Return of the RECENT VIEWING

[Sam Stone]

An incredible movie - both heartbreaking and heartwarming - about what happened - and is still happening in Syria.

[Jimbly]

Geez, I haven't posted a new review on this thread in months, but is no one going to review this?


The Irishman

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody, got that out of the way. So we all sat down dutifully around the TV last night and partook of Scorcese's latest. His first mob movie since The Departed in 2006. I'll not bother with plot summary but I will say that Frank Sheeran's account of offing Jimmy Hoffa, and other Mafia hits are debated fiercely on the internet. There's absolutely no proof that any of this happened folks, And Sheeran himself is no longer around to answer questions. So with that in your head, just keep an open mind when you watch, strap yourself in, get over the CGI-faces which are on display for over half of the film, and you should have no problem enjoying the ride. DeNiro is in almost every scene, Pesci underplays, and Pacino steals almost every moment that he's in. Harvey Keitel is even in a few parts. It's three-and-a-half hours, but I wasn't bored much. Since this is the last time (?) we'll see something like this from these guys, we should be thankful it's around. I'm not going to heap effusive praise on the project like most of the reviews I'm been reading, but I will say I had a good time, and will probably watch it again before Christmas. It'll be interesting to see how the academy reacts next year come nomination (and awards) time. I don't know if I enjoyed it more than Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (and I had my issues with that picture as well), but I just saw it, so my thoughts on the two may change once I've seen both of them again.

Still got an hour to go, loving it do far. I'm not the biggest Marty fan but this is great.

Finished it last night and will watch it again on my big telly when back home. Wonderful performances from every single person in the film. Pesci is extraordinary good, the rest are just magnificent.

Oscars are waiting.

[Six String]

I'm going to watch it today sometme but as it s 3.5 hrs long I haven't decided when.

[The Prof]

I was decidedly underwhelmed. It was all just so matter-of-fact and lacking in any real drama. I watched it to the end but when you're aware that it's one persons story and it may not be true I didn't feel in any way engaged with the whole thing.

[Minnie the Minx]

Discovered more comedy on Netflix - Tom Segora is funny as fuck and Norm MacDonald’s stand up is also worth seeking out.

[Matt Wilson]

Saw Once Upon a Time in Hollywood again last night. Liked it a lot better. I'm probably going to say it was my fave film of 2019.

[Sneelock]

I'm not sure it's my favorite of the year but it just might be my favorite Tarantino movie.

[Matt Wilson]

I don't really see that many modern movies anymore. There's The Irishman, Ford vs Ferrari and uh... I dunno, Parasite? I've seen the end-of-the-year lists and I can't even recall the names right now.

[Diamond Dog]

I watched this earlier on BBC2 :



It very nearly makes an appearance those "Top Ten Films" I participate in. Maybe one time it will.

The plot is somewhat 'light' but it is shot so beautifully that that almost makes up for it. It evokes the Swinging Sixties as well as any film of the time. And Whilst Steve McQueen is marvellous Faye Dunaway is, quite frankly, otherwordly. And she can act too!

[Tom Waits For No One]

Freewill or predestination, all in a smashing animation.

[Jimbly]

1917.

Technically brilliant but a bit uninvolving. The nature of the premise doesn't lend itself to investing much in the characters. Better than Dunkirk though.

[Minnie the Minx]

I really enjoyed Booksmart the other week though I was surprised at how ‘teen movie’ it felt, which I didn’t pick up at all from reviews. I also watched the first series of Adie Bryant’s comedy show, the name of which escapes me but which was also totally watchable.

[Minnie the Minx]

I watched Killing Eve for the first time, and really enjoyed it - also watched a couple of episodes of Crashing, which has some joyous moments of cringing recognition.

[The Modernist]

Whilst the sub-Finscher gimmicky direction was something of an unwelcome distraction, this was highly watchable with continual twists and turns to keep you guessing and engaged. Quality commercial genre filmmaking of the type that's quite rare from Hollywood these days.

[The Modernist]

I don't really see that many modern movies anymore. There's The Irishman, Ford vs Ferrari and uh... I dunno, Parasite? I've seen the end-of-the-year lists and I can't even recall the names right now.

What did you think of the The Irishman Matt?
I gotta say I was really disappointed. The acclaim is baffling (for me anyway).

edit: Don't worry Matt...I've read you thoughts on it at the top of the thread.

[Jimbly]

A Hidden Life.

Brilliant.

[Six String]

(Re)watching Down By Law (Jim Jarmusch). i own very few movies but I own quite a few by Jarmusch.

[Robert]

I was decidedly underwhelmed. It was all just so matter-of-fact and lacking in any real drama. I watched it to the end but when you're aware that it's one persons story and it may not be true I didn't feel in any way engaged with the whole thing.

Exactly my feeling too!

[Minnie the Minx]

I watched the first 15 mins of The Last Black Man in San Francisco which was bloody dreadful.

[Jimbo]

My wife asked me if I wanted to see "Downton Abbey" the movie. I slapped on a smile and said, "Of course!" Craftily playing the "Okay, I'll go by myself," card I went with her to see the damn movie.

Louder than the TV show it wasn't bad. The stars are the sets and the props. I just love those old cars!

One Jimbo alert. An unsuccessful attempt to assassinate the king by an Irish republican prompts a character to say that she didn't believe in "conspiracy theories." That is an anachronism. The term was invented by the CIA after the JFK killing to describe the spate of unofficial theories left in the actual conspiracy's wake. My Jimbo says this is a favor to the current MI5 to remind viewers to disbelieve conspiracy theories. Maybe MI5 helped with the financing.