MOVIES ~ Any of ya'll seen any good (or shitty) movies in recent weeks/months? Post reviews, feedback, movie news, trailers, recommendations, etc ...

[joneblaze]

Pain Hustlers





Plot Pains

PRAISE: The first half of Pain Killers is very good as the story about Liza Drake (Emily Blunt very good performance), a determined single mother whose marketing tactics sparked an epidemic plays out I couldn't help but root for her as things in her life are going from bad to worse and when her success finally comes there was a feeling of elation. Chris Evans is also good as a fellow pharmaceutical pusher and Andy Garcia as their
floundering pharmaceutical startup boss turns in an eccentric and good performance. Some dramatic moments really work especially when the fallout and ultra greed starts to grow and the word moral no longer becomes a part of various characters vocabulary.

PROBLEMS: The shift in tones and visuals are so abrupt in the movie it definitely took me out of the film a few times. It's also very repetitive. There's a been there done that feel ,and it's definitely a lot in this and the subject matter on which its based I've seen done a lot better in other series and films.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 6

 

[Flawless]

This is the B movie version of the creator

The company behind it always makes low budget versions of upcoming movies, how are they making money from these? Streaming cant be paying that well.

 

[blackbull1970]

Nun 2
2023

4.3/10

This film came out in September and went up on MAX last week. So I watched it last night on MAX.

The film is an immediate sequel from the first. It opens up with some scenarios that threw me off for the 15 minutes, but that first part was explained soon after.

Nothing for scares or suspense, the plot played out predictable after the first 20 minutes of the film.

One question with the demon Valak (The Nun) is her method of attack with her standing at the end of a long corridor. There was a quick scene where one of the girls opened the door and there was a decorated well lit hallway with the Nun standing at the other end. This has been done in all the films she has appeared in. Hopefully they give an answer, I suspect whoever the Nun is that Valak took over has something to with the corridor. If it has been explained, I must have missed it.

There is a mid credit scene leading into a future “Conjuring” film.

Synopsis

​

 

[playahaitian]

Milli Vanilli documentary

Been looking forward to this​

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

I've enjoyed her work in recent years on Only Murders in the Building, and The Idol ...

‘The Holdovers’ Will Win Da’Vine Joy Randolph an Oscar

She already deserved an award for nearly saving “The Idol” from total disaster earlier this year. But this impeccable performance should guarantee her a trophy.

www.thedailybeast.com

‘The Holdovers’ scene-stealer Da’Vine Joy Randolph is the Oscar frontrunner

Lily Gladstone’s switch from featured to lead for “Killers of the Flower Moon” sent the Best Supporting Actress Oscar race into chaos. Gladstone was the heavy favorite but her dep…

www.goldderby.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Monsters mashed: How Universal Studios fumbled its Dark Universe franchise

Monsters mashed: How Universal Studios fumbled its Dark Universe franchise

www.avclub.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Robert Englund on Freddy Krueger, Stranger Things, and his 'rock star lifestyle'

Robert Englund on Freddy Krueger, Stranger Things, and his 'rock star lifestyle'

www.avclub.com

20 great horror movies that were never released in theaters

20 great horror movies that were never released in theaters

www.avclub.com

The 40 greatest horror movie villains of all time, ranked

The 40 greatest horror movie villains of all time, ranked

www.avclub.com

Every David Fincher movie, ranked

Every David Fincher movie, ranked

www.avclub.com

Every Friday The 13th movie ranked from worst to best

Every Friday The 13th movie ranked from worst to best

www.avclub.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Which Year Has the Best Horror Movie Starting Five?

It’s Halloween—that means it’s time to make basketball teams out of horror movies

www.theringer.com

John Carpenter, Dark Lord of the Film Score

The horror master behind ‘Halloween’ and other classics has had a second career as a successful composer. But if you ask him, it almost happened by accident.

www.theringer.com

 

[joneblaze]

The Killer





Killer Confidential

PRAISE: I loved the opening line to this movie about an assassin who gets embroiled in an international manhunt because it's so true !!
There are two routes a movie like this can take. One would be ultra safe and clichéd and one would be just a bit clichéd but far more enjoyable. Fortunately Director David Fincher and writer Andrew Kevin Walker chose the latter. Michael Fassbender is terrific as the mysterious assassin. He turns in an intense, laser focused and unflinching performance. The assassins voice over is like a diary and instructional manual. Charles Parnell makes the most of his screen time and Tilda Swinton does so as well.
Fincher easily frames and presents his characters especially the assassin in such a way that I thought I knew everything about the character so it was very surprising when a turn happens I didn't see coming. Going back to the voice over I wonder if some of what is said was purposely put in to throw the viewer off a bit if so .....good job !!
Fincher also displays the partial paranoia a person may experience after doing something sinister. Fincher and Walker insert dark humor and nods to nostalgia that brought a big smile to my face. I appreciated the intensity and choreography in a standout action sequence.
Fincher definitely knows how to draw an audience in with a simple quiet conversation and then rattle them with an explosion of violence.

PROBLEMS: The pacing could have been better. I think the film could have used an extra fifteen minutes especially to flesh out a couple of under developed characters.
I wish one of the random characters had mentioned something about one of the running nostalgia nods in the film that would have added to the humor of it and been a bit more realistic.

Scale of 1 to 10 an 8

 

[playahaitian]

Tim Burton dismisses 'disturbing' AI recreations of his style

Tim Burton isn't impressed by AI recreations of his filmmaking style: 'It takes something from your soul or psyche; that is very disturbing.'

ew.com

 

[Ceenote]

In ‘Silver Dollar Road,’ One Family’s Fight for Land Reflects a Nation’s Racist Scars

Raoul Peck’s searing new documentary examines the Reels family’s attempts to hold on to the property they’ve owned for over 100 years. He takes us inside the filming of an essential American story.

www.vanityfair.com

This is a hell of a show..how whites aint shit with money power and influence! Shit can make u angry as hell!

The show is on prime or wherever u can find it... one of many of us that has never gotten a chance to tell our story, but they got a chance to tell theirs and im glad to hear and see it!

 

[blackbull1970]

Cat People
1942

6/10

I stumbled across this while going thru MAX looking for something.

This is the original film that was redone in the 1980s you may be familiar with starring Nastassja Kinski.

It’s a short film just over a hour. What’s interesting about it is the sexual premise of the main character and how they get around the censors back in the day. The 80’s remake went all out cuz standards had changed.

There is no VFX/SFX showing the main character going from cat to human or back. It’s all done off camera. There is just two suspenseful scenes that don’t show anything, but it gets the point across.

The casting of the main character, they did a good job by choosing her cuz she has a slight resemblance to a cat. She also looks similar to Eartha Kitt to some degree.

There is a sequel called “Curse of the Cat People”.

Synopsis

Irena Dubrovna (Simone Simon), a New York City--based fashion designer who hails from Serbia, begins a romance with marine engineer Oliver Reed (Kent Smith). After the couple gets married, Oliver becomes concerned about Irena's notion that she is cursed and may transform into a large cat in the heat of passion. Confiding in his beautiful assistant, Alice Moore (Jane Randolph), about his marital issues, Oliver unwittingly triggers Irena's curse, with tragic results.

​

 

[blackbull1970]

Monsters mashed: How Universal Studios fumbled its Dark Universe franchise

Monsters mashed: How Universal Studios fumbled its Dark Universe franchise

www.avclub.com

They should just start from scratch and reboot the franchise and go full hardcore horror with the characters.

No romance, no superhero shit.


FX’s “The Strain” laid the foundation for modern horror for these characters.

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Hollywood Has Reached Peak Two-Part Movies

Splitting a movie in two can serve both commerce and art, say those involved with such projects, but it also comes with risks (see: 'Divergent').

www.hollywoodreporter.com

50 Years Ago, a Legendary Director Made a Terrifying Occult Thriller — And Created a New Genre

Nicolas Roeg's finest film is also one of the scariest films of all time. Fifty years later, its influence on the current wave of trauma horror cannot be understated.

www.inverse.com

‘Terrifier 2’ Filmmaker Damien Leone Says ‘Terrifier 3’ Will Return to the First Movie’s Tone

In a franchise-spanning conversation, the writer-director traces how the no-budget feature starring Art the Clown launched a box office brand.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Ava DuVernay on the Lessons Learned From ‘Origin’: “History Is Dangerous. It Depends on Who’s Got Control of It”

The filmmaker spoke to THR ahead of the Neon film's U.S. premiere at the Virginia Film Festival, revealing the challenges and rewards of bringing Isabel Wilkerson's acclaimed book 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents' to the screen.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Hollywood Predicted Tupac Would be a Movie Star. His Response: “I’m Not Going to Be Alive”

An exclusive excerpt from a new biography of the rapper reveals how his powerful turn in 1992's 'Juice' set him on course for an acting career, and gave audiences their first glimpse of his superstar charisma.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

The Royal Hotel Is The Best Movie You Didn't Get Around To Watching Last Month - /Film

The Royal Hotel, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, and The Burial represent the kind of solid, meat-and-potatoes filmmaking that's fallen by the wayside.

www.slashfilm.com

Is The Marvels Facing Certain Doom At The Box Office? - /Film

The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is releasing to little fanfare. Is The Marvels doomed before it even hits theaters?

www.slashfilm.com

Why A Sequel To It Follows Feels Like A Box Office Home Run - /Film

Writer/director David Robert Mitchell is coming back with a sequel to It Follows. The film, titled They Follow, is set to be box office slam dunk.

www.slashfilm.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Indiana Jones And Harrison Ford Are Getting A Feature-Length Documentary On Disney+ - /Film

Harrison Ford has been playing Indiana Jones for over 40 years, and a new feature-length documentary coming to Disney+ will look at both of their legacies.

www.slashfilm.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

 

[playahaitian]

A movie that made over $900 million but still lost money flies high on streaming

A movie that earned over $900 million at the box office but is still alleged to have lost money is soaring on streaming.

wegotthiscovered.com

'Bohemian Rhapsody' screenwriter accuses producer of unpaid profits

The Queen biopic lost $51 million, according to accounting statements from Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

www.nbcnews.com

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Screenwriter Sues Over Claim the Blockbuster Lost $51 Million

The screenwriter of "Bohemian Rhapsody" alleges that he has not been paid net proceeds because Fox claims the film lost $51 million.

variety.com

 

[joneblaze]

The After





PRAISE : This short film hit me with a couple of gut punches and then a lot of raw emotion. David Oyelowo is terrific in this Netflix film giving a soulful performance that is laced with shock and grief. Also displaying how coldly some people can only see themselves forgetting what's really important in life.

PROBLEMS: NONE

Scale of 1 to 10 a 10

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Taraja Ramsess, Stunt Performer in Marvel Films, Dies at 41

He and three of his children were killed in a car crash in Atlanta on Halloween night.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

As SAG-AFTRA Responds to Studio Offer, AI Protections for High-Earning Members Remain Sticking Point

According to multiple sources familiar with the state of the negotiations, entertainment companies are seeking to pay for scans, but not their use or re-use.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

The 100 Greatest Film Books of All Time

THR’s list of must-read tomes — determined by a jury of more than 300 Hollywood heavyweights including Steven Spielberg, David Zaslav, Liza Minnelli and Ava DuVernay — proves there’s one topic the supposedly reading-averse industry can’t get enough of: itself.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

‘The Marvels’ First Reactions Praise ‘Short and Sweet,’ ‘Astonishingly Wacky’ Film: ‘Exactly What a Comic Book Movie Should Be’

Film journalists are weighing in on the latest Marvel blockbuster, featuring the return of Brie Larson as Captain Marvel.

variety.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

The Peculiar Rise of the Vanity Biopic

Biopics these days seem to be pitched less as a great idea for a movie than as a confirmation of fame—a milestone in the life of a public figure

www.theringer.com

What Lies Beneath ‘The Killer’

David Fincher’s latest thriller is cold to the touch and might even seem impenetrable, but it contains multitudes for anyone interested in finding meaning

www.theringer.com

What You Need to Know Before Watching ‘The Marvels’

Ahead of Carol Danvers’s marvelous return to the big screen, here’s a hefty download on everything connected to ‘The Marvels’ since the 2019 release of ‘Captain Marvel’

www.theringer.com

John Carpenter, Dark Lord of the Film Score

The horror master behind ‘Halloween’ and other classics has had a second career as a successful composer. But if you ask him, it almost happened by accident.

www.theringer.com

 

[blackbull1970]

The Killer





Killer Confidential

PRAISE: I loved the opening line to this movie about an assassin who gets embroiled in an international manhunt because it's so true !!
There are two routes a movie like this can take. One would be ultra safe and clichéd and one would be just a bit clichéd but far more enjoyable. Fortunately Director David Fincher and writer Andrew Kevin Walker chose the latter. Michael Fassbender is terrific as the mysterious assassin. He turns in an intense, laser focused and unflinching performance. The assassins voice over is like a diary and instructional manual. Charles Parnell makes the most of his screen time and Tilda Swinton does so as well.
Fincher easily frames and presents his characters especially the assassin in such a way that I thought I knew everything about the character so it was very surprising when a turn happens I didn't see coming. Going back to the voice over I wonder if some of what is said was purposely put in to throw the viewer off a bit if so .....good job !!
Fincher also displays the partial paranoia a person may experience after doing something sinister. Fincher and Walker insert dark humor and nods to nostalgia that brought a big smile to my face. I appreciated the intensity and choreography in a standout action sequence.
Fincher definitely knows how to draw an audience in with a simple quiet conversation and then rattle them with an explosion of violence.

PROBLEMS: The pacing could have been better. I think the film could have used an extra fifteen minutes especially to flesh out a couple of under developed characters.
I wish one of the random characters had mentioned something about one of the running nostalgia nods in the film that would have added to the humor of it and been a bit more realistic.

Scale of 1 to 10 an 8

Just got a notification that it debuts on Netflix this Friday.

 

[playahaitian]

AMC Theatres CEO: There Will Be “Much Collateral Damage” From Hollywood Strikes

The mega-exhibitor, led by CEO Adam Aron, saw overall revenues rise 45 percent to $1.4 billion on higher cinema attendance.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[playahaitian]

Sharon Stone Alleges a Former Head of Sony Exposed Himself to Her in the ’80s

"There was no way I could have told this story before. There was no way anyone would listen to me and ever hire me again," the actress said on the 'Let's Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa' podcast.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[blackbull1970]

Trigger Point
2021

4/10

I watched this the other night in my truck on Hulu.

Not much going on with this film, it’s basically trying to like “Jack Reacher”.

Action and suspense is basic and standard with a predictable plot.

If you looking for something to watch to kill time and keep you interested, this will do.

Not sure if there are plans to make it into a franchise.

Synopsis

A disgraced U.S. operative who suffered memory loss at the hands of his captors gets dragged back into the deadly spy world when a colleague goes missing. He needs all of his skills to find her, but to uncover the truth, he must remember the past.

​

 

[blackbull1970]

Insidious: The Red Door
2023

4/10

I watched this the other night in my truck on Netflix.

There really isn’t much to discuss with this film because basically nothing happened…to some degree. The film continues some years from the 2nd Insidious film.

I looked it up after watching and discovered this is the official last film of the franchise.

There is discussion of creating spinoffs or prequels to answer some ongoing unanswered questions.

Synopsis

Josh Lambert heads east to drop his son, Dalton, off at school. However, Dalton's college dream soon becomes a living nightmare when the repressed demons of his past suddenly return to haunt them both.

​

 

[blackbull1970]

Simulant
2023

4.5/10

Watched this Sci-Fi thriller last night here at home on Hulu.

The premise is sort of close to what they were doing in the recent “Westworld” series, this film takes it to a different direction dealing with AI and robotics.

It’s a B-Movie, but done well, far better from a Sci-Fi channel film. It’s full of recognizable B-List actors from well known projects.

It’s a somewhat slow burn film. It takes place not to far off in the distant future, so it’s not filled with a bunch of VFX/SFX.

Nothing really to call for action or suspense.

If you a hardcore Sci-Fi and looking for something to watch until this strike is over, this will keep you entertained.

There is a post mid-credit scene leading to a possible sequel.

Synopsis

A humanoid A.I.'s attempt at winning a grieving widow's heart puts it in the path of a government agent trying to stop the rise of machine consciousness.

​

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Simulant
2023

4.5/10

Watched this Sci-Fi thriller last night here at home on Hulu.

The premise is sort of close to what they were doing in the recent “Westworld” series, this film takes it to a different direction dealing with AI and robotics.

It’s a B-Movie, but done well, far better from a Sci-Fi channel film. It’s full of recognizable B-List actors from well known projects.

It’s a somewhat slow burn film. It takes place not to far off in the distant future, so it’s not filled with a bunch of VFX/SFX.

Nothing really to call for action or suspense.

If you a hardcore Sci-Fi and looking for something to watch until this strike is over, this will keep you entertained.

There is a post mid-credit scene leading to a possible sequel.

Synopsis

A humanoid A.I.'s attempt at winning a grieving widow's heart puts it in the path of a government agent trying to stop the rise of machine consciousness.

​

The lead (Robbie Amell) is one the leads on Amazon's series, Upload.

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

How Netflix Conquered Hollywood — And Then Broke It

The inside story of how the streamer muscled its way to the top by defying the industry’s conventions — and eventually paid the price.

hollywoodreporter.com

http://theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/11/fingernails-movie-review/675921

 

[blackbull1970]

The Devil Conspiracy
2022

4.5/10

I watched this one this afternoon while at home.

The plot is simple and the film tries to similar to the cult classic “Legion”, but doesn’t hold up to it.

Not much for VFX/SFX. The film pretty much plays out like a B-Movie.

My pet peeve was not seeing Arch Angel Michael and Lucifer go at with each other in their true forms.

The film ended for a potential sequel.

Synopsis

A powerful biotech company has breakthrough technology that allows it to clone history's most influential people. Behind this company is a cabal of Satanists who steal the shroud of Turin, putting them in possession of Jesus Christ's DNA -- the ultimate offering to the devil. Hoping to save mankind, Archangel Michael soon comes to Earth to stop the devil's conspiracy once and for all.

​

 

[neptunes007]

Cinematography was on point though, and I mean on point. Also loved the new version of Pazuzu. I can see them taking this story further. Never saw the trailer so I went in fresh with no expectations.

 

[neptunes007]

Don’t know if I mentioned this but this movie was solid. Been watching it again lately

 

[playahaitian]

They should just start from scratch and reboot the franchise and go full hardcore horror with the characters.

No romance, no superhero shit.


FX’s “The Strain” laid the foundation for modern horror for these characters.

^^^^^

Kaboom