All Things Movie/Documentary Reviews/Recommendations Thread

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Usually when critics overwhelming give a film glowing reviews while the fans shun it, I side with Team Critics.

Die My Love gets 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, while ticket buyers only 46%.

I am siding with the public on this one. Just way too bleak. While I sympathize with someone going through the issues the Jennifer Lawrence character is struggling with, I just couldn't empathize.

Some very bold choices though and a good performance along with others (Robert Pattinson & Sissy Spacek). Just too long. Not enough dark humor to string me along.
 

I recently saw both of Richard Linklater's new films, released in consecutive weeks. A die hard Linklater fan that yearns to see them on big screens really has to search them out. Both were blink before you miss it theater runs before they headed to streaming. That's a shame, because I really think watching his films should be done old school.

There's nothing to connect the works, other than they both happen to be about other entertainment mediums in decades past.

Blue Moon is set at Sardi's in 1943 and the central character is Lorenz Hart (played by Ethan Hawke) of Rodgers & Hart Broadway musical fame and documents his demise (spoiler alert), not able to get out of his own way. This spawned an even bigger pairing of Rodgers & Hammerstein, and this movie takes place on Opening Night of their mega-hit, Oklahoma! Explanation point noted.

As with a lot of Linklaters films "time" also becomes a character and 99% of the movie happens on that fateful evening, essentially in real time. Sort of most like SubUrbia.

I found it rather enjoyable, especially Hawke and Margaret Qualley's performances. While not a huge 40s - 50s Broadway fan, I was soaked in enough of the lore from my parents & grandparents that I was familiar enough with most of the story points.

Nouvelle Vague was set in 1960, and is about paying respect to French New Wave cinema. It's filmed in marvelous black and white and chronicles the effort to finance and film the move Breathless directed by Jean-Luc Godard (Guillaume Marbeck) which starred Iowa native Jean Seberg (Zoey Deutch).

It's mostly in French with English subtitles. While I liked this enough to recommend (especially for Linklater fans), I probably found Blue Moon more enjoyable. Probably because I am just that familiar or really into French New Wave cinema.

Zoey Deutch. Radiant.
 

Even though most reviews were fair to middling, I checked out The Penguin Lessons as it was available for my in flight viewing. I remember being intrigued when I saw the trailer before it was originally released and generally enjoy Steve Coogan's performances.

I enjoyed it and found it endearing. Also learned a bit more about Argentina's political history in the 1970s than I was aware. It had echo's of I'm Still Here (Brazil) though this is more lighthearted.
 


Ope3 said:
Even though most reviews were fair to middling, I checked out The Penguin Lessons as it was available for my in flight viewing. I remember being intrigued when I saw the trailer before it was originally released and generally enjoy Steve Coogan's performances.

I enjoyed it and found it endearing. Also learned a bit more about Argentina's political history in the 1970s than I was aware. It had echo's of I'm Still Here (Brazil) though this is more lighthearted.
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We watched "Eddington" last night with Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal and directed by Ari Aster. Sneaky good film that satirized America's division regarding Covid.

Emma Stone, Austin Butler and Luke Grimes also have supporting roles and Phoenix is once again on another level.

The ratings aren't great but it struck me as a movie you'd appreciate with it's dry humor and writing similar to the Coen Brothers.
 

Slim Tubby said:
We watched "Eddington" last night with Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal and directed by Ari Aster. Sneaky good film that satirized America's division regarding Covid.

Emma Stone, Austin Butler and Luke Grimes also have supporting roles and Phoenix is once again on another level.

The ratings aren't great but it struck me as a movie you'd appreciate with it's dry humor and writing similar to the Coen Brothers.
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Actually, I did see it back in July and indeed there was a lot I liked about the movie and found worthwhile. Totally agree on the performances.

Similar to Bugonia (also with Emma Stone), the ending fell a bit flat for me. Still I was not disappointed in the experience.
 

Ope3 said:
Actually, I did see it back in July and indeed there was a lot I liked about the movie and found worthwhile. Totally agree on the performances.

Similar to Bugonia (also with Emma Stone), the ending fell a bit flat for me. Still I was not disappointed in the experience.
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I agree on the ending.
 

Anyone thinking "movie theaters" are dying would be rebuked by my experience last night as the parking lots were jampacked on a Tuesday. This was despite lousy weather and "bargain night" suspended on brand new releases, though I still got my cheap popcorn (real butter added).

The crowds there there for Wicked Part Deux, but I saw Eternity. I am a sucker for Elizabeth Olsen.

It's very charming and I recommend it for those into a rom-com with an existential twist. Not quite at Life of Chuck level, but still quite good in it's own way.

My only complaint is that the movie trailers I saw for the film gave too much of the surprise out of the experience. Still enjoyable.
 



Ope3 said:
Anyone thinking "movie theaters" are dying would be rebuked by my experience last night as the parking lots were jampacked on a Tuesday. This was despite lousy weather and "bargain night" suspended on brand new releases, though I still got my cheap popcorn (real butter added).
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I still love the movie theater experience, although the movies recently have been really, really slim pickings. Typically, all I really require is good popcorn and the wife next to me. It takes an awful lot for me to say a movie I saw in the theater was Bad, but I'm pretty picky on what I go see anymore
 

Ogie Ogilthorpe said:
I still love the movie theater experience, although the movies recently have been really, really slim pickings. Typically, all I really require is good popcorn and the wife next to me. It takes an awful lot for me to say a movie I saw in the theater was Bad, but I'm pretty picky on what I go see anymore
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I think you and the bride would enjoy Eternity.
 

Ope3 said:
My only complaint is that the movie trailers I saw for the film gave too much of the surprise out of the experience. Still enjoyable.
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I really try to avoid movie trailers these days - they layout the entire plot of the movie. Way too much info.
 

Full Speed Ahead said:
I really try to avoid movie trailers these days - they layout the entire plot of the movie. Way too much info.
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As a general rule, I try avoid them as well.

About the only exception is if I am at an "art house" theater like the Lagoon or the Main, and they show previews of films I might never hear of otherwise (foreign, documentaries, small budget indies etc).

From seeing Nouvelle Vague a few weeks ago, that was how I found out about Sentimental Value which I am eagerly hoping to take in this weekend.
 



It's hard to top "Nobody f*cks with the Jesus". I need to watch this movie again (I actually can't recall if I ever did watch the whole thing back in the day.

 

Has anyone seen The Lighthouse, with Willem Dafoe? I've been meaning to watch it for a few years now but haven't found the right time. I'm pretty sure the wife wouldn't love it, I have heard it's pretty damn dark and disturbing.

 

Full Speed Ahead said:
Maybe mentioned earlier in this thread, but I'm liking "The Diplomat" on Netflix. And if you like that one, there's a bit of a similar vibe on Apple TV's "Slow Horses".
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Here's another one along those lines. CIA station in London. I actually liked it better than Slow Horses.
 


When I arrived for a Sentimental Value screening, I came in with ultra-high expectations based on reviews as well as the last film that star Renate Reinsve & Director Joachim Trier put forth in 2021. That was The Worst Person in the World, which I have firmly in my Top 25 for this Century.

This new film did not disappoint. It's a tremendous piece of work beginning to end in all aspects. Reinsve is just a flat out star playing actress/daughter of an accomplished film Director played by Stellan Skarsgård.

It's a complicated relationship and the story weaves through multiple generations. While the plot and mood is mostly quite serious, there is some levity to offset. It's also shot brilliantly.

I find it fascinating how the story was told in 3 languages, pretty seamlessly. Language itself is also a plot point, with Elle Fanning playing an American screen siren involved with the Director's current film project which he sees as an opus, perhaps his last.

It's right up there with One Battle After Another for my favorite film of 2025.
 


We saw Wake Up Dead Man over Thanksgiving weekend during its limited release. Very solid movie. Great cinematography and acting across the board. While the first two movies focused heavily on Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), we felt that this movie really offered the other actors an opportunity to shine. Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, and Mila Kunis were great! Josh Brolin knocked it out of the park. And the rest of the cast was very solid. I would be surprised if there weren't several Oscar nominations. The movie streams on Netflix starting on Friday. We will watch again as soon as possible.
 

Hamnet.

Oscar bait. Multiple categories, probably most of all Costumes & Set Design.
 

ecoperson said:
We saw Wake Up Dead Man over Thanksgiving weekend during its limited release. Very solid movie. Great cinematography and acting across the board. While the first two movies focused heavily on Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), we felt that this movie really offered the other actors an opportunity to shine. Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, and Mila Kunis were great! Josh Brolin knocked it out of the park. And the rest of the cast was very solid. I would be surprised if there weren't several Oscar nominations. The movie streams on Netflix starting on Friday. We will watch again as soon as possible.
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I agree on Knives Out 3 / Wake Up Dead Man. It was interesting how Blanc was not on screen for the first third of the film.

I was starting to think everyone was in on it. It did get borderline over the top Scooby Doo like, but not quite.

Entertaining.
 

Ope3 said:
I agree on Knives Out 3 / Wake Up Dead Man. It was interesting how Blanc was not on screen for the first third of the film.

I was starting to think everyone was in on it. It did get borderline over the top Scooby Doo like, but not quite.

Entertaining.
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With an acknowledged Scooby Doo reference within. Liked it better than the second, don't think it surpasses the first for me, but really strong end to the trilogy (if indeed, it's the end).
 


coolhandgopher said:
With an acknowledged Scooby Doo reference within. Liked it better than the second, don't think it surpasses the first for me, but really strong end to the trilogy (if indeed, it's the end).
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I find it interesting that even with a slew of blockbusters and holiday movies competing for brick & mortar cinema screen space that Netflix is choosing to leave Knives Out 3 / Wake Up Dead Man available in theaters.

It was available to stream this past Friday, but is still on movie schedules through at least next Tuesday.
 

Went to see "One Battle After Another".

Not even going to give it a review, rather, I am posting about the experience.

We both wanted to see this film and decided that Saturday would be our day, so we selected the 3:15 showing and entered the theater at 3:15 knowing that I would not miss anything because of the trailers.

The showing of the film began at 3:47 and I was so pissed off, I couldn't concentrate on the first 30 minutes of the film.

And it wasn't so much the excessive trailers, it was that after the trailers they started showing commercials. I paid this much to see this, and you're going to jam commercials down my throat? And there is a commercial for AMC theaters? I'm already in the goddamned theater, why are you advertising this to me?

If, if, if, I ever go again, I told my wife that I'll sit in the lobby or walk around the mall and she can text me when the movie starts.

I'm still pissed off.
 

Unregistered User said:
Went to see "One Battle After Another".

Not even going to give it a review, rather, I am posting about the experience.

We both wanted to see this film and decided that Saturday would be our day, so we selected the 3:15 showing and entered the theater at 3:15 knowing that I would not miss anything because of the trailers.

The showing of the film began at 3:47 and I was so pissed off, I couldn't concentrate on the first 30 minutes of the film.

And it wasn't so much the excessive trailers, it was that after the trailers they started showing commercials. I paid this much to see this, and you're going to jam commercials down my throat? And there is a commercial for AMC theaters? I'm already in the goddamned theater, why are you advertising this to me?

If, if, if, I ever go again, I told my wife that I'll sit in the lobby or walk around the mall and she can text me when the movie starts.

I'm still pissed off.
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What I find perplexing is that now with "reserved seating" there's no need to get to the cinema before or even right at showtime. It's pretty easy for viewers to just skip if one is able to bake in the pre-show routine.

The Emagine chain has been promoting that theirs are limited to 15 minutes. That's at least reasonable.

AMC did announce they were rolling back somewhat, but it does not sound like it happened yet at your venue:

www.hollywoodreporter.com

AMC Theatres Cutting Some Pre-Show “Marketing Material” Even As It Keeps Ad Deal In Place

It appears to be a sign that the theater chain recognizes consumers aren't fond of all the advertisements.
www.hollywoodreporter.com www.hollywoodreporter.com
 



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