Recently Watched Movies 2022

[nwhoopfan]

"Day Shift" is new on Netflix. Okay, pretty generic. Jamie Foxx is a vampire hunter working in LA, which is overrun w/ vamps. Dave Franco supplies some comic relief. She doesn't have much screen time but Natasha Liu Bordizzo steals what scenes she's in. A few other recognizable faces like Peter Stormare, Snoop Dogg, Scott Adkins, Meagan Good. Fairly gory, high body count.

 

[nwhoopfan]

"Montana Story" takes its time letting the story unfold. Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague are 20 something half siblings who shared an abusive father. After a particularly bad episode, Haley ran away when she was 18 and never looked back. 7 years have gone by and she's stayed out of touch. She returns to their home in Montana when she hears the dad is dying. He's comatose after a massive stroke during the entire run time. It's slow paced, but very well acted, some deep emotions under the surface that rise to the top eventually. Not an easy watch, but well done. Both leads are really good. Some other good performances, the hospice care nurse, a part time housekeeper. The scenery is almost a character in and off itself. Filmed in Paradise Valley, MT--Bozeman and Livingston and surrounding areas (I've been there!).

 

[HuskyHawk]

Prey. 2022. Hulu. When I heard about this I has real doubts. Then saw some strong reviews. It’s an origin story of sorts for The Predator movies, at least origin on earth. This time it is 1719 in the northern Great Plains. He faces ordinary predators, wolves, mountain lions, bears, and then people. Both French trappers and Comanche. The center of our story is a young Comanche woman Naru (Amber Midthunder). She’s improving her hunting skills and wants to be part of the hunting party rather than gathering food with the women. She’s smart and crafty. She’s first to notice that there’s something unusual out there. Ultimately the showdown comes down to her and Predator. The movie has some great scenery, the pacing is good, and it’s quite a fun watch. Thumbs up.

 

[CL82]

The Shape of Water
Well that was weird.

 

[dbmill]

The Shape of Water
Well that was weird.

Weird but good.

 

[CL82]

Weird but good.

I’m still chewing on that a bit. I mean it held my attention, but it was pretty dang weird. When you have the Creature from the Black Lagoon in a ballroom dance number, that’s pretty dang weird.

 

[storrsroars]

Prey. 2022. Hulu. When I heard about this I has real doubts. Then saw some strong reviews. It’s an origin story of sorts for The Predator movies, at least origin on earth. This time it is 1719 in the northern Great Plains. He faces ordinary predators, wolves, mountain lions, bears, and then people. Both French trappers and Comanche. The center of our story is a young Comanche woman Naru (Amber Midthunder). She’s improving her hunting skills and wants to be part of the hunting party rather than gathering food with the women. She’s smart and crafty. She’s first to notice that there’s something unusual out there. Ultimately the showdown comes down to her and Predator. The movie has some great scenery, the pacing is good, and it’s quite a fun watch. Thumbs up.

Better than I expected, although my expectations were quite low. The key to making the premise even remotely plausible was that Naru learned the Predator didn't attack anything it didn't deem a threat, it only went after the alpha hunters. That's what allowed Naru to live to the end.

 

[storrsroars]

Call Me Lucky (2015). A biopic of late comedian Barry Crimmins, who co-owned the legendary Ding Ho's Comedy Club and later, Snitches, both of which were essential in the development of the wave of Boston comics during the 80s (Steven Wright, Denis Leary, Kevin Meany, Jimmy Tingle, Lenny Clarke, et.al.). Crimmins was noted as being an extremely angry comedian whose routines were both anti-government and anti-Catholic Church, but also someone who helped tons of budding comedians. However, the crux of the film is how he became an activist against child pornography, taking on AOL during the early 90s. It's not for everyone and has some uncomfortable moments, but I found it a solid biopic. Directed by Bobcat Goldthwaite, one of Crimmins' best friends.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I didn't have high expectations for the latest Jurassic World...but oh my! That movie just wouldn't end. There must've been about 10 different chase scenes. I thought the Fast and Furious franchise kept upping the ante on being ludicrous and over the top, but this put that to shame even. I think this has to be the last Jurassic movie I ever watch.

Did I miss the part about how all the dinos got cold weather tolerant? I thought that's how they all died out in the first place.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Wait, what? Amazon has an EXTENDED version of Jurassic World Dominion. How can you possibly make it even longer, the theatrical version is overly long by a good 20 to 30 minutes.

I keep ruminating on this (and watched Pitch Meeting and Honest Trailers ripping it to shreds). Are movie execs/screen writers/directors/producers out to prove just how bad of a movie they can get audiences to spend money on? Are they all really terrible at their jobs? It's just kind of mind numbing to me.

 

[dbmill]

The Duke (2020) - This is a British film that stars Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren based on a true story that happened around 1961 in Britain. Broadbent plays Kempton Bunton, an old working class man who is self educated. Bunton is a man who sees perceived social misjustice pretty much everywhere he looks, and he is the type of person who wants to talk about it to just about anyone he runs into whether they want to hear about or not. One of Bunton’s big pet peeves is the TV license fee that people in Great Britain have to pay. Bunton has a constant one man campaign going on around the belief that elderly British folks should be exempt from the TV license fee. I thought the film was entertaining to a degree, but I suspect a number of people would find at least the first part of the film a bit on the dull side, as there isn’t much of any really action to this picture. To me the film really picks up in entertainment value once it turns into a bit of courtroom drama in the second half of the film dealing with the theft of the title subject. This part of the film I thought was very good, and made the whole thing worth watching. Funny thing, there is a good tie in to an early James Bond film at the end of this movie.

 

[Palatine]

The Duke (2020) - This is a British film that stars Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren based on a true story that happened around 1961 in Britain. Broadbent plays Kempton Bunton, an old working class man who is self educated. Bunton is a man who sees perceived social misjustice pretty much everywhere he looks, and he is the type of person who wants to talk about it to just about anyone he runs into whether they want to hear about or not. One of Bunton’s big pet peeves is the TV license fee that people in Great Britain have to pay. Bunton has a constant one man campaign going on around the belief that elderly British folks should be exempt from the TV license fee. I thought the film was entertaining to a degree, but I suspect a number of people would find at least the first part of the film a bit on the dull side, as there isn’t much of any really action to this picture. To me the film really picks up in entertainment value once it turns into a bit of courtroom drama in the second half of the film dealing with the theft of the title subject. This part of the film I thought was very good, and made the whole thing worth watching. Funny thing, there is a good tie in to an early James Bond film at the end of this movie.

The Duke is a well made film. A bit silly. Has a nice intimate feeling. Not great cinema but good performances and entertaining if not overly interesting. Two and a half stars.

 

[8893]

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021) - Partly-animated mockumentary about a one-inch shell (with shoes) who became separated from his community and lives with his grandmother in an AirBnB, after the original owners got divorced and moved out. Cute, heartwarming and original; could have been better as a short imo. The concept got a bit old/drawn out for me over the course of 90 minutes. Isabella Rossellini, who is always nice to hear, is the voice of the grandmother.

We saw it in the local theater because it’s a nice weekly date when there is something of interest, but it might be better streamed at home.

 

[storrsroars]

Blood Red Sky (2021, Netflix). German horror/thriller that could've been titled "Vampires On a Plane". Kind of a nutty premise, but it also kinda plays out rather smartly. I'm not one for vampire movies, and am tired of zombies, but this is a different spin on vampires with a subplot of a mother's love for her son and vice verse. I enjoyed it for the silliness it is (although the end it trite).

 

[nwhoopfan]

Blood Red Sky (2021, Netflix). German horror/thriller that could've been titled "Vampires On a Plane". Kind of a nutty premise, but it also kinda plays out rather smartly. I'm not one for vampire movies, and am tired of zombies, but this is a different spin on vampires with a subplot of a mother's love for her son and vice verse. I enjoyed it for the silliness it is (although the end it trite).

I enjoyed this most of the way thru, but it went completely off the rails toward the end.

 

[nwhoopfan]

"Dr. Strange in the blah blah blah." I found this movie to be more than anything TEDIOUS. It was loud, chaotic, not enjoyable. I HATED where they went with the big bad for this film. I'm afraid Marvel is completely rudderless since "Endgame." I might have to quit watching them if they keep putting out junk like this. They have GOT to get past this multiverse nonsense, it's grinding the entire franchise to a screeching halt.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Interstellar. 2014. Christopher Nolan. Great cast, Matthey McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain, a very young Timothee Chalamet and Matt Damon. Damon's character may be one of the most hate-worthy SOBs I've seen on film. This is really very good, and very long. Not plodding, it's just a thing that needs to develop. As usual Nolan plays with time, but not in the herky-jerky way he sometimes does. The plot: some kind of blight is consuming the oxygen on earth, destroying crops and eventually killing everyone. Going to space is part of the response to that. Can't say much more without spoilers. There are subtle things here, including the teacher at McConaughey's daughter's school, that are really well done to set the tone. I'll give Nolan credit, he always seems to get the details right.

 

[CL82]

13 Lives (2022) Prime

This is the true story of the Thai soccer team who got trapped in a cave and the incredible rescue effort to get them out. Ron Howard does an excellent job with exploring the competing personalities of the people looking to rescue the boys and the desperation that gives rise to an untried approach. But I think some of the best parts of the film are the sequences going through the cave. You really get a sense of claustrophobic circumstances surrounding the rescue attempt.

I strongly recommend this movie. It is excellent.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I've been severely disappointed with several recent movies I've watched. For an antidote to big dumb lifeless blockbusters, I checked out a totally oddball little teen romcom--"Looks That Kill." The premise is ABSURD. You either go along with it, or don't bother. But I really enjoyed it. Cute, interesting characters, I actually felt something after some recent experiences left me completely numb. And Julia Goldani Telles is a treasure. Yet another not very big name actress who should be much, much more well known. I think it's available on Amazon Prime, but I streamed it on Hoopla.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I've been severely disappointed with several recent movies I've watched. For an antidote to big dumb lifeless blockbusters, I checked out a totally oddball little teen romcom--"Looks That Kill." The premise is ABSURD. You either go along with it, or don't bother. But I really enjoyed it. Cute, interesting characters, I actually felt something after some recent experiences left me completely numb. And Julia Goldani Telles is a treasure. Yet another not very big name actress who should be much, much more well known. I think it's available on Amazon Prime, but I streamed it on Hoopla.

If you haven’t yet, try The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Prey- Had no idea this was a thing until a friend told me. I enjoyed it for what it was. I dont think it advanced the storyline much more than just a stand alone but it was way better than I expected.

The Black Phone- Had seen advertisements everywhere for this. Watched it and was disappointed. Premise is a serial killer in the 70s is abducting boys on their way home from school. It follows one of the kids who gets abducted and put in a basement where a phone rings and tells him what to do to get out and away. Ethan Hawke is the abductor. It had a chance of being way scarier or creepier or going deeper into the story and just didnt.

The Nice Guys- Friend told me to watch this. Thought it was meh. Liked the banter between Golsing and Russell Crowe but at times I just became bored with it.

Nope- TBD- started watching it and got about 20 minutes in and then the wife wasn't interested. I'll go back to it to see how it plays out but hoping it picks up some pace.

 

[nwhoopfan]

If you haven’t yet, try The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

It's at the top of my Netflix list.

 

[Palatine]

If you haven’t yet, try The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

I enjoyed it. Nick Cage making fun of Nick Cage movies is a fine working premise. The movie doesn't take itself seriously but it never insults the audience's intelligence. There are nice twists and turns in the plot. All the film making stuff, writing, locations, directing, cinematography are all done well. And the acting is up to Nick Cage standards. Fun stuff.

 

[8893]

Look Both Ways (2022 Netflix): Graduation night at University of Texas, Austin. Natalie had “one-time” sex with her friend a few weeks beforehand and takes a pregnancy test on graduation night because she’s not feeling well. In one universe the test is positive and in the other the test is negative. So it is an updated take on the meta-verse or parallel universes, where we see how her life plays out in each scenario.

Lili Reinhart shines as Natalie and is the highlight of the movie, which is a great concept but I thought they could have done better with the execution. Interesting watch and Reinhart is good, but I thought Sliding Doors (1998 Gwyneth Paltrow film) was a much better take on the concept.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Lili Reinhart shines as Natalie and is the highlight of the movie

I enjoyed this movie. Riverdale is a trash show, I'm glad to see her do some things outside of that.

I also liked Luke Wilson and Andrea Savage as her parents.