"I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that." :nerd:

(2022)
https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/comment/770096

The T Clark family Christmas film festival for 2025

Seven Psychopaths
Things to Come
A Christmas Tale
The Player
Superman

One Battle After Another

Lot of hype— not a bad film, I enjoyed it. Not on par with There Will Be Blood, but still a strong showing. Honestly, I have to admit that PT Anderson has been delivering much more than Wes Anderson, Woody Allen, James Cameron, Ridley Scott, or any of the other acclaimed directors (and certainly better than that overrated, pretentious engineer Christopher Nolan) lately. The only other person who’s delivered strong films is Scorsese, now in his 80s. Otherwise I can skip going to the theater.

I watched “Left Handed Girl” on Netflix— that pretty much blows the others away too. Goes to show that money and engineering doesn’t a movie make.

Otherwise I can skip going to the theater. — Mikie

Can't say I've seen a film I've enjoyed in around 25 years. My own theory is that for some of us only have a limited number of films we can watch before the entire enterprise becomes dull.

Can't say I've seen a film I've enjoyed in around 25 years. — Tom Storm

Wow, well that’s saying something. No Country for Old Men? I saw that one a couple times in theaters. Recently I’ve enjoyed The Killer, Left Handed Girl, One Battle After Another. I enjoyed Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris way back when.

Not a fan of any of those?

Midnight in Paris was ok. No Country for Old Men and The Killer were diverting but not exciting. I want the big electrical experince I got when I saw Blade Runner (the sequel was bland). I suspect the problem rests with me. I have had my thrills and can't recapture the experience. Actually there's one film I quite liked, Nightcrawler (2014) reminded me of when Scorsese wasn't making Ron Howard films. :wink:

when Scorsese wasn't making Ron Howard films. :wink: — Tom Storm

Blasphemy.

Also, I’ll never fully understand why Blade Runner is so praised. I liked it to a degree, but not even in my top 100. I guess I had to have been there.

I found No Country exciting. But that’s a film you have to see in the theater, I think. The use of sound (of all things) is one of the stars of that movie.

R.I.P Bela Tarr who I had the honor of meeting nearly three years ago :heart: :flower:

Also, I’ll never fully understand why Blade Runner is so praised. I liked it to a degree, but not even in my top 100. I guess I had to have been there. — Mikie

Fair enough. It would be odd if we all agreed on art. If BR came out today it wouldn't really interest me. When it came out it was a revelation and I don't like science fiction. What are your top 3 or 4 movies?

What are your top 3 or 4 movies? — Tom Storm

From another thread long ago:

Seven Samurai

Shawshank Redemption

2001: A Space Odyssey

The Usual Suspects

No Country For Old Men

Persona

8 1/2

Dances with Wolves

Goodfellas

There Will Be Blood

If I were to pick 3: Seven Samurai, Goodfellas, Dances with Wolves.

Yes, it’s become common to shit on Dances with Wolves — and I get why, some parts are cringe, plus the sentimentality (especially the ending, which I dislike) and portrayal of the soldiers is over the top. But Costner otherwise surrounded himself with talent, from cinematographer to composer to editor to actors — and some parts are so well done that it makes up for what it lacks, by far. Enough so to be one of my favorites.

Shawshank used to be way up there, for years. And of course, long ago my favorite film was Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I was 10 at the time— but maybe I had it right… that movie is gold.

Cool. I think what I needed from films was achieved in the 1980's and 1990's and now I just don't crave them of find them engaging. It's like a stage I went though. My idea of hell these days would be a trip to the cinema. Favourite films today include Sunset Boulevard, Psycho, Angel Heart, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Citizen Kane, The Trial, Walkabout, Once Upon A Time In The West, Blade Runner, Sorcerer, The Long Goodbye. I tend not to care much for plots or stories and prefer mood, character and formalist excess.