S2DG said:

Mystic River (2003)

Not sure how I missed this Clint Eastwood directed movie with an all-star cast. Sean Penn earned an Academy Award much deserved by his powerful performance. Never really saw him as this level of an actor but maybe my bias comes from his Spicoli role. It's a great film but it's heavy in tone and subject. Plot twists keep you involved and the other actors are all amazing, especially Tim Robbins.

out of

This was a disturbing and heartbreaking story and so well told. Great performances by the entire cast. Sean Penn was excellent, but in a smaller role, Laura Linney kills it with a subtle, yet powerful performance as his wife.

S2DG said:

Mystic River (2003)

Not sure how I missed this Clint Eastwood directed movie with an all-star cast. Sean Penn earned an Academy Award much deserved by his powerful performance. Never really saw him as this level of an actor but maybe my bias comes from his Spicoli role. It's a great film but it's heavy in tone and subject. Plot twists keep you involved and the other actors are all amazing, especially Tim Robbins.

out of

Excellent movie. I think you do have a Spikoli bias. Sean is great here as well as in several other movies such as MILK, Dead Man Walking, and At Close Range.

gandorb said:

S2DG said:

Mystic River (2003)

Not sure how I missed this Clint Eastwood directed movie with an all-star cast. Sean Penn earned an Academy Award much deserved by his powerful performance. Never really saw him as this level of an actor but maybe my bias comes from his Spicoli role. It's a great film but it's heavy in tone and subject. Plot twists keep you involved and the other actors are all amazing, especially Tim Robbins.

out of

Excellent movie. I think you do have a Spikoli bias. Sean is great here as well as in several other movies such as MILK, Dead Man Walking, and At Close Range.

Life for me is about breaking preconceived notions and biases, yesterday that happened with Mr Penn being another level of an actor

I feel like I need to re-watch a couple of your suggestions with my new perspective.

He did an amazing job directing Into the Wild and that's what brought me back to his work.

DiminutiveRocker said:

S2DG said:

Mystic River (2003)

Not sure how I missed this Clint Eastwood directed movie with an all-star cast. Sean Penn earned an Academy Award much deserved by his powerful performance. Never really saw him as this level of an actor but maybe my bias comes from his Spicoli role. It's a great film but it's heavy in tone and subject. Plot twists keep you involved and the other actors are all amazing, especially Tim Robbins.

out of

This was a disturbing and heartbreaking story and so well told. Great performances by the entire cast. Sean Penn was excellent, but in a smaller role, Laura Linney kills it with a subtle, yet powerful performance as his wife.

Agreed. I thought Marcia Gay Harden did an amazing job too.

S2DG said:

DiminutiveRocker said:

This was a disturbing and heartbreaking story and so well told. Great performances by the entire cast. Sean Penn was excellent, but in a smaller role, Laura Linney kills it with a subtle, yet powerful performance as his wife.

Agreed. I thought Marcia Gay Harden did an amazing job too.

This is a terrific movie. Sean Penn is such a good actor. I've enjoy just about every movie he's ever made. He does some great charity work too.

We just watched Knives Out last night on Prime.

Super entertaining! All-star cast in classic who-dunnit. Another one I highly recommend.

Empress said:

S2DG said:

Agreed. I thought Marcia Gay Harden did an amazing job too.

This is a terrific movie. Sean Penn is such a good actor. I've enjoy just about every movie he's ever made. He does some great charity work too.

OMG yes! His CORE organization has pretty much mobilized all the free covid testing in LA County and he is workking on gettng it organized in NY as well. He has had a colorful personal life, but boy is he a great actor and humanitarian.

When he and Madge were married, I saw them in the car next to me at a stop light while driving down Sunset Blvd. I basically followed them like a tourist thinking they were headed somewhere cool until I looked down and noticed I was about out of gas so I pulled off

Chef (2014)

Written, co-produced, directed by, and starring Jon Favreau. My irrational dislike/bias against Jon stems from every role, every interview and his general demeanor. With all that said, the bastid got me with this amazing piece of work. Of course he made his girlfriend Scarlett Johansson and his Ex was Sofía Vergara but I get it, who wouldn't?

The story incorporated cooking (and a taste of life in the kitchen) with a family bonding adventure story with an amazing cast. I love John Leguizamo in most of his roles and this was no exception. Great movie with a lot of heart and the soundtrack made the movie better.


out of

[Edited 6/23/20 16:47pm]

What a touching and wonderful movie.

I enjoyed every minute of it, albeit not necessarily in a "having fun" kind of way. It gives you a lot of food for thought and is a very sad movie but also gives you hope.

Common hadn´t really convinced me as an actor yet but he was really good in this one and I´m looking forward to seeing him in more serious roles from now on.

Great movie, a must see.

*****/****** (Five out of five stars).

KoolEaze said:

What a touching and wonderful movie.

I enjoyed every minute of it, albeit not necessarily in a "having fun" kind of way. It gives you a lot of food for thought and is a very sad movie but also gives you hope.

Common hadn´t really convinced me as an actor yet but he was really good in this one and I´m looking forward to seeing him in more serious roles from now on.

Great movie, a must see.

*****/****** (Five out of five stars).

Yes it is a great movie. I know I have sang it's praises here after seeing it both times. It was the movie I felt best to show my white privelged teenagers about how having direct exposure to racism can really change a person internally while those around them may not know or understand this. And yes, Common was really good here.

Poplife88 said:

We just watched Knives Out last night on Prime.

Super entertaining! All-star cast in classic who-dunnit. Another one I highly recommend.

I just watched this film a week ago, it's a very good film although I didn't expect that plot twist if i can it that, I really thought It was going to be a murder from a member of the family.

onlyforaminute said:

Ad Astra. 5/5. I love the f out this movie. The visuals were breathtaking Neptune is now my new favorite planet. The story was compelling. Yeah obvious science cheats but well worth the cotext.

So... I was really enjoying this, it was very Joseph Conrad-Heart of Darkness-Apocalypse Now-ish.... but I have to say I was let down by the end of the third act. Film is visually stunning and Pitt does a great job as well.

1/2 of 5

[Edited 6/24/20 17:02pm]

S2DG said:

Chef (2014)

Written, co-produced, directed by, and starring Jon Favreau. My irrational dislike/bias against Jon stems from every role, every interview and his general demeanor. With all that said, the bastid got me with this amazing piece of work. Of course he made his girlfriend Scarlett Johansson and his Ex was Sofía Vergara but I get it, who wouldn't?

The story incorporated cooking (and a taste of life in the kitchen) with a family bonding adventure story with an amazing cast. I love John Leguizamo in most of his roles and this was no exception. Great movie with a lot of heart and the soundtrack made the movie better.


out of

[Edited 6/23/20 16:47pm]

oh I love every movie with Jon, and of course, Vince.

S2DG said:

Chef (2014)

Written, co-produced, directed by, and starring Jon Favreau. My irrational dislike/bias against Jon stems from every role, every interview and his general demeanor. With all that said, the bastid got me with this amazing piece of work. Of course he made his girlfriend Scarlett Johansson and his Ex was Sofía Vergara but I get it, who wouldn't?

The story incorporated cooking (and a taste of life in the kitchen) with a family bonding adventure story with an amazing cast. I love John Leguizamo in most of his roles and this was no exception. Great movie with a lot of heart and the soundtrack made the movie better.


out of

[Edited 6/23/20 16:47pm]

Saw it in 2015 and rewatched it last night. I´m not really familiar with Jon Favreau and his movies but I really like this movie. The food, that little kid, Florida, a food truck...what´s not to love?

A very enjoyable watch and a feelgood movie with a nice storyline. I could watch this again and again.

DiminutiveRocker said:

DiminutiveRocker said:

onlyforaminute said:

Ad Astra. 5/5. I love the f out this movie. The visuals were breathtaking Neptune is now my new favorite planet. The story was compelling. Yeah obvious science cheats but well worth the cotext.

So... I was really enjoying this, it was very Joseph Conrad-Heart of Darkness-Apocalypse Now-ish.... but I have to say I was let down by the end of the third act. Film is visually stunning and Pitt does a great job as well.

1/2 of 5

[Edited 6/24/20 17:02pm]

I felt the same and gave it the same rating when I watched it for the Oscars earlier this year. [SPOILER] In the end Major McBride did exactly what the original crew was going to do anyway, but they would have still been alive. Was his closure worth those lives lost?

sexton said:

onlyforaminute said:

sexton said:

I felt the same and gave it the same rating when I watched it for the Oscars earlier this year. [SPOILER] In the end Major McBride did exactly what the original crew was going to do anyway, but they would have still been alive. Was his closure worth those lives lost?

SPOILER He came back with a wealth of information and knowledge. The crew would have just followed orders. Think about it, historically certain things are overlooked when actions produce results others can build upon.

yeah, sorry - it just fell flat for me in the last act after a suspensful and tension building first 2 acts.



It's all about story telling.

[Edited 6/25/20 11:31am]

sexton said:

Barry Lyndon (1975) - An Irish rogue wins the heart of a rich widow and assumes her dead husband's aristocratic position in 18th-century England.

This is Kubrick's most sumptuous film--outstanding cinematography and locations. And the wigs get a perfect score. 4.5/5

I still of the opinion, no one has done Vanty Fair justice. Mr. Kubrick's adaptation of William Thackery's novel Barry Lyndon, is damn near perfect. At the time many thought Ryan O'Neal wasn't right actor for role, I thought he crarried his own. I don't think O'Neal had to reach much to play a rack.

My goodness the fall of Lyndon was brutal, one of the most brutal falls I can reald in literature.

===================

[Edited 6/26/20 10:44am]

TD3 said:

sexton said:

Barry Lyndon (1975) - An Irish rogue wins the heart of a rich widow and assumes her dead husband's aristocratic position in 18th-century England.

This is Kubrick's most sumptuous film--outstanding cinematography and locations. And the wigs get a perfect score. 4.5/5

I still of the opinion, no one has done Vanty Fair justice. Mr. Kubrick's adaptation of William Thackery's novel Barry Lyndon, is damn near perfect. At the time many thought Ryan O'Neal wasn't right actor for role, I thought he crarried his own. I don't think O'Neal had to reach much to play a rack.

My goodness the fall of Lyndon was brutal, one of the most brutal falls I can reald in literature.

===================

[Edited 6/26/20 10:44am]

agree! Filming in candlelight was genius. This is master filmmaking!

Actually, Kubrick chose O'Neill specifically becasue he felt he was as vacant as Lyndon and therefore he would be convincing in that way.

[Edited 6/26/20 12:02pm]

DiminutiveRocker said:

TD3 said:

I still of the opinion, no one has done Vanty Fair justice. Mr. Kubrick's adaptation of William Thackery's novel Barry Lyndon, is damn near perfect. At the time many thought Ryan O'Neal wasn't right actor for role, I thought he crarried his own. I don't think O'Neal had to reach much to play a rack.

My goodness the fall of Lyndon was brutal, one of the most brutal falls I can reald in literature.

===================

[Edited 6/26/20 10:44am]

agree! Filming in candlelight was genius. This is master filmmaking!

Actually, Kubrick chose O'Neill specifically becasue he felt he was as vacant as Lyndon and therefore he would be convincing in that way.

[Edited 6/26/20 12:02pm]

you people are making me wanting to see this again. I saw it twice in the theatre when I was a teen, but have sort of forgotten about it. I imagine I would appreciate it even more now.

The Glenn Miller Story (1954)

Biopic on the band leader from the 30s until his death in 1944. Full disclosure; I love Jimmy Stewart and most of his movies. This movie is now on the list for me as he's really good as Glenn Miller. The jazz legend cameos are too many to mention except it was great to see Louis Armstrong and Gene Krupa. Both two of my favorite musicians from the past.

Great acting and story line that kept me engaged and entertained for the entire movie. Read that it was a massive hit for the times and did really well at the box office which doesn't suprise me.


out of

[Edited 6/28/20 13:59pm]

Silence (2016)

A sumptuously filmed movie dedicated to the persecuted missionaries and converts to Christianity in 17th century Japan. As with Last Temptation Of Christ, Scorsese's film is reverent to the Catholic faith, and unsparing in the human struggle with it. It is so reverent it borders on gratuitous in its depiction of the "inquisition" of the faithful and the missionaries. I wish Adam Driver had been given more of a role, but Andrew Garfield, Tadanobu Asano , and Yoshi Oida (among others) excel in an ensemble cast.

.5

Bonjour Tristesse (1958) - Cecile, decadent young girl who lives with her rich playboy father Raymond. When Anne, Raymond's old love interest, comes to Raymond's villa, Cecile is afraid for her way of life.

I didn't expect a movie titled "Bonjour Tristesse" to be this much fun--minus the ending of course. 4/5

One of my faves by Jim Jarmusch. Tongue 'n' cheek (or fang 'n' cheek) vampire movie. Tilde Swinton and Tom Hiddleston are lovely as century old vampire lovers who have reunited. John Hurt is perfect as Phillip Marlowe, fellow artist and vampire. Quirky and funny, but also quite romantic.

1/2 of 5

Watched Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck for the first time yesterday. Better late than never. I loved it! Very entertaining.

Poplife88 said:

Watched Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck for the first time yesterday. Better late than never. I loved it! Very entertaining.

I belong to a "Secret Movie Club" and they show classics at local classic movie palaces around town either Saturday mornings or at midnight. Anyway, I JUST saw this one in January in 35mm - soooooo good! I love it too!

EmmaMcG said: