Rate The Last Movie You Saw

[Groggy]

Argo (2012) - 8/10. This works pretty well: Ben Affleck plays a CIA ex-fil op tasked with getting 6 Americans out of Tehran in 1979 (based on a true story). Stuffed to the gills with suspense, Alan Arkin and John Goodman put in frequent appearances for comic relief. However, things get prolonged and neadlessly sappy at the end. Affleck has a beard to help him act. Setting and costumes are rendered well. Alexandre Desplat delivers his usual sonic abortion. SPOILER Argo is the name of the phony movie Affleck and company pretend they're making for their cover story. Arkin, the phony producer, when asked at a press event to explain the plot, replies "Argofuckyourself." This becomes a running gag. This is scriptwriting gold, destined to be remembered in the tradition of "We'll always have Paris" and "I'll be back." Can't wait to use it on this board.

Thanks Jenkins. I'll see this ASAP.

[Groggy]

The Fallen Idol - 7/10 - In between Carol Reed's two masterpieces he made this odd little thriller. A crime drama from a child's perspective is a fantastic idea, and the early scenes of build-up and adult misunderstanding work marvelously. Unfortunately as there's no crime the drama evaporates in the last half hour.

[noodles_leone]

Jason Bourne Legacy
First half: 8/10
Second half: 3/10

[Groggy]

Jason Bourne Legacy
First half: 8/10
Second half: 3/10

Do you mean the Jeremy Renner thing?

[drinkanddestroy]

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) 9/10

[dave jenkins]

The Fallen Idol - 7/10 - In between Carol Reed's two masterpieces he made this odd little thriller. A crime drama from a child's perspective is a fantastic idea, and the early scenes of build-up and adult misunderstanding work marvelously. Unfortunately as there's no crime the drama evaporates in the last half hour.

Also, as the child actor is insufferable, my interest evaporates in the first 10 minutes.

[drinkanddestroy]

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) 10/10

What a great movie.

-- the boy probably knows a little too much for an 11 year old kid (certainly FAR more than I knew at that age), but hey, maybe that's how it is in some cultures

-- it's hilarious seeing Harvey Keitel as a cowboy, with the half Brooklyn, half attempted-cowboy accent 

-- I thought the boy's friends was another boy... until I recognized that it was Jodie Foster. She looks and sounds just like a boy here

[dave jenkins]

NYFF 50, Final Day:

Richard III (1955) 6/10. First viewing in DCP. Wow, like a Vistavision print restored to its original glory. As Marty says, "Vistavision was the IMAX of its day." Marty was on hand to introduce the film and provide us with nuggets of wisdom such as that. He also told us about his movegoing childhood (who knew?). But anyway--the great man, in the room with me! (He was much shorter than I'd imagined him). As Marty was arguing for the greatness of the film, though, I noticed he couldn't help talking mainly about Henry V. And the reason is obvious: Henry is a great film, and part of the reason it's so great is that it had a long gestation. Olivier gets all the credit for the film, but he actually arrived on the project late, after much of the concept had already been worked out. Now, when it came time to do Richard, 10 years later, Olivier had no more idea of what to do than he had earlier, so Richard is just a rehash of things better done in the first film. Except now in Vistavision. So color and clarity are exemplary; drama and pacing, not so much.

Afterwards I went home and watched the first hour of Stuart Burge's Othello (1965, starring Olivier)--a much better film. But then, it had a real director.

[Groggy]

Did you say hi to Marty for us?

[PowerRR]

The Fallen Idol - 7/10 - In between Carol Reed's two masterpieces he made this odd little thriller. A crime drama from a child's perspective is a fantastic idea, and the early scenes of build-up and adult misunderstanding work marvelously. Unfortunately as there's no crime the drama evaporates in the last half hour.

Whats his other masterpiece other than 3rd Man?

[dave jenkins]

Did you say hi to Marty for us?

His security detail was pretty thick, so, no. Nothing compared to Denzel's, of course, but they did the job. At the beginning some woman interrupted Marty by pulling off her top and complaining about the city's social services (or something) but she was quickly subdued and taken away. Marty deadpanned: "Shakespeare would've loved it. I mean, really. Ya know, the groundlings?" Not sure what the great man meant, but, like, I was there! In the same room! Did I mention that he was shorter than I'd imagined?

[drinkanddestroy]

At the beginning some woman interrupted Marty by pulling off her top and complaining about the city's social services (or something) but she was quickly subdued and taken away.

How can anyone complain about New York City's social services? That's like going to Texas and complaining about gun control.

[Groggy]

Whats his other masterpiece other than 3rd Man?

Odd Man Out. I may even prefer that to The Third Man.

[Groggy]

Did I mention that he was shorter than I'd imagined?

I hope you didn't ask him to get your shine box.

[dave jenkins]

How can anyone complain about New York City's social services? That's like going to Texas and complaining about gun control.

Uh. . . maybe I didn't communicate this well,  but I definitely got the feeling she was a nut.