Last Movie You Saw, Name & Review Movie • Page 204

Finally Century is putting some respect on Nic Cage

 

Randy Newman: At the Odeon - 8.5/10
I've seen a couple of reviews calling this bland, but as a 50-minute Laserdisc rip of Randy Newman playing his best work to a crowd having drinks in a dimly lit, intimate venue, it's perhaps the coziest thing I've ever watched. I started with albums like Sail Away, Good Old Boys, and Little Criminals, but if I was making a suggestion to newcomers curious about his music, I might just tell them to give this a watch. Live at the Odeon focuses on that period with added personality and banter between songs with guest musicians Linda Ronstadt and Ry Cooder. I'm just such a sucker for this guy and for the aesthetics of this 40-year-old concert film. It's great to hear a crowd laughing and singing along to Newman's uniquely sardonic and beautiful songwriting. Available to watch for free here.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind - 8.5/10
So, so close to being great, and in most measures of the word, it is. What Spielberg was able to put on screen here, particularly in the last 30 minutes or so, feels unbelievably realistic now, let alone for 45 years ago. The script is dense and slowly paced, but full of moments that can be terrifying, funny, or dramatic, all in a film that manages to transcend those genre descriptors due to Spielberg's sheer storytelling ability. Although Roy's fate is unexpected and earned, the one thing that holds this one back for me is the somewhat unresolved plot line with his family. It's not enough to bring the film down much, but it's slightly bothersome in an otherwise unique and well-rounded sci-fi classic.

Young Frankenstein - 7.5/10
Higher highs and more misses than Spaceballs, but that could simply be due to the laughs per minute ratio in this thing. Even when a punchline occasionally lands flat, this is a film that gets by on the sheer coziness of its sets (largely due to the way it respects its source material as opposed to mocking it) and charm of its all-star cast. This film ends with one of the funniest dick jokes ever put to film. Stating the obvious, but Brooks is simply one of the best to ever do it.

The Watchers - 4.5/10
It seems the apple doesn't fall far from the tree as the directorial debut of Ishana Night Shyamalan features interesting ideas (likely part of the film's source material) and some strong direction (not to mention gorgeous cinematography), but a script filled with hamfisted dialogue and execution. Lots of Dakota Fanning talking to herself, one particularly exposition-heavy phone call, and largely humorless performances from the film's cast undercuts what at times feels like a uniquely dark fairy tale. There are pieces to be appreciated here, and the younger Shyamalan definitely has a future in the industry, but she'll need to sharpen her writing skills before crafting the kind of distinct classics her father is known for.

Skinamarink - 10/10
I've written about this one enough, so I'll just say it tickles me to complain about Lynch being confusing or boring and then try to convince anyone who will listen that this is one of the most innovative and scariest films of the past 20 years lol. I adore it and I notice something new every time I watch it. The Blair Witch Project of the 2020s.

 

in what world is Lynch boring tho?

 

The world of Inland Empire lol (but not much else to be fair)

 

oh shit you right

what a slog to get through even if the first five minutes are awesome

 

the ending is also really great

it’s just most of what’s in between that tests even my patience

 

Yep. Parts of that film are very rad. It's just in desperate need of stronger editing imo.

 

i unironically love IE, and while it was long and confusing to get into at first, repeat viewings after reading several interpretations of how everything went down makes it a lot more enjoyable.

 

duly noted

I’ll do my research before watching it again

 

A Quiet Place: Day One - 7.5/1

damn, all that for a slice of pizza?

in all seriousness, a charming deviation from the formula of the last two films. Lupita killed it, ofc. if i were in that scenario, however, i would simply not have a cat, lol.

 

A lot of times, satire this knife-edge can be really tied to its era and lose bite over time. This movie though? More viciously on-point now than ever.

There are shots from this that have literally been the subject of my nightmares.

I honestly think this has a claim to the greatest comedy of all time. And it's absolutely the best parody of all time. The greatest evidence that to do a parody/spoof well, you need to love and understand what you're lampooning. It's what all those Epic Movie pieces of shit never got.

 

Saw Pig last night and A Quiet Place: Day One today and holy shit sign me up for anything this man directs. I LOVED both of them. Moments of quiet beauty, moments of heart-rending catharsis, and plenty to think about.

 

Love PIG

 

still need to see it and have my heart broken

 

I don't know how I managed to go 3 years without finding out what it was about but I am so glad I did.

 

Paterson - 4/5

is Adam Driver the best actor currently working?

 

He is up there in terms of American actors. Joaquin Phoenix, Michelle Williams, and Julianne Moore are some others in the conversation.

 

Paterson is close to my heart.

 

How does it compare to Marriage Story?

 

I like it more personally.

 

how come?

 

I could just relate much more to it than marriage story.

 

Josh said its because your not married

 

Fucking Josh.

 

Brooks is absolutely one of the best, and while I think his general batting average is higher than ZAZ...I think Airplane takes best comedy of all-time for me. I also think Naked Gun rivals Mel's best, at least the first one.