What Film (Movie) Have You Just Watched?

[Palatkik]

White House Plumbers [2023 TV Limited Series]

A five-part series that tells the true story of how Nixon's own political saboteurs and Watergate masterminds, E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy, accidentally toppled the presidency they were trying to protect. Amusing historical take varies from the absurd to the ridiculous with two good leads hamming it up, hard to tell the jokes from the realty. Worth a look, starts off slow but picks up.

[Palatkik]

Wolf [2023 TV Limited Series]

In an isolated house in the country a family find themselves the victims of a terrifying psychopath's cruel games. A deliciously wicked crime thriller starts off going for the throat with some dramatic scenes but ultimately fades. Two strong central performances are let down somewhat by the rest of the cast and convoluted story.

[Palatkik]

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny [2023]

Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history. Old school entertainment with Spielberg written all over it, done many times before, has its moments.

[Palatkik]

To Olivia [2021]

The story of the tumultuous marriage between actress Patricia Neal and writer Roald Dahl based around the time they lost the eldest daughter aged seven to encephalitis caused by measles. Based on Neals memoir, the solid cast just about carries a unevenly delivered storyline about depression and recovery.

[Palatkik]

Strays [2023]

An abandoned dog teams up with other strays to get revenge on his former owner. The first R-rated potty mouth talking dog movie. This is US humor at its basest, but every dog has its day, worth a look if you are in the mood for simple crudeness!

[Coss]

On 8/29/2023 at 8:44 PM, Palatkik said:

Fool's Paradise [2023]

A down-on-his-luck publicist discovers a former mental health patient who looks just like a misbehaving movie star. He soon becomes an unlikely celebrity when he gets thrown into the bright lights and behind-the-scenes bustle of Hollywood. Several well-known actors are in this satirical movie about Hollywood movies (yawn). Possibly one of the most self-indulgent and annoying movies ever made. The lead character who also directed has a very punch-able face throughout.

Yes in the end, it could have been better.

But in the vein of a silent movie character in a non silent film, it was OK.

Remembering "Being There" with Peter Sellers, it's a reasonable attempt.

I suppose the young people would like this.

[Coss]

On 9/7/2023 at 9:28 PM, Palatkik said:

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny [2023]

Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history. Old school entertainment with Spielberg written all over it, done many times before, has its moments.

Uneven use of AI/CGI in the beginning where Harrison Ford and Toby Jones were portrayed as their younger selves.

Lots of stars. As you say it has it's moments.

Could a been a lot better for the size of the franchise and the star power in it.

[Coss]

A bunch of ones I've seen recently and can be moved to comment on:

The Last Voyage of the Demeter 2023

...the Captain's Log, from Bram Stoker's classic 1897 novel "Dracula"... is the basis for this movie.

I quite enjoyed this, not least for the rendering of the ship and how authentic it was, with no anachronisms.

Heart of Stone 2023

...An intelligence operative for a shadowy global peacekeeping agency races to stop a hacker from stealing its most valuable and dangerous weapon...

Not another Lady - Bond/Bourne - movie, I thought...

But quite good. Gal Gadot is a tight and attractive lass.

Mob Land 2023

John Travolta does service in a minor role, the rest was slow and desultory, good for a rainy day.

Inside Man 2023

...Bobby will stop at nothing to get close to the head of the crew, Roy DeMeo (Danny Abeckaser), to expose the murder and corruption. But as Bobby sinks deeper into the mob and more bodies drop, the price for absolution may be higher than he can afford...

Not bad, I liked this.

 

The Engineer 2023

As much as the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and it's participants leave me cold, this was an engaging watch, trying to give the point of view from all sides (yes there are more than 2). They didn't purport that this was based on real events, but it has that feeling

Good movie if you can stomach the zeal on all sides.

[Palatkik]

Special Ops: Lioness [2023 TV Series]

A CIA agent attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the spear in the CIA's war on terror. She enlists a female special operations Marine, as an undercover operative in the Lioness Program. Overly polished eight part American special forces series is standard production line entertainment, could have been written by AI with characters we don't care about and a dumbed down script that seems too derivative, offering few surprises. Dull and forgettable. Potential for more series if bean counters want it, let's hope not.

[Palatkik]

The Last Duel [2021]

The Knight Jean de Carrouges must settle the dispute over his wife Marguerite's rape by challenging his accused squire to a duel to the death. Only his survival will save him and his wife getting burned at the stake. An interesting and well-made fourteenth century period piece based on true events, depicts what was supposedly the last ever duel under French law. Based on the 2004 book of the same name with graphic recreations of the era, some strong performances, odd castings and the strange use of scene repeats jar at first. Overall worth seeing.