Watch, Watched, Watching: What Old Is New When There Is No New

[Zorral]

Previous Watch thread over 400, so here we are now!

~~~~~~~~~

Cromwell (1970) streaming on Amazon Prime.

Brit film with fine cast of actors from the British theater, such as Richard Harris (Oliver Cromwell) and Alec Guinness (Charles I complete with stutter, but far too tall!), who emote in 19th C theatrical mode (hey, it beats the mumble core mode). Though not adapted from a stage production like Becket (1964) and A Man For All Seasons (1966), it sounds like them. Queen Henrietta Maria, played by Dorthy Tutin (ya, never heard of her either), what sort of inflection is she bringing to her English? Not that of a native French person speaking English as a second language.

Historically it’s ridiculous, just starting with Oliver Cromwell as a man of the people representin’ for democracy. Film remains dear to many English, because they saw it as children in school, and because of its lavish production values and “gloriously overblown” re-enactment of the major battles of the Civil War. It lacks characterization and narrative drive, as well as good lines, – i.e. a thin script. The film is about pageantry and impressive visuals, not political history.  However, period spectacle does make for watching enjoyment all by itself for my sort of viewer who appreciates that sort of thing done superbly. 

[RhaenysBee]

I finished Dark on Sunday and I’ll start watching Money Heist as soon as I’m done processing Dark. Which is quite a bite to digest... What else should I watch? 
oh I also want to watch See, I’m just not yet in the mood of a viral apocalypse, we have enough of that as it is. 

 

[Ramsay B.]

I recently rewatched The Killing of a Sacred Deer. What a weird and fascinating movie. From the purposely robotic dialogue to their sex life. Everything is just off.

It’s hard for me to picture Barry Keoghan as a normal human after this. He was too good at being creepy. 

Spoiler

It’s like a black comedy at times. Farrell randomly telling his coworker that his daughter menstruated for the first time. The kids talking shit to each other about being the one to be killed. Bob telling dad that he’s decided to be a cardiologist after all. Such a low-key wild movie.

This reminds me that I have to watch The Lobster sometime.

[Zorral]

Will moderator please lock previous Watch thread?  So much to keep track of in These Times, it's not easy to keep up, we all know!  Thank you! 

[Wall Flower]

10 hours ago, Zorral said:

Previous Watch thread over 400, so here we are now!

~~~~~~~~~

Cromwell (1970) streaming on Amazon Prime.

Brit film with fine cast of actors from the British theater, such as Richard Harris (Oliver Cromwell) and Alec Guinness (Charles I complete with stutter, but far too tall!), who emote in 19th C theatrical mode (hey, it beats the mumble core mode). Though not adapted from a stage production like Becket (1964) and A Man For All Seasons (1966), it sounds like them. Queen Henrietta Maria, played by Dorthy Tutin (ya, never heard of her either), what sort of inflection is she bringing to her English? Not that of a native French person speaking English as a second language.

Historically it’s ridiculous, just starting with Oliver Cromwell as a man of the people representin’ for democracy. Film remains dear to many English, because they saw it as children in school, and because of its lavish production values and “gloriously overblown” re-enactment of the major battles of the Civil War. It lacks characterization and narrative drive, as well as good lines, – i.e. a thin script. The film is about pageantry and impressive visuals, not political history.  However, period spectacle does make for watching enjoyment all by itself for my sort of viewer who appreciates that sort of thing done superbly. 

As I'm old, I do remember Dorothy Tutin as Anne Boleyn in the Six Wives of Henry the Eighth, from the early 70's. The show, and Elizabeth R with Glenda Jackson, started a bit of a childhood obsession with the Tudors. I even had a doll dressed as Anne going to the block.

 

[HexMachina]

4 hours ago, Ramsay B. said:

I recently rewatched The Killing of a Sacred Deer. What a weird and fascinating movie. From the purposely robotic dialogue to their sex life. Everything is just off.

It’s hard for me to picture Barry Keoghan as a normal human after this. He was too good at being creepy. 

  Hide contents

It’s like a black comedy at times. Farrell randomly telling his coworker that his daughter menstruated for the first time. The kids talking shit to each other about being the one to be killed. Bob telling dad that he’s decided to be a cardiologist after all. Such a low-key wild movie.

This reminds me that I have to watch The Lobster sometime.

Never seen Killing of a Sacred Deer but with Lanthimos the black comedy feel is unsurprising.

I wasn’t a massive fan of The Lobster, thouh i know it was very well received by others. I much preferred the Favourite

[Zorral]

3 minutes ago, Wall Flower said:

As I'm old, I do remember Dorothy Tutin as Anne Boleyn in the Six Wives of Henry the Eighth, from the early 70's. The show, and Elizabeth R with Glenda Jackson, started a bit of a childhood obsession with the Tudors. I even had a doll dressed as Anne going to the block.

 

Thanks for that!  Being an USian (to my/our misery These Days) all this 70's BBC / Brit tv remains rather esoteric to me, though I keep trying to catch up.

I actually know English history better than English television.  Though I'm not granular in English history either, being a specialist in US history, particularly that of the eras of slavery through the War of the Rebellion.

That said though, I enjoyed and admired in various ways Cromwell, even though -- well, you know. And the Caribbean / slavery catastrophe wasn't even alluded to, because the great apotheosis of Lord Protector taking the place of the monarch.  Which didn't work out so well. But then, neither did Charlie II or his heir.  The Stuarts, the Stuarts, such a feckless dynasty.

 

[Astromech]

Finished Barkskins.  It really seemed to be more set up for future seasons. It was decent but my judgment is probably clouded by my interest in the setting.  I thought that was Eric Schweig playing the Iroquois chief. 

Also slowly making my way through Dark. I forgot so much from the first two seasons.

[BigFatCoward]

Just finished Man like Mobeen which was really good, apart from 2 really really weak episodes at the start of S2, its like it was written by a totally different team, such a jarring drop off in quality.  But the end of S2 and S3 were right back on track.

Finally got around to what we do in the shadows which i'm absolutely loving.  The humour can be hit and miss, but every episode there is a few laugh out loud/belly laugh moments.

Really struggling to get through dead to me S2, so much worse than S1.  I hope it finishes after this year with a proper ending.

[Heartofice]

17 hours ago, Ramsay B. said:

I recently rewatched The Killing of a Sacred Deer. What a weird and fascinating movie. From the purposely robotic dialogue to their sex life. Everything is just off.

It’s hard for me to picture Barry Keoghan as a normal human after this. He was too good at being creepy. 

  Reveal hidden contents

It’s like a black comedy at times. Farrell randomly telling his coworker that his daughter menstruated for the first time. The kids talking shit to each other about being the one to be killed. Bob telling dad that he’s decided to be a cardiologist after all. Such a low-key wild movie.

This reminds me that I have to watch The Lobster sometime.

I really enjoyed Sacred Deer, you’re right, everything about it is a little off, which is unsettling. Colin Farrell is also fantastic in it, he has an awesome sense of timing which really showed through in the Lobster as well.

I like pretty much everything by the director, even though his movies aren’t perfect he has a unique voice and tone that I just really love. The Lobster has its flaws, especially second half but the world it creates and the way it makes you feel is very special 

[DrSilverFox]

Saw Fight Club today and damn that was a good movie. The plot, cinematography and finale music was just amazing. Donno why I hadn't seen this movie all this while 

[RumHam]

Dammit I meant to re-watch Mad Men before it left netflix. At least they're not removing the blackface episode.

Quote

One change audiences will note when Mad Men returns: The season-three episode “My Old Kentucky Home,” in which Roger (John Slattery) dons blackface and sings to his bride, will now carry a disclaimer explaining why the show opted for the plotline. “This episode contains disturbing images related to race in America,” the title card will read. “One of the characters is shown in blackface as part of an episode that shows how commonplace racism was in America in 1963. In its reliance on historical authenticity, the series producers are committed to exposing the injustices and inequities within our society that continue to this day so we can examine even the most painful parts of our history in order to reflect on who we are today and who we want to become. We are therefore presenting the original episode in its entirety.”

https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/mad-men-streaming-return-amc-imdb.html

[JGP]

Started Yellowstone a couple days ago and got hooked. Some of the plot beats are a little implausible, but the swath of compelling, incredibly flawed characters, and the acting [particularly from Kelly Reilly] are enjoyable. Could be the covid boredom, I don't know, it's working for me though. 

[Nictarion]

1 hour ago, JEORDHl said:

Started Yellowstone a couple days ago and got hooked. Some of the plot beats are a little implausible, but the swath of compelling, incredibly flawed characters, and the acting [particularly from Kelly Reilly] are enjoyable. Could be the covid boredom, I don't know, it's working for me though. 

The writing definitely borders on absurd at times (which is surprising since it’s Taylor Sheridan), but the cast is good, the locations are gorgeous, and I kind of dig all the cowboy stuff. It’s not great by any means, but it’s something to watch during the summer when there’s not much on. 

[Nictarion]

1 hour ago, Triskele said:

Oh, I recently rewatched Pan's Labyrinth for the first time in ages.  It is as good as I remembered it, maybe better, and a total masterpiece.  

 

Anyone ever seen The Devil's Backbone?  That's another Del Torro I've meant to see but haven't.  

Yes. It’s also really good, but not quite on par with Pan’s Labyrinth (which I agree is a masterpiece). del Toro has stated PL is a bit of a spiritual successor to TDB. There’s definitely some similarities thematically. 

[Teng Ai Hui]

I second the love for Fire Saga from the previous thread.  This American gives 12 points to Iceland.

[Cas Stark]

17 hours ago, Triskele said:

Oh, I recently rewatched Pan's Labyrinth for the first time in ages.  It is as good as I remembered it, maybe better, and a total masterpiece.  

 

Anyone ever seen The Devil's Backbone?  That's another Del Torro I've meant to see but haven't.  

Yes, loved it. 

[Derfel Cadarn]

Lol. Watching Absolute Power season 2 (with Stephen Fry) about an amoral PR firm. In ep4 they’re hired by a rich Middle Eastern man wanting to buy British Airways. Whose surname is Bin Laden, and wants to redeem the name.

[JGP]

I've been jammed up creatively for the last several days [no writing or drawing] and watching all sorts of shit I might not normally. Caught John Stewart's Irresistible today and now I'm wondering if maybe that guy isn't, sometimes -behind closed doors- a bit of a smug prick. 

My judgment has been off a bit too though, so ymmv.

[ithanos]

@Ramsay B. , RE: Burning. I watched it. I wouldn't say its great but I liked it. I can see how some may wane in attention - its a long, slow draught to take in, and the denouement is direct from IKEA - requires some assembly. My take didn't change even after consulting the tea leaves on YouTube;

Spoiler

 

Ben killed Hae-mi. Not his first.
No actual Glasshouses were burned in this movie (see above).
Jong-su does not kill Ben, but he's writing a novel in which his character kills a Ben character and this is what we see. The novel will be his way of exposing Ben.    

The only thing I'm not clear on is Hae-mi's well story - What was that all about? She almost drowned in a dry well?

 

 

Currently making my way through the 1976 BBC TV series, I, Claudius. Found the entire series (14 episodes) on a YouTube playlist here. Based off of Robert Graves books, it's basically a televised play. I only remember catching snippets of this from my youth and haven't watched this in its entirety. 3 episodes in so far. I can't wait for Derek Jacobi to stretch out his youthful Claudius (though he is the narrator as his elder self). But so far Sian Phillips and Brian Blessed (beardless even) are soaking up every scene they're in. Dialogue in the hands of these thespians is a delight. Tiberius's deadpan quip about Livia - 'When she was younger a snake bit her and died'. What an absolute treat. Highly highly recommended.

(The show name was an early inspiration for my board name. Had intended to use I, Thanos, then I modified it to iThanos, Thanos with an iPod - however I forgot to capitalise the T, oh well.)