- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 28,410
- Reaction Score
- 40,691
Yeah. It was better than I expected.
Recently watched movies 2025
- Thread starter nwhoopfan
- Start date
Yeah. It was better than I expected.
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2011
- Messages
- 28,415
- Reaction Score
- 75,608
The Brutalist (2024). This was brutal to watch. It took at least five separate viewings to get through it. It's hard to imagine a person as clueless as Lazlo Toth (Adrien Brody) could actually exist. The movie tries to make the Guy Pierce character (Toth patron and rich dude) the bad guy but he is downright human compared to Toth. No one is very layered or complex. The movie, much like the Brutalist style, is big, inhuman and gray. It's suppose to be an epic but it just a movie that is way too long. One star.
nwhoopfan
hopeless West Coast homer
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2017
- Messages
- 32,678
- Reaction Score
- 64,520
I must be losing my mind. How did these movies get nominated for Best Picture? "The Substance," nope. I'm most of the way thru "Anora" that won everything...nope. It's an R rated version of "Pretty Woman" w/ Russians and Armenians and lots of yelling and cussing, borderline pron. Best Picture? You have to be kidding. Hollywood is crazy.
HuskyHawk
The triumphant return of the Blues Brothers.
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2011
- Messages
- 34,259
- Reaction Score
- 90,640
Yeah, they have jumped the shark entirely. Nothing that is appealing to audiences needs to be considered anymore. Most of these movies are straight up bad, but they annoy regular people and so are praiseworthy in the eyes of the academy that thinks their audiences are disgusting lowlifes.
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 28,410
- Reaction Score
- 40,691
DV and Christopher Nolan are the only people capable of making great movies consistently.
Dove
Who wouldn't want to be me?
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 17,015
- Reaction Score
- 51,296
"Anora" is not borderline . It's all in.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2014
- Messages
- 9,461
- Reaction Score
- 32,439
Sing Sing is on HBO now.
It’s incredible by the way. Not sure if anyone else posted about it.
It’s incredible by the way. Not sure if anyone else posted about it.
nelsonmuntz
Point Center
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 45,602
- Reaction Score
- 37,319
Anora is wildly overrated. My biggest issue with the movie is that Mikey Madison is so unlikable as Anora that she comes off like she is running a scam on Ivan. There is no subtlety in her performance, and I have a hard time understanding why Ivan even falls for her. Why did she win best actress? The movie honestly would have been more interesting if it turns out she was running a scam on Ivan. Mark Eydelshteyn's Ivan is the only interesting character in the entire movie, playing an emotionally stunted oligarch's son. Igor has a little depth, and the rest of the Zakharov family and entourage are stereotypes.
The movie tries to say something about class and love, but there is way too much filler and a lot of random events that do not make sense and do not provide character development. It also feels like a lot of the first half of the movie consists of montages.
The search for Ivan was ridiculous. First, the scene was about 20 minutes too long. We didn't need a long, drawn out fetch quest scene that doesn't have much of anything to do with the core plot. It also makes the whole movie jump the shark. In a movie trying to be gritty and realistic, about 20 different people would have called the cops if a crew looking like that showed up in a dozen different places acting nuts, physically and verbally abusing everyone they come in contact with, while looking for a rich kid. And why didn't she run at any of 10 different points? How did she know they would not just kill her once they found Ivan? Why didn't she tell the judge that she was being held against her will? And a street smart girl would never get on a plane with that crew.
Why does the movie switch gears with 30 minutes left and try to develop a relationship between Anora and Igor?
The final scene of the movie doesn't make sense. It is clear that Igor is falling for her, she recognizes it, and abuses him anyway for the last 20 minutes which he deserves. I don't get the point of that, but fine. Then, at the very end, she tries to manipulate him with sex, completely initiating it, but then breaks down sobbing when he tries to kiss her. That scene feels gratuitous, and I can not figure out what it is trying to say about either character.
It is a big plot problem when everyone starts doing random things that don't make sense, because then nothing anyone does matters.
Why does the movie switch gears with 30 minutes left and try to develop a relationship between Anora and Igor?
The final scene of the movie doesn't make sense. It is clear that Igor is falling for her, she recognizes it, and abuses him anyway for the last 20 minutes which he deserves. I don't get the point of that, but fine. Then, at the very end, she tries to manipulate him with sex, completely initiating it, but then breaks down sobbing when he tries to kiss her. That scene feels gratuitous, and I can not figure out what it is trying to say about either character.
It is a big plot problem when everyone starts doing random things that don't make sense, because then nothing anyone does matters.
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2011
- Messages
- 28,415
- Reaction Score
- 75,608
Detained (2024). Abbie Cornish vehicle looked a passion project. Also looked like they were on a tight budget. Basically she wakes up a in police station after apparently taking a roofie. Almost a good movie. Lots of plot twists but you could still see it coming. Did just enough to keep you watching. Just under two stars. You could tell they were really trying.
nwhoopfan
hopeless West Coast homer
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2017
- Messages
- 32,678
- Reaction Score
- 64,520
The thing I couldn't get out of my head the whole time was thinking her character had been watching way too much "Jersey Shore." Maybe there are people who are really like that IRL. I find it hard to believe. So utterly classless, so tacky, yet either defiantly proud of such qualities or completely lacking self awareness so they don't even know they have such qualities.
nelsonmuntz
Point Center
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 45,602
- Reaction Score
- 37,319
I can’t tell if her acting like a SNL caricature of a Jersey Shore cast member was a choice, or a combination of bad acting, bad editing and bad directing. And since I can’t figure out if she is supposed to come off like that, I don’t know how to interpret what is happening in the movie.
If it was a choice, why is she sympathetic and why should we care about her? Is she a gold digger exploiting a stupid, emotionally stunted rich kid? Is she actually falling for this imbecile? I don’t know, and I can’t tell if that uncertainty is a choice or the movie is just a collection of random scenes the Director thought would be cool.
HuskyHawk
The triumphant return of the Blues Brothers.
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2011
- Messages
- 34,259
- Reaction Score
- 90,640
The Electric State. I liked this. It was funny. It didn’t take itself too seriously despite actually making some very meaningful points about a society too connected virtually and not present enough in the real world. It’s incredibly timely in that regard and I thought it was much better than expected. MBB does a good job and Pratt just plays Pratt. There’s a scene at a school where MBB’s character refuses to go virtual and I saw that as a clear comment on the failure of virtual school during COVID. The movie takes aim at some real ills in society and I liked the message.
storrsroars
Exiled in Pittsburgh
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2012
- Messages
- 22,179
- Reaction Score
- 51,344
Thanks for the review. Thought about watching it a few times but passed as the trailers looked really stupid. Guess I'll actually watch it this weekend.
nelsonmuntz
Point Center
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 45,602
- Reaction Score
- 37,319
Wicked is on Peacock. I was not expecting much out of this, but it is decent. The music is ok, and it is too long, but Jon Chu does an amazing job as Director. The movie is visually impressive, but at the same time the small scenes are very well done and many of the characters are interesting and have depth.
The cast was really strong. I have not seen Jonathan Bailey before, and he was excellent. I figured Cynthia Erivo would be excellent too, but I was honestly shocked by how good Ariana Grande is in the movie, because I only knew her from when my kids would watch the Nickelodeon shows of the early 2010's, and I thought Grande was a lousy actress in those shows, and she hadn't really done much since. I expected her to suck, and if she sucked then this movie would have sucked. Grande was able to show development and depth and complexity for Glinda, which I thought was way beyond Grande's acting ability. I don't know if Chu coaxed a genius performance out of Grande, or she actually learned how to act at some point, or both. They passed over some serious actresses (Amanda Seyfried was one) for Grande, and it took serious onions by Chu to pick Grande.
Like all the Oz universe movies, it is very political, and the politics are really confusing. The themes of propaganda and government dishonesty weave through all the Oz universe movies, which makes it hard to figure out what is really happening and what is someone's perception of what is happening (I think this is most confusing with The Wiz). The "Good" and "Wicked" witches seem to be matters of opinion, and it appears that the Scarecrow and Tin Man were in this movie as students at the college, in human form, maybe?
The cast was really strong. I have not seen Jonathan Bailey before, and he was excellent. I figured Cynthia Erivo would be excellent too, but I was honestly shocked by how good Ariana Grande is in the movie, because I only knew her from when my kids would watch the Nickelodeon shows of the early 2010's, and I thought Grande was a lousy actress in those shows, and she hadn't really done much since. I expected her to suck, and if she sucked then this movie would have sucked. Grande was able to show development and depth and complexity for Glinda, which I thought was way beyond Grande's acting ability. I don't know if Chu coaxed a genius performance out of Grande, or she actually learned how to act at some point, or both. They passed over some serious actresses (Amanda Seyfried was one) for Grande, and it took serious onions by Chu to pick Grande.
Like all the Oz universe movies, it is very political, and the politics are really confusing. The themes of propaganda and government dishonesty weave through all the Oz universe movies, which makes it hard to figure out what is really happening and what is someone's perception of what is happening (I think this is most confusing with The Wiz). The "Good" and "Wicked" witches seem to be matters of opinion, and it appears that the Scarecrow and Tin Man were in this movie as students at the college, in human form, maybe?
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2011
- Messages
- 28,415
- Reaction Score
- 75,608
I watched it. It is definitely directed at a young audience. But it handles the material well. Definitely a surprise at the end. Very silly visuals but the characters had more depth than you would suspect. I liked that the characters suffered real and sometimes undeserved consequences. Two and a half stars.
storrsroars
Exiled in Pittsburgh
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2012
- Messages
- 22,179
- Reaction Score
- 51,344
I decided to watch this instead of Duke trashing another opponent. It was fine. Might even be something I watch again after some distance to look for other messages. I didn't take the school scene as an indictment of virtual classes as much as I did an indictment on public education and conformity. And it wouldn't be far-fetched to find an attack on Musk & other tech leaders in the Tucci character. Of all the things it was, it was pretty amazing movie making as far as all the CGI goes, and incredibly inventive regarding the robot characters. Taco and his musical selections were perhaps the funniest part of the film. And Jason Alexander as a slovenly foster parent in it for the greed was a small part, but a part he handled well given it was such a departure from his usual characters. Inspired casting there.
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2011
- Messages
- 28,415
- Reaction Score
- 75,608
Hold on. Jason Alexander as a lazy, cranky character is departure? Can't let that slide. Sorry.
storrsroars
Exiled in Pittsburgh
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2012
- Messages
- 22,179
- Reaction Score
- 51,344
George was not menacing and was vain. And his character here was not comedic and a total slob. Satisfied?
storrsroars
Exiled in Pittsburgh
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2012
- Messages
- 22,179
- Reaction Score
- 51,344
Pretty sure I've watched anything I considered possibly decent. Haven't watched Anora yet though. Seems to me the industry needs to make more movies that appeal to adults.
nwhoopfan
hopeless West Coast homer
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2017
- Messages
- 32,678
- Reaction Score
- 64,520
Saw a trailer for "Significant Other" several years ago, have been curious about it but I think it's only been available from Paramount+ and I just never sprang for that. Well now I have a free 1 week trial so I queued it up. I like both leads, Maika Monroe and Jake Lacy. Supposed to be a mystery/thriller involving a backpacking trip in the Pacific Northwest. Definitely got me with all that going for it.
It very quickly became apparent it was going to be something entirely different than I expected. I was pretty good with it for somewhere between 1/2 to 2/3, then it kinda went off the rails. That's okay though. I enjoyed the performances of Maika and Jake. The scenery was nice. It definitely was giving quintessential NW vibes. I wasn't ever sure where they filmed, but it passed the eye test. They even did fairly well with details for a backpacking trip w/ gear and clothes and camp site set up, I appreciated that, movies/tv are usually way off on that kind of stuff.
Had to watch thru the credits to see if they listed locations. They did, several of which I've been to. Oswald West and Nehalem Bay State Parks on the Oregon Coast, Silver Falls State Park near Salem, OR. A few other parks that I haven't been to, close to Portland and just inland from the ocean.
It very quickly became apparent it was going to be something entirely different than I expected. I was pretty good with it for somewhere between 1/2 to 2/3, then it kinda went off the rails. That's okay though. I enjoyed the performances of Maika and Jake. The scenery was nice. It definitely was giving quintessential NW vibes. I wasn't ever sure where they filmed, but it passed the eye test. They even did fairly well with details for a backpacking trip w/ gear and clothes and camp site set up, I appreciated that, movies/tv are usually way off on that kind of stuff.
Had to watch thru the credits to see if they listed locations. They did, several of which I've been to. Oswald West and Nehalem Bay State Parks on the Oregon Coast, Silver Falls State Park near Salem, OR. A few other parks that I haven't been to, close to Portland and just inland from the ocean.
nelsonmuntz
Point Center
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 45,602
- Reaction Score
- 37,319
Anora is just a bad, sloppy movie. It has nothing to do with who they are targeting. Bad is just bad.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2014
- Messages
- 9,461
- Reaction Score
- 32,439
A lot of people dislike the big blockbusters in this era and then assume the whole movie industry sucks at the moment. Indie film scene has been great for years, international films are killing it as well, and there have been some great animated/documentary/short film years as well. Just gotta dig through the muck a little.