Topic: The Movie Thread

@RogerRoger Yep Nolan does have his favourite actors. I think Michael Caine has been in the majority of them.

@RogerRoger I’m trying to remember the movie but I specifically recall that the end sequence when the reunion occurs with the kids that the top keeps spinning, and then wavers slightly and spins some more then the picture is cut abruptly. The suggestion to me was that he was residing in an alternate reality at that time, however the top did start to shake a little bit, suggesting it was about to maybe fall? Of course the editing there is certainly intentionally vague to leave it open to viewer interpretation. Does the spinner fall down or does it keep going? I feel like the ending was a dream-state alternate reality, personally. Also the fact that at the airport ending sequence all his companions on the inception heist just kind of watch him walk by, just barely acknowledging him makes me feel they were “characters in his dream” on the previous dream layer, further emphasizing that his whole life we’ve been watching is all the madness of his own lost mind, stuck deep down in the comatose delirium of pushing his dream experiments too far. Nevertheless, the sequence where the spinning top does fall down to signify reality does throw a wrench in that theory. If so, then reality was present up to the point of starting the inception heist into the Cillian Murphy character in the plane and everything following that would be false delusions with the relative time expansion keeping him down there for an eternity. Which, I guess if he found happiness with his kids for a lifetime, despite it not being “reality” then that’s a pretty good redemption. I’m not sure though, and I might be misremembering the details and making an incorrect analysis.

And I’ll keep my eyes open for Summer Wars. Sometimes I look at the enormity of anime and just never know what’s good to start with.

@RogerRoger Yeah, that’s a good point that it’s possible the totem idea was a subconscious construct. Interesting thoughts.
@JohnnyShoulder And I do find it interesting how certain directors reuse actors over and over. I suppose there’s a certain comfort level that people get with one another, not to mention the politicking that agents probably engage in to create these relationships. I do prefer to see variety though, and when the same cast is recycled for another project it detracts a little bit, imo. It’s hard enough for me not to refer to the Robert Fisher character as “Scarecrow” and Mal as “Miranda Tate” even if the director of the two movies hadn’t been the same guy.

That's quite an interesting take, I must have missed that part in the middle 2 hours I spent asleep in the cinema so I'll keep an eye out for it if I ever get around to watching it again!

I'm not one to swoon over DiCaprio in the sense that I won't go to see a film just because he's in it, but I've found him to be genuinely excellent in every film that I've seen him in like The Beach, Django Unchained, The Wolf of Wall Street etc, but then again they are all films by amazing directors so I'm not surprised.

Also a big fan of Tom Hardy who just embodies every role he plays and Cillian Murphy who has been a favourite since I first saw him in 28 days later

Not even sure if this belongs in the movie thread or the Covid thread but, like, these entities mad at WarnerMedia... do they not read the news? I swear some days it feels like I'm the only one taking into consideration expert projections on how much longer this is all gonna last. Or at least, it's me and the folks running WarnerMedia, apparently, who I cannot at all blame for their decision to stream movies simultaneous to their theatrical release through 2021. I just... The denial is real over here.

Also Leo D is one of the best in the business. Just needed to throw that out there. Truth be told, though, I could never really stand him until I saw The Aviator. That's when I saw the light lol.

@zupertramp Yeah, the Warner Bros thing makes sense to me. Honestly, I really hate to give our multiplex (Cineworld) the money regardless. If a movie is showing in the indie cinema, I’ll go there as it actually feels like an experience, with a lovely 1940s theatre, zero sticky floors and a more curated selection of movies. Warner Bros need to make their money back and cinemas just aren’t going to get the audiences back for a good while, especially in the States.

Plus the price of food in the cinema. Oof. You spend as much on popcorn as the tickets.

@RogerRoger Ah well, to be fair, pilots fall under my definition of nomadic types and if there's one thing that's guaranteed to pique my interest, it's a film/book about people stricken with wanderlust. Still think DiCaprio is great in most films he's in though, even the ones that aren't so good.

I think it's hard to know what exactly would have happened with theaters had Covid not come along. Guess it doesn't much matter now.

I’ve always been indifferent to Leo. Could take him or leave him. I do like Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet though.

Regarding Leo D: I’ve been told I need to see What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? but I’ve just never taken the time. I also remember liking Catch Me If You Can but I probably need to try watching it again because my memory is fuzzy on it. I rewatched The Great Gatsby not too long ago (can’t remember if I posted on here my thoughts, so apologies it I’m repeating myself), and actually enjoyed it this go around. My first viewing I really disliked it. Maybe my sensibilities have changed over time. But I have to agree that despite not being a fan of his over the years I have grown to respect his work and at least give it a chance. There’s still something mildly smarmy about him though.

@Arugula shutter Island is brilliant! But I do love a good what's real/what isn't style mental health horror film. I think I feel the same but more like I could care less about DiCaprio the celebrity but I really enjoy the films he happens to be in

@Th3solution I watched catch me if you can again a few years ago but it was on TV. There's a scene in the movie where Tom hanks says "go F--- yourself" but in the TV version he says "go flog yourself" which just had me cracking up for days 😂, still makes me laugh now just thinking about it. Brilliant film though!

@Arugula 😂 indeed!

Now I'm just curious who everyone's favorite actors are. Not so much interested in the celebrity side either. Just, who best becomes the characters they play? Or whatever your metric is it doesn't much matter. Like a top five or ten.

And as we've established a few of you think Leo is overrated, what are some of your other most overrated? One of mine is probably Will Smith for example. He's not bad; super charismatic and watchable, don't get me wrong but like, he's always basically just Will Smith. They might as well just name his characters Will Smith.

I'll have to think more on the rest now.

@zupertramp There’s not many actors or actresses that I would openly go out of my way to watch, it’s more directors for me as they’re more likely to be involved in the overall quality of the picture. Thinking about actors who always bring a certain something to the role however... I adore Nicolas Cage and his energy although he himself cannot save several dreadful movies. I think Mahershala Ali is probably one of the most underrated actors out there in terms of public opinion. He’s a fantastic actor with a whole lot of great movies under his belt but I don’t think many people would put him up there in their ‘best actors’ lists. I really like Olivia Colman too, she’s hopefully going to get her moment in Hollywood after The Favourite being that brilliant and also widely loved Stateside as well. She’s consistently been up there with the best British actresses on TV over here so I do hope she’s given bigger roles after her stint as the Queen finishes.

In terms of ‘overrated’ actors, Al Pacino. Al Pacino every single day of the week. He just kinda shouts in that weird way of his. Poor Chris O’Donnell looks absolutely terrified in Scent of a Woman.

@nessisonett Lol, well, I mean, he doesn't shout his way through every movie but yeah, I can see him being a bit overrated.

I actually thought of Mahershala Ali when writing my post (as a favourite, not overrated). He is really good as any character he plays even if some of the things I've seen him in aren't that good.

Olivia Colman just comes off as someone who can play posh British and that's about it. Though the only things I've seen her in that's exactly what she's been so maybe it's to her credit I find her so believable.

No comment on Nic Cage.

I hear you about directors though. That's a good point.

@zupertramp It’s funny actually Olivia Colman being known for playing posh because she really really isn’t. She’s from Bristol and has a proper West Country accent and is a great comedy actress first and foremost, with roles in shows like Peep Show, Green Wing and Fleabag. It was probably Broadchurch that brought her into the public’s eye as a huge talent on the dramatic side of things too. A movie worth watching with her in it is Tyrannosaur, a hugely unflinching and brutal movie but worth a watch. She was great in the Les Misérables TV show that wasn’t a musical, because the musical is rubbish 😂😂

@zupertramp I've always liked Sam Rockwell. For example, if you watch him in The Green Mile, then Moon and finally in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - three completely different performances, and other actors might struggle to deliver just one of them. He nails all three. Massively versatile and under-rated actor in my opinion

I’ve always adored Harrison Ford, but it’s likely bias from being a Star Wars and Indiana Jones nerd. But I like him in just every role he takes from Call of the Wild to Ender’s Game and back to Blade Runner and American Graffiti.
I also really like Christian Bale. I know his Bruce Wayne / Batman isn’t popular around here, but he’s really great in films like Ford v Ferrari, The Prestige, and fantastic in Resuce Dawn. I know he’s a prima donna and difficult to work with, according to reports, but I love how he jumps into his roles.

Others: Morgan Freeman, Johnny Depp, Robert Redford, Ian McKellen, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, Liam Neeson...
Actresses: Jennifer Connelly, Rachel McAdams, Julianne Moore, Sigourney Weaver, Scarlett Johannsen...

As for actors/actresses I just don’t understand the hype for — Will Smith is a good shout. Also no comment on Nic Cage 😄. And although I like him, I’ve always felt Denzel Washington was a bit overrated. Also overrated: Jack Nicholson, Samuel L Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Hopkins, Forrest Whittaker, Sandra Bullock, and Amy Adams. How ‘bout that for some controversial opinion!

[braces for the pitchforks]

@nessisonett @zupertramp Tyrannosaur is a phenomenal, moving and powerful film.

When was younger, I use to flat out refuse to watch a film if there was someone starring in it who I disliked. Charlize Thereon and her huge neck was one I seem to remember. 😂 These days I'm a lot more open minded when it comes to actors and will watch anyone. It is more types of films these day. Like I won't watch any romantic dramas or musicals.

In terms of favourite actors, that does change a lot. I like Vigo Mortensen. He doesn't appear in a awful lot and I don't think I've seen him give a bad performance.

@Th3solution Even as someone who’s not big on Christian Bale, outside of a few roles, he was really great in Ford vs Ferrari/Le Mans 66. I’m not really into Matt Damon either but again he was great in the movie too, which maybe just says more about the writers and director.

@Gremio108 @JohnnyShoulder @Th3solution Mortensen, Rockwell, and Bale are all very good calls imo. All very much able to embody the character without overshadowing the role.

I'd add Casey Affleck. He and Bale both in Out of the Furnace. Then throw in the highly underrated Woody Harrelson and the ever consistent Dafoe and you've got an incredibly well acted film. So good.

Love Rachel McAdams. Easily comes off as absolute sweetheart or absolute badass and anything in between. Emily Blunt seems to accomplish this somehow too which always impresses me for some reason. Probably have to add Naomi Watts and Michelle Williams to my list of female actors as well.

Also I'll watch just about anything with Fassbender or Daniel Bruhl.