Molly's Game (3.75 stars of 5)

This was an entertaining and interesting film. Chastain, one of my favorites, delivers another excellent performance. I wanted to give the film a 4 star rating, but another part of me resisted in doing so. I think this is because I would have preferred more character development. Yes, they did some towards the end but it felt a bit rushed and simplistic. On the other hand, not really knowing what drives Molly and her overall coolness despite having a heart fits well into the poker veneer of the film's setting. So, I think it is more of a preference of mine rather than a fault of the film.

RodeoSchro said:

damosuzuki said:

shoot, two wan-to-negative orgers means a consensus has been formed.

No no no - art is subjective! It's like Hawaiin pizza - if you like it, you like it and that's cool with me!

Even if you think "Animal House" is the worst movie you've ever seen (which is an impossibility, you'll love it through and through), I'll be cool with it. I mean, if you post that you DO hate it and then you don't see me on the Org for a couple months, DO NOT ASSUME THE WORST.

But I'll Orgnote you my phone number just in case.

oh, of course - greatness or trash is always in the eye of the beholder. & i'll watch animal house with an open mind. i've watched the 'belushi smashes annoying folk singer's guitar' clip about a billion times on yt, so that has to be a good omen, right?

exotica (1994) 4.5/5 one of the rare labyrinthian puzzle films that actually earns its twists and turns and detours & doesn't leave me feeling exhausted & worn out. really great.

[Edited 4/21/18 12:05pm]

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) last night I watched the OG Aussie film (the remake will be screened on Foxtel in May) which was directed by Peter Weir. I must say its still after all these years, a really intense, mysterious and visually mesmerizing piece of work. The cast was amazing and unforgettable .......I still think to this day that Mrs. Appleyard may have murdered Sara in one of her states of madness. I give this classic a 5 out of 5

[Edited 4/21/18 20:20pm]

[Edited 4/21/18 21:06pm]

I watched "Get Out" again. 8/10 at the very least. Great movie.

My wife had on some flick called "500 Days of Summer". Based on the five minutes of if I saw while getting dressed as fast as possible so I could get the hell out of the bedroom, I give it 0/10.

Last night I wanted to watch "The Commuter" but my wife and daughter already had on "The Greatest Showman". It seemed pointless to me, and was made even more pointless because it's a musical. Rather than waste numbers on it, I'm going to rate it as "WTF?!?"

Goddess4Real said:

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) last night I watched the OG Aussie film (the remake will be screened on Foxtel in May) which was directed by Peter Weir. I must say its still after all these years, a really intense, mysterious and visually mesmerizing piece of work. The cast was amazing and unforgettable .......I still think to this day that Mrs. Appleyard may have murdered Sara in one of her states of madness. I give this classic a 5 out of 5

[Edited 4/21/18 20:20pm]

[Edited 4/21/18 21:06pm]

That's a great film. I'll have to watch it again.

RodeoSchro said:

I watched "Get Out" again. 8/10 at the very least. Great movie.

My wife had on some flick called "500 Days of Summer". Based on the five minutes of if I saw while getting dressed as fast as possible so I could get the hell out of the bedroom, I give it 0/10.

Last night I wanted to watch "The Commuter" but my wife and daughter already had on "The Greatest Showman". It seemed pointless to me, and was made even more pointless because it's a musical. Rather than waste numbers on it, I'm going to rate it as "WTF?!?"

damosuzuki said:

the book of life (1998) 3/5 - did you know hal hartley made a film about jesus returning to earth at the turn of the millennium to bring on the apocalypse? and that pj harvey played mary magdelene in it? she was really good, i thought, a really interesting & quite sexy presence. apparently yo la tengo are in this too, but it must have been a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo, because i can't remember seeing them.

the film itself is fine, though it doesn't quite live up to its premise, & sort of meanders unconvincingly towards its finish. worth a look it you've liked any of hartley's stuff (a few of his usual actors are here), as long as you approach it expecting a minor, lesser work.

I saw this once shortly after it came out and recalled thinking PJ Harvey was a little stiff. I'd gladly revisit it to see if I feel differently now.

I also remember attending a PJ Harvey concert here around the time of the film and walking into the venue directly behind Martin Donovan.

American Psycho (2000) ... one of my all time faves and finally got round to picking up and watching the blu-ray.

Looked fantastic and seems to get funnier every time I watch it. I remember some rubbish scary movie countdown program here in the UK where it was listed in their top 50 ... some people really don't understand movies

Pacific Rim Uprising

If you like b-movies and monsters vs. mechs, it's not bad, a fun little popcorn movie...

If you expect the level of high quality excellence that Del Toro served up with the original, skip it. You'll be highly disappointed.

Not as bad as Skyline, but still bad.

Lianachan said:

Not as bad as Skyline, but still bad.

Assuming you're referring to Pacific Rim Uprising, Skyline is waaaaay worse.

Thing is, I like B-movies, monster movies, sci-fi & superhero movies, popcorn movies. When they reach the level of excellence where the masses love them too (like the first Pacific Rim) that's great, but, when they fall short and fail to be anything more than a dumb b-movie.... I still like them.

djThunderfunk said:

Lianachan said:

djThunderfunk said:

Assuming you're referring to Pacific Rim Uprising, Skyline is waaaaay worse.

Thing is, I like B-movies, monster movies, sci-fi & superhero movies, popcorn movies. When they reach the level of excellence where the masses love them too (like the first Pacific Rim) that's great, but, when they fall short and fail to be anything more than a dumb b-movie.... I still like them.

I was actually referring to Beyond Skyline, as per the image. I’ve only seen the first Pacific Rim and share your enthusiasm for shite films.

Am I the only person who believes "Pacific Rim" was a scene-for-scene ripoff of "Top Gun"?

Lianachan said:

djThunderfunk said:

Assuming you're referring to Pacific Rim Uprising, Skyline is waaaaay worse.

Thing is, I like B-movies, monster movies, sci-fi & superhero movies, popcorn movies. When they reach the level of excellence where the masses love them too (like the first Pacific Rim) that's great, but, when they fall short and fail to be anything more than a dumb b-movie.... I still like them.

I was actually referring to Beyond Skyline, as per the image. I’ve only seen the first Pacific Rim and share your enthusiasm for shite films.

Cool!

RodeoSchro said:

Lianachan said:

djThunderfunk said: I was actually referring to Beyond Skyline, as per the image. I’ve only seen the first Pacific Rim and share your enthusiasm for shite films.

Am I the only person who believes "Pacific Rim" was a scene-for-scene ripoff of "Top Gun"?

I like the part in Top Gun where the kaiju kills Val Kilmer, so Tom Cruise gets in a jaeger and kicks it's ass. Classic!

djThunderfunk said:

Pacific Rim Uprising

If you like b-movies and monsters vs. mechs, it's not bad, a fun little popcorn movie...

If you expect the level of high quality excellence that Del Toro served up with the original, skip it. You'll be highly disappointed.

And the first wasn't that great neither, I don't get what's the big fuss about it.

214 said:

djThunderfunk said:

Pacific Rim Uprising

If you like b-movies and monsters vs. mechs, it's not bad, a fun little popcorn movie...

If you expect the level of high quality excellence that Del Toro served up with the original, skip it. You'll be highly disappointed.

And the first wasn't that great neither, I don't get what's the big fuss about it.

Del Toro is a master who makes great monster movies. If you like those two things, it is great.

djThunderfunk said:

214 said:

And the first wasn't that great neither, I don't get what's the big fuss about it.

Del Toro is a master who makes great monster movies. If you like those two things, it is great.

Me gustan, solo digo que no es una maravilla Pacific Rim.

214 said:

djThunderfunk said:

Del Toro is a master who makes great monster movies. If you like those two things, it is great.

Me gustan, solo digo que no es una maravilla Pacific Rim.

No hablo espanol.

djThunderfunk said:

214 said:

Me gustan, solo digo que no es una maravilla Pacific Rim.

No hablo espanol.

Me neither.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Just watched this today, and I must say the last 20 mins was really intense and that cliff hanger Without giving too much away there is alot of action, everyone in the cast gets to shine (but where was Ant Man? ), and I really dug Captain America's new look Stay for the end credit scene. I give this 4.5 out of 5

Phantom Thread.

https://images.duckduckgo...pg&f=1

Daniel Day- Louis should've quite while he was ahead. This ain't the movie to retire on. Horrible movie with horrible, horrible people, none of these fools had a thread of redeemable qualities in them . Yes pun intended.

* Star.

The premise of the movie...

The fashion house of Richard Woodcock is the premiere house for women fashion in London / Great Britain in the 1950.s Self obsessed Reynolds Woodcock and his caustic sister Cyril run their fashion house from their primary residence in London. Woodcock thinks of himself as a genius; a tortured artist who needs peace and quite in order to create his fashion. Everybody tips around as the genius come up with another brilliant design at breakfast. Spreading butter on a piece of toast, shatters Woodcock's sense of peace and tranquility. Woodcock sister, Cyril servers as an ego booster, soundboard, fixer, and whipping post. Except, when Woodcock attempts to take his frustration out on Cyril, she's able cut him down to size when needed.

It seems that Woodcock needs a main model,a mommy figure, a muse in his life to "create." When he's bored or tired of a lover... you 'll know when he no longer accepts a roll for breakfast. He later meets and falls in love with another model/lover/muse but she's a little bit different.... she's as obxinous as Woodcock and his silly-ass sister. All three push and shove each other to get their own way, to get what they won't or think they need.

I like strange movies, I like movies with twist and turns but this movie was full of shit. All 3 characters were pathetic human beings, who should have all drop dead, at least the ending would have been fitting. If you bother to watch this movie, you'll get my meaning.

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

[Edited 4/27/18 17:54pm]

Goddess4Real said:

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Just watched this today, and I must say the last 20 mins was really intense and that cliff hanger Without giving too much away there is alot of action, everyone in the cast gets to shine (but where was Ant Man? ), and I really dug Captain America's new look Stay for the end credit scene. I give this 4.5 out of 5

Really enjoyed it to ... ending was very intense indeed, but ultimately nothing really happened that I can't see being reversed in Part 4 next year, which I felt was a slight cop out. And the post credit scene I thought was a bit m'eh, didn't reveal anything we didn't already know. Agreed on Cap's new look though, proper badass!

Vive la France:




Holy Motors (2012) - From dawn to dusk, a few hours in the shadowy life of a mystic man named Monsieur Oscar.

This was my second viewing and I still find it wonderfully bizarre. 4/5




Funny Face (1957) - An impromptu fashion shoot at a book store brings about a new fashion model discovery in the shop clerk.

I love Audrey Hepburn. And the Gershwin numbers are a lot of fun here. But why does it seem like Audrey is always paired with a male lead that is decades older than her? 4/5




Une vieille maîtresse / The Last Mistress (2007) - Secrets, rumors and betrayals surround the upcoming marriage between a young dissolute man and virtuous woman of the French aristocracy.

I found Asia Argento's breast implants and back tattoo to be a little distracting in this period piece, but it's otherwise a smart French love triangle. 3.5/5

[Edited 4/27/18 12:22pm]

Two ** Stars.

The key to a good mystery, is the ability to build a short-story about the main characters of the mystery. In other words, out of the all characters who had greatest motive to kill and who did the killing? How and the world do you screw up a Agatha Christie novel? Well Kenneth Branagh succeeded. Anytime the great Dame Judi Dench is used as mire potted plant, its a crash and burn movie. Johnny Depp one point in the movie sounded like Rocky Balboa... did anyone else catch that?


Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot... the mustache was way to long. I spent a great deal of time looking at it... movie was that boring.

sexton said:

Funny Face (1957) - An impromptu fashion shoot at a book store brings about a new fashion model discovery in the shop clerk.

I love Audrey Hepburn. And the Gershwin numbers are a lot of fun here. But why does it seem like Audrey is always paired with a male lead that is decades older than her? 4/5




Une vieille maîtresse / The Last Mistress (2007) - Secrets, rumors and betrayals surround the upcoming marriage between a young dissolute man and virtuous woman of the French aristocracy.

I found Asia Argento's breast implants and back tattoo to be a little distracting in this period piece, but it's otherwise a smart French love triangle. 3.5/5

Funny Face: Delusion of Hollywood and many men, most young women would be attracted to them.... they don't age. Ms. Hepburn didn't make a movie with some on her own age until the late 1960's, "Two For The Road" . The late Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel reviewed a movie of Clint Eastwood (who was in his late 60's then) were they said Mr. Eastwood was told old to be the love interest of 20, 30 something women, it wasn't believable. Eastwood never played a romantic lead again, and pretty much stuck to character acting and directing.


Une vieille maîtresse / The Last Mistress,

That move still blows my mind. The French, their sly wicked sense of irony / humour. I didn't pay attention that Ms. Argento has breast transplants... I'll have to pay attention next time.

After a few false starts, I sent my son across town; my daughter to Mississippi; and my wife to Cancun; and then I settled in to watch Liam Neeson kick some ass in "The Commuter". Oh, but first I had a couple Test Tube Margaritas!

What's a Test Tube Margarita? It's a margarita where the alcohol comes in test tubes. You get to be a chemist, just like Walter White or Albert Einstein! (I have no idea if Albert Einstein ever practiced chemistry.) Test Tube Margaritas are only available at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Eduardo's. Best Mexican food in Texas, IMO. And Eduardo is a man of many, many talents. In addition to serving the best Mexican food I know of, and inventing the incredible Test Tube Margarita, he's also a locally-renowned artist. He paints really cool protraits. He's even done a few of a guy you're going to recognize. Here is a Test Tube Margarita, in front of one of my favorite portraits:





I hope you appreciate that picture. It took me 30 minutes to upload from Photobucket. Photobucket sucks! It's the Netflix of photo sites!

Now I've lost my train of thought. Where was I? Oh yeah - a movie about a train!

Liam Neeson is a dude who lives outside the City and takes the Train every Day to his Job as a Life Insurance Agent. And he's really good at his job. I should know - I'm in insurance! I'd buy it from Liam Neeson if he ever came calling.

Neeson is so good at his job that a stupid Millenial fires him because he makes too much money. Stupid Millenials! Also, this would NEVER happen. As we learn in the opening, Neeson isn't broke but he's mortgaged to the hilt and has a son about to enter Syracuse. We looked at Syracuse. It ain't cheap!

But since Neeson lives, as he says, hand-to-mouth then it's evident he doesn't make $1 million a year or something like that. And even if he did, insurance agents work on COMMISSION. So if Neeson is making a lot of money, it's because he's selling a lot of insurance. You want to pay an insurance agent squat? Get one that doesn't sell any insurance!

You may have figured out that while it looks like "The Commuter" is the same movie as "Non-Stop" but on a train, it's not nearly as good as "Non-Stop". I will probably enjoy telling you why.

Neeson meets his old buddy Murph at a bar. Murph used to be Neeson's partner when Neeson was a NYC cop. But Neeson quit the force 10 years ago, to make money selling insurance. Murph is still a cop and so is Sam Neill, a guy they didn't like who is now a captain. Murph commiserates with Neeson. Neill comes by to say hi and look like a creep.

Neeson gets on his train to go home and tell his wife that he is now 60 and unemployed. He knows most of the people on the train; they're the same people that ride it to and from work every day with him. He says hi to his main buddy, that dude who was on "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul". The old guy with the beard. You know who I mean.

A young woman sits across from Neeson and makes small talk. She says she's a behavior analyst and when Neeson asks what that is, she gives him an example. "Let's assume you're in a mediocre movie and the plot, while interesting at first, begins to fall apart. You're also not at the restaurant where they serve Test Tube Margaritas any more. If someone offered you a candy bar if you'd get some wine, would you do it? It won't affect anyone but you, except for the other guy who is going to get killed".

She offers him $100K to do this - $25K up front that is hidden and is his if he can find it, and $75K when the job is done. The job is actually finding out who "Prin" is, and placing a homing device in Prin's backpack, because they don't know who Prin is but Prin has something they really want. All the lady can tell Neeson is that Prin is not one of the usual commuters. She also says that if he wants to accept, the $25K is hidden in the bathroom.

Neeson goes into the bathroom and finds the $25K and keeps it. He's in! But he REALLY needs the money.

He goes through a series of misadventures that start with misidentifying "Prin". Turns out the guy he thought was Prin was an FBI agent and it also turns out that someone kills the FBI agent. A dude with a guitar case helps Neeson after the FBI agent kicks his ass but before the FBI agent is killed. Neeson thinks, "Hey - maybe THAT is Prin!" He asks the guy to open his guitar case and...

...NEWSFLASH. I am going to revolutionize the guitar case industry. But that's for another thread.

...the guitar case has a guitar in it But Neeson figures out that guy is still not on the up-and-up because he: (A) has a left-handed guitar; (B) helped pull Neeson off the ground with his right hand; and (C) is pointing a gun at Neeson, which is being held in his right hand. The left-handed guitar was a ruse!

This guy also has been recruited somehow. He's in the same boat as Neeson. So naturally they fight and Neeson throws him out of the window at 50 MPH. Not even my revolutionary guitar case would have saved that poor dude.

The bad girl keeps phoning Neeson on other peoples' phones because for some reason the bad guys pickpocketed his early on. She tells Neeson they have his wife and son, and that he did a good job killing the other guy. But there are only two stops left and if he doesn't find Prin by then, his family dies.

Neeson eventually narrows down all the Prin suspects into one car and figures out who Prin is. Prin is a young girl whose boyfriend had allegedly leapt out of a 35th-story window last week. But it turns out he was pushed out by some cops. He was a city planner that had damning evidence of Something Big (they never tell you what, though) and now Prin has it on a hard drive that's in her backpack. The FBI is waiting to pick her up at the last stop.

So are the bad guys, and so are the cops. And some of the cops are also the bad guys. Specifically, Neeson's old buddy Murph. The bad guys had disabled the train in hopes of it crashing and killing everyone but Neeson was able to disengage the car with all the potential Prins in it. For some unexplained reason, the cops think Neeson is holding everyone hostage. So they send in Murph to negotiate.

But Murph doesn't want to negotiate so much as he wants to identify and kill Prin. So he asks, "Who is Prin?" Prin stands up and says "I'm Prin". Then a dude stands up and says, "No. I am Prin." Six other people stand up and say, "Actually, I am Prin". Murph is confused, so Neeson kills him.

It turns out that creepy Sam Neill was actually Good Guy Sam Neill. By the time you learn this, you probably won't care.

The movie ends with Neeson on another train and guess who's on it? The lady that set him up! She pretends not to know who he is but he arrests her because guess what? He's a cop again!

The end.

The first hour of "The Commuter" is pretty good. My recommendation is to read my review and then watch the first hour. That way you will know how it ends and only have to watch the good stuff.

I rate "The Commuter" two Test Tube Margaritas out of the five Test Tube Margaritas you'll need if you watch the whole movie.

.

[Edited 4/28/18 8:33am]

This was a huge dissappointment, there was so many things happening that it became a whole lot of nothing and felt really empty and boring, like the first 30 minutes of Age Of Ultron. About half way thru the movie I felt I was watching a commercial for toys. It was cool to see all the characters in 1 movie, but it fell flat fast and felt gimmicky. he story wasn't great either. I hoped for so much more.

for the effort.