Casey Affleck really went above and beyond what I was expecting... that unspoken, subtle communication happening between him and Pitt is just pure perfection... The soundtrack is absolutely fantastic (I actually had no clue Cave was behind it until that moment in the saloon when the ballad kicks in—then everything just clicked for me). Overall, it’s a solid film, though I’m still scratching my head at the very end, trying to figure out what the actual point was, other than maybe an attempt to feel like a sweeping historical epic... I’ll say it again, though, it's a really good movie... and that narrator fits the vibe so perfectly that listening to him was such a joy...
Garret Dillahunt 🙏 ... honestly, I haven't seen a character quite as messed up as this one since I watched The Machinist... 7/10
So, I finally sat down and watched it yesterday... and honestly, all I can say is that some people really ought to think twice before trying to turn a good book into a movie... the whole plot feels completely disjointed, like it’s jumping all over the place, the characters have zero depth, and most of the casting was just... off (though Nicole Kidman was a total standout)... basically, if you haven't even cracked the pages of the book yet, you’re probably going to spend the whole runtime sitting there wondering—wait, what am I watching, who is this person, and what on earth is actually happening here?
It just feels like the whole production lacked any real soul or passion from the crew... it needed more layers, you know? I’d definitely suggest just sticking to the books instead. 4/10
Just finished watching it... what an incredible movie... truly profound stuff, the kind of cinema I just live for... Tilda Swinton was absolutely phenomenal... the way she started trembling at the end, man, she was just flawless throughout the entire thing... and honestly, I just sat there soaking in every second of the credits while riding in my Uber, just staring at that look on Clooney's face as he gets more and more satisfied—it’s like, finally, he actually feels fulfilled!!
I don't know how to put this without sounding like I’ve barely ever turned on a TV in my life or that I'm some kind of complete amateur when it comes to cinema... hmm... but honestly—this movie is easily one of my top 5. I’ve always felt that Tony Scott has a certain style that just hits different for me compared to his more famous brother... it’s purely subjective, of course, but he really nailed the atmosphere here, and if I truly had to pick a favorite film based on pure heart (!), regardless of anything else, it would be this one... I think I won't be revisiting it for maybe another six months or so...
Oh, and by the way... could someone please fix that typo in the thread title?...
Just finished watching... Bale basically carries the entire movie on his back, and honestly, Crowe doesn't even come close to his level here... the film is just incredible, though maybe that's just because I grew up practically swallowing every Western ever made... 🙂
Man, I’m telling you... that’s really it for me... I only ever got around to reading the thin stylus—not the polar one, also known as Golden Compass—about five or six years back... and honestly, the book was just absolutely incredible... I definitely need to check this out, no question about it!!!
I guess Band was alright for me... I mean, damn, it really did bring De Niro back to life—so I’ll give him credit for that... but Aviator? I can barely even remember it anymore... honestly, I’d much rather sit through some documentary about Hughes than endure that whole ordeal again... I'm telling you—to my mind, it’s easily the worst Scorsese film I've ever sat through... just felt like this massive attempt at an Oscar grab, trying to reach for that gold statue a bit too aggressively compared to his other stuff 😉
Jerry Martin19 said:Out of the Dead feels like a total outlier in the Scorsesean catalog to me. It’s this super neurotic, heavy depression drama that just hits differently than his usual style. I don't know about you guys, but this isn't the Scorsese I grew up watching. Thoughts?
btw, great flick 😍
To be different... honestly, that one sits right up there with my top three of his best, especially since you've got Nicolas Cage playing exactly what he does better than anyone else—that absolute disaster of a human being... though I can't help but feel like Scorsese brings just a little bit more to the table... I was just sitting here thinking about how much certain films capture a specific kind of lightning in a bottle, and it got me wondering about *The Aviator*... you know, that sweeping, grand feeling of ambition and madness all rolled into one... it makes you think about how we perceive those larger-than-life figures in American history, the ones who seem to fly much higher than the rest of us, even if they eventually lose their grip on the ground... I wonder if anyone else feels that same pull when watching those period pieces, where the scale of everything feels so massive yet so deeply personal at the same time... maybe it's just me, but there’s something about that era of American innovation that stays with you long after the credits roll...
redowl90 said:Isn't Mission to Mars also kind of an outlier in Brian De Palma's filmography?
🙂 Honestly, it’s easily one of the absolute worst movies I’ve ever sat through, now that you mention it...
A total bottom-of-the-barrel disaster 👎 👎 (if I really have to go into detail, I’ll force myself to write out a couple more sentences, though the thought makes me cringe...)
Samuel Smith5 said:Right now, I can't stop thinking about Jim Carrey. Despite all the absolute garbage he churned out during his "career," he actually managed to pull off one incredible performance in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. That’s the one film that earns him my respect. Everything else? Pure contempt. Well, maybe not *everything*
ps. I am honestly exhausted by this endless cycle of infantile bickering, constant quoting, and general spam you all keep posting. Grow up.
First off (to Samuel Smith5): You really need to check out The Truman Show. Secondly (regarding the original question): Are we counting actors here too, or is this strictly for directors?
I should probably mention that I actually found myself laughing out loud at a few parts, mostly because they felt so incredibly genuine... you just don't see that kind of naturalism in movies very often these days...
...and honestly, was I the only one who kept getting Jean Reno vibes from that one guy while watching the film?
Jerry Martin19 said:It’s not even a judgment, just a gut feeling. I don't mind Leonardo DiCaprio (who was actually pretty solid in The Departed), and I don't mind Cameron Diaz either. What bugs me is that "screaming for an Oscar" vibe—exactly like redowl90 said. If I had sat through the whole movie, I probably would've ended up writing even harsher reviews... so...
It’s just a gut feeling. You know that vibe when you watch a trailer and get that sinking sensation—the one that almost never fails you—that the movie is going to suck? That was exactly my premonition after seeing the trailer for 300, and once I actually sat through the whole thing, my initial hunch turned out to be spot on...
I'll just say this: Daniel Day-Lewis... if there is any reason at all to sit down and watch this, it's because of him.😉
Jerry Martin19 said:Looks like I painted the wrong picture... My take... About De Niro and why he's even being brought up in this thread... I need to set the record straight. Not too long ago, one of the guys here—maybe wearytinker8—started a whole discussion about... Taxi DriverI haven't even really formed a solid opinion on De Niro yet. I’ve sat through maybe 15 of his movies, and for the most part, he hits the mark—most of them being pretty good or even great. I've never had anything negative to say about him, and that hasn't changed... He’s certainly not the first actor to settle into a predictable groove toward the end of his career, and honestly, calling him one-dimensional isn't exactly an insult. A lot of actors work that way, so I don't see why it couldn't be the same for De Niro... Just my two cents... Yeah, that's just how his performance works. Maybe it’s the casting, but who knows... People are probably gonna say something like, "If you don't think De Niro is a transformative actor, just watch..." Awakenings...I can't say I've sat through the whole thing, but I caught a chunk of it... specifically the end, and honestly, it was just...Just the same old pasta...Who says that's actually a bad thing? Not being a transformative actor doesn't mean you're a bad actor; it just means you're the kind of performer destined for more or less the same type of role—and I don't mean "soldier" vs "soldier," I mean the actual essence of the character. It's the same deal with Al Pacino, but... If you ask me... De Niro’s got way more range than people give him credit for...
I have no clue what the deal is with this... Cape Fear...Unknown... Al Pacino... If you ask me... One of the weaker Scorsese films I've seen, and trust me, I've seen plenty... After... The Aviator...And his worst one... but I missed it... Gangs of New York... Which one is probably just as bad, if not worse... The AviatorIf my gut isn't lying to me... before anyone decides to come at me again, they might want to take another look at... boldano...
Most people have that one favorite actor, and then there’s the "best" actor. They aren't always the same person—loving someone doesn't automatically mean you think they're the greatest of all time, and vice versa. I’m betting most of you here count De Niro as a favorite, maybe even the best, but hey, those are just individual takes that eventually turn into a consensus... For me, it’s Tim Roth. He’s my favorite and my pick for the best, all wrapped into one. Can't get much better than that. So what am I supposed to do now? Try to convince the whole world that my opinion is the only right one? Ridiculous...
I feel like we’ve already hit this wall a dozen times before: there is no objective yardstick to measure what’s actually "good" or "bad," especially when it comes to film. So why bother using one? We're basically just throwing our own opinions out there—some people will vibe with them, others won't, and that's really all there is to it. Why try to pin down some absolute standard of quality when it's something so inherently subjective anyway...
Unknown... man, you've got that one wrong—I definitely agree that The Aviator is easily Scorsese's worst work, but where on earth are you getting the idea that Gangs of New York is just as bad, maybe even worse? 🤷 I mean, how can you even begin to judge movies you haven't actually sat down and watched?
Oh, and yeah... kind of related to what we were talking about earlier:
Douglas Reed7 said:De Niro is past his prime. We went from a total perfectionist—someone who would actually learn the saxophone if the role required it, pack on 30 pounds, or bulk up into a powerhouse—to a guy whose peak dramatic performance is just a subtle head shake, eyes glued to the ceiling, and an awkward beard.
Even though he used to carry massive films, lately he seems to be picking nothing but garbage. And it'll probably stay that way. He’s 64 now, and let's be real, he was never really a "character actor" to begin with. His only options left are parodying the very roles that made him famous or trying to pivot into heavy drama, which isn't working particularly well. Regardless, he remains one of my favorite actors.
😂 😂 🙏 (I literally just choked on my coffee)
Everything you said is spot on 👍 ...it really feels like he’s just over the whole grind—like he’s already mentally checked out into retirement!
Jerry Martin19 said:80% objective?! Since when is your opinion objective and mine isn't? At the end of the day, whatever you or I think is subjective, not objective, so...
p.s. I'm not denying anything. I already said plenty of De Niro's films (the ones that made him famous) are great or even masterpieces, but that's just my take, just like everything you wrote above is just your take. End of story. I don't know how "objective" anyone can actually be when talking about movies... 😕
I don't know. I'm just saying how I saw the film, and neither the movie nor De Niro did anything for me. I didn't feel that psychopathic vibe from his character at all. It all felt a bit "shallow" to me, and what am I supposed to do? Force myself to feel what you felt? 😵 Seriously. 🙂
It seems like you can't even post here unless you believe De Niro is some god-tier actor who turned out 80% masterpieces 🤮
You really need to read more carefully, because nobody actually said that... and honestly, I'm pretty sure nobody cares what your take on De Niro is... think whatever you want, I just don't see what kind of conversation you're even hoping to have here 🤷
Jerry Martin19 said:And what kind of "proof" is that? You're just taking compliments and repackaging them as facts...
Who even decides what counts as a flop anyway?
I agree he was killer in most of those roles, except maybe Awakening since I haven't seen it, and rt fear because I didn't think he was that great there, nor was the movie itself. At the end of the day, it's just a difference of opinion...
Personally, all those roles look solid to me, but they feel kind of repetitive, which I've already mentioned a few times...
You misread the situation. There aren't any "old-timers" here, just people. If someone's been posting for one, two, or three years and gets annoyed that new people are showing up, they can go ahead and deal with it. I'm not interested in that drama. I'm just saying most of the newer crowd (not naming names) doesn't really care about actually talking, which sucks for the vibe of this place. It's a shame. Not saying I'm perfect—I used to just post lists and emojis too—but I got tired of it. I'd much rather actually chat, swap info, and have some fun than just spamming the same stuff over and over with zero payoff...
Oh, please, don't try to tell me that you can't objectively label certain movies as failures while others are just decent... don't overstate things like that—you claim you want a high-quality debate, yet here you are trying to deny the fact that De Niro has put out about 80% solid films, a good portion of which are objectively among the top 30% of masterpieces in the entire American film industry.