|
Movies
Mar 22, 2020 2:52:54 GMT -5
Post by Wolfgang on Mar 22, 2020 2:52:54 GMT -5
Speaking of movies about newspapers, I have good memories of the 1994 movie "The Paper". Despite having a degree in print journalism, I really can't think of that many movies I have seen about newspapers. Out of curiosity, I did a search for the best movies about journalism and came across this list from the Poynter Institute. I have only seen the 25th movie on the list (Almost Famous, which is a great movie, though I classify it more as a music movie than a journalism movie, even if the protagonist is an aspiring magazine writer) and the 1st (All the President's Men, which I think I watched in one of my journalism classes and didn't leave that much of an impression on me--obviously, it's a movie about a very important journalism story, but most movies from that era weren't exactly moving at a brisk pace). Actually, I seem to have a vague recollection of watching Citizen Kane at some point, but I remember almost nothing about it beyond "Rosebud." Anyway, it seems that journalists are somewhat ubiquitous in all kinds of movies, and yet, I don't think too many are particularly memorable for being journalists (Clark Kent and Peter Parker are journalists, but that's not what makes them interesting--in fact, the portrayal of journalism in Batman vs. Superman was so bad that it was legitimately embarrassing). I will say that even though some journalists didn't care for it (as I think it hit a bit too close to home), Season 5 of The Wire has a pretty good depiction of a newsroom. That season is rightfully maligned for other reasons, but I did enjoy the newspaper subplot. In particular, the editor of the city desk, Gus, was one of my favorite characters in the entire show and one of the best fictional journalists of all time. I've seen 21 on that list.
|
|
|
Movies
Mar 22, 2020 3:00:44 GMT -5
Post by Wolfgang on Mar 22, 2020 3:00:44 GMT -5
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
I didn't like the film at all -- and I'm a reasonable Queen fan. By "reasonable," I mean I've heard all their songs and albums multiple times, read a little bit about them, love Freddie Mercury's singing voice, would put them on my list of all-time favorites, but I didn't like all their songs, didn't follow them since 1985 (Live Aid), and do not worship them like they're gods. Anyway, despite the numerous historical inaccuracies, it still seemed like a straight bio-pic. There was nothing special about the film. You're better off with a documentary.
I like the song "Bohemian Rhapsody," but would not put it on my list of my 100 Favorite songs. My favorite Queen songs are more simple -- "Don't Stop Me Now" (which was featured in the film Shaun of the Dead), "You're My Best Friend," "Play the Game," and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." "Killer Queen" is good, too.
|
|
|
Movies
Mar 26, 2020 21:13:55 GMT -5
Post by bbg95 on Mar 26, 2020 21:13:55 GMT -5
I watched The Paper. It’s a decent movie overall (like a 6 out of 10), with good performances. The plot was solid through most of the movie, but it was derailed by a last act that was frankly absurd. And with the exception of Marisa Tomei’s character, every time the movie meandered into the characters’ personal lives, I started to glaze over. As for the portrayal of journalism, I thought it was a bit of a mixed bag.
The front-page meetings were pretty accurate, with the group of reporters and editors debating on what to put on page one. The emphasis on the importance of having art was also on point. The kinds of characters who populate a newsroom also felt fairly accurate, though most weren’t in-depth.
I laughed when the main character, Henry, asked a reporter if he remembered a story they did, and the reporter responded, “I don’t read this newspaper.” I have literally done that. In one meeting, I asked about something the others were discussing, and my editor was under the impression that I had read the paper cover to cover. I was like, “Hey, I just work here. I don’t read stories in other sections.”
Unfortunately, the subplot about the newspaper’s financial woes made no sense whatsoever (in 1994). I don’t really want to bore people with the details about why that is, but it took me right out of the story. I would have enjoyed the movie more if they didn’t focus on the financials at all (and for that matter, if they hadn’t included all the tacked-on stuff about the characters’ personal lives). Henry is entertaining an offer from a New York Times analogue, and the increased prestige alone would have been enough to make it understandable why he would be tempted to make a move.
Now, this is something that probably wouldn’t bother most viewers because they just don’t know that much about the inner workings of a newspaper or the nature and history of the newspaper industry, which is fine. There are a lot of things in movies or TV shows that seem plausible enough if you don’t have expertise in that subject. But sometimes, you actually know a lot about the topic, so you know what isn’t accurate, and it takes you out of the story. This happens to my surgeon brother-in-law with hospital movies and my scientist sister with movies dealing with chemistry. And it happened to me with The Paper because I’m a former journalist, but I don’t have the same issues with fictional hospitals or scientists because I don’t know better.
|
|
|
Movies
Mar 27, 2020 21:12:08 GMT -5
Post by ilikecorn on Mar 27, 2020 21:12:08 GMT -5
bbg95 my favorite journalism movie is State of Play (2009). Starring Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright, Jason Bateman, & Jeff Daniels.
|
|
|
Movies
Mar 28, 2020 18:45:43 GMT -5
Post by yoda on Mar 28, 2020 18:45:43 GMT -5
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) I didn't like the film at all -- and I'm a reasonable Queen fan. By "reasonable," I mean I've heard all their songs and albums multiple times, read a little bit about them, love Freddie Mercury's singing voice, would put them on my list of all-time favorites, but I didn't like all their songs, didn't follow them since 1985 (Live Aid), and do not worship them like they're gods. Anyway, despite the numerous historical inaccuracies, it still seemed like a straight bio-pic. There was nothing special about the film. You're better off with a documentary. I like the song "Bohemian Rhapsody," but would not put it on my list of my 100 Favorite songs. My favorite Queen songs are more simple -- "Don't Stop Me Now" (which was featured in the film Shaun of the Dead), "You're My Best Friend," "Play the Game," and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." "Killer Queen" is good, too. Ironically, the songs in the movie that Rami Malek lip synched to were either master tracks or done by a Canadian singer named Marc Martel. He sounds a lot more like Freddie Mercury than Adam Lambert.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2020 10:08:34 GMT -5
Watching “Rocketman” right now. Thought it was suppose to tell about Elton John’s life, and I guess it is but in a way they’re trying to do it like Mamma Mia where Elton’s songs are played at the right moment. Finished watching it, pretty good movie. Just amazing the relationship between Elton John and Bernie Taupin. I was entertained, but it sure did seem like every rock bio I've seen. Downfall and redemption. Bad manager. Good friend. I've always had a problem with Elton John's music. There are, no doubt, many good songs there, he is very talented, and Bernie writes a good lyric. But by definition they aren't personal, because they aren't his words. So it's almost like all he ever does is cover someone else's song, in his own style. I know this isn't fair, because it is his music, but it still always struck me that way. Oddly enough, I never thought they were personal songs of Bernie either. They are almost always stories about someone else or something else. I never felt like he was telling me anything about himself or, and this is most important, that he ever had anything significant to say. Maybe Elton's music has something to do with this, turning poems into pop music. This is particularly a problem in a movie that is using the artist's songs to tell the story of his life. Guess what? Those aren't HIS words! Anyhow, ABBA's music was much, much deeper, imo. How's that for irony? (THAT would make a good movie, btw. ABBA.)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2020 10:11:17 GMT -5
bbg95 my favorite journalism movie is State of Play (2009). Starring Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright, Jason Bateman, & Jeff Daniels. Good movie, iirc. Rachel is great in everything she is in, including reuniting with Bateman in Game Night, which I thought was hilarious.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Movies
Mar 29, 2020 10:13:34 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2020 10:13:34 GMT -5
Really liked JoJo Rabbit. The acting was very good. And, look! There's Theon again.
|
|
|
Movies
Apr 8, 2020 8:02:59 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by XAsstCoach on Apr 8, 2020 8:02:59 GMT -5
Watched Dope. 3 straight A teenagers from “The Bottom” neighborhood of Englewood, CA living like they’re in the 90’s, get mixed up with a drug deal gone bad at a nightclub...and they have to find a way to unload the stash before time is up.
It’s a fun movie, good rap music and a fun to watch end credit dance moves.
|
|
|
Movies
Apr 11, 2020 18:20:08 GMT -5
vup likes this
Post by Wolfgang on Apr 11, 2020 18:20:08 GMT -5
Baby Driver Third time watching this movie, only because the wife saw it once and she wanted to see it again. So impressed with the craftsmanship. The planning, choreography, and editing of each shot in each scene. You watch this film and you know they spent a lot of time and hard work to get each shot right. When you watch it multiple times, you'll start to catch details you missed before.
|
|
|
Movies
Apr 11, 2020 19:06:54 GMT -5
Post by ilikecorn on Apr 11, 2020 19:06:54 GMT -5
Really liked JoJo Rabbit. The acting was very good. And, look! There's Theon again. ...
|
|
|
Movies
Apr 11, 2020 19:16:31 GMT -5
Post by vup on Apr 11, 2020 19:16:31 GMT -5
Sat down and watched Parasite last night. It was definitely dark and entertaining, but I'm a little surprised the Academy went all in for it. Best Picture nomination? Sure. Best Picture winner? I don't know, man. This film was so bizarre and disturbing, it was like a mild version of Funny Games (Haneke, 2007). I really did enjoy it, but not in a Best Picture kind of way.
|
|
|
Movies
Apr 11, 2020 19:40:02 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by akbar on Apr 11, 2020 19:40:02 GMT -5
Really liked JoJo Rabbit. The acting was very good. And, look! There's Theon again. I enjoyed this movie a ton. Also watch Once Upon a Time In Holleywood for the 3rd time. IMO this is Tarantino's best
|
|
|
Movies
Apr 11, 2020 19:49:55 GMT -5
Post by Wolfgang on Apr 11, 2020 19:49:55 GMT -5
Really liked JoJo Rabbit. The acting was very good. And, look! There's Theon again. I enjoyed this movie a ton. Also watch Once Upon a Time In Holleywood for the 3rd time. IMO this is Tarantino's best I haven't seen the film but I know the history of the Manson "family" during that time period from reading Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter (which I read in my teens and really loved it). For some reason, I really enjoyed this street tour of the crime spree. It's not sensationalist. It's a no-frills "here's where this happened" street tour. Watched the whole thing. LOL! Although he spends a lot of time in the beginning with Google Earth and Streetview, he actually goes to the sites.
|
|
|
Movies
Apr 11, 2020 19:50:12 GMT -5
Post by vup on Apr 11, 2020 19:50:12 GMT -5
Really liked JoJo Rabbit. The acting was very good. And, look! There's Theon again. I enjoyed this movie a ton. Also watch Once Upon a Time In Holleywood for the 3rd time. IMO this is Tarantino's best I haven't seen either yet, but this is exciting to hear!
|
|