What Was The Last Movie You Watched?

[Touchofevil]

The Catcher Was a Spy (2018)

• This is the type of movie I complain isn't made anymore - a solid story-driven movie, with skilled actors (but not necessarily marquee stars) that keeps you engaged without special effects, unnecessary and exaggerated violence or an unbelievable dues ex machina

• Based on the true story of professional baseball player Morris (Moe) Berg - an enigmatic figure, Princeton graduate, polyglot (i.e., not your average ball player) - who is recruited by the OSS in WWII to potentially assassinate the German physicist Werner Heisenberg - putatively leading Germany's nuclear bomb effort. I'm sure liberties were taken, but at a high level, I believe the story is accurate

• Paul Rudd, while not looking like a Major League catcher, delivers a nuanced performance as Moe Berg, a highly intelligent man who keeps the world at arms length but is willing to risk his life for his country; however, you also believe he's doing it simply for the challenge and excitement. Jeff Daniels and Tom Wilkinson also bring their A-game with Paul Giamatti owning every scene he's in as an OSS scientific advisor acting as the moral compass challenging the government's win-at-all-cost instinct

• The dialogue is crisp and smart, the pace quick but not frantic and the tension comes from characters you care about and a story that did the work to build to its climax (really, anti-climax, I'll say no more). Add in beautiful cinematography, a few well-earned and organic-to-the-story action scenes and wonderful period details and the movie reminds me of a well-done Warner Brothers WWII-era spy drama (think "Watch on the Rhine") - just the type of movie I wish they made more of today

Thank you for the review. It sounds like something Lady ToE and I would enjoy.

 

[Fading Fast]

Thank you for the review. It sounds like something Lady ToE and I would enjoy.

Most importantly - how goes the healing of the heel?

I think you guys will really like "The Catcher... -" also check out "The Man Who Knew Infinity" another enjoyable (and beautiful filmed) biopic.

 

[HanauMan]

I'm going through the films I that had taped over the Christmas season.

I watched The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. Though based on a true story, the real events did not take place in the mountains in winter. I seriously doubt that the main character, Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) would have survived long after that mauling by a grizzly bear. How the character avoided hypothermia after all that immersion in ice cold water, or septic shock due to the infected wounds, I just don't know. I barely escaped hypothermia from just watching the (beautiful) winter landscapes for two hours. But having said that, it was a enjoyable movie and it has some strong performances in it, especially DiCaprio and Tom Hardy as the 'bad guy'. I also thought that the Native Americans came across in a positive light and the movie took some time to look at their world view. This included Glass' Pawnee wife and son. Some nice 'Dreamscapes' also added to the experience. I read somewhere that the film upset some Canadians and I can see why. But I guess that it was a real hard existence on the northwestern frontiers of the 1820s. All in all, a very intense film but an enjoyable one.

 

[belfastboy]

I'm going through the films I that had taped over the Christmas season.

I watched The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. Though based on a true story, the real events did not take place in the mountains in winter. I seriously doubt that the main character, Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) would have survived long after that mauling by a grizzly bear. How the character avoided hypothermia after all that immersion in ice cold water, or septic shock due to the infected wounds I just don't know. I barely escaped hypothermia from just watching the (beautiful) winter landscapes for two hours. But having said that, it was a enjoyable movie and it has some strong performances in it, especially DiCaprio and Tom Hanks as the 'bad guy'. I also thought that the Native Americans came across in a positive light and the movie took some time to look at their world view. This included Glass' Pawnee wife and son. Some nice 'Dreamscapes' also added to the experience. I read somewhere that the film upset some Canadians and I can see why. But I guess that it was a real hard existence on the northwestern frontiers of the 1820s. All in all, a very intense film but an enjoyable one.

We attempted a viewing as we are fans of Tom Hardy BUT have a dislike of Leonardo as an actor. Watched 15 minutes of it and Leonardo won out and we switched it off. The opening scene we found not credible.....experienced voyageurs trapping in Native territory would likely not have been caught out as they were by the attack.

 

[Bushman]

I'm going through the films I that had taped over the Christmas season.

I watched The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. Though based on a true story, the real events did not take place in the mountains in winter. I seriously doubt that the main character, Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) would have survived long after that mauling by a grizzly bear. How the character avoided hypothermia after all that immersion in ice cold water, or septic shock due to the infected wounds I just don't know. I barely escaped hypothermia from just watching the (beautiful) winter landscapes for two hours. But having said that, it was a enjoyable movie and it has some strong performances in it, especially DiCaprio and Tom Hanks as the 'bad guy'. I also thought that the Native Americans came across in a positive light and the movie took some time to look at their world view. This included Glass' Pawnee wife and son. Some nice 'Dreamscapes' also added to the experience. I read somewhere that the film upset some Canadians and I can see why. But I guess that it was a real hard existence on the northwestern frontiers of the 1820s. All in all, a very intense film but an enjoyable one.

From what I've learned about the film after seeing it, the movie is more based on a novel of the same name written in 2002 than it was based on the life of the historical figure. Though, personally, I'd say that the movie, if anything, toned down the brutality that Glass had to suffer in order to survive. Apparently, the real Hugh Glass avoided septic shock by laying on a rotting log and letting maggots eat the dead flesh out of his wounds before somehow sewing the bearskin he wears into the movie to his bare flayed back.

 

[belfastboy]

From what I've learned about the film after seeing it, the movie is more based on a novel of the same name written in 2002 than it was based on the life of the historical figure. Though, personally, I'd say that the movie, if anything, toned down the brutality that Glass had to suffer in order to survive. Apparently, the real Hugh Glass avoided septic shock by laying on a rotting log and letting maggots eat the dead flesh out of his wounds before somehow sewing the bearskin he wears into the movie to his bare flayed back.

That is one tough SOB!

 

[belfastboy]

Watched the Italian feature "Happy as Lazzaro". The movie appeared on many Best of 2018 lists. I found it enjoyable but my preference is for movies to tell an engaging story....this one attempts to make a political statement about injustice, about capitalism, about inequality. I think the best movies are the ones that entertain and directors who mask as pedants fall short. Having said that, the young man who played Lazzaro was compelling.

 

[1967Cougar390]

This afternoon I watched The Blue Gardenia. From a broken engagement to a blind date that leads to murder the story keeps your attention. Ann Baxter give a stellar performance as the woman that can’t remember the actual murder. Raymond Burr does a great job in a creepy way as an artist and womanizer. He meets his demise at the end of a fireplace poker. Nat King Cole’s appearance and singing and another great element to the film. It was a little difficult for me to see my childhood hero George Reeves (Adventures of Superman) playing a police officer with a mustache, graying hair and smoking. An enjoyable movie overall with a great story line.

Steven

 

[Bushman]

Watching Bogart in The Maltese Falcon. As much as my mother loves golden age movies, she's never seen this one from the beginning. Had to correct that. This would be about my 3rd time seeing it all the way through. Its slower than I remember, but not bad.

 

[Julian Shellhammer]

We saw Mary Poppins Returns and thoroughly enjoyed it. Song writing is clever and inventive, but, as the Missus pointed out, you whistled and sang the songs from the first Mary Poppins, not so much this one. Emily Blunt does a remarkable job, the spirit of the first film is followed, and the nods to the original are fun. Of course, the deus ex machina near the end fits the over all feel.

 

[Worf]

Had a free afternoon (for a change) and watched "The Longest Day" when it was obvious the Houston Texans were NOT up for the task. Forgot just how many stars were in this one. Hilarious that it saved 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy following the "Cleopatra" disaster.

Worf

 

[belfastboy]

Started out watching "The Ballad of Cable Hogue" but gave up on it about 20 minutes in. Switched to Netflix and watched the new(ish) Israeli movie "Foxtrot". I loved it. It appeared on many 'best of 2018' lists and deservedly so. Great movie.

 

[Fading Fast]

This afternoon I watched The Blue Gardenia. From a broken engagement to a blind date that leads to murder the story keeps your attention. Ann Baxter give a stellar performance as the woman that can’t remember the actual murder. Raymond Burr does a great job in a creepy way as an artist and womanizer. He meets his demise at the end of a fireplace poker. Nat King Cole’s appearance and singing and another great element to the film. It was a little difficult for me to see my childhood hero George Reeves (Adventures of Superman) playing a police officer with a mustache, graying hair and smoking. An enjoyable movie overall with a great story line.

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Steven

I've never seen this one, but you've sold me on it. I just checked and TCM is showing it on March 14th (I submitted a prompt for a reminder to the site). Can't wait - thank you for the heads up.

 

[Touchofevil]

Most importantly - how goes the healing of the heel?

I think you guys will really like "The Catcher... -" also check out "The Man Who Knew Infinity" another enjoyable (and beautiful filmed) biopic.

Thank you for asking. Slowly and painfully. Internally, I am chomping at the bit to be much more mobile, but I realize that I have to be patient. The rain keeps me inside more than I like, but slipping and falling again is not on my list of things to do. Oh well, it could be so much worse so I count my blessings and wait.

 

[Fading Fast]

The Exception 2016

• WWII drama, mashing fact and fiction, around the former German Kaiser, living in exile in Holland, being visited by Himmler after the German's invaded Holland

• The good is watching Christopher Plummer do his super-professional-actor thing as the Kaiser and a decent, if by-the-numbers, spy drama that builds to a good, not great, climax

• Lily James (Rose from "Downton Abbey") is growing as an actress as seen here killing it as a British spy (and Jewess, amping up her characters risk factor by 100) working on the Kaiser's household staff / she also recently did an outstanding job in "Darkest Hour" as Churchill's secretary come confidant

• Overall its a B/B-, worth watching if convenient - of no importance if missed - but it does have some wonderful time-travel architecture, clothes, cars, etc., and, as are most period movies today, is beautifully filmed.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Watched a little bit of "Sons Of The Desert," probably Laurel and Hardy's funniest feature, which is always worth a glance when it turns up. Tuned in just in time for the lodge convention scene, featuring "Honolulu Baby," the most delightfully stupid musical number in the history of low-budget film. The Roach studio had a real gift for this kind of sincere dopeyness, and it fits the mood of the picture perfectly. And Mae Busch is perfect in a role I wouldn't mind playing myself.

 

[HanauMan]

I'm still catching up on the Christmas taped movie backlog.

I watched two RomComs from the early 2000s; Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and Love Actually (2003). Renee Zellweger is always fun to watch as Bridget and I have always enjoyed the impossibly cool actors Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, who feature in both films. Just flim-flam movies, I know, but great feel good fun for dark and cold winter evening viewings.

 

[Fading Fast]

I'm still catching up on the Christmas taped movie backlog.

I watched two RomComs from the early 2000s; Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and Love Actually (2003). Renee Zellweger is always fun to watch as Bridget and I have always enjoyed the impossibly cool actors Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, who feature in both films. Just flim-flam movies, I know, but great feel good fun for dark and cold winter evening viewings.

Love "Love Actually -" best modern Christmas movie by far. Hugh Grant's dance scene is fantastic as are Colin Firth's voice overs during his aborning love affair. And Bill Nighy pulls off a difficult role perfectly (as he always does).

 

[HanauMan]

A slight nod towards Risky Business and Tom Cruise there........

 

[Fading Fast]

A slight nod towards Risky Business and Tom Cruise there........

Agreed, but even better than TC, more like Travolta's understated dance genius in "Pulp Fiction."