At the Movies with Kane and BN

[Kane52630]

The Tender Bar

A very sentimental and laid back coming of age story that, while doesn't do anything new or original, manages to be pretty charming and light in a traditional sense. It's almost as if George Clooney made the Wonder Years as a 90 minute movie, but with a bit of grit and language thrown in. I thought the performances were pretty good and it balances between being super schmaltzy and being super serious. Tye Sheridan, Ben Affleck, Briana Middleton, and Lily Rabe in particular were really good. It's such a vibe movie that I love the color grading and cinematography more than anything else in this movie which helps ground it even more. Overall, I really dug it despite how conventional it may seem.
3.5/5

 

[Doctor Jones]

Ben Affleck was great in it. One of his best roles. If you put him in the right role, he can really shine like he did in Chasing Amy.

 

[Kane52630]

False Positive

It's an interesting psychological body horror that is more of contemporary take on Rosemary's Baby. Probably the most interesting thing in this movie is how it's crafted together which feels like you're walking through a nightmare. You can definitely sense the creativity between the director John Lee and Ilana Glazer (who looks almost like a totally different person with that hair) and with what the movie is trying to say about the hardships of pregnancy. The performances between Ilana Glazer, Pierce Brosnan, and Justin Theroux were good even though it got incredibly silly at times. What takes this down a bit is the uneven tones of being a serious horror drama and being a campy (almost soap opera-ish at times) and bizarre horror flick. There's also some pacing issues that made the film feel longer than it was. Overall, while I didn't think this totally worked (and why I totally get A24 giving this to Hulu), I mostly enjoyed it for the filmmaking side of it.
3/5

 

[Kane52630]

Boiling Point

If a movie was somewhere between Locke and Uncut Gems, this would be it. It's a phenomenally tense thriller where you follow around a upscale restaurant as it slowly falls apart one night... all done with the one continuous shot method. Right away you get the documentary style feel to the movie and you're immediately hooked in. The director Philip Barantini manages to capture and weave in together beautifully a bunch of subplots surrounding the kitchen staff and the waiters and the overarching plot of the main character. Stephen Graham has always delivered a phenomenal performance and I think this might be his best so far. The rest of the cast was also brilliant especially Vinette Robinson and Ray Panthaki who got their moment to shine. It's one of those films where everyone feels like a real person that reacts to real situations and nobody goes out of character just to get the plot moving. Overall, by far one of the best movies of 2021 and one wish more people get to see.
5/5


You guys need to see this sh**.

@Black Narcissus @flickchick85 @Doctor Jones

 

[Black Narcissus]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

A much needed rewatch. A classic.

 

[Kane52630]

Stowaway

A well done scifi flick that almost makes you believe it's about to be a slasher or an alien horror movie. It turns out to be more of a traditional space movie where they explore a pretty interesting moral dilemma. They do a great job exploring the monotonous day to day operations of running a spaceship in a understated way. Knowing it's by Joe Penna who directed Arctic, this does kinda fall in line with that film more than anything where it's ultimately a survival movie. There's some really good performances by the main four cast and I thought they gave Toni Collette and Anna Kendrick some of the more interesting scenes. Overall, while I don't think this was as good as Arctic, it does have a plenty of great moments that kept me interested.
3.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Italian Studies

As much as I dug the Manhattan ambiance that they did a great job on shooting, this was a bit of a mess storywise. It's one of those where they don't give you a lot to work with or care for until the movie is almost over. Similar to Memento, it follows Vanessa Kirby as she suddenly loses her memory while shopping and you are left putting the pieces back together while roaming through New York. While I get it's probably not the point of the movie, you notice logically some of the things she does doesn't make sense even if she lost her memory like not looking at her ID in her purse or not looking on her phone to remember who she was. The bulk of the movie is a lot of aimless interactions with strangers and kids and while individually the scenes are kinda interesting, it doesn't really go anywhere. Overall, despite some cool cinematography of NYC, this could have been so much better.
2.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Pleasure

I'm assuming this is gonna be on Disney+?

It's a pretty intense look inside the porn industry that stars Sofia Kappel who begins her journey into this world. The director Ninja Thyberg does a great job making this character drama while also making it feel like a documentary where they go behind the scenes on how the business side of things are done. She also doesn't shy away from showing the more graphic part of the movie. Sofia Kappel's performance was really good, but I thought Revika Reustle kinda stole the show who plays her roommate. I'll say this probably needed a longer third act to make a lot of those things they step up feel more earned, but overall, this was really good.
3.5/5



@Black Narcissus i'm sure this is already on your watchlist.

 

[Black Narcissus]

Pleasure

I'm assuming this is gonna be on Disney+?

It's a pretty intense look inside the porn industry that stars Sofia Kappel who begins her journey into this world. The director Ninja Thyberg does a great job making this character drama while also making it feel like a documentary where they go behind the scenes on how the business side of things are done. She also doesn't shy away from showing the more graphic part of the movie. Sofia Kappel's performance was really good, but I thought Revika Reustle kinda stole the show who plays her roommate. I'll say this probably needed a longer third act to make a lot of those things they step up feel more earned, but overall, this was really good.
3.5/5



@Black Narcissus i'm sure this is already on your watchlist.

Yup. Roxane Mesquida told me about this flick.

Also, when are you going to watch and review 'The Call' ? Tis' on netflix.

 

[DKDetective]

Boiling Point

If a movie was somewhere between Locke and Uncut Gems, this would be it. It's a phenomenally tense thriller where you follow around a upscale restaurant as it slowly falls apart one night... all done with the one continuous shot method. Right away you get the documentary style feel to the movie and you're immediately hooked in. The director Philip Barantini manages to capture and weave in together beautifully a bunch of subplots surrounding the kitchen staff and the waiters and the overarching plot of the main character. Stephen Graham has always delivered a phenomenal performance and I think this might be his best so far. The rest of the cast was also brilliant especially Vinette Robinson and Ray Panthaki who got their moment to shine. It's one of those films where everyone feels like a real person that reacts to real situations and nobody goes out of character just to get the plot moving. Overall, by far one of the best movies of 2021 and one wish more people get to see.
5/5


You guys need to see this sh**.

@Black Narcissus @flickchick85 @Doctor Jones

I'm a little hurt, that I, the originator of the Hype Cooking Thread and master of the Gordon Ramsay ban gifs didn't get mentioned in the recommendation shout-outs!

I'm still going to see it, but I'm not going going to give you the credit for the recommendation now.

 

[Kane52630]

I'm a little hurt, that I, the originator of the Hype Cooking Thread and master of the Gordon Ramsay ban gifs didn't get mentioned in the recommendation shout-outs!

I'm still going to see it, but I'm not going going to give you the credit for the recommendation now.

 

[DKDetective]

On first seeing that poster, I immediately thought it was going to be a Gordon Ramsay biopic. Ramsay became famous through an expletive-filled documentary series titled "Boiling Point" about the opening of his flagship restaurant and quest for a third Michelin star. Both the pose and kitchen design look eerily familiar to stills of Ramsay and his restaurant from that time.

 

[Kane52630]

I'm sure Gordon Ramsay was one of the inspirations for the movie. There's also a character analog to Anthony Bourdain in the movie where a well known tv chef stops by the restaurant as it opens.

 

[Kane52630]

Infinite

There are an infinite amount of halfbaked ideas that felt crammed into this weak scifi action flick. It's full of lame exposition and it manages to be boring even with all the action scenes they cobbled together. Mark Wahlberg felt out of place and with all the fantasy elements in this, I felt like they could have used a better main actor to carry this. I don't know what Chiwetel Ejiofor was trying to go for, but it totally missed the mark. Overall, it's extremely forgettable and It's definitely one of Antoine Fuqua's weakest films to date.
1.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

The Worst Person in the World

Part rom com (or anti-rom com) and part character drama, it's a fantastic portrait of a woman who's unclear of her journey in life. They do a great job putting the focus less on traditional rom com scenarios and putting more focus on somebody who's finding a place in the world even if that means destroying relationships around you. In many ways, this has more in common with Lost in Translation than anything else with some fantasy elements. Really strong performances by Renate Reinsve and Anders Danielsen Lie that feel genuine and real. Overall, really well done and I look forward to obvious remake of this with Dakota Johnson.
4/5

 

[Kane52630]

Parallel Mothers

Name a better love story than Almodovar and his obsession with primary colors.

I gotta say, I love it when a lot of these auteur filmmakers take what seems like a plot to a sitcom and take it seriously or make it absolutely devastating (and in this case, it's both). It's a movie that tackles two subjects pretty well, one that manages to have a personal and heartbreaking story of motherhood and a story that has a sociopolitical mission statement of the Spanish Civil War. It mainly follows Penélope Cruz and Milena Smit (who both have great performances) as they both become mothers without the biological father helping them and you see how both of their lives get intertwined into this plot. While I gotta say, I wasn't too fond on the Almodovar style that often feels like a cheap soap opera, I do like everything else when the camera pulls back a bit. That being said, I did like this a lot more than his previous film. Overall, a really captivating drama that is messy and complicated.
4/5

 

[Black Narcissus]

The Howling

Directed by Joe Dante.

I'm kinda ashamed to admit that this was my first viewing. And what a goddamn viewing it was. This came out the same year as 'An American Werewolf in London'. And you know what? I had more fun with this. The right amount of 80s cheese, the right amount of sexy. Overall, one of the great werewolf films ever made.

 

[Kane52630]

Worth

A pretty standard legal drama that deals with the victims of 9/11 and the creation on the compensation fund. It more or less operates like the movie Spotlight with a different subject, only it doesn't feel as effective as they should. This plays on a lot of the same troupes we've seen in a lot of these legal dramas where it's about a large group of people yet they only focus on the one or two that becomes personal to the main character. That being said, I did enjoy the performances by Keaton, Tucci, and Ryan even though it feels Oscar baity. Overall, not bad, but there's nothing that really stands out outside of the performances.
2.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Cyrano

It's an incredibly formulaic classical musical drama that somehow works despite itself. What kinda carries this is how earnest and uncynical they took with the story and everyone in the cast committed to the bit. I thought the first half of this was a bit of a struggle to get through, but 2nd half was far more interesting. Really liked the performances by Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. who's still one of the best up and coming actors today. Didn't really care for any of the songs and musical acts, but the solo song by Haley Bennett was surprising. Overall, it's one of those movies that kinda grows on you despite all the conventional cliches this has.
3/5

 

[Kane52630]

Superhost

With a great set up plot as this where travel vloggers are being petrified in a rental home, it's a shame they went with the more comical and campy route. It's got some similarities of The Rental and Creep where the terror is about the awkwardness of living in somebody else's home without knowing they're being watched. I thought the two leads had some moments that worked as the couple renting the house, but I felt it was pretty spotty in terms of believability and in characters that you root for. The main attraction with this movie is the hostess played by Grace Phipps who is pretty much Annie Wilkes meets Harley Quinn. She chews every bit of scenery imaginable and while it's pretty entertaining on its own, it doesn't really fit the movie's tone. There's also a cameo by Barbara Crampton which was nice to see. Sadly, it also becomes pretty predictable very fast when things get going which is unfortunate. Overall, not bad for a lazy watch, but it could have been so much better.
2.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Flee

This just confirms that Bloodsport is indeed that iconic.

Incredibly gripping, emotionally devastating, and yet still hopeful... this was a fantastic documentary about Amin Nawabi and his family who fled as refugees from Afghanistan in the 80s and became trapped in Russia struggling to survive. It's great showcase on how using animation allows for a bigger canvas and it can better articulate the emotions and struggles way better than someone in live action reenacting the events as he tells it. The doc also splices in real footage which helps hammer in the point of his journey. Overall, easily one of the best docs in recent years and obviously one that should be seen by everyone.
4.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Awake

What an unfortunate title because I totally did the opposite while watching this.

It's an interesting concept for a post apocalyptic story where after some unexplained global crisis, the vast majority of people can't go to sleep except for the few and that causes panic and devastation. Only problem is the movie doesn't have enough budget or cleverness to make you buy into the story at all despite Gina Rodriguez's performance. It's Netflix so obviously trying to make another Birdbox and it shows. The biggest problem this movie has it moves at a snails pace while you're listening to some of the most bland dialogue. Overall, a bore.
1.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Without Remorse

Taylor Sheridan is truly slumming it with his writing.

Bland story, choppy dialogue, and full of awful cliches... it's a very basic military revenge thriller that doesn't do anything new or interesting. The bulk of the story plays out like a bad video game where you just hit the skip button just to get to the action. Michael B. Jordan couldn't even save it and he usually brings in the charm except in here where he plays the main character pretty cold and uninteresting. The Marvel style teases of the next movie was also pretty cheap. The only thing that kinda kept my interest was the action scenes and even then it didn't felt earned. Overall, a pretty forgettable action flick.
1.5/5

 

[Prison Mike]

I didn’t even finish Without Remorse. It was so boring that I stopped it half way. I was falling asleep.

 

[Mysteryman]

Infinite

There are an infinite amount of halfbaked ideas that felt crammed into this weak scifi action flick. It's full of lame exposition and it manages to be boring even with all the action scenes they cobbled together. Mark Wahlberg felt out of place and with all the fantasy elements in this, I felt like they could have used a better main actor to carry this. I don't know what Chiwetel Ejiofor was trying to go for, but it totally missed the mark. Overall, it's extremely forgettable and It's definitely one of Antoine Fuqua's weakest films to date.
1.5/5

An Incredible Disappointment.
Such Wasted Potential.