Agree 200%. Felt like a perfectly screen adapted play. Mark Rylance for the MFW.
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Agree 200%. Felt like a perfectly screen adapted play. Mark Rylance for the MFW.
Peripheral is pretty good so far. I might have to read a few gibson novels.
The English drops this Friday on Prime. Brutal/gritty western with Emily Blunt FTMFW
Finished The English several days ago, and had to ruminate a while. Started out not terribly impressed, having gone in with high expectations, but around the 3rd episode I felt myself being snagged and reeled in. Took a while to adjust to the time and character history jumps, but began to really appreciate how what seems to be so disconnected began to come together, building to a really good resolution. Be patient with this one, it's truly worth the effort.
3 eps in and liking it enough to keep going.
Only complaint is that Ms Blunt looks like she spent several hours in makeup before each take: her lips are always ruby red and her cheeks rouged and skin almost alabaster smooth and clean whilst every other female character looks dirty, weathered, and actually like they’ve been riding horses and killing people all day…
There’s a wee bit of spaghetti sauce spattered throughout the title sequence animation and the first ep, but after that it kinda veers more traditional American western in look and tone ( though it does smack a bit of Tarantino at times, too).
She weathers in nicely by the end; remember where she's coming from.
I was annoyed at the rather wasted inclusion of Hinds and Jones - almost throw away roles intended to draw in a more sophisticated viewer?
Be prepared for Spall, however - delightful!
Spall?
As for THE ENGLISH, I enjoyed it for the most part. Heck, I binged it in one evening.
However…I was sorely disappointed in the Harlequin romance styled “forbidden love” angle and the reliance on the tired, outdated, and boring “White Savior” and “Noble Savage” tropes. Given the first episode, I was expecting something far more revisionist, but it ended up being like a Hallmark Midnight Madness effort (if Hallmark made romantic westerns with violence and mayhem, that is…).
Still, despite its many unnecessary flaws, it was an entertaining diversion.
Rafe Spall is David Melmont, mr. nasty.
Will forever be Barry from Auf Wiedersehen Pet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2Atqd3gxY8
Another recommendation for The Peripheral if you are into sci fi. Very different plot from thhe book… but apparently Gibson said it should be considered a separate and different work of art as if it lives in another stub. His books are great obviously if you are into that kind if stuff.
Wife and I have been watching Clarkson's Farm. Pretty entertaining. Basic premise is that Jeremy Clarkson bought a Cotswold Farm years ago but has had a tenant farming it. The tenant decided to retire so Clarkson is trying to take over the farming with often comedic results since he knows nothing at all about farming.
MUSEO
This 2018 gem is a wonderfully understated mash-up of both heist and road trip genres, with a wee bit of philosophy, history, and socio-political commentary sprinkled throughout for good measure.
Oh and the rediscovery of a forgotten Mexican porn star.
The ending is killer, too.
RIYL
American Animals
We finished the first season of Clarkson's Farm and I definitely recommend it. Apparently season two is coming out in Feb. 2023.
VENGEANCE
This is a wonderfully twisted little film, written, directed, and starring B.J. Novak (The Office). It is sharp, wickedly funny (I laughed out loud a lot), and acerbic. It is also teeming with great through lines and callbacks, well-rounded characters, and some sly little twists that I am ashamed to admit I missed due to the rich satire, engaging characters, and taut construction of the story.
On the surface it's easy to think the film is skewering the alt-right, but like the woefully overlooked 2020 horror film The Hunt, it's really lambasting the liberal left, as well.
Our continued reliance on social media, taking the piss out of true crime podcasts, love of fast food, and quick judgements are also prime targets.
And even when the film drifts into Hallmark moments, it manages to avoid treacley territory thanks to solid writing and top-notch acting.
Highly recommended.
BJ Novak is low key genious writer and funny man
JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION
They shoulda titled this one JURASSTASTIC DUMBINION.
Egads this film is horrible.
Mind-numbingly inane dialogue.
A beyond generic plot.
Action sequences that have been borrowed, pastiched, and stolen from other, better films.
The entire cast is on auto-pilot.
This is a perfect example of a soulless cash grab.
But then again, this is a franchise that should never have become a franchise as it’s been weak since The Lost World.
LOVE AND MONSTERS
If you need to scratch that giant monsters, FX laden, action film itch, this is a fun romp (and much smarter and more entertaining than JWD).
Sure, the whole boy-meets-girl/boy-falls-in-love-with-girl/boy-loses-girl/boy-goes-on-quest-to-find-girl storyline is pretty damn cliche. However, here it is handled with panache and aplomb; plus the cast is solid and there’s wonderful chemistry between all involved.
And sure, it’s pretty much Zombieland with giant monsters, but there’s enough originality lurking between the familiar elements to warrant a watch.
Plus the monsters are really cool.
Clarkson’s Farm season two is out. Seemed a little shaky first episode like there wouldn’t be as many opportunities for him to do dumb and hilarious things, but they find a way.
THE MAN IN THE HAT
This is a quiet, quaint, and sweet little road trip movie about the titular man traveling through the French country side encountering good food, good wine, and eccentric people.
But it’s also a quietly deceptive film filled with longing and loss, all buffered by quirky moments and a rich undercurrent of emotion.
It reminded me of the cool independent films of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
:biggrin:
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD
I think it had a really subdued existential layer, which lingered with me long after viewing.
My interpretation is that either the protagonist was remembering/dreaming about his past or he was dead and on his way to the afterlife
The Sound of Metal is the story of thrash metal drummer who abruptly goes deaf, and his odyssey to find a cure.
Watched it after hanging out with 30 deaf skiers and snowboarders for a day. Kind of humbling when everybody but you communicates just fine and your struggling.
DESERT BLUE
This late ‘90s ensemble comedy is in the vein of such films as Singles, Reality Bites, Arizona Dreams, albeit with a slight tint of left-of-center quirk a la Repo Man.
The film follows a group of post-teens in a small desert town placed under quarantine after a toxic spill. There are shady FBI agents, a nefarious cola company, and lots of explosions.
But perhaps the core element here is the rich cast, which includes Kate Hudson in her first major role, Casey Affleck, Christina Ricci, Ethan Suplee, Sara Gilbert, Peter Sarsgaard, John Heard, Michael Ironside, and the great character actor Daniel Von Bargen.
KUNDO: AGE OF THE RAMPANT
This is a violent and stylish historical epic mixing martial arts mayhem with a Robin Hood-styled story centering on bandits rallying against corrupt governmental officials, all of it wrapped up in spaghetti western flair (definite nods to Leone and Corbucci)..
Once Upon A Time In The West
Perry Mason Season 2 started last night; nailed the noir.
Pulp Fiction is free - watching it for the first time
Raiders of the Lost Ark
First time for PF? That’s amazing. One of my faves.
Great heads up on Perry Mason. Season 1 was fantastic.
yes first time watching Pulp Fiction
my girl recommended it to me
Kinda excited for this, the latest from Boots Riley, who did the fantastic Sorry To Bother You (his work with The Coup is also highly recommended if you like funk laden conscious rap)…
That looks wild