IDF's Film Club - A Casual Rankdown - Nov/Dec #3 Posted - Jan/Feb Theme Posted

[Alex95]

4. Requiem for a Dream

3.7/6

Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans

Drama / Crime

United States

78% RT / 71 MC / 4.1 LB

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@*Diana - 2/6

@Alex95 - 3/6

@.Rei - 3/6

@totes4totes - 4/6

@FrogLenzen - 4/6

@Steven_ - 6/6

 

Diana

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Requiem for a Dream absolutely shattered me in a million pieces. I had not heard of the film before this. Jennifer Connelly  in particular I was like oh my god! Jared Leto always freaks me out and so this film did not help that LOL But he did fantastic. I felt like I had to watch it a few times to really process it, but it gets a high ranking for me because of how well done it was and the story behind it. It is a film I think really was well done and acted perfectly. One I was glad was summited for me to learn about

 

Alex

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MVP: Ellen Burstyn

Favorite Scene: Sara's red dress monologue

 

Still can’t believe I decided to watch this on November 5, 2024. Choices were made, not good ones. I loved it though. Maybe the existential dread helped put me in the mood for this. Sometimes existential dread makes you want to turn your mind off and watch something funny. Sometimes it makes you want to watch Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans abuse drugs. However, the star of the show here is very clearly Ellen Burstyn. What a well deserved Oscar nomination. She is heartbreaking here. I watched The Substance recently, and a lot of the themes of this movie reminded me of that one. Burstyn is just one of the best in the business and she really got to flex her acting chops in every scene in this movie.

The other MVP is Aronofsky. Aronofsky is the most hit or miss director for me. Black Swan is a masterpiece, yet he also made Noah and The Whale. This being one of his earliest pieces of work is inspiring. The composition of this film really put us in the minds of the characters, and what I assume abusing drugs like this is like. And the orchestral score below many of these scenes was brilliant. It was just a really stressful and dread-filled viewing experience that I loved every second of.

 

Rei

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Wow this is not the film to watch if you're feeling anxious. Ellen Burstyn really nailed this. While all leads were good, it was Ellen's plot the one that I "enjoyed" the most. 

 

Megan

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I feel like this is too low but this is a great crop of movies and it kind of comes down to how I felt watching and rewatching these movies. I think anything between 2-4 could shift depending on the day and how I felt. I also knocked it for Jared Leto.

 

Derek

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no thanks. idk if I just don’t like drug films? relapse plotlines are the absolute worst and this wasn’t that. but I still wasn’t feeling it. it was pretty bleak. and felt realistic, not romanticized. idk if I was expecting something more profound? something that tied it together differently? the movie peaked with Ellen’s monologue to Jared when he asked if she was on diet pills. it was interesting that none of the main quartet died. all their fates like… worse than death tho. maybe a death was a finality that I was craving… interesting choice to not do it. don’t hate it don’t love it. but yeah a drug movie with “dream” in the title??????? decidedly not Derek-nip. But I'm glad to finally get this off my watchlist. one of my things about drug stories is… it feels like there’s nothing new to say sometimes. drugs are bad, yawn. but yeah not a critique specific to the movie necessarily, more the subgenre. I do think this movie had some interesting new things with Ellen's plot, the diet pills, the TV, the game show, the fridge. yeah the fridge attack was as shocking as the needle in the wound lol. but the rest felt very familiar. And Mr. Wayans felt like not fully developed storyline compared to the others I think. Slightly.

 

Steven

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I've heard of Requiem for a Dream before, but I never watched it before. And I probably never would've sought this out if it wasn't for this film club. I didn't think this was a movie that would've appealed to me, and I ended up being right. I did not enjoy this film. It was just too unsettling and bleak; it was not an enjoyable movie-watching experience. That doesn't mean I think it was a bad movie. I can understand why the film is highly regarded. It succeeded in what it set out to do, and the movie certainly does leave an impression. However, since these rankings are subjective, it lands at #6 for me since it's not something I enjoyed or would ever want to watch again.

 

[Alex95]

Invented acting

 

[totes4totes]

the megan and @FrogLenzen block remaining strong

[Alex95]

3. Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar

3.5/6

Directed by Josh Greenbaum

Starring Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Jamie Dornan, Damon Wayans Jr.

Comedy

United States

81% RT / 64 MC / 3.5 LB

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@totes4totes - 1/6

@FrogLenzen - 2/6

@Steven_ - 3/6

@Alex95 - 4/6

@.Rei - 5/6

@*Diana - 6/6

 

Megan

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I love this movie and am giving it a bump because it's my personal favorite and I think it has really stiff competition this round. It's just a really fun and funny movie. Kristen Wiig really needs to be making more movies like this and taking fewer roles like WW1984.

 

Derek

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cute. I’m getting concerned that I’m too old and snobby to ever get fully sucked into a comedy film anymore. why does it just work so much better on TV? I guess you get the benefit of really developing characters on TV shows over time? Or getting the trial and error of multiple episodes to perfect things? because a lot of times season 1 of shows is also kind of clunky… idk but this was fun. like with Palm Springs the tone was kind of all over the place. at first it’s kind of a fantastical slightly gruesome intro but then it turns into full Romy & Michelle and then there are musical sequences and then it goes full silly sometimes? the full silly moments were the best I think. as the nitpicky Floridian I will say that mosquitos don’t sting, they bite? Like? Also that part of FL they chose for the setting wishes it looked like that resort and not just swamp lmao there are no sandy beaches there at all hahahahaha. and I always laugh at alligators being used as some kind of antagonist when in life they just sit there lololol

 

Steven

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Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar was silly and ridiculous, but I did end up enjoying this film. Once you embrace the absurdity of it all, it's a fun movie that makes you laugh. Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo are very amusing here. Their friendship dynamic worked well and added a lot of humor. Their Trish conversation throughout their entire plane journey was especially funny ("To me, a woman named Trish is a woman you can count on" "Trish? At Christmas? Forget it!").  Jamie Dornan was great in his role too. He commits to the silliness of it all, and the "Edgar's Prayer" scene was hilarious too ("I'm going up a palm tree like a cat up a palm tree who's decided to go up a palm tree").  Damon Wayans Jr. was funny in his few scenes too. Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar might not be a movie that appeals to everyone. But if you don't take it so seriously, it's a funny and entertaining movie that will have you cracking up beginning to end.

 

Alex

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MVP: Jamie Dornan

Favorite Scene: Barb and Star discuss Trish

 

I am so random, I can’t believe I just did that, the movie. I watched this a few years ago and didn’t really ~get~ it. Maybe I was just in a bad mood. I still think it’s a very weak plot, but the humor makes up for it. Tbh, we really didn’t need the storyline of Evil Kristen Wiig attempting to kill everyone in Vista Del Mar. I couldn’t care less about that. And for that, the last half hour or so kinda dragged. However, I genuinely could’ve watched two hours of Vanessa Bayer bossing everyone around at Talking Club while Phyllis Smith makes animal noises. Or Barb & Star sitting on a plane discussing the entire life story of Trish. Or Jamie Dornan doing literally anything in this movie.

What becomes a cult classic is generally pretty difficult to guess at the time. But if you asked me to pick a movie from the early 2020’s that will be a cult classic in the 2040’s, I honestly might guess Barb & Star. It has a very specific humor, but there’s something also timeless about it? I think it’s the lack of pop culture references. You don’t have to be “in the know” to get this movie. It could’ve come out at literally any time. I love that the movie has no specific time period. The girls don’t own cell phones, they’re styled like they’re in a period piece. But it’s still very modern. I think you’ll realize in the first ten minutes if you get the humor or you don’t. If it’s not your kind of humor, then you’ll hate the movie.

Luckily for me, this is my kind of humor! The Morgan Freeman joke with the crab had me screaming as I was watching it. And I really can’t praise Jamie Dornan enough, what a highlight. I didn’t know he had those comedic sensibilities inside him and now I need to see him do more comedies (after his song in the movie I started casting him as one of the princes in Into the Woods in my head). Though also shoutout to Annie Mumolo. She’s very much more known for her writing, but I’m glad her acting chops got to shine bright in this film. And I mean, Kristen Wiig doesn’t need any more praise than she already gets. She’s a comedic genius. She played both Star and the villain so well. If only that pesky plot didn’t get in the way this would be a perfect movie.

 

Rei

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Utterly ridiculous but also very fun. I don't think there is really nothing that I haven't enjoyed from Kristen Wigg. Since now I'm lusting over Jamie Dornan, does this mean that have to get into the Fifty Shades franchise?

 

Diana

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I think I tried to give this movie the best chance as of all the movies this was the one I had heard the least about it. I watched it twice and both times left it feeling a little bit underwhelmed? I guess my unpopular opinion is I am not the biggest Kristen Wiig fan in the entire world so that was part of it. It wasn’t a bad movie but not one I think I would ever want to watch again. It has positive reviews from critics so I think this may just be a me thing.  I read a review saying its not everyone’s cup of tea and it’s definitely not mine

 

[Alex95]

This getting one of every kind of ranking is so amazing to me.

[Alex95]

2. Enough Said

2.7/6

Directed by Nicole Holofcener

Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette, Ben Falcone

Romance / Comedy / Drama

United States

95% RT / 78 MC / 3.6 LB

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@Alex95 - 1/6

@FrogLenzen - 1/6

@.Rei - 2/6

@totes4totes - 3/6

@Steven_ - 4/6

@*Diana - 5/6

 

Alex

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MVP: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Favorite Scene: Their first date

 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini. That’s it. That’s the review.

Okay, but for real, what a charming movie. I went into it rather blind. I thought it would be more of a romcom than it was. But it was really down-to-earth. Rich white people problems? Sure. But that’s Nicole Holofcener for you lol. And it was done in a relatable way. This movie lives and dies on the chemistry between JLD and Gandolfini. And ooh boy was the chemistry there. I loved their first date. It was the right amount of awkward, as first dates are, but also sweet. It wasn’t a perfect first date, no one was swept off their feet. But you can see the connection instantly. How they matched with each other. And I think that’s a more realistic approach to it.

The central conflict of the movie felt very real as well. How things just got so out of hand for Eva. Not to compare this, or anything, to Dear Evan Hansen, but that was also a movie about a lie that got out of control and turned into a borderline felony. This one just felt more real with how it went too far. Don’t we all want to know the red flags up front? Not defending Eva’s character since she was very much in the wrong. But I think the movie worked because they didn’t defend or judge Eva. It just happened. I keep using words like “realistic” and that’s because this movie felt very lived in. The dialogue, the situations, the performance. Obviously it’s a movie and the drama needs to be dialed up to a degree to be entertaining. It all just worked together so well.

I talked mainly about Eva, but I can’t praise Gandolfini enough as well. I’m so used to Selina Meyer and Tony Soprano from both of them, two of the most monstrous characters in film or television history. To watch them as Eva & Albert, two charming but socially awkward people down on their luck a bit. I bought it. And that’s what’s most important. They weren’t Selina and Tony. They disappeared in their characters here.

Shoutout to casting Catherine Keener and Toni Collette as well. Just a great ensemble all around. And a great movie that I found myself way more invested in than I expected to.

 

Derek

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it was cute. it does take me a little bit to see them as the characters and not the actors. something about how iconic they both are. the movie felt extremely real. the dialogue felt real, the interactions and staging and everything was totally grounded. I guessed the first little twist pretty immediately, it was probably part of the trailers or something so maybe they weren’t trying super hard to disguise it. big part of the premise I suppose. I did sort of expect there to be a second big turn of events in the third act… hmmm. maybe something with the Toni Collette character or the best friend character or some payoff for the “dyke” comment. I did get lesbian vibes for a lot of this, I don’t usually pick up on gay women stuff lmao I don’t really insert that into stuff personally so it felt like it had to be deliberate and then the “dyke” comment hit but then nothing else really. anyway I liked it, didn’t LOVE it but I am looking back at it fondly and I think it made some kind of impression

 

Rei

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This is such a good movie that makes my heart melt. Julia Lewis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini had such chemistry and the made the film so damn good. Amazing dialogues, compelling characters, great performance from the leds and supporting characters. I don't know if I am overrating this or not, but this just hit harder on my second rewatch.

 

Megan

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Give me any movie with these two and I will be SEATED.

 

Steven

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I heard good things about Enough Said after Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini were nominated for their performances. I did like their characters' banter with each other; they do have great chemistry here. I admit that I liked the movie better as it started, but it kind of lost me after the plot twist. I thought this would've just been a nice and charming movie, but then the movie revolved around this awkward situation. Instead of this bond growing between the two lead characters, I found Eva to be less likable as she kept trying to learn about Albert's flaws from his ex-wife. And she kept the whole thing a secret, and it didn't seem like she ever planned to reveal the truth until Albert walked in on her hanging out with Marianne. Nonetheless, the script was well-written, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini are excellent in their roles.

 

Diana

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Enough Said was good, okay really. Kinda boring. Sorry to to anyone who liked it. I felt like it was witty and cute but not something I felt like I would want to watch again and I usually really love Julia Louis-Dreyfus in anything she does. Not that I didn't like her in this movie, I just usually like her work more.. Even now, I am struggling to write 100 words about this film.
One really said thing was James Gandolfini died before Enough Said came out which made the film heartbreaking to me to think about it just so sad, he did great in the movie though. Not bad.

 

Edited November 20, 2024 by Alex95

[Alex95]

1. Blue Valentine

1.8/6

Directed by Derek Cianfrance

Starring Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams

Romance / Drama

United States

87% RT / 81 MC / 3.8 LB

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@*Diana - 1/6

@.Rei - 1/6

@totes4totes - 2/6

@Alex95 - 2/6

@Steven_ - 2/6

@FrogLenzen - 3/6

 

Diana

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Ok so I ranked this #1 and partly because I summited but the reason I summited it was for the fact of its one of my favorite movies of all time. I absolutely love Ryan Gosling in more serious roles too, he does well in both but watching this and the Fall guy the same day was whiplash lol. Blue Valentine absolutely crushes my soul every time I watch it. It really does a truly exceptional job of showing that sometimes a relationship can just fall apart and the heart break that comes from it. Michelle Williams is an absolute delight and star in this film as well. She really is the best actor to come from Dawson's Creek and this movie just proved it more. Again , I just love this movie so much and I am happy to have summited it here.

 

Rei

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just paraphrasing what I wrote on the Films of the decade Rankdown:

Blue Valentine perfectly captures the struggles many marriages face. Cindy is overwhelmed by her duties as a mom, nurse, and wife to the largely useless Dean. The first time I watched this, I felt for both characters, but this time I couldn't stand Dean. He’s an adult who refuses to grow up, still fantasizing about their early relationship while ignoring the reality of their situation. Seriously, just stop complaining and step up. That said, both performances are outstanding, and the characters feel incredibly real. I’ve definitely seen Cindy and Dean in real life, and though the movie is frustrating at times, it’s also painfully relatable.

 

Megan

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This is the movie that made me really love Ryan Gosling. I had seen Half Nelson and Lars and the Real Girl but this is where I went like "wow this guy is an ACTOR." This is in my Top 3 of 2010 and maybe #2 depending on how I feel about The Social Network that day (Winter's Bone is my #1).

 

Alex

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MVP: Ryan Gosling

Favorite Scene: Cindy dances while Dean sings to her

 

Never thought I would watch this movie more than once. Not because it’s bad, but because it’s suuuuuuch a tough watch. But then it made the final 20 of the original films of the decade rankdown so I rewatched it then. And now it’s in this game so I rewatched it now. Can you believe it’s been over four years since the end of that game?! But this is not a movie most people have watched three times I’d surmise. There’s not much more I’ve picked up throughout each watch. But it just helps me further appreciate the talents of Derek Cianfrance, Michelle Williams, and Ryan Gosling. And I just found out via wikipedia that Andrij Parekh is the cinematographer on this movie. He’s directed some of my favorite Succession episodes so #slay.

I appreciate how the film plays with time. I think sometimes going out of order can feel pretentious, but this didn’t feel that way. It actually helped me connect with the characters more. This is a movie that lives and dies with the acting and Gosling & Williams are really giving it there all there. I don’t want to say Williams has never been better because she’s That Bitch and somehow she has, but I do think this is Gosling’s best performance of his career. The way he can be so charming one minute and such an alcoholic loser the next. There’s so many layers and dimensions to his performance that I never knew he had in him before watching this movie.

All I need is for a film to move me, and this one left me in tears on multiple occasions. The first date. The confrontation at the hospital. Their daughter trying to say goodbye to him. Ugh. Such a realistic depiction of abuse. But not in a way that felt exploitative at all. Just honest and heartbreaking. Now I hope to never watch this movie again lmao.

 

Steven

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Blue Valentine is an unhappy movie, but the performances from Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams make it a standout film. There are two sides to this film. There's the initial courtship between Dean and Cindy and then years in the future when their marriage has already fallen apart. It's not a movie that makes you feel good, but the acting really draws you in. The argument scene towards the end of the film when Dean shows up at Cindy's work is particularly memorable. Gosling and Williams do some of their best work in this film. They have great chemistry here, and they sell both the romantic and heartbreaking parts of their story really well. Blue Valentine isn't a movie I'd want to watch often, but I think all the elements of the film come together effectively and leave a lasting impression.

 

Derek

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why is it called Blue Valentine??? no one knows. I’m lowkey a Ryan Gosling hater so this movie had an uphill climb unfortunately. why does he do that dumb accent when the character is just from Florida lol. And starting with a dead dog is BRAVE like you're lucky I didn't give up immediately. I think this is an objectively good movie, realistic, held my attention, had good beats, ending felt intentional and like an end. I thought they did a decent job of showing both sides of the relationship, while Ryan was still objectively way worse and a bad person lol it gave an even perspective to where each was coming from. I don’t love movies like this where you jump back and forth between good past times and current bad times… but if you’re going to do it then this is a good execution. still not going to rave about it and no intention to ever watch it again. kind of a downer though lmao. This is one I'm glad I didn't watch with my spouse. Michelle did impress me in this.

 

Edited November 20, 2024 by Alex95

[Alex95]

On 11/16/2024 at 11:58 AM, Alex95 said:

Nov/Dec 2024 - Free Choice

 

Back in 2023 this started off with a free choice. As we approach 2025, let's do it again! You can once again, choose any film you'd like, no limits. It could be your favorite movie, your least favorite movie, a nostalgic choice, a film you've been meaning to check out, a film you just heard about today. Whatever you want, it's your choice! Post your film for the free choice round whenever you're ready!

 

@~Tom~ @FrogLenzen @*Chris @Steven_ @.Rei @totes4totes @Elliott @NGM @#jeah @*Diana

Don't forget to make your choices for another free pick round!

[totes4totes]

not surprised with blue valentine taking the #1 spot!

 

i'll figure out a movie to watch for nov/dec! i've gotta think about what i want to choose! (something gay i am sure)

[FrogLenzen]

Interesting round and acceptable result!

 

I went into this thinking that I would be head-over-heels in love with at least 3 of the films, maybe even 4 or 5 but I ended up not really finding one that hit for me. So maybe that's something to do with my mood lately or the time of year haha there's so much going on it's hard to get lost in media sometimes. But yeah a little disappointed overall but nothing that I hated. 

 

For the free choice I'll probably just scroll the imdb Top 250 until I hit one that I haven't seen, I think there's still a couple in the Top 20 that I never got around to

[*Diana]

End of Watch is my pick. I've always wanted to watch it 

[.Rei]

I think I expected Blue Valentine to take the win with Enough Said getting second, so no complaints there..

It was a good set of films imo 

[.Rei]

My pick for this round is a film that I’ve been meaning to watch for quite some time: 

 

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

[.Rei]

1 hour ago, *Diana said:

End of Watch is my pick. I've always wanted to watch it 

Great! Me too! 

[totes4totes]

we can all use some fun so i'm choosing Bottoms

[Elliott]

31 minutes ago, totes4totes said:

we can all use some fun so i'm choosing Bottoms

lmao the way that this was one of the two I was deciding between 

[Elliott]

Picking 2003's Thirteen for my film.

[totes4totes]

2 minutes ago, Elliott said:

lmao the way that this was one of the two I was deciding between 

maybe when all 7 of us watch bottoms then they will finally release it on blu ray

[Elliott]

20 minutes ago, totes4totes said:

maybe when all 7 of us watch bottoms then they will finally release it on blu ray

Kino announced it like a year ago and nothing’s happened smh

[#jeah]

For the next round I’ll pick Emilia Pérez since I’m sure everyone will want to watch it for this year’s Oscar season  

[FrogLenzen]

Gonna go with Goodfellas in case Alex does a 90s films rankdown 

[FrogLenzen]

Not that he’s soliciting ideas but imagine a rankdown with all movies ever nominated for Best Picture, Actor, Actress, or Director  

[~Tom~]

1 hour ago, totes4totes said:

we can all use some fun so i'm choosing Bottoms

Great pick as I just watched it earlier this week.  

 

For my pick I want to choose Princess Mononoke so that anyone in here who hasn’t watched it can, but I may change if I find something intriguing that I haven’t seen.

[Elliott]

14 minutes ago, FrogLenzen said:

Not that he’s soliciting ideas but imagine a rankdown with all movies ever nominated for Best Picture, Actor, Actress, or Director  

I’m still waiting for the horror-only round smh

Edited November 20, 2024 by Elliott

[~Tom~]

15 minutes ago, Elliott said:

I’m still waiting for the horror-only round smh

Hear hear