What movies have you seen recently?

**J-Clutch1** · 08-19-2015, 06:30 PM

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Just watched The Imitation Game. Really really enjoyed it. Alan Turing was definitely remarkable.

**RockinDaMike** · 08-20-2015, 04:26 PM

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

McFarland USA

Who would have thought I would enjoy a movie about cross country running?

If you love sports movies, definitely check it out. It's not unique plot or anything but it had a lot of heart and it gives you a look into the American Mexican culture. Costner did great as well, best role he had in awhile.

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**Blzer** · 08-21-2015, 10:03 AM

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Caught two movies last night.

The Gift

Though the trailer isn't too revealing, after walking out of the theater I realize I would have been made better by not anticipating what type of movie I was going to see, because the trailer was slightly misleading on that end. No worries, that's not a bad thing and for all intents and purposes I think that's exactly what they wanted when making the trailer. I'd rather venture on my own though before claiming how I want to feel about certain characters.

Nevertheless, the taut style of pacing allowed us to keep thinking on the edge of our feet, despite the film appearing somewhat slow in general. It was also interesting how the majority of our time is spent putting ourselves in Rebecca Hall's shoes than anybody else. I thought Edgerton did a really good job keeping most of the thriller aspects psychological, and he was very good at withholding information and not making dialogue too expository. It allows me as an audience member to formulate my own thoughts, as I heard others around me do for a while.

I was satisfied by it for its originality, and even though I was jumping over to see another movie immediately after, it still stuck in my mind like I wanted to have a long conversation about it with somebody. I enjoyed it, the acting was very good, and I'd like to see what else Edgerton can come up with in the future. Next time, I'd try and go see something of his without a trailer beforehand. There were only two moments in the film that I was thinking if creatively rewritten, could have made this film a must-see-again, but otherwise I think everything that was put on the screen was well thought out beforehand and was purposeful. This is something I'd love to hear a commentary track on, personally.

If you see it, try and do so with an open mind, in a Big Lebowski kind of way. I think you'll be better for it when watching this one.

Sinister 2

I'm a big fan of the first film, catching it late from a Redbox rental and being pleasantly surprised. While watching that film, some aspects that brought it into supernatural territory started to make it fray just a bit from the original premise, but I was still on board and was very happy to be as well.

Its sequel is a continuation of the first film's story, though I was a little caught by the timeline of the entire arc because of where this was taking place in Illinois (though I'm guessing it's still modern day by everything else surrounding it). It is very difficult to have an opening shot better than that of Sinister, but Sinister 2 puts its own spin on an opening shot, and it's not like it was dissatisfying, but it still won't touch the first one. Anyway, a character from the first film reprises their role and takes the lead here. While this actor is not a draw, he was probably the right choice to keep us relieved against any contrastingly darker moments.

Now, the ultimate lure of the first film outside of the mystery were the Super 8 tapes. Ultimately, I feel this is what brought me to see Sinister 2. I feel some of them could have been better, but for the most part I still feel they were good. Maybe not as grounded as the ones in the first film, but I think shock value is what you go for in a sequel, so in that sense the makers might have upped their own game appropriately. That, combined with some other nice sequences involving Super 8 stock, were definite pluses for this film.

There are a few negatives though that may outweigh the positives; they aren't as bad as one would think, but if you followed the public fan reactions to a few specific negatives in the first film, you'd think Scott Derrickson and crew would learn their lesson when making this film. Instead, they decided to embellish these negatives, speaking on their own end about the fact that this is what Sinister is all about to them. I am inclined to disagree as are most critics, but I won't be as harsh as they were about it.

Ultimately though, if you want to be scared by a horror film, look elsewhere. This doesn't have much, and barring a few exceptions the jump-scare attempts weren't very noteworthy. I won't be running out to see this again with another friend who is interested in seeing it, but I wouldn't automatically turn everyone away who wants to see it, either. I do recommend however that you see the first film beforehand if so, and that you decide for yourself here and now whether you are willing to accept some disappointments on the story-end of this film (or at least the majority focus of the story).

Don't expect to like it more than the first film, but if you're somebody like me who will watch any sequels that are churned out because of the first one's appeal, then you might as well get the first viewing out of the way in the theater. At the very least, it doesn't deserve the ludicrous 6% it's getting on Rotten Tomatoes.

**daflyboys** · 08-21-2015, 10:44 AM

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

I Am Chris Farley

Very nice retrospective about Farley, his early life, his emergence into the field and his jetting into stardom. Funny anecdotes by various friends and peers that occurred on and off the stage. His family's perspectives were most enjoyable and give us a glimpse into Farley's upbringing and development. Of course, there's the sad element hanging in the background. Also, you wouldn't think a documentary could have a great ending, but this did.

**SPTO** · 08-21-2015, 02:51 PM

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

The Car (1977)

This movie is a lot better than its reputation IMO. Yes the story is a bit silly and the acting isn't the greatest but seeing a devil possessed car wreaking havoc is pretty fun. The only complaint i have is that the kills are TOO clean. You don't really see anything gory or anything too scary at all though the lead up to the car going for the kill is appropriately menacing. There is one stunt in the movie that I can't believe they actually did since this was pre CGI. There's a scene where the car is driving towards two cop cars, flips over and there's a huge explosion as the car drives away and the cop cars are up in smoke.

So yeah, it's not exactly a great movie but it held my interest throughout and that's what counts to me!

**dickey1331** · 08-23-2015, 12:34 AM

What movies have you seen recently?

Get Hard.

It was ok. Not as funny as I thought it would be. Kinda slow at the beginning. I'm glad I got it at Redbox instead of buying it blindly.

**SPTO** · 08-23-2015, 03:27 AM

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Sharky's Machine (1981) or Dirty Harry goes to Atlanta

This is a movie i've tried to watch in the past to no avail but this time I actually got through the whole thing and it's actually quite good. This is the first film Burt Reynolds directed and as I suggest in my little alternate title this was The Burt's answer to the Dirty Harry movies. The movie is based on the book of the same name and interestingly the author was on record as saying he pictured Reynolds as Sharky when writing it.

Here's a good plot summary of the film:

Tom Sharky is a narcotics cop in Atlanta who's demoted to vice after a botched bust. In the depths of this lowly division, while investigating a high-dollar prostitution ring, Sharky stumbles across a mob murder with government ties, and responds by assembling his downtrodden fellow investigators (Sharky's "machine") to find the leaders and bring them to justice before they kill off all his partners and witnesses, including Sharky himself.

The Machine of the title being the other vice cops was pretty nice and you got some great actors in these roles. They all had a part to play and the camaraderie between all of them was quite strong. The Machine included Charles Durning, Bernie Casey, Brian Keith, Richard Libertini etc etc. I really enjoyed Casey as Arch. His belief in zen and always wanting to eat Japanese food made him a funny but interesting character.

The two main bad guys in the flick are pretty damn sleazy Vittorio Gassman played the big boss pimp/mob guy to sleazy perfection but it's his coke snorting, pill popping executioner Billy Score (played by Henry Silva) who completely steals the show. The way he went about his business was pretty damn menacing all things told. The climax in the hotel is a great example IMO.

Last but not least, the romantic subplot with Reynolds and the prostitute Dominoe played Rachel Ward was interesting to say the least. Apparently the subplot's structure was based on the film noir Laura. This also leads to the worst part of the movie. There's a LOOONG stretch of film where Reynolds and his crew are staking her out. Reynolds more or less falls in love with her while watching her constantly to the point that later on in the film he gets called out on having pictures of her all over the wall of his place. I understand what Reynolds was going for here but this is where a better director would've tightened things up a bit. The movie is 2 hrs long but apparently Burt had a 144 minute original cut! So I guess we should be thankful.

The violence can be a bit gory (there's a finger decapitation scene) but overall it's of the big dumb 1980s variety. The film thrives on the byplay of Sharky and his crew and has a very good atmosphere thanks to the jazzy film score. I'd say give this a watch if you've never seen it.

**Blzer** · 08-23-2015, 03:46 AM

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

I Spit on Your Grave

For whatever reason, I'm always a sucker for disturbing films. This one was more graphically disturbing than it was mentally or emotionally, but I thought it was plenty disturbing still all the same though it isn't the most. Either way, that was the angle for which I went in to watch it, and I think I got my money's worth on that end. Took a while to build up to the best payoffs though, but that's what made them all worth it. It's a shame the acting was bad in the dialogue moments, but it seems as though they were cast for their acting in the torture moments because they sold me there.

I'll take any other recommendations for sadistic films, besides A Serbian Film. I've already seen recommended ones such as Audition, Funny Games, The Human Centipede, Threads, and Cannibal Holocaust. On that note, I remember seeing a teaser trailer for Green Inferno on my Chef Blu-ray, yet it's only now coming out in theaters (in September). What took it so long to release?

**daflyboys** · 08-23-2015, 10:49 AM

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

^^ Ya, I don't understand the time, money and effort, let alone the kind of mind that can cook up movies like that.

Watched The Wrecking Crew on Netflix. This obviously didn't last in theaters very long (if it was in at all). I remember seeing the trailer for this and wanted to see this. Documentary of the session musicians primarily during the 50's and 60's, especially Tony Tedesco (film made by his son) and how they were the real sound behind the famous songs of those times for the biggest names in the business including Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Sonny & Cher, The Monkees and the like. The also provided the creativity behind many famous TV show theme songs.

It was a good look, but the production/editing was really all over the place. It was more like a bunch of clips and testimonials sort of thrown together. What was interesting was that you didn't know certain famous musician were session players first like Glen Campbell (whom I never cared for) and Leon Russell (whose sound I love).

Worth a look for the nostalgic value.

**Blzer** · 08-23-2015, 11:58 AM