What are you watching?

[Matt H.]

Watched another downbeat favourite this afternoon, ivansxtc. It's one of the best and most affecting movies about the dark side of showbiz. Bernard Rose's best movie too.

[Matt H.]

I watched CRUMB again. It's my favourite documentary, I think. I love watching it when I'm depressed, it always makes me feel better.

[cryptkicker_5]

I just watched the 2012 movie Found. Thought it had a great premise but was hampered by its budget (the movie cost $8,000). Last night, I watched Mississippi Burning (1988) for the first time --- a tough film, I liked it. After that, I was in the mood for bad '90s erotic thrillers, so I watched The Temp (1993) and The Crush (1993) back to back.

Tonight I have a few options; not sure what I'll watch yet though.

[Dom D]

Bullet Train: This has been getting bad notices. It's a little cute but I thought it was alright. I like Brad Pitt in a comedy role and the two British hitmen were fun too. The film didn't give Andrew Koji much to do which will be a disappointment to all Warrior fans. I got a little lost with the story in the end but for some Guy Rithcie-esque thrills with good actors I think you can do a lot worse.

[Newt Cox]

Morbius-Been wanting to see this since we saw the trailer in August 2020 before the New Mutants movie. And well it ain't bad. Decent story and acting. A bit too much CGI for me. But not bad.

[JonesyTheCat]

Ophuls' American noirs are first rate.

Indeed.

[Randy G]

Ophuls' American noirs are first rate.

[JonesyTheCat]

BARBARIAN - Another entry into the "don't look in the basement" and the one making the most waves out of the recent horror releases. I found it to be a fun quickie view, and as usual, ultimately disposable (not in a negative way, it's just a film coming from a long line of proverbial cousins, with more sure to come)

CAUGHT - A noiresque Max Ophuls film from 1949, about a young woman who marries a millionaire who turns out to be insane. Not one to be gaslit, she leaves to make her own way, and winds up working as receptionist in a doctor's office. Starting Robert Ryan, Barbera Bel Geddes, and James Mason. One of Scorsese's favorite films. I can see why.

[JonesyTheCat]

Watched my way through three current releases.

ELVIS - Liked this one a lot more than I was expecting to. Luhrmann's visual sense is at it's craziest here, and the set pieces and art direction are insane.

BODIES BODIES BODIES - After hearing Joe Dante sing it's praises, I decided to not ignore it. Clever and well shot. Probably never watch again, but glad I saw it.

PREY - Finally got around to this. Nothing incredible, but still super fun, and world's better than the Shane Black abortion, which I actually laughed at during some scenes, in particular with the little kid.

Also finished off the streaming drama show THE BEAR, about a sandwich shop, which is really good so far.

Combing the collection tonight, eyeing a Kaiju or a noir...

[James Reed]

Where is Akari? a Japanese web drama sponsored by a soap company. I just watched episode 2, but here are the links for both episodes so far. "Akari" is played by Riko Sakihama, who is on hiatus from the Japanese idol group Rabi Rabu IDOL School. The basic plot is a divorced mother and her 12 year old daughter move to Okinawa, where the mother grew up. The daughter, Akari, wanders off and talks to the neighbors, causing her mother to worry.

[Randy G]

Kamikaze Hearts - Damn this is a good movie. Too bad Bashore didn't get to make more films. The extras are also really good with interviews with Sharon Mitchell, Susie Bright, Howie Gordon, Annie Sprinkle and her partner.

Bashore and Bright both mention the director Charles Webb aka. Carlos/Charles De Santos as the self-proclaimed 'Marxist pornographer.' Don't recall I've seen any of his xxx films, just the non-explicit Honky Tonk Nights.

[Randy G]

Saloum - An African horror film that starts out as a bit of an action thriller before the supernatural elements kick in. Mighty impressive. On Shudder.

[Matt H.]

Red Eye-Feels like this Wes Craven thriller/horror is forgotten. Hell I had forgot about it till I found the dvd cheap at a garage sale 2 weeks ago.

Fun thriller. Sure it ain't top tier Craven but it is better than most of the stuff he made after People Under the Stairs.

Totally agree. It's a great thriller.

[Newt Cox]

Red Eye-Feels like this Wes Craven thriller/horror is forgotten. Hell I had forgot about it till I found the dvd cheap at a garage sale 2 weeks ago.

Fun thriller. Sure it ain't top tier Craven but it is better than most of the stuff he made after People Under the Stairs.

[JonesyTheCat]

THE INVITATION - Another head scratcher as far as wondering what people expect from a genre film. I really really enjoyed it. Good performances (not an easy hat trick making such broad material believable), a LOT of respect shown to classic vampire cinema, in particular Hammer, absolutely gorgeous lightning and cinematography, and the modern tropes regarding wokeness and privilege are done with balance and add to the narrative rather than distract from it.

For me? And I am an old man who grew up seeing stuff from Hammer and AIP in theaters as they died their last post-THE EXORCIST breathes.

THE INVITATION, for me, is one of the most legit vampire films to hit theaters since 30 DAYS OF NIGHT.

Had a great time with it tonight.