add a few thoughts.

I don’t understand why Hollywood makes so many movies about dementia, kids dying, child abuse, etc.

I'm going to respond as if this was maybe in one way...not a literal statement. Which is valid. Movies can be such a great escape for us. They can be inspiring and uplifting and take us to places (literally and figuratively as well as real and completely make believe) that we might never get to experience otherwise. I totally get the frame of mind, "why do we have to have these movies". I'm wondering if there's a hopefulness in your comment where one could wish these things didn't have to exist. I get that. But until that day comes, I hope that whatever people can do to remedy the problems that exist...they do it. One of those ways is filmmaking. And hopefully the movies on topics such as these have put a dent into these very problems and maybe as a result, less of these hurtful things now occur.

There are certain things I just don’t need to see onscreen (much less pay money for and go out of my way to see in a theater).

I feel that way about really violent movies. Stallone and Schwarzenegger and the younger men in that vein who are "carrying the torch". And some females as well, although with actresses, I think to myself, "I don't think this is what Gloria Steinem and other great women were fighting for...for there to be films where women can be as horribly violent as men". I also can't handle really violent horror movies where I have to close my eyes and look down...maybe even plug my ears until the scene concludes.

I guess everyone’s boundaries on this stuff are different, though.

I have found of the movies that interest me that many serious films interest me in comparison to lighter fare. And sometimes of the DVD's I have from the library, I have ten or more serious-themed movies and nothing fun. Lately I have been getting old sitcoms on DVD to balance things out. Right now I'm on season five of All In The Family, season one of Mary Tyler Moore and season three of Roseanne. And I had the first season of Cheers, but I had maxed out my renewals and had to return it.

Thank you for posting thoughts that provided us with so much discussion.

 

[Buzz]

Spider Man No Way Home trailer 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYzbalQ6Lg8

 

[Cachoo]

I finally watched "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" and wow: What an amazing guy. I'm glad the movie jumped around in time so we could see him pre and post stroke. To dictate a book with one working eye blink and the people who helped him--incredible. It is both a depressing subject and the triumph of the human will.

 

[watchthis!!]

The last movies from the Entertainment Weekly fall movie preview. Most look pretty bad from the trailers.

December 22nd - The Matrix Resurrections - Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jada Pinkett Smith return and new cast members include Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Christina Ricci. The trailer looks like John Wick 4. Maybe that’s because Keanu Reeve’s scenes in this trailer don’t appear any different than how he “acts” in the John Wick movies.

December 22nd - A Journal for Jordan is directed by Denzel Washington and it looks really boring. Michael B. Jordan plays a solider in Iraq who writes in a journal for his newborn son. Yawn.

December 22nd – The King’s Man. This is a prequel to the Kingsman movies. Except this time around, they remove all the fun of those movies completely. Which is a shame because the cast is great (although most are not even featured in the trailer): Ralph Fiennes Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou and Charles Dance.

December 31st – Cyrano is a musical romance with only Peter Dinklage as a well-known actor in the cast. I’m undecided about the trailer. Wikipedia mentions that it has an 86% approval rating, but that’s based on only five reviews at this time.

 

[PeterG]

What is the WORST movie you have EVER seen?

 

[Cachoo]

What is the WORST movie you have EVER seen?

That's a tough one: There are so many turkeys out there but I haven't seen a lot of them. I remember being in the theater, still young, yet knowing I was watching a true stinker: Airport '77.

 

[Jay42]

What is the WORST movie you have EVER seen?

Lucy. The ending genuinely still irritates me. It’s so dumb and while
I’m generally quite good at suspending my disbelief for a movie a movie the bad science is so bad that it can’t be ignored. The ending just piles on top of everything else and makes it so much worse.

 

[Japanfan]

For me, it would be 'Ghostbusters'.

Not to say that is was THAT terrible, I know a lot of people loved it, and think several more have been made?

Generally I don't watch bad movies. If I go to a theater, it's to a movie I know I want to see. I did have to watch required movies as a film studies major in uni, but most of those were pretty good.

Mind you, I didn't care one bit for 'It's a Wonderful Life'.