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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Killing (1956) in Movies

Jul 28, 2019 (Updated Jul 28, 2019)  
The Killing (1956)
The Killing (1956)
1956 | Crime, Drama, Film-Noir
It's easy to look at Kubrick's first major film with the benefit of hindsight and declare it a work of genius - well, it's certainly a very good, extremely effective thriller. Professional crook puts together a team to steal $2 million from a racetrack, but has to contend with loose lips amongst his men and various other unexpected problems. Always read the luggage regulations when booking your flight, folks...

Clearly a hugely influential film - you can tell it's a major donor amongst the many movies contributing elements to Reservoir Dogs, along with lots of others. The acting is effective and the storytelling completely involving, even if you can't help suspecting that a more mature Kubrick would have employed a slightly lighter touch with some elements of the narrative. An excellent genre movie, whatever else you think about it.
  
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Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated The Irishman (2019) in Movies

Nov 28, 2019 (Updated Nov 30, 2019)  
The Irishman (2019)
The Irishman (2019)
2019 | Biography, Crime, Drama
Some people paint houses. Some people paint our screens with incredible performances. I have been looking forward to seeing The Irishman all year and it was even better than I could have hoped for; what a story. Not sure which excited me more, just seeing Pesci back on the screen, De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci all together on screen, or Scorcese back behind the camera(even if I disagree with his opinion on Marvel movies). This movie is packing some serious heat in regards to the supporting cast as well. I was a little nervous when I heard they were using cgi aging technology, but if was very well done. The movie's run time is as long as a mid 70's Lincoln Towncar, but cruises along just as smooth, and just like Jimmy Hoffa's body the time disappears.
  
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
2019 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Schwarzenegger, Hamilton & james Cameron Sfx, franchise progression. (0 more)
Unnecessary character addition, too many references. (0 more)
He's back (& apparently never left?)
Contains spoilers, click to show
After multiple failed attempts at terminator movies since the epic T2 judgement day, the franchise has consistently been tarnished of its unique credibility with only a rewatchable (imo) sequel in terminator : salvation.

Since the announcement of Linda Hamilton reprising her role of Sarah Connor I have been eager to see the outcome & I am very happy with what I saw, especially when it comes to taking into consideration its predecessors (excluding T1 &T2 of course).

Linda Hamilton plays her role as if she'd only taken a short break & with Schwarzeneggers T-800 learning to adapt to human life allows for great character encounters with the T-800 killing John Connor 22 years prior.

Fantastic movie, worth the wait.
  
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YTUK (1114 KP) Dec 3, 2019

This is why reviews are great from real people, so many ways of looking at the same thing... amazing.

1917 (2020)
1917 (2020)
2020 | Drama, War
Whilst a relatively simple story about two soldiers on a journey to deliver a live saving message I found this to be a highly impressive film. Technically brilliant and also quite moving in the human story that it tells and its depiction of the pointlessness of war. The cinematography and use of long takes is very realistic and immersive, you really do feel like you are on the front line. Dedicating the film to his grandfather this is obviously a very personal project for Sam Mendes and the director is at the top of his game here. I found this to be far superior to 'Dunkirk' which whilst also being a feast for the eyes lacked characters that you could actually care about. Mendes manages to get the balance just right and has created one of the best war movies in years.
  
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
1984 | Horror
The original and by far the best of the Nightmare series. Wes Craven’s film is like most 80’s movies looking a little dated in 2019 particularly in its special effects but to me still holds up very well as an original and unsettling horror thriller that puts a unique supernatural spin on the well established slasher formula. The film’s ace is in it’s boogeyman Freddy Krueger, coming after the silent killers of ‘Halloween’ and ‘Friday the 13th’ Robert Englund’s iconic Freddy actually had a personality and the sequels realising his popularity put him front and centre with much more screen time and subsequently making him considerably less scary . Craven conjures up some memorable kill scenes here and the concept of being vulnerable somewhere seemingly as safe as in your dreams makes for a great horror movie.
  
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)
2018 | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Terry Gilliam emerges victorious from his epic battle to the death with Miguel Cervantes' famous novel. Not quite the movie he famously never finished making with Johnny Depp, nearly twenty years ago, but a subtly different tale of a film director finding himself entangled in different versions of the Quixote story and, perhaps, looking for redemption.

After a slow and rambling start the film eventually becomes a charming, funny, and occasionally thrilling and moving adaptation (sort of) of the book - if it's picaresque and episodic, that's the nature of Quixote. The knowing wit and intelligence of the novel survive too. Strong performances, visually very impressive - the fact the film exists at all is remarkable, let alone that it's this good. Very reminiscent of Gilliam's movies from the 1980s: hugely imaginative, narratively chaotic, very individual, and equally easy to like.
  
Perfect Date (2019)
Perfect Date (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Romance
Another Netflix winner!
Nothing to complain about in this romantic comedy, it seems I have a soft spot for the main actor Noah Centineo although he plays the same kind of character in his movies he seems to take all my attention and I'm hooked.

This film is all about a poor guy trying to save to go to Yale, he starts by taking a girl on a date in return for payment, she is a complexed funny character and they seem to hit it off. However through the movie they help eachother hook up with there own soft spots, not that it works out. The main guy sets up his own little money making business, taking girls on dates and being the person they want him to be. Qwerky film can't fault. Worth the watch
  
Force of Nature (2020)
Force of Nature (2020)
2020 | Action
6
5.3 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating
It's all about those pesky expectations...

If you have seen a good number of action movies then you know that there are certain things that you should expect from them. Not that the stories don't change a bit, but the sequencing, the pacing, the overall feel and vibe of the movie is going to be quite similar. If that's what you have come to expect, you're on the right track here.

Wasn't a terrible movie. Emile Hirsch did a decent enough job in the titular role. Kate Bosworth held her own. Mel Gibson showed up with what has become his own grit and wit. The story is awkwardly similar to Hurricane Heist in many regards, but gets the job done a little better, probably due to stronger acting in general.

Decent popcorn tosser or background noise.
  
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Austin Garrick recommended Fish Tank (2010) in Movies (curated)

 
Fish Tank (2010)
Fish Tank (2010)
2010 | International, Drama
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"One of the best of the past decade. I love that Criterion has already championed this, as it truly deserves to be among many of the classics in the collection. This is one of those rare movies that have the power to make you forget you’re even watching a movie in the first place, instead making you feel you’re witnessing someone’s life unfold. The main character (played by an actress who is so underrated for this sole role of hers) reminds me a lot of a cousin of mine when she was at that age, enough so that for me, watching it almost seems like personal insight into where her head was at in those years. Fish Tank also contains one of the most real, unique, and effective uses of classic hip-hop in a film that I’ve ever seen."

Source
  
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Karim Ainouz recommended News from Home (1977) in Movies (curated)

 
News from Home (1977)
News from Home (1977)
1977 |
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"I actually first discovered a lot of the films on this list, like News from Home, when I lived in New York, next to Kim’s Video, a time when I went a lot to Anthology Film Archives and Lincoln Center. Chantal Akerman has always been a big inspiration for me, and News from Home was the first film of hers that I saw. Watching it was so inspiring and made me feel like I could make movies myself, because it’s so simply done yet so affecting—just letters and an empty city. I have a very strong relationship with my mother, and she also used to send me letters when I lived in New York. I discovered Jeanne Dielman later, and a lot of the screen tests I did for Invisible Life were taken from frames from that film."

Source