Looper (2012). Managed to finish it after a few years' pause. Works pretty well, but it takes someone as dull as Gordon-Levitt to make Bruce Willis seem kinda interesting. The "don't overthink time travel" line shows up. Direction > script.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020). It's fine. Feels like a stage play (it's based on one), so not focused on interesting camera work, and set almost entirely inside the recording studio. It's an ensemble showcase, everyone in it is strong, but limited to interpersonal drama with some commentary about the world they find themselves in (exploited black musicians in 1920's Chicago). Viola Davis can chew up any room she's in, but what's fun is watching Chadwick Boseman going over the top for 90 minutes without losing my suspension of disbelief. I think this was his final full performance. Would've been interesting to see him as Yasuke.

Don't Look Up (2021). DiCaprio is almost not annoying in this, but the main parody characters (Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill) are just silly... even Ariana Grande is more interesting, with less screen time, which is a shame. Cate Blanchett & Tyler Perry's characters are also parodies, but, it turns out, self-aware. Oh, and Rylance... oof. And Chalamet was in this? I'd forgotten. I think he was good, probably. Anyway, J-Law carries this, she's flawless, and the best of what's funny & poignant & clever about the movie - including some consistently great scene transitions & a recurring joke - mostly play off of her performance. The premise is self-defeating, hence why the principal villains come across as trifling... makes me wonder who's being egged... but different people will get different things out of it.

Eternals (2021). ~30 mins. Garbage.

What would Baba do

Worth to be seen or seen again.
The movie is mainly about family secrets, how they weight on generations and the strugles to overcome them. It also shares some of life in Kabul (1978).

Other books from Khaled Hosseini

Leila Adams wrote:
Worth to be seen or seen again.

Yes.

Coppola's Apocalypse Now. Redux (extended director's cut)

b movie of the century - for your amusement amazon

Brilliant B&W cinematography



what a cast !! Certainly the best movie I've seen this year. Apparently won Best Screenplay. Well deserved.

Black Hawk Down (2001) Unrated Extended Cut
Without a doubt one of the greatest war dramas of recent 20 years

Macdoc wrote:Brilliant B&W cinematography



what a cast !! Certainly the best movie I've seen this year. Apparently won Best Screenplay. Well deserved.

I've seen it. Wilth all respect to Sian Heder and his CODA, Belfast should have received Oscar for best picture.

I agree....I loved CODA but Belfast was a cut above anything done this year IMNSHO. A small perfect movie. I was thrilled when Merchant Ivory Chariots of Fire won back a while ...Belfast is an unexpected gem. Really reminded me of Best Years of Our Lives which ranks high up in my top movies...and that kid !!!!!

Billy Eliot had similiar feel.
This guy has had a good run with the stage version



Good training for Spidey....

Macdoc wrote:I agree....I loved CODA but Belfast was a cut above anything done this year IMNSHO. A small perfect movie. I was thrilled when Merchant Ivory Chariots of Fire won back a while ...Belfast is an unexpected gem. Really reminded me of Best Years of Our Lives which ranks high up in my top movies...and that kid !!!!!

Watching Belfast reminded me such great movies like Roma, Cold War, Ida, To Kill a Mockingbird.

I really wish there were more such films nowadays

I've recently watched Minari (2020)
Imo a good study of '80s America and immigrant perspective of "New Beginning" and persuing "American Dream".

I really detested Roma for a variety of reasons...not sure what Hollywood was thinking.
Minari looks good.
I was on a Korean crime kick for a while ...Parasite was astonishing on so many levels.

You really must watch Shadow in the Cloud for the other end of the film spectrum.

Macdoc wrote:I really detested Roma for a variety of reasons...not sure what Hollywood was thinking.
Minari looks good.
I was on a Korean crime kick for a while ...Parasite was astonishing on so many levels.

You really must watch Shadow in the Cloud for the other end of the film spectrum.

I do remember some of my friends were also very reserved as far as Roma was considered. This movie is an exmple of social drama (Slice of life of middle class Mexican family in early '70s)

I've seen Parasite some time ago It's rare to come across such well crafted social satire dark comedy
I'm not sure how you see things but I think Korean cinematography (at least in recent 10-15 years) is really impressive (sadly not enough appreciated in the West).

They've built their own oeuvre which is pretty recognizable across numerous movie genres. Paying tribute to some western themes and approaches while adding their own flavour.
The extreme violence that can pop up ....back lawn of Parasite comes to mind.
Always one rather comically inept cop in the group even in a serious series.
I enjoy other cultures take ....the liberal attitude of the Danes about teens and matters sexual ....even to the point of Rita regularly fucking the principal on his desk while going over school issues, an she and teen dottor casually deciding which boy gets dottors hymen.
Some of the French and of course the British procedurals are incredibly well done. Would be nice to see Martin Beck books into a series....Sweden in the 60s with immense social changes.
Prime Suspect 1973 was a superb example of portraying an era in detail warts n'all


There was an excellent Korean time police time shift series that split between the two eras ..astonishing changes of course. Well worth the watch.

Filled in some holes in my knowledge and having actual footage from the Shackleton Expedition interwoven in the narrative and modern visuals was excellent. It wasn't Shackleton that brought the entire crew home ...it was Worsley's remarkable navigation skills. Very enjoyable

Terrific reviews ....not 100% certain I agree with them all but I lived through that period so had lots of resonance ...I'm always a sucker for a true story and rarely am disappointed by Cumberbatch.

Buying into this for the cast and a buddy's reco

I recently saw Uncharted.
I really have mixed feelings about it (either this movie is really bad or I am too old for that kind of cinema )

thought I was getting a Shakespeare movie

Love true stories
Excellent.


confusing start but hang in.