A few titles I had seen before, but managed to continue to be entertaining or even exceeded my earlier experiences.
Network (1976): the first hour is a blast, as a news presenter on his way down decides to tell the American people the truth as he sees it. And becomes an instant hit and money machine for the network. The last part is a bit more melodramatic, but the whole movie really holds up well after so many years.
Chernobyl (HBO, 2019): truly amazing seeing this for the second time. Hasn’t lost any of its allure, the series is gripping from start to finish. Yesterday I saw a small clip on instagram of the real life helicopter drop from the sky as it flew over the reactor. Was reminded of the series, started watching, and finished all 5 episodes within 24 hours. It doesn’t feel like tv at all, but instead as if you’re watching reality.
Robocop (1987): the original by fellow Dutch man Paul Verhoeven. Watched it literally dozens of times before, and continues to be a great watch. Story, pictures, message, everything just works.
Eastern Promises (2007, David Cronenberg): this interview in the Guardian brought me to rewatch this movie. It is still a great watch though I slightly prefer A History of Violence by the same director from a years before.
I liked the ending of True Detective, especially that there was a rational, not otherworldly explanation (and somewhat satisfying… if vigilantism is yo thang). The backstory to Jody Foster losing her son was overwrought and unnecessary to me - almost like an afterthought to squeeze in at the last moment. Like, yeah. We had no idea she had demons
Another super-satisfying show we finished yesterday SADZ was Godless. I don’t care for westerns (Deadwood having been one of very few exceptions), but I still get giddy when a show features strong female characters, and the menfolk are not the center of attention. I wonder if I’ll ever get used to that - akin to having actual indigenous actors in newer productions. Sure would be nice if it didn’t seem out of the ordinary anymore at some point.
hoping to power through that this weekend. over the past couple of weeks, i’ve seen ‘the holdovers’ and ‘past lives,’ both of which i highly reccommend. was beyond delighted that ‘past lives’ won best director AND best film at the independent spirit awards.
My PIC dragged me into that last summer - he’d gotten tix for the imax. I thought I would find it longer than I did. I mostly remember it being Very Loud, and getting bored with the backroom hearing.
My ‘revenge’ was dragging him to see Barbie, which seems like a lame revenge given its far shorter running time and overall levity.
Strangely…… we’re in the middle of True Detective and just spent the weekend with relatives who made us watch the first 2 episodes of Godless. My wife doesn’t really like this TD and I found Godless heavier than I normally like. We’ll have to see how things develop.
a Naomi Watts driven survival flick. pristine performance from the lead. these stories are usually told with much more hyperbole. being so understated just adds to the power of the resolution. this sleeper deserves to be more widely viewed. it’s best to know nothing about it before watching.
One of those slowish movies that still manages to keep you interested. Also, a very different from most other movies’ portrayal of New York City. Quiet, introspective. Felt a bit unhappy with the ending though, but that could just be me and watching an overdose of Hallmark movies during the holiday season lol.
Speaking of Hallmark movies: I rewatched Baby Boom, the 80s Diane Keaton flick about the career woman in Manhattan being made responsible for a baby all of a sudden. Very enjoyable and light, imho one of Keaton’s best. And in hindsight the story has become the blueprint for many a Hallmark movie - maybe not the baby thing, but Manhattan career woman moves to the country side and falls in love with some local sweater-wearing dude.
The Holdovers I didn’t enjoy, stopped watching after 30 minutes or so. Felt a little formulaic imho. Maybe I should give it another shot.
I felt the same way about The Holdovers and do not understand the hype/awards it got. Giamatti playing a shlubby, disillusioned dude. Whoa! Never saw that before
Loved The Holdovers. Just watched American Fiction yesterday. Still thinking about it but glad I saw it. Just to mention, it’s not the comedy it’s being marketed as.
I was in a record/CD/video store on Ventura Blvd. in the Studio City area of Los Angeles a long time ago with a friend and I noticed someone famous whose name I couldn’t at first figure out.
I took enough nonchalant glances to realize that it was Thomas Haden Church and as he left the store, he came up to my friend and I and said “Yes, it’s me”.
He was as charming as could be and even though I had been a fan of his since the days of “Wings”, I became an even bigger fan after that.
