Film and Episodic Content Discussion Thread

Added to my list. Thanks!

 

I think “discrete charm” would be a much different story than “discreet” lol, but absolutely agree, it’s one of his best.

 

Upon the strong recommendation of a movie podcast, "The Next Picture Show," the other night I started watching the Shane Black-directed 2016 comedy, THE NICE GUYS. Knowing that Russell Crowe co-stars (and I don't imagine him good at comedy), I expected little. But what I got, at least so far is quite a lot.

The interplay between Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling (dialogue + timing + physical acting) is so much better than I would have imagined. There are several overt references to Abbott and Costello, and the comparison fits rather well. Both actors have far more range and comedic ability than I ever knew.

The film is set in 1970s L.A., making it a color/comedic L.A. noir. Surprisingly, this stylistic gumbo totally works, at least partly because LA. is and always has been self-satirizing. Irony is in the air of this made on purpose in the desert company town. There's plenty of violence here but it drives the goofy plot and is not obsessed over.The film has a slapstick vibe that just works. Films like this are wholly dependent on tone & timing, and here they got it right.

I'm inspired to revisit L.A. color noirs, comedic and purely dramatic. I feel so much affection for this genre (ie, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL; KISS KISS BANG BANG; Altman's THE LONG GOODBYE; INHERENT VICE ... the list is long).

 

(deketed)

 

I like The Nice Guys a lot too. I think it is kind of becoming a cult classic. Initially underrated and undersold.

 

Once in a while I like to watch an action movie which usually doesn’t demand that I pay special attention to every minute development. So on Sunday evening I decided to watch “John Wick” chapter 4. No detailed description needed, only one word : horrendous.

 

Can you explain "horrendous"? I'm curious about your views of this film, which generally seemed to get critical benedictions left & right simply because Keanu was in it.

 

Is that in relation to the entire franchise or a first watch? It is usually a good plan to watch series more or less in order. At least watch Chapter One first, or the rest will make no sense. And like most anthologies the first one is usually the best anyway so you can always stop there if you prefer.

Edit: I enjoyed JW4. The first one is still the best one though.

 

In the first 3 movies there were many scenes apart from fighting scenes which added to the story and introduced characters and story development. The latest one is mostly fighting scenes with non stop shooting, characters blocking bullets with their metal wrist bands, etc. Wick is outnumbered 20 to 1 most of the time, or so it seems with everyone shooting at him and he’s invincible. I realize that this was also the case in the previous 3 movies but not to the extent that’s presented in this one. It’s like watching a video game. When that’s all you see for the majority of the movie it becomes uninteresting pretty quickly. My opinion.

 

Glad you did but I didn’t. See my reply to Pharmaboy above.

 

I agree with every word, though I have yet to see #4. #1 was like a Swiss watch: perfectly designed and fitting together with tight tolerances. Every time I watch it I feel the pulse of perfect cinematic rhythm under the scenes, driving the scenes forward. The mix between dialogue/interplay and wordless violence is ideal.

That changed in #2, then even more so in #3. The mix between dialogue scenes and action shifted dramatically to the latter. That's OK on one level (this is action done & filmed extremely well); but it's Keanu's wonderfully opaque (but sympathetic) character who recruited me so strongly in #1 that I kept watching as the qquilibrium shifted in the next 2.

I remember in one of them (#3?) feeling frustrated because the two most interesting characters in this series, played by Lance Riddick & Keanu Reeves, share various action scenes together, yet have little if any dialogue together. I wanted the simple pleasure of seeing these two men interact while not on the run. I wanted to know Riddick's character's backstory. His character's high regard for John Wick was evident from #1 onward...but how did John Wick view him?

The reason I didn't see #4 has nothing to do with any of the above. I was having prolonged migraines that made seeing a loud kinetic film like that impossible. I will get to it sooner or later. All to say I don't view this wonderful series as being degraded and stripped of quality with each successive entry in the series. It's not nearly that simple. More like each new film moves a little farther away from certain perpetual cinematic pleasures, for me at least: character development, motivation, dialogue and interplay.

 

Black Mirror ep. 1 was mid and I fell asleep during the 2nd one... this is not an auspicious beginning for the rest of the season...

 

I was extremely impressed with a number of the original BLACK MIRROR episodes (Seasons 1-5). But it was also evident that there wasn't good consistency over all episodes. Some were astounding while others were considerably less impressive.

Still, when BLACK MIRROR was good, it was extremely good. Given that, I'd be happy to get 2 or 3 excellent episodes out of the 5 new ones...

 

This was my assessment as well.

It's very good at being a John Wick movie, but the formula is beyond tired at this point and what was once exciting was like watching paint dry this time out.

 

I found the 1st film, JOHN WICK, so exceptional that I sometimes wish (in a futile way) for a sequel that shows Keanu & Bridget Moynihan somehow falling in love, despite his work; his steps to end that work (plenty of conflict implicit there); her illness; and so on. It would introduce the whole crew at the assassins' hotel, but focus on interpersonal stuff just as much.

It'll never happen. Everybody's older, and in one case, deceased (R.I.P. Lance Reddick). Lance was one of my favorite actors. One time I saw him interviewed on a talk show. It was the height of his acclaim for the big character role in BOSCH (he totally nailed it). I remember being surprised at what an upbeat, happy person he appeared to be IRL.

 

I am so not the target demographic for BARBIE. But the trailer is dazzling and very droll. The opening "feet" shot is perfect.



I admire Margot Robbie. Her range and versatility are next level. The first time I really noticed her was in ONCE UPON IN HOLLYWOOD. Her turn as Sharon Tate completely took me by surprise.It felt like a different movie every time she was in a scene.

I know nothing about Barbie, the doll, but may have to see this film. Any production that brings together Greta Gerwig, Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie is pretty much a must-see IMO.

 

I'm sorry @Pharmaboy . I am usually in agreement with your movie/TV show assessments but Barbie is a hard pass for me.

 

I didn't say I'd wear pink--just that I'd probably have to see this one.

(but yes, principals aside, the material is alien to my sensibilities)

 

Not typically my thing and as much as I hate to admit it, I'm intrigued. Actually looks like it could be good. Kind of reminds me of the Truman show, but we get to see what happens when Truman gets to the real world instead of stopping the movie on the edge of the bubble... and unlike the Truman Show, this is obviously a comedy.

 

[QUOTE="Pharmaboy, post: principals aside, the material is alien to my sensibilities[/QUOTE]


Whoa ! In all seriousness PB and I’m not being facetious nor sarcastic, that’s one of the best diplomatic lines I’ve ever come upon. You may have missed your calling. Merits an Epic thumbs up.