What Was The Last Movie You Watched?

[pawineguy]

If memory serves, she has an incredible wardrobe in that movie. That movie works even though it shouldn't.

I actually like it better each time I see it. My favorite (by far) Tarantino film. And you're right, on paper the film sounds like it should be a train wreck.

 

[Fading Fast]

I actually like it better each time I see it. My favorite (by far) Tarantino film. And you're right, on paper the film sounds like it should be a train wreck.

I've only seen it once, but am looking forward to catching it again. While it won't replace "Pulp Fiction" as my favorite Tarantino film (a whole lot of craziness spilled out of Quentin's head in that one), in "Inglorious Bastards" I was impressed at how he crafted the story and atmosphere and equally impressed with Brad Pitt's performance.

 

[Big J]

I actually like it better each time I see it. My favorite (by far) Tarantino film. And you're right, on paper the film sounds like it should be a train wreck.

I hate to be contrary, but...

I absolutely hated that film the first 3 or 4 times I watched it; pretentious, ponderously scripted, totally self-conscious of the desperation reeking from the script of the neediness to be 'cool', a pastiche of cliched vignettes of characters lifted from other works, cobbled together into a plot that frankly doesn't stand up to rudimentary logical analysis...
In fact, it actually made me angry. I felt insulted that Tarantino thinks I'm that stupid.

However, I have learned that if I only watch the scenes that include Brad Pitt's character, not only is the film an acceptable length, but it makes much more sense and is enjoyable.

 

[Touchofevil]

I am not as big a fan of Inglorious Basterds as many appear to be. I did enjoy Christoph Waltz' performance, but that is about it. Maybe another viewing would change my mind.
:ad

 

[Touchofevil]

The last hour of "Watchmen" and now "Casino."

 

[Fading Fast]

The last hour of "Watchmen" and now "Casino."

But football is starting.

 

[dh66]

"Hold That Ghost" (1941)
Abbott and Costello.....'nuff said.

 

[Touchofevil]

But football is starting.

And it is on, but I cannot stand the Niners nor am I a big fan of the Steelers.

Go Steelers!

 

[LizzieMaine]

Just finished screening a fascinating collection of home movies compiled by a 91 year old gentleman whose story was even more interesting than the films. He was raised on the Penobscot Indian reservation, and was drafted into World War 2 as an eighteen-year-old, despite his objections to having to fight for a country that denied his people the right to vote. But he served, nonetheless, as a combat medic -- with his very first overseas assignment being Omaha Beach. He came home, found that no one would give him a job, and immediately reenlisted in the Army, where he served in Austria and married an Austrian woman. He served for the next twenty years in the Army and the Air Force, passing thru combat duty in the Korean War, and finally moved back to Maine where he took over his family's business, a large tent which sold baskets and moccasins to tourists, and operated it until 1999. He is now rebuilding his family home, which appears in many of the films, as well as an enormous wooden teepee which served as the reservation gift shop. He is, by far, the jauntiest 91 year old I've ever met, and a pretty good filmmaker besides.

 

[AmateisGal]

Just finished screening a fascinating collection of home movies compiled by a 91 year old gentleman whose story was even more interesting than the films. He was raised on the Penobscot Indian reservation, and was drafted into World War 2 as an eighteen-year-old, despite his objections to having to fight for a country that denied his people the right to vote. But he served, nonetheless, as a combat medic -- with his very first overseas assignment being Omaha Beach. He came home, found that no one would give him a job, and immediately reenlisted in the Army, where he served in Austria and married an Austrian woman. He served for the next twenty years in the Army and the Air Force, passing thru combat duty in the Korean War, and finally moved back to Maine where he took over his family's business, a large tent which sold baskets and moccasins to tourists, and operated it until 1999. He is now rebuilding his family home, which appears in many of the films, as well as an enormous wooden teepee which served as the reservation gift shop. He is, by far, the jauntiest 91 year old I've ever met, and a pretty good filmmaker besides.

This sounds absolutely fascinating!

 

[LizzieMaine]

He's also a writer -- and has a book out on his wartime experiences. http://charlesnormanshay.com/index.html

 

[AmateisGal]

Blood Alley with John Wayne and Lauren Bacall. Meh. I wasn't too impressed.

And since I'm bedridden again (darn rheumatoid arthritis!), I'm watching one of my favorites, Von Ryan's Express.

 

[Benzadmiral]

"Hold That Ghost" (1941)
Abbott and Costello.....'nuff said.

I grew up with the A & C comedies on local TV on Sunday mornings, along with the Bowery Boys films; and the first horror film I recall watching was Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. That said, I think I've outgrown their shtick. The "Who's On First?" routine is still funny, though. And the young Richard Carlson startled me. He's always reminded me of Hugh Marlowe, who played great American detective Ellery Queen on TV in the '50s, and who was the authors' favorite actor for the role. In HTG, his scholar's air and glasses put me very much in mind of Ellery. (Imagine if the Golden Era had featured an EQ film with Carlson as Ellery and, I dunno, maybe James Gleason as his father the Inspector!)

Great hats, too. Abbott in particular rocked his thin ribbon fedoras.

 

[Stand By]

"Beast Of No Nation" - saw it premiered on Saturday as part of TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).
Fantastic. It stars Idris Elba (who is brilliant), but really, the lead child actor steals the show - he's amazing. He has such a great range and was so completely convincing, I forgot he was even acting.
It's a tale about Africa's child soldiers and is all too sad and all too common. But it's really worth watching and is beautifully shot and made.
It will be out on Netflix very soon - which would be good as the subtitle function would be helpful to cut through the accents but I'm very glad I saw it on the big screen. It reminds us to be grateful that we live in a peaceful part of the world.
Highly recommended.

 

[Fading Fast]

"Diplomacy" a French film about the diplomatic struggles the Swedish diplomat to France and the German General in charge of Paris engage in as the Germans are about to pull out of Paris as the Allies advance. The General's orders are to "level" Paris to the ground and the Swedish diplomat argues for the General to disobey his orders to do the right thing for Paris, mankind and history.

From a historical accuracy point of view, I think, a lot of this is conjecture - and we all know the outcome from the start anyway. But the joy in this one is watching these two men engage in an intense battle of wills, wit and philosophy as the storm around them grows and the clock ticks down. I enjoyed this "little" movie that mainly takes place in one room - the General's office - and has minimal special effects (other than those required to set the atmosphere of a city about to be recaptured) more than most big-budget pictures. This is a story and dialogue movie at its best - you become engrossed in the arguments, you feel each character's intensity, you are pained as the General leans one way and encourage as he is swayed back the other. I would swap ten big budget superhero movies and ten by-the-numbers rom-coms for just one movie like this.

For our WWII buffs out there (hardly limited to, but including Lizzie, AmateisGal and Worf) - I think you will really enjoy this one.

 

[ChiTownScion]

Black Mass. Depp gave an absolutely chilling performance as South Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger. And he really conveyed the point that there is nothing noble, romantic, or honorable about the man.

But the more contemptible individual was FBI Special Agent John Connolly, played by Joel Edgerton. Joe Pesci's Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas was Francis of Assisi in comparison.

 

[pawineguy]

I hate to be contrary, but...

I absolutely hated that film the first 3 or 4 times I watched it; pretentious, ponderously scripted, totally self-conscious of the desperation reeking from the script of the neediness to be 'cool', a pastiche of cliched vignettes of characters lifted from other works, cobbled together into a plot that frankly doesn't stand up to rudimentary logical analysis...
In fact, it actually made me angry. I felt insulted that Tarantino thinks I'm that stupid.

However, I have learned that if I only watch the scenes that include Brad Pitt's character, not only is the film an acceptable length, but it makes much more sense and is enjoyable.

I understand where you are coming from, I have the ability to suspend some of my normal standards and just enjoy the ride in this type of film. I do agree with you about Pitt, this role and Burn After Reading are my two favorites in his career.

 

[pawineguy]

Black Mass. Depp gave an absolutely chilling performance as South Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger. And he really conveyed the point that there is nothing noble, romantic, or honorable about the man.

But the more contemptible individual was FBI Special Agent John Connolly, played by Joel Edgerton. Joe Pesci's Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas was Francis of Assisi in comparison.

Looking forward to seeing this, another story where fact is far more interesting than fiction.

 

[Stand By]

Looking forward to seeing this, another story where fact is far more interesting than fiction.

Netflix has a newly-released documentary on Bulger - I saw it at the weekend. It was very good. Tragically sad indeed for one of the principle witnesses - who got the last word in. Posthumously.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I followed the real-life Bulger saga for decades in the Boston Globe -- I don't know if any movie can really do justice to the twisted depths of the tale. I do hope, though, that they replicate what was for a very long time the Globe's stock photo of Whitey --