Last Film You Saw

The Woman in Cabin 10 Netflix.On a lavish yacht for an assignment, a journalist sees a passenger go overboard. But when no one believes her, she risks her live to uncover the truth. I’d give it a watchable 6.5/10. Movie threads are always fun because everyone watches completely different stuff. One person loves action movies while another recommends some random old drama nobody expected. I recently spent half the evening arguing with ATT customer service number support over internet issues and ended up watching movies afterward just to relax. Films really help people disconnect from stressful days. Curious what everyone else has been watching lately.
 
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Caught two films over the weekend - both very enjoyable and would recommend.
Only the Brave - Josh Brolin as leader of a fire crew who tackle dangerous wildfires in Arizona. Seemingly based on a true story. Powerful 9/10
The Green Book - An Italian nightclub doorman acts as driver to an highly sophisticated, well-educated black virtuouso pianist on a tour of the USA Deep South in 1962. Endearing 8/10
 
Rory Bluelow said:
The Green Book - An Italian nightclub doorman acts as driver to an highly sophisticated, well-educated black virtuouso pianist on a tour of the USA Deep South in 1962. Endearing 8/10
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Quite honestly, I don't know a single non-Caucasian person that likes this film.

Most people I know (including me at at the time of knowing the true story background of the artist), questioned why a doorman was more interesting than a super talented Black and gay man touring the Deep South! For me, it's the updated "Driving Miss Daisy" of its time!

Go figure!
 
Bigga said:
Quite honestly, I don't know a single non-Caucasian person that likes this film.

Most people I know (including me at at the time of knowing the true story background of the artist), questioned why a doorman was more interesting than a super talented Black and gay man touring the Deep South! For me, it's the updated "Driving Miss Daisy" of its time!

Go figure!
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Interesting. Thanks for that perspective, which didn’t register with this white, heterosexual FOC !
I guess each protagonist was “out of his element” in the film, the blue-collar Italian being rough and uneducated - but perhaps a warmer human being whereas “the Doc” was culturally and intellectually superior, but cut a quite a remote, lonely figure, despite his talent and fame. My takeaway was this due to his sexuality perhaps even more than his race - although his tours were clearly a form of missionary work aimed at “educating” the elites of a deeply racist and segregated society. The contrast between the (loving) noisy Italian family and that (cool and distant) of the Doc returning home to his butler/valet was emphasised by the filmmaker. Given these were real historical characters, I wonder how true the portrayals were !
 
Rory Bluelow said:
Interesting. Thanks for that perspective, which didn’t register with this white, heterosexual FOC !
I guess each protagonist was “out of his element” in the film, the blue-collar Italian being rough and uneducated - but perhaps a warmer human being whereas “the Doc” was culturally and intellectually superior, but cut a quite a remote, lonely figure, despite his talent and fame. My takeaway was this due to his sexuality perhaps even more than his race - although his tours were clearly a form of missionary work aimed at “educating” the elites of a deeply racist and segregated society. The contrast between the (loving) noisy Italian family and that (cool and distant) of the Doc returning home to his butler/valet was emphasised by the filmmaker. Given these were real historical characters, I wonder how true the portrayals were !
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This was quite a considered and respected response. I appreciated it. But, if I may, this will help you understand my perspective as what would have been better content.

Summary:

Shirley: A genuine prodigy and polymath. Born 1927 in Florida to Jamaican immigrants. Piano from age 2–3, organ in church. Debuted with Boston Pops at 18 (Tchaikovsky). Studied in the USSR, earned multiple doctorates (music, psychology, liturgical arts), spoke several languages. Blended classical, jazz, and spirituals in his trio—recorded many albums, had hits like "Water Boy." Composed symphonies, concerti, quartets, opera, etc. Performed at Carnegie Hall (one of few to do solo concerts there besides Bernstein), La Scala, with Alvin Ailey, etc. Lived in Carnegie Hall studios. Faced segregation despite elite talent, which made his story poignant. Reserved, aristocratic, meticulous, yet versatile.

Tony "Lip" Vallelonga: Colorful working-class character—bouncer at the Copacabana, street-smart talker ("Lip" for his gift of gab), former minor-league baseball, Army vet. Later actor (Sopranos, Goodfellas, etc.). Big personality, food-loving, loyal, protective. His appeal is the everyman contrast: tough Italian guy navigating elite and Southern worlds. His growth and anecdotes make him likable and movie-friendly, but he's not a Renaissance figure.

I do know that Dr Shirley's family were not consulted for this film as they had a different take. What rankled with them was also was the insinuation that Dr Shirley wasn't close to his family because of his 'persuasion'.

For me, it's an irksome film, knowing there are many, many elements bypassed to produce it.

However, I'm glad you got something out of it.
 
Bigga said:
This was quite a considered and respected response. I appreciated it. But, if I may, this will help you understand my perspective as what would have been better content.

Summary:

Shirley: A genuine prodigy and polymath. Born 1927 in Florida to Jamaican immigrants. Piano from age 2–3, organ in church. Debuted with Boston Pops at 18 (Tchaikovsky). Studied in the USSR, earned multiple doctorates (music, psychology, liturgical arts), spoke several languages. Blended classical, jazz, and spirituals in his trio—recorded many albums, had hits like "Water Boy." Composed symphonies, concerti, quartets, opera, etc. Performed at Carnegie Hall (one of few to do solo concerts there besides Bernstein), La Scala, with Alvin Ailey, etc. Lived in Carnegie Hall studios. Faced segregation despite elite talent, which made his story poignant. Reserved, aristocratic, meticulous, yet versatile.

Tony "Lip" Vallelonga: Colorful working-class character—bouncer at the Copacabana, street-smart talker ("Lip" for his gift of gab), former minor-league baseball, Army vet. Later actor (Sopranos, Goodfellas, etc.). Big personality, food-loving, loyal, protective. His appeal is the everyman contrast: tough Italian guy navigating elite and Southern worlds. His growth and anecdotes make him likable and movie-friendly, but he's not a Renaissance figure.

I do know that Dr Shirley's family were not consulted for this film as they had a different take. What rankled with them was also was the insinuation that Dr Shirley wasn't close to his family because of his 'persuasion'.

For me, it's an irksome film, knowing there are many, many elements bypassed to produce it.

However, I'm glad you got something out of it.
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Thanks for that. Very informative and I get your point. We enjoyed the film as a story but when it purports to be based on real characters there’s a need to portray them accurately and fairly.
 
The Drama - 7/10

Couldn’t decide if I’d be as shocked at the revelation as the people in the movie. Especially if the person revealing it was Zendeya… I’d forgive her anything.
 
Some omissions from the 70's list above:

Kelly's Heroes (1970)
Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
Patton (1970)
Waterloo (1970)
Dirty Harry (1971)
Duel (1971)
Badlands (1973)
The Wicker Man (1973)
Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (1973)
Westworld (1973)
Parallax View (1974)
The Conversation (1974)
Barry Lyndon (1975)
Deep Red aka Profondo Rosso (1975)
All the President’s Men (1976)
Logan's Run (1976)
The Omen (1976)
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Cross of Iron (1977)
Sorcerer (1977)
Suspiria (1977)
The Duellists (1977)
Halloween (1978)
Alien (1979)
Mad Max (1979)
The China Syndrome (1979)
The Warriors (1979)

The 70's.
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