The last movie you've seen thread 2016

[Antonio the Sixth]

I haven't seen American Sniper and I have no intention of seeing it either.  But is it really as bad as this review claims it is?

No. I didn't really feel like it was propaganda. It's just bland and full of cliches from better war movies.

I really wish Spielberg had stayed on the project as director instead of Eastwood. He apparently didn't want to make it much of a biopic and instead wanted the entire film to focus on a part of the book where Kyle is in battle against an enemy sniper that he couldn't locate. He dropped because he couldn't agree on the budget. Much more interesting idea for a movie right there.

It's already been done - and pretty well.

[checkers]

I saw Birdman today and I have to say I was a bit disappointed. It was well made and I enjoyed it, sure, but I found the filming style a bit gimmicky (though that may be my personal dislike of those sorts of moving takes). Apart from the style, I felt it lacked substance - the characters seemed very much types (the washed-up actor, the drug addict daughter) rather than real people, and I didn't feel it had much new or profound to say about Hollywood, fame, acting etc.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I'm just finished Her.

What in the world did I just watch?
That was something else. I've now watched all but Gravity from last year's BP nominees, and I think that may have been the worst, and I had no interest in even seeing Gravity. Now I may have to just to see if there is a bottom.

Nebraska > Dallas Buyers Club > Philomena > American Hustle > 12 Years A Slave > Captain Phillips > Wolf of Wall Street > Her.

I loved the first 3 and thoroughly enjoyed the next 3.

Now I'm really surprised Saving Mr. Banks didn't get nominated despite the Disney connections.

[Knives]

Yeah American Sniper was not that good.

[Lief 🗽]

I'm just finished Her.

What in the world did I just watch?
That was something else. I've now watched all but Gravity from last year's BP nominees, and I think that may have been the worst, and I had no interest in even seeing Gravity. Now I may have to just to see if there is a bottom.

Nebraska > Dallas Buyers Club > Philomena > American Hustle > 12 Years A Slave > Captain Phillips > Wolf of Wall Street > Her.

I loved the first 3 and thoroughly enjoyed the next 3.

Now I'm really surprised Saving Mr. Banks didn't get nominated despite the Disney connections.

Aw man, you didn't like Her? I feel like we've been pretty much on the same page as far as movie opinions since you've been posting here, so that's surprising. I found it really delightful and surprising. I especially loved the production design and costume design and was really bummed that it didn't win anything for that.

I agree though that Saving Mr. Banks was weirdly snubbed. 

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Aw man, you didn't like Her? I feel like we've been pretty much on the same page as far as movie opinions since you've been posting here, so that's surprising. I found it really delightful and surprising. I especially loved the production design and costume design and was really bummed that it didn't win anything for that.

I agree though that Saving Mr. Banks was weirdly snubbed. 

My brother watched it last night as well oddly enough and told me he loved it. We rarely agree on movies though, but given you, him and the critical acclaim, I may have to give that another try eventually. I think it was just too obscure. I was expecting something way deeper if they were going to force a concept like that.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I too really liked Her.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

My issue with Saving Mr. Banks is that it makes The Imitation Game look like Lincoln in terms of historical accuracy, and its particular inaccuracies of choice pretty much constitute character assassination of P.L. Travers.

[Eraserhead]

Frank

Pretty good.

To say Michael Fassbender runs away with it (even while under a mask for 90% of the movie) would be an understatement.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Anyway, the last movie I've watched is actually Citizen Kane (online, obviously), and I wasn't disappointed at all. I usually have some difficulties enjoying really old movies, due to different storytelling convention from those I'm used to, but this one really kept me hooked up. It's produced a really fascinating and timeless character (who, BTW, is probably a far better person than the real William Randolph Hearst). I don't know if it's the best movie of all time (frankly I'm not sure it makes sense to even claim that there is a best movie of all times), but it's definitely an excellent film. Glad I've finally gotten around to watching it.

[RI]

Finally got around to watching The Grand Budapest Hotel, as everyone seems to love it, and it seemed more palatable than Boyhood or the generic biopic crap that got nominated for Best Picture.

TGBH was my first Wes Anderson movie. His movies have never particularly interested me, though I've thought about watching Moonrise Kingdom. I have very mixed feelings about TGBH: while I found the characters charming and endearing and the story interesting enough if a bit bizarre, Anderson's cinematograhic style was incredibly oppressive. With every character always moving at right angles to the camera, everything symmetric, and the environment flat, I felt like everyone was a puppet being forced through some overbearing maze. I think that's kind of the point, what with his "dollhouse" style and all, but I just couldn't stand it. I felt claustrophobic and confined, just praying that someone would do something different or we'd get some other camera angle, but there was no relief to be had. Between that and the ridiculously bad effects at times (e.g. the ski chase), I can't say that it was an experience I'd want to have very many times.

[King]

I usually have some difficulties enjoying really old movies, due to different storytelling convention from those I'm used to, but this one really kept me hooked up.

I know what you mean. Citizen Kane's standing the test of time has a lot to do with it avoiding cliche Old Hollywood tropes.

Salt of the Earth is another great old film in that sense and a film economic leftists are sure to enjoy.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Inherent Vice (2014)

First trip to the cinema this year. Quite enjoyed it if the plot does not make a lot of sense (but since when does that matter). Josh Brolin is great in it.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Birdman. Would've shifted some of the character focus around, personally, but otherwise I loved it.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The Interview

Lame, and actually too stupid to be the "imperialist propaganda" I suspected it was before watching. From a quality standpoint, made a lot of jabs at everything but almost none of them hit the mark at all.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The Imitation Game. I have no idea how historically accurate it is (though I definitely wouldn't be surprised if it took its liberties), but I liked it. I feel that watching Doug Walker's videos has made me a lot more cynical (or realistic) about movies, and I have to admit this movie was filled with all the clichés we've seen a million times. Still, some moments were really moving, especially the ending. And I must admit part of me is actually pleased that the character Turing is portrayed as (basically, the Asperger guy) is turning into a cliché. I think this could help raise awareness.

Also, am I the only one who for the first 20 minutes couldn't think anything else but "OMG that's Tywin Lannister playing the obstructive military officer! ".

[afleitch]

The Theory of Everything. Absolutely stunning, though Hawking's convictions and sense of humour were dialled back a bit.

I also saw Kingsman. A good Mark Millar romp as always.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

I saw American Sniper last night with my boss and coworkers. It was just okay; didn't live up to either the hype or criticism.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The Imitation Game

In theory, it's perhaps a good movie.

Unfortunately, I knew beforehand how much of a fairy tale the story is and it somehow spoiled the experience for me. The fact that Turing worked in cryptography during WWII and his homosexuality are probably the only things which were entirely historically accurate.

Turing didn't have Asperger or Autism (or at least not to the extent depicted here) and generally got along well with his colleagues at Bletchley Park. The latter also applies to Commander Denniston who was turned into an antagonist in the movie for dramatic purposes and even tries to get Turing arrested for espionage, all which is a complete fabrication (or for the lack of better term, a character assassination). Turing also probably never met MI6 chief Stewart Menzies or Soviet spy John Cairncross, and certainly didn't work with Cairncross on the same team.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The Imitation Game

In theory, it's perhaps a good movie.

Unfortunately, I knew beforehand how much of a fairy tale the story is and it somehow spoiled the experience for me. The fact that Turing worked in cryptography during WWII and his homosexuality are probably the only things which were entirely historically accurate.

Turing didn't have Asperger or Autism (or at least not to the extent depicted here) and generally got along well with his colleagues at Bletchley Park. The latter also applies to Commander Denniston who was turned into an antagonist in the movie for dramatic purposes and even tries to get Turing arrested for espionage, all which is a complete fabrication (or for the lack of better term, a character assassination). Turing also probably never met MI6 chief Stewart Menzies or Soviet spy John Cairncross, and certainly didn't work with Cairncross on the same team.

Wow yeah, that's pretty bad. I don't get why filmakers do these sorts of films. If you want to tell a fictional story, just tell a fictional story and don't use the names of real people.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Wow yeah, that's pretty bad. I don't get why filmakers do these sorts of films. If you want to tell a fictional story, just tell a fictional story and don't use the names of real people.

They probably should have placed a greater focus on his homosexuality, because that was really  the only thing which Turing made an outcast in real life.

The Turing from the movie is inaccurately depicted as being so much of a loner with extreme social difficulties you wonder how he ever managed to get laid in the first place, be it by a man or a woman.

[Deus Naturae]

Just watched El Topo. Very bizarre.

[Eraserhead]

The Act of Killing

Fascinating and extremely disturbing.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The Theory of Everything  - very, very good performances that held together a pretty mediocre by the numbers bio-pic.

Selma - Wow... it's been a VERY long time since I've been so impacted by a film. Of the BP nominees, that would have gotten my vote, kicking Grand Budapest and Birdman down to #s 2 and 3.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Nocturna - a fun, visually interesting animation.