Saturday Evening Movie Post [moviegique]: Rhinoceros

1) I only saw three movies in the last three weeks
2) They were all French: The classic war-orphan story from 1952, "Forbidden Games"; The "last of the French New Wave" 1981 film "Diva", and; from 1991, "The Lovers on the Bridge"
3) You guys aren't really into French films
4) Nobody's gonna talk movies, are they?

So I dug back into the archives and found an early post from eight years ago, when I switched to consistently including screenshots in my reviews and found this gem. It may be topical. (At the time I was using a maximum height of 250px so the pics may be small today.)

Rhinoceros

Imagine, if you will, Night of the Living Dead but with rhinoceroses. That would be a pretty good summary of Eugene Ionesco's play Rhinoceros, if you added in that the play is meant, at some level, to be a comedy. It was a movie I had always wanted to see, despite not knowing of its existence until a week ago. (I did know of the play, though.)

I stole this from a site called "Not Coming To A Theater Near You."

The premise is simple enough: A dispirited young accountant (Gene Wilder), bored to tears with life and drinking himself to death, is witness to a rhinoceros rampaging down the street of his small American town. (In the play, I believe it was a French town but even that may have just been a localization from Ionesco's original Romanian concept.) He does not find much interest in the incident, and in his neglect is upbraided by his dear friend, a rather uptight conservative fellow (Zero Mostel) with a love of culture and contempt for the manners of the everyday people around him.

When he goes to work the next day, his co-workers and boss are all discussing the issue, with one left-wing fellow talking about how the papers always lie, and raving of conspiracies and treason, and the others—while accepting the incident—treating it as a rather banal event. The hallmark of the story is how banal everything is to people, and the ordinary phrasing and clichés they use to discuss even the most extraordinary events.

Nixon...approves?...of rhinoceritis?

Things get knocked in to twelfth gear when the wife of a missing co-worker comes in breathless from having been chased down the street by a rhino. She came to deliver a key from her husband, who had gone out of town for the weekend and knew her boss would need it. "So conscientious!" sighs the boss, even as she relates that there's a rhino in the lobby of the building. Later on, she recognizes a rhino attacking outside the window as her husband.

"How do you know it's him?"
"Those are his glasses! Don't you recognize him?"
"Yes...and no..."

"Yes...and no..."

The first act is really quite a masterpiece of physical comedy and absurdity. The second is almost tragically absurd, as Wilder tries to help Mostel, who has been stricken with rhinoceritis. In the final act, Wilder and his office crush (a remarkably cute Karen Black) form a pact of love, though we already suspect that Black is doomed. While Wilder is struggling with the question of how to fight The Herd, Black insists that you have to let other people do what they want with their lives (even as they smash up the city and trample people). In the span of a few minutes they go from honeymooners to old married couple, and before you know it: rhinoceros! Wilder is left as the last man on earth, though even he seems as though he would give it up if only he could.

The Boy said, "The reason this works is because whatever it's a metaphor for, it's also about a guy dealing with the everyday problem of rhinoceroses!" And he's right. I take it as a metaphor for communism—Ionesco himself talked of left and right-wing, but his right wing were things like Nazis—and the perils of group think and mob mentality (hello, Global Warming! Social Justice Wariors! Public School Systems!), but the story stays very concrete in the actual problem of herds of rhinoceroses. This enhances the absurdity on the one hand while grounding it, however weirdly, in the set up reality. It follows its own rules, we would say.

The arc of a love affair...

It's very '70s. The music was a bit hit-and-miss, I thought. The Flower said "That was something different!" and I double-checked to see whether that was good or bad. Good, but not at all what she was expecting. The Boy and His Girl gave it a thumbs up. I liked it, too, quite a bit. It's not for everyone: There is a great deal of shouting, though it is about as good as shout-comedy can be, done by people who did it the best, and what's being shouted is pretty damn funny to boot. Also, you have to be able to accept the premise, but in a lot of ways, it's a lot easier premise to accept than the actual history that inspired it.

It is remarkably applicable today, which is probably why it keeps popping up in various forms and re-enactments. (Though it was a popular play and won Mostel a Tony, too.) Allegedly, Zombie Strippers is based on this movie. The movie was not well received at the time, for all the reasons that we like it today, I suspect: From what is essentially an artsy play, director Tom O'Horgan makes a rather accessible comedy that isn't bogged down by the sorts of politics that would get this movie a warm reception (and would be banal at best today, and incomprehensible at worst).

The poster in the back reads "Do not ever compromise yourself—that's all you have."

Posted by: Open Blogger at 08:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 And I nooded!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 07:34 PM (TnWYh)

2 You did?

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 07:35 PM (asXVI)

3 You're welcome!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 07:35 PM (TnWYh)

4 On my to watch list already!

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 13, 2025 07:35 PM (5Gg6R)

5 Watched Thunderbolts...do not recommend. Decent 1st 2/3rds and then just a terrible last third with a wildly abrupt ending.

Disney, even when not going woke, has lost the plot for making enjoyable supers movies. D+ on D+...

Posted by: Nova Local at September 13, 2025 07:37 PM (tOcjL)

6 Seems zany

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at September 13, 2025 07:37 PM (6U1c2)

7 I'm watching "The Running Man" on Comet. It's set in The Future (2019!) but it's so 80's in its unapologetic love for big hair, big shoulder pads, spandex, cheap satire, and explosions.

I love how the sweet old ladies in the audience are the most bloodthirsty.

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 13, 2025 07:38 PM (kpS4V)

8 Good evening everyone

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 07:39 PM (+qU29)

9 Still making my way through the 2014 Librarians series on Netflix. In season 2 and only one episode annoyed me so far...probably gonna go for all 4 seasons and then go back and watch the 3 tv movies.

Apparently, the reboot from 2024 sucks (it also replaced the cast to a woker version), so probably won't move to that.

Posted by: Nova Local at September 13, 2025 07:40 PM (tOcjL)

10 In the Yes and No pic above - I thought the guy in the upper right might be Terry Thomas.

The world could use more Terry Thomas.

Posted by: 496 at September 13, 2025 07:40 PM (qZ8QF)

11 Wait, CBD comes back from France and movieqique watches only French movies?
Is this a Cultural conspiracy?

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 07:41 PM (+qU29)

12 If it has Mostel and Wilder, there's gonna be shouting.

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 13, 2025 07:42 PM (kpS4V)

13 Errbody loves Terry-Thomas.

That's his name, if I'm not mistaken: Terry-hyphen-Thomas. Like Ann-hyphen-Margret.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 07:43 PM (asXVI)

14 The one I saw was "Palm Springs". Wish I'd seen it earlier, it was that good. I must have confused it with some other Groundhoglike and missed it.
The MC gets into a timeloop and accidentally brings in some other girl. They have to figure out how to get out. Well, she does. The MC actually likes being stuck in the loop or at least has made peace with it.
The movie revolves around if she can get out and if he wants to join her.

Posted by: gKWVE at September 13, 2025 07:44 PM (gKWVE)

15 I have never seen that movie."The Rhinoceros "I probably should because I really like both Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder ,and I read a number of Ionesco's plays while in theatre classes in college.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2025 07:45 PM (SKxYB)

16 Rhinoceroses are cool. I want a life sized remote control robotic rhinoceros to patrol the yard and get the mail.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:46 PM (vFG9F)

17 o/~I wanna rhinoceros for Christmas
Only a rhinoceros will do~\o

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 07:48 PM (asXVI)

18 Not having seen this movie I'm wondering about the special effect. Are they believable or kind of cheesy?

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:49 PM (vFG9F)

19
Isn't film just a shortened acronym for flim-flam?

* takes a drag on clove cigarette *

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 13, 2025 07:51 PM (Tv15w)

20 They were all French...
======

I think I see the problem.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 13, 2025 07:51 PM (RIvkX)

21 If Mostel & Wilder are in it, I would hope that there's a foolproof (hoo-hah!) get-rich-quick scheme in there somewhere, with Bruce Mars and Dick Shawn along for the ride.

Springtime for Rhinos...

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 07:51 PM (q3u5l)

22 There are virtually no special effects at all.

I'm trying to recall. That last picture shows, I believe, a shadow of a rhinoceros that =may= stick its head in. There are otherwise no actual rhinos portrayed.

Remember, it was a stage play first.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 07:52 PM (asXVI)

23 12 If it has Mostel and Wilder, there's gonna be shouting.

Yup. When Mostel died in the late '70s (?) global shouting went down 60%.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 07:53 PM (asXVI)

24 Was watching a vintage western on GRIT, wish I had picked off the title. What surprised me a little was that Jack Elam's character was sort of an ordinary, non-exaggerated decent guy.

Most surprising was that at one point in the plot, his character delivered a sort of poignant, soul-bearing soliloquy of what it had been like to grow up as an ugly man.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 07:56 PM (XeU6L)

25 I remember seeing a rhinoceros at a zoo. It was male - amazingly male. Its organ easily was as long as my arm, and so agile that the creature could have picked up a quarter with it. The lady rhinos would be in for quite a time.

As for viewing, I've just finished viewing all five seasons of "The Expanse". I thought it was quite good: well written, with amazing production values. One detail I particularly liked: Two characters are sitting in a bar on the Moon, when one pours out a drink, and the liquid flows from the bottle as slowly as it would have under 1/6 gravity. It was a little detail, easily overlooked, but it showed how much they cared.

Posted by: Nemo at September 13, 2025 07:56 PM (4RPgu)

26
Yup. When Mostel died in the late '70s (?) global shouting went down 60%.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books)

SAMUEL L. JACKSON HAS ENTERED THE CHAT

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 13, 2025 07:56 PM (Tv15w)

27 Karen Black makes me fell like I am climbing the gym rope.

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 13, 2025 07:59 PM (gbOdA)

28 I saw the trailer yesterday for the new Sydney Sweeney movie. She plays the boxer Christy Martin. Very unsexy role. Looks like she's trying to diversify.

Posted by: Mark1971 at September 13, 2025 07:59 PM (CNl8/)

29 I never was a Wilder fan. He is fine is BS and YF but everything else is cringe.

Posted by: Accomackalypse Now at September 13, 2025 08:00 PM (RBD82)

30 Rhinoceroses are cool. I want a life sized remote control robotic rhinoceros to patrol the yard and get the mail.

Posted by: fd
-----
[Imagines a semi-sleeping Rhino giving a soft snort and bounding to its feet like an alert Rottweiler]

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 08:01 PM (XeU6L)

31 25 I remember seeing a rhinoceros at a zoo. It was male - amazingly male. Its organ easily was as long as my arm, and so agile that the creature could have picked up a quarter with it. The lady rhinos would be in for quite a time.

Posted by: Nemo at September 13, 2025 07:56 PM (4RPgu)

Man had war injury in India and they rebuild him unit with elephant trunk.
His first date with a gal and the truck reaches up and grabs a potato off the plate
The lady Oh my can you do that again?
Dude Nope my ass will not hold another potato.

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 13, 2025 08:03 PM (gbOdA)

32 Svengoolie has bad seed on

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 13, 2025 08:03 PM (bXbFr)

33 Rhinoceroses are cool. I want a life sized remote control robotic rhinoceros to patrol the yard and get the mail.

Posted by: fd

white rhino, black rhino, greater one-horned rhino, Javan rhino, and Sumatran rhino.

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 13, 2025 08:05 PM (gbOdA)

34 Rhino don't surf!

Posted by: Accomackalypse Now at September 13, 2025 08:07 PM (T1QkV)

35 31 25 I remember seeing a rhinoceros at a zoo. It was male - amazingly male. Its organ easily was as long as my arm, and so agile that the creature could have picked up a quarter with it. The lady rhinos would be in for quite a time.

I was at the zoo once and a young bull elephant walked out, obviously aroused. About 30 people viewing, no one said anything, but all the women were trying to look away and all the men were looking down at the ground with shame.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 13, 2025 08:10 PM (5Gg6R)

36 "There are otherwise no actual rhinos portrayed.

Remember, it was a stage play first.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books)"

Oh. One of those movies.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 08:10 PM (vFG9F)

37 4) Nobody's gonna talk movies, are they?
---

I come here to poach movie pics. Freebie Diva's not going to be easy to find, I fear.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at September 13, 2025 08:11 PM (EJQ63)

38
I can't buy into "The Rhinoceros" because of the people turning into rhinoceroses.

Now, if they were turning into tapirs, Yes!

But, rhinoceroses...No!

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2025 08:11 PM (iJfKG)

39 Gene Wilder was great in comic roles, but I could never really buy into him as a romantic lead, even in farcical movies.

Posted by: Paco at September 13, 2025 08:12 PM (mADJX)

40 white rhino, black rhino, greater one-horned rhino, Javan rhino, and Sumatran rhino.

Posted by: r hennigantx
--------

I heard that in 'Bubba' Blue's voice.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 08:12 PM (XeU6L)

41 Movies recently watched that I enjoyed.
Fifty Dead Men Walking (200

IRA informer in NI
The Accountant (2016) Autistic vigilante takes-out bad guys
A Walk in the Sun (1945) US platoon after landing at Salerno
Charley Varrick (1973) Bank robber accidentally steals big money from the mob

A movie I watched and mostly liked; it ended up subtly going too woke.
Hostiles (2017) In 1892, a take-no-prisoners cavalry officer is ordered to escort a prisoner, his greatest Indian enemy, from a fort in New Mexico to one in Montana.

Movies I watched and wished I hadn't wasted the time.
Green Zone (2010) Bush Administration flunkies are the Bad Guys in Iraq in 2003.
The Acountant 2 (2025) The Accountant (see above) is paired with his hit-man brother in a buddy-movie, to rescue some cartel-held kids in Mexico. Too much strained buddy stuff, not enough action.

Posted by: Gref at September 13, 2025 08:13 PM (5rh/l)

42 3 military helicopters flew over at pretty low altitude, it's dark here now. House was shaking almost so ran outside to see

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 08:13 PM (+qU29)

43 29
'He is fine is BS and YF but everything else is cringe.'

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at September 13, 2025 08:13 PM (3wi/L)

44 In this "dystopian" 2019, they have jet packs. 😠

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 13, 2025 08:14 PM (kpS4V)

45 I watched The Beekeeper last night. To say all these movies are exactly the same would be a slight exaggeration.

The formula is:

1. Former [insert badass job] wants to live a quiet life
2. Bad guys in the form of [insert type of bad guys] disrupt his simple life
3. Wiser bad guy who is [insert role here] to younger bad guy excoriates the kid for his stupidity and hubris
4. Bloodbath occurs in [insert location here]
5. Good guys who work for [insert agency here] struggle to do their job while being sympathetic to the hero
6. Last showdown sees all the bad guys dead, and hero walks off while [insert agency here] could have stopped him but didin't

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:14 PM (3rxgK)

46 No rhinos were harmed in the making of this movie

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 13, 2025 08:15 PM (bXbFr)

47 25:As for viewing, I've just finished viewing all five seasons of "The Expanse". I thought it was quite good: well written, with amazing production values. One detail I particularly liked: Two characters are sitting in a bar on the Moon, when one pours out a drink, and the liquid flows from the bottle as slowly as it would have under 1/6 gravity. It was a little detail, easily overlooked, but it showed how much they cared.
Posted by: Nemo

Yep. It was a fine series and I liked it quite a bit. Enough so, I bought the DVD set. Haven't read the books yet. Need to get them first. I understand the series didn't follow the books in detail, but got the basic idea well enough.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 13, 2025 08:15 PM (c3B7E)

48 Hmm. 'The God's Must Be Crazy' just came to mind. 24 sec. clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_dXBZjDhQ8

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 08:16 PM (XeU6L)

49 I liked wrath of man better which has kind of twisty plot as why the character does whst he does

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 13, 2025 08:17 PM (bXbFr)

50 48 Hmm. 'The God's Must Be Crazy' just came to mind. 24 sec. clip:

I liked that one.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:18 PM (asXVI)

51 Its another guy ritchie film as in operation fortune but it has a grittier vibe a little like that modern heist film with gerard butler

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 13, 2025 08:18 PM (bXbFr)

52 The description of this movie reminds me of another 1970s movie "Little Murders", which I like quite a bit, thooooough-

it's not really one I would recommend to someone unless they're a fan of dark, absurd humor.

The movie starts off fairly slow and doesn't really get into gear until the third act, even though there are several funny scenes along the way.

The whole movie is constructed like a funnel to focus in on the climax and final scene, which I tend to like as a fictional construction.

If the play/movie seemed relevant in the early 70s...Wholley Kau! with the events of this year
it's more relevant than ever.

Check it out.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2025 08:19 PM (iJfKG)

53 I love obscure movie recaps! Where can this be seen, as well as the others you mentioned? I will try to check them out.

The only movie I saw this week was ROLE MODELS. It's dumb so don't bother but how I came to watch it is interesting.

I go twice a month to one of those places that stretch you out. The one I go to is called Stretch Med. It's helpful for my pickleball and golf games and just generally good to stay loose.

Anyway, the stretch folks always talk to me about movies because they know I have some involvement. The guy working on me says a client who came in earlier that day is a screenwriter, and ROLE MODELS is his most well known credit.

The writer was originally from the Boston area but back from LA for rehab. I guess some drug or alcohol problems. He couldn't divulge the guy's name but I looked it up in two seconds and watched the movie.

I credit anyone who can earn a living as a screenwriter, but movies like that prove you don't have to be super talented. It had a chuckle here and there but was mainly cliche and tripe.

Posted by: Lex at September 13, 2025 08:19 PM (y4H1r)

54 Looks like she's trying to diversify.
Posted by: Mark1971

It's in her genes.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 08:20 PM (TnWYh)

55 Den of thieves, the sequel wasnt as good, too much buddy comedy

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 13, 2025 08:20 PM (bXbFr)

56 It's in her genes.

Posted by: AZ
----

Possible Best Pun thread winner.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 08:21 PM (XeU6L)

57 Yep. It was a fine series and I liked it quite a bit. Enough so, I bought the DVD set. Haven't read the books yet. Need to get them first. I understand the series didn't follow the books in detail, but got the basic idea well enough.
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 13, 2025 08:15 PM (c3B7E)

I started watching, when it was a mystery being pursued by a grizzled former dick, in the midst of a larger political/cultural divide.

Then in season 2 it looked like it was going to become all about the politics, so I stopped watching.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:22 PM (3rxgK)

58 Which doesnt work when youre up against serbian commandos the fearsome panthera gang

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 13, 2025 08:22 PM (bXbFr)

59 28 I saw the trailer yesterday for the new Sydney Sweeney movie. She plays the boxer Christy Martin. Very unsexy role. Looks like she's trying to diversify.
Posted by: Mark1971 at September 13, 2025 07:59 PM

Kind of like Hillary Swank? It will be interesting to see if she has the range to play the character.

Separately, I kind of wonder it Sweeney is getting roles that would have gone to Emma Stone a few years ago.

Posted by: Moonbeam at September 13, 2025 08:22 PM (rbKZ6)

60 I watched The Beekeeper last night. To say all these movies are exactly the same would be a slight exaggeration.

I get why Statham does them (money). But ye gods are they formulaic and boring. It's a shame because I think he has more range than man with a gun who shoots his way to a happy ending.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at September 13, 2025 08:23 PM (CrUNC)

61 Romantic roles vs comedic, yeah, that's what I seeing

Posted by: Accomackalypse Now at September 13, 2025 08:23 PM (oERdd)

62 Peter Sellars in the rom com Pink Panthers as opposed to the mayhem Panthers.

Posted by: Accomackalypse Now at September 13, 2025 08:24 PM (oERdd)

63 The French films have all recently given the 4K treatment.

"Forbidden Games" (1952) - is on Criterion
"Diva" (1981) - is on Prime but I don't know if it's 4K
"The Lovers On The Bridge" (1991) is lots of places, like Netflix, Prime, Mubi, but probably not 4K everywhere

The 4K releases often seem to come out well in advance of the DVD/streaming release. Like they used to do with movies.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:24 PM (asXVI)

64 When I want absurd, I reach for Watermelon Man.

Posted by: Texican ette at September 13, 2025 08:25 PM (SNf74)

65 Are the Mets a movie cause I'd swear I've seen this before

Posted by: Accomack at September 13, 2025 08:26 PM (oERdd)

66 I saw the trailer yesterday for the new Sydney Sweeney movie. She plays the boxer Christy Martin. Very unsexy role. Looks like she's trying to diversify.
Posted by: Mark1971 at September 13, 2025 07:59 PM

Kind of like Hillary Swank? It will be interesting to see if she has the range to play the character.

Separately, I kind of wonder it Sweeney is getting roles that would have gone to Emma Stone a few years ago.
Posted by: Moonbeam at September 13, 2025 08:22 PM (rbKZ6)

Christy Martin was very much considered sexy during her boxing career. I mean, sexy for a boxer, at least.

Until she got the snot knocked out of her by Mohammed Ali's daughter. Then got the snot kicked and punched and shot out of her by her husband.

She's still around, seemingly living the quiet life these days, with her girlfriend, a less cute boxer she beat back in the day.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:28 PM (3rxgK)

67 Sydney isn't a boxer type

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 08:28 PM (+qU29)

68 The main new movie I saw this week was -

"Dangerous Animals", which we streamed on Shudder for "free".

The story centers around a serial killer who films his victims as he's feeding them to sharks. The plot itself concerns a surfer girl who's captured by the serial killer. Will she escape or won't she?

For a relatively low budget Ozploitation movie, this is really good. They spent all their money in exactly the right places.

Tight script and directing. Mostly excellent acting. High tension, some shocks, some twists, and you're never quite sure how it will all end. Just very well made.

While this is a sort of horror adjacent movie, it's very well directed and edited, they show you juuuust enough but never revel in the gore.

If this sounds like you might enjoy it, you will.

Check it out.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2025 08:29 PM (iJfKG)

69 45...whenever I hear a pitch for a movie that begins with "former special forces operator..." I know I'm in for cliche. I don't think I've liked anything Statham's ever done, and for some reason I watched The BeeKeeper. It was awful, though it's good to see actors from The Cosby Show can still get work from time to time.

Posted by: Lex at September 13, 2025 08:29 PM (y4H1r)

70 Watching 'Broken Trail'. I'm not one to take life lessons from Hollywood, but when Robert Duvall is delivering a eulogy for a dead girl; “We’re all travelers in this world...birth ’til death. We travel between the eternities.” It gets at me. So many Horde members with stress/troubles/loss these days.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 08:30 PM (XeU6L)

71 Here is the trailer for "Christy"

https://youtu.be/hSHwFDPfeV8

Posted by: Mark1971 at September 13, 2025 08:31 PM (CNl8/)

72 I get why Statham does them (money). But ye gods are they formulaic and boring. It's a shame because I think he has more range than man with a gun who shoots his way to a happy ending.
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at September 13, 2025 08:23 PM (CrUNC)

He was fantastic in both "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch." In neither film was he THE tough guy.

And I'm not going to tell Guy Ritchie what to do, but his career took a left turn after that, and it's been mostly junk ever since he hooked up with Madonna.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:32 PM (/z8e7)

73 This is related to movies:

I am getting tired of ewetub AI theoretical concepts for movies games and cars.

The large breasts are fine, but there is some genuinely weird shit mixed in there.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 08:32 PM (zZu0s)

74 Has there been a pickleball movie yet?

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 13, 2025 08:35 PM (kpS4V)

75 Been watching Svengoolie but I better get ready for bed

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 08:36 PM (+qU29)

76 Here is the trailer for "Christy"

https://youtu.be/hSHwFDPfeV8

Posted by: Mark1971 at September 13, 2025 08:31 PM (CNl8/)

Sure had to pretty her down for that role.

There's a terrific documentary out there, about her life. Not sure we NEED this film. Oh well, we get the films we do.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:36 PM (/z8e7)

77 Lo these many years ago when I was a student in France, they told me Rhinoceros is an an allegory about Nazism coming to town. As such, it's timely. There are rhinoceroses springing up everywhere!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Raging Like Godzilla! at September 13, 2025 08:37 PM (L/fGl)

78 There will be some comedy at some point that revolves around pickleball (think Balls of Fury or Dodge Ball). It's only a matter of time. The movie will be dumb but if pickleball continues to grow in popularity it will happen.

Posted by: Lex at September 13, 2025 08:38 PM (y4H1r)

79 I am getting tired of ewetub AI theoretical concepts for movies games and cars.
---
What is this?

---
75 Been watching Svengoolie but I better get ready for bed
---
He was so cool at the Mutant Meetup last year. Watched six Universal monster movies with us from, like, 11PM to 7AM.

---
74 Has there been a pickleball movie yet?
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The Dink. Due out this year.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:38 PM (asXVI)

80 A very good Statham movie is 'The Bank Job'. It's about as non Statham movie as you can get. Based, very loosely, on true events. Statham plays a thief. He's not a super hero or ninja. Just a thief. Gets in over his head and Statham and his crew have the London mafia, MI5/6 (?), city police, all chasing them down. The ending may have actually happened. It's a good movie.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 13, 2025 08:39 PM (c3B7E)

81 *tosses confetti*

Posted by: Rip Taylor at September 13, 2025 08:39 PM (vYDwg)

82 45...whenever I hear a pitch for a movie that begins with "former special forces operator..." I know I'm in for cliche. I don't think I've liked anything Statham's ever done, and for some reason I watched The BeeKeeper. It was awful, though it's good to see actors from The Cosby Show can still get work from time to time.
Posted by: Lex at September 13, 2025 08:29 PM (y4H1r)

Check out the two I mentioned above, "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels," as well as "Snatch."

His breakthrough film, "The Transporter" is pretty good, but no masterpiece, and I think the sequel wasn't bad either.

I haven't watched any of the Fast and Furious movies, not sure if he's in all of them, or just some, but I'm just not interested.

Otherwise, yeah, damn near every film he's done is that same formula.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:39 PM (/z8e7)

83 Don't sleep on "Crank: High Voltage"!

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 13, 2025 08:41 PM (kpS4V)

84 The Dink will feature Ben Stiller and his wife Christine Taylor, Patton Oswalt, Ed Harris, Mary Steenburgen.

---
77 Lo these many years ago when I was a student in France, they told me Rhinoceros is an an allegory about Nazism coming to town. As such, it's timely. There are rhinoceroses springing up everywhere!
---

That's a theory. They wouldn't tell you Communism, would they?

I think it's foolish to try to limit it to one thing.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:41 PM (asXVI)

85 A very good Statham movie is 'The Bank Job'. It's about as non Statham movie as you can get. Based, very loosely, on true events. Statham plays a thief. He's not a super hero or ninja. Just a thief. Gets in over his head and Statham and his crew have the London mafia, MI5/6 (?), city police, all chasing them down. The ending may have actually happened. It's a good movie.
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 13, 2025 08:39 PM (c3B7E)

I started watching it, lost interest quickly.

Yeah, maybe not his usual, but still too formulaic for my taste.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:42 PM (/z8e7)

86 Don't sleep on "Crank: High Voltage"!
Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 13, 2025 08:41 PM (kpS4V)

Oh yeah, I forgot about Crank!

Fun little flick. I'm also a big fan of Amy Smart. She can keep my heartrate at danger levels, that's for sure.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:43 PM (/z8e7)

87 Few things in the history of film have been more wildly overrated than French cinema. I've seen most of it over the years (a lot of it out of requirement for my work in Hollywood) and can only remember one that made any impression on me. That was "Contempt" by Godard, and in that case only for the performance of Jack Palance and the musical score.

Posted by: Ordinary American at September 13, 2025 08:44 PM (WHfpM)

88 82...It's been a while since I've seen the early Statham movies so I should go back to those. I guess I'm only thinking of his Fast and Furious movies, which were awful. The first FF movie was decent, but he didn't enter the FF world until #5 or something by which time that series had jumped the shark (but still remain popular). The Beekeeper is even worse. I don't know who tricked me into watching that but their credibility is forever shot.

Posted by: Lex at September 13, 2025 08:44 PM (y4H1r)

89 In a world where the mental health crisis spirals out of control, one man dispenses bullets instead of antipsychotics. Jason Statham is THE THERAPIST.

I liked Lock Stock and Snatch too.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at September 13, 2025 08:45 PM (CrUNC)

90 77 Lo these many years ago when I was a student in France, they told me Rhinoceros is an an allegory about Nazism coming to town. As such, it's timely. There are rhinoceroses springing up everywhere!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Raging Like Godzilla!

What a typically French interpretation. Since France was occupied by Nazi Germany, the rhinoceroses must be Nazis!

What era were you in France, Anonosaurus Wrecks?

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 13, 2025 08:45 PM (H6cKs)

91 The Dink will feature Ben Stiller and his wife Christine Taylor, Patton Oswalt, Ed Harris, Mary Steenburgen.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:41 PM (asXVI)

But of course. It could only be Ben Stiller or Will Farrell.

And it seems Ed Harris will do anything these days. He's damn near more Bruce Willis/Nick Cage than those two combined.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:46 PM (/z8e7)

92 I've seen Diva, and I love it.

It cracked me up when that little emo thug with the shades (I hate buses. I hate candy. I hate umbrellas. Every line of dialogue was deadpan "I hate ___.") finally bought it and his headphones came off--what has he been listening to all this time, this sinister little gangster?
Why, bouncy French bistro accordion polkas, of course!

Loved the guy he goes to for help, and his Vietnamese girlfriend.

The Diva herself was worthy of his adulation, n'est-ce pas?

Posted by: barbarausa at September 13, 2025 08:46 PM (enw9G)

93 In a world where, yes, we have no bananas, one man keeps crime out of the produce aisle. Jason Statham is THE GREEN GROCER.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at September 13, 2025 08:48 PM (CrUNC)

94 The Beekeeper is even worse. I don't know who tricked me into watching that but their credibility is forever shot.
Posted by: Lex at September 13, 2025 08:44 PM (y4H1r)

Yeah, I saw a list of his "best" films recently, and that one was pretty high. So I watched it.

Good grief, there's about a 15 film tie for whatever number of decent films he's done, after the early Ritchie films, the Transporter films, Crank, and that's about it.

So about 15 films tied for 7th. And then all the F and F films after those.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:49 PM (/z8e7)

95 6. Last showdown sees all the bad guys dead, and hero walks off while [insert agency here] could have stopped him but didin't
Posted by: BurtTC
-------------

I saw that one. Starring Richard Widmark and Alan Ladd.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at September 13, 2025 08:49 PM (EJQ63)

96 Few things in the history of film have been more wildly overrated than French cinema. I've seen most of it over the years
---

You've seen MOST of French cinema?

---
can only remember one that made any impression on me.
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Geez. I can think of quite a few: Amelie, The Wages of Fear, A Man and a Woman, The Grand Illusion, Rififi, Beauty and the Beast, The Taste of Things, just off the top of my head.

It's probably over-rated, sure, but there are some great movies, too.

(It probably is over-rated, though.)

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:49 PM (asXVI)

97 What era were you in France, Anonosaurus Wrecks?
Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit

'75 - '76. Doesn't seem like 50 years ago.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Raging Like Godzilla! at September 13, 2025 08:51 PM (L/fGl)

98 Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:38 PM (asXVI)

Well, ok. A few i know of:

1) there was an F-100 concept. Retro futuristic that looked great when I glanced at the thumbnail. Then I watched and realized it was fake.

2) Days Gone 2 is a game I would love, and I will never believe it is happening until it suddenly comes out due to these random 'trailers.'

3) most of the other stuff is concept stuff that is on the edge of soft core porn. The most recent one I saw was for Thundercats: Cheetara's Fall. Cheetahs was a LOT bustier than I remember as a kid. There are some cool idea/non porn stuff out there that looks cool. But fake.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 08:51 PM (zZu0s)

99 In a world where, yes, we have no bananas, one man keeps crime out of the produce aisle. Jason Statham is THE GREEN GROCER.
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at September 13, 2025 08:48 PM (CrUNC)

Cut to him and some kid (a son or nephew or whatever), he squints his eye and says "You've got to protect the produce, take out the rot, and swat the bugs."

Cut to next scene, with Jason strapped with weapons, he squints at the camera and says "Time to spray."

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:52 PM (/z8e7)

100 In a world where a Mexican narco-carte turns a high school into a very high school, one man is taking out the trash. Jason Statham is THE CUSTODIAN.

I could do this all night. Because that's the level of plot development in his average movie.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at September 13, 2025 08:52 PM (CrUNC)

101
70's movies?

Just watched "Lawman" (1971), Burt Lancaster, Robert Duvall, Robert Ryan

Recommend.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 08:52 PM (uYy3Y)

102 92 I've seen Diva, and I love it.

I missed it when it came out and gave it a half-hearted watch on TV. I didn't get it, and on re-view in a theater I can see why. There are some nice, tightly constructed parts, but there's also a lot of leisurely scene-setting that won't work that well on a small TV.

>> Why, bouncy French bistro accordion polkas, of course!

There's a lot of meta humor, and a fair poke at the New Wave, I think.

>> The Diva herself was worthy of his adulation, n'est-ce pas?

Indeed. In the current worldview, the movie is impossible: The hero is a stalker who steals her dress so he can put it on a hooker--

--though it should be noted the hooker scene is not at all random.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:53 PM (asXVI)

103 I did not realize there were two accountant movies (or even 1) with Ben Affleck until I finally clicked on a trailer and realized it was actually real.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 08:53 PM (zZu0s)

104 Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 08:51 PM (zZu0s)

---

I did not know this was a thing!

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:54 PM (asXVI)

105
Movies that I watched recently

The Outlaw Josey Wales. It's not perfect, but it remains extremely entertaining. Geraldine Kearns as Little Moonlight pulled off a worthy comedic performance despite not speaking English from start to finish.

Thunderheart. The interplay between Grahame Greene and Val Kilmer was the highlight of this film. Ted Thin Elk provided an extraordinary "one and done" performance as Grandpa Sam Reaches. Perhaps my favorite Val Kilmer movie.

Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World. I have been enthralled with this film for its depiction of (war)shipboard life in 1805. It is always entertaining for me.

2Guns - Doublecrosses abounded in this tale of two reluctant buddies who thwarted the hordes of bad guys on every side.

The Quiet Man - Jam packed with stereotypes about the drinking and brawling Irish. "The Taming of the Shrew" set in 1920s Ireland. Its dialogue is loaded with sick burns from start to finish: "Your in-laws are coming to visit, Squire darlin'". I was surprised to learn online that Ken Curtiss (Festus, from "Gunsmoke") was in the cast as Durmot Fahy, the accordion player whose name was entered into Danaher's book.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 13, 2025 08:55 PM (Tv15w)

106 The first Accountant is not bad really for what it is.

The second one is painfully bad even for what it is.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at September 13, 2025 08:55 PM (CrUNC)

107 Imagine, if you will, Night of the Living Dead but with rhinoceroses. That would be a pretty good summary of Eugene Ionesco's play Rhinoceros

So then my screenplay based on Dawn of the Dead but made with a cast of meerkats only has a chance?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at September 13, 2025 08:56 PM (vYDwg)

108 I did not know this was a thing!
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:54 PM (asXVI)

It is all over ewetub.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 08:56 PM (zZu0s)

109 I noticed the old Sean Connery movie, "Outland" is coming on 4K.

Now, that is a movie that's ripe for a Jason Statham remake.

His wheelhouse and there3's a lot that could be done differently with better SFX now.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2025 08:56 PM (iJfKG)

110 93...I played golf today and birdied the first two holes. I was riding high and then it all blew up. I've been upset since then...until reading your log line for The Green Grocer. Kudos!!!

Posted by: Lex at September 13, 2025 08:57 PM (y4H1r)

111 So then my screenplay based on Dawn of the Dead but made with a cast of meerkats only has a chance?

---

I'm saying there's a chance.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 08:57 PM (asXVI)

112 Ill see if I can find a link for one of the them.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 08:57 PM (zZu0s)

113 In a world where a Mexican narco-carte turns a high school into a very high school, one man is taking out the trash. Jason Statham is THE CUSTODIAN.

I could do this all night. Because that's the level of plot development in his average movie.
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at September 13, 2025 08:52 PM (CrUNC)

In a world, where Chinese gangs have taken over Big Canvass, one man is walking them out the door. Jason Statham is THE SHOE SALESMAN.

Cut to Jason, squinting, with a shoelace around the bad guy's neck "I'm just tying up loose ends."

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 08:59 PM (/z8e7)

114
I did not realize there were two accountant movies (or even 1) with Ben Affleck until I finally clicked on a trailer and realized it was actually real.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone

The first one mostly works to tell its tale. The second offering struggles to catch a glimpse of being mediocre.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 13, 2025 08:59 PM (Tv15w)

115 French films I need to revisit one of these days: Grand Illusion, Rules of the Game, Last Year at Marienbad, some of Truffaut's, and some of Chabrol's. Did revisit The Wages of Fear not too long ago, and that sucker still holds up (ditto Friedkin's remake, Sorceror).

Gref, Charley Varrick is a delight from first frame to last. Dynamite script by Howard Rodman (under a pseudonym IIRC); Matthau and Joe Don Baker were terrific in it. The only thing wrong with it is that Jacqueline Scott didn't have more screen time.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 08:59 PM (q3u5l)

116 Jason Statham is THE MINISTER...

Squints at camera, strapped with weapons, turns to the older priest, who is beaten up and bloodied: "Bless me father, for I am about to sin!"

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:01 PM (/z8e7)

117 'He is fine is BS and YF but everything else is cringe.'

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

See No Evil, Hear No Evil.

Posted by: Buzz Adrenaline at September 13, 2025 09:01 PM (JRP2U)

118
TV Trailer ad for "Westworld" (1973)

https://is.gd/K8CQjM

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:02 PM (uYy3Y)

119 yes, the guy is a stalker of sorts, but he stalks her because he is entranced by the music and her voice.
I really think stealing the dress was an impulse/opportunity.
What he was really there to steal was that Nagra recording of her singing.

Posted by: barbarausa at September 13, 2025 09:02 PM (enw9G)

120 119 yes, the guy is a stalker of sorts, but he stalks her because he is entranced by the music and her voice.
---

I'm not saying I agree, I'm just saying, good luck trying to get this made today.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:03 PM (asXVI)

121
In a world where inverse square laws no longer apply, physicist Jason Statham struggles to restore the natural order of things in THAT'S MESSED UP.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 13, 2025 09:04 PM (Tv15w)

122 A Man and a Woman
-----

[recollections of a '65 Mustang, and the Monte Carlo Rally]

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 09:04 PM (XeU6L)

123 ...THE LIFEGUARD

Jason squints at camera, strapped with weapons, turns to bad guy in the water: "No one's gonna save you from drowning... this time."

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:04 PM (/z8e7)

124 "I'm not saying I agree, I'm just saying, good luck trying to get this made today."

Understood, and oh yes agree.

Posted by: barbarausa at September 13, 2025 09:04 PM (enw9G)

125 Ok. This is a Tomb Raider one. Also tawdry as hell. Not something to watch at work where anyone can see you:
https://youtu.be/iVdJLhzLcx4?

I'm warning you. No nudity though just gratuitous.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:05 PM (zZu0s)

126 103 I did not realize there were two accountant movies (or even 1) with Ben Affleck until I finally clicked on a trailer and realized it was actually real.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 08:53 PM

Was he an accountant in "Gone Girl"? I read the book but can't remember his occupation. Didn't see the movie.

Posted by: Moonbeam at September 13, 2025 09:06 PM (rbKZ6)

127 ...THE EYE DOCTOR

Jason squints at camera, turns to bad guy in chair, and says: "Which one's better... this *then rips guy's eye out* or this."

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:07 PM (/z8e7)

128 Was he an accountant in "Gone Girl"? I read the book but can't remember his occupation. Didn't see the movie.
Posted by: Moonbeam at September 13, 2025 09:06 PM (rbKZ6)

Neither did I. Even though Rosamund Pike is hot. Miserable people being miserable.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:08 PM (zZu0s)

129 119 yes, the guy is a stalker of sorts, but he stalks her because he is entranced by the music and her voice.
I really think stealing the dress was an impulse/opportunity.
What he was really there to steal was that Nagra recording of her singing.
Posted by: barbarausa at September 13, 2025 09:02 PM

Why does this scenario make me think of Sam Brinton? Maybe they could work him into a reboot.

Posted by: Moonbeam at September 13, 2025 09:09 PM (rbKZ6)

130 I did not realize there were two accountant movies (or even 1) with Ben Affleck until I finally clicked on a trailer and realized it was actually real.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone

The first one mostly works to tell its tale. The second offering struggles to catch a glimpse of being mediocre.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 13, 2025 08:59 PM (Tv15w)

Someone, between films, told Ben to be more "Rain Man."

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:09 PM (/z8e7)

131 Recent Watches

Sorcerer (1977)
William Friedkin - Director

It based on the novel Le Salaire de la peur (Wages of Fear). Friedkin says it is not a remake of the 1953 French film Wages of Fear. I find that to be something of a difference without distinction. Either way, it is something of an overlooked gem. The scene where the nitro laden trucks have to cross a jungle bridge is some mighty fine practical effects work. It is gritty, dirty, sweaty, hopeless. Double Plus Good+

Youtube https://youtu.be/3pP6HPfc0Ww

Breaker Morant
Bruce Beresford - Director

Set in the Boer War it tells the story of court martial, more of a kangaroo court, of three Australian soldiers for killing Boer civilians. Was it murder, revenge, a justified execution, or a complication of war? The characters are brilliantly cast an acted. Killer film.

Youtube https://youtu.be/Mp1gGOAQXeo

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 13, 2025 09:10 PM (aJQjq)

132
Did you enjoy any of these 70's SciFi films?

Silent Running (1972) Bruce Dern

Phase IV (1974) it's about ants

The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976) David Bowie

Damnation Alley (1977) Georger Pepard, Jan Michael Vincent, the kid from Bad News Bears
trailer: https://is.gd/I5fsez

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:10 PM (nkPTK)

133 I put Breaker Morant in the top 10 of war movies.

Posted by: Mark1971 at September 13, 2025 09:11 PM (CNl8/)

134 Have seen very little Jason Statham. Heat, Parker, The Meg, and that's about it. Watchable enough -- seems like he's found a niche and he's stickin' to it.

(And you'd think somebody would be looking at doing a series of flicks from Donald Westlake's Parker novels. But who am I kidding?)

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 09:12 PM (q3u5l)

135 Was he an accountant in "Gone Girl"? I read the book but can't remember his occupation. Didn't see the movie.
Posted by: Moonbeam at September 13, 2025 09:06 PM (rbKZ6)

Neither did I. Even though Rosamund Pike is hot. Miserable people being miserable.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:08 PM (zZu0s)

There was that other chick too, the model or whatever, who I think gets a little bit nekkid.

To me though, I recall my ex, and think "that could have been me, but wasn't" so I find it satisfying to watch.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:12 PM (/z8e7)

136 128- Neither did I. Even though Rosamund Pike is hot. Miserable people being miserable.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:08 PM

And now I realize that I'm an idiot that completely misunderstood the original comment. I didn't know that he was in two films called "The Accountant". Improper punctuation nails me again!

Posted by: Moonbeam at September 13, 2025 09:12 PM (rbKZ6)

137
Breaker Morant
Bruce Beresford - Director

Excellent movie. Never a Boer.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 13, 2025 09:13 PM (Tv15w)

138 Statham had an interesting cameo in the Cruise movie Collateral.

Posted by: davidt at September 13, 2025 09:14 PM (i0F8b)

139 There was that other chick too, the model or whatever, who I think gets a little bit nekkid.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:12 PM (/z8e7)

Emily Ratajkowski

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:14 PM (dBJSR)

140
What was that SciFi movie with Farah Fawcett?

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:15 PM (nkPTK)

141 Kinda liked Phase IV. Saw, but remember nothing of the others, except Damnation Alley -- that one I never saw because just from the descriptions and trailers it looked like they probably threw away Zelazny's book before they got a third of the way through the first draft of the script.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 09:15 PM (q3u5l)

142 Emily Ratajkowski
Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:14 PM (dBJSR)

I was about to say.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:17 PM (zZu0s)

143 125 Ok. This is a Tomb Raider one. Also tawdry as hell. Not something to watch at work where anyone can see you:
----
Oh. Huh. I'm noticing that the Laura model isn't even consistent across shots.

Problem I have is when you hypersexualize a story like that, I stop being able to take any other part of it seriously.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:17 PM (asXVI)

144
Farrah Fawcett in Sci-Fi

Logan's Run or Saturn 3

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 13, 2025 09:17 PM (Tv15w)

145 What was that SciFi movie with Farah Fawcett?
---

Saturn 3

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:18 PM (asXVI)

146 SF with Farrah Fawcett was probably Saturn 3, with Kirk Douglas and Harvey Keitel. Directed by, God help us, Stanley Donen -- the man who gave us Charade, Singin' in the Rain, and the too-often-overlooked delight Two for the Road.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 09:19 PM (q3u5l)

147 Logan's Run or Saturn 3
--

Oh, right. She's got a small role in "Logan". I think she gets naked, briefly (PG). Jenny Agutter does.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:19 PM (asXVI)

148
Yeah, Saturn 3.

tv trailer:

https://is.gd/yeoeQv

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:20 PM (CEIO6)

149 What was that SciFi movie with Farah Fawcett?
Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:15 PM (nkPTK)

Iirc she was in Logans Run.

Also... Saturn something. 3?

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:20 PM (zZu0s)

150 Are there any other Boer War movies? I can't think of any.

Posted by: Mark1971 at September 13, 2025 09:20 PM (CNl8/)

151 Charade is a great movie.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:20 PM (zZu0s)

152 Can't recall who said it, but somebody called Charade the best Hitchcock movie that Hitchcock never made. And he was right.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 09:21 PM (q3u5l)

153 FF shows her boobs in a shower scene in Saturn 3.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2025 09:22 PM (iJfKG)

154 Hey, I like "Diva." It's great. The director guy died too young.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at September 13, 2025 09:22 PM (CHHv1)

155 I saw the latest Superman movie and it was...ok.

Its a James Gunn movie, much like Guardians of the Galaxy, but without Chris Pratt making it really work.

There were woke touches - basically a part of the back story is a war between Russia and Iraq with the heroes siding with the latter - but it wasn't a real heavy part of the movie.

Posted by: 18-1 at September 13, 2025 09:22 PM (sKqQm)

156 Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:17 PM (asXVI)

That is why I said some of them are essentially porn. Others are actual valid concept ideas that someone is trying to illustrate, without the needless boob physics (unless it does fit the story I guess.)

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:23 PM (zZu0s)

157
Walt Disney's foray into Sci-Fi

The Black Hole (1979)

https://is.gd/0QQIGT

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:23 PM (CEIO6)

158 Are there any other Boer War movies? I can't think of any.
Posted by: Mark1971

I have only seen Breaker Morant but there are quite a few.

https://is.gd/dRdRWZ

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 13, 2025 09:23 PM (aJQjq)

159 77 Lo these many years ago when I was a student in France, they told me Rhinoceros is an an allegory about Nazism coming to town. As such, it's timely. There are rhinoceroses springing up everywhere!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Raging Like Godzilla! at September 13, 2025 08:37 PM (L/fGl)

I was looking for Nazis in my closet and there were 2 communist in the kitchen.

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 13, 2025 09:24 PM (gbOdA)

160 Can't recall who said it, but somebody called Charade the best Hitchcock movie that Hitchcock never made. And he was right.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 09:21 PM (q3u5l)

It's better than some Hitchcock movies, but i agree with the premise.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:24 PM (zZu0s)

161 Walt Disney's foray into Sci-Fi

The Black Hole (1979)

https://is.gd/0QQIGT
Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:23 PM (CEIO6)

LOVE that ship.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:24 PM (zZu0s)

162
I don't miss these creeps, at all.

Siskel & Ebert "review" The Black Hole (1979)

https://is.gd/hfx47R

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:25 PM (CEIO6)

163
Of the 70s sci-fi movies listed above, "Phase 4" is my fave.

"Silent Running" has some good parts but is eye-rollingly libtarded.

Anti-Bonus! Joan Baez is singing some lame song every five minutes.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2025 09:27 PM (iJfKG)

164
btw, I downloaded Megalopolis today for possible future viewing.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:27 PM (CEIO6)

165 26 years since Breakaway Day : )

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 13, 2025 09:28 PM (c4gEx)

166 BC, just looked him up--he only died a few years ago, at 75.

(It is a great movie, isn't it?)

Posted by: barbarausa at September 13, 2025 09:28 PM (enw9G)

167 I don't miss these creeps, at all.

Siskel & Ebert "review" The Black Hole (1979)
---

The thing that impressed me about them over the years was how little they knew about movies. Like, they never rose above bullshit justifications of their gut reactions, and had just the most banal, prosaic things to say about the movies they watched.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:29 PM (asXVI)

168 btw, I downloaded Megalopolis today for possible future viewing.
---
It's...a thing.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:30 PM (asXVI)

169
TV trailer for Alien (1979)

It's reveals almost nothing about the movie. It's mostly a black screen, lol.

https://is.gd/ENXrSp

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:31 PM (CEIO6)

170 I think he has more range than man with a gun who shoots his way to a happy ending

Jason Statham is Al Gore in... CHAKRA II

Posted by: gKWVE at September 13, 2025 09:32 PM (gKWVE)

171 Emily Ratajkowski
Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:14 PM (dBJSR)

I was about to say.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:17 PM (zZu0s)

Apparently she's a big fan of abortions. Just like that A T and T chick.

Kinda takes the joy out of their tits.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:33 PM (mqGKl)

172
...and had just the most banal, prosaic things to say about the movies they watched.
Posted by: moviegique

Maybe that's why they were so popular -- they were just like every other jerkoff who watches movies, hahaha.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:33 PM (CEIO6)

173 It's reveals almost nothing about the movie. It's mostly a black screen, lol.
---

Yep. And we were psyched.

There was a second trailer, IIRC, that had a very fast montage of shots that looked good, too.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:34 PM (asXVI)

174 This almost makes me want to watch French movies, so as not to disappoint you....almost.

I guess I should watch that one with the cute perky brunette who...does something cute and perky, not sure what. Amelie? Something like that?

One of the formative experiences of my early years was watching Karen Black in movies, and saying to people "She's cross-eyed!! Can't you see it?!?"

They couldn't. Drove me nuts, but I'm at peace with it now.

Posted by: Splunge at September 13, 2025 09:35 PM (Yp3x2)

175 Pepe le Moko (1937) is an extremely influential early film noir film. Direct inspiration for much of Casablanca, as well as the mock character Pepe le Pew. Also any number of charming gangster films.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 13, 2025 09:36 PM (5Gg6R)

176
George Lucas + Francis Ford Coppola =

THX-1138 (1971)

here's a TV spot from one of my local tv stations in 1984:

https://is.gd/51zz7G

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:37 PM (CEIO6)

177 One of the formative experiences of my early years was watching Karen Black in movies, and saying to people "She's cross-eyed!! Can't you see it?!?"

They couldn't. Drove me nuts, but I'm at peace with it now.
Posted by: Splunge at September 13, 2025 09:35 PM (Yp3x2)

And Mary Crosby

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 13, 2025 09:39 PM (gbOdA)

178 After watching Casablanca a few times, I decided it was an accidental masterpiece. It seemed to contain a bunch of the cliche tropes and characters of the time, and a lot of randomness, and yet it was like they hit every single jackpot along the way and it ended up seeming brilliant and perfect.

No idea if that's the real backstory, but that's how it appeared after a few vierings.

Posted by: Splunge at September 13, 2025 09:39 PM (Yp3x2)

179
Yikes!

David Cronenberg's
THE BROOD (1979)

https://is.gd/8VChPO

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:40 PM (CEIO6)

180 Maybe that's why they were so popular -- they were just like every other jerkoff who watches movies, hahaha.
---
Occurred to me as I was writing it.

---
I guess I should watch that one with the cute perky brunette who...does something cute and perky, not sure what. Amelie? Something like that?
---
Amelie, yes. ("Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain")

That's an easy one. "Diabolique" is old but it's a classic thriller. "The King and the Mockingbird" is a good family film. (Most French films are NOT suited for American families.)

---
They couldn't. Drove me nuts, but I'm at peace with it now.
---

The couldn't see that? That's...disturbing.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:40 PM (asXVI)

181 I've heard that they were constantly tinkering with Casablanca's script until practically the end of shooting. I may be remembering wrong. But yeah, they got everything right in that one.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 09:41 PM (q3u5l)

182 The Old Village of the Damned freak me out
And the Blob Steve McQueen

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 13, 2025 09:42 PM (gbOdA)

183 No idea if that's the real backstory, but that's how it appeared after a few vierings.
----
That is essentially correct. A perfect storm of casting, a tight script, and hit cover of an old song--three solid writers--and nobody involved thought it was any more than another "B" movie.

---
THE BROOD (1979)
---
That's a mind-blowing one. Very '70s.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:43 PM (asXVI)

184 181 I've heard that they were constantly tinkering with Casablanca's script until practically the end of shooting. I may be remembering wrong. But yeah, they got everything right in that one.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 09:41 PM (q3u5l)

Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here! [a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 13, 2025 09:44 PM (gbOdA)

185 Kinda takes the joy out of their tits.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:33 PM (mqGKl)

Definitely.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 13, 2025 09:45 PM (zZu0s)

186 181 I've heard that they were constantly tinkering with Casablanca's script until practically the end of shooting. I may be remembering wrong. But yeah, they got everything right in that one.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 09:41 PM (q3u5l)

Speilburg and his writers would be up late writing dialogue for the scenes they were scheduled to shoot the next day. It seemed to work out alright for both movies. (Especially Quint's USS Indianapolis monologue.)

Posted by: tankdemon at September 13, 2025 09:46 PM (Ic+AQ)

187 Saw Village of the Damned when it came out in 1960 -- jeez, that was a good flick, and to this day it holds up nicely. John Carpenter's remake isn't the disaster I thought it was at first, but it still doesn't match the original. The recent British mini-series, The Midwich Cuckoos, can be safely ignored -- trust me on that.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 09:46 PM (q3u5l)

188 No idea if that's the real backstory, but that's how it appeared after a few vierings.
----
That is essentially correct. A perfect storm of casting, a tight script, and hit cover of an old song--three solid writers--and nobody involved thought it was any more than another "B" movie.

That's a mind-blowing one. Very '70s.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:43 PM (asXVI)

Kind of funny how, when a world is at war, artists rise above their own ordinariness to make something more lasting and beautiful than they realized.

I would argue there are plenty of films/teevee shows made in the era of (and after) the Vietnam War that are better than they would have been, without the horror of that war lurking just off-screen.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:48 PM (2Wwko)

189 I just watched Weapons so y'all don't have to. This is possibly the worst movie I've ever seen and I'm a big fan of low budget films. It teetered between boring and real stupid.

Posted by: Flanole at September 13, 2025 09:48 PM (ZnrCl)

190 (Especially Quint's USS Indianapolis monologue.)
Posted by: tankdemon at September 13, 2025 09:46 PM (Ic+AQ)

He was so drunk it was unusable. Had to reshoot it the next day.

Posted by: Buzz Adrenaline at September 13, 2025 09:50 PM (JRP2U)

191 There is no worse movie than "Maidstone" by Norman Mailer.

You cannot prove me wrong.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at September 13, 2025 09:50 PM (CHHv1)

192 Kind of funny how, when a world is at war, artists rise above their own ordinariness to make something more lasting and beautiful than they realized.
---
Yeah, I don't think it's a coincidence that the Golden Age was 1938-146.

---
I would argue there are plenty of films/teevee shows made in the era of (and after) the Vietnam War that are better than they would have been, without the horror of that war lurking just off-screen.
---

Sometimes artists realize their true calling and rise to it. Otherwise you get the "we're making a statement" slop.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:51 PM (asXVI)

193 Well, outta here for the evening.

Thanks for the thread, moviegique.

Have a good one, gang.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 13, 2025 09:51 PM (q3u5l)

194 189 I just watched Weapons so y'all don't have to. This is possibly the worst movie I've ever seen and I'm a big fan of low budget films. It teetered between boring and real stupid.
---

My last review here was on "Weapons". I didn't find it so.

https://moviegique.com/2025/08/weapons/

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:52 PM (asXVI)

195 'night, JSG!

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:52 PM (asXVI)

196
Food Of The Gods II

This is Ace when he gets mad at us:

https://is.gd/dopcFs

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 13, 2025 09:53 PM (CEIO6)

197 There's a documentary on the making of "Megalopolis" that's showing September 19th -- "Megadoc", directed by Mike Figgis. I'd like to see it, and may even, if I'm not too lazy.

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 13, 2025 09:55 PM (kpS4V)

198 Threw on Convoy this evening, Chris Christopherson was one handsome devil, Ali McGraw was ugly pretty and Earnest Borgnine sure could play an a**hole to a tee.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at September 13, 2025 09:55 PM (XV/Pl)

199 There is no worse movie than "Maidstone" by Norman Mailer. You cannot prove me wrong. Posted by: BeckoningChasm

Yes I can and I just did. I only know this "movie" as the Turkish Star Wars.

https://youtu.be/0SASZaT7lI4

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 13, 2025 09:56 PM (aJQjq)

200 Sometimes artists realize their true calling and rise to it. Otherwise you get the "we're making a statement" slop.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 09:51 PM (asXVI)

Yeah, lots of slop too.

There must be hundreds of WWII era films that are melodramatic schmaltz. Most of which, thankfully, will never be seen again.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 13, 2025 09:58 PM (AYq51)

201 I forever endeavor to pronounce banal as anal, but with a b.

Posted by: Ambiguously Gay Richard Simmons at September 13, 2025 09:58 PM (vh0Vn)

202 One of the formative experiences of my early years was watching Karen Black in movies, and saying to people "She's cross-eyed!! Can't you see it?!?"

They couldn't. Drove me nuts, but I'm at peace with it now.
Posted by: Splunge at September 13, 2025 09:35 PM (Yp3x2)
---//

MAD Magazine used to have a field day with her. Yes, she is slightly cross-eyed.

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 13, 2025 09:58 PM (kpS4V)

203 my favorite Borgnine asshole was Fatso Judson.

He had a great cameo in Red, in his 90s.

Also loved him as Mermaid Man, when y kids were little.

(when I was little, he was Quinton McHale--great career, and deserved his statue for Marty)

Posted by: barbarausa at September 13, 2025 09:59 PM (enw9G)

204 ONT nood! And, good night, all.

Posted by: Nazdar at September 13, 2025 10:00 PM (NcvvS)

205 oh, God, and Borgnine as the cabby!
Another great audiotape reveal, in Escape from NY

Posted by: barbarausa at September 13, 2025 10:00 PM (enw9G)

206 nood

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 10:00 PM (TnWYh)

207 Bognine in Ice Station Zebra

Posted by: Buzz Adrenaline at September 13, 2025 10:02 PM (JRP2U)

208 There must be hundreds of WWII era films that are melodramatic schmaltz. Most of which, thankfully, will never be seen again.
---
At least. And pro-fascism ones, though they didn't call it that, since we're the good guys. But I certainly didn't mean to imply there wasn't shlock. There's always shlock.

Just that moments of transcendence do occur.

---
201 I forever endeavor to pronounce banal as anal, but with a b.
---

I pronounced it that way until I was in college--though it was such an unpleasant word, I didn't use it much. A prof of mine said "buh-NAHL" and the light went on.

Now ask me how I pronounced "segue" for years.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 10:03 PM (asXVI)

209 'night, all! Thanks for popping by.

(The most shocking thing being, the only Kirk we talked about was Kirk Douglas.)

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at September 13, 2025 10:03 PM (asXVI)

210 >>>The Boy said, "The reason this works is because whatever it's a metaphor for, it's also about a guy dealing with the everyday problem of rhinoceroses!"

That's pretty great! That might lure me to see it.

Posted by: m at September 14, 2025 01:42 AM (aURVT)

211 Thanks for the thread, moviegique.

Posted by: m at September 14, 2025 01:44 AM (aURVT)

212 Very rapidly this web page will be famous amid all blogging people, due to it's fastidious content

Posted by: Fatvim Weight Loss Formula at September 14, 2025 05:34 AM (CkC5C)

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