Yep. Not too bad.Quote:
Originally Posted by billyk
Apart from casting Jim Halpert.
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Yep. Not too bad.Quote:
Originally Posted by billyk
Apart from casting Jim Halpert.
Oh, that’s where I saw him before. I don’t watch The Office much.Quote:
Originally Posted by PNWbrit
Gave me the feeling they wheeled him in when they could no longer give role to the #himtoo Affleck brother.Quote:
Originally Posted by billyk
Here's a summary of both in 2 minutes.
https://youtu.be/AQhmAWyBkIs
^ awesome.
If the thought of Jim from the Office as action hero leaves you cold, may I humbly suggest:
THE MECHANIC
Vintage badass Charles Bronson.
Now streaming.
Quote:
Originally Posted by permnation
That looks better than series!
Tried, but just couldn't get into the series. Partly just flat out sick of the whole middle east terrorist shtick.
Just finished it.
Enjoyed it.
To celebrate the return of Big Trouble in Little China???Quote:
Originally Posted by iggyskier
http://collider.com/dwayne-johnson-b...sequel/#images
PS: That's a sweet topsheet!
Any spoilers in this? I watched the first six episodes so far.Quote:
Originally Posted by permnation
I think it’s ok. Entertaining as long as I don’t think too hard about the casual racism or torture they are encouraging.
RYHMES FOR YOUNG GHOULS
4/5
I stumbled upon this film back in December of 2014 when it popped up on NF. I was intrigued not only by the title, but the ghostly movie poster.
I was not disappointed.
It is a very powerful and violent and very twisted coming of age drama that takes place on a Canadian Indian reservation in the early '70s.
Visually arresting, well acted, and intense as all get-out.
It comes out of the gate with a serious WTF sense of resolve (and good old ultra-violence) and never lets up after the opening scenes.
This is a starkly inventive and scathing film draped in a warped fairy tale ambiance that unleashes serious criticism of the Canadian government's treatment of indigenous peoples.
Highly recommended.
2 TO CELEBRATE BURT REYNOLDS
This was recently added. BUT IT HAS BEEN FUCKING CENSORED!!!!
https://youtu.be/UCZleI2MODo
Okay, so this one is gonna set you back $1.99
But it's totally worth the price of admission if you're a genre junkie and dig slick and ultra-violent French films (think Haute Tension, Irreversible, Martyrs).
REVENGE
3.5/5
A typically cliched rape-and-revenge film is taken to over-the-top “high brow” heights culminating in what could be the most gonzo artsploitation flick of the year.
Glossy, chromatically-enhanced neon cinematography, religious visual motifs (a rotting apple, burning bushes, and more), and a wickedly subdued sense of humor help elevate this from your typical “I’ve seen this before” fare.
The fact that about 70% of the film is in French (with English subtitles) further lends the affair an “exotic” feel, but the addition of solid acting is what really helps it rise above the standard exploitation parameters.
The pulsing electro score adds immensely in terms of creating tension and, often, an unnerving sense of anticipation; the slick pacing, which often emmulates the kinetic music, doesn’t hurt either.
But ultimately it’s the little things that resonate: there’s a wonderful scene where one of the antagonists is stuffing his mouth with chewy, gooey Euro candy; it’s pure gluttony. There’s a peyote-infused cauterizing beercan segment that culminates with some incredibly wry visual satire. There’s a super-cheesy motorcycle action sequence that brings low-budget to artistic levels. And, finally, there’s the cat & mouse ending that is as brilliant and claustrophobically intense as it is absurd.
So, yeah, if you are a genre junkie or an exploitation voyuer, then you probably have seen the skeletal remains of this story numerous times before in films like I Spit On Your Grave or Last House on the Left (and countless other exploitive nasties), but if you push those remembrances aside and embrace Revenge’s sly humor (I mean, c’mon, the title of the film alone says it all) and mesmerizing visual slickness and, most importantly of all, wink along with writer/director Coralie Fargea as she lovingly blurs the lines between art and exploitation, then this is a wickedly fun romp with resonating philosophical and sociologial undertones.
RIYL
Haute Tension; Upgrade; Martyrs; Neon Demon; Drive; Only God Forgives...)
THREE THAT WILL TWEAK YOUR MELON...
1. KILLING OF A SACRED DEER
3/5
The first thing that jumped out at me was the stiff delivery of lines by all the actors. I don’t recall this tactic being used in The Lobster (the director's previous film), but then again that film was set in a fictional future and came off like a fantastical fable, whereas this film feels really grounded in modern day Cincinnati. That said, the detached, awkward line readings makes for a strange, severely detached film, that’s for sure.
One positive note is that the film ends up being nothing like the trailers led me to believe. The film itself unveils a nice twist that I didn’t see coming.
In terms of acting, Barry Keoghan is mesmerizing and just plain weird and ultimately menacing beyond compare.
The ending of the film is strange, just leaving you wondering what in the fuck happened.
The tension throughout is palpable, too.
Much like Mother!, there's a lot of what I felt was hidden subtext, but quite a number of folks have posited as being rather blatant (in Mother! it's the Christian elements, here it's Greeky mythology). I must have been too wrapped up in the weirdness of the story to have gotten those allusions, but regardless of that the film is still an intriguing and intensely off-kilter exercise in human relationships.
2. MOTHER!
4.5/5
This movie is disconcerting, disquieting, intense, and teeming with what-the-f^&kery. I think it's a movie about birth/life/death or it may be a movie about ego or it may be a movie about love (giving too much or taking too much and still needing more). It may be a movie about gods and/or demons. It may be a movie about The 7 Deadly Sins (they are all pretty much touched upon in the course of the 2 hours running time). Whatever it is, it ain't boring. Excellent sound design (or lack thereof, since quite a bit of the movie is sans score, relying more on eerie ambient noise than anything else). A challenging and mesmerizing film that would best be enjoyed with your posse of quasi-intellectuals so that y'all can discuss it to no end over apres cocktails.
3. UNSANE
3.5/5
Crazy film, literally. From a technical standpoint, the entire thing was shot on iPhones and it has a distinctly claustrophobic feel throughout the three acts. Yet it doesn’t look like some amatuerish Vine post, but rather a clean, well framed, and often visually arresting professional film (then again it was directed by Steven Soderbergh, who has a nack for crafting visually arresting, professional looking films).
In terms of the story? It is equally crazy, albeit a bit simplistic on the surface. In the basest of terms it’s a glimpse into the mind of a woman who has been sexually harrassed and assaulted...or has she? The film actually poses more questions than it answers and never fails to keep us, the viewers, seriously off-balance. I honestly thought the word “unsane” was made-up, but then Googled it and found this rather dense explaination of it: http://benhauck.com/offthemap/2010/1...-the-concepts/, which actually fits the film perfectly. The aforelinked article defines “unsane” as a less sharper and less profound version of “insane” and if anything this film is definitely fuzzy in regards to what is and isn’t reality. The script, by Jonathan Bernstein and James Greer never fails to keep you off-kilter, never knowing what is real and what is purely a figment of the protagonist’s mind (or whether or not her mind is untethered or perfectly fine). There are a few moments that appear to be serious plot holes, but then the ending comes and we’re left scratching our heads wondering if we are sane, unsane, or insane.
Strong reviews, Dookey. Much appreciated.
Do a bit of googling on “Mother”; the metaphors are obvious in retrospect. Confounding, disorienting film for sure; definitely worth a watch.
Yeah, I read several reviews after I'd watched it and was like "Doh! How did I miss that?" :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyoverland Captive
Lottsa buried metaphors in Killing of a Sacred Deer, too, albeit a bit more "pagan" in nature...
Just watched Bomb City. Highly recommend, and hopefully will piss you off as it is based on a true story.
A FIELD IN ENGLAND
4/5
This period piece from Ben Wheatley (director) and Amy Jump (writer) follows on the heels of their wigged out road trip yarn Sightseers and the bonkers hitmen-cum-folk horror mind melder Kill List.
This one is a period piece, but it's a psychedelic one for sure.
Set in 17th Century England, during the English Civil War, the film's underlying story is about a few deserters, an alchemist, a supposed buried treasure, and mushrooms (and, of course, the continued threat of battle, which includes death). The film is alternately surreal, intense, and absurd.
I would classify it as easily accessibly experimental film (i.e. there is kind of a story to accompany the weird and mesmerizing visuals).
RIYL
Kill List; 2001: A Space Odyssey; Berberian Sound Studio;
EXTRA CREDIT READING
This reviewer watched the film high on 'shrooms...
https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2014/02...d-on-mushrooms
Oats Studios: Volume 1
Blomkamp experimental content.
Good shit.
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
RENEGADE (aka Blueberry)
3.5/5
This French made western (don't worry, it's largely delivered in English with only a few subtitles) is a metaphysical, existential, psychedelic romp. It gets a wee bit hokey at times, but it is always visually arresting and the cast is nuts: Michael Madsen; Eddie Izzard; Vincent Cassel; Jeffery Lewis; Juliette Lewis; Djimon Hounsou; Tcheky Karyo...
It's a strange beast, to be sure, not quite a traditional western, but also not as gonzo bonkers as say El Topo; it definitely stradles the lines between straight forward and just plain weird. Lots of focus on spiritual introspection and good vs. evil, focusing on the deadly sins, specifically greed. While it can get a bit confusing, the cinematraphy is amazing (lots of incredible aerial shots and expansive wide-angle set-ups) and even though there is not a ton of gunfighting or even much ruckus, it's well-paced and never dull.
Attachment 247993
THE NIGHT BEFORE (1988)
4/5
Attachment 250173
Not sure how I missed this one back in the day other than I was already in college when it was released and perhaps tired of the whole teen comedy genre.
That said, The Night Before definitely qualifies as a "lost cult classic."
While blending elements of Risky Business, After Hours, Better Off Dead, Can't Buy Me Love, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (just to name a few), it may very well be the most subversive of all the ‘80s teen comedies.
Written and directed by Thom Eberhardt (writer/director of such great cult classics as Night of the Comet and Captain Ron), the film employs an intriguing flashback motif that easily could have influenced Memento. I will say no more than that as it would spoil the twisted fun and off-kilter mayhem of the film.
Suffice it to say, we go on a journey with the hapless Winston (Keanu Reeves) in the wake of his high school prom. Insanity, violent hi-jinx, confusion, hilarity, political uncorrectness ensue.
Again, while it shares a lot of commonalities with the films I listed above, it is way darker, creepier, and just plain weird in terms of the overall vibe. It's not your typical teen flick, that's for sure.
I can see why it "disappeared" upon release as its tone is so drastically nastier than any of its like-minded predecessors.
Oh yeah, it features a raucous performance from George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic.
Not including the trailer as it gives away too much of the plot twists and turns...
RIYL
After Hours; Dude, Where's My Car; Captain Ron; Risky Business; Memento
Lottsa great B-movies have just popped up on Amazon Prime.
THE ARRIVAL (1996)
Written/Directed by David Twohy
Starring: Charlie Sheen
Attachment 249513
This overlooked low-budget gem from the mid-90s is easily a genre classic. The story is teeming with conspiracy theory paranoia that harkens back to the early glory days of sci-fi (think the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers).
The film's script/story is pretty damn cool and the direction is crisp thanks to solid pacing.
It's a bit cheesy by today's standards, but it is a '90s flashback, so keep that in mind.
For those unfamiliar with the writer/director, David Twohy is responsible for a wealth of underrated genre gems ranging from Warlock to Pitch Black and Terminal Velocity (he also wrote Waterworld; say what you will, I loved that film for its campy oceanic-based take on The Road Warrior).
Here he deftly draws upon 1950s-styled invasion horror, but with a "modern" twist. He has created a sense of not only mystery, but cloying paranoid terror. Okay, that may be stretching it a bit, but the film totally grabs you by the balls and takes you along for a hokey ride.
Sheen does a great job as an astronomer hellbent on trying to uncover the secrets that nobody believes.
Great supporting cast with Ron Silver and a number of other "hey, I know that guy" actors.
It's a great thriller that chooses substance (i.e. a clever story) over style (well, mostly because of budget) and wins because of it.
RIYL
The Terminator; Dreamscape; Robocop; They Live
Not including the trailer as it gives away one of the bigger twists...
Loved the Arrival, and pretty much anything involving Twohy.
LONG WEEKEND (1978)
4/5
Attachment 250165
This is a great, slow-burn psychological horror film from the glory days of the Ozploitation era. The film is very much in the same vein as Wake In Fright (another great Aussie psychological horror gem) in that the tension and horror build up slowly and in a manner that is damn near suffocating.
Long Weekend begins somewhat idyllically and then just disintegrates into a feverish hell with unnerving aplomb.
The film is weird and, above all, mesmerizing in its depiction of a couple whose weekend getaway literally gets away from them.
If you dig atmospheric horror films that create a thick ambiance of dread and hypnotic menace, then few films can match this one.
RIYL
Wake In Fright; Don't Look Now; The Birds
PS
Avoid the crappy 2008 remake.
I could not find Long Weekend. Of course it also took me several tries over a month to find Karate Kill....,
LOL.Quote:
Originally Posted by steepconcrete
It was there on Tuesday of this week. Actually showed up in one of my feeds, either "Popular on Amazon" or "Recently Added", fwiw.
:)
The Dennis Quaid starring classic b-movie sci-fi/horror gem DREAMSCAPE just showed up on Amazon Prime.
If you dug The Arrival (the Charlie Sheen one I yammered about a few posts above) and The Terminator and Robocop, then you should totally dig this little cult classic. The director would go on to helm a few more low-grade classics such as The Stepfather and Money Train.
The film features that creepy dude (David Patrick Kelly) from The Warriors...you know, the one who clicks the bottles together on his fingers whilst whining "Warriors, come out and play...") and the super freaky Snake-Man (that thing gave me nightmares for years).
Worth a watch if you dig low creative genre films that feature a really cool story, a well-crafted script, and a stellar cast doing wonders with a low budget. It's too bad that when it comes to genre horror and sci-fi films Hollywood rarely makes movies of this caliber anymore.
This just popped up:
YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
3.5/5
Interesting film in that the story (based on a short novel by Jonathan Ames of Bored To Death fame) is pretty cliche: down-on-his-luck/sad sack/mentally debateable hit man hired for a job only to have said job go sideways forcing him to get hellbet for revenge (for some reason it reminded me a lot of several of Burt Reynolds’ late ‘80s flix).
A lot of critics have been tossing around comparisons to Taxi Driver, which I don't really get other than for the slow pacing and somewhat delirious/hallucinatory/frenetic nature of the film, but other than that I think the critics who keep comparing the two are off-the-mark.
I have to admit that I was alternately frustrated and enthralled by the film; the cliched story was annoying, but then something cool would happen out of the blue or something visually stunning would grace the screen and make you forget that it is more or less an artsy B-movie. Also, it never really struck the right balance between seriousness and satire; it kind of drifted along with this detached sense of deadpan sarcasm buried underneath a sense of overwhelming pretense (to this end, I read a great review that characterizes the film as “artsploitation” and I would agree).
I will say that Joaquin Phoenix is a powerhouse and the violence is artfully filmed. Some great cinematography, lots of uncomfortable close-ups, and some interesting sound-design (lots of background talking, whispers, etc). Great score from Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), too.
I really dug the ending, though. It was both absurd and poignant
Again, I was kind of on the fence as the film unraveled, but then I ruminated on it for the entire 1.5 hour drive home from the theater, so it definitely resonates post-viewing.
I would say that it owes more to Leon: The Professional and Drive than anything else, honestly. And of course a spate of low-budget ‘80s flicks. Also reminded me a lot of the French neo-noir films of Melville.
In many ways it might be worth a second viewing, too.
I've been enjoying The Romanovs.
TRIANGLE
Attachment 254073
This 2009 release starring Melissa George is a psychological horror mindf$%k par excellance.
I will say no more than that as posting the trailer or going into any kind of depth will give away a large chunk of the mindf$%kery.
Suffice it to say, if you like your horror films and thrillers to run you through the wringer, to the point where you don't know what the hell is going on, then this could be your jam.
One of the best films of the sub-genre it belongs to, imho.
^^^ Agreed. Great film; not at all what it starts out to be.
Just started Homecoming; wobbling between charming, creepy, and hmmmmmm. If they pull that unacceptable Mr. Robot twist shit again I'll be pissed. Took a bit to settle in with the 30 minute format, but I kind of like it - worked well in Mr. In Between.
Not sure what to make of Homecoming? Suspect i'm supposed to be paying attention while watching, but so far it hasn't draw me in enough and it's just been background noise while doing other stuff.
Yeah; so far the highlight has been the adolescent pranking, but I'm starting to flinch with each new one, anticipating this is where it all goes horribly wrong.
I binged all of Homecoming on Monday.
Really enjoyed the cinematography and look of it (I had not seen Mr. Robot at this point, so was unfamiliar with the look/style).
Found it unsettling, but also figured out the twist pretty early on.
Felt that it kind of fell apart around episode 7.
Thought the "romantic" conclusion was a bit trite.
One thing that I found interesting is that each episode felt like it was way longer than 30 minutes, so the writers and directors did a good job creating engaging moments.
Not bad, but also fell short of great.
Am interested to hunt down the podcast now, though.
FWIW, it sucked me into Mr. Robot. I am now on Season 3. Again, figured out the twist pretty early on, but am loving the cinematography, music, and just the overall look and feel of Mr. Robot. A cliched mish-mash, but a beautifully executed one (which is how I would sum up Homecoming, as well).
PS
Via both of these series, I have discovered that Bobby Cannavale is one of American's unsung thespian geniuses...
Just randomly clicked on Catastrophe.
On 4th episode already and it's a good show, funny too.
Some uber classic late '60s and early '70s action films have popped up.
If you have never seen any of these, get to it!
:)
1967
Attachment 255237
1972
Attachment 255239
Attachment 255238
1973
Attachment 255392
Without going back through the thread, has anyone seen Jack Ryan. I loved the Clancy movies and any kind of spy stuff, so i have a bit of leeway as far as what is over the top in that genre. A gal at work told me this was great and I watched the 1st episode and couldn't believe the absurdity. Hoping it is just that episode, but doubting it.
I thought it was pretty good. No more over the top and unbelievable than any of the other Clancy movies.Quote:
Originally Posted by JongDoe
If you are ok with Ryan jumping into stormy sees next to a submarine to contact a Russian defector via Morse code, then I think you’ll be ok.