Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)

[jacobsever]

S Craig Zahler's follow up to his Bone Tomahawk.

Part of Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness and Documentaries section.

[jacobsever]

Bone Tomahawk made it in my Top 10 films of 2015, and I'll watch anything Zahler puts out because of it.

[kylec123]

http://theplaylist.net/brawl-cell-bl...nged-20170821/

A former boxer named Bradley loses his job as an auto mechanic, and his troubled marriage is about to expire. At this crossroads in his life, he feels that he has no better option than to work for an old buddy as a drug courier. This vocation improves his situation until the terrible day that he finds himself in a gunfight between a group of police officers and his own ruthless allies. When the smoke clears, Bradley is badly hurt and thrown in prison, where his enemies force him to commit acts of violence that turn the place into a savage battleground.

Ok, yes. Sign me up.

[MJD64]

How can I say no to a movie that features both Udo Kier and Don Johnson?

[Hoke Moseley]

I want a trailer!! Hoping Don Johnson plays a corrupt warden or something.

[hifiHigh]

Bone Tomahawk - just. awful.

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by hifiHigh

Bone Tomahawk - just. awful.

...what?!

That movie was in my Top 10 of 2015. #7 to be exact. Nearly a perfect movie all around.

[hifiHigh]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

...what?!

That movie was in my Top 10 of 2015. #7 to be exact. Nearly a perfect movie all around.

Not for me.
On my list of worst of 2015.
But glad you liked it...

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by hifiHigh

Not for me.
On my list of worst of 2015.
But glad you liked it...

What didn't you like about it? What issues did you have?

[hifiHigh]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

What didn't you like about it? What issues did you have?

Where to start:

This film was not quite what I was hoping for. At just about 2 hrs 10 mins it could have easily been edited down to 90 minutes. Set in the Old West, the story revolves around 4 men searching for the wife of one of the 4 that was taken by some sort of native American/cannibal tribe. We spend a nauseating amount of time watching these 'cowboys' ride and, ultimately, walk across baron landscape and desert. At several points into their trek they have quite a few over-dramatic arguments - each of them always trying to have the last word. It's really amateurish - even for Kurt Russell. And I enjoy Kurt Russell movies. The last 20 or so mins are where it gets to the point and we see a couple of gory, graphic cannibalistic rituals and carnage. The good guys win in the end but at a heavy cost. This is a love it/hate it film... I was on the fence at the end...if it were edited a little better and had a bit more action I would go 3 full stars but this was way too drawn out for the first hour. No - it's not "gritty", no, it's NOT the greatest western ever put to film. It's slow and slack-jawed, and it's filmed in a way where I barely felt involved.

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by hifiHigh

Where to start:

This film was not quite what I was hoping for. At just about 2 hrs 10 mins it could have easily been edited down to 90 minutes. Set in the Old West, the story revolves around 4 men searching for the wife of one of the 4 that was taken by some sort of native American/cannibal tribe. We spend a nauseating amount of time watching these 'cowboys' ride and, ultimately, walk across baron landscape and desert. At several points into their trek they have quite a few over-dramatic arguments - each of them always trying to have the last word. It's really amateurish - even for Kurt Russell. And I enjoy Kurt Russell movies. The last 20 or so mins are where it gets to the point and we see a couple of gory, graphic cannibalistic rituals and carnage. The good guys win in the end but at a heavy cost. This is a love it/hate it film... I was on the fence at the end...if it were edited a little better and had a bit more action I would go 3 full stars but this was way too drawn out for the first hour. No - it's not "gritty", no, it's NOT the greatest western ever put to film. It's slow and slack-jawed, and it's filmed in a way where I barely felt involved.

Hmm, fair enough.

I think the long period of time showing them ride on horseback is very true to genre for a western. You see that in most westerns. Lots of long shots featuring people riding and traveling, with a bunch of landscape around them. And those "overly-dramatic" arguments you're complaining about is exactly what I loved about this film. Richard Jenkins as Chicory is probably my favorite character in any film of the past 5 years. Comedic gold. I found Bone Tomahawk to be one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. I had genuine belly laughs, out loud, while watching this film.

Then again, I have a sense of humor most don't, and I love slow burn movies.

[hifiHigh]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

Hmm, fair enough.

I think the long period of time showing them ride on horseback is very true to genre for a western. You see that in most westerns. Lots of long shots featuring people riding and traveling, with a bunch of landscape around them. And those "overly-dramatic" arguments you're complaining about is exactly what I loved about this film. Richard Jenkins as Chicory is probably my favorite character in any film of the past 5 years. Comedic gold. I found Bone Tomahawk to be one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. I had genuine belly laughs, out loud, while watching this film.

Then again, I have a sense of humor most don't, and I love slow burn movies.

I don't disagree.
If it was supposed to be funny then I missed it.
The third act kind of took that away.
A slow burn? Yeah, if it were any slower it would have gone backwards...I guess I was just mislead by the trailers.

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by hifiHigh

I don't disagree.
If it was supposed to be funny then I missed it.
The third act kind of took that away.
A slow burn? Yeah, if it were any slower it would have gone backwards...I guess I was just mislead by the trailers.

Ahh, could make sense. I saw it at a film festival before it was released to the public. Had never heard of it prior to sitting down for my screening.

And man, so many people have complaints about expectations after seeing trailers. I don't know why so many people still watch trailers. I quit some time ago. I go into every movie as empty-minded with no expectations or knowledge of what's going on...and it's greatly helped me to enjoy any more movies. Experiencing all footage for the first time in the context of the movie itself. Nothing better.

[hifiHigh]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

Ahh, could make sense. I saw it at a film festival before it was released to the public. Had never heard of it prior to sitting down for my screening.

And man, so many people have complaints about expectations after seeing trailers. I don't know why so many people still watch trailers. I quit some time ago. I go into every movie as empty-minded with no expectations or knowledge of what's going on...and it's greatly helped me to enjoy any more movies. Experiencing all footage for the first time in the context of the movie itself. Nothing better.

Some can't be avoided but I get ya....

[jacobsever]

Bone Tomahawk Movie Clip "Soup" - Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox Movie - YouTube

This scene is, without a doubt, one of the funniest movie scenes I've seen in quite some time. I've watched this movie 4 times, and I still found myself laughing out loud right now, while re-watching this clip in my office.

Breakdown of the comedy of the scene (read after watching):

1. 0:19 - Literally stopping, mid-sentence, while telling a story to make a comment about the "tea" he smells. I love the disheveled, ADD, rambling-ness of the character. And Jenkin's comedic timing is spot on.

2. 0:19-0:28 - The dialogue here is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

"Ooo, that tea smells gruesome"
"It's soup"
"Oh....you think I could have some"

Going from thinking it smells disgusting to asking if he can have some in less than 10 seconds. Amazing.

3. 0:47-0:52 - This might happen to be my favorite little one-liners of the film. The writing of the dialogue is just nothing short of perfection. They are so in their own character's mind.

"I forgot the spoons, think you could drink this without burning your mouth?"
"Oh, I like challenges."

That response was so out of nowhere for me. Most people would just say "yeah of course" or "sure I'm hungry". But "Oh, I like challenges" is seriously the funniest thing I can think of for that scene.

4. 0:58 - More perfect dialogue. Really, pretty unnecessary actually. Mentioning how it smells good now that he knows it's soup instead of tea. Most directors would have probably let that scene be quiet. Just Kurt Russel pouring him some soup. But to add some more comedic dialogue in really adds so much to not only the scene, but the Chicory character as well.

5. 1:20 - The physical comedy of drinking the soup while it's hot and letting it drip out of his mouth. Up until this point, the comedy has purely been conversational through dialogue. To throw in a splash of unexpected, physical comedy is perfect.

6. 1:30-1:39 - More great character building for Chicory.

"You were going to tell me about your ramble."
"Oh yeah, glad you reminded me. I was out on a ramble, a night ramble."

It shows how scatter brained he is. It builds his character and adds to his personality. He's an old man. He's going a little nuts. He's forgetful, and he repeats himself. The use of the word "ramble" 3 times in a couple seconds is very funny to me. I love repetitive humor.

7. 2:10 - Once again, he gets side tracked and stops what he's talking about to go off on a new tangent.

"Oh, this tastes like corn" while telling a story about what he saw out on his ramble.

8. 2:10-2:22 - The final exchange in this clip.

"Oh, this tastes like corn"
"It's corn chowder"
"Oh, then things are lining up."

That final response is yet another example of brilliant writing. Everything in that scene caught me off guard the first time I watched it. The responses from Chicory's character were nothing like what I would have written myself. Just so goofy and crazy. I'm pretty sure I laughed myself until tears ran down my cheeks the first time I watched this movie.

[civiclx]

Another dramatic/serious role for Vince? Nice! I love his comedy but sometimes it's fun to watch these funny guys play it straight.

[hifiHigh]

Originally Posted by civiclx

Another dramatic/serious role for Vince? Nice! I love his comedy but sometimes it's fun to watch these funny guys play it straight.

VV surprised me in Hacksaw Ridge....

[BagheeraMcGee]

Originally Posted by hifiHigh

VV surprised me in Hacksaw Ridge....

I thought he was really good in Hacksaw Ridge as well, but I think his best dramatic performance is in Return To Paradise (1998) alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Anne Heche. A really underrated movie, and he was flat-out terrific in it.

[civiclx]

I haven't seen Hacksaw Ridge yet. I would like to but I'm not sure when I'll be able to watch it.

[hifiHigh]

Originally Posted by civiclx

I haven't seen Hacksaw Ridge yet. I would like to but I'm not sure when I'll be able to watch it.

One of the better films of 2016 IMO. At least top 5.
Mel Gibson nailed it.