The Movie Reel

Kieran

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Yeah, it was the ending, but I didn't want to spoil. Who already told you the ending? Some spoil-sport. LOL.
I don’t mind spoilers, I tend to look up things in advance because I don’t like excessive violence in films, I get a bit squeamish, so I like my trigger warnings for that stuff, but did you not think it was slightly lacking in imagination, or subtlety, to end it that way? Thinking neutrally, I mean? It’s like making an appeal to popular lefties talking points. I will see it at some point, I’m sure…
 

Moxie

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I don’t mind spoilers, I tend to look up things in advance because I don’t like excessive violence in films, I get a bit squeamish, so I like my trigger warnings for that stuff, but did you not think it was slightly lacking in imagination, or subtlety, to end it that way? Thinking neutrally, I mean? It’s like making an appeal to popular lefties talking points. I will see it at some point, I’m sure…
We'll discuss after you've seen it.
 
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Jelenafan

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“Conclave” is what I consider a political drama, and sort of reminded me of the 1964 Henry Fonda film “The Best Man”, that film was set in a Republican Party National Convention. Like that film this film set up some compelling back stage political machinations.

Despite some good performances i was disappointed in Conclave’s ending. The film had expertly established the political intrigue involved among the Cardinals in selecting the next pope, with different warring factions lobbying for their candidates. Stanley Tucci as one of the contenders was a particular standout.

However,
We are supposed to buy that an unknown Cardinal who was secretly appointed , who none of the other Cardinals even knew existed, much less was friends with any of them would emerge as the final ballot chosen Pope.

That more than the 11th hour twist to his identity stretched all plausibility with me. Though even that disclosure should have given the Fiennes character pause, not necessarily on moral grounds but on the very realistic chance that the news could somehow be disclosed and have fallout consequences.

Because again, the film had already established that no skeletons or secrets can stay hidden.

For me, it failed the internal logic a movie should have. I imagine the book may have had more narrative exposition to make it make more sense.

These things made it more a far fetched fantasy for my taste.
 
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Moxie

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Did you get to see Godzilla minus one in the big screen?
I did not! As soon as I told you it was still playing around the corner, it wasn't, anymore. I watched it on TV, but made the mistake of having the dubbed version on. Only after did I realize there was an original version. I tried watching again, but couldn't get through it. I didn't love it, tbh. I had problem with the Godzilla origin story. Originally, he was a creature of the radiation fallout, which made for a nice symbolism. Maybe I'll try again in the original, though.
 

Moxie

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“Conclave” is what I consider a political drama, and sort of reminded me of the 1964 Henry Fonda film “The Best Man”, that film was set in a Republican Party National Convention. Like that film this film set up some compelling back stage political machinations.

Despite some good performances i was disappointed in Conclave’s ending. The film had expertly established the political intrigue involved among the Cardinals in selecting the next pope, with different warring factions lobbying for their candidates. Stanley Tucci as one of the contenders was a particular standout.

However,
We are supposed to buy that an unknown Cardinal who was secretly appointed , who none of the other Cardinals even knew existed, much less was friends with any of them would emerge as the final ballot chosen Pope.

That more than the 11th hour twist to his identity stretched all plausibility with me. Though even that disclosure should have given the Fiennes character pause, not necessarily on moral grounds but on the very realistic chance that the news could somehow be disclosed and have fallout consequences.

Because again, the film had already established that no skeletons or secrets can stay hidden.

For me, it failed the internal logic a movie should have. I imagine the book may have had more narrative exposition to make it make more sense.

These things made it more a far fetched fantasy for my taste.
I didn't mind all of that as much as you did. I thought the performances were across-the-board strong, and the machinations kept you guessing...as in, who's really a good guy? Who's really more ambitious than he seems? I thought the Mexican cardinal was a very interesting character, esp. in contrast to the one's more steeped in Vatican politics. There's a certain amount of questioning one's faith. To me, it was the cinema equivalent of a page-turner, and so lots of fun. And it is Amazing looking! We'll debate when more have seen it. I do think it's not worth spoiling, and appreciate your use of the "spoiler" function.
 
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Kieran

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I did not! As soon as I told you it was still playing around the corner, it wasn't, anymore. I watched it on TV, but made the mistake of having the dubbed version on. Only after did I realize there was an original version. I tried watching again, but couldn't get through it. I didn't love it, tbh. I had problem with the Godzilla origin story. Originally, he was a creature of the radiation fallout, which made for a nice symbolism. Maybe I'll try again in the original, though.
I don’t think they addressed the origin story, which was fair enough in that the movie was more about the effects of war, and national shame and trauma etc, and they tried to capture that, but they did show Godzilla changed by radiation.

I can’t stand dubbing. I remember one time in Sardinia an episode of Lieutenant Columbo came on the TV. You can imagine what’s coming. Peter Falk’s beautiful rugged voice changed into a smooth Italian male soprano.

I threw my beach flip flops at the telly… :popcorn
 
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Kieran

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This ought to get the best film trailer Oscar. Definitely going to go see this one:

 
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Moxie

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This ought to get the best film trailer Oscar. Definitely going to go see this one:


I just saw it. It's quite the film. I liked it a lot! Old-school epic, in it's sensibility and time-span, but intimate, too. It has a lot on its mind. Kind of "brutal," as it were. Shot in very old-fashioned VistaVision, it has an Overture, and an Intermission. The running time is 3 and a half hours, plus the half-hour? intermission. No surprise I'll say see it on the big screen, because it's great looking, and also because you'll focus better if you don't watch it at home on the small screen. It's not hard to watch...it trots right along. I'll leave it at that until someone else pipes up and says they've seen it, too, but I do recommend it.

PS: You'll never believe that they made it for under $10 Million US, and shot it in about 6 weeks. Proving you don't have to spend $50-$100 M even on an epic, if you have a good story, and are cleaver.
 
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Kieran

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I just saw it. It's quite the film. I liked it a lot! Old-school epic, in it's sensibility and time-span, but intimate, too. It has a lot on its mind. Kind of "brutal," as it were. Shot in very old-fashioned VistaVision, it has an Overture, and an Intermission. The running time is 3 and a half hours, plus the half-hour? intermission. No surprise I'll say see it on the big screen, because it's great looking, and also because you'll focus better if you don't watch it at home on the small screen. It's not hard to watch...it trots right along. I'll leave it at that until someone else pipes up and says they've seen it, too, but I do recommend it.

PS: You'll never believe that they made it for under $10 Million US, and shot it in about 6 weeks. Proving you don't have to spend $50-$100 M even on an epic, if you have a good story, and are cleaver.
I can’t wait to see it, and it’s amazing that it was made so cheaply. Proof indeed, trust a great idea and the imagination to fulfil it are worth more than Hollywood big pockets…
 
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