All Things Movie/Documentary Reviews/Recommendations Thread

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Interesting how many movies I have checked out leading up to awards season are about acters/entertainers/performers:

Deliver Me from Nowhere
Blue Moon
Nouvelle Vague
Jay Kelly
Rental Family
Hamnet

It can get very meta as the actors are playing the role of actors who then sometime have to act as those characters in other projects as part of the plot. Clooney is an A-Lister playing an one, whose stardom at least equals his.

Brendan Fraser though is playing an actor whose claim to fame was in a Japanese toothpaste commercial.

Zoey Deutch & Elle Fanning both play roles in foreign countries in languages other than English, thus in theory not nearly as accomplished as the roles they are playing.

Seems quite challenging.
 

Whenever I see this trailer I feel like someone is going to try to pitch me on buying a GMC truck and I start craving Reese's peanut butter cups.


I hope it's good though.
 

We watched a movie on Netflix the other day called "A Line of Fire". Action flick.

Not good. Not at all. Not a terrible story line, but just awful acting, like seriously bad. One could find better performances at a high school One Act Play competition.
 

We watched "One Battle After Another" last night. I thought Penn was terrific and stole the limelight from DiCaprio but the movie itself was disappointing. At best, it's a hour and half storyline bled out to 2 hours 45 minutes.

I'd give it a 6.5 out of 10 for me. We did watch "Once Upon A Time in America" the night before so maybe that overinflated my expectations some.
 

Slim Tubby said:
We watched "One Battle After Another" last night. I thought Penn was terrific and stole the limelight from DiCaprio but the movie itself was disappointing. At best, it's a hour and half storyline bled out to 2 hours 45 minutes.

I'd give it a 6.5 out of 10 for me. We did watch "Once Upon A Time in America" the night before so maybe that overinflated my expectations some.
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Watched it yesterday. Loved it. 9/10
 


Slim Tubby said:
We watched "One Battle After Another" last night. I thought Penn was terrific and stole the limelight from DiCaprio but the movie itself was disappointing. At best, it's a hour and half storyline bled out to 2 hours 45 minutes.

I'd give it a 6.5 out of 10 for me. We did watch "Once Upon A Time in America" the night before so maybe that overinflated my expectations some.
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WilliamsArenaGuy said:
Watched it yesterday. Loved it. 9/10
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I still think One Battle After Another is the Best Film of 2025, that I have seen. A Close runner up is Sentimental Value, which is quite a different film.
 






Semi-movie related, very impressive upbringing by Otter. I never would have guessed. Well done young man!

 









Ope3 said:
Hopefully soon, I was planning on seeing it yesterday. Snowed out.
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Did watch it. Surely will be in the minority. Just did not find it good. Thought the acting was fine, but didn’t think the story line was interesting.
 

fan of Ray Williams said:
Did watch it. Surely will be in the minority. Just did not find it good. Thought the acting was fine, but didn’t think the story line was interesting.
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I saw Marty Supreme as well on Friday night. Packed parking lot. Packed in the auditorium I watched it in.

I only liked it slightly better. It would be a very soft recommendation by me. We're not far off, probably.

Way too many sub-plots in my opinion.

SPOILER ALERT (sorta)



Also it's impossible to root for Marty, because quite frankly he's an a-hole for all but 5 minutes of the film. It's a tough watch for nearly 2.5 hours seeing him be a dink to everyone and everything in his path.

I was cheering for the Japanese guy. Seriously.

I did really like Gwyneth Paltrow though. She ages every bit as well as her mother, Blythe Danner.

Also Penn Jillette is damn near unrecognizable without the suit, facial hair, glasses and dropping what looks like 100 lbs. Only knew it was him from his name flashing in the opening credits.

I did like the style and cinematography.

Playing 80s music in a film set on the 50s, I find destracting.
 

The new Chevy Chase documentary could be interesting. Anyone watch it yet? I'm not at all shocked he's a complete ass.
 
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Not yet but looking forward to it. His SNL contributions alone make him a legend all by itself.

I watched a Caddyshack documentary and Chase and Murray hated each so much that the producers had to have security on set while they filmed the scene in Carl's "home" to prevent them from throwing blows.

Incredibly, that entire scene was all ad-libbed by those guys despite their hatred for one another. In fact, Harold Ramis said that virtually every scene with Chase and/or Murray were unscripted including Carl's scene where he's destroying the flowerbed as a "Cinderella story".

They never did say what created the animosity between them but most attributed it to Chase's arrogance and Murray's professional jealousies.
 

Slim Tubby said:
Not yet but looking forward to it. His SNL contributions alone make him a legend all by itself.

I watched a Caddyshack documentary and Chase and Murray hated each so much that the producers had to have security on set while they filmed the scene in Carl's "home" to prevent them from throwing blows.

Incredibly, that entire scene was all ad-libbed by those guys despite their hatred for one another. In fact, Harold Ramis said that virtually every scene with Chase and/or Murray were unscripted including Carl's scene where he's destroying the flowerbed as a "Cinderella story".

They never did say what created the animosity between them but most attributed it to Chase's arrogance and Murray's professional jealousies.
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I think everyone on the original SNL Case (+ his replacement, Murray) could not stand Chevy.

Also take a look at the Three Amigos. 2 of the Amigos (Short & Martin) have forged a pretty enduring comedy tandem that continues to this day, 40 years later. No sign of the 3rd in any of their projects or routines.

Looking at Chases filmography there are really only 2 roles & films that endure to me, Original Vacation and Caddyshack. I was never that huge about Fletch to begin with.
 

Ope3 said:
I think everyone on the original SNL Case (+ his replacement, Murray) could not stand Chevy.

Also take a look at the Three Amigos. 2 of the Amigos (Short & Martin) have forged a pretty enduring comedy tandem that continues to this day, 40 years later. No sign of the 3rd in any of their projects or routines.

Looking at Chases filmography there are really only 2 roles & films that endure to me, Original Vacation and Caddyshack. I was never that huge about Fletch to begin with.
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Boy...I thought "Fletch" was comic gold for an 80's movie and it really doesn't get any better for me than "Christmas Vacation" as an iconic holiday comedy.

His meltdown scene in front of the whole family after opening his bonus envelope busts me up every time. I always tease my Dad that was his exact reaction every time he got back from the McDonald's drive-thru and realized they shorted us a small french fry.

Chase certainly has far more duds than hits in his movie catalogue, though, that's for sure.
 


Slim Tubby said:
Not yet but looking forward to it. His SNL contributions alone make him a legend all by itself.

I watched a Caddyshack documentary and Chase and Murray hated each so much that the producers had to have security on set while they filmed the scene in Carl's "home" to prevent them from throwing blows.

Incredibly, that entire scene was all ad-libbed by those guys despite their hatred for one another. In fact, Harold Ramis said that virtually every scene with Chase and/or Murray were unscripted including Carl's scene where he's destroying the flowerbed as a "Cinderella story".

They never did say what created the animosity between them but most attributed it to Chase's arrogance and Murray's professional jealousies.
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It talks a little about what might have started the feud here.

www.cinemablend.com

‘I Don’t Think It’s Healthy.’ John Belushi And Other SNL Stars Definitely Had A Problem With Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase's personal reputation is a little rough.
www.cinemablend.com www.cinemablend.com
 

Slim Tubby said:
Boy...I thought "Fletch" was comic gold for an 80's movie and it really doesn't get any better for me than "Christmas Vacation" as an iconic holiday comedy.

His meltdown scene in front of the whole family after opening his bonus envelope busts me up every time. I always tease my Dad that was his exact reaction every time he got back from the McDonald's drive-thru and realized they shorted us a small french fry.

Chase certainly has far more duds than hits in his movie catalogue, though, that's for sure.
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Ogie Ogilthorpe said:
I am SO f*ng done with you. There's just no coming back from hurtful words like this
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As for Fletch, when I saw it originally, I admit that it had some laughs. When I watched it several years later it just did not hold up for whatever reason, for me.

As for Christmas Vacation, it was the best sequel I will say that. It's just does not compare to the original and felt like too much of a recycled formula.

Original National Lampoon's Vacation is on a really short list of best comedies in the 1980s.

Chevy's scene in the car after the family wants to go home pretty impossible to top. Like Steve Martin Planes, Trains & Automobiles (auto rental agent) great.
 

Ope3 said:
I saw Marty Supreme as well on Friday night. Packed parking lot. Packed in the auditorium I watched it in.

I only liked it slightly better. It would be a very soft recommendation by me. We're not far off, probably.

Way too many sub-plots in my opinion.

SPOILER ALERT (sorta)



Also it's impossible to root for Marty, because quite frankly he's an a-hole for all but 5 minutes of the film. It's a tough watch for nearly 2.5 hours seeing him be a dink to everyone and everything in his path.

I was cheering for the Japanese guy. Seriously.

I did really like Gwyneth Paltrow though. She ages every bit as well as her mother, Blythe Danner.

Also Penn Jillette is damn near unrecognizable without the suit, facial hair, glasses and dropping what looks like 100 lbs. Only knew it was him from his name flashing in the opening credits.

I did like the style and cinematography.

Playing 80s music in a film set on the 50s, I find destracting.
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A post script to Marty Supreme is all the cameos in addition to the previously mentioned Penn Jillette.

Some were recognizable actors (Fran Drescher & Sandra Bernard), while another I just knew was a guy on Shark Tank. That was Kevin O'Leary, and it wasn't a bit part, as he is essentially the villain of the film. Quite believable as a Sugar Daddy.

Tracy McGrady & Kemba Walker flash on the screen as Harlem Globetrotters.

The coolest though (pun intended) was the Ping Pong Parlor owner, who I thought looked a lot like George Gervin. Stayed for the credits, to find out it really was the Ice Man.

variety.com

Marty Supreme Cast Guide: All the Cameos and Supporting Players Joining Timothée Chalamet

Here's a guide to the colorful characters of "Marty Supreme," from Timothee Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow to Kevin O'Leary, Fran Drescher and more.
variety.com variety.com
 

Ope3 said:
Whenever I see this trailer I feel like someone is going to try to pitch me on buying a GMC truck and I start craving Reese's peanut butter cups.


I hope it's good though.
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I took in Is This Thing On? matinee, I really liked it. I thought it might be hard buying into Will Arnett in a dramatic role, but not so. Early on, I was all in.

This is much more of a personal, less epically sweeping film than the others that Bradley Cooper has directed. Just as solid. He plays a supporting role in it too, not exactly typical for him.

The film features the Bowie/Queen classic, Under Pressure. It's a minor plot point even.

I found it a bit surreal, because hen I initially learned about Pearl Jam Radio, they played Live Cover version during a full concert that featured Ben Harper.

Ben Harper is Laura Dern's ex-husband, a bit of serendipity given the plot of the movie.
 

Ope3 said:
One Battle After Another gets my highest recommendation. I strongly encourage anyone to go see it on as big of a screen as possible.

Leonardo. Sean. Benicio. All 3 give as good of performances as I have ever seen them in. No hyperbole. That great.

Amazing soundtrack and score.
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One Battle After Another became the Oscar Best Picture front runner, taking home the Golden Globe (Best Comedy-Musical). PTA also hauled in Best Screenplay & Director.

The guys (DiCaprio, del Toro & Penn) were shut out in the male acting awards, but Teyana Taylor won Best Supporting Actress. I was genuinely surprised that it also lost on Best Original Score.

It sets up a showdown with Hamnet (won Best Drama) for the Academy Award. With an older skewing voting demo, I could see that as the winner.
 

At random a little while back came across some interviews by Rich Eisen with actors. Originally was mostly Seinfeld related with a lot of great backstories to the show. Have since been binge watching a lot of these type of interviews.

I’m a big Kevin Pollock fan, came across this podcast interview from a few months ago that’s great. He’s a great interview and has a lot of awesome stories about some of the films he’s been in. I especially liked the part about The Usual Suspects.

 

GophersInIowa said:
At random a little while back came across some interviews by Rich Eisen with actors. Originally was mostly Seinfeld related with a lot of great backstories to the show. Have since been binge watching a lot of these type of interviews.

I’m a big Kevin Pollock fan, came across this podcast interview from a few months ago that’s great. He’s a great interview and has a lot of awesome stories about some of the films he’s been in. I especially liked the part about The Usual Suspects.

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Hockney.
 

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