Started watching this documentary about a Florida family’s fight with DCF and hospital over daughter’s treatment. This story could probably be it’s own thread. The civil trial is underway and getting a lot of attention as well. Take Care of Maya (2023) ⭐ 7.8 | Documentary Kowalski v. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital: 'Take Care of Maya' Trial
First saw this film in 1984 a little theater in Greenwich Village. Mind blown. Recently saw the 40th anniversary release in HD, remixed and remastered by Jerry Harrison at the Music Box Theater in Chicago. Mind blown again. Knowing so much more about filmmaking and having a deeper appreciation for the genius of that band, it was a revelation. More than that, it was the most fun I've ever had in a movie theater. People were dancing in the aisles, including me. FYI, this was directed by UF alum and Academy Award winning director Jonathan Demme, former film critic for the Independent Florida Alligator.
Watched. No Hard Feelings…aside from the Jennifer Lawrence full frontal nudity, wasn’t as funny as the previews suggested.
I recently saw Strays, which is a raunchy comedy about a dog and the group of stray dogs he meets after his owner abandons him. I lol'd throughout the movie. My movie tastes leans more toward thrillers, dramas, historical dramas and biopics, but I really enjoyed Strays. Also, Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Will Forte and Sophia Vergara provide the voices of the dogs. This isn't an animated film--it is live action, like Look Who's Talking or Mr Ed. Strays (2023) ⭐ 6.3 | Adventure, Comedy
My wife is actually out of town this weekend, so I was able to give this film a try after the kids went down. Thank you for the warning about the brutality. This would not have gone well with the Mrs. As for me, I liked the minimalist claustrophobic feel. I also appreciate that it wasn’t clear where the film was going. It was definitely some bleak stuff. I am still puzzling about what deal was that led to the outcome.
Spoiler: The reason I liked the movie is that it all adds up. Read a bit on it and you’ll find that the main guy Jay was chosen. There are many clues to show that it fits too.
I did some reading, and I think I get the overall situation. I am still a bit puzzles by the wife. This movie reminded me of another minimalist thriller, Faults, with the fantastic Mary Elizabeth Winstead. More psychological than physically brutal, I’d definitely recommend if you haven’t seen yet seen it.
Update: Field in England, cool movie, kinda experimental, looks like it was made with a $100 budget. Dont trust Alchemists.
SPOILER The wife is involved in a plot hole at the end. She is definitely in on the whole thing though. I don’t care for gore or the violence. It did however take me for a ride that I didn’t see coming. I like that part about the movie.
Not sure there's a lot of entirely new material here for those who know about John Gotti's life. However, this series presents the man and the context of the times in an entertaining and concise way that warrants a watch IMO. Not sure I'd heard all of the audio recordings previously either. On Netflix. Get Gotti (TV Mini Series 2023) ⭐ 7.1 | Documentary, Crime
Figured I'd put this here rather than it's own thread since scary clowns are not an uncommon horror theme. Below are a few reasons some people have fears of clowns. I also thought it interesting that, according to this at least, clowning rates "higher in creepiness than a taxidermist, sex shop worker or funeral director." MSN You can never really know what a clown is thinking. It’s can be difficult to know what’s really going on in the mind of a clown with a painted on smile or frown. “There’s something about not being able to read facial expressions,” said Tyson. “And the fact that there might be something hidden and dangerous, there might be harmful intent behind the makeup.” Clowns are unpredictable. Clowns make some people laugh, but they often behave in unpredictable and startling ways that normal people never would (such as squirting water from a flower or honking a horn). People who are scared of spiders say something similar, worrying the spider will jump on them unexpectedly, Tyson said. A clown’s exaggerated features are disturbing. The big red nose, the egg head, the puffs of neon-colored hair. People seem to be scared of beings that look nearly human but not exactly, in the same way some people find baby dolls, aliens or robots disturbing. Movie clowns are terrifying. Many of those surveyed also said their fear is due, in part, to movies starring scary clowns, such as Joaquin Phoenix in “The Joker” or Pennywise, the demonic clown in Stephen King’s “It.”
Good list, thanks. Continuing for the season (they’ve been mentioned before) All indies. Not much, to zero gore. Decent to good RT reviews. Host. Found footage, setting is a zoom call. movie is roughly 60 mins long It Follows. Def creepy. One segment gets a little long but good movie for Halloween. A Ghost Story. Fascinating pov. Poignant. (Not the Demi one) Time Lapse prob more sci fi but suspenseful. Based on a twilight zone episode. (some gore, but def not the point of the movie) Resolution- The Endless- Not a sequel but both in the same universe. Found footage. Not big budgets but suspenseful/creepy. Coherence - one of the better, low production cost vs good movies. Found footage - sci fi. “ A case study in less-is-more filmmaking”
Two good ones for Halloween week. Gretel & Hansel (2020) ⭐ 5.5 | Fantasy, Horror, Mystery The Amityville Horror (1979) ⭐ 6.2 | Horror
Did you see the midnight meat train? Just saw it. Interesting but at times too much gore for me. I just look away. Seen worse.
In retrospect, I am coming around on the movie coherence. It reminds me of a long twilight zone episode. And I like the twilight zone.