Hanks best period was 1993-2002.

Oh oh oh. Watched Rush and loved it. Made me want to watch F1 races again. Well paced, good soundtrack (heh, there was this bit that constantly reminded me of GoT), and Daniel Bruhl deserves an Oscar for what he pulled off with Niki Lauda's part. Great, great acting.

One thing I'll rant about it though, and that is the poster for this movie as shown on IMDb. What. the. actual. fuck? This movie isn't Thor, so why the hell would you have Chris Hemsworth's face all over the fucking poster? Oh let me guess, because some marketing guru decided what? That his face would sell more, even though the movie wasn't all about him? That Daniel Bruhl isn't hot or famous enough to promote the movie? I am so fucking tired of this shit.

House Highland wrote:

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They made the right decision you go with the star who's most well known and will lure audiences in to see the movie. Daniel Bruhl is a fantastic actor but outside Germany and diehard movie fans he's not that well known.

Besides if choosing Hemsworth for the poster gets more people to see the movie isn't that a good thing?

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It's not a good thing because following this logic you are entitled to put anything on a package in order to sell it because otherwise what? People would not buy it for its actual value?

Is there no room on a poster for two characters instead of one? They didn't *have* to go with anyone, they just had to stick to the story and be fair to the actors and their work. Put them both ffs. If anyone thinks they need Hemsworth's face filling a poster to sell this movie, then they do not trust their product enough. Which is a pity, really, because they have a lot of reasons to do so. It's a solid movie, and they didn't need to mislead their audience.

American Hustle - An extremely well acted and enjoyable film once it starts to get going. Could of been doing with a little better editing as the pace during the first half of the movie dragged a little. All of the actors really brought their A game but I was really impressed with Jeremy Renner as the mayor. Oh and look out for a cool cameo, he's still got it!  I didn't love it like I did with The Fighter or Silver Linnings Playbook but IMO David O. Russel is one of the best directors around at the moment, actors seem to love him (aside from Clooney of course lol).

I'd give American Hustle four whiskeys from the Gem Saloon.

I haven't seen 12 Years A Slave yet but I've been blown away with Fassbender's performances in McQueen's movies. Michael's performance in Shame still haunts me to this day. Still can't believe he was snubbed by the Academy that year.

andrea wrote:

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I wonder... should I comment my summer movies in the winter thread? hmm

Watched 12 years a slave. I`m always very angry at these slavery stories, well not the stories but the way they are told. But gave this movie a chance. Some scenes are very hard to watch and I`m not saying it because some of those scenes were brutal... that´s history and it´s ok. It´s so goddamm terrible. Man, this was not so long ago.

Thing is I thought this would be one of those white man saves the day type of movie ( fucku Mississippi burning) but is not...although the casting was a mistake for me and not only because I think Brad Pitt suck but because you know, people has a heroic image of him. It´s ok tho, white men just helped a bit here, the least they could do.

After I finish watching I realized this movie has a claustrophobic feeling which was really good, like all the south was just one huge cotton field/plantation.

Chiwetel and the chick playing Patsey were so good.

If I have to rate I´d say 7/10 but coming from me that means nothing.

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 Have not seen this one but will as soon as I can.  Most of the South could not afford slaves.  Mostly big, rich, plantation owners who had many.  Boone Hall, which is where North and South was filmed (American version) had as many as 200 at one time, jeez, how awful.  I love the South as it is today, but yeah, it's a dark patch on our history.

12 Years A Slave is an incredible piece of filmaking, I am not ashamed to admit I teared up during a lot of scenes. The acting, score and cinematography are breathtaking. I struggle to find any flaws with the movie and I will be extremely pissed off if the Academy doesn't at least honor it with the best movie Oscar.

I give it five shots of whiskey from the Gem Saloon.

Macha wrote:

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Al Swearengen wrote:

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American Hustle - An extremely well acted and enjoyable film once it starts to get going. Could of been doing with a little better editing as the pace during the first half of the movie dragged a little. All of the actors really brought their A game but I was really impressed with Jeremy Renner as the mayor. Oh and look out for a cool cameo, he's still got it!  I didn't love it like I did with The Fighter or Silver Linnings Playbook but IMO David O. Russel is one of the best directors around at the moment, actors seem to love him (aside from Clooney of course lol).

I'd give American Hustle four whiskeys from the Gem Saloon.

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 Saw this at the cinema a couple of days ago, totally forgot about it. The acting was fantastic, but the story itself felt weak and the movie was at least half an hour longer than it needed to be. Renner was very good, Christian Bale also, Bradley Cooper (his hair made me laugh every time he was on the screen) and Jennifer Lawrence were sooo good they were delicious. Wasn't thrilled with Amy Adams though, then again the writing didn't help her either.

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I thought Adams was good but her accent bugged me a little, perhaps it's because I am British lol.

Black as Snow wrote:

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Al Swearengen wrote:

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I thought Adams was good but her accent bugged me a little, perhaps it's because I am British lol.

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  I guess it's just me as an American.  I absolutely don't think of you as a Brit.

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 It's cool I meant cause I am so use to hearing the British accent on a daily basis Adam's version just irritated me a little, I get that as part of character she liked to put up facades but it was a little dodgy.

Saw 12 years a slave last week and,  though its an good enough movie with superb acting (ejiofor and fassbender where incredibly good), I must admit I came out of the cinema quite disappointed. I was expecting so much more! Maybe that was the problem; I'd heard so much about the movie that I was expecting too much, idk.

I felt the despair, I felt the pain, the claustrophobia, there was a feeling of choking all throughout the movie (not only during the handing scene in which I really felt like physically gasping for air) which I think was great to convey. To make you feel what he was feeling that way. But it only worked that way.It lacked something. It lacked, idk, ...story? To make an emotional bond with the viewer? More engaging? I really dont know, but appart from those sensations, I felt nothing.

Personally I feel that the ending was rushed and wrongly casted (brad pitt? come on!), and it lacked some sort of build up, storywise. The beginning I think was a mistake. Perhaps I'd be more connected with the main character had I started the journey with him and not get the information through flashbacks. And the filming, in my eyes, was extremely sef indulgent. I'm not an expert on these like other folk here but that's how it felt to my untrained eyes. Lots of loooooooooong shots with the camara just moving to the right or moving to the left, or panning in or out... They could've cut easily 20 minutes of it and u wouldnt even notice. At parts my mind was just drifting away in props, details or things like that cause I wasn't engaged enough. You can tell the most harrowing tale in the world, but if you tell it wrong, it will blunt its blade and fail to deliver. And I think this would've made an excellent documentary, but is not a great movie. Is not a well told story. Which is a pitty. Such an amazing real life story deserved better storytelling.

So my veredict for that one is Meh.

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Also saw Blue Jasmine, of which I expected NOTHING, since I last time I liked a Woody Allen movie I think it was the 90s (so much so I actively tried to avoid them) and I was so pleasantly surprised! The movie kept me glue to the screen the entire time, which flew, pending from their every word. It was funny, witty, engaging.

I've nothing but words of praise.

Watched Rush today and really enjoyed it. I'd give it 4 and a half shots of whiskey from the Gem Saloon.

I am very, very psyched for the Lego Movie!!

Goddammit (never more appropiate btw), saw Philomena just now. Didn´t know Stephen Frears directed this movie. Always loved his irish movies (not the rest), I should say his movies with irish people because he´s not really Irish.

Starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan (who also wrote the screenplay). Liked it a lot. Lovely movie, in a sense, because the story is quite sad and infuriating (right there withya Coogan)... but Frears and Coogan are not sappy, thanks the devil. So it´s all
discretely played, which I always love. Those two are great, odd and great together. Coogan will always make you laugh and Dench, well, you all know how good she is and this role is especially good for her I think. Can´t remember if I saw her playing this kind of simple character.

The movie dips its feet in different issues, not going to say which but they are concisely addressed/narrated.

Yes, you´ll cry... but you need to be alive for that...no sentimental bs at all in this movie.

I think the movie it´s fair with Catholic Church..., only through Dench´s character tho. Forgiveness and all that... hmmm, well, forgiveness shouldn´t be only a religious virtue but ok. I´m on Coogan´s side tho. You´ll see. No fucking forgiveness sometimes.

So, I enjoyed a lot, simple movie, simple and discret dialogues and acting. Yes, great acting all around.

Still fucking hating nuns tho.

Watched the Wolf of Wall Street. I love Scorsese and saw all his movies but  just now noticed that he´s like Polanski, regarding characters. Must be an ideology/political thing (alienation theater or alienation effect, B. Brecht style). Their characters are off putting, you can´t identify with them subconsciously, you don`t want to identify with them. Well, Polanski is more subtle sometimes but still. And I find that quite refreshing.

Just one gripe (of course!) about The wolf of wall street: is Goodfellas all around. Dicaprio and Jona Hill are Peschi and Liotta and together, they are De Niro...maybe, didn´t give it much thought. Also the plot... not that different either. And the language of course. The acting was fenomenal too, this man is great with actors. DiCaprio and Hill are quite a pair. And Scorsese might have found another good one in Jean Dujardin... he´s pairing (?) with DiCaprio was very good, although a bit short in this long movie. I´m used to that with this director but this one was a bit too much. The directing and the camera always almost flawless. Same with the rythm, pure Scorsese.

Forgot! MM (from True Detective) is there, little role but very good! the hair you wont like here Chuskita

Watched American Hustle, finished just now. Very very entertaining  movie for many reasons, 70´s hairstyles being one of them but the characters were the best of it all and the acting, wow, so good, all of them (I freaking love Jeremy Renner).

Movie is a tad long, true,  but didn´t bother me.

And Louie CK is there and I didn´t know so I jumped with joy when I saw him. Read somewhere that he said the story he tells to Cooper´s character (Richie DiMaso, lol all the names are so good) was an improvisation and the ending of that story,(which was cut in the editing), it´s that his brother shit on the ice You can tell they had fun making that scene. And talking about it,  seems that many scenes were improvised so that could explain the problems in the plot.  That also didn´t bother me because I enjoyed the characters very much.

Good fun.

DonalNoyesArm wrote:

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Saw "The Conjuring" and "Hunger Games 2", both were pretty great.

Conjuring has some great atmosphere and excellent scares, and Hunger Games 2 was a lot better made and enjoyable over the first .

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Tir Airgid wrote:

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Saw 12 years a slave last week and,  though its an good enough movie with superb acting (ejiofor and fassbender where incredibly good), I must admit I came out of the cinema quite disappointed. I was expecting so much more! Maybe that was the problem; I'd heard so much about the movie that I was expecting too much, idk.

I felt the despair, I felt the pain, the claustrophobia, there was a feeling of choking all throughout the movie (not only during the handing scene in which I really felt like physically gasping for air) which I think was great to convey. To make you feel what he was feeling that way. But it only worked that way.It lacked something. It lacked, idk, ...story? To make an emotional bond with the viewer? More engaging? I really dont know, but appart from those sensations, I felt nothing.

Personally I feel that the ending was rushed and wrongly casted (brad pitt? come on!), and it lacked some sort of build up, storywise. The beginning I think was a mistake. Perhaps I'd be more connected with the main character had I started the journey with him and not get the information through flashbacks. And the filming, in my eyes, was extremely sef indulgent. I'm not an expert on these like other folk here but that's how it felt to my untrained eyes. Lots of loooooooooong shots with the camara just moving to the right or moving to the left, or panning in or out... They could've cut easily 20 minutes of it and u wouldnt even notice. At parts my mind was just drifting away in props, details or things like that cause I wasn't engaged enough. You can tell the most harrowing tale in the world, but if you tell it wrong, it will blunt its blade and fail to deliver. And I think this would've made an excellent documentary, but is not a great movie. Is not a well told story. Which is a pitty. Such an amazing real life story deserved better storytelling.

So my veredict for that one is Meh.

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 Saw 12 Years a Slave last night.  Not what I expected. 

Likes: I liked that Fassbender did not turn me on in this movie, I actually just saw his acting and not his , which I thought was impressive.  However, I liked Cumberbatches' better.  Yep, I said it.  I loved his role as the "empathetic" plantation master, soo conflicted.  The gal that got best supporting actress, who played Patsy, she was wonderful.

Dislikes: The hanging scene was too much.  Yeah, I get it, people are walking around him and he's hanging, that scene did not need to be 15 min. (emphasis added) long, jeez. Pitt's role is very minor.  When Solomon comes home, his wife doesn't give two shits that he showed up, seven hells.  The way Pitt spoke his mind to Fassbender - would not have happened.  Fassbender's character was so insanely out of control, he would have shot Pitt's character for saying it, and would probably have gotten away with it.  The slave who had her children taken away from her, her few lines were good but to have her crying all.....the......time for effect, yeah, I get it, everyone has feelings, they were treated like property.  Personally, I felt she had a death wish.

In the end it was a good movie.  I would not watch it over and over, but, I was glad I saw it.

Perhaps we could merge the two threads into one giant bag of popcorn?

4 days trying to finish  La grande bellezza. Who was the numbnuts who said this guy is the new Fellini? Someone tell him to shadap.-

Macha wrote:

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andrea wrote:

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4 days trying to finish  La grande bellezza. Who was the numbnuts who said this guy is the new Fellini? Someone tell him to shadap.-

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 Oh my f.... don't remind me!

I will gladly donate an organ to whoever can give me a decent argument on how this movie beat The Hunt at the Golden Globes/Oscars. It's boring, and it's shite. It's boring shite.

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 Oh, thanks for the heads up! Heard so much about it I was gonna try it, but your comments make me think it's gonna be as baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad as La Vita e bella So I very much rather pass.