Rate The Last Movie You Saw

That's how an online critic describes this early Mickey Mouse short, and he's not that far off. As the title implies, Barnyard Olympics follows a series of sports events set in a barnyard-like environment. We have boxing, wrestling, diving, and even a marching band. The main event, however, is this heptathlon-like cross country race where competitors have to run, row, cycle, and much more.

I had already seen most of this short at some point long ago, but especially as my kids watched it. They really enjoy most of Mickey stuff, including the early ones, and this was no exception. Like the quote above, it is full of fun visual gags and jokes from start to finish, starting with a fun one as the camera pans across the "stadium" and two characters break the fourth wall as they notice the "camera".

Grade:


Full review on my Movie Loot

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Cleanskin (2012)

This was a nice edgy thriller following a British Islamic terrorist cell. After semtex is boosted from the Secret Service Ewan (Sean Bean) is tasked with finding the explosives. This is made more difficult as the man he is searching for is a "cleanskin" i.e has no history with the police and is not on the security service's. Ash's radicalisation is shown in flashbacks which are effective. The acting is good, the story is sturdy and I was amazed to find out this was a £2M production as it certainly doesn't show.

I've never heard of it or watched it but am now strangely compelled to see if it is as bad as described I may come back with a good old Scottish "pure pish" rating.

The Mysterians, 1957

Following a festival, a destructive earthquake strikes and, on investigation, an even more destructive robot emerges. The robot is controlled by an alien race called the Mysterians who originate from a hidden planet in the solar system. Friends Atsumi (Kenji Sahara), Hiroko (Momoko Kochi), and Etsuko (Yumi Shirakawa) end up enmeshed in the drama when their friend Shiraishi (Aihiko Hirata), who first theorized about the existence of the Mysterians, ends up joining them. The Mysterians are demanding a share of the Earth as well as a share of the Earth’s women. Can humankind marshall the resources to fight the powerful invaders?

Engaging set-pieces and a fun cast can’t quite overcome a disjoint story.

To Die For (1995)

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[ J ] - [ S ] - [ F ]

The Baby-Sitters Club (1995) I really liked all the main girls. There were some cute, fun moments, but I think the story should have focused more on friendship and babysitting and less on romance/boys. This is one of the few films that I think could actually benefit from a remake. The Netflix tv show was pretty good, but I think they should do a new film that focuses more on the girls babysitting and less on romance.

I love The Lake House.

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If I answer a game thread correctly, just skip my turn and continue with the game.
OPEN FLOOR.

By The cover art can or could be obtained from IMP Awards., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28795706

Fair Game - (2010)

In 2003 a coalition of nations led by the United States invaded Iraq on the pretext that they were developing weapons of mass destruction. Those in charge of policy in the U.S. were determined to carry out this invasion, and if the threat Iraq posed wasn't really all it was cracked up to be, it was happening anyway. The resultant controversy and fiasco became one of the biggest stories of the decade, and became part of our cultural landscape with an endless series of books and movies related to the experience just starting to gather a little dust on shelves now that some time has passed. Fair Game is based on the true story of Valerie Plame, whose husband Joseph C. Wilson wrote a story in The New York Times which revealed that one of the justifications for the war was categorically untrue. This irked the White House, and in a stunningly petty move information was leaked revealing Valerie Plame's status as CIA operative - destroying her career and putting her life in danger. This film is a dry recounting of the tale featuring Naomi Watts as Valerie and Sean Penn as Joseph C. Wilson, and is your usual David and Goliath kind of narrative-driven movie where relationships are tested and the president's men fought via the media and congress itself. Joseph C. Wilson's book "The Politics of Truth" is as relevant as ever during today's craziest of crazy goings on.

6/10


By https://www.movieposterdb.com/giulie...59229/6c201865, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7630208

Juliet of the Spirits - (1965)

It's easy to see how Juliet of the Spirits kind of carries on where Fellini's 8½ left off. I know virtually nothing of Fellini's films beyond this point in his career, but I'd sure like to see more of his visionary output. Full review here, in my watchlist thread.

8/10

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I Saw the TV Glow

This really spoke to me. It's certainly not going to 'click' with everyone, but I think everyone can understand the pressure on us all to hold parts of ourselves back, and pretend to be something we're not. For some people the pressure is just far more soul crushing.

It's not perfect, with uneven performances, and a few infuriatingly unclear moments, but overall it's quite good.

I can't really explain more of the movie without spoiling it, but i will say that it only dips into fantasy and horror a few times. Mostly it's about the way we remember the past, and the cost of suppressing who you really are.

"A-"

Okay Dark Knight Returns Part 2 sucked. I really strongly disliked it. Nothing about it worked for me. Holy crap what a bad movie. I know that's probably unpopular. It's honest though. I really didn't like it at all. Barf.

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I destroyed the dastardly dairy dame! I made mad milk maid mulch!

I hate insomnia. Oh yeah. Last year I had four cases of it, and each time it lasted three months.

eXistenZ (1999)

Hated The Lake House

. Love this movie…my favorite Nicole Kidman performance

The Hunger Games (2012)

A mildly entertaining film based on a popular series of novels I wasn't aware of at that time.
It focuses on the adventure rather than the dread, and the whole world around it - especially from a mass entertainment point of view - lacks a satirical bite.
At the 100 minutes mark I felt I had seen enough and really struggled to make it to the end.

I've read reviews saying "move over, Harry Potter".
I don't think so!

5/10

The film follows Orlok's attempt to move to London prompting real estate agent Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to be sent by his employer to close the deal. In the process, Orlok becomes obsessed with a picture of Hutter's wife, Ellen (Greta Schröder), which leads him to trap Hutter in his castle as he tries to make his way to Ellen, leaving a trail of death on his path.

This is probably my second or third watch and I think the film fared a lot better now than it did the first time. Back in the day, I really didn't like how the character of Hutter is portrayed as well as the overacting excesses of the times. However, I've always found the figure of Count Orlok to be striking, iconic, and menacing. That remains true nowadays, along with the eerie atmosphere and the effective way that Murnau mounts the rising tension as the film progresses. My feelings towards Hutter warmed a bit this time around, probably a result of being more accustomed to the films and acting of the era than I was 10-15 years ago.

Grade:


Full review on my Movie Loot

Gerwig, 2017





I saw this back in 2017, and I recall liking it. Holds up fairly well, but for some reason the editing was sort of annoying me this time with its sort of rapid-fire bouncing about. Some well done scenes, nonetheless - one scene with Danny is particularly heartbreaking and remained effective on this second viewing. The comedy was still landing pretty well and I like Saorise Ronan, but I am unsure this will stand the test of time.

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its got too much going on and as a result can't keep a consistent tone but when it clicks it is pretty magical.

First Reformed (2017)

Watched the Card Counter a couple of weeks ago so I think this brings me up to date with Shraders (even seen Mishima and Patty Hearst, 2 of the harder ones to find). Anyway this is the story of Rev. Toller who is despairing in his personal life and widerly for Earth. This is brought to a head when a young couple call for his chaplaincy skills as the father of their unborn baby thinks it's unfair to bring life into such a troubled world. From there we follow the morose cleric (who may have cancer and is an alcoholic) on the 250th year re-consecration of the building. That's precisely where it all starts getting loopy with dream (?) sequences and a bomb vest that the Eco warrior made before his own suicide. Ultimately I don't know what Schrader was trying to say and, while the performances are great, it's all a bit of an ungodly (see what I did there) mess.

I really loved First Reformed. Easily on my Top 5 of a very strong year. Here is a link to my review on Letterboxd.

1st Rewatch...Bryan Singer (Bohemian Rhapsody; Superman Returns) directed this stylish and imaginative crime drama that borrows from other films but has enough originality to it that you almost don't notice. It's the story of a quintet of career criminals who are lured into going after a $91 million dollar drug shipment by an enigmatic criminal mastermind named Kayser Sose. Christopher McQuarrie's Oscar-winning screenplay is just complex enough that complete attention is required from the viewer without making us giving up on trying to figure out what's going on. The brilliant ensemble cast includes Giancarlo Esposito, Chazz Palminteri, Dan Hedaya, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollak, Benecio Del Toro, Gabriel Byrne, and the one man acting class offered by Kevin Spacey as Verbal Kint that earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.