Cinema Joy

We went to see The Holdovers in a limited screening this weekend and I have to say it was one of the best movies of its kind I have seen in many years. I found myself connecting deeply with he characters and was delighted that the audience was treated with respect throughout. Paul Giamatti's performance was excellent once again, and the film itself was a work of art from the solid humorous moments to the tear jerking bits. This film is well worth watching. I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Just got back from Dumb Money. This film ended up being a very unusual experience for me. It's very well written with quality performances from all involved. The film is skillfully funny while still managing to be a well constructed docudrama. The wildest thing about it is the feeling of watching a doc about a series of events that we were all, to some degree, involved in. The events of this film happened around us, and very recently. But the most dissonant aspect of the film is how long ago it FEELS. The entire sequence of events took place 2-3 years ago and to me it felt both like yesterday and 20 years ago. I think it's well worth seeing, and I would love to know what others took away from this highly entertaining bit of cinema.

This is one of those movies that invite you into a new language once you see it. Amazing in both its effectiveness and hilarious camp. It almost contains the greatest fist fight scene of all time. But it's not just a movie to be gawked at, It's a movie to be savored.

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/457507

"The feeling is definitely there. It's a new morning in America... fresh, vital. The old cynicism is gone. We have faith in our leaders. We're optimistic as to what becomes of it all. It really boils down to our ability to accept. We don't need pessimism. There are no limits."

"Outside the limit of our sight, feeding off us, perched on top of us, from birth to death, are our owners! Our owners! They have us. They control us! They are our masters! Wake up! They're all about you! All around you!"

One of the best everyman's survival guide to dealing with alien infiltration. The Electroids love to use these kind of tactics.

They Live is a 1988 American science fiction action horror film written and directed by John Carpenter, based on the 1963 short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning" by Ray Nelson. Starring Roddy Piper, Keith David, and Meg Foster, the film follows an unnamed drifter who discovers through special sunglasses that the ruling class are aliens concealing their appearance and manipulating people to consume, breed, and conform to the status quo via subliminal messages in mass media.

Wikipedia

The spouse and I went to see Bottoms this weekend. It was one of the best comedies I've seen in years. Sort of cross between Fight Club, Superbad, and Starship Troopers (the satirical bit). I'd recommend this movie to anyone that can handle the crass content.

I'll be watching my yearly staples but would love some new suggestions as well. We could all use a decent dark one as we exit this hellscape of a summer.

My yearly list:

• Hellraiser (1987)
• Psycho (1960)
• The Guest (2014)
• Rosemary's Baby (1968)
• Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)
• Cabin in the Woods (2011)
• It follows (2014)

These are the ones I almost always see over the next two months and I sprinkle in a lot of others from brand new to very old ones. Let's hear yours! (And we can talk about them too!)

I don't know much about this project, but this is definitely the kind of poster to pique my interest. Fascinating cast list too.

cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/6061158

The Film is based on a novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray

PLOT: Bella, a young Victorian woman who, after being crudely resurrected by a mad scientist following her suicide, runs off with a debauched lawyer to embark on a surrealistic odyssey for self-discovery and liberation

I, unfortunately haven't had the time see many films that spark joy lately. But I did enjoy the visual aspects (and performances) of Vesper. Somehow I hadn't heard of this one at all when it released, but it was a decent story with some very cool world building and visuals. It actually feels a LOT like a Cronenberg film, but without the existential dread. Check it out if you are looking for a visual oddity.

Someone mentioned this film in one of our other discussions. I vaguely remember seeing it many years ago, but really couldn't remember many of the details, so I put it on this weekend. Hot damned if it wasn't so much better than I remember. Maybe the world we live in today feels a lot more relevant to the film then when I had seen it before, but I would gladly declare this film a masterpiece of it's time that holds up today. Don't let the newer remake besmirch your perception of this movie. It hits on several levels. Thinking of the context of the film, it is not difficult to see the concern that the auteurs of the time felt over the possibility, or even likelihood of nuclear war. If you haven't seen this one, it's worth your time.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the film.

Having seen most of the movies playing in our local theaters, we went to TMNT, I didn't have much in the way of expectations, but was surprised by how enjoyable this movie is. One of the most fun I've seen this year and the art style employed here is groundbreaking for the space. This movie along with the Spiderverse movies indicate that we might be looking at some very visually interesting animated movies in the future. Definitely worth seeing.

I haven't seen it but was thinking about going. It's not playing at my normal theater so I would have to go further out if I want to see it. Any thoughts? Is it worth extra effort to see it in theaters?

I hear Talk to Me might be worth seeing but we did Barbenheimer last weekend, haven't decided if we'll hit the theater or not, or just take in something from the back catalog.

Bladerunner (and 2049) has a special place in my heart. There are so many classics that stretched film photography. Lawrence of Arabia. Alien. The Cell. Night of the Hunter. Dunkirk. 2001: A Space Odyssey. Just to name a few. What movies are your favorites that aren't as known?

For me it’s Karl Urban, Angelica Houston, Ryan Gosling, Tilda Swinton, Gary Oldman, and Jeff Bridges. Honorable Mention to Weird Al Yankovich.

I was blown away by Oppenheimer. Best picture of the year so far for me. I am excited to see it again so I can start ingesting all the morsels.

Been a long time since I double featured!

I actually went on a tear this weekend.

The new Mission Impossible movie was my theater viewing. It delivered on everything I expected it too, and even managed a few surprises.

I watched Evil Dead Rise which weirdly kinda worked as a proper Evil Dead movie. I tend to put most of my horror film watches in the guilt category as they rarely transcend their genres and are so often just schlock, but I can enjoy a film in almost any genre. If you like horror films, or more specifically the Evil Dead genre style, this one works. It manages to feel close enough to a Sam Raimi made installment.

I saw a low budget thriller called Unseen which was strong for its premise. And had several great moments (although I did feel there was a big gap in how one of the minor characters was handled).

And watched two other terrible Horror films:

• There's Something Wrong with the Children -- not good at all, skip
• The Deep House -- also terrible, but was interesting to see a horror film shot almost entirely underwater in scuba gear. An interesting experience in that sense.

I have to say I am very excited to be jumping back in to the mission impossible-verse! Promising to deliver wild stunts and a fun thrilling plot. These movies are a joy to watch. You won't be studying these in film school any time soon (probably), but I am looking forward to a good time.

For me it's Fargo. I remember hating it when I say it 20 years ago, but after about a 10 year break I gave it another shot and can't imagine how I ever hated it in the first place. Now one of my favorite movies of all time.

For a little more context, I think when I was a younger person I found myself trying desperately to route for the characters in the film and found myself increasingly frustrated that they all seemed to make worse and worse choices until they descended into little hell's of their own making. I suppose after a decade of exposure to the real world and a fresh set of eyes, I was able to see the movie for what it is. A rather humorous farce that tells the story of terrible people reaping terrible rewards for their terrible motivations. And a damned well told story.

Director Damien Chazelle managed to create moments from NASAs history in such a way that it feels like you are there in the cockpit experiencing the same incredible feats performed by those pioneers of the space program.

Undoubtedly there are better movies about NASA and the early space program, but this one was the first to place me there so completely. If you have chance to watch, this is an experience movie. Make Sure you aren't distracted. Watch on the biggest screen you can manage, and envelop yourself in sound.

I know most of us have seen it, but if you haven't (or it's been a very long time), this is your assignment this weekend. Watching this film with the reverence that it deserves will leave a lasting impression on you.

We are probably going to see Joy Ride . I also just picked up First Man and give it a watch if I have the time.

Consensus is so far is that it is an emotionally difficult film, and also has the potential to be the best picture. Nolan rarely disappoints. Also, I might try to see the Barbie movie in the same day.

If you haven't seen it, you will be doing yourself a favor to give it a go. There are scenes in this film that I still consider chilling, and moments that give me goose bumps.

I have several, but whenever someone mentions guilty pleasures, Event Horizon is one of the first ones that pop into my head. While no masterpiece the film is incredibly well shot and made an impression on me when I was younger. And it's a lot of fun in a certain kind of way.

Whether or not Wes Anderson is your kind of filmmaker, this movies is painterly throughout.