What Movies Are You Watching?

[moldyfigg]

We watched "Smiles On A Summer Night" last night. This is a wonderful flick. I think Bergman was influenced by Der Rosencavalier. Of course he probably cohabited with all those beautiful ladies in the flick at some time. Woody Allen, Steven Sondheim and probably a few others used this great plot.

I now know where "Send In The Clowns" was derived.

[Cem]

Hi, Cem.

We just saw the 50th anniversary theatrical release of A Hard Day's Night. Is this playing up there yet? Beautifully remastered or whatever they do to old film. What a TRIP to watch it on the big screen, after having seen it for decades on the small screen. Denise, who was born in Mexico the year it was released, was delighted--she said it's like a documentary only really cute. I know the movie practically by heart, but the personalities come through so much better on the big screen--loved it, every minute.

The only caveat is that the audio remastering (or remixing in some cases), done by Giles Martin and his father who did such a splendid job on Cirque du Soleil's "Love" show, sounded like the vocals got pushed too high and became harsh in spots. This really could have been the fault of the theater where I saw it, though.

If you're a fan, worth checking it out in the theater.

Hi Doug,
Thanks for the heads up. I don't think, it's possible to see it in theatres around here, yet. I'm not an avid Beatles fan, actually… more into solo projects of Harrison & Lennon. But enjoyed that film in the past and a Criterion treatment would be worth the revisit.

[LennyH]

What the hell is happening to the Movies thread? Are you all shut ins, unable to leave the house to catch a great film like Birdman?

Saw it yesterday and loved it!

The theater said that they had trouble getting it. Most of the multiplexes around here aren't showing it.

[moldyfigg]

TCM has better flicks that any of this crap that is in the theaters.

[Jazzooo]

"TCM has better flicks that any of this crap that is in the theaters."

How would you know, Clint? I think Birdman and Interstellar alone make for a pretty good fourth quarter, and apparently there are some other winners out there right now.

[moldyfigg]

We check them out when they get on cable. We don't go to theaters for flicks because of the ill-mannered clods who seem to be in every theater.


Watched "Swing Time" last night and "Big" the other night. Both are superior to anything out today.

[LennyH]

I saw Birdman in the theater again on Friday. I might have enjoyed it even more the second time. It's pretty unlikely that it won't end up my #1 film on the year. This film feels huge in the theater and I think it deserves to be seen there, if you can find it. There's some great music and sound as well, especially Brian Blade's drum sequences, which were very powerful and enveloping in the nice theater where I saw it. I'm anxious for my wife to see this, and I have a pretty nice home theater, but I'm afraid it will not be the same. I've seen about a dozen films in the theater over the past year or so, and, for me, this was the most important one to see in the theater.

I've been taking time off of work here and there and going to the theater on weekdays. It's awesome. On Friday, Birdman was enjoyed in that theater by me and exactly one other person. Perfect.

***** Spoiler Alert *****

Doug, I took the last 10 minutes or so of Birdman at face value both times I watched it, but now I feel pretty sure that things changed after the dramatic final scene in the play. I think the final chapter is pure fantasy.

[steve(thelil)]

Watched "Swing Time" last night and "Big" the other night. Both are superior to anything out today.

Better than most? Sure. Superior to anything out today? Silly:

Clint is one of those sages who is so wise that he has definitive and dismissive opinions on movies he hasn't seen.

[Jazzooo]

You could be right about that final scene in Birdman, Lenny.

I know Brian Blade played, but I think the lion's share of drum parts were by Antonio Sanchez. Did you read otherwise?

[LennyH]

You could be right about that final scene in Birdman, Lenny.

I know Brian Blade played, but I think the lion's share of drum parts were by Antonio Sanchez. Did you read otherwise?

Ah, I had seen, when I read up on IMDB, I believe, that Brian Blade got composition credit for the drums, so I assumed it was for all of it. Either way, I loved the drum parts.

Another thing I saw on IMDB that's pretty funny, but I question:

**** Spoiler (seriously, people, don't read this if you haven't seen the film) *****

You know the scene where MK is on the ledge, and the lady on another rooftop says something like "Is this for real or are you filming a movie?". It said on IMDB that she was not part of the production. That would be hilarious and I'd like to think it's for real, but I'm skeptical. Hard to imagine they'd capture that and that it would look just like it was planned and intentional.

The thing about the final sequence: The result of the ending of the play looked a lot more serious than the apparent end result. Even if the result was that minor, the repair was much cleaner and more healed than it should have been, and it might have made him look a little more like his alter-ego. After that scene in the play, they showed what I think were jellyfish washed up on a beach. You know what he had intended to do the last time there were jellyfish. I don't think that scene has any meaning outside of the context I'm referring to. During the earlier sequence, when he was really figured out how to use his powers, he ended up getting chased by a cabbie looking for payment, so it was clear that this all occurred in MK's head. He wanted all long for his daughter to accept him more and to have a better relationship with her, so the last scene was idyllic for him. She shows up with the right flowers, they have a really nice conversation, and then, at the end, she sees his powers and smiles. She sees his worth and that he's magical. Also, his ex was there, ZG shows him the rave reviews, etc. All the perfect ending for him. I originally thought that the ending (just the final moment) was somewhat flawed. I would have preferred that there was more ambiguity. When his daughter looked up and smiled, I sort of hoped that she would have just glanced up instead and they'd have just cut if off there rather than the clear indication that she saw him realizing his power. The bright light and the smile. But now, if that last sequence is pure fantasy, which is the only thing that makes sense to me now, I think it's all absolutely perfect.

[moldyfigg]

I enjoy good plots, active and writing where the flick producers do no have to rely of computerized special effects to make a flick enjoyable.

"August: Osage County" was the last current flick I saw that was that kind of click.

[LennyH]

"August: Osage County" was the last current flick I saw that was that kind of click.

To each his own, I guess. I saw 10 minutes of that yesterday and wanted to jump off a bridge

[Jazzooo]

I'd rather be me--I liked Osage County and Birdman.

[moldyfigg]

Your tastes are certainly more catholic than mine.

Remember - this fig is covered in mold.

[Jazzooo]

Saint Vincent--

I really loved this small movie--a bit too "Little Miss Sunshine" at times, but overall there are plenty of nice gritty dark moments as well. Tailor-made for Bill Murray, but the entire cast is very good and the writing keeps you engaged and smiling.

[moldyfigg]

Watched that Budapest Hotel flick. Couldn't make head or tails out of it. I need to clean my brain and watch "Treasure of Sierra Madre."

[Jazzooo]

I couldn't make it through that one either, Clint.

[bluenoter]

Watched that Budapest Hotel flick. Couldn't make head or tails out of it. I need to clean my brain and watch "Treasure of Sierra Madre."

I couldn't make it through that one either, Clint.

I see very few movies, but I saw The Grand Budapest Hotel and loved it. For the record, so did a lot of other people.

[LennyH]

Watched that Budapest Hotel flick. Couldn't make head or tails out of it. I need to clean my brain and watch "Treasure of Sierra Madre."

I couldn't make it through that one either, Clint.

I see very few movies, but I saw The Grand Budapest Hotel and loved it. For the record, so did a lot of other people.

I saw that one in the theater as well. It's stock seems to have really risen recently, showing up on a lot of top 10 lists, etc.

I liked it and have been a Wes Anderson fan all along, but his very unique and idiosyncratic style has been wearing on me a bit (I think I've seen all of his films more than once). There was a lot of funny stuff in this film for sure, though. I think it might be his funniest.

[Jazzooo]

Well, tganks all--I might give it one more chance. We were watching and got distracted and I never felt drawn to go back.

[LennyH]

Do you like other Wes Anderson stuff, Doug? I love The Royal Tenenbaums (easily my favorite of his) and we seem to end up watching pieces of Rushmore whenever we see it on cable. We happened to watch The Life Aquatic last weekend, which is considered one of his lesser films, but there's something I like about it. The Darjeeling Limited is one that my wife loves, but I might have to give another chance because it didn't work much for me. Moonrise Kingdom is one that I liked less then many critics and other Wes Anderson fans. I definitely preferred Grand Budapest to that one.

I did catch Wild in the theater a couple of days ago. Perfectly watchable. A 3 start film for me. I'm totally not going to that theater again, though, because of the inferior popcorn. I'm OK with crappy, but not super crappy .

I haven't beaten this dead horse enough, so back to Birdman: I regularly listen to some film podcasts and the reaction has pretty mixed. It's gotten some really positive attention by some critics, but it really rubs some people the wrong way. Some of the criticisms baffle me, because I just feel like they're not understanding certain things. One panel on one of my podcasts concluded that Emma Stone's final reaction can't be interpreted any way other than face value, and that it's an affirmation of the apparent reality, which is total bullshit! I tried, and failed, to find an email address for Dana Stevens at Slate because I think they're so incredibly wrong about this. I saw this film 3 times, and I can't say that my explanation is 100% right, but I feel like I'm in the ballpark.

OK, this time I'm shutting up about Birdman for realz .

[Jazzooo]

Lenny--I agree almost completely with these comments:

"I love The Royal Tenenbaums (easily my favorite of his) and we seem to end up watching pieces of Rushmore whenever we see it on cable. We happened to watch The Life Aquatic last weekend, which is considered one of his lesser films, but there's something I like about it. The Darjeeling Limited is one that my wife loves, but I might have to give another chance because it didn't work much for me. Moonrise Kingdom is one that I liked less then many critics and other Wes Anderson fans. I definitely preferred Grand Budapest to that one."

I didn't completely lose interest in Moonrise Kingdom but I was losing patience as it ended.

[LennyH]

I didn't completely lose interest in Moonrise Kingdom but I was losing patience as it ended.

Exactly, I was with it in the first half but felt it just went on for too long.

[Gentle Giant]

Wish I Was Here, with Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, and Mandy Patinkin. Literally I saw it because of the Shins song on the soundtrack, but I liked it so much that I purchased a copy of the DVD the next day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCponfeWNOI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4hMGFT2TXY

[Jazzooo]

That's a great recommendation, GG. I'll watch for it.

Last night we saw Good People, a routine and mostly dull thriller with James Franco, Tom Wilkinson and Kate Hudson. Not worth anyone's time. It wasn't badly made, really--just ultra-predictable. I can't imagine anyone pitching this and having a studio (or these actors) saying 'Wow, hell yes--let's make THAT!"