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Post by lani on Feb 22, 2021 20:40:18 GMT
Gail in SC, another thing about I CARE A LOT, it made me think how I judge female villaneous characters versus male ones. The Peter Dinklage character was equally bad and I was not one bit concerned about him being called to justice. Do we view female villans more harshly because we expect them to be nurturning? But maybe the Dinklage character also gets some sympathy for being a dwarf? I do like having my assumptions challenged - after I consider things for a bit.
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Post by Gail in SC on Feb 23, 2021 0:20:06 GMT
I also like having my assumptions challenged, Lani. Interesting about judging female and male villains differently. I have to think about that.
I just watched the first episode of ALLEN v. FARROW on HBO. It is a documentary about the issue with Woody Allen allegedly having sexually abused his biological daughter Dylan. Some of it is first-hand, some of it recorded phone calls, photos and home videos, and some comments by neighbors and friends. It is chilling. Something weird that I can watch this and have a tough time watching I CARE A LOT.
The film class members were trying to think of a war film directed by a male that showed as much sensitivity as THE HURT LOCKER (directed by Kathryn Bigelow) did about how difficult it is for vets to return to life at home. In that film, there is a scene where someone returning from active duty is in a supermarket. He was told to pick up some cereal for his family and is standing in the cereal aisle paralyzed by the choices and not knowing what to do. Hard to describe, but it hit all of us very hard.
Can anyone think of a film directed by a man (war or not) that strikes you as very sensitively-done? The first that came to mind for me was MARRIAGE STORY. My mind is a blank.
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Post by geritru on Feb 23, 2021 2:31:20 GMT
Tonight we watched a 2010 movie on Netflix that neither of us had seen that started out being not so good and ended up being powerful. We both really liked it (but not necessarily the ending).
REMEMBER ME - Tyler (Robert Pattinson) has had a strained relationship with his father (Pierce Brosnan) since a family tragedy. Rebellious and troubled, he thinks no one can understand his pain, then he meets Ally (Emilie de Ravin). Her warmth and spirit soon begin to heal him, and they fall in love. But just when Tyler begins to rediscover happiness and meaning in his life, emerging secrets threaten their romance.
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Post by lani on Feb 23, 2021 17:42:35 GMT
I don't know if I can watch it. The evidence seems to be that he is guilty. But I still want to watch his old movies. It's a dilemma. I have the same issues with Roman Polanski. CHINATOWN and ROSEMARY'S BABY are a couple of my all-time favorites and I still love them as movies.
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Post by Gail in SC on Feb 23, 2021 19:22:09 GMT
I don't know if I can watch it. The evidence seems to be that he is guilty. But I still want to watch his old movies. It's a dilemma. I have the same issues with Roman Polanski. CHINATOWN and ROSEMARY'S BABY are a couple of my all-time favorites and I still love them as movies. Lani, I know exactly what you are saying. Very difficult. I love opera and James Levine was an absolute genius. Finding out about his sexual abuse was a huge letdown for me. The works of Woody Allen and Polanski are treasures. Allen's relationship with Soon-Yi Previn also crossed a line. Yuk to their behavior. I started watching FIREFLY LANE. So far the series follows Kristin Hannah's book fairly well. IMHO it is not great but entertaining enough that I will continue to watch it for sure. Not a movie, but did any of you see the videos on TV of the parachute opening taken by Perseverance while landing on Mars? Amazing to me.
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Post by lani on Feb 23, 2021 20:00:08 GMT
parachute opening taken by Perseverance Yes, it's funny, BBC America had the video before I ever saw it on the U.S. stations. It's so fascinating versus a moon landing: atmosphere that will support a parachute, audio also because no vacuum. I'll be interested when the little helicopter is deployed. I'd like to hear some stats on just how much atmosphere is necessary for all this. I was let down by James Levine also. And Placido Domingo. For some reason I want to associate this bad behavior with "low brow" entertainment, and we know the industry makes no difference. Can happen anywhere. I subscribe to Wine Spectator and there has been a lot of press lately about harassment and difficulty advancing among female sommeliers. Turn over any rock...
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Post by geritru on Feb 25, 2021 1:31:46 GMT
Last night we saw I CARE A LOT. Wow, what a great psychological thriller! We really liked it and had no idea what would come next or how it would end.
THIS IS US is my favorite TV series. This week's show and last week's show brought back lots of memories of the births of my girls and taking them home as new babies. I love that show!
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Post by Gail in SC on Feb 26, 2021 3:59:02 GMT
I watched I CARE A LOT. It was not as difficult to watch as I thought it would be. The idea is horrendous--people becoming legal guardians of the elderly, putting them in nursing homes, and stealing their property. It is a thriller and Rosamund Pike (GONE GIRL, among others) is very good.
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Post by conniej on Feb 26, 2021 14:34:21 GMT
Watched CRAZY HEART and liked it a lot.
When reporter Jean Craddock (Oscar nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal) interviews Bad Blake (Oscar winner Jeff Bridges) -- an alcoholic, seen-better-days country music legend -- they connect, and the hard-living crooner sees a possible saving grace in a life with Jean and her young son. But can he leave behind an existence playing in the shadow of Tommy (Colin Farrell), the upstart kid he once mentored? Robert Duvall produces and co-stars.
Cast Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Tom Bower, James Keane, William Marquez, Ryan Bingham, Paul Herman, Rick Dial, Beth Grant
2009 movie and just a light movie for late at night.
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Post by Gail in SC on Feb 26, 2021 21:57:31 GMT
I enjoyed CRAZY HEART too, Connie.
I am watching the second season of FOR ALL MANKIND on Apple TV+ I love everything about space. This is an imagined world where the Soviets got to the moon first.
NOMADLAND on Hulu continues to get a lot of buzz. Some reviewers have said it is Frances McDormand's best role. That's saying a lot!
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Post by geritru on Feb 27, 2021 2:10:50 GMT
If you like action-packed thrillers, we just saw a good one on Amazon Prime.
THE RHYTHM SECTION - Stephanie Patrick veers down a path of self-destruction after a tragic plane crash kills her family. When Stephanie discovers it wasn't an accident, she turns to a former CIA operative who can help her find the culprits. But her quest to uncover the truth soon turns into a full-blown quest for revenge as Patrick decides to punish those responsible. Blake Lively did an excellent job! Jude Law and Sterling K Brown were also in it.
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Post by Gail in SC on Feb 27, 2021 22:27:08 GMT
I've been watching films that are listed to commemorate Black History Month. I saw JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH on HBO Max. It is a good film but painful to watch. It is about how a black man was offered a plea deal by the FBI. To comply, he infiltrated the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on the Chairman, Fred Hampton. In the name of justice, the FBI and local police were brutal in their pursuit. I know this stuff happened, but it is not a positive time in our history.
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Post by Gail in SC on Mar 1, 2021 1:48:46 GMT
I watched two musicals last night. One was actually a documentary about the history of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF that I had DVRd from Great Performances on PBS. It was wonderful. There were discussions of the themes, how the original Broadway production came to be, and how it has had International appeal. People involved with different productions were interviewed and they showed parts of many of them. I love this musical and was dancing around the house to some of it. I cried during others. wonderful show.
Then I saw that the film CHICAGO was on one of the channels. I DVRd that and watched it today. So creative and good!
I do enjoy musicals, always have, and these are two of the best.
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Post by lani on Mar 1, 2021 17:51:10 GMT
DH wanted to see ALLEN VS. FARROW so I did see it. It was mesmerizing and we will watch all the episodes. It still leaves me with the dilemma of the artist versus his work (it does always seem to be men) that I originally posted about.
I watched the Golden Globes last night and am looking forward to NOMADLAND and MINARI. Mr. Lani wants to see THE FATHER. I am hesitant to see anything regarding dementia since my mom and both of DH's parents died after dealing with it.
Oh, we saw the BORAT sequel. It didn't deserve to win IMO. Parts were funny but his points are soon made and don't need a full length film.
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Post by Gail in SC on Mar 1, 2021 18:25:54 GMT
I have been wanting to see NOMADLAND since I heard Zhao was directing it. I have seen two other films she directed, both using non-actors and portraying different ways of life. I also enjoyed her use of the scenery in an area of the country with which I am unfamiliar.
I am one of the few who did not like the first BORAT, Lani. A bit too crude for me in some parts. IMHO he is a good actor, though. I really liked him in THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 and THE SPY.
It is hard NOT to to get drawn into ALLEN VS FARROW. The artist vs. his work is definitely a dilemma. Women are also perpetrators. I do know of women in education who seduced younger students and someone in my family was sexually harassed by a female boss, while someone else's mother was sexually inappropriate with him. Yuk to all of it. Woody Allen's films are still good, but I cringe with some of the themes now.
I did not watch the Golden Globes show last night. I will look for snippets of it online.
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