I caught a screening of Hamlet the other day. Honestly, it was one of the most compelling takes on the play I've seen in a long time. 🤣 Missed out on seeing The B-52's today, though. 😢
Isabelle Huppert is absolutely phenomenal, 🙏 she just has this incredible knack for playing those icy, detached women who are carrying around these messy, complicated internal struggles. She plays them with such a chilling distance, yet there’s always this subtle layer of nuance underneath it all. I don't think you mentioned Ben Kingsley, but I thought Ulrich Mühe was brilliant in The Second Life 👍 I’ve only actually seen him in Funny Games, so I wouldn't dare put him on my absolute "all-time favorites" list just yet, but I find it hard to believe he isn't consistently great.
I've actually got the English subtitles right here. If you think having them will make it easier to follow along while you listen, just let me know and I'll send them over. Besides, there isn't a massive amount of dialogue in this movie anyway 😬
Oh, right, it slipped my mind... Henry Campbell5 already pointed out how the director basically didn't even know how to operate a camera when the film started, yet somehow evolved to capture those hyper-specific details over time. It’s that transition from a raw, documentary-style realism into such a powerful, symbolic, and deeply cinematic final frame. Honestly, you have to hand it to him.
The movie is an adaptation of the novel. In the original version of the book, the author actually spells out exactly what happened, but she eventually decided to cut that part out. If you’re dying to know the truth behind the mystery, your best bet is to hunt down a newer edition of the book—or maybe that specific chapter was released as a standalone piece, I can't be entirely sure—otherwise, just do some digging online. As far as the film goes, it’s fantastic. It works much better as a period piece capturing a specific slice of the American landscape through its characters—basically a snapshot of the old frontier spirit from a century ago—than it ever would have worked if it had tried to solve the mystery head-on. It’s about the setting, not the puzzle.
So, if you're planning a rewatch, or if you're recommending it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet: sit back, relax & enjoy 🙂
Watched 🙂 The Game at KIC, if anyone else is still looking for something to do...
And honestly, I’m pretty much on the same page as everyone else regarding their impressions. Right at the start, when that guy begins explaining how to handle the camera, I had this thought—Oh, God, what on earth is this going to turn into? 😁, but it actually turned out to be absolutely darling 🙂 ...'Why are you filming?' 'To watch a priest baptize lambs' 🤣
It’s just filled with these beautiful little snapshots, tiny details, and warm vibes—it's about generations, stories of aging, the essence of a city and its people, all woven together with parallels to his other films... I'm not entirely sure what kind of impact this movie has on people who aren't from NYC, though. It's fascinating how even Washington, D.C., through his lens, feels somewhat more old-fashioned and timeless. Plus, I love how he fluctuates between appearing like a charmingly confused old man and being completely, piercingly lucid 🙂
I’ve only ever seen Birch from his filmography, but now I’m actually feeling the urge to sit down for a full retrospective. To me, that fight scene they quoted is pure avant-garde 🙂
Honestly, I wasn't exactly blown away. I totally get what you’re saying in the first half of your post, but I find myself sharing those exact same complaints from the critics you mentioned—it’s just bloated and tedious. It isn't that two and a half hours feels like too much time in general; it's that the pacing is so glacial that I never actually felt like there was a point to any of it. I felt physically drained watching a hundred different shots of Damon just staring blankly into the distance or at the floor. And let's be real, he isn't exactly a powerhouse actor (thankfully, it wasn't an overly demanding role 😁 ). Angie felt pretty forgettable to me as well, and while the son did an okay job, he rubbed me the wrong way just as much as he did you.
Look, I'll concede that the film is smart and meticulously crafted, but it just didn't click for me. Maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace for it. Either way, I don't see myself giving it a second chance.
dustyseal11 said:Helen Mirren was absolutely phenomenal—truly top-tier—but as for the actual story? It was a bit of a mess. Honestly, if it hadn't been for her incredible performance and sheer talent, this whole thing could have easily been dismissed as just another piece of Hollywood trash.
I’m a little confused by the logic there—how does a British production qualify as "Hollywood trash"?
That said, my take on the film aligns with what most of you are saying: the movie is decent, but Helen is nothing short of brilliant. 🙂
And the King (well, Prince Philip) is a total legend too. What a character, and those observations he makes about the situation... pure gold. 🤣
redowl90 said:Why is everyone raving about this movie? I just don't get it...
I mean, Helen Mirren is fantastic, and the rest of the cast is solid too—no arguments there—but does anyone actually care about these events? What was the point? The story feels way too niche (by which I mean it seems like something only an Englishman would find gripping) and it has that vibe of a Sunday afternoon TV movie...
I can see why it got nominated, though. Still, I’d have picked United 93 over this any day. But hey, to each their own... 🙂
Good grief, look at this comment section... Who actually gives a damn about the events depicted in United 93? By that same flawed logic, shouldn't that movie only be interesting to Americans (and maybe other "terrorist"-prone nations)?🙄
rustyscout31 said:The movie is absolutely fantastic, and Helen Mirren is just incredible! She truly deserves an Oscar for this performance. I was actually a little worried that the scenes involving Princess Diana might lean too hard into being overly sentimental or feel like a cheap tribute to Lady Diana, but the director handled the whole situation regarding her passing and the funeral so beautifully.
I am just left wondering why they chose to portray the handsome Prince Charles III as such a decent guy. And one more thing... I had no idea the British Prime Minister held that much sway over the Queen...
That specific scene with the deer... hmm... was the Queen feeling a sense of guilt over Princess Diana, or were they trying to suggest she cares more about a wounded animal than she did about the late Princess Diana??
Well, I didn't realize the Prime Minister had such a tight grip on the Queen either—let alone that he’d be breaking out in a cold sweat just from receiving a phone call from her. Honestly, I’m still not buying it.
I’m one of those younger folks around here, so consider this a friendly hello. Mind you, I don't mean that when someone is just passing by a few feet away while their eyes are glued to some distant horizon. I have no interest in being intrusive 😉 . But honestly, I find the whole custom quite charming 🙂
I don't recall seeing any massive ad campaign for it, just maybe a few news snippets popping up on some lifestyle sites. Honestly, I think it was more about word-of-mouth spreading through the community. Looking at the crowd during the screenings, they certainly don't strike me as the type to spend their afternoons flipping through 😉 . Crowds weren't exactly rare before, but it was usually reserved for niche stuff like Spanish Film Week. I really didn't see this coming for the Sunday festival in the countryside 😬 .
Andrew Stewart2 said:It actually surprised me that the theater was nearly packed out the following day too (Tavernier, Sunday in the Country).
Yeah, it caught me off guard as well. I had the same reaction on Monday when I went to see Night Porter—people were literally sitting on the edges just to squeeze into the AMC Theatres seats.🙂
rustyscout31 said:Look, I’m neither a mayor nor some big-shot entrepreneur. My voice carries weight out there, sure, but I haven't exactly conquered the business world. Politics is a massive, complicated beast... if you really want my two cents...
Hmm, what about starting a grassroots civic initiative? 😉 The non-profit sector isn't just some decorative ornament for society. 🙂