What is the best recent movie you’ve seen.

[Doc Holliday]

Baby girl (2024)
Erotic thriller starring Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson & Antonio Banderas. I really don’t know what to make of this movie. It somewhat reminded me of 9 1/2 weeks. The best way i can describe this movie is that it’s about a middle-aged woman (Kidman) who has never been sexually satisfied by her husband (Banderas) so she ends up having a kinky sexual relationship with a young intern at her workplace who knows exactly which of her buttons to press in order to conquer her sexually & practically own her although she’s trying her best (and mostly fails) to resist to the temptations as her private life slowly starts unraveling. It’s directed by Dutch actress, writer & director Halina Reijn but if i didn’t know better i would have thought Adrian Lyne had directed this movie. There is lots of nudity involving the Kidman character & lots of kinky sex scenes. This movie received a lot of praise worldwide & made quite a bit of money at the box office. To be honest i’m not exactly sure why. I’d loke to add that although it’s dubbed as an erotic thriller i got the erotic part but i must have missed the thriller part. Personally i was disappointed & expected more from a movie starring Nicole Kidman, one of the few actresses i actually enjoy watching in movies or miniseries. But considering the positive reviews it received maybe it’s just me. I gave it 6/10 stars.

 

[Meta not Meta]

Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025)

A fairly conventional 'authorized' rock-doc (with lots of archival footage and talking-head shots of Plant, Page & Jones), which covers the years up to 1970 (ie. the first two albums). It focuses entirely on the music, many influences, pre-band careers and early band dynamics rather than any sex, drugs and notoriety of stardom that would mostly come later. Not that these guys were ever going to touch on that. Nor anything about the infamous copyright infringement lawsuits of even later years. And just a little about their infamously frightful, protective, but thug-like manager, whom Page, somewhat at a celebratory loss, compares to a 'mafia don.' Otherwise, everything is relentlessly upbeat.

I'm not sure I needed to see this in a theatre, with what turned out to be a smallish audience of other boomers, but why not - it's a mostly very enjoyable film, even a fascinating one at times. Growing up on Punk I was, in theory, ideologically predisposed to despising them back in the late '70s, a time when Cream magazine ran features like 'Led Zep vs. The Clash.' But still, I always found that the records of both bands coexisted quite easily in my teenage collection. And I still listen to Zeppelin all these decades later.

As much as I knew all the music it surprised me just how little I knew from a biographical viewpoint. If you didn't know beforehand it becomes pretty clear that Zeppelin was Page's baby from the get go. l mean, he laboriously planned-out everything. Page knew exactly what he was doing and how to accomplish it, creating a sound like no other. Something heavy & timeless, a kind of cosmic sludge, which still managed to incorporate the entire history of rock, blues & R&B up to that point.

Both he and Jones had already well established careers in their late teens, in the mid-'60s, as London session musicians and arrangers, both performing on some pretty famous records together (like 'Goldfinger') and separately, for the likes of The Who, The Kinks and Lulu. There's a great moment in the film when Page pulls out a tiny, dogeared notebook that seemingly has a notation for every single paying gig he ever did pre-Zeppelin.

But I thought there'd be more about his time in The Yardbirds, though he recounts lovingly the story of the guitar given to him by Jeff Beck, while solemnly, if not a little ridiculously, comparing it to 'the sword of Excalibur.' I mean, these guys, especially Page, really took themselves seriously. And maybe as a consequence, when success arrived it came very quickly. Even before they had a record deal with Atlantic the first album had already been recorded, a condition of signing being that the band would always have complete creative control. And by the end of the decade they were already selling more records than the Beatles.

 

[Doc Holliday]

September 5 (2024)
I watched this movie last night & extremely enjoyed it! I was surprised at how much i liked it! I haven’t yet checked which movies are up for the Oscars this year but this is a movie i’d seriously consider. It revolves around what happened behind the scenes at the ABC Sports studios in West Germany during the Munich Olympics in 1972 while the Israeli/PLO hostage crisis was going on & how ABC took the lead in covering it. The always excellent Peter Sarsgaard stars as ABC Sports president Roone Arledge. The movie received very high praises from critics & movie goers alike. This is a very good movie about a dark chapter in Olympics Games history. I highly recommend!

 

[Meta not Meta]

September 5 (2024)
I watched this movie last night & extremely enjoyed it! I was surprised at how much i liked it! I haven’t yet checked which movies are up for the Oscars this year but this is a movie i’d seriously consider. It revolves around what happened behind the scenes at the ABC Sports studios in West Germany during the Munich Olympics in 1972 while the Israeli/PLO hostage crisis was going on & how ABC took the lead in covering it. The always excellent Peter Sarsgaard stars as ABC Sports president Roone Arledge. The movie received very high praises from critics & movie goers alike. This is a very good movie about a dark chapter in Olympics Games history. I highly recommend!

I haven't seen the movie yet, but as a child I remember quite clearly watching the original ABC news coverage, in real time, with Jim McKay. His famous statement, "They're all gone ..." remains chillingly unforgettable.

 

[Doc Holliday]

The Brutalist (2024)
Epic movie starring Adrien Brody in the role of a Jewish-Hungarian holocaust survivor named Lazslo Toth who immigrates to the United States once he’s liberated from the death camps. Once in America where he meets up with a cousin he learns that his wife & a niece had survived the holocaust but were currently unable to join him. He resumes his profession as an architect after meeting millionaire Harrison Van Buren played by Guy Pearce. Later his wife (played by Felicity Jones) & niece come to America to join him. I really enjoyed this movie even though it’s over 3:20 hrs long. I watched it in two sessions & to my surprise it didn’t seem that long. I really enjoyed this movie & it has to be a strong Oscar contender. Very strong Oscar-worthy performances by Brody, Pearce & Jones.

 

[Johnny test]

September 5 (2024)
I watched this movie last night & extremely enjoyed it! I was surprised at how much i liked it! I haven’t yet checked which movies are up for the Oscars this year but this is a movie i’d seriously consider. It revolves around what happened behind the scenes at the ABC Sports studios in West Germany during the Munich Olympics in 1972 while the Israeli/PLO hostage crisis was going on & how ABC took the lead in covering it. The always excellent Peter Sarsgaard stars as ABC Sports president Roone Arledge. The movie received very high praises from critics & movie goers alike. This is a very good movie about a dark chapter in Olympics Games history. I highly recommend!

Watched it yesterday and it's an interesting take on a well-known topic.
This angle is interesting not only in terms of storytelling and as an historical piece but also because they tackled the whole "should we broadcast this" which is an interesting question in this day and age. I would also recommend it

 

[Johnny test]

Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025)

A fairly conventional 'authorized' rock-doc (with lots of archival footage and talking-head shots of Plant, Page & Jones), which covers the years up to 1970 (ie. the first two albums). It focuses entirely on the music, many influences, pre-band careers and early band dynamics rather than any sex, drugs and notoriety of stardom that would mostly come later. Not that these guys were ever going to touch on that. Nor anything about the infamous copyright infringement lawsuits of even later years. And just a little about their infamously frightful, protective, but thug-like manager, whom Page, somewhat at a celebratory loss, compares to a 'mafia don.' Otherwise, everything is relentlessly upbeat.

I'm not sure I needed to see this in a theatre, with what turned out to be a smallish audience of other boomers, but why not - it's a mostly very enjoyable film, even a fascinating one at times. Growing up on Punk I was, in theory, ideologically predisposed to despising them back in the late '70s, a time when Cream magazine ran features like 'Led Zep vs. The Clash.' But still, I always found that the records of both bands coexisted quite easily in my teenage collection. And I still listen to Zeppelin all these decades later.

As much as I knew all the music it surprised me just how little I knew from a biographical viewpoint. If you didn't know beforehand it becomes pretty clear that Zeppelin was Page's baby from the get go. l mean, he laboriously planned-out everything. Page knew exactly what he was doing and how to accomplish it, creating a sound like no other. Something heavy & timeless, a kind of cosmic sludge, which still managed to incorporate the entire history of rock, blues & R&B up to that point.

Both he and Jones had already well established careers in their late teens, in the mid-'60s, as London session musicians and arrangers, both performing on some pretty famous records together (like 'Goldfinger') and separately, for the likes of The Who, The Kinks and Lulu. There's a great moment in the film when Page pulls out a tiny, dogeared notebook that seemingly has a notation for every single paying gig he ever did pre-Zeppelin.

But I thought there'd be more about his time in The Yardbirds, though he recounts lovingly the story of the guitar given to him by Jeff Beck, while solemnly, if not a little ridiculously, comparing it to 'the sword of Excalibur.' I mean, these guys, especially Page, really took themselves seriously. And maybe as a consequence, when success arrived it came very quickly. Even before they had a record deal with Atlantic the first album had already been recorded, a condition of signing being that the band would always have complete creative control. And by the end of the decade they were already selling more records than the Beatles.

Thanks for the review, by watching the preview, it's more or less what i was expecting. I'll probably watch it at some point but i'm not expecting much at this point

 

[maymay]

Companion (Sophie Thatcher) heu WOW this one cough me by surprise, also The Gorge was really good.

 

[charmer_]

The Brutalist (2024)
Epic movie starring Adrien Brody in the role of a Jewish-Hungarian holocaust survivor named Lazslo Toth who immigrates to the United States once he’s liberated from the death camps
[...]
I really enjoyed this movie & it has to be a strong Oscar contender. Very strong Oscar-worthy performances by Brody, Pearce & Jones.

I saw this one in theatres. The length didn't bother me at all (it goes by fast).

(Slight SPOILERS)
The first half is excellent. But the second half there's a huge WTF moment (I'm sure you know what it is) that comes out of nowhere, which made the 2nd half not quite as good (for me).

But it's still a really good movie. Adrien Brody and Guy Pierce are amazing in it.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I saw this one in theatres. The length didn't bother me at all (it goes by fast).

(Slight SPOILERS)
The first half is excellent. But the second half there's a huge WTF moment (I'm sure you know what it is) that comes out of nowhere, which made the 2nd half not quite as good (for me).

But it's still a really good movie. Adrien Brody and Guy Pierce are amazing in it.

I know exactly which WTF moment you’re referring to. I also think there’s a WTFH moment near the end of the movie (i’m sure you know what I’m referring to) which still makes me wonder why it’s even there.

 

[Meta not Meta]

'Anora' Writer/Director Sean Baker thanks the SW community in his Oscar acceptance speech for Best Original Screenplay.

"They have shared their stories, they have shared their life experiences with me over the years. My deepest respect, thank you. I share this with you," he said.

 

[Johnny test]

A Complete Unknown

Watched this a few days ago and i really enjoyed it.
It's a biopic, very classic in its structure (chronological narration), so don't expect too much originality, at least in its form.
Of course, it relies a lot on the story and actors's performance.
The story is well known, it starts at the beginning of Dylan's career, with him meeting Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger and ends when he chose to use electric instruments on stage, around the release of the "Highway 61 Revisited" album.
The performances, especially Chalamet's are top notch, apparently him and other actors also performed the songs which is also quite impressive especially in the case of Monica Barbaro who plays Joan Baez.
As classic as the movie may be it provides a lot of emotions and that's what movies are supposed to do i guess, so if you're interested in Dylan's life and this kind of music, i recommend it, it won't change your life but you'll probably leave the theater with a smile.
For those who didn't know Pete Seeger's work, but love classic rock, i would recommend Bruce Springsteen's "We shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" (2006), and the live performance of the same songs (In Ireland obviously ) the next year in "Live In Dublin"

 

[Meta not Meta]

A Complete Unknown
View attachment 89392
Watched this a few days ago and i really enjoyed it.
It's a biopic, very classic in its structure (chronological narration), so don't expect too much originality, at least in its form.
Of course, it relies a lot on the story and actors's performance.
The story is well known, it starts at the beginning of Dylan's career, with him meeting Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger and ends when he chose to use electric instruments on stage, around the release of the "Highway 61 Revisited" album.
The performances, especially Chalamet's are top notch, apparently him and other actors also performed the songs which is also quite impressive especially in the case of Monica Barbaro who plays Joan Baez.
As classic as the movie may be it provides a lot of emotions and that's what movies are supposed to do i guess, so if you're interested in Dylan's life and this kind of music, i recommend it, it won't change your life but you'll probably leave the theater with a smile.
For those who didn't know Pete Seeger's work, but love classic rock, i would recommend Bruce Springsteen's "We shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" (2006), and the live performance of the same songs (In Ireland obviously ) the next year in "Live In Dublin"

Haven't seen the movie, thanks for the review.

Reluctant to ... guess I should give it a chance ... maybe Chalamet seems all wrong to me, too much the pretty boy, or I expected some kind of hagiography. Not sure. The Baez angle is intriguing. Diamonds and Rust is such a great song. She even influenced Zeppelin, who knew!

I love that Springsteen album! Foolishly I used to dismiss Seeger as the guy who supposedly tried to stop Dylan "going electric" at Newport in 65, but of course he's far, far more than that ...

If you've never seen it, do see the great Scorsese doc. No Direction Home, about Dylan's evolution up to '66 and the very same controversy about his move to rock. It really felt like betrayal to a lot of people. And catches just how big the guy was back then. A lot of Joan & Seeger in that, if I recall correctly.

Highly recommend the book Positively Fourth Street about Bob, Joan & the Village folk scene of the early sixties. Pretty jaded about the people and egos involved. To that end the Coen Bros.' movie about the same period, Inside Llewyn Davis, though not about Dylan specifically, catches the same jaded, counterintuitive, far from idealistic spirit.

 

[Johnny test]

My most vivid memory of Dylan is by watching "The Last Waltz", it's focused on The Band obviously but Dylan plays a big role in it.
I wouldn't call the movie an hagiography, it's pretty close to the idea i have of Dylan's character but i'm not really an expert. As i said the movie won't challenge you like Dunkirk could for example, it'S very "classic" in every sense of the word. I may be wrong but i don't think Mangold is a particularly innovative director.
I took the movie as it is, a good entertainment with a great casting and i think that's what it is.
You're right Chalamet may be a bit too pretty for the role, i remember people saying the same thing for Elijah Wood/Frodo but it didn't bother me, i think he's got the essence of Dylan, or, at least, my perception of what Dylan is/was.

 

[Doc Holliday]

A Complete Unknown
View attachment 89392
Watched this a few days ago and i really enjoyed it.
It's a biopic, very classic in its structure (chronological narration), so don't expect too much originality, at least in its form.
Of course, it relies a lot on the story and actors's performance.
The story is well known, it starts at the beginning of Dylan's career, with him meeting Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger and ends when he chose to use electric instruments on stage, around the release of the "Highway 61 Revisited" album.
The performances, especially Chalamet's are top notch, apparently him and other actors also performed the songs which is also quite impressive especially in the case of Monica Barbaro who plays Joan Baez.
As classic as the movie may be it provides a lot of emotions and that's what movies are supposed to do i guess, so if you're interested in Dylan's life and this kind of music, i recommend it, it won't change your life but you'll probably leave the theater with a smile.
For those who didn't know Pete Seeger's work, but love classic rock, i would recommend Bruce Springsteen's "We shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" (2006), and the live performance of the same songs (In Ireland obviously ) the next year in "Live In Dublin"

I watched it twice this past weekend & liked it also. I thought the actor who portrayed Johnny Cash also did a good job. He reminded me more of Cash than Joaquin Phoenix did! Chalamet’s performance was a very good one, Same with Barbaro & Ed Norton as Pete Seager. The movie was very good but i knew it didn’t have much of a chance to nab the Oscar since several of the other movies were simply better & more Oscar-worthy. Anora winning was no surprise for me. Mikey Madison’s win was but i was extremely happy she won because it was well deserved & she carried that movie. Many were disappointed Demi Moore didn’t win but to be honest when i watched The Substance i felt that she easily could have been nominated for the best supporting actress award since Margaret Qualley had as much screen time as she did & her own performance was as good in my opinion.

Speaking of Robert Zimmerman i discovered his music in the late 80’s. Then in the early 2000’s i saw him in concert in Montreal & it was the worse concert i had ever seen in my entire life! But i still remain a fan of his early work. Not much a fan of his post 80’s work though!

 

[Johnny test]

I thought the actor who portrayed Johnny Cash also did a good job. He reminded me more of Cash than Joaquin Phoenix

Speaking of Johnny Cash, after watching A complete unknow, i realized Mangold also directed Walk The Line. Both movies are pretty similar in fact in the sense that there are both entertaining but not earth shattering.... and sometimes it's quite enough

 

[Doc Holliday]

Speaking of Johnny Cash, after watching A complete unknow, i realized Mangold also directed Walk The Line. Both movies are pretty similar in fact in the sense that there are both entertaining but not earth shattering.... and sometimes it's quite enough

Oh? I didn’t know this. I really enjoyed ‘Walk the Line’. Especially the music & Reese Witherspoon played a great June Carter. I wasn’t as impressed of Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as the Man in Black as much as others were. I’ve long been a Cash fsn & even saw him in concert once. Phoenix made him look like a psycho!

 

[Meta not Meta]

Dylan's voice was always an acquired taste. Very early on it was supposed to be an indicator of his "authenticity," that he was in the great folk tradition of heroes like Guthrie. Never saw him live, but I get that it only got worse as he aged. I like his live stuff around the Rolling Thunder Revue and some of his studio albums after the mid-70s, especially Oh, Mercy, which is really great. And like Lenny, he never lost his ability to write a great song, Every Grain of Sand ... Jokerman ... etc.

 

[Meta not Meta]

Haha, forget Bob & Joan a moment ... they really should do a movie about these two:

Stereo separation is just bliss, Gram in one ear, Emmylou in the other ...

 

[Doc Holliday]

Presence (2024)
Horror/psychological thriller starring Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang & Eddie Maday. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. I really enjoyed this movie & it was rightfully praised by critics. Dysfunctional family moves into a new home & it appears to ne possessed by an entity. I’m not going to say more since i don’t want to ruin the movie for those who may want to see it. It was brilliantly made & i’ll likely watch it again. I recommend it! 4/5 stars for me!