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Spoilers What Movie Are You Watching?

impulse462 said:
I don't think the film glorifies these people. Scorsese is known for his controversial films, but that is why I like him. All these things happened, and so to stay "true to the art" I have no problem with the excessiveness.

Was it over the top? Yes. But that is what really happened. Not calling you out specifically, but people trying to be politically correct about things like this are just pathetic. Would you want the film to be DeCaprio looking into a camera saying "kids what I did was wrong"? Furthermore, the film is about his account as to what happened at Stratton Oakmont. Did he meet any of his victims? No. The film isn't a documentary, more like a biopic.

I also thought it was DeCaprio's finest performance of his career.
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There's a reference in the movie about redemption (sorry, I don't remember the context), but by leaving out the victims' stories, this isn't about redemption. Look, I don't disagree that it's art rather than a documentary, but let's face it, it's not art, it's PR. I expect better from Scorsese.
 
Shrink said:
I'm sure that you are right as, apparently, everyone but me thinks he's a genius.

No doubt that his films are visually excellent, but if you have all the money in the world, putting up good visuals is no big accomplishment. Compared to some of the amazing production values produced by directors, cinematographers, and lighting directors who are working with shoe string budgets...Spielberg's visuals, while well done, do not impress me.

And, yes, I think the emotions that he wrings from the audience are cheap...meaning he doesn't earn the audience's emotional response with fine directions, scripts, etc., he just pushes the buttons that exist in most of us. The buttons might be described as follows...show us a boy and his dog throughout the first reel, kill off the dog in the second reel, and I guarantee the audience will cry all through the third reel. Cheap, button pushing!

But then, what the heck do I know!:p

:D
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Since I agree with you about Spielberg's work in general, I loved the film grudgingly. It might be the only one he made that will stand the test of time.
 
My boys like Star Wars, so I thought it was time they saw "Spaceballs". When I first saw it in the theaters, I thought the merchandising part was hilarious. Now, I think it drags on too long. There are still a lot of funny bits, but I'm starting to think it was just a tiny smidgen juvenile. I just hope no one can figure out the combination to my luggage.
 
mysterytramp said:
There's a reference in the movie about redemption (sorry, I don't remember the context), but by leaving out the victims' stories, this isn't about redemption. Look, I don't disagree that it's art rather than a documentary, but let's face it, it's not art, it's PR. I expect better from Scorsese.
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The individual victims' stories weren't in the original source material, though it was clear from the outset that the goal wasn't to make money for clients. The movie stayed pretty close to the book, apart from omitting Jordan Belfort's rehab experience, which would have taken too long. As for redemption, the federal prosecutors who filed papers claiming that Belfort has only paid a fraction of his court-ordered restitution would argue that he hasn't redeemed himself.

All in all, I think that Scorsese did a very good job depicting the excesses of Jordan Belfort and his cronies. Interestingly, he is apparently shopping around a reality series in which he helps people who've hit rock bottom. :)
 
designs216 said:
I just watched 30 Days of Night. I think if you guys liked John Carpenter's the Thing, you'd dig this one.
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Excellent movie. A new take on one of the definitive horror genres.

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Apple fanboy said:
I'll look that one up. I liked blackhawk down.
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It's just out so don't expect to find it on disk. Somewhat dark but an really good war movie. If you like Blackhawk Down you'll probably like it.
 
Last night I finished "Dredd". Tons of violence, I didn't really root for the bad guys to die, but I thought it carried the tone and feel of the comics pretty well. I got tired of the shots of helmets + mouth, but that was pretty consistent in the comics, too. It's been to long since I've seen "Judge Dredd" with Stallone, so I can't compare them.
 
I watched "There Will be Blood" recently. Amazing movie. I'm still thinking about it a few days later.
 
whoknows87 said:
Good movie beautifuil story didn't expect those twists lol

Watching Philadephia now Hanks and Denzel old goodie
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Spoiler:

Why not tie them up to the trees, do your job, then go back for them afterwards. You KNEW what was going to happen if you let them go. I understand the rules of engagement, and the difference between what the right thing is, which we normally do, to the whatever-the-F-we-want-to-do their way, but there had to be another option.
 
The.316 said:
Spoiler:

Why not tie them up to the trees, do your job, then go back for them afterwards. You KNEW what was going to happen if you let them go. I understand the rules of engagement, and the difference between what the right thing is, which we normally do, to the whatever-the-F-we-want-to-do their way, but there had to be another option.
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Spoiler alert:


They might've roughed those guys up or did things we know nothing about to cause those guys to want to retaliate , I thought that part was just for hollywood to show that they follow rules, a lot of soldiers didn't there are plenty of photos online showing soldiers posing next to bodies, the tapes showed by wiki leaks targeting civilians/jouranlists , we also had Abu Ghurrib, just sucks the one time that they follow rules crap like that happens, I also didn't expect the guys in the village to protect the soldier, I wonder if he got any money from the movie, they shouldv'e moved him to the US give him political asylum or something
 
I put on Star Wars: A New Hope. I'll probably fall asleep before it finishes. Playing Tiny Death Star on my iPhone prompted me to watch this tonight :p
 
I'm watching "The Black Dahlia", a cheap and unsuccessful rip off of "LA Confidential", a terrific movie, IMO. Bad script, bad direction, pitiful acting...not fair to treat Elroy's book so poorly.

They are both part of the James Elroy's LA Trilogy of books. Amazing books.
 
Saw Her. I really liked it. It started off a little weird, I thought to myself, "wow, this guy seems like a loser," but then you literally spend the entire movie with him, and he grows on you, and by the end, I was rooting for him. As for the human-AI relationship, I really think it will be a reality someday. Is this how Skynet begins? :eek:

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Shrink said:
I'm watching "The Black Dahlia", a cheap and unsuccessful rip off of "LA Confidential", a terrific movie, IMO. Bad script, bad direction, pitiful acting...not fair to treat Elroy's book so poorly.

They are both part of the James Elroy's LA Trilogy of books. Amazing books.
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I remember seeing The Black Dahlia a long time ago, and I don't think I liked it at all. It was poorly done, and confusing, if I remember it correctly.
 
ritmomundo said:
I remember seeing The Black Dahlia a long time ago, and I don't think I liked it at all. It was poorly done, and confusing, if I remember it correctly.
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The Black Dahlia was an attempt to ride the coattails of LA Confidential. Lots of awkward story lines, with the poor direction, added up to a confusing plot, as you point out.

And the less said about the script and the acting the better. All in all, a disappointing failure made more frustrating for me as James Elroy is one of my favorite authors.
 
Shrink said:
The Black Dahlia was an attempt to ride the coattails of LA Confidential. Lots of awkward story lines, with the poor direction, added up to a confusing plot, as you point out.

And the less said about the script and the acting the better. All in all, a disappointing failure made more frustrating for me as James Elroy is one of my favorite authors.
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Never saw 'The Black Dahlia' but was hugely impressed by the movie 'L.A. Confidential'..

The movie had been highly recommended to me, and I remember the first time I saw it, watching with a degree of frustration, thinking that this was one of those complicated, self-indulgent, 'auteur', movies; in fact, I was almost at the point of asking myself what the warm reviews were about when the pivotal scene where James Cromwell's character, late at night, in pyjamas and dressing gown, served coffee to Kevin Spacey's character, who was trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. From then on, I was gripped - this was electrifying, and is one of the few movies I have watched more than once; in fact, I have watched it more than twice. And, if I am honest, I would willingly watch it again. Class, hauteur, subtlety, complex characters and moral dilemmas, wonderful rendition of late 40s US, superb script, great cast, and an excellent story to start with.

Actually, some years later, I had the wonderful privilege of watching James Cromwell, live, on stage, playing a superb role in an excellent production of Eugene O'Neill's epic play 'A Long Day's Journey Into Night'.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
Never saw 'The Black Dahlia' but was hugely impressed by the movie 'L.A. Confidential'..

The movie had been highly recommended to me, and I remember the first time I saw it, watching with a degree of frustration, thinking that this was one of those complicated, self-indulgent, 'auteur', movies; in fact, I was almost at the point of asking myself what the warm reviews were about when the pivotal scene where James Cromwell's character, late at night, in pyjamas and dressing gown, served coffee to Kevin Spacey's character, who was trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. From then on, I was gripped - this was electrifying, and is one of the few movies I have watched more than once; in fact, I have watched it more than twice. And, if I am honest, I would willingly watch it again. Class, hauteur, subtlety, complex characters and moral dilemmas, wonderful rendition of late 40s US, superb script, great cast, and an excellent story to start with.

Actually, some years later, I had the wonderful privilege of watching James Cromwell, live, on stage, playing a superb role in an excellent production of Eugene O'Neill's epic play 'A Long Day's Journey Into Night'.
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First, just a reiteration of my point above...I suggest you avoid The Black Dahlia...it's so far from the quality of LA Confidential as to not be in the same neighborhood.

I fully agree with your analysis of LA Confidential. While Russell Crowe is not my favorite actor, I thought he was perfect in that role. An example of the right actor in the right role...even actors of limited talents can shine in the right role with the right director.

I first saw the movie in a theater just weeks after I had read the book, so the book was fresh in my mind, and some of the gentle plot changes in the film confused me since I knew what was "supposed" to happen. I enjoyed the film on first viewing, but was mildly disquieted by the changes. After a number of months I saw the film again, and was able to really enjoy it because the details of the book's plot were less sharp and clear in my mind.

LA Confidential did justice to Elroy's remarkably fine book...the changes were necessary for the film. Elroy writes is a genre which is not generally regarded as "literature"...but his writing, genre notwithstanding, is brilliantly literary, IMO.
 
Shrink said:
The Black Dahlia was an attempt to ride the coattails of LA Confidential. Lots of awkward story lines, with the poor direction, added up to a confusing plot, as you point out.

And the less said about the script and the acting the better. All in all, a disappointing failure made more frustrating for me as James Elroy is one of my favorite authors.
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LA Confidential was great. The Black Dahlia was weak especially with Josh Hartnett at the reigns.
 
Stay (2005)- psychological thriller starring Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, and Ryan Gosling... SUCKOLA! Maybe someone who saw this can explain it to me.

A movie about a psychiatrist who spends the entire movie trying to help a depressed patient not commit suicide. This is one of those movies that separates the movie goer from reality, keeping them guessing for the entire movie what exactly is going on, who is dead vs alive, what is real. Who's dream is this and ultimately, what is the point? IMO, the only way a story like this is worth it, is with a big payoff at the end of the story. That was missing, at least for me.

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Spoiler!​

At the end of the movie it is revealed the student was a person the psychiatrist had previously helped at the scene of a car accident, but who had died there. So he spends the ENTIRE movie trying to help this person not commit suicide, and during this time, he has visions (dreams/encounters?) with people the student knows/knew, and does not remember oh, yeah, he's all ready dead. Raspberries! Maybe I have revealed myself to have a distinct lack of imagination...:p
 
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