Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Apr 10, 2021 10:20:06 GMT -5
Man, I thought me railroading Phantom into watching world cinema classics would be seen as cruel. Little did I know of Drac's tactical genius. Oh, and speaking of Dracula, my review of Beyond the Hills. Beyond the Hills is the story of two young women who grew up at an orphanage together, coming together (and apart) again as adults in modern Romania. Alina (Cristina Flutur) was adopted by German parents, while Voichiţa (Cosmina Stratan) stayed to become a nun at an Orthodox convent. Now, Alina has returned to bring Voichita to Germany, but the latter's religious convictions drive a wedge between them, which only becomes more pronounced as the convent begins to more directly intervene. From this set up, I was expecting a slow, ruminative character study of two women whose lives have diverged struggling to re-connect. And I sort of got that. Beyond the Hills is a very thoughtful character study, one with excellent performances from Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan, which suggest layers of longing and conflict in subtle ways. But this is no slow rumination. Quite the contrary, the story here really moves, building from that core character conflict into something bigger and more dramatic which I dare not spoil. Suffice it to say, this is more than just a movie about two people, it's about the authority religion carries within Romania (and around the world), the responsibilities of the faithful, and how evil can emerge and flourish. There's a lot of essays to be found in Beyond the Hills, but just as a story, I found this enthralling to watch. I was actually reminded of, of all things, a Quentin Tarantino quote, about how a lot of movies don't really have stories, they have a scenario. There is a premise for a movie, and that ends up carrying all the action. Beyond the Hills has a real story, one which evolves and grows in fascinating, if harrowing ways. Aiding the film greatly is the subtly breathtaking direction. This isn't a very showy movie in its technique, but if you take a second to really admire the frame you're often rewarded with stunningly beautiful cinematography. The convent itself is beautifully rendered and the Romanian plains look fantastic. Cristian Mungiu often opts for very dense ensemble staging, the frame packed with actors throughout the scene. It can be a lot to take in, but Mungiu allows the camera to really linger and give us time to absorb the story. And this technique becomes extremely rewarding in the film's final minutes. The film on the whole is brilliant, blending a restrained style with a heavily dramatic story that gives a lot to chew on while also just being riveting cinema. One of the best films I've seen in recent memory. A+Great review, where did you watch it?
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IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Apr 10, 2021 11:32:25 GMT -5
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PG Cooper
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Post by PG Cooper on Apr 10, 2021 12:13:29 GMT -5
Great review, where did you watch it? Criterion Channel.
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Apr 10, 2021 13:00:13 GMT -5
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thebtskink
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It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.
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Post by thebtskink on Apr 10, 2021 19:22:09 GMT -5
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1godzillafan
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Post by 1godzillafan on Apr 10, 2021 19:30:16 GMT -5
I'll bite on VelociPastor. I've been curious.
I'll see where my mood takes me on the other. Though Santa Jaws sounds tempting.
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Apr 10, 2021 19:34:29 GMT -5
Oh shit Money Plane is on Hulu?
Agony and the Ecstasy might have to wait a bit.
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1godzillafan
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Post by 1godzillafan on Apr 10, 2021 19:40:24 GMT -5
Neverending has been hounding me to watch Money Plane for ages. I finally relented a few weeks ago, and...wow, what a movie!
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Dracula
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Post by Dracula on Apr 10, 2021 22:58:20 GMT -5
Dracula Shiva Baby (2021)Coming 2 America (2021)Nobody (2021)Supervized (2019) Okay, so after doing some research it looks like those recommendations are slightly less troll-ish than I had thought (did not realize Shiva Baby was a real movie and not just some youtuber nonsense Neverending was bringing in to get a rise out of people). If Neverending wants to throw in a couple more options (because I have no access to Coming 2 America or Nobody) for me I will add some less than three hour recommendations on there to make the round run more smoothly.
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Neverending
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Post by Neverending on Apr 11, 2021 23:41:33 GMT -5
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Apr 12, 2021 0:51:25 GMT -5
There’s no review for Overlord on your website. If you can’t watch Coming 2 America nor Supersized, maybe give that one a shot. PhantomKnight liked it — and it’s on Hulu. Ahem
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PG Cooper
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Post by PG Cooper on Apr 12, 2021 18:46:51 GMT -5
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Dracula
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Post by Dracula on Apr 12, 2021 19:04:03 GMT -5
throw in a couple more options There’s no review for Overlord on your website. If you can’t watch Coming 2 America nor Supersized, maybe give that one a shot. PhantomKnight liked it — and it’s on Hulu. There’s also no review for Ammonite on your site. It’s also on Hulu. Or if you rather watch a documentary, 1godzillafan can vouch for the Ren & Stimpy one. It’s available for Free on Vudu. I can do Ammonite, and for the record I caught up with Overlord a couple of 31 Days of Halloween ago, it's alright. Three more for you Son of Saul Monos All About My Mother
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1godzillafan
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Post by 1godzillafan on Apr 12, 2021 19:07:46 GMT -5
If he's left the board for good, you have to watch 365 Days.
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PhantomKnight
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Post by PhantomKnight on Apr 12, 2021 19:45:34 GMT -5
Alright. Sorry, the past week and a half or so, I've been...going down a rabbit hole/caught up in planning something of a personal/passion project with a fellow writer. It's just kept me occupied/single-minded.
Anyway, from your list, I can do......let's say, The Seventh Seal.
For you:
Nomadland (not sure if this is easily accessible to you, but just in case)
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1godzillafan
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Post by 1godzillafan on Apr 12, 2021 19:54:35 GMT -5
FUCK!
We almost had him watching 365 Days!
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PG Cooper
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Post by PG Cooper on Apr 12, 2021 21:22:41 GMT -5
Sorry, the past week and a half or so, I've been...going down a rabbit hole/caught up in planning something of a personal/passion project with a fellow writer. It's just kept me occupied/single-minded. For you: Nomadland (not sure if this is easily accessible to you, but just in case) All good. I will for sure be watching Nomadland this week, but given I was planning on watching that this week regardless, I might do another one of these picks for my official entry. Which based on availability, is either gonna be American Animals, A Goofy Movie, or Lord of War.
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Neverending
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Post by Neverending on Apr 12, 2021 21:28:55 GMT -5
Sorry, the past week and a half or so, I've been...going down a rabbit hole/caught up in planning something of a personal/passion project with a fellow writer. It's just kept me occupied/single-minded. For you: Nomadland (not sure if this is easily accessible to you, but just in case) All good. I will for sure be watching Nomadland this week, but given I was planning on watching that this week regardless, I might do another one of these picks for my official entry. Which based on availability, is either gonna be American Animals, A Goofy Movie, or Lord of War. If you pick A Goofy Movie, I’ll listen to your podcast.
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Apr 12, 2021 22:06:12 GMT -5
Just seeing Seventh Seal recommended makes me want to watch it again.
I posted this before somewhere but I've seriously considered buying the Criterion Bergman box set even though I haven't seen a good number of them, then I would make that my film project for the next year or so. I waver back and forth.
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PG Cooper
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Post by PG Cooper on Apr 14, 2021 20:49:13 GMT -5
Just seeing Seventh Seal recommended makes me want to watch it again. I posted this before somewhere but I've seriously considered buying the Criterion Bergman box set even though I haven't seen a good number of them, then I would make that my film project for the next year or so. I waver back and forth. I have the set. It rules.
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PG Cooper
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Post by PG Cooper on Apr 17, 2021 14:37:30 GMT -5
A Goofy MovieWhy did I watch this movie? "It was a film club recommendation" would be the obvious answer, but it's not like I didn't have other options. Maybe it's because if I did, Neverending said he'd listen to Ian and I's new podcast and I am a whore for attention on the internet... link here. But on some level, I did actually see this as an opportunity. A Goofy Movie is not the kind of movie that would usually enter my rotation, but it has enough of a fanbase and meme presence that I was sort of curious. I myself am quite fond of this image: And so, at the precocious age of twenty-six, I watched A Goofy Movie for the first time. After a Cronenberg-inspired nightmare sequence, the movie quickly establishes its main narrative threads: that teenage Max is embarrassed by his dad and that Max crushing on a girl named Roxanne. After a largely humiliating musical performance that Max's peers decide was actually cool and rad for some reason, Max scores a date with Roxanne to see the two's favourite rock star at a party. But Goofy fears Max is going down a bad path and decides their to spend the week on a roadtrip to go fishing. Max tells a lie so Roxanne doesn't get a new date, embarks on a wacky trip with his father, hijinks ensue. From the beginning, it's clear that despite a theatrical release, A Goofy Movie isn't really trying to compete with the prestige or grandeur of Disney animation in the traditional sense. The animation is about what you'd expect from an afternoon animated series and the stakes of the story are basically sitcom level, which makes sense given this is a sequel to the TV show Goof Troop. Thing is, this isn't inherently a bad thing. The lack of fairy tale and fantasy trappings allows for a story rooted in more mundane but relatable subject matter for teens and also allows for a bit of a quirkier sense of humour. Certain visual gags, like one involving a child about to stick a fork in an electrical socket, definitely took me off guard. And indeed, A Goofy Movie has a lot more personality than the more legitimate Disney release of 1995. Pocahontas may have way better animation and music, but it's completely lacking in character or charm. But I've largely dodged the obvious question: did I actually like A Goofy Movie? Not really. I've long noted how irksome I find Disney comedy to generally be and that holds true here. There are a couple of decent gags, but joke after joke just hit me as kinda lame if not actively annoying (looking at you, Big Foot). The movie also has multiple musical numbers which are just terrible, with awful lyrics and indistinct instrumentation. What we're left with is the story, which is certainly functional and clearly told, but is also a basic sitcom plot predicated entirely on characters not actually talking to each other. Were the movie funnier or more entertaining I wouldn't really care, but when the jokes don't work it stands out a lot more. Overall, I didn't much enjoy A Goofy Movie, though it did wear me down a little bit towards the end. Part of this might just be the unending sincerity of Goofy himself, or the fact that the movie does seem to have a pretty earnest message of love and respect between parents and their children. Bits like the fork in the road scene are also pretty fun. At the end of the day, there's no getting around the fact that this movie is rather emphatically not for me. But for the audience it is for, I guess it works okay. If I'd actually seen it as a kid I can honestly say I probably would have liked it even if I doubt it would have made much of a long term impact. Watching it as an adult? Eh, there were probably better uses of my time, but it's a harmless viewing and while I doubt always give kids movies a pass just because they'll work for kids, for some reason, I'm inclined to do so with this one. C-Neverending I'm holding you to your word.
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PhantomKnight
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Post by PhantomKnight on Apr 17, 2021 17:02:52 GMT -5
Fair enough.
But, c'mon...these are some catchy tunes.
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PG Cooper
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Post by PG Cooper on Apr 17, 2021 18:06:59 GMT -5
Fair enough. But, c'mon...these are some catchy tunes.
I can guarantee you will not change my mind on this.
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1godzillafan
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Post by 1godzillafan on Apr 17, 2021 18:18:37 GMT -5
Fair enough. But, c'mon...these are some catchy tunes.
I can guarantee you will not change my mind on this. You had your chance to watch 365 Days. You have no one to blame but yourself.
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PhantomKnight
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Post by PhantomKnight on Apr 17, 2021 18:28:55 GMT -5
Fair enough. But, c'mon...these are some catchy tunes.
I can guarantee you will not change my mind on this.
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