Seen any good movies lately?

[TomK]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. I have to admit sci-fi, time travel, and a love story usually don't appeal to me, but because it's you, I'll give it a go!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Also on Netflix (without subtitles) two recent series with new seasons, both well written and well acted:

The Diplomat with Keri Russel, and The Man Inside starring Ted Danson as a P. I.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Eden, directed by Ron Howard.
Showing on Netflix.
Based on a true story.

It’s the early 1930’s, a philosopher retreats to a deserted island in the Galapagos.  The media is intrigued, they write embellished reports of his progress and exploits.  Others follow including a baroness who wishes to build a resort for millionaires.  The reality is closer to a hardscrabble existence in which the thin veneer of civilization is thinner than anyone expected.

There are lies, deceits, leaders, followers, it could even be taken as an allegory for our current situation.

Highly recommended.

[TomK]

I'm about a quarter of the way through the movie. It started well, but I'm not enjoying it as much now, after the poor acting and the irrelevant sex scenes once the baroness arrives. I'll watch to the end, at some point, but it's off kilter for me right now.

[HiloJulie]

Watched a Tom Hanks movie from 2015 that someone in the family apparently at one time bought on Prime but I had never watched it until now. I don't even recall ever hearing about. I can't find it to stream on any "legal" services today, but I know you PunaWebbers are creative!

"Bridge of Spies"

From IMDb Story-line:

In 1957, lawyer James B. Donovan is recruited from his prestigious law firm to defend accused Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. It's an unenviable task in many respects. Donovan hasn't practiced criminal law since he was a prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials after World War II. Also, the strong anti-Communist mood at the time makes him a target from those who think Abel should just be executed. Abel is convicted but Donovan convinces the judge to sentence him to prison, rather than execute him, as they may at some point in the future want to swap him for an American spy the Soviets might have in custody. Just such a scenario comes into play when in 1960 U-2 spy pilot Francis Gary Powers is shot down over Soviet territory and taken prisoner. Donovan is again recruited to act as the intermediary and negotiate swapping Able for the American requiring him to travel to East Berlin crossing the newly built Berlin Wall. 

Directed by Steven Spielberg, and is "mostly" a true account.

If you have not seen it, I'd say its worth popping some popcorn and give it a watch! (Using your VPN of course!)

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

"Bridge of Spies"

Hanks, Spielberg, and the Coen Brothers wrote the screenplay (directors & writers of Big Lebowski).

[TomK]

"Bridge of Spies" is certainly a good movie. It's hard to find a bad movie with Spielberg and Hanks involved, and it is based on a true story.

Just a few days ago, I was recommended "The Tank" ("Der Tiger"), a 2025 German movie based on a tank crew on the Eastern Front in 1943. I saw comparisons to "Das Boot" but it is nowhere near as good as that. However, I watched it all the way through in almost one viewing. It's not for anyone wanting Hollywood effectsor romance, but is also a little strange, especially at the end.  

I think it does a good job of showing life in war for a small group of soldiers who are forced to stay together. 

https://youtu.be/lFzhHr_lwcs?si=LO-iFujspOwXIA9D

PS. It's free if you have Amazon Prime.

[Durian Fiend]

We recently picked up HBO max to watch "The Pitt" It comes along with some recent, high profile movies.

Although Joaquin Phoenix is outstanding in "Eddington" I wouldn't recommend.

"One battle after another"-now this one is pretty good. I loved Penn as Lockjaw.

[ironyak]

Durian Fiend - Although Joaquin Phoenix is outstanding in "Eddington" I wouldn't recommend. "One battle after another"-now this one is pretty good. I loved Penn as Lockjaw.

Heard an interesting discussion recently about whether the real-world near future looks more like Eddington's resolution or One Battle After Another's, so can see how they both provide some counter narratives to consider (avoiding details for those that haven't seen them). If you liked One Battle After Another, the source material, Thomas Pynchon's Vineland provides a similar story but turned up to 11 on a benzedrine all-nighter (takes place in the 80s and 60s and so has Reagan, ninjas, LA & Humboldt counties, Godzilla references, and more!) A challenging at times, but crazy fun trip of a novel in the gonzo mode of On the Road or Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72.

Oh, and to cross the streams, One Battle After Another's director PT Anderson also adapted Pynchon's Inherent Vice, in which both Joaquin Phoenix and Benicio del Toro starred and is worth checking out IMO if you missed it back in 2014.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Inherent Vice

Yes!