Recently viewed movie thread - Rental Edition (2 Viewers)

[Chaka]

Cloud Atlas - I didn't hate it. I thought it brought a lot of interesting things to the table even if it wasn't particularly well executed. A story like that really requires a deft story telling hand and they missed on a lot of elements that would have tied the stories together better but overall I still enjoyed it.

This is such a weird movie. There are individual stories that are compelling and acting that works well. And then sprinkled in is stuff such as that embarrasing Hanks/Berry futuristic hilarity. I think the casting could have been the single biggest mistake this movie made. How can anyone watch those laughable Hanks/Berry scenes with all that gibberish and forget you're watching Hanks and Berry read gibberish? Casting unknowns in those roles might have made them far more beleiveable.

Absolutely agree, although the worst for me was Hanks as the Irish novelist. At least that was mercifully short lived.

The dialogue for the future scenes was actually interesting and reasonably plausible as a progression of English but having Hanks and Berry in those roles did take me out of the movie.

 

[Chaka]

Hasnt The Joker been a villain of Batman's in clown makeup for like 50+ years now? So weve already had a few generations finding no problem with it, dont see why the current/future generations would feel much different.

The point the guy was trying to make was that this current crop of superhero movies (including the Marvel run) may not "hold up well". Certainly there have been portrayals of the Joker and Batman in general from the past that don't hold up well today. And certainly there are some great actors who did great work in movies that we find laughably bad today regardless.

Meh. I am sure you can say that about any movie genre over time, some will hold up better than others.

 

[Chaka]

Cloud Atlas - I didn't hate it. I thought it brought a lot of interesting things to the table even if it wasn't particularly well executed. A story like that really requires a deft story telling hand and they missed on a lot of elements that would have tied the stories together better but overall I still enjoyed it.

This is such a weird movie. There are individual stories that are compelling and acting that works well. And then sprinkled in is stuff such as that embarrasing Hanks/Berry futuristic hilarity. I think the casting could have been the single biggest mistake this movie made. How can anyone watch those laughable Hanks/Berry scenes with all that gibberish and forget you're watching Hanks and Berry read gibberish? Casting unknowns in those roles might have made them far more beleiveable.

Did you read the book?

I think they needed star like that so we recognized people better among the timelines.

I can see that but for me it was impossible to see characters and not see Tom Hanks and Halle Berry. Something about it just didn't work with them.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Place Beyond the Pines

I'm a big fan of Blue Valentine, so I was pretty excited about seeing Derek Cianfrance's new movie. There's plenty to admire here. The camera work is excellent, the score is haunting, and the acting is also good. But I don't know, this movie is a lot of depressing content for the entire 2 1/2 hours. I generally admire dark films. I can see why someone would recommend the movie, and there are certainly scenes I liked. But it wasn't for me.

Surprised you didnt like this. While many of the characters seemed to go thru stretches of depression (or close to it), I didnt find it to be depressing at all, and those types of moments felt totally natural given the various circumstances. Ironic you say that too because while I liked Blue Valentine, I think it was far more depressing. I have no interest to ever watch it again, and Im sure I'll watch Pines many times.

As I said, I'm not surprised that someone would like the movie. But I'll ask you since you liked Pines: what is the point of this movie?

I agree with what KP already said in response to this, except in a more general sense: its point was how the decisions we make, as simple or harmless as they may seem at first, can impact you as well as the lives of others. The impact obviously varies, and I thought it also did a good job of showing that.

Spoiler

Of course there are more obvious things like Gosling's risky decision keep robbing banks lead to his death, but there are plenty more subtle ones. What if when Gosling met Eva he just left the carnival to be with her? If that happens, he probably has a long life of happiness with her, raising his son, a normal life where he would never even consider robbing banks. Or, going with how the storyline actually went Eva's decision to not tell her son about his real father despite his requests. To her, it probably didn't seem like something all that important, however it ended up being the foundation for her son deciding to leave and her losing him. Then there's Cooper deciding to go into politics, which lead to not much time being spent with his family, and a weak relationship with his son, which we see what that lead his son to become in the last act. There's plenty more, but you get what Im saying.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Cloud Atlas - I didn't hate it. I thought it brought a lot of interesting things to the table even if it wasn't particularly well executed. A story like that really requires a deft story telling hand and they missed on a lot of elements that would have tied the stories together better but overall I still enjoyed it.

This is such a weird movie. There are individual stories that are compelling and acting that works well. And then sprinkled in is stuff such as that embarrasing Hanks/Berry futuristic hilarity. I think the casting could have been the single biggest mistake this movie made. How can anyone watch those laughable Hanks/Berry scenes with all that gibberish and forget you're watching Hanks and Berry read gibberish? Casting unknowns in those roles might have made them far more beleiveable.

Did you read the book?

I think they needed star like that so we recognized people better among the timelines.

I understand. My problem is that people like Hanks are way to overexposed. Like Hanks in The Terminal, for example. Love Hanks, love his movies. But no way can I suspend my disbelief and believe that guy is a poor immigrant.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Cloud Atlas - I didn't hate it. I thought it brought a lot of interesting things to the table even if it wasn't particularly well executed. A story like that really requires a deft story telling hand and they missed on a lot of elements that would have tied the stories together better but overall I still enjoyed it.

This is such a weird movie. There are individual stories that are compelling and acting that works well. And then sprinkled in is stuff such as that embarrasing Hanks/Berry futuristic hilarity. I think the casting could have been the single biggest mistake this movie made. How can anyone watch those laughable Hanks/Berry scenes with all that gibberish and forget you're watching Hanks and Berry read gibberish? Casting unknowns in those roles might have made them far more beleiveable.

Did you read the book?

I think they needed star like that so we recognized people better among the timelines.

I can see that but for me it was impossible to see characters and not see Tom Hanks and Halle Berry. Something about it just didn't work with them.

Yes.

 

[JoeSteeler]

I didn't feel like going back to quote whoever mentioned Insidious 2, but it was pretty bad. The story was all over the place. It was interesting to see them tie the 2nd film into the 1st, but still pretty weak overall. I was hoping for more suspense like the 1st one and it came up well short IMO.

2/5

I thought the first one was barely a 2/5 if that, pretty sure ill avoid this one.

First one wasn't bad, I would give it 3/5. Second one, 1/5 it was really bad

 

[Statorama]

The Wolf of Wall Street didn't really grab me like I was hoping it would. DiCaprio is out of his mind great in this one, obvious Oscar nomination. Actually I don't think there was a bad performance in the movie at all. The direction was very good, but the movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter.

So why didn't it grab me? Could have been the repetitive nature of the whole thing. After the 8th or 9th coke binge it just stopped being interesting. Could have been that there's no one to really root for. I didn't like Belfort enough to want him to succeed or hate him enough to want him to fail. Ultimately there's a lot of sizzle (big house, nice cars, wild parties) in the movie but very little steak you can actually sink your teeth into. Scorsese heavy handidly paints the FBI guys as suckers, but only subtly reminds the audience that the coke and titty parties that Wall Street throws are financed by us chumps. Speaking of the sizzle, there are lots of ####### and drug use and drug use on ####### in this movie (which will likely keep this from winning the big statue IMO).

I recommend it for the unbelievable performances, but the story doesn't shed any new light on a subject we've seen dozens of times before (Boiler Room the most obvious example). This won't have a lot of rewatchability, but it's worth checking out to be part of the water cooler discussion on it. Not terrible, not great. 3.8 / 5

edit to add: the # words there are euphemisms for breasts. Didn't know that was a no go on the language filter. Sorry about that.

 

[Statorama]

Cloud Atlas - I didn't hate it. I thought it brought a lot of interesting things to the table even if it wasn't particularly well executed. A story like that really requires a deft story telling hand and they missed on a lot of elements that would have tied the stories together better but overall I still enjoyed it.

This is such a weird movie. There are individual stories that are compelling and acting that works well. And then sprinkled in is stuff such as that embarrasing Hanks/Berry futuristic hilarity. I think the casting could have been the single biggest mistake this movie made. How can anyone watch those laughable Hanks/Berry scenes with all that gibberish and forget you're watching Hanks and Berry read gibberish? Casting unknowns in those roles might have made them far more beleiveable.

Did you read the book?

I think they needed star like that so we recognized people better among the timelines.

I can see that but for me it was impossible to see characters and not see Tom Hanks and Halle Berry. Something about it just didn't work with them.

Yeah, that's an odd pairing. Just trying to visualize those two having electricity between them is nearly impossible.

 

[Daywalker]

Inside Llewyn Davis

Fine performances but really nothing to see here. The music was mediocre. In fact characters in the movie often were less then enthused by the musical numbers. Was weird. Would not recommend by any stretch. This is no O Brother.

3/10

Her

Definitely in my top 5 of the year. Was completely absorbing. J. Phoenix basically talking into a blu-tooth for two hours yet so much going on. The nature of relationships, artificial intelligence and a look at society in the future. Jonze did a masterful job. He and Phoenix deserve some hardware for this. Seemingly having Scarlett in your ear for two hours was enjoyable too.

Don't think it's a slam-dunk movie that everyone will like though. It's obviously a bit out there. But those who do like it will so immensely.

8/10

 

[Rushmore]

Inside Llewyn Davis

Fine performances but really nothing to see here. The music was mediocre. In fact characters in the movie often were less then enthused by the musical numbers. Was weird. Would not recommend by any stretch. This is no O Brother.

3/10

This is disappointing to hear. Anyone else seen this?

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Wolf of Wall Street didn't really grab me like I was hoping it would. DiCaprio is out of his mind great in this one, obvious Oscar nomination. Actually I don't think there was a bad performance in the movie at all. The direction was very good, but the movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter.

So why didn't it grab me? Could have been the repetitive nature of the whole thing. After the 8th or 9th coke binge it just stopped being interesting. Could have been that there's no one to really root for. I didn't like Belfort enough to want him to succeed or hate him enough to want him to fail. Ultimately there's a lot of sizzle (big house, nice cars, wild parties) in the movie but very little steak you can actually sink your teeth into. Scorsese heavy handidly paints the FBI guys as suckers, but only subtly reminds the audience that the coke and titty parties that Wall Street throws are financed by us chumps. Speaking of the sizzle, there are lots of ####### and drug use and drug use on ####### in this movie (which will likely keep this from winning the big statue IMO).

I recommend it for the unbelievable performances, but the story doesn't shed any new light on a subject we've seen dozens of times before (Boiler Room the most obvious example). This won't have a lot of rewatchability, but it's worth checking out to be part of the water cooler discussion on it. Not terrible, not great. 3.8 / 5

edit to add: the # words there are euphemisms for breasts. Didn't know that was a no go on the language filter. Sorry about that.

Seeing this tonight.

 

[hxperson]

The Wolf of Wall Street didn't really grab me like I was hoping it would. DiCaprio is out of his mind great in this one, obvious Oscar nomination. Actually I don't think there was a bad performance in the movie at all. The direction was very good, but the movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter.

So why didn't it grab me? Could have been the repetitive nature of the whole thing. After the 8th or 9th coke binge it just stopped being interesting. Could have been that there's no one to really root for. I didn't like Belfort enough to want him to succeed or hate him enough to want him to fail. Ultimately there's a lot of sizzle (big house, nice cars, wild parties) in the movie but very little steak you can actually sink your teeth into. Scorsese heavy handidly paints the FBI guys as suckers, but only subtly reminds the audience that the coke and titty parties that Wall Street throws are financed by us chumps. Speaking of the sizzle, there are lots of ####### and drug use and drug use on ####### in this movie (which will likely keep this from winning the big statue IMO).

I recommend it for the unbelievable performances, but the story doesn't shed any new light on a subject we've seen dozens of times before (Boiler Room the most obvious example). This won't have a lot of rewatchability, but it's worth checking out to be part of the water cooler discussion on it. Not terrible, not great. 3.8 / 5

edit to add: the # words there are euphemisms for breasts. Didn't know that was a no go on the language filter. Sorry about that.

Seeing this tonight.

Saw it yesterday and loved it. Probably the best movie I've seen this year, although I admit I haven't seen a few of the big ones like American Hustle or 10 Years a Slave. I liked it better than Gravity though, which I also thought was excellent (saw it in 3D). I am a sucker for good movies about finance (a by-product of working in front lines of the industry), which this movie was and Boiler Room was not.

Boiler Room was entertaining but it focused too much on the scam and the plight of the retail customer, which certainty is a worthy emphasis but quite frankly is boring. Wolf chooses instead to focus on the characters and humanizes the scams. In doing this, I feel it becomes a much deeper and more complex exposition about the perils of greed, hubris, and breaking the law. In my opinion, this movie is the modern day version of Wall Street, with bit more polish and a lot more sex and drugs.

 

[Kenny Powers]

The Wolf of Wall Street didn't really grab me like I was hoping it would. DiCaprio is out of his mind great in this one, obvious Oscar nomination. Actually I don't think there was a bad performance in the movie at all. The direction was very good, but the movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter.

So why didn't it grab me? Could have been the repetitive nature of the whole thing. After the 8th or 9th coke binge it just stopped being interesting. Could have been that there's no one to really root for. I didn't like Belfort enough to want him to succeed or hate him enough to want him to fail. Ultimately there's a lot of sizzle (big house, nice cars, wild parties) in the movie but very little steak you can actually sink your teeth into. Scorsese heavy handidly paints the FBI guys as suckers, but only subtly reminds the audience that the coke and titty parties that Wall Street throws are financed by us chumps. Speaking of the sizzle, there are lots of ####### and drug use and drug use on ####### in this movie (which will likely keep this from winning the big statue IMO).

I recommend it for the unbelievable performances, but the story doesn't shed any new light on a subject we've seen dozens of times before (Boiler Room the most obvious example). This won't have a lot of rewatchability, but it's worth checking out to be part of the water cooler discussion on it. Not terrible, not great. 3.8 / 5

edit to add: the # words there are euphemisms for breasts. Didn't know that was a no go on the language filter. Sorry about that.

Seeing this tonight.

Saw it yesterday and loved it. Probably the best movie I've seen this year, although I admit I haven't seen a few of the big ones like American Hustle or 10 Years a Slave. I liked it better than Gravity though, which I also thought was excellent (saw it in 3D). I am a sucker for good movies about finance (a by-product of working in front lines of the industry), which this movie was and Boiler Room was not.

Boiler Room was entertaining but it focused too much on the scam and the plight of the retail customer, which certainty is a worthy emphasis but quite frankly is boring. Wolf chooses instead to focus on the characters and humanizes the scams. In doing this, I feel it becomes a much deeper and more complex exposition about the perils of greed, hubris, and breaking the law. In my opinion, this movie is the modern day version of Wall Street, with bit more polish and a lot more sex and drugs.

Havent seen it yet, but based in the previews I did think it could be similar to Boiler Room, except less personal and more high-end and widely effecting. Love Boiler Room, interested to see how Wolf comes across to me.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Wolf of Wall Street didn't really grab me like I was hoping it would. DiCaprio is out of his mind great in this one, obvious Oscar nomination. Actually I don't think there was a bad performance in the movie at all. The direction was very good, but the movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter.

So why didn't it grab me? Could have been the repetitive nature of the whole thing. After the 8th or 9th coke binge it just stopped being interesting. Could have been that there's no one to really root for. I didn't like Belfort enough to want him to succeed or hate him enough to want him to fail. Ultimately there's a lot of sizzle (big house, nice cars, wild parties) in the movie but very little steak you can actually sink your teeth into. Scorsese heavy handidly paints the FBI guys as suckers, but only subtly reminds the audience that the coke and titty parties that Wall Street throws are financed by us chumps. Speaking of the sizzle, there are lots of ####### and drug use and drug use on ####### in this movie (which will likely keep this from winning the big statue IMO).

I recommend it for the unbelievable performances, but the story doesn't shed any new light on a subject we've seen dozens of times before (Boiler Room the most obvious example). This won't have a lot of rewatchability, but it's worth checking out to be part of the water cooler discussion on it. Not terrible, not great. 3.8 / 5

edit to add: the # words there are euphemisms for breasts. Didn't know that was a no go on the language filter. Sorry about that.

Seeing this tonight.

Saw it yesterday and loved it. Probably the best movie I've seen this year, although I admit I haven't seen a few of the big ones like American Hustle or 10 Years a Slave. I liked it better than Gravity though, which I also thought was excellent (saw it in 3D). I am a sucker for good movies about finance (a by-product of working in front lines of the industry), which this movie was and Boiler Room was not.

Boiler Room was entertaining but it focused too much on the scam and the plight of the retail customer, which certainty is a worthy emphasis but quite frankly is boring. Wolf chooses instead to focus on the characters and humanizes the scams. In doing this, I feel it becomes a much deeper and more complex exposition about the perils of greed, hubris, and breaking the law. In my opinion, this movie is the modern day version of Wall Street, with bit more polish and a lot more sex and drugs.

Havent seen it yet, but based in the previews I did think it could be similar to Boiler Room, except less personal and more high-end and widely effecting. Love Boiler Room, interested to see how Wolf comes across to me.

For any that like financial dramas, I just watched Kevin Spacey in Margin Call. That was a darn good movie. Not amazing or groundbreaking, but well-written.

 

[Kenny Powers]

The Wolf of Wall Street didn't really grab me like I was hoping it would. DiCaprio is out of his mind great in this one, obvious Oscar nomination. Actually I don't think there was a bad performance in the movie at all. The direction was very good, but the movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter.

So why didn't it grab me? Could have been the repetitive nature of the whole thing. After the 8th or 9th coke binge it just stopped being interesting. Could have been that there's no one to really root for. I didn't like Belfort enough to want him to succeed or hate him enough to want him to fail. Ultimately there's a lot of sizzle (big house, nice cars, wild parties) in the movie but very little steak you can actually sink your teeth into. Scorsese heavy handidly paints the FBI guys as suckers, but only subtly reminds the audience that the coke and titty parties that Wall Street throws are financed by us chumps. Speaking of the sizzle, there are lots of ####### and drug use and drug use on ####### in this movie (which will likely keep this from winning the big statue IMO).

I recommend it for the unbelievable performances, but the story doesn't shed any new light on a subject we've seen dozens of times before (Boiler Room the most obvious example). This won't have a lot of rewatchability, but it's worth checking out to be part of the water cooler discussion on it. Not terrible, not great. 3.8 / 5

edit to add: the # words there are euphemisms for breasts. Didn't know that was a no go on the language filter. Sorry about that.

Seeing this tonight.

Saw it yesterday and loved it. Probably the best movie I've seen this year, although I admit I haven't seen a few of the big ones like American Hustle or 10 Years a Slave. I liked it better than Gravity though, which I also thought was excellent (saw it in 3D). I am a sucker for good movies about finance (a by-product of working in front lines of the industry), which this movie was and Boiler Room was not.

Boiler Room was entertaining but it focused too much on the scam and the plight of the retail customer, which certainty is a worthy emphasis but quite frankly is boring. Wolf chooses instead to focus on the characters and humanizes the scams. In doing this, I feel it becomes a much deeper and more complex exposition about the perils of greed, hubris, and breaking the law. In my opinion, this movie is the modern day version of Wall Street, with bit more polish and a lot more sex and drugs.

Havent seen it yet, but based in the previews I did think it could be similar to Boiler Room, except less personal and more high-end and widely effecting. Love Boiler Room, interested to see how Wolf comes across to me.

For any that like financial dramas, I just watched Kevin Spacey in Margin Call. That was a darn good movie. Not amazing or groundbreaking, but well-written.

Yeah, Margin Call was very good I thought. Great script and its pretty much a non-stop thriller once it gets rolling. Best performance from Paul Bettany that Ive seen, the acting was strong across the board as well with the strong ensemble cast. Surprised it didnt get more buzz a couple years ago, I believe the screenplay was nominated for an oscar.

 

[hxperson]

The Wolf of Wall Street didn't really grab me like I was hoping it would. DiCaprio is out of his mind great in this one, obvious Oscar nomination. Actually I don't think there was a bad performance in the movie at all. The direction was very good, but the movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter.

So why didn't it grab me? Could have been the repetitive nature of the whole thing. After the 8th or 9th coke binge it just stopped being interesting. Could have been that there's no one to really root for. I didn't like Belfort enough to want him to succeed or hate him enough to want him to fail. Ultimately there's a lot of sizzle (big house, nice cars, wild parties) in the movie but very little steak you can actually sink your teeth into. Scorsese heavy handidly paints the FBI guys as suckers, but only subtly reminds the audience that the coke and titty parties that Wall Street throws are financed by us chumps. Speaking of the sizzle, there are lots of ####### and drug use and drug use on ####### in this movie (which will likely keep this from winning the big statue IMO).

I recommend it for the unbelievable performances, but the story doesn't shed any new light on a subject we've seen dozens of times before (Boiler Room the most obvious example). This won't have a lot of rewatchability, but it's worth checking out to be part of the water cooler discussion on it. Not terrible, not great. 3.8 / 5

edit to add: the # words there are euphemisms for breasts. Didn't know that was a no go on the language filter. Sorry about that.

Seeing this tonight.

Saw it yesterday and loved it. Probably the best movie I've seen this year, although I admit I haven't seen a few of the big ones like American Hustle or 10 Years a Slave. I liked it better than Gravity though, which I also thought was excellent (saw it in 3D). I am a sucker for good movies about finance (a by-product of working in front lines of the industry), which this movie was and Boiler Room was not.

Boiler Room was entertaining but it focused too much on the scam and the plight of the retail customer, which certainty is a worthy emphasis but quite frankly is boring. Wolf chooses instead to focus on the characters and humanizes the scams. In doing this, I feel it becomes a much deeper and more complex exposition about the perils of greed, hubris, and breaking the law. In my opinion, this movie is the modern day version of Wall Street, with bit more polish and a lot more sex and drugs.

Havent seen it yet, but based in the previews I did think it could be similar to Boiler Room, except less personal and more high-end and widely effecting. Love Boiler Room, interested to see how Wolf comes across to me.

For any that like financial dramas, I just watched Kevin Spacey in Margin Call. That was a darn good movie. Not amazing or groundbreaking, but well-written.

I think Margin Call is a great movie. What impressed me the most about that movie was how realistic it was. I was working at a big bank at the time of the meltdown (albeit, on the buy side rather than the sell side), and the way this movie played out was very simliar to how we would have dealt with a major crisis at that time. Kevin Spacey's actions were also pretty congruent with how I would have pictured things to play out on the trading floor, given my converstations with my trading counterparts at the bulge brackets and my friends who were working on the floors at the time.

I also should probably clarify that I do think Boiler Room was a good movie, just not really a good finance movie. I guess sort of like how Driving Miss Daisy isn't really a car movie (a very crude comparison, I know).

 

[Statorama]

The Wolf of Wall Street didn't really grab me like I was hoping it would. DiCaprio is out of his mind great in this one, obvious Oscar nomination. Actually I don't think there was a bad performance in the movie at all. The direction was very good, but the movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter.

So why didn't it grab me? Could have been the repetitive nature of the whole thing. After the 8th or 9th coke binge it just stopped being interesting. Could have been that there's no one to really root for. I didn't like Belfort enough to want him to succeed or hate him enough to want him to fail. Ultimately there's a lot of sizzle (big house, nice cars, wild parties) in the movie but very little steak you can actually sink your teeth into. Scorsese heavy handidly paints the FBI guys as suckers, but only subtly reminds the audience that the coke and titty parties that Wall Street throws are financed by us chumps. Speaking of the sizzle, there are lots of ####### and drug use and drug use on ####### in this movie (which will likely keep this from winning the big statue IMO).

I recommend it for the unbelievable performances, but the story doesn't shed any new light on a subject we've seen dozens of times before (Boiler Room the most obvious example). This won't have a lot of rewatchability, but it's worth checking out to be part of the water cooler discussion on it. Not terrible, not great. 3.8 / 5

edit to add: the # words there are euphemisms for breasts. Didn't know that was a no go on the language filter. Sorry about that.

Seeing this tonight.

Saw it yesterday and loved it. Probably the best movie I've seen this year, although I admit I haven't seen a few of the big ones like American Hustle or 10 Years a Slave. I liked it better than Gravity though, which I also thought was excellent (saw it in 3D). I am a sucker for good movies about finance (a by-product of working in front lines of the industry), which this movie was and Boiler Room was not. Boiler Room was entertaining but it focused too much on the scam and the plight of the retail customer, which certainty is a worthy emphasis but quite frankly is boring. Wolf chooses instead to focus on the characters and humanizes the scams. In doing this, I feel it becomes a much deeper and more complex exposition about the perils of greed, hubris, and breaking the law. In my opinion, this movie is the modern day version of Wall Street, with bit more polish and a lot more sex and drugs.

Havent seen it yet, but based in the previews I did think it could be similar to Boiler Room, except less personal and more high-end and widely effecting. Love Boiler Room, interested to see how Wolf comes across to me.

For any that like financial dramas, I just watched Kevin Spacey in Margin Call. That was a darn good movie. Not amazing or groundbreaking, but well-written.

Yeah, Margin Call was very good I thought. Great script and its pretty much a non-stop thriller once it gets rolling. Best performance from Paul Bettany that Ive seen, the acting was strong across the board as well with the strong ensemble cast. Surprised it didnt get more buzz a couple years ago, I believe the screenplay was nominated for an oscar.

Big fan of Margin Call as well

 

[Rick James]

Inside Llewyn Davis

Fine performances but really nothing to see here. The music was mediocre. In fact characters in the movie often were less then enthused by the musical numbers. Was weird. Would not recommend by any stretch. This is no O Brother.

3/10

This is disappointing to hear. Anyone else seen this?

I did, and 3/10 is a crazy low score. As I walked out of the theater, I would've given it like a 7/10. But I've actually been thinking about it a lot lately, and I loved the songs. I think this is one of those movies that will get better on a re-watch. But as is, it's pretty darn good.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Wolf of Wall Street didn't really grab me like I was hoping it would. DiCaprio is out of his mind great in this one, obvious Oscar nomination. Actually I don't think there was a bad performance in the movie at all. The direction was very good, but the movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter.

So why didn't it grab me? Could have been the repetitive nature of the whole thing. After the 8th or 9th coke binge it just stopped being interesting. Could have been that there's no one to really root for. I didn't like Belfort enough to want him to succeed or hate him enough to want him to fail. Ultimately there's a lot of sizzle (big house, nice cars, wild parties) in the movie but very little steak you can actually sink your teeth into. Scorsese heavy handidly paints the FBI guys as suckers, but only subtly reminds the audience that the coke and titty parties that Wall Street throws are financed by us chumps. Speaking of the sizzle, there are lots of ####### and drug use and drug use on ####### in this movie (which will likely keep this from winning the big statue IMO).

I recommend it for the unbelievable performances, but the story doesn't shed any new light on a subject we've seen dozens of times before (Boiler Room the most obvious example). This won't have a lot of rewatchability, but it's worth checking out to be part of the water cooler discussion on it. Not terrible, not great. 3.8 / 5

edit to add: the # words there are euphemisms for breasts. Didn't know that was a no go on the language filter. Sorry about that.

Seeing this tonight.

Saw it yesterday and loved it. Probably the best movie I've seen this year, although I admit I haven't seen a few of the big ones like American Hustle or 10 Years a Slave. I liked it better than Gravity though, which I also thought was excellent (saw it in 3D). I am a sucker for good movies about finance (a by-product of working in front lines of the industry), which this movie was and Boiler Room was not.

Boiler Room was entertaining but it focused too much on the scam and the plight of the retail customer, which certainty is a worthy emphasis but quite frankly is boring. Wolf chooses instead to focus on the characters and humanizes the scams. In doing this, I feel it becomes a much deeper and more complex exposition about the perils of greed, hubris, and breaking the law. In my opinion, this movie is the modern day version of Wall Street, with bit more polish and a lot more sex and drugs.

Havent seen it yet, but based in the previews I did think it could be similar to Boiler Room, except less personal and more high-end and widely effecting. Love Boiler Room, interested to see how Wolf comes across to me.

For any that like financial dramas, I just watched Kevin Spacey in Margin Call. That was a darn good movie. Not amazing or groundbreaking, but well-written.

Yeah, Margin Call was very good I thought. Great script and its pretty much a non-stop thriller once it gets rolling. Best performance from Paul Bettany that Ive seen, the acting was strong across the board as well with the strong ensemble cast. Surprised it didnt get more buzz a couple years ago, I believe the screenplay was nominated for an oscar.

Yes to all of that. Plus, it has that rare, slick coolness that you so often don't see in films.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Wolf of Wall Street didn't really grab me like I was hoping it would. DiCaprio is out of his mind great in this one, obvious Oscar nomination. Actually I don't think there was a bad performance in the movie at all. The direction was very good, but the movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter.

So why didn't it grab me? Could have been the repetitive nature of the whole thing. After the 8th or 9th coke binge it just stopped being interesting. Could have been that there's no one to really root for. I didn't like Belfort enough to want him to succeed or hate him enough to want him to fail. Ultimately there's a lot of sizzle (big house, nice cars, wild parties) in the movie but very little steak you can actually sink your teeth into. Scorsese heavy handidly paints the FBI guys as suckers, but only subtly reminds the audience that the coke and titty parties that Wall Street throws are financed by us chumps. Speaking of the sizzle, there are lots of ####### and drug use and drug use on ####### in this movie (which will likely keep this from winning the big statue IMO).

I recommend it for the unbelievable performances, but the story doesn't shed any new light on a subject we've seen dozens of times before (Boiler Room the most obvious example). This won't have a lot of rewatchability, but it's worth checking out to be part of the water cooler discussion on it. Not terrible, not great. 3.8 / 5

edit to add: the # words there are euphemisms for breasts. Didn't know that was a no go on the language filter. Sorry about that.

Seeing this tonight.

Saw it yesterday and loved it. Probably the best movie I've seen this year, although I admit I haven't seen a few of the big ones like American Hustle or 10 Years a Slave. I liked it better than Gravity though, which I also thought was excellent (saw it in 3D). I am a sucker for good movies about finance (a by-product of working in front lines of the industry), which this movie was and Boiler Room was not.

Boiler Room was entertaining but it focused too much on the scam and the plight of the retail customer, which certainty is a worthy emphasis but quite frankly is boring. Wolf chooses instead to focus on the characters and humanizes the scams. In doing this, I feel it becomes a much deeper and more complex exposition about the perils of greed, hubris, and breaking the law. In my opinion, this movie is the modern day version of Wall Street, with bit more polish and a lot more sex and drugs.

Havent seen it yet, but based in the previews I did think it could be similar to Boiler Room, except less personal and more high-end and widely effecting. Love Boiler Room, interested to see how Wolf comes across to me.

For any that like financial dramas, I just watched Kevin Spacey in Margin Call. That was a darn good movie. Not amazing or groundbreaking, but well-written.

I think Margin Call is a great movie. What impressed me the most about that movie was how realistic it was. I was working at a big bank at the time of the meltdown (albeit, on the buy side rather than the sell side), and the way this movie played out was very simliar to how we would have dealt with a major crisis at that time. Kevin Spacey's actions were also pretty congruent with how I would have pictured things to play out on the trading floor, given my converstations with my trading counterparts at the bulge brackets and my friends who were working on the floors at the time.

You know what I love in movies? When I'm listening to s script that clearly understands the source material. It's like the insights into Vegas in Casino. I love it when a movie teaches me something and is still entertaining.

 

[jamny]

I liked Margin Call but thought a lot of the boardroom dialogue was cliche'd and cheesy. It took away from the realism to me.

 

[KarmaPolice]

In a World....

Thought this one was OK. The movie is about a group of people (mainly father/daughter) who do voice over work for commercials and movies. Couple spots I laughed at, but mostly just was sucked in by the interesting people at the world that was built. Probably gets a point for being a little different. 6/10

Robocop:

Yeah, this movie is still great. Just like Verhoeven's (no idea if I spelled that right) other sci-fi movies, I seem to appreciate it more and more on repeat viewings. So many subtle lines, "news" reports, and concepts going on that even if you get tired of the now dated f/x and over the top violence you can mine something out of the movie. We probably thought a whole city being bankrupt was a stupid idea at the time . A lot of his movies are polarizing to the public, but I would rank his trilogy of Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers as some of my favorite movies coming out at that time. 8.5/10

Curious to read reviews on the new one. Looks like another slick, dumbed down, PG-13 version of a movie that a lot of the point was to push the envelope.

 

[jamny]

In a World....

Thought this one was OK. The movie is about a group of people (mainly father/daughter) who do voice over work for commercials and movies. Couple spots I laughed at, but mostly just was sucked in by the interesting people at the world that was built. Probably gets a point for being a little different. 6/10

As someone who does voiceovers, I'm really looking forward to seeing this. The people I've met in the business are some of the nicest and most helpful people around. Especially considering the extremely competitive business that it is.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Robocop:

Yeah, this movie is still great. Just like Verhoeven's (no idea if I spelled that right) other sci-fi movies, I seem to appreciate it more and more on repeat viewings. So many subtle lines, "news" reports, and concepts going on that even if you get tired of the now dated f/x and over the top violence you can mine something out of the movie. We probably thought a whole city being bankrupt was a stupid idea at the time . A lot of his movies are polarizing to the public, but I would rank his trilogy of Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers as some of my favorite movies coming out at that time. 8.5/10

Curious to read reviews on the new one. Looks like another slick, dumbed down, PG-13 version of a movie that a lot of the point was to push the envelope.

Still one of my favorites. Best Buy has a new Blu Ray version that was made from the 4k remaster they just did. It comes with movie money you can use for a ticket to the new one. Even if it's supposed to suck, I'll go if I can get in for free. Why not?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Robocop:

Yeah, this movie is still great. Just like Verhoeven's (no idea if I spelled that right) other sci-fi movies, I seem to appreciate it more and more on repeat viewings. So many subtle lines, "news" reports, and concepts going on that even if you get tired of the now dated f/x and over the top violence you can mine something out of the movie. We probably thought a whole city being bankrupt was a stupid idea at the time . A lot of his movies are polarizing to the public, but I would rank his trilogy of Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers as some of my favorite movies coming out at that time. 8.5/10

Curious to read reviews on the new one. Looks like another slick, dumbed down, PG-13 version of a movie that a lot of the point was to push the envelope.

Still one of my favorites. Best Buy has a new Blu Ray version that was made from the 4k remaster they just did. It comes with movie money you can use for a ticket to the new one. Even if it's supposed to suck, I'll go if I can get in for free. Why not?

not sure- how do the studios count something like that?

you ticket is a vote - so even a free ticket for #### is still a vote for ####.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Finally got around to watching 500 Days of Summer. One big MEH.

Agreed. I think a lot of the love that film has gotten is just because it's a lot better than your typical rom-com fluff, but judging the film on its own terms it's very mediocre imo. One thing that didn't sit well with me was how they REALLLLLY ####ed up the ending of the movie with that last scene imo. Not only was it completely unnecessary, but it completely changed the take away from the film from being something unique and interesting to something that was an overly cutesy-crowd pleasing cop out.

 

[cstu]

Too tired to do a search- apologies.

I'm sure Stoker was seen in here... thoughts? We just watched it and I had high hopes, but it felt pretty flat to me. Not enough tension/suspense, IMO and oddly not enough violence. Also felt like some of the scenes were pretty formulaic and cliched. But beautifully filmed.

I felt the same. I still liked the film well enough, but it certainly didn't meet my expectations. Every scene filmed with the high school kids was really bad.

Spoiler

Every male student at this rich kid high school wants to rape this chick? And one dude tries to punch her? WTF?

Damn, am I the only one who really liked Stoker?

 

[Kenny Powers]

All Is Lost...the new one where Robert Redford is stranded at sea. It is beautifully shot, and despite no dialogue pretty engaging throughout. Dialing in on the latter part of that I give a lot of credit to Redford who seemed to pull off no dialogue with ease, so maybe thats why I would say while his performance was impressive, I didnt think it was something award nomination worthy. A role like this isnt something a lot of actors handle, but I do think its one most talented actors - say one who has been nominated for an oscar/GG or won one or just a notch below - can still create an entertaining and engaging film with. It takes skill to have a performance like this where nonverbal cues, expressions, and gestures are basically all the viewer is going on. However IMO its still more difficult to have a great performance with a standard amount of dialogue, as the nonverbals still play a role (albeit not as large of one). Either way, worth the watch and Redford still has something left in the tank...3.5/5

 

[jdoggydogg]

Robocop:Yeah, this movie is still great. Just like Verhoeven's (no idea if I spelled that right) other sci-fi movies, I seem to appreciate it more and more on repeat viewings. So many subtle lines, "news" reports, and concepts going on that even if you get tired of the now dated f/x and over the top violence you can mine something out of the movie. We probably thought a whole city being bankrupt was a stupid idea at the time . A lot of his movies are polarizing to the public, but I would rank his trilogy of Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers as some of my favorite movies coming out at that time. 8.5/10

Curious to read reviews on the new one. Looks like another slick, dumbed down, PG-13 version of a movie that a lot of the point was to push the envelope.

I've defended remakes for a long time now. Movies like the new Planet of the Apes and John Carpenter's the thing succeed because they honor the source material while still innovating. With this new Robocop and the Evil Dead remake, there really is no point. Remakes where the source material is not simply parroted are worth seeing. Remakes where the source material is perfect are lazy.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Wolf of Wall Street

The best movie I've seen from the 2013 crop. Outstanding. It's Scosese's world, and most other directors pale in comparison.

 

[Daywalker]

The Hunt - 4/5

A Danish film from last year. It explores the consequences of a false accusation on a lonely man. A small town descends into mass hysteria as this man's life is brutally shattered. It's heartbreaking to watch. You'll recognize the lead actor as the villain in Casino Royale.

In my top 5 for the year. Streaming on Netflix too.

 

[Run It Up]

Marathon'd 47 Ronin, Her and The Wolf of Wallstreet tonight.

Loved all three. 47 Ronin was everything I wanted it to be. The Wolf of Wallstreet was killing me, Dicaprio continues to be absolutely amazing, Jonah Hill surprised the hell out of me in this. 'Her' was beautiful, Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlet Johansson were great, movie actually made me tear up, loved the near future setting.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Wolf of Wallstreet was killing me, Dicaprio continues to be absolutely amazing, Jonah Hill surprised the hell out of me in this.

I have a theory that Scorsese cast Hill on the strength of his comic acting in Get Him To The Greek. Hill does debauchery well.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Robocop:Yeah, this movie is still great. Just like Verhoeven's (no idea if I spelled that right) other sci-fi movies, I seem to appreciate it more and more on repeat viewings. So many subtle lines, "news" reports, and concepts going on that even if you get tired of the now dated f/x and over the top violence you can mine something out of the movie. We probably thought a whole city being bankrupt was a stupid idea at the time . A lot of his movies are polarizing to the public, but I would rank his trilogy of Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers as some of my favorite movies coming out at that time. 8.5/10

Curious to read reviews on the new one. Looks like another slick, dumbed down, PG-13 version of a movie that a lot of the point was to push the envelope.

I've defended remakes for a long time now. Movies like the new Planet of the Apes and John Carpenter's the thing succeed because they honor the source material while still innovating. With this new Robocop and the Evil Dead remake, there really is no point. Remakes where the source material is not simply parroted are worth seeing. Remakes where the source material is perfect are lazy.

I really liked Evil Dead. Im know there are plenty of ED series fans who disliked it, but there are just about as many who loved it. Now I wouldnt consider myself a huge fan or anything, but I thought there was plenty different from the original ED. While it followed the general premise and storyline of the original, it was more of a relaunch than a remake, if you will. Production cost/effects aside, I thought the new one had a more serious tone. Also, while some parts were so similar to the original you knew what they were alluding to, but thats just it, it was different in some way. Puts its own spin on things.

 

[Kenny Powers]

The Wolf of Wallstreet was killing me, Dicaprio continues to be absolutely amazing, Jonah Hill surprised the hell out of me in this.

I have a theory that Scorsese cast Hill on the strength of his comic acting in Get Him To The Greek. Hill does debauchery well.

Hill's acting, comic or otherwise, is always pretty much as strong as the source material. With debauchery, ie Superbad, Greek, Strange Wildernes and a couple others. With more on the drama side, ie Moneyball or Cyrus. So with that in mind, Im sure Hill is great in Wolf.

 

[El Floppo]

Saw something called Fishtank the other night on Showtime. I started watching and was immediately drawn in by the realness of the writing, acting, direction and location (Essex, England- white-trashy single mom and two girls in housing project). Even though I started watching late,I stuck through even though it doesn't really go too far. A young Michael Fassbender shows up and is fantastic, as the love interest to the mom with lots of tension with the oldest (15) girl as well. That girl- the protagonist- is so awkwardly dead-on with how she plays the role, I almost think she's just playing herself andnot acting. She's astonishing. I don't know that it breaks any new ground thematically, but it's highly worth watchting for capturing the age and place wiht an unflinching eye.

 

[sports_fan]

Saw something called Fishtank the other night on Showtime. I started watching and was immediately drawn in by the realness of the writing, acting, direction and location (Essex, England- white-trashy single mom and two girls in housing project). Even though I started watching late,I stuck through even though it doesn't really go too far. A young Michael Fassbender shows up and is fantastic, as the love interest to the mom with lots of tension with the oldest (15) girl as well. That girl- the protagonist- is so awkwardly dead-on with how she plays the role, I almost think she's just playing herself andnot acting. She's astonishing. I don't know that it breaks any new ground thematically, but it's highly worth watchting for capturing the age and place wiht an unflinching eye.

I've been meaning to see this for a while. I'll have to bump it up my watch list.

 

[Bob Magaw]

Murder on the Orient Express. Hadn't seen in a while, better than I remembered. Great story, dialogue, cast, acting, direction. Just started Death on the Nile, another movie from Agatha Christie source material, not as good so far.

 

[jamny]

Absolutely loved Prisoners. Two and a half hours and not a dull moment. Great performances all around. Don't really want to say much to give anything away. 4/5

Spoiler

He should have clocked the old lady as they went out of the house. Perfect opportunity.

I must have missed an explanation but by the newspaper headline it looks like Paul Dano was a previous abduction and he was reunited with his family?

The wife was so broken up by her missing kid but didn't seem too upset by her missing husband. I know they don't come close, just an observation.

 

[Statorama]

Just watched "Her" the JPhoenix dates his computer movie. Strange, strange movie, but with a fresh perspective on the complexities of relationships. Movie never settles for the easy out, and therefore constantly challenges you. Thought the middle sagged a bit, and felt Amy Adams was underused, but overall I enjoyed it. There's some "sexy talk" that might embarrass the more sensitive members of the crowd (and probably some members of the Academy), but this is a movie for adults. Masterful performance by Phoenix, and the look and feel of the movie is terrific.

I think this will play even better on the small screen in familiar surroundings, and I think it is one of the rare intelligent movies out today that has a solid rewatchability factor. Recommend this fully.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Absolutely loved Prisoners. Two and a half hours and not a dull moment. Great performances all around. Don't really want to say much to give anything away. 4/5

Spoiler

He should have clocked the old lady as they went out of the house. Perfect opportunity.

I must have missed an explanation but by the newspaper headline it looks like Paul Dano was a previous abduction and he was reunited with his family?

The wife was so broken up by her missing kid but didn't seem too upset by her missing husband. I know they don't come close, just an observation.

Loved it as well. As far as your spoiler goes

Spoiler

I had a couple back and forths on Prisoners with someone else a month or so ago in this thread, wont be hard to find if you want to look into some unclear parts. Not that Im sure of everything either.

Dano was the kid who was originally abducted, from the house the 2 girls were kidnapped in front of, Gyllenhaal interviewed the grandma who only had the video tape. Thats what the headline is referring to. He wasnt Melissa Leo's son, nephew, etc.

As far as wife being upset on Jackman missing, Id chalk it up to too much too soon. Plus, he's someone you'd expect to take care of himself. In such a short timeframe, that never really occurred to me.

 

[jamny]

Absolutely loved Prisoners. Two and a half hours and not a dull moment. Great performances all around. Don't really want to say much to give anything away. 4/5

Spoiler

He should have clocked the old lady as they went out of the house. Perfect opportunity.

I must have missed an explanation but by the newspaper headline it looks like Paul Dano was a previous abduction and he was reunited with his family?

The wife was so broken up by her missing kid but didn't seem too upset by her missing husband. I know they don't come close, just an observation.

Spoiler

Loved it as well. As far as your spoiler goes

I had a couple back and forths on Prisoners with someone else a month or so ago in this thread, wont be hard to find if you want to look into some unclear parts. Not that Im sure of everything either.

Dano was the kid who was originally abducted, from the house the 2 girls were kidnapped in front of, Gyllenhaal interviewed the grandma who only had the video tape. Thats what the headline is referring to. He wasnt Melissa Leo's son, nephew, etc.

As far as wife being upset on Jackman missing, Id chalk it up to too much too soon. Plus, he's someone you'd expect to take care of himself. In such a short timeframe, that never really occurred to me.

Spoiler

Woah! Yeah, the house and the videotape. Awesome. So gripping how you just felt Dano wasn't the guy but you just never knew. Just an observation with the wife since I thought it was a bit of an overreation (although who could know what that would be like) and she seemed kinda fine afterwards with her husband still missing.

I rarely watch movies a second time but this will probably be one of them.

Spoiler

I'm just getting something now too. Don't know if it's right. The little black girl got away. There was a note about being let go if you figure out the puzzle. Was the guy that killed himself also a former prisoner that got away? Is that how the first girl got away?

 

[jamny]

Prisoners...absolutely loved this and it should end up in my top 5 from this year. While it is nothing all that original storyline wise - girls get kidnapped, father(s) goes above the law to find her/them - everything else about it was just so well done. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal have great performances, Paul Dano and Melissa Leo also shine in smaller roles. I believe it was supposed to take place in present day, but the cinematography was excellent and gave it a persistent dreary, rural feel, vintage as well. Maybe its Gyllenhaal being involved, but cinematography-wise this reminded me a lot of Zodiac. I really liked how while they were investigating the main case, other criminals were discovered and lead to the progression of the investigation. It clocks in at 2 and a half hours, but doesnt feel long or drawn out. I found the last 20-30 minutes absolutely riveting, thanks in part to the building story of the first 2 hours, and the ending doesnt disappoint either. I actually watched it 3 times last week...4.4/5

Great movie. One question.

Spoiler

Why didn't Alex (Paul Dano) simply tell them where the girls where? Why protect his aunt and uncle after being subjected to years of abuse by them? I can understand him being hesitant to speak and that his IQ comes into play, but after a few day of torture I have a hard time believing he would have kept quiet.

Spoiler

I dont think there is an exact answer for that. However, we dont know that he was abused by them, and he would appear to be the only child they didnt kill. I would also say fear of being killed by Melissa Leo if he gave up the kids was a factor, and its not like he knew her husband was dead either. Id say the best answer - considering there was no evidence of him being abused - was that Melissa Leo really felt like his mom, and only family he had, considering she/they raised him for the last 25+ years, so he didnt want her to get arrested with that in mind. When they show Dano briefly strangling the dog, I dont think we really know how innocent he was either.

Since you called them "aunt and uncle" in your question, you realize they werent his actual aunt and uncle right? He was the kid that was kidnapped 26 years earlier, Gyllenhaal interviewed the grandma who was watching the only tape she had of him. I think he lived in the house (before he was kidnapped) the RV was parked in front of when they kidnapped Jackman and Howard's daughters, IIRC.

Spoiler

I just took it as Dano is autistic and just doesn't talk much. They mention it at some point without specifically saying that he is. I just figured if a kid like that doesn't talk on a regular day, he'll totally shut down under the torment he went through.

 

[jamny]

Also

Spoiler

So Melissa Leo was driving the RV. But why would she park in front of Dano's old house?

wow, I need to watch this again

 

[El Floppo]

Spoiler

haven't watched Prisoners, just want to be a part of the conversation.

 

[El Floppo]

Saw something called Fishtank the other night on Showtime. I started watching and was immediately drawn in by the realness of the writing, acting, direction and location (Essex, England- white-trashy single mom and two girls in housing project). Even though I started watching late,I stuck through even though it doesn't really go too far. A young Michael Fassbender shows up and is fantastic, as the love interest to the mom with lots of tension with the oldest (15) girl as well. That girl- the protagonist- is so awkwardly dead-on with how she plays the role, I almost think she's just playing herself andnot acting. She's astonishing. I don't know that it breaks any new ground thematically, but it's highly worth watchting for capturing the age and place wiht an unflinching eye.

I've been meaning to see this for a while. I'll have to bump it up my watch list.

Curious to hear what you think- it's oneof those movies that I know is not for everyone.

 

[cosjobs]

Inside Llewyn Davis

Fine performances but really nothing to see here. The music was mediocre. In fact characters in the movie often were less then enthused by the musical numbers. Was weird. Would not recommend by any stretch. This is no O Brother.

3/10

This is disappointing to hear. Anyone else seen this?

I liked it, but I'm a art film buff and this was along those lines. In-depth character study with focus on conflict levels and emotions not usually explored in film. I found it fascinating, but sot very compelling or engaging. I would not recommend it to manyn people, as it would not be their cup of tea, but I liked it quite a bit, but not even a Top 5 Coen Bro film for me.

3/5 stars

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Watched Wolf of Wall Street last night. Would have been way better with about 45 minutes cut out of it. Jebus, the f###ing thing refused to end.

Dicaprio was fantastic as usual. Jonah Hill was good, but I don't know if I'd say Oscar-worthy. Margot Robbie...holy shnikies!

Overall, kinda meh. Such a familiar Scorsese story...the rise and the inevitable fall of a compelling yet deeply flawed character.

 

[Daywalker]

Inside Llewyn Davis

Fine performances but really nothing to see here. The music was mediocre. In fact characters in the movie often were less then enthused by the musical numbers. Was weird. Would not recommend by any stretch. This is no O Brother.

3/10

This is disappointing to hear. Anyone else seen this?

I liked it, but I'm a art film buff and this was along those lines. In-depth character study with focus on conflict levels and emotions not usually explored in film. I found it fascinating, but sot very compelling or engaging. I would not recommend it to manyn people, as it would not be their cup of tea, but I liked it quite a bit, but not even a Top 5 Coen Bro film for me.

3/5 stars

3/10 is too low in retrospect. Maybe just my initial reaction due to the ball-washing the Coen Bros. getting with this movie.

Oscar Isaak is very good in this. The music is not mediocre. A few songs have stuck with me. Fare thee Well, Mr. Kennedy 500 Miles. Perhaps it's just the way the music is reacted to in the film. Took a few days to realize I did like several of the songs.

But overall it just wasn't entertaining enough for me. Two hours with a miserable guy and not much changes. A character study of someone I didn't find that talented nor interesting. A few laughs but not enough.

The cinematography is enchanting and the Coen Bros. do transport you to another time and place.

5/10