MOVIES ~ Any of ya'll seen any good (or shitty) movies in recent weeks/months? Post reviews, feedback, movie news, trailers, recommendations, etc ...
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Both of these movies came out at least a year ago. No need to go over the plots. These are stories we've all seen told a million times and in a myriad of ways. I will say that these two versions are probably the best renditions of their individual stories, especially D'artagan.
I actually watched D'artagan and that Napoleon back to back and it fucked up my experience with the latter. It's hard to watch dozen of French actors doing Oscar-worthy performances, and then turn around and watch a bunch of Americans doing bad French and English accents.
I group these movies together because they share an very unfortunate flaw. Despite both being pretty lengthy movies, they end at the halfway point of the story. It makes me miss the LotR days when studios were releasing a single 3 1/2 hr movie. If you have more footage than that, put it on the blu-ray
Fuck all that chapter 1/part 1 noise. If the studios are going to keep doing that, then they need to start providing better 'previously on...' to start off part 2.
The Last Showgirl
PRAISE: I've been to Las Vegas many times,and I've definitely crossed paths with people like the characters in this film. The cocktail waitress with the nice smile handing me drinks as I sat at a slot machine, or shimmering Showgirl dancing around on a stage. I've also seen how Vegas is changing seemingly every day as a Casino is torn down and a decades long Vegas show suddenly shuts down. I liked how i went through the aforementioned with the characters particularly Showgirl Shelly (Pamela Anderson) and casino waitress Annette (Jamie Lee Curtis)both actresses give very strong performances. Shelly chafes at what being a showgirl has become. She basically feels what she's been doing for many years is classy like Playboy magazine not leaning into the raunchy like some current performance spaces are demanding. I really enjoyed the slow reveal of her characters personality, from time of being ultra irresponsible, her disconnect from people, particularly and especially with her daughter Hannah (Billy Lourd) Anderson and Lourd are great in a gut punch of emotions scene together. It's also how Shelly chose to do certain things in her life that lead to some eye opening moments. The rest of the cast including Brenda Song ,Jodie Kiernan Shipka, and Dave Bautista have some good soulful moments.
PROBLEMS: Definitely some predictable moments. I knew a scene of the reality of Shelly's career reaching its end game was coming even though it had some nice raw emotion to it. As a whole I thought the movie would be a bit more solid with more to take in but at times it felt like I was just getting glimpses of characters. The movie reminded me of 2008's The Wrestler but it was far more compelling than this film.
Scale of 1 to 10 a 7½
PRAISE: I've been to Las Vegas many times,and I've definitely crossed paths with people like the characters in this film. The cocktail waitress with the nice smile handing me drinks as I sat at a slot machine, or shimmering Showgirl dancing around on a stage. I've also seen how Vegas is changing seemingly every day as a Casino is torn down and a decades long Vegas show suddenly shuts down. I liked how i went through the aforementioned with the characters particularly Showgirl Shelly (Pamela Anderson) and casino waitress Annette (Jamie Lee Curtis)both actresses give very strong performances. Shelly chafes at what being a showgirl has become. She basically feels what she's been doing for many years is classy like Playboy magazine not leaning into the raunchy like some current performance spaces are demanding. I really enjoyed the slow reveal of her characters personality, from time of being ultra irresponsible, her disconnect from people, particularly and especially with her daughter Hannah (Billy Lourd) Anderson and Lourd are great in a gut punch of emotions scene together. It's also how Shelly chose to do certain things in her life that lead to some eye opening moments. The rest of the cast including Brenda Song ,Jodie Kiernan Shipka, and Dave Bautista have some good soulful moments.
PROBLEMS: Definitely some predictable moments. I knew a scene of the reality of Shelly's career reaching its end game was coming even though it had some nice raw emotion to it. As a whole I thought the movie would be a bit more solid with more to take in but at times it felt like I was just getting glimpses of characters. The movie reminded me of 2008's The Wrestler but it was far more compelling than this film.
Scale of 1 to 10 a 7½
Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and the Collapse of the Hollywood #MeToo Era
The reportage that thrived in the late twenty-tens cannot break through on today’s volatile Internet, where information is misinformation and victims are offenders.
Great movie.
The Wrestler is a 2008 American sports drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Robert Siegel. The film stars Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood. Rourke plays an aging professional wrestler who, despite his failing health and waning fame, continues to wrestle due to financial hardship and in an attempt to cling to the success of his 1980s heyday. He also tries to mend his relationship with his estranged daughter and to find romance with a woman who works as a stripper.[3]
The film received critical acclaim and won the Golden Lion Award at the 65th Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered. The success of the film revitalized the career of Mickey Rourke, who went on to receive a BAFTA award, a Golden Globe Award, an Independent Spirit Award and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Tomei also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Thank you for all the recent reviews, everyone.
Oscar Voting Closes: Is ‘The Brutalist’ Underseen? Could ‘Juror #2’ Make a Surprise Best Picture Nom? — Nine Takeaways From Academy Members
"Juror No. 2" and "Challengers" could surprise, according to discussions as Oscar voting closes.
variety.com
“Who Am I When I’m Not Working?”: Angelina Jolie, Demi Moore, Zendaya and the Actress Roundtable
Zoe Saldaña, Tilda Swinton and Mikey Madison also discuss baring it all onscreen, how they’ve never met each other (“It’s quite strange”), and bonding over Moore’s ‘Ghost’ past.www.hollywoodreporter.com
Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley in The Substance (2024) in 4K -
Demi Moore Margaret Qualley The 2160 version doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade to me. Here are the previous captures from this film. Margaret and Demi finished first and seventh in the 2024 balloting for the nude scene of the year. Share via: Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn More
othercrap.com
Den of Thieves 2
It was better than I expected, especially for a January movie. I thought it was going to be a straight to streaming type of movie, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. One thing there's a lot of talking and build up before it finally gets to the actual heist. That might bore some, but for me it was ok. IMO it was the ending that made it a little too long and made it drag for me.
Also, we didn't need so many fake outs, it made the ending sort of corny. It could have ended a lot better.
One of Them Days
It was a January movie, and it wasn't funny to me. The first 20 minutes everyone was just sitting there. You would think it was a drama. I had like one or two laughs, and a couple of light chuckles, but it wasn't that funny for a so called comedy. Some of the scenes that were sort of funny(payday loan scene) were just so drawn out until they stopped being funny. Like they didn't know when to cut the scene. The ending was corny with the forced villain, but it didn't take me out.
I did find it entertaining, because SZA and KeKe were charismatic on the screen and made me interested in their plight and rooting for them.
It was a bunch of stereotypical tropes and was Friday influenced, but I can't front...I was entertained
It was better than I expected, especially for a January movie. I thought it was going to be a straight to streaming type of movie, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. One thing there's a lot of talking and build up before it finally gets to the actual heist. That might bore some, but for me it was ok. IMO it was the ending that made it a little too long and made it drag for me.
Also, we didn't need so many fake outs, it made the ending sort of corny. It could have ended a lot better.
One of Them Days
It was a January movie, and it wasn't funny to me. The first 20 minutes everyone was just sitting there. You would think it was a drama. I had like one or two laughs, and a couple of light chuckles, but it wasn't that funny for a so called comedy. Some of the scenes that were sort of funny(payday loan scene) were just so drawn out until they stopped being funny. Like they didn't know when to cut the scene. The ending was corny with the forced villain, but it didn't take me out.
I did find it entertaining, because SZA and KeKe were charismatic on the screen and made me interested in their plight and rooting for them.
It was a bunch of stereotypical tropes and was Friday influenced, but I can't front...I was entertained
The Ghost’s-Eye View of Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence”
Doing his own camerawork, the director gleefully enriches the haunted-house genre with a simple but ingenious device.
How David Lynch Became an Icon of Cinema
The late director’s unique vision and the love that his persona inspires make it easy to forget how winding his path to greatness was.
The Enigmatic Artistry of Terrence Malick
The director has long shunned the spotlight, but his work conveys the force of a mighty personality. A new biography offers a rare look at his life and work.
The Best Movies of 2024
The year’s finest works suggest that the art of cinema is expanding.
This is behind a paywallThe Best Movies of 2024
The year’s finest works suggest that the art of cinema is expanding.www.newyorker.com
If you don't want to pay this site will let you read articles behind a paywall works with alot of sites.
12ft
12ft.io
Is 'Compliance' a True Story? All About the Real-Life McDonald's Phone Call Hoax That Inspired the 2012 Film
'Compliance' is based on the true story of a 2004 McDonald’s hoax call. Here’s everything to know about the real-life case that inspired 'Compliance.'
The Letterboxd 2024 Year in Review
A comprehensive summary of the highest-rated and most popular films of 2024, according to the Letterboxd community.
letterboxd.com
Wolf Man
PRAISE: Leigh Whannell & Corbett Tucks Werewolf story about a family man seeking to protect his wife and daughter from a werewolf is definitely effective at certain points in the movie. It's well acted by the cast including Julia Garner as Charlotte ,Christopher Abbott as Blake ,Leigh Whannell as Dan and Matilda Firth as Ginger,as it is well established there is a level of estrangement and disconnect in their family and the actors definitely brought that out.Director Whannell use of light,sound and point of few moments are the most effective in the film. Though not a gorefest the moments of gore are involving and got several gasps out of the audience. At times the movie reminded me of the 1986 version of The Fly and 1973's The Boy Who Cried Werewolf. Whannell definitely infuses a few new things into the Werewolf legend that were very likeable.
PROBLEMS: The pacing definitely couldn't have been better as I found myself not to involved in what was happening to the characters and the predicaments they found themselves in. I didn't like the Werewolf design to much. It looked like one of the Orcs from the Lord of the Rings films. There is an ultra predictable turn in the movie.
Scale of 1 to 10 a 6½
PRAISE: Leigh Whannell & Corbett Tucks Werewolf story about a family man seeking to protect his wife and daughter from a werewolf is definitely effective at certain points in the movie. It's well acted by the cast including Julia Garner as Charlotte ,Christopher Abbott as Blake ,Leigh Whannell as Dan and Matilda Firth as Ginger,as it is well established there is a level of estrangement and disconnect in their family and the actors definitely brought that out.Director Whannell use of light,sound and point of few moments are the most effective in the film. Though not a gorefest the moments of gore are involving and got several gasps out of the audience. At times the movie reminded me of the 1986 version of The Fly and 1973's The Boy Who Cried Werewolf. Whannell definitely infuses a few new things into the Werewolf legend that were very likeable.
PROBLEMS: The pacing definitely couldn't have been better as I found myself not to involved in what was happening to the characters and the predicaments they found themselves in. I didn't like the Werewolf design to much. It looked like one of the Orcs from the Lord of the Rings films. There is an ultra predictable turn in the movie.
Scale of 1 to 10 a 6½
The Oral History of Encino Man, Brendan Fraser’s Caveman Cult Classic
“I don’t think anybody thought it would be successful.”
Wolf Man
PRAISE: Leigh Whannell & Corbett Tucks Werewolf story about a family man seeking to protect his wife and daughter from a werewolf is definitely effective at certain points in the movie. It's well acted by the cast including Julia Garner as Charlotte ,Christopher Abbott as Blake ,Leigh Whannell as Dan and Matilda Firth as Ginger,as it is well established there is a level of estrangement and disconnect in their family and the actors definitely brought that out.Director Whannell use of light,sound and point of few moments are the most effective in the film. Though not a gorefest the moments of gore are involving and got several gasps out of the audience. At times the movie reminded me of the 1986 version of The Fly and 1973's The Boy Who Cried Werewolf. Whannell definitely infuses a few new things into the Werewolf legend that were very likeable.
PROBLEMS: The pacing definitely couldn't have been better as I found myself not to involved in what was happening to the characters and the predicaments they found themselves in. I didn't like the Werewolf design to much. It looked like one of the Orcs from the Lord of the Rings films. There is an ultra predictable turn in the movie.
Scale of 1 to 10 a 6½
The secret to Hollywood’s greatest comebacks, from John Travolta to Demi Moore
From John Travolta to Demi Moore, how faded stars have revitalised their careers with one breathtaking performance.
www.bbc.com
Awards Leaderboard: Best Movies of 2024
WE'RE TRACKING EVERY WIN OF THE 2024-25 AWARDS SEASON!
Rotten Tomatoes Awards: Best Movies & TV Winners of 2024
Box Office 2024\/2025: Top 10 Movies of the Year
See which movies are making the most money, including Moana 2, Wicked, and Deadpool & Wolverine.
All David Lynch Movies and Series, Ranked by Tomatometer
Discover the director's best movies, including Mulholland Dr., Blue Velvet, and Eraserhead!
Back In Action
PRAISE: This Action comedy about two retired spies who now spy on their daughter but trouble finds them again is truly uplifted by its cast. Cameron Diaz returns to acting after an almost 11 year braak and her team up with Jamie Foxx as Emily and Matt, is nice and the two share some good moments together. Watching the movie which at least has a couple of action sequences in which the decks are nicely stacked I found myself saying at least they gave me something.
I even found myself genuinely laughing a few times especially when the character of Nigel shows up portrayed by Jamie Demetriou . I thought some of his dialogue and physical humor was very funny. There is a character that is constantly talked about in the first hour of the film so much so I couldn't wait to see who would be portraying the character and fortunately the pay off is very good.
PROBLEMS: As I said in the praise portion it's the talent that uplifts the film from its generic and dull quicksand. I love Fola Evans-Akingbola but what they had her going through with a certain character was painfully predictable. The talents of Andrew Scott and Kyle Chandler are also wasted as both of their characters enter the realm of the predictable. The CGI is standout awful in one particular scene. The script is just so much of what I've seen before. The way Emily and Matts kids are written,corny interrupted moments of intimacy between the two lead characters and ultra lame hand to hand combat moments. I wonder how movies like this still get made with the same formula. I really don't see movies like this being released in theatre's anymore they go straight to streaming on either Netflix or Apple TV. It has to be the fact that movies like this get the attention of families they watch consistently for a couple of weeks and the aforementioned streamers get a good return on their investments. In my opinion the last movie like this that did it to a capital T and then some was True Lies this flick is far ,far from that.
Scale of 1 to 10 a 5
PRAISE: This Action comedy about two retired spies who now spy on their daughter but trouble finds them again is truly uplifted by its cast. Cameron Diaz returns to acting after an almost 11 year braak and her team up with Jamie Foxx as Emily and Matt, is nice and the two share some good moments together. Watching the movie which at least has a couple of action sequences in which the decks are nicely stacked I found myself saying at least they gave me something.
I even found myself genuinely laughing a few times especially when the character of Nigel shows up portrayed by Jamie Demetriou . I thought some of his dialogue and physical humor was very funny. There is a character that is constantly talked about in the first hour of the film so much so I couldn't wait to see who would be portraying the character and fortunately the pay off is very good.
PROBLEMS: As I said in the praise portion it's the talent that uplifts the film from its generic and dull quicksand. I love Fola Evans-Akingbola but what they had her going through with a certain character was painfully predictable. The talents of Andrew Scott and Kyle Chandler are also wasted as both of their characters enter the realm of the predictable. The CGI is standout awful in one particular scene. The script is just so much of what I've seen before. The way Emily and Matts kids are written,corny interrupted moments of intimacy between the two lead characters and ultra lame hand to hand combat moments. I wonder how movies like this still get made with the same formula. I really don't see movies like this being released in theatre's anymore they go straight to streaming on either Netflix or Apple TV. It has to be the fact that movies like this get the attention of families they watch consistently for a couple of weeks and the aforementioned streamers get a good return on their investments. In my opinion the last movie like this that did it to a capital T and then some was True Lies this flick is far ,far from that.
Scale of 1 to 10 a 5
Good reviews from the co-hosts on the panel ...
Gad Damn ...
variety.com
Josh Gad Says He Was Denied a Role in ‘Avatar’ Because He Looked Like a ‘Tall Overweight Smurf’ As a Na’vi
Josh Gad says he was denied a role in 'Avatar' because he looked like a 'tall overweight smurf' as a Na'vi.
variety.com
Yo HNIC, the search button is still shit round these parts 
anyway...
I watched this movie My Old Ass near the end of last year. This movie is legit funny as fuck, but I can get back to that in a second.
Right off the bat let me tell you that this movie got distribution thru Amazon. In a perfect world that would mean that the movie should be easy to find, watch, & enjoy thru your Prime membership.
However, much like Netflix and their new ad tier system, Amazon's ad system is bullshit. When I was watching on Prime Video, the aspect ratio seem condensed and there were 2 unskippable 90 second ad breaks within the 1st 30 minutes. After that I grabbed the movie from BGOL cinema and had a MUCH BETTER experience.
Back to the movie tho, the story follows a young girl on her 18 birthday. She just recently graduated hs and is about a month away from leaving home and starting college. Thru some magic of the plot, she ends up having a series of conversations with her 38 year old self.
I really thought this might be one of the funniest movies I saw all last year. Definitely one of the only comedies that stuck with me. The only gripe I could find with the movie was the advice the older version gave to her younger self.
I'm 38 now & if I could talk to my newly 18, about to leave Phila for college self, I would have much better advice.
anyway...
I watched this movie My Old Ass near the end of last year. This movie is legit funny as fuck, but I can get back to that in a second.
Right off the bat let me tell you that this movie got distribution thru Amazon. In a perfect world that would mean that the movie should be easy to find, watch, & enjoy thru your Prime membership.
However, much like Netflix and their new ad tier system, Amazon's ad system is bullshit. When I was watching on Prime Video, the aspect ratio seem condensed and there were 2 unskippable 90 second ad breaks within the 1st 30 minutes. After that I grabbed the movie from BGOL cinema and had a MUCH BETTER experience.
Back to the movie tho, the story follows a young girl on her 18 birthday. She just recently graduated hs and is about a month away from leaving home and starting college. Thru some magic of the plot, she ends up having a series of conversations with her 38 year old self.
I really thought this might be one of the funniest movies I saw all last year. Definitely one of the only comedies that stuck with me. The only gripe I could find with the movie was the advice the older version gave to her younger self.
I'm 38 now & if I could talk to my newly 18, about to leave Phila for college self, I would have much better advice.
You must be kidding
Yo HNIC, the search button is still shit round these parts
I watched this movie My Old Ass near the end of last year. This movie is legit funny as fuck, but I can get back to that in a second.
Right off the bat let me tell you that this movie got distribution thru Amazon. In a perfect world that would mean that the movie should be easy to find, watch, & enjoy thru your Prime membership.
However, much like Netflix and their new ad tier system, Amazon's ad system is bullshit. When I was watching on Prime Video, the aspect ratio seem condensed and there were 2 unskippable 90 second ad breaks within the 1st 30 minutes. After that I grabbed the movie from BGOL cinema and had a MUCH BETTER experience.
Back to the movie tho, the story follows a young girl on her 18 birthday. She just recently graduated hs and is about a month away from leaving home and starting college. Thru some magic of the plot, she ends up having a series of conversations with her 38 year old self.
I really thought this might be one of the funniest movies I saw all last year. Definitely one of the only comedies that stuck with me. The only gripe I could find with the movie was the advice the older version gave to her younger self.
I'm 38 now & if I could talk to my newly 18, about to leave Phila for college self, I would have much better advice.
My Old Ass critic reviews
Metacritic aggregates music, game, tv, and movie reviews from the leading critics. Only Metacritic.com uses METASCORES, which let you know at a glance how each item was reviewed.
www.metacritic.com