The Official "Last Movie You Saw" Thread 2: Secret of the Boogaloo

another batch. I would recommend all of these..especially SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE.


blog:


What Just Happened?

For the 2nd straight year, De Niro has been in something I might describe as a redefining or at least a different kind of a role for him. 2007's "Stardust" playing a gay flying-pirate captain. And in this, a Hollywood producer; who while has a strong personality, he ends up having to do a lot more psychological examination of his clients and his own personal life. The portrayal of a high-stakes, high-stress lifestyle. And I think overall it was pulled off well.

This will remind many of the Tim Robbins movie "The Player." I suppose the comparison is quite valid in that it's a look inside one part of Hollywood. At the same time, possibly due to the tone or time it was made, "The Player" seemed a lot more subtle and dramatic, while "What Just Happened?" had a lot more constant humor. De Niro reminds me of among others, of the late Sidney Pollack, who had those meltdowns that were always worth seeing. One of those guys that either he made you laugh just on how he spoke, his interaction with others, or his sense of priorities were funny due to how he would communicate with people. Also, generally just someone I would enjoy being around I guess.

While the ultimate fates of the different clients and people he invests so much into dealing with is not entirely a "happy-ending" ("Indie" I suppose in that way), seeing the portrayal of different experiences a producer like him goes through is rewarding enough. Bruce Willis and the whole "beard" predicament. To hear De Niro mouth-off about that alone was priceless. The ending of the Sean Penn picture with the dog and how the director manages to con the Studio head (Catherine Keener); which is evidenced when it gets into Cannes. Everything with his ex-wives and daughter and the side-plot with the producer who dies, and Stanley Tucci.

While I doubt it'll be a classic many years from now, I pretty thoroughly enjoyed this. Quite funny, and without much if any filler.

7.5/10


Happy Go Lucky

This was uneven. The 1st 1/3 I'd say or maybe about 1/2 of this was a lot of silly antics from the characters, mainly the lead Sally Hawkins who plays "Poppy." Perhaps her accent at times made it slightly difficult to follow, the personality she presented as a free-spirited, jolly young woman who found it easy to smile or laugh at most of her daily life experiences. Maybe my favorite scenes being when she ends up going to Flamenco dancing class with a co-worker. Poppy, and I think actually even more, the instructor were quite funny. "Myyyy spay-sss...My-spaysss!" I kind of wished I had been in the class myself!

But the Poppy character (and Hawkins I imagine) reminded me a lot of the british female musician Imogen Heap. Partially in her colorful style of fashion (she always wore multicolored knee-high boots among other things), and maybe more-so in her cheery persona that Imogen Heap could be described as having when she does interviews, or especially in her Youtube video blogs. In fact, I think it wouldn't be too big a stretch if it came about, for Sally Hawkins to portray Heap on the screen, which begs my curiosity if Imogen Heap is aware of Hawkins or this movie (and vice-versa).

The 2nd portion of the movie ends up getting a bit more serious. Mainly with Poppy's relationship with her driving instructor played by Eddie Marsan. I imagine this was an influence in his character from real-life, but Scott, Poppy's driving instructor, almost every scene is very on-edge and stressed-out. Poppy contributes to that while he's trying to teach her, but he definitely comes across as someone who has anger-issues. I guess the whole "backseat driver" symptoms come up with anyone who rides in a car with a new driver; but it's his job after-all, so you'd think he'd had enough experience to avoid stressing out over it. Perhaps it also was some strange way of displaying his love or at least social interest in Poppy. But that's kind of the challenge. He's so strong-willed and short-fused, that even SHE can't lighten him up.

But I also credit the actor for that. While that may not be everyone's cup of tea in terms of dramatic performances, he does a very good job of adding a in-your-face, serious character to what mostly is a less-than-serious story overall. At the same time, I guess the previews and entirety of this film didn't end up being as moving as I hoped; but it was certainly one of the more memorable pictures I've seen this year. And it introduces Hawkins, which added reason to see it as well.

6.5/10


Slumdog Millionaire

Caught an advanced screening of this picture which on the surface sounded like a modern-day Bollywood work or some common foreign-language movie that I often see nominated during awards season. Well, it very well may get nominated during awards season, but I wouldn't call it exactly run-of-the-mill. Very cleverly edited and flashback + present day storytelling of an 18 year-old phone-center assistant who ends up appearing and having great success in East India's version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." He gets taken-in by the show's security in suspicion of cheating to continually getting question-after-question correct, with having very limited education and only being 18 years old. He's even tortured, as the police don't believe his story. But HIS STORY is where it gets quite interesting.

His mother is killed when his village is raided when he is very young. Him and his brother flee, and they end up meeting a girl named Latika who he immediately befriends. Through turmoil and his older brother's influence, Jamal ends up losing Latika, who is of course his first and he believes true-love. Eventually when they get older, Jamal and his brother Salim end up seeking out and rescuing Latika from what would be considered a child-slave trader, whose primary interest in the kids is to find the one's who can sing well and then blind them. Blind singers apparently command(ed) more money to perform or trade there at that time it's set in. After they escape, it is shown how much all 3 of them have changed. Salim unfortunately falls prey to what I'd describe as a mob-businessman; and he's forced-in to taking Latika to him. Jamal loses both of them at that point.

A few years later, he starts working at the cellphone customer service office and stumbles upon their database and both Latika and Salim's whereabouts. He visits both of them, and learns that not a lot has changed. Latika is still more or less a slave to the same wealthy mobster; but he manages to see her and also learn that she watched the Millionaire show. Jamal gets the idea that if he went on the show, she would see him.

What transpires at that point I won't spoil. But it definitely worked on many levels. Logistically I suppose some things didn't necessarily seem entirely realistic, like how would Latika be listed in the cell provider's listing if she more or less was a slave? But the story, flashbacks, and the way it ended up being told was very moving. I particularly liked the youngest portrayals of the three main character most.

It may not be my film of the year, but I would say it's certainly one of the best I've seen in many months. "Transsiberian" and of course "Snow Angels" might be it's biggest competition. I hope more people get to see this. It won some festival awards recently in fact, as the girl from Miramax, who appeared at the theater mentioned.

8/10

Religulous

Bill Maher somewhat channeling Michael Moore with an agenda that religion is all fiction and fairy tales more or less. This definitely was worth seeing for the amount of comedic value and one-liners. I also liked a lot of the different unusual people from many sects and angles into different religions. The black fella who was a minister I believe, who had been involved as a singer on a pop hit that it escaping me now was a laugh-a-minute. Claiming he was in the Jesus-bloodline, lol. The satanic priest who was a born-again; Maher had a field-day with him. I imagine like Michael Moore and a lot of these cleverly edited documentaries, a lot of footage was shot and edited out, that Maher had no comeback or debate with. But like Michael Moore, it's for entertainment value 1st and foremost, so it didn't matter.

I suppose one thing I wished he'd been able to do is cover more religions, more obscure perhaps like Buddhism, and many of the ethnic religions. Time and resources (money) being factors I suppose. Maybe a 2nd picture will consider doing that. Id' also have liked to have seen Deepak Chopra or at least 1 modern theologist interviewed. I wonder if Chopra declined.

Unlikely the funniest movie of the year, but still one I'm glad I got to see. Maybe since Maher made it, Michael Moore now won't have to.

6.5/10

Indianan Jones 4.
I guess the fridge thing was unnecesary, but it's still a very entertaining flick. Watching it again right now.

it was movie night with my girlfriend--i let her pick this time, since last time we watched _the fountain_.

the burbs. ***. tom hanks ftw.

planes trains & automobiles. ***1/4. john candy ftw.

lol

Pineapple Express... epic/10

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas
9.5/10

Great fuckin movie.

Sukiyaki Western Django: Pretty much exactly what I expected. A mash of East and West, past and present. And it was just fucking amazing.

I had a free pass to see that on Thursday. I passed on it, mainly due to the fact it would have been 3-nights-in-a-row at the theater for me, and while it looked like it was well made with good performances, it also looked like another one of those dark, depressing Holocaust movies.

that movie was so fucking random, but good.

I watched today, The Incredible Hulk and Hellboy II... both were pretty good, but Hellboy did not meet my expectations. I thought it was going to be much more epic and much less corny than it was.

Hulk was pretty solid though...

Juno. 4.5/5 Excellent movie, my only nag were some parts of Juno's dialogue.

007 Quantum Of Solace. 3.5/5 Great action scenes and acting, but the thing lacked a real climax, the ending scene wasn't strong enough.

Wall-E - 8/10

Fun family movie, with some really beautiful imagery. The only downside of the movie is the predictability of the story. But I think that's forgivable given the genre's narrative maneuverability.

Global Metal - 7/10

Props for showing Sigh and Orphaned Land, pretty fun watch.

In the Name of the Father - 8/10

Dolemite - 7/10

"If you see a ghost, cut the mutha fucka"

Lakeview Terrace - better than I thought it would be.

Changeling 9/10

Amazing film, would not be surprised if it wins a good amount of oscars.

Jack - 8/10

Pursuit of Happyness 7/10... depressing as fuck.

It was such a great movie. And it is one of those dark depressing Holocaust movies.

Dersu Uzala - 6/10

Sad ending.

Sex Drive - 8/10. I would totally do the chick.

roxanne. **1/2. yes, another fucking chick flick (i gotta stop letting my girlfriend pick the movies we watch!) based off cyrano de bergerac, so i cant be bad. funny, kinda lame in parts. i liked it.

The X-Files: I want to believe - 5/10

Boring. Stupid plot.

Was that the one with Steve Martin? I saw that years ago and thought it was a pretty cool adaptation. Never occurred to me to classify it as a chick flick.

Rainbow Song (Niji no Megami)

I still cry like a bitch I am so retarded

Superbad: lol

yes, steve martin. it's a total romantic comedy, although i guess it has some of steve martin's odd "charm"

Easy Rider. **. Maybe I just don't get it, but I felt it was incredibly slow throughout the first half, but it started getting better once Nicholson's character was introduced. The minimal dialogue didn't help the first part of the film, either. Some beautiful scenery, though. Glad I watched it, however, I'm kinda surprised it's touted to be a classic by so many.

a big part of its status comes from its historical context. it was hugely influential and was one of a small handful of movies from the late 60's that helped to totally reshape the American film industry and usher in a new era in Hollywood. plus it's considered one of the big milestones/symbols of 60's counterculture.

Am I the only one that wanted to slap Evan thru the whole movie?

I'm a huge Venture Brothers fan... the last episode of season one was so epic for me. The ending blew my mind... but I had not yet seen the movie Easy Rider. So I did not pick up on the reference. Coincidentally I ended up watching Easy Rider on a whim several days later, and at the end of the movie I freaked the fuck out. Venture Brothers ftw.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington

9/10
Fucking classic

hell yeah, venture bros ftmfw

Joshua - man, that kid was a dick. 7/10

Peter Fonda is in Ghost Rider as The Devil. Johnny Blaze's (Ghost Rider's) bike transforms, and at one point it looks like the bike Fonda rode in Easy Rider. Fonda even looks at it and says "Nice bike".

Sunset Blvd. 8.5/10

Gloria Swanson is incredible in this film.

Easy Rider's visuals sort of drink you in. It's just so pleasing to watch, regardless of any other aspects (and I don't mean to suggest that they're bad).

Stray Dog - 9/10
The Lower Depths - 7/10

The Incredible Hulk 5/10

Stranger Than Fiction.

Probably unpopular around here, but I enjoyed it. Maggie Gyllenhaal is so goddamn cute too.

Most of Resident Evil... the third one they shouldn't have made.

It gets a 2/10. It was fucking terrible.

i liked that movie quite a bit

actually I don't think it's unpopular around here at all. quite a few people like it, myself included.

Even though I'm not crazy about Will Ferrell as a lead actor, I've wanted to and been meaning to see STF for awhile,

Tropic Thunder - 5/10


bleh, some funny parts, but mostly just stupid (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but at least try to make the stupid parts funny)

The Fountain... fuckin awesome film... 9/10

I just watched that with my girlfriend for the second time. Great movie, but I wished I would have seen it in better quality. I always think about buying the movie on BD, but other things often get in the way, so I forget about it.

I thought the symbolic themes were much more apparent and simple than the first time I saw the movie. Almost too apparent. The soundtrack was just as magnificent the second time around.

Simply Irresistible 1999 Sarah Michelle Gellar. It was a cute movie.