Rate The Last Movie You Saw

1st Rewatch...The fourth film in the Andy Hardy franchise finds Andy (Mickey Rooney) trying to earn the $8 he owes on a new car by keeping an eye on his BFF's girlfriend, Cynthia (Lana Turner), while being oblivious to the rich girl next door named Betsy Booth (Judy Garland) who falls for Andy the second she lays eyes on him. Rooney is the bundle of energy he always was, Turner is already displaying signs of the future cinema sexpot she would become and Garland is lovely as the doormat who doesn't seem to care that Andy treats her like dirt. I didn't notice this the first time I watched this, but Garland sings three songs in this film and one of them,"In Between" is very similar in style to a song Patty Duke sang in the 1966 film Billie called "Lonely Little In Between". Yes, the film definitely has dated elements (Andy is buying a car for $20), but Garland and Rooney fans should still glean entertainment from it.

Wolfs (2024)

All in all a pretty satisfying film in the action-comedy genre. It would really depend on whether you like Clooney and Pitt as the film revolves around their interaction with both being "fixers" with markedly different methods (the line "I have a fob" did make me chuckle). The story itself is quite slight but the 2 protagonists play it well. Always good to see Milo from "Pusher" appear too Enjoyable enough eye candy.

By Impawards.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21956502

The Limits of Control - (2009)

I've seen actor Isaach de Bankolé in many films, but at the same time I'm not all that familiar with him. This is definitely the only time I've seen him as lead actor though, and unfortunately Jim Jarmusch doesn't give him anything to do other than just "be" in the scene and passively facilitate a predetermined series of events, without any emotion. There are a lot of little intimations about what this is all about, but overall there wasn't a lot that excited me about The Limits of Control, because there's nothing much to get from it other than the esoteric idea it's trying to express. The Lone Man (de Bankolé) is sent on a mission to Spain where he meets a variety of people who pass him secret messages and diamonds - these people/agents played by Tilda Swinton, Gael García Bernal, Bill Murray, John Hurt and more. Nice cinematography - maybe one day I'll see something in this - but as far now, for me, it's Jim Jarmusch's least accessible movie.

5/10


By May be found at the following website: https://www.cinematerial.com/movies/...963/p/fdnmtrya, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69519253

The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On - (1987)

Such a strange, sad, and mad documentary. Full review here, in my watchlist thread.

8/10

__________________

After having already watched Francis Ford Coppola's MEGALOPOLIS three separate times in the IMAX format, I decided it was time to watch the regular non-IMAX presentation.

Now, to be sure, there is no better way to enjoy this cinematic masterpiece than in a larger-than-life IMAX screen. The regular screen in which I rewatched it is probably about 1/4th the size of the IMAX one. And it also doesn't benefit from the exclusive IMAX ratio in the parts of the movie that were shot with IMAX cameras.

All in all, however, it is still a mind-blowingly awesome experience, the likes of which we have never seen before presented in such a spectacular way. The smaller screen gives some of it a greater sense of intimacy, and in some individual shots, allows you to take a better look at all of the detail that Coppola has packed into every frame.

The 4th overall viewing also proved a valuable opportunity to get a closer look at some of the secondary characters. I think one of the most underrated character is that of Huey, played by a newcomer by the name of Bailey Ives. He has a very interesting arc throughout the movie, and I strongly suggest you keep an eye on him if you watch the movie.

I can't promise that I won't catch MEGALOPOLIS a few more times over the next few days; it's very likely the movie will disappear entirely from cinemas after its first week, because people these days (for the most part) aren't really interested in something that can best be described as a 21st century big-budget experimental film.

I have to confess, this movie impressed me in some important ways - but none of them are enough to make it a film worth recommending.

Starting off with the positives: the movie has a really good cast, and pretty good production values for something that went straight to streaming. The period detail, production design and cinematography were all much better than I anticipated.

But, again, this went straight to streaming. And Paramount has previously given a theatrical release to stuff that was originally intended for streaming only - so the studio knew this one really wasn't going to be a very popular movie, or they would have given it at least a small theatrical release.

What's wrong with the movie, then? Well, I would say that it's incredibly boring, and predictable, and not scary at all... which are pretty major weak spots for something that's supposed to be a horror movie. And particularly awful given that this is a prequel to one of the most famous horror movies ever made.

It's a shame that a good cast has been wasted in this turkey, because for anyone who has never seen Rosemary's Baby, it's hardly likely to make them want to watch the original.

The Greatest Night in Pop - (2024)

10/10

__________________
There has been an awekening.... have you felt it?

Nash, 2024





I get it. The slasher genre is dead. This film was fairly interesting as an experimental deconstruction of a moribund subgenre, but aside from its sort of hypnotic inexorability, I found my interest waning as it went along, only to have it fizzle out completely during the final 10 minutes, which sort of felt like the film maker was trolling me.

I understand the notion that when you remove the admittedly weak character development and campiness from films of this nature, all you are left with is pointless, excessive violence. Some of us buy the ticket for the lackluster character development and especially the camp, You know, the camp at the summer camp!

Look, many slasher films, despite their excessive violence, are pretty fun. This film is the antithesis of fun. By importing the relentless shuffling maniac into a Gus Van Sant style motif of quiet contemplation, you end up with a film that is as cold and lifeless as its antagonist. Points for the style, but for this viewer anyway, it provided perhaps 5 minutes of interesting analysis which helped me dial in exactly why I keep coming back to slasher classics, and why I won't be returning to this film.

Still not quite a dud, but one of my least favorite so far this season and of 2024.

__________________

Daughters (2024) Watched on Netflix. A documentary about a father daughter dance for incarcerated fathers at a jail. A beautiful, powerful, sad, and honest documentary. You will feel all the feelings. I predict this will win the Oscar for best documentary feature.

Killer Heat (2024)

So-so detective story with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Great location (Corfu) but the story really is too thin and once I'd seen that there was twins with one's death being investigated it was rather obvious the outcome with little additional side-twists. Pretty bland in all honesty.

I agree, this was boring and bland.

I loved it. Dreadful at the end when one of the fathers (forget which one, but he was nice) got 30 more years. What the heck are these guys even incarcerated for? Gotta be something major I would guess.

__________________
I’m here only on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. That’s why I’m here now.

As the NYTimes or the New Yorker posted at the weekend (can’t remember which) what the heck happened to Gordon-Levitt? They said he lost all his pizzazz or words to that effect.

Yeah, 30 years seems excessive.

Re-watch of an excellent movie. Funny how the time flies when one watches something really entertaining.



Not much to this indie movie, but I liked it.

Querelle (1982)

Bizarre and stylised version of the Jean Genet book. The late, talented Brad Davis plays the shipmate Querelle, prostitute, thief, murderer and all round bad piece of work. The story itself isn't bad but it's the louche direction by Fassbinder (his last film) that stands out. Almost like a dreamlike painting. The basis of the story being Querelle's fascination of dominance and submissiveness. Needless to say, it is very gay. Some bits work (the boat scenes) and some do not (anything with the policeman). A strange but enjoyable romp.

Plus what he’d already served.

I'll probably watch again

I already watch it twice (in theaters) - I think it benefits from repeat viewings

Thirty Leagues Under the Sea is a 13-minute excerpt of a longer documentary also called Terrors of the Deep. The film is notable for being the first one to feature underwater footage, through the use of a device called the "photosphere". The whole video is considered lost, but we can still go "thirty leagues under" with this short and see what remains.

Grade:


Full review on my Movie Loot

__________________