Saturday Evening Movie Thread [moviegique]: Lilly

It's been kind of a slow May around here. We've only seen Ran, Re-Animator and Lilly. I've had a hard time getting into Kurosawa, but I found Ran quite wonderful. Easy to follow despite a rather intricate plot (based on/inspired by "King Lear") and a near three-hour runtime. The year 1985 also gave Re-Animator, which is probably the crowning achievement of the Empire Pictures filmmaking endeavor, and still really holds up after 40 years, with only a few of its low-budget seams showing.

Lilly is a straight-up advertisement for Democrats, and lord knows they need the help. We stumbled into this because I mistook Patricia Clarkson for Patricia Heaton, and mentioned that if Patricia (Heaton) were in the film, it probably wouldn't be just a tongue-bath of left-wing figureheads. A fatal mistake my friends. This 90-minutes-but-seems-like-150-minutes paean to Democratic shibboleth Lilly Ledbetter features copious actual interviews with Ruth Bader Ginsburg herself. And Hillary. And Obama. And, ballsiest of all, the Lion of the Senate, Ted Kennedy.

No one championed women like ol' Ted, amirite?

Left, Clarkson. Right, Heaton. I mixed up their NAMES not their LOOKS.

I realized we were in trouble about ten minutes in, and spent the rest of the movie trying to find things to admire. Like, there are a few points where the music is quite effective. Since the movie has no composer, I assume that the music supervisor and editors put together stock music, but they did so effectively from time-to-time.

Politics aside, this is embarrassingly incompetent and earnest, on the level of certain Christian movies we've seen, but tawdry. And somehow more shockingly amateurish.

In the first 20 or so minutes we get three—count 'em, three—"you go, girl" montage scenes as the brave Mrs. Ledbetter decides she wants to work for Goodyear.

By the way, none of my snark should be seen as reflecting on the real Mrs. Ledbetter, who probably had some valid grievances and was also probably a good person.

Patricia Clarkson in "The Untouchables"

But this movie is sort of like The Central Park Five, where I came in to the movie on roughly the same side as the filmmaker only to come out thinking the opposite. Like, if your story is so weak you have to paint all your ideological enemies as evil cartoons, you must have very little confidence in the actual righteousness of your characters.

As befits a 2025 Democrat, the movie spends so much time on "you go, girl," the movie's obvious dramatic points are given short shrift. We start with Lilly saying "I want to get a job, even though you don't want me to, Mr. Man" and then Mr. Man says, "Well, go ahead and get a job because you're great and you're going to do it anyway."

Tight stuff. Riveting.

Patricia Clarkson in "The Green Mile".

Worst of all is the relationship with her son. She's a hard-ass with her son, to the point where he's pissed off at her and runs away to California, ne'er to be seen until a decade or more later. My time-frames are murky because the movie de-emphasizes this whole critical dramatic line.

We end up with no real idea why he was pissed, and when she comes to...sorta apologize?...toward the end of the movie, it lands like a wet sack of Washington Post print editions.

So, the movie starts with the three "you go, girl" montages, which drag the movie to a halt. Imagine starting Rocky with "Gonna Fly Now". You'd be saying: "Who is this guy? Why does he hate sides of beefs so much?"

But if that weren't enough (and, by gosh, don' t you think it oughtta be?), we go from setup to actual interviews of Ruth Bader Ginsburg talking about this case!

This is the dramatic equivalent of argument-by-authority. "This story is important and dramatic because a dead Supreme Court Justice says so!"

Patricia Clarkson in "Easy A".

Any abilities the actors have are neutered by this approach. "We're not showing you this because we're artists who are good at what we do. We're showing you this because MESSAGE! MESSAGE! MESSAGE!"

Probably the lowest level of competent cinematography is "The audience can see what's going on." Think, for example, Manos: The Hands of Fate, which fails to meet this bar. Well, Lilly meets this bar. It's arguably better than Manos, though much, much less interesting.

Manos, at least, has an ending one could regard as surprising, if supremely distasteful.

In Lilly, there's never any question what the outcome will be (and I didn't follow the story at the time, so it's not about historical events). Nothing matters but the woman won and beat out all those mean Republican men. If she's not there when her husband dies, well, that's too bad for him. If her son spends half his life alienated from her, well, that's just the patriarchy or something.

There's never any question about anything, really. The camera is never used to tell the story. The music, which is sparse, does its best with the thin gruel on the screen. The actors are constantly being interrupted and never have a chance.

Patricia Clarkson in "The Station Agent".

As I told The Boy on the way out, as we untangled the wacky misunderstanding that led to us seeing this slop, back in my day, we had propaganda movies, but they were at least good movies. The China Syndrome and Silkwood were far more damaging to society than this movie will ever be (because, for one thing, who's gonna watch this who doesn't already agree with it 100%, other than by mistake?) but they were entertaining as films.

I use the word "slop" advisedly. This film could've been made by an AI.

This movie even attempts a Silkwood by having Ledbetter be rear-ended at one point. Mike Nichols ended Silkwood by having her look back in the rear view mirror, lights of the truck coming up behind her reflecting in her eyes. Fade to black! I still remember it, probably accurately, decades later. (Oh, huh, I guess it's also the movie poster. So...not too hard to remember.)

Like every other possible moment of dramatic tension in this movie, Ledbetter gets rear-ended, two or three times, by an angry driver who might be affiliated with her political enemies. We just have to assume that it is, because there's no follow-up, no investigation, it doesn't cause her to waver in the slightest. We get Clarkson's trauma in the moment, but the movie does nothing with that.

It's a shame because, like I said, there's a good story here. But this is the dramatic equivalent of "clap humor".

Winner of two DEI awards, I hope this is the worst movie I see this year.

Patricia Clarkson in ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING ELSE.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 A first?

Posted by: Diogenes at May 31, 2025 07:34 PM (W/lyH)

2 Jeez. No wonder I don't know who Clarkson is. I just checked her bio and I think I've seen maybe one of those movies. A respectable body of work,but I'm gonna count that as a win for me.

Posted by: Diogenes at May 31, 2025 07:37 PM (W/lyH)

3 I also saw "Re-Animator" in a nice 4K disk. It still holds up 40 years later, and Jeffrey Combs is terrific.

I also saw "Invaders from Mars" in a 4K print (from the same company) and it looks great. William Cameron Menzies is very underrated as a director.

Plus I saw "Spies" from Fritz Lang, a very long silent film that held my interest nonetheless. Great subtle performance from Rudolph Klein-Rogge, and a spectacular train crash sequence.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 31, 2025 07:37 PM (CHHv1)

4 I posted my movie recommendation in the previous thread.

2016 movie The Confirmation starring Clive Owen.

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 07:40 PM (VofaG)

5 Thx movigique. Re-Animator is a hoot. It also has Barbara Crampton who was very hot. Liked that companies From Beyond, and thought Bride of Re-Animator was ok. Never saw the third one.

Posted by: Smell the Glove at May 31, 2025 07:41 PM (sNspL)

6 I could not even recall who Lily Ledbetter was. It sounds like.a film I would not enjoy. But thanks for your analysis of it, movieque.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2025 07:42 PM (ZYm0K)

7 Was bored today so went to see "Mission Impossible". I think I had the plot figured out before the end of the movie but it was sure fun to watch. Got to give Cruise credit for the daredevil stunts.

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 07:45 PM (lJ0H4)

8 And I have not seen any movie with Patricia Clarkson so that's why her name is not familiar to me.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2025 07:45 PM (ZYm0K)

9 Patricia Clarkson has never struck me as a leading lady type. Solid character actor, who unfortunately also strikes me as your basic sanctimonious leftist

Posted by: Smell the Glove at May 31, 2025 07:46 PM (sNspL)

10 I hope this is the worst movie I see this year.

Ah, hope springs eternal!

Posted by: Paco at May 31, 2025 07:49 PM (mADJX)

11 Too bad. I really liked Patricia Clarkson in "Pieces of April" and "The Station Agent" and some other flick she did with Siddig el Dr. Bashir.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 07:49 PM (kpS4V)

12 Regarding the Central Park Five: if these guys are innocent, who DID attack her?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 07:51 PM (kpS4V)

13 I watched a couple Miyazaki movies this week (Howl's Moving Castle and Nausicaa) and 'King of New York'.

Much as I dislike what a Mary Sue Nausicaa is, they were all miles better than Lilly.

It's ok to walk out of a bad propaganda movie. You're still free to do so. Go and watch something better, you can often get your money back or just hop theaters.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at May 31, 2025 07:51 PM (xcxpd)

14 12 Regarding the Central Park Five: if these guys are innocent, who DID attack her?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 07:51 PM (kpS4V)

See also: 12 Angry Men

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at May 31, 2025 07:52 PM (xcxpd)

15 Joel escaped during the Joe Don Baker movie. I forget what happed to the crew during Manos, but, something did because I remember that movie.

Posted by: Accomack at May 31, 2025 07:53 PM (T1QkV)

16 Oh and I watched some Yasujira Ozu silent films because of TJM.

They were ok, slight works (so far). I'm still not a fan of silent movies. I did enjoy them as time capsule of 1930's Japan.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at May 31, 2025 07:54 PM (xcxpd)

17 Joel escaped during the Joe Don Baker movie
----

I mean, that's the time to do it.

Wasn't it in a box of Hamdingers?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 07:54 PM (kpS4V)

18
Regarding the Central Park Five: if these guys are innocent, who DID attack her?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 07:51 PM (kpS4V)

__________

Christian Nationalists. Proud Boys. The Weaver family. Ku Kluxers. In short, average New Yorkers.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 31, 2025 07:54 PM (QnmlO)

19 15 Joel escaped during the Joe Don Baker movie. I forget what happed to the crew during Manos, but, something did because I remember that movie.
Posted by: Accomack at May 31, 2025 07:53 PM (T1QkV)

Mitchell!

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at May 31, 2025 07:55 PM (xcxpd)

20 Mitchel! Lol

Posted by: Accomack at May 31, 2025 07:58 PM (28cZF)

21 I hope this is the worst movie I see this year.

Hollywood will see that as a challenge. Good luck.

Posted by: NR Pax at May 31, 2025 07:58 PM (7xrfc)

22 BTW,I saw the preview for the Fantastic Four. It looks stinky.

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 08:00 PM (lJ0H4)

23 as I recall one other fellow copped to the rape, the others were guilty of assault of course they tried to railroad the DA,
the novelist (name escapes me now) because her boss Henry Morgenthau relented to the settlement, of course the victim was so badly injured so there were few witnesses

savagery wills out,

patricia doesn't look as bad as morgan fairchild but thats not aspirational

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:02 PM (bXbFr)

24 It looks stinky.

For some reason, the Fantastic Four is VERY difficult to make into a film. Even with a decent cast, it still falls short of expectations.

Posted by: NR Pax at May 31, 2025 08:02 PM (7xrfc)

25 the 60s retro ellement could work, but Pascal almost always plays the villiain, hence he gets all the top gig, they could have gone back with krasinski, who they wasted in multiverse,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:04 PM (bXbFr)

26 I always loved the MST intro to Manos: “Not only have you never seen a movie this bad, you have never even Concieved of a movie this bad!” There’s something like a ten minute scene of them driving in a car with no dialogue at all, because apparently whoever wrote it couldn’t think of any. (Joel and the boys fill in the empty spaces)

But who doesn’t live Torgo?

Posted by: Tom Servo at May 31, 2025 08:05 PM (i5oKA)

27 Re-Animator is great.

Spoiler...

All the characters get re-animated with the green goo at some point.

Posted by: davidt at May 31, 2025 08:06 PM (i0F8b)

28 spoiler alert, he iss the villain

the first official one, not the one that stan lee did as a tax writeoff had ion griffudd, an actor that has gone by the wayside, jessica alba as sue storm, sure why not, and evans role as johnny storm was akin with most of he roles he did before Captain America and after endgame,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:07 PM (bXbFr)

29 I just watched Pig, with Nicholas Cage as the lead. It dealt with adult themes of disappointment, loss and sorrow. It was very slow in parts, sometimes morose, and not always clear where it was going, and yet it was head and shoulders above anything in Spandex. Do yourself a favor and watch it.

Posted by: Archimedes at May 31, 2025 08:07 PM (s8j++)

30 notably knives out, and well lets not reference what the russos did to the grey man series,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:08 PM (bXbFr)

31 29 I just watched Pig, with Nicholas Cage as the lead. It dealt with adult themes of disappointment, loss and sorrow. It was very slow in parts, sometimes morose, and not always clear where it was going, and yet it was head and shoulders above anything in Spandex. Do yourself a favor and watch it.
Posted by: Archimedes at May 31, 2025 08:07 PM (s8j++)

Endorsed. Cage CAN act, he isn't often called upon to do.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at May 31, 2025 08:09 PM (xcxpd)

32 I thought mi last run could have been done better in a dozen different ways,

the last john wick adjacent, film, ballerina is coming out, with castro phile ana de armas,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:12 PM (bXbFr)

33 @28 Ioan Grifudd was excellent in the Horatio Hornblower movies on A+E. But he has disappeared except he's got a crazy ex wife

Posted by: Smell the Glove at May 31, 2025 08:12 PM (sNspL)

34 she is hawt but she is extremely left wing, even hanging out with the son of the puppet president

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:13 PM (bXbFr)

35 There’s something like a ten minute scene of them driving in a car with no dialogue at all, because apparently whoever wrote it couldn’t think of any. (Joel and the boys fill in the empty spaces)
-----
*grainy shots of land whale jouncing along bad road*

"Filmed in Zapruder-Vision!"

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 08:14 PM (kpS4V)

36 the last john wick adjacent, film, ballerina is coming out, with castro phile ana de armas,
Posted by: miguel cervantes

Saw that preview also. I'm sure it will rake in the bucks but nothing I'd be interested in. Great cast though.

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 08:14 PM (lJ0H4)

37 I liked the Station Agent . I can't tell you why though.

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 08:15 PM (VofaG)

38 the last john wick adjacent, film, ballerina is coming out, with castro phile ana de armas,
Posted by: miguel cervantes

Was it all a dream?

Posted by: Archimedes at May 31, 2025 08:15 PM (s8j++)

39 37 I liked the Station Agent . I can't tell you why though.
Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 08:15 PM (VofaG)

You like short films?

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at May 31, 2025 08:15 PM (xcxpd)

40 "Pig" is excellent. Funny and sad and gets some great digs in at foodie culture.

"Fuck Seattle!"

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 08:15 PM (kpS4V)

41 Ioan Grifudd was excellent in the Horatio Hornblower movies on A+E. But he has disappeared except he's got a crazy ex wife
Posted by: Smell the Glove

Rule #1 violation. When will they ever learn?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, You and whose army? at May 31, 2025 08:16 PM (L/fGl)

42 now that they killed off john? and definitely charon, because reddick is mort, the series has lost its steam, also it has ended up in the taken overdrive swamp,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:17 PM (bXbFr)

43 Don't let Crazy ram its ovipositor down your throat.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 08:17 PM (kpS4V)

44 As for comedies the biggest surprise for me was Melissa McCarthy's Spy. Laugh out loud funny .

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 08:17 PM (VofaG)

45 now josh trank really sank the series into the labrea, with this odd cronenbergian body horror theme,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:19 PM (bXbFr)

46 It's a shame they didn't try to do a retro-cool animated Fantastic Four.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 08:19 PM (kpS4V)

47 *grainy shots of land whale jouncing along bad road*

-
Trump really needs a third term.

Be warned: Rosie O'Donnell vows to return to the U.S. after Trump leaves office

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, You and whose army? at May 31, 2025 08:20 PM (L/fGl)

48 yes thats a good one, statham almost steals the show,

he is the lead in operation fortune, which is a good guy ritchie,vehicle, like he did with uncle and ministry of ungentlemanly warfare,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:21 PM (bXbFr)

49 You like short films?
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at May 31, 2025 08:15 PM (xcxpd)

Heh.

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 08:21 PM (VofaG)

50 Clarkson was in The Dead Pool with Clint Eastwood

https://tinyurl.com/m4cknpv

Posted by: Don Black at May 31, 2025 08:21 PM (AOsQT)

51 It's a shame they didn't try to do a retro-cool animated Fantastic Four.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes

Seems they're making a steampunky series based on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Might be good.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, You and whose army? at May 31, 2025 08:22 PM (L/fGl)

52 34
‘ she is hawt but she is extremely left wing’

Extremely left wing cancels out hot.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at May 31, 2025 08:22 PM (3wi/L)

53 I always thought she was hot

Posted by: Don Black at May 31, 2025 08:22 PM (AOsQT)

54 thats a bond aspiring type action comedy, with hugh grant playing another Vauxhall mandarin,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:24 PM (bXbFr)

55 btw I read the book version of Argylle which is much better than the book in the Matt Vaughn, it also is a heist involving Russians, Nazi Gold and other elements, Cavill would have been too polished for this character, but the ensemble might have worked,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:26 PM (bXbFr)

56 she is hawt but she is extremely left wing’

Extremely left wing cancels out hot.
Posted by: Dr. Claw

I saw in the NY Post that she and Tom Cruise are an item now.

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 08:27 PM (lJ0H4)

57 Vaughn somehow lost the touch after the second Kingsman, although the prequel wasn't too bad, all told,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:29 PM (bXbFr)

58 maybe the phoenician scheme, might be interesting,

Posted by: miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:30 PM (bXbFr)

59 test

Posted by: Don Black at May 31, 2025 08:38 PM (AOsQT)

60 Didn't MST do a bunch of Peter Graves B movies? I think one of them was with the Gila monster

Posted by: Accomack at May 31, 2025 08:39 PM (YVT+g)

61 Good evening everyone
Power came back on minutes after posted on Hobby Thread but while have cable TV can't get internet access going.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2025 08:39 PM (/cRoE)

62 60 Didn't MST do a bunch of Peter Graves B movies? I think one of them was with the Gila monster
Posted by: Accomack at May 31, 2025 08:39 PM (YVT+g)

It Conquered The World had Peter Graves as was MST3K fodder

Posted by: Cow Demon at May 31, 2025 08:42 PM (vm8sq)

63 @60 Peter Graves did a bunch of B-movies. Most actors did at the beginning of their careers. Probably the worst for him was "Killers from Space."

But then, Billy Wilder's brother never did make a good movie.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 31, 2025 08:45 PM (CHHv1)

64 I hate to say it but it looks like the new Fantastic Four movie is gonna suck. I just want Superman to be good.

Posted by: Cow Demon at May 31, 2025 08:45 PM (vm8sq)

65 My dubious achievement for the month of May was finishing all ten seasons of "The Blacklist." Ten seasons times 23 episodes times 40 minutes is 150 hours. This is like having a full time job.

I'm glad to report that watching James Spader chew on the scenery at least once per episode made it worth my while.

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at May 31, 2025 08:46 PM (GM4rl)

66 50/50 with gunn the last guardian was kind of maudlin

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:46 PM (bXbFr)

67 I’m glad I’ll probably miss this movie with Clarkson, unless aliens make me watch it.

Posted by: Eromero at May 31, 2025 08:47 PM (LHPAg)

68 They lost the plot initially it was about remingtons origins then they said nah

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:47 PM (bXbFr)

69 56
‘ I saw in the NY Post that she and Tom Cruise are an item now.’

Not sure what to make of that. I guess they’ll both have their cults.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at May 31, 2025 08:47 PM (3wi/L)

70 "My dubious achievement for the month of May was finishing all ten seasons of "The Blacklist." Ten seasons times 23 episodes times 40 minutes is 150 hours. This is like having a full time job."

I did the exact same thing. First teevee i watched in a couple of decades.

At least it was a decent show.

Posted by: The lone KwaKer! at May 31, 2025 08:48 PM (89Sog)

71 Which resemble the real life edwin wilson

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:48 PM (bXbFr)

72 Clarkson in " All the Kings Men"

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 08:48 PM (NVNRw)

73 Stacey keach as vesco in season 8 was cool

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:49 PM (bXbFr)

74 I know vesco supposedly died in cuba in 07

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:49 PM (bXbFr)

75 Without looking it up, I seem to recall that Clarkson was in an okay late Burt Lancaster flick called Rocket Gibraltar.

Peter Graves -- how can anything top his work in the cinematic marvel that was Beginning of the End (in which Chicago is invaded by gigantic grasshoppers)? They don't make 'em like that any more.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at May 31, 2025 08:49 PM (q3u5l)

76 I’m glad I’ll probably miss this movie with Clarkson, unless aliens make me watch it.
Posted by: Eromero at May 31, 2025 08:47 PM (LHPAg)

Hmmmm. Aliens forcing humans to watch random movies, and then demanding that the humans explain the movies to them.

Was that a Twilight Zone episode?

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at May 31, 2025 08:51 PM (GM4rl)

77 Thats quality entertainment

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:52 PM (bXbFr)

78 Could be a rick and morty clip show

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at May 31, 2025 08:52 PM (bXbFr)

79 76 -- If it wasn't, it oughtta be.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at May 31, 2025 08:52 PM (q3u5l)

80
Everyone's heard of "Oldboy", but Park Chan-wook did two another revenge movies around the same time, "Sympathy for Mr Vengeance" and "Lady Vengeance" both of them are currently streaming on Shudder.

Both of the movies are more or less center around the consequences of a kidnapping.

I'm not going to tell much about the plots because there are some twists that could be spoiled.

"Sympathy for Mr Vengeance" weirdly plays a lot like a very dark comedy with oddball scenes and a deaf/dumb main character who often seems to be channeling Stan Laurel or a silent movie comedian.

It's okay, ultimately kinda depressing.

"Lady Vengeance" is a much better movie involving a woman accused of a murder she didn't commit who wants revenge.

Lots of twists. You may think you know what's going on but then you'll be surprised.

But, just be warned, this is absolutely not the feel good movie of the year. There is a small moment of redemption at the end. However, this may be the darkest movie I've ever seen. I thought I might have nightmares from this one...

But, I didn't.

If these sound like they might appeal to you, check them out.

Posted by: naturalfake at May 31, 2025 08:53 PM (iJfKG)

81 They sure were obsessed with giant atomic bugs back in the day. As a little kid I saw a lot of these classics on the creature feature shows, so in addition to quicksand, blasting caps, and army ants, I had to worry about giant spiders coming over the horizon.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 08:53 PM (kpS4V)

82 Peter Graves was James Arness's brother.

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 08:54 PM (VofaG)

83 44 As for comedies the biggest surprise for me was Melissa McCarthy's Spy. Laugh out loud funny .

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 08:17 PM (VofaG)

Her driver was hilarious

Posted by: Javems at May 31, 2025 08:55 PM (8I4hW)

84 It Conquered The World. Graves had a soliloquy.

Posted by: Accomack at May 31, 2025 08:55 PM (28cZF)

85 Her driver was hilarious
Posted by: Javems at May 31, 2025 08:55 PM (8I4hW)

Yes . Statham also played his part well.

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 08:57 PM (VofaG)

86 We should do a movie thread were we agree to simultaneously watch the same movie, like Manos which is free on Prime.

Posted by: Accomack at May 31, 2025 08:57 PM (28cZF)

87 Peter Graves will always be "Mission Impossible " to me.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 08:57 PM (NVNRw)

88 @81 - Clint Eastwood was in "Tarantula" (at the end, hidden behind a pilot's mask).

"Them" is great and has a great blue-ray release.

(As does "Robot Monster," where the disk goes ALL OUT with everything you wanted to know about "Robot Monster." A perfect way to honor a D-level movie.)

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 31, 2025 08:57 PM (CHHv1)

89 I used to watch Peter Graves every Saturday morning in Fury.

wikipedia.org/wiki/Fury_(American_TV_series)

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 31, 2025 09:02 PM (63Dwl)

90 ‘By the way, none of my snark should be seen as reflecting on the real Mrs. Ledbetter, who probably had some valid grievances and was also probably a good person.’

I’m not sure about that. She ended up leveraging her 15 minutes by becoming a leftwing activist. No good person is a leftwing activist. Goodyear always maintained she was a weak employee, and her contemporaneous evaluations support that. Could they have been be lying? Sure they could. Who knows? I always suspected she was a crap employee that the company kept around because she was a woman. A man would have been fired for incompetence.

Posted by: Elric the Bladiest Blade at May 31, 2025 09:02 PM (3QFhj)

91 (As does "Robot Monster," where the disk goes ALL OUT with everything you wanted to know about "Robot Monster." A perfect way to honor a D-level movie.)
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 31, 2025 08:57 PM (CHHv1)
--
This one blew my mind as a kid. It was blisteringly bad!

Didn't the writer/director off himself because of the wretched reviews?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 31, 2025 09:03 PM (kpS4V)

92 I used to watch Peter Graves every Saturday morning in Fury.

wikipedia.org/wiki/Fury_(American_TV_series)
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr.

Those were the days. Fury and Sky King.

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 09:04 PM (lJ0H4)

93 Let's see the different opinions. Best movie of male super stars

Clint Eastwood
Jack Nicholson
Robert DeNiro
Dustin Hoffman
Robert Redford
John Wayne
Humphrey Bogart

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:04 PM (VofaG)

94 I'm currently watching a Netflix movie made in Spain, "A Widow's Game."

Standard crime melodrama, what amuses me is the original title in Spanish was "The Black Widow." I can picture the consternation if they had kept the Spanish title. Millions of men, tuning in expecting to see Scarlett Johansson in spandex, and finding out the lead character is a lady police detective who is a Hillary Clinton look-alike.

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at May 31, 2025 09:05 PM (GM4rl)

95 Peter Graves in Airplane.

Posted by: Eromero at May 31, 2025 09:05 PM (LHPAg)

96 Caught a lot of bad movies in grade and high school (double feature sf flicks every Saturday night on Chicago's Channel 5, every weekday afternoon at 3:30 on Chgo's Channel 7, and tried never to miss any of 'em), but somehow -- who can say why? -- I never managed to catch Robot Monster. Can't even recall it popping up in the schedule. To this day, I've not seen it -- saw a couple of clips and read a description or two, but haven't seen the entire picture.

And I've got a sneaking hunch that I'm better off.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at May 31, 2025 09:09 PM (q3u5l)

97 Saturday night at the movies.. The last time NBC did anything good.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:10 PM (NVNRw)

98 I've seen 'The Untouchables' quite a few times. Always enjoy it. Forgot Patricia Clarkson was in it.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at May 31, 2025 09:10 PM (FmapG)

99 93 Let's see the different opinions. Best movie of male super stars

Clint Eastwood
Jack Nicholson
Robert DeNiro
Dustin Hoffman
Robert Redford
John Wayne
Humphrey Bogart
Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:04 PM (VofaG)
Eastwood-Josey Wales
Nicholson Few Good Men
DeNiro -Brazil
Redford-baseball movie
Hoffman=Peter Pan
Bogart= Key Largo
Wayne- The Shootist

Posted by: Eromero at May 31, 2025 09:12 PM (LHPAg)

100 The Central Park Five were guilty as fuck. There’s been a lot written about this that shows that, including from Ann Coulter. The five knew things about the crime immediately afterwards that they could not possible have known unless they did it, including about a stolen Walkman. They not only admitted the crime to police (with their parents present), they also admitted it privately. They weee convicted by a jury that included 4 or 5 blacks.

All five were known and hated in their own communities for being violent lunatics.

The only reason anyone thinks they were exonerated is because Bill Di Blasio’s administration paid them off in a phony settlement to try to cop favor with the black activists.

Posted by: Elric the Bladiest Blade at May 31, 2025 09:12 PM (3QFhj)

101 Eastwood- Outlaw Josey Wales
Nicholson- Chinatown
DeNiro- Heat
Hoffman - Marathon Man
Redford- Jeremiah Johnson
Wayne - The Cowboys
Bogart - Casablanca

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:12 PM (VofaG)

102
Not that I any love for the Dodgers, but they're destroying the Yankees, 14-1 in the 5th.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 31, 2025 09:13 PM (QnmlO)

103 I would hazard to guess that Lilly Ledbetter was, in fact, a complete insufferable bitch.

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at May 31, 2025 09:15 PM (XMwZJ)

104 polynikes, I like your list.I would go with 'African Queen ' for Bogart though.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:16 PM (NVNRw)

105 I watched "everything everywhere all at once". What a waste. There were glimmers of a great movie under the rubbish, but then a sewer line burst... metaphorically, but it could very well have been added to the script without a hitch.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at May 31, 2025 09:16 PM (YOP87)

106 I honestly did not recognize Demi Moore in 'Landman'

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:17 PM (NVNRw)

107 That's some good news out of El A.

Posted by: Accomack at May 31, 2025 09:18 PM (Bbhox)

108 Wayne: The Seachers (The Quiet Man acceptable)
DeNiro: Raging Bull
Nicholson: Chinatown
Eastwood: Unforgiven
Hoffman: Kramer v Kramer
Redford: Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
Bogart: Casablanca

Posted by: Darles Chickens at May 31, 2025 09:20 PM (vOKvj)

109 polynikes, I like your list.I would go with 'African Queen ' for Bogart though.
Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:16 PM (NVNRw)

I probably could substitute. Bogart has five of my top ten films.

Casablanca
African Queen
Key Largo
Sahara
Caine Mutiny

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:22 PM (VofaG)

110 93 Let's see the different opinions. Best movie of male super stars

Clint Eastwood - The Outlaw Josey Wales
Jack Nicholson - Batman
Robert DeNiro - Midnight Run
Dustin Hoffman - Billy Bathgate
Robert Redford - Jeremiah Johnson
John Wayne - The Cowboys
Humphrey Bogart - Casablanca (I haven't watch too many movies with Bogart. No reason, just haven't.
Posted by: polynikes

Robert Redford is overrated. I liked Jeremiah Johnson the best because he had so few lines in it.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at May 31, 2025 09:23 PM (FmapG)

111 I am a minority of one but 'The Searchers ' did nothing for me.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:23 PM (NVNRw)

112 From the warning track to 2nd base on the fly. That has to be close to 200'

Posted by: Accomack at May 31, 2025 09:24 PM (RBD82)

113 The NBC double feature sf movies I caught as a kid were late night -- 10:30 and midnight. Saturday Night at the Movies ran in prime time and they ran some terrific stuff. I don't know if that was the last good thing NBC did, but it was probably pretty close. Some nice flicks in that lineup: Day the Earth Stood Still, Battleground, Five Fingers, Titanic (the Clifton Webb)...

Just checked the listings for Sat. Night etc. -- I'd forgotten (and how could I do that) that this was where I'd first seen Night and the City, with Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, and a pre-Inspector-Dreyfus Herbert Lom. Terrific flick.

Are there any broadcast stations that show some of that stuff now, or do you have to sign up for paid streamers to catch titles like those?

Posted by: Just Some Guy at May 31, 2025 09:24 PM (q3u5l)

114 Are we looking for the best movie overall or the best performance of that particular male star? It makes a difference.

Posted by: Darles Chickens at May 31, 2025 09:24 PM (vOKvj)

115 Why no love for The Maltese Falcon?

Posted by: Accomack at May 31, 2025 09:25 PM (RBD82)

116 Robert Redford is overrated. I liked Jeremiah Johnson the best because he had so few lines in it.
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at May 31, 2025 09:23 PM (FmapG)

I agree but he has 5 really good films imo.

Jeremiah Johnson
The Natural
Brubaker
The Sting
This Property is Condemned

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:25 PM (VofaG)

117 I honestly did not recognize Demi Moore in 'Landman'
Posted by: Ben Had

The shorter hair wig changed her appearance greatly.

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 09:26 PM (lJ0H4)

118 I have lots of love for The Maltese Falcon. But I don't think it's the best movie with Humphrey Bogart in it.

Posted by: Darles Chickens at May 31, 2025 09:26 PM (vOKvj)

119 I need to check out more Bogart movies. I know I've seen more than 'Casablanca' but my memory is fuzzy.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at May 31, 2025 09:26 PM (FmapG)

120 I really only remember Patricia Clarkson in The Dead Pool. Which was weak but not awful.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at May 31, 2025 09:27 PM (TdCYS)

121 I like The Sting. But I will contend that Butch Cassidy is a superior movie.

Posted by: Darles Chickens at May 31, 2025 09:27 PM (vOKvj)

122 116: I liked 'The Natural'. 'Three Days of the Condor' was ok but that's because I like Max Von Sydow and Cliff Robertson.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at May 31, 2025 09:28 PM (FmapG)

123 I'll always remember The Day the Earth Stood Still on Saturday Night at the Movies.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 31, 2025 09:28 PM (63Dwl)

124 Tuna. It was her face for me. Aged as she was after 'Disclosure ' she just lost something.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:29 PM (NVNRw)

125 Robertson and Von Sydow elevate any movie they are in (Flash Gordon!).

Posted by: Darles Chickens at May 31, 2025 09:29 PM (vOKvj)

126 Bogart's last movie was really good. The Harder They Fall.

He went out on top like Wayne did in The Shootist.

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:30 PM (VofaG)

127 I liked 'The Natural'. 'Three Days of the Condor' was ok but that's because I like Max Von Sydow and Cliff Robertson.
Posted by: Puddleglum

I really liked that movie but I thought Von Sydow kind of stole it, small part though it was.

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 09:31 PM (lJ0H4)

128 Posted by: Puddleglum at work at May 31, 2025 09:26 PM (FmapG)

Start with Sahara.

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:31 PM (VofaG)

129 Best Redford movie for me is 'The Last Castle'

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:32 PM (NVNRw)

130 127 I liked 'The Natural'. 'Three Days of the Condor' was ok but that's because I like Max Von Sydow and Cliff Robertson.
Posted by: Puddleglum

I really liked that movie but I thought Von Sydow kind of stole it, small part though it was.
Posted by: Tuna

Max Von Sydow made a habit of that. See 'Citizen X'. He was barely in it but had a major impact. Its a great movie, by the way.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at May 31, 2025 09:33 PM (FmapG)

131 Tuna. It was her face for me. Aged as she was after 'Disclosure ' she just lost something.
Posted by: Ben Had

I hope she has a bigger part next season which, unfortunately, doesn't air until November.

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 09:33 PM (lJ0H4)

132 One of Bogart's movies that I really like, back when he was still getting killed in the third reel, was a Cagney pic called Angels with Dirty Faces. A great performance by Cagney.

Posted by: Darles Chickens at May 31, 2025 09:33 PM (vOKvj)

133 Here is one that will have a lot of different opinions.

Best Tom Cruise movie?

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:36 PM (VofaG)

134 Best Tom Cruise movie?
Posted by: polynikes

Jerry McGuire

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 09:37 PM (lJ0H4)

135 and Tuna knocks it right out of the park

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:39 PM (NVNRw)

136 I'm not sure I could pick a single best movie for some of those guys.

Bogart? Casablanca, Maltese Falcon, In a Lonely Place, The Harder They Fall, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, African Queen...

Wayne? The Shootist, Rio Bravo, The Searchers, Hondo, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance...

Eastwood? Unforgiven, Outlaw Josey Wales, Dirty Harry...

Nicholson - Chinatown; Redford - Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid; DeNiro - I've got a sneaking fondness for his part in Jackie Brown, even though it may not be prime DeNiro; Hoffman - I'll go with Marathon Man even though he really was too old for the part.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at May 31, 2025 09:39 PM (q3u5l)

137 >Best Tom Cruise movie?

Collateral.

Posted by: davidt at May 31, 2025 09:39 PM (i0F8b)

138 Only films I’m even remotely interested in seeing are Caught Stealing and the new Superman film.

Caught Stealing has Snatch vibes and Superman looks like what would have happened if Smallville Clark became Superman. Corn sweat is a dead ringer for Tom Welling.

I liked Smallville so I imagine I’ll like this.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 31, 2025 09:39 PM (XV/Pl)

139 Eastwood - Unforgiven
Nicholson - A Few Good Men
DeNiro - The Mission, although Irons blows him out of the water
Redford - The Natural
Hoffman - Rainman
Bogart - Casablanca, alrhough I have a soft spot for To Have and Have Not
Wayne - The Quiet Man

Posted by: NaughtyPine at May 31, 2025 09:40 PM (YOP87)

140 Best Tom Cruise? Haven't seen a ton of 'em, but from what I've seen I'd have to go with The Color of Money.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at May 31, 2025 09:42 PM (q3u5l)

141 I note two picked A Few Good Men for Nicholson.

Would you also pick it for Cruise?

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:42 PM (VofaG)

142 The best Tom Cruise movie is Jerry Maguire, the best Tom Cruise performance is Magnolia.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 31, 2025 09:44 PM (XV/Pl)

143 For Nicholson it was between Chinatown and One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest for me. I went with Chinatown.

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:45 PM (VofaG)

144 >>> adult themes of disappointment, loss and sorrow.
---

No politics in the movie thread.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 31, 2025 09:45 PM (Tc4dx)

145 Nicholson for me is 'The Departed'

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:46 PM (NVNRw)

146 No mention of Paul Newman?

Posted by: Wenda at May 31, 2025 09:46 PM (KGfTv)

147 Eastwood - Josey Wales, Unforgiven
Nicholson - The Shining, A Few Good Men
DeNiro - Godfather II , Brazil
Hoffman - Rainman, Tootsie
Bogart- Casablanca, Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Wayne - The Searchers, The Quiet Man

Posted by: Smell the Glove at May 31, 2025 09:46 PM (sNspL)

148 Nicholson for me is 'The Departed'
Posted by: Ben Had

I loved him in "As Good as it Gets".

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 09:47 PM (lJ0H4)

149 loved him in "As Good as it Gets".
Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 09:47 PM (lJ0H4)

Yes, I forgot about that .

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:48 PM (VofaG)

150 I note two picked A Few Good Men for Nicholson.

Would you also pick it for Cruise?
Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:42 PM

No. I think Cruise was best in Jerry McGuire.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at May 31, 2025 09:48 PM (YOP87)

151 Tuna, 'Somethings Gotta Give' was fun too.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:49 PM (NVNRw)

152 I could not even recall who Lily Ledbetter was. It sounds like.a film I would not enjoy. But thanks for your analysis of it, movieque.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2025 07:42 PM (ZYm0K)

A fake. A fraud. A phoney. She sullies the grand name of Ledbetter! (spit)

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 31, 2025 09:49 PM (0eaVi)

153 Redford- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Natural
Newman - Butch Cassidy , Slapshot

Posted by: Smell the Glove at May 31, 2025 09:49 PM (sNspL)

154 No mention of Paul Newman?
Posted by: Wenda

He gave gave superb performances in whatever he was in. I have a guilty pleasure favorite: "The Long Hot Summer "

Posted by: Tuna at May 31, 2025 09:50 PM (lJ0H4)

155 Hang 'Em High

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 31, 2025 09:50 PM (63Dwl)

156 Posted by: NaughtyPine at May 31, 2025 09:48 PM (YOP87)

I guess you could do two categories. I was thinking best movie they were in not their best performance in a movie.

Posted by: polynikes at May 31, 2025 09:50 PM (VofaG)

157 Just got back from "Bring Her Back".

Spooky, gory, melancholy. Not for everyone but a solid flick, great performances, etc.

From the guys who did "Talk To Me".

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at May 31, 2025 09:51 PM (asXVI)

158 Newman? Good Lord:

The Hustler, The Color of Money, Butch Cassidy, Hud, Twilight, Harper, Nobody's Fool, Hombre, and onandonandon...

Could run out of fingers marking 'em off here.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at May 31, 2025 09:54 PM (q3u5l)

159 Later Newman. The Road to Perdition and Fat Man Little Boy

Posted by: Ben Had at May 31, 2025 09:59 PM (NVNRw)

160 And on that happy note, this kid's outta here.

Thanks for the thread, moviegique.
Have a good one, gang.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at May 31, 2025 10:00 PM (q3u5l)

161 ONT up

Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at May 31, 2025 10:02 PM (w3u3d)

162 Thanks for coming by, guys!

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at May 31, 2025 10:09 PM (asXVI)

163 12 Regarding the Central Park Five: if these guys are innocent, who DID attack her?
---

Eris, this seemed to be their defense at some point: We couldn't have been raping that lady because we were over there beating that guy up.

Awful, awful documentary.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at May 31, 2025 10:11 PM (asXVI)

164 See also: 12 Angry Men
----

"12 Angry Men" is a great play and film, but if you think it's some kind of victory for jurisprudence, you should maintain that attitude even if the guy they left off immediately murders the two people who testified against him.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at May 31, 2025 10:12 PM (asXVI)

165 37 I liked the Station Agent . I can't tell you why though.
---

Because you don't know or because it's in poor taste?

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at May 31, 2025 10:19 PM (asXVI)

166 ‘By the way, none of my snark should be seen as reflecting on the real Mrs. Ledbetter, who probably had some valid grievances and was also probably a good person.’

I’m not sure about that.
---
Well, by the end of the movie, I wasn't either.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at May 31, 2025 10:20 PM (asXVI)

167 You know, it’s about this time in any killing spree that you really ought to turn the gun on yourself, you know?

Posted by: dasbow at June 01, 2025 11:53 AM (+Fxnq)

168 Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News.
Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?

I've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Thank you

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