Film The Redcafe Movie review thread

[dumbo]

Raya and the Last Dragon
A fun girl's own fantasy adventure. Nicely animated with some good action and cute characters. A bit too long and complicated, with that exoticised-cultural mushyness that Disney overdo. And everyone is a yank high schooler.

Shorten it and add some songs would have been my direction. It's an improvement over Frozen 2 but falls short of Moana or the How to Train films. The dragon is effectively an animated Muppet which is cool.

Also it's a Thucydidean political realist screed with a literal Leviathan.

 

[Cheimoon]

Hostiles - I love Westerns, so this was right up my street. A stellar cast (Christian Bale, Wes Studi, Jesse Plemons) star in this revisionist Western about an army officer having to escort a dying Cheyenne chief back to his homeland. Cinematography is breathtaking, and some great tense filled scenes as well. I do feel that it could have been a little more nuanced, and the character development could have been explored a little more, but overall, a very good movie, and one of the better Westerns in the last few years. (8/10)

I've had this on my Netflix list for a while. I'm always on the fence as to whether I'll want to invest the time on it, and it's probably not really my wife's kind of thing. Sounds like I should watch on my own soon, then.

This is definitely worth investing the time. Let me know your thoughts when you've watched it.

It's been a little while, and you can't see the above conversation in the Newbies thread anymore, but I finally did get round to watching Hostiles. I agree, it's excellent. They push the narrative a little too much perhaps, to obtain the moral ambiguity and the dramatic effect that the film is all about (see the spoiler). Apart from that, though, it does have a strong overall storyline, great performances, and beautiful cinematography. In fact, I'm thinking of watching it again just to look at the scenes more, cause I was too preoccupied just following the events of the story. Good recommendation.

Spoiler

For that pushed narrative: I thought the death of Malloy in the fur traders' camp was poorly done. I get that section as a whole; or at least, I think its point is to argue that there were random brutes of all ethnicities, and it's not an Indigenous thing with that group of Comanche. But Malloy just dies invisibly, it's a cheap way to reduce the size of the group. Also, in the final shoot-out, killing everyone except for a nice little family group (the Captain, Ms. Quaid, and the boy) was again convenient for the story and its 'happy' ending, but a little random in terms of the action. It also had a touch of white saviour syndrome: in the end, it's two adult whites that will have to raise the Indigenous boy. That was a pity in a film that I thought was otherwise quite respectful towards America's Indigenous Peoples.

 

[Vidyoyo]

Raya and the Last Dragon
A fun girl's own fantasy adventure. Nicely animated with some good action and cute characters. A bit too long and complicated, with that exoticised-cultural mushyness that Disney overdo. And everyone is a yank high schooler.

Shorten it and add some songs would have been my direction. It's an improvement over Frozen 2 but falls short of Moana or the How to Train films. The dragon is effectively an animated Muppet which is cool.

Also it's a Thucydidean political realist screed with a literal Leviathan.

Only you would post that

 

[Martial'sEmergingSmile]

Molly's Game
The true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target.

Not the biggest Sorkin fan, but I absolutely loved this. Reminded me of The Big Short - with it's similar breakneck pace and fast, quippy dialogue. The opening scene is masterful, and sets the tone for what you're going to get. Jessica Chastain, who's in literally every scene - as well as narrating - was incredible.

Led me down some rabbitholes post-movie, Googling who each character was in real life. Player X (played by Michael Cera) is Tobey Maguire....which wasn't exactly surprising giving the many negative stories about him.

 

[massi83]

Molly's Game
The true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target.

Not the biggest Sorkin fan, but I absolutely loved this. Reminded me of The Big Short - with it's similar breakneck pace and fast, quippy dialogue. The opening scene is masterful, and sets the tone for what you're going to get. Jessica Chastain, who's in literally every scene - as well as narrating - was incredible.

Led me down some rabbitholes post-movie, Googling who each character was in real life. Player X (played by Michael Cera) is Tobey Maguire....which wasn't exactly surprising giving the many negative stories about him.

Meh. All of the poker scenes are ridiculous and error-ridden (Rounders remains the only watchable poker movie). The main character seems to have a bigger victim complex than Liverpool. And Sorkin is in Newsroom-form instead of West Wing. Idris Elba makes this a 6/10 instead of 5/10.

 

[Mystry]

Coming 2 America - Pretty pointless sequel, not that funny. Needed more Arsenio Hall and less/zero Leslie Jones.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

I care a lot: I didn't care about it at all. Awful film. Eurgh.

 

[Massive Spanner]

I care a lot: I didn't care about it at all. Awful film. Eurgh.

I see you are a man of taste.

 

[The Corinthian]

It's been a little while, and you can't see the above conversation in the Newbies thread anymore, but I finally did get round to watching Hostiles. I agreed, it's excellent. They push the narrative a little too much perhaps, to obtain the moral ambiguity and the dramatic effect that the film is all about (see the spoiler). Apart from that, though, it does have a strong overall storyline, great performances, and beautiful cinematography. In fact, I'm thinking of watching it again just to look at the scenes more, cause I was too preoccupied just following the events of the story. Good recommendation.

Spoiler

For that pushed narrative: I thought the death of Malloy in the fur traders' camp was poorly done. I get that section as a whole; or at least, I think its point is to argue that there were random brutes of all ethnicities, and it's not an Indigenous thing with that group of Comanche. But Malloy just dies invisibly, it's a cheap way to reduce the size of the group. Also, in the final shoot-out, killing everyone except for a nice little family group (the Captain, Ms. Quaid, and the boy) was again convenient for the story and its 'happy' ending, but a little random in terms of the action. It also had a touch of white saviour syndrome: in the end, it's two adult whites that will have to raise the Indigenous boy. That was a pity in a film that I thought was otherwise quite respectful towards America's Indigenous Peoples.

Ah, amazing - glad you watched it.

Spoiler

Definitely agree on the final shoot out being a bit contrived (and the white saviour syndrome).

On Malloy's death - I think it was interesting that some parts of the movie they let the viewer fill in the blanks. We're obviously exposed to a brutal opening, but the director chooses to leave some other episodes of violence totally off camera. The Comanche's brutal killing by the Cheyenne tribesman, Malloy's death, the Wills' death at the hands of Metz, and Metz' suicide after. We only really see the aftermath of these acts of violence. I can't really infer anything from it, but thought it was there to contrast to the overt parts of violence.

And yes, the movie is well worth a second viewing just to enjoy the gorgeous cinematography!

 

[2cents]

It's been a little while, and you can't see the above conversation in the Newbies thread anymore, but I finally did get round to watching Hostiles. I agreed, it's excellent. They push the narrative a little too much perhaps, to obtain the moral ambiguity and the dramatic effect that the film is all about (see the spoiler). Apart from that, though, it does have a strong overall storyline, great performances, and beautiful cinematography. In fact, I'm thinking of watching it again just to look at the scenes more, cause I was too preoccupied just following the events of the story. Good recommendation.

Spoiler

For that pushed narrative: I thought the death of Malloy in the fur traders' camp was poorly done. I get that section as a whole; or at least, I think its point is to argue that there were random brutes of all ethnicities, and it's not an Indigenous thing with that group of Comanche. But Malloy just dies invisibly, it's a cheap way to reduce the size of the group. Also, in the final shoot-out, killing everyone except for a nice little family group (the Captain, Ms. Quaid, and the boy) was again convenient for the story and its 'happy' ending, but a little random in terms of the action. It also had a touch of white saviour syndrome: in the end, it's two adult whites that will have to raise the Indigenous boy. That was a pity in a film that I thought was otherwise quite respectful towards America's Indigenous Peoples.

Ah, amazing - glad you watched it.

Spoiler

Definitely agree on the final shoot out being a bit contrived (and the white saviour syndrome).

On Malloy's death - I think it was interesting that some parts of the movie they let the viewer fill in the blanks. We're obviously exposed to a brutal opening, but the director chooses to leave some other episodes of violence totally off camera. The Comanche's brutal killing by the Cheyenne tribesman, Malloy's death, the Wills' death at the hands of Metz, and Metz' suicide after. We only really see the aftermath of these acts of violence. I can't really infer anything from it, but thought it was there to contrast to the overt parts of violence.

And yes, the movie is well worth a second viewing just to enjoy the gorgeous cinematography!

Just watched it based on your comments, so thanks for that, I enjoyed it a lot. Don’t have anything meaningful to add to the above, except I was pleasantly surprised to see the guy playing Metz - last time I saw him was as Slater in Dazed and Confused:

 

[el3mel]

Promising Young Woman (2020) :

Took a lot of time to get going but once it did it was brilliant all around. The lead female actress was top notch, but the acting of some guys was a little bit over the top especially the main antagonist. Great ending as well.

8/10

 

[Cheimoon]

Ah, amazing - glad you watched it.

Spoiler

Definitely agree on the final shoot out being a bit contrived (and the white saviour syndrome).

On Malloy's death - I think it was interesting that some parts of the movie they let the viewer fill in the blanks. We're obviously exposed to a brutal opening, but the director chooses to leave some other episodes of violence totally off camera. The Comanche's brutal killing by the Cheyenne tribesman, Malloy's death, the Wills' death at the hands of Metz, and Metz' suicide after. We only really see the aftermath of these acts of violence. I can't really infer anything from it, but thought it was there to contrast to the overt parts of violence.

And yes, the movie is well worth a second viewing just to enjoy the gorgeous cinematography!

Yeah, good point as well (re. the spoilered bit). I really like that the relevant scene was all 'hidden' from the viewers: you can hear what's happening in those tents, but you don't seem anything of it. Great decision also to have a static camera shoot it, while you basically see nothing, only hear it. As a general point, I often don't like how 'nervous' a lot of modern cinema is: every camera is moving, switching shots every few seconds, and so on. This film wasn't like that at all, which I loved.

Just watched it based on your comments, so thanks for that, I enjoyed it a lot. Don’t have anything meaningful to add to the above, except I was pleasantly surprised to see the guy playing Metz - last time I saw him was as Slater in Dazed and Confused:

He looks different there!

 

[Wibble]

Nomadland loved it although it is quite slow so you need to be in the mood for it. A huge enditement of American society and probably all the better for the low-key ending that lacked resolution. If Frances McDormand doesn't win an Oscar there is no justice. 8/10

 

[ChrisNelson]

Escape From Pretoria

Doesn't really offer a huge amount you can't get from other prison break films, but it's still decent and I would recommend if you enjoy this sub-genre of action films.

Could do with a shot of adrenaline in terms of the pace it moves at, I always think back to Escape From Alcatraz which along with Shawshank I think is at the pinnacle.


I Care A Lot

I disagree with some of the negative comments on here, but then films are of course very subjective and it would be a bit boring if we all agreed.

It's a relatively original and quite interesting plot which, without giving too much away almost leaves you rooting for the bad guy, but then the film is based around a con woman so who is bad and who is good?!

This was a decent way to kill a couple of hours - echoes of I Love You Phillip Morris in a way which is another good film.

 

[pierrethesnack]

Mile 22 (2018)
Quite awful. Whatever plot and everyone is for some reason constantly angry and aggressive when there's no need to. It's like they're on a never ending coke paranoia. Was exhausted after 15 mins. Guess it had some okay action scenes. 4/10

Only the Brave (2017)
Well, I learned quite a bit about forest fires. Quite impressive visuals. 6/10

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
Really liked this Great dry humour, nice visuals, and quite wholesome. Was interesting to see that Child protection services in New Zeeland don't seem to differ much to where I'm from.. 8/10

The Happening (2008)
I don't know whether it's the acting, directing or writing, but it kind of feels like an MTV parody even though it's totally serious Hard to rate since it does have some kind of entertainment value if you like bad things.

Prince of Darkness (1987)
Expected a bit more from this. Good movie, but doesn't quite hit the heights of The Thing and In the Mouth of Madness. 7,5/10

 

[el3mel]

Dark Waters (2019) :

Well crafted documentary (I guess ?) and sends a very important message. Unfortunately it suffers a bit from being monotonous in its direction and acting, which made many scenes boring to watch. Pretty sure it could have been directed in a more engaging way. It sticks in your mind after watching it though, and leaves you thinking about it.

7.5/10

 

[MoskvaRed]

Dark Waters (2019) :

Well crafted documentary (I guess ?) and sends a very important message. Unfortunately it suffers a bit from being monotonous in its direction and acting, which made many scenes boring to watch. Pretty sure it could have been directed in a more engaging way. It sticks in your mind after watching it though, and leaves you thinking about it.

7.5/10

I thought Ruffalo was great in that role. It would have been easy to make the main character into the standard crusading hero lawyer but portraying him as a shambling, dysfunctional, charisma free zone was probably much closer to real life.

 

[el3mel]

I thought Ruffalo was great in that role. It would have been easy to make the main character into the standard crusading hero lawyer but portraying him as a shambling, dysfunctional, charisma free zone was probably much closer to real life.

I like Ruffalo, and I think he did a decent job with the script he had, though I found the character he was playing to be mostly dull. Maybe the real Rob was that way or something. Anne Hathaway's role was very small though you can't shake the feeling it was a waste casting her in such role.

The direction of the movie was very monotonous though I feel this my biggest problem for why I felt many scenes were just boring. There's nothing spectacular about how this movie was shot and I felt like it was getting closer to being a documentary rather than an actual movie, just retelling the events as they were and nothing else. I watched Zodiac (2007) few months ago and felt it was a better work of telling a real story but in a very engaging way and had some master scenes like the basement one for example, couldn't feel the same about Dark Waters, which felt just a documentation of the events.

It's still very much worth a watch though due to how important the topic was about and the idea itself is terrifying in its own way.

I still have Spotlight to watch out of these Ruffalo's documentaries movies if we can call them this.

 

[MoskvaRed]

I like Ruffalo, and I think he did a decent job with the script he had, though I found the character he was playing to be mostly dull. Maybe the real Rob was that way or something. Anne Hathaway's role was very small though you can't shake the feeling it was a waste casting her in such role.

The direction of the movie was very monotonous though I feel this my biggest problem for why I felt many scenes were just boring. There's nothing spectacular about how this movie was shot and I felt like it was getting closer to being a documentary rather than an actual movie, just retelling the events as they were and nothing else. I watched Zodiac (2007) few months ago and felt it was a better work of telling a real story but in a very engaging way and had some master scenes like the basement one for example, couldn't feel the same about Dark Waters, which felt just a documentation of the events.

It's still very much worth a watch though due to how important the topic was about and the idea itself is terrifying in its own way.

I still have Spotlight to watch out of these Ruffalo's documentaries movies if we can call them this.

It’s not as good as Zodiac, I’ll give you that. Maybe I had rose-tinted glasses as it was the last film I managed to see at a cinema before the latest lockdown (and one of only a few after the previous lockdown ended). It might be the same when restaurants first reopen - some ok pizza will taste like food from the gods.

 

[Cheimoon]

I like Ruffalo, and I think he did a decent job with the script he had, though I found the character he was playing to be mostly dull. Maybe the real Rob was that way or something. Anne Hathaway's role was very small though you can't shake the feeling it was a waste casting her in such role.

The direction of the movie was very monotonous though I feel this my biggest problem for why I felt many scenes were just boring. There's nothing spectacular about how this movie was shot and I felt like it was getting closer to being a documentary rather than an actual movie, just retelling the events as they were and nothing else. I watched Zodiac (2007) few months ago and felt it was a better work of telling a real story but in a very engaging way and had some master scenes like the basement one for example, couldn't feel the same about Dark Waters, which felt just a documentation of the events.

It's still very much worth a watch though due to how important the topic was about and the idea itself is terrifying in its own way.

I still have Spotlight to watch out of these Ruffalo's documentaries movies if we can call them this.

Spotlight is good! Zodiac isn't as much of a documentary though, it's a dramatization of a dramatized, one-sided book, if I remember correctly. It's (relatively) easy to make something work as a film if you take these kinds of liberties with the stories.

I should say, though, that I haven't seen Dark Water and don't know the story apart from broad strokes, so I don't know if there is more truthfulness to the original story there - although i think I remember it was meant to be drier and more truthful...?

 

[el3mel]

It’s not as good as Zodiac, I’ll give you that. Maybe I had rose-tinted glasses as it was the last film I managed to see at a cinema before the latest lockdown (and one of only a few after the previous lockdown ended). It might be the same when restaurants first reopen - some ok pizza will taste like food from the gods.

It's not a bad movie at all, I just felt it could have been done a little bit better.

Spotlight is good! Zodiac isn't as much of a documentary though, it's a dramatization of a dramatized, one-sided book, if I remember correctly. It's (relatively) easy to make something work as a film if you take these kinds of liberties with the stories.

I should say, though, that I haven't seen Dark Water and don't know the story apart from broad strokes, so I don't know if there is more truthfulness to the original story there - although i think I remember it was meant to be drier and more truthful...?

Yeah I know that Zodiac was based on Graysmith's book and his obsession with his suspect but the movie was just top notch entertainment while getting you also interested in searching more about the mystery after you're done with it. During second half of it I was completely hooked.

 

[Cheimoon]

Yeah I know that Zodiac was based on Graysmith's book and his obsession with his suspect but the movie was just top notch entertainment while getting you also interested in searching more about the mystery after you're done with it. During second half of it I was completely hooked.

Oh, I agree, I also liked Zodiac a lot, just as a film. (Apart from the question of whether it's historically correct; I anyway knew nothing about the subject when i watched it.) I was just saying that, if they decided to stay very close to actual events in Dark Waters, then maybe that explains why it's a bit less successful as a film.

 

[el3mel]

Oh, I agree, I also liked Zodiac a lot, just as a film. (Apart from the question of whether it's historically correct; I anyway knew nothing about the subject when i watched it.) I was just saying that, if they decided to stay very close to actual events in Dark Waters, then maybe that explains why it's a bit less successful as a film.

They wrote at the start of the movie it's based on this article :

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/magazine/the-lawyer-who-became-duponts-worst-nightmare.html

So I'll say it was mostly very truthful. It's very close to being a documentary which as I said when you look at it from this perspective, it's very well crafted. Just as a movie itself it had some flaws. Still as I said, definitely worth a watch, otherwise I wouldn't have rated it 7.5.

 

[Vidyoyo]

Did anybody else think Robert Downey Jr was miscast in Zodiac? I like him a lot but I don't think he suited the tone the film.

 

[Cheimoon]

They wrote at the start of the movie it's based on this article :

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/magazine/the-lawyer-who-became-duponts-worst-nightmare.html

So I'll say it was mostly very truthful. It's very close to being a documentary which as I said when you look at it from this perspective, it's very well crafted. Just as a movie itself it had some flaws. Still as I said, definitely worth a watch, otherwise I wouldn't have rated it 7.5.

Yeah, I read about the film; I just don't know much beyond some high-level article I read and I think a review. Been looking forward to it actually - and I think your comments make me look forward to it more. Bring it on, Netflix Canada!

 

[el3mel]

Did anybody else think Robert Downey Jr was miscast? I like him a lot but I don't think he suited that movie.

Zodiac ? I thought his role was small anyway. Not bad but doesn't stick in mind. It was Gyllenhaal's movie first and Ruffalo's second though.

 

[Drawfull]

Meh. All of the poker scenes are ridiculous and error-ridden (Rounders remains the only watchable poker movie). The main character seems to have a bigger victim complex than Liverpool. And Sorkin is in Newsroom-form instead of West Wing. Idris Elba makes this a 6/10 instead of 5/10.

If you're watching it for the poker strats you're doing it wrong. It's a good film. Easy 8.

 

[massi83]

If you're watching it for the poker strats you're doing it wrong. It's a good film. Easy 8.

I have been poker pro for 12 years, so I wasn't. But there is a limit on how bad and error-ridden the scenes can be. It is a very shallow film and there is nothing likeable about the main character. And the last scene with father is laughable.

 

[Drawfull]

Watched WW84 all the way through this time, now I could purchase it instead of renting. It's adequate, not a patch on the first one, but adequate. 6 or 7.

I don't really know how to phrase this, but I thought it was pretty bold to put Gadot front and centre with no 'make-me-nice' make up, whilst not looking slim, in that scene in the White House. Loads of moaning that she only get's jobs because of her looks debunked maybe. I think she's perfect for the role.

 

[Cheimoon]

I have been poker pro for 12 years, so I wasn't. But there is a limit on how bad and error-ridden the scenes can be. It is a very shallow film and there is nothing likeable about the main character. And the last scene with father is laughable.

I didn't rate it much either, in case anyone cares.

 

[Drawfull]

I have been poker pro for 12 years, so I wasn't. But there is a limit on how bad and error-ridden the scenes can be. It is a very shallow film and there is nothing likeable about the main character. And the last scene with father is laughable.

Different strokes. Good luck with the cards.

 

[massi83]

Different strokes. Good luck with the cards.

Indeed. Thanks

 

[Drawfull]

Indeed. Thanks

I'm a blackjack guy, never got on with poker

 

[el3mel]

Watched WW84 all the way through this time, now I could purchase it instead of renting. It's adequate, not a patch on the first one, but adequate. 6 or 7.

I don't really know how to phrase this, but I thought it was pretty bold to put Gadot front and centre with no 'make-me-nice' make up, whilst not looking slim, out front and centre in that scene in the White House. Loads of moaning that she only get's jobs because of her looks debunked maybe. I think she's perfect for the role.

I'll it's 5 or 6. It's not boring and can pass some time but the plot was mostly a mess. Takes too long to kick on, first hour felt almost like a prologue, Cheetah was shoehorned in it just to extend the movie and the ending was plain stupid.

It would have been better if it was actually shorter, but it's way way too long and the plot was too shallow for such length.

 

[Drawfull]

I'll it's 5 or 6. It's not boring and can pass some time but the plot was mostly a mess. Takes too long to kick on, first hour felt almost like a prologue, Cheetah was shoehorned in it just to extend the movie and the ending was plain stupid.

It would have been better if it was actually shorter, but it way way too long and the plot was too shallow for such length.

Agree, but most films are too long nowadays. Even the fecking brilliant ones, from a lifestyle POV.

 

[massi83]

I'm a blackjack guy, never got on with poker

Easier to be profitable in poker You can try it with these guys https://www.redcafe.net/threads/redcafe-poker-2021.461357/ should be the softest game on the net.

 

[Drawfull]

Easier to be profitable in poker You can try it with these guys https://www.redcafe.net/threads/redcafe-poker-2021.461357/ should be the softest game on the net.

Prefer counting/gambling/feckit

 

[Hectic]

Easier to be profitable in poker You can try it with these guys https://www.redcafe.net/threads/redcafe-poker-2021.461357/ should be the softest game on the net.

That's a lot of big talk for a guy who isn't willing to put his money on the line.

 

[massi83]

That's a lot of big talk for a guy who isn't willing to put his money on the line.

Tag me if you get the buy-in to $50 or higher.

 

[Hectic]

Tag me if you get the buy-in to $50 or higher.