What Movie Are You Watching Or Watched Today?

[DzM]

The Color of Money

I had entirely forgotten that this is a Martin Scorsese film.

It is lovingly shot. Really beautiful cinematography. 9-ball has never been so interesting to watch. Paul Newman is so comfortable and natural. Tom Cruise before he became Tom Cruise is a real pleasure to watch. The guy has talent. Keep an eye on him, I predict he'll go places. The two female characters exist only to further the journeys of the men and the movie entirely fails the Bechdel test. But at least when a man gets fought over it's between a woman and another man, not between two women. And they're both fighting over who can best manipulate Tom Cruise (ultimately a question that was answered by L. Ron Hubbard).

Anyway, it's a Scorsese. It's very nicely shot, it's really well acted, it drags in many places. It's the kind of thing you'll like if you like Scorsese films, except with fewer guns.

Now I want to go watch The Hustler again but I refuse to spend $3.99 to rent it.

[Low D]

[...] 5/10 for me.

The marketing copy on the poster already had me ("She drained them of their manhood ... and then-of their LIVES!" and "the story of the kind of woman few people even know exists"), with the random bad punctuation, the weird tense, the she-devil succubus insinuations. That's classic dime-store sexploitation cover work right there! This seems like the kind of film that should be watched while really intoxicated.

Also, how can one be "The Devil's Widow"? Aren't angels immortal or something? [Quick Internetting] Huh. So I guess the Devil ISN'T immortal and, after the Last Battle with God Lucifer/Satan/The Devil will "be no more" (so, not dead, not alive - just gone). Or something like that. So that raises the original question - How can someone be The Devil's Widow if he still exists until after the Last Battle? That makes no sense.

Maybe I'm reading more into this than I should be.

I think you are reading too much into it, but just because that poster has very little to do with the actual film, LoL. I think "The Devi'ls Widow" was the American name, for which the film was also re-cut to be more horror-ish. A sploitation movie relating to that poster might be fun to see high, the film I saw would just put me to sleep.

[firehazard]

[...] 5/10 for me.

The marketing copy on the poster already had me ("She drained them of their manhood ... and then-of their LIVES!" and "the story of the kind of woman few people even know exists"), with the random bad punctuation, the weird tense, the she-devil succubus insinuations. That's classic dime-store sexploitation cover work right there! This seems like the kind of film that should be watched while really intoxicated.

Also, how can one be "The Devil's Widow"? Aren't angels immortal or something? [Quick Internetting] Huh. So I guess the Devil ISN'T immortal and, after the Last Battle with God Lucifer/Satan/The Devil will "be no more" (so, not dead, not alive - just gone). Or something like that. So that raises the original question - How can someone be The Devil's Widow if he still exists until after the Last Battle? That makes no sense.

Maybe I'm reading more into this than I should be.

The theology is, in a way, fascinating. My somewhat hazy recollection of the book of the Apocalypse is that the devil ended up being cast into a fiery chasm, or something. Or was that the Ring of Power? Anyway, I guess the small print on the poster has "They call her..." before the title of The Devil's Widow. So maybe she might have disputed the moniker as being factually incorrect.

Even more intriguing is that it was apparently based on the folk song Tam Lin (more recently Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer did a cracking version, btw). And had music by Pentangle. Maybe in fact the whole business of draining people of their manhood and "then-of" their lives could refer to Pentangle. (I sort of love the "then-of", though have no idea what the hyphen is meant to be doing in there.)

[DzM]

The theology is, in a way, fascinating. My somewhat hazy recollection of the book of the Apocalypse is that the devil ended up being cast into a fiery chasm, or something. Or was that the Ring of Power? Anyway, I guess the small print on the poster has "They call her..." before the title of The Devil's Widow. So maybe she might have disputed the moniker as being factually incorrect.

I overlooked the "They call her..."

I can see where she'd have trouble fighting that. "I have never even met that charming, silver tongued goat headed lord of the Underworld, the Devil, Abaddon, Ba'al Zabul. Never heard of him."

Still doesn't answer how she can be his widow (even falsely accused). I mean ... Maybe those doing the whisper campaign just haven't thought it through and don't realize they are making themselves look bad. Like a month or so ago when the FSB tried to frame some journalists (right?) as spies and sabateurs, and showed amongst their cache of evidence "3 Sims" which ended up being three expansion packs to The Sims 3, a >15 year old video game rather than actual mobile phone SIM cards.

Maybe in fact the whole business of draining people of their manhood and "then-of" their lives could refer to Pentangle. (I sort of love the "then-of", though have no idea what the hyphen is meant to be doing in there.)

I presume that, in honor of Tam Lin, the hyphen is trying to introduce a pregnant pause.

[soulfinger]

Legend - Tom Hardy playing both Ronnie and Reggie Kray, supported by a pretty decent cast. Not sure how I missed that at the time. Tom almost using his Alfie Solomons voice in not glorifying the Krays...

[Low D]

Pontypool (2008)

Sort of a zombie movie - a radio host interprets the possible outbreak of a deadly virus which infects the small Ontario town he is stationed in. Almost the entire film takes place inside the radio station with just three characters. Actually very scary in the thriller way, not the zombie slasher way. Director: Bruce McDonald; Writer Tony Burgess (based on his novel "Pontypool Changes Everything"); Starring: Stephen McHattie, Lisa Houle, Georgina Reilly.

[Frances]

Available today on Hulu, HBO Max and YouTube (not YouTube T.V.)

It is only playing 2 times a day in one theater here (till tomorrow?) Checked from San Juan Capistrano to Hollywood and it was in 3 theaters total, none in central Hollywood.

Lord knows we need our Maverick, Thor, Lightyear and all the other garbage.
Minions too.
Headache activators.

[Villajohn]

Corner Gas.The Movie.

[Low D]

Everything Everywhere All At Once

An excellent film - a multiverse movie like Douglas Adams would have written if he was a Chinese immigrant to North America. Will appeal to fans of Adams, Terry Gilliam, multiverse sci-fi, Chinese family dramas, martial arts movies, 2001 A Space Odyssey, and everything bagels.

[Frances]

9 seconds of Dumb and Dumber.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJo2-HKJgUI

[Niall]

Yesterday I watched wild mountain thyme. Was decent. Dunno why it got such bad reviews. Also watched in the name of the father. Great film

[firehazard]

Actually went to the actual cinema, for the first time since pre-Covid days.

Saw Elvis. Which was flashy and fun, typical of Baz Luhrmann, but long enough to require a comfort break for people of a certain age.

[Low D]

Crimson Peak (2015)

Directed by Guillermo del Torro. Not his best work - the story is just so basic. The use of CGI effects is distracting and doesn't mesh with the otherwise lush Edwardian visuals. Well acted and filmed, but the story is just meh. Should I have expected more from a story co-written by del Toro & the guy who wrote Dragonslayer?

[Frances]

Actually went to the actual cinema, for the first time since pre-Covid days.

Saw Elvis. Which was flashy and fun, typical of Baz Luhrmann, but long enough to require a comfort break for people of a certain age.

I liked it too.
Not the 'Cilla actress so much.
Lead actor was outstanding.

I especially liked the present day Vegas bits, the LV Hilton being Westgate now. Tom Hanks was weird in this but whatever.

They moved the Elvis statue inside at Westgate and he's gradually drifting closer to the Timeshare counter.
LMAO.

Still an interesting place and I used to win on their Michael Jackson and Rolling Stones slots.

The whole Baz style is tiresome, though it suited Moulin Rouge. Couldn't pay me to watch his Gatsby.

But it's Vegas and Elvis, so...

[Christine]

Banshees of Inisherin, by Martin McDonagh. It’s not out yet but I will watch as soon as. Of course, he identifies with the Pogues:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/202 ... SApp_Other