What have you watched recently: Electric Boogaloo

noodler

briany wrote: »

It was by no means a perfect film but I was surprised by some of the vitriol toward it.

Vitriol is right.

Every second review I read (after I watched it called the twist disgusting and downright insulting).

I totally don't get that, the film isn't saying that it is "right" to abduct children who have crap lives anymore than a standard hack and slash horror movie is saying it is okay to hack people to pieces.

Essien

Dinner for Schmucks - An offensively bad film

johnny_ultimate

Sátántangó - Bela Tarr's seven-hour opus. Yep, 419 minutes. Started before midday, only finished a half hour ago (with a handful of brief breaks and interruptions) :pac:

It's absolutely wonderful cinema. Bela Tarr is among the most infamous of directors for his long takes and general fondness for making the audience endure well beyond what we're used to. That said, I was amazed at how compelling and engaging the film was. It's beautifully shot, naturally, with its ten minute plus takes frequently hypnotising. Added to this is an inspired soundscape - mixing surreal musical choices with almost overwhelmingly powerful atmospheric sounds, from footsteps to clocks (the regular background ticking more than likely a cheeky joke from Tarr). It crafts a hypnotic atmosphere, drifting between dreamy and nightmarish tones throughout.

I'm not sure if 'East European Miserablism' is considered a genre, but if so this is the template all must bow to (although the film does have a wicked sense of understated humour about itself). The film basically tells of a Hungarian village that have just received an annual influx of money. Various people want it all for themselves. There are twelve chapters focusing on many different characters, and like a tango the film is constantly moving forwards and backwards. These chronological jumps - using repetition to help us reinterpret previously witnessed events - are thrilling and fascinating throughout. The best chapter is probably the one that focuses on a young girl (Erika Bók, also in Tarr's recent The Turin Horse) who spends a day torturing a cat - its shocking and devastating cinema. But the film always has some sort of intriguing story being told, and later takes on a more explicitly allegorical approach that helps shape the meaning of enigmatic earlier scenes - not to say that the latter segments are particularly easy to decipher or anything I certainly think a 'nothing happens' accusation would be way off the mark here.

Still, for a film with such a completely singular pace - one sequence has characters dancing to accordion tangos for a good twenty minutes - this is amazingly compulsive. If ever a film rewards viewer effort, it is this one. It's not a walk in the park by any stretch, but there are so many impressive moments and revelations throughout its completely worth it. And on a purely technical level it is a joy. The elaborate & intense Steadicam, tracking and panning shots impress right up until the credit roll around minute four hundred and fifteen.

There's nothing like it, and I have few qualms calling it a masterpiece after the briefest of reflections.

e_e

Good review! I watched Satantango 5 or so years ago and as well as it being an amazing experience it really got me acclimated to more contemplative kinds of film. Masterpiece, and I'd suggest anybody who dislikes slowly-paced stories to take in the film's refreshing directness and simplicity. Less really is sometimes more.

Hande hoche!

Watched the original assault on precinct 13 and found it very enjoyable. Obviously low budget but well acted and quite tense at times. Th soundtrack also hit the spot.

splashthecash

Django Unchained

Best QT film since Pulp Fiction IMO - Great story with the usual quality of dialogue you would come to expect from the man himself. The main cast were all brilliant in this, in particular Christoph Waltz - the man is a revelation! Superb character with great delivery. Di Caprio is great Calvin Candie (what a name!) and has a real ruthless streak in him. Samuel L Jackson provides the majority of the comic relief (although all characters have funny lines now and then). The music is great - a miss-mash of genres from different times, at one point there is a hip hop track, but really fits in.

My one gripe with this film is the inclusion of QT as an Australian slave trader\transporter. He isn't in it for long but I wish someone could take him aside and just say no. There are 3 of these guys in total in one scene with QT being one of them...the other two look the part, old, hagrid, stubble, dirty looking, etc...and then there is QT with a freshly shaved face, a real clean look with an awful Australian accent. The scene just took me out of the film for a bit and made me think about how he shouldn't be allowed in front of camera.

Having said that, a great film - definitely one of my favourites! 9/10

briany

Hande hoche! wrote: »

Watched the original assault on precinct 13 and found it very enjoyable. Obviously low budget but well acted and quite tense at times. Th soundtrack also hit the spot.

That film's all about the atmosphere I think. The music, the deserted police station, the eerily quiet neighbourhood outside and the determined gang, prowling silently in the dewy suburban night. It works well but it's not heavy on plot or explanation. It's just one large group of guys want to kill a much smaller group as an act of revenge and we witness the resulting siege. Good film.

Allyall

I thought we were going to see Gangster Squad. I found out we were going to see The Impossible only when it started with

"In 2004 there was a tsunami.....
.... This is their true story."
I turned around and remembered i had seen the trailer, and didn't think i'd like it.
Multiply that by 1,000.
While i was there, roughly 12 people walked out during it, and i would've joined them only i was in against the wall.
The film starts with the parents arguing about the house alarm being left on. This goes on for roughly five minutes, as do many more repetitions in the film to fill time.

Some of the special effects were good, but all at one go, and when they are over, so should the movie end.

It was the worst movie i have ever watched.
loads of random crap and i have to wonder if the 12/13 year old in the film, is actualy the author. Genuinely going to look that up. (Edit - Doesn't mention him, but at a guess i'm thinking he was the main storyteller.)

It should not have been made, and should be banned from the cinema.
This wasn't supposed to be a rant (not even a bad review), but if you had any intentions at all of ever seeing this movie, i strongly advise against it. Even if it's on TV in year. Change channel.

EDIT
I read some good reviews after i wrote that, i can only imagine they are reviewing the fact that it's a real life story, and has some good special effects. They may even be praising the fact that it was possible to squash a foolscap page essay into a 23 hour movie. (Not sure if that is the actual length, but it felt like it.) , Whatever they were applauding, it wasn't the storyline/telling/characters.

Hande hoche!

briany wrote: »

That film's all about the atmosphere I think. The music, the deserted police station, the eerily quiet neighbourhood outside and the determined gang, prowling silently in the dewy suburban night. It works well but it's not heavy on plot or explanation. It's just one large group of guys want to kill a much smaller group as an act of revenge and we witness the resulting siege. Good film.

Well said. It's a real pity that Carpenter hasn't directed anything of note lately.

siblers

The Messenger- Solid drama about 2 marines who deliver messages to next of kin of soldier Killed In Action. Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson are great in it, very decent script and some very well delivered scenes but its no the kind of film i'd watch again.

D'Agger

Flight:

I was expecting good things from this movie and while it didn't disappoint, my brother had told me Denzel Washington should have best actor for his role in it, and for that reason I was left with expectations not being met.

Don't get me wrong, Denzel is very good in his role, but it's not close to his best work.

Overall I enjoyed it, the finish seemed a bit inevitable but barring that it's a solid 7/10, worth mentioning Kelly Reilly of the Sherlock Holmes movies fame who was quite good also

Decuc500

The Impossible

I enjoyed it. It very effectively showed the horror of the tsunami hitting land and the destruction that followed but it didn't dwell on any ghoulish aspects of suffering the way a less subtle film might have. It put the viewer right in the middle of the situation. The performances, particularly from Naomi Watts and the eldest son, Tom Holland, were very strong and gave the film emotional weight.

Some reviews are critical of the fact that the film focuses on a white family and ignores the plight of the locals. I don't understand that. This is a film about a family caught up in a tragic situation. It's just simply their story. Addressing the wider scale of how the tsunami affected so many people would be a completely different movie.

Mike Litoris

The Impossible - The 1st half of the film just didn't grab me. I thought Watts acting was bad and generally didn't feel anything for any of the characters until

McGregor arrived back on the scene

. After that the whole thing picked up and by the end I had to fight a fit of whinging.:p

Alpish

Into The WIld.

Found this an excellent watch. The soundtrack from Eddie Vedder added some sombre undertones to what is for the most part an uplifting film(Despite the ending obviously). If this movie does not make you want to see the world, nothing will.
Great performances all round, now to read the book.

briany

The Imposter

A documentary about a 23 year old french conman who managed to convince a Texan family that he was their 15 year old son who had been missing for 3 years previously.

A very intriguing film and the story is told by the parties closest to the story. We already know the conclusion by the time the film begins but it doesn't make the twists and turns along the way any less riveting. Trying to recommend this one to people is difficult because they're so incredulous when you give them the outline but it's certainly worth a watch.

West of Memphis

Doc about the West Memphis 3. The WM3 were 3 teenage boys from West Memphis, Arkansas who were tried and convicted for the murder of three 8 year old boys outside the town in what was suspected to be a satanic ritual. The case against them was controversial to say the least in the years to follow as much of the case against the boys was seemingly based on witness testimony and circumstantial evidence.

I've you've seen Paradise Lost 1-3, there's no burning need to see this film. If you've an interest in the case then it's a good supplemental watch as well as a general overview of the case and it really zeroes in on Terry Hobbs in the final 3rd. The films does everything but outright accuse him of the murders.

Ryu Hayabusa

The Big Lebowski - Very enjoyable, love quoting from it at any opportunity

The Thomas Crown Affair - not bad

Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale - Did not enjoy these, Feel the Bond franchise has gone in a downward direction

The Hobbit - too slow paced

siblers

The Flowers Of War- Its about an American drifter who poses as a priest to protect Chinese schoolgirls and courtesans during the Japanese invasion of Nanking. The cinematography is outstanding, some of the finest i've ever seen. Each shot is wonderfully composed and the street to street fighting is amazing. Unfortunatley it does suffer from a pretty ropey script and ridiculous over the top moments associated with these kinda films. Its only at 41% on RottenTomatoes which is pretty harsh as I really enjoyed it.

Birneybau

Gangster Squad, a mess.

One of the worst written films I've seen in years, Sean Penn's Mickey Cohen like something from a mash-up of "Dick Tracy" and "Sin City" and not in a good way.

The plot holes, the cliches, don't bother.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Decuc500 wrote: »

The Impossible

Some reviews are critical of the fact that the film focuses on a white family and ignores the plight of the locals. I don't understand that. This is a film about a family caught up in a tragic situation. It's just simply their story. Addressing the wider scale of how the tsunami affected so many people would be a completely different movie.

I haven't seen the film yet but I did see/hear lots of people moaning about it being racist and what not. Like you say though, it's the story of one families experience of the event, it's not about the entire islands experience. I did read an article in The Guardian from a survivor of the tsunami and he was writing in response to all the comments on their original review about it being racist or ignoring the locals etc. etc. It's an interesting read... http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2013/jan/04/the-impossible-beautifully-accurate-film

Hootanany

Birneybau wrote: »

Gangster Squad, a mess.

One of the worst written films I've seen in years, Sean Penn's Mickey Cohen like something from a mash-up of "Dick Tracy" and "Sin City" and not in a good way.

The plot holes, the cliches, don't bother.

The name alone done it for me.

livinsane

Watched Mr Brooks [2007] with Kevin Costner, William Hurt, Dane Cook and Demi Moore. Enjoyable dark humoured show that is comically gruesome in parts and slightly felt like the reverse story of Disturbia.

MiloYossarian

The Master

Didn't care for it. Had some good points, JP's performance being one...and that's it. That's the only thing I can think of right now.

Oh ya, there's a good few boobs in it.

Tony EH

Birneybau wrote: »

Gangster Squad, a mess.

One of the worst written films I've seen in years, Sean Penn's Mickey Cohen like something from a mash-up of "Dick Tracy" and "Sin City" and not in a good way.

The plot holes, the cliches, don't bother.

It looks absolutely bloody awful.

MiloYossarian

Glengarry Glen Ross

Love Mamet.

Mickeroo

Alpish wrote: »

Into The WIld.

Found this an excellent watch. The soundtrack from Eddie Vedder added some sombre undertones to what is for the most part an uplifting film(Despite the ending obviously). If this movie does not make you want to see the world, nothing will.
Great performances all round, now to read the book.

The book is great, but the story won't seem quite so uplifting anymore.

The Black Oil

Drive - watched it on Netflix. I recall there being hype, but can't remember what it was about - the violence, I presume.

Good opening sequence, . I can't imagine this film was an easy sell prior to being made. Creatively, I don't think they pulled it off. It oozes style, but not much else as it seemed like the director was merely showing off. Part stuntman, part Terminator, part Pulp Fiction. I'm being a bit harsh here, but it seemed like a missed opportunity.

Not a seatbelt to be seen.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Blue Valentine

Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams take us through the end of a relationship with flashbacks to how it began.

Depressing as hell!! It's probably a pretty realistic portrayal of a lot of relationships to be honest, but man it's a hard watch.

siblers

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within. US Netflix is awesome!
Loved this film, the main guy is great in it, loved the narration throughout, interesting plot that develops really well as the film progresses and its wonderfully shot. Must give the first one a watch at some stage.

krudler

The Queen Of Versailles, really interesting doc on netflix, rich family who plan on building America's biggest home get hit hard by the recession after their timeshare business goes tits up, left with huge half finished mansion which is a replica of the palace of Versailles, well worth a watch.

krudler

krudler wrote: »

The Queen Of Versailles, really interesting doc on netflix, rich family who plan on building America's biggest home get hit hard by the recession after their timeshare business goes tits up, left with huge half finished mansion which is a replica of the palace of Versailles, well worth a watch.

Watched it myself today having fallen asleep during a screening last year. It's a fascinating look at how the quickly the recession really hit the rich in the same way it did the average person but I gave serious issues with the way in which events are portrayed. It's obvious that a lot of creative editing has been employed in order to enhance the overall story which is something that most docs are guilty of but here much like in the work of Michael Moore it seemed quite obvious that manipulation of events was evident so much so that Siegel himself is sueing the film makers. I still enjoyed the documentary and found it fascinating, Jackie in particular comes across extremely well and very likeable.

Tried to watch Craislist Joe after but turned it off after 15 minutes in favor of a few episodes of Supernatural. The concept is novel but Joe himself comes across as an annoying optimist who has a rather nieve view of the world. I wonder would people have been so accommodating of him has he not got a cameraman in toe and been one of the producers if Hangover 2 and Due Date.