What movies have you seen recently?

[dubcity]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Heat (1995)
We are so lucky that De Niro and Pacino got to do this movie, while both were still in their late prime as actors and box office draws. Doesn't always work that way. Film holds up well. But, after this viewing, it really struck how much of a deep dark mother****er of a movie this is. Misery, sadness, with an unending and doomed search for fulfillment and dignity for most involved, regardless of which side of the criminal/law coin they are on. More of a crime noir film than a heist action flick, but still highly impressive on every level.

Goodfellas (1990)
Hadn't watched this film since I was around 12 years old. I remember being slightly freaked out and put off by the stylized violence in certain scenes, along with just not understanding the intricacies of the plot. This viewing it was far more clear how much of an achievement this film is. Liotta was way less insane and scenery-chewing than I remembered him in this role. Actually he more than holds his own with De Niro and Pesci.

In retrospect it feels wild that Scorsese received as much criticism as he did for supposedly glorifying the mafia. By the end of the film none of these people feel romanticized or glorified in the least. They are all eventually shown to be impossibly flawed, and by the end all are either dead or irrelevant. Maybe the soundtrack glorifies things a bit, but I would say Italian culture is mostly what is looked at with fondness here. The original Godfather did way more to empathize with the concept of a mafia family and life than this does.

[Master Live 013]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

• Dave Chappelle: Equanimity: 5/10
• Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones: 7/10
• The Banshees of Inisherin: 5/10
• She Said: 6/10
• Tár: 6/10
• See How They Run: 4/10
• Jurassic World: Dominion: 3/10
• Prey: 5/10
• Causeway: 5/10
• The Last of Us: 6/10

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[Blzer]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

John Wick: Chapter 4

That lasted 169 minutes? I had no idea. The time just flew right by.

It may possibly be the best John Wick of them all (or may not), but it absolutely is the most John Wick of them all. Chad Stahelski does not pull any punches (or engage the safety) at any time in this gun-fu epic. Combat scenes are not moments so much as they are entire acts. The amount of stunt choreography that everybody had to synchronize to was rather incredible, and they continue to find more ways to entertain us with kills, kill types, use of weapons, locations, teamwork, etc. I caught myself smiling for minutes on end several times while watching it.

Of course though, as I said, they really lean into it. I'm sure this has been true of previous films as well, but it is very apparent that John Wick should virtually die in every scene that he is in. Whether it is how he is attacked or how they fail to attack him at the right times, he goes at every foe like the bear in The Revenant with full adrenaline and no signs of slowing down no matter what he is hit by. And again, I think if you look hard enough you will find enemies who have clear shots and choose not to take them because of plot armor, but you can forgive it enough if you're rewarded with a longer take or overall longer action sequence. What I really loved was how many of these scenes took place at night with dazzlingly lit environments all around, and the music in every scene kicks as much *** as what you see on screen. I had pondered over why John Wick doesn't have a video game yet, but if they ever make one I have decided I'd like one of those top-down shooter games (similar to The Hong Kong Massacre, and if not maybe like the GTA:SA MP rampage style).

I acknowledge this franchise for what it is now, but I still pine for some of the missing components that I don't know if it'll ever be able to bring back. After watching John Wick, fun as it was, I found myself interested in seeing a prequel when he was the Baba Yaga in his prime, taking missions rather than being hunted. Even still, at least in that movie he was absolutely feared. In Chapter 2, I still found him heavily respected, but it was in that movie that I realized there would probably be a repetitive formula to the narrative and movie/action structure (which still has yet to break). In Chapter 3, there only lived assassins and they would go after him without hesitation, which did is not how I felt the world breathed the first time around. They continue down this path in Chapter 4, while opening the universe more to different characters breeding their own kind of loyalty. They are all insanely fun to watch, and you see the cogwheels of the John Wick universe spinning with the future Continental television show and the Ballerina movie spinoff. Where they remain faulty though is even with the existence of civilians during fight scenes, they act as droning NPC's like nothing is happening around them, or they aren't there whatsoever. It is clear that this is not our world that this movie takes place in, but rather a parallel one.

I mentioned the introduction of new characters in this world, and you can't not bring up Donnie Yen when talking about them. He steals each and every scene that he is in, and it's crazy because you wonder how a character like his could thrive in such a world but you absolutely believe it when you watch it. I will absolutely take more of him and Rina Sawayama. She isn't featured as much, but she makes use of every second that she is in front of the camera. There are plenty of others (such as the great Hiroyuki Sanada), but the point remains that Wick is relegated to this greater universe with characters who—good, bad, or for themselves—are ones we can actually root for in any fight. Keanu Reeves is understandably less nimble at his age than the others (and it's either bad acting or he really has taken on this John Wick role in his line delivery to hilarious new heights), but he and Stahelski have found a groove that still makes him the most impenetrable force around, to the point that I go back and watch the action scenes in The Matrix Resurrections and wonder what happened there. I didn't love one particular character in their big fighting moment(s), but they go for versatility and I have to give them that much.

March has had an incredible run of theatrical films, and John Wick: Chapter 4 is no different. You will lean forward during the action which there is plenty, and if I'm one to go off of you will not feel the runtime. There is an end credits scene as well if you're able to stay for a moment longer. I would love to go back and see this one again.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Saw John Wick 4 and scrolled right past it in case there were any potential spoilers, lol.

But also, I thought it drops on the 24th?

[Blzer]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Saw John Wick 4 and scrolled right past it in case there were any potential spoilers, lol.

But also, I thought it drops on the 24th?

I tend to give very spoiler-free reviews. Read my Scream VI review and you'll find that you read 1700+ words of almost complete nothingness, haha. I just leave impressions to give my overall feel and experience of the film. If you don't want to even hear about an actor's name/appearance or anything though, then I suppose that you can avoid.

It does drop on the 24th. I get advance screening invites to a lot of films. Sadly I can't make the majority of them because of my coaching endeavors, but because of the rain yesterday my team had a short meeting and that was it, so I was able to attend.

[Blzer]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

And on that note, sadly Lance Reddick (of the John Wick franchise) reportedly passed away today at 60.

Pay your respects and see him one more time on the big screen in Chapter 4. He was awesome. R.I.P.

[Caulfield]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

And on that note, sadly Lance Reddick (of the John Wick franchise) reportedly passed away today at 60.

Pay your respects and see him one more time on the big screen in Chapter 4. He was awesome. R.I.P.

also on the horizon, he's in the upcoming remake of White Men Can't Jump

R.I.P. Mr. Reddick

[J_Posse]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

And on that note, sadly Lance Reddick (of the John Wick franchise) reportedly passed away today at 60.

Pay your respects and see him one more time on the big screen in Chapter 4. He was awesome. R.I.P.

He also played Albert Wesker in that terrible, even more than the Paul W.S. Anderson movies, no good Resident Evil adaptation on Netflix.

RIP

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

I know him more from OZ and The Wire.

[JayBee74]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

I know him more from OZ and The Wire.

And Bosch-I forgot about his undercover role on OZ

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Damn, loved him as Broyles from Fringe. Such a memorable actor in all his roles. RIP

[LambertandHam]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Damn, loved him as Broyles from Fringe. Such a memorable actor in all his roles. RIP

Fringe was great. Might go for a rewatch. RIP.

[RockinDaMike]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

He’ll always be Lt Daniels to me. He was great though in Bosch


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[lowpaiddonkey10]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Damn 60 is way too young. RIP.

[lowpaiddonkey10]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Netflix Dragged Across Concrete with Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughan. Nearly 2 1/2 hours long and by the end of it I figured out why they named it dragged across concrete cause that's how I felt. You can miss this one.