Movies you've seen recently and have enjoyed?

[Lanny]

Yes, straight, white and male.

I can't really sympathize with a slave owner male or female.

Sometimes good people do bad things. They get swept up by what their peers are doing. A very very few think outside the box and God bless them.
Slavery was a very horrific thing. Sometimes, too horrific to contemplate and yet people did it. They weren't born that way, it was carefully nurtured in them by their elders. Proof of this is by how many people got swept away with it. Somebody pointed out that the Germans did horrific things to the Jews. Look how many Germans got swept away. I don't think it's because they were born with an evil gene. They were twisted by their elders since their youth.
I remember being swept away with how horrible anyone was who wasn't a WASP up until I was about 10 and felt something uncomfortable about it. Then my father, raised in rural Alabama, took me aside when I was about 12 and began teaching me how Blacks were just as good as Whites and that he understood their anger. Presto, my transition was complete. I was lucky to have a father like that. Many many people are not that lucky.

 

[crandc]

I agree people are rarely if ever born evil. But someone who goes along with evil, slavery, Nazism, rape, murder, at some point made a choice.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Recently viewed Goodfellas, Casino, Jacky Brown, Lincoln, 30s romcom It Happened One Night. The latter triggered "decency" laws. Claudette Colbert, rebellious heiress, and Clark Gable, journalist, are thrown together and spend several days on the road, sleeping in the same room, albeit separate beds. Shocking!

LOVE IHON! "The walls of Jericho..."
Jackie Brown is the only Tarantino with characters you actually care about, mainly because they were created by Elmore Leonard. All Tarantino's other characters are just walking speeches. (Why didn't Robert Forster's career explode again after this movie? I guess it was supposed to but Mulholland Drive got converted from a TV series to a one-off movie. Pam Grier is amazing.)
Am I alone in cheering when Joe Pesci's character gets wacked in Goodfellas?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Forgot to mention French Connection.

I really wanted to like FC, it being a classic and all. But Hackman was kind of weird in it. What was all that stuff about picking feet?

Depressing how many movies have essentially no women. At most marginal characters seen solely through eyes of men.

You should get into Pre-Code movies. May I recommend Night Nurse (1931) and Ladies They Talk About (1933) (basically anything from the 30s with Barbara Stanwyck). Also Marked Woman (1937), and try Cry Havoc! (1942) as well.

If you want more like It Happened One Night, I thoroughly recommend:
Midnight (1939)
The Good Fairy (1935)
Ball of Fire (1941) (Another Stanwyck - you can't go wrong!)

 

[crandc]

Thanks for recs, Rasta.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Thanks for recs, Rasta.

Some of them are a bit hard to track down. It helps to have the Criterion Channel...

 

[Lanny]

I agree people are rarely if ever born evil. But someone who goes along with evil, slavery, Nazism, rape, murder, at some point made a choice.

I'm saying good people do bad things, I'm not saying they should do those bad things. The lemmings in us make us follow along with the majority. We all do things others do. Look at our hair styles which change from generation to generation. Look at how the vast majority got duped into slavery. What got them out? It wasn't those around them. It was years and years of toil by those who grew up more enlightened. Now, even the most hardened racist does not advocate slavery, hard core racism maybe but not slavery, so we ever so slowly, too slowly in my eyes, change for the better.

 

[Lanny]

I recently saw three popular English movies where cunt was used liberally to denote either a bad assed man or man who was being denigrated.
The three movies were:
1. Snatch with Jason Statham;
2. Trespass Against Us with Michael Fassbender;
3. Gentlemen with Matthew McConaughey.

Add to that Croupier with Clive Owen.

 

[crandc]

There is a difference between fashion in hair styles and slavery. No doubt good people do bad things, we are all imperfect. And no doubt peer pressure gets people doing things they would not on their own. But I am saying there is a line. A point at which someone is not a fallible but decent person. If your buddies take turns raping a child, going along is not just a mistake. I mean, when I hear people really didn't have a lot of choice to oppose slavery, enslaved people had none. Yes, there was pressure to join Hitler Youth, but still a choice. Murdered Jews weren't given a choice. It's why mafia movies however well acted leave me a bit cold because I really don't care much if Michael Corleone ends up lonely.

 

[Lanny]

There is a difference between fashion in hair styles and slavery. No doubt good people do bad things, we are all imperfect. And no doubt peer pressure gets people doing things they would not on their own. But I am saying there is a line. A point at which someone is not a fallible but decent person. If your buddies take turns raping a child, going along is not just a mistake. I mean, when I hear people really didn't have a lot of choice to oppose slavery, enslaved people had none. Yes, there was pressure to join Hitler Youth, but still a choice. Murdered Jews weren't given a choice. It's why mafia movies however well acted leave me a bit cold because I really don't care much if Michael Corleone ends up lonely.

But don't you see the fallacy? When an overwhelming majority of people do a bad thing, something's wrong other individuals making evil choices. The majority of people just aren't evil at the root yet they are doing something we can all see now is wrong.

 

[crandc]

But don't you see the fallacy? When an overwhelming majority of people do a bad thing, something's wrong other individuals making evil choices. The majority of people just aren't evil at the root yet they are doing something we can all see now is wrong.

Of course, an evil system, but when people allow it to continue they do carry blame.

Back to topic....

When Harry Met Sally was rather silly and characters shallow (do they have any interest other than romance?) but hilarious scene when he says no woman he's been with ever had to fake orgasm and she points out most women say they have done so while every man says his female partners never do. The math doesn't add up. He claims he could tell if a woman was faking it so she gives a great imitation, over lunch in crowded diner. Loudly. After which the server goes to take the order of older woman at next table and the lady says "I'll have what she's having". I laughed so hard Lucia gave me a peculiar look.

 

[bigbailes]

Of course, an evil system, but when people allow it to continue they do carry blame.

Back to topic....

When Harry Met Sally was rather silly and characters shallow (do they have any interest other than romance?) but hilarious scene when he says no woman he's been with ever had to fake orgasm and she points out most women say they have done so while every man says his female partners never do. The math doesn't add up. He claims he could tell if a woman was faking it so she gives a great imitation, over lunch in crowded diner. Loudly. After which the server goes to take the order of older woman at next table and the lady says "I'll have what she's having". I laughed so hard Lucia gave me a peculiar look.

That older woman is actually Rob Reiner (the director's) mother ... just a fun tidbit

 

[crandc]

That older woman is actually Rob Reiner (the director's) mother ... just a fun tidbit

Just learned that from a friend.

 

[Lanny]

Of course, an evil system, but when people allow it to continue they do carry blame.

Back to topic....

When Harry Met Sally was rather silly and characters shallow (do they have any interest other than romance?) but hilarious scene when he says no woman he's been with ever had to fake orgasm and she points out most women say they have done so while every man says his female partners never do. The math doesn't add up. He claims he could tell if a woman was faking it so she gives a great imitation, over lunch in crowded diner. Loudly. After which the server goes to take the order of older woman at next table and the lady says "I'll have what she's having". I laughed so hard Lucia gave me a peculiar look.

If you blame them then you are backed into the corner of believing they are of some evil seed else why would such a large proportion of a population all fall into the same trap?

 

[crandc]

If you blame them then you are backed into the corner of believing they are of some evil seed else why would such a large proportion of a population all fall into the same trap?

Why millions followed Nazis or backed slavery while quoting the Declaration of Independence are topics entire books have been written about. I've read quite a few. But I hope you don't consider it a copout if I say that's way beyond this thread.

There are evil systems but people put them in place and keep them running because they believe it's in their interest to do so. Which is oversimplified.

I do recommend The Struggle Against Fascism in Germany by Leon Trotsky. I think still published by Pathfinder Books but not sure.

 

[Lanny]

Why millions followed Nazis or backed slavery while quoting the Declaration of Independence are topics entire books have been written about. I've read quite a few. But I hope you don't consider it a copout if I say that's way beyond this thread.

There are evil systems but people put them in place and keep them running because they believe it's in their interest to do so. Which is oversimplified.

I do recommend The Struggle Against Fascism in Germany by Leon Trotsky. I think still published by Pathfinder Books but not sure.

I consider very little to be beyond any thread and I feel this discussion stirs my creative juices. This means good job, crandc. But if you feel we've exhausted what we have to say I'll drop it.
By the way, I have some serious eye problems and can no longer read without much difficulty. Most of my problems come from a botched VA operation on my left eye which is now blind. My right eye problems stem from activity during the war I was obliged to participate in, the alternative was prison or leave my country, neither of which appealed to me.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I recently saw three popular English movies where cunt was used liberally to denote either a bad assed man or man who was being denigrated.
The three movies were:
1. Snatch with Jason Statham;
2. Trespass Against Us with Michael Fassbender;
3. Gentlemen with Matthew McConaughey.

Add to that Croupier with Clive Owen.

"Cunt" is used gender-neutrally in England (and Australia, I believe). It's basically a more offensive version of "dick". Probably the first time I heard it was when I was 11 and one of my friends went up to an older kid (about 15 or 16) and said "Excuse me - are you wearing Harmony Hair Spray". "You cheeky cunt!" was his response, and he chased us halfway around the school.

 

[crandc]

I totally understand that people subject to draft had no good choices. As an antiwar activist I was with those who said GIs were potential allies.
Much smarter people than me haven't totally solved question of what people go along with evil.
You know I love ballet. There is a ballet called Rite of Spring in which priests each year select one young woman to be sacrificed in fertility rite. They choose a woman in a village and at first everyone surrounds her protectively. But one by one they go to the priests until the only one left is her betrothed. No dialogue but action makes it clear, if he doesn't go along he will be outcast, ostracized, and in the we nd.he strikes the blow that kills her. I saw this right around the time if Steuvbenville, where an unconscious girl was carried naked from party to party while a succession of boys raped and urinated on her. No one called a parent or 911. Yes, they were kids but when the story came out the overwhelming reaction was those poor boys, rape charges can ruin their lives. Her life had no value.
How do you explain Republicans following Trump, those who know perfectly he is uninterested in anything but his ego and his wealth, that he will never be loyal in return? I don't claim to know.
And I still don't sympathize with slave owners.

 

[Lanny]

I totally understand that people subject to draft had no good choices. As an antiwar activist I was with those who said GIs were potential allies.
Much smarter people than me haven't totally solved question of what people go along with evil.
You know I love ballet. There is a ballet called Rite of Spring in which priests each year select one young woman to be sacrificed in fertility rite. They choose a woman in a village and at first everyone surrounds her protectively. But one by one they go to the priests until the only one left is her betrothed. No dialogue but action makes it clear, if he doesn't go along he will be outcast, ostracized, and in the we nd.he strikes the blow that kills her. I saw this right around the time if Steuvbenville, where an unconscious girl was carried naked from party to party while a succession of boys raped and urinated on her. No one called a parent or 911. Yes, they were kids but when the story came out the overwhelming reaction was those poor boys, rape charges can ruin their lives. Her life had no value.
How do you explain Republicans following Trump, those who know perfectly he is uninterested in anything but his ego and his wealth, that he will never be loyal in return? I don't claim to know.
And I still don't sympathize with slave owners.

I've enjoyed the Rite of Spring, by Igor Stravinski, for many decades now. I go more for the music while my wife is the ballet enthusiast. I also love opera with Beethoven's ninth, fourth movement, being my favorite. When my wife and I go to see Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet, we are both in heaven. I remember as a little boy of about 9 or so falling in love with the orchestral in The Nutcracker.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Army of the Dead - Zach Snyder - Zombies and Las Vegas, what's not to like. Limited dialog and some plot holes but overall a fun movie. A little disappointing for a Zach Snyder film but it's free on Netflix so 6/10.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Wrath of Man - Guy Ritchie - Worst Guy Ritchie movie ever! Void of Ritchie's dialog, plot twists, and dry sense of humor. Really feels like he had one last movie to make to fulfill his contract or something. It's very average revenge movie for the genre buy you expect more from a Ritchie movie. 5/10.

 

[Lanny]

Wrath of Man - Guy Ritchie - Worst Guy Ritchie movie ever! Void of Ritchie's dialog, plot twists, and dry sense of humor. Really feels like he had one last movie to make to fulfill his contract or something. It's very average revenge movie for the genre buy you expect more from a Ritchie movie. 5/10.

Was that released either this year or last year?

 

[Lanny]

The Gentlemen starring Matthew McConaughey.
Great movie if only because of McConaughey's fascinating voice.
It's a British gangster movie that is really brilliant. I give it an A+ for it's entertainment value.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Was that released either this year or last year?

In theaters now.

 

[Lanny]

In theaters now.

Ah, then this movie is the reason they have not yet started on a sequel to Gentlemen.

 

[crandc]

Been keeping a list of recommended movies. Next up is City of Ghosts. There are two completely different movies by that name. One a documentary on ISIS in Syria. The other a story in which Matt Dillon travels to Cambodia looking for a partner who ripped him off. No idea which was on my rec list. Anyone see either or both?

 

[Lanny]

Been keeping a list of recommended movies. Next up is City of Ghosts. There are two completely different movies by that name. One a documentary on ISIS in Syria. The other a story in which Matt Dillon travels to Cambodia looking for a partner who ripped him off. No idea which was on my rec list. Anyone see either or both?

I've seen the Matt Dillon movie which wasn't bad, not really great but not bad at all. He's a pretty good actor. I think it costarred James Caan.

 

[crandc]

Finally saw Good Morning Vietnam. One of Robin Williams's best. Funny, but serious subject. Not easy to do, treating serious subjects with humor often trivializes them.

Watching Hurt Locker.

Next on list is Zero Dark Thirty but how many consecutive war movies can I watch? Flipping order to see Dead Poets Society.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The Gentlemen starring Matthew McConaughey.
Great movie if only because of McConaughey's fascinating voice.
It's a British gangster movie that is really brilliant. I give it an A+ for it's entertainment value.

Isn't that by Madonna's ex (Guy Ritchie)? I assume you've seen Snatch, also by him - the best performance of Brad Pitt's life.

 

[Lanny]

Isn't that by Madonna's ex (Guy Ritchie)? I assume you've seen Snatch, also by him - the best performance of Brad Pitt's life.

I loved Snatch. The wry humor was some of the best I've ever seen.
Brad Pitt has done so many good movies that it's really difficult for me to pick out his best. If I were forced to pick his best, I guess I'd go with Inglourious Basterds.