The Unofficial Ongoing Current Movies in Theaters thread

[dookeyXXX]

GODZILLA MINUS ONE
The 37th--and arguably the best-- film in the Godzilla franchise is stomping back into theaters this week (it opens in some cinemas today, others on Friday) for a limited engagement to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the atomic lizard's birth.

If you missed this joint the first time around, I humbly and highly recommend trying to catch it on the BIG screen.

It's a fantastic film.

What's more is that on a paltry (by Hollywood standards) budget of in the neighborhood of $15M, it looks better than most $150-350M big budget action films. It's also better, in terms of acting, storytelling, pacing, drama, and action than most big budget films, too.

Watching this film will make you scratch your head at what Legendary and Warner Bros. have done to the Godzilla (and Kong) mythos.

Even if you don't like Giant Monster Films, you'll more'n likely dig this one thanks to the solid storytelling and tight melodrama lurking between the frames.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXl8zJ_jhEc

[Mike Pow]

Agree wholeheartedly

Brilliant

[dookeyXXX]

I have seen the trailer(s) for Gladiator II a couple of times now and they have left me underwhelmed. Then again, I was in the minority camp of those who didn’t really dig the original film.

But this sequel that musician Nic Cave pitched?
I woulda been into that!


https://www.nme.com/news/film/ridley...t-made-3811145

[dookeyXXX]

I realize that this listing is incomplete and subject to change, but man next year’s slate of potential theatrical releases initially look hella lame.
Lottsa remakes, reboots, sequels, prequels, and live action interpretations of animated films. Sigh.
Here’s to hoping that there are some unlisted hidden gems that eventually make their way to theaters…

https://m.imdb.com/calendar/?ref_=nv_mv_cal

[Supermoon]

Saw Conclave yesterday. Really well done, beautifully shot, slow burn but with tension throughout and an amazing twist. Feinnes should get an Oscar nod for this. Same for Tucci.

[dookeyXXX]

SATURDAY NIGHT

Saturday Night made me nostalgic for my youth. I was ten when the show debuted and even at that age I remember how the next Monday at school it was all anybody was talking about. Entertaining movie but if you aren't intimately familiar with the players and the show I wouldn't bother.

Went and caught this at the local indie theater on Tuesday evening.
I really dug it.
It’s caustic, sharp, irreverent, and funny.
The cast is great, the pacing is super chaotic for the first two acts—reminded me of an Altman film in terms of rapid fire dialogue delivery—and there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
Oh, and Milton Berle?!?!?!

I was only 8 when the show debuted and didn’t watch it until my teens during the Eddie Murphy years and I only have a passing knowledge of the original Not Ready For Prime Time Players, but I still enjoyed it immensely.

One of my favorite films of 2024, hands down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ9O_tl5Npk

[dookeyXXX]

CONCLAVE

Saw Conclave yesterday. Really well done, beautifully shot, slow burn but with tension throughout and an amazing twist. Feinnes should get an Oscar nod for this. Same for Tucci.

I just saw it at what was sadly the closing night of my favorite cinema in Reno. I think it was quite literally the last movie they showed.

I completely concur in regards to the look of the film, the well drawn out slow burn tension, and Fiennes and Tucci’s thespian turns.

As for the twist, I found one portion of it really predictable and the other aspect I felt was a bit anticlimactic.

Also I couldn’t quite figure out the tone of the film. Part of it seems to condemn the Catholic Church and their ideals, while the other part seems to be saying “look at how progressive The Church is these days.”
In many ways the film also seemed to be a commentary on the current US political climate.

I did really like the final shot of the film, though. And the first 2 acts are solid.

It will definitely get some Oscar love.

It also proves that German director Edward Berger is no fluke. I loved his rendition of All Quiet on the Western Front and this film, for the most part, is visually and thematically stellar.

[dookeyXXX]

ANORA

So this film won the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes. FWTW.

It's an interesting tale, one we've seen before in countless other films, but here it's rendered with an urgency and immediacy that's mesmerizing.

It starts out soft core, moves into drunken twentysomethings in Vegas territory, then becomes a romcom before morphing into a thriller and chase film.

But lurking underneath the gloss and debauchery is a sobering tale of class distinction, entitlement, and broken dreams.

While whole chunks of the film, in regards to plot and characters, feel familiar, they are delivered with such verve as to make any of the obvious deja vu fresh and vibrant.

Kudos to the core duo of Mikey Madison and
Mark Eydelshteyn, who have a sizzling chemistry and absolutely command the screen. But the supporting cast is just as magnetic, whether it be petulant strippers (Lindsey Normington), henchmen (Yura Borisov, Vache Tovmasyan, and Karren Karagulian), or snotty oligarchs (Darya Ekamasova). Everyone involved acts their asses off with a natural brilliance.

The film does drag in spots and probably could have been trimmed a few minutes here and there, but the performances of all involved keep you enthralled from start to finish.

And the ending? It's pretty damn potent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m6UrWMl18M

[dookeyXXX]

Sadly, we’ve entered that holiday period where big blockbusters, sequels, and regurgitated IP are crowding the cineplexes.
My local theaters purged all the small films I was interested in seeing—A Real Pain, Blitz, Memoirs of a Snail—in favor of stuffing the screens with more “accessible” fare. I get it, they need to fill seats and move concessions.
But to remove all other options kinda sucks. [end rant]

(That said, a co-worker who is not a Broadway musical fan, nor has he read the source novel, gave a huge co-sign to Wicked; he’s been yammering about how awesome it was all week!)

Anyway, if it’s still showing near you go see this film:
HERETIC
I’m giving a Big Ass Thumbs Up to this disturbing, yet thought provoking psychological horror thriller.
Hugh Grant absolutely owns this film.

Watch the full trailer trailer only if you don’t mind spoilers, but this teaser is creepily cryptic enough…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSo0lmONZIU

[dookeyXXX]

GET AWAY
This is a snarky, campy vacation/folk horror comedy that moves along briskly and succeeds thanks to a sharp cast and quick dialogue.
Some key points are frustratingly vague and the “twist” is rather visible, but also not what you’d guess; the pacing and cast help you coast through any inconsistencies.
So, in the end it’s a fun and gory romp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxR_vM0ZdI4

[dookeyXXX]

THE RETURN
Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes anchor this slow, methodical tale that seems to tone down the fantastical elements of its source material, Homer’s Odyssey..
From what I can tell, it re-interprets Books 13 - 24 (I, sadly, have never read the epic poem).
The look of the film is sparse, feeling more like a filmed stage play. That said, director Uberto Pasolini manages to sneak in numerous arty shots and some interesting framing sequences here and there.
The overall acting and story come off very earnest and almost vintage soap opera like, with the exception of Fiennes, who is steadfast with his manner and soul-burning with his gaze. Binoche, whom I usually fawn over, came off flat and left me somewhat unperturbed.
While incredibly slow in regards to pacing, there are a few moments of bristling action that spark things up considerably. Sadly, these are few and far between.
Personally, I could have done with some of the fantastical elements that appear to be present in Homer’s epic.
But I also found the stripping down of the myth to be an interesting take in hindsight.
Ultimately, it’s a film that I easily could have waited to watch on streaming at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOQQ45ddYdk

[dookeyXXX]

<p>
FLOW https://flowthemovie.com/ If this is showing anywhere near you, get thee to the theatre with haste! It&rsquo;s a wonderful and beautiful little film that is rich in heart, has some deep subtextual messages of an environmental, social, political, religious, and philosophical nature. Above all else it is heartwarming and poignant. Although the film was animated using Blender software, it has a look and feel that wavers between hand drawn and computer animation, which gives it a slightly surreal feel. RIYL The Wild Robot; The Incredible Journey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgZccxuj2RY </p>

[PB]

Looks amazing!!

[dookeyXXX]

Looks amazing!!

The director’s previous film, Away, is worth checking out in the meantime (streaming on Prime and Tubi).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgR-_tzCvX0

[dookeyXXX]

NOSFERATU
Critocal darling Robert Egger’s remake of the 1922 silent classic and 1972 Werner Herzog version is a sumptuous looking endeavor teeming with intricately composed shots and vibrant cinematography.
It is less of a scary horror movie than it is creepy and brimming with psychological dread and unease buffered by bouts of hallucinatory fever dream images.
There are a few hiccups, specifically his choice to have the film take place in Germany but then all of the core actors are British or American;; not sure why he didn’t either use German actors or relocate the film to London. To further hi-lite the off-putting accents, he had actors portraying country folk speaking in some Eastern European dialect with English subtitles, so it made his choices somewhat incongruent (he had the same inconsistent accent problem with The Northman).
Additionally, the film is played straight and somber except for Willem Dafoe’s character who is goofy and campy and makes for a conflicting tone.
It feels like Eggers wanted to pay homage not only to the two previous Nosferatu films , but also the Hammer era Dracula films and Polanski’s vampire comedy The Fearless Vampire Killers.

Despite these minor inconsistencies, the film is a visual treat and definitely worth seeing on the Big Screen.

Furthermore, it finally makes me want to read Bram Stoker’s novel…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b59rxDB_JRg

[dookeyXXX]

THE ROOM NEXT DOOR
Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar’s first English language feature takes awhile to warm up, but once it does it delivers some subdued twists, moments of emotional purity, and of course his trademark focus on architecture, color, and design. The film is a visually vibrant blast of bright palettes.
At times I felt his signature telenovela melodrama plot and dialogue is better suited to his native tongue, but by the second act I had settled into stars Swinton and Moore’s interpretation and the combination of the story and the meticulously composed shots won me over.
Definitely not his best film, but any Almodovar is 100X more engaging than most Hollywood fare.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x25RHMEkHks

[The Reverend Floater]

Wife and I saw the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. It should probably remain completely unknown.

I thought it was pretty unremarkable. It felt like if Timothee Chalamet wasn’t blazing hot shit right now as an actor/celebrity, nobody would have noticed it to begin with and the title would be very fitting. I will say the woman who plays Joan Baez, Monica Barbaro, was quite good. Ed Norton was not up to his usual caliber, in my opinion. Dylan’s interaction with Johnny Cash was probably the only part that made me say “oh, that’s right.” Everything else was neither novel nor surprising. I’d wait to stream.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dookeyXXX]

BETTER MAN

I saw the Robbie Williams biopic Wednesday night and it is bonkers good.
Imagine Singing in the Rain crossed with Planet of the Apes…

I knew f$&k-all about Williams going into the movie, but he’s an entertaining rogue and his self oral history is told with snarky panache and glint-in-the-eye tongue-in-cheekiness.

This film is beyond entertaining and the coolest musical biopic I’ve seen (okay, it’s a close second to Kneecap).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84PGKvnTYHc

[dookeyXXX]

SING SING
This low-key drama, shot in a neo-documentary verite style is sparse and lean, being driven by a cadre of solid performances anchored by Coleman Domingo and Clarence Maclin (the latter of whom wrote the screenplay).
The story centers around an RTA (Rehabilitation Through The Arts) theater troupe at Sing Sing prison in New York as they prepare a new stage play.
It’s a captivating character study of men behind bars teeming with memorable and poignant performances.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3dXc6P3zH8

[dookeyXXX]

THE BRUTALIST
First and foremost, do not let the 3.5 hour runtime scare you off; there is a 15-minute intermission at the 90-minute mark just like they used to do with 3+ hour movies back in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

As for the film itself? It’s an engaging melodrama about a WWII refuge who comes to America and gets embroiled in working for a demanding and wealthy businessman.
Adrian Brody commands the screen as eccentric and focused architect László Toth, while Guy Pearce captures the greed and avarice of post-WWII American capitalism.
The film is teeming with artfully composed shots and scenes and the musical score is richly immersive, adding to the twisted underbelly of the story.
It was shot in VistaVison, so try and see it on an IMAX scene if you can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d7yU379Ur0

[funkendrenchman]

THE BRUTALIST
First and foremost, do not let the 3.5 hour runtime scare you off; there is a 15-minute intermission at the 90-minute mark just like they used to do with 3+ hour movies back in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

As for the film itself? It’s an engaging melodrama about a WWII refuge who comes to America and gets embroiled in working for a demanding and wealthy businessman.
Adrian Brody commands the screen as eccentric and focused architect László Toth, while Guy Pearce captures the greed and avarice of post-WWII American capitalism.
The film is teeming with artfully composed shots and scenes and the musical score is richly immersive, adding to the twisted underbelly of the story.
It was shot in VistaVison, so try and see it on an IMAX scene if you can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d7yU379Ur0

Finally, a movie coming to our theater here that will be worth checking out.

[dookeyXXX]

COMPANION
At its core this is a nifty little modern noir with all the stock characters in play from the conniving hustler to the gullible sap to the requisite femme fatale.
While the film definitely owes a huge debt to the likes of Future World and Ex Machina, plus too many 1940s and 50s potboiler thrillers to list here, it has enough twists and turns to keep things interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhcLjiVtgco

[dookeyXXX]

RIFF RAFF
This is a nice little mean-spirited dysfunctional family dramedy anchored by some solid thespianism and peppered with plenty of quirky humor and violent snark. The entire cast is top notch and the pacing is even tempered, keeping everything moving along at a steady gait.
I laughed quite a few times, got jump scared at least once, and was pleased with the twists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNtKUBrNWNE

[dookeyXXX]

MICKEY 17
I enjoyed it for the most part, even if it reminded me of City of Lost Children and Brazil.
I really dug Robert Pattinson’s performance; he’s proven time and time again to be a wonderfully nuanced actor.
Perhaps the only blight is a rather ham-fisted riff on DT and EM and MAGA culture by Mark Ruffallo, whose performance felt like a SNL parody gone awry. The rest of the humor in the film was less garish and more quirky and low-key.
I also enjoyed the creature designs.
I will say that if you really enjoyed Parasite you might be put off by this film; it really has more in common with the director’s other films, specifically Okja, Snowpiercer, and The Host .

Overall, I enjoyed it and was highly entertained.

PS
I bought the source novel more than a year ago and the film has me excited to start turning pages…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26uTcwSriMg

[dookeyXXX]

OPUS
Anchored by some solid turns from an eclectic cast (including a sublimely gonzo John Malkovich), this psychological horror thriller mines some familiar themes, but tweaks them just enough to make things fresh and intriguing.
Writer/director Mark Anthony Green tosses out a lot of interesting ideas, coaxes some great performances from the game actors, and has an artistic eye which delivers some striking imagery.
The story leaves a lot of loose ends, which is mildly frustrating when you start your post viewing mull over, but the initial ride is well paced and contains enough weird and seriously WTF moments to keep your attention.

RIYL
Futureworld, Blink Twice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5owo-kbx8X0