Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Recommended Movies

+ 1 for The Dig recommendation.

I'm sure the changed nature of media consumption over the last year has caused many of us to both re-visit old material, and expand our horizons with the new.

There's a lot of conventional fare to be enjoyed on Netflix for sure, but the less well-known discovered gems such as this have been the most rewarding for my wife and me.
As you say, I thought Carey Mulligan was excellent in this, and Ralph Fiennes seemed to really rise to the role of being....well, lower-class.
The Guardian only rankled this at #9 in his Top Twenty best roles. Personally, it would be in the top three for me, though I agree with Grand Budapest at #1!

But then I love most Wes Anderson movies, so biased to start with

The Trial Of The Chicago 7. Another Netflix offering, it's brilliantly well written and has one acting masterclass after another. For me Mark Rylance, Michael Keaton & Sacha Baron-Cohen get on the podium but there's great talent throughout. It tells a remarkable story in a terrifically entertaining way; it's fairly hard to believe that the story is basically true.

Oh, Sir Ron, Ralph Feinnes wasn't too sloppy in Schindler's List either...

Agree with The Trial of the Chicago 7. I watched it back to back with Detroit from a few years back. Both were excellent.

On the other hand, The Irishman didn't work for me; I just couldn't buy into DeNiro's performance. Even with the all dodgy CGI de-ageing, I was never going to be able to think of him as anything other than Dirty Grandpa.

Thanks for the two votes for “The Trial of The Chicago 7”, it’s now on our watch list for one night this week.

Not familiar with Detroit, but having read a quick précis I can see why it would make a suitable double-bill with the above.

Regarding The Irishman, quite a few colleagues whose judgment I trust have told me not to waste my time on it.
Initially, I was going to leave it at that, but as more of them have added their negative reports I have become more intrigued.
You’ve just added to that notion Mr Browne, and I’ll probably have to watch it now, simply to know that I agree with you all

Still, not like I don’t have some spare time indoors at the moment.....

@ Not'arf

I seem to remember you might have been into animation as well (The Red Turtle?). If so, you might enjoy Wolfwalkers, which is set in Cromwellian Ireland. Wonderful artwork, fiesty characters, and just the right amount of jeapardy to keep your inner child on edge. That the protagonist is an English little girl stops it from being misconstrued as a trite nationalistic tale of foreign oppression; that's really not where the focus is. IMO, a better film than Pixar's recent, slightly tepid, Soul. Definitely one for the big screen, and worth watching even if you don't have a kid to share it with.

Grand Budapest Criterion Collection

If you like this film, the extras on the disc are phenomenal. Hand on heart I can’t say the image quality or audio is a quantum leap, but to see the behind the scenes extras are just a joy. For me this is a cinematic gem.

I also recommend

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wes-Anderson-Collection-Grand-Budapest/dp/1419715712

I haven't looked at this thread for some time & just clocked in now to post a recommendation so I've only just read your suggestion. Thanks for it; yes, I love Red Turtle! Well remembered. And just a week or so ago we watched The Secret Of Kells which I enjoyed but not enough to recommend it on here, even if parts of it were wonderful. I think Wolfwalkers might be by the same studio? I'll make the effort to track it down, thanks very much.

Actually, I'd come on to recommend Soul! Just as you dismiss it It's beautiful to look at as might be expected but I also found it to be very funny, quite thought-provoking & a little poignant. Not Pixar's best for sure but definitely in the upper half of their table.

As for The Irishman ("should I / shouldn't I watch it?"), I find IMDb to be the perfect guide. I've just looked it up & at time of writing it's received 324,000 votes with a composite score of 7.8. Bear in mind that in their Top 250 films of all time, the 250th film probably scores ~ 8.0, so 7.8 is obviously a high score. Some will adore it, some will hate it but if that many people think it's worth 7.8 then it's unlikely to be a dud. I loved to, for what little that's worth.

Just re-watched an old friend: All About My Mother. Not sure if I recommended it first time we watched it but if I didn't, I should have! Brilliant.

Dune

Source: PPV from SkyHD

That is the first film where I felt that my 60" Pioneer plasma was too small.

And the first film where I was concerned about the safety of my DSP8000 basss units.

The story we know well but it is some time since I read the book so cannot comment on how faithful the film is. Characterisation and acting work well although some Ben Gesserit dialogue is lost in the mix. The video style is generally starkly sombre grey/brown and dark which adds to the feeling of impending doom. Production design and special effects are great. Dynamics are enormous (hence the bass units and dialogue issues) and the music, by Hans Zimmer, is startlingly wonderful.

I did not expect to enjoy the film but ended up doing so. It is a rare example of a film which I think I would prefer to see in a full-sized cinema.

I concur: if you want your Subwoofer to clear its Throat, the occasional deep visceral bass that you can feel and hear throughout Dune is a delight. (Source: Apple Movies PPV).

I did see this one at the cinema, I just want part 2 to hurry up and come out!!

But good shout in terms of one to re watch soon.

If you like Dune you would also enjoy Isaac Asimov’s ‘Foundation’ series on AppleTV+.