MUST-SEE MOVIES

[Outlander]

I don't know if they are must see but did see Blade Runner 2049 and Happy Death Day over the last week. If you are a fan of the original Blade Runner you should try to see it in theaters still, looks beautiful on the big screen. Happy Death Day was much better than I thought it would be and the main actress was very good. Think Groundhog Day but instead of just waking up every morning you are killed every night before waking up the next day.

 

Typically don't see a bunch of movies but I signed up for MoviePass and I have enjoyed it thus far, can see a movie a day for $10 a month and it works fine at the Marcus Theaters that I go to.

[TURBO]

 

Typically don't see a bunch of movies but I signed up for MoviePass and I have enjoyed it thus far, can see a movie a day for $10 a month and it works fine at the Marcus Theaters that I go to.

 

Can you reserve seats on line with that pass, or is it only once you arrive at the theater?

[Outlander]

You have to be within 100 yards of the theater and the tickets have to be day of. Could in theory go to the theater on a Saturday morning, check in and get the tickets and come back later. My wife and I have a pass so we have to buy separately but use one of the kiosks and purchase right next to each other so we sit together still.

[RobertR]

LADY BIRD is pretty great.

[homer]

My GF bought me a membership to the Music Box here in Chicago for my birthday. Looking forward to seeing The Disaster Artist when it opens in December.

[pacopete4]

I watched The Big Sick last night. It was very good. Not sure it's must-see but its a good one to see.

[TURBO]

My wife "made" me go see Wonder with her last night, a movie that was not on my to-do list.

 

I have to admit, it was great, entertaining all the way through.

 

Tugs at your heart strings a bunch of times...

[FVBrewerFan]

Stumbled upon "Margin Call" over the weekend. If you liked The Big Short, this is better (in my opinion.) Outstanding cast, not sure how I missed it when it was originally released.

[TheEndless7]

Saw I, Tonya and The Post recently.

 

Thought I, Tonya was entertaining. I'm old enough to know the general backstory but not old enough to remember it happening. I found it amusing and entertaining. Was glad it doesn't try to turn Tonya Harding into a hero or anything.

 

Thought The Post was almost unbearable. Meryl Streep seemed like she was just doing her Julia Child voice the entire time. Granted I know nothing of the Mrs. Graham in real life so maybe that's fitting. I just couldn't get Julie and Julia out of my head. And then there were all sorts of really odd script things that drove me batty that I felt could have and should have been easily edited out.

 

For example, the film goes out of its way to tell you it takes place in 1971. Which is fine. But Tom Hanks's character yells, twice, that 'The government has been lying to us about the Vietnam war for thirty years!' The Vietnam War did not start in 1941. The movie also goes out of it's way to blame President Eisenhower for something it time stamps at 1951. Ike wasn't president in 1951. But if you're going to use that as the other given date you have, then at least have Tom Hanks yell twenty years twice to at least be in your own continuity.

 

It also does absolutely nothing to explain why the audience should expect a study commissioned by Robert McNamara to be something Richard Nixon knows about. It even, late in it's running, points out that McNamara is closely associated with LBJ and not Nixon. And then blames Nixon for not knowing intimate details of a study done by McNamara. I understand how this should function in real life, but the movie literally SHOWS McNamara discussing the study, going in front of the media and lying about Vietnam, and then blames it on Nixon five years later after establishing that McNamara and Nixon are not close. Not trying to get political with it at all, that's just literally how it's presented in the movie.

 

It's also a movie that is about the failure of the Vietnam war and references JFK a couple of times, and LBJ none at all. Yes, Eisenhower is referenced more in a movie about the Vietnam war than LBJ. And instead blames it all on Nixon. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure American Involvement in Vietnam is typically dated 1961-1975 Which would be JFK/LBJ 1961-1968, Nixon 1969-72(3?), and Ford to 75. And the Movie takes place in 1971. So arguably two years of Nixon, seven years of Not-Nixon. Nixon's fault. And never points out that Nixon was withdrawing troops during this time. It's edited to make it seem like they're still sending thousands of troops in.

 

And then there's a subplot about how the Post is going public because it doesn't make any money. Which is all fine and dandy. Except that we then get shots of Meryl Streep's Cartier watch, and elaborate parties she's throwing, and practical tours of her Washington mansion. Which is also all fine and dandy. I understand that someone shouldn't be expected to put all their own personal wealth into a business. But why keep reiterating the 'not making any money' bit. Why not just edit it to be about going public and the difficulties in there. They make it seem like the newspaper needs millions from investors to keep publishing, while showing the ritzy life the publisher/ceo is living where she hob nobs with Jack Kennedy and Robert McNamara, and the like. It's just a jarring tonal shift at times.

 

There's an interesting movie to be had in The Post. But it should have focused on the changing dynamic of the Media and the Government, rather than just trying to vilify Nixon. Or pointed out that this 'cover up' dated back to at least LBJ and likely LBJ/JFK. This is a movie that is, ostensibly, about the Government hiding things from the People and it's narrative is literally Nixon is to blame for everything that happened in Vietnam. It doesn't even establish how or why Nixon would even have this study. The real life Pentagon Papers were finished shortly before his inauguration and the Nixon administration's excuse was pretty much, "we didn't read the 3000 page study about the failure in Vietnam because we were already going to pull troops out." and while that's a horrible excuse, it's better than anything this move posits.

 

To it's credit, it does say 'The Government' but at those points, it only then goes on to name drop Nixon. To me it felt like saying 'Why didn't Bill Clinton tell us everything about Desert Storm?!' in a way. It then ends with a setup of the break in at the DNC. Which again makes it feel more like it's trying to setup an All The Presidents Men remake more than telling it's own story. It comes off as 'we must show Nixon is always evil to make this next movie' more than actually making an interesting movie about it's topic. I came out frustrated and wondering why we needed a Watergate prequel movie and not a Pentagon Papers movie.

[nate82]

[nate82]

If you haven't seen Super Troopers 2 yet you have to go see it. I couldn't stop laughing the jokes were awesome and some of the slap stick comedy was pure awesome! This is the best comedy movie I have seen in a long time.

[pacopete4]

If you haven't seen Super Troopers 2 yet you have to go see it. I couldn't stop laughing the jokes were awesome and some of the slap stick comedy was pure awesome! This is the best comedy movie I have seen in a long time.

 

Agreed. While it wasn’t like their first, it stands alone. Very, very funny. Happy for those guys to follow up what they did the first time around as they seem like quality guys.

[TURBO]

Red Sparrow is tremendous!

 

Quiet Place is awesome as well.

[jerichoholicninja]

If you haven't seen Super Troopers 2 yet you have to go see it. I couldn't stop laughing the jokes were awesome and some of the slap stick comedy was pure awesome! This is the best comedy movie I have seen in a long time.

 

Agreed. While it wasn’t like their first, it stands alone. Very, very funny. Happy for those guys to follow up what they did the first time around as they seem like quality guys.

 

A friend saw it today and said it was terrible. I'll see when I get around to watching it in 4 or 5 years.

[reillymcshane]

Watched 'The Post' tonight. Good movie. Great? No. But a good old school newspaper drama. Really well done - great cast, beautifully shot, well-paced.

 

Finally saw 'Dunkirk' last weekend. That was a good flick as well.

[homer]

Watched 'The Post' tonight. Good movie. Great? No. But a good old school newspaper drama. Really well done - great cast, beautifully shot, well-paced.

 

Finally saw 'Dunkirk' last weekend. That was a good flick as well.

 

Agreed on The Post. Good, not great. I love movies centered around newspapers for some reason.

I think Dunkirk is one of those movies that is really best viewed in a theater with incredible sound.....like IMAX.

 

Others I've seen recently (trying to catch up on 2016 Oscar nominees before I tackle 2017):

Audition: Japanese horror classic. Dude loses his wife to cancer and his friend decides to hold auditions for a fake movie in order for his buddy to meet women. Moves slowly but the last 30 minutes are like David Lynch meets Eli Roth. Crazy, cringe worthy violence

Hush: low budget horror film from a few years ago. Really well done. A deaf, mute woman who lives out in the woods is stalked by a killer.

La La Land: Modern day fairytale about making it in show business. I thought it was cute but guessing most guys on this board won't dig it.

Manchester By The Sea: Holy depressing, batman. Story about a guy who becomes legal guardian of his 16 year old nephew which might require him to move back to his hometown where, uh, some bad stuff happened to him. Great flick.

[wallus]

If you haven't seen Super Troopers 2 yet you have to go see it. I couldn't stop laughing the jokes were awesome and some of the slap stick comedy was pure awesome! This is the best comedy movie I have seen in a long time.

 

Agreed. While it wasn’t like their first, it stands alone. Very, very funny. Happy for those guys to follow up what they did the first time around as they seem like quality guys.

 

A friend saw it today and said it was terrible. I'll see when I get around to watching it in 4 or 5 years.

 

I have probably seen the first Super Troopers 40 times and obviously really liked it. I saw the second one last night and it was really bad; like embarrassing to be watching it bad. If you like corny Canada jokes, you are in luck!

[Samurai Bucky]

Red Sparrow is tremendous!

 

I have to disagree with you. Sure, seeing Jennifer Lawrence in full dominatrix mode was entertaining, but the cast around her was weak. Oh well...

[TURBO]

Red Sparrow is tremendous!

 

I have to disagree with you. Sure, seeing Jennifer Lawrence in full dominatrix mode was entertaining, but the cast around her was weak. Oh well...

 

agree to disagree then.

 

[Samurai Bucky]

Red Sparrow is tremendous!

 

I have to disagree with you. Sure, seeing Jennifer Lawrence in full dominatrix mode was entertaining, but the cast around her was weak. Oh well...

 

agree to disagree then.

 

Circle gets the square...

[homer]

Everyone should see Free Solo. No, it's not another Star Wars spin off. It's about a guy's attempt to free solo climb (that means no ropes, just you and your hands and feet) El Capitan inside Yosemite National Park. Best seen on the big screen as the cinematography is jaw dropping. Literally had the audience gasping and clapping. I recommend not reading too many reviews as there are spoilers out there but even if you do read a spoiler or two it's still worth seeing in the theater.

[TURBO]

Bad Times at the El Royal was very entertaining...

 

It had a Hateful Eight feel to it, but was not a western in any way.

 

Also really enjoyed Quiet Place. I'm not a horror movie guy, and this wasn't a horror movie imo, but some were labeling it that way.

[nate82]

Quiet Place is a thriller. Sometimes people get thrillers and horror movies mixed up.

 

Venom was actually rather good.

[Baldkin]

Everyone should see Free Solo. No, it's not another Star Wars spin off. It's about a guy's attempt to free solo climb (that means no ropes, just you and your hands and feet) El Capitan inside Yosemite National Park. Best seen on the big screen as the cinematography is jaw dropping. Literally had the audience gasping and clapping. I recommend not reading too many reviews as there are spoilers out there but even if you do read a spoiler or two it's still worth seeing in the theater.

 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/films/free-solo/screenings/

[TURBO]

 

Venom was actually rather good.

 

I agree. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I was just killing a couple hours and thought it would be ok.

 

One thing bothered me in the end, but I won't mention any spoilers.