The Revenant is a great movie!
Just rewatched The Wolf Of Wall Street"
Movie/film suggestions.
While this is of course a forum for the discussion of all things audio/hi-fi and music, pretty much all of us are also lovers of movies, the enjoyment of which is effected by the reproduction of the sound they contain (with the exception of silent movies 
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I've been focused on David Lynch movies since his death, but with current events so much a part of our lives at the moment, I plan on re-watching a movie I’ve seen only once, and years ago. That movie is:
The Madness Of King George. Apropos, no?
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That was a pretty good movie, @nonoise ; family, friends, trust, betrayal and violence with a great cast . . . I couldn't ask for much more. And I had forgotten what that cast looked like 35 years ago. On the subject of violent movies revolving around the Irish mob, how about Black Mass 2015)? This was one of my original top seven picks; with Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulgar and Joel Edgerton as the corrupted FBI agent who collaborated with him, it is intense and violent. The great cast also includes Kevin Bacon, Peter Sarsgaard, Jesse Plemmons, Bill Camp, Juno Temple. . . . Imo it is a must-see. |
The Departed is on right now, and I've seen it enough that I am not going to watch it tonight (particularly with commercials), but what a great movie with a great starring cast (Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson), and a great supporting cast (including Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, and Alec Baldwin) that did a great job. This was also on my top seven list and was also the movie that turned me into a DiCaprio fan. |
with all due respect @immatthewj it was a weird movie. It totally missed the Whitey Bulger and Boston aspects. Nicholson (I love him) butchered it. The way Scorsese got New Jersey right in Goodfellas, he missed the scene in the Departed. I lacked the ambience a 100%. OK, maybe 90%. |
As they say, @gano , one person’s art is another’s garbage. Myself, I am generally not a huge Nicholson fan, but in The Departed I loved him. I’ve never been to Boston so I cannot comment, but it seemed to full fill what I thought Boston would be like. Which could very well be a misconception on my part. (Now I am killing a lot of time watching excerpts of the Karen Read trial, and I get a kick out of the accents.) As far as the Whitey Bulger angle, when I first watched the movie I really didn’t know anything about that, but after watching Black Mass and some White Bulger documentaries, there does seem to be a take off on that happening. At least in that there was a violent gangster in Boston who had a law enforcement agent on the inside (Bulger had the FBI agent, Connoly/and Nicholson had Damon) and was playing both sides of the game. Anyway, I really enjoyed The Departed. But speaking of Bulger and Boston and movies, how did you feel about Black Mass? |
I think Black Mass was decent, @immatthewj but I wouldn't watch it twice. It was made after I was over Depp, but still not completely turned off. I was living there and working a menial job when Whitey disappeared along with a few more guys. It turned my boss' was connected to the mafia by association, his cousins were in the Winter Hill Gang. Little did I knew, I also lived on the edge of Winter Hill and Spring Hill. Obviously, when it's made by the locals, they get it right. The Town, Gone Baby Gone, Ted are fantastic movies in their own genre and they are "pitch perfect". Just like the accent, you either get it right or don't bother, keep it generic.
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That's interesting, @gano , and I can understand where your personal perspective enters into it. (As for myself, I cannot stand Yellowstone.) I only have preconceived notions of Boston, but if I had the personal connection that you described, I would not be able to get enough of Black Mass. As it is, I will watch it whenever it's on a movie channel without commercials and unedited. (And not because of Johhny Depp.) I really get a kick out of the interaction with the Halloran character that Sarsgaard portrayed. In the Departed, I remember a scene that I enjoyed where Nicholson came out of the backroom of the bar to talk to DiCaprio and he (Nicholson) was all blood spattered and kind of happy looking. Whatever was happening back there, the viewer knows it was bad but apparently business as per usual. Another scene that I found memorable was the one (I think it was Nicholson and Dicaprio's first meeting) where Nicholson hands DiCaprio a severed hand in a freezer bag to dispose of. Anyway . . . ramble on. . . |
@immatthewj well, I should be fair. In the Departed, there were several epic performances. Martin Sheen before he was thrown down, his performance was incredible. He is a genius. DiCaprio, Wahlberg were a delight. It has many incredible episodes and moments. I remember your ranting on Yellowstone and you are the expert in that. To be honest, I was in Boston a few months ago and it has become a freak-show and watered down, but my memories of it and my compassion/passion will never change. It is the ultimate movie location when it is done right. Don't get me started on every movie in Europe, shot in Hungary/Budapest. But movies to happen in Boston and shot in Seattle is a crime - like a A Million Little Things...
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@gano , well, we both appreciated Gone Baby Gone. In The Departed, I also thought Alec Baldwin's role was convincing. But as far as
that would ruin it for me as well, and I thought maybe you were referring to The Departed, and at that point I was going to scratch that movie off of my list of favorites. I googled it and it appears that it was filmed in Boston and NYC. That does knock it down a notch or two on my list. I don't know if you've ever seen the movie Cut Bank, but my advice is not to waste your time. Just one of the many things that are wrong with it is that they made a movie that theoretically took place in Cut Bank, Montana, and they actually went as far as using that for the title, but it was filmed in a couple of towns quite a bit further north up in Alberta. If that's what they wanted to do, that's fine, but I don't see the point in trying to dress the set up to look like Cut Bank (which they failed at) instead of titling the film Innisfree or Edmonton. Out of curiosity, I googled the film, and according to The Great Falls Tribune, the residents of the real-life town of Cut Bank don't feel as I do. Which I find interesting, because (again imo) the film makes them look like a bunch of hicks and Cut Bank more of a hick town than it actually is. And I am not typing that because I have any wish to prop that town up. Because I don't.
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I enjoyed Bugsy when I first rented the VHS tape a long long time ago, @slaw , and I rewatched it a year or two or three ago, and I still found it enjoyable. I’ve been considering renting Alto Knights from "on demand" as it’s only a $5.99 rental now, but I pat Xfinity so effing much for my bundle, not paying extra for rentals has become a principle thing for me. There’s a couple more I’d like to see that are rentals, but I might break down--Drug Store June (looks mildly hilarious), Winner (supposed to be about Reality Winner) and The Friend (a dog movie starring Bill Murray, and I like Bill Murray, but I like good dog movies even more). |
. . . @gano , speaking of Whitey Bulger movies and the Karen Read trial, doesn't it seem rather ironic that a lawyer who once represented Bulger in a murder trial would now be a special prosecutor in a case against someone who is alleged to have run down a police officer? I guess a job is a job and a paycheck is a paycheck.
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@immatthewj Todd Blanche was a prosecutor and then defended the last person one should defend if you are serious about law and order. So I don’t understand lawyer’s logic and ethics. Funny you mention Cut Bank: a very similar production story is Virgin River. According to the original script: somewhere in Utah, according to the series script it’s in Humboldt county, CA. In reality it’s East of Vancouver. However, it’s a Hallmark story which is always in some imaginary land but still. It’s a disservice to Humboldt county, the home Redwoods among other things. So, yes, location matters. Btw I don’t know if Karen Read is guilty. Based on everything we know, she has no clue either. She was so wasted, she barely remembers getting home. What’s disgusting though is how the police acted. Just above the law all the way brotherhood. |
Well, Todd got two jobs for his 'service' (he primarily scowled and kept a certain someone from testifying because he'd incriminate himself). One is deputy DA and the other is acting head of Library of Congress. I have a dark sense of humor and even I can't muster up the faintest of smiles on that one. All the best, |
@cleeds because of our very serious differences, I don't comment on what you write, partly for my mental health, partly to not derail the threads.
I don't think my views on ethics has to be defended or argued since it's just an opinion nothing more, not right, not wrong, just what I feel. However I don't argue about facts.
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This one's outta left field: Mickey 17. Even at over two hours long I found it enjoyable and witty as it touched on many things we either take for granted or actually wonder about. Directed by Bong Jo Hoon (who did Parasite), it's both quaintly weird and engaging at the same time. All the best, |
This is the first I’ve heard of such "very serious differences," @gano. I can’t imagine what they are. Really. Perhaps you have me confused with someone else. In any event, of course you’re free to avoid responding to me. There’s no obligation on your part. My best to you. |
@cleeds perhaps I confuse you with someone, i am easily confused. I can't keep up with the various aliases who attack me/pick a fight with me |
@slaw Crazy Heart is a classic. It reminds me several of my alcoholic friends. An amazing performance from all 4: Bridges, Gyllenhaal, Duvall, Farrell. |
@gano , I have formed an opinion, but my opinion does not matter. With time on my hands, it does make for interesting viewing. I give the defense credit for opting to start presenting their case Friday as opposed to waiting for Monday, and immediately following the prosecution's expert with their own. All I can get from those experts is that I don't know who to believe. Which may work for the defense. Another interesting aspect that has developed is the prosecution not calling Procter and the defense doesn't appear to want to call him because (apparently due to the rules pertaining to direct and cross) they wanted him on cross and did not want the defense to get him on cross. A bit of a chess match going on. As far as Judge Cannone, the majority of the podcasters I have watched are calling her all the way from biased to corrupt. I don't know enough about the system to form opinions on that, but what I did find interesting are the video clips (from the doc Ms. Read made) that the judge allowed the prosecution to present. I am not sure that I can see the evidentiary value in them. |
@immatthewj Karen Read is an interesting character. Definitely spoiled, white privileged lady, the type of well-to-do liberal who does not help the cause. The type who wants to talk to the manager in the restaurant before she's seated. Regardless, if there is reasonable doubt, she must walk. The investigation was botched in 10+ ways. It was a shame there is a 2nd trial. I think it was a misogynist jury in the first trial. If there is such a thing as circumstantial exculpatory evidence, there was a ton of it. All the cops involved are despicable. |
@slaw , I found A Single Shot to be watchable and engaging, and although I've never felt the need to see it more than once, I do remember that I enjoyed it. |
Setting aside Directors and Actors, for Audio Quality and Audio Impression the use of Q Sound in a Soundtrack can have a very profound effect whilst watching a movie, especially where certain sounds are much much more realistic when heard. Two Movies known are Asteroid and Heat, there are others, Heat was superb when seen at the cinema, and this sound impression even though not grand scale, can still be transferred through a typical TV Speaker. On a dedicated system for Movies and Audio, I can only believe something special will be presented. |
@immatthewj I love the D Train. It is so uncomfortable and heart-warming, I have to re-watch it every once in a while. It makes me think what I would do for popularity (no, not Marsden, but Mercury, perhaps, who knows), as I was way more of a Dan in high school than Oliver. |
greetings kind regards Lonely Are The Brave Dr. Strangelove 2001: A Space Odyssey also Spartacus. i see a pattern here . his later works less so especially Eyes Wide Shut as it seemed pointless and bizarre . am fond of anti-war films also Kirk Douglas . Dr. Strangelove and HAL 9000 are my favorite film characters . glad i did not forget A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum . the special effects in the original Metropolis are amazing even brilliant . . cheerios |
Yes, @gano , there were some uncomfortable sequences, but Jack Black made them hilarious. I laughed out loud at least two or three times. Probably more. |
“O Lucky Man!” and Alan Price. Everyone check out the original soundtrack LP on Warner Bros. Records. The recording is right up there with the best vocal scores from any film from the 70s. A great recording. Alan Price keyboardist from “The Animals” and his own “Alan Price Set” went solo and wrote the lyrics. He performed (and on piano) O Lucky Man!, Poor People, Sell Sell, Justice, and Look Over Your Shoulder for the 1973 film, and composed all the instrumental music. |
If you don't mind watching a two hour movie, I thought that Our Friend (2021) was a realistic and moving portrayal of a family effected by terminal cancer. I didn't realize until the final credits that it was based on the real life story of Nicole Teague (played by Dakota Johnson), her journalist husband Matt Teague (Casey Affleck), and their friend Dane Faucheux (Jason Segel). I learned in the final credits that Matt Teague wrote the nonfiction and it was published in Esquire titled as The Friend before being adapted for film. A google revealed that there are some very minor nits between the film version and Matt Teague's original published nonfictional account, but all in all, quite minor. For my own nits, there was one hole I couldn't quite resolve for my own understanding, but this may have been due to the quality of the audio on some of Affleck's dialogue and my own hearing limitations. I would also say that for someone in the latter stages of terminal cancer, I would expect that person to look a lot worse (physical appearance wise) than Dakota Johnson did in the movie. BUT: the script was tight and engaging, the dialogue was excellent and well delivered by all of the actors, and the decline of Nicole Teague and the undying loyalty of Dane Faucheux was nearly heart breaking. If not the best, certainly way up there with one of the best cancer movies I have ever watched. |
Free HBO this week, so I killed two birds with one stone: first bird was I watched Alto Knights (2025), and the second bird was I didn’t have to rent it. The film portrays a version of the feud between Vito Genovese and Frank Costello and concludes with a version of the Apalachin meeting of 1957. Robert Deniro played the roles of Genovese AND Costello. I am not crazy about that kind of technique, but I guess he pulled it off. |
