Saw these two :

Blackfish

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Very interesting documentary about a rather shady business. The whales of Seaworld represent millions of dollars of worth and when they've injured or killed their handlers, Seaworld has deliberately downplayed the importance of these incidents, blaming the trainers and keeping their staff in the dark so they wouldn't know they were working with animals with a history of attacking and eating people.

The story may seem one-sided at first glance, but the interviews are with former staff who retell their experiences as Seaworld employees. Credible and entertaining in an interesting kind of way. Recommended!

I've read that Seaworld stock has plummeted after the release of this documentary. I can't help feeling that it is deserved.


Food, Inc.

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The story of how food is made in the US. Basically, the food industry is under tight control of a few big companies, like Monsanto, who use terror tactics to shut people up and to keep farmers in line. You have to use their crops - if you don't, they sue you. The legal fees will put you out of business long before you even see a court room, so the law doesn't really help you. You have to take up loans and drive yourself into further debt to upgrade your barn to make life more miserable for your animals, otherwise you lose your contract. The industry is not regulated because they attack any attempt to do so with lawsuits and they also had representatives in the Bush administration, Clinton administration etc. Consumers are deliberately kept in the dark about this.

Unhealthy foods are subsidized, making burgers and sodas much cheaper than healthier alternatives, so it really is a matter of public health. Like Blackfish, the documentary could serve as a warning as to what can happen when capitalism runs rampant - on an even larger scale. These companies are so powerful through contracts, lawsuits and lobbying that they can basically do as they like and they're basically acting like assholes.

As a norwegian, I feel as though I am looking at a problem in another part of the world, but this still has effect on a grand human scale and we can also learn from this. Highly relevant!


Both these docs are available on Netflix.

Finally got to see Boyhood.

What an absolutely wonderful experience. I almost have trouble calling it a film because it's unlike anything I've ever seen and it clearly was not written like a normal film was. This was written on the fly, with Linklater taking into account all the mannerisms of people growing up during this changing time, and reflecting all of this confusion onto Mason. Just like many others have said, I almost feel like I was watching my childhood, and no other film I've ever watched was able to so accurately depict what it's like to grow up. The decision to make Mason mostly apathetic was also brilliant, as it was easy to project your personality onto him and feel even closer to his character.

Definitely one of my favorites. 10/10, a masterpiece and must-watch.

10/10, eh? Must watch that next.

I been into my kung-fu lately.

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TAI CHI 0

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Locke

I kind of want to go out and buy a BMW now. They look like they’re comfortable to drive and the whole scroll dial is pretty awesome. Yes, I realize this is a film blog and that I’m talking about a car, but Locke could really double as an 85 minute BMW commercial. The film was shot entirely in the car with Tom Hardy being the only actor to appear on screen. I’ve tackled films like this before. I actually find them supremely interesting due to the fact that the writer has to make an interesting film that takes place in only one place. Locke may actually be the most unique due to the fact that Tom Hardy never gets out of the car and there are literally no action scenes. The entire film is constructed around phone calls that our main and only character has with various people in his life. It was marketed as a thriller or at least that is how I took it, but let me assure you, this is not a thriller. This is a one man play and it’s played beautifully by Tom Hardy.

Locke has made a decision and he’s going to stick to it. The film centers around his decision to drive out to London after work in order to be with somebody. This decision is one that threatens to lose him his job and family but Ivan Locke is a good man and he feels this is the right thing to do. The theme of the film seems to be morality and what is the difference between a good and a bad thing. Do good actions made after bad decisions right the ship? I know that in my experience, it can go both ways. I’ve made mistakes before in my life and had to work extremely hard to fix them. Some things are unfixable. I’ve also had problems seemingly disappear on me as if they have never happened. Ivan Locke is a man who likes to take the practical approach to solve his problems. He’s one of the most respected and reliable men at his construction job. He’s the one people can trust because he’s going to do the job right every single time. What happens when that kind if person hurts somebody thought? The film dances around these questions and tries to find some sort of an answer that for me at least, never really came. Life isn’t that structured and Locke figures this out by the end of the film.

Fresh off his memorable role in The Dark Knight Rises, Tom Hardy, who looks much skinnier than his Bane character, pretty much knocked this one out of the park. I’ve been reading critic reviews that claim that it’s one of the better performances of the last couple years and I’m inclined to agree. The film was shot over six days in which Hardy had to recite the entire film twice a night. The actors who engage with him on the phone are really doing so in a hotel room and Hardy drives along the highway with cameras trained on him. It’s a fascinating way to make a movie but you really need that strong performance to pull it all together. Hardy did just that. His range of emotions was on full display and he really was able to sell this character as being a genuine person. Locke is a brutally honest man and Hardy was able to portray that with eye movement that didn’t come off false. There were a couple scenes involving his father that seemed a bit out of place but they were needed for back story and I was able to shrug them off.

The film overall held my attention and was able to keep me very intrigued the whole way through. Tom Hardy should, but probably won’t, get recognition for this role. It may actually be his best yet. Actually, no, Charlie Bronson can’t be matched. It’s just too good. The film is shot gorgeously in the night as well and the script ws pretty solid and fluid. It was a good watch. I’d recommend it.

4/5

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Two movies that involve copious amounts of substance abuse, with scumbag protagonists. I enjoyed them both. Trainspotting made me feel like I had just been in a junkie's filthy bedroom, which was kind of the point I suppose, so that's an artistic success story if I ever knew one.

Finished the sequel to Tai Chi Zero...

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Tai Chi HERO!

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Nymphomaniac Vol. I

Lars von Trier's filmography gets better with each film he releases, which I imagine is extremely difficult for him as he already has an incredible filmography. All of the elements of this film--the way it's written to tie in fishing wisdom with the protagonist's nymphomania, the editing, cinematography, etc.--add up to it becoming one of my favourite von Trier films (Dogville and Antichrist still take the cake though, but that doesn't take anything away from this film). Charlotte Gainsbourg gives a great performance (not surprising but worth noting), but Uma Thurman's acting as Mrs. H was so ****ing poignant. The scene with Young Joe, Mr. and Mrs. H and their children was so powerful especially with Thurman's performance that it made me cry like a little bitch, which is quite rare for a film to evoke such a response from me. Very VERY good film that's recently been added to Fletnix. Watch it.

I'll be queueing up Volume II sometime this week, hopefully it lives up to the first one. According to bob. it doesn't but I'm going to wait to see it until I cast any judgement on it.

EDITED TO ADD: I just found this in an IMDB thread called "should i see this with my mom ??"

:laughing: Ah that's one of the funniest things I've seen in a while.

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Sherlock Holmes meets Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

8/10. Dope mystery film.

Guardians of the Galaxy! ****ing awesome! ^_^

I love that movie. I just watched the prequel a few days ago, which is also pretty good.

Oh, good! Haven't seen the prequel yet. Watch it tomorrow after work.

Dark Country
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I loved this movie and the fact that Thomas Jane directed it cemented my love for it even more.

I'd have to look it up to see if it was his directorial debut but this movie reminded me of an episode of the Twilight Zone. He decided to use some interesting camera work and give the movie a film noire feel to it.

Cool! Looking forward to this :)

Is it a cinema movie or would you enjoy it as much from the couch at home?

Since the movie is pretty much entirely dialogue I'd say it doesn't matter where you watch it, although I recommend giving it your undivided attention as it's a very thought-provoking flick

if you saw it at home that would be just fine....although the film has some wonderful shots...Linklater is not what you would call a camera savvy director.....this is 100% story....and a damn good one at that

obviously :)

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Boyhood

this is easily my favorite film of the year....or at least tied with my previous favorite :)

i'm gonna try to write this without any major spoilers....but there will be a couple of minor....really you already know what the general idea of this film is....so

***SPOILERS***

going into to see this i was prepared to watch a boy of 6 grow into a young man of 18....what i was not prepared for was to watch his family grow with.....and that is what makes this film so powerful

don't get me wrong this film centers around Mason....but in my opinion the stellar performances come from the two unnamed characters....Mom and Dad...played perfectly by Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke....the two ending scenes with each character (which are separate) are easily the best of the entire film

so what is so wonderful about this film is the fact that it really concentrates on just how wonderful the mundane parts of our live really are....there is no shocking moments....i mean i did clasp my hands to my mouth a few times in particular with Mason's first stepfather....but really this is three hours of watching people live and at the end all i wanted was to keep following them

seriously three hours and i wanted more and still want more.....even though this almost in no way reflected my boyhood....except the shaving of his head.....i know that feeling all to well as my mothers sperm donor had done exactly that to me when i was 11....so the scene of him playing sick and the scene of him returning to school and the embarrassment that comes with it....really struck a chord with me....this film really is a perfect mix of all emotions....i honestly cannot remember a film that brought out everything in me....i nodded, i laughed, i gasped, i smiled, and i cried....and by that damn near perfect ending i wanted more :)

the filming is good but nothing spectacular....but i will point out...as it was said on the filmspotting review....it is also an interesting experiment to watch Linklater himself grow as a director

anyways....i absolutely loved this and see this as becoming an annual film for me

easily 5/5

I loved how it ended with Mason basically spouting nonsense. It was a perfect way to illustrate that even though the movie is over, Mason is just beginning his life and hasn't figured anything out yet. It made me feel like there is still so much to figure out with my own life.

and i felt the point is.....you will always have stuff to figure out.....that is why life is so amazing

Spoilers:

:)

not really....i mean obviously the film has to end and the end of this one is really nothing more than the beginning of the next stage of life.....he gave nothing away

and much of this movie is Mason spotting nonsense in a good way

Needed to kill a few hours today so I saw Guardians of the Galaxy because no one will stfu about it.

Didn't think it was all that great really, big blockbuster action-comedy with some one-liners here and there. Pretty forgettable really.

I saw Chef. Hated it.

Looks like these two guys hate fun.

Indeed. I thought Guardians of the Galaxy had Vin Diesel's most accomplished roll yet. Impressed.

I don't remember him doing any rolling in that movie.

people love to make fun of vin diesal but i actually think he's a fairly decent actor. "Find me Guilty" was pretty good, and i thought he was alright in "knock around guys".

I think he would be taken more seriously if he just kept his name mark vincent.

I liked Guardians of the Galaxy, but Chef had no plot or conflict - I get that that was the point, but it didn't do enough for me to justify it. I mean, I like food porn as much as the next guy, but that was kinda all it had going for it IMO.

Sometimes a movie that isn't reaching for the sky and just wants to tell a simple story with some good acting and beautiful food is perfectly fine. I had fun with the movie while also realizing that the story was a cut and paste, pull at your heartstrings deal. The charm outweighed the story faults.

There was some awesome looking food in Chef.

That's "role" Batlord. lulz.

I'll role you.

:whythis: now you're just being silly.

I've caught up on a few recent releases in the past week.

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Guardians of the Galaxy
Great mix of humor, action and eye candy. Pure entertainment. Loved it.


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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
I unfortunately saw this in a theater with a really annoying audience, but nevertheless I came away from the experience thinking it was a great movie. Considering the circumstances I watched it under, it must really be quite good to have kept me interested. Definitely a worthy follow up to the previous movie.


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Boyhood
Just saw this tonight and was completely blown away by it. A totally unique movie experience and yet another fantastic effort from Richard Linklater. I love that guy.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes MIGHT be my favorite movie of the year. I still think about it and I saw it a month ago.

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The Birdcage

Absolutely love this movie. I had no idea it existed until Netflix threw it in my face multiple times, but it was a very fun movie to watch. Both Robin and Nathan Lane played a fantastic gay couple, even if Nathan Lane's character was a bit over the top in some scenes. Overall, a good movie.

Totally amazed you had never heard of it but, yeah, good movie.

I'm shocked myself that I had never seen or heard of it. It's a movie that was right down my alley.

After that however I tried to give another Robin Williams movie that was also on Netflix a chance.

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The plot was there, the actor was there, but I honestly just couldn't get into it as a lot of other people could. Maybe it was just the mood I was in when I watched it, because it seems to get a lot of love. I'll try it again, but the acting overall just didn't sit right with me. Don't know why.

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Festen
I watched a lot of the Dogme 95 films recently. I'm planning on starting work on making my own films very soon and watching films as basic as this are a good source of inspiration. The fact that Thomas Vinterburg accomplishes so much with this film without so many of the traditional tools of cinema is nothing short of amazing. Proves that low budget basic filmmaking can be extremely special.