movies

[Famous Mortimer]

But goddamn, Leslie Jones is the f*****g worst. I don't get that at all. She's a loud, braying irritant who has a half-dozen terrible appearances on Saturday Night Live under her belt, and now she's getting a big part in a big movie. Maybe she caught Lorne Michaels strangling a hooker.

I like her because she brings a different energy to the show. If you look back at the Ferrell years, you'd have those balls of energy who would get you to laugh through sheer force of will - Ferrell himself, Molly Shannon, etc. But since Wiig's prime, I don't really think there's been anyone like that. Jones is unique in the recent history of the show, and that's why I think they'll give her time to work out the kinks in her sketch performances.

Vanessa Bayer was a far worse cue-card reader than Jones is - she spent pretty much the entirety of her first season on the show staring off into space with a distracted look in her eye while everyone around her was acting.

The rumour now is that Kenan was going to leave at the end of last season, but Lorne asked him to stay around to transition the newer cast members. But the amount they're using him compared to Pharaoh, when Pharaoh can do impressions and Kenan can't, indicates they don't have a great deal of faith in some of the next generation. Zamata seems to not be all that funny either, plus the Update anchors are both rotten...

Oh, hold on, this is the Movies thread. Sorry. I will bang on about SNL til the cows come home though.

[The Third Man]

Couple new watches:

The Interview: Late to the party, but this was better than I expected. Ironically, the NK parody stuff is the weak point; where it really shines is in the banter between Franco and Rogen, the former of whom is endearingly ridiculous (though many seem to find him insanely annoying, so different strokes). Starts to drag in the second half, but ends with a literal bang. Not as good as This is the End, and probably not Pineapple Express (which I haven't seen since theaters) either, but totally solid.

Blood and Bone: Opens with such a cavalier display of badassery that the rest of the movie couldn't help but disappoint. Too light on the action, too heavy on the melodrama. I do admire its sincerity, but it wasn't for me. Also, it has Rufio from Hook as an underground MMA hype man.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Respected and admired it more than I actually enjoyed it. My conception of England is such that I made it a full hour into the film before realizing that it was a 70s period piece.

Brick Mansions: Watchable silliness. Synchronized parkour (that's still a thing?) and RZA as a really snazzily-dressed crime boss.

[Jocephus]

RU-FI-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Famous Mortimer]

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Respected and admired it more than I actually enjoyed it. My conception of England is such that I made it a full hour into the film before realizing that it was a 70s period piece.

These days over here, electricity and indoor plumbing just inspires fear, not outright panic.

[thrill]

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Respected and admired it more than I actually enjoyed it. My conception of England is such that I made it a full hour into the film before realizing that it was a 70s period piece.

I love this movie. Something about the incredible quality of actors, it's pacing and soundtrack that lull me into a pleasant zone. I'm an LeCarre admirer so am probably predisposed to liking it more than some might.

The cinematographer is one of the best in the game (Let the Right One In, Her, Interstellar) and I'm incredibly excited about him working on Spectre. The cast is just incredible. Colin Firth, Gary Oldman and Mark Strong are great and the cream of the UK crop are the supporting cast. I mean, just look at this lineup.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340800/?ref_=nv_sr_1

[jim]

I couldn't follow the story, therefore did not enjoy it.

[Freed Roger]

many shows I watch with subtitles on so I can follow what the brits, southerners, etc are saying.

[jim]

I saw that at the theater, so no option. I really struggle with the British accent, it's a completely different language to me. In fact in order of my ability to speak/listen, I would put my order as 1) American English and it's derivatives, 2) Spanish, and 3) British English esp. Scotland and up there. British English is my third language.

Do British people have the same problem with us? Mort, do you follow us?

[Jocephus]

here's a fresh idea. arnold plays a robot who goes back to the past

[Famous Mortimer]

I saw that at the theater, so no option. I really struggle with the British accent, it's a completely different language to me. In fact in order of my ability to speak/listen, I would put my order as 1) American English and it's derivatives, 2) Spanish, and 3) British English esp. Scotland and up there. British English is my third language.

Do British people have the same problem with us? Mort, do you follow us?

Pretty much, yes. Being married to one of you helps a lot, but I think a lot of it is us getting a lot more of your pop culture than you get of ours.

If it makes you feel any better there are some local accents I struggle with. Chesterfield was a mining town, and the areas that were completely full of miners developed a weird accent / dialect that was occasionally impenetrable to me, and I lived in the same place as them.

I seem to recall either "Trainspotting" or "Twin Town" actually ran in America with subtitles all the way through. Am I remembering right?