Return Of The Film Corner Thread

[BillF]

Following Drive and Only God Forgives, felt I had to see Refn's latest. Visuals and soundtrack the main virtues.

[BillF]

Ingenious episodic black comedy - good film.

[kinuta]

1 hour ago, BillF said:

Ingenious episodic black comedy - good film.

Right, I liked it too.

Stephen Soderbergh triple bill

Haywire (2011)

Contagion (2011)

Side Effects (2013)

 

[duaneiac]

The 1963 sequel to The Mouse That Roared.  While the latter film had the benefit of Peter Sellers in multiple roles, this film is quite successful on its own terms with a more than capable comedic cast.  In this very enjoyable satire of the "space race", the tiny Duchy of Grand Fenwick asks the USA for a small loan to aid in their space research program,  all the while intending to use the money to bring indoor plumbing to their land.  The duchy's most renowned scientist, though, has found a way to use their unstable wine as a sort of propellant and circumstances happen so that they actually do develop a viable rocket to the moon.  Not the most hilarious film one will ever see, but it does have many funny moments & performances and is thoroughly enjoyable.  Directed (as was the first film) by Richard Lester.

Edited July 9, 2016 by duaneiac

[BillF]

11 hours ago, kinuta said:

Right, I liked it too.

Stephen Soderbergh triple bill

Haywire (2011)

Contagion (2011)

Side Effects (2013)

 

Of those, I've seen the last two - both on medical themes. Liked the second sufficiently to watch it a second time.

[Shawn]

I like all three of those Soderbergh films (I like most of his films actually).  

Been catching up with some of the stuff I missed from last year:  

Both excellent.  The Big Short really impressed me for being able to take a seriously dry topic and make it entertaining, educational and of course infuriating.  Spotlight was just an old-school newspaper drama ala All The Presidents Men...but a damn fine one I thought.  

 

Then I watched my vote for the WORST FILM OF 2016 so far.....  

 

What a steaming pile of shit!  One good point:  Gal Gadot.  She didn't have much to do, but I think she's going to be a good Wonder Woman and thankfully Hack (Zack) Snyder is NOT directing the upcoming standalone WW film.   

 

[kinuta]

14 hours ago, BillF said:

Of those, I've seen the last two - both on medical themes. Liked the second sufficiently to watch it a second time.

Haywire is well worth a watch.

A B movie with an A list cast, made with Soderbergh's usual panache and visual flair.

I think you'd find it entertaining. I've watched it a few times.

Will be working through some more of his catalogue this week.

[Shawn]

On July 8, 2016 at 9:30 AM, BillF said:

Following Drive and Only God Forgives, felt I had to see Refn's latest. Visuals and soundtrack the main virtues.

This is one I'd like to catch in the theater if I can get my schedule to sync up.  

 

[BillF]

8 hours ago, Shawn said:

This is one I'd like to catch in the theater if I can get my schedule to sync up.  

 

Yes, worth seeing.

8 hours ago, kinuta said:

Haywire is well worth a watch.

A B movie with an A list cast, made with Soderbergh's usual panache and visual flair.

I think you'd find it entertaining. I've watched it a few times.

Will be working through some more of his catalogue this week.

Have added it to my rental list.

[kinuta]

Two more from Stephen Soderbergh

Sex Lies & Videotape (1989)

Surpisingly I hadn't rewatched this for about 15 years. The last time was on VHS so the difference in quality  and time lapse made it seem like I was watching for the first time.

Very interesting and absorbing, technically excellent , well written and executed.

It's only weakness for me was my inability to really relate to the characters. They seemed just objects for manipulation as part of the story.

Still, very good and worth yet another viewing soon.

King Of The Hill (1993)

This is the first Soderbergh film that fully won me over. The cerebral aspects of Sex Lies and Kafka are put aside for straight narrative storytelling.

Beautifully made, glowing cinematography, fine set design and a memorable performance as young Aaron by Jesse Bradford.

The tough story of the kid's fight with poverty and bad luck is told without a shred of sentimentality, concentrating on his true grit and intelligence.

A great film and the best of Soderbergh's early work imho. Recommended without reservation.

 

[jlhoots]

The Fallen Idol - 1949, directed by Carol Reed

[Shawn]

Re-watched two of my all-time favorite comedies, both from the wonderfully demented mind of Preston Sturges.  

"One of these days they're just going to find your hair ribbon and an axe somewhere."

"That's one of the tragedies of this life - that the men who are most in need of a beating are always enormous.."  

 

[kinuta]

I Am Belfast - Christopher Cousins  (2015)

Bland , impressionist type portrait of Belfast. Droning, barely comprehensible voice over almost sank it for me.

A great pity because the present day footage by maestro Christopher Doyle is beautiful .

If only they'd put a sock in the nonsense narration and let the photography speak for itself.

Can't compare with Of Time & The City.

8 hours ago, Shawn said:

Re-watched two of my all-time favorite comedies, both from the wonderfully demented mind of Preston Sturges.  

"One of these days they're just going to find your hair ribbon and an axe somewhere."

"That's one of the tragedies of this life - that the men who are most in need of a beating are always enormous.."  

 

Love both films.

[kinuta]

Zero Days - Alex Gibney (2016)

Very informative look at the cyber attacks on the Iranian centrifuge programme, and the wider picture of cyber warfare.

Scary stuff.

Edited July 12, 2016 by kinuta

[kinuta]

Ingmar Bergman double bill.

The Virgin Spring (1960)

 

Smiles Of A Summer Night (1955)

 

[jlhoots]

The Virgin Spring is my favorite Bergman film.

[BillF]

This is a good one!

[duaneiac]

An Albert Brooks film can always be kind of a mixed bag, but each of his films have moments that make me genuinely .  This one has quite a few moments like that.

[kinuta]

Satyajit Ray double bill.

Apur Sansar/ The World Of Apu (1959)

The final part of The Apu Trilogy.

The Music Room (1958)

[kinuta]

Yasujiro Ozu double bill.

Akibiyori / Late Autumn (1960)

Sanma No Aji / An Autumn Afternoon (1962)

 

Masterpiece.  Ozu saved one of his finest for his swansong.

 

[BillF]

11 hours ago, kinuta said:

Satyajit Ray double bill.

Apur Sansar/ The World Of Apu (1959)

The final part of The Apu Trilogy.

The Music Room (1958)

Wonderful stuff, tho' not watched for many years.

[kinuta]

1 hour ago, BillF said:

Wonderful stuff, tho' not watched for many years.

Yeah, too many underwhelming films lately helps push me straight back to the classics.

Gloria is spiffing btw, I think we've mentioned it before.

[johnblitweiler]

It grows steadily more perverse with every scene. Just like the novel.  A good one for perverts like me.

[kinuta]

Jean Pierre Melville double bill.

Army Of Shadows (1969)

The Red Circle (1970)

 

 

[BillF]

4 hours ago, kinuta said:

Jean Pierre Melville double bill.

Army Of Shadows (1969)

The Red Circle (1970)