Recently Watched Movies 2021

[nwhoopfan]

"Naked Singularity." Fairly odd, but not in a bad way. John Boyega is a public defender who is getting burned out by the legal system. Olivia Cooke is someone he represented, just trying to get by in life. Ed Skrein is a scumbag low level criminal who gets a whiff of a big score. Goes from there. I enjoyed it. I'll watch Olivia Cooke in just about anything, she never disappoints.


A bit odd, this is set in NYC, the 3 main leads are Brits and the next biggest character, Bill Skarsgard (how many Skarsgards are there?!) is a Swede. Apparently there were no Americans, available for this film.

Also, as I've noted before, if you see Ed Skrein run away. The dude is always bad news.

 

[nwhoopfan]

About 2/3 of the way thru The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. About as guilty as any sequel I've ever seen of trying too hard, going way over the top, and missing the mark by a mile measuring up to the original. Brought in some other big names, Antonio Banderas, Morgan Freeman, Frank Grillo. Feels crowded.

 

[HuskyHawk]

About 2/3 of the way thru The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. About as guilty as any sequel I've ever seen of trying too hard, going way over the top, and missing the mark by a mile measuring up to the original. Brought in some other big names, Antonio Banderas, Morgan Freeman, Frank Grillo. Feels crowded.

Agreed. For all that, it was still a little bit fun. Salma Hayak is a riot really in both movies.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Agreed. For all that, it was still a little bit fun. Salma Hayak is a riot really in both movies.

I seem to recall the first was similar, but definitely in this one Salma and Samuel were having a contest to see who could cuss more. I think Salma won.

 

[Waquoit]

I've always kind of rolled my eyes when I've read about The Velvet Underground, the "everyone who bought the album started a band" stuff. I sampled the Nico album in college and that was enough. I just finished the excellent documentary on Apple and I'm thinking I have some listening to do.

 

[billybud]

House of Gucci

1....you get your money's worth...a 2 1/2 hour movie that feels like six hours

2...Lady Gaga....she's an actress. Great performance....if it wasn't for her, this movie is a stone.

 

[HuskyHawk]

House of Gucci

1....you get your money's worth...a 2 1/2 hour movie that feels like six hours

2...Lady Gaga....she's an actress. Great performance....if it wasn't for her, this movie is a stone.

I've gone to movies a lot recently, so I've seen the long form preview like 4 times. I've never thought much of her (don't really know her music at all) but she looks pretty in this role. I didn't see A Star is Born, but some said she was good in that too. Maybe I'd take her more seriously if she had a regular name.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Oblivion (2013). Tom Cruise, Olga Kuryenko, Morgan Freeman and Andrea Riseborough. Watched this while my wife decided to catch up on The Matrix movies (that I caught up on recently enough). This is pretty good really. Tom is a guy who maintains droids that defend giant Hydro Fusion plans in 2077. Earth is a wasteland, destroyed by nukes we used on aliens who invaded. Ms. Riseborough is his +1, they were assigned to each other and their memories wiped. They live together alone carrying out their duties on earth. Tom though, has dreams that are like memories. Well there is a big twist in this one and, it's pretty obvious long before it is revealed. It's a solid movie. If you haven't seen it, it's worthwhile.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Oblivion

Seems like most modern sci fi is dystopian, dark, grimy, dirty, you can hardly see what's happening sometimes. I liked that this movie was bright, w/ some beautiful cinematography. That house in the sky was amazing. I think mostly filmed in Iceland?

Anyway I really enjoyed the film, have watched it several times over the years.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Seems like most modern sci fi is dystopian, dark, grimy, dirty, you can hardly see what's happening sometimes. I liked that this movie was bright, w/ some beautiful cinematography. That house in the sky was amazing. I think mostly filmed in Iceland?

Anyway I really enjoyed the film, have watched it several times over the years.

Yes, almost anti-dystopian in some ways. Earth is destroyed...well what people built is. But the lake cabin was beautiful and I think that was central to the story.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Yes, almost anti-dystopian in some ways. Earth is destroyed...well what people built is. But the lake cabin was beautiful and I think that was central to the story.

Oh yeah, forgot about the cabin. That looked like somewhere in the Sierras in CA.


I also liked how the drones seemingly had personalities...and they were jerks!

 

[CL82]

About 2/3 of the way thru The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. About as guilty as any sequel I've ever seen of trying too hard, going way over the top, and missing the mark by a mile measuring up to the original. Brought in some other big names, Antonio Banderas, Morgan Freeman, Frank Grillo. Feels crowded.

I liked it. It isn’t an epic or anything, but it’s enjoyable as a example of the unlikely buddy-trip movie. Think Midnight Run. (and no, it’s not as good.)

Hey what was this a sequel to? I liked it enough that I will watch the original.

FWIW, after Salma Hayek goes off on the killing spree in the bar I am so unlikely to make eye contact with her, even though she still is smoking hot.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Hey what was this a sequel to? I liked it enough that I will watch the original.

Hitman's Bodyguard. That was a bit more Samuel L./Reynolds centric.

 

[CL82]

Hitman's Bodyguard. That was a bit more Samuel L./Reynolds centric.

Ohhh, I totally ignored the word “wife“ in there. I was talking about the original movie. I’ll definitely watch the sequel though.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Ohhh, I totally ignored the word “wife“ in there. I was talking about the original movie. I’ll definitely watch the sequel though.

Ahh well the sequel is not as good. But in an era when the volume of quality movies has never been lower, it's worth a watch. I swear Netflix churns out films that are like the old Network TV movies in production quality. Some are good, but they seem to just make as many as possible, hoping some appeal to somebody.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Ghostbusters - Afterlife. (2021). Saw this on the big screen, once again the only people in the cinema. Go to the movies people. It is safe, they need the business and we risk losing a treasured institution if we don't keep them going. We buy beers and concessions to throw them some extra.

The movie is superb. I can't really find any serious faults with it at all. McKenna Grace, the young female lead is tremendous as Phoebe, and I predict in 5 years or so will be the next big thing. Her friend is played by Logan Kim and is really funny. Casting the Stranger Things kid (Mike) as the teen male lead seems intentional because these kids live a 1980s existence in 2021. This movie starts well, sets the story well and then just keeps you engaged all the way. It's frequently funny, occasionally scary and at all times nostalgic. It looks back not just to the original, it's something of an ode to the original and to Harold Ramis in particular. Like Stranger Things, the small town in Oklahoma where it is set has an old roller hop diner, and kids who ride bikes everywhere. The music and most everything else takes you back, in a warm, comfortable way to a time when people lived in the real world more than the virtual one. The excitement is there, old friends who once made you happy are there, all but one, and they made it for him. Great stuff. Highly recommended.

 

[nwhoopfan]

McKenna Grace, the young female lead is tremendous as Phoebe, and I predict in 5 years or so will be the next big thing.

That's her? She looks really different. I've lost track of her, but have enjoyed her in several other movies like Mr. Church (2016) and Gifted (2017).

 

[HuskyHawk]

That's her? She looks really different. I've lost track of her, but have enjoyed her in several other movies like Mr. Church (2016) and Gifted (2017).

Her list of acting credentials on IMDB is fairly shocking for a 15 year old. She's really quite good.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Her list of acting credentials on IMDB is fairly shocking for a 15 year old. She's really quite good.

For some reason in my mind she's much younger than the others, but I guess the age difference isn't that big. There are a number of talented young actresses on the scene, some who have been acting for many years already. In addition to Grace, I expect Millie Bobby Brown, Kiernan Shipka and Thomasin McKenzie to be Hollywood mainstays for many years to come. It's surprising, but Brown is only 17. The other 2 are early 20s.


Side note, but it's encouraging that there are more and more child stars who seem to smoothly transition to adulthood in showbiz, without a bunch of off screen drama and notoriety. It seems like the opposite used to be more the rule than the exception (Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, etc.).

 

[Waquoit]

Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman made it through.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman made it through.

Yeah there's a bunch. Kirsten Dunst and ScarJo too.

Just seems like child stars used to frequently have a really hard time in life.

 

[HuskyHawk]

For some reason in my mind she's much younger than the others, but I guess the age difference isn't that big. There are a number of talented young actresses on the scene, some who have been acting for many years already. In addition to Grace, I expect Millie Bobby Brown, Kiernan Shipka and Thomasin McKenzie to be Hollywood mainstays for many years to come. It's surprising, but Brown is only 17. The other 2 are early 20s.


Side note, but it's encouraging that there are more and more child stars who seem to smoothly transition to adulthood in showbiz, without a bunch of off screen drama and notoriety. It seems like the opposite used to be more the rule than the exception (Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, etc.).

I liked Kiernan in Sabrina, but haven't seen her take on a real dramatic role. Thomasin McKenzie is fantastic in Last Night in Soho, which might be the best movie of the year. She also turned into a knockout somewhere along the way. MBB shows lots of promise as well.

It is nice to see that, so far, they haven't fallen into the traps that others have. I think Elle Fanning is another child star that turned out alright and has a nice career going. Her sister too. Maybe those others have made people a lot more cautious. I'd say Emma Watson turned out just fine, although her career kind of went nowhere.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

For some reason in my mind she's much younger than the others, but I guess the age difference isn't that big. There are a number of talented young actresses on the scene, some who have been acting for many years already. In addition to Grace, I expect Millie Bobby Brown, Kiernan Shipka and Thomasin McKenzie to be Hollywood mainstays for many years to come. It's surprising, but Brown is only 17. The other 2 are early 20s.


Side note, but it's encouraging that there are more and more child stars who seem to smoothly transition to adulthood in showbiz, without a bunch of off screen drama and notoriety. It seems like the opposite used to be more the rule than the exception (Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, etc.).

I agree, and today's child stars owe a lot to the child stars of decades ago that stood up for themselves and talked about how badly they were exploited. There are always going to be idiots, but I think today's child stars get a lot more support and have more protections than they used to.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I think Elle Fanning is another child star that turned out alright and has a nice career going. Her sister too.

Doh! I was thinking of the Fannings at some point and then forgot to mention them.

There must be some male child stars that have gone on to successful and relatively drama free careers, but not really come up with examples, other than Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

 

[storrsroars]

"Red Notice" on Netflix is very lightweight, but enjoyable enough. Mindless entertainment that you won't spend much (if any) time thinking about once it's over.

You can't think about it too much because it's simply all too ridiculous. But it was fun regardless.

Ryan Reynolds can't seem to do anything else than Ryan Reynolds. Which, in the right part, isn't a bad thing.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Ryan Reynolds can't seem to do anything else than Ryan Reynolds. Which, in the right part, isn't a bad thing.

I feel like at some point he must've tried stretching out a bit and actually doing something different, but yeah for a while now he's just been 100% the same shtick. Maybe the Deadpool movies is what really set it in stone?


Safe House was a non Ryan Reynolds character. Looking at IMDB he's had at least a few serious roles sprinkled in here and there. But holy cow whatever he's doing is in high demand, he currently has 7 announced projects/post production/pre production. Dude is gonna be busy for a long time.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Belfast 2021. Where to begin. Kenneth Branagh, ultimately, tells his own tale. His vision of what it was like as a boy in Belfast, a working class Protestant in a mostly Catholic neighborhood, when violence erupted in 1969. Branagh would be 9, like our lead, Buddy. The casting here is superb. Ciaran Hinds (himself a Belfast native born in 58) as the grandfather. You can sense how emotional this is for them. Catriona Balfe (from Outlander) is terrific as Buddy’s mom (and hot as usual). Jaime Dornan, another local, is very good as Buddy’s Pa. It opens with modern Belfast in color, clean, bright, safe, and reverts to black and white as we move to 1969. It’s wonderful filmmaking. Is it a bit nostalgic, clean, and safe despite the threats that appear? Yes, but we must suppose that’s how a 9 year old Kenneth Branagh remembered it. The best is recalled fondly and the worst is glossed over. And that feels right to me. It makes no judgments, no political point at all. Just a boy, showing you what he remembers of that time.

The music. Well @8893 would appreciate that Van Morrison is responsible and his own songs are 90% of the soundtrack, with a few noteworthy exceptions. It’s marvelous. Each song fits the moment flawlessly. Many I did not know. Some, like Carrickfergus, lend their emotional weight to critical points. I came away thinking I really must explore Van’s B side non-hit catalog, because these were some terrific songs.

What a pair of bookends. As a young man he gave us Henry V, showing Shakespeare in an entirely new light. I was mesmerized. Saw it at Trinity. Now this. Its quite personal and is more beautiful for it.

 

[storrsroars]

Belfast 2021. Where to begin. Kenneth Branagh, ultimately, tells his own tale. His vision of what it was like as a boy in Belfast, a working class Protestant in a mostly Catholic neighborhood, when violence erupted in 1969. Branagh would be 9, like our lead, Buddy. The casting here is superb. Ciaran Hinds (himself a Belfast native born in 58) as the grandfather. You can sense how emotional this is for them. Catriona Balfe (from Outlander) is terrific as Buddy’s mom (and hot as usual). Jaime Dornan, another local, is very good as Buddy’s Pa. It opens with modern Belfast in color, clean, bright, safe, and reverts to black and white as we move to 1969. It’s wonderful filmmaking. Is it a bit nostalgic, clean, and safe despite the threats that appear? Yes, but we must suppose that’s how a 9 year old Kenneth Branagh remembered it. The best is recalled fondly and the worst is glossed over. And that feels right to me. It makes no judgments, no political point at all. Just a boy, showing you what he remembers of that time.

The music. Well @8893 would appreciate that Van Morrison is responsible and his own songs are 90% of the soundtrack, with a few noteworthy exceptions. It’s marvelous. Each song fits the moment flawlessly. Many I did not know. Some, like Carrickfergus, lend their emotional weight to critical points. I came away thinking I really must explore Van’s B side non-hit catalog, because these were some terrific songs.

What a pair of bookends. As a young man he gave us Henry V, showing Shakespeare in an entirely new light. I was mesmerized. Saw it at Trinity. Now this. Its quite personal and is more beautiful for it.

Hadn't heard about this but have to see it. Branagh's done some paycheck blockbusters where he's chewed scenery, but there are few better actors/ directors when it comes to period piece smaller movies .

 

[HuskyHawk]

Hadn't heard about this but have to see it. Branagh's done some paycheck blockbusters where he's chewed scenery, but there are few better actors/ directors when it comes to period piece smaller movies .

Seems to me this is one he really wanted to make (he isn’t in it). It’s an art house release. On a lark we checked to see if we could rent it streaming and found we could. We had seen the previews a couple of times while at other movies.

A note on Carrickfergus, I found this, which explains some mistakes in modern interpretation of the song. It makes more sense and for us Scotch drinkers gives it a connection to Islay. It also makes more sense to the film. "Carrickfergus" - the truth about the lyrics to one of Ireland’s most haunting ballads

 

[CL82]

I agree, and today's child stars owe a lot to the child stars of decades ago that stood up for themselves and talked about how badly they were exploited. There are always going to be idiots, but I think today's child stars get a lot more support and have more protections than they used to.

Fwiw, Kid90 (I think that’s what it’s called) is a decent documentary. It is a vaguely nostalgic look at the girl who played punky Brewster and her crew from the 90s. It is tough being a child star. It seems like a weird mix of extreme privilege, and a weird duality between public and private personas.