What did you see this weekend?
Sunday, August 2, 2015 at 3:35PM I did try to see one movie repeatedly this weekend but The Boyfriend never let me finish the senten -- "I know where this is leading and I'm not seeing the new Tom Cruise!" so I'll go alone tomorrow. (What can I say? I like stunts.) But the closest subway wasn't running this weekend anyway so it was a perfect DVR & Netflix catch-up plus Smackdown-focused weekend.
Tom Cruise is in danger again. But he can survive anything with derring-do
BOX OFFICE
July 31st-August 2nd estimates
01 Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation $56 NEW
02 Vacation $14.8 NEW
03 Ant-Man $12.6 (cum. $132.1) Review, Podcast
04 Minions $12.2 (cum. $287.3) Tim on the Minions phenom
05 Pixels $10.3 (cum. $45.6) Review
06 Trainwreck $9.7 (cum. $79.7) Podcast
07 Southpaw $7.5 (cum. $31.5) Which Jake do you love most?, Podcast
08 Paper Towns $4.6 (cum. $23.8)
09 Inside Out $4.5 (cum. $329.5) Podcast
10 Jurassic World $3.8 (cum. $631.5) Blockbusters vs. Oscars
Reader Comments (16)
Oh, Tom! I didn't need to see those armpits. It's not 1988.
I saw Rebecca Ferguson hopefully become a household name. She was wonderful a few years ago in The White Queen and she owned everyone's ass in Mission Impossible. I am saddened by the fact Chastain seemingly passed on the role but anything to have more actresses playing more parts will make me happy because it always seems the same roles go to the same actresses and at the end of the year we're talking about Meryl Streeps and Cate Blanchett's and the occasional new bloods but we need new actresses who can replace the ones we are losing so hopefully Ferguson gets cast more because her whole attitude in this film even down to the same was as if Ilsa Lund had come back to Casablanca but was an ass kicking spy.
P.S. Between Theron, Ferguson, Johansson and upcoming Lawrence, Vikander, Stewart, Blunt and Ridley the critics choice lead actress in an action movie might be a category I feel has a list of women actually giving great LEADING female action performances.
I saw Amy, the documentary on Amy Winehouse. Heartbreaking and very well constructed. You remember how vivid and talented she was, and how much the paparazzi hunted her, but it's terrifying to see it all happen in real time. Nice filmed little bit with her and Tony Bennett recording, who of course is gracious and patient with her.
You could not pay me to see Tammy in MI5. Scientology is for loons.
Saw Rogue Nation and enjoyed it, proud to be a swede since Ferguson was best in show! Nice that she got a good part and not just a damsel in distress. The scientology thing is something I try to block out when I see Cruise on the screen, this time it worked since the movie was so fun (but Ghost Protocol was a wee bit better). Also the docs, Do I sound gay? and To be Takei, both were ok but nothing special.
"Ant- Man" which puts the fun back into comic book movies. The first hour was a somewhat predictable origin story but once the ants came in the movie took off- the obvious inspiration is the classic " The Incredible Shrinking Man" even that Kubrick like journey into the sub atomic world. Also it was nice to see two Latino actors in strong supporting roles- come on Marvel isn't it time for a Latino super hero movie ( and no I don't mean Spider Man)
Saw the amazing German film Phoenix, which as good, if not better, than the significant hype.
We had a documentary film festival here over the weekend, so I binged on THE WOLFPACK, DO I SOUND GAY?, THE CHINESE MAYOR, THE HUNTING GROUND, THE PEARL BUTTON, HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD and BEATS OF THE ANTONOV. DISG? was the best in show, and CHINESE MAYOR was a disappointment (all footage, not much thoughtful editing into an engaging narrative). The director of WOLFPACK was present for a Q&A, and gave me the impression that this may be the only time we see her in the spotlight (it sounded like she just made a film about some interesting people she knew, and lucked out with a good subject), but I may be wrong. And I think Nathaniel should put THG's song into his Best Song predictions (Diane Warren AND Lady Gaga? Sounds like a winning formula to me.)
Also saw ANT-MAN - same-old, same-old with Marvel. What I would give for just one of the movies to hire some decent scriptwriters (and for Stan Lee and co. to just release the control joystick a little bit, to allow some more creativity within the universe.)
No box office money for Scientology, but I do realize that people like to invest in different religions. It's just not one and they evade tax laws and harm people. People who went to see MI5 just gave Scientology millions. But I don't want to cause any trouble, so my Prada case is closed.
The Boyfriend (as in, your boyfriend) and I are in the same boat. No Tom Cruise for me, thanks. He's creepy and I find him such an unpleasant, repellent screen presence these days.
haha i always find it funny when people can't get past the Star or Director's personal life/issues. In this case, it is not violence or crime but RELIGION of all things. You people are ridiculous.
I also am mighty surprised that a film that looks as ridiculous as Ant-Man has done so well. Marvel has certainly done a good job branding themselves --> unfortunately this shows that no matter how stupid their films look, they'll likely still make bank.
I finally saw Ex Machina. Thanks for the recommendation.
I saw White God, which may be my favorite of the year so far. I was amazed by how well the director and movie dog trainer brought out to the dogs' personalities on film. They were so expressive. I'm grateful for the review that was posted last spring here at TFE or I might not have rented it.
Since 1954 is our August year of the month, I also rented Carmen Jones, the lone Best Actress contender from that year I hadn't seen. Dorothy Dandridge is a huge screen presence but the film itself is fairly uneven, unfortunately. Still, it's worth seeing for her performance.
I also had a Netflix catch up weekend. I saw the Netflix documentary Tig, about comedian Tig Notaro's cancer diagnosis and recovery, revisited A Nightmare on Elm Street, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and Would You Rather? (such a stacked cast for so mediocre a horror film: June Squibb, John Heard, Jeffery Combs, and pre-Gotham Robin Lord Taylor), and finally caught Nymphomaniac 1&2.
Very busy movie going weekend I saw Inside Out and Trainwreck and enjoyed both immensely. There were some annoying teenagers at the inside out screening that mocked the emotional parts near the end that almost ruined the experience for me but I thought it was brilliant. I also saw La Dolce Vita at a screening on Saturday, I have no words for how brilliant it was
After reading Nick's review, I'm watching Walk on the Wide Side right now, but almost an hour in I'm not yet convinced. (Although Jane Fonda has definitely made an impression and it's fun comparing Anne Baxter to Marlene Dietrich in Touch of Evil...) When does the trashiness get going, Nick?
I powered through the new "Wet Hot American Summer" series, which doesn't quite recapture the original's magic but is worthy as its own thing. Felt like a more direct parody of 80s movie cliches this time around.
Also caught "The Lazarus Effect", which is basically nothing, and "Wild Tales", which was uneven but mostly lived up to the hype. Also, bring back anthology films in general.