General Movie Thread

[wood and iron]

I saw Up yesterday. It was, like all Pixar movies*, fantastic. It had a real sweetness, said something about life, had some laughs, cool action set pieces and looked gorgeous.

I saw it in 3D. While I still feel like the latest round of 3D-mania is just as much of a gimmick as it was in the '50's and '80s, if all the 3D movies use it so subtly like Up did, I would be more tolerant of the gimmick. In Up, they just used the 3D to really bring out depths. There weren't any, "Oh my god, it's coming right at us!" moments that I can remember.

I saw a trailer (in 3D!) for Zach Galifianakis's G-Force before the movie, too.

*I have yet to see Finding Nemo and I'm very apathetic towards seeing Cars

[Bryan]

David Carradine was just found dead.  That's too bad.

[jbissell]

David Carradine was just found dead.  That's too bad.

The worst part is all the dumb jokes being made re: the circumstances.

[JonFromMaplewood]

Just watched the Townes Van Zandt doc "Be Here To Love Me."

I am sitting here with misty eyes.  Beautiful.

[Pidgeon]

Just watched the Townes Van Zandt doc "Be Here To Love Me."

I am sitting here with misty eyes.  Beautiful.

Yeah, that's a great one.

[Chris L]

There's currently a lot of doubt as to whether this incompetent-looking movie is real.   I'd say one look at the "MRI scanner" and the ceiling fan above it would indicate... noooo.    Here's an alleged interview with the writer/director where he claims the budget was $5 million.  

A big update on After Last Season! It's playing in real cinemas starting this Friday.

Austin TX, Rochester NY, North Aurora IL, and Lancaster CA FOT, please check it out and report back! I don't remember the last movie that seemed this mysterious.

Here's a review. It sounds for all the world like someone trying to engender a Tommy Wiseau-esque cult following.   I too have Wiseau-esque ambitions, but they're pretty much limited to putting my feet up on things all the time.  

[Bryan]

Thanks, Chris L. I can't decide if I'm disappointed that the trailer wasn't a canny teaser for something hilarious and mind-blowing, or if I'm pleased that the trailer is an accurate peek at the complete film.

[Chris L]

I recently saw THE BROWNING VERSION (1951), which Criterion released a few years ago and features a pretty much flawless performance by Michael Redgrave as a stern but regretful teacher.  The film itself is about as elegantly handled and beautifully realized as could be, except (SPOILER, highlight to read -- sorry, I can't remember if this board has spoiler tags anywhere):

It's pretty hard to swallow that the student body would burst into sustained applause or even be all that sympathetic at the end of Redgrave's remorseful speech, especially since he's basically admitting he screwed up their education.

THE HANGOVER was funny too.   

[Martin]

Yeah, I really dig THE BROWNING VERSION.

Watched THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN today. Never seen it before! SPOILER ALERT: not that magnificent.

I also watched John Sayles's much more magnificent LIANNA today.

[erika]

THE HANGOVER was funny too.   

God, was it ever! So stupid and fun and FULL of Zach. I need to see it again... I keep thinking of it today and laughing out loud inappropriately. Like I said, it was full of low-brow humor but I laughed the whole time.

[Omar]

THE HANGOVER was funny too.   

God, was it ever! So stupid and fun and FULL of Zach. I need to see it again... I keep thinking of it today and laughing out loud inappropriately. Like I said, it was full of low-brow humor but I laughed the whole time.

The Hangover is kind of like Very Bad Things if the latter film was funny, had a likable cast/characters, and was not ineptly made by a Dune-crazed cretin*!  Todd Phillips is one of our finest auteurs, and he's back after the School for Scoundrels slip-up.

*Peter Berg!

[masterofsparks]

Watched THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN today. Never seen it before! SPOILER ALERT: not that magnificent.

***FILMADUMMY CONFESSION (TEXT HIDDEN TO PREVENT FURTHER SHAME):***

I prefer The Magnificent Seven to The Seven Samurai

[Pidgeon]

I'd actually consider Seven Samurai mid-tier Kurosawa. My favorite is Red Beard.

[buffcoat]

Red Bears is on TCM this week, with no commercial interruption.  Seven Samurai, too.

[Martin]

Watched THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN today. Never seen it before! SPOILER ALERT: not that magnificent.

***FILMADUMMY CONFESSION (TEXT HIDDEN TO PREVENT FURTHER SHAME):***

I prefer The Magnificent Seven to The Seven Samurai

Well, to be fair, it's only 2 hrs long.