Now Watching 2022

[Plumplechook]

Severance.

 

Really enjoying this series. Fascinating concept and good performances.

[Boss_Tweedy]

[Boss_Tweedy]

I liked it and even cried during the film, but I don't think it's better than Licorice Pizza. 

 

[Chez]

[Beltmann]

Has film discourse really devolved to, you must think "Everything Everywhere All at Once" is a perfect masterpiece or you hate art? Only slightly less exhausting than reading online reactions to the sci-fi black comedy is the experience of watching the movie, which I found simultaneously exhilarating and deflating. There’s no question that this fiercely original movie should be widely celebrated, but set aside for a moment the wild comic invention, the philosophical musings, the rich romanticism, and Michelle Yeoh’s shaded, career-defining performance as a Chinese-American who harnesses the ability to leap between parallel universes. To my eyes, the film is somewhat plagued by an affliction common to stories about the multiverse: By presenting incalculable new realities, the proceedings become drained of emotional investment; after all, if there are unlimited universes, and unlimited versions of me, what difference does it make if this universe or this me perishes? We still live on, infinitely, as if existence has an inexhaustible number of reset buttons. (As a viewer, if the protagonist I’m watching fails, I can rest easy in the knowledge that there’s another universe where that same mission succeeds.) Ironically, the movie’s most euphoric element--the winking absurdist humor that is the hallmark of its directors--often contributes to the overarching sense of weightlessness.

 

I guess I’ll hand over my cinephile badge now.
 

 

[brownie]

9 hours ago, Beltmann said:

Has film discourse really devolved to, you must think "Everything Everywhere All at Once" is a perfect masterpiece or you hate art? Only slightly less exhausting than reading online reactions to the sci-fi black comedy is the experience of watching the movie, which I found simultaneously exhilarating and deflating. There’s no question that this fiercely original movie should be widely celebrated, but set aside for a moment the wild comic invention, the philosophical musings, the rich romanticism, and Michelle Yeoh’s shaded, career-defining performance as a Chinese-American who harnesses the ability to leap between parallel universes. To my eyes, the film is somewhat plagued by an affliction common to stories about the multiverse: By presenting incalculable new realities, the proceedings become drained of emotional investment; after all, if there are unlimited universes, and unlimited versions of me, what difference does it make if this universe or this me perishes? We still live on, infinitely, as if existence has an inexhaustible number of reset buttons. (As a viewer, if the protagonist I’m watching fails, I can rest easy in the knowledge that there’s another universe where that same mission succeeds.) Ironically, the movie’s most euphoric element--the winking absurdist humor that is the hallmark of its directors--often contributes to the overarching sense of weightlessness.

 

I guess I’ll hand over my cinephile badge now.
 

 

I saw this on Friday. It’s definitely worth seeing, but it’s so fast-paced and exhausting that you don’t have time to think about anything, and it’s difficult to form attachments to any character.  I wouldn’t say I found it deflating, but when I left the theater, I couldn’t say for sure whether I liked it or not.  As time has passed, I’m leaning more towards saying I liked it.  Michelle Yeoh was the best thing about it.  She was mesmerizing.  And Jamie Lee Curtis was unexpectedly hilarious!

[uncool2pillow]

On 3/26/2022 at 12:41 PM, uncool2pillow said:

Atlanta Season 3... FINALLY! Both new episodes are so good.

Episode 4, The Big Payback is a stand-alone episode. None of the regular characters or plotlines are involved. You can watch it if you've never watched any of the other episodes. They do this from time to time. The same was true with episode 1. I encourage you to watch it. As someone whose bloodline is 50% Kentuckian, it made me incredibly uncomfortable. It's a great allegory on reparations.

 

Unrelated, immediately after watching that, I watched the season finale of Severance. They were probably the two best episodes of television I've ever watched back-to-back.

[calvino]

On 4/10/2022 at 10:23 AM, Chez said:

 

Starting watching this last night - very entertaining. 

Didn't know the doc was out -- thanks.

[chuckrh]

1 hour ago, calvino said:

 

Starting watching this last night - very entertaining. 

Didn't know the doc was out -- thanks.

What channel is it on? I used to subscribe when I was a youngster. I remember getting a Changesonebowie LP as a bonus for subscribing. Life changing event.

[Chez]

17 minutes ago, chuckrh said:

What channel is it on? I used to subscribe when I was a youngster. I remember getting a Changesonebowie LP as a bonus for subscribing. Life changing event.

It's on Amazon Prime.   

[chuckrh]

12 minutes ago, Chez said:

It's on Amazon Prime.   

thank you

[calvino]

49 minutes ago, chuckrh said:

What channel is it on? I used to subscribe when I was a youngster. I remember getting a Changesonebowie LP as a bonus for subscribing. Life changing event.

 

If you don't do Amazon  - I have been watching it on Kanopy (via my roku). 

[chuckrh]

2 hours ago, calvino said:

 

If you don't do Amazon  - I have been watching it on Kanopy (via my roku). 

thank you

[Analogman]

4 hours ago, calvino said:

 

If you don't do Amazon  - I have been watching it on Kanopy (via my roku). 

I think it is part of that extra pay thing. Coda -

[kidsmoke]

Somebody recommend a currently-in-theaters movie?

Pretty much anything but porn will be considered. I'm bored & need out. What should I spend (too much) money on? 

[brownie]

5 hours ago, kidsmoke said:

Somebody recommend a currently-in-theaters movie?

Pretty much anything but porn will be considered. I'm bored & need out. What should I spend (too much) money on? 

I thought the new Nicolas Cage movie, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, was hilarious.  

[chuckrh]

7 hours ago, kidsmoke said:

Somebody recommend a currently-in-theaters movie?

Pretty much anything but porn will be considered. I'm bored & need out. What should I spend (too much) money on? 

This has been out for awhile but if you haven't seen it I highly recommend "The Sparks Brothers".

[uncool2pillow]

12 hours ago, kidsmoke said:

Somebody recommend a currently-in-theaters movie?

Pretty much anything but porn will be considered. I'm bored & need out. What should I spend (too much) money on? 

A friend has really been pushing me to get to Everything, Everywhere, All At Once while it's in theaters.

[kidsmoke]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check what's at my local theaters. 

[chuckrh]

May the fourth be with you! Happy Star Wars Day!

[Beltmann]

Do yourself a favor: See it in a theater and go in as cold as possible. I'll just say that it applies some impeccable satirical logic, skillfully maintains its suspense and pace throughout, gleefully embraces its wildest ideas, and deploys tonal shifts to hugely entertaining effect.

[kidsmoke]

On 9/17/2022 at 2:46 PM, Beltmann said:

Do yourself a favor: See it in a theater and go in as cold as possible. I'll just say that it applies some impeccable satirical logic, skillfully maintains its suspense and pace throughout, gleefully embraces its wildest ideas, and deploys tonal shifts to hugely entertaining effect.

 

Intrigued.

[Beltmann]

Ti West’s “Pearl" exists in the same universe as March’s “X,” but provides a wildly different experience. This time around, the horror is built by re-shuffling colorful parts taken from Douglas Sirk, Busby Berkeley, “The Wizard of Oz,” and more. It also gives Mia Goth a ripe opportunity to expand an original character from “X” through a show-stopping performance that, if it existed in any other genre, might generate some awards buzz.
 

 

[Beltmann]

Compared to most mainstream animation designed for kids, Netflix’s "The Sea Beast" feels like a tonic, a real movie rather than a manic machine. Yes, it has expansive, exciting action scenes, but it also takes the time to earn them through solid characterization. The first half is especially strong, which allows the movie to eventually challenge viewers to consider the generational pull (and consequences) of inherited bigotry. That's big stuff for a children's movie, and once it is introduced, the movie unfortunately shifts into a less interesting didactic mode. But the characters remain compelling, and the animation remains gorgeous. It's a movie that's easy to look at and easy to like.

 

 

[u2roolz]

Well, here we go…I’m a sucker for staying up late on a Monday or Thursday night to see what hits Video On Demand on Tuesdays & Fridays. I knew that Greg Mottola’s Confess, Fletch was hitting this past Friday, so I rented it and enjoyed it immensely.
 

It’s been 33 years since the last Fletch film and I’m not sure how the franchise can live on with such a limited release. I believe 2 theaters near me are playing it and that’s it. Plus, it’s on VOD. Does anyone else know that this was released? There was a time 20 years ago when Kevin Smith came close to directing Fletch Won with Jason Lee as Fletch. And then that project got resurrected with Zach Braff starring and Scrubs’ Bill Lawrence directing. Maybe even Ryan Reynolds was attached at one point in the past decade. 
 

So…how was Jon Hamm? He fucking rocked the role. I skimmed an article headline that read something along the lines of “Jon Hamm Says That He Doesn’t Want To Copy Chevy Chase”. Well, his rhythm and line deliveries were exactly like Chevy’s. And that was a great thing, in my opinion. If someone walked into the room and heard the crisp & witty dialog, they might ask if that’s a Fletch film. 
 

The mystery was intriguing enough to keep me hooked throughout the brief 90 minute runtime. This is a low key affair with no ridiculous & racially insensitive  costume ideas. Fletch wearing his patented Lakers hat around Boston fills in those gaps. If you have Showtime, I can let you know that it’ll hit there on October 28th. 

 

I like to link my reviews by one thing that connects them, so it was a “DUH” moment when I was watching See How They Run and realized that it was another Whodunit this weekend. 
 

See How They Run has the look & feel of an unproduced Woody Allen script directed by Wes Anderson. It has a dynamic visual flair and witty dialog. It’s also an homage to Agatha Christie. 
 

Much like Confess, Fletch, the film shines as an ensemble piece, but is elevated by the lead actors. Sam Rockwell & Saoirse Ronan are a match made in comedy heaven. The film is a treat to watch unfold and has a legit mystery that was extremely well done. The 1950s London theater district also helps give the film a unique personality. 
 

One has to wonder if the surprise success of Knives Out helped make these two films get the greenlight in Hollywood.