The "I'm watching/just watched *movie title* thread....

[Sardondi]

I just watched "The Imposter," which is a documentary, and I think it's the most bizarre thing I've ever seen.     The twists and turns in this story are incredible.  I don't want to give too much away, but how could a family, especially a mother, not know?  The potential explanation of the family's behavior is chilling.  Such a bizarre story.  I watched it on Netflix streaming, if anyone is interested. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1966604/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

I'm puzzled. In 1998 was DNA testing so expensive as to have been prohibitive? The family could have known within weeks for certain.

As to the reason the family might have seemed eager to accept an imposter, the possibility that stands out in my mind is because they knew the genuine child would never return. And so treating an imposter as the real child might assist them in a defense to accusations, either actual or only in the minds of community members, that the child was a victim of negligent parental care, a sale or even murder of the boy.   

[HorrorRetro]

I'm puzzled. In 1998 was DNA testing so expensive as to have been prohibitive? The family could have known within weeks for certain.

As to the reason the family might have seemed eager to accept an imposter, the possibility that stands out in my mind is because they knew the genuine child would never return. And so treating an imposter as the real child might assist them in a defense to accusations, either actual or only in the minds of community members, that the child was a victim of negligent parental care, a sale or even murder of the boy.

From what I remember, the family refused to have DNA taken initially.  The FBI agent came to the house and wanted to take DNA but, according to the female FBI agent, the mother laid on the floor and refused to have it taken.  The FBI eventually had to get a court order to get DNA from the mother and sister.

I agree that covering for a homicide seems to be the only explanation for their behavior.  It's the only thing that makes any sense.  How could you have a blonde-haired, blue-eyed American boy and four years later have a brown-eyed, French-Algerian man turn up and think that's your son/brother?  It's beyond bizarre.  If they truly didn't have anything to do with the boy's disappearance, there is something terribly wrong with this family.  I understand wanting your son back, but this was obviously not him.  They went along with this charade for 4 months before the PI and FBI figured it out.  Even after the FBI told the sister that this was not her brother, she kept acting like it was.   

[b_dubb]

man of steel.  mind blown.  visuals were pretty amazing.  solid script and acting.  and holy god the violence ... the violence. wow. just wow

[onan]

man of steel.  mind blown.  visuals were pretty amazing.  solid script and acting.  and holy god the violence ... the violence. wow. just wow

yep, good movie. Strong back story with revamp of origin. Solid story.

[b_dubb]

http://youtu.be/xpKi41a1rJI

[coaster]

The Rum Diary. It wasnt Fear And Loathing, but it was pretty good.

[Sardondi]

http://youtu.be/xpKi41a1rJI

That.was.creepy. *shudder*

[ziznak]

From what I remember, the family refused to have DNA taken initially.  The FBI agent came to the house and wanted to take DNA but, according to the female FBI agent, the mother laid on the floor and refused to have it taken.  The FBI eventually had to get a court order to get DNA from the mother and sister.

I agree that covering for a homicide seems to be the only explanation for their behavior.  It's the only thing that makes any sense.  How could you have a blonde-haired, blue-eyed American boy and four years later have a brown-eyed, French-Algerian man turn up and think that's your son/brother?  It's beyond bizarre.  If they truly didn't have anything to do with the boy's disappearance, there is something terribly wrong with this family.  I understand wanting your son back, but this was obviously not him.  They went along with this charade for 4 months before the PI and FBI figured it out.  Even after the FBI told the sister that this was not her brother, she kept acting like it was.   

I was also thinking somebody in the family knows whats going on with the missing son.  The most disturbing part of the movie was that douchebag doing his michael jackson moves towards the end.

[HorrorRetro]

I was also thinking somebody in the family knows whats going on with the missing son.  The most disturbing part of the movie was that douchebag doing his michael jackson moves towards the end.

He's definitely a sociopath.  In his own words, he said he didn't give a fuck how badly he hurt the parents of all the missing kids he claimed to be.  The movie only briefly touched on the fact that he did this numerous times -- even from his jail cell.  He would get the phone numbers of parents with missing kids and call them and claim he was their children.  He infuriated me.  But the family's behavior was equally disturbing, especially the older brother who said he knew from the start it was not his brother, but he didn't call him out on it.  This was the brother who was thought to have something to do with the boy's disappearance.  He later died of a drug overdose.  To me, that's very telling.  It basically says he did have something to do with his brother's death, and he's okay that there is this guy now claiming to be the brother he killed.  It gets him off the hot seat if an investigation is opened.  To bad he/they didn't take DNA into account. 

I got at least four people to watch this since Friday, and everyone has been shocked at the outcome.  It's such a strange story.  I'm surprised it hasn't been made into a movie. 

[ziznak]

The film does a very good job of introducing mr douche without explaining his background it makes you almost feel bad for him even though you find what he did horrible.  Then when they hit you with his little rap sheet its almost a slap in the face. 

The older brother knew something and the mother knows something... the sister is in some kind of denial.  Crazy story but a really good watch.  Glad you brought it up!

[onan]

I just watched The Rambler.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2381355/




Don't bother... it is worth less than the automobile with the same name,

[onan]

Saw WW Z today... I dunno, didn't seem all that spectacular to me. For the supposedly scary stuff going on... I started to nod a few times. the popcorn was good.

[ItsOver]

That's what I've heard.  Fast moving CGI zombies just don't cut it with me.  Glad to hear at least the popcorn was good.   


I've just about given up on Hollywood.  A dearth of decent actors, plots, scripts, etc. and a surplus of slam-bam CGI effects.    Anybody have any suggestions for a decently acted movie I may not have seen?  Say anywhere from the '40s through the '80s.  Something with a good plot and decent acting, maybe film noir'ish.  I know I'm asking for a lot. 

[Mind Flayer Monk]

That's what I've heard.  Fast moving CGI zombies just don't cut it with me.  Glad to hear at least the popcorn was good.   


I've just about given up on Hollywood.  A dearth of decent actors, plots, scripts, etc. and a surplus of slam-bam CGI effects.    Anybody have any suggestions for a decently acted movie I may not have seen?  Say anywhere from the '40s through the '80s.  Something with a good plot and decent acting, maybe film noir'ish.  I know I'm asking for a lot. 

Body Heat was alright. the husband reminded me of Art a little bit.

Of the newer stuff I recently saw Lincoln Lawyer and Mr Brooks, were ok.

[ItsOver]

"Body Heat" wasn't bad.  Speaking of heat, "Heat"wasn't too bad either. De Niro was good.

[Mind Flayer Monk]

"Body Heat" wasn't bad.  Speaking of heat, "Heat"wasn't too bad either. De Niro was good.

It was one of the most film-noirsih 80s films I could think of that I had scene recently.

Heat is a good movie, Deniro was really on a roll with Goodfellas, Heat, Casino, and Ronin. Then he started making movies with Ben Stiller and was never the same.

[Eddie Coyle]

Heat is a good movie, Deniro was really on a roll with Goodfellas, Heat, Casino, and Ronin. Then he started making movies with Ben Stiller and was never the same.

Analyze This is when De Niro got the notion he was a comedic actor. And what a misguided notion that was. He was very funny in Midnight Run, but that wasn't a PG-13 yukfest like the Stiller crud is.

[onan]

Anybody have any suggestions for a decently acted movie I may not have seen?  Say anywhere from the '40s through the '80s.  Something with a good plot and decent acting, maybe film noir'ish.  I know I'm asking for a lot. 

I am not a big fan of movies from the 40's through the mid 70's. But I like a lot of noir type films from the 80's and up.


my favorites are:


8 Million Ways to Die
The Morning After
House of Games
Blood Simple
F/X
Eye Witness
True Believer
Body Double

Blow Out
Mona Lisa


lots more but brain has went into maintenance mode.

[stevesh]

I've started watching movies that people are always referring to or quoting from which I've never seen. Started with Pulp Fiction. Meh. Much too hip for me I guess, and all the gore seems tame now. Quentin Tarentino may be a great director, but he can't act a lick. No other director would have allowed that performance in the final cut.

[b_dubb]

That's what I've heard.  Fast moving CGI zombies just don't cut it with me.  Glad to hear at least the popcorn was good.   


I've just about given up on Hollywood.  A dearth of decent actors, plots, scripts, etc. and a surplus of slam-bam CGI effects.    Anybody have any suggestions for a decently acted movie I may not have seen?  Say anywhere from the '40s through the '80s.  Something with a good plot and decent acting, maybe film noir'ish.  I know I'm asking for a lot. 

any time anyone asks for a really good movie recommendation i think of a British movie called "Fishtank".  Michael Fassbender plays a minor character.  i can't think of any of the other actors' names. unbelievably good movie.  no special effects, no car chases.  just compelling story and excellent acting.

[West of the Rockies]

I've started watching movies that people are always referring to or quoting from which I've never seen. Started with Pulp Fiction. Meh. Much too hip for me I guess, and all the gore seems tame now. Quentin Tarentino may be a great director, but he can't act a lick. No other director would have allowed that performance in the final cut.

Yeah, I didn't get the uber-allure of that movie either, SteveSh.  Sin City also did nothing for me.  I could appreciate that it was different, that it had cinematic style, but I kind of hated everybody in it.  I also like to see a villain suffer.  I hate it when in a movie some bad guy causes mass destruction and then dies with a quick bullet to the head.  In Sin City, a villain gets decapitated, but the head stays laughingly, tauntingly alive.  And I can't even recall what happened to the Elijiah Wood cannibal character.

[stevesh]

I kind to hate to admit this in this company, but I watched Sahara yesterday (Matthew McConaughey and the always delectable Penelope Cruz) and thought it was a lot of fun. Waaay over-the-top stunts and CGI, but it had a good sense of humor and story line.

This morning I watched Tears of the Sun (Bruce Willis as a Navy Seal in Nigeria) and enjoyed it, too. Willis displayed his usual emotional range (from A to B), but he did a good job and the story was interesting and suspenseful.

[onan]

I kind to hate to admit this in this company, but I watched Sahara yesterday (Matthew McConaughey and the always delectable Penelope Cruz) and thought it was a lot of fun. Waaay over-the-top stunts and CGI, but it had a good sense of humor and story line.

This morning I watched Tears of the Sun (Bruce Willis as a Navy Seal in Nigeria) and enjoyed it, too. Willis displayed his usual emotional range (from A to B), but he did a good job and the story was interesting and suspenseful.

I also thought Sahara was a fun movie.


And I think Willis has a broad range. But his audience doesn't.  Death becomes her wasn't real funny to the average movie goer but Willis hit the notes perfectly.


I thought he did a great job as a tired-of-it-all type guy in Looper. And his line in Sin City: "An old man dies so a young girl lives" will stick with me for a long time.


Not crazy over his politics but he's a lot more actor than many others.

[b_dubb]

I also thought Sahara was a fun movie.


And I think Willis has a broad range. But his audience doesn't.  Death becomes her wasn't real funny to the average movie goer but Willis hit the notes perfectly.


I thought he did a great job as a tired-of-it-all type guy in Looper. And his line in Sin City: "An old man dies so a young girl lives" will stick with me for a long time.


Not crazy over his politics but he's a lot more actor than many others.

i liked Willis in "Breakfast of Champions"

[stevesh]

And I think Willis has a broad range.

I was probably too hard on him. I thought he did a great job as the burned-out drunken detective in 16 Blocks. (I also thought Mos Def was very good in that movie. The rappers and hip-hoppers who move to acting often surprise me with their talent - 50 Cent included.)

[ItsOver]

I've started watching movies that people are always referring to or quoting from which I've never seen. Started with Pulp Fiction. Meh. Much too hip for me I guess, and all the gore seems tame now. Quentin Tarentino may be a great director, but he can't act a lick. No other director would have allowed that performance in the final cut.

Same here.  I don't quite get all the love for "Pulp Fiction."  Speaking of Willis, he was the best part of the movie, though.  I've always kind of liked him, since the "Moonlighting" and original "Die Hard" days.  His WTF attitude is enjoyable in these insufferable times of PC.  The "Die Hard" series should have died a long time ago, though.  "Yippee Ki Yay...."

[PB the Deplorable]

... the rappers and hip-hoppers who move to acting often surprise me with their talent...

I've noticed that too. 

[b_dubb]

who is this?

[coaster]

Generic blonde Hollywood girl would be my guess.

[Treading Water]

Isn't that one of Charlie Sheen's ex-wives???