Posts by goldenhound32

Arthur Moore97 said:Since the early 2000s, his work has certainly drifted toward the mainstream, though the quality remains decent even if the creative spark feels a bit diminished. Films like "Chloe", "Devil's Knot", "Remember", and "The Captive" all fall somewhere between solid and genuinely good.

While I generally respect this director—I've sat through nearly all of his older work—"Chloe" is absolute garbage.

After finishing it, I just sat there in a daze. I have never encountered anything quite so mindless, especially when Atom Egoyan is involved.

Thanks for the reminder, I suppose; after "Chloe," I had completely forgotten he was even still active. It seems he’s managed to churn out four feature films in the interim, and a few actually look somewhat interesting.👍

silvercobra4 said:I just stumbled upon an issue of Empire magazine where they had it plastered across the cover in massive font: "Fincher's greatest masterpiece." Total bait. Pure deception.

That's what happens when the legal system hasn't figured out how to hand down prison sentences for clickbait headlines yet.☕

So many people love to talk about it, yet absolutely nobody actually wants to sit down and watch the movie.🤣

Harold Chavez6 said:Well, if he actually won the "Movie of the Week" vote, then I suppose I had to chime in. That’s just how the game is played, isn't it? Someone else might catch it before I do and form an opinion, and I'd rather not be left behind.

I haven't been keeping up with this thread lately, so I was completely unaware it had been designated the movie of the week.

My apologies.

Why on earth would you start a thread about a movie you haven't even seen yet?

Honestly, Coen would have produced a much more cohesive film.

I suspect if Chris's wife had been a white American or Canadian woman, she wouldn't have been saddled with such an excessive amount of dialogue.

Of course not. It isn't a documentary.

I have to admit, I’m a fan of Aaron Sorkin; I ended up binge-watching the entirety of The West Wing entirely on my own accord.

However, this particular piece just didn't quite move the needle for me. 🤷

Christian Myers said:They’re working on an English-language version—basically a remake—under the direction of Oliver Hermanus (a name I’ve never encountered, nor have I heard of any films he’s directed). The cast will feature Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood. While I don't hold a personal vendetta against remakes, I have a nagging suspicion this one isn't going to be particularly well-executed. Not that the original was anything to write home about, either.

It doesn't matter; some of us have seen it. 👍

Beauty isn't exactly terrible, but it really could have been handled with more finesse.

Edward Price6 said:Yeah, the movie is excellent.

Where did you catch it?

Nicholas Sullivan49 said:It’s a solid album—definitely the current favorite for all those neo-liberals out there (I just melt whenever he sings about those little moths)... honestly, his last show at Madison Square Garden blew me away all over again.

The lyrics only really make sense to me half the time... though I always find myself getting hung up on that one line, "she wasn't... vaccinated." 😁

And what exactly is he even referring to with "moths"?

I believe there was one instance where they stretched it out to a full month, almost as if it were a calculated move.

Though, truth be told, I can’t recall exactly when that happened or what specific reason could have prompted such a decision.

Pure sadness.

I watch them head out into the street, and I find myself following suit.

Emily Myers32 said:Besides, I don't see why there isn't more debate regarding the possibility that they are simply churning out far too many movies these days. It stands to reason that they can't all maintain a high standard, regardless of any objective variables—be it a director you happen to favor or a certain cast of actors.

Ha. Plenty of movies were being filmed back then, too. It’s just that we aren't intimately acquainted with a hundred different titles from, say, 1957; we only know the ones that actually possessed merit and managed to survive the scrutiny of time.

Likewise, time takes its toll. In all honesty, anyone over the age of 30 has already sat through countless films. Naturally, concentration levels and genuine interest begin to wane, and the grind of daily life—which is certainly not the same as it was when you were twenty-one—takes its inevitable toll. Aging doesn't just affect the body; the brain changes as well.😁

Well, I find myself unable to agree here. Most people I know watch very few films—perhaps fifty titles a year. Therefore, those individuals in their thirties cannot possibly be compared to me when I was twenty-three, for instance.

And as for daily life, that is entirely subjective... for someone who reaches thirty without the responsibilities of a family, focusing solely on a career, life is significantly less engaging than it was at twenty, during the college years.

Ashley Grant66 said:Perhaps there is an explanation. We might be developing this strange obsession—this illusion, really—of needing constant connectivity with the outside world. You feel pressured to remain perpetually available and informed about everything, so subconsciously, during those two hours spent watching a movie, you might harbor the nagging feeling that you're missing something happening "out there."

And yes, the theater is supreme. It frequently rescues the cinematic experience for me; the atmosphere, the lack of distractions, the superior color grading, the soundscapes—everything essential to the immersion. I have found that I don't truly "feel" a film until I have experienced it on a proper big screen.

I find myself revisiting this thread for a second time, and I have a few ruminations to share...

The urge to scroll through one's phone could perhaps be attributed to a craving for information, but in my own life, there are stretches where I force myself to ignore the news entirely for months at a time. So, that isn't quite the driver for me. Previously, it felt more like a matter of sheer boredom; my brain seeks stimulation, and out of pure habit, I reach for the device. It is much like sitting in a dentist's waiting room in Chicago; the moment you sit down, the phone comes out to provide a distraction.

I simply have to repeatedly discipline myself to ignore the phone. Ever since I started following this discussion, I have actually been successful. We shall see how long this holds up in the future.🙂

Regarding the cinema, I am in complete agreement. While I doubt it elevates a mediocre film to a masterpiece, it can certainly lift a subpar film by a few points. I often watch a film in the theater first, then catch it again at home later. The impression is never the same. At home, the impact is almost always diminished. However, I attribute that largely to the fact that I saw it in the theater first; when I revisit it months later at home, I already know the beats, which inevitably lessens the impact.

I have this strict rule when I go to the theater: phone stays in my pocket, and I don't even think about touching it until the credits roll. It’s just common courtesy.

I suppose I can claim a small victory today, though. While watching *Hamilton* and *Yummy*, I didn't glance at my screen once. Honestly, *Hamilton* was far too gripping to allow for even a momentary distraction.

As for *Yummy*, I had left my phone on the charger about six feet away from me. I felt that familiar, nagging urge to get up from the couch just to check it, but I managed to resist that sinful impulse.🙂

I’ve noticed over the last year or so that while I'm watching a movie, I find myself reflexively scrolling through my phone.

I can't quite put a clinical name to this particular affliction, but it is undoubtedly a negative development.

To illustrate... five or more years ago, if I were watching a film at home and my phone rang, I would pause the movie and take the call. It was perfectly reasonable behavior.

But lately, I catch myself mindlessly checking my device without even making the effort to hit pause.

Do any of you suffer from this same compulsion?

And more importantly, how does one cure it?

__________________________________________________ __

The second part of this inquiry concerns the act of watching films on a smartphone.

In my entire life, I have watched zero movies on a mobile device, though I hear there are people who actually do this.

So, I am curious... is there anyone here who makes a habit of this, and what is the experience actually like?

When someone watches a film on a phone, is it even possible to experience it with the same level of immersion as one would on a monitor or a television?

So, how exactly did Ms. Linguère Ramatou manage to scrape together her fortune? Did she perhaps stumble upon a mountain of gold in the wreckage after that plane crash?

Or was it more likely that, after years of selling herself, she finally settled down with some wealthy benefactor she had been pulling the strings on?

Fair enough. My mistake, though. I was operating under the standard definition of comedy—you know, the kind where you actually laugh. 🙂

Regarding the judge... you've got a point there. I just rewatched that scene where he’s addressing the crowd, and honestly, it makes zero sense. They really should have cast a much more seasoned actor for that role.

Not quite. Toward the end of the film, if Manny had actually wanted to, he could have stopped the Speed.