Finally got around to watching The Holdovers. I’m not going to lie – I did not love the first third or so of the film, and for me there are more than a few completely throwaway characters beyond Paul, Tully and Mary. So much so there are some scenes (especially those with other students) that I actually loathed. That said I thoroughly enjoyed the final two thirds and the power three charactes were great. I also loved the soundtrack.
Quirky personal tidbit - a handful of times the song Bittersweet Symphony popped into my head while trying to place Dominic Sessa.
The Greatest Night In Pop: About the making of "We Are The World" single.
Amazing. The footage is incredible, the insight on how they put this together is outstanding. Getting everyone there at the same time? Turns out that was the EASY part. Yeah. Highly recommend.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Cocaine Cowboys II: The sequel follows cocaine dealer Charles Crosby beginning in 1991 on the inner-city streets of Oakland, California. The story of Griselda Blanco is presented in greater depth.
Made in 2008, I never knew there was a sequel (have seen the first one). Documentaries. Obviously this is being hyped by Netflix due to the new "Griselda" mini-series, but I had to see it because of all the reasons. It's basically an interview the man who developed a romantic and business relationship after she was in jail in CA.
Really interesting in the fact that he got her attention, despite just being a street dealer (nothing big time) and also comparing the different facts/stories in the Griselda program. Either way, she was beyond reprehensible and violent, that's a 100% undisputed fact.
I do recommend this, gives good insight and depth to what the semi-fictional series provided.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Seraphim Falls: After the end of the American Civil War, a former Confederate colonel hunts down a former Yankee officer with whom he has a grudge.
Liam Neeson. Pierce Brosnan. I can't remember where I saw the article this week, but as soon as I saw those names, I was all-in on it. It''s gritty, not a romantic-nostalgia western (I dunno if you'd even call it a western, as we know westerns), but I loved it. Just bad-asses using their skills, and not in the fighting sense, to the best of their abilities.
Lover, Stalker, Killer: In this twisting documentary, a mechanic tries online dating for the first time and meets a woman who takes romantic obsession to a deadly extreme.
If you didn't figure this out once all the main characters were in play, you belong on the police forces that were investigating this. Granted, it happened in 2012, so there's a decade of tech advances to deal with that we know about and they didn't, BUT....(spoiler) it takes a year or three to figure out you need a Tech Forensic Person to try and figure this stuff out? Seriously?
That being said, it was a very interesting case, and let's just say if the perpetrator didn't trip over their own feet, this case prob would have ended differently.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Down With The King: A famous rapper, disillusioned with the music industry and the pressures of being a celebrity, leaves the city and his career behind to find himself in a small-town farming community.
Good movie, it was mostly an honest look at a situation like this, but it could have been a bit more raw with a black man in hicksville. It's not redneck, mind you, but it is hick small town. Watching him write bars, while also pondering his true interests as a person, and not a rap star. Is he Money Merc, or Mercury Maxwell?
Revolver: After seven years in solitary, Jake Green is released from prison. In the next two years, he amasses a lot of money by gambling. He's ready to seek his revenge on Dorothy (Mr. D) Macha, a violence-prone casino owner who sent Jake to prison.
This is way deeper than your standard Statham movie. It goes existential. Not only the underground criminal gangster world, but throw in some con-artist angles, some Buddhist themes, and let your mind run wild. You're not quite sure if up is down, who's playing who, wait who's this guy?, etc until the end. There is a lot to chew on. Loved it, but yes, had to marinate on this one a bit.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
“While the cast for Top Gun 3 is uncertain, Tom Cruise will return as Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell with Miles Teller as Hangman and Glen Powell as Rooster.”
“While the cast for Top Gun 3 is uncertain, Tom Cruise will return as Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell with Miles Teller as Hangman and Glen Powell as Rooster.”
I'm pretty sure Glen Powell was Hangman and Miles Teller was Rooster.
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
I do not hate the idea of TP3. I was very skeptical of 2, but imho they very much pulled it off so I am hopeful that a 3 will not leave a bad taste in my mouth ala Die Hard or Matrix.
I do not hate the idea of TP3. I was very skeptical of 2, but imho they very much pulled it off so I am hopeful that a 3 will not leave a bad taste in my mouth ala Die Hard or Matrix.
Agree... Top Gun Maverick was done so well that I hope of there is a 3, it's not a big nosedive.
I do not hate the idea of TP3. I was very skeptical of 2, but imho they very much pulled it off so I am hopeful that a 3 will not leave a bad taste in my mouth ala Die Hard or Matrix.
Agree... Top Gun Maverick was done so well that I hope of there is a 3, it's not a big nosedive.
I was going into Maverick with a heavy hate-bias, and I walked away with a Holy Sh* that was better than the original. Matrix, I say 1-2-4-3. and Back/Future 1-3-2
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The Kitchen (not the M McCarthy one): In a dystopian future London where all social housing has been eliminated, Izi and Benji fight to navigate the world as residents of The Kitchen, a community that refuses to abandon their home.
The message is as subtle as a brick to the face, but it was good. VERY somber, if you look at the big picture. It crawls at times, but overall, I liked it. The only flaw is the bluntness that the movie hits you with.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Rustin - about civil rights activist Bayard Rustin and his quest to organize the March on Washington in 1963. One of the more enjoyable films I've seen in a while and it's a shame it didn't win any major awards.
Queenpins A pair of women start up a multi-million dollar coupon scam.
Well, Kristen Bell is just SO CUTE AND BUBBLY ZOMG you want to punch her in the face, and for that, I sincerely say, "Well done, heck of a job." Paul Walter Hauser is impeccable as the anal loss-prevention officer, and Vince Vaughn is great as Hauser's sorta counterpart as a postal inspector.
Now, the movie itself jumps around a little bit, the whole "based on a true story" sorta thing, but it is entertaining enough to waste 2 hours on.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
AKA (French movie, heads up): A steely special ops agent finds his morality put to the test when he infiltrates a crime syndicate and unexpectedly bonds with the boss's young son.
Decent one-man-army/government black ops sort of deal. Twists and turns, but not overly dramatic. Besides him tearing a new one into every person the agent runs into, the story itself is rather subtle, everyday business thing. Ran a touch long at 2 hours or so, probably could have cut 10-15 minutes off, but no biggie.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Bank Of Dave: Based on the true-life experiences of Dave Fishwick; 'Bank of Dave' tells the story of how a working class Burnley man and self-made millionaire fought to set up a community bank.
VERY loosely based, FTR. It does admit that in the opening credits that this is a "true-ish" story. The bank is actually an S&L in real life, still dealing with red tape (which is the main true-ish thing). There was no love story. Fine, I can deal with that, it's a movie. BUT the crux of the movie is indeed true. The hoops that one has to go through in finance is no joke.
The main star is completely lovable, and while the lawyer is awkward AF, he does grow on you. And since the opening credits spoil it anyway, there is a cameo by Def Leppard, so that's a nice bonus.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Arkansas: Kyle and Swin live by the orders of an Arkansas-based drug kingpin named Frog, whom they've never met. But when a deal goes horribly wrong, the consequences are deadly.
Vince Vaughn plays a mid-major role, John Malkovich a bit role. Both are not stars of the movie. It was okay, it was presented from a few points of view, via "chapters" in the story. I liken it to making a stew. You have a little bit of this, a little bit of that, you know that it will all tie together....and then ahhh, there it is. There is the bow on the present.
Better than I thought it would be, VV is just cashing in paychecks, IMO, although he did well here. Malkovich has been collecting paychecks for years now, his role could have been filled by anyone, the movie just needed more big-names.
I wouldn't search OUT for it, but I didn't mind watching it.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Sweet Girl. A mother dies while waiting for a newly created life-saving medication for cancer, and her husband vows revenge on those responsible for the intentional delay of said med when she dies.
The plot origin itself was intriguing, but then watching events unfold it was like watching a 'tag-team' storytelling session, where one writer writes the first 10 minutes and passes it off the next writer, and so on and so on. Zero continuity and it's as if they never had any idea where they wanted the movie to go/end.
One of the dumbest, haphazardly written movies I've seen in a long time. Do not recommend unless you feel like shaking your head and find some type of drinking game taking shots every time you ask, "wtf? Why?".
(500) Days of Summer (Netflix streaming) After being dumped by the girl he believes to be his soulmate, hopeless romantic Tom Hansen reflects on their relationship to try and figure out where things went wrong and how he can win her back (From IMDB)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel play the leads. I can't quite identify this movie as a rom com or what to call it but nevertheless I liked it. Impossible to not have a crush on Zooey and they have great chemistry together. The story leapfrogs all over the days they are together. Doesn't end like a typical rom-com. I recommend.
Fall (Starz and available for on-line rental) When a high-rise climb goes wrong, best friends Becky and Hunter find themselves stuck at the top of a 2,000-foot TV tower. (From IMDB)
Two actresses who I have never heard of play extreme free climbers who climb a 2000 foot tv tower to help one of them get over a previous tragedy. Would have been amazing to see this on a big screen or IMax as some of the scenes were quite dizzying just on my big screen tv. I thought the first part of the movie was really good as it really illustrates well the peril they are in. Then there is a bit of a reveal and then a twist that goes in a little different direction. Liked it but didn't love it.
The Abyss (the Swedish one): Frigga, who tries to balance her risky job as a security manager in the Kiirunavaara mine with her family life, has to fight for her life and the lives of her loved ones when her city starts collapsing into the mine.
It was okay. Non-spoiler, but the claustrophobic scene...hoo boy, I was NOT watching that part, hand over my eyes just enough to read the subtitles. Mentally I was saying, "nonononononononononononono." Standard twists and turns in this one, nothing is really surprising, but the action was well-done, and the effects were solid.
Doing a little research on this movie (after I saw it), while the story is fiction, the town and the mine are VERY real, and yes, they are moving the town 3km away from where it is now, to avoid the catastrophe that the movie presents.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The Abyss (the Swedish one): Frigga, who tries to balance her risky job as a security manager in the Kiirunavaara mine with her family life, has to fight for her life and the lives of her loved ones when her city starts collapsing into the mine.
It was okay. Non-spoiler, but the claustrophobic scene...hoo boy, I was NOT watching that part, hand over my eyes just enough to read the subtitles. Mentally I was saying, "nonononononononononononono." Standard twists and turns in this one, nothing is really surprising, but the action was well-done, and the effects were solid.
Doing a little research on this movie (after I saw it), while the story is fiction, the town and the mine are VERY real, and yes, they are moving the town 3km away from where it is now, to avoid the catastrophe that the movie presents.
If you want claustrophobic - watch The Last Descent or read about the story it’s based on. I only caught the last half hour of the movie but it reinforces my decision not to go into a cave I can’t walk through.
Thirteen Lives about the Thai soccer players trapped in a cave by Ron Howard is very, very well done and will also have you feeling claustrophobic at times.
Buried is another one that makes you squirm (guy buried alive and left with a lighter and a cell phone). Not a true story but I would like to never experience that.
Yesterday (IIRC it was @slapshot was all about this one): A struggling musician realizes he's the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles after waking up in an alternate reality where they never existed.
Really liked the movie, a couple questions left UNanswered (a couple products didn't exist), and one answered (one other band didn't exist, and as the main character says, "Yeah, that makes sense" 😀 ).
It would help if you were a Beatles superfan, I'm guessing there are some subtle jokes being made that the mainstream fans wouldn't get, BUT they kept the songs in the movie that the majority of music fans would recognize. I did like the fangs gnashed at the business machine, sometimes subtle, sometimes in your face.
If anything, you'll find yourself singing along to a lot of it.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Code 8: A super-powered construction worker falls in with a group of criminals in order to raise the funds to help his ill mother.
The message is pretty blatant. Some terms are simply changed. Good movie, but I think it could have used more subtlety. I did enjoy it, with the actual plot and character evolution.
Code 8: Part Two: Follows a girl fighting to get justice for her slain brother by corrupt police officers. She enlists the help of an ex-con and his former partner, they face a highly regarded and well protected police sergeant who doesn't want to be.
The main character has a new outlook, but has to resort to some old ways. The message is less blunt in one way, and more blunt in another. I also enjoyed it, it makes for a good double-feature.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Gran Turismo: Based on the unbelievable, inspiring true story of a team of underdogs - a struggling, working-class gamer, a failed former race car driver, and an idealistic motorsport exec - who risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world.
Much better than I ever hoped it to be. More elements of truth in the movie than I expected, for sure. I think the parts that shined were the personal relationships on the race team, rather than the story itself. Nuanced, and real; not romanticized. And of course, ANYONE who has played the game knows those courses, and knows what the chief engineer is talking about. 😉
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
All Good Things: David Marks, a real estate scion, is suspected of killing his wife Katie, who disappeared in 1982.
Gosling, Durst, Langella. Yeah, I'm watching this one. Loosely based on the Robert Durst case. The performances were great, but (after digging into imdb and wiki), Ebert said it best: "I don't understand David Marks after seeing this film, and I don't know if Andrew Jarecki [director] does."
To this day, pretty much an unsolved case overall.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Army Of Thieves: A prequel, set before the events of Army of the Dead, which focuses on German safecracker Ludwig Dieter leading a group of aspiring thieves on a top secret heist during the early stages of the zombie apocalypse.
Quite good. It's a heist movie, duh, but it's not about the money. (cue the duh-dunnnnnn sound effect or whatever 😉 ) There is Euro humor injected into the story, and you can tell the difference between Euro humor and US humor, although the Zack Snyder is American, so good job on that, although obviously, if you don't like Euro humor, it's a little annoying. I was back and forth on the certain humor points. Some were funny, some were flat.
Anyway, good movie, I'd say a medium-size bucket of popcorn should suffice.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Redemption: A damaged ex-special forces soldier navigating London's criminal underworld seizes an opportunity to assume another man's identity.
Jason Statham movie, so I expected one thing: kicking ass. There are some scenes like that, but overall, very different than what I expected. It was more intellectual/soul-searching than action. I really dug it, the characters questioning themselves, and for what reasons. I would dial this up for a repeat-watch, although I can't say it's worth a "buy."
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Your Lucky Day: After a dispute over a winning lottery ticket turns into a deadly hostage situation, the witnesses must decide exactly how far they'll go, and how much blood they're willing to spill, for a cut of the $156 million.
It was...interesting. I can't say there were full plot twists, just some minor turns. Some major plot holes, even beyond the "sustain believability" point. Overall, it was worth it to see where it went, but overall a very average movie. How the characters developed/exposed was the best part of the movie, I just feel they fell a bit short if fully accomplishing the director's vision.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
6 Underground Six individuals from all around the globe, each the very best at what they do, have been chosen not only for their skill, but for a unique desire to delete their pasts to change the future.
Pros: Ryan Reynolds, lotta popcorn factor, decent premise Cons: Michael Bay, lotta popcorn factor
The first good chunk of this movie is so disjointed...so much flashback and here we are now, etc...once it started following a standard timeline, it improved greatly. That being said, redonkulous over-the-top convoluted plans, that somehow keep going awry. Gee, I wonder why? I did want complete mindless fun, let's say "Crank" style (Jason Stathom movie, do recommend) but this just took it beyond that level. Enjoyable, but a bit too much at times.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Nyad: The remarkable true story of athlete Diana Nyad who, at the age of 60 and with the help of her best friend and coach, commits to achieving her life-long dream: a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida.
Pretty solid movie. Gave it a chance not necessarily for the subject matter itself (although I was somewhat interested), but more because Jodie Foster and Annette Bening were the leads, both of whom I respect as actresses. Needless to say, they did excellent in their roles as the nerdy/goofy best friend and the I'm-better-than-everyone world class athlete, respectively.
I can't even imagine the rigors of *training* for something like that, much less doing it (heck, even getting the job HALFway done). I also found it interesting the different ways the crew found to keep Nyad safe from the creatures in the water, and to keep eyes on her at night.
Definitely worth a watch.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Nyad: The remarkable true story of athlete Diana Nyad who, at the age of 60 and with the help of her best friend and coach, commits to achieving her life-long dream: a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida.
Pretty solid movie. Gave it a chance not necessarily for the subject matter itself (although I was somewhat interested), but more because Jodie Foster and Annette Bening were the leads, both of whom I respect as actresses. Needless to say, they did excellent in their roles as the nerdy/goofy best friend and the I'm-better-than-everyone world class athlete, respectively.
I can't even imagine the rigors of *training* for something like that, much less doing it (heck, even getting the job HALFway done). I also found it interesting the different ways the crew found to keep Nyad safe from the creatures in the water, and to keep eyes on her at night.
Definitely worth a watch.
I’ll stick to the pool. I can barely handle when weeds in a lake touch me. But does sound like an interesting watch!
The Gambler (1974) Axel Freed is a literature professor. He has the gambling vice. When he has lost all of his money, he borrows from his girlfriend, then his mother, and finally some bad guys that chase him. Despite all of this, he cannot stop gambling.
James Caan, Paul Sorvino, and gambling? I'm in.
Very candid portrayal of the typical degenerate gambler. The highs of the highs, the lows of the lows. The ending was quite interesting, and open to interpretation. Even though it's 50 years old, I still will be general of my take on it: it was either a reminder of how low he sank, or he just wanted to see if he would win that sort of bet...
As a (sorta former) gambler myself, I identified with the feeling of Caan's character, although he took it to an extreme I never let myself get to (if I was even capable of that extreme). I was always in control of what I could/would gamble with, but I know that little seed is there. This movie shows the rushes, the downs, the number of people that become entangled in the web of a person who feeds that habit.
That portrayal somehow makes you care, even just a little, about his character. Whether it be empathy, sympathy, or condemnation, it's still caring about what happens to him, and that says something.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
This is a comedy/horror movie with a lot of Gen Z humor. My 21 year old daughter thought it was hilarious and she’s not a big comedy fan as most of them are not. A lot of funny interpersonal wordplay that is well written. Also has Pete Davidson in a pretty satisfying role so the Boomers on here will not be partaking
This is a comedy/horror movie with a lot of Gen Z humor. My 21 year old daughter thought it was hilarious and she’s not a big comedy fan as most of them are not. A lot of funny interpersonal wordplay that is well written. Also has Pete Davidson in a pretty satisfying role so the Boomers on here will not be partaking
I enjoyed the movie, despite Davidson. Although, I am Gen X, not a boomer.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The Stand At Paxton County: A military veteran comes home to find her father harassed by a sheriff intent to confiscate the livestock on their ranch under shady pretenses.
Set in North Dakota (although obviously not filmed there: there are hills and more than one tree, I kid I kid)...good movie about abuse of power and lobbies (of sorts) etc. Credit to the movie makers who said "inspired" instead of "based" on a true story. You know what you're getting.
Still worth a watch, and for big city folk, yeah, that's how small towns work, more often than not. It's Good Ol' Boy law at work.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Road House (2024 version. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video)
Jake Gyllenhal takes over the role of Patrick Swayze in the remake of the 1989 original. Jake plays a MMA fighter who takes a job as bouncer at a bar in the Florida Keys to help rid them of the bad element that frequents the bar. Meanwhile a bad guy is trying to take over the bar. MMA fighter Conor McGregor plays the main heavy who is eventually brought in to take on Jake.
I liked this movie but it certainly doesn't have the campy draw that the original had. The fight scenes were well staged. I give the movie a B+. I think a weak link of the movie was McGregor. He didn't seem that lethal or imposing as a bad guy.
Road House (2024 version. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video)
Jake Gyllenhal takes over the role of Patrick Swayze in the remake of the 1989 original. Jake plays a MMA fighter who takes a job as bouncer at a bar in the Florida Keys to help rid them of the bad element that frequents the bar. Meanwhile a bad guy is trying to take over the bar. MMA fighter Conor McGregor plays the main heavy who is eventually brought in to take on Jake.
I liked this movie but it certainly doesn't have the campy draw that the original had. The fight scenes were well staged. I give the movie a B+. I think a weak link of the movie was McGregor. He didn't seem that lethal or imposing as a bad guy.
A buddy of mine saw this, said it was good. I asked him the key question: "So, the original was SO bad it made it good. Was it that type of good, or was is GOOD good?" He said it was actually good.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
