Plot: A rivalry between big cat eccentrics takes a dark turn when Joe Exotic, a
controversial animal park boss, is caught in a murder-for-hire plot.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? Yes.
Holy shit is this fun! I burned through this in two sittings and I want more and more! This is one WTF entertaining cast of unusual characters. Not one of the people is uninteresting. They're not all wacky. Some of them are ordinary, dull people but only if you compare them to the wildest of the lot but even they are interesting and have loads of amazing stories to tell. None of the top people examined are good people. They've all got a shady past should probably all be in jail. So of all the main people, there's no one to root for and that's perfectly fine for the viewer. It's a shit show of epic proportions. And as despicable as these people are, most of you would probably like to meet them all.
Chaiklin & Goode do an amazing job in telling a story that, after you see it you'll feel like there's so much more to tell that you could have doubled the 5 hour and 17 minute show and still not have told everything. The pacing moves so smoothly and seamlessly that each of the seven 45-minute-ish episodes is over before you know it. And boy, oh boy, do these filmmakers know how to end an episode in such a way that it compels you to continue and double dares you not to. Netflix is dropping an additional episode this week and I can't wait. I've already started listening to a podcast called The Tiger King and it's fantastic as well. I can't get enough of this saga. This series is fun as hell.
Plot: Set in the near-future, technology controls nearly all aspects of life.
But when Grey, a self-identified technophobe, has his world turned
upside down, his only hope for revenge is an experimental computer chip
implant called Stem.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? YES!
WOW! I knew nothing except the basic plot and that's it. I didn't even see the trailer. I'm blown away. It's smart science fiction that feels real enough to buy into hook, line and sinker but it's also hilarious in strange, sometimes dark ways. But then it also has plenty of action. And the ending? Holy fucking shit was I strangely emotionally wrapped up in it. It's brilliant. I was so worried throughout the film that the ending was going to let me down but there's a point in the last act where I had the confidence of the filmmaker that it wouldn't and it delivered in spades. There is so much about this picture that I love and I can't wait to see it again. And it was a rare theater experience, too, as there were only about ten people there but not one person said a word the entire time. That was just icing on the cake. There are several scenes where the score was absent which gave the visuals room to breathe and let you take in the atmosphere. I was so excited that as soon as I was home I was looking up the cast and crew on IMDb and I was surprised to see that this was the writer/director's second film (as director) with INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 (2015) being his first. Of all movies. I haven't seen that one but it seems like a massive leap from that one to this one. He's been a busy writer starting with the first three SAW films and later the four INSIDIOUS pictures. I'm looking forward to seeing what he makes next and I'm also looking forward to owning UPGRADE so I can show it to all my friends.
Starring: Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Idris Elba, Danai Gurira, Peter Dinklage, Benedict Wong, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, Benicio Del Toro, Chris Pratt, Sean Gunn, William Hurt
Plot: The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an
attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation
and ruin puts an end to half the universe.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? Yes.
SPOILERS AHEAD!!! YARRRRRRR!!!
In a word...it's pretty fuckin' great. In some ways it's more of a marvel that these people were able to make a movie involving nearly thirty main characters and giving each of them something to do that justifies their inclusion AND using them in a way that serves the picture as a whole without feeling like they got the short end of the stick. Because this is such a huge film (part one and the conclusion coming in almost exactly one year) I'm just going to throw out some thoughts based on my first viewing. The IMAX 3D is outstanding and it will be the only way I see it the next time. I'm rarely impressed with post conversion 3D but this one blew me away. It makes a difference. There's a lot of movie here and they start off running and barely stop until the credits roll. It's battle after battle with the final one being the biggest and heaviest. A LOT OF PEOPLE DIE in this picture and that really surprised me. But then again, I suspect that most or all of them will somehow return by the end of the next film because there are sequels on record coming out for some of these characters so there's at least that. Some of their deaths have more weight than others (Spidey had me choked up something fierce - that kid is so damned endearing).
Thanos is fantastic. Even though he's a psychopath, he's a psychopath with a legitimate and reasonable (to him) goal. His motivation is admirable to a point but it is fucked up and there are better ways to handle his endgame. This is his picture and Brolin knocks it out of the park. It would've been nicer for him to be more sympathetic so that you could kind of root for the guy much like the two sides in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016). But as it stands, it works well enough to get the point across and better than most villains in comic book movies. We spend a lot of time with him and he even has a tender moment with Gamora which was a wonderful respite from the massive amount of action that fills the movie. And everything from Thanos' finger snap to the end was excellent. My only complaint is the forced humor which often didn't work or got in the way of the otherwise excellent flow of the film. For example, as the monsters are at the barrier of Wakanda, T'Challa, his massive army plus a few of the Avengers, are making their way to stop them which begins the climactic battle for the final Infinity Stone. Okoye and T'Challa have a brief exchange that goes something like this:
Okoye: When you said you wanted to open Wakanda to the world I didn't expect this.
T'Challa: Then what were you expecting?
Okoye: I don't know, a Starbucks or something.
Really? Jokes just before their entire population is potentially about to be wiped out? It's so out of place it's embarrassing. That's just one of several moments where the comedy goes too far. It's so bad that it's all too noticeable and often groan-inducing. I'd like to know those responsible for insisting on this kind of bullshit when it wasn't needed. Some of the humor works but the kind mentioned above rarely did. It literally feels like there were moments in the script where someone just wrote in "INSERT JOKE HERE" and let amateurs fill in the gags. It's just too fuckin' much, man. Outside of that gripe, it's a remarkable achievement for these people to make a movie that juggles so much, give a lot more time to a somewhat sympathetic villain, to kill off a lot of people AND let the bad guy win. The final shot of the film with Thanos sitting down and seeing his life's dream completed, with that smile on his face was so cool. Of course all of this will change and he will be defeated because there's the sequel coming in a year but it's a hell of a way to end a super hero movie. Oh, and my favorite super hero super moment was when Doctor Strange replicates himself many fold to battle Thanos. I'm sure we'll find out in part 2 that he's THE reason that Thanos is defeated. I can't fucking wait to see how.
Writers: Christopher Morris, Arthur Mathews, Graham Linehan, Peter Baynham
Composers: Christopher Morris, Jonathan Whitehead, Adrian Sutton
Starring: Christopher Morris, Mark Heap, Kevin Eldon, Doon Mackichan, David Cann, Barbara Durkin, Amelia Bullmore, Albert Willing, Gina McKee, Julia Davis, Simon Pegg, Britt Ekland, PHil Collins, Michael Winner
Plot: Controversial spoof of current affairs television, and the role of celebrity in the UK.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? YESSSSSS!!!
If you're inclined, watch the above episode and laugh your ass off. I'll warn you, though, it's the last and best episode so it's downhill from there. The show debuted and ran for six episodes in 1997 and then they came back in 2001 for the one-off Paedogeddon episode. Me being a fan of British comedy since I was a kid in the 70s, I ate this shit right up and went for seconds and thirds. The satire is spot on and it's a fast paced half hour show with an enormous amount of gags. Not all of them work but it doesn't matter because the shit is flying so fast that there's bound to be a big laugh in a few seconds. It's purposefully overproduced from the busy graphics to the loud, bombastic, urgent music. The humor is absurd and offensive and it's right up my alley. I'm sure most people will find the pedophile episode horrifying but for me it's pure comedy gold. This was the show that woke me up to Christopher Morris and wanting to see absolutely everything he's done. This guy's a fucking comedy genius who isn't afraid to "go there".
Starring: David McCallum, Richard Heffer, Paul Chapman, Jack Hedley, Bernard Hepton, Hans Meyer, Christopher Neame, Robert Wagner, Edward Hardwicke, Anthony Valentine
Plot: This grim and claustrophobic drama chronicles the lives of the prisoners
in Colditz Castle from the arrival of the first British prisoners after
Dunkirk until the liberation of the castle by the Americans in 1945.
Colditz was a "special" camp, designed by the Nazis to hold high-risk
and politically important prisoners. Many of the series' plots are based
on real events.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? Yes.
Outstanding! The first three or so episodes deal mostly with a few future residents in their escapes that led to their being sent to Colditz castle. Once these introductions are dispensed with the rest of the episodes are nearly all spent at the prison camp. Those first few episodes run rather slow but once most of the time was spent at the castle and hanging around these guys full time I liked it more and more. It gets better as it goes and the second half was much more engaging and it's in some of these episodes you will find the best of the entire run. Some of them had me quite emotional toward the end. I'm fresh off of binging the show (being sick allows you to do nothing all day and feel good about it) and I can't say enough about it. It's a show that takes the subject seriously and doesn't spoon feed the sugar. Actions have consequences and people have to deal with them.
One thing I learned was that the POW camps were under the jurisdiction of the Luftwaffe and not the SS or Gestapo. I'm sure I knew this at one point but had simply forgotten about it. The Kommandant for most of the series (played by Hepton) is an honorable man. Most of the Germans in the show are portrayed this way. They're good men doing their duty, abiding by the law and the rules of the Geneva Convention. The prisoners are treated fairly and with dignity. I like the respect both sides had for each other. It's when Major Mohn (Valentine) shows up as second in command when we have a villain to boo and hiss at. He's a Nazi that couldn't care less about the Geneva Convention and does his best to make it difficult for the prisoners. There is some fantastic storytelling in this show and anyone interested in this sort of thing needs to fast track this to the top of the list. It's on YouTube in full.
Plot: Covert black ops and espionage take a back seat to zany personalities and relationships between secret agents and drones.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? YES!!!
I was hooked on this show since the first episode aired. The dialogue is faster than any show I know and it's funny as hell. The voice talent is incredible. It's outrageous and crass and that's part of the charm. Every season was hilarious until season 7 when the gang moved to Los Angeles and that's when something drastic happened that shocked the shit out of me. It wasn't funny. I even gave it some time and started season 7 over and I still wasn't laughing. I could probably count on both hands how many times I laughed for that ten episode run. What the hell happened? And season 8, while I appreciate the departure into something different, it was largely unfunny. The end is near. I read somewhere they were only doing a total of 9 or 10 seasons and that would end the series. I hope it picks up. I love this too much to want the quality to drip. I don't care what they do or where the plot goes. I just want the funny back. Regardless, we'll always have the first six seasons.
Tagline: Welcome to the private world of Jeremy and Mark - two very ordinary weirdos.
Plot: Mark and Jez are a couple of twenty-something roommates who have nothing
in common - except for the fact that their lives are anything but
normal. Mayhem ensues as the pair strive to cope with day-to-day life.
My rating: 9.5/10
Will I watch it again? And again, and again...
I don't have enough words to describe how much I love this show. It was only a few short years ago that I got turned on and I never want to tune out. It was hilarious from episode one. The gimmick, if you can call it that, is that it's filmed in first person (hence Peep Show) but it's not just a gimmick. Very quickly you get used to the filming style. The comedy and chemistry between Webb & Mitchell takes care of that. All of the characters on the show are wonderfully funny and creative. Outside of M&W, two of my absolute favorites, though I love them all, are Matt King as Super Hans and Paterson Joseph as Alan Johnson. I've never seen characters like them and what those actors bring to the characters is priceless. When Season 9 debuted in November 2015 I was so pleased and I've been hoping for a season 10 ever since. But, when on YouTube looking for a suitable clip for this post, I found a video from two years ago of an hour long interview with the two guys saying season 9 was the last one. Now I'm sad. At least I've got 54 episodes (27 hours) of fun whenever I'm ready. I've already watched it at least twice through and I'm about ready to start again. I'm just sad that there probably won't be any further adventures of the El Dude Brothers. Here's hoping for a special every once in a while.
Plot: In the late 1970s two FBI agents expand criminal science by delving into
the psychology of murder and getting uneasily close to all-too-real
monsters.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? Yes!!!
I'm fascinated with serial killers and the men and women who solve their crimes with equal attraction. Years ago I read John Douglas's book Mindhunter about how he and others formed the Behavioral Science Division of the FBI beginning in the 1970s. It's an incredible read. This show is somewhat based on his book. It's been a while since I read it and with my memory I need to revisit it, particularly since I've seen the first season so I can compare the two. I recognize some of what the show does from the book. Before I get into what I dig about the show, there's one thing that bugs me a little and that's the dark grading of the picture. I'm going to assume that they're doing it this way to fill the show with a dark sense of gloom. It's not a pretty subject trying to get into the minds of these killers but the overall shading of the show seems a bit much.
Now, the good stuff. The acting is stellar. They all do a wonderful job but the standout for me is Holt McCallany as Bill Tench. Wow! Where did this guy come from? I've seen very little of his work but he's on my radar now. I LOVE his character. What's more than the good performances is that they also work very well together and they all have interesting looks that match their roles to a 'T'. Cameron Britton, who plays Ed Kemper, is spot-fucking-on! When I saw the trailer I about lost most shit when he showed up. The score works well, the look of the period, the small doses of humor without feeling out of place or shoe-horned in, the cars - it all works. It's a compelling, true crime thriller that builds and builds to a great season finale. At only eleven episodes it feels far too short. I don't want to stop watching these people do what they do. David Fincher is one of the producers and he wants this show to continue for five more seasons. Netflix ordered seasons two before the first one aired. Goody.
Writers: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Jon Watts, Christopher Ford, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
Composer: Michael Giacchino
Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Bokeem Woodbine, Tyne Daly, Abraham Attah, Hannibal Buress, Kenneth Choi, Jennifer Connelly, Stan Lee, Chris Evans
Plot: Peter Parker, with the help of his mentor Tony Stark, tries to balance
his life as an ordinary high school student in New York City while
fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man when a new threat
emerges.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? Yes!
I LOVED IT! This is the funniest of the Disney Marvel movies so far. The action is great, the cast is top drawer, the music, story, the works. I loved the emotional beats between Peter Parker and Tony Stark. They felt earned. When it comes down to it, despite the 133 minute run time, I could've used a lot more - partly because it was that damn good and I wanted to spend more time with the characters and partly because I would've liked to have spent more time character building. Tom Holland is fabulous as Parker/Spider-Man. He's a lovable spaz. I really dug how Tony Stark is branching out as a pseudo-father figure. Captain America's bits are hilarious and what he brings after the credits had me howling. And speaking of laughing, I lost my shit with laughter with Aunt May's line just before the end credits began. My only head-scratching moment is the ferry scene. How could that boat stay afloat when sliced in half? I'll pay more attention the next time I see it. Oh, and one more thing, I love what they did with Toomes, giving him a lot of humanity and a very justifiable motive for being the bad guy. He's charming, funny and very dangerous and menacing. Keaton is outstanding in the role and I wanted so much more time with him. I guess that's the biggest compliment I can give is that I had so much fun I didn't want it to end. I hope this movie makes all the monies.
Starring: Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, James Coburn, Bob Newhart, Nick Adams, Stephen Ferry, Mike Kellin, Simon Prescott, Joseph Hoover, Robert Phillips, Bill Mullikin, L.Q. Jones, Don Haggerty, Michele Montau
Tagline: The brutal realities that faced every G.I. during World War II
Plot: It's autumn 1944, and Nazi forces along the Siegfried Line have the
numbers, the fortifications and the firepower to break through. And a
handful of GIs have little more than a dogged determination and the
ingenuity to fool the Germans into thinking they represent a great
Allied Task Force. But can they make the ruse last until reinforcements
finally arrive?
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? Yes.
This is one hell of a great war flick. Great acting, cast, characters, story, action and tension. I love how it focuses on one small moment from one small group of guys. It's got more to say than some big budget blockbusters. There's really not much more to say. It really is one of the best WWII action pictures ever made. Everything about this picture is top notch. It's a serious picture and if there's one flaw it's having Bob Newhart doing essentially one of his stand-up routines on the phone. The first time I saw this picture I thought it was awful to have that bit in there but I'm warming to it with every watch. The Paramount DVD sports a great looking print and the sole extra is the theatrical trailer (both in anamorphic widescreen). I'd like some extras beyond that but you take what you can get and this picture is a beaut.
Starring: Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, Michael Gambon, Michael Jeter, Diego Luna, James Russo, Abraham Benrubi, Dean McDermott, Kim Coates, Her Kohler, Peter MacNeill
Plot: A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when he and his cattle crew are threatened by a corrupt lawman.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? Yes.
I love this movie. I saw it twice during its theatrical release and a couple more times on DVD and it's just a gorgeous picture. The scenery is beautiful. I love the pacing and how it kind of matches the vastness of the location. The dialogue and characters are wonderful and there's a naturalness to the language and actions that give the film a sense of how some of these people could've been. The characters are really wonderful and that makes a difference when some of them are threatened, harmed or killed. You care about them so you're invested in what happens to them. Costner is a quiet badass and he's amazing in this picture. Duvall is perfectly cast as his friend who's got some very funny but real moments. Gambon might come across as a one dimensional villain but you totally understand his motivations even though he's an asshole that needs to be put down. Ooh, and when the shit hits the fan, you don't want to be on Gambon's team. The sound is great, too. I really dug the loudness of the gunshots. It makes for a powerful statement when they're used. Like most things, a film is a sum of its parts and this movie is loaded with them. I really appreciate the attention to detail from the characters you get to know to the generic townspeople as they move about the backdrop. It feels more natural than a lot of Westerns. I haven't Seen DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990) in ages. I remember liking the film but I prefer OPEN RANGE more. Both films are great but OPEN RANGE really shows off a strong narrative with a compelling story and equally interesting and compelling characters. It's a shame Costner didn't direct more. His only other film behind the camera was THE POSTMAN (1997), a good film in its own right though often unfairly criticized. The Touchstone 2-disc DVD set delivers a fantastic looking anamorphic widescreen print with the second disc LOADED with great extras. You can pick this one up for $5 online which makes it a safer blind buy for anyone who hasn't seen it. Now where the hell is the Blu-ray?
Writers: Pierre Boulle, Carl Foreman, Michael Wilson
Composer: Malcolm Arnold
Starring: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, James Donald, Geoffrey Horne, Andre Morell, Peter Williams, John Boxer, Percy Herbert, Harold Goodwin, Ann Sears, Heihachiro Okawa, Keiichiro Katsumoto, M.R.B. Chakrabandhu, Vilaiwan Seeboonreaung, Ngamta Suphaphongs, Javanart Punynchoti, Kannikar Dowklee
Plot: After settling his differences with a Japanese PoW camp commander, a
British colonel co-operates to oversee his men's construction of a
railway bridge for their captors - while oblivious to a plan by the
Allies to destroy it.
My rating: 9.5/10
Will I watch it again? Duh!
I've seen this many times over the past forty years and it never ceases to amaze me. This time I watched the stunningly gorgeous Blu-ray for the first time and on a much larger screen (projected at about 11 ft wide) and it was the best presentation I've ever seen it. WOW! I fucking love this move. You really must see movies on the biggest screen possible if you can. It only makes movies better. It's almost as if I were watching it for the first time. This time I was drawn to the cinematography like never before. Take the extended amount of time we spend with Shears (Holden) & the demolition team going through the jungle; for as long as the film is, it's not dull or unimportant. The movie's 19 minutes shy of three hours and not once does the film drag nor does it have a frame that's lacking in beauty. It's a masterfully shot and made picture. The performances are top drawer, especially Guinness who, up until then, had become famous for playing multiple characters in comedies. He just knocks this one out of the park. His Oscar was deserved, Malcolm Arnold's was not. There's not much music in the picture and it's not all that memorable (and, yeah, I know memorable themes does not automatically equate quality). Plus he used existing marches in many scenes. That's my one complaint and it's got nothing to do with what you see on screen. The music works very well but there's so little of it that it hardly merits an award as big as that. The only thing left more me with this one is to catch it in a theater.
Starring: Mel Brooks, Richard Benjamin, Andrew Bergman, Matthew Broderick, Michael Gruskoff, Buck Henry, Nathan Lane, Cloris Leachman, Barry Levinson, Richard Lewis, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, Joan Rivers, Neil Simon, David Steinberg, Norman Steinberg, Susan Stroman, Tracey Ullman, Steven Weber
Plot: In 60-years in show business, he has earned more awards than any other
living entertainer. A comedy giant of our time, Melvin Kaminsky
developed his aggressively funny personality on the streets of Brooklyn,
and the Catskill Mountains, before landing a writers job on the
legendary "Your Show of Shows". The first "2000 Year Old Man" album,
recorded with Carl Reiner in the early '60s, unleashed his wacky mind on
the world. His brazen satirical film "The Producers" won the 1968 Oscar
for best screenplay and such cult classics as "Blazing Saddles", "Young
Frankenstein", and "High Anxiety" followed. Brooks has never
participated in a biography before and requested that his friends not
talk about him - until now - making this film a genuine first.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? YES!!!
I LOVE Mel Brooks. If all he ever made was BLAZING SADDLES (1974), he'd be remembered as a comedy genius but he also made THE PRODUCERS (1967), YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) among many other funny pictures but he was also a writer on Sid Caesar's TV shows in the 50s and GET SMART. Brooks was 88 at the time this was made and he's as spry as he was forty years ago. He's still a sharp as a tack and funny as shit. This near feature length documentary starts with Mel's birth and goes through his entire and remarkable career with current interviews (as well as vintage), loads of clips from shows and films he worked on and so much more. It's wonderful. The pacing is quick. I laughed and cried...but mostly laughed. Brooks is so delightful, he's contagious. He'll be 90 this June. I can't recommend this enough. It's currently on Netflix.
Starring: Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, James Coburn, Jorge Martinez de Hoyos, Vladimir Sokoloff, Rosenda Monteros, Rico Alaniz, Horst Buchholz, Robert J. Wilke, Val Avery, Whit Bissell, Bing Russell
Tagline: Once You've Met Them...You'll Never Forget Them.
Plot: An oppressed Mexican peasant village assembles seven gunfighters to help defend their homes.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? Yup.
BRONSON'S AGE: 39
LEVEL OF BADASSICITY (10 being the highest): 9
Great flick. Despite the sometimes cheesy things Chris (Brynner) does, almost all of which is from the beginning until the group sets off on their mission, it's a rock-solid action adventure Western that hits on everything you would expect. Its got its fair share of cliches but they're far from eye-rollers and they work well for what it is. It's exciting and funny and it's got an amazing cast, most of which get to shine a few times. It's hard to believe that at the time Brynner was the biggest star of them all. In just a few short years many of the rest would become household names. Elmer Bernstein's score transcended the film and went on to represent the Western genre in the decades since. This one is truly one of the all time great Westerns and Sturges did a hell of a job with this ensemble cast. I've seen this one many times over the years but I've yet to see any of the three sequels. I should do something about that. The damn things have been sitting on my shelf for years.
Bronson is great and it's easy to see how he would become one of the top stars in the world a decade or so later. At 39 he's one of the old cats in the film but you'd never know it. There's a rumor (started right here) that Bronson was such a badass that it caused a tremendous amount of jealousy among the cast and crew. Women begged daily for his essence. The men, lead by McQueen and Brynner (not so much Brynner because he had a warehouse full of testosterone that no one else had access to), revolted and all charged Bronson after a long day of shooting. Bronson cleaned their clocks and how. Unfortunately a few women jumped into the mix and got served a few knuckle sandwiches themselves. Bronson doesn't discriminate. The next day everyone was in line, now knowing their place in Bronson's universe and the picture finished not only early, but under budget. McQueen donated some of his salary to Bronson's charity, Bronson's Beauties.
Plot: Veteran New York City comic Dave Attell is back with his Comedy Central
stand-up special "Road Work." This unique special cuts together multiple
performances from Attell's past tour. From New Orleans to Philadelphia
to Minneapolis and more, "Road Work" feels more like a concert film than
a traditional stand-up special. Of course, it wouldn't be a proper
Attell show without his expert crowd work and clever R-rated material in
what he calls "a filthy, dirty mess of a show."
My rating:9/10
Will I watch it again? Yes.
After watching the incredibly unfunny CHRIS TUCKER LIVE (2015) I had to get some laughs from somewhere (on Netflix streaming) and this one came up. I love Attell. I've never not laughed my ass off to his shit. He's so outrageously vulgar and his jokes zig zag all over the place and the guy is lightning fast with the laughs. The sad thing is this is only 40 minutes long but the good thing is it's loaded with laughs. I'd love to see this cat live. If you're into highly inappropriate funny then this guy is your ambassador.
Writers: John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Jez Butterworth
Composer: Thomas Newman
Starring: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Monica Bellucci, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Dave Bautista, Andrew Scott, Rory Kinnear, Jesper Christensen, Alessandro Cremona
Plot: A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a
sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the
secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the
terrible truth behind SPECTRE.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? YES!
DOUBLE-O SPOILERS AHEAD!!! YARRRRRR!!!
NICE! After the disappointing (yeah, I know I'm in the minority on this one) SKYFALL (), I could not have been prepared for the awesomeness of SPECTRE. The end of SKYFALL felt like the pieces were set to get back to the James Bond I grew up with from Moore and Connery and boy did they knock it out of the park! There were seemingly endless references to what felt like about every Bond film that came before. I kept seeing hints of each of the prior films in subtle (and not so subtle) ways and I was loving it. Bautista was intimidating as hell as Mr. Hinx. I was sad to see his quick departure but I suspect he'll be back for the next film. Whishaw as Q was much better utilized than in SKYFALL (I didn't like him or the character as I felt he was far too young). Daniel Craig felt like he was at his most comfortable in the role and he was having a wonderful time with it. Plus it was great seeing Bond more playful like what we got with Connery and Moore. Loved it. And then there's Christoph Waltz. OMFG was he pitch perfect for this. I also suspect he'll be back for the next one as well.
The only issues I have with the picture were the head drilling torture scene and the finale. Bond got out of the needle scene way too easily and without incident. You'd think that would have fucked his shit up than probably giving him a slight headache. Then there's the inexcusable, idiotic way in which Madeleine excuses herself from the film near the end only to find her kidnapped and used for bait to trap Bond. I feel like I've discussed that and what follows so much with my friends and how it should've gone that I'm tired and I don't have the patience right now to lay it all out again. Other than that, I friggin' loved the movie. That opening sequence was a lot of fun and the location and ambiance was terrific. After a couple of OK pictures, SPECTRE was the breath of fresh air that this franchise and fans of the pre-Brosnan films needed and desperately wanted. Now let's just hope they don't muck up the next one. What I'd like to see harkens back to OHMSS (1968). Let's have Bond and Madeleine driving along the beautiful countryside of France, Spain or anywhere. They're happy as can be and enjoying life to its fullest when along comes Mr. Hinx driving with a damaged (as we saw him at the end of SPECTRE) Blofeld firing a machine gun at them, killing Madeleine. Then roll the opening credits and the chase is on with Bond in full on revenge mode. THAT'S what I'd like to see and what an amazing opening it would make. I'd be squirming in my seat in anticipation of what was next having to sit through the 3 minute song/credits.
Writers: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Composer: ???
Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Connie Booth, Carol Cleveland, Neil Innes, Bee Duffell, John Young, Rita Davies, Avril Stewart, Sally Kinghorn
Plot: King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many very silly obstacles.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? YES!!!
I remember first seeing this in the early 80s shortly before discovering MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS. It slayed my with laughter then and it still does after all these years. I'm not going to go into how much I love this film because I'd rather watch it than talk about it but there are far too many classic, laugh out loud moments that no one should overlook this picture. Just like their TV show, the humor runs from the utterly silly and slapstick to clever, witty and sublime. Their comedy runs the gamut, something for all ages and walks of life but then it's not a movie that everyone is going to dig. Those who do love the shit out of it and will put it in our top comedies of all time. It's brilliantly made and age hasn't hurt it one bit. There's a part of me that wants to give this a solid 10 out of 10 but the final act does slow down and drag a bit despite some funny moments. It feels like the boys, after having so much fun up until the last fifteen minutes, threw their hands up having spent the funny and trudged their way to the credits. Still, it's one of the funniest movies ever made. The Sony Blu-ray transfer is breathtakingly gorgeous!!! Before this release I'd only ever seen it on horrible VHS-esque transfers. I was in awe through to the closing credits how clear and brilliant the film looked.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Rick Ducommun, Corey Feldman, Wendy Schaal, Henry Gibson, Brother Theodore, Courtney Gains, Gale Gordon, Dick Miller, Robert Picardo, Cory Danziger, Franklyn Ajaye, Rance Howard
Tagline: A comedy about one nice guy who gets pushed too far.
Plot: An overstressed suburbanite and his paramilitary neighbor struggle to
prove their paranoid theory that the new family in town is a front for a
cannibalistic cult.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? Yes!!!
I fucking love this movie. The theater I saw this in was one that had swivel chairs, tables and servers to bring you pizza and beer. The chairs were hell on your ass but you pushed through it for all of the other awesome amenities. The cast is fantastic, the story is fun, the score is playful as shit and Joe Dante's sense of humor is all in this. Rick Ducommun is priceless. He's one of my favorite things about picture and it's a damn shame that he didn't hit the big time. That story he tells about the ice cream guy has the right amount of creep factor to sell the film. Dante straddled the horror/comedy line skillfully letting each have their moments to shine. This is one of those 'special' films that puts me in my happy place.
Plot: Gangsters: America's Most Evil is a cinematic documentary series that
explores the rise and fall of some of the most nefarious and notorious
criminals brought to justice by the United States government.
My rating: 9/10
Will I watch it again? YES!!!
From the first few minutes of episode 1 I was hooked. The episodes (currently streaming on Netlix) are about 45 minutes. Womack's narration is great. His deep, raspy voice aurally sets the tone. The music is well-integrated, the photos, footage and pacing fill out the rest. Man, and the subjects and stories are interesting as hell. And the series colors hardcore criminals of every color and gender. I love stuff like this and I REALLY miss the true crime show CITY CONFIDENTIAL (1998) (both A&E shows, btw). The pisser with both shows is their lack of DVD presence. I binge-watched the shit out of this one over the course of a week and that's a lot of viewing but it was so compelling that I couldn't stop. It's been a few months since I did that and now I'm about ready to watch it all over again.
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Wolfman Jack, Bo Hopkins, Manuel Padilla Jr., Beau Gentry, Harrison Ford, Joe Spano, Suzanne Somers
Plot: A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.
My rating:9/10
Will I watch it again? Yes.
Who would've thought that the genius behind STAR WARS (1977) made this picture just a few years before? I think I've seen this flick about ten times in the last 35+ years and it never gets old. In fact, it's still just as comforting as it ever was. Besides the great classic song soundtrack, INCREDIBLE cast (courtesy of casting directors Mike Fenton and Fred Ross) and gorgeous cars, I'm really taken with the pacing and organic nature of the storytelling. It all takes place over the course of one night and it feels genuine. These people aren't acting, they're living and recreating experiences. I was a few years away from existence when this film takes place but I feel like I'm one of their pals hanging out and having fun just the same. I only saw the sequel once in the early 80s and that was just to see Harrison Ford's bit part. I need to give that one a spin now.
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