I think a third shot was fair. I just wanted to see whether I’d been in the wrong frame of mind.
Also what’s wrong with loyalty to my dearest friend 
1 Like
Sentimental Value (2025)
Solid; borders on good. After months of trailers and a lot of festival hype, I obviously hoped for more. And in a year that has mostly underdelivered pretty badly, it feels worse for this one to only be worthy of faint praise.
Lots of individual aspects to like (Stellan Skarsgard performance, and actually a strong Elle Fanning performance too, also cool cinematography), but it felt like the sum was somewhat less than the whole of its parts. It just didn’t quite come together in a way that made me feel anything.
Maybe it will digest well and get somewhat better in my mind, but my snap-reaction is that it’s worth a go but pretty unremarkable.
3/5
Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie (2024)
College counselor Ellen becomes concerned when Shannon, a student who’s struggling financially, suddenly stops going to classes. Determined to find her, Ellen inadvertently uncovers a trafficking ring that targets students in need.
This was fine. I mean it’s Lifetime movie fine. But if that’s fine with you, then this is fine.
This is what you watched instead of Noises Off?
1 Like
I actually watched that last night.
Today I watched Superman (for a third time) instead of Noises Off.
1 Like
The Big Sleep (1946)
Very few actors in history have been as cool as Humphrey Bogart, and I’m inclined to say that this is his single coolest performance (even if not his most impressive technical acting). The plot is impossible to follow, at least on first go, but the vibes are immaculate. It’s a close call between this and To Have and Have Not for my favorite Bogart/Bacall collaboration.
I do still have The Long Goodbye as the superior Philip Marlowe movie, but Bogart and Elliott Gould also have entirely different takes on the character, so I love that we have both movies. Will certainly be returning to this one a number of times.
4/5
4 Likes
I’m assuming you’ve seen The Maltese Fslcon
Yeah, I don’t love it. I’ve seen it twice now, and…it’s okay. I like this one (and most other Bogart movies) quite a bit more.
Man, I love that movie and book so much. I’ve wanted to remake it for a long time. I always saw Tom Cruise as the Wilmer part. Would have been a great against type for him.
This bad boy is 700 pages long. These are gonna be some good eats over the weekend.
Obv I am snap turning to the chapter on Crash.
2 Likes
Train Dreams (2025) Netflix
Hands down the most beautiful film of the year. Every single frame is a work of art. So much so it makes me mad at other directors who simply refuse to treat the art form with this level of respect. In an odd way, it’s film like this that make me hate most blockbusters.
This is a quiet, poetic film in the vain of Malick’s best work with the same mix of visual beauty and contemplations on the nature of being human.
If you like Malick or Jesse James… you will love this movie.
Grade: A
Will make my top ten of the year for sure.
5 Likes
Wtf! This trailer is insane. It spoils the central mystery of the story. I mean the whole thing that drives you to keep turning the pages.
Are they going to do the same thing with the structure of the movie? Or are they going to pull a T2 and pretend the trailers didn’t already spoil every amazing twist in the movie?
The only thing the second trailer doesn’t spoil is the end of the book, and even that anyone can probably guess after having seen the second trailer.
1 Like
The closest I can remember in a trailer/movie completely missing the point of the book is the miniseries The Undoing.
In the book, the reader knows who the killer is from the beginning, and seeing them try to get away with it is part of the fun.
But the miniseries makes the pacing depend on the mystery of whether the husband did it.
I mean I enjoyed it but lol?
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Thanks for reminding me of that giant waste of time
2 Likes
LMAO this is a great interview. Pollak says that when they were shooting Tom’s coverage for his big “I want the truth” moment, Nicholson was making goofy faces next to the camera.
Pollak suggests it may have actually intensified Cruise’s focus lol
1 Like
Just stumbled on this old Leslie Nielsen commercial some might appreciate
Mickey 17 was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, but that doesn’t mean it was good. Interesting acting choice from Rob. Bizarre acting choice from Ruffalo.
1 Like
Leonardo DiCaprio in Gangs of New York.
Is this a good performance?
Does Leonardo DiCaprio give a good performance in Gangs of New York?
- Yes
- No
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