What Was the Last Movie You Watched?

I saw the first John Wick and didn't bother with the rest. Reeves is probably a good enough actor, but the only movie he made that really tickled my fancy was the first Matrix movie.
 

Don M. said:
I watched the movie "Gladiator" this afternoon on the Paramount Network, on my TV. That movie was first shown in 2000, and is still one of the best ever made...IMO.
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While snowbirding in SW AZ I acquired a Yorkie puppy, I had just watched 'Gladiator' the night before. Hence the male puppy's name - Maximus - Max for short, he's now 7 soon to be 8. Yapping, barking, spunky. stubborn & too smart for his own good. Agreed great movie!
 
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Last night watched Mark Wahlberg & everyone's no-nonsense mother/MIL, Margo Martindale in 'Instant Family' on NetFlix. A comedy about adopting a family of 'foster' children. I liked it, watchable, predictable. Good cast & good movie. Took a break from my usual WWI themed movies.
 
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Marcy Sheiner said:
I just watched The Last Showgirl. It's streaming on hulu, which I was overjoyed to learn, since it came and went so fast from the movie theaters. Anyhow, I knew it sounded good, but I had no idea it would be such an exquisite, feminist portrait about women's lives and aging and so-called beauty, not to mention motherhood.
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I too thought it was a near perfect film, and was wowed by Pamela Anderson's phenomenal performance, which should have won her awards. Here is some commentary on the picture: [long]

The Last Showgirl (2024)

This is a small movie about a deep subject: a woman’s defiant struggle to face the realities of both her age and loss of the steady job she has had as a showgirl in a long running Las Vegas extravagant stage production that is suddenly slated for closure. It’s fundamentally a women’s picture that showcases some first rate acting, chiefly by it’s star, Pamela Anderson, and co-star Jamie Lee Curtis.

Shelly Gardner (Anderson) is an aging showgirl who has fervently performed her part for 3 decades in a lavish revue at a major Vegas casino. She loves and completely inhabits her role as a performance artist, so much so that as the years go by it never occurs to her that it would eventually come to an end. But in fact the extravaganza has gradually become passe and out of fashion in comparison to the newer style of shows at other venues.

So when the cast is notified by its producer that the show will finally be canceled in two week’s time, Shelly is presented with the reality of what she can do with her life-- of what employment choices could be open to her. Her fading beauty and loss of dancing skills combine to severely limit the chances of getting hired for other stage shows. The story is predominantly about her quandary, and her relationship with her daughter, an old friend, and a previous lover.

If there ever was a part written that was filled by the perfect choice, it was the role of Shelly Gardner for Pamela Anderson. In fact playwright and eventual screenwriter Kate Gersten, on whose play Body of Work was developed into The Last Showgirl, stated that the project had earlier been shelved because they simply could not find the right actress for the crucial key role. When Anderson eventually was given the script to read, she was immediately struck by how much she related to the character. She had not done many serious dramatic roles over the course of her career, having begun as a regular in Playboy magazine, making her soon rather typecast as a sex symbol ala Jayne Mansfield or Marilyn Monroe.

But here she let out all the stops in delivering an obviously heartfelt range of emotions, while subtly portraying Shelly’s childlike naivete that she would stay in her bubble forever-- that her well familiar life in the show would never end. When her long term employment abruptly came to a close, its as if she had to wake up to a new reality, and to try in desperation to stay in the business that she had entered as a young woman 30 years before, whereas now as an older woman she found herself no longer equipped for its demands.

Her friend Annette (Curtis) had earlier been released as a showgirl owing to her age. She had found employment as a casino cocktail waitress, having faced the fact that she had few options. But even in that job she had been reduced to unpopular shifts in favor of younger more attractive girls. It took courage for Curtis to take on a role that accentuated the character’s unattractiveness, much like Bette Davis did in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?. Curtis as Annette was so natural that she was completely believable in the part.

Mention must be made of the part of Eddie, the producer of the long running revue, played with a soft understated demeanor by Dave Bautista-- a hulk of a man who had been for years in real life a world wrestling champion and tough guy. His masterful portrayal of a sympathetic but realistic stage producer will guarantee him future complex roles.

The only slight deficit in the picture was in its last act writing. After all the activity and emotional ups and downs in the story the viewer would have benefited from a more definitive, a more explanatory ending. We know what happens, and it’s gratifying enough, but a more spelled out finish would have perfected the film.

It’s remarkable that with a slim budget of less than $2 million that the producer Robert Schwartzman and director Gia Coppola were able to lay out a film about a large casino revue (based upon the historic long running show Jubilee! at Bally’s Las Vegas). Upon reflection we realize that we never actually saw any production numbers or expansive representation of the stage show itself. Yet the viewers see that in their minds. The filming confines itself mostly to interiors and tight exterior shots, which enabled the budget to be kept at a minimum.

But it is the award caliber of acting that is the big draw to this thoroughly enjoyable movie. Dropped into a slate of big budgeted splashy films, this little but poignant story is gratifying to experience.

Doc’s rating: 9/10
 
Marcy Sheiner said:
I just watched The Last Showgirl. It's streaming on hulu, which I was overjoyed to learn, since it came and went so fast from the movie theaters. Anyhow, I knew it sounded good, but I had no idea it would be such an exquisite, feminist portrait about women's lives and aging and so-called beauty, not to mention motherhood.
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I just saw that last week, @Marcy Sheiner, and agree with your and @ChiroDoc's opinions. I thought it was wonderful, very moving.

That said, earlier today I watched Subservience, which was just the opposite. Ugh. I didn't care for it at all.
 
"Threads" (1984) BBC TV movie. I hadn't seen it in many years.

Nuclear war drama meant to help people understand what is at stake. Gritty.


With all of the European saber-rattling going on it might be a good thing to review.
 
JustDave said:
I saw the first John Wick and didn't bother with the rest. Reeves is probably a good enough actor, but the only movie he made that really tickled my fancy was the first Matrix movie.
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I thought Fast and Furious xux!
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I liked the Wick movies, seemed sad but realistic. After he died I lost the clamp.
Mission impossible had some crazy effect scenes. Cruse tried hard.
 
dilettante said:
"Threads" (1984) BBC TV movie. I hadn't seen it in many years.

Nuclear war drama meant to help people understand what is at stake. Gritty.


With all of the European saber-rattling going on it might be a good thing to review.
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You're going to get sick, take some pills, bleed a lot and die. All in all not too long in the frame of getting sick and dying.
Sooner or later a Crackpot is going to do it. The thing during Kenedy that stopped Nuclear war is a Russian submariner,
He refused to insert his key.
 
Marcy Sheiner said:
I just watched The Last Showgirl. It's streaming on hulu, which I was overjoyed to learn, since it came and went so fast from the movie theaters. Anyhow, I knew it sounded good, but I had no idea it would be such an exquisite, feminist portrait about women's lives and aging and so-called beauty, not to mention motherhood.
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Watched it based on your post. I saw what you saw although I also saw a pathetic, deluded woman. The movie depressed me, maybe it's just my mood. As I said, I see truth in your description and see truth in mine. Excellent movie. Excellent acting. This movie is special, and complicated.
 
Watched 'The Greatest Game Ever Played' with Shia LaBeouf, while not one of his most ardent fans, find this a good 'golf' movie. Like his caddy played by little known Josh Flitter & mother played by Marnie McPhail. I used to love the game but since my stenosis issues. Quit playing, but still like this movie. British actor Stephen Dillane gives another fine acting job as pro Harry Varden.
 
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Oldeagle66 said:
I'm in the mood for oldies today. Just finished 'The Oscar' 1966 and getting ready to watch 'The Lost Weekend' 1945.
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I've seen both of those but it's been a long time. Very good movies. If I had to choose between the 2, it would be "The Lost Weekend." Ray Milland gave a very compelling performance. I hope you like it as much as I did. [Don't expect any laughs from it.]
 
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