Harvester on 31/5/2020 at 21:35
You know, I'll admit that while following the news about what happened to George Floyd and the uprising in America that followed, I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the actual video of him dying. I've seen stills but not the video. To see the life being squeezed out of someone while his pleas for mercy are being ignored, that's the type of thing that can make me really sad and make my blood boil at the same time. Maybe being sad and angry isn't a bad thing in this case so maybe I should watch it, and I just might as soon as I can bring myself to do it.
In any case, tonight I watched a movie that's kind of topical called Just Mercy. It's based on true events and is not so much about police violence against black Americans but the injustices they face at the hands of the American justice system, and about a Harvard attorney who spends his life trying to get innocent people off death row. I must admire the sincerity and earnestness of the production, that still also finds moments of humor. It definitely has its heart in the right place and it's an impressive story for sure. However, there were some times were I thought the dialogue was a little hokey when it was trying to be sincere, and some moments that didn't quite work as intended because of that. While I think this is a moving story that's well told, as far as filmmaking quality is concerned, it doesn't quite reach the heights of Lion, which I talked about a few posts back, a movie in which I cannot find fault whatsoever. Still, I was moved by the story and can recommend watching the movie. 8/10.
SubJeff on 31/5/2020 at 22:00
Just Mercy is on my list. Don't know how depressing it's going to be though.
RE: George Floyd - I think it's a necessary watch, because it really, really contextualises the issue. I don't agree with looting but protests should go on for as long and as far as it needs for there to be a big change in the USA with this stuff. I keep reading crazy stories of a similar nature.
Thirith on 3/6/2020 at 12:09
Having watched some more Succession, I've reassessed my original take on the series somewhat. The first two episodes felt a lot like The Thick of It populated by the ultra-rich, with a heavy emphasis on cringe (especially when the likes of Kendall, Roman and Tom try to be all alpha male), but since then it's leaned more heavily into the family drama, and character-wise it's some amazingly dark shit, with impeccable acting. I suspect it'd also make a great companion piece for The Sopranos, with both of them focused on America, the family and toxic capitalism, and both being queasily funny and dark without feeling self-importantly heavy.
At the other end of the spectrum, I'm not all that impressed with Dark. It's atmospheric and it looks nice, but I'm finding its puzzles unengaging and somewhat obnoxious, and there's barely a character that I find interesting beyond their role in the mystery. There've been several moments where I was left with the impression that the writers think their puzzle box is more clever than it actually is, playing up a reveal that had been hinted at quite heavily for several episodes already. Tonally, it seems to aim at something like The Returned (the French original - I haven't seen the US remake), but the plot strikes me as pure pulp, so Dark ends up feeling rather self-important to me. It's reasonably entertaining, I just don't think it's nearly as good as some of the very enthusiastic reviews suggested. It feels more like Lost several seasons in.
SubJeff on 3/6/2020 at 22:31
Started Us. Stopped. It was boring.
I read the plot on Wikipedia. Makes no sense.
How disappointing.
I'm watching Space Force on Netflix. 3 episodes in and I'm liking this. Very easy to watch and love the cast mostly.
froghawk on 3/6/2020 at 22:43
Us was fantastic and made perfect sense as an allegory for the hidden human costs of the western capitalist lifestyle. That said, it definitely isn't as straightforward in how it delivers its message as Get Out and is perhaps a little too easy to miss.
SubJeff on 4/6/2020 at 13:07
Ok, when both mothers are together in the lounge, the "real" one who turns out to be the clone handcuffed to the table, she never once says to the other - hey, what's the deal with the underground life? I never got it as a kid but yeah for sure I remember taking your place so what's up with that? And the real real one never says "hey you messed my life up by switching with me and that's why I'm here and you know it so stfu!" As if that isn't the first thing that would happen.
And even then, the real one never said anything in front of Gabe and the kids. Why keep it mysterious until the end?
But I stopped watching it because I got bored. It was just at the bit were Gabe and Abraham are on the boat. Dunno, it just didn't grab me. I though it was shot really well though and was hella creepy up until the mothers were talking. Just got dull after that.
Tommyph1208 on 4/6/2020 at 13:24
Quote Posted by SubJeff
I'm watching Space Force on Netflix. 3 episodes in and I'm liking this. Very easy to watch and love the cast mostly.
Seems to me they don't know where they are going with that series...
One moment Steve Carell is the most incompetent of generals, accidentally pressing big red buttons to launch space rockets ahead of schedule, completely disregarding scrientific interests and facts, etc.
The next he's helping his teen daughter do math homework like a regular responsible dad, giving great and meaningful speeches at budget hearings, and generally being a good guy...
The rest of the cast is equally a mixed bunch of complete incompetence and likeable good-guys... I'm confused.
demagogue on 5/6/2020 at 05:40
I think they could have sold it better if Ethan Hawke's character had been the one with the visible facial reconstruction, considering he was the one later in line, or if they had just kept Sarah Snook the whole way through, but it's not such a big deal, and that would have had its own issues. Conceptually it was cool to follow.
A total aside, but I really like Ethan Hawke. He fits with the whole modern auteur zeitgeist, being conscientious about making movies and taking artistic risks which actually flopped at first but led to some really first rate stuff later. And he's part of that kind of Austin scene associated with Richard Linklater movies (the public id of which is Matthew Mcconaughey), that I feel really personally connected to from my time in Austin in the '90s.
henke on 5/6/2020 at 14:27
Quote Posted by Tommyph1208
Seems to me they don't know where they are going with that series...
One moment Steve Carell is the most incompetent of generals, accidentally pressing big red buttons to launch space rockets ahead of schedule, completely disregarding scrientific interests and facts, etc. The next he's helping his teen daughter do math homework like a regular responsible dad, giving great and meaningful speeches at budget hearings, and generally being a good guy...I think Carrell's character makes sense. Sure, he's clueless about all the actual
space stuff, but he's good with people. Those traits stay consistent throughout the season.
Just finished watching the last episode. Overall, I do agree with you, it's not great. Carrell does a decent job. Malkovich is very good, he really leans into his character. The rest of the cast does an ok job but it didn't really feel like anyone
behind the camera was particularly enthusiastic about this show. There's a laugh or two in it's 10-episode run, but overall... not great. :erg:
Gryzemuis on 8/6/2020 at 19:58
I've seen 5 episodes (out of 8) of Devs. It sucks.
I'm gonna watch the last 3 episodes. Don't ask me why. Casting sucks: Swanson is unbelievable as high-tech entrepeneur, Mizuno is boring to watch, nobody makes an impression, I can't relate to any of the actors. The fictional tech is unbelievable. Amaya is supposed to be a startup company in Silicon Valley, but I doubt the writers of the show have ever been in Silicon Valley or even ever visited a startup. Forest's dead kid swinging in your face every 15 minutes makes you not care about dead kids anymore. The pictures, the colors, the scenery (is that what's called cinematography ?) is all just meh. It's not a terrible TV show. TV makers have really learned a lot in the last 20 years, I think. But still, not worth watching. Maybe something happens in the last 3 episodes, but I doubt it.
I still have Westworld Season 3 waiting for me. That's next. And then June 27th, the 3rd and last season of Dark will start. I have no idea yet what I'll watch in July.