currently watching:
Jesus Christ
6.7/10
I don’t even recall the name Pauly Shore existing previously
Thought about this and holding to it. Doing good acting isn’t dependent on the film being serious or being worthy of considering for a best of year list.
This film relies on the main actors playing someone else and in this case they swap roles at a few points. Awkwafina has to play a shy kid with no guile in him and then Danny DeVito and she manages to achieve that. Kevin Hart pretending to be Danny Glover is also good.
Impressions /= Acting IMO
(I think it’s a good and fun film as well though)
Acting is just pretending in a convincing way. So much is clearly about other stuff in any case like script and direction. Not sure why we tolerate so much film snobbery on here when we shoot it down from the music side TBH.
Don’t think it’s snobbery really?
My “impressions /= acting” stance is the main reason I hate fucking biopics as well.
Acting is creating a convincing human being, pretending to be an existing one is less impressive to me.
(also Awkwafina puts in one of the best performances of the year in The Farewell fwiw so it’s no comment on her)
Maybe just more dismissive. I think your stance sounds a lot like when indie guys used to say such-and-such a song was a great pop song, to make it clear it was being judged separately
Fwiw, I think the performances in the Jumanji are great fun
Yeah I understand you aren’t negative about it. I just think people underestimate stuff a lot and conversely attach more importance to some acting than it necessarily warrants. Like I often feel like Paul Thomas Anderson could get a halfway decent performance out of a total hack in one of his films.
Watched Nostalghia last night. Proper Tarkovskian hypnotic slowness. Few shots from that will stick with me, I’m sure.
Jumanji: The Next Level
Takes a while to get going but good fun when it does, they do well expanding the ‘inhabiting characters’ concept. Bebe Neuwirth shows up at the end and is definitely ageing better than Kelsey Grammer. I assume the third film will be like the original and have the game world entering the real one, maybe they could bring Kirsten Dunst back
Yeah I was wondering about that ending. I guess this has to do big business to warrant another but I’d be there for it.
I watched Uncut Gems last night. Adam Sandler was actually brilliant, playing this sleazy charismatic diamond seller trying to keep his head above water. Soundtrack by Oneohtrix Point Never was great also, very synthy tangerine dream ambience.
This is a film I had no idea I needed in my life, yet now I do
Saw a few things pop up saying “could this be Adam Sandlers chance at an Oscar nomination?” on social media in the last few weeks and was intrigued, finally got around to finding it last night but yeah that 2 hours 20 flew by. Also got Lakeith Stanfield in it too who is always brilliant.
the safdies are decent (the two other films I’ve seen of their’s anyway). Looking forward to Uncut Gems quite a bit
Kind of very tinily slightly irked at some of the “Adam Sandler can act?!” shock as if Punch Drunk Love doesn’t exist
also Happy Gilmore yelling at the ball come on
