New at the cinema (subjective spoilers/one word reviews)

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pdg
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Post by pdg »

The End of the Tour - best film I've seen in 2015, despite having the deplorable Jesse Eisenberg in it. Jason Segel is a bit better. The strength lies in the dialog and the interplay between the characters. Likely Oscar contender.

pdg
Posts: 399
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:37 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by pdg »

Wild - Reese Witherspoon throws down a great performance. The story with flashbacks was engrossing. But the feminism was a bit much, with the uneven, unrealistic portrayal of all the male characters.

pdg
Posts: 399
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:37 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by pdg »

The Homesman - best western since True Grit, but very bleak.

half-n-half
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Post by half-n-half »

pdg wrote:Hunger Games 3.1 - prettymuch a total shitfest -bad acting, bad script, bad editing/directing.

Foxcatcher - mostly disappointing. Very slooooow moving, but good acting.




Agreed re: hunger games. Total shitfest

pdg
Posts: 399
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:37 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by pdg »

Hunger Games 3.1 - prettymuch a total shitfest -bad acting, bad script, bad editing/directing.

Foxcatcher - mostly disappointing. Very slooooow moving, but good acting.

pdg
Posts: 399
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:37 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by pdg »

The Way He Looks (Brazilian 2015 Oscar entry) - a blind teenager struggles for his independence, his sexuality and his identity.

Citizen Four - very eye opening documentary about Edward Snowden and the lack of privacy/freedom we all have. It will make you question your internet and smartphone practices. Possible Best Documentary.

Force Majeure (Swedish 2015 Oscar entry) - gorgeous shots with funky, un- gorgeous people.

Rosewater - Jon Stewart's biopic about a Persian/Canadian journalist imprisoned in Tehran. Good, but cheeky at times.

half-n-half
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Post by half-n-half »

pdg wrote:Gone Girl - possible Oscar buzz film from David Fincher (The Social Network). This film starts off slow, and eventually moves into a thought-provoking mystery about relationships and the images we try to convey and protect. A bit like Chicago with spinning the media. Rosamund Pike should get a best actress award or two. Overlook some of the plot holes (the mystery isn't the real point), and this film will have you thinking for days.
Felt like they should have spent more time developing her character, her crazy. She was fun. She could have done a lot more damage. plot holes. Was his sister Nora from Leftovers?

1 limp red vine.

half-n-half
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Post by half-n-half »

Force Majeure - This movie gets 4 skis up!

pdg
Posts: 399
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Location: San Diego, CA

Post by pdg »

St. Vincent - fairly predictable, cliched film about a grumpy old neighbor and the young family next door.

The Theory of Everything - quite possibly the Best Picture of the year. Hits almost everything right. Eddie Redmayne's portrayal of Stephen Hawking might get him Best Actor.

pdg
Posts: 399
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:37 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by pdg »

Laggies - mediocre chic flick, with some good messages about life after high school, marriages, and futures - and whether to follow that path or carve out on your own.

White Bird in a Blizzard - decent mystery film about the disappearance of a mother and teenage girl's discovery about her parents.

Whiplash - intense film about a young jazz drummer at the country's topmusic school, with competition that can rival any sports film. J.K. Simmons may very well have the Best Supporting Actor award locked.

pdg
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Post by pdg »

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - this is the most original film I have seen this year. Alejandro González Iñárritu's latest film about a washed up action film actor (Michael Keaton) directing and starring in his own Broadway production. Lots of surrealism/magical realism used throughout.

half-n-half
Posts: 2567
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2003 2:31 am

Post by half-n-half »

pdg wrote:Gone Girl - possible Oscar buzz film from David Fincher (The Social Network). This film starts off slow, and eventually moves into a thought-provoking mystery about relationships and the images we try to convey and protect. A bit like Chicago with spinning the media. Rosamund Pike should get a best actress award or two. Overlook some of the plot holes (the mystery isn't the real point), and this film will have you thinking for days.
hmm. maybe i'll give it a go. thanks.

pdg
Posts: 399
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:37 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by pdg »

The Judge - contrived, cliche and predictable father/son, boy leaves small town film. Felt like a Lifetime Channel movie; good cast with poor performances. 5/10

Lilting - Chinese/English film from the UK. About language and culutral differences, and about opening communication vs. saying the wrong things. 8/10

pdg
Posts: 399
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:37 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by pdg »

Gone Girl - possible Oscar buzz film from David Fincher (The Social Network). This film starts off slow, and eventually moves into a thought-provoking mystery about relationships and the images we try to convey and protect. A bit like Chicago with spinning the media. Rosamund Pike should get a best actress award or two. Overlook some of the plot holes (the mystery isn't the real point), and this film will have you thinking for days.

half-n-half
Posts: 2567
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2003 2:31 am

Post by half-n-half »

Annabelle - scary scenes. Pretty much a scared shitless audience. Audible (ok, loud) gasps and screams, and some cursing. Who me?

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