I also saw The Florida Project, but actually did not find it to be emotionally devastating (unlike Manchester by the Sea last year or others). I loved the kid actors, but felt like you could see the end coming from a mile away. It was definitely interesting, but it just didn’t draw me in emotionally as so many other movies have. I was surprised to read the almost universal critical acclaim. I liked a lot about it, but did not think it was a revaluation of any sort. Maybe I have just read too much about similar situations to be shocked at the situation.
DH and I saw LBJ Saturday night… good history lesson and well done but not an amazing film. Woody Harrelson very strong performance as LBJ although the make-up sometimes distracting because you still seem him as Woody H. Jennifer Jason Leigh good as LadyBird…
Anyone seen the preview for the Pentagon Papers movie with Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks? Amazingly, it’s the first movie they’ve been in together. I need to read up on this, as I was only 11 at the time this happened. Looks like it will be a good one.
I saw Victoria and Abdul today. Visually appealing and wonderful performances, but what else would you expect from Judi Dench?
The Secret Killing of a Sacred Deer is not your feel good holiday fare.
Intense, provocative, thought provoking…arthouse for sure.
Mature teens and above.
Cast of Nicole K and Colin F and the teens is superb.
If you like the movie you will exit unsettled.
If you hated the movie then you will exit wanting your hour and half back.
I liked Lady Bird, but not as much as I expected from all the accolades.
I’m going to watch Mudbound on Netflix. It got four stars in the Washington Post today.
some oldies but goodies I rewatched and forgot how good they were:
The Day of the Jackal (1973) – wow this was great
The Battle of Algiers (1966) – same deal
JFK (1991) – far-fetched at times but really compelling
@cgpm59 – I saw the preview and it looked good! Is it opening any sooner than Jan 2018?
@beerme – thanks for the comments on Sacred Deer. I want to see that.
Battle of Algiers is tremendous! They don’t make propaganda the way they used to. There’s no question that film takes sides, but it has all sorts of fine nuances.
Two other films I love from the mid 60s that I have watched or re-watched recently:
Luis Bunuel, The Exterminating Angel (1962). I watched this because of all the hype surrounding the new opera version of it. The film is absolutely terrific and funny. I saw the opera, too, and it’s neither.
Robert Wise, The Sand Pebbles (1966). A huge, satisfying, big-budget costume drama about Americans in China during the turbulent 1920s as the Kuomintang became increasingly militant. An intelligent appraisal of American military intervention in Asia made just as the Vietnam War was ramping up. Steve McQueen as an experienced sailor too independent and principled for the Navy, and a young Candice Bergen as an American missionary as beautiful and strong as the young Candice Bergen. And hordes of uncredited young Chinese actors looking really angry and shouting a lot.
My husband persuaded me to watch Wait Until Dark (Terence Young, 1967) starring Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin. I had seen the original (was in high school) and remembered it as incredibly suspenseful. I have to say that it didn’t stand the test of time. Overall it was silly and contrived–one part, however, was still scary.
Loving Vincent - Over 65K (yes, that’s 65,000!!) oil paintings painted in the style of Van Gogh were use to “animate” this movie. The film explores whether or not the artist did indeed kill himself, and brings to life many of the people appearing in his portraits and many of the locations (Arles, San Remy, Paris). It was fascinating to watch. A must for Van Gogh lovers.
We saw Thor the other night since H loved comics. It was better than I expected and good escapism for a few hours. It was $7/person, so quite reasonable compared to their regular prices. Thus us their anniversary special M-Wed prices.
I saw two movies this weekend! First, I saw Jane, a documentary about Jane Goodall’s early days in Tanzania, at a special event at the National Geographic headquarters, with Jane Goodall in person introducing the film. Knowing she was watching it just a few rows ahead of me in the audience was pretty cool. She is amazing, especially at 83.
Then on the spur of the moment I went to Loving Vincent. I was at a mall with a theater and I happened to see the only showing of the day was at 4:55 as I walked past. It was 4:47 at the time. So I decided it was fate. Really extraordinary, although be warned that since there are 65,000 hand-painted frames, the animation isn’t as smooth as it it is in, say, a cartoon. Some of the movement seems to almost vibrate, with shadings and colors shifting rapidly between frames. It was almost dizzying at first, although since I got there so late I was in the third row, which might have exacerbated it.
Catching up on some old Cagney and Edward G Robinson gangster flicks.
Last weekend:
Lady killer
G-men
Dr. Clitterhouse
We saw Thor over the weekend. We are shallow enough that my girls and I plan to see Justice League because of the Aqua Man actor. 
We plan to see Justice League because we like Wonder Woman!
We love Wonder Woman and her movie was great. I’ll watch that again. But have you SEEN Aqua Man?
Yea, saw the preview of Aquaman. He looks interesting too.
The actor who plays Aquaman is the guy who played Drogo in Game of Thrones, correct?
Another two thumbs up for Loving Vincent. The entire film is created in oil paintings (including the credits) as well as in Van Gogh’s styles. The story, the visuals, the music, all beautiful. It took my breath away. Don’t wait for this one to come to DVD, enjoy it in its splendor on a big screen. It’s worth it.