The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Abdrewes]

The desolate plains that stretch from Montana to Nebraska prove to be a stunning emotional backdrop for Alexander Payne's latest film, Nebraska. His sensibilities are distilled to the bottled essence—a roatrip dramedy that spikes warmth with subtle social satire, but what he is exploring here is no less urgent than anything else he's done. Again, he manages to tell a story that avoids the trappings of self-importance due to some top-caliber acting. With caveat that their corresponding levels of celebrity are not comparable, the same way he enabled George Clooney and Jack Nicholson to show us new registers in their acting catalog, he gives Bruce Dern the free reign to show us why he is one of the acting greats. You're never sure exactly what to make of the guy, but dammit if you aren't fascinated by him.

Like the bulk of Payne's work, the plot is not where the film derives it's greatness, but rather minute life-affirming observations and an assurance of tone. It's inevitable that the film will end on a note of reconciliation—the quietly powerful couch gathering in The Descendants, Miles knocking on Maya's door in Sideways, and even, to an extent, the Schmidt admiring Nguyu's stick-figure drawing in About Schmidt—but the the notion that the end of one road is just the start of another is ever present. That even if it takes days as opposed to hours to reach one's destination, embracing the journey, the present with all it's many detours, is the point.

Bruce Dern plays Woody Grant, a man who claims he has won a million dollars from a random sweepstakes. His family thinks he is just making it all up, but they let him indulge in his fantasy. So his son, David (Will Forte), volunteers to chauffeur him from their idyl home in Billings, Montana to Lincoln, Nebraska. What keeps the film from feeling like an aimless farce is the way it communicates that Woody has been pushed around by life and his shrew of a wife to such a degree that he needs a grand adventure to feel whole again, to "be somebody" in other words. His gruff, unshaven face, whose many folds alternate between conveying a state of pensive thought and befuddlement, express his need to get away. The beer is simply not cutting it at this point.

Woody has never been the most sensitive or caring man, the way he has lived his life has been informed by practicality. Over the christening beers of their voyage, David asks why they had him in the first place seeing as they were such indifferent parents, responds, "I like to screw. Your mother’s Catholic. You do the math." In any other hands, this would be another A Christmas Carol-type excuse for unabashed sentiment, but, miraculously, the film doesn't view Woody as a malleable subject aimed at hitting our tear ducts. Payne recognizes his individuality and only uses the trip as a conduit to express new shades of this sullen, lost man.

It seems at the root of Woody's crisis lies June Squibb. One would be tempted to dismiss her as yet another variation of the Alexander Payne nag (which is, ironically, best exemplified by her role in About Schmidt as Jack Nicholson's wife), but something about the way he reacts to her insult-firing machine-gun reloads makes it feel much different. It doesn't weigh upon his soul to the extent that it did on Warren Schmidt in the earlier film. Woody is completely fine with coexisting with her. There's even a sense of unspoken affection during the scenes where she belittles him and cries her complaints. That said, I will not deny that the comic potency of her quips played a factor into this nonchalance to gender politics that will have some sensitive viewers upset. She is this year's seamstress of pitch-perfect comic relief.

There's always going to be a bit of character shorthand in a Payne film to facilitate the humor. But here, more than ever, there's a minimum of condescension. Apart from the rendering of two of Woody's nephews as wannabe-gear-head redneck simpletons, there's a compassion to the way he instills his characters with life. Sure, he builds off of stereotypes of the mid-west region, but it's more of a big America as a wonderful "melting pot" type of shorthand than anything else. Each of them play a part into knitting a colorful tapestry of the region. There's little of the cynicism that confirmed About Schmidt (also a road movie partially set in Nebraska) as one of his lesser works.

There is no greater evidence of the compassion I speak of than the final climactic final ride through the old stomping grounds. It's all about the small victory Woody is afforded. Phedon Papamichael's pristine black and white cinematography (again proving that the Arri Alexa is the most versatile digital camera on the market), which rolls from set up to set up with staccato grace, shows us that for a moment, he was the king of the town. He will most likely take that moment to the grave with him, grateful that he had someone to share it with.

[KilloWertz]

You forgot to post a score for Nebraska.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

You forgot to post a score for Nebraska.

[Spirit Zero]

Delta Force 2 (1990)

Or known as The Colombian Connection but that's way too cheesy for me, but cheese is the name of the game here folks. Yep 'McCoy' is back and ready to take down some major drug kingpin scum. Funny thing is yet again despite the film title there isn't actually much Delta Force action. Again it all happens right at the end for the big finale, there's even less Delta Force action than in the first film! maybe they should of left out the Delta Force 2 bit in the title.

Its pretty straight forward stuff, the ever evil Billy Drago is the worlds most dangerous richest drug kingpin ever and he's flooding the US of A with lots of Lemsip....errr cocaine. So the DEA draft in Chuck Norris of Delta Force to basically save the South American country of 'San Carlos' where Drago is based, save the USA from all the drugs coming in...just save the world in general gosh darn it!.

Its all very predictable stuff that we've seen before (baring in mind its an old film of course), the step by step motions of any action flick really. The bad guys pull off some deals, kill some people, the good guys manage to capture the main boss, he gets away, he takes revenge on family members and this ignites Norris blah blah blah. It could easily be 'Lethal Weapon', well any of the first three really.

Norris plays the same character he plays in all of his action films, the same damn bloke!. He doesn't swear, he doesn't speak that much, his one liners are a bit tame but we always manage to see him topless at some point. That said he does the job we expect him to and he does it reasonably well, but he's no Arnie, JCVD, Jaa or Gibson if you ask me. I think the problem is his films never really come across as adult action flicks, they lack that bloody punch to really get you excited, I guess his films feel like slightly adult episodes of the A-Team.

In all honesty this film is so cheesy and cliched it feels like an old Bond film, especially with all the henchmen at the end wearing the exact same outfits. Not military garb which would be fine, but casual looking clothes, as if they all shopped in the same store or Drago ordered a huge supply of his favourite design. Speaking of Drago he's the boss here as usual, we all know Drago isn't exactly the best actor around but its his face. That snarly, slimy, creepy vamp-like face along with his skill of being a really really sadistic evil bastard that you just wanna see get taken down. Here he plays the white suited, white fedora wearing drug dealer to a tee, right down to the greasy pony tail. We know that Norris could break his neck in a heartbeat but Drago doesn't play like that, he's a shifty, dirty, underhanded slimeball who hides behind his henchmen and various weapons, love it.

The films poster was always ice cool, Norris calmly cradling an Uzi, it looks smart, alas the film isn't as cool. Its very by the numbers, highly hokey and doesn't really look that special either. For the most part its rather bland with not too much happening, the finale is much better of course but nothing to write home about. As said at the start this is when we see some Delta Force unit action but its nothing amazing, lots of explosions. If it wasn't for the uber cool Drago this film would be a bit boring really...there I said it.

5/10

[SquidPuppet]

The Hunt



Darn good drama.

Mads Mikkelsen is fantastic. And Annika Wedderkopp, the kindergarten girl was incredible.

A small town school teacher is accused of pedophile acts against very small children. The town becomes consumed by rage while the teacher struggles to prove his innocence(?). Difficult times for all.

Highly recommended.

Film 4.5/5

[SquidPuppet]

Robot and Frank



Saw it on DVD

Excellent quirky dramedy set just a little bit in the future. Lots of subtle humor blended magically with serious moments about lonliness, friendship, family struggles, alzheimer's, and an awesome robot.

This movie has a perfect flow to it. Very touching.

Highly recommended

Film 4.5/5

[SquidPuppet]

Solomon Kane



Too much too much. Too much too much all at once.

Climaxes defeat their purpose when they arrive in a barage from the beginning all the way to the middle and through to the end.

CGI overload to the max as well.

Did not make it half way.

[SquidPuppet]

The Way Way Back



A very good coming of age movie with some fun and zany characters. Funny and touching.

Nice to see Steve Carrell in a different role. He was quite the jerk in this film. Sam Rockwell was great as always.

Film 4/5

Recommended

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

You forgot to post a score for Nebraska.

There are no more scores any more, he wants to sneak his love of Madea under the radar.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Solomon Kane



Too much too much. Too much too much all at once.

Climaxes defeat their purpose when they arrive in a barage from the beginning all the way to the middle and through to the end.

CGI overload to the max as well.

Did not make it half way.

This finally got a release in the States?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Foggy

This finally got a release in the States?

Like six months ago.

Check your PMs

[Al_The_Strange]

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The journey of the 13 dwarves of Erebor and one hobbit from the Shire continues. An Unexpected Journey proved to be a disappointment for many, and chances are that The Desolation of Smaug will continue to disappoint, given that this is still a heavily-padded and overblown account of a short novel that was once a short cartoon. They've really tacked on a whole bunch of embellishments, including new characters and subplots, that simply aren't in Tolkein's The Hobbit. If it wasn't clear before, it should be clear now that the Hobbit films are more like a massive compilation of bonus adventures for film fans who adored the Lord of the Rings films.

As one of those viewers, I personally welcome the expanded narrative and universe, no matter how absurdly thin the plot is spread out. At the time of this writing, The Desolation of Smaug has got to be the most epic and action-packed film of all the Middle-Earth films to date (second only to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King). The film wastes little time in getting the ball (or barrels) rolling; it picks right up with everybody being chased by orcs, giant spiders, and wood elves. I always thought that the barrel scene was clever in the book, but the film takes it to a whole new level (Donkey Kong ain't got s**t on this). The wood elves (among which, one familiar face appears, and Turiel might be a new favorite heroine) pull off some insane fight moves, the likes of which I can only describe as some kind of crazy elfin kung-fu (elf-fu?). The film maintains tension throughout the Laketown and Erebor scenes, before finally bringing the heroes face-to-face with Smaug. This massive dragon is easily one of the most menacing villains of all time, and the last act of the film is a long and exhausting sequence in which all the characters slide down mounds of treasure, bash through walls, and careen through underground mines, while being pursued by this fire-breathing monstrosity. And that's not all either: while all this is happening, Gandalf comes face-to-face with another evil opponent, and his scenes are impressively epic as well.

Then...THEN...the film ends. F*CK!!! Of all the excesses this film goes through, it's the sudden stop at the end that I find most bothersome; it's every bit as disappointing as cutting off a piece of music before its crescendo. On the inevitable home video release, this won't be much of a problem, since you'll probably just be able to pop in There and Back Again and continue the action. In the cinema, I sensed a collective disappointment in the knowledge that we'll have to wait one more year before seeing the actual battle of Laketown, in addition to wrapping up every other conflict that's left hanging (and a LOT is left hanging). The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was able to stand on its own, with a full climax at the Battle of Helm's Deep; if that battle's conclusion was cut off and left for The Return of the King, then you can imagine how it is with The Desolation of Smaug.

There are other issues that might throw viewers off: there are quite a few scenes where deus ex machina are in full swing, with characters appearing as convenient. The film still plows through a bunch of subplots that might not really seem necessary (although, the whole Necromancer thing seems more tightly developed now).

Regardless, the film still adheres to the fundamental plot structure of The Hobbit novel. It's very much a one-thing-leads-to-another structure. What matters the most are the characters; Bilbo seems to be in the spotlight more, with more maturity and strength being explored. The dwarf characters show even more nuances of their own. Various other characters have their moments, and it is especially intriguing to see a lot more to the Bard and the Laketown drama. There are numerous connections drawn among all the different characters and tangents, and the larger structure of all six Middle-Earth films is much more apparent. At its core, the film still explores key themes involving the adventure of life, the corruption of greed, and the classic struggle of good-vs-evil.

As before, this film is made with exceptional skill. Photography and editing continue to be superb. Acting and writing are still top-notch; Martin Freeman proves to be quite impeccable as Bilbo, Richard Armitage still plays it tough as Thorin, Benedict Cumberbatch is truly menacing as the dragon's voice, Evangeline Lilly is both lovely and badass, and Luke Evans is alright. You also can't go wrong with Ian McKellen; the man really IS Gandalf the Grey. Writing is as good as ever. This production uses great-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is still good too.

This is still quite a bloated saga, but I personally don't mind one bit. The spectacle is huge, the storytelling is still very tight and engaging, and the film is still very well-made. It's only a shame that the film ends the way it does. Regardless, if The Hobbit series follows in the same path as the Star Wars prequels, I have no doubt that There and Back Again will be the best of the lot, and one hell of a spectacle. This is still just the middle part of the saga; there's still more to take care of in the Middle Earth.

5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect)

Recommendation: See it now if you must, or wait for home video so your temporal proximity to the next film will be shorter. This is a path you must choose for yourself...

[Spirit Zero]

Missing In Action (1984)

Chuck's first main franchise and one of his classic actioners. Only two years after the release of 'First Blood' you can see where this idea main have spawned from eh. In fact a script by James Cameron intended for the Rambo franchise was the inspiration for this very film so there. But since then this film itself has been copied many times, the ever popular one man army with a big gun.

The mission, Chuck only just got back from Nam where he was held prisoner by some nasty Vietnamese. Once back in the States he realises there are still US POW's MIA back in Nam, so what does he do?. Well he packs up and goes back into the danger zone to find them of course. Isn't there a chance he might get killed or recaptured you say? pfft! Chuck Norris laughs in the face of danger, he tweaks the nipples of fear, he curses politely at those who stand against him.

So I'll leave the extremely obvious Rambo similarities aside and just give my views on the action. Well it takes time to get there that's for damn sure, a long time. There is much build up and deliberation as Chuck works out what he's gonna do and how he will do it. Takes him ages to find his old army buddy for a start, not sure why that guy was such a big secret with the locals but there you go.

Once we do hit the action its...well OK I guess. Dare I say its identical to 'Delta Force' in the sense that you never see any blood, violence, squib hits (not many) etc...I've mentioned before how Chuck's films tend to be like A-Team episodes haven't I, well its deja vu again. Now I'm not saying its bad because its not, its reasonable fun watching Norris run around gunning men down, but its hella tame.

What I love about this film is the horrendous editing and feeble accuracy by everyone involved shooting a gun. So many times you get a shot of someone firing a machine gun (bad guys), just standing there and firing continuously at an enemy yet they never hit a thing!. You don't see any bullet hits, no sound of bullet hits, no ricochets nothing, they just stand there firing blankly and never running out of ammo, its quite amusing. All the while the other person is doing the exact same thing haha both firing continuously at each other yet nothing is happening around them, doesn't matter how close they are or how well hidden they are, classic.

It really is a low rent Rambo, gotta say it, Rambo minus any blood, violence and real tension. Norris just waltzes in and terminates everyone without even bothering to aim much, whilst the enemy couldn't hit a barn door right in front of their face, glorious!. Bottom line that's what you watch it for, the classic hokey action which so many films homage and have spoofed ('Hot Shots 2').

Chuck wins the day, was it ever in question? no, he doesn't even get a scratch bless him. The explosions are grand, chop-socky fighting and the action sequences are as corny as a corn on the cob...but its still fun to watch I can't deny. The minute I saw Chuck rise from beneath the murky river waters brandishing his huge M60 machine gun clad in those classic army fatigues with head band...I knew it had all been worth while.

7/10

[L-Rouge]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

The Way Way Back



A very good coming of age movie with some fun and zany characters. Funny and touching.

Nice to see Steve Carrell in a different role. He was quite the jerk in this film. Sam Rockwell was great as always.

Film 4/5

Recommended

watched that on an international flight. It was great, reminds me of 80's flicks "Lucas" and "The Boy Who Could Fly". the shyness or socially outcast that finds a connection ( usually one understanding person) to savour . really cool!.

[Spirit Zero]

Missing In Action 2: The Beginning (1985)

Well if that title doesn't tell you all you need to know I don't know what will. Both of these films were filmed at the same time, back to back, but for some odd reason the powers that be decided to release the sequel first then this film as a sequel prequel. Why exactly I don't know as it makes no sense whatsoever, I don't think there were any issues so why muddle things is a mystery.

This film simply tales the tale of how 'Braddock' got captured and held captive in Nam before breaking out and getting to the point we see him in 'Missing In Action'. Its all very straight forward and like the other film, very by the numbers step by step action flick fluff.

Mind you this film is slightly more adult than the first film. Most of the plot takes part within the POW camp and shows us some mildly nasty stuff. The odd bit of torture, beatings, mock executions, real executions, torment, getting burned alive with flame throwers etc...it is a bit harrowing in a semi-harrowing kind of way. Nothing that will make you lose sleep, its not a dramatic epic true to life event flick, but its based on the reality of real Nam POW camps and does offer a touch of emotion.

The evil sadistic POW camp leader is nicely portrayed by Soon Tek-Oh. Much like Drago in 'Delta Force 2' this film is saved by his smooth villainous ways, his almost charming tone of speech, wry smile and merciless manner. His henchmen soldiers are all your standard Vietnam war types if I can say that, they just appear very stereotypical to look at I guess. Same can be said for Chuck's boys, militant and loud mouthed yanks with blonde hair, blue eyes and the token black guy (who dies). As for Norris...well its business as usual with the headband, Uzi and his lumberjack looks. He says little and acts badly while doing it, but we don't ask that of Norris do we, we just want him to grunt stare and kill bad guys tamely.

The film looks better than the first that's for sure but I'm starting to get bored of bamboo huts within green South East Asian jungles. Still we are given some more explosions, bigger ones this time and a more interesting array of deaths for various military personnel good and bad. Its still fun as we see Chuck wear down the evil Colonel and survive his torture tricks. It is more realistic than the previous film but overall it does also feel a bit of an excuse just to see Chuck take out an entire camp of bad guys...again.

Still its on par with the original film in my opinion, the more adult approach is welcome adding some tension, the corniness of the first film has been cut back. Its also funny and hackneyed that when this film was made it was common practice that the goodie black guys all get killed off whilst most of the blue eyed white guys survive to fight another day, old movie cliches huh.

7/10

[Abdrewes]

Marwencol=

More later once I get into my seat for The Hobbit 2 ()

[Abdrewes]

Here's my Letterboxd capsule:

Okay, I don't really think of "Marwencol" as a documentary with a twist as many claim. When what is considered to be the "reveal" comes, what was shown before is not rewritten or contorted in our minds, but merely fortified. Primarily, this is a film about creative expression finding a way to manifest itself after life's currents eliminate one's preferred venue. Mark, our disabled subject, goes from a drunkard sketch artist to a now sober GI Joe and Barbie enthusiast. He creates narratives to make sense of the world around him (in a way, this is a more intimate, spiritual cousin to Errol Morris's "Fast, Cheap, & Out of Control"). So, "Marwencol" ends up being a celebration of the multiplicity of ways our species was gifted to express ourselves and a portrait of a very unique artist.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

[Show spoiler]The journey of the 13 dwarves of Erebor and one hobbit from the Shire continues. An Unexpected Journey proved to be a disappointment for many, and chances are that The Desolation of Smaug will continue to disappoint, given that this is still a heavily-padded and overblown account of a short novel that was once a short cartoon. They've really tacked on a whole bunch of embellishments, including new characters and subplots, that simply aren't in Tolkein's The Hobbit. If it wasn't clear before, it should be clear now that the Hobbit films are more like a massive compilation of bonus adventures for film fans who adored the Lord of the Rings films.

As one of those viewers, I personally welcome the expanded narrative and universe, no matter how absurdly thin the plot is spread out. At the time of this writing, The Desolation of Smaug has got to be the most epic and action-packed film of all the Middle-Earth films to date (second only to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King). The film wastes little time in getting the ball (or barrels) rolling; it picks right up with everybody being chased by orcs, giant spiders, and wood elves. I always thought that the barrel scene was clever in the book, but the film takes it to a whole new level (Donkey Kong ain't got s**t on this). The wood elves (among which, one familiar face appears, and Turiel might be a new favorite heroine) pull off some insane fight moves, the likes of which I can only describe as some kind of crazy elfin kung-fu (elf-fu?). The film maintains tension throughout the Laketown and Erebor scenes, before finally bringing the heroes face-to-face with Smaug. This massive dragon is easily one of the most menacing villains of all time, and the last act of the film is a long and exhausting sequence in which all the characters slide down mounds of treasure, bash through walls, and careen through underground mines, while being pursued by this fire-breathing monstrosity. And that's not all either: while all this is happening, Gandalf comes face-to-face with another evil opponent, and his scenes are impressively epic as well.

Then...THEN...the film ends. F*CK!!! Of all the excesses this film goes through, it's the sudden stop at the end that I find most bothersome; it's every bit as disappointing as cutting off a piece of music before its crescendo. On the inevitable home video release, this won't be much of a problem, since you'll probably just be able to pop in There and Back Again and continue the action. In the cinema, I sensed a collective disappointment in the knowledge that we'll have to wait one more year before seeing the actual battle of Laketown, in addition to wrapping up every other conflict that's left hanging (and a LOT is left hanging). The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was able to stand on its own, with a full climax at the Battle of Helm's Deep; if that battle's conclusion was cut off and left for The Return of the King, then you can imagine how it is with The Desolation of Smaug.

There are other issues that might throw viewers off: there are quite a few scenes where deus ex machina are in full swing, with characters appearing as convenient. The film still plows through a bunch of subplots that might not really seem necessary (although, the whole Necromancer thing seems more tightly developed now).

Regardless, the film still adheres to the fundamental plot structure of The Hobbit novel. It's very much a one-thing-leads-to-another structure. What matters the most are the characters; Bilbo seems to be in the spotlight more, with more maturity and strength being explored. The dwarf characters show even more nuances of their own. Various other characters have their moments, and it is especially intriguing to see a lot more to the Bard and the Laketown drama. There are numerous connections drawn among all the different characters and tangents, and the larger structure of all six Middle-Earth films is much more apparent. At its core, the film still explores key themes involving the adventure of life, the corruption of greed, and the classic struggle of good-vs-evil.

As before, this film is made with exceptional skill. Photography and editing continue to be superb. Acting and writing are still top-notch; Martin Freeman proves to be quite impeccable as Bilbo, Richard Armitage still plays it tough as Thorin, Benedict Cumberbatch is truly menacing as the dragon's voice, Evangeline Lilly is both lovely and badass, and Luke Evans is alright. You also can't go wrong with Ian McKellen; the man really IS Gandalf the Grey. Writing is as good as ever. This production uses great-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is still good too.

This is still quite a bloated saga, but I personally don't mind one bit. The spectacle is huge, the storytelling is still very tight and engaging, and the film is still very well-made. It's only a shame that the film ends the way it does. Regardless, if The Hobbit series follows in the same path as the Star Wars prequels, I have no doubt that There and Back Again will be the best of the lot, and one hell of a spectacle. This is still just the middle part of the saga; there's still more to take care of in the Middle Earth.

5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect)

Recommendation: See it now if you must, or wait for home video so your temporal proximity to the next film will be shorter. This is a path you must choose for yourself...

I placed it 3rd in my ranking of the 5 films so far...just a tiny hair above
Fellowship of the Ring.


An employee of mine came to the screening of this and then asked if we could watch the original three on the big screen since he has never seen them. My answer was of course a resounding, "YES!" as RotK and TT are two of my Top 3 favorite movies

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Here's my Letterboxd capsule:

You are correct, it is not really a twist. But it is a significant reveal, and it explains a lot of what some may have wondered about before it is delivered.

The guy is an amazing natural artist. No school, just instinct. And it's all so potent.

Check this out....

On October 24, 2013 it was announced that Robert Zemeckis will be directing a narrative version of the documentary Marwencol for Universal Studios. Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands) will write the script.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hea...iversal-650730

[SquidPuppet]

I was looking at your movie and music tastes on your blog profile. I'd be surprised if you did not love this film. Steve from this thread recommended it to me and it knocked my socks off. I watched it on DVD, but the UK Blu-ray says it's region free.