[TobyD]

I finally got around to (starting to) watch The Irishman - having decided to treat it like a short box set instead of sitting down for hours on end. I think it actually suits this quite well - although I'm only about half way through - but I think that its brilliant either way. Its pretty typical Scorcese mob saga and has obviously been compared with Casino and Goodfellas; Pacino edges into a few Scarface-esque rants into the bargain.
I thought that (so far) it's almost a darker tale than these, but a compelling one which deserves to become classic. Recommended to anyone else who's so far been put off by the considerable run time: it's pretty concise if you treat it like a four episode box set.

[teestub]

I just couldn’t get past the de-aging stuff in it, De Niro meant to be an intimidating tough guy in his prime, but he’s hobbling around and holding himself like the old man he is.

[andy popp]

I finally got around to (starting to) watch The Irishman

Off topic, but anyway ... I've been to two, possibly three, of the mob dive bars that feature in the film (and all before the film came out). The best was The Friendly Lounge. We first noticed it one day a few years back. We were busy then but as connossieurs of Philly's dive bars we made a menta note. A couple of years later we realized we were nearby and that we had to stop in, even though it was 2pm on a Thursday. We had a fantastic couple of hours as the owner regaled us with all kinds of tales about his father, who had established the bar, and the old days in the neighbourhood, about the illegal clubs and drinking dens, and about bombings and the like. There was even a tale about the time Mussolini made a secret visit to the city and all the Italian nonna's got to make him cookies and meatballs (he never set foot in the US, let alone South Philly). The place was quiet, just a few regulars and fully lived up to its name. The owner's father, as he told us, was John "Skinny Razor" DiTullio, who features in the film - so that part of what he told us was true.

I don't know if it will open for people, but here's a good article about the place: https://www.inquirer.com/philly/food/bar-code/friendly-lounge-south-philly-skinny-razor-the-irishman-diltullio-ralph-natale-20171101.html

I enjoyed the film, but didn't think it was up with Scorcese's very best.

Edit: yes, I struggled to get past the de-ageing at times but still enjoyed the film.

[TobyD]

The ageing thing really didn't bother me, I think it's reasonable suspension of disbelief.
Different strokes for different folks I guess.

[Snoops]

Saw ' Brawl at cell block 99' last night.

Dodgy title, amazing film. Grindhouse neo-noir with an utterly superb Vince Vaughn (didn't realise he did other roles than comedy).
One those films that builds and builds, and you never want it to finish.

[Davo]

News of the World: on Netflix. Thought this was great. Admittedly I really like westerns and Tom Hanks is one of my all time favourite actors.

A second vote for The Dig. Watched this a week ago with my partner and unusually we both liked it.

[Oldmanmatt]

A good bit of SciFi schlock on Netflix is “Space Sweepers”.
I say schlock, but quite high production values, not a bad script and funny enough, often enough, to be quite good.

[TobyD]

The Place Beyond the Pines

On iPlayer at the moment. A really impressive piece of thoughtful film making, Ryan Gosling is excellent as a central character with whom you sympathize, but is at the same time,  deeply troubled. It has some nice Nighthawks-esque diner shots. 

[tomtom]

Ok I’m not half way through but...
Dune (1984 version) popped up on prime.

I seem to remember it being panned at the time - and amazingly I’ve never seen it (probably because I like they book lots back in 1984 and didn’t want it to puncture my mental image of the story).

Anyway - back to 2020. David Lynch film - no CGI effects (apart from the shields) - meaning everything was done with models and incredibly detailed and lavish sets. Much of it still works well today despite the obvious progression in special effects.

I also love the quaint touches in the scenes and space ships. The almost Victorian feel to the ‘hi tech’ equipment. I guess it’s also where lots of subsequent scifi films got their ideas from - Nods from twelve monkeys in particular I thought - and the Borg architecture.

As you can tell I’m not really focusing on the plot or characterisation 😁 but lapping up the scenery...

[seankenny]

White Tiger (Netflix)

Balram leaves his poor village and overbearing family to work as a driver for the local landlord/mob boss and begins his brutal rise to self-made millionaire. This is a film version of the book of the same name which won the Booker a few years back. I thought the book was a bit overrated but really enjoyed this. Adarsh Gourav is excellent as the put upon Balram brewing up a dangerous mix of resentment and rage, and the lavish Netflix budget makes Delhi look almost exactly like it actually is, ie a dusty, dirty, dysfunctional metropolis which is nevertheless better than the village Balram is desperate to escape.

[Falling Down]

Apologies if this one has been done before. The Wave 2016 Norwegian disaster movie about a rockslide tsunami  in a fjord.  TomTom, Andi E and Andy R will love the heroic geologist.  Very enjoyable and edge of seat stuff.

Greenland is really good. Totally bonkers and breathless.

[tomtom]

I got about 30 min into Greenland and had to give up - it was too tense for me for these times... plus Gerard Buttlers accent moved between Boston, New Yoyk, Irish and Scottish - and Brodie’s Doe eyed wife from Homeland just seemed to play Butlers doe eyed wife here!

But it may have got much better later! I gave up when he was going back for his sons meds (which was of course going to happen!).

My movies taste is probably suspect though as watched the second half of Dune last night. Bonkers - skipped massive parts of the (very long book) and not as good as the first half but I didn’t check my phone throughout (a positive sign!)

[Bradders]

News of the World: on Netflix. Thought this was great. Admittedly I really like westerns and Tom Hanks is one of my all time favourite actors.

Yeah enjoyed this. I recently saw Tom Hanks described as the cinematic equivalent of a comforting hug, which I think sounds about right.

Not all that much nuance or intrigue to the story but just a fairly comfortable way to spend a couple of hours.

[JJP]

The Place Beyond the Pines

On iPlayer at the moment. A really impressive piece of thoughtful film making, Ryan Gosling is excellent as a central character with whom you sympathize, but is at the same time,  deeply troubled. It has some nice Nighthawks-esque diner shots.

Really enjoyed this around the time it came out originally.  Really well filmed and acted.  Nice its on iplayer - time for a re watch! From memory had similar vibe to Drive but again a while since watched that.  Never watched Nighthawks.

[Will Hunt]

News of the World: on Netflix. Thought this was great. Admittedly I really like westerns and Tom Hanks is one of my all time favourite actors.

Yeah enjoyed this. I recently saw Tom Hanks described as the cinematic equivalent of a comforting hug, which I think sounds about right.

Not all that much nuance or intrigue to the story but just a fairly comfortable way to spend a couple of hours.

I've got to say I was a little underwhelmed. Some really good, tense sequences, and the to-be-expected competent performance from Hanks. The story lacked something and it was cinematically a bit dull - which is kind of inexcusable if you're filming in the American wilderness.

Compare with the Coen brothers' True Grit, for instance, which also comes with a brilliant score. I have a hard time not crying every time I watch Mattie drive Little Blackie across the river. (True Grit is on Netflix if anyone hasn't seen it).

[Bradders]

Oh I completely agree, True Grit clearly the better film. Suppose I wasn't expecting to be blown away by News of the World, and so didn't mind when I wasn't 

[SA Chris]

Ok I’m not half way through but...
Dune (1984 version) popped up on prime.

 but lapping up the scenery...

Sting in a codpiece!

[tomtom]

Ok I’m not half way through but...
Dune (1984 version) popped up on prime.

 but lapping up the scenery...

Sting in a codpiece!

Indeed - only 3-4 scenes though. Looked in one like he’d been on the Will Hunt ab-ripper and baby oil work out.

[TobyD]

Oh I completely agree, True Grit clearly the better film. Suppose I wasn't expecting to be blown away by News of the World, and so didn't mind when I wasn't 

I always expect to hate Tom Hanks movies because I find him incredibly annoying for no definite reason; it's a totally unreasonable prejudice. But it means that when he's actually in something I enjoy, such as Bridge of Spies it's a lovely surprise. I haven't seen NotW yet, for this reason, but probably will.

I'd say watch A place beyond the pines though, to anyone who wants to see an amazing movie that isn't quite like anything else I've seen.

[SA Chris]

I always expect to hate Tom Hanks movies because I find him incredibly annoying for no definite reason; it's a totally unreasonable prejudice.

Forrest Gump effect. I hated the movie and he's annoyed me because of it ever since.

Admit I think Road to Perdition is brilliant though.

[Will Hunt]

Since Davo listed him as a favourite actor I've really struggled to put my finger on what I think of Hanks' acting. He gives pretty solid performances in films that are pretty watchable, but I don't think I've ever seen him do anything extraordinary. I don't know whether that's because he's not a great actor or because he gets cast in uninspired roles. Compare to people like Johnny Depp, Daniel Day-Lewis, Gary Oldman, whose performances often make the film they're in.

I don't know whether it says more about me or Hollywood but I'm struggling to think of actresses who give the same kind of performances. Maybe something to do with a lack of films with strong individual female lead roles?

[SA Chris]

You mean give the same kind of lack of performances? Are depressingly straight in almost everything they do?

[Oldmanmatt]

I got about 30 min into Greenland and had to give up - it was too tense for me for these times... plus Gerard Buttlers accent moved between Boston, New Yoyk, Irish and Scottish - and Brodie’s Doe eyed wife from Homeland just seemed to play Butlers doe eyed wife here!

But it may have got much better later! I gave up when he was going back for his sons meds (which was of course going to happen!).

My movies taste is probably suspect though as watched the second half of Dune last night. Bonkers - skipped massive parts of the (very long book) and not as good as the first half but I didn’t check my phone throughout (a positive sign!)

It got better.

It is standard fare, but not bad in the genre.

Her character kicks up a notch after they get separated, but yeah, she’s a bit of a background figure; which is jarring these days.
Big strong man saves helpless family. Thought we’d passed that fantasy.

To be fair, later in the film, he comes very close to getting his arse kicked, kills a man and suddenly realises that’s not such an easy thing to do and the character loses some of the macho bluster. Still, a little too ‘80s.

[tommytwotone]

Never watched Nighthawks.

Watch away!


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks_(painting)

[Yossarian]

Never watched Nighthawks.

Watch away!


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks_(painting)

I watched Nighthawks (the film) the other day and thought it was great. Rutger Hauer is a brilliant terrorist baddie, Stallone and Billy Dee Williams do New York street cops well. And it’s got Nigel Davenport (Miles (from This Life)‘s dad as token know it all Brit.