Recently viewed movie thread - Rental Edition (6 Viewers)

[Bob Magaw]

* saw stanley kramer's mad X 4 world for the first time in a while... has to be one of my favorite comedies... doesn't seem like there are as many classic comedies as dramas, action/adventure, sci fi?

any recs from the thread...

From the same era as Mad World I always loved The Russians are coming, the Russians are comingWhere's Poppa? is another one I enjoy. Always been a fan of Ruth Gordon's comedic talent.

Mrs Hocheiser: Where's Poppa?

Gordon Hocheiser: Still dead mom.

Classic films that made me laugh:Marty

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

The Women

Being There

The Pink Panther series

Bananas

Sleeper

Take the Money and Run

Play it Again, Sam

i'll have to try the marx brothers... that is a huge blind spot in my movie history/background...i must have been watching three stooges as a kid, and passed them over later...

i almost mentioned the pink panther series... my favorite scene in was when he saw some parallel bars in the second floor of a resesidence (!! should have seen this coming), talks about how he was quite the gymnast, gets up, does some moves, and then dismounts at the top of the stairs, crashing down to the bottom)...

haven't seen being there in a long time (forget if it won for best picture or sellars won for actor?)...it was great how the washington power elite hung on every word because of his sage gardening-based "political metaphors"...

and of course woody allen... sleepers was great, take the money & run, i also liked annie hall & manhattan (before he turned into ingmar bergman, jr - who i like, incidentally, especially seventh seal and wild strawberries, but they aren't comedies)...

 

[jdoggydogg]

i'll have to try the marx brothers... that is a huge blind spot in my movie history/background...

Many of the Marx Brothers movies have classic comedy routines. You may feel the urge to fast forward through some of the songs - which is cool. But the comedy bits are hilarious.

 

[Chaka]

* saw stanley kramer's mad X 4 world for the first time in a while... has to be one of my favorite comedies... doesn't seem like there are as many classic comedies as dramas, action/adventure, sci fi?

any recs from the thread...

From the same era as Mad World I always loved The Russians are coming, the Russians are comingWhere's Poppa? is another one I enjoy. Always been a fan of Ruth Gordon's comedic talent.

Mrs Hocheiser: Where's Poppa?

Gordon Hocheiser: Still dead mom.

Classic films that made me laugh:Marty

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

The Women

Being There

The Pink Panther series

Bananas

Sleeper

Take the Money and Run

Play it Again, Sam

i'll have to try the marx brothers... that is a huge blind spot in my movie history/background...i must have been watching three stooges as a kid, and passed them over later...

i almost mentioned the pink panther series... my favorite scene in ant was when he saw some parallel bars in the second floor of a resesidence (!! should have seen this coming), talks about how he was quite the gymnast, gets up, does some moves, and then dismounts at the top of the stairs, crashing down to the bottom)...

haven't seen being there (forget if it won for best picture or sellars won for actor?)...it was great how the washington power elite treated him like EF hutton because of his sage gardening-based "political metaphors"...

and of course woody allen... sleepers was great, take the money & run, i also like annie hall & manhattan (before he turned into ingmar bergman, jr - who i like, incidentally, especially seventh seal and wild strawberries, but they aren't comedies)...

I would start with Horse Feathers but Duck Soup and Animal Crackers are also excellent choices. A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, The Cocoanuts are also excellent but I think most agree the first three are their best work.Horse Feathers is #1 in my book, the fact that it's a football movie just makes it that much better.

 

[Chaka]

* saw stanley kramer's mad X 4 world for the first time in a while... has to be one of my favorite comedies... doesn't seem like there are as many classic comedies as dramas, action/adventure, sci fi?

any recs from the thread...

From the same era as Mad World I always loved The Russians are coming, the Russians are comingWhere's Poppa? is another one I enjoy. Always been a fan of Ruth Gordon's comedic talent.

Mrs Hocheiser: Where's Poppa?

Gordon Hocheiser: Still dead mom.

Classic films that made me laugh:Marty

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

The Women

Being There

The Pink Panther series

Bananas

Sleeper

Take the Money and Run

Play it Again, Sam

i'll have to try the marx brothers... that is a huge blind spot in my movie history/background...i must have been watching three stooges as a kid, and passed them over later...

i almost mentioned the pink panther series... my favorite scene in was when he saw some parallel bars in the second floor of a resesidence (!! should have seen this coming), talks about how he was quite the gymnast, gets up, does some moves, and then dismounts at the top of the stairs, crashing down to the bottom)...

haven't seen being there in a long time (forget if it won for best picture or sellars won for actor?)...it was great how the washington power elite hung on every word because of his sage gardening-based "political metaphors"...

and of course woody allen... sleepers was great, take the money & run, i also liked annie hall & manhattan (before he turned into ingmar bergman, jr - who i like, incidentally, especially seventh seal and wild strawberries, but they aren't comedies)...

If you aren't too tired of Woody Allen I recommend What's Up Tiger Lily? From Wiki

What's Up Tiger Lily?, a 1966 comedy film, is the first film directed by Woody Allen, who also wrote and appeared in it. Allen took International Secret Police: A Barrel of Gunpowder and International Secret Police: Key of Keys, two in a series of Japanese spy films and overdubbed them with completely original dialogue that had nothing to do with the plot of the original films. By putting in new scenes and rearranging the order of existing scenes, he completely changed the tone of the films from a James Bond clone into a comedy about the search for the world's best egg salad recipe.

I think it is incredibly clever and at times downright hysterical.

 

[Chaka]

* saw stanley kramer's mad X 4 world for the first time in a while... has to be one of my favorite comedies... doesn't seem like there are as many classic comedies as dramas, action/adventure, sci fi?

any recs from the thread...

From the same era as Mad World I always loved The Russians are coming, the Russians are comingWhere's Poppa? is another one I enjoy. Always been a fan of Ruth Gordon's comedic talent.

Mrs Hocheiser: Where's Poppa?

Gordon Hocheiser: Still dead mom.

Classic films that made me laugh:Marty

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

The Women

Being There

The Pink Panther series

Bananas

Sleeper

Take the Money and Run

Play it Again, Sam

i'll have to try the marx brothers... that is a huge blind spot in my movie history/background...i must have been watching three stooges as a kid, and passed them over later...

i almost mentioned the pink panther series... my favorite scene in was when he saw some parallel bars in the second floor of a resesidence (!! should have seen this coming), talks about how he was quite the gymnast, gets up, does some moves, and then dismounts at the top of the stairs, crashing down to the bottom)...

haven't seen being there in a long time (forget if it won for best picture or sellars won for actor?)...it was great how the washington power elite hung on every word because of his sage gardening-based "political metaphors"...

and of course woody allen... sleepers was great, take the money & run, i also liked annie hall & manhattan (before he turned into ingmar bergman, jr - who i like, incidentally, especially seventh seal and wild strawberries, but they aren't comedies)...

Have you seen M*A*S*H? The 1970 movie with Donald Sutherland and Elliot Gould not the television series.If you have not I cannot recommend it strongly enough. Easily in my top 10 comedies of all time, probably in my top 10 movies overall.

 

[Bob Magaw]

I would start with Horse Feathers but Duck Soup and Animal Crackers are also excellent choices. A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, The Cocoanuts are also excellent but I think most agree the first three are their best work.Horse Feathers is #1 in my book, the fact that it's a football movie just makes it that much better.

thanx for the recs (& jdog, too)...this was exactly what i had in mind in looking for overlooked comedy classics (by me)...netflix streams duck soup, & moved horse feathers & animal crackers near the top of my queue, after the concluding disc of the kingdom...whats up tiger lilly is a riot, seen it 2-3 times, but only once in past few decades, & that a long time ago... it should not be relegated to the juvenalia period of his body of work, despite being his directorial debut... his anarchic, subversive, post-modern style and sense of humor emerged seemingly fully formed... have to check this out again... been a while since i saw MASH...i meant to mention monty python, if i didn't already... holy grail, life of brian, meaning of life... seen all of these multiple times, though, & looking for something new (they do age well & bear repeat viewings, like animal house, but for me, a little played out... i don't put on stairway to heaven too much lately, either )...* did mention python, also mel brooks in passing... i liked high anxiety best (cloris leachman plays a hilariously creepy role as an S & M nurse, with a rack that could poke both your eyes out... literally), than young frankenstein and history of the world, more than blazing saddles... high anxiety as great a hitchcock homage in the comedy genre as de palma's body double (combining rear window, vertigo and possibly others) was in hitchcock's own mystery/suspense/thriller genre...

 

[RudiStein]

I watched a few movies over the 3 day weekend.

Adventureland - I liked it, but as in above, never feel the need to watch it again. The fiancee thought the love story ending was cute. I really like the comedy stylings of Bill Hader. (3/5)

Zombieland - Not great, but better than I thought it would be. Any movie with Bill Murray playing himself has to have something going for it. (3/5)

Watched these 2 last night.Adventureland was slow and didn't really go anywhere. And there was no real explanation as to what the conflict was between the guy and the girl in terms of them not getting together.

Zombieland was pretty good. I'm not a fan of the genre so this was a decent twist. Woody's role wasn't really a stretch for him but his character was decent. Not a great movie but fun.

 

[Bob Magaw]

if you are ever stumped for netflix titles to watch, like classic or at least older movies, and appreciate off-the-beaten-path themes, i highly recommend a few book titles by david n. meyer... 100 best films to rent you've never heard of (a probably overly ambitious/reaching title for this crowd, but imo no less great for that) and the more specific, noir-themed girl and a gun (former in print, latter available cheap from amazon alternate sellers)... i discovered a lot of films i didn't know through these two guides, and i found him to be simultaneously incisive, funny and with a sort of timeless/contemporay taste and sensibility (citing wender's american friend as neo-noir). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

scorcese has championed britain's unusual (in any nationality) production/directorial/writing team powell & pressburger as a major influence, with movies like black narcissus and red shoes... i found out about them first through 100 films (in fact meyer mentioned that if you see just one movie from the book, make it be black narcissus... just realize it isn't paced like crank - about a remote convent in the himalayas that loses it's spiritual moorings in the exotic setting)...

 

[KarmaPolice]

Honestly can't believe the positive reviews that Pandorum has been getting. I thought it was borderline terrible. Felt like a dumb mix of movies like Event Horizon, The Descent, and I am Legend that didn't work on any level for me.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Watched Homicide, a 1991 movie directed by David Mamet that recently got the Criterion Collection DVD treatment. I love just about anything Mamet does, but I really liked it a lot. Kind of movie that leaves you wondering what the heck just happened once it's over.

 

[cosjobs]

Watched Homicide, a 1991 movie directed by David Mamet that recently got the Criterion Collection DVD. I love just about anything Mamet does, but I really liked it a lot. Kind of movie that leaves you wondering what the heck just happened once it's over.

I watched this about a decade ago and it did not work for me. But I am also a big Mamet fan and on your recommendation, I will give it another viewing. I am a huge fan of House of Games (another Mamet/Mantegna film I have watched at least half a dozen times) and expected similar excellence. I know it was a dvd rental and sometimes I will get a phone call or otherwise distracted/interrupted and not give a particular film a fair shot. Maybe that happened the first time I saw it.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Watched Homicide, a 1991 movie directed by David Mamet that recently got the Criterion Collection DVD treatment. I love just about anything Mamet does, but I really liked it a lot. Kind of movie that leaves you wondering what the heck just happened once it's over.

I watched this about a decade ago and it did not work for me. But I am also a big Mamet fan and on your recommendation, I will give it another viewing. I am a huge fan of House of Games (another Mamet/Mantegna film I have watched at least half a dozen times) and expected similar excellence. I know it was a dvd rental and sometimes I will get a phone call or otherwise distracted/interrupted and not give a particular film a fair shot. Maybe that happened the first time I saw it.

after watching, I started googling stuff that was written about the movie. some reviewers think it doesn't quite work, but many seem to agree that it's Mamet's best film as a director. I think if you like House of Games, you should like this. Some classic Mamet dialogue, plus some very early work from guys like William H. Macy and Ving Rames.

 

[El Floppo]

* saw stanley kramer's mad X 4 world for the first time in a while... has to be one of my favorite comedies... doesn't seem like there are as many classic comedies as dramas, action/adventure, sci fi?

any recs from the thread...

From the same era as Mad World I always loved The Russians are coming, the Russians are comingWhere's Poppa? is another one I enjoy. Always been a fan of Ruth Gordon's comedic talent.

Mrs Hocheiser: Where's Poppa?

Gordon Hocheiser: Still dead mom.

Classic films that made me laugh:Marty

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

The Women

Being There

The Pink Panther series

Bananas

Sleeper

Take the Money and Run

Play it Again, Sam

i'll have to try the marx brothers... that is a huge blind spot in my movie history/background...i must have been watching three stooges as a kid, and passed them over later...

i almost mentioned the pink panther series... my favorite scene in was when he saw some parallel bars in the second floor of a resesidence (!! should have seen this coming), talks about how he was quite the gymnast, gets up, does some moves, and then dismounts at the top of the stairs, crashing down to the bottom)...

haven't seen being there in a long time (forget if it won for best picture or sellars won for actor?)...it was great how the washington power elite hung on every word because of his sage gardening-based "political metaphors"...

and of course woody allen... sleepers was great, take the money & run, i also liked annie hall & manhattan (before he turned into ingmar bergman, jr - who i like, incidentally, especially seventh seal and wild strawberries, but they aren't comedies)...

Oh for chrissakes... would somebody put Dr. Strangelove on that list already! Top 3 movie for me.(but it's started into being a fantastic group of comedies there..)

 

[Chaka]

* saw stanley kramer's mad X 4 world for the first time in a while... has to be one of my favorite comedies... doesn't seem like there are as many classic comedies as dramas, action/adventure, sci fi?

any recs from the thread...

From the same era as Mad World I always loved The Russians are coming, the Russians are comingWhere's Poppa? is another one I enjoy. Always been a fan of Ruth Gordon's comedic talent.

Mrs Hocheiser: Where's Poppa?

Gordon Hocheiser: Still dead mom.

Classic films that made me laugh:Marty

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

The Women

Being There

The Pink Panther series

Bananas

Sleeper

Take the Money and Run

Play it Again, Sam

i'll have to try the marx brothers... that is a huge blind spot in my movie history/background...i must have been watching three stooges as a kid, and passed them over later...

i almost mentioned the pink panther series... my favorite scene in was when he saw some parallel bars in the second floor of a resesidence (!! should have seen this coming), talks about how he was quite the gymnast, gets up, does some moves, and then dismounts at the top of the stairs, crashing down to the bottom)...

haven't seen being there in a long time (forget if it won for best picture or sellars won for actor?)...it was great how the washington power elite hung on every word because of his sage gardening-based "political metaphors"...

and of course woody allen... sleepers was great, take the money & run, i also liked annie hall & manhattan (before he turned into ingmar bergman, jr - who i like, incidentally, especially seventh seal and wild strawberries, but they aren't comedies)...

Oh for chrissakes... would somebody put Dr. Strangelove on that list already! Top 3 movie for me.(but it's started into being a fantastic group of comedies there..)

My default position is that everyone has seen Dr. Strangelove, which is why I didn't mention it. But you're right it belongs near the top of any list.

 

[El Floppo]

Oh for chrissakes... would somebody put Dr. Strangelove on that list already! Top 3 movie for me.

(but it's started into being a fantastic group of comedies there..)

My default position is that everyone has seen Dr. Strangelove, which is why I didn't mention it. But you're right it belongs near the top of any list.

Ah- thought we were talking "classic" comedies that Bob hadn't listed yet.Another solid- don't know if I'd rate it as classic- one from the... 80's?... My Favorite Year- about the production of the Sid Ceaser/Mel Brooks/Carl Reiner/etc... Show of Shows. Some great lines from that one and a fantastic performance by Peter O'Toole as... Erol Flynn?

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Zombieland: Pretty darn good but didn't live up to the hype. I can't think of many real gut-busting parts. The Bill Murray bit was funny but it you didn't see it coming.... you have problems. Good movie all around though. I'm starting to like this Eisenberg kid. He was good in Adventureland and in this but I have a feeling he'll end up going down the Micheal Cera path (good for a bit but can only play one role). I will also watch any movie from now on with Emma Stone in it 4/5

Surrogates: Meh. There wasn't anything that I really liked about this and nothing that I really hated. The whole thing was just kind of blah. It never really got me very interested and I found myself checking scores on my phone during the big climactic ending. It felt a lot like I, Robot but wasn't as good. 2/5

 

[Todem]

Watched Taken this weekend.

AWESOME.

 

[Chaka]

Oh for chrissakes... would somebody put Dr. Strangelove on that list already! Top 3 movie for me.

(but it's started into being a fantastic group of comedies there..)

My default position is that everyone has seen Dr. Strangelove, which is why I didn't mention it. But you're right it belongs near the top of any list.

Ah- thought we were talking "classic" comedies that Bob hadn't listed yet.Another solid- don't know if I'd rate it as classic- one from the... 80's?... My Favorite Year- about the production of the Sid Ceaser/Mel Brooks/Carl Reiner/etc... Show of Shows. Some great lines from that one and a fantastic performance by Peter O'Toole as... Erol Flynn?

I haven't seen MYF since it originally came out but I remember enjoying it a great deal. I have been thinking about revisiting it for quite some time.

 

[saintfool]

I haven't seen MYF since it originally came out but I remember enjoying it a great deal. I have been thinking about revisiting it for quite some time.

i like it well enough but it feels like a lot of broad sitcom writing to me. too much for it to rank very high in my book, in fact. looking at IMDB, with richard benjamin and palumbo handling a mel brooks story, i'm not entirely surprised by the outcome.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs is awesome.

STEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

TWO

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

The Tudors

Finished season three, disc one. There are better dramas, for sure. But this is a very entertaining series. Basically a really well-made soap opera with naked breasts.

Also recommend..and agree.

 

[Bob Magaw]

Oh for chrissakes... would somebody put Dr. Strangelove on that list already! Top 3 movie for me.

(but it's started into being a fantastic group of comedies there..)

My default position is that everyone has seen Dr. Strangelove, which is why I didn't mention it. But you're right it belongs near the top of any list.

Ah- thought we were talking "classic" comedies that Bob hadn't listed yet.Another solid- don't know if I'd rate it as classic- one from the... 80's?... My Favorite Year- about the production of the Sid Ceaser/Mel Brooks/Carl Reiner/etc... Show of Shows. Some great lines from that one and a fantastic performance by Peter O'Toole as... Erol Flynn?

dr. strangelove definitely a (black) comedy classic... since it is impossible for others to know what i may have overlooked, i appreciate listing anything that comes to mind. also liked MFY... o'toole was great in it... my favorite scene was when the staff "babysitter" takes him to his family's house for dinner, the uncle starts to ask a question, is cut off, says, "what, you think i was born yesterday?"... than proceeds to ask a highly personal question to the staffer's horror... diner was another enjoyable comedy (not sure about classic) from that era, with a young mickey rourke, kevin bacon, pete reiser (sp?), ellen barkin... they wouldn't let a woman marry their friend unless she was first screened and vetted by a rigorous, intensive sports quiz...

* i also found some early disney shorts/cartoons to be endlessly inventive in terms of sight gags (WB had more one-liners)...

 

[jdoggydogg]

Honestly can't believe the positive reviews that Pandorum has been getting. I thought it was borderline terrible. Felt like a dumb mix of movies like Event Horizon, The Descent, and I am Legend that didn't work on any level for me.

Glad to hear my fears are real. That trailer looks bad.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Oh for chrissakes... would somebody put Dr. Strangelove on that list already! Top 3 movie for me.

(but it's started into being a fantastic group of comedies there..)

 

[jdoggydogg]

Watched Homicide, a 1991 movie directed by David Mamet that recently got the Criterion Collection DVD. I love just about anything Mamet does, but I really liked it a lot. Kind of movie that leaves you wondering what the heck just happened once it's over.

I watched this about a decade ago and it did not work for me. But I am also a big Mamet fan and on your recommendation, I will give it another viewing. I am a huge fan of House of Games (another Mamet/Mantegna film I have watched at least half a dozen times) and expected similar excellence. I know it was a dvd rental and sometimes I will get a phone call or otherwise distracted/interrupted and not give a particular film a fair shot. Maybe that happened the first time I saw it.

You mentioned your a Mamet fan. These are excellent movies if you haven't seen them yet: Heist

Spartan

Things Change

 

[Kenny Powers]

Probably my favorite movie genre is zombie horror and no doubt my favorite movie of all time is the original Night of the Living Dead. I loved Zombieland. I'm a big hater of fast zombies but it still worked for me. Right from the start it grabbed me and the opening song (no spoilers) was perfect. There were a couple of lulls but they were short lived. The BM scene might be one of the funniest things ever on film. I'm guessing they wanted Michael Cera for the lead and found someone like him. Woody Harrelson was awesome. Some great gory kills. Loved it 4.5/5

Im glad they went with Jesse Eisenberg then. Im to the point Ive never wanting to see Michael Cera in another movie unless its Arrested Development

 

[Kenny Powers]

Honestly can't believe the positive reviews that Pandorum has been getting. I thought it was borderline terrible. Felt like a dumb mix of movies like Event Horizon, The Descent, and I am Legend that didn't work on any level for me.

I thought it was decent, but got progressively worse as it went on. Im defintiely more in your camp than the people clamoring over it though. I even said in my review a couple of weeks ago I hated the Quaid-Event Horizon angle they tried to pull.You didnt like Event Horizon? Love that movie. First saw it when I was 13 and it remains the only movie that really spooked me and made me have to watch Sportscenter for awhile after it before going to bed.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Zombieland: Pretty darn good but didn't live up to the hype. I can't think of many real gut-busting parts. The Bill Murray bit was funny but it you didn't see it coming.... you have problems. Good movie all around though. I'm starting to like this Eisenberg kid. He was good in Adventureland and in this but I have a feeling he'll end up going down the Micheal Cera path (good for a bit but can only play one role). I will also watch any movie from now on with Emma Stone in it 4/5

Eisenberg is a considerably better actor than one-trick Cera. If you like him, check out Rodger Dodger and The Squid & The Whale. Not only is he good in both, but each I thought were very good movies.

 

[Kenny Powers]

You mentioned your a Mamet fan. These are excellent movies if you haven't seen them yet: HeistSpartanThings Change

I figured Spartan was some straight to DVD Kilmer cheese. I'll have to check that out sometime. I didnt even know it was a Mamet movie.I'll second Heist. Very entertaining flick

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Zombieland: Pretty darn good but didn't live up to the hype. I can't think of many real gut-busting parts. The Bill Murray bit was funny but it you didn't see it coming.... you have problems. Good movie all around though. I'm starting to like this Eisenberg kid. He was good in Adventureland and in this but I have a feeling he'll end up going down the Micheal Cera path (good for a bit but can only play one role). I will also watch any movie from now on with Emma Stone in it 4/5

Eisenberg is a considerably better actor than one-trick Cera. If you like him, check out Rodger Dodger and The Squid & The Whale. Not only is he good in both, but each I thought were very good movies.

I haven't seen those. Of the two I have seen, the characters have been pretty much identical. If he does another movie with the same character he'll have officially entered the Micheal Cera realm.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Zombieland: Pretty darn good but didn't live up to the hype. I can't think of many real gut-busting parts. The Bill Murray bit was funny but it you didn't see it coming.... you have problems. Good movie all around though. I'm starting to like this Eisenberg kid. He was good in Adventureland and in this but I have a feeling he'll end up going down the Micheal Cera path (good for a bit but can only play one role). I will also watch any movie from now on with Emma Stone in it 4/5

Eisenberg is a considerably better actor than one-trick Cera. If you like him, check out Rodger Dodger and The Squid & The Whale. Not only is he good in both, but each I thought were very good movies.

I haven't seen those. Of the two I have seen, the characters have been pretty much identical. If he does another movie with the same character he'll have officially entered the Micheal Cera realm.

Well his characters in those are somewhat similar, but at least he's acting. What is Cera doing? Saying (sometimes) funny things and trying not to crack a smile?Either way, both those movies are worth checking out

 

[jdoggydogg]

You mentioned your a Mamet fan. These are excellent movies if you haven't seen them yet: HeistSpartanThings Change

I figured Spartan was some straight to DVD Kilmer cheese. I'll have to check that out sometime. I didnt even know it was a Mamet movie.I'll second Heist. Very entertaining flick

Spartan isn't a Mamet classic. But it does have all the signatures of a good Mamet movie. I enjoyed it.

 

[saintfool]

Well his characters in those are somewhat similar, but at least he's acting. What is Cera doing? Saying (sometimes) funny things and trying not to crack a smile?

Either way, both those movies are worth checking out

they are both good films. i think the difference between cera and eisenberg is the acting but not in the most obvious ways. in most of the films that eisenberg has been in, he's been acting with more accomplished actors like campbell scott, jeff daniels and even a hammy woody harrelson. they help him in their scenes together. eisenberg hasn't had a role yet where he's had to show tremendous range yet but it's coming, i think. he's chosen meatier roles as an actor and will be better for it in the long run.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Well his characters in those are somewhat similar, but at least he's acting. What is Cera doing? Saying (sometimes) funny things and trying not to crack a smile?

Either way, both those movies are worth checking out

they are both good films. i think the difference between cera and eisenberg is the acting but not in the most obvious ways. in most of the films that eisenberg has been in, he's been acting with more accomplished actors like campbell scott, jeff daniels and even a hammy woody harrelson. they help him in their scenes together. eisenberg hasn't had a role yet where he's had to show tremendous range yet but it's coming, i think. he's chosen meatier roles as an actor and will be better for it in the long run.

Good point...I had to check imdb earlier to see if I was forgetting any other movies of his. No other good ones that Ive seen, but I cant believe dude is 26 years old. I wouldve thought like 20.

 

[El Floppo]

You mentioned your a Mamet fan. These are excellent movies if you haven't seen them yet: HeistSpartanThings Change

I figured Spartan was some straight to DVD Kilmer cheese. I'll have to check that out sometime. I didnt even know it was a Mamet movie.I'll second Heist. Very entertaining flick

Spartan isn't a Mamet classic. But it does have all the signatures of a good Mamet movie. I enjoyed it.

You love Mamet?I don't love Mamet.You don't love Mamet?I don't love Mamet.

 

[cosjobs]

Watched Homicide, a 1991 movie directed by David Mamet that recently got the Criterion Collection DVD. I love just about anything Mamet does, but I really liked it a lot. Kind of movie that leaves you wondering what the heck just happened once it's over.

I watched this about a decade ago and it did not work for me. But I am also a big Mamet fan and on your recommendation, I will give it another viewing. I am a huge fan of House of Games (another Mamet/Mantegna film I have watched at least half a dozen times) and expected similar excellence. I know it was a dvd rental and sometimes I will get a phone call or otherwise distracted/interrupted and not give a particular film a fair shot. Maybe that happened the first time I saw it.

You mentioned your a Mamet fan. These are excellent movies if you haven't seen them yet: Heist

Spartan

Things Change

I have seen all those and liked none of them nearly as much as HoG. But I should re-visit them all. Mamet's dialogue can be hard to digest without focusing and "getting into" the film and they probably deserve another chance. Of those three, I really enjoyed Things Change, but Heist and Spatan did not engage me.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Honestly can't believe the positive reviews that Pandorum has been getting. I thought it was borderline terrible. Felt like a dumb mix of movies like Event Horizon, The Descent, and I am Legend that didn't work on any level for me.

I thought it was decent, but got progressively worse as it went on. Im defintiely more in your camp than the people clamoring over it though. I even said in my review a couple of weeks ago I hated the Quaid-Event Horizon angle they tried to pull.You didnt like Event Horizon? Love that movie. First saw it when I was 13 and it remains the only movie that really spooked me and made me have to watch Sportscenter for awhile after it before going to bed.

I guess I should've been more specific. It seemed like they pulled the worst part of each of those movies, mixed them together and #### out this movie. Event Horizon is spooky as hell if you have a good surround setup. Took a couple of co-workers to see the movie in the theater, and one of the girls was so scared she was crying. I still hate the scenes where his wife shows up too. Pandorum was good for about 20mins until they showed the "monsters" and everybody started Kung Fu fighting.

 

[Chaka]

dr. strangelove definitely a (black) comedy classic... since it is impossible for others to know what i may have overlooked, i appreciate listing anything that comes to mind. also liked MFY... o'toole was great in it... my favorite scene was when the staff "babysitter" takes him to his family's house for dinner, the uncle starts to ask a question, is cut off, says, "what, you think i was born yesterday?"... than proceeds to ask a highly personal question to the staffer's horror...

diner was another enjoyable comedy (not sure about classic) from that era, with a young mickey rourke, kevin bacon, pete reiser (sp?), ellen barkin... they wouldn't let a woman marry their friend unless she was first screened and vetted by a rigorous, intensive sports quiz...

* i also found some early disney shorts/cartoons to be endlessly inventive in terms of sight gags (WB had more one-liners)...

Here's one for you: Fandango 1985 comedy starring Kevin Costner and Judd Nelson. Vietnam era road movie about a group of college grads on one last road trip before going their various ways. Great characters in a very funny movie.Far and away Costner's best role (although some will say that isn't saying much).

 

[Bob Magaw]

arrested development was hilarious... the lars von trier directed, swedish production the kingdom (two of three planned mini-series) is very funny, kind of like ER meets twin peaks...

i used to be really into LvT's work. i went to the theater to see the first showing of this in the US. it was like a 6 hour showing and loved every minute of it. it's funny, weird and compelling all at the same time. i never saw the sequel when it came stateside but found them both on netflix. i've added them to my queue and hope to see them before too long. my wife *may* get a kick out of them too. i can only hope...

the kingdom might be a unique hybrid-genre... medical/horror/comedy/soap...didn't realize an overwhelming majority (20 of 22) of reviews were positive at rotten tomatoes... i would never have guessed this near unanimity for such a bizarre, quirky, eccentric project...

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1067319-kingdom/

just one disc (last two episodes) left, and the humor was as scathingly and witheringly ascerbic as i fondly recalled... for a sprawling work, i found the large cast of characters very well drawn and the complex plot with many interwoven story arcs remarkably easy to follow, so it should be easy for a newcomer to get up to speed quickly, by the first or second episode.

more info...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kingdom_(TV_miniseries)

 

[jdoggydogg]

You mentioned your a Mamet fan. These are excellent movies if you haven't seen them yet: HeistSpartanThings Change

I figured Spartan was some straight to DVD Kilmer cheese. I'll have to check that out sometime. I didnt even know it was a Mamet movie.I'll second Heist. Very entertaining flick

Spartan isn't a Mamet classic. But it does have all the signatures of a good Mamet movie. I enjoyed it.

You love Mamet?I don't love Mamet.You don't love Mamet?I don't love Mamet.

"Do you, uh...""What?""Do you, um... well do you love Mamet?""Hmmm...Maybe.""Well, do you or don't you.""I don't know. Mmmm...perhaps."

 

[jdoggydogg]

Watched Homicide, a 1991 movie directed by David Mamet that recently got the Criterion Collection DVD. I love just about anything Mamet does, but I really liked it a lot. Kind of movie that leaves you wondering what the heck just happened once it's over.

I watched this about a decade ago and it did not work for me. But I am also a big Mamet fan and on your recommendation, I will give it another viewing. I am a huge fan of House of Games (another Mamet/Mantegna film I have watched at least half a dozen times) and expected similar excellence. I know it was a dvd rental and sometimes I will get a phone call or otherwise distracted/interrupted and not give a particular film a fair shot. Maybe that happened the first time I saw it.

You mentioned your a Mamet fan. These are excellent movies if you haven't seen them yet: Heist

Spartan

Things Change

I have seen all those and liked none of them nearly as much as HoG. But I should re-visit them all. Mamet's dialogue can be hard to digest without focusing and "getting into" the film and they probably deserve another chance. Of those three, I really enjoyed Things Change, but Heist and Spatan did not engage me.

House of Games is a classic. Though I'd argue that Heist has better acting.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Hurt Locker

Really surprised to read the negative reviews in this thread. This movie is certainly a notch below classics like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. But Bigelow's war drama is an original, tense, thoughtful study. The sniper scene was too long? What was that? 11 minutes? Someone here mentioned that The Hurt Locker didn't deserve an Oscar nomination. If hoary effluvium like The Blind Side deserves a nomination, then this movie absolutely belongs in the conversation. Not a great movie, but very good and definitely worth seeing.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Mr. Brooks

I can't remember if I ever posted a review of this movie since I saw it months ago. This is a fun thriller with Kevin Costner where he plays a serial killer. Not a great movie in any sense, but enjoyable. And much as I can't stand Dane Cook, Cook has a good role in this movie. Not bad.

 

[joffer]

If hoary effluvium ....

i'm sure i'm going to steal this after i look it up

 

[jdoggydogg]

If hoary effluvium ....

i'm sure i'm going to steal this after i look it up

Yeah. Hoary Effluvium was a union boss back in the 1950s.

 

[saintfool]

The Hurt Locker

Really surprised to read the negative reviews in this thread. This movie is certainly a notch below classics like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. But Bigelow's war drama is an original, tense, thoughtful study. The sniper scene was too long? What was that? 11 minutes? Someone here mentioned that The Hurt Locker didn't deserve an Oscar nomination. If hoary effluvium like The Blind Side deserves a nomination, then this movie absolutely belongs in the conversation. Not a great movie, but very good and definitely worth seeing.

i stand by that statement. it is less cloying than, say, "jarhead" and others like it but it doesn't mean it deserves to be at the head of the class either. it's a fine film but not deserving of "best picture". bigelow isn't a good enough director to earn that distinction. look at her body of work and tell me if any of that screams "best director" to you. any vote for her and this picture is really an anti-cameron vote, i think. this is not necessarily a bad thing because cameron needs a little humbling in my opinion. as for "the blind side", this is the problem with opening the nominations to 10 films. i haven't seen it and don't feel any real desire to it.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Hurt Locker

Really surprised to read the negative reviews in this thread. This movie is certainly a notch below classics like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. But Bigelow's war drama is an original, tense, thoughtful study. The sniper scene was too long? What was that? 11 minutes? Someone here mentioned that The Hurt Locker didn't deserve an Oscar nomination. If hoary effluvium like The Blind Side deserves a nomination, then this movie absolutely belongs in the conversation. Not a great movie, but very good and definitely worth seeing.

i stand by that statement. it is less cloying than, say, "jarhead" and others like it but it doesn't mean it deserves to be at the head of the class either. it's a fine film but not deserving of "best picture". bigelow isn't a good enough director to earn that distinction. look at her body of work and tell me if any of that screams "best director" to you. any vote for her and this picture is really an anti-cameron vote, i think. this is not necessarily a bad thing because cameron needs a little humbling in my opinion. as for "the blind side", this is the problem with opening the nominations to 10 films. i haven't seen it and don't feel any real desire to it.

No, I don't think Bigelow is a great director. And Inglourious Basterds is the best film I saw last year. But The Hurt Locker is far better than some of the garbage that earn Oscar nominations every year.

 

[El Floppo]

The Hurt Locker

Really surprised to read the negative reviews in this thread. This movie is certainly a notch below classics like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. But Bigelow's war drama is an original, tense, thoughtful study. The sniper scene was too long? What was that? 11 minutes? Someone here mentioned that The Hurt Locker didn't deserve an Oscar nomination. If hoary effluvium like The Blind Side deserves a nomination, then this movie absolutely belongs in the conversation. Not a great movie, but very good and definitely worth seeing.

i stand by that statement. it is less cloying than, say, "jarhead" and others like it but it doesn't mean it deserves to be at the head of the class either. it's a fine film but not deserving of "best picture". bigelow isn't a good enough director to earn that distinction. look at her body of work and tell me if any of that screams "best director" to you. any vote for her and this picture is really an anti-cameron vote, i think. this is not necessarily a bad thing because cameron needs a little humbling in my opinion. as for "the blind side", this is the problem with opening the nominations to 10 films. i haven't seen it and don't feel any real desire to it.

BOth are I liked the movie- as JD says, not a classic, but a worthwhile watch. As SF says- not really an Oscar caliber film either- but with 10, and given the films this year, it's gotta be up there.

I didnt mind the pacing- actually kinda liked it. Thought the casting for the cameos were a bit over the top and borderline distracting. My main gripe had to do with whatever point there seemed to be to the picture was made in the opening credits by quotation. At some point in the middle of the film, my wife and I looked at eachother and wondered what the film was supposed to be "about", beyond that, and where it might be going. By the end, it didn't go anywhere else and suffered for it, IMO.

"hoary" .... :titter:

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Hurt Locker

Really surprised to read the negative reviews in this thread. This movie is certainly a notch below classics like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. But Bigelow's war drama is an original, tense, thoughtful study. The sniper scene was too long? What was that? 11 minutes? Someone here mentioned that The Hurt Locker didn't deserve an Oscar nomination. If hoary effluvium like The Blind Side deserves a nomination, then this movie absolutely belongs in the conversation. Not a great movie, but very good and definitely worth seeing.

i stand by that statement. it is less cloying than, say, "jarhead" and others like it but it doesn't mean it deserves to be at the head of the class either. it's a fine film but not deserving of "best picture". bigelow isn't a good enough director to earn that distinction. look at her body of work and tell me if any of that screams "best director" to you. any vote for her and this picture is really an anti-cameron vote, i think. this is not necessarily a bad thing because cameron needs a little humbling in my opinion. as for "the blind side", this is the problem with opening the nominations to 10 films. i haven't seen it and don't feel any real desire to it.

BOth are I liked the movie- as JD says, not a classic, but a worthwhile watch. As SF says- not really an Oscar caliber film either- but with 10, and given the films this year, it's gotta be up there.

I didnt mind the pacing- actually kinda liked it. Thought the casting for the cameos were a bit over the top and borderline distracting. My main gripe had to do with whatever point there seemed to be to the picture was made in the opening credits by quotation. At some point in the middle of the film, my wife and I looked at eachother and wondered what the film was supposed to be "about", beyond that, and where it might be going. By the end, it didn't go anywhere else and suffered for it, IMO.

"hoary" .... :titter:

This is a small movie, for sure. It lacks a real signature scene. And the director and writer's intentions are not clear to me. But I like that kind of ambivalence in my movies.

 

[El Floppo]

The Hurt Locker

Really surprised to read the negative reviews in this thread. This movie is certainly a notch below classics like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. But Bigelow's war drama is an original, tense, thoughtful study. The sniper scene was too long? What was that? 11 minutes? Someone here mentioned that The Hurt Locker didn't deserve an Oscar nomination. If hoary effluvium like The Blind Side deserves a nomination, then this movie absolutely belongs in the conversation. Not a great movie, but very good and definitely worth seeing.

i stand by that statement. it is less cloying than, say, "jarhead" and others like it but it doesn't mean it deserves to be at the head of the class either. it's a fine film but not deserving of "best picture". bigelow isn't a good enough director to earn that distinction. look at her body of work and tell me if any of that screams "best director" to you. any vote for her and this picture is really an anti-cameron vote, i think. this is not necessarily a bad thing because cameron needs a little humbling in my opinion. as for "the blind side", this is the problem with opening the nominations to 10 films. i haven't seen it and don't feel any real desire to it.

BOth are I liked the movie- as JD says, not a classic, but a worthwhile watch. As SF says- not really an Oscar caliber film either- but with 10, and given the films this year, it's gotta be up there.

I didnt mind the pacing- actually kinda liked it. Thought the casting for the cameos were a bit over the top and borderline distracting. My main gripe had to do with whatever point there seemed to be to the picture was made in the opening credits by quotation. At some point in the middle of the film, my wife and I looked at eachother and wondered what the film was supposed to be "about", beyond that, and where it might be going. By the end, it didn't go anywhere else and suffered for it, IMO.

"hoary" .... :titter:

This is a small movie, for sure. It lacks a real signature scene. And the director and writer's intentions are not clear to me. But I like that kind of ambivalence in my movies.

ambiguity?