Funny enough I think I agree with you. I say funny because Silver Linings Playbook is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I think she's great in it. I also really liked Joy and American Hustle, which were also David O Russell movies. Now that I think about it, when she's not in his films she is either meh, or baaad though. X-Men, bad, Hunger Games, meh, Passengers, bad. She's had probably more average performances than great ones. I can't help but like her though, because again, Silver Linings Playbook, possibly my favorite movie.
That's what they tell you to justify raising prices I think. Cinemark has over 800 million in the bank according to a close friend of mine, and I've done quite a bit of work in their facilities. Smart business people, but I don't believe for a second they don't make money off of movie tickets. I'd be more inclined to believe it's true at the older run down "dollar theaters" that sell tickets for a couple of dollars. You can get it for $2, and then drop $10 on snacks. Then it's simple mathematics. Just saw American Assassin. Not sure how long ago it was released in the US, but not bad. Kind of glorified becoming a psycho assassin though. Interesting experience watching that movie sitting next to a bunch of Muslims, as it certainly did not paint Islam in a positive light.
I really liked Silver Linings Playbook. I also really liked American Hustle. I wasn't a fan of Joy though. It's hard to explain, but I felt like the story was told in a way and it unfolded in a away where I felt like we were rooting for Jennifer Lawrence more than we we rooting for her character to get over. Hard to explain. My favorite Russell movie is still Three Kings. I love that movie.
I've heard Mother! is a great concept and does some things really well as far as pushing storytelling, but the movie isn't fun to watch which is... pretty important. Also incidentally (and I guess wrong thread), I just finished Bojack Season 4 and it was probably the best season thus far. Truly great animated show that does an incredible job of digging into insecurity and sensitivity in a weird, eclectic way. I'm going to catch up now on Aziz Anzari's show and then maybe the second season of "Love" but I wasn't a huge fan of the ending in the first season.
It probably is the wrong thread, but Bojack is amazing at laying out BIG life issues in a way where you almost don't notice they are making a point until they do and it's powerful. It can be hilarious, gut-wrenching and soul-crushing in the same 15 minute span...and its a cartoon with talking animals.
Tackling in no particular order: inadequacy, poor parenting, teenage angst, angst in general, alcoholism, drug addiction, sex addiction, obsession, dementia, old medical issues, gender stereotypes, sexual stereotypes, the difficulties of marriage, miscarriage, the difficulty of being an "old parent", social expectations and norms, of course Hollywood expectations and disappointments and hypocrisies... I probably missed a bunch too, but these stuck out to me. And they're wrapped up in a weird cartoon with quirky animation in 30 minute segments presented in ways that are skate the traditional storytelling vices, but with a twist that keeps the show fresh. I can't say enough about it. I also recognize it's a very Californian show. I have some friends in the industry who think it might be the best show out there right now and I keep telling them a large part of that is because so many of the themes are relateable to them in obvious ways.
I think they were sort of getting inside the head of what it might be like to have dementia and then pop out of it for a second before going back in. Heart wrenching.
Completely. My grandmother that helped raised me was a lot like that towards the end. That episode really hits home.
Doesn't feel right, if that makes any sense. The actress playing Lara nailed the accent but seems to vanilla to me. It might not be a bad movie when all said and done but the casting just doesn't feel right.
I don't think it's the casting. I think it's just not an inspiring movie... Some of those shots are exactly out of the game. A little too exact.
It doesn’t look great to me, but it looks like it could be not bad. What’s funny to me is the internet reaction, that she doesn’t look like Lara Croft enough, Angelina Jolie was way better, this doesn’t look like Tomb Raider, etc. It’s pretty clear half the internet doesn’t realize this is based on the most recent TR games, specifically the first reboot on last gen consoles. Also, I don’t think people have seen the original Tomb Raider for a while, because it’s garbage. Saw it on the movie channel months back, watched a few minutes of horrible acting by Daniel Craig of all people, saw an awful action sequence, and changed it. It was never good, and it’s aged horribly. I’ll at least give this a chance, it felt part TR and part Uncharted, which is not a bad thing.
The new gen games are great and a ton of fun. I think many complaints have to do with the oversexualized version of what Lara Croft started out as: ridiculously thin with curvy hips and enormous breasts. It's an unrealistic look and while Jolie might have been closer to the original look, who effing cares? It's a misogynistic stance and has nothing to do with the character. The character is actually a wonderful female protagonist with depth and quality. THAT is what's important.
Just kill it and make an awesome bloody animted series. I hate that no franchise can end and we get so few new ones. She always acted super edgy in a weird was like XXX.
Saw it this week with my MoviePass. I really liked it. Once you get past the premise that he could self train to become almost the equivalent of a spec op, the rest of the movie was really fun. The big finish with the Nuke was amazing. For sure a B+ for me. Also saw Wind River. Murder mystery set in the snowy wilderness. Starts and develops slowly, but has a satisfying finish. Some Native American / Res elements, and Renner and Olsen carry over some of their Avengers connection. I'd give it a B.