Rate the Last Movie You Saw

[Sock Monkey]

What is the name of the Cage movie...? I remember there being another movie that was very similar, but I can't remember what it was for the life of me.... IDENTITY also shared a lot of DNA with the weird Jennifer Lopez flick, THE CELL.

And you made a liar out of me, because I forgot that Mangold made WALK THE LINE, which I really enjoyed.

Let me see if spoiler tags will work:

Spoiler!

The Nic Cage movie is Adaptation. In it, Nic Cage plays twin brothers who are both screenwriters. One sells a supposedly cliched thriller script that is essentially the plot of Identity, where the hero realizes that everyone else is a one of his split personalities. Adaptation was very critically well-received and Identity's similarities to the cliched screenplay in the Cage film became a point of contention for critics when reviewing the film.

Oh, man. I haven't thought about The Cell in a long time. I remember audiences being pretty divided over it. I would need to rewatch it to form any kind of opinion. As far as other movies that are similar, nothing really comes to mind, except maybe The Machinist, but it is a much different type of film.

[dannyboy121070]

I haven't seen the Indiana Jones movie, so I can't speak to that, but for me, Mangold coasts off the good will he earned from Walk The Line, which I think is very rewatchable biopic. I'm sad to say that I've never seen Copland, but it seems to be getting a little bit of a reappraisal as of late, so maybe I need to final give it a shot.

As for the twist, I was surprised how much effort the film does try to throw the viewer off the scent in the first half and even hints at supernatural underpinnings, yet kinda fumbles the ultimate reveal and then the movie races towards its climax. The film also gets panned a lot due to a similar plot device being discussed in a Nic Cage movie around the same time. (Still trying to avoid spoilers to this 22 year old movie...)

What is the name of the Cage movie...? I remember there being another movie that was very similar, but I can't remember what it was for the life of me.... IDENTITY also shared a lot of DNA with the weird Jennifer Lopez flick, THE CELL.

And you made a liar out of me, because I forgot that Mangold made WALK THE LINE, which I really enjoyed.

[Sock Monkey]

I was just thinking about this movie yesterday for some reason....weird.

I recall thinking it was a decent film, but I called the twist right away.....I mean, there's really no reason for the film to be telling these stories side by side without the twist, so it seemed obvious to me.

Mangold is one of these filmmakers that, when I hear they are attached to some upcoming film, it makes me feel sad. I was excited to hear about the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic, and when I heard Mangold was directing....sadness. I don't think he's EVER made a film that I truly enjoyed. He came close with COPLAND, a film that grew on me with repeated viewings, but his two Wolverine movies were such wasted opportunities, and he should be in Director's jail for his Indiana Jones travesty.

I haven't seen the Indiana Jones movie, so I can't speak to that, but for me, Mangold coasts off the good will he earned from Walk The Line, which I think is very rewatchable biopic. I'm sad to say that I've never seen Copland, but it seems to be getting a little bit of a reappraisal as of late, so maybe I need to final give it a shot.

As for the twist, I was surprised how much effort the film does try to throw the viewer off the scent in the first half and even hints at supernatural underpinnings, yet kinda fumbles the ultimate reveal and then the movie races towards its climax. The film also gets panned a lot due to a similar plot device being discussed in a Nic Cage movie around the same time. (Still trying to avoid spoilers to this 22 year old movie...)

[dannyboy121070]

Somehow while scrolling through the streaming services yesterday, my wife and I landed on rewatching 2003's Identity. I originally saw the movie when it was first released in theaters and have returned to it over the years with a faint remembrance of feeling both that the movie was that close to being good and also rather disappointing. I walked away from this viewing with the same feeling. Ten supposedly unrelated characters, each hiding their own secret, seek shelter in a rundown motel during a thunderstorm only to find themselves being picked off one by one, while in a separate location, an emergency court proceedings are going on to stop the execution of mass murderer that is scheduled for the next day. How these two connect reveals the film's central conceit, which I won't spoil, but will either leave you thinking the film is incredibly clever or incredibly dumb. I always find myself somewhere in the middle. I want to like the film, but the characters come off as two dimensional (yes, I know why, but still...) and the film is never really scary.

What helps the film is it's directed by James Mangold, who might not be my favorite director, but he is more than capable, and the cast that is much better than the film deserves, including John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Rebecca De Mornay, John Hawkes, and Alfred Molina. Not to mention late 90s to early 00s stalwarts Amanda Peet, Clea Duvall, John C. McGinley, and a bunch of other actors you'll surely remember. While Cusack and Liotta are busy Cusack-ing and Liotta-ing--who I both enjoy even if they aren't given much to do here--but the standout for me this time was Amanda Peet. I remember seeing her in a bunch of other movies prior to this and feeling that she didn't really fit the "hooker with the heart of gold" role for me, but this time around I really enjoyed her in the role.

Seeing Cusack and Liotta again makes me want to revisit both The Ice Harvest and Narc, respectively.

Overall, it's a hard movie to recommend because it doesn't really stick the landing for me, but for those wanting to scratch that early 00s nostalgia itch, its a good enough time. Grade: C+

I was just thinking about this movie yesterday for some reason....weird.

I recall thinking it was a decent film, but I called the twist right away.....I mean, there's really no reason for the film to be telling these stories side by side without the twist, so it seemed obvious to me.

Mangold is one of these filmmakers that, when I hear they are attached to some upcoming film, it makes me feel sad. I was excited to hear about the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic, and when I heard Mangold was directing....sadness. I don't think he's EVER made a film that I truly enjoyed. He came close with COPLAND, a film that grew on me with repeated viewings, but his two Wolverine movies were such wasted opportunities, and he should be in Director's jail for his Indiana Jones travesty.

[Sock Monkey]

Somehow while scrolling through the streaming services yesterday, my wife and I landed on rewatching 2003's Identity. I originally saw the movie when it was first released in theaters and have returned to it over the years with a faint remembrance of feeling both that the movie was that close to being good and also rather disappointing. I walked away from this viewing with the same feeling. Ten supposedly unrelated characters, each hiding their own secret, seek shelter in a rundown motel during a thunderstorm only to find themselves being picked off one by one, while in a separate location, an emergency court proceedings are going on to stop the execution of mass murderer that is scheduled for the next day. How these two connect reveals the film's central conceit, which I won't spoil, but will either leave you thinking the film is incredibly clever or incredibly dumb. I always find myself somewhere in the middle. I want to like the film, but the characters come off as two dimensional (yes, I know why, but still...) and the film is never really scary.

What helps the film is it's directed by James Mangold, who might not be my favorite director, but he is more than capable, and the cast that is much better than the film deserves, including John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Rebecca De Mornay, John Hawkes, and Alfred Molina. Not to mention late 90s to early 00s stalwarts Amanda Peet, Clea Duvall, John C. McGinley, and a bunch of other actors you'll surely remember. While Cusack and Liotta are busy Cusack-ing and Liotta-ing--who I both enjoy even if they aren't given much to do here--but the standout for me this time was Amanda Peet. I remember seeing her in a bunch of other movies prior to this and feeling that she didn't really fit the "hooker with the heart of gold" role for me, but this time around I really enjoyed her in the role.

Seeing Cusack and Liotta again makes me want to revisit both The Ice Harvest and Narc, respectively.

Overall, it's a hard movie to recommend because it doesn't really stick the landing for me, but for those wanting to scratch that early 00s nostalgia itch, its a good enough time. Grade: C+

[dannyboy121070]

Just caught this last weekend. I really enjoyed it and it was nice to see Annette Benning shine in a role. And I'll be completely honest between this and her performance True Detective: Night Country ( as for the show, I was not as impressed with as the critics), I'm having a little bit of a Jodie Foster reassessment going on. I've always found her to be good, but not very engaging, pretty much only liking her in the film Maverick, but in these last two roles I find her so charismatic.

That's what I was telling my wife last night. Annette Bening was good, but Jodie Foster just has that extra something, that "movie star" charisma, that sets her apart. She was definitely the best thing about TRUE DETECTIVE.

[Sock Monkey]

We watched NYAD on Netflix last night, which I heartily recommend. Jodie Foster was excellent, and Annette Bening really captured Diana Nyad's general nuttiness and egotism.

Just caught this last weekend. I really enjoyed it and it was nice to see Annette Benning shine in a role. And I'll be completely honest between this and her performance True Detective: Night Country ( as for the show, I was not as impressed with as the critics), I'm having a little bit of a Jodie Foster reassessment going on. I've always found her to be good, but not very engaging, pretty much only liking her in the film Maverick, but in these last two roles I find her so charismatic.

[dannyboy121070]

We watched NYAD on Netflix last night, which I heartily recommend. Jodie Foster was excellent, and Annette Bening really captured Diana Nyad's general nuttiness and egotism.

[Sock Monkey]

The last movie I watched was "Inception," and I'd give it a solid 9/10.

Inception is one of Nolan's best. I need to give it a rewatch.

[Milcan]

a funny action movie live at action movies

[Halaineza]

The last movie I watched was "Inception," and I'd give it a solid 9/10.

[Sock Monkey]

 I watched the adaptation of Norman Partridge's DARK HARVEST the other night, which absolutely stunk. The creature effects were very good, but the acting...wow. The guy who played the cop reminded me of Lyle Waggoner doing a Carol Burnett sketch where he played Rod Steiger in IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT. (As far as I know, this never happened, but somehow that is exactly what this guy's ridiculous fake accent and hammy delivery immediately brought to mind.) Thank God I didn't pay to see this.

 On a happier note, I watched THANKSGIVING last night, and absolutely loved it. Some great kills and gore effects, some good laughs....I'm NOT a slasher film fan, but I really enjoyed this, and wouldn't mind a sequel.

That's a bummer about DARK HARVEST. I really enjoyed the book and thought that a movie adaptation could be a cinch, but it seems to not have gone in that direction. I'll still need to check it out, but I'll have my expectations firmly in check.

[Ben Staad]

Cool about Thanksgiving. I've been waiting for a free night that I can watch that one.

 I watched the adaptation of Norman Partridge's DARK HARVEST the other night, which absolutely stunk. The creature effects were very good, but the acting...wow. The guy who played the cop reminded me of Lyle Waggoner doing a Carol Burnett sketch where he played Rod Steiger in IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT. (As far as I know, this never happened, but somehow that is exactly what this guy's ridiculous fake accent and hammy delivery immediately brought to mind.) Thank God I didn't pay to see this.

 On a happier note, I watched THANKSGIVING last night, and absolutely loved it. Some great kills and gore effects, some good laughs....I'm NOT a slasher film fan, but I really enjoyed this, and wouldn't mind a sequel.

 

[dannyboy121070]

I watched the adaptation of Norman Partridge's DARK HARVEST the other night, which absolutely stunk. The creature effects were very good, but the acting...wow. The guy who played the cop reminded me of Lyle Waggoner doing a Carol Burnett sketch where he played Rod Steiger in IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT. (As far as I know, this never happened, but somehow that is exactly what this guy's ridiculous fake accent and hammy delivery immediately brought to mind.) Thank God I didn't pay to see this.

On a happier note, I watched THANKSGIVING last night, and absolutely loved it. Some great kills and gore effects, some good laughs....I'm NOT a slasher film fan, but I really enjoyed this, and wouldn't mind a sequel.

[Ben Staad]

Same with Shawshank. I am a slave to the television whenever it comes on.

Absolutely. I think it popped up on a website somewhere and that's what piqued my interest in seeing it yet again. Before that, it kinda faded into memory. The cast is great and I really miss Kevin Pollak. He was everywhere in the 90s. Luckily, he was in recently in THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL so I could get my fix.

As far as getting sucked into movies while flipping channels, I had this same thing with THE SHAWKSHANK REDEMPTION. It was like I'd go into a hypnotic trance if I stumbled upon the movie and I would be compelled to watch it again.