Movies

Bennnnn said:
Been trying to catch up on the big films I missed over the past…almost decade? First up was Birdman. I loved the feel of the movie. The one shot trickery was really nice and I think the drum score just added so much. But looking back on it, did it make a huge impact on me from a story perspective? Not as much.

I’m about to finish The Irishman. I never thought I’d have time to watch such a long movie but I’ve found the time. I’m at the last half hour now, but won’t be able to finish till tonight. I enjoy it, especially from like a big director getting to do what he wants.

I’m not sure what to check out next. I was thinking Shape of Water. Never saw that one either. Or Blackkklansman.
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I detest Birdman. In the sub genre of surrealist films that focus on malcontent creative figures, it just feels so overwrought and up its own ass.

I saw The Irishman at the Belasco during its limited theatrical release and the experience was incantatory. Scenes that would’ve been shortened for run time (like that 10 minute car ride where all the characters comment on the fish odor) are allowed to flow to full comedic fruition. The final gala where tensions come to a boil is incredible. Such a sad, weird movie.
 
David A. said:
I detest Birdman. In the sub genre of surrealist films that focus on malcontent creative figures, it just feels so overwrought and up its own ass.
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I've only seen it once, but I think I was too distracted by the showy filmmaking and the score to think about the film on any deeper level.
 
Had a good stretch of foreign language films today.

Evil Dead Trap is a late 80's supernatural splatter jam out of Japan. Clear homages to Raimi and Argento, but staunchly its own thing.

boxd.it

A ★★★★ review of Evil Dead Trap (1988)

What a trip! For a film rife with homages (e.g., Raimi [obv] and Argento) this truly stands on its own in the splatter-filled halls of true horror classics. Striking sets, a veritable buffet of practical effects (Shinichi Wakasa, Takashi Ito), and ensnaring cinematography (Lady Snowblood's...
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Satan's Slaves 2: Communion is an original Indonesian horror offering from Joko Anwar, director of Impetigore and the 2017 remake of the 1980 cult classic(?) Satan's Slave. I really like how he was able take the lore of the first and build it into a larger, more diabolical context while not forgetting to keep the supernatural horrors aflowing. Super solid sequel with potential for more to come!

boxd.it

A ★★★½ review of Satan's Slaves 2: Communion (2022)

Pretty damn bold of Joko Anwar to not only make a solid remake but then expand on it with a wholly original sequel that's also pretty damn good. Satan's Slaves 2: Communion picks up some time after the first left off with Rini and family making a new life while living in a wayward apartment...
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Lastly, checked out Neptune Frost, a Rwandan Afrofuturist sci-fi musical. Really enjoyed it!

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Neptune Frost (2021)

In the hilltops of Burundi, a group of escaped coltan miners form an anti-colonialist computer hacker collective. From their camp in an otherworldly e-waste dump, they attempt a takeover of the authoritarian regime exploiting the region's natural resources – and its people. When an intersex...
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Bennnnn said:
Been trying to catch up on the big films I missed over the past…almost decade? First up was Birdman. I loved the feel of the movie. The one shot trickery was really nice and I think the drum score just added so much. But looking back on it, did it make a huge impact on me from a story perspective? Not as much.
Click to expand...
David A. said:
I detest Birdman. In the sub genre of surrealist films that focus on malcontent creative figures, it just feels so overwrought and up its own ass.
Click to expand...
kvetcha said:
I've only seen it once, but I think I was too distracted by the showy filmmaking and the score to think about the film on any deeper level.
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Regarding Birdman, I've also seen it once but I remember enjoying it. The cast did a good job - particularly Michael Keaton. And not sure if I interpreted this wrong but I felt like it's written as his own reflection of his own career being a superhero actor (Batman or in this case Birdman) and never living up to it again. At least that was my impression.

Regarding the one-shot technique. I think with these one shot movies - I think the intent is to build intensity and anxiety and I thought it worked pretty well. Hitchcock's Rope did this really well. And Russian Ark - but I thought that one was really boring.
What I'm really saying is, I need to see it again and I had forgotten about that movie but this is a good reminder to watch.
 
Watched Decision to Leave over the weekend. This one I really enjoyed a lot. It's directed by Park Chan-Wook who did Oldboy and the rest of the vengeance series. This one is a bit more subdued in feel but is totally inspired by Hitchcock - almost felt like a modern Vertigo (which I love) - so it's right up my alley. Might need to rewatch again to pickup some of the details from the 2nd half but on my first watch, I highly recommend.

I watched Millennium Mambo - which I've meant to see for a long time because I've seen the intro of the movie referenced somewhere and it looked really interesting.
The style of the movie / vibe is a bit Wong Kar Wai - particularly the color scheme and lighting and it's overall just really dream-like. However, story-wise, it felt like it was missing something but maybe that's the point? It's a bit of a slice of life movie. Overall its not bad - worth a watch.
 
zomgbear said:
Watched Decision to Leave over the weekend. This one I really enjoyed a lot. It's directed by Park Chan-Wook who did Oldboy and the rest of the vengeance series. This one is a bit more subdued in feel but is totally inspired by Hitchcock - almost felt like a modern Vertigo (which I love) - so it's right up my alley. Might need to rewatch again to pickup some of the details from the 2nd half but on my first watch, I highly recommend.

I watched Millennium Mambo - which I've meant to see for a long time because I've seen the intro of the movie referenced somewhere and it looked really interesting.
The style of the movie / vibe is a bit Wong Kar Wai - particularly the color scheme and lighting and it's overall just really dream-like. However, story-wise, it felt like it was missing something but maybe that's the point? It's a bit of a slice of life movie. Overall its not bad - worth a watch.
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Probably in my top 10 of the year. The core of the movie is less slice of life and more of a romance. A twisted one, but that's his MO lately.
 
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