Recommend a movie

[alex28]

Watched Looper recently (SF). It's pretty cool.. and if you're a fan of Bruce Willis then I guess it's a-must-see.

 

Also watched RED, since I was on a "Bruce Willis" spree. 

 

If you're tired of slow moving zombies, probably Zombie Land is for you. 

 

More soon, got some TV shows to clear first.

[diadara]

"Joint Security Area", a Korean movie about what happens when a murder occurs at the border between North- and South Korea. Might sound a bit boring, but it's absolutely brilliant. I can watch it over and over again.

 

 

 

But, the greatest movie ever made has to be "A Beautiful Mind"

[NerdySuzy]

A few months ago I've seen A Royal Affair. I liked it,  Mads Mikkelsen and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard are great actors. And so, I've learned a little about Denmark's history.

[Vultural]

Død Snø 2 - 2014 - 6/10
AKA:  Dead Snow 2

Cursed, Nazi zombies sweep through remote Norwegian countryside.
Killing, then converting hapless villagers to increase their numbers.
From the States, the Zombie Squad arrives (three geeks - one with an intense Star Wars obsession).
Gory mayhem, putrid bubblings, steeped with a wicked sense of humor.
Film packed with laugh out loud grossness, and a climactic battle between Nazi zombies and Soviet zombies from the legendary battle of Kursk.
Not necessarily the best film to watch while eating spaghetti.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Santo In Vengeance Of The Mummy - 1970 - 5/10

An ancient tomb is discovered deep in the Mexican jungle and a expedition team is assembled.
Professors, overseers, chef, porters, camera girl, secretary, and a masked wrestler.
You never know when you might need those luche libra skills, and need them bad.
Warning outside the crypt:  Do not enter lest the curse --- Of course they enter.
Then on the Olmec mummy:  Do not touch the sacred necklace or --- They remove the necklace.
Deaths follow soon and often, as the mummy proves adept with bow and arrow.
Plot races by, and the mummy back story has stock footage of an uncredited Aztec movie.
Wrestling matches in Mexico City Arena bookend the film.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

In The House - 2012 - 7/10

Serious arthouse territory as director François Ozon offers another film (his third) about writers.
Young student worms his way into his best friend’s house and family, observing and probing their bourgeois, middle class home.
Sharing his voyeuristic streak, he writes stories about them and submits them to his composition teacher.
Always ending, “To be continued ...”
The teacher soon becomes absorbed, as does his wife, with whom he shares the stories.
Maddening difficult to tell if the student’s observations were accurate or partial. Were the stories clichéd, balanced, stereotyped? Was the teacher layering his own filters and fantasies?
The house of cards narrative steadily teeters higher.
Not exactly a thriller, but an unsettling ride.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

The Double - 2013 - 6/10

How come I never heard of this one?
Oh, because it was way too confusing and artsy for 98% of the planet?
Evocative Orwellian set design, straight out of Brazil sets the tone of an oppressive worker drone state.
Insecure, nebbishy Jesse Eisenberg bobbles adrift in vast, gloomy, mega-corporation, going nowhere fast.
Then his double, Jesse Eisenberg, arrives, swaggering confidence and gusto.
The pair meet, and the charismatic one offers to help his meek counterpart.
Viewers can spot that L for loser across his forehead.
Bleak, often wickedly funny film based on Dostoyevsky story.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Possessed - 2009 - 2009 - 6/10

Korean horror / thriller / mystery.
Young woman starts investigating disappearance of sister from skanky apartment complex.
Residents are all dying, alcoholics, religious nuts, or nervous sorts.
Doesn’t help that since the girl went missing, they are dying, one by one.
First half of film packed with symbolism, which yields to conflicts between faith and superstition.
Went from mystery to obsession, and I did not care for that transition.
Gray and cold looking throughout.
Film also known as Living Death, Disbelief Hell, Hell Of The Non Believers, the latter makes more sense.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Midnight Hair - 2014 - 5/10

Such a tantalizing title.  Especially for a yarn featuring newlyweds.
Film is, however, Chinese horror, and a throwback to old school Hong Kong.
Happy couple moves into grand home.  Within ten minutes you realize the joint is haunted.
Soon enough, the bride sees a pale ghost, the husband grows troubled.
So what do they do?  They stay put.  Well, it is a really nice house.
Story plods along like a drunken tortoise, past fog, creepy shadows, and jump scares.
The male actor (clearly a high school drama dropout) does IT or something.  His gifted companion prances about in skimpy dresses, sheer negligees, tight tops, while exploring posh, dust-free, interiors.
Subs were embedded Chinese over English, and just as ridiculous as HK subs from the 90s.
Pedestrian narrative, poor ending.  Might rewatch though, because I enjoyed that home.
It was huge - especially by Asian standards.  And richly furnished.
How could they afford that?  (Yes, there was an explanation.)

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Grabbers - 2012 - 5/10

Irish horror comedy set on remote island facing big storm.
Just in time for an alien invasion!
Giant octopods attack boats, devour pilot whales, then clamber ashore.
Next meal, tasty humans, though it spits out those too crunchy heads.
Apparently the big squids suffer alcohol allergies, which village inhabitants discover.
Expect serious drinking.
Not as gory as it could have been, and certainly not as funny as it should have been.
Many wasted opportunities.  Might seem better if your brain is hammered.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Some Velvet Morning - 2013 - 7/10

Two characters, 80 minute film, shot almost exclusively indoors, all but screams theatre.
Written and directed by Neil LaBute, another tipoff.
Ex-john shows up at doorstep of high priced call girl after a four year hiatus.
Left his job as attorney, dumped his wife, ready to move in and pick up where they left off.
Confrontations, accusations, recriminations.
Uncomfortable territory here, with an in-your-face attitude throughout.
Great for serious drama fans, with superb performances.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Just Like A Woman - 2012 - 6/10

Chick road flick.
Two women flee Chicago for a belly dance competition in Santa Fe.
To pay for fuel and supplies, they perform at bars and clubs along the way.
Fabulous outdoor scenery provides backdrop to confessions and fears.
Unlike other traveling souls who seem drawn to trouble, these two try to avoid it.
The past trails after them, however, and free spirits capture attention.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Le Week-End - 2013 - 6/10

Film references and pays homage to Goddard’s Band Of Outsiders, and features cues by cult fave Nick Drake, yet Le Week-End remains a frustrating, pale reminder.
Narrative follows an older, professorial British couple who return to Paris for their 30th anniversary.
Their original honeymoon room has changed ... or perhaps they have.
They bolt, and book the executive suite in a posh hotel.
Bickering, whining, accusations and atrocious behaviour soon flow thick and fast.
The scenery was enjoyable - hell, I appreciated the story - a frayed marriage at the end of its rope.
Yet, I disliked the couple.  Intensely.
Once they started running, without paying, from every place they went, short-changing waiters, cooks, maids, etc...., “working people,” it was hard to be sympathetic toward them.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie - 2012 - 6/10

Documentary of trash talking talk show host who chased fame from the rabble.
His TV show, which I well remember, barely lasted two years.
Meteoric rise followed by hurtling crash.
I knew he was involved in the 60s surf music scene, but that was not mentioned.
Instead, the doc showed his childhood home, a stone’s toss from the Kennedy family.
From leftie to songster to demagogue to has-been.
Curiosity flick.  Better if you have a fondness for belligerent types.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Scenic Route - 2013 - 5/10

Two aging, childhood friends are driving a forsaken backwater route through Death Valley.
Failed, homeless writer and newly married, burnout musician.
Height of summer, sheer oblivion, what are the odds of engine trouble?
I was barking aloud at this one:
“Don’t do that.”  “No, you idiots, what are you, suicidal?”  “Stop talking and start thinking.”
As gathered, the pair talked and they talked and they talked.
Note to producers:  Men don’t gab this much.  Otherwise they get booted from the Guy Club.

Note redux:  Dialogue was not remotely “My Dinner With Andre.”

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Life Itself - 2014 - 6/10

Recent documentary, bordering on feel-good, about America’s favorite film critic.
Covers the bases from childhood, newspaper years, partnership with Siskel, demise.
Much is made of influence Ebert had, but the impact for me was from Sneak Previews on.
Back in the early 80s, Siskel and Ebert were one of the first to feature extended clips.
That was invaluable when deciding what film to spend my cash on.
Also, unlike more so-called literary critics, the Chicago pair never spoiled a plot twist,
nor did the reader have to wade through pages of text - seldom necessary for fresh releases.
At the end of it all, however, Ebert was a film critic.
His influence waned, as has the influence of all critics.  The films omits that aspect.

The critical process, circa 1980 -
Sneak Previews: “Take 2: Going to the Movies"

http://www.ebertpresents.com/episodes/episode-203/videos/261

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Adele - Live At Royal Albert Hall - 2011 - 7/10

Before she shredded her vocal cords, before the baby, before the seemingly endless hiatus,
Adele rode the tidal wave of the fame thing.
Terrific live concert, in front of adoring, hometown crowd, Adele in possibly a milestone moment.
Going against popular fashion, she keeps her cloths on, has no spectacular sets, and don’t swing any moves that remotely resemble choreographed dance.
For golden ears who lament the death of pure singing, there is no auto-tune, no lip-syncing, and a full third of the show are just Adele and her pianist.
Just music, and that voice.  At this point, she was fearless, reaching for high notes, pushing the pedal for power.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

The Devil Rides Out - 1968 - 6/10

Hammer adaptation of Wheatley  shocker.
Satanist Charles Gray wants to initiate two young acolytes.
Opposing him is one of the young man’s friends, Christopher Lee.
Gorgeous production values, the film bolts fast from the onset, turns talky two thirds through.
Gray is a powerful villain, neat trick against Lee who was at an early peak.
When this originally aired, the book, from the 30s, was still a heavy seller.
Thus, original viewers understood the ending, while later audiences might well go,  “Say what?”
Great rainy night Gothic horror.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

The Big Combo - 1955 - 6/10

Daring, perverse Noir finds obsessed detective pursuing boss of major syndicate.
Cornell Wilde OK as cop, Richard Conte excellent as cool, controlled organization leader, always two steps ahead of authorities or slippery enough to glide out of snares.
Swanky jazz score along with fine ensemble acting drive this one.
Famous with Noir buffs for the dramatic lighting, every shot is a master study in black n white contrast.

The Production Code was pushed to the limits with this one.  Forgetting the strippers momentarily, the more I watched Conte’s two gun men (Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman), I noted they shared a room, one was bare chested, and they kept touching each other.
Also, Conte’s trophy girl tries to escape, complains how she hates him, but cannot break away.  In a key scene, the boss, standing behind her, drops quietly down, and her facial reaction is one of anticipated pleasure.  Conte’s hold on her seemed a cunning one.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural

[Vultural]

Night Train To Munich - 1940 - 6/10

Brisk paced, cozy, espionage spy thriller.
Czech inventor of new armor plating for steel flees to England once Nazis invade Czechoslovakia.
By clever means, the Nazis hijack him back and Rex Harrison volunteers to return the favor.
Same writers for Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes, the same setting - a train, leading lady Margaret Lockwood, as well as old boy toffs, Caldicott and Charters.

Breezy, cat n mouse chase, with Nazis portrayed as easily duped, lightweight villains.
As World War II progressed, their roles would darken considerably.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Vultural