Rate The Last Movie You Saw

[dave jenkins]

John Wick Chapter 4 (2023) IMAX - 4/10. Five minutes of plot crammed into a 169 minute film. Which would be okay if the set pieces were good, but these are mostly repetitive and exhausting. There's finally a good one, but you have to wait two hours to get to it. It's Wick going up the 200+ stairs of the Rue Foyatier, Montmartre (if IMDb can be trusted) while a bevy of assassins try to prevent him. And he has to do it twice. And the second time he has to accomplish the task in 2 minutes. The other bit that's well done is the duel at the end, which is actually clever. Most of the film, though, is ponderous. And I remember when this franchise had a bit of wit. The filmmakers now are taking it all too seriously, it seems.

[drinkanddestroy]

John Wick Chapter 4 (2023) IMAX - 4/10. Five minutes of plot crammed into a 169 minute film. Which would be okay if the set pieces were good, but these are mostly repetitive and exhausting. There's finally a good one, but you have to wait two hours to get to it. It's Wick going up the 200+ stairs of the Rue Foyatier, Montmartre (if IMDb can be trusted) while a bevy of assassins try to prevent him. And he has to do it twice. And the second time he has to accomplish the task in 2 minutes. The other bit that's well done is the duel at the end, which is actually clever. Most of the film, though, is ponderous. And I remember when this franchise had a bit of wit. The filmmakers now are taking it all too seriously, it seems.

Here is Ben Shapiro?s review (with spoiler)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ben-shapiro-show/id1047335260?i=1000605854632

[dave jenkins]

Here's the best review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiz3THVwMkk

[noodles_leone]

Here is Ben Shapiro?s review (with spoiler)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ben-shapiro-show/id1047335260?i=1000605854632

Why would anyone listen to Ben's opinions on a movie? He ridiculizes himself every single time he speaks about movies.

[dave jenkins]

Martin Roumagnac (1946) - 7/10. Marlene Dietrich and Jean Gabin, together again for the first time! Marlene is the femme fatale; Jean, the sucker waiting to get fleeced. It will end in tears, or, at the very least, in a trial scene. The trial here is pretty interesting, especially as, in the French system, jurors and even the accused get to question the witnesses. Not only that, but counsel for the defense gets to play to the house, raising the drama, influencing the jury and skewing the verdict. I guess this is adapted from a novel, because the plot is very nicely worked out. Daniel Gelin gets a couple cameos, one a real killer. Georges Lacombe directed.

[dave jenkins]

Why would anyone listen to Ben's opinions on a movie? He ridiculizes himself every single time he speaks about movies.

He's right this time, though.

[noodles_leone]

He's right this time, though.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day. I've heard the first two minutes, he may or may not be right but he clearly has no idea what a movie is.

[dave jenkins]

Play It as It Lays (1972) - Flawed, but an incredibly interesting European inspired New Hollywood flick detailing the mental breakdown of a B actress with an excellent performance from future Leone alum Tuesday Weld. It's very of its time with its New Wavey abrupt cut storytelling that frantically weaves in and out scenes - but this technique is mostly done pretty well and it lacks the hipster nihilism or hubris that usually turns me off from this type of movie. The style also fits the character. It could have been a masterpiece of sorts had it spent more time with Anthony Perkins' character and had the second half of the movie been better paced. At worst, it's a uniquely interesting movie that probably influenced Tarantino to some degree when writing 'Hollywood'. He may have said so himself if I remember correctly. B-

Oh, yeah, people can actually watch this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfRkecpJ9Ew

It's not in the correct AR, though.

[PowerRR]

Cry Macho - 10/10

[noodles_leone]

Cry Macho - 10/10

IMAX version is 12/10

[dave jenkins]

IMAX version is 12/10

Wow, ChatGPT can mimic a noodles joke perfectly!

[noodles_leone]

Pretty sure all humans left the board within 2 weeks of Groggy's departure. Chatgpt has been talking to itself since then, emulating our patterns.

[dave jenkins]

Two Maigret adaptations, both by Continental Films, both starring Albert Prejean as the famous inspector, available together on a KL blu.

Picpus (1943) - 7/10. A woman who has just moved house discovers a body in her wardrobe. It won't be the film's last such discovery. Making Maigret a bachelor has the advantage of giving him room to tangle with an attractive femme fatale, and the plot is just obscure enough to keep the viewer guessing until (almost) the end. The title comes from the name of a Parisian street and Metro stop.

Cecile is Dead! (1944) - 7/10. Cecile is billed correctly, but she's not the first to go. And as it turns out, there's more than one murderer.  What a country!

[dave jenkins]

Martin Roumagnac (1946) - 7/10. Marlene Dietrich and Jean Gabin, together again for the first time! Marlene is the femme fatale; Jean, the sucker waiting to get fleeced. It will end in tears, or, at the very least, in a trial scene. The trial here is pretty interesting, especially as, in the French system, jurors and even the accused get to question the witnesses. Not only that, but counsel for the defense gets to play to the house, raising the drama, influencing the jury and skewing the verdict. I guess this is adapted from a novel, because the plot is very nicely worked out. Daniel Gelin gets a couple cameos, one a real killer. Georges Lacombe directed.

https://trailersfromhell.com/martin-roumagnac/

Erickson doesn't say anything about the English subtitles, but the ones on the previous version of the film I saw were abominable. If this new DVD comes with decently translated text it will be worth purchasing.

[cigar joe]

Road To Salina aka La Route de Salina (1970) Written & Directed by Georges Lautner (The Professional (1981), La maison assassin?e). The film is based on Maurice Cury's novel La Route de Salina. The excellent cinematography was by Maurice Fellous, Music by Christophe (Kill Bill), Clinic and Bernard G?rard.

The film stars Mimsy Farmer (The Outer Limits TV Series, 1963?1965, The Girl from Trieste) ) as Billie Salerno, Robert Walker (Route 66, The Naked City, Easy Rider) as Jonas / Rocky. Ed Begley (vet of 10 Classic Noir) as Warren, David Sachs as the Sheriff, Bruce Pecheur as Charlie, Ivano Staccioli as Linda's Husband, and Sophie Hardy as Linda, and also starring Rita Hayworth (Gilda, Lady From Shanghai) as Mara Salerno.

This film, like Chair de poule, is another Spaghetti Western-ish Film Soleil Noir, and a Road Movie. The engaging cinematography of the Euro Western locations used to depict Mexico contribute greatly to that ambience. Think of this Noir as a combo of The Postman Always Rings Twice, Detour, Chair de poule, Twilight Zone, Inferno, Zabriskie Point, From Here To Eternity, This World, Then The Fireworks with even a dash of an old farmers daughter joke. 10/10