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

[coaster]

Continuing with the real estate theme for some reason, I watched The Big Short. It went on for far too long. They could have edited out half the movie. I realize they needed to describe to the audience what certain things were, but it was annoying when they kept breaking the fourth wall. Christian Bale's eye bullshit was bothering me too. Just a wooden performance with nothing but him trying to cross his eyes. I know he was basing his character on someone with only one eye, but still, we get it. Was the guy also borderline retarded, because Bale was barely there. Just blank throughout the movie. the soundtrack was annoying as well. The only thing I enjoyed about the movie was Steve Carell's performance. Entirely overrated.
Here's the movie in a nut shell-
"The banks are screwing us. That's bad."
"We should get them. Describe to me what they are doing so the audience can follow"
"The banks are screwing us. That's bad."
"Damn the banks. Let's get them. Describe it some more."
"here are some new characters who can explain it"
"hey guys, the banks are screwing us"
etc etc.. for two hours. Pause for shitty song and fourth wall retardation.

[Ciardelo]

Just finished up 5 seasons of "The Wire" on AMZN Prime streaming. It was a good ride. Weirdly, I want to check out row house real estate now.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306414/

[coaster]

I just found out that they turned Stephen King's book 11.22.63 into a miniseries. While not exactly true to the book, it is an excellent show. Good cast too. James Franco, Chris Cooper, and Leon Rippy who is always fun to watch. Watched the first episode last night, and looking forward to the second tonight.

[zeebo]

Just finished up 5 seasons of "The Wire" on AMZN Prime streaming. It was a good ride. ...

I dug the first season but heard they changed things all around after that.  Are the later seasons still worth checking out?

[Ciardelo]

I dug the first season but heard they changed things all around after that.  Are the later seasons still worth checking out?

Sure, the second season was pretty good. McNaulty (I guess he's supposed to be the star) gets reassigned to Harbor Patrol with a resulting story arc that tracks back to the drug trade.

Each season focused on a different area of the city. It's a little dated now but I liked it well enough. There's an idiot-type character that seems to be stupider than possible in the second year, but he kinda grew on me.

There's a lot of moving parts in the series, so I would watch an episode then read the recaps at  http://thewire.wikia.com/wiki/The_Wire_on_HBO which helped me keep everything straight.

[21st Century Man]

Some movie reviews.

      First off Deadpool.  Not your normal superhero film.  It is primarily a comedy and I actually liked Ryan Reynolds in this film.  I usually can't stand him.  There is also abundant nudity particularly in the strip club where the DJ is none other than Stan the Man himself.  The leading lady, Morena Baccarin, was also hot.  A couple of X-men serve as straight-men to the humorous Deadpool.  IMHO, my favorite Marvel film since the first Captain America movie. Ed Skein as the serviceable villain.  A good time at the  movies.  3.75 out of 5 stars.

      Next, Get Carter (1971) with Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, and John Osbourne.  The superlative British gangster film about a gangster trying to solve his brother's murder which places him in conflict with mobsters who traffic in porn.  Caine brings humanity to Jack Carter who in lesser hands would come across as a sterotypical mobster with no redeeming values. John Osbourne, the playwright/actor of the ultimate British angry young man play/movie, Look Back In Anger, plays the pornographer who is chilling and calculating in his villainy.  Also, the phone sex scene between Caine and Britt Ekland is very erotic and Geraldine Moffat is sexy as hell with perfect legs and a seductive face.  The rest of her is pretty fine as well.  Lots of nudity far above the normal amount  that today's filmmakers alllow in PG/R rated fare.  Let it be known that this is a 70's movie in every respect and the ending is not upbeat. One of Michael Caine's best performances, IMHO. It would be a much lesser movie without him. A minor classic.  4.25 out of 5 stars.

More later.

[albrecht]

Sure, the second season was pretty good. McNaulty (I guess he's supposed to be the star) gets reassigned to Harbor Patrol with a resulting story arc that tracks back to the drug trade.

Each season focused on a different area of the city. It's a little dated now but I liked it well enough. There's an idiot-type character that seems to be stupider than possible in the second year, but he kinda grew on me.

There's a lot of moving parts in the series, so I would watch an episode then read the recaps at  http://thewire.wikia.com/wiki/The_Wire_on_HBO which helped me keep everything straight.

I thought the 2nd season of The Wire, Baltimore docks etc, was the best one. Not sure why but

I got roped into seeing "Deadpool" last week. Went in cold, not knowing anything about what it was (I thought, maybe a remake of Deadpool of the Dirty Harry franchise even.) Saw the opening credits (hilarious) but thought, oh crap, a Superhero movie or, worse, animated. But I was pleasantly surprised. It had good action and was pretty funny. Granted I had several beers while watching but was pleasantly surprised.

[akwilly]

Just watched Creed. It was pretty good but I liked the last Rocky (Rocky Balboa) better. I could see why Stallone was nominated for a best supporting actor but I still believe Tom Hardy should have won for his role in the Reverent.

[akwilly]

Some movie reviews.

      First off Deadpool.  Not your normal superhero film.  It is primarily a comedy and I actually liked Ryan Reynolds in this film.  I usually can't stand him.  There is also abundant nudity particularly in the strip club where the DJ is none other than Stan the Man himself.  The leading lady, Morena Baccarin, was also hot.  A couple of X-men serve as straight-men to the humorous Deadpool.  IMHO, my favorite Marvel film since the first Captain America movie. Ed Skein as the serviceable villain.  A good time at the  movies.  3.75 out of 5 stars.

      Next, Get Carter (1971) with Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, and John Osbourne.  The superlative British gangster film about a gangster trying to solve his brother's murder which places him in conflict with mobsters who traffic in porn.  Caine brings humanity to Jack Carter who in lesser hands would come across as a sterotypical mobster with no redeeming values. John Osbourne, the playwright/actor of the ultimate British angry young man play/movie, Look Back In Anger, plays the pornographer who is chilling and calculating in his villainy.  Also, the phone sex scene between Caine and Britt Ekland is very erotic and Geraldine Moffat is sexy as hell with perfect legs and a seductive face.  The rest of her is pretty fine as well.  Lots of nudity far above the normal amount  that today's filmmakers alllow in PG/R rated fare.  Let it be known that this is a 70's movie in every respect and the ending is not upbeat. One of Michael Caine's best performances, IMHO. It would be a much lesser movie without him. A minor classic.  4.25 out of 5 stars.

More later.

I dig the star ratings by the way.

[Ciardelo]

I thought the 2nd season of The Wire, Baltimore docks etc, was the best one. Not sure why but

I got roped into seeing "Deadpool" last week. Went in cold, not knowing anything about what it was (I thought, maybe a remake of Deadpool of the Dirty Harry franchise even.) Saw the opening credits (hilarious) but thought, oh crap, a Superhero movie or, worse, animated. But I was pleasantly surprised. It had good action and was pretty funny. Granted I had several beers while watching but was pleasantly surprised.

I liked the second season too. I think I liked the one about the school system a little better (my school teacher sis has gone through some of those problems) but I'm hard-pressed to pick a "favorite".

I'll have to check Deadpool. With your recommendation and 21st Century man's rating it sounds like it might be pretty good.

[akwilly]

I'll have to check it. With your recommendation and 21st Century mna's rating it sounds like it might be pretty good.

I couldn't disagree more in regards to season 2 of the wire. I thought it was garbage and got to far away from what made the series a classic.

[Ciardelo]

I couldn't disagree more in regards to season 2 of the wire. I thought it was garbage and got to far away from what made the series a classic.

A lot of people apparently agree with you, but I grew up on the water, so it was pretty cool for me

[akwilly]

A lot of people apparently agree with you, but I grew up on the water, so it was pretty cool for me

I hate to say it but maybe season 2 was a little to "white". Also I know it sounds gay but one of the best most addictive series I've ever watched is Spartacus. Lucy Lawless is in it and the lead actor died after completing season 1 so they scrambled to make a prequel and it just got better from their. I dare anyone that watches it not to get the phrase "Jupitor's cock" not stuck in their heads.

[Ciardelo]

I hate to say it but maybe season 2 was a little to "white". Also I know it sounds gay but one of the best most addictive series I've ever watched is Spartacus. Lucy Lawless is in it and the lead actor died after completing season 1 so they scrambled to make a prequel and it just got better from their. I dare anyone that watches it not to get the phrase "Jupitor's cock" not stuck in their heads.

lol. It's on the list now. For Baltimore, the second season of The Wire was pretty white wasn't it? heh I hadn't really noticed, but you're right. Plus that was a pretty fake looking cock Ziggy was waving around wasn't it? <----things I didn't think I'd ever say. 

[albrecht]

lol. It's on the list now. For Baltimore, the second season of The Wire was pretty white wasn't it? heh I hadn't really noticed, but you're right. Plus that was a pretty fake looking cock Ziggy was waving around wasn't it? <----things I didn't think I'd ever say. 

There were white folks in Baltimore once, especially on the docks. Polish-Americans controlled it for many years. I liked the 2nd season best and was a nice break from the same-old blacks do drugs stuff, Baltimore is a hell-hole, police issues, etc, though I really liked the other seasons also. I like Pelecanos's novels even better though.

[akwilly]

There were white folks in Baltimore once, especially on the docks. Polish-Americans controlled it for many years. I liked the 2nd season best and was a nice break from the same-old blacks do drugs stuff, Baltimore is a hell-hole, police issues, etc, though I really liked the other seasons also. I like Pelecanos's novels even better though.

I guess because of where I live and all that I can't relate to the crazy stuff on the show. I kept thinking why the hell don't these people just move.

[albrecht]

I guess because of where I live and all that I can't relate to the crazy stuff on the show. I kept thinking why the hell don't these people just move.

Yeah, it is a weird thing. Logic would tell you, move! But, I guess, it can come down to roots (not wanting to leave family etc,) poverty, a sense of failure or no hope- so why try, fear (comfort in what one knows, even if bad, versus an uncertain situation) and enough, just enough, government assistance to keep one afloat barely but not enough to be able to start over or move. I don't know. A sad situation and it is not just seen in 'inner-cities' or blacks. I liked The Wire and Pelecanos's books are really good.

[Ciardelo]

Yeah, it is a weird thing. Logic would tell you, move! But, I guess, it can come down to roots (not wanting to leave family etc,) poverty, a sense of failure or no hope- so why try, fear (comfort in what one knows, even if bad, versus an uncertain situation) and enough, just enough, government assistance to keep one afloat barely but not enough to be able to start over or move. I don't know. A sad situation and it is not just seen in 'inner-cities' or blacks. I liked The Wire and Pelecanos's books are really good.

This is where one can make the case that government "assistance" can perpetuate the problems. It's damnably persistent and generational. Last night I was talking about the poor areas in our seemingly prosperous little city. It's the same problems. One area of town here which used to be "nice" had some public housing units put in. The place is a shithole now and I wouldn't want to be there after dark...biggest problem I think is addiction. but addiction can run in the police and social services...they get addicted to the budget. After awhile it seems no real effort is put into fixing anything.  I happen to believe it is "fixable" but it is slow. Case by slow case. 

[albrecht]

This is where one can make the case that government "assistance" can perpetuate the problems. It's damnably persistent and generational. Last night I was talking about the poor areas in our seemingly prosperous little city. It's the same problems. One area of town here which used to be "nice" had some public housing units put in. The place is a shithole now and I wouldn't want to be there after dark...biggest problem I think is addiction. but addiction can run in the police and social services...they get addicted to the budget. After awhile it seems no real effort is put into fixing anything.  I happen to believe it is "fixable" but it is slow. Case by slow case.

I live in a 'progressive' city. City Council is trying to make laws that landlords can't ask or verify sources of income and also the City is trying to 'integrate' the 'less fortunate' into other populations by forcing developers, giving tax abatements (in the past always a great source of financing schemes,) and grants to build low income, Section 8 into the good areas. In a utopia could be good ideas (if you live in a nicer neighborhood you likely go to a better school, have better friends, etc so maybe pull the children out of poverty or bad thinking/culture.) But the reality will, likely, be just ruin some more neighborhoods and schools or "white flight." Who knows? It is bizarre because "hipsters" and yuppies pricing out people in the "poor" neighborhoods. A bizarre situation where people in those neighborhoods are bitching about rising real estate values and less crime: "gentrification." We will see.

Send to politics thread- going to watch Big Short. Will review tomorrow.

[onan]

Just saw Becoming Bulletproof . It is a wonderful movie. It is a documentary about making a western with cast members that are disabled. I know that sounds silly, perhaps uninteresting. But it is only 80 minutes out of a day. And it is worth it.

[SredniVashtar]

Next, Get Carter (1971) with Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, and John Osbourne.  The superlative British gangster film about a gangster trying to solve his brother's murder which places him in conflict with mobsters who traffic in porn.  Caine brings humanity to Jack Carter who in lesser hands would come across as a sterotypical mobster with no redeeming values. John Osbourne, the playwright/actor of the ultimate British angry young man play/movie, Look Back In Anger, plays the pornographer who is chilling and calculating in his villainy.  Also, the phone sex scene between Caine and Britt Ekland is very erotic and Geraldine Moffat is sexy as hell with perfect legs and a seductive face.  The rest of her is pretty fine as well.  Lots of nudity far above the normal amount  that today's filmmakers alllow in PG/R rated fare.  Let it be known that this is a 70's movie in every respect and the ending is not upbeat. One of Michael Caine's best performances, IMHO. It would be a much lesser movie without him. A minor classic.  4.25 out of 5 stars.

Ian Hendry was in the running for the role of Carter, but he lost out to Caine, and Hendry hated him after that, which perhaps accounts for the level of tension in their scenes, particularly at the racecourse - with Carter's line about Eric's eyes looking like 'pissholes in the snow'. I can't remember much nudity, actually. I know that in the first scene we see them all looking at porn on a screen, and an erect penis is (just about) concealed by the head of one of the viewers. I was never sure what accent Moffat was supposed to be using either; one moment it's broad Scots, the next it sounds like it has disappeared entirely. The film has some great lines; I like 'you're a big man, but you're in bad shape. With me it's a full time job, now behave yourself' before going on to give Brumby a duffing up. I don't know if you remember, but the assassin who eventually shoots Carter (spoilers!) is sitting opposite him on the train to Newcastle, so his employers weren't kidding when they told Carter they didn't want him going 'up the north'.

You probably miss out a little bit by not coming from the UK when you see that film, though, because it's funny to see these well-known actors in this very gritty drama, playing against type very often. The man who eventually gets pushed from the top of a multi-storey car park, Cliff Brumby, was best known as 'Alf Roberts', a character from a soap that he played for decades. The guy playing Albert Swift used to be the barman in a well-known series called 'Minder'. And there are lots of other actors who weren't all that well-known at the time, like Alun Armstrong and Terence Rigby. Living in the south (where all the best people live!) I often see actors pottering about, and I used to see one of the architects (from that scene in the car park) out and about. He would usually play military types, and he was someone you'd know to look at, even if you couldn't remember his name.

[FightTheFuture]

Risen

An amazing film! I loved the fact that they filmed it from an atheist's  point of view. He must have been absolutely shocked to realize that Jesus was who he said he was. Fantastic scenery. A must see.

[SredniVashtar]

Just watched Creed. It was pretty good but I liked the last Rocky (Rocky Balboa) better. I could see why Stallone was nominated for a best supporting actor but I still believe Tom Hardy should have won for his role in the Reverent.

I watched 'The Reverent' the other night. I was expecting to see something about an illiterate vicar, but it turned out be five hours of frontier misery-porn instead. I can't believe DiCaprio got an Oscar for this - it looks like the film award equivalent of a pity fuck. He's missed out so often that they all feel sorry for him these days and have to give him one before he starts to sob. Tom Hardy has only really been any good in 'Inception' and he's been coasting ever since: cf 'Mad Max - Fairy Road' where it's all an extended music video and you get to the end not really caring one way or the other. I went off him after he was Bane in Batman, and it turned out that this supposed badass had been working for Edith Piaf all along. The film reminded me of 'The Martian' in an odd way - there was too much time spent witnessing one man battling adversity, and both lead actors were as dull as rice pudding.

[Showroom Dummy]

I watched 'The Reverent' the other night. I was expecting to see something about an illiterate vicar, but it turned out be five hours of frontier misery-porn instead. I can't believe DiCaprio got an Oscar for this - it looks like the film award equivalent of a pity fuck. He's missed out so often that they all feel sorry for him these days and have to give him one before he starts to sob. Tom Hardy has only really been any good in 'Inception' and he's been coasting ever since: cf 'Mad Max - Fairy Road' where it's all an extended music video and you get to the end not really caring one way or the other. I went off him after he was Bane in Batman, and it turned out that this supposed badass had been working for Edith Piaf all along. The film reminded me of 'The Martian' in an odd way - there was too much time spent witnessing one man battling adversity, and both lead actors were as dull as rice pudding.

what did you think of tom hardy in Lawless  ? -i thought Guy Pearce gave a great  performance

[coaster]

Tom Hardy was fantastic in Lawless. He played the part perfectly. Such an underrated film.

[21st Century Man]

Ian Hendry was in the running for the role of Carter, but he lost out to Caine, and Hendry hated him after that, which perhaps accounts for the level of tension in their scenes, particularly at the racecourse - with Carter's line about Eric's eyes looking like 'pissholes in the snow'. I can't remember much nudity, actually. I know that in the first scene we see them all looking at porn on a screen, and an erect penis is (just about) concealed by the head of one of the viewers. I was never sure what accent Moffat was supposed to be using either; one moment it's broad Scots, the next it sounds like it has disappeared entirely. The film has some great lines; I like 'you're a big man, but you're in bad shape. With me it's a full time job, now behave yourself' before going on to give Brumby a duffing up. I don't know if you remember, but the assassin who eventually shoots Carter (spoilers!) is sitting opposite him on the train to Newcastle, so his employers weren't kidding when they told Carter they didn't want him going 'up the north'.

You probably miss out a little bit by not coming from the UK when you see that film, though, because it's funny to see these well-known actors in this very gritty drama, playing against type very often. The man who eventually gets pushed from the top of a multi-storey car park, Cliff Brumby, was best known as 'Alf Roberts', a character from a soap that he played for decades. The guy playing Albert Swift used to be the barman in a well-known series called 'Minder'. And there are lots of other actors who weren't all that well-known at the time, like Alun Armstrong and Terence Rigby. Living in the south (where all the best people live!) I often see actors pottering about, and I used to see one of the architects (from that scene in the car park) out and about. He would usually play military types, and he was someone you'd know to look at, even if you couldn't remember his name.

   Yeah, it does help if you are a Briton when watching the film though Newcastle has evidently changed much since the time the movie was filmed.  Apparently, it is not the industrial wasteland that it once was.  Can you imagine swimming in a black ocean where tons of waste material from the coal mines were dumped for decades?  I'd still be hesitant in swimming there now.

   As far as the nudity goes, you see Britt Ekland naked writhing in ecstasy during the phone sex.  The landlady whom Carter sleeps with exposes her breasts.  Geraldine Moffat's ample charms are on full display, one can almost see her sex as her naked ass comes off the bed. Margaret's body is exposed save for her lower parts during her OD scene. And yes the bits of porn on the slides at the beginning and in the quickie film that Caine watches at Moffat's apartment. Mr. Skin would find much to like in this film.

I listened to the commentary attached to the blu-ray and there was clearly no love lost between Hendry and Caine.   Caine called Hendry a drunk who was on his last legs.  If Hendry had been cast as Carter, the film would not have been nearly as good.  If you ever watch the film again, check out the bar scene near the beginning.  There is an old codger who is drinking a beer who has a five-fingered hand along with a thumb.   Caine remarks during the commentary that he had never watched a porn film previously before his role in Get Carter.  I find that hard to believe.  Some of the company Caine kept during the 50's and 60's would have no doubt had easy access to such films.  Plus, the director, Mike Hodges, recalls Caine bringing a bunch of stag films to the set to get a better idea on how to film the porn quickie insert.

[littlechris]

Atari: Game Over by Zak Penn. Pretty good movie. Brought back lots of memories. I didn't realize Atari was that wildly successful. You can't help but to feel bad for Howard Scott Warshaw. Five fricken weeks!!!!!  Five weeks!!!!!! Damn!! 

[akwilly]

Atari: Game Over by Zak Penn. Pretty good movie. Brought back lots of memories. I didn't realize Atari was that wildly successful. You can't help but to feel bad for Howard Scott Warshaw. Five fricken weeks!!!!!  Five weeks!!!!!! Damn!!

I'd like to see this. I am assuming it is about how ET spelled the end for Atari and the dig to try and recover the thousands of games they buried. An interesting documentary that I watched but don't remember the name of was about the inventors of the game trivial pursuit

[littlechris]

I'd like to see this. I am assuming it is about how ET spelled the end for Atari and the dig to try and recover the thousands of games they buried. An interesting documentary that I watched but don't remember the name of was about the inventors of the game trivial pursuit

Yes, good documentary. It's available on Netflix right now.

[zeebo]

Yes, good documentary. It's available on Netflix right now.

I enjoyed it too.  As usual the true story is more nuanced (and interesting) than the assumed version.