I actually sat through it for a third time yesterday, yet I found myself enjoying it just as much as if it were my very first viewing 😛 Maybe I have my short-term memory to thank for that 😁 It’s funny, because just recently—after a long hiatus—I found myself revisiting the soundtrack, having no idea it was going to be airing on TV, which served as a perfect little prelude before diving back in 👍
The whole experience of watching it felt similar to Darjeeling, since I spent the entire runtime in this sort of lighthearted, breezy mood with a constant grin on my face... well, except for that one scene with Goldblum and the dog, which was simultaneously hilarious, absolutely hysterical, and frankly stomach-turning, especially considering how much of an animal lover I am 😲
As I’ve mentioned before, the core concept here is solid, but the execution? It just falls flat... There was one sequence where the soundtrack really hit me with those dark, gritty vibes reminiscent of Se7en, which I suspect was exactly what the production team was aiming for. And while they definitely captured that specific atmosphere, let's be honest—without a truly gripping premise to back it up, this movie doesn't even come close to standing in the same league as Se7en. Then there’s the casting, which felt completely off to me; the performances were underwhelming, especially the boss, who happens to be white. Actually, looking at the whole cast, it strikes me as incredibly odd that there isn't a single Black actor in the entire lineup... feels a bit strange, doesn't it?
I absolutely loved this movie. Honestly, watching it felt like being in some kind of trance... Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but there were moments where I realized I had this ridiculous, goofy grin plastered on my face even when nothing particularly hilarious was happening. Especially during the funeral scene. I actually had to force myself to try and look even slightly somber just to get that stupid smile off my face. Once the funeral was over, though, I stopped trying to control it because there was no point, so I spent most of the rest of the film floating in this blissful, hazy half-trance. I don't have a single complaint. The acting is top-tier. Everything is so vibrant and bursting with color; it’s incredibly relaxing and easy to watch. The soundtrack is fantastic too—at one point, a specific track actually reminded me a bit of Zisso (I definitely need to hunt down that OST). When they were talking about the perfume, I could swear I could actually smell a scent myself, especially once they started bringing up the fragrances of India. It’s just one of those films that hits all your senses, leaving you feeling completely refreshed and mellow afterward. 👍
Michelle Ward10 said:Nick Cave actually wrote the screenplay for this Western http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421238/. I definitely need to pick this one up 🙏.
I finally "tracked down" a copy a few days ago, and after hunting for it for what felt like forever, I was all set and ready to dive in... only to realize the subtitles were completely garbled. Honestly, I was already on edge before I even hit play, so that was really the final straw, and I just shut the whole thing off in frustration. I'll get the subtitles sorted out soon, and once I actually get through it, I'll let you guys know what I thought... 👍
I spent some time digging around online to fact-check a few details from the movie, and it turns out the history actually lines up with the film quite closely. The way Jesse James—who was a notorious outlaw and gunslinger back then—actually ended up losing his life is just straight-up bizarre. Now, whether every single tiny detail was portrayed literally according to the historical record, I can't say for sure; probably not, but regardless, the story itself is incredibly gripping and serves as a real lesson... As for Casey Affleck's performance, it was nothing short of brilliant. Everyone seems to think Javier Bardem is the frontrunner to take home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, but if you ask me, that trophy belongs to Casey. Don't get me wrong, Bardem did a solid job, but I honestly feel his role was far less complex than what Affleck had to tackle. It feels like Bardem might have landed the part largely because he fits the physical profile so perfectly; and by that, I mean his look is rugged and almost unsettlingly harsh, which definitely helps sell the image of a manic killer or a psychopath. His character didn't really demand a wide spectrum of emotional range either. He isn't sad, he isn't worried, he isn't in love, he isn't obsessed, and he isn't afraid... he’s just this stone-faced maniac with a terrifying visage... On the flip side, Casey had a much more demanding path to walk, cycling through so many different psychological states and stages throughout the film—moving from obsession to love, to pure terror, to pride... I could see all those shifting emotions etched into his facial expressions and even in the way he moved, and that’s exactly why his performance resonated with me so much more deeply than Bardem's...
I also have to mention that the score was composed by Nick Cave, who even makes a brief appearance on screen, and he absolutely nailed it. I particularly loved how the music weaves through the entire film, especially during those segments where the narrator comes in...
Two terminally ill guys—played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman—team up to knock out everything on their Bucket List before the clock runs out. You’ve got Jack Nicholson playing this wild, impulsive wealthy type, while Morgan Freeman is the calm, collected mechanic who just happens to be a total scholar... It’s a fantastic drama with those perfect comedic touches you expect from a director like Rob Reiner. I highly recommend checking this one out 👍
I haven't caught the last two flicks on this list, so I can't really weigh in on those. For the rest, I'm mostly on board with your picks, though I have to push back on that number one spot. Apocalypto absolutely doesn't deserve to be sitting there—honestly, in my book, it's not even in the top 10... Instead, I’d put a movie you either overlooked or maybe just missed entirely right at the top, which is "The Kingdom." To me, that was the best film of this year, if not the last few years combined 🙏
I just went ahead and dropped a perfect 10 on IMDB for this one, and believe me when I say that rating carries some serious weight since I haven’t actually registered on the site or cast a single vote until this very moment. The impact this film had on me was just so overwhelming that I felt compelled to actually sit down and write something about it, even though I rarely ever bother with these kinds of posts... You absolutely have to check out 👍