What was the last movie you saw?

[paranoid marvin]

Killers of the Flower Moon

Another Scorcese epic (aren't they all?) starring De Niro (don't they all?) and DeCaprio (don't they all recently?).

I'm about an hour in, and it's clearly a great movie. But I'm struggling a bit with the accents used (now have subs on) and I'm strughling moreso with some of the terminology used.

I'm a great fan of tv and movies not 'dumbing down' and having the characters unrealistically explain what they are talking about. I've 'Googled' a few phrases to help.

It's about a tribe who discover oil on their land, and the deaths of its members afterwards. Even though I'm only a third way through, I would heartily recommend it.

One thing that really annoys me is that movies that I really want to watch like this, Napoleon and Greyhound aren't available to rent or even to buy. The only way is to register and subscribe to Apple TV. Thankfully, it's now available as a channel through Amazon Prime.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Greyhound

I'd heard good things about this movie, which is why I was doubly disappointed after wstching it. I'm also really surprised that Tom Hanks agreed to be in it.

The movie tells the story of a small group of destroyers trying to protect a convoy of supply ships making their way across the Atlantic. It didn't need embellishing, with an evil German Captain taking over the airwaves. It didn't need a seemingly never-ending pack of U-Boats attacking them. Where is the suspense, where is the drama when it's simply one submarine battle after another?

And why on Earth would a German U-Boat commander announce his presence to those aboard the destroyer. The whole point of submarine warfare is to remain silent and undetected, until the moment of launching your torpedoes. You certainly don't give your opponent the heads-up that you're close, and keep him on his toes. Absolutely ridiculous.

The tension (not that there was much) is removed shortly after the film starts. What should have been tense scenes waiting for the U-Boats to pounce instead becomes a constant fire-fight. It simply becomes an action flick, and not a very convincing one.

When I consider Hanks other movies, this ranks really low; as I mentioned above, it really surprises me that he agreed to take part in this one. Saving Private Ryan it most certainly is not.

 

[JunkMonkey]

Source Code - which I had seen before and remembered as being pretty good. I think I liked it even more the second time. I got quite emotional at the end. And I'm glad I'm a credit reader - I usually sit and watch them all - because at the bottom of the cast list I noticed that the voice of the father of the constantly reset and reliving the past, while inhabiting the body of another person, hero was provided by Scott Bakula, Sam Becket himself from Quantum Leap. I bet whoever was doing casting giggled themselves silly when they came up with that idea. It made me laugh out loud - and I then had to explain why to Number 1 Daughter thus confirming my obsessional ubergeekiness in her eyes. (Not that she really needed any help.)

 

[Jeffbert]

Greyhound

I'd heard good things about this movie, which is why I was doubly disappointed after wstching it. I'm also really surprised that Tom Hanks agreed to be in it.

The movie tells the story of a small group of destroyers trying to protect a convoy of supply ships making their way across the Atlantic. It didn't need embellishing, with an evil German Captain taking over the airwaves. It didn't need a seemingly never-ending pack of U-Boats attacking them. Where is the suspense, where is the drama when it's simply one submarine battle after another?

And why on Earth would a German U-Boat commander announce his presence to those aboard the destroyer. The whole point of submarine warfare is to remain silent and undetected, until the moment of launching your torpedoes. You certainly don't give your opponent the heads-up that you're close, and keep him on his toes. Absolutely ridiculous.

Thanks for saving me from ever watching this!

U-Boats not only do not give their enemies advance warning, but usually eliminated any survivors so as to keep their positions secret. Bad news if, for instance, the enemy radioed its being under attack, and gave its position. U Boats are rather slow when submerged, & have very limited range, as well as the time they can remain submerged. The hunters frequently became the hunted.

Was Greyhound WWI or WWII?

 

[JunkMonkey]

I enjoy black and white photography when it is an historical documentation --- in other words an actual picture which was snapped in 1950 or so, before there was much possibility for color. When I was a child (1950's) there were people who would painstakingly paint their photographs so that it could be scene in color. I'll never forget how gobsmacked I was by the first color television I saw. I rather liked the Wizard of Oz, where "normal" life was black and white, but Oz was in amazing color. That's kinda the way I feel about it. Black and white only hints at what is the beautiful reality of things.

There speaks someone who hasn't looked at Robert Mablethorpe's photography. Black and white photography can be used to force the viewer to consider form, shape and depth and surface textures much more than colour.


BTW the early parts of The Wizard of OZ weren't in black and white, they were filmed in black and white but then sepia tinted which means they were duped onto colour stock.

 

[Jeffbert]

Tribute to a Bad Man (1956) one of two (I can name) Westerns starring James Cagney.

Jeremy Rodock (James Cagney) lives in a Western territory & raises horses. As there is essentially no law, he is the law, & metes out justice with a rope and a sturdy tree branch.

Supporting cast/characters:
Steve Miller (Don Dubbins) who finds Rodock, injured and helps him return to his ranch. Rodock offers to give him a job, which Miller eventually regrets taking. McNulty (Stephen McNally) former employee, now in the business of stealing Rodock's horses.
Jocasta Constantine (Irene Papas) Rodock's employee & love interest.
Lars Peterson (Vic Morrow); Fat Jones (Lee Van Cleef).

8/10

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks for saving me from ever watching this!

U-Boats not only do not give their enemies advance warning, but usually eliminated any survivors so as to keep their positions secret. Bad news if, for instance, the enemy radioed its being under attack, and gave its position. U Boats are rather slow when submerged, & have very limited range, as well as the time they can remain submerged. The hunters frequently became the hunted.

Was Greyhound WWI or WWII?

WWII. It still surprises (and somewhat disappoints me) that they guy who did Private Ryan and was involved with Band of Brothers, would do this.

Hanks is an intelligent guy, so when we see him listening to the Gernan U-Boat captain saying that he's going to kill them all, why would he not be turning to the director and telling him thst such a thing was not only ridiculous, but also denegrating to both the brave Allied crews, but also the brave German U-Boat crews.

 

[REBerg]

Red One
The man, the myth, the magic: A visual effects-intense look at the logistics, advanced technology and occasional complications behind the ultimate holiday delivery service.

 

[Parson]

There speaks someone who hasn't looked at Robert Mablethorpe's photography. Black and white photography can be used to force the viewer to consider form, shape and depth and surface textures much more than colour.

I have seen some of Mablethorpe's photography and it is spectacular. But I have to admit that when I look at it, I'm always disappointed that I can't see it in color and see what it is really like.

__________

@THX1138 and @alexvss I watched Belfast last night. I would agree that it was a very good movie. I thought it interspersed the moments of tension and danger with a lot of more or less "normal" living. It showed how that life during the Troubles was normal and yet in a very real way was not normal at all. I give it high marks. It is memorable for sure and it seemed to me to be very true to life. --- I am still flummoxed about the decision to film the main story in black and white. I suppose that that choice was made so that the viewer would deduce that the "Troubles" took the "joy" out of life or something like that. But with the story and the fine acting that was not necessary at all and for me it took some of the joy out of the watching the story. I'd have loved to seen things like sky, smog, out of date wall paper, and such which is only hinted at with the black and white choice.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

As a family we watched Dear Santa (2024). None of us enjoyed this one. The trailer made it look pretty funny, but it was not and the acting was subpar.

My husband and I watched Deadpool and Wolverine. I realize I'm in the minority here, but this was pretty 'meh' to me. Deadpool has always been over the top with gore, vulgarity, etc, but I felt this one took it to a new level. It just got old after a while.

 

[paranoid marvin]

I have seen some of Mablethorpe's photography and it is spectacular. But I have to admit that when I look at it, I'm always disappointed that I can't see it in color and see what it is really like.

__________

@THX1138 and @alexvss I watched Belfast last night. I would agree that it was a very good movie. I thought it interspersed the moments of tension and danger with a lot of more or less "normal" living. It showed how that life during the Troubles was normal and yet in a very real way was not normal at all. I give it high marks. It is memorable for sure and it seemed to me to be very true to life. --- I am still flummoxed about the decision to film the main story in black and white. I suppose that that choice was made so that the viewer would deduce that the "Troubles" took the "joy" out of life or something like that. But with the story and the fine acting that was not necessary at all and for me it took some of the joy out of the watching the story. I'd have loved to seen things like sky, smog, out of date wall paper, and such which is only hinted at with the black and white choice.

Both viewpoints are entirely valid. I have friends who would not watch something in B&W purely because it is not in colour. I also have friends who will not watch some of the greatest movies and tv shows ever made, simply because they are 'old'.

I am firmly in the 'B&W can be good' camp. I simply couldn't imagine watching a film noir in colour, and I hate the 'colorised' versions of classics such as Laurel & Hardy. I appreciate the artistic merit of directors who can film in B&W with movies such as The Seventh Seal, Schindler's List, Young Frankenstein and The Third Man: none of those films would have been as iconic if bursting with colour. And (imho) the best ghost stories are all in B&W - the only colours you would see on a dark night.

But there is the danger that a film can try to be different, 'arty' and perhaps pretentious, by filming something in B&W and not having any reason to do so. Worse still, by not utilising the medium for its benefit.

Btw has anyone seen Mad Max: Black and Chrome? Stunning visuals, almost like watching a different movie.

 

[paranoid marvin]

As a family we watched Dear Santa (2024). None of us enjoyed this one. The trailer made it look pretty funny, but it was not and the acting was subpar.

My husband and I watched Deadpool and Wolverine. I realize I'm in the minority here, but this was pretty 'meh' to me. Deadpool has always been over the top with gore, vulgarity, etc, but I felt this one took it to a new level. It just got old after a while.

For me, Deadpool was a bit of a one trick pony. The first movie was something different; witty, clever and great use of breaking down the fourth wall. The second movie just felt like more of the same, but with slightly different jokes. I was a bit bored by the end.

I would like to see the 'Once Upon a Deadpool' movie, but this (for some reason) is incredibly difficult to legally source.

 

[THX1138]

I'd have loved to seen things like sky, smog, out of date wall paper, and such which is only hinted at with the black and white choice.

I agree, color would have been better. The B&W gave it a kind of 'Far Away' feel to it.

 

[paranoid marvin]

I agree, color would have been better. The B&W gave it a kind of 'Far Away' feel to it.

But wouldn't you say that that was a far less realistic portrayl than Belfast was?

 

[THX1138]

@paranoid marvin I agree. I understand the emotional impact that B&W has (It's my favorite photograph medium.) And for those living/lived there in Belfast or anyone there in the UK who knows/knew someone from Belfast the B&W conveys this quite well, no need to relive it in color, been there done that.
But for me, raised here in the States, it was shown in TV slightly differently most likely to maintain a neutral view, or to make the police and military look like the bad guys. (this may also be to living in the west and not the east. Just a guess.)

The news would say, 'There was a pub bombing in N Irland toady.' But show some police vans and armored vehicles on fire. Then there would be news about a retaliatory bombing at a church, with view of burning police vehicles. A week later news about a big shoot-out at a cemetery during a burial of one victim or another. And again, being shown burning police and military vehicles. This caused for me a separation of the reality of what was going on. The news here made it appear B&W and lacking in humanism.

So, for me, seeing this film in color would more imprint the humanism of the story even more so where B&W makes it seem 'Far Away'.

If I answered your question?

 

[KGeo777]

THE TOWERING INFERNO - 1974 - Certainly the most prestigious of the 1970s disaster films, being an Irwin Allen co-production of Fox and Warner Bros. and having Paul Newman and Steve McQueen sharing top billing. What would be its weakness at the time now seems more like a strength--the fact that it is plot-dominated rather than character-emphasized. While there are various supporting characters with dramatic intrigue, especially Richard Chamberlain and Fred Astaire, Newman and McQueen do not have any overtly stated character depth. They are both concerned with the tasks at hand and there's no time for personal examination. Faye Dunaway's character is completely disposable but after Chinatown who is to say she didn't have the right to doing something simplistic and perfunctory. I got a kick out of Newman and McQueen being so busy with various chores of manual labor--how rare is that? Was there even a gun fired in the movie other than the grappling hook line? I think it holds up well although was it common for buildings to put a million gallons of water near the roof?
The lights to the glass tower were turned on 50 years ago today.

 

[KGeo777]

12 TO THE MOON - 1960 - Various nations send scientists (and two parrots and two monkeys and two cats and one dog) into space where awkward social situations abound thanks to limited production values and even more limited screenwriting skills.
It's rather bad.

JOHNNY COOL - 1963 - I dragged my feet in watching this Henry Silva movie because his co-star is Elizabeth Montgomery and I feared I would have trouble not thinking of Samantha Stevens. And sure enough, every time she appears, I am expecting her to say "well?" or wiggle her nose. I have seen her so rarely outside of Bewitched and I know I saw a lot of that show. I didn't have the same problem with Barbara Eden for some reason. Anyway it is a good flick--with Silva recruited through the faking of his death to carry out a revenge mission for Marc Lawrence--who as usual, is playing a gangster. Many a familiar face appears in this--from Jim Backus to Telly Savalas and Sammy Davis Jr. appears too and sings the title song.

 

[Dave]

Wicked (2024) part 1

It's the film of the theatre based West End musical. I haven't seen that, though Mrs. Dave has (and my daughter has seen it several times.) The songs always make a musical and I struggled to find any that I'd heard before (maybe one.) Mrs. Dave couldn't remember it!!! The premise of the story is clever, I guess? (If you don't know it reverses everything you know from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to make the Wicked Witch of the West the good guy and everyone else are the baddies who want to take jobs and education away from animals and cage them.) Great costumes and special effects. Many people who have seen the musical (and can still remember it!) say that it isn't as good. Not sure if I would recommend it, but there really isn't much else to choose from this Christmas (Gladiator II, Deadpool and Wolverine, Conclave, Mowanna 2 and Die Hard and Elf was the choice.) It is only "part 1" so the producers are quite hopeful of it's success.

 

[Droflet]

The Thing from Another World (1951). The original and in some ways the best. I hadn't seen it in a few years so I thought, why not. Still good to the last drop,

 

[Jeffbert]

The Corpse Vanishes (1942) Dr. Lorenz (Bela Lugosi) has a wife who needs injections oy youth & beauty from brides to be, & the Doctor gets them by drugging those brides. The drug causes a death-like state, & Lorenz is always 1st to the scene with his own coroner's wagon.

Supporting cast/characters:
Patricia Hunter (Luana Walters); Toby (Angelo Rossitto), Lorenz' extremely diminutive henchman; Countess Lorenz (Elizabeth Russell).

7/10 in my opinion