Recently viewed movie thread - Rental Edition (7 Viewers)

[SKribbles]

If I didn't know the outcome, I would have enjoyed the movie far more and most likely have been drawn into it emotionally. What are some other movie like this? Off the top of my head I can only think of W which bored me to tears.

Really?BraveheartGoodfellasThe Great EscapeRaging BullAre the first one's that come to mind.

Did you know the story Braveheart before you watched the movie? I sure as heck didn't. I was young when I saw Raging Bull and Goodfellas and had no clue of the stories behind them. Haven't seen Great Escape.

 

[tdoss]

Valkyrie: Put off watching this for a long time and should have probably put it off a little longer. The movie wasn't bad but it definitely didn't hold my interest, mostly because you knew their plan was doomed from the beginning. Any movie based on true events usually bores me when I know the outcome. 2.5/5

I watched this last night and couldn't disagree more. I thought it was an 8/10 movie. The point (and the tension) of a movie based on a true story such as this doesn't come from your anticipation of the resolution of the plot. It comes from your sympathizing with the emotions of the players involved. And in this case all the actors did a terrific job of portraying what their real life counterparts must have felt during the stages of the coup. I particularly like the part where it all starts to unravel and they know they're doomed.

Tom Cruise was much, much less distracting than I thought he would be.

I never felt any sympathy for them. I just couldn't get past thinking "how did they screw this up" the whole time.

If you'd seen what they seen and hoped for what they hoped for, you'd likely have your mind fill in the blanks like von Stauffenberg did.He wanted to believe Hitler was dead, so he convinced himself that he was. After that, the plan stood no chance.

For me...it's a no brainer...it doesn't matter if Hitler is dead. Like Cruise's character said, "We are COMMITTED!" Once that bomb went off...dead or not...the plan had to continue.I can't believe Olbricht's delay...what did he really think were his choices there? The whole plan came down to him executing his part and he failed...therefore the entire mission failed.

I knew the story and a lot of the details about the actual bombing but didn't realize just how closely they came to actually pulling this thing off...taking over SS Headquarters...wow.

But really, they never thought to take over communications or have someone cut the lines to and from the Wolf's Lair? Stupid missteps.

 

[saintfool]

"there will be blood"

really pretty great film. i loved it. all of the elements were in place and simply clicked. the acting was superb. yes, DDL was channeling john huston but the blazing eyes were telling something more. the soundtrack was essential to the storytelling and worked in all its myriad forms. the visual language was really impressive too. the first 14 minutes of the film - wordless but superb storytelling - were reminiscent of kubrik and malick's style of filmmaking.

i think the thing that impressed me most in watching this was the confidence in it. it was not audacious or bold. it was this assured and supremely confident effort.

that said, the film loses its way a little at the end. it's really nitpicking though. the ending felt like an altman ending and i'm okay with that.

 

[TylerRoseFan]

Saw the new Underwrold movie last night. Bad. Boring. Terrible. Kept expecting it to get better. It never did.

 

[fsufan]

Saw the new Underwrold movie last night. Bad. Boring. Terrible. Kept expecting it to get better. It never did.

i liked the new underworld. definitely not boring. but i am a fan of the first 2. i think there will be a 4th.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Valkyrie: Put off watching this for a long time and should have probably put it off a little longer. The movie wasn't bad but it definitely didn't hold my interest, mostly because you knew their plan was doomed from the beginning. Any movie based on true events usually bores me when I know the outcome. 2.5/5

I watched this last night and couldn't disagree more. I thought it was an 8/10 movie. The point (and the tension) of a movie based on a true story such as this doesn't come from your anticipation of the resolution of the plot. It comes from your sympathizing with the emotions of the players involved. And in this case all the actors did a terrific job of portraying what their real life counterparts must have felt during the stages of the coup. I particularly like the part where it all starts to unravel and they know they're doomed.

Tom Cruise was much, much less distracting than I thought he would be.

Yes. Cruise was fine. And what's more important, the supporting cast was outstanding.

 

[jdoggydogg]

watched "little children" last night. good but a very familiar tale of suburban ennui. it felt a lot like "american beauty" in many ways. the acting was pretty good all the way around with kate winslet, jennifer connolly, and jackie earle haley. kate looked good in scenes. i wouldn't have objected to a scene or two with ms connolly. she's just silly hot., imo, and totally my type.

I liked that movie a lot.

 

[jdoggydogg]

"there will be blood"

really pretty great film. i loved it. all of the elements were in place and simply clicked. the acting was superb. yes, DDL was channeling john huston but the blazing eyes were telling something more. the soundtrack was essential to the storytelling and worked in all its myriad forms. the visual language was really impressive too. the first 14 minutes of the film - wordless but superb storytelling - were reminiscent of kubrik and malick's style of filmmaking.

i think the thing that impressed me most in watching this was the confidence in it. it was not audacious or bold. it was this assured and supremely confident effort.

that said, the film loses its way a little at the end. it's really nitpicking though. the ending felt like an altman ending and i'm okay with that.

Well said. Critic Mick LaSalle discounted Lewis' performance by saying Lewis is "doing John Huston." I think that's lame. Lewis prepped for the role by listening to old Victrola records. The movie isn't very accessible. And the plot is fairly simple. But I'd be happier if more directors had the courage to make movies like this.

 

[mr fancypants]

The Wrestler

I love this movie. Love it. A+. I can scarcely think of another character I have rooted for more in my life. This movie makes me really feel for athletes - especially the violent sports like wrestling, boxing, hockey, and football.

The Wrestler got me thinking about freewill. Yes, we have brains that are capable of complex, intellectual choices. But do we really have a choice? Rourke's character is a bad parent. I have no sympathy for that. However, it seems like that man doesn't just make a choice to be a bad parent. He likely had a series of traumatic events and very bad parenting as a child that led to his choices. I'm not excusing his behavior. I'm just questioning the entire notion of freewill. To assume that he can just "do the right thing" isn't accurate.

I can't say one bad thing about The Wrestler. So far, Darren Aronofsky has made two of the best movies I've ever seen with The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream.

jdogg, I have to agree that the wrestler was my favorite movie of the year and I was all in Mickys corner as far as the best actor was concerned, but after I saw MILK I can understand how Penn won the award. Still love the Wrestler though as the best picture.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Wrestler

I love this movie. Love it. A+. I can scarcely think of another character I have rooted for more in my life. This movie makes me really feel for athletes - especially the violent sports like wrestling, boxing, hockey, and football.

The Wrestler got me thinking about freewill. Yes, we have brains that are capable of complex, intellectual choices. But do we really have a choice? Rourke's character is a bad parent. I have no sympathy for that. However, it seems like that man doesn't just make a choice to be a bad parent. He likely had a series of traumatic events and very bad parenting as a child that led to his choices. I'm not excusing his behavior. I'm just questioning the entire notion of freewill. To assume that he can just "do the right thing" isn't accurate.

I can't say one bad thing about The Wrestler. So far, Darren Aronofsky has made two of the best movies I've ever seen with The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream.

jdogg, I have to agree that the wrestler was my favorite movie of the year and I was all in Mickys corner as far as the best actor was concerned, but after I saw MILK I can understand how Penn won the award. Still love the Wrestler though as the best picture.

I'll be thinking about the movie for a long time. I believe it's the a perfect movie. I wouldn't change one single thing about The Wrestler - and that's a rarity.Looking forward to Milk.

 

[KarmaPolice]

The Wrestler

I love this movie. Love it. A+. I can scarcely think of another character I have rooted for more in my life. This movie makes me really feel for athletes - especially the violent sports like wrestling, boxing, hockey, and football.

The Wrestler got me thinking about freewill. Yes, we have brains that are capable of complex, intellectual choices. But do we really have a choice? Rourke's character is a bad parent. I have no sympathy for that. However, it seems like that man doesn't just make a choice to be a bad parent. He likely had a series of traumatic events and very bad parenting as a child that led to his choices. I'm not excusing his behavior. I'm just questioning the entire notion of freewill. To assume that he can just "do the right thing" isn't accurate.

I can't say one bad thing about The Wrestler. So far, Darren Aronofsky has made two of the best movies I've ever seen with The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream.

jdogg, I have to agree that the wrestler was my favorite movie of the year and I was all in Mickys corner as far as the best actor was concerned, but after I saw MILK I can understand how Penn won the award. Still love the Wrestler though as the best picture.

I'll be thinking about the movie for a long time. I believe it's the a perfect movie. I wouldn't change one single thing about The Wrestler - and that's a rarity.Looking forward to Milk.

Just got done watching The Wrestler. Great directing, great acting, but I couldn't get into it. Really couldn't get into his character or care about what happened to him. Maybe it was the ####ty parenting, maybe it was the wrestling that I outgrew 20 years ago, etc.. but I couldn't root for the guy at all. For a movie to work or get a 10/10 rating I usually have to really like or really hate a character and get into the movie enough for that. With "The Ram" I just ended up not caring one way or the other and for me the movie suffered for it.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Wrestler

I love this movie. Love it. A+. I can scarcely think of another character I have rooted for more in my life. This movie makes me really feel for athletes - especially the violent sports like wrestling, boxing, hockey, and football.

The Wrestler got me thinking about freewill. Yes, we have brains that are capable of complex, intellectual choices. But do we really have a choice? Rourke's character is a bad parent. I have no sympathy for that. However, it seems like that man doesn't just make a choice to be a bad parent. He likely had a series of traumatic events and very bad parenting as a child that led to his choices. I'm not excusing his behavior. I'm just questioning the entire notion of freewill. To assume that he can just "do the right thing" isn't accurate.

I can't say one bad thing about The Wrestler. So far, Darren Aronofsky has made two of the best movies I've ever seen with The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream.

jdogg, I have to agree that the wrestler was my favorite movie of the year and I was all in Mickys corner as far as the best actor was concerned, but after I saw MILK I can understand how Penn won the award. Still love the Wrestler though as the best picture.

I'll be thinking about the movie for a long time. I believe it's the a perfect movie. I wouldn't change one single thing about The Wrestler - and that's a rarity.Looking forward to Milk.

Just got done watching The Wrestler. Great directing, great acting, but I couldn't get into it. Really couldn't get into his character or care about what happened to him. Maybe it was the ####ty parenting, maybe it was the wrestling that I outgrew 20 years ago, etc.. but I couldn't root for the guy at all. For a movie to work or get a 10/10 rating I usually have to really like or really hate a character and get into the movie enough for that. With "The Ram" I just ended up not caring one way or the other and for me the movie suffered for it.

I liked him a lot

 

[Daywalker]

"there will be blood"

really pretty great film. i loved it. all of the elements were in place and simply clicked. the acting was superb. yes, DDL was channeling john huston but the blazing eyes were telling something more. the soundtrack was essential to the storytelling and worked in all its myriad forms. the visual language was really impressive too. the first 14 minutes of the film - wordless but superb storytelling - were reminiscent of kubrik and malick's style of filmmaking.

i think the thing that impressed me most in watching this was the confidence in it. it was not audacious or bold. it was this assured and supremely confident effort.

that said, the film loses its way a little at the end. it's really nitpicking though. the ending felt like an altman ending and i'm okay with that.

Well said. Critic Mick LaSalle discounted Lewis' performance by saying Lewis is "doing John Huston." I think that's lame. Lewis prepped for the role by listening to old Victrola records. The movie isn't very accessible. And the plot is fairly simple. But I'd be happier if more directors had the courage to make movies like this.

The movie suffered because the preacher's character was very underwhelming and totally miscast. Clitsy cannot go up against DDL.

 

[cobalt_27]

The Wrestler

I love this movie. Love it. A+. I can scarcely think of another character I have rooted for more in my life. This movie makes me really feel for athletes - especially the violent sports like wrestling, boxing, hockey, and football.

The Wrestler got me thinking about freewill. Yes, we have brains that are capable of complex, intellectual choices. But do we really have a choice? Rourke's character is a bad parent. I have no sympathy for that. However, it seems like that man doesn't just make a choice to be a bad parent. He likely had a series of traumatic events and very bad parenting as a child that led to his choices. I'm not excusing his behavior. I'm just questioning the entire notion of freewill. To assume that he can just "do the right thing" isn't accurate.

I can't say one bad thing about The Wrestler. So far, Darren Aronofsky has made two of the best movies I've ever seen with The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream.

Agree with the A+ review. Saw it last night, and Rourke gave a masterful, mesmerizing performance.

 

[Anonymous Internet User]

The Wrestler

I love this movie. Love it. A+. I can scarcely think of another character I have rooted for more in my life. This movie makes me really feel for athletes - especially the violent sports like wrestling, boxing, hockey, and football.

The Wrestler got me thinking about freewill. Yes, we have brains that are capable of complex, intellectual choices. But do we really have a choice? Rourke's character is a bad parent. I have no sympathy for that. However, it seems like that man doesn't just make a choice to be a bad parent. He likely had a series of traumatic events and very bad parenting as a child that led to his choices. I'm not excusing his behavior. I'm just questioning the entire notion of freewill. To assume that he can just "do the right thing" isn't accurate.

I can't say one bad thing about The Wrestler. So far, Darren Aronofsky has made two of the best movies I've ever seen with The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream.

Agree with the A+ review. Saw it last night, and Rourke gave a masterful, mesmerizing performance.

Better than the Hulkster as Thunderlips in Rocky III ?!

 

[cobalt_27]

The Wrestler

I love this movie. Love it. A+. I can scarcely think of another character I have rooted for more in my life. This movie makes me really feel for athletes - especially the violent sports like wrestling, boxing, hockey, and football.

The Wrestler got me thinking about freewill. Yes, we have brains that are capable of complex, intellectual choices. But do we really have a choice? Rourke's character is a bad parent. I have no sympathy for that. However, it seems like that man doesn't just make a choice to be a bad parent. He likely had a series of traumatic events and very bad parenting as a child that led to his choices. I'm not excusing his behavior. I'm just questioning the entire notion of freewill. To assume that he can just "do the right thing" isn't accurate.

I can't say one bad thing about The Wrestler. So far, Darren Aronofsky has made two of the best movies I've ever seen with The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream.

Agree with the A+ review. Saw it last night, and Rourke gave a masterful, mesmerizing performance.

Better than the Hulkster as Thunderlips in Rocky III ?!

Well, no. He wasn't that good. But, to be fair, it was close.

 

[saintfool]

watched david lean's adaptation of e.m. forster's "a passage to india" last night.

despite this being done in 1984, the film feels like a lean film from the 1960's. if you have seen a david lean film before then you recognize all the flourishes that he's famous for. honestly, i was kind of bored by it. the source material is really weak somehow. i was troubled by alec guinness's portrayal of a character in "brownface", especially as it is symptomatic of lean's almost simultaneous fascination with exoticism and English-ness. it borders on fetishization, i think.

a tepid final film from a master.

 

[TexanFan02]

watched david lean's adaptation of e.m. forster's "a passage to india" last night. despite this being done in 1984, the film feels like a lean film from the 1960's. if you have seen a david lean film before then you recognize all the flourishes that he's famous for. honestly, i was kind of bored by it. the source material is really weak somehow. i was troubled by alec guinness's portrayal of a character in "brownface", especially as it is symptomatic of lean's almost simultaneous fascination with exoticism and English-ness. it borders on fetishization, i think.a tepid final film from a master.

The book is boring too. And strange, it peaks almost in the middle.

 

[jdoggydogg]

"there will be blood"

really pretty great film. i loved it. all of the elements were in place and simply clicked. the acting was superb. yes, DDL was channeling john huston but the blazing eyes were telling something more. the soundtrack was essential to the storytelling and worked in all its myriad forms. the visual language was really impressive too. the first 14 minutes of the film - wordless but superb storytelling - were reminiscent of kubrik and malick's style of filmmaking.

i think the thing that impressed me most in watching this was the confidence in it. it was not audacious or bold. it was this assured and supremely confident effort.

that said, the film loses its way a little at the end. it's really nitpicking though. the ending felt like an altman ending and i'm okay with that.

Well said. Critic Mick LaSalle discounted Lewis' performance by saying Lewis is "doing John Huston." I think that's lame. Lewis prepped for the role by listening to old Victrola records. The movie isn't very accessible. And the plot is fairly simple. But I'd be happier if more directors had the courage to make movies like this.

The movie suffered because the preacher's character was very underwhelming and totally miscast. Clitsy cannot go up against DDL.

That's a good point.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Wrestler

I love this movie. Love it. A+. I can scarcely think of another character I have rooted for more in my life. This movie makes me really feel for athletes - especially the violent sports like wrestling, boxing, hockey, and football.

The Wrestler got me thinking about freewill. Yes, we have brains that are capable of complex, intellectual choices. But do we really have a choice? Rourke's character is a bad parent. I have no sympathy for that. However, it seems like that man doesn't just make a choice to be a bad parent. He likely had a series of traumatic events and very bad parenting as a child that led to his choices. I'm not excusing his behavior. I'm just questioning the entire notion of freewill. To assume that he can just "do the right thing" isn't accurate.

I can't say one bad thing about The Wrestler. So far, Darren Aronofsky has made two of the best movies I've ever seen with The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream.

Agree with the A+ review. Saw it last night, and Rourke gave a masterful, mesmerizing performance.

 

[jdoggydogg]

watched david lean's adaptation of e.m. forster's "a passage to india" last night.

despite this being done in 1984, the film feels like a lean film from the 1960's. if you have seen a david lean film before then you recognize all the flourishes that he's famous for. honestly, i was kind of bored by it. the source material is really weak somehow. i was troubled by alec guinness's portrayal of a character in "brownface", especially as it is symptomatic of lean's almost simultaneous fascination with exoticism and English-ness. it borders on fetishization, i think.

a tepid final film from a master.

I liked the movie, but not a lot. The novel was ok. I think the film was better than the novel.

 

[guru_007]

Tropic Thunder

not bad. I don't think there were any really laugh out loud laughs in this one, but all in all was pretty entertaining. Not too much to add to what has already been said, I'll rank it a 2.5/5.0

Equilibrium

Again, pretty decent sci-fi flick, kind of had a lot of aspects of other movies I enjoyed all thrown into this one, part 1984, part Matrix, part Gattaca, part other stuff. Movie moved a bit slow at times but all in all not a bad waste of a few hours. I'd rank this one about a 2.75/5.0

Also went out to see Night at the Museum 2 with the family. Pretty good stuff in that one for the whole family. It's kinda lame that Hollywood feels the need to just rehash old ideas and throw them out there again, but I guess that's what the public goes to see, and I expect to see a lot more of the same I mean this weekend I had a choice to see the 4th Terminate movie, the whatever Star Trek movie, the 2nd Night at the Museum, the 2nd DaVinici Code deal, the 18,000th spoof flick, very, very uninspiring stuff out there.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Marley & Me

My excuse - Had a rent 1/get 1 coupon and my daughter wanted to rent one of the Harry Potters, so I figured I'd give this one a chance.

My review - Way, way too long (kind of like my own dog's life) and didn't do a very good job of using the dog as a unifying thread for the couple's journey through life. I guess "disjointed" would be the word. Not terrible, but Wilson was rather annoying after a bit. Not the worst "date" movie I've seen.

 

[hooter311]

"there will be blood"

really pretty great film. i loved it. all of the elements were in place and simply clicked. the acting was superb. yes, DDL was channeling john huston but the blazing eyes were telling something more. the soundtrack was essential to the storytelling and worked in all its myriad forms. the visual language was really impressive too. the first 14 minutes of the film - wordless but superb storytelling - were reminiscent of kubrik and malick's style of filmmaking.

i think the thing that impressed me most in watching this was the confidence in it. it was not audacious or bold. it was this assured and supremely confident effort.

that said, the film loses its way a little at the end. it's really nitpicking though. the ending felt like an altman ending and i'm okay with that.

Well said. Critic Mick LaSalle discounted Lewis' performance by saying Lewis is "doing John Huston." I think that's lame. Lewis prepped for the role by listening to old Victrola records. The movie isn't very accessible. And the plot is fairly simple. But I'd be happier if more directors had the courage to make movies like this.

The movie suffered because the preacher's character was very underwhelming and totally miscast. Clitsy cannot go up against DDL.

That's a good point.

I agree that Paul Dano was underwhelming when compared to DDL, but I feel that at least part of this was the director's intention. Plainview was a unstoppable force as a character. No matter what Dano's character did or how far he thought and planned ahead, we knew full well that he would eventually be crushed by Planview's relentlessness. The theme also works when it comes to Plainview and greed. We knew that he loved his son, even when he used him as a pawn to get what he wanted from the world. In the end Plainview as just a man and the power hunger and greed was still there. When he lashed out at his son at the end calling him a "******* from a basket", that was the final straw in him being overwhelmed by the greed inside of him. Those may have well been his last words because he was completely dead inside, as soon as HW walked out of the room that day. One man's ambition may be stronger than another, but in the end neither is any match against greed.

 

[El Floppo]

The Wrestler

I love this movie. Love it. A+. I can scarcely think of another character I have rooted for more in my life. This movie makes me really feel for athletes - especially the violent sports like wrestling, boxing, hockey, and football.

The Wrestler got me thinking about freewill. Yes, we have brains that are capable of complex, intellectual choices. But do we really have a choice? Rourke's character is a bad parent. I have no sympathy for that. However, it seems like that man doesn't just make a choice to be a bad parent. He likely had a series of traumatic events and very bad parenting as a child that led to his choices. I'm not excusing his behavior. I'm just questioning the entire notion of freewill. To assume that he can just "do the right thing" isn't accurate.

I can't say one bad thing about The Wrestler. So far, Darren Aronofsky has made two of the best movies I've ever seen with The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream.

jdogg, I have to agree that the wrestler was my favorite movie of the year and I was all in Mickys corner as far as the best actor was concerned, but after I saw MILK I can understand how Penn won the award. Still love the Wrestler though as the best picture.

I'll be thinking about the movie for a long time. I believe it's the a perfect movie. I wouldn't change one single thing about The Wrestler - and that's a rarity.Looking forward to Milk.

Just got done watching The Wrestler. Great directing, great acting, but I couldn't get into it. Really couldn't get into his character or care about what happened to him. Maybe it was the ####ty parenting, maybe it was the wrestling that I outgrew 20 years ago, etc.. but I couldn't root for the guy at all. For a movie to work or get a 10/10 rating I usually have to really like or really hate a character and get into the movie enough for that. With "The Ram" I just ended up not caring one way or the other and for me the movie suffered for it.

Just watched it myself- very nice movie: obviously brilliantly acted by Rourke (although like the other poster, IMO Penn deservedly won the Oscar), the other two leads and amazing (I assume local) casting of everybody else. I really appreciate Aronofsky's restraint here- the grainy quality of the film and the use of emotionally tight shots paired with dramatically framed longer shots. And even with the restraint some astonishing visuals (I'm thinking of the fight with the hill-billy in particular). Appropriate score, although I'm not a fan of the genre it brought me right into the lives of the characters. One thing for me- I felt that the "heart-attack" plot device was cliched and lazy. I would have preferred to see the Ram have to deal with his life without his mortality so obviously hanging over his shoulder and driving all the action.

That said- my approach could easily slip into melodrama... and not so sure how the story could have been told succinctly within the timeframe of a movie. On the plus side, the plot device does make him face the reality of who he really is- deciding on the ring vs life. And in retrospect, I'm nitpicking more than anything- just remembering the moment the doctor made the announcement to the Ram made me since it so obviously set up the rest of the movie. But it still played out incredbily well.

 

[tdoss]

"there will be blood"

really pretty great film. i loved it. all of the elements were in place and simply clicked. the acting was superb. yes, DDL was channeling john huston but the blazing eyes were telling something more. the soundtrack was essential to the storytelling and worked in all its myriad forms. the visual language was really impressive too. the first 14 minutes of the film - wordless but superb storytelling - were reminiscent of kubrik and malick's style of filmmaking.

i think the thing that impressed me most in watching this was the confidence in it. it was not audacious or bold. it was this assured and supremely confident effort.

that said, the film loses its way a little at the end. it's really nitpicking though. the ending felt like an altman ending and i'm okay with that.

Well said. Critic Mick LaSalle discounted Lewis' performance by saying Lewis is "doing John Huston." I think that's lame. Lewis prepped for the role by listening to old Victrola records. The movie isn't very accessible. And the plot is fairly simple. But I'd be happier if more directors had the courage to make movies like this.

It IS lame...I mean, I can see what he might be saying but it's a stretch to say Lewis was just doing a John Huston imitation...LaSalle is way offbase here.

 

[jdoggydogg]

"there will be blood"

really pretty great film. i loved it. all of the elements were in place and simply clicked. the acting was superb. yes, DDL was channeling john huston but the blazing eyes were telling something more. the soundtrack was essential to the storytelling and worked in all its myriad forms. the visual language was really impressive too. the first 14 minutes of the film - wordless but superb storytelling - were reminiscent of kubrik and malick's style of filmmaking.

i think the thing that impressed me most in watching this was the confidence in it. it was not audacious or bold. it was this assured and supremely confident effort.

that said, the film loses its way a little at the end. it's really nitpicking though. the ending felt like an altman ending and i'm okay with that.

Well said. Critic Mick LaSalle discounted Lewis' performance by saying Lewis is "doing John Huston." I think that's lame. Lewis prepped for the role by listening to old Victrola records. The movie isn't very accessible. And the plot is fairly simple. But I'd be happier if more directors had the courage to make movies like this.

The movie suffered because the preacher's character was very underwhelming and totally miscast. Clitsy cannot go up against DDL.

That's a good point.

I agree that Paul Dano was underwhelming when compared to DDL, but I feel that at least part of this was the director's intention. Plainview was a unstoppable force as a character. No matter what Dano's character did or how far he thought and planned ahead, we knew full well that he would eventually be crushed by Planview's relentlessness. The theme also works when it comes to Plainview and greed. We knew that he loved his son, even when he used him as a pawn to get what he wanted from the world. In the end Plainview as just a man and the power hunger and greed was still there. When he lashed out at his son at the end calling him a "******* from a basket", that was the final straw in him being overwhelmed by the greed inside of him. Those may have well been his last words because he was completely dead inside, as soon as HW walked out of the room that day. One man's ambition may be stronger than another, but in the end neither is any match against greed.

Well said. Though when Plainview lashes out at his son, I didn't see that as succumbing to greed. I saw that as Plainview losing the only good thing in his life. Throughout the movie, there isn't a lot of humanity in Plainview EXCEPT in his dealings with his son. Plainview's son is his only family, and he doesn't have any friends. Plainview's son is his only tenuous link to a loving relationship. So when his son leaves home for good, Plainview loses everything. Plainview's lashing out is an act of desperation and deep grieving.

 

[jdoggydogg]

"there will be blood"

really pretty great film. i loved it. all of the elements were in place and simply clicked. the acting was superb. yes, DDL was channeling john huston but the blazing eyes were telling something more. the soundtrack was essential to the storytelling and worked in all its myriad forms. the visual language was really impressive too. the first 14 minutes of the film - wordless but superb storytelling - were reminiscent of kubrik and malick's style of filmmaking.

i think the thing that impressed me most in watching this was the confidence in it. it was not audacious or bold. it was this assured and supremely confident effort.

that said, the film loses its way a little at the end. it's really nitpicking though. the ending felt like an altman ending and i'm okay with that.

Well said. Critic Mick LaSalle discounted Lewis' performance by saying Lewis is "doing John Huston." I think that's lame. Lewis prepped for the role by listening to old Victrola records. The movie isn't very accessible. And the plot is fairly simple. But I'd be happier if more directors had the courage to make movies like this.

It IS lame...I mean, I can see what he might be saying but it's a stretch to say Lewis was just doing a John Huston imitation...LaSalle is way offbase here.

And furthermore, even if Lewis really did try to emulate John Huston's voice, why would that matter? Huston had a great voice, and it's not as if Lewis doesn't bring anything else to the table aside from the timbre of his voice.

 

[saintfool]

It IS lame...I mean, I can see what he might be saying but it's a stretch to say Lewis was just doing a John Huston imitation...LaSalle is way offbase here.

I'm not so sure. This is from a Time Out interview with DDL...

'A few people have asked me if I modelled the voice on [actor-director] John Huston,’ Day-Lewis says, pre-empting my question. ‘I didn’t. But I did listen to some tapes of Huston’s voice, among others. And there was something about the vigour of Huston’s language that appealed to me.’ It’s a comparison that’s fuelled further by similarities between ‘There Will Be Blood’ and Huston’s own ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’.

Anderson did say something about the influence of Huston's films, more specifically, "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" too. DDL certainly wasn't aping Huston but the similarities are there nonetheless. I think most of us have seen DDL in enough films to accept the performance from him as being authentic. I would wager that most filmgoers did not even register the influence of Huston on either PT or DDL. Huston's a throwback to another generation after all. The film itself is a throwback of sorts. Like I mentioned in my post, the obvious influence of Kubrick, Malick and Altman is there. It's delight in that regard for someone that subscribes to auteur theory. I also cannot find much fault in the work that Dano does as the young Preacher Sunday. It's just the way the role was written as much as anything. The film, for me, is really found in this scene late in the film with Plainview and his brother. It's really the key to his character.

 

[hooter311]

Well said. Critic Mick LaSalle discounted Lewis' performance by saying Lewis is "doing John Huston." I think that's lame. Lewis prepped for the role by listening to old Victrola records. The movie isn't very accessible. And the plot is fairly simple. But I'd be happier if more directors had the courage to make movies like this.

The movie suffered because the preacher's character was very underwhelming and totally miscast. Clitsy cannot go up against DDL.

That's a good point.

I agree that Paul Dano was underwhelming when compared to DDL, but I feel that at least part of this was the director's intention. Plainview was a unstoppable force as a character. No matter what Dano's character did or how far he thought and planned ahead, we knew full well that he would eventually be crushed by Planview's relentlessness. The theme also works when it comes to Plainview and greed. We knew that he loved his son, even when he used him as a pawn to get what he wanted from the world. In the end Plainview as just a man and the power hunger and greed was still there. When he lashed out at his son at the end calling him a "******* from a basket", that was the final straw in him being overwhelmed by the greed inside of him. Those may have well been his last words because he was completely dead inside, as soon as HW walked out of the room that day. One man's ambition may be stronger than another, but in the end neither is any match against greed.

Well said. Though when Plainview lashes out at his son, I didn't see that as succumbing to greed. I saw that as Plainview losing the only good thing in his life. Throughout the movie, there isn't a lot of humanity in Plainview EXCEPT in his dealings with his son. Plainview's son is his only family, and he doesn't have any friends. Plainview's son is his only tenuous link to a loving relationship. So when his son leaves home for good, Plainview loses everything. Plainview's lashing out is an act of desperation and deep grieving.

I'm with you, I could have said that part better. What I was getting at is that the last conversation externalizes the internal conflict in Plainview.

 

[saintfool]

Though when Plainview lashes out at his son, I didn't see that as succumbing to greed. I saw that as Plainview losing the only good thing in his life. Throughout the movie, there isn't a lot of humanity in Plainview EXCEPT in his dealings with his son. Plainview's son is his only family, and he doesn't have any friends. Plainview's son is his only tenuous link to a loving relationship. So when his son leaves home for good, Plainview loses everything. Plainview's lashing out is an act of desperation and deep grieving.

I'd agree with that. His relationship with H.W changes after the rig accident. HW recognizes this and acts out once Daniel's brother arrives on the scene. Daniel not only embraces but surrenders himself to his brother. His disappointment with HW only drives him into a closer relationship with his brother. The ultimate failure of both those relationships sets the stage for Daniel in the end of the film.

 

[SouthJersey]

Watched In Bruges this weekend. Really liked it. 4.5/5

 

[SouthJersey]

Anyone have any bank robbery, heist, political thriller type movies they'd recommend? Can be old or now...just looking for something good that I might not have seen.

 

[hooter311]

Anyone have any bank robbery, heist, political thriller type movies they'd recommend? Can be old or now...just looking for something good that I might not have seen.

The Bank Job is the only memorable heist movie I can think of that has came out in the last few years.

 

[saintfool]

Anyone have any bank robbery, heist, political thriller type movies they'd recommend? Can be old or now...just looking for something good that I might not have seen.

"Z" by Costas Gravas was interesting, especially since it is kind of a true story. It's older and foreign but I liked it. "Stander" is another pretty good but little seen one. True-ish story too. Kind of a broad category, so it's hard to make good recommendations.

 

[DaVinci]

Anyone have any bank robbery, heist, political thriller type movies they'd recommend? Can be old or now...just looking for something good that I might not have seen.

The Bank Job is the only memorable heist movie I can think of that has came out in the last few years.

The miniseries "The Kill Point" was pretty good."Inside Man" and "The Lookout" were decent.

 

[jdoggydogg]

It IS lame...I mean, I can see what he might be saying but it's a stretch to say Lewis was just doing a John Huston imitation...LaSalle is way offbase here.

I'm not so sure. This is from a Time Out interview with DDL...

'A few people have asked me if I modelled the voice on [actor-director] John Huston,' Day-Lewis says, pre-empting my question. 'I didn't. But I did listen to some tapes of Huston's voice, among others. And there was something about the vigour of Huston's language that appealed to me.' It's a comparison that's fuelled further by similarities between 'There Will Be Blood' and Huston's own 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'.

Anderson did say something about the influence of Huston's films, more specifically, "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" too. DDL certainly wasn't aping Huston but the similarities are there nonetheless. I think most of us have seen DDL in enough films to accept the performance from him as being authentic. I would wager that most filmgoers did not even register the influence of Huston on either PT or DDL. Huston's a throwback to another generation after all. The film itself is a throwback of sorts. Like I mentioned in my post, the obvious influence of Kubrick, Malick and Altman is there. It's delight in that regard for someone that subscribes to auteur theory. I also cannot find much fault in the work that Dano does as the young Preacher Sunday. It's just the way the role was written as much as anything. The film, for me, is really found in this scene late in the film with Plainview and his brother. It's really the key to his character.

That didn't even occur to me, but you are absolutely right. Kubrick was known as a cold, prickly director. Malick and Altman have a unique style that seems to eschew common sentimentality. So when I read your post it really clicked for me. PT Anderson seems to embrace that style here.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Anyone have any bank robbery, heist, political thriller type movies they'd recommend? Can be old or now...just looking for something good that I might not have seen.

Lots of choices there. • Recently, The Bank Job was pretty good.• Rififi is a classic French heist movie.• If you never saw Munich, I thought that was fantastic.If you're into David Mamet, he has a good heist film called, yep, Heist. Mamet also directed a thriller called Spartan.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Man From Snowy River

Blech. I couldn't get passed the first hour of this ridiculous movie. It's silly, sophomoric, and rife with cliches. There were plenty of groan-inducing moments, but the death blow is when the camera freezes on a wild horse, then uses a Brian DePalma zoom into the horses wild eye. Oooooo! It's like Friday The 13th. Except it's a horse! The movie was bearable before that. But that one moment was one of the dumbest devices I've ever seen in a movie.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Anyone have any bank robbery, heist, political thriller type movies they'd recommend? Can be old or now...just looking for something good that I might not have seen.

The Bank Job is the only memorable heist movie I can think of that has came out in the last few years.

The miniseries "The Kill Point" was pretty good."Inside Man" and "The Lookout" were decent.

I liked Inside Man a lot.

 

[saintfool]

That didn't even occur to me, but you are absolutely right. Kubrick was known as a cold, prickly director. Malick and Altman have a unique style that seems to eschew common sentimentality. So when I read your post it really clicked for me. PT Anderson seems to embrace that style here.

The Kubrick influence - which is the most prevalent to me - is evident right from the beginning, I thought. The first 14 minutes - all without dialogue! - of the film had me grinning with appreciation for that. The pacing is a mix of Altman and Kubrick but the ending is pretty much all Altman. In fact, the film is dedicated to him in the closing credits. Malick's there with the visual touches and some of the scenes without dialogue.I don't think there is anything wrong with lumping Anderson in with that auteur discussion either. He doesn't have the visual language that some other auteurs have but this is a film certainly in keeping with his character. Again, the thing that struck me most for of the film was how confident and assured the tone was. There was no cutting corners at any time in the storytelling.

 

[17seconds]

Tropic Thunder - Pretty funny. Give it a B. Robert Downey Jr is fantastic as an austrialian guy playing a black guy. "Never go full #######" was a great monologue... Some of it missed, but good as a goofy over-the-top comedy.

Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Not good. Give it a C. This movie is exactly what I expected and nothing more. I was really looking forward to seeing it too. It never got off the ground. Actually, nothing happens in the movie... A guy is born old and gets young... has a woman in his life. That's it.

 

[hooter311]

Anyone have any bank robbery, heist, political thriller type movies they'd recommend? Can be old or now...just looking for something good that I might not have seen.

The Bank Job is the only memorable heist movie I can think of that has came out in the last few years.

The miniseries "The Kill Point" was pretty good."Inside Man" and "The Lookout" were decent.

Kill Point was a decent retread of every other heist movie you've seen before. It brings nothing new to the table but has some decent, if not over the top, acting for a mini-series.Finless' wallet thread made me think of A Simple Plan, that might barely squeeze into this category and is a great movie if you haven't seen it before.

 

[Sweet J]

Looking for classic or recent movies that are simply "fun" and that my 8-year old son and I could both watch and both enjoy.

I'm not sure what the criteria I want to use is, other than "equally entertaining for both 8 year old boy and dad," and "I haven't seen it a million times (which precludes Star Wars, Princess Bride, and some other greats). Looking for overlooked greats.

The first movie on the list will be: Searching for Bobby Fisher. I haven't seen it for years, but I'm thinking this would be perfect for an 8-year old. I'll post again with his and my thoughts.

After that, I am considering Spellbound, but my wife thinks that will be too old/intense for him.

Let me know if you have any suggestions.

 

[SKribbles]

Looking for classic or recent movies that are simply "fun" and that my 8-year old son and I could both watch and both enjoy.

I'm not sure what the criteria I want to use is, other than "equally entertaining for both 8 year old boy and dad," and "I haven't seen it a million times (which precludes Star Wars, Princess Bride, and some other greats). Looking for overlooked greats.

The first movie on the list will be: Searching for Bobby Fisher. I haven't seen it for years, but I'm thinking this would be perfect for an 8-year old. I'll post again with his and my thoughts.

After that, I am considering Spellbound, but my wife thinks that will be too old/intense for him.

Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Monster Squad

 

[hooter311]

Looking for classic or recent movies that are simply "fun" and that my 8-year old son and I could both watch and both enjoy.

I'm not sure what the criteria I want to use is, other than "equally entertaining for both 8 year old boy and dad," and "I haven't seen it a million times (which precludes Star Wars, Princess Bride, and some other greats). Looking for overlooked greats.

The first movie on the list will be: Searching for Bobby Fisher. I haven't seen it for years, but I'm thinking this would be perfect for an 8-year old. I'll post again with his and my thoughts.

After that, I am considering Spellbound, but my wife thinks that will be too old/intense for him.

Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Monster Squad

Good suggestion, this was re-released on DVD about a year ago. Be warned that it may introduce some 80's slang to your 8 year old. Prepare to have the term "nards" added to his vocabulary.Goonies and Back to the Future are some more obvious ones.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Not good. Give it a C. This movie is exactly what I expected and nothing more. I was really looking forward to seeing it too. It never got off the ground. Actually, nothing happens in the movie... A guy is born old and gets young... has a woman in his life. That's it.

That's very accurate. Furthermore, there isn't much passion in the movie at all. The only scene that'll stick with me is the scene where the clock goes backwards and the soldiers go backwards and do not die in the war. That was a cool scene and it had emotional impact. But almost all the movie is devoid of any emotional impact.

 

[jdoggydogg]

That didn't even occur to me, but you are absolutely right. Kubrick was known as a cold, prickly director. Malick and Altman have a unique style that seems to eschew common sentimentality. So when I read your post it really clicked for me. PT Anderson seems to embrace that style here.

The Kubrick influence - which is the most prevalent to me - is evident right from the beginning, I thought. The first 14 minutes - all without dialogue! - of the film had me grinning with appreciation for that. The pacing is a mix of Altman and Kubrick but the ending is pretty much all Altman. In fact, the film is dedicated to him in the closing credits. Malick's there with the visual touches and some of the scenes without dialogue.I don't think there is anything wrong with lumping Anderson in with that auteur discussion either. He doesn't have the visual language that some other auteurs have but this is a film certainly in keeping with his character. Again, the thing that struck me most for of the film was how confident and assured the tone was. There was no cutting corners at any time in the storytelling.

Many people don't like Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love. But I love Magnolia, Boogie Nights is one of my favorite movies, and There Will Be Blood is certainly accomplishment. PT Anderson is up there with David Fincher, Darren Arronofsky and Tarantino as younger guys whose movies I always look forward to seeing.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Looking for classic or recent movies that are simply "fun" and that my 8-year old son and I could both watch and both enjoy.

I'm not sure what the criteria I want to use is, other than "equally entertaining for both 8 year old boy and dad," and "I haven't seen it a million times (which precludes Star Wars, Princess Bride, and some other greats). Looking for overlooked greats.

The first movie on the list will be: Searching for Bobby Fisher. I haven't seen it for years, but I'm thinking this would be perfect for an 8-year old. I'll post again with his and my thoughts.

After that, I am considering Spellbound, but my wife thinks that will be too old/intense for him.

Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Great question. I think most of these would be appropriate depending on his maturity:Master and Commander

Mulan

October Sky

Dear Frankie

Swiss Family Robinson

 

[jdoggydogg]

Anyone have any bank robbery, heist, political thriller type movies they'd recommend? Can be old or now...just looking for something good that I might not have seen.

The Bank Job is the only memorable heist movie I can think of that has came out in the last few years.

The miniseries "The Kill Point" was pretty good."Inside Man" and "The Lookout" were decent.

Kill Point was a decent retread of every other heist movie you've seen before. It brings nothing new to the table but has some decent, if not over the top, acting for a mini-series.Finless' wallet thread made me think of A Simple Plan, that might barely squeeze into this category and is a great movie if you haven't seen it before.

Great movie.