Mr. Seven

Can we all agree that Joseph-Gordon Levitt was clearly doing a Keanu Reeves impression throughout?

Curious as to why Michael Caine couldn't just bring Leo's kids to see him, seeing as it's never once mentioned that he's outlawed from seeing them and it's not like he doesn't have clandestine meetings with their guardian. Sure, you could argue a whole bunch of red-tape reasons and Mal's disapproving parents, but the situation reads like life and death for Leo despite there being obvious ways around it.

'Dom Cobb' is an amazingly stupid name too.

I seem to have been a lot easier on Inception than I remember. Having watched it a further two times since (for study purposes, you understand), I can confirm that it deteriorates with each viewing. It's just not a film to go mental over either way though, which is why I found the reaction to it so puzzling when it came out. It was like that Lumiere Brothers film or something. I'll never call Nolan a 'bad' filmmaker per se, but I'll never be able to accept the worshipping of him either. It absolutely baffles me.

I think what bothered me the most about Inception was the acceptance of lazy writing and the dismissal of problems that would otherwise be highlighted in a less hyped-up event movie. I remember Mark Kermode (who used to actually have opinions before he and his clown sidekick bought into their own bullshit cult following) lauding the film because, "It doesn't have people standing around explaining the plot to each other". Was Ellen Page's character not in the cut of the film he watched then?

Like the majority of Nolan's output, it's too long, quite dull and features sketches rather than fleshed-out characters. There are nice moments in there, of course, but it's a fucking slog to get through. Incidentally, Hans Zimmer remains one of the more irritatingly overrated and lazy composers out there (listening to his score for The Dark Knight Rises at the moment and it's the very definition of "phoned in") but the track that closes Inception - 'Time' - is really quite lovely (and by far the most restrained piece on the OST). I stumbled upon this Daft Punk-esque remix of it last night and it's worth sharing: http://www.earmilk.com/2012/07/07/pilotpri...clusive-tracks/

BUT CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

I saw a clip where Kunis brings Timberlake to a flash mob. I hope whoever wrote that had a stroke seconds later.

She does have one enjoyable moment.

Limitless is awful. It's just extremely pointless, especially with the altered ending.

Can't wait to see just how many minutes before you get bored Gladders. Word of warning; if you have surround sound, maybe don't turn the dial past '10'. Zimmer's soundtrack is insanely obtrusive throughout.

Has anyone seen Cosmopolis?

Nobody?

Rang him up. Listening to WOR now, and Meltzer said that Bruno wasn't impressed. Alvarez, all smug, goes, 'Maybe he should have listened to the show [referencing the one time Bruno was a guest on their show] and he wouldn't have asked such a stupid question'.

I hate Bryan Alvarez.

Has anyone seen Cosmopolis?

I saw it yesterday. I found it absolutely fascinating, but ultimately a little frustrating, almost entirely due to an ending stretch that just doesn't click. For those who are unaware of the plot - Robert Pattinson plays a jaded 28-year-old billionaire who is more focused on getting a haircut than protecting his fortune and life, both of which appear to be in peril. The majority of the film takes place in his limo, as various characters come and go, all indulging in lengthy, obtuse conversations about life and finances. In this respect, it reminded me an awful lot of Waking Life, a film I would place in my top ten worst of all time list. Here, however, the musings never once bothered me, nor did the glacial pace.

Pattinson is absolutely brilliant, especially when you consider that the greatest theatrical flourish he gets to show in the entire film is a smirk. He is, somewhat ironically, utterly vampiric throughout, all dead eyes and apathy. His character craves sex but gains no pleasure from it. In many ways, it's about connection. The obvious allegory is to the global economic downturn but it's an exceptionally claustrophobic look at depression too. For a David Cronenberg film, it's surprisingly minimalist, and only briefly flirts with body horror.

The final act is a problem though, as Pattinson comes face to face with his would-be assassin. It's surprisingly clunky and just doesn't quite work. Irritatingly, the film closes on an excellent line of dialogue that doesn't feel entirely earned. I can see why people would hate Cosmopolis. I didn't love it, but I respect the hell out of it, even if it falls short. I think it's nearly out of cinemas now, and I'm guessing it didn't do too well. The thought of the R-Patz fanbase seeing it is kind of amusing. Incidentally, I saw it in an arthouse cinema and at least four people walked out. Of an arthouse cinema.

Anyways, I wouldn't neccessarily call it an enjoyable experience, but it's definitely thought-provoking, and it's worth seeing for Pattinson, who, for me, has finally shown that he could be something special.

He's quite frustrating. Seems a decent guy and he's turned in excellent performances in the likes of Lone Star, Dazed And Confused, Frailty, The Lincoln Lawyer and others, but then he does a ton of half-assed rom-coms where he struts around with his shirt off for half the running time.

Who on here is gay for Sahara? Loki?

I have yet to listen to today's Observer radio but I'm assuming the following statement - which was posted on their site - relates to something one of them said on the show? If that's the case, it's slightly odd that they would post the correction on their own site. Granted, it's not rare to see a newspaper or magazine print a retraction, but this just seems like further ammo that Meltzer and Alvarez just make up nonsense on a whim:

It has come to our attention that someone has claimed that Bruno was unimpressed with Triple H. That is an absolutely false statement Bruno had no issue what so ever with Triple H. He liked Triple H and enjoyed their conversation but for reasons personal to Bruno he has decided not to accept the induction in NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM IS THE REFUSAL A REFLECTION ON TRIPLE H or his presentation or conversations with Bruno.

Speaking of Alvarez - if he throws out the phrase, 'WrestleMMania' one more time, I'll fucking scream.

Assuming it's broken down into list form, we should try and predict as many items as possible:

1: Turn John Cena heel.

How is McConaughey?

Thanks to a liberal use of the fast-forward button and skipping some episodes entirely, I'm midway through season 4 of Heroes. I think I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown to be honest. How did this show last for so long? Season 3 - especially the latter half - seemed like it was never going to end. Around and around and around in circles with characters doing increasingly stupid things, turning heel/babyface often several times throughout the same episode and the overall plot moving at the pace of a dead snail.

 

Season 4 thus far isn't as horrible and it seems like something of a weight was lifted off the show's shoulders but it's still tired as hell and clearly waiting to be put out of its misery. The acting, as usual, is mostly dreadful. The guest actors usually seem to be operating on a different playing field (Zelkjo Ivanek and Robert Knepper have been fun even if their characters are poorly written - SHOCK HORROR THERE) and my problem with Greg Grunberg's stupid clown face has reached fever pitch. At one point last night I had to look away. I can't deal with him. I'm no photogenic Hollywood type but fuck me, this bumbling cunt having a career in acting is just wrong. He's a mess. A creepy, terrible mess. Who cannot, absolutely cannot act.

 

Why are you watching a show you hate and criticise from start to finish? What possible joy do you get from it?

Do I dare delve back into the world of Heroes? I gave up after season two because it was fucking wretched and I've heard it just gets worse from here. Admittedly, I'm curious to see just how bad it could possibly get.

Sons Of Anarchy is great TV. Not without its flaws, and the unfortunate diversion for most of season three will really test your patience, but it's gripping stuff. It pisses all over Heroes from a great height.

Anna Chlumsky?

Anyways, given that I don't have Sky Atlantic... if Partridge surfaces online and any kind UKFFer happens to notice, please PM me a link. Ta.

I did. There's a mega-thread somewhere in which I got quite upset about the finale in the face of lots of people who loved it for whatever reason. I haven't gone back (hur hur) yet for a bunch of reasons, including how awful season six is (and because I can't face Kate-centric episodes) but if I do, I might stop at the end of season five.

Thanks to a liberal use of the fast-forward button and skipping some episodes entirely, I'm midway through season 4 of Heroes. I think I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown to be honest. How did this show last for so long? Season 3 - especially the latter half - seemed like it was never going to end. Around and around and around in circles with characters doing increasingly stupid things, turning heel/babyface often several times throughout the same episode and the overall plot moving at the pace of a dead snail.

Season 4 thus far isn't as horrible and it seems like something of a weight was lifted off the show's shoulders but it's still tired as hell and clearly waiting to be put out of its misery. The acting, as usual, is mostly dreadful. The guest actors usually seem to be operating on a different playing field (Zelkjo Ivanek and Robert Knepper have been fun even if their characters are poorly written - SHOCK HORROR THERE) and my problem with Greg Grunberg's stupid clown face has reached fever pitch. At one point last night I had to look away. I can't deal with him. I'm no photogenic Hollywood type but fuck me, this bumbling cunt having a career in acting is just wrong. He's a mess. A creepy, terrible mess. Who cannot, absolutely cannot act.

Stop.

It's amazing how there seems to be no middle ground with that ending. People seem to either completely latch onto it and are hit hard by it or they utterly despise it. I can see both arguments, but I applaud the risk taken.

Eden Lake is appalling.

Re-watched The Mist the other night. It's not without its flaws but on the whole I think it's one of the best horror films in recent memory. A lot of people take aim at the *insert sad trombone here* ending and while you can certainly make the argument that timing-wise, it's almost (darkly) comical, it's still gut-wrenching. The effects, especially in the beginning, occasionally leave a lot to be desired, but the budget is quite low for a studio picture (apparently Frank Darabont was offered a great deal more if he'd agree to change the ending) so you forgive it. As a, 'we're the real monsters' parable it's extremely effective, even if, again, some things happen a little too quickly. The cast are hugely impressive - particuarly Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden - and there's a deeply unsettling feeling throughout. It's quite a nasty little film, but not exploitative, and the characters are mostly elevated from 'victim #3' which is what horror should be about.

Also watched Rococop 2 for the first time. What a mess!

Halfway through Heroes season three. Fuck me, it's bad. I've been fast-forwarding quite a bit of it as I can't stand most of the characters but I'm determined to see it through because I hear once it comes off the rails it simply refuses to stop. My plan of skipping every single scene with Greg Grunberg in it has been cut short because they fucking paired him up with Brea Grant, who is aesthetically pleasing even if her character is as wretched as everyone else (the reveal of her on crutches was fucking hysterical). How goes Greg Grunberg get work? He is the most awkward, creepy, rotten-looking cunt I've ever seen get taken seriously in a major American TV show. I hate his face. I fucking loathe it.

Other thoughts:

- Sylar is the worst. In season one there was some nice mystery to him and I genuinely thought Zachary Quinto was fun to watch but now I wish he never had a career. He's also had more heel/face turns than Big Show at this point, and he only started to turn babyface for the first time IN THIS FUCKING SEASON AND I'M ONLY 13 EPISODES IN.

- Milo Ventiglimia cannot act. At all. Scrunching up your face does not equal emotion.

- I can't tell if it's wrong to want to fuck Hayden Panetierre or not. She's got some weird almost-dwarfism thing going on.

- The guy playing Mohinder might be a worse actor than Milo.

- There's literally no suspense in this show because every single time a major character appears to die, they're alive in the next scene. As such, every other character might as well have a ticking clock over their head because heaven forbid they kill off one of the principal cast.

- With that in mind, was pretty sad to see Marlo from The Wire go out like such a bitch. His character sucked though. LIKE ALL OF THE OTHERS.

[Larry David]Can't go on. Must go on. Can't go on.[/Larry David]

Certainly the weakest of the series but I'm gay for Statham and won't hear a bad word about him. Also, that redhead was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay hotter than Patsy Palmer.

Re-watched A Perfect Getaway the other night as it was late and I wanted something that was less than an hour and a half long. I'm surprised more people haven't seen it. It's nothing special, sure, but it's a whole lot of fun and even knowing the twists second time around it's fun to watch certain characters in a different light.