What is the last film you watched?

[Morlock 11]

Saw over the weekend a double feature of Gone Baby, Gone and Fargo at the Cinemateque. I love these midnight double-features. Gone Baby, Gone still hold many problems for me, but it is an excellent film. Several characters are not sketched as carefully as they should be (most notably Morgan Freeman and Michelle Monaghan's characters), as well as the plot feeling a bit too...plotty, when it comes down to something much more important than a thriller. But the main dilemma is presented remarkabley well. Harry Gregson-Williams' score feels a bit cloying to me in the begining...but it settles in as the movie goes on. ***1/2/****. Yet another example of the fine output 2007 has given us.

Then came Fargo. Seen it many times, but this was the first time seeing it in a theater with an audience. The movie is just pitch perfect. I love that despite how great this movie is, the Coen brothers still have 2-3 movies I like more. No filmmaker communicates a love for film and a love for collaboration more than they do, with every single movie. ****/****.

Saw Branagh's Hamlet again with friends. There are many extraordinary things about this movie. But I was struck by how not-long this 4 movie felt. The second longest Hollywood film ever made......and it flies by. I don't know how Branagh did it, and I'm very sorry that after this film, he lost the knack. But if this is the last great movie he makes.....it's one hell of an exit. ****/****.

Than came the first 2008 movie I've seen- Be Kind, Rewind. No way I'm seeing The Science of Sleep now. What an absolute mess of a film. It's optimism is nice, but it's not communicated particularly well. Only good thing about it was the montage of the recreations. Gondry gives film love a bit of a bad name.....above are examples of how to communicate intoxication with the medium in good way. I'm sorry I saw it. **/****.

[odnurega1 0]

Death at a Funeral- One of my new favorite films. Extremely funny!

[Morlock 11]

I avoided that one. I doubted that Oz could get anywhere near the comedy heights of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Bowfinger.

[QMM 4]

Come to think of it, it's very close to actually reading a comic book.

Hey now

[Richard Penna 3,694]

Watched The Bourne Supremacy in glorious 720p HD yesterday. Superb film and I can't wait to see Ultimatum very soon. I've seen Supremacy before, but I have a habit of watching stuff on my secondary monitor while doing stuff like this on the other, and by the end I didn't have a clue what was going on.

Chocolate Factory is one of those few occasions when I thought the original was an amazing film and Burton's was a completely unnecessary way to spend 2 hours. Actually, it's a bit like when I heard a live action Thunderbirds movie was going to be made several years ago, and I jumped for joy, being a massive, massive fan of the original series.

Then Jonathan Frakes got his hands on it... oh dear.

[A24 4,345]

Then came Fargo. Seen it many times, but this was the first time seeing it in a theater with an audience. The movie is just pitch perfect. I love that despite how great this movie is, the Coen brothers still have 2-3 movies I like more. No filmmaker communicates a love for film and a love for collaboration more than they do, with every single movie. ****/****.

It's one of the Coen's that I like the least. I find it too naggy (yaah, yaa, yaah, yaa).

After you see it, see The Sweet Hereafter. Also a 1997 devastating drama scored by Mychael Danna. But a far better one.

The Sweet Hereafter, here I come! I just ordered it!

[Morlock 11]

It's one of the Coen's that I like the least. I find it too naggy (yaah, yaa, yaah, yaa).

Seeing it with an audience crystalized one of the things that's so good about it- the audience was not sure about whether they should laugh, whether they're supposed to laugh...It was fascinating to experience.

The Sweet Hereafter, here I come! I just ordered it!

Let us know when you see it....I want to know if get the same sense (a kind of twist) I did. Either way, it's got an amazing feel to it that stuck with me, and very, very powerful performances.

[Maglorfin 196]

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

[Marian Schedenig 8,207]

Ice Storm is a very strong movie. With a lovely score.

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

Actually, it's a bit like when I heard a live action Thunderbirds movie was going to be made several years ago, and I jumped for joy, being a massive, massive fan of the original series.

I still haven't seen it. I feel I should still watch it someday... when I'm feeling masochistic.

My biggest peeve with it is that it seems to have turned out just to be a Spy Kids rip-off.

Luckily there are already two features from the sixties that were actually done with the puppets (although their quality is also rather debatable).

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Jonathan Frakes deserves some respect, man!

[Richard Penna 3,694]

For what?

[Morlock 11]

Liking Jerry Goldsmith and John Williams.

[pixie_twinkle 48]

Frank Darabont's "The Mist".

Excellent film! One of those few horror films that builds suspense without showing much, but then doesn't disappoint when it does show. By the end my heart was pounding. I wish I'd seen this on the big screen.

Also "Southland Tales". Yes. Well, it looked fun. It just wasn't quite good enough for me to have any desire to put forth the huge amount of effort needed to comprehend all the little plot twists, characters, ridiculous narrative, and stupidly messianic climax. Still, it looked fun...

"Once". A small film. Very small. Also incredibly good. The acting was superb, and the simple story managed to make a huge impact. Highly recommended.

"August Rush". This was pretty bad. Horribly contrived and syrupy. Trying way too hard to be emotional, and inspirational it comes across as neither. AVOID.

[Marian Schedenig 8,207]

I've just read The Mist, I'd rather like to see it now. I kept imagining Janitor from Scrubs in the lead. But that's probably partly due to me watching tons of Scrubs these days.

[Ollie 1,059]

The Ice Storm

I liked it...but I think I need to let it sit for a while. I'm curious as to anyone else's thoughts on the film.

A very good film, it's been awhile since I've seen it but it left a lasting impression.

[QMM 4]

I've just read The Mist, I'd rather like to see it now. I kept imagining Janitor from Scrubs in the lead. But that's probably partly due to me watching tons of Scrubs these days.

I've read what the book's ending was and the movie ending is waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better

[Bryant Burnette 654]

I've just read The Mist, I'd rather like to see it now. I kept imagining Janitor from Scrubs in the lead. But that's probably partly due to me watching tons of Scrubs these days.

I've read what the book's ending was and the movie ending is waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better

I'm a huge King fan, and I'll agree that the movie's ending is better for the movie, but bear in mind that what works in prose and what works on film are not necessarily the same thing. I always loved that the story ended with everyone's fate uncertain. But a film needs something more visceral, and Darabont delivered big time on that score.

However, lest we think that there is no King left in the new ending, allow me to quote from a point close to the end of the story (beware of spoilers, any of you who haven't seen the movie or read the novella):

"I checked the gun and then put it into the glove compartment. Ollie had reloaded it after the expedition to the drugstore. The rest of the shells had disappeared with him, but that was all right. He had fired at Mrs. Carmody, he had fired once at the clawed thing, and the gun had discharged once when it hit the ground. There were four of us in the Scout, but if push came right down to shove, I'd find some other way out for myself."

This is an example of two things simultaneously: how good a writer King can be; and how good an adapter Darabont can be. King drops in this idea -- that David is prepared to do murder to save his son and friends from horrible deaths -- in such a way that you almost skim right over it. Indeed, I'm sure many a reader has. But his writing often rewards those who are really reading it, and that one is a thought dark as night; even though there are still a few pages left, if you've been reading the story closely, this thought has to be in your head as the story ends. And for prose, I think that kind of darkly tinged fadeout works extremely well.

Darabont, needing a more concrete ending, found it in that near-throwaway line. And in his movie, push does indeed come right down to shove. The genius of Darabont kicks in when we see the tanks come rolling in right after David has committed his act of mercy (or sacrifice). And as if that weren't enough of a knife between the ribs, the lady who walked out of the grocery store in the beginning sails by on a troop transport, her children nestled safely beneath her. (That idea, by the way, was actor Jeffrey DeMunn's; Darabont acknowledges him on the film's commentary track, proof positive that Darabont is a stand-up guy.) Most films would be okay with merely having one gut-punch; this one has three, following close at each others' heels. The movie prior to these moments has been excellent, but I think the last few minutes puts it into the realm of classic.

I haven't yet watched the black-and-white version on the DVD, but I've skimmed through it, and it looks very promising. What a great use of DVD technology!

[Trent B 337]

I watched The Last Of The Mohican's the Director's Extended Cut earlier. I haven't seen the film in years forgotten how good it was.

[A24 4,345]

Knocked Up: The film had its moments but I just couldn't see that guy getting involved with Katherine Heigl. The more they were separated, the better the movie was.

Alex

[Morlock 11]

The main conceit was a lot to ask.....but I surrendered to it. Loved the film. I thought it was very funny (the Munich thing was friggin's hillarious), and even gave in to it's sweetness. My expectations of the Frat pack were so low.....this one snuck up on me.

[A24 4,345]

The main character's friend gave a very funny De Niro impression about shoes.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Der Ewige Jude (The Eternal Jew)

Fritz Hippler's startling and hard-hitting documentary. The central thesis being the immutable racial personality traits that characterize the Jew as a wandering cultural parasite.

This is shown by way of several segments, suggesting Albert Einstein was involved in pornography or Peter Lorre was a child killer. The most startling and persuasive scene comes near the end of the film, a grim depiction of a ritualised slaughter of cattle. This long scene, lasting several minutes, shows the cows and sheep in all their death throes.

The film ends with Hitler explaining the problems of the Jewry in Europe and says: “If the international finance-Jewry inside and outside Europe should succeed in plunging the nations into a world war yet again, then the outcome will not be the victory of Jewry, but rather the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe.

The direction is crude but not in-effective, with actor Harry Giese doing a remarkable job with the narration.

Despite the old, faded, black and white footage, this film still seems as relevant as it was in 1940.

***/****

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

I'm sorry -- what?

[Morlock 11]

Saw Silverado. First time. Pretty good. It's strange- like Tombstone (which I saw a couple of weeks ago), I grew less interested towards the end of the film. But I was very taken with the first few minutes. Great looking, some fantastic compositions.

I liked Kevin Kline and Scott Glenn, and was very surprised that I liked Costner, too. His hyperactive character came off very well, I thought. Brian Dennehy was good, even though the hierarchy of the villains was never clear. Rosanna Arquette looked good, but had no part. Jeff Goldblum stuck out in the period setting.

But the biggest problem in the film is the Danny Glover character. I'm generally not one for being offended by stereotypes...but it was rather egregious here. Everything bad that could happen, does. He's kicked out of a bar. His mother dies. His father is killed. His house is burnt down. His sister gets shot. He is the defintion of the token black guy, ever so grateful to the white folks for speaking up for him. Left a sour taste.

The score was fine....big sprawling stuff. Nothing particularly special, but worked well enough, and the big flourishes that didn't work in Tombstone generally work well here.

Overall, enjoyable western. Good looking, nice feel. Doesn't quite come together as a script, an inevitable result of the multiple main characters, but it works rather well, concidering. ***/****.

P.S.- it was funny to see Wilson from Home Improvement. And one sees his entire face!

[A24 4,345]

I haven't seen Silverado since it came out in cinema. I thought it was fluff back then. I don't remember one single moment of it.

[Maglorfin 196]

I feel like watching Kasdan's Wyatt Earp again after some time, maybe tonight.

[Morlock 11]

I recall almost nothing of it, yet I still have bad memories.

[Maglorfin 196]

As far as I'm concerned, it's a decent movie. Seen many much worse than it.

[Morlock 11]

Have a ball. I personally have trouble with most things costner-related.

[überFranz 0]

Der Ewige Jude (The Eternal Jew)

Fritz Hippler's startling and hard-hitting documentary. The central thesis being the immutable racial personality traits that characterize the Jew as a wandering cultural parasite.

This is shown by way of several segments, suggesting Albert Einstein was involved in pornography or Peter Lorre was a child killer. The most startling and persuasive scene comes near the end of the film, a grim depiction of a ritualised slaughter of cattle. This long scene, lasting several minutes, shows the cows and sheep in all their death throes.

The film ends with Hitler explaining the problems of the Jewry in Europe and says: “If the international finance-Jewry inside and outside Europe should succeed in plunging the nations into a world war yet again, then the outcome will not be the victory of Jewry, but rather the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe.

The direction is crude but not in-effective, with actor Harry Giese doing a remarkable job with the narration.

Despite the old, faded, black and white footage, this film still seems as relevant as it was in 1940.

***/****

Eine große Arbeit ethischer Klarheit. Es lässt das blenden visuell narretive des Riefenstahl die Filme von der gleichen Epoche nicht, aber ist in vielen Wegen ein direkterer, ehrlicher Film.

**** Aus **** ich würde sagen.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I'm sorry -- what'

[Morlock 11]

Again- according to Babel Fish: " A large work of ethical clarity. It lets dazzle the visually narretive scoring steel films of the same epoch not, but is in many ways a more direct, honest film."

Where do you come up with this stuff?

[überFranz 0]

Beurteilen durch Ihren Ort. Sie sind offensichtlich gegen diesen Film voreingenommen

[Ollie 1,059]

Again- according to Babel Fish: " A large work of ethical clarity. It lets dazzle the visually narretive scoring steel films of the same epoch not, but is in many ways a more direct, honest film."

Where do you come up with this stuff?

[nightscape94 965]

Rendition

No Country For Old Men (again)

Science of Sleep

In the Valley of Elah

Tim, who has Road Hogs playing in the background, on mute, whilst on the computer. How depressing

[Morlock 11]

Vittorio De Sica's The Garden of the Finzi-Continis. Not saying all that much, but a very affecting look at the mood in Italy (well, the mood in most of Europe, I guess) leading up to the war, symbolized through the enclosed life of a wealthy Jewish family in a small Italian city. The movie has an uneasy balance between the simple and very effective look at the uneasiness leading up to the war, and the love story in it.

Still, a good movie, a fantastic mood piece that seems to strike the spirit of the time.

***/****.

[Maglorfin 196]

Mission: Impossible III. Saw it for the first time (yeah, I know it's late ). Didn't like it too much, the first one (De Palma, 1996) is still the best by far. Nice job by Giacchino, though.

[Morlock 11]

Indeed. A remarkably forgettable film. Giacchino's score is good, but overly busy for my money. Every tiem I try to listen to it, try to pick out the details, I feel like there are several unnecessary lines in there.

[QMM 4]

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Felt redundant after having seen Snatch, I was getting bored by the time it was over. Not a bad movie, but...you know.

Once Upon a Time in the West

Now I understand why it's a classic. Moving on

In the Line of Fire

Preview for this on AMC made me get it and I was pleasantly surprised. Malkovich really held the film together for me and his scenes were the best parts of the movie.

Chinatown and 12 Angry Men

More classics, 'nuff said.

Wall Street

Probably Charlie Sheen's best role and a tie for Douglas (other being between The Game and Basic Instinct). Liked everything mostly except for the '80s score but whatever.

The Last Emperor

I had been introduced to this in a film study class last year and had only been shown a handful of scenes for the cinematography. After watching it, it certainly does have some of the best cinematography I've ever seen with some truly awe-inspiring shots inside the Forbidden City. As for the movie itself, I enjoyed it but I don't think I'll ever want to watch the around 4 hour long televsion version.

[Morlock 11]

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Felt redundant after having seen Snatch, I was getting bored by the time it was over. Not a bad movie, but...you know.

Damn good movie. Snatch is better, though.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Now I understand why it's a classic. Moving on

I hope you mean 'The West' or 'America'. Once Upon a Time in Mexico is in no way a classic.

In the Line of Fire

Preview for this on AMC made me get it and I was pleasantly surprised. Malkovich really held the film together for me and his scenes were the best parts of the movie.

It is a surprisingly good movie. Malkovich is excellent. Probably Peterson's best after Das Boot....not that that's saying much.

Chinatown and 12 Angry Men

More classics, 'nuff said.

Indeed. Two of the greats.

Wall Street

Probably Charlie Sheen's best role and a tie for Douglas (other being between The Game and Basic Instinct). Liked everything mostly except for the '80s score but whatever.

This could be so much better with Goldsmith on it...although. considering where he was at the time, it's also be a mostly synth score.

The Last Emperor

I had been introduced to this in a film study class last year and had only been shown a handful of scenes for the cinematography. After watching it, it certainly does have some of the best cinematography I've ever seen with some truly awe-inspiring shots inside the Forbidden City. As for the movie itself, I enjoyed it but I don't think I'll ever want to watch the around 4 hour long televsion version.

The original version is better. Don't quite remember the differences between the two....but I do recall the shorter one flowing much better. The movie has it's slow spots for me....but most of it is excellent, and it's got one of the most emotionally satisfying finales ever. Fantastic theme by Sakamoto, too.

[QMM 4]

Yes I meant Once Upon a Time in the West, ugh shouldn't have made that mistake

[pixie_twinkle 48]

Good. Just bought that from Wal Mart for 5 bucks! I'll be watching it as soon as I finish watching Doctor Who: The Beginning which I bought this week.

[A24 4,345]

I'll be watching it as soon as I finish watching Doctor Who: The Beginning which I bought this week.

What is it that you see in that show? It looks so bad.

The 40 Year-Old Virgin: I thought this was better than Knocked Up. Everything clicked. I really enjoyed this one. The "You know how I know that you're gay?" improv was hilarious. Steve Carell, who played the 40 year-old virgin, was perfect for the part.

Shadrach: So bad I turned it off.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Look Who's Talking Too - so bad, I laughed my arse off! Mr. Toilet Man is comin' to eat your pee-pee!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Superman The Movie.

Neil, Joe....

My friends, I understand now!

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Vacancy.

Not a bad Hitch rip-off and it was fun seeing an evil Ned Flanders.

[Luke Skywalker 1,795]

Superman The Movie.

Neil, Joe....

My friends, I understand now!

You took your time, huh?

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

He's quick.

[Marian Schedenig 8,207]

Superman The Movie.

Neil, Joe....

My friends, I understand now!

Hadn't you seen it before?