Recently watched movies 2025

[HuskyHawk]

The Union. Mark Wahlberg is a construction worker in NJ. Halle Berry is a former romantic interest who comes back into his life. JK Simmons is her boss at The Union. Typical Netflix stuff with Wahlberg, he's an ordinary dude drawn into a world of international espionage and intrigue. It's fun. Hated Halle Berry's hair, but Simmons was great.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Watched A Real Pain last night. Heard a lot of good things about it, I know Kieran Culkin looks to be a favorite for Supporting Actor. It was good, It was pretty and I liked the message/tone of the relationship between him and Jesse. Slightly underwhelmed of the film overall, but still, worth the watch for sure and definitely a good movie.

 

[Bomber36]

In the Land of Saints and Sinners (2024) A retired hitman is forced to choose between disclosing his criminal past or protecting his neighbors when a group of wanted IRA terrorists seek refuge in his sleepy village. Set in 1974. Sounds like a familiar Liam Neeson part, but it’s a little bit different with the IRA stuff. Also starring Kerry Condon as a Bonnie Parker type. Ciarin Hinds with a smaller part as the local police chief and friend of Neeson’s character and Jack Gleason, Joffrey of GOT fame. Excellent supporting cast and beautiful small village scenery. Shot on location in Donegal, the production filmed scenes in Ardara, Glencolmcille, Kilcar, and Killybegs. I enjoyed it. Needed to use captions for some of the thicker Irish accents. Available on Amazon Prime.

 

[Waquoit]

David Lynch's passing inspired us to watch The Straight Story (1999). Wow, that's a good movie. Maybe a bit quiet and slow for some but I just loved it. I think it speaks to men of a certian age. G rated.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The Substance. Demi Moore won a Golden Globe for this. I'm as surprised as she was. She's good, but it's likely more about how challenging this role was. She plays Elizabeth Sparkle, a former young starlet who has a fitness show (think Jane Fonda). She's over 50 and her producer, played by Dennis Quaid and named "Harvey" wants to mover her out. He's disgusting in every respect. She hears about something called The Substance, a very sketchy thing that can restore youth. Enter Margaret Qualley as "Sue" but basically, young Elizabeth. This is where it becomes more of a horror film as they two are one, but don't really have the same goals. Qualley just oozes sexuality (I have since learned that's the case in all her films). There is copious nudity in this from both of them (some may be prosthetics or CGI). It's been listed among best picture nominees, I don't get it. It's badly edited and runs way too long. It's evidently an "inside Hollywood" film that speaks to them, but I'm not sure it does much for the rest of us. It also has a very weird timeframe, it looks and feels like the 80s, right down to the aerobics shoes, but is evidently now. It's ok, but at over 140 minutes, choose carefully.

 

[Bomber36]

The Substance. Demi Moore won a Golden Globe for this. I'm as surprised as she was. She's good, but it's likely more about how challenging this role was. She plays Elizabeth Sparkle, a former young starlet who has a fitness show (think Jane Fonda). She's over 50 and her producer, played by Dennis Quaid and named "Harvey" wants to mover her out. He's disgusting in every respect. She hears about something called The Substance, a very sketchy thing that can restore youth. Enter Margaret Qualley as "Sue" but basically, young Elizabeth. This is where it becomes more of a horror film as they two are one, but don't really have the same goals. Qualley just oozes sexuality (I have since learned that's the case in all her films). There is copious nudity in this from both of them (some may be prosthetics or CGI). It's been listed among best picture nominees, I don't get it. It's badly edited and runs way too long. It's evidently an "inside Hollywood" film that speaks to them, but I'm not sure it does much for the rest of us. It also has a very weird timeframe, it looks and feels like the 80s, right down to the aerobics shoes, but is evidently now. It's ok, but at over 140 minutes, choose carefully.

This one was disturbing but a good watch.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Qualley just oozes sexuality (I have since learned that's the case in all her films).

I'd have to disagree with that to some degree. I haven't seen everything she's been in, but IO and My Sallinger Year don't fit that description.

Did you know she's Andie MacDowell's daughter?

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'd have to disagree with that to some degree. I haven't seen everything she's been in, but IO and My Sallinger Year don't fit that description.

Did you know she's Andie MacDowell's daughter?

Ok, “all“ is hyperbole. But she did an interview recently about how she had to tell her mom and dad not to watch most of her last 3-4 movies. She kept her clothes on in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but was still sexy. Yes, I knew. It’s interesting that like her mom, she hasn’t gotten that gap in her front teeth fixed.

 

[DRBackup]

The Substance. Demi Moore won a Golden Globe for this. I'm as surprised as she was. She's good, but it's likely more about how challenging this role was. She plays Elizabeth Sparkle, a former young starlet who has a fitness show (think Jane Fonda). She's over 50 and her producer, played by Dennis Quaid and named "Harvey" wants to mover her out. He's disgusting in every respect. She hears about something called The Substance, a very sketchy thing that can restore youth. Enter Margaret Qualley as "Sue" but basically, young Elizabeth. This is where it becomes more of a horror film as they two are one, but don't really have the same goals. Qualley just oozes sexuality (I have since learned that's the case in all her films). There is copious nudity in this from both of them (some may be prosthetics or CGI). It's been listed among best picture nominees, I don't get it. It's badly edited and runs way too long. It's evidently an "inside Hollywood" film that speaks to them, but I'm not sure it does much for the rest of us. It also has a very weird timeframe, it looks and feels like the 80s, right down to the aerobics shoes, but is evidently now. It's ok, but at over 140 minutes, choose carefully.

Definitely goes off the rails towards the end, but pretty good up to that point.

 

[nomar]

I liked Conclave, about the election of a new pope. There’s a twist I didn’t see coming, even though I was looking out for one.

Some might think it slow but nobody could deny the acting is absolutely phenomenal. It’s Ralph Fiennes’ film and he aces it. Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini and some lesser known actors are all excellent as well.