Random Movie Thoughts Thread

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

hey that's the guy who invented napster.

 

[Totenkindly]

...I also enjoyed the ending a great deal, as it was another instance in which he recreates history with his own directorial vision as to how it would've played out in his mind. Plus it just completely caught me off guard how intense it was given how subdued (for him, at least) the film had been upto that point. It was if he'd tried to hold back as his proclivity for violent massacre ending scenes for the most of the film, yet at the in just couldn't resist anymore and just let his imagination run wild.

I also consider it to be the "fairy tale" ending insinuated by the title which never happened IRL. (I mean that as a positive comment, it actually ties into the title; the film really is a kind of fairy tale.)

It was interesting how the middle section (the ranch visit) is perhaps one of the most intense parts of the film despite that never happening IRL. So we already knew at the time how it ended in reality, but there's still this huge growing sense of dread.

 

[Totenkindly]

Freaking Disney. This is very upsetting.

Disney Ceases 4K UHD Production on Catalog Titles, Including Fox Library

Note that they did highlight The Abyss issue -- which is one of the things I'm frustrated with. Been waiting for years for a decent transfer of the extended version of this film, and I heard it was finally in the works... but now this? I have the Extended version on DVD but obviously that's a pretty frazzled transfer at this stage of tech. It's not a perfect film, but the humanity of it (one of Cameron's strengths, when he doesn't get sidetracked on the visuals or technology) and acting is really decent for the genre.

 

[Abcdenfp]

When I watch city of angels I turn it off right before she gets hit by the car, I imagine them walking through the market and experiencing flavors for the first time together .. that movie kicks me right in the feels, Nicolas cage does such a good job of longing for someone

 

[Abcdenfp]

I could watch V for vendetta a million times

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

I'll say this: when I saw it in theaters I felt very tempted to walk out simply because I had no idea what the purpose to any of what I was seeing was (I'm annoying to watch movies with because I'm always trying to dissect the plot and/or figure out what's going to happen next, as opposed to just enjoying it for what it is in the moment) -- outside of the sharon tate/mason family side story which slowly converges into the main plot. After doing some research on that, plus coming to understand that the film is really just his own visual love letter to the golden age of hollywood, I've enjoyed it more and more after each viewing (I watch the same movies multiple times because I'm a loser).

It really is a bit slice of life-ish, set in 1960s Hollywood, and when you kinda take a step back and realize just to what lengths Tarantino went through to masterfully recreate that era, it allows you to appreciate it a bit more.

I also enjoyed the ending a great deal, as it was another instance in which he recreates history with his own directorial vision as to how it would've played out in his mind. Plus it just completely caught me off guard how intense it was given how subdued (for him, at least) the film had been upto that point. It was if he'd tried to hold back as his proclivity for violent massacre ending scenes for the most of the film, yet at the in just couldn't resist anymore and just let his imagination run wild.

I know his movies are set in a sensationalized alternate universe so I was spending most of the time trying to see the connections to his other movies, how they all fit in the timeline. I know characters in various Tarantino films are often related or connected to other films in some way. Need to rewatch this one. I did like the portrayal of Bruce Lee. He was actually known to be that arrogant in real life.

 

[Stigmata]

You ever watch a movie you've seen several times, yet with the hope that somehow the plot is going to end differently this time around? Sometimes I watch Pulp Fiction and hope, just once, that this particular time Marvin won't get shot in the face.

 

[anticlimatic]

I wish they still made funny comedies. Last one to come out was Bridesmaids, I think. Wedding Crashers before that.

 

[ceecee]

I'll say this: when I saw it in theaters I felt very tempted to walk out simply because I had no idea what the purpose to any of what I was seeing was (I'm annoying to watch movies with because I'm always trying to dissect the plot and/or figure out what's going to happen next, as opposed to just enjoying it for what it is in the moment) -- outside of the sharon tate/mason family side story which slowly converges into the main plot. After doing some research on that, plus coming to understand that the film is really just his own visual love letter to the golden age of hollywood, I've enjoyed it more and more after each viewing (I watch the same movies multiple times because I'm a loser).

It really is a bit slice of life-ish, set in 1960s Hollywood, and when you kinda take a step back and realize just to what lengths Tarantino went through to masterfully recreate that era, it allows you to appreciate it a bit more.

I also enjoyed the ending a great deal, as it was another instance in which he recreates history with his own directorial vision as to how it would've played out in his mind. Plus it just completely caught me off guard how intense it was given how subdued (for him, at least) the film had been upto that point. It was if he'd tried to hold back as his proclivity for violent massacre ending scenes for the most of the film, yet at the in just couldn't resist anymore and just let his imagination run wild.

I LOVE this movie and I love it more every time I watch it. The ending is so over the top, it's hilarious. To me it seemed like Tarantino was saying - fuck all y'all bitching about the violence in my movies - here have THIS!

I also thought he captured the era and surroundings so well. The little touches, the dirt, the unwashed and unshaved hippies, Bruce Dern, the Benedict Canyon area...the whole 60's Hollywood atmosphere.

 

[Stigmata]

I LOVE this movie and I love it more every time I watch it. The ending is so over the top, it's hilarious. To me it seemed like Tarantino was saying - fuck all y'all bitching about the violence in my movies - here have THIS!

I also thought he captured the era and surroundings so well. The little touches, the dirt, the unwashed and unshaved hippies, Bruce Dern, the Benedict Canyon area...the whole 60's Hollywood atmosphere.

Also, Leo and Brad Pitt absolutely kill it in this movie and their onscreen chemistry is apparent even from the very beginning of the film. Even the attention to detail of Leo giving his character a very slight speech impediment and managing to keep it consistent throughout the film just goes to show just how great of a talent he is.

 

[ceecee]

Also, Leo and Brad Pitt absolutely kill it in this movie and their onscreen chemistry is apparent even from the very beginning of the film. Even the attention to detail of Leo giving his character a very slight speech impediment and managing to keep it consistent throughout the film just goes to show just how great of a talent he is.

I have always thought, since way back, that Leo is phonemically good actor. It's irritating that it took something like a completely crazy role like The Revenant to get him to the Oscar that he should have won for Shutter Island or Revolutionary Road. I will excuse Wolf of Wall Street because Matthew McConaughey was more deserving for Dallas Buyers Club

 

[Stigmata]

I have always thought, since way back, that Leo is phonemically good actor. It's irritating that it took something like a completely crazy role like The Revenant to get him to the Oscar that he should have won for Shutter Island or Revolutionary Road. I will excuse Wolf of Wall Street because Matthew McConaughey was more deserving for Dallas Buyers Club

I think when it's all said and done that he'll be acknowledged as one of the greats. Not only is he a phenomenal actor, he's also managed to resist the temptation to cash in on his fame by way of taking big pay day roles in subpar films -- his film catalogue comprises mostly of films that have been considered critically acclaimed.

Also, portrayal of Calvin Candie gets left out of the conversation of films in which he'd been oscar snubbed for. He managed to masterfully blend charm and flamboyance into a character the audience is meant to despise when you consider the historical context -- he makes him almost likable. Also, the dude accidentally smashes his hand on a champagne glass during the most intensity heightened moment of film, never breaks character and only looks down to acknowledge that his hand is bleeding profusely, then proceeds to take the scene over the top by ad-libbing smearing his actual blood onto the face of his co-star who is completely unaware and is genuinely disgusted and repulsed which fits perfectly within the context of the scene. That is goddamm brilliant.

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

I might be alone in this but I think DiCaprio is a terribly overrated actor. Not a bad actor, but not great. He's like, Jeff Bridges level of good, at best--both have high charisma and have aged well, and I think that's a big part of their appeal. He's been lucky in his career, landing roles in a lot of highly acclaimed films by people like Scorcese and Tarantino. I don't see a great actor, just a guy who is very smart (most of the time) about the roles he takes, and someone who works hard at his craft. Had he not been so smart about the jobs he has taken, I think his career trajectory wouldn't be unlike the character he played in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.

Brad Pitt is similar, he's become a better actor with age, but a lot of it just has to do with having good agents and lucky casting choices, and a willingness to play against type, which granted, Pitt and DiCaprio do better than some, but at the end of the day they're still just decent actors with pretty faces.

I just don't see the range. Not the range I see in guys like Tom Hardy. My criteria for great actor is someone who disappears into their roles, like Deniro, Streep, Day-Lewis, et al. DiCaprio doesn't "disappear" when I watch him in movies, I still feel like I'm watching DiCaprio reciting lines rather than watching an actual person live the role. Even when I watch Bale, I still struggle to see past Bale. Bale's another one who's fooled us into thinking they're the next Brando just because he likes to go all out in his roles, like losing a shitload of weight to look emaciated, etc

To be fair, most actors, or at least the most famous ones, will rarely reach the 'great' level for me. Even Tom Hanks is still Tom Hanks to me when I watch his films. And I do like DiCaprio. But he's always DiCaprio to me (like how Nicholson is always Nicholson to me). Maybe he'll get better with age.

Guy has a great PR team, that's for sure.

 

[Stigmata]

I might be alone in this but I think DiCaprio is a terribly overrated actor. Not a bad actor, but not great. He's like, Jeff Bridges level of good, at best--both have high charisma and have aged well, and I think that's a big part of their appeal. He's been lucky in his career, landing roles in a lot of highly acclaimed films by people like Scorcese and Tarantino. I don't see a great actor, just a guy who is very smart (most of the time) about the roles he takes, and someone who works hard at his craft. Had he not been so smart about the jobs he has taken, I think his career trajectory wouldn't be unlike the character he played in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.

Brad Pitt is similar, he's become a better actor with age, but a lot of it just has to do with having good agents and lucky casting choices, and a willingness to play against type, which granted, Pitt and DiCaprio do better than some, but at the end of the day they're still just decent actors with pretty faces.

I just don't see the range. Not the range I see in guys like Tom Hardy. My criteria for great actor is someone who disappears into their roles, like Deniro, Streep, Day-Lewis, et al. DiCaprio doesn't "disappear" when I watch him in movies, I still feel like I'm watching DiCaprio reciting lines rather than watching an actual person live the role. Even when I watch Bale, I still struggle to see past Bale. Bale's another one who's fooled us into thinking they're the next Brando just because he likes to go all out in his roles, like losing a shitload of weight to look emaciated, etc

To be fair, most actors, or at least the most famous ones, will rarely reach the 'great' level for me. Even Tom Hanks is still Tom Hanks to me when I watch his films. And I do like DiCaprio. But he's always DiCaprio to me (like how Nicholson is always Nicholson to me). Maybe he'll get better with age.

Guy has a great PR team, that's for sure.

Yeah, well, that's, just, like, your opinion, man.

 

[Totenkindly]

Well, I know I had trouble viewing DiCaprio as a "grown up" in his acting roles until mainly Revolutionary Road (2008) and then Shutter Island and Inception (both 2010). Until those films (and I never saw The Aviator), I always felt like he was a kid or barely in college, despite the fact he was 34 when RR came out. I guess I did see him in The Departed (2006) and he was kind of transitioning at that point from a "kid" actor, but the role still felt very much like a kid since he was playing to father figures like Jack Nicholson and Martin Sheen -- although he had this great element of courage (his character) that made him more adult-like.

But when RR and then the other two films came out (2008-2010 era), I felt like I was actually watch a grown-up man, not a kid, actor.

Some actors never get out of their younger presentations. I think John Cusack took awhile -- probably into his 30's -- and there are others I guess. I would comment on Michael J Fox, who is a great human being, but is pretty much just playing himself in most films he's been in. Based on his appearance, he always scanned as super-young.

Yeah, I think Tom Hardy has acting in his DNA, he's hardcore immersive, kind of like a more sturdy/physical version of Daniel-Day Lewis although he's worked in more commercial films I think overall.

There are different types of acting ability and expressions of acting, it's sometimes hard to compare because the appeal and skill is invested in different things.

 

[Jaguar]

Yeah, but every time I watch Cusack, I know I'm watching Cusack. It doesn't matter if it's a film he did as a kid like Class or something he did as he aged like True Colors or Runaway Jury. It's watching Cusack read lines. That's it. Speaking of Runaway Jury, now there's someone who I do forget who I'm watching - Gene Hackman. I wanted to slap Hackman's unethical character upside the head in Runaway Jury, but I cheered on his character in Class Action.

 

[ceecee]

Well, I know I had trouble viewing DiCaprio as a "grown up" in his acting roles until mainly Revolutionary Road (2008) and then Shutter Island and Inception (both 2010). Until those films (and I never saw The Aviator), I always felt like he was a kid or barely in college, despite the fact he was 34 when RR came out. I guess I did see him in The Departed (2006) and he was kind of transitioning at that point from a "kid" actor, but the role still felt very much like a kid since he was playing to father figures like Jack Nicholson and Martin Sheen -- although he had this great element of courage (his character) that made him more adult-like.

But when RR and then the other two films came out (2008-2010 era), I felt like I was actually watch a grown-up man, not a kid, actor.

Some actors never get out of their younger presentations. I think John Cusack took awhile -- probably into his 30's -- and there are others I guess. I would comment on Michael J Fox, who is a great human being, but is pretty much just playing himself in most films he's been in. Based on his appearance, he always scanned as super-young.

Yeah, I think Tom Hardy has acting in his DNA, he's hardcore immersive, kind of like a more sturdy/physical version of Daniel-Day Lewis although he's worked in more commercial films I think overall.

There are different types of acting ability and expressions of acting, it's sometimes hard to compare because the appeal and skill is invested in different things.

I laugh every time I recall Cusack was in Con Air.

This is no reflection on him as a person, I know him casually and every encounter has been great. Or as an actor. High Fidelity is one of my favorites.

 

[Stigmata]

Who can forget this:

 

[Totenkindly]

I laugh every time I recall Cusack was in Con Air.

haha Con Air typically doesn't get kudos as a "critically great" film but I still think it's a trip to watch, and it's got a pretty packed cast. Cusack might be the one of the few actors not chewing up the scenery in that film. Even Colm Meaney is out of control.

This is no reflection on him as a person, I know him casually and every encounter has been great. Or as an actor. High Fidelity is one of my favorites.

I like him on the screen in pretty much anything (and that is kind of his main draw, he's very likable), although I think "Being John Malkovich" might be one of his career highs as far as stretching him for a role. But yeah, High Fidelity, Gross Point Blank, and of course he's culturally iconic in Say Anything ...

Yeah, but every time I watch Cusack, I know I'm watching Cusack. It doesn't matter if it's a film he did as a kid like Class or something he did as he aged like True Colors or Runaway Jury. It's watching Cusack read lines. That's it. Speaking of Runaway Jury, now there's someone who I do forget who I'm watching - Gene Hackman. I wanted to slap Hackman's unethical character upside the head in Runaway Jury, but I cheered on his character in Class Action.

Yeah, Hackman is great. It's ironic he just decided he was done acting and walked away to do other things. I am halfway through Unforgiven, after years not seeing it, and he brought pathos to Avery's character in "The Firm" which I just rewatched two weeks ago. But those aren't even his best roles (well. he did get an Oscar for Unforgiven, I think), he's got quite a cv.

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

Cusack’s pretty limited too, but I like him in stuff like High Fidelity and Hot Tub Time Machine where he seems to just be playing deadbeat versions of his real self. Broderick is another one who I think had a hard time growing out of his boyish looks. For a while he seemed to get stuck playing meek pushovers like in The Cable Guy and Election.

I actually thought Departed was one of Leo’s better roles. He conveyed the paranoia of being undercover and alone very well. Scorsese does work well with him it seems.

I just think a lot of his acclaimed roles, when I see them, don’t live up to the hype. He likes yelling. He’s good at yelling. I’d like to see him try a role that doesn’t involve yelling or putting himself through extreme physical stress out of devotion to the role. Like a very soft spoken teacher or something. I wondered if the scene in OUATIH where he does the guest spot on the western was partially conceived to poke fun at how his best roles tend to involve lots of yelling and physicality

To each their own