Recently viewed movie thread - Rental, Streaming, Theater etc (7 Viewers)

[Ilov80s]

21st Century Summer Film Fest continues

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) This was really underseen, lost in the pandemic and hidden away only on Apple TV. I watched it when it came out, I mean come on it's directed by Joel Coen starring Denzel and Frances McDormand. Upon rewatch, it is every bit as good as I remember. One of the best film adaptations of Shakespeare. The art direction, production design and filming of this is so good. It's all black and white, very stripped down with lots of shadows and some cool use of basic CGI. It truly does feel otherworldly (the witches, omg are they cool). My only small knock on it that Denzel and McDormand are kind of old for the lead roles. The play always seemed about youthful ambition more but both actors are so good, it doesn't bother me. And again look at how incredible the images from this are

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?

Life's but a walking shadow


Black Swan (2010) It has been 15 years since I've watched this and since then Aronofsky's reputation and quality has taken a dramatic nosedive. But after rewatch, I can remember why I loved him so much at the time and am even more puzzled by why he made The Whale and why it was so poorly made. Black Swan brings out incredible performances from the whole cast, Portman especially. It's looks great, has no fat on it coming in at 109 minutes. I definitely have The Social Network as the best movie of 2010 but Black Swan sure does it give it a run for it's money. Even if you have zero interest in ballet, the core of the story isn't about ballet at all. It could have been about a singer, Olympic runner, etc. It leaves the viewer with a lot to think about and make sense of but it's always darkly entertaining. The twists that come make sense and don't feel forced. And how about the final line of the film, "I was perfect." Really sums it up there.

Sidenote: Aronofsky is getting 1 last shot with me. He has a 2025 movie coming out called Caught Stealing with Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Liev Schreiber and Regina King. A bartender at a dive bar does a favor for a neighbor that unwittingly gets him in on the bad side of several local gangsters. As a 43 year old man, this premise is like crack to me. If he screws this up, I am done for good.


The Devil Wears Prada (2006) For this watch, I let my wife pick. She loves the movie. I've seen bits and pieces 100 times but never sat to watch start to finish. It's not going to make any list of best for me but it's an enjoyable movie. Emily Blunt is fantastic in it. This is just a nice, easy and enjoyable breeze of a movie. If it were made today, it would be Netflix garbage shot on CGI soundstages and Vancouver streets instead of NYC and Paris starring Lindsay Lohan and Millie Bobby Brown. Looks like the gang is coming back together for a 2026 sequel. Hollywood just can't help it with these legacy sequels. Hopefully it plays more like the original and not like the Netflix AI slop.


WALL-E (2008) Last night, I let my daughter pick. This was a first watch for me (not her). It's a cute movie and starts out almost like a silent movies. There is a lot of Chaplin in WALL-E (the character). He's sweet and lovable, lonely but of course funny and often finding himself in a tricky situation. He's the awkward, poor, clumsy hero who is trying to do the right thing even when the system is set against him. It seemed very poingnant now 17 years later with it's commentary on our destruction of the planet, laziness, obsession with screens and willingness to let technology (AI) run the world for us. The movie presents an ending where people take back control from the machines, begin to recognize the beauty of the physical world and our human connections. I wish I could be so optimistic now. Not one of the funniest Pixar movies but one of the more meaningful and emotional.

I had a bunch of ballet connections (to dancers amd that world) when Black Swan came out which affected my view. The ballet consultnt that Portman ran off with was my good friends ex, who maybe left her for Portman at the time...so already one strike against. But mostly it was the awful flappity flap arm waving "dancing" that killed it for me. Surprised to hear it was so short, because in the theater it felt interminable at the time.

Ive really been wanting to rewatch Wall-E. Love everything about the robot parts.

That does happen where movies about a specific world doesn't capture the details just right and the more someone is familiar with that world, the less they like it. Kind of equivalent to having read the book first. Obviously, I think you're still missing the psychological elements that make it great. I am in no way able to judge the ballet of it all.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Huh. I thought ballet was just running around the stage and flapping your arms.

 

[Ilov80s]

Huh. I thought ballet was just running around the stage and flapping your arms.

I remember we talked a lot about Black Swan and you just kept coming back to your years of ballet training. Did you lie to me about being a prima ballerina?

 

[KarmaPolice]

You might be confusing my anecdote about prancing around in my Speedo.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Tonight is 40 Year Old Virgin.

 

[beer 30]

I watched Death of a Unicorn so you don't have to. I typically like Paul Rudd movies regardless of genre but I'm not sure what they were going for in this one. Comedy? Not really all that funny, not even a few random throw away lines. Drama? Probably closest to the mark but not really a lot of drama going on, it's very telegraphed. Horror? Maybe because people do get their guts ripped out but not enough of it to classify in that genre IMO. Movie struggles to find an identity throughout. I wouldn't even recommend it as filler in the background.

Also, just because unicorns are involved, don't sit down with your 10 year old thinking there will be some good family fun bonding going to occur because of it.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I give Death of a Unicorn a rating of A24.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I give Death of a Unicorn a rating of A24.

There's gotta be ONE of theirs you like.

Or is it all A24 =

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I give Death of a Unicorn a rating of A24.

There's gotta be ONE of theirs you like.

Or is it all A24 =

Oh, there are a few. I'm just kind of leaning into the shtick.

Enemy
Ex Machina
The Disaster Artist
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Past Lives
The Zone of Interest
Warfare

 

[KarmaPolice]

I give Death of a Unicorn a rating of A24.

There's gotta be ONE of theirs you like.

Or is it all A24 =

Oh, there are a few. I'm just kind of leaning into the shtick.

Enemy
Ex Machina
The Disaster Artist
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Past Lives
The Zone of Interest
Warfare

I still haven't see the bolded, and never heard of Warfare.

Ex Machina and Zone of Interest both blew me away. I am more lukewarm on EEAAO, but I also want a rewatch - I liked it enough to buy the 4K disc, and I have been going through all of those on my shelf as I grumbled at myself a few months ago for wasting money on discs I haven't watched yet. First Man is prime example - I own the 4K disc, and still haven't ever seen the movie. 1917 is another, and there are a handful of Criterion 4K's I have bought without ever seeing the movie like 8 1/2 and Barry Lyndon ( ). I also have about 25 of the 39 Bergman movies in that box set I got a bit ago.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

21st Century Summer Film Fest continues

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) This was really underseen, lost in the pandemic and hidden away only on Apple TV. I watched it when it came out, I mean come on it's directed by Joel Coen starring Denzel and Frances McDormand. Upon rewatch, it is every bit as good as I remember. One of the best film adaptations of Shakespeare. The art direction, production design and filming of this is so good. It's all black and white, very stripped down with lots of shadows and some cool use of basic CGI. It truly does feel otherworldly (the witches, omg are they cool). My only small knock on it that Denzel and McDormand are kind of old for the lead roles. The play always seemed about youthful ambition more but both actors are so good, it doesn't bother me. And again look at how incredible the images from this are

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?

Life's but a walking shadow


Black Swan (2010) It has been 15 years since I've watched this and since then Aronofsky's reputation and quality has taken a dramatic nosedive. But after rewatch, I can remember why I loved him so much at the time and am even more puzzled by why he made The Whale and why it was so poorly made. Black Swan brings out incredible performances from the whole cast, Portman especially. It's looks great, has no fat on it coming in at 109 minutes. I definitely have The Social Network as the best movie of 2010 but Black Swan sure does it give it a run for it's money. Even if you have zero interest in ballet, the core of the story isn't about ballet at all. It could have been about a singer, Olympic runner, etc. It leaves the viewer with a lot to think about and make sense of but it's always darkly entertaining. The twists that come make sense and don't feel forced. And how about the final line of the film, "I was perfect." Really sums it up there.

Sidenote: Aronofsky is getting 1 last shot with me. He has a 2025 movie coming out called Caught Stealing with Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Liev Schreiber and Regina King. A bartender at a dive bar does a favor for a neighbor that unwittingly gets him in on the bad side of several local gangsters. As a 43 year old man, this premise is like crack to me. If he screws this up, I am done for good.


The Devil Wears Prada (2006) For this watch, I let my wife pick. She loves the movie. I've seen bits and pieces 100 times but never sat to watch start to finish. It's not going to make any list of best for me but it's an enjoyable movie. Emily Blunt is fantastic in it. This is just a nice, easy and enjoyable breeze of a movie. If it were made today, it would be Netflix garbage shot on CGI soundstages and Vancouver streets instead of NYC and Paris starring Lindsay Lohan and Millie Bobby Brown. Looks like the gang is coming back together for a 2026 sequel. Hollywood just can't help it with these legacy sequels. Hopefully it plays more like the original and not like the Netflix AI slop.


WALL-E (2008) Last night, I let my daughter pick. This was a first watch for me (not her). It's a cute movie and starts out almost like a silent movies. There is a lot of Chaplin in WALL-E (the character). He's sweet and lovable, lonely but of course funny and often finding himself in a tricky situation. He's the awkward, poor, clumsy hero who is trying to do the right thing even when the system is set against him. It seemed very poingnant now 17 years later with it's commentary on our destruction of the planet, laziness, obsession with screens and willingness to let technology (AI) run the world for us. The movie presents an ending where people take back control from the machines, begin to recognize the beauty of the physical world and our human connections. I wish I could be so optimistic now. Not one of the funniest Pixar movies but one of the more meaningful and emotional.

Yeah he hasnt made anything good since black swan

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I give Death of a Unicorn a rating of A24.

There's gotta be ONE of theirs you like.

Or is it all A24 =

Oh, there are a few. I'm just kind of leaning into the shtick.

Enemy
Ex Machina
The Disaster Artist
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Past Lives
The Zone of Interest
Warfare

I still haven't see the bolded, and never heard of Warfare.

Ex Machina and Zone of Interest both blew me away. I am more lukewarm on EEAAO, but I also want a rewatch - I liked it enough to buy the 4K disc, and I have been going through all of those on my shelf as I grumbled at myself a few months ago for wasting money on discs I haven't watched yet. First Man is prime example - I own the 4K disc, and still haven't ever seen the movie. 1917 is another, and there are a handful of Criterion 4K's I have bought without ever seeing the movie like 8 1/2 and Barry Lyndon ( ). I also have about 25 of the 39 Bergman movies in that box set I got a bit ago.

Warfare just came out this year. It's like a condensed version of Black Hawk Down where the message is delivered a bit more directly and poignantly. I liked it a lot.

EEAAO was great. I beat the drum that we live in the Age of Nihilism and viewing it through that lens I think the film addresses the topic brilliantly.

 

[beer 30]

I still haven't see the bolded, and never heard of Warfare.

Warfare just came out (couple months ago). I rented it, was an alright war movie. It was not Hollywood and directed by one of the SEALs that was actually involved in the action so it was about as true to the actual happenings as you're going to get. As with most war movies, it's difficult to identify the players but by the end you get the gist of it. If you're a Jocko fan, he had the guys on his podcast to go over the event. The group of SEALs involved in the action were the ones who relieved Jocko's group in Ramadi.

 

[Ilov80s]

21st Century Summer Film Fest continues

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) This was really underseen, lost in the pandemic and hidden away only on Apple TV. I watched it when it came out, I mean come on it's directed by Joel Coen starring Denzel and Frances McDormand. Upon rewatch, it is every bit as good as I remember. One of the best film adaptations of Shakespeare. The art direction, production design and filming of this is so good. It's all black and white, very stripped down with lots of shadows and some cool use of basic CGI. It truly does feel otherworldly (the witches, omg are they cool). My only small knock on it that Denzel and McDormand are kind of old for the lead roles. The play always seemed about youthful ambition more but both actors are so good, it doesn't bother me. And again look at how incredible the images from this are

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?

Life's but a walking shadow


Black Swan (2010) It has been 15 years since I've watched this and since then Aronofsky's reputation and quality has taken a dramatic nosedive. But after rewatch, I can remember why I loved him so much at the time and am even more puzzled by why he made The Whale and why it was so poorly made. Black Swan brings out incredible performances from the whole cast, Portman especially. It's looks great, has no fat on it coming in at 109 minutes. I definitely have The Social Network as the best movie of 2010 but Black Swan sure does it give it a run for it's money. Even if you have zero interest in ballet, the core of the story isn't about ballet at all. It could have been about a singer, Olympic runner, etc. It leaves the viewer with a lot to think about and make sense of but it's always darkly entertaining. The twists that come make sense and don't feel forced. And how about the final line of the film, "I was perfect." Really sums it up there.

Sidenote: Aronofsky is getting 1 last shot with me. He has a 2025 movie coming out called Caught Stealing with Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Liev Schreiber and Regina King. A bartender at a dive bar does a favor for a neighbor that unwittingly gets him in on the bad side of several local gangsters. As a 43 year old man, this premise is like crack to me. If he screws this up, I am done for good.


The Devil Wears Prada (2006) For this watch, I let my wife pick. She loves the movie. I've seen bits and pieces 100 times but never sat to watch start to finish. It's not going to make any list of best for me but it's an enjoyable movie. Emily Blunt is fantastic in it. This is just a nice, easy and enjoyable breeze of a movie. If it were made today, it would be Netflix garbage shot on CGI soundstages and Vancouver streets instead of NYC and Paris starring Lindsay Lohan and Millie Bobby Brown. Looks like the gang is coming back together for a 2026 sequel. Hollywood just can't help it with these legacy sequels. Hopefully it plays more like the original and not like the Netflix AI slop.


WALL-E (2008) Last night, I let my daughter pick. This was a first watch for me (not her). It's a cute movie and starts out almost like a silent movies. There is a lot of Chaplin in WALL-E (the character). He's sweet and lovable, lonely but of course funny and often finding himself in a tricky situation. He's the awkward, poor, clumsy hero who is trying to do the right thing even when the system is set against him. It seemed very poingnant now 17 years later with it's commentary on our destruction of the planet, laziness, obsession with screens and willingness to let technology (AI) run the world for us. The movie presents an ending where people take back control from the machines, begin to recognize the beauty of the physical world and our human connections. I wish I could be so optimistic now. Not one of the funniest Pixar movies but one of the more meaningful and emotional.

Yeah he hasnt made anything good since black swan

He sure as hell hasn't. Just 15 years of dreck after a pretty astounding start of his career with Requiem, The Wrestler and Black Swan all in a 10 year span.

 

[Joe Schmo]

I'm currently binging all the Final Destinations as I've never seen any but the first one before. I'm on 5 which is the suspension bridge collapse one and it so far has the best production value. Overall not a fan of the series but I am interested in the new one so I'm pot committed at this point.

Watched Final Destination: Bloodlines- meh. The only reason to watch these movies is for the kills as the overall plotline is silly but this one does deliver a couple of interesting death scenes. The opener was a good set up and watching the woman on fire running through the restaurant was a nice way to start the movie but then it bogs down trying to make sense of the mythos and frankly that's an impossible task. Turns out death is stoopid beyond belief and prefers to pick off his targets one at a time in the most convoluted rube golbergian way rather than, I don't know, blow the house up where all his targets are staying together for the night? Nah, too easy. Anywho, if you like seeing people crushed, smooshed, decapitated, impaled and runned over then this movie fits the bill.

 

[Ilov80s]

I watched four portrayals of jazz musicians. Mo' Better Blues isn't one of Spike Lee's better films; it's all style and sensuality without much of a story to move things along. Born to Be Blue is a biopic of Chet Baker starring Ethan Hawke. It had a weird movie-within-a-movie structure to provide the trumpeter's backstory but that just stopped about midway through. Hawke was good but the film was just OK. The Gene Krupa Story was a fun throwback that played more like a 50s rock 'n roll movie than a 30s jazz one. Sal Mineo is a pretty good drummer but the story suffered from having to obliquely reference sex and drugs. The best of the four was All Night Long, a takeoff on the Othello story set in the 60s London jazz scene and featuring appearances from Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus. Patrick McGoohan is a decent drummer as well and his performance as the Iago character was a piece of work. The script pulled its punches on Shakepeare with a (mostly) happy ending but was an interesting experiment.

All Night Long sounds really interesting, I need to keep an eye out for that. The Gene Krupa Story was better than I expected. Still a very flawed movie but I did like it and Mineo was convincing. Crooklyn is definitely the better Spike Lee jazz related film.

 

[Ilov80s]

I give Death of a Unicorn a rating of A24.

There's gotta be ONE of theirs you like.

Or is it all A24 =

Oh, there are a few. I'm just kind of leaning into the shtick.

Enemy
Ex Machina
The Disaster Artist
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Past Lives
The Zone of Interest
Warfare

I still haven't see the bolded, and never heard of Warfare.

Ex Machina and Zone of Interest both blew me away. I am more lukewarm on EEAAO, but I also want a rewatch - I liked it enough to buy the 4K disc, and I have been going through all of those on my shelf as I grumbled at myself a few months ago for wasting money on discs I haven't watched yet. First Man is prime example - I own the 4K disc, and still haven't ever seen the movie. 1917 is another, and there are a handful of Criterion 4K's I have bought without ever seeing the movie like 8 1/2 and Barry Lyndon ( ). I also have about 25 of the 39 Bergman movies in that box set I got a bit ago.

Those are all really good movies but as it pertains to 21st century movies, I love First Man. I think Chazelle is batting a thousand.

 

[bryhamm]

Tonight is 40 Year Old Virgin.

Sounds fun, but what movie are you going to watch?

 

[KarmaPolice]

21st Century Summer Film Fest continues

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) This was really underseen, lost in the pandemic and hidden away only on Apple TV. I watched it when it came out, I mean come on it's directed by Joel Coen starring Denzel and Frances McDormand. Upon rewatch, it is every bit as good as I remember. One of the best film adaptations of Shakespeare. The art direction, production design and filming of this is so good. It's all black and white, very stripped down with lots of shadows and some cool use of basic CGI. It truly does feel otherworldly (the witches, omg are they cool). My only small knock on it that Denzel and McDormand are kind of old for the lead roles. The play always seemed about youthful ambition more but both actors are so good, it doesn't bother me. And again look at how incredible the images from this are

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?

Life's but a walking shadow


Black Swan (2010) It has been 15 years since I've watched this and since then Aronofsky's reputation and quality has taken a dramatic nosedive. But after rewatch, I can remember why I loved him so much at the time and am even more puzzled by why he made The Whale and why it was so poorly made. Black Swan brings out incredible performances from the whole cast, Portman especially. It's looks great, has no fat on it coming in at 109 minutes. I definitely have The Social Network as the best movie of 2010 but Black Swan sure does it give it a run for it's money. Even if you have zero interest in ballet, the core of the story isn't about ballet at all. It could have been about a singer, Olympic runner, etc. It leaves the viewer with a lot to think about and make sense of but it's always darkly entertaining. The twists that come make sense and don't feel forced. And how about the final line of the film, "I was perfect." Really sums it up there.

Sidenote: Aronofsky is getting 1 last shot with me. He has a 2025 movie coming out called Caught Stealing with Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Liev Schreiber and Regina King. A bartender at a dive bar does a favor for a neighbor that unwittingly gets him in on the bad side of several local gangsters. As a 43 year old man, this premise is like crack to me. If he screws this up, I am done for good.


The Devil Wears Prada (2006) For this watch, I let my wife pick. She loves the movie. I've seen bits and pieces 100 times but never sat to watch start to finish. It's not going to make any list of best for me but it's an enjoyable movie. Emily Blunt is fantastic in it. This is just a nice, easy and enjoyable breeze of a movie. If it were made today, it would be Netflix garbage shot on CGI soundstages and Vancouver streets instead of NYC and Paris starring Lindsay Lohan and Millie Bobby Brown. Looks like the gang is coming back together for a 2026 sequel. Hollywood just can't help it with these legacy sequels. Hopefully it plays more like the original and not like the Netflix AI slop.


WALL-E (2008) Last night, I let my daughter pick. This was a first watch for me (not her). It's a cute movie and starts out almost like a silent movies. There is a lot of Chaplin in WALL-E (the character). He's sweet and lovable, lonely but of course funny and often finding himself in a tricky situation. He's the awkward, poor, clumsy hero who is trying to do the right thing even when the system is set against him. It seemed very poingnant now 17 years later with it's commentary on our destruction of the planet, laziness, obsession with screens and willingness to let technology (AI) run the world for us. The movie presents an ending where people take back control from the machines, begin to recognize the beauty of the physical world and our human connections. I wish I could be so optimistic now. Not one of the funniest Pixar movies but one of the more meaningful and emotional.

Yeah he hasnt made anything good since black swan

Somebody hasn't seen Noah!

 

[KarmaPolice]

Tonight is 40 Year Old Virgin.

Sounds fun, but what movie are you going to watch?

I wish I was only 40, hell I might even take being a virgin to rewind that clock a bit.

As for the movie, I still think it's funny as hell, but most importantly it has some good heart at the center of it with Carrell being the perfect vehicle for this and really dig the chemistry between him and Keener.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

21st Century Summer Film Fest continues

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) This was really underseen, lost in the pandemic and hidden away only on Apple TV. I watched it when it came out, I mean come on it's directed by Joel Coen starring Denzel and Frances McDormand. Upon rewatch, it is every bit as good as I remember. One of the best film adaptations of Shakespeare. The art direction, production design and filming of this is so good. It's all black and white, very stripped down with lots of shadows and some cool use of basic CGI. It truly does feel otherworldly (the witches, omg are they cool). My only small knock on it that Denzel and McDormand are kind of old for the lead roles. The play always seemed about youthful ambition more but both actors are so good, it doesn't bother me. And again look at how incredible the images from this are

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?

Life's but a walking shadow


Black Swan (2010) It has been 15 years since I've watched this and since then Aronofsky's reputation and quality has taken a dramatic nosedive. But after rewatch, I can remember why I loved him so much at the time and am even more puzzled by why he made The Whale and why it was so poorly made. Black Swan brings out incredible performances from the whole cast, Portman especially. It's looks great, has no fat on it coming in at 109 minutes. I definitely have The Social Network as the best movie of 2010 but Black Swan sure does it give it a run for it's money. Even if you have zero interest in ballet, the core of the story isn't about ballet at all. It could have been about a singer, Olympic runner, etc. It leaves the viewer with a lot to think about and make sense of but it's always darkly entertaining. The twists that come make sense and don't feel forced. And how about the final line of the film, "I was perfect." Really sums it up there.

Sidenote: Aronofsky is getting 1 last shot with me. He has a 2025 movie coming out called Caught Stealing with Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Liev Schreiber and Regina King. A bartender at a dive bar does a favor for a neighbor that unwittingly gets him in on the bad side of several local gangsters. As a 43 year old man, this premise is like crack to me. If he screws this up, I am done for good.


The Devil Wears Prada (2006) For this watch, I let my wife pick. She loves the movie. I've seen bits and pieces 100 times but never sat to watch start to finish. It's not going to make any list of best for me but it's an enjoyable movie. Emily Blunt is fantastic in it. This is just a nice, easy and enjoyable breeze of a movie. If it were made today, it would be Netflix garbage shot on CGI soundstages and Vancouver streets instead of NYC and Paris starring Lindsay Lohan and Millie Bobby Brown. Looks like the gang is coming back together for a 2026 sequel. Hollywood just can't help it with these legacy sequels. Hopefully it plays more like the original and not like the Netflix AI slop.


WALL-E (2008) Last night, I let my daughter pick. This was a first watch for me (not her). It's a cute movie and starts out almost like a silent movies. There is a lot of Chaplin in WALL-E (the character). He's sweet and lovable, lonely but of course funny and often finding himself in a tricky situation. He's the awkward, poor, clumsy hero who is trying to do the right thing even when the system is set against him. It seemed very poingnant now 17 years later with it's commentary on our destruction of the planet, laziness, obsession with screens and willingness to let technology (AI) run the world for us. The movie presents an ending where people take back control from the machines, begin to recognize the beauty of the physical world and our human connections. I wish I could be so optimistic now. Not one of the funniest Pixar movies but one of the more meaningful and emotional.

Yeah he hasnt made anything good since black swan

Somebody hasn't seen Noah!

I really have no desire to. the Whale was pretty crappy. Mother was just hard to watch. Later I read it was an allegory for Mother Earth or something so that make a little more sense but still no desire to watch it again

 

[Dan Lambskin]

21st Century Summer Film Fest continues

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) This was really underseen, lost in the pandemic and hidden away only on Apple TV. I watched it when it came out, I mean come on it's directed by Joel Coen starring Denzel and Frances McDormand. Upon rewatch, it is every bit as good as I remember. One of the best film adaptations of Shakespeare. The art direction, production design and filming of this is so good. It's all black and white, very stripped down with lots of shadows and some cool use of basic CGI. It truly does feel otherworldly (the witches, omg are they cool). My only small knock on it that Denzel and McDormand are kind of old for the lead roles. The play always seemed about youthful ambition more but both actors are so good, it doesn't bother me. And again look at how incredible the images from this are

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?

Life's but a walking shadow


Black Swan (2010) It has been 15 years since I've watched this and since then Aronofsky's reputation and quality has taken a dramatic nosedive. But after rewatch, I can remember why I loved him so much at the time and am even more puzzled by why he made The Whale and why it was so poorly made. Black Swan brings out incredible performances from the whole cast, Portman especially. It's looks great, has no fat on it coming in at 109 minutes. I definitely have The Social Network as the best movie of 2010 but Black Swan sure does it give it a run for it's money. Even if you have zero interest in ballet, the core of the story isn't about ballet at all. It could have been about a singer, Olympic runner, etc. It leaves the viewer with a lot to think about and make sense of but it's always darkly entertaining. The twists that come make sense and don't feel forced. And how about the final line of the film, "I was perfect." Really sums it up there.

Sidenote: Aronofsky is getting 1 last shot with me. He has a 2025 movie coming out called Caught Stealing with Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Liev Schreiber and Regina King. A bartender at a dive bar does a favor for a neighbor that unwittingly gets him in on the bad side of several local gangsters. As a 43 year old man, this premise is like crack to me. If he screws this up, I am done for good.


The Devil Wears Prada (2006) For this watch, I let my wife pick. She loves the movie. I've seen bits and pieces 100 times but never sat to watch start to finish. It's not going to make any list of best for me but it's an enjoyable movie. Emily Blunt is fantastic in it. This is just a nice, easy and enjoyable breeze of a movie. If it were made today, it would be Netflix garbage shot on CGI soundstages and Vancouver streets instead of NYC and Paris starring Lindsay Lohan and Millie Bobby Brown. Looks like the gang is coming back together for a 2026 sequel. Hollywood just can't help it with these legacy sequels. Hopefully it plays more like the original and not like the Netflix AI slop.


WALL-E (2008) Last night, I let my daughter pick. This was a first watch for me (not her). It's a cute movie and starts out almost like a silent movies. There is a lot of Chaplin in WALL-E (the character). He's sweet and lovable, lonely but of course funny and often finding himself in a tricky situation. He's the awkward, poor, clumsy hero who is trying to do the right thing even when the system is set against him. It seemed very poingnant now 17 years later with it's commentary on our destruction of the planet, laziness, obsession with screens and willingness to let technology (AI) run the world for us. The movie presents an ending where people take back control from the machines, begin to recognize the beauty of the physical world and our human connections. I wish I could be so optimistic now. Not one of the funniest Pixar movies but one of the more meaningful and emotional.

Yeah he hasnt made anything good since black swan

He sure as hell hasn't. Just 15 years of dreck after a pretty astounding start of his career with Requiem, The Wrestler and Black Swan all in a 10 year span.

I liked Pi and The Fountain too

 

[KarmaPolice]

I give Death of a Unicorn a rating of A24.

There's gotta be ONE of theirs you like.

Or is it all A24 =

Oh, there are a few. I'm just kind of leaning into the shtick.

Enemy
Ex Machina
The Disaster Artist
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Past Lives
The Zone of Interest
Warfare

I still haven't see the bolded, and never heard of Warfare.

Ex Machina and Zone of Interest both blew me away. I am more lukewarm on EEAAO, but I also want a rewatch - I liked it enough to buy the 4K disc, and I have been going through all of those on my shelf as I grumbled at myself a few months ago for wasting money on discs I haven't watched yet. First Man is prime example - I own the 4K disc, and still haven't ever seen the movie. 1917 is another, and there are a handful of Criterion 4K's I have bought without ever seeing the movie like 8 1/2 and Barry Lyndon ( ). I also have about 25 of the 39 Bergman movies in that box set I got a bit ago.

Those are all really good movies but as it pertains to 21st century movies, I love First Man. I think Chazelle is batting a thousand.

I have 0 excuse for not seeing this yet, and don't know why I haven't yet. It even stars my man crush, FFS. Babylon I am a little nervous to watch thought but another I will get around to. At the very least I should watch 1917 and First Man before finalizing my list since I took the time to buy the damn movies.

 

[KarmaPolice]

21st Century Summer Film Fest continues

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) This was really underseen, lost in the pandemic and hidden away only on Apple TV. I watched it when it came out, I mean come on it's directed by Joel Coen starring Denzel and Frances McDormand. Upon rewatch, it is every bit as good as I remember. One of the best film adaptations of Shakespeare. The art direction, production design and filming of this is so good. It's all black and white, very stripped down with lots of shadows and some cool use of basic CGI. It truly does feel otherworldly (the witches, omg are they cool). My only small knock on it that Denzel and McDormand are kind of old for the lead roles. The play always seemed about youthful ambition more but both actors are so good, it doesn't bother me. And again look at how incredible the images from this are

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?

Life's but a walking shadow


Black Swan (2010) It has been 15 years since I've watched this and since then Aronofsky's reputation and quality has taken a dramatic nosedive. But after rewatch, I can remember why I loved him so much at the time and am even more puzzled by why he made The Whale and why it was so poorly made. Black Swan brings out incredible performances from the whole cast, Portman especially. It's looks great, has no fat on it coming in at 109 minutes. I definitely have The Social Network as the best movie of 2010 but Black Swan sure does it give it a run for it's money. Even if you have zero interest in ballet, the core of the story isn't about ballet at all. It could have been about a singer, Olympic runner, etc. It leaves the viewer with a lot to think about and make sense of but it's always darkly entertaining. The twists that come make sense and don't feel forced. And how about the final line of the film, "I was perfect." Really sums it up there.

Sidenote: Aronofsky is getting 1 last shot with me. He has a 2025 movie coming out called Caught Stealing with Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Liev Schreiber and Regina King. A bartender at a dive bar does a favor for a neighbor that unwittingly gets him in on the bad side of several local gangsters. As a 43 year old man, this premise is like crack to me. If he screws this up, I am done for good.


The Devil Wears Prada (2006) For this watch, I let my wife pick. She loves the movie. I've seen bits and pieces 100 times but never sat to watch start to finish. It's not going to make any list of best for me but it's an enjoyable movie. Emily Blunt is fantastic in it. This is just a nice, easy and enjoyable breeze of a movie. If it were made today, it would be Netflix garbage shot on CGI soundstages and Vancouver streets instead of NYC and Paris starring Lindsay Lohan and Millie Bobby Brown. Looks like the gang is coming back together for a 2026 sequel. Hollywood just can't help it with these legacy sequels. Hopefully it plays more like the original and not like the Netflix AI slop.


WALL-E (2008) Last night, I let my daughter pick. This was a first watch for me (not her). It's a cute movie and starts out almost like a silent movies. There is a lot of Chaplin in WALL-E (the character). He's sweet and lovable, lonely but of course funny and often finding himself in a tricky situation. He's the awkward, poor, clumsy hero who is trying to do the right thing even when the system is set against him. It seemed very poingnant now 17 years later with it's commentary on our destruction of the planet, laziness, obsession with screens and willingness to let technology (AI) run the world for us. The movie presents an ending where people take back control from the machines, begin to recognize the beauty of the physical world and our human connections. I wish I could be so optimistic now. Not one of the funniest Pixar movies but one of the more meaningful and emotional.

Yeah he hasnt made anything good since black swan

Somebody hasn't seen Noah!

I really have no desire to. the Whale was pretty crappy. Mother was just hard to watch. Later I read it was an allegory for Mother Earth or something so that make a little more sense but still no desire to watch it again

Edibles + Noah = you might be entertained. Not saying it was good or anything, but in that context it might be worth a watch for a "WTF am I watching?" reaction.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

Apparently I have not seen many a24 movies.

spring breakers-pass
ex machina-pretty good though I got rocked for suggesting that it was odd dude fell for a robot
uncut gems-not bad
the green knight-really good
eteaao-overated
bodies bodies bodies-hard pass

 

[KarmaPolice]

Apparently I have not seen many a24 movies.

spring breakers-pass
ex machina-pretty good though I got rocked for suggesting that it was odd dude fell for a robot
uncut gems-not bad
the green knight-really good
eteaao-overated
bodies bodies bodies-hard pass

As far as Ex Machina, it seems weird, but one of the podcasts I listen to a bit (Your Undivided Attention) has way too many examples of people falling for/"dating" their ChatGPT or even killing themselves because of interactions with it. Freaky stuff, and that is just a phone. I can't imagine what would happen with something like that walking around.

As far as Bodies, Bodies, Bodies - I had a total blast with that one and thought it was pretty funny. I didn't like it nearly as much on rewatches I as I have other horror movies in this same era though.

 

[KarmaPolice]

The A24 I should watch for research is Under the Skin. I still haven't gotten to that, and it is always near the top of "best of" lists that I glance at for the 21st century.

 

[Ilov80s]

I think I generally like A24 . The Florida Project, Uncut Gems, Good Times, Zone of Interest, The Brutalist, After Sun, Lady Bird, Past Lives are some. Though I am no fanboy and they have some real misses for me like Maxxxine, Under the Skin, First Reformed, The Lighthouse, Enemy.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Swiss Army Man is a good one

Climax was pretty good

 

[KarmaPolice]

They for sure have a lot of misses for me - wasn't A Ghost Story A24? - more i just respect them taking chances and giving directors a long leash to let them take their swings.

 

[foxco]

The A24 I should watch for research is Under the Skin. I still haven't gotten to that, and it is always near the top of "best of" lists that I glance at for the 21st century.

Really enjoyed Under The Skin, pretty unique tone and point of view and features a couple of really disturbing sequences (for me at least). Don't know that I'd watch it again but I'm very glad I did at least once. Well, there's one scene I'd probably watch again, lov ya Scarjo.

 

[Runkle]

It's just nice that somebody is out there making original concept works and willing to 1) take chances, and 2) give a broader spectrum of artists a voice. It's not banking it's future on establishing the next franchise to shove down our throats for 20 years. Yeah, they have a fair share of "misses", but, a lot of those are just meant for a micro-audience rather than Joe Moviegoer anyway. They've proven you can be successful even with a batting average in the .200s. The big studios should learn something from that.

 

[beer 30]

It's just nice that somebody is out there making original concept works and willing to 1) take chances, and 2) give a broader spectrum of artists a voice. It's not banking it's future on establishing the next franchise to shove down our throats for 20 years. Yeah, they have a fair share of "misses", but, a lot of those are just meant for a micro-audience rather than Joe Moviegoer anyway. They've proven you can be successful even with a batting average in the .200s. The big studios should learn something from that.

I kept thinking that the whole time I was watching Dead Unicorn. It's not a great movie but at least it 1. isn't another freaking remake and 2. not a copy of a theme that's been done to death.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

As far as Ex Machina, it seems weird, but one of the podcasts I listen to a bit (Your Undivided Attention) has way too many examples of people falling for/"dating" their ChatGPT or even killing themselves because of interactions with it. Freaky stuff, and that is just a phone. I can't imagine what would happen with something like that walking around.

I also think A&E had a reality show about people attracted to inatimite objects so I know it does happen so I don't think it's unrealistic in that way but I would tend to think that if you repeated the experiment not a lot of guys (or girls if it was a guy robot) would fall for a robot. It might be different if said guy WASN'T aware it was a robot. I'm fully aware that it needed to happen for the plot and it makes for an ok movie but in reality that might not happen all that often. I hope that makes a little more sense.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

Swiss Army Man is a good one

I've heard this as well. One day I will watch it. Also want to watch the Whale but kinda dreading it.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

As far as Ex Machina, it seems weird, but one of the podcasts I listen to a bit (Your Undivided Attention) has way too many examples of people falling for/"dating" their ChatGPT or even killing themselves because of interactions with it. Freaky stuff, and that is just a phone. I can't imagine what would happen with something like that walking around.

I also think A&E had a reality show about people attracted to inatimite objects so I know it does happen so I don't think it's unrealistic in that way but I would tend to think that if you repeated the experiment not a lot of guys (or girls if it was a guy robot) would fall for a robot. It might be different if said guy WASN'T aware it was a robot. I'm fully aware that it needed to happen for the plot and it makes for an ok movie but in reality that might not happen all that often. I hope that makes a little more sense.

It's not even necessary to think that Caleb "fell" for Eva.

All she did was trigger his empathy response to act against Nathan - who made it pretty easy to do being a giant d-bag and all.

 

[Runkle]

It's just nice that somebody is out there making original concept works and willing to 1) take chances, and 2) give a broader spectrum of artists a voice. It's not banking it's future on establishing the next franchise to shove down our throats for 20 years. Yeah, they have a fair share of "misses", but, a lot of those are just meant for a micro-audience rather than Joe Moviegoer anyway. They've proven you can be successful even with a batting average in the .200s. The big studios should learn something from that.

I kept thinking that the whole time I was watching Dead Unicorn. It's not a great movie but at least it 1. isn't another freaking remake and 2. not a copy of a theme that's been done to death.

Heh well, to be fair, I watched the A24 film Opus last weekend, in which John Malkovich invites a bunch of people to a desert compound and horror and ironic comeuppances ensue, and we did comment that a fair share of movies recently have had that structure... "some random group of people are gathered at a remote location and get what they deserve"... The Menu, Death of a Unicorn, Opus, A Murder at the End of the World, etc... maybe all the execs are chasing The Traitors vibes lol

 

[KarmaPolice]

As far as Ex Machina, it seems weird, but one of the podcasts I listen to a bit (Your Undivided Attention) has way too many examples of people falling for/"dating" their ChatGPT or even killing themselves because of interactions with it. Freaky stuff, and that is just a phone. I can't imagine what would happen with something like that walking around.

I also think A&E had a reality show about people attracted to inatimite objects so I know it does happen so I don't think it's unrealistic in that way but I would tend to think that if you repeated the experiment not a lot of guys (or girls if it was a guy robot) would fall for a robot. It might be different if said guy WASN'T aware it was a robot. I'm fully aware that it needed to happen for the plot and it makes for an ok movie but in reality that might not happen all that often. I hope that makes a little more sense.

That clears up your POV a little more, thanks. I fall more in the spectrum of Andy's post below yours.

 

[Ilov80s]

They for sure have a lot of misses for me - wasn't A Ghost Story A24? - more i just respect them taking chances and giving directors a long leash to let them take their swings.

Yep Sean Baker, Ari Aster, Greta Gerwig, Barry Jenkins, Alex Garland, Yorgos Lanthamos, The Safdies all got a lot of their careers kickstarted by A24. Plus they get into so many genres. Horror, comedy, drama, thriller, romance, war, sci-fi. Them and Neon (who I think just buys and distributes movies) have been a saving grace for movies and moviemakers.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

Andy's post does make sense and maybe it was more empathy but I did feel like there was some infatuation involved.

 

[Ilov80s]

Andy's post does make sense and maybe it was more empathy but I did feel like there was some infatuation involved.

I did too. I mean she was beautiful. Of course to me she's an actress playing a robot and to the character she is just a robt but I can see where the attraction stemmed from. And the empathy like Andy said.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Speaking of A24 and buying movies I haven't seen:

My daughter and I were just at the local library and I saw they had Blurays for sale. For a whopping $3 total I got: Criterion editions of Do the Right Thing and A Hard Day's Night, Bodies X3, The Searchers, Knives Out, and The Favourite. I felt I had to do it on principle. I am glad the person in charge of the the library now is a fellow movie geek. A noticable uptick in 4k discs, Criterion movies, classics, etc. Quality stuff for our crappy town of 2000. I told him he needs to email me when they do these purges to give me first crack at the selection.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Andy's post does make sense and maybe it was more empathy but I did feel like there was some infatuation involved.

I did too. I mean she was beautiful. Of course to me she's an actress playing a robot and to the character she is just a robt but I can see where the attraction stemmed from. And the empathy like Andy said.

It was there for sure. It's been a bit, but didn't he design her a bit with Caleb's search (porn?) history in mind? I took Andy's post to mean that the falling in love part wouldn't be necessary for the outcome of the movie to be the same since it was also very much pushing those empathy buttons.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Andy's post does make sense and maybe it was more empathy but I did feel like there was some infatuation involved.

I did too. I mean she was beautiful. Of course to me she's an actress playing a robot and to the character she is just a robt but I can see where the attraction stemmed from. And the empathy like Andy said.

It was there for sure. It's been a bit, but didn't he design her a bit with Caleb's search (porn?) history in mind? I took Andy's post to mean that the falling in love part wouldn't be necessary for the outcome of the movie to be the same since it was also very much pushing those empathy buttons.

Yeah, you can't discount completely the attraction factor. Let's be honest, you'll forgive a bad driver more readily if she's hot than if she's an uggo.

 

[KarmaPolice]

To be honest, scanning the list I haven't even seen half of them. More just the ones I have seen I either really liked or at least appreciated their existence vs. the typical fare we all righfully grumble about in these threads. A few others I liked that I hadn't seen mentioned on this page as I scanned the list:

Locke
Amy
Dark Places
Green Room
Moonlight
The Souvenir
The Farewell
After Yang
Talk to Me

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I really didn't like any of the "X" movies. Green Knight was a lot of nothing.

And I just couldn't stand Midsommar at all.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I really didn't like any of the "X" movies. Green Knight was a lot of nothing.

And I just couldn't stand Midsommar at all.

They do lean dark and bleak with their movies, and that doesn't seem like your typical choice in film. Of the ones i listed above The Farewell is one I'd recommend to you. Maybe After Yang, but i honestly dont remember the full movie, mostly that it had one of my favorite openings to a movie.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I really didn't like any of the "X" movies. Green Knight was a lot of nothing.

And I just couldn't stand Midsommar at all.

They do lean dark and bleak with their movies, and that doesn't seem like your typical choice in film. Of the ones i listed above The Farewell is one I'd recommend to you. Maybe After Yang, but i honestly dont remember the full movie, mostly that it had one of my favorite openings to a movie.

After Yang was pretty dull. Maybe that was just Colin Farrell.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I really didn't like any of the "X" movies. Green Knight was a lot of nothing.

And I just couldn't stand Midsommar at all.

They do lean dark and bleak with their movies, and that doesn't seem like your typical choice in film. Of the ones i listed above The Farewell is one I'd recommend to you. Maybe After Yang, but i honestly dont remember the full movie, mostly that it had one of my favorite openings to a movie.

After Yang was pretty dull. Maybe that was just Colin Farrell.

That was my gut feeling as i typed. I remember loving the start and the idea, but that it might have tapered off as it went.

Have you or others seen Locke? Again its been awhile. I remember really liking it and thought it was much better than expected for a movie that is just a dude in his car.

 

[Payne]

Watched "Together" last night. Weird. Creepy.