Red Mosquito

As a young RM'er and neophyte cinephile, I looked to loathedvermin as the Movie King of A&E. That's saying something, too. There was a really good group then, with guys like Merc, windedsailor, Orph, g_v, and others all posting intelligently about worthwhile movies. So, this is a thread to catch RM up through the last six loathedvermin-less years. Post your favorite movies released since LV left about six years ago (since 2008 or so).

my list:

1. Synecdoche, New York (2008, Kaufman)
2. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013, Coen)
3. The Master (2012, PT Anderson)
4. Killing Them Softly (2012, Dominik)
5. Wendy and Lucy (2008, Reichardt)
6. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009, Wes Anderson)
7. Valhalla Rising (2009, Refn)
8. In Bruges (2008, McDonagh)
9. Up (2009, Pixar)
10. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008, Kuenne)
11. Goodbye Solo (2008, Bahrani)
12. Blue Valentine (2010, Cianfrance)
13. Prince Avalanche (2013, Green)
14. The Fighter (2010, Russell)
15. Melancholia (2011, von Trier)

Aww, shucks. Here, alphabetically, are my top movies from 2008 to present (I consider all of these favorites):

Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Before Midnight
Behind the Candelabra
Bellflower
Big Fan
Blue Jasmine
Bronson
The Brothers Bloom
Catfish
Clash of the Titans
The Comedy
Don Jon
Drive
Enter the Void
The Expendables
The Expendables 2
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Fast Five
Fish Tank
Flame & Citron
Funny People
Furious 6
The Ghost Writer
Godzilla
Gran Torino
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Hanna
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (Unrated Cut)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The House of the Devil
I Killed My Mother
I Love You Phillip Morris
In Bruges
The Innkeepers
Iron Man
Jack Reacher
Kon-Tiki
Land of the Lost
Last Days Here
Laurence Anyways
The Lords of Salem
Magic Mike
The Master
Milk
Monsters
Moonrise Kingdom
Only God Forgives
The Paperboy
Rambo
Senna
Side by Side
Spring Breakers
Step Brothers
Super 8
Universal Soldier: Regeneration
Valhalla Rising
Vamps
White House Down
The White Ribbon
Win Win
The Wolf of Wall Street
Wuthering Heights
Young Adult

Overkill, perhaps? Oh well.

Please tell us your thoughts on Catfish

In Bruges

Mecca wrote:Please tell us your thoughts on Catfish

I'm a huge fan. I think it raises a lot of fascinating questions about love, intimacy, and what it is that we love when we (think we) love someone (it achieved the genuine depth that Her failed to reach). When Angela and Nev are talking face-to-face about their relationship at the end, there is so much going on behind those faces, it's gut-wrenching to watch. And on top of all that, it's one hell of an engrossing/compelling viewing experience.

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

Mecca wrote:Please tell us your thoughts on Catfish

I'm a huge fan. I think it raises a lot of fascinating questions about love, intimacy, and what it is that we love when we (think we) love someone (it achieved the genuine depth that Her failed to reach). When Angela and Nev are talking face-to-face about their relationship at the end, there is so much going on behind those faces, it's gut-wrenching to watch. And on top of all that, it's one hell of an engrossing/compelling viewing experience.

How do you feel about the criticism that people thought it was staged?

Mecca wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

Mecca wrote:Please tell us your thoughts on Catfish

I'm a huge fan. I think it raises a lot of fascinating questions about love, intimacy, and what it is that we love when we (think we) love someone (it achieved the genuine depth that Her failed to reach). When Angela and Nev are talking face-to-face about their relationship at the end, there is so much going on behind those faces, it's gut-wrenching to watch. And on top of all that, it's one hell of an engrossing/compelling viewing experience.

How do you feel about the criticism that people thought it was staged?

I think it's a load of cynical bullshit. It's possible that a few scenes were recreated for the sake of completing the movie, but to say the whole thing was fabricated is nonsense.

How do you feel about the Fast and the Furious franchise since Dwayne Johnson joined the cast?

E.H. Ruddock wrote:How do you feel about the Fast and the Furious franchise since Dwayne Johnson joined the cast?

It has become perhaps the best action franchise around.

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

Mecca wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

Mecca wrote:Please tell us your thoughts on Catfish

I'm a huge fan. I think it raises a lot of fascinating questions about love, intimacy, and what it is that we love when we (think we) love someone (it achieved the genuine depth that Her failed to reach). When Angela and Nev are talking face-to-face about their relationship at the end, there is so much going on behind those faces, it's gut-wrenching to watch. And on top of all that, it's one hell of an engrossing/compelling viewing experience.

How do you feel about the criticism that people thought it was staged?

I think it's a load of cynical bullshit. It's possible that a few scenes were recreated for the sake of completing the movie, but to say the whole thing was fabricated is nonsense.

I think they knew pretty soon that she wasn't who she said she was, and decided to make a movie about it. It would have been better if they stayed out of the movie themselves, and made the movie more about her. I'm not interested in those boring film school nerds.

BurtReynolds wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

Mecca wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

Mecca wrote:Please tell us your thoughts on Catfish

I'm a huge fan. I think it raises a lot of fascinating questions about love, intimacy, and what it is that we love when we (think we) love someone (it achieved the genuine depth that Her failed to reach). When Angela and Nev are talking face-to-face about their relationship at the end, there is so much going on behind those faces, it's gut-wrenching to watch. And on top of all that, it's one hell of an engrossing/compelling viewing experience.

How do you feel about the criticism that people thought it was staged?

I think it's a load of cynical bullshit. It's possible that a few scenes were recreated for the sake of completing the movie, but to say the whole thing was fabricated is nonsense.

I think they knew pretty soon that she wasn't who she said she was, and decided to make a movie about it. It would have been better if they stayed out of the movie themselves, and made the movie more about her. I'm not interested in those boring film school nerds.

Disagree. I think Nev and what he goes through make for probably the most compelling stuff in the movie. He was basically in love with someone who didn't exist, and you can see it all pour out through his face in certain scenes. That's some heavy shit, man.

Clash of the Titans is maybe the worst movie I've ever seen. I'm surprised to see that show up on any list in a non-ironic fashion.

It is nice to see someone stand up for the Hobbit movies though. Did you prefer 1 or 2?

stip wrote:It is nice to see someone stand up for the Hobbit movies though. Did you prefer 1 or 2?

Definitely 2, but I love them both. I can't wait for the extended edition.

The Hobbit and LOTR movies pretty much break everything I know about movies. They're bloated, inefficient, thematically incoherent - really, they're just giant clusterfucks. They shouldn't work. I shouldn't like them. But goddammit, I fucking LOVE watching them. I never want them to end. It's like all of their shortcomings are overwhelmed by the sheer scope and majesty of the world Jackson builds. I don't know how he does it.

stip wrote:Clash of the Titans is maybe the worst movie I've ever seen. I'm surprised to see that show up on any list in a non-ironic fashion.

I love me a well-made fantasy epic. I think the enthusiasm and joy that Leterrier felt for the material is palpable in every frame (I wish like hell his director's cut would be released). I think it's very nicely-paced, full of compelling characters (who are well-cast) and satisfying relationships, and visually vivid. There's real scope and scale to the set-pieces, too. It also strikes the perfect tonal balance between gravitas and levity. I think it's a pretty visionary film. Such a shame that the god-awful sequel failed to follow-through on the interesting man vs. gods themes it set up.

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

stip wrote:It is nice to see someone stand up for the Hobbit movies though. Did you prefer 1 or 2?

Definitely 2, but I love them both. I can't wait for the extended edition.

The Hobbit and LOTR movies pretty much break everything I know about movies. They're bloated, inefficient, thematically incoherent - really, they're just giant clusterfucks. They shouldn't work. I shouldn't like them. But goddammit, I fucking LOVE watching them. I never want them to end. It's like all of their shortcomings are overwhelmed by the sheer scope and majesty of the world Jackson builds. I don't know how he does it.

Yeah, I think the world building he does is second to none. I've yet to tire of it.

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

stip wrote:It is nice to see someone stand up for the Hobbit movies though. Did you prefer 1 or 2?

Definitely 2, but I love them both. I can't wait for the extended edition.

The Hobbit and LOTR movies pretty much break everything I know about movies. They're bloated, inefficient, thematically incoherent - really, they're just giant clusterfucks. They shouldn't work. I shouldn't like them. But goddammit, I fucking LOVE watching them. I never want them to end. It's like all of their shortcomings are overwhelmed by the sheer scope and majesty of the world Jackson builds. I don't know how he does it.

It's just a thought but maybe you just like shitty movies?

Heathen wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

stip wrote:It is nice to see someone stand up for the Hobbit movies though. Did you prefer 1 or 2?

Definitely 2, but I love them both. I can't wait for the extended edition.

The Hobbit and LOTR movies pretty much break everything I know about movies. They're bloated, inefficient, thematically incoherent - really, they're just giant clusterfucks. They shouldn't work. I shouldn't like them. But goddammit, I fucking LOVE watching them. I never want them to end. It's like all of their shortcomings are overwhelmed by the sheer scope and majesty of the world Jackson builds. I don't know how he does it.

It's just a thought but maybe you just like shitty movies?

You are my hero

Heathen wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

stip wrote:It is nice to see someone stand up for the Hobbit movies though. Did you prefer 1 or 2?

Definitely 2, but I love them both. I can't wait for the extended edition.

The Hobbit and LOTR movies pretty much break everything I know about movies. They're bloated, inefficient, thematically incoherent - really, they're just giant clusterfucks. They shouldn't work. I shouldn't like them. But goddammit, I fucking LOVE watching them. I never want them to end. It's like all of their shortcomings are overwhelmed by the sheer scope and majesty of the world Jackson builds. I don't know how he does it.

It's just a thought but maybe you just like shitty movies?

I don't even know what that means.

bump

Post your favorite movies released since LV left about four years ago (since spring 2020 or so).

Aftersun
Challengers
Drive My Car
The Father
The Green Knight
Pearl
Perfect Days
Petite Maman
Spencer
Top Gun: Maverick

(alphabetically sorted. also please stop leaving us)

Annette
Avatar: The Way of Water
Cry Macho
Mandibles
Rebel Moon
Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb
West Side Story