A "character study" similar to Joker (released at the same time), right down to matching sponge bathing elderly mother scenes. But while Joker invited a dubious amount of sympathy for its villainous protagonist, this movie veers in the opposite direction, and invites only escalating amounts of disgust for its archetype of right-wing extremism. It offers no insights, surprises, or even a story, only obvious stereotypes and voyeuristic cringe-nip. I feel like a better director could have better channeled his hatred into a dark comedy... like an alt-right Four Lions. Although maybe BlacKkKlansman sort of already went there.
All ye tender lasses and land-lubbers, listen and heed me caution now: Take yer refuge and stow the wee ones, for this tale of brine and blood be rated ARRRRR!
Some say the ubiquitous "twin" movie phenomenon (Bugs Life vs. Antz, etc) is a product of competition among Hollywood studios, but here we have two very different countries releasing twin metaphorical class horror-comedies (Parasite and Jordan Peele's 'Us'). So chalk one up for "In the Air" theory. (See also The Raid: Redemption & Dredd)
Based on probably my favorite tru-crime story: the kidnapping of Colleen Stan. Unfortunately the true story is much weirder and darker. Seems like a missed opportunity since this is a decent, yet fairly thin film.
(And could've been called "Girl in a Box' like the old Crime Library article. Still don't know what 'Hounds of Love' means.)
Should get all the props instead of Blair Witch, but it also feels like a 'had to be there' kind of movie (...The same for Blair Witch, actually). For the most part it's exactly as tedious to sit through as the cheesy middlebrow programming it's imitating.
As it's own story I think this film succeeds on its grimy aesthetics, deft cinematic callbacks, and of course Phoenix's magnetic performance. It's interesting. However as a BATMAN movie, I would call it a failure, the crucial problem being that it has no relationship to the character it exists to portray. Whoever this "Arthur Fleck" fella is, he is obviously not arch-nemesis material. The Joker has actual defining character traits/abilities and isn't just any fictional murderer dressed like a clown (Pennywise isn't the Joker, etc).
Let's leave aside the fact Fleck is an anorexic grandpa that, we can only assume, the much younger Batman will one day accidentally kill with one punch. The Joker character, in all his adaptations, is a criminal genius because Batman is a crime-fighting genius. It takes a Moriarty to challenge Batman's Holmes. But Fleck is a fuckup; a clumsy simpleton with no discernible skills or gifts. In fact almost every defining trait of the character is reversed: The Joker is a sadistic psychopath who you are supposed to hate (Fleck is a sympathetic "anti-hero" who only harms those that harm him), the Joker is extroverted and domineering (Fleck is withdrawn and socially inept), the Joker is disturbingly mirthful (Fleck is deeply depressive). These are not expendable traits, they purposely define the Joker in yin-yang counterbalance to the virtuous, cloistered, sullen Batman. This contrast is what makes these characters and their dynamic appealing, yet Arthur Fleck (mediocrity aside) is basically the same emo avenger as Bruce Wayne.
I mean this almost seems intentional. With the Joker depicted as the REAL sympathetic vigilante hero (and official spokesclown of the new BLM/Antifa/Pepsi Resistance™) and the Wayne family as callous robber barons, it kind of seems like we're supposed to think the Joker is giving you his own fair and unbalanced version of events here. They should've added a Duck Amuck style pull back after the end credits with the Joker decked out as Cecil B. DeMille: "Ain't I a stinka?"
Not only does Mark Hamill remain the best movie Joker, but Paul Dini's no-frills Joker backstory in Mask of the Phantasm -- a cunning mafia thug -- is still the least gimmicky and most rewarding one available (See also). Dini keeps Joker's origins mysterious, but not overtly shrouded a la Nolan. I know that 'vicious gangster used to be a vicious gangster' is kind of an anti-backstory, but that’s kind of the point. Writers are so eager to make a character “interesting” that they tack on any dramatic absurdity at the expense of authenticity. It’s the writing equivalent of bad CGI: unless it looks real, less is more. (And to be fair, I do appreciate how Todd Philips has moved beyond the corny traditional "chemical vat" storyline, like Nolan who also implied Joker simply wears makeup.)
Indeed if you want to see the best non-animated prequel version of the Joker just watch Richard Widmark in Kiss of Death (1947). Same character! In the unreleased sequel the Batman freak shows up, energizing the chaos, and Widmark (and other savvy criminals) successfully co-opt his crazy formula. As Joker he is more terrifying and this gives him an additional edge over the more ordinary, less adaptable crime bosses. Batman didn't fix crime in Gotham, he injected it with steroids.
The roadrunner doesn't require water. The coyote survives any fall or explosion. Clearly both of these characters actually died a long time ago and were cursed (or blessed) to battle eternal in some sort of Valhalla afterlife.
The plot is kind of a mess. The monster boring. The real victory here was the director tricking Philip Glass into doing the soundtrack by selling it to him upfront as an art film. lol.
This movie has some effectively spooky imagery but absolutely no story idea to tie it together. It would have worked much better as a four minute heavy metal music video. It could just knit together the scary parts, and there would be no leftover footage or narrative loss.
This one is an oddity. It's a near remake of a movie that was released just one year earlier.
The original film was directed by Martin Scorcese's main writer, Paul Schrader, and was plodding, theological, and "artistic" (perhaps akin to his script for The Last Temptation of Christ ). It was a flop. So they made it again as a more conventional horror movie using the same basic script and much of the same cast.
Look, we can all agree this is not a "good" movie, but it's a whimsical and original spin on the home invasion genre. The tongue-in-cheek novelty keeps you invested. Also (if you are male): Ana de Armas!
If you have friends and are sleep-over age would probably be fun to double feature with Cheap Thrills. (And if you don't have friends and are not sleep-over age, have you considered just killing yourself?)
Writer/director Tom Schiller conjures a suspicious number of the stylistic hallmarks of the (significantly) later body of work by Guy Maddin. Foremost a pastiche of visual elements from the early years of cinema, stretching from Melies to the 1950s. But also, the dream-like, highly tongue-in-cheek narrative form.
Maddin had the energy and talent to take these ideas much further, but Schiller's innovative contribution here is unfortunately forgotten.
I watched this b/c its grand ~9.4% ratio score (barely) qualifies it as one of icheck's top 5000 favorite films (yes, same method as the top 250 list). Big mistake!
*hits website on nose w/ rolled up newspaper*
Garbage-tier Robocop/T2 wannabe 90s cyber-punk. I guess the midnite movie chodes upvoted it because "it's so bad its good". Nah... it's so bad its just really bad.
Comments 51 - 75 of 600
Movie comment on Cuck
greenhorg
A "character study" similar to Joker (released at the same time), right down to matching sponge bathing elderly mother scenes. But while Joker invited a dubious amount of sympathy for its villainous protagonist, this movie veers in the opposite direction, and invites only escalating amounts of disgust for its archetype of right-wing extremism. It offers no insights, surprises, or even a story, only obvious stereotypes and voyeuristic cringe-nip. I feel like a better director could have better channeled his hatred into a dark comedy... like an alt-right Four Lions. Although maybe BlacKkKlansman sort of already went there.Movie comment on The Lighthouse
greenhorg
All ye tender lasses and land-lubbers, listen and heed me caution now: Take yer refuge and stow the wee ones, for this tale of brine and blood be rated ARRRRR!
Movie comment on Gisaengchung
greenhorg
Some say the ubiquitous "twin" movie phenomenon (Bugs Life vs. Antz, etc) is a product of competition among Hollywood studios, but here we have two very different countries releasing twin metaphorical class horror-comedies (Parasite and Jordan Peele's 'Us'). So chalk one up for "In the Air" theory. (See also The Raid: Redemption & Dredd)Movie comment on Din of Celestial Birds
greenhorg
Merhige attempts to be the mall-goth Jordan Belson, but isn't in the same advanced league of visual magic to inspire the same awe.Movie comment on Another Year
greenhorg
Mike Leigh is the British Ozu.Movie comment on Hounds of Love
greenhorg
Based on probably my favorite tru-crime story: the kidnapping of Colleen Stan. Unfortunately the true story is much weirder and darker. Seems like a missed opportunity since this is a decent, yet fairly thin film.(And could've been called "Girl in a Box' like the old Crime Library article. Still don't know what 'Hounds of Love' means.)
Movie comment on Ghostwatch
greenhorg
Should get all the props instead of Blair Witch, but it also feels like a 'had to be there' kind of movie (...The same for Blair Witch, actually). For the most part it's exactly as tedious to sit through as the cheesy middlebrow programming it's imitating.Movie comment on Buzzard
greenhorg
Sorry, but I just don't find this a plausible origin story for the Joker.Movie comment on Joker
greenhorg
As it's own story I think this film succeeds on its grimy aesthetics, deft cinematic callbacks, and of course Phoenix's magnetic performance. It's interesting. However as a BATMAN movie, I would call it a failure, the crucial problem being that it has no relationship to the character it exists to portray. Whoever this "Arthur Fleck" fella is, he is obviously not arch-nemesis material. The Joker has actual defining character traits/abilities and isn't just any fictional murderer dressed like a clown (Pennywise isn't the Joker, etc).Let's leave aside the fact Fleck is an anorexic grandpa that, we can only assume, the much younger Batman will one day accidentally kill with one punch. The Joker character, in all his adaptations, is a criminal genius because Batman is a crime-fighting genius. It takes a Moriarty to challenge Batman's Holmes. But Fleck is a fuckup; a clumsy simpleton with no discernible skills or gifts. In fact almost every defining trait of the character is reversed: The Joker is a sadistic psychopath who you are supposed to hate (Fleck is a sympathetic "anti-hero" who only harms those that harm him), the Joker is extroverted and domineering (Fleck is withdrawn and socially inept), the Joker is disturbingly mirthful (Fleck is deeply depressive). These are not expendable traits, they purposely define the Joker in yin-yang counterbalance to the virtuous, cloistered, sullen Batman. This contrast is what makes these characters and their dynamic appealing, yet Arthur Fleck (mediocrity aside) is basically the same emo avenger as Bruce Wayne.
I mean this almost seems intentional. With the Joker depicted as the REAL sympathetic vigilante hero (and official spokesclown of the new BLM/Antifa/Pepsi Resistance™) and the Wayne family as callous robber barons, it kind of seems like we're supposed to think the Joker is giving you his own fair and unbalanced version of events here. They should've added a Duck Amuck style pull back after the end credits with the Joker decked out as Cecil B. DeMille: "Ain't I a stinka?"
Not only does Mark Hamill remain the best movie Joker, but Paul Dini's no-frills Joker backstory in Mask of the Phantasm -- a cunning mafia thug -- is still the least gimmicky and most rewarding one available (See also). Dini keeps Joker's origins mysterious, but not overtly shrouded a la Nolan. I know that 'vicious gangster used to be a vicious gangster' is kind of an anti-backstory, but that’s kind of the point. Writers are so eager to make a character “interesting” that they tack on any dramatic absurdity at the expense of authenticity. It’s the writing equivalent of bad CGI: unless it looks real, less is more. (And to be fair, I do appreciate how Todd Philips has moved beyond the corny traditional "chemical vat" storyline, like Nolan who also implied Joker simply wears makeup.)
Indeed if you want to see the best non-animated prequel version of the Joker just watch Richard Widmark in Kiss of Death (1947). Same character! In the unreleased sequel the Batman freak shows up, energizing the chaos, and Widmark (and other savvy criminals) successfully co-opt his crazy formula. As Joker he is more terrifying and this gives him an additional edge over the more ordinary, less adaptable crime bosses. Batman didn't fix crime in Gotham, he injected it with steroids.
Movie comment on Ghost in the Shell
greenhorg
Way too many complaints about 'white-washing' surrounding this remake, and nowhere near enough complaints about the nipple-washing.Movie comment on Beep, Beep
greenhorg
The roadrunner doesn't require water. The coyote survives any fall or explosion. Clearly both of these characters actually died a long time ago and were cursed (or blessed) to battle eternal in some sort of Valhalla afterlife.Movie comment on Capitalism: Slavery
greenhorg
Thesis: UnsupportedMovie comment on Batman: Abyss
greenhorg
For anyone that thought The Animated Series needed blood, swearing, and badly drawn tits.Toplist comment on The Criterion Collection
greenhorg
Why only ~3 animated movies out of almost 1200 titles?? wtf... A really disappointing bias.Movie comment on The Moon Is Blue
greenhorg
Seems obviously underrated on IMDb. I don't get it.Movie comment on Veterinarna stanica
greenhorg
OK, my highest rated Manaki short yet: 5!Movie comment on Candyman
greenhorg
The plot is kind of a mess. The monster boring. The real victory here was the director tricking Philip Glass into doing the soundtrack by selling it to him upfront as an art film. lol.Movie comment on Aterrados
greenhorg
This movie has some effectively spooky imagery but absolutely no story idea to tie it together. It would have worked much better as a four minute heavy metal music video. It could just knit together the scary parts, and there would be no leftover footage or narrative loss.Movie comment on Exorcist: The Beginning
greenhorg
This one is an oddity. It's a near remake of a movie that was released just one year earlier.The original film was directed by Martin Scorcese's main writer, Paul Schrader, and was plodding, theological, and "artistic" (perhaps akin to his script for The Last Temptation of Christ ). It was a flop. So they made it again as a more conventional horror movie using the same basic script and much of the same cast.
Both versions are about equally bad.
https://www.icheckmovies.com/movies/dominion+prequel+to+the+exorcist/
Movie comment on Knock Knock
greenhorg
Look, we can all agree this is not a "good" movie, but it's a whimsical and original spin on the home invasion genre. The tongue-in-cheek novelty keeps you invested. Also (if you are male): Ana de Armas!If you have friends and are sleep-over age would probably be fun to double feature with Cheap Thrills. (And if you don't have friends and are not sleep-over age, have you considered just killing yourself?)
Movie comment on You Were Never Really Here
greenhorg
"I have skill that make me nigtmare 4 u"- joqqin peenix
Movie comment on Nothing Lasts Forever
greenhorg
Writer/director Tom Schiller conjures a suspicious number of the stylistic hallmarks of the (significantly) later body of work by Guy Maddin. Foremost a pastiche of visual elements from the early years of cinema, stretching from Melies to the 1950s. But also, the dream-like, highly tongue-in-cheek narrative form.Maddin had the energy and talent to take these ideas much further, but Schiller's innovative contribution here is unfortunately forgotten.
Movie comment on Good Time
greenhorg
Safdie bros channeling Drive (w/ special cameo by silver jacket), Robert Pattinson channeling Vincent Gallo.Movie comment on Death Machine
greenhorg
I watched this b/c its grand ~9.4% ratio score (barely) qualifies it as one of icheck's top 5000 favorite films (yes, same method as the top 250 list). Big mistake!*hits website on nose w/ rolled up newspaper*
Garbage-tier Robocop/T2 wannabe 90s cyber-punk. I guess the midnite movie chodes upvoted it because "it's so bad its good". Nah... it's so bad its just really bad.
Movie comment on Hotarubi no mori e
greenhorg
wear some gloves, numnuts.Showing items 51 – 75 of 600