Recent viewings

[Dr. Whom]

Le Mans 66 (aka Ford vs Ferrari) (2019)

An original take on the Ford vs Ferrari rivalry in the 60s in that it focuses on the Ford side of things: the conflict between the mavericks, such as Caroll Shelby and Ken Miles who knew how to win races vs the suits and de Ford way of doing things.

Visually stunning (think Mad Men at the races), solid performances and some great race sequences. You definitely don't have to be a petrolhead to enjoy this.

[FatFreddysCat]

"Records Collecting Dust II" (2015)
Sequel to the 2014 vinyl lovers' documentary features another assortment of East Coast indie/punk/hardcore musicians and music-biz types like Page Hamilton (Helmet), Tommy Victor (Prong), Paul Bearer (Sheer Terror) and Ian McKaye (Minor Threat) showing off their favorite records and talking about albums that were important in their lives. It's fun to listen to these guys go down memory lane, and it's also interesting to note how many of these angry hardcore dudes first discovered music as kids through stuff like The Carpenters or Simon and Garfunkel. Haha!

[Rev. Powell]

I LOST MY BODY (2019): A severed hand crawling through the streets and alleys of Paris, having flashbacks to its former owner's sad love story. The adventures of the hand are magical but too slim to support a feature; the owner's story is well told and toiuching but ordinary in style. Each part of the film makes the other better; they seem to belong together. Only on Netflix. 4.5/5.

[FatFreddysCat]

"The Rock" (1996)
A rogue military force led by a crazed general (Ed Harris) takes over Alcatraz Island and points chemical-warfare weapons at San Francisco, demanding a huge ransom payment. The free world's only hope is an infiltration force of Marines, a dorky FBI chemical expert (Nicolas Cage) and an elderly federal prisoner (Sean Connery) who happens to be the only man to ever escape from Alcatraz. Bullets fly, stuff blows up, asses get kicked.

This slick action epic blew me away when I saw it during its theatrical run in the '90s. I've seen it quite a few times over the years since (though it's been a while) and it's aging pretty well. Most of Michael Bay's filmography is crapola, but not this one.

[chefzombie]

" the strange color of your body's tears" 2013
i can't honestly say what i think of this because i need to watch it again in hopes that it makes a bit more sense. the sets and cinematography are mindblowing, i CAN say that.

[indianasmith]

KNIVES OUT (2019) - A fantastic, hilarious, twisty murder mystery with Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, a world famous private detective hired to investigate the possible murder - or was it suicide? - of a wealthy, famous author whose children and grandchildren all had good reason to wish him dead.  Great performances all the way around; this one is NOT to be missed!!  5/5

[Gabriel Knight]

THE ILLUSIONIST (2006)

In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing.

This movie had potential but sadly it's a cliché ridden mess with questionable plot ideas, huge holes in it, predictable ending, and more interesting side characters than protagonists. I honestly wish they dropped the whole "poor guy rich chick" garbage and just focus on the magic side, kinda like THE PRESTIGE, except that they also ruined that one with out-of-nowhere sci-fi stuff.

Let me explain myself...

SPOILERS AHEAD

While the ending was extremely predictable, I don't get the idea behind framing the prince. They all thought the girl was dead, why not just dissapear and that's it? The whole plan of framing and leading him to suicide was completely unnecesary, if not just evil. Maybe to prevent treason? Shouldn't they let the authorities handle that, or at least wait until he commits the crime? Why the chief inspector just laughs at this? Shouldn't he be extremely angry at the fact they played him for a fool?  What was the whole point of the ghost summoning? At no point it helps in the framing plan, because the false evidence was enough. If it was to make everybody believe Eisenheim was dead, I'm sure there would be easier ways.

So yeah, the movie is ok, but it has too many flaws for me to suspend my desbelief. At least it looks and sound really good. I give it a 6/10. 

[Rev. Powell]

KNIVES OUT (2019) - A fantastic, hilarious, twisty murder mystery with Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, a world famous private detective hired to investigate the possible murder - or was it suicide? - of a wealthy, famous author whose children and grandchildren all had good reason to wish him dead.  Great performances all the way around; this one is NOT to be missed!!  5/5

Agreed; I started a thread on it.

ASAKO I & II (2018): Asako falls in love with Baku, who disappears without explanation; years later, she falls for another man who looks exactly like him. Well done illustration of the difference between love and infatuation. 3.5/5.

[FatFreddysCat]

"From Russia With Love" (1963)
James Bond's second big screen adventure sends him to Istanbul, where he meets a lovely Russian clerk who says she wants to defect to the West. Neither of them realize at first that they're being duped by SPECTRE, who are using them both to get their hands on a top secret Soviet decoding device.
Like its predecessor, "Dr. No," this flick sticks mostly to standard spy-and-counterspy business, without the flashy gadgets or over-the-top villainy that would become trademarks of later installments. Its leading lady Daniela Bianchi may be one of the loveliest Bond Girls of 'em all and of course, Sean Connery is the epitome of ass kicking Sixties coolness, as usual.

[claws]

The Prodigy (2019)

The moment Miles is born the soul of a Hungarian (!) serial killer shot to death invades the body of the infant with plans of killing his last victim that was able to escape. Evil child horror that borrows from Child's Play and Audrey Rose while blantantly stealing a scene from Mario Bava's Shock (1977)



The Prodigy is not very original, but it has a atmospheric Silence of the Lambs type of autumn like cinematography and a few well placed jump scares. Even though the Mom in the movie must be the dumbest, most naive Mom in movie history I'll still give this a solid 3/5 rating.

[FatFreddysCat]

"Goldfinger" (1964)
James Bond meets the crazed billionaire Auric Goldfinger, who wants to control the world's gold supply by sabotaging Fort Knox.
The third 007 film was the biggest, most sprawling Bond adventure yet, and it pretty much set all the templates (an over-the-top villain with an elaborate plan, fanciful gadgets, big action set pieces, etc.) that the series would use for the next three decades. More than fifty years on, it is still one of the best Bonds of 'em all.

[lester1/2jr]

Motor Home Massacre (2005) - There was a thread a few years ago of what of your all time favorite movies. Someone I thought was RC (similar avatar) listed this at I think number 10. I thought it was interesting that RC would choose such a random movie so I watched it and really liked it. At some point, I realized it wasn't RC I can't remember who it was.

This is the second time I've seen this and it improved with age. Long forgotten aught era character "comic relief white rapper idiot" shows up along with some of the hottest girls out there. The casting gets an A+ for sure. trivia: this is the last movie that had a girl with a decent pair of boobs we get to see.

A guy's parents go on vacation and leave their motor home at home with their son who looks about 25 but acts like he's in high school. Him and a bunch of people go camping and murders and so forth happen.

Where a lot of b movies fall apart after a while, this one actually gets funnier and better. I can't wait to check out the directors net film Evil Keg (2007)

5/5

[Rev. Powell]

REDOUBT (2019): In remote Idaho, Diana and her two contortionist assistants hunt, observed by a forest ranger/engraver. More art installation than art house, there are some fine images here (especially the National Geographic-style landscapes), but the lack of any meaningful narrative in a 2+ hour film limits the appeal. This was my first experience with Matthew Barney, who's notorious for the provocative CREMASTER series. This is very tame and austere by comparison. No dialogue and lots of interpretative dancing. 2.5/5.

[Rev. Powell]

THE IMAGE BOOK (2018): 88-year old director Jean Luc Godard's latest is a long, flowing series of clips from classic movies (sometimes altered by the director) set to an out-of-sync soundtrack which often features the director breaking in to pontificate on art, philosophy and politics. Anyone could do it, but only Godard could get away with it. I've really hated Godard's late work, but I didn't hate this; maybe I was in the mood for it. You probably will hate it, though. 3/5.

[Dr. Whom]

Nosferatu (1922)

The great Murnau classic and father of all vampire movies.

It has, of course, some of the weaknesses of the silent era. The acting is overly dramatic, night scenes are shot in daylight (which is confusing), and you have the cartoonish vampire with rat teeth.

But for all that, it is surprisingly effective. Murnau really succeeds in making his vampire into an ominous presence, rather than aiming for cheap scares or gore. Also good use of the SFX of the time (mostly stop motion and double exposure). I can imagine it must have given viewers quite a fright back then.