Film and Episodic Content Discussion Thread

Discussion in 'Random Thoughts' started by purr1n, Jan 8, 2020.

  1. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    "...evisceration, cannibalism of maggot-infested corpses, depictions of suicide by multiple methods, and something involving a dachshund...there's a fair bit of [fresh] fecal matter being dropped on people's faces...."

    Guess I should add this to My List, huh? "But seriously" ... thanks for running down the flaws in this labored allegory. I didn't like things I read about it & wasn't inclined to watch. But after reading your comments, I'd rather poke barbecue skewers through my head than watch this thing.

    (Note-to-self: find a series where people poke barbecue skewers through their heads)

    PS: I HATE dubbing! I'll watch sub-titled film or video all day long, but avoid dubbed content like the plague.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  2. allegro

    allegro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2017
    Likes Received:
    637
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Florida
    I found The Platform to be depressing and a let down. Contrast Tiger King on Netflix was absorbing and a fun watch.
     
  3. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    I just can't bring myself to watch TIGER KING. I know it's popular as hell at the moment, but I can't bring myself to watch animals being misused or mistreated--and that's certainly a part of this story.

    On the subject of wacked-out true crime narrative, try EVIL GENIUS on Netflix. I'm 3 episodes in (of 4 total) & am horrified by the perversity & depravity of the people depicted. The real-life crime that sets things in motion is indescribably weird.
     
  4. allegro

    allegro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2017
    Likes Received:
    637
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Florida
    Yup watched Evil Genius a while back. Starting to run low on options to watch. Have to hit the classic movies from the forties and fifties soon.
     
  5. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    Do you have both Netflix & Amazon Prime (or another service)? If yes, hard to imagine you're really run out of stuff.

    What I'm finding w/Netflix alone is that even when I curate "My List" super-carefully, adding only movies or series that truly interest me and check out well via IMDB.com ratings--I still get a lot of above-average content that works for me until it doesn't; plus a very few movies or series that outright knock my socks off.

    There's a bell curve for content quality, like everything else...
     
  6. allegro

    allegro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2017
    Likes Received:
    637
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Florida
    Sure, Netflix, Prime and Showtime at present. Plenty of content, just finding I have checked out a lot of shows and movies that just don't interest me. I even find myself going back and watching series again like Breaking Bad I have not watched in a few years. Better Call Saul is one of the better series but this year's season is over in a few weeks. Hope there will be a new season next year.
     
  7. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    Ever try SINNER? I bogged down in Season-3, but really liked the 1st two seasons.
     
  8. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    We all feel a heightened need for diversion from shelter-in-place COVID-19 existential dread. Last night I got some relief, in spades, watching the 2011 girl kickass flick, HORIZON on Netflix. I had no hopes for this going in...what a pleasant surprise.

    There are way more big-name actors in this than you'd expect, but the clear star of the show is Gina Carano, a legit MMA star and someone absolutely capable of doing her own stunts. She kicks more ass than a proctology clinic; each punch & kick is highly believable. I never saw this woman before last night, but couldn't take my eyes off her.

    The plot is hard to follow & flat-out ludicrous, but luckily it couldn't matter less. It all got tied together in the end, along with the necks of various baddies. Yes, it's that rare flick where the girl combat expert tracks down every man who fucked her over and sends him to hell in a flaming body bag.

    I didn't realize 'til the credits rolled the director is Steven Soderberg & the script writer is Lem Dobbs, who scripted one of my all-time favorite regret-tinged revenge epics, THE LIMEY (also directed by Soderberg). These fellows know their shit.

    A reviewer said a witty & profound thing about this film: "Haywire comes close to achieving Soderbergh’s goal of creating 'a Pam Grier movie made by Alfred Hitchcock.' "

    I would rank this with other exceptional girl power films like ATOMIC BLOND, JACKIE BROWN & HANNA.

    (highly recommended)
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2020
  9. Velomane

    Velomane Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    @Pharmaboy Agreed, that’s an awesome film and Gina can truly kick ass., though I think the title is Haywire. A worthy distraction from my anxiety.
     
  10. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
  11. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    That's a killer film. Saw it when it first came out in theaters (twice), and probably 6-7 times since. IMO it's Friedkin's best film. William Peterson was amazing in it.
     
  12. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    You're so right! Name is HAYWIRE, not HORIZON.
     
  13. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    I'm 5 episodes in on another terrific "Nordic Noir" on Netflix, BORDERLINER. This Norwegian/Swedish policier is a tense, reductive thrill ride in which criminal acts & cover-ups interlink and spiral out of control.

    We start with the handsome, resolute Oslo detective who looks heroic for arresting a guilty colleague at great risk to himself. Now persona non grata in his station, he's temporarily assigned to his hometown, an outpost bordering Sweden where his brother works as a patrol officer. Several episodes later practically everyone in town is a villain or victim with tangled back stories & guilty knowledge—and the "hero" detective is up to his eyebrows in cover-ups. This story relentlessly circles the drain while examining the issue of how far one should go to protect family.

    I've never seen these actors before and IMO several are strikingly good. The main character, the Oslo detective, has a face the camera adores; he looks like every sketch ever made of Vincent van Gogh. The other lead detective, Annika, preternaturally smart & composed, also has a face the cameras can't get enough of.

    This show in which everybody ratfucks each other for the tiniest advantage, really suits my current dystopian mood. I rarely actually binge-watch streaming video, but last night watched 3 episodes in a row (a personal record). Each episode ends w/a tense, stunning plot twist that keeps you on guessing until the next episode plays out. I'm totally sucked in and loving this show. Highly recommended.
     
  14. boredpanda

    boredpanda Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2020
    Likes Received:
    251
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Sweden
    Being a Norwegian who lives in Sweden, I'm ashamed I haven't heard of this show before now. I'll be sure to check it out - thanks for the recommendation! And a recommendation for you as well, have a look at Beforeigners [IMDB], if you haven't seen it already. ;)
     
  15. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    I wish I could see that! It would require not just a subscription to Amazon Prime, but also to HBO. A lot of the content that interests me most is out of reach...
     
  16. boredpanda

    boredpanda Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2020
    Likes Received:
    251
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Sweden
    I really wish there was a "consolidated" service where you could pick and choose shows from the large group of content providers out there. I don't know what subscription terms you have, but here it's possible to sign up to a service for only 1 month, then binge watch shows from that service, and cancel. Then maybe re-subscribe again in the future when they have more programs one want to watch. I'm subscribed to Amazon Prime and Netflix myself, but had HBO for a month.
     
  17. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    You're so right. Having all these separate services is chaos. Another form of that chaos is exhibited by my otherwise amazing 77" LG OLED (which has the best picture I've ever seen): the set of streaming apps built into the TV is finite. If I become interested in a small service not currently shown in the app-set, I'm either out of luck; or if my IQ was 100 pts higher, maybe could figure out how to download that service's app to the LG (I've tried and failed at this before).

    Many small services are represented within Amazon Prime, but I found out the hard way that I can't subscribe to one of the small services by itself through Prime--I have to also subscribe to Prime. This happened to me w/Acorn TV, which costs ~7/month. But to get it, I need to also get Prime for ~13/month or whatever that is. All this despite hours on the phone talking to Prime "support" & being assured by them & email that discreet subscription to Acorn was possible (it was not).

    So your suggestion for a "consolidated" service is inspired IMO.
     
  18. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2020
  19. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Goshen, NY
    I really love Oscar Isaac--but I'm not going there.

    "this is going to suck more than Amir’s measurements" (droll!)
     
  20. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,765
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Chicago
    Don't know that its his best but its the one I've watched the most including several times in the theater. Maybe that does make it his best for me. "Sorcerer" is right up there alongside it though, and 'French Connection' a close third on the strength of Gene Hackman. I always space out and think "To Live And Die.." was directed by Michael Mann. Same time period, same vibe, same William Petersen.

    "To Live And Die.." introduced me to Willem Dafoe. Loved his character, then I went back and watched "Streets of Fire" and saw him in big rubber pants. That sealed the deal.

    Bonus points to anyone who recognizes Jane Leeves (Daphne from 'Frasier') in her absolute smoking'st role of all time.
     

Share This Page