What was the last film you watched?

[Willie Oleson]

Yeah, and you wouldn't expect every actor to write and direct his own play.

But if someone can sing, compose the music, write (good) lyrics and play the instrument...well, I think that's very talented!

 

[darkshadows38]

i prefer an artist at least try to see if they can write a good song, some can or can't. but if you can i think you should always write your own material. movie stars are a bit different as it's no doubt easier to write a song than a screenplay. hell The Doors during the making "The Soft Parade' ran out of material and so they went to Jim's Poems and they had their songs.

kinda like i love Eric Clapton and he's written a lot of good songs but i wish he had more songs he wrote on his albums than him just doing covers.

 

[Alexis]

movie stars are a bit different as it's no doubt easier to write a song than a screenplay.

That really makes no sense. To really think an artist writing a song, any song, would be better than them recording a well written and produced song. It's silly. There are many amazing singers who don't write their own material, because they know, it's just not in them. The same way there are many, many amazing song writers who don't record their own songs because they know they don't have the voice, or the desire to be the centre of attention. They studied music, they make a lot of money they are happy.
I mean Elvis didn't write his own material. Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye and so many more amazing, well respected and talented singers didn't or don't write their own songs.

But... This is a movie thread.

 

[James from London]

Marvin Gaye did write for himself, mostly from the 70s onwards, but yeah, I agree, what difference does it make?

 

[Angela Channing]

I watched Roma (2018) yesterday. Technically it's a stunning film. The production design is outstanding, the cinematography is exceptional, the direction is great and the performances are all very good but overall I found the film to be a bit underwhelming. ​

 

[Willie Oleson]

Oh my God, what a stupid movie. I hate it I hate it I HATE IT!!

 

[Angela Channing]

Today, I finally got around to seeing A Star Is Born (2018). It's a very good remake and of the 4 versions of the film, it's one of the best but not quite as good as the original with Janet Gaynor. Bradley Cooper in particular is outstanding. My main disappointment was that they omitted the famous line near the end of the film when Lady Gaga's character is at the tribute concert and introduces herself as "Ally Maine". I would have preferred if she had said "This is Mrs Jackson Maine" like they did in the first 2 versions of the film.

 

[James from London]

Philomena

Interesting how the poster promises you a fun comedy when the subject matter is anything but. In fact, it works as an unofficial sequel to Peter Mullen's 2003 powerfully grim film The Magdalene Sisters, which was based on the true stories of girls in Ireland who were sent to homes for "fallen" women where they suffered horrific abuse at the hands of the nuns and priests who were supposed to be protecting them.

This film is lighter in tone to that, but still packs an emotional punch. It's become kind of boring to talk about how good Judi Dench is and of course, she's excellent, but not in a predictable way. Her character's combination of modesty and steeliness means she constantly surprises you. But it's as much Steve Coogan's film as hers. He's known as a comic actor but seeing his character caught between self-interest, intellectual snobbishness, moral outrage and basic human compassion provides the film with some of its most powerful moments. At its heart, it's a story of faith and forgiveness, but shown from two very different perspectives, which stops it being either too sappy or too self-righteous.

 

[Willie Oleson]

It's a very good remake and of the 4 versions of the film, it's one of the best but not quite as good as the original

4 versions?

 

[Angela Channing]

4 versions?

The original was made in 1937 starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March and is my favourite version. It was remade in 1954 starring Judy Garland and James Mason and then again in 1976 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristopherson and finally last year with Lady Gaga and James Mason.

 

[Willie Oleson]

It's a decent horror movie, but the theme of the cult is wasted on this story as it focuses too much on gore and action and supernatural stuff.
Why is it so difficult to create an eerie vibe that lingers?



The end credits music was the biggest surprise

Could have been a True Detective song.

 

[Swami]

Carry On Don't Lose Your Head.

Swami

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Zootropolis

or if you prefer...

Zootopia

​

 

[Richard Channing]

I like films that take you on an emotional journey but I can't remember the last time one reduced me to a blubbering mess like this did. Beautiful cinematography and a wonderful score and excellent performances from Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel. But it's this little guy, Sunny Pawar, who steals the show. An incredibly poignant and authentic performance from this little 6 year old. Plus he is just so goddamn cute. An incredible story and an amazing film. (Currently on Netflix)

 

[Alexis]

Marvin Gaye did write for himself, mostly from the 70s onwards, but yeah, I agree, what difference does it make?

I guess I was thinking more of his '60s Motown/Ashford & Simpson stuff.

 

[Seaviewer]

4 versions?

The basic plot actually goes back to an even earlier film - What Price Hollywood? (1932)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Price_Hollywood?

 

[James from London]

Death on the Nile (1978)

This gets off to a soap-tastic start: heiress Holly Harwood, whose servants include Tom Carrington and Miss Babs from Acorn Antiques, elopes with best friend Alison McKenzie's fiancee Greg Reardon, much to the disapproval of her crooked lawyer, Carter McKay -- and that's all in the first ten minutes! The honeymooners then take a boat down the Nile, surrounded by a dizzying array of Hollywood stars. Murder, mayhem and a fascinating collision of different acting styles ensue. Peter Ustinov and David Niven are both charm personified while Angela Lansbury is so horribly over the top, she makes Bette Davis and Maggie Smith seem like masters of minimalism in comparison. The starriness of the cast sometimes threatens to overpower the story, but once the mechanics of Agatha Christie's plot kicks in (which takes about an hour), it's a very satisfying ride. Best of all, I guessed whodunnit!

I'm now looking forward to watching John Malkovich's apparently very different take on Poirot in the BBC's ABC Murders before it disappears off of the iPlayer. All of Sarah Phelps's Christie adaptations so far have been brill.

 

[Angela Channing]

The basic plot actually goes back to an even earlier film - What Price Hollywood? (1932)

I never knew that! I'm going to try and track down a copy of What Price Hollywood? as I'm now curious to see how it compares with the various versions of A Star Is Born.

 

[Angela Channing]

But it's this little guy, Sunny Pawar, who steals the show.

I totally agree. In fact I didn't really like Dev Patel in this film, not sure why, maybe because he was trying to be Australian when I'm used to only associating him with British or Indian roles and there must be many capable Asian Australian actors who have few opportunities to get lead roles in a major film. However, the scenes with the young "Lion" more than made up for the other limitations of the film.

 

[Richard Channing]

I totally agree. In fact I didn't really like Dev Patel in this film, not sure why, maybe because he was trying to be Australian when I'm used to only associating him with British or Indian roles and there must be many capable Asian Australian actors who have few opportunities to get lead roles in a major film. However, the scenes with the young "Lion" more than made up for the other limitations of the film.

Yeah, although I thought Dev turned in a great performance, I didn't think he was right for the role either. But I think it was because in no way did his physical features make him believable as a grown up Sunny. So I found that quite jarring after the time jump and was preoccupied with it for the rest of the film.