I watched the Spanish movie Alatriste, starring Viggo Mortensen, who grew up speaking Spanish (I read that he has a Latino accent, instead of the Castilian accent he should have for the movie, but not being a Spanish speaker it doesn't bug me). Apparently this was the highest budget Spanish movie ever made at the time, and it didn't do very well.
I can see why, since some parts of it just aren't that good. Some parts of it are really fun, though, and it's a beautiful film to look at.
It's got a similar vibe to the Three Musketeers, except Spanish and at least in the English translation of the books, not nearly as well written.
oh right, sidenote, if you haven't read the Three Musketeers, but are thinking of doing it, don't read the newer translation that people online praise for some reason, it's trash. People's standards for this stuff, even book review journalists who should know better, are so low. Ease of reading should always be much less important than quality of prose, so check out Richard Pevear.
Man of Steel
Zack Snyder is definitely not my favorite directors, most of his films rank from OK to terrible. Man of Steel is an exception, and is genuinely a good film. Sure, it has some weird writing and the amount of destruction is ridiculous, but for the most part there's a lot to be liked. Some of the CGI has aged well, some of it has not. I'm glad Snyder held back his usual style, which looks extremely fake and videogamey. There's some of it here too, but thankfully not too much.
Cold Fish
A stagnant suburban marriage spirals into chaos after their daughter starts working for a charming old fish shop owner whose gruesome past refuses to stay buried
The film spends too much time orbiting around the father, yet never gives us real access to his inner world. He never truly acknowledges his feelings (either to himself or to someone he trusts) which makes his actions feel puzzling rather than tragic
That said, the direction is sophisticated, the score is used perfectly, and the editing is sharp. The transition from eerie to outright criminal feels natural and the build toward its cataclysmic climax is seamless
I do like the film overall but I take issue some of the story telling or at least how long we're asked to sit with it
I haven't seen any of those yet but I'll definitely add them to my listLots of better Sion Solo films. Why Don't You Play in Hell, Suicide Club, Love Exposure, Tokyo Tribe, depending on mood and tastes.
Oh dude thanks for the reminder! I started Bugonia a while back and had to stop for some reason. I gotta finish it.Recently I've seen two Oscar nominees.
Marty Supreme and Bugonia.
Bugonia surprised me at the end. Unexpected plot twist for me.
Oh dude thanks for the reminder! I started Bugonia a while back and had to stop for some reason. I gotta finish it.
I saw Good Luck Have Fun Don't Die last week, and I thought it was great.
Tokyo Taxi
my dad mentioned this movie to me the other day and I thought I would watch it while I have some time today. it's honestly pretty interesting. it's just a story about an old lady, and her taxi trip with a kind driver. it's one of those story about a life kinda movie and by all honesty it's nothing too special, but I really like it. it has heart to it and it feels... sincere, if that makes sense. and of course, it starts two big stars who were once pretty well known in their times does help since they have the chops to pull off a movie like this.
Finally saw Hamnet at the cinema last weekend, and a woman sitting near me was in floods of tears during the bit that I'm fairly certain is going to win Jessie Buckley the Oscar.I didn't see Hamnet so I didn't see Jessie Buckley's performance yet, but Rose Byrne's was the best actress performance I saw of 2025 movies. I'd be fine if she won best actress, she crushed it.
She's the overwhelming favorite per oddsmakers.Finally saw Hamnet at the cinema last weekend, and a woman sitting near me was in floods of tears during the bit that I'm fairly certain is going to win Jessie Buckley the Oscar.
I really enjoyed this too. It's so well done, but like you said, incredibly tense and even though I thought it was really well made it I can't imagine myself watching it again. Fantastic performance from Byrne too. If either her or Jesse Buckley wins the Best Actress Oscar it'll be well earned.If I Had Legs I'd Kick You - Movie reminds me a lot of the movie Mother. The movie legit caused me anxiety and almost to hyperventilate. It's frantic, it just keeps ramping up and getting more intense, crazier, more frantic, more bizarre as Rose Byrne's character continues to get more and more unhinged. This one is going to take a lot to chew on. I never once didn't feel "I don't like this movie I want to turn it off" but at the same time I will never watch this movie again. It's a one time watch only for me. It's too out there and made me way too uncomfortable. Even the shots are always super tight, right on Rose Byrne's face in almost every scene. Almost every scene is dark. A lot of weird imagery.
This one is out there. It's an experience that's for sure. Rose Byrne was fucking amazing in it though. You feel her emotions in every scene even with just her facial expressions. I didn't see Hamnet so I didn't see Jessie Buckley's performance yet, but Rose Byrne's was the best actress performance I saw of 2025 movies. I'd be fine if she won best actress, she crushed it. And she heavily carries the movie, this movie is almost all her. Conan O'Brien is in it too, which is kinda random and he plays a decent sized role. He's probably in it second most in the movie of all the actors.
If you liked Mother! and like movies that make you feel uncomfortable, cause you anxiety, are intense and frantic, then this movie is for you. If you hate those you'll probably hate this. Ironically the movie Mother and this have the same exact IMDB rating.
Can't say I'm surprised. I was hoping Emma Stone would win, but that part of Hamnet is one of the most gut-wrenching scenes I've ever watched. They surely can't give it to anyone else.She's the overwhelming favorite per oddsmakers.
It really allows you to see things through Rose Byrne's perspective and feel everything she's feeling. It also minimizes your attachment as a character toward her child, much of what Rose Byrne felt in the movie. I thought it was a great artistic choice.I really enjoyed this too. It's so well done, but like you said, incredibly tense and even though I thought it was really well made it I can't imagine myself watching it again. Fantastic performance from Byrne too. If either her or Jesse Buckley wins the Best Actress Oscar it'll be well earned.
I also thought it was a really interesting choice to not show the face of her child for pretty much the entire film. That combined with the close ups on Byrne really keeps the focus on her anxiety.
Tokyo Taxi
my dad mentioned this movie to me the other day and I thought I would watch it while I have some time today. it's honestly pretty interesting. it's just a story about an old lady, and her taxi trip with a kind driver. it's one of those story about a life kinda movie and by all honesty it's nothing too special, but I really like it. it has heart to it and it feels... sincere, if that makes sense. and of course, it starts two big stars who were once pretty well known in their times does help since they have the chops to pull off a movie like this.
I thought it was great. It's like the spiritual successor to A Serious Man.If I Had Legs I'd Kick You - Movie reminds me a lot of the movie Mother. The movie legit caused me anxiety and almost to hyperventilate. It's frantic, it just keeps ramping up and getting more intense, crazier, more frantic, more bizarre as Rose Byrne's character continues to get more and more unhinged. This one is going to take a lot to chew on. I never once didn't feel "I don't like this movie I want to turn it off" but at the same time I will never watch this movie again. It's a one time watch only for me. It's too out there and made me way too uncomfortable. Even the shots are always super tight, right on Rose Byrne's face in almost every scene. Almost every scene is dark. A lot of weird imagery.
This one is out there. It's an experience that's for sure. Rose Byrne was fucking amazing in it though. You feel her emotions in every scene even with just her facial expressions. I didn't see Hamnet so I didn't see Jessie Buckley's performance yet, but Rose Byrne's was the best actress performance I saw of 2025 movies. I'd be fine if she won best actress, she crushed it. And she heavily carries the movie, this movie is almost all her. Conan O'Brien is in it too, which is kinda random and he plays a decent sized role. He's probably in it second most in the movie of all the actors.
If you liked Mother! and like movies that make you feel uncomfortable, cause you anxiety, are intense and frantic, then this movie is for you. If you hate those you'll probably hate this. Ironically the movie Mother and this have the same exact IMDB rating.
I haven't seen Fight or Flight or Good Boy yet. But of those you've listed I'd say Rental Family best fits your criteria there.Pick my next 2025 movie for me. I'm just not in the mood for anything depressing. Nothing that will rip your heart out. Been dealing with an illness and want something either upbeat or something that makes you think. But nothing that is ultra somber or sad or depressing. 2025 movies I've yet to see, which of these fall in the category I'm looking for:
Fight or Flight
Die my Love
Rental Family
Sentimental Value
Nuremberg
Hamnet
Good Boy
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Lethal Weapon - Far more terrible than I remember. It's remarkable that this came out a year before Die Hard.