Author Topic: Movie Review Culture  (Read 2062 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Michael Hardner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12474
Movie Review Culture
« on: February 19, 2021, 10:21:34 am »
This is to review movies, wherever you find 'em.

Atlantic City ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5 [TCM] [1980] 
 
This film is a quiet examination of decline and renewal featuring the great Burt Lancaster - the original Rainmaker.   

Set in contemporary 1980 with the opening frame showing the old glory of the city being demolished all around. The Traymore Hotel sees the dynamite and it's the backdrop of our theme.  Notably, another era - the one after this - came to an end this week when Trump's gaudy mistake in AC was destroyed exactly 40 years later.

It's a hardscrabble story of people scrambling to climb out of the muck, with Lancaster stars as Louie Pascal.  He received a deserved Oscar nomination beside his newish costar Susan Sarandon.

She's working for a better life, with few options and some baggage catching up with her.  And Bert plays one of the best portrayed losers of all time... you can compare Lou Pascal to Willy Loman, or Rupert Pupkin.... but with few years remaining and almost no chance of any glory to come.
 
Small budget, basic sets and a rather plain, unglamorous story but it's put together with so much talent and intelligence that you can't stop watching. 

Five stars !

Put your reviews here folks...

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Like Like x 1 View List

Offline Squidward von Squidderson

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5630
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2021, 11:17:22 am »
On which streaming service can I find this fine film?

Offline Michael Hardner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12474
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2021, 11:57:34 am »
On which streaming service can I find this fine film?

I would try CRAVE.

I PVR'd it off of Turner Classic Movies but I find that CRAVE puts all films on their pay services for that month on "On Demand". 

It has worked for me in the past. 
Like Like x 1 View List

Offline Michael Hardner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12474
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2021, 03:08:42 pm »
MAPS TO THE STARS ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5 

Cronenberg's MASTERFUL and fascinating exploration of the 'C' list people in Hollywood, where you are one lucky or one unlucky break from becoming a legend or a bum.   There is no redemption for anyone in this hateful landscape; empty and vapid **** stab their way to the top of the "it" list. 
The centre of it all is a child star and his well-damaged family.  The kid is trying to sign on for another sequel of the series that made them all wealthy.  He's 13, just out of rehab, and a right nasty little gem.  Once you get to know him, it's a short crawl to the other vile characters in the film.
But David Cronenberg sure can tell a story to keep you interested, and so he keeps it going, plowing through this snakepit to the final horrible and fitting end.

And I'm not one for negative movies either, but the story and the acting are tight and just right.  Julianne Moore is no first-timer, and she won a deserved Best Actress award at Cannes for this.  One exception is John Cusack who to me stuck out as miscast.

Offline cybercoma

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2956
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2021, 09:52:09 am »
Too many sentences. August1991 would be disappointed.
Like Like x 1 View List

Offline Squidward von Squidderson

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5630
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2021, 12:03:56 am »
Operation Finale streamed on Netflix. 

Good show.  It’s about the attempt to bring to justice Adolf Eichmann by the Mossad.

****/5
Like Like x 1 View List

Offline Michael Hardner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12474
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2021, 05:24:35 am »
From Brazil? That one??

Offline Squidward von Squidderson

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5630
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2021, 10:30:21 am »
From Brazil? That one??

Argentina

Ben Kingsley plays the Nazi.

Offline cybercoma

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2956
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2021, 11:28:08 am »
Argentina

Ben Kingsley plays the Nazi.
Ben Kingsley is a god damned treasure to cinema.
Agree Agree x 2 View List

Online Black Dog

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 9078
  • Location: Deathbridge
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2021, 02:17:34 pm »
Watched this on the Criteron Collection app last night. One of the most enjoyable 15 minutes I've had in the last year. A Tati-esque romp.

Offline Michael Hardner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12474
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2021, 02:51:20 pm »
You like Tati ?  ... I seem to miss it ... that kind of humour rarely lands with me ...

Online Black Dog

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 9078
  • Location: Deathbridge
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2021, 03:48:52 pm »
You like Tati ?  ... I seem to miss it ... that kind of humour rarely lands with me ...

I mean even if you don't find Tati funny you have to appreciate the artistry of the filmmaking.

Offline Queefer Sutherland

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10189
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2021, 04:08:02 pm »
Ben Kingsley is a god damned treasure to cinema.

He was amazing as Gandhi but never thought he lived up to that potential mostly since then.  Kinda like Al Pacino after Scarface.  WTF happened to that guy.
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley
Dumb Dumb x 1 View List

Offline Squidward von Squidderson

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5630
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2021, 05:34:13 pm »
He was amazing as Gandhi but never thought he lived up to that potential mostly since then.  Kinda like Al Pacino after Scarface.  WTF happened to that guy.

He has only been nominated for 5 Oscars since that movie in the 80s, one just last year and a whole whack of Golden Globes... 

Online Black Dog

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 9078
  • Location: Deathbridge
Re: Movie Review Culture
« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2021, 06:51:54 pm »
He was amazing as Gandhi but never thought he lived up to that potential mostly since then.  Kinda like Al Pacino after Scarface.  WTF happened to that guy.

You've clearly never watched Sexy Beast.
Like Like x 1 View List