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Post by jimed14 on Aug 18, 2018 11:55:27 GMT -5
Hey Eric, have you seen Upgrade yet? I thought it was one of the best low budget sci-fi movies I've ever seen with surprisingly good action and special effects. The actors were meh, but it was all about the story. Like a long Black Mirror episode with 1/3 the budget. It's by Leigh Whannell, also known for the Saw and Insidious series.
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ericmvan
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Aug 25, 2018 3:18:18 GMT -5
Post by ericmvan on Aug 25, 2018 3:18:18 GMT -5
Hey Eric, have you seen Upgrade yet? I thought it was one of the best low budget sci-fi movies I've ever seen with surprisingly good action and special effects. The actors were meh, but it was all about the story. Like a long Black Mirror episode with 1/3 the budget. It's by Leigh Whannell, also known for the Saw and Insidious series. I completely missed it, which is to say I saw a review and then completely forgot about it. It comes out on disk on Tuesday and I'll grab it ASAP.
I've been seriously neglecting my list of indie sci-fi films. Man, I last modified it on February 20th! I've barely been attending to the sub-genre. I only mention three potential 2018 films there ... and one of those, Sorry to Bother You, is going to earn a spot near the top and I haven't bothered it estimate where it falls.
Wow, A Quiet Place misses my cutoff for inclusion on that list by spending $1M too much.
The Endless seems to be the only other major flick I missed (it's a sequel of sorts to a film I missed, but I saw the intervening film from the same directors, Spring, and liked it a lot.). Two by major talents that ended up on Netflix proved to be so badly received that I'm not sure when I'll get around to them: Duncan Jones' Mute and Andrew Niccol's Anon.
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Aug 25, 2018 9:35:43 GMT -5
Post by jimed14 on Aug 25, 2018 9:35:43 GMT -5
Hey Eric, have you seen Upgrade yet? I thought it was one of the best low budget sci-fi movies I've ever seen with surprisingly good action and special effects. The actors were meh, but it was all about the story. Like a long Black Mirror episode with 1/3 the budget. It's by Leigh Whannell, also known for the Saw and Insidious series. I completely missed it, which is to say I saw a review and then completely forgot about it. It comes out on disk on Tuesday and I'll grab it ASAP.
I've been seriously neglecting my list of indie sci-fi films. Man, I last modified it on February 20th! I've barely been attending to the sub-genre. I only mention three potential 2018 films there ... and one of those, Sorry to Bother You, is going to earn a spot near the top and I haven't bothered it estimate where it falls.
Wow, A Quiet Place misses my cutoff for inclusion on that list by spending $1M too much.
The Endless seems to be the only other major flick I missed (it's a sequel of sorts to a film I missed, but I saw the intervening film from the same directors, Spring, and liked it a lot.). Two by major talents that ended up on Netflix proved to be so badly received that I'm not sure when I'll get around to them: Duncan Jones' Mute and Andrew Niccol's Anon.
I'll be interested to see where Upgrade lands in your list. I'm going to check out Resolution and The Endless soon. Ha, I started Resolution and remembered that I already watched it. I've killed too many brain cells in my life. But I'm watching it again. Thought it was great, so I'm sure I'll love The Endless too. I forgot about the cliffhanger at the end. |
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Aug 25, 2018 9:59:28 GMT -5
Post by soxfansince67 on Aug 25, 2018 9:59:28 GMT -5
Just a minor hijack from movies to great TV series - we've gone much more toward binging on those through Prime, Hulu or Netflix.
Six Feet Under, Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and Fargo among the best things we've ever watched. Also, Homeland, and we just finished The Americans. Oh yes - and The Leftovers - another that rises to the very top for us.
At 62, my wife and I feel like they don't really make movies with us as a target audience any longer - Remains of the Day, Howard's End, Room with a View are our types of movies - and Out of Africa. Character development, long story arcs - not loud, and no CGI (see, told you I was old!)
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ericmvan
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Aug 26, 2018 5:19:32 GMT -5
Post by ericmvan on Aug 26, 2018 5:19:32 GMT -5
Just a minor hijack from movies to great TV series - we've gone much more toward binging on those through Prime, Hulu or Netflix. Six Feet Under, Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and Fargo among the best things we've ever watched. Also, Homeland, and we just finished The Americans. Oh yes - and The Leftovers - another that rises to the very top for us. At 62, my wife and I feel like they don't really make movies with us as a target audience any longer - Remains of the Day, Howard's End, Room with a View are our types of movies - and Out of Africa. Character development, long story arcs - not loud, and no CGI (see, told you I was old!) Homeland's first season was stupendous. A lot of people thought it jumped the shark midway in season 2. I gave up midway in 3.
Sopranos was epic. I've yet to do The Wire, Breaking Bad, mad Men, or almost any of the other most acclained series.
You're correct that they don't make many (any?) epic period dramas anymore. But if you just want serious character driven stories that are satisfying in scope, they still make a few of those. Last year had BPM (Beats Per Minute), Phantom Thread, Mudbound (probably the closest to what you like), and Maudie.
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Aug 26, 2018 10:11:57 GMT -5
Post by jimed14 on Aug 26, 2018 10:11:57 GMT -5
Just a minor hijack from movies to great TV series - we've gone much more toward binging on those through Prime, Hulu or Netflix. Six Feet Under, Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and Fargo among the best things we've ever watched. Also, Homeland, and we just finished The Americans. Oh yes - and The Leftovers - another that rises to the very top for us. At 62, my wife and I feel like they don't really make movies with us as a target audience any longer - Remains of the Day, Howard's End, Room with a View are our types of movies - and Out of Africa. Character development, long story arcs - not loud, and no CGI (see, told you I was old!) Homeland's first season was stupendous. A lot of people thought it jumped the shark midway in season 2. I gave up midway in 3.
Sopranos was epic. I've yet to do The Wire, Breaking Bad, mad Men, or almost any of the other most acclained series.
You're correct that they don't make many (any?) epic period dramas anymore. But if you just want serious character driven stories that are satisfying in scope, they still make a few of those. Last year had BPM (Beats Per Minute), Phantom Thread, Mudbound (probably the closest to what you like), and Maudie.
I agree that Homeland fell off in the middle. The Brody character was just too good. (I'm also really enjoying Billions) But the last 2 seasons have been just as good as it was in the beginning. You should try watching seasons 6 and 7. Quinn is a character that is as awesome as Brody. For me, Homeland isn't that far off from being as good as Breaking Bad and Mad Men. And you absolutely need to watch those two shows, which are probably the best ever. If you want character development and long story arcs that aren't loud without CGI, Mad Men is the show to watch. I loved The Wire as well, but I didn't connect with it as much. I also need to add that I'm really enjoying Better Call Saul. Can't wait to see Walt and Jesse make an appearance. |
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Aug 26, 2018 17:17:25 GMT -5
Post by mattpicard on Aug 26, 2018 17:17:25 GMT -5
The Homeland season 2 plot had some issues, but overall I enjoyed it. Season 3 was simply a disaster - the icing on the cake was being forced to follow the antics of Brody's daughter. The series has recovered since then, at least back to being watchable, but I find that it survives primarily on 1-2 compelling characters (like Quinn, and formerly Brody) and intensity/thrill, while the elite plot/writing of season 1 has mostly vanished.
My favorite dramas list has a clear top 3, and I've struggled mightily to rank them relative to each other:
Breaking Bad
The Sopranos
The Wire
Better Call Saul is terrific, and becomes more Breaking Bad-like by the episode. Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy, and Deadwood have all been sitting atop my list of shows to watch for what feels like forever now. Lot of my friends watch Billions, and I should probably give that a look on account of Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti alone.
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ericmvan
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Aug 27, 2018 2:25:15 GMT -5
Post by ericmvan on Aug 27, 2018 2:25:15 GMT -5
Between missing nearly everything great post-Sopranos and my taste for the fantastic, my list of all-time favorite TV shows is ... eccentric. Only #1 here is certain; the order of 2 to 4 I'm just guessing at.
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I really can't imagine liking anything better.
2. Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman 3. Pushing Daisies 4. Twin Peaks t5. The Dick Van Dyke Show t5. Babylon Five
The first four seasons of Dexter might be next.
None of these shows bore much relationship to reality, once you factor in Rob and Laura sleeping in separate beds.
The first few seasons of Modern Family are probably the funniest thing I've ever seen.
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Aug 27, 2018 10:49:38 GMT -5
Post by umassgrad2005 on Aug 27, 2018 10:49:38 GMT -5
Does Mad Men get better? I watched a few episodes and it did nothing for me. Wasn't even close to what I was expecting, but I love Homeland, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Deadwood, etc.
Eric I have to say you keep surprising me, given your taste in movies I wouldn't have guessed that Buffy was your favorite show in a 1,000 years.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Aug 27, 2018 17:19:26 GMT -5
Does Mad Men get better? I watched a few episodes and it did nothing for me. Wasn't even close to what I was expecting, but I love Homeland, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Deadwood, etc. Eric I have to say you keep surprising me, given your taste in movies I wouldn't have guessed that Buffy was your favorite show in a 1,000 years. I was a big Mad Men guy, but must admit it isn't for everyone. It's not about a compelling plot. The point is that it's a superbly acted and written period drama. Jon Hamm is a freaking baller (which is why I find his lack of subsequent success equally confounding). I admittedly dropped in during the middle, mostly caught up and rode it until the end and loved it. My wife, however, still hasn't forgiven me for her decision to watch it all so we could watch together at the end. I'm no TV expert though. I still haven't seen any of most of the prestige TV series. |
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Aug 27, 2018 18:54:23 GMT -5
Post by soxfansince67 on Aug 27, 2018 18:54:23 GMT -5
Between missing nearly everything great post-Sopranos and my taste for the fantastic, my list of all-time favorite TV shows is ... eccentric. Only #1 here is certain; the order of 2 to 4 I'm just guessing at.
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I really can't imagine liking anything better.
2. Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman 3. Pushing Daisies 4. Twin Peaks t5. The Dick Van Dyke Show t5. Babylon Five
The first four seasons of Dexter might be next.
None of these shows bore much relationship to reality, once you factor in Rob and Laura sleeping in separate beds.
The first few seasons of Modern Family are probably the funniest thing I've ever seen.
TWIN PEAKS! How could I have left that off. We just finished season 3 - the one that takes place 25 years after the first two seasons. It is utterly indescribable and NOT for everyone. If you've not watched The Leftovers....do. It is utterly remarkable. |
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mobaz
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Aug 27, 2018 22:38:14 GMT -5
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Post by mobaz on Aug 27, 2018 22:38:14 GMT -5
Pushing Daisies was one of a few good shows murdered by the writers strike. It might have also been a few years too early to succeed. But it was excellent, had such a unique sense of style I've yet to see replicated and explored its premise thoroughly even in the few episodes as it had.
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Post by jimed14 on Aug 28, 2018 7:46:23 GMT -5
Between missing nearly everything great post-Sopranos and my taste for the fantastic, my list of all-time favorite TV shows is ... eccentric. Only #1 here is certain; the order of 2 to 4 I'm just guessing at.
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I really can't imagine liking anything better.
2. Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman 3. Pushing Daisies 4. Twin Peaks t5. The Dick Van Dyke Show t5. Babylon Five
The first four seasons of Dexter might be next.
None of these shows bore much relationship to reality, once you factor in Rob and Laura sleeping in separate beds.
The first few seasons of Modern Family are probably the funniest thing I've ever seen.
TWIN PEAKS! How could I have left that off. We just finished season 3 - the one that takes place 25 years after the first two seasons. It is utterly indescribable and NOT for everyone. If you've not watched The Leftovers....do. It is utterly remarkable. I loved The Leftovers. It was such a good premise for a show and somehow they didn't make it really dumb by the end like shows like that usually get. Twin Peaks was great too. I have to admit that I had to read some fan theories to figure out what the hell was going on half the time. |
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ericmvan
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Aug 29, 2018 1:17:28 GMT -5
Post by ericmvan on Aug 29, 2018 1:17:28 GMT -5
Between missing nearly everything great post-Sopranos and my taste for the fantastic, my list of all-time favorite TV shows is ... eccentric. Only #1 here is certain; the order of 2 to 4 I'm just guessing at.
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I really can't imagine liking anything better.
2. Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman 3. Pushing Daisies 4. Twin Peaks t5. The Dick Van Dyke Show t5. Babylon Five
The first four seasons of Dexter might be next.
None of these shows bore much relationship to reality, once you factor in Rob and Laura sleeping in separate beds.
The first few seasons of Modern Family are probably the funniest thing I've ever seen.
TWIN PEAKS! How could I have left that off. We just finished season 3 - the one that takes place 25 years after the first two seasons. It is utterly indescribable and NOT for everyone. If you've not watched The Leftovers....do. It is utterly remarkable. I have all of Twin Peaks: The Return saved on my DVR. When I finally get an advance or grant for the book I'm working on, my reward will be to watch the entire Twin Peaks: The Complete Mystery box set (including Fire Walk With Me and all its extra scenes, neither of which I've ever seen), and the the new series.
Of course, that's about one of about 3 or 4 similar rewards I've devised. Another is to catch up with the top 43 films I haven't seen that need to be added to my list of indie sci-films (along with 23 I've seen since the list was created, a number which should go to 26 soon if I find time to rent Upgrade, Resolution, and The Endless ... and I want to find a better home for that than just an IMDB list.
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ericmvan
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Aug 29, 2018 1:42:11 GMT -5
Post by ericmvan on Aug 29, 2018 1:42:11 GMT -5
Does Mad Men get better? I watched a few episodes and it did nothing for me. Wasn't even close to what I was expecting, but I love Homeland, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Deadwood, etc. Eric I have to say you keep surprising me, given your taste in movies I wouldn't have guessed that Buffy was your favorite show in a 1,000 years. I was a big Mad Men guy, but must admit it isn't for everyone. It's not about a compelling plot. The point is that it's a superbly acted and written period drama. Jon Hamm is a freaking baller (which is why I find his lack of subsequent success equally confounding). I admittedly dropped in during the middle, mostly caught up and rode it until the end and loved it. My wife, however, still hasn't forgiven me for her decision to watch it all so we could watch together at the end. I'm no TV expert though. I still haven't seen any of most of the prestige TV series. Hamm was terrific last year opposite the great Lois Smith in Marjorie Prime, which might be the best arthouse science fiction drama ever, and is in the top 10 or 15 modern indie sf films, period. Geena Davis plays their daughter and Tim Robbins their son-in-law. Even without the sf aspect it's a great dysfunctional family study in the vein of Ordinary People.
Smith originated her role in a stage play version. The movie seems a little stagy / talky at first, but it turns out there's a good reason for that. Not too many movies simultaneously hit the "deeply moving," "philosophically thought-provoking" (mostly about the nature of memory) and "mind-blowing" buttons. Beautifully shot, too.
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Aug 29, 2018 6:49:54 GMT -5
Post by jimed14 on Aug 29, 2018 6:49:54 GMT -5
I seem to remember Jon Hamm stating that he wanted to do comedy roles and was tired of serious ones. I guess he has trouble finding parts he likes, which is a little strange to me because he was pretty funny on SNL. Him doing comedy makes a lot more sense than Jim from The Office playing Jack Ryan.
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Aug 29, 2018 9:28:02 GMT -5
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Aug 29, 2018 9:28:02 GMT -5
Well there's Bridesmaids but that was almost a cameo.
There was a really good piece on Grantland I think (could easily have been The Ringer) about why Hamm hasn't become a mega-star that made a lot of sense.
Wasn't Hamm in a Black Mirror episode too?
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Aug 29, 2018 9:42:51 GMT -5
Post by soxfansince67 on Aug 29, 2018 9:42:51 GMT -5
We enjoyed Mad Men just as much for being such a perfect capture of that particular time - the drinking and smoking, the background politics, the social changes - as the story line - which often got a bit cringe-y. We felt that it ended when it should have - any longer and it would have overplayed its hand. Loved the actress who played Peggy (Elizabeth Moss - anything with her in it is worth watching).
We are now watching a really harrowing series on Netflix - Seven Seconds - same creator as the equally harrowing, gritty The Killing. These types of series make a much greater impact on us than most recent flicks.
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Aug 29, 2018 9:46:41 GMT -5
Post by vermontsox1 on Aug 29, 2018 9:46:41 GMT -5
Well there's Bridesmaids but that was almost a cameo. There was a really good piece on Grantland I think (could easily have been The Ringer) about why Hamm hasn't become a mega-star that made a lot of sense. Wasn't Hamm in a Black Mirror episode too? Yeah, he was in the Christmas special episode ("White Christmas"). It's arguably the best Black Mirror episode. |
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Aug 29, 2018 18:23:09 GMT -5
Post by umassgrad2005 on Aug 29, 2018 18:23:09 GMT -5
I'll have to give Mad Men another go. I've always like Jon Hamm in the Town, Keeping up with the Jones, Baby Driver and Beirut. I'll just have to find the time or take the remote from my wife that loves shows like sharp objects, orange is the new black, big little lies and the affair. Gotta stay up late to watch some guy shows like Animal Kingdom and Yellowstone.
My wife can't get enough of Elizabeth Moss in the Handmaid's Tale. Which I really have to laugh at because its a show about men taking away all the rights women got in like the last 400 to 500 years.
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Post by jimed14 on Aug 29, 2018 18:36:56 GMT -5
Women usually love Mad Men more than men, so you might want to get your wife to watch it. It's definitely not a high excitement show. It's all character driven and very slow. lol, I'm sure glad my gf isn't reading that.
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Aug 29, 2018 22:41:00 GMT -5
Post by umassgrad2005 on Aug 29, 2018 22:41:00 GMT -5
I seem to remember Jon Hamm stating that he wanted to do comedy roles and was tired of serious ones. I guess he has trouble finding parts he likes, which is a little strange to me because he was pretty funny on SNL. Him doing comedy makes a lot more sense than Jim from The Office playing Jack Ryan. Have you seen 13 hours? |
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Aug 30, 2018 12:20:27 GMT -5
Post by jimed14 on Aug 30, 2018 12:20:27 GMT -5
I seem to remember Jon Hamm stating that he wanted to do comedy roles and was tired of serious ones. I guess he has trouble finding parts he likes, which is a little strange to me because he was pretty funny on SNL. Him doing comedy makes a lot more sense than Jim from The Office playing Jack Ryan. Have you seen 13 hours? No I missed that. Don't usually watch the Michael Bay type movies anymore. Once you get to my age, they're all the same. I might check it out though. |
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Aug 30, 2018 12:23:00 GMT -5
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Aug 30, 2018 12:23:00 GMT -5
Women usually love Mad Men more than men, so you might want to get your wife to watch it. It's definitely not a high excitement show. It's all character driven and very slow. lol, I'm sure glad my gf isn't reading that. Says who? Can't say I've ever heard that before, and I had made the opposite assumption (likely informed in large part by my wife hating it). |
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Aug 30, 2018 14:37:32 GMT -5
Post by jimed14 on Aug 30, 2018 14:37:32 GMT -5
Women usually love Mad Men more than men, so you might want to get your wife to watch it. It's definitely not a high excitement show. It's all character driven and very slow. lol, I'm sure glad my gf isn't reading that. Says who? Can't say I've ever heard that before, and I had made the opposite assumption (likely informed in large part by my wife hating it). I have no idea. Maybe I just assumed that because it was my gf's favorite show ever. |
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