What Was the Last Movie You Watched?

ChiroDoc said:
I liked it too. I was really drawn into the film even though I normally don’t enjoy pictures that are designed to tug at one’s heart strings, but this story about a poor, disabled folk artist painter was very absorbing.It was chiefly Sally Hawkins’ film, and no one plays waifs, sorrowful or pitiable women better than she. It’s impossible to view her performance and not feel sympathy for Maud Lewis’ situation, while at the same time admiring her outlook, stamina and art talent. Hawkins slightly overplayed her role, but the melodrama absorbed her portrayal.

One reason for my interest in the movie was that I had conflated Ethan Hawke with John Hawkes, so I was eager to see another master stroke by John Hawkes. Wrong guy. But Ethan Hawke did a creditable job in a part that was unevenly written.

This was basically a female production, so it’s going to focus more on feelings, emotion, and hardships. However I was curious about the actual Maud Lewis (nee Dowley) character, so I researched it a bit. Turns out that there was a large amount of “Hollywood license” taken to embellish the story.

Maud actually had polio as a child, which caused her deformities, and lack of dexterity with the paint brushes, although she did develop rheumatoid arthritis. She was taught as a child to paint Christmas cards, which she later created to sell alongside her husband as he peddled fresh fish. She gave birth out of wedlock to her daughter at aged 25. Maud gave her up to adoption, as she had no means to support her.

Later her daughter tried to locate Maud, but could not. After Maud answered Everett’s ad for live-in housekeeper, they were very shortly married. He was never brutal to her, and in fact it was he that encouraged her to paint, buying her a first set of oil paints. He did the house-keeping. She then started painting on larger media, the “canvas” size limited only by her ability to stretch her arm. Interest in her work grew naturally out of local interest and exhibiting.

In actuality there was no Sandra character from NYC who started buying Maud’s work. Maud’s paintings eventually brought her $7 to $10 apiece. She could not keep up with the orders. Later at auction, some brought as high as $22K. Maud died in 1970 at aged 67 of pneumonia. Everett was killed in 1979 at their tiny home by a robber.

One criticism is that the characters weren't aged enough during the span of the story. Even at the end, the actors barely looked over 50. Despite the liberties taken with the real story, and the uneven writing for Everett Lewis’ part, this is a film worth watching. Hawkins and the others received several awards in both Canada, Ireland and London.
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Loved this movie! I thought Ethan Hawke was brilliant and that everyone else was great.
 
JeeperDon said:
Just saw 'Hail Mary' at the cinema. I enjoyed it. 'The Martian' with Matt Damon a few years ago was a bit better, same writers.
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Did you read these? I read and enjoyed both books. Thought "The Martian" movie was pretty good, am hoping for "Hail Mary to be even better."

I know it's later in your part of the country than mine. Good night.
p.s You sleep. I watch.
 
KSav said:
Primate. One word: UGH. It was nonstop CGI gore; I hated it. I like scary movies, but I do not care for extreme violence.

I should have just rewatched Cujo; it was essentially the same plot, but not quite so . . . tasteless.

Movies like this are why I stick to Asian horror, which has virtually no gore; supernatural films, like The Conjuring and Parnormal Activity; and older movies and series, like Twilight Zone.
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So did you watch it to the end? I'm not interested in seeing it, but just curious.
 
StarSong said:
Did you read these? [The Martian, Hail Mary] I read and enjoyed both books. Thought "The Martian" movie was pretty good, am hoping for "Hail Mary to be even better."

I know it's later in your part of the country than mine. Good night.
p.s You sleep. I watch.
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I do read a lot, but no I did not. In general, I don't mind if a movie doesn't match the book.
 
Went to the theater for the first time in probably 10 years just to see Project Hail Mary. I had read the book and wanted to see how it was made into a movie, especially the alien character.
Both the book and movie are very “sciencey” , the book more so. I liked the movie but was glad I had read the book first as that made the movie easier to follow.
i told my husband he was welcome to go to the theater with me but it was not his type of movie and he wouldn’t like it, He went, and surprisingly, liked it!
 
MountainRa said:
Went to the theater for the first time in probably 10 years just to see Project Hail Mary. I had read the book and wanted to see how it was made into a movie, especially the alien character.
Both the book and movie are very “sciencey” , the book more so. I liked the movie but was glad I had read the book first as that made the movie easier to follow.
i told my husband he was welcome to go to the theater with me but it was not his type of movie and he wouldn’t like it, He went, and surprisingly, liked it!
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Agreed the book was heavy on science - most bits I read thoroughly but skimmed through others. Got enough of the gist that I could follow the plot, which was really all I needed.

That's good to know. Thanks, Ra! My SIL and GS are planning to see it next week, but in an IMAX theater. DD, DGD and I can't tolerate IMAX because it makes us motion sick, so we'll see it in a regular theater.
 
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