Rate the Last Movie You Saw

[Sock Monkey]

Sock Monkey Nice reviews. In particular The Damned sounds interesting enough to me. At the short run time I may give that one a guy regardless of the let down.

Thanks. And I'd be curious as to your thoughts if you do get around to watching The Damned. I wouldn't necessarily steer someone away from it--though my review surely states otherwise--because there are some very interesting elements to it, especially if you like a slower burn. Maybe with lowered expectations and a heads up about the ending, it might work better.

[sholloman81]

The Substance (2024): I've had this on disc for a few months now and kept putting off watching it because (a) my wife noped the heck out of this one, therefore limiting me to watching it when she wasn't home, and (b) the hype around it kinda turned me off a bit. I'm glad that I waited to watch it on my own terms separate from the awards clamor because it really allowed me to approach the film on its own terms and not with some high and lofty expectations. Overall, the story of an aging star (Demi Moore) turning to a strange substance to unleash a "better version" of her (played by Margaret Qualley) is a Cronenbergian nightmare that doesn't shy away from the body horror or the use of practical effects. Though Demi Moore deserves the praise for her portrayal, I really need to give some love to Margaret Qualley whose performance as a purposefully oversexualized and objectified character is just as brave as her more esteemed co-star. It doesn't hurt that I've been a fan of Qualley's since The Leftovers, but she really does a great job as a counterbalance to Moore's performance. Dennis Quad's over-the-top performance could make or break some people's enjoyment of the film, but I thought he nailed it and it was great to see him back on the screen. Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Grade: B+

Too funny! I have had this in my to-watch pile (yay, physical media!) for a while but have been putting it off as well. I think I may try to finally get to this over the weekend after reading your review!

[Sock Monkey]

Too funny! I have had this in my to-watch pile (yay, physical media!) for a while but have been putting it off as well. I think I may try to finally get to this over the weekend after reading your review!

Physical media is the best! And, yes, check the movie out. I'm curious as to what your thoughts will be.

[Sock Monkey]

Broadcast News (1987): Have you ever had the feeling while watching a film that you might not been on film's wavelength at that precise moment, something just isn't clicking for you, but you know on a rewatch you're gonna love it? Well, that exact feeling encapsulates my experience with James L. Brooks's multiple Oscar-winning film, Broadcast News. Centered around an overlapping love/work triangle between Holly Hunter's news producer, her friend and pillar of journalistic integrity (Albert Brooks) and the up-and-coming news anchor (William Hurt), who might not have as much integrity as Hunter's character wants to believe, the film, like a lot of the director's films, straddles the line between comedy and drama, while also critiquing the erosion of television journalism. This last aspect, unfortunately, winds up lacking some teeth, feeling rather quaint in regards to the big revelation that occurs in the third act, in light of just how far we've fallen as a nation in this regard, but it's still compelling in how well the story is told.

While this is a film I've been meaning to get around to watching for a long time, I just kept putting it off. I finally pulled the trigger in preparation for attending "An Evening with Albert Brooks" (I posted about this in the Random Thoughts thread), and while I liked the film a lot, I also felt like I was a half-step out of sync with it, settling too much into the drama and being left behind as it moves into the comedy and vice versa. Upon the film's ending, it wasn't that I didn't like the film, I just wanted to like so much more than I did and, going back to my initial statement at the start of this review, I feel like I will on subsequent viewings.

I will also note that while I expected to enjoy William Hurt and Albert Brooks as I'm already fans of them, and James L. Brooks's As Good as It Gets and Spanglish are favorites in this household, I've never really understood the appeal of Holly Hunter. Now, I'm not saying she's not a good actress, but nothing she's done has really drawn me in. However, I really enjoyed her in this film and her portrayal of Jane's feisty innocence as she torn between these two men and their conflicting values, having to choose which side she's going to land on. Maybe I need to give some of her other films another shot.

Grade: B

[Ben Staad]

I am late to the party but finally watched "Pig".

I enjoyed this movie a lot. Nic Cage was very good and the entire cast worked well with the story. A seemingly simple story, made strong with excellent writing, acting, scenery, and music.

4.5 out of 5.