Watched Heat for the first time in a VERY long while the other night. Started watching it for free on one of those Roku channels; picture wasn't that bad, but I noticed the sounds (gunshots, collisions, etc.) were pretty weak. Then a commercial popped on, fifteen or so minutes in, I said "Fuck it" and went ahead and rented the UHD version on Prime. Picture was improved, but the sound was off-the-charts-better, like being in a theater or something. Anyway, a few observations...
1) It would almost be easier to ask "Which actors of note from then aren't in this film?" than to tally who is. It's like a latter Wes Anderson movie in that regard. Thing is though, to the film's credit, little of the casting aside from maybe the main billing of Deniro going head-to-head with Pacino feels like a stunt. Like, all of these famous faces are there, but Mann and company take it as a given and don't seem to make much of a deal about it.
2) The film's biggest strength, in my view, is its understanding of gestures, its hitting of emotional beats that coincides with the editors usually knowing exactly when to cut from one shot to the next. The general lack of flab on display in its interpersonal movements. One could say Heat is Michael Mann's most disciplined film in this regard, despite the long TRT. A couple of moments in which Pacino becomes almost operatically animated, hammy, but overall scenes work best when there's not too much looseness between the key players, when the mood borders on stoic, downbeat.
3) It's...sorta odd this never got any Oscar noms and the like. One could rationalize this in a few different ways, but I think this has something to do with Heat pre-dating a good amount of serialized higher-end TV that has followed in its footsteps, the sort of things adult audiences are now more accustomed to--basically long-form R-rated shit. There's also the idea that Deniro and Pacino's characters are different sides of the same coin, the logical conclusion being perhaps too morally murky for message-oriented Hollywood. But hell, that's just a guess. Good movie regardless.
Re: Movies you have watched thread.
172I've watched the new Batman yesterday (on HBO Max)
- after around 120 minutes (when I thought the film is ending) I thought it's looks great, characters barely have any character, some of the dialogues are atrocious and that it should have been 90 minutes. 'Sin City' did it better, 5/10
- but then the final act begun and I was increasingly annoyed to the point of being angry at the film when it mercifully ended. minus100/10
-in the final act of the final act Batman is portaided like a Jesus (or Moses? Looks like he leads people through the red sea in one shot) character, very much like Superman in the Zack Snyder film: who the fuck thought this was a good idea?
- Robert Pattison seemed no less than 10 years too young to play this version of Bruce Wayne / Batman (jaded, resigned, depressed)
- at the very end, when Batman talks to the Cat Woman and sees the Batman sign in the sky there is a shot of that sign and I don't what exactly on the right side of the frame, could be his mansion or something old castle-ish - looks like it's straight out of 2003 video game in terms of texture quality. I checked it on two different internet connections and it looks the same, did anybody else catch that? Or did they smear something on the lense and it just looks low res because I've played video games too much?
- oh and talking about smearing something on the lense, it looked like last time anybody has ever cleaned a window or glass surface in Gotham was before Bruce was born
I'm also watching Season2 of Star Trek TNG (NEtflix) and I'm having lots and lots of fun with it, hit or miss but always entertaining.
- after around 120 minutes (when I thought the film is ending) I thought it's looks great, characters barely have any character, some of the dialogues are atrocious and that it should have been 90 minutes. 'Sin City' did it better, 5/10
- but then the final act begun and I was increasingly annoyed to the point of being angry at the film when it mercifully ended. minus100/10
-in the final act of the final act Batman is portaided like a Jesus (or Moses? Looks like he leads people through the red sea in one shot) character, very much like Superman in the Zack Snyder film: who the fuck thought this was a good idea?
- Robert Pattison seemed no less than 10 years too young to play this version of Bruce Wayne / Batman (jaded, resigned, depressed)
- at the very end, when Batman talks to the Cat Woman and sees the Batman sign in the sky there is a shot of that sign and I don't what exactly on the right side of the frame, could be his mansion or something old castle-ish - looks like it's straight out of 2003 video game in terms of texture quality. I checked it on two different internet connections and it looks the same, did anybody else catch that? Or did they smear something on the lense and it just looks low res because I've played video games too much?
- oh and talking about smearing something on the lense, it looked like last time anybody has ever cleaned a window or glass surface in Gotham was before Bruce was born
I'm also watching Season2 of Star Trek TNG (NEtflix) and I'm having lots and lots of fun with it, hit or miss but always entertaining.
Re: Movies you have watched thread.
173I liked the new Batman a great deal more than you did (saw it in a cinema, which helps), but I'd like to emphasise for others that at 120 minutes there's still another hour to go. It's just far, far too long for no obvious reason. There isn't a complex, twisty story to get through. Some dialogue scenes feel like they've been slowed down to fill time.emmanuelle cunt wrote: Fri Apr 22, 2022 4:15 am I've watched the new Batman yesterday (on HBO Max)
- after around 120 minutes (when I thought the film is ending) I thought it's looks great, characters barely have any character, some of the dialogues are atrocious and that it should have been 90 minutes. 'Sin City' did it better, 5/10
Those early TNGs are a wild ride in quality and tone.I'm also watching Season2 of Star Trek TNG (NEtflix) and I'm having lots and lots of fun with it, hit or miss but always entertaining.
Re: Movies you have watched thread.
174One of the many great things about Petite Maman was its length. 75 minutes, tops? In and out, no fucking about.
If a film needs the best part of three hours or more, it rarely should be a film. Particularly where the action genre is concerned.
If a film needs the best part of three hours or more, it rarely should be a film. Particularly where the action genre is concerned.
at war with bellends
Re: Movies you have watched thread.
175But at the risk of undermining myself, I'm entirely happy that Drive My Car was (checks IMDB) 3 minutes longer than the Batman. And the titles don't appear for 30 minutes, just to assure you that this story is going to take some time. Consistency is overrated, plus that Saab and soundtrack helped.A_Man_Who_Tries wrote: Fri Apr 22, 2022 5:12 am If a film needs the best part of three hours or more, it rarely should be a film.
Re: Movies you have watched thread.
176Saw The Northman last night and I think it's cool that they made a movie entirely out of Mastodon album covers. Anya Taylor-Joy's accent sounded like Gaga's in House of Gucci though. Good movie, recommend seeing it in a theater if you can.
Re: Movies you have watched thread.
1771 Have you seen LA Takedown, Mann's demo version of Heat?DaveA wrote: Wed Apr 06, 2022 5:11 pm Watched Heat for the first time in a VERY long while the other night. Started watching it for free on one of those Roku channels; picture wasn't that bad, but I noticed the sounds (gunshots, collisions, etc.) were pretty weak. Then a commercial popped on, fifteen or so minutes in, I said "Fuck it" and went ahead and rented the UHD version on Prime. Picture was improved, but the sound was off-the-charts-better, like being in a theater or something. Anyway, a few observations...
1) It would almost be easier to ask "Which actors of note from then aren't in this film?" than to tally who is. It's like a latter Wes Anderson movie in that regard. Thing is though, to the film's credit, little of the casting aside from maybe the main billing of Deniro going head-to-head with Pacino feels like a stunt. Like, all of these famous faces are there, but Mann and company take it as a given and don't seem to make much of a deal about it.
2) The film's biggest strength, in my view, is its understanding of gestures, its hitting of emotional beats that coincides with the editors usually knowing exactly when to cut from one shot to the next. The general lack of flab on display in its interpersonal movements. One could say Heat is Michael Mann's most disciplined film in this regard, despite the long TRT. A couple of moments in which Pacino becomes almost operatically animated, hammy, but overall scenes work best when there's not too much looseness between the key players, when the mood borders on stoic, downbeat.
3) It's...sorta odd this never got any Oscar noms and the like. One could rationalize this in a few different ways, but I think this has something to do with Heat pre-dating a good amount of serialized higher-end TV that has followed in its footsteps, the sort of things adult audiences are now more accustomed to--basically long-form R-rated shit. There's also the idea that Deniro and Pacino's characters are different sides of the same coin, the logical conclusion being perhaps too morally murky for message-oriented Hollywood. But hell, that's just a guess. Good movie regardless.
2 Mann has written a 'prequel/sequel' to Heat. Novel, not a screenplay. Out in August
Re: Movies you have watched thread.
178King Richard, while on the flight to Japan.
It was a good film to watch on a plane. I was entertained.
It was a good film to watch on a plane. I was entertained.
jason (he/him/his) from volo (illinois)
Re: Movies you have watched thread.
179Have not seen it, but have indeed heard of it. Have heard mixed things. If you think it's really worth a go, though, let me know. In a certain light, he's been "demo'ing" as well as rewriting/recontextualizing Heat for a while now. That's not meant as a dig.
Just the type of thing I'll be game for at the end of summer here in the tropics. I hope some of the heroes and villains have scenes taking place at the beginning or end of the day in their abnormally spacious geometric houses with purviews of the ocean or city.Pembs wrote: Fri Apr 22, 2022 2:26 pm2 Mann has written a 'prequel/sequel' to Heat. Novel, not a screenplay. Out in August
Re: Movies you have watched thread.
180The Batman.
Length aside, loved it. By far and away the best modern Batman movie. A great surprise.
Length aside, loved it. By far and away the best modern Batman movie. A great surprise.
at war with bellends