Thanks for the positive review. I exited this movie with a big smile on my face. I knew going in that this film was not going to be for everyone and that has been reflected in the mixed reviews. I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!
The entire time I was watching the film, I was thinking this was a throwback to late 90s Tarantino/Coen ripoffs and now that you say that it was originally written in the 90s, that makes so much sense!!! One of the characters literally sounded like it was written for Buscemi. I enjoyed the film a lot. Too many reviewers are giving it crap bc they don't have a sense of humor. I'm so happy to see someone else enjoyed the fun.
I'm so excited for this movie. MacBeth was a magnificent showcase of Joel Coen's directorial abilities, but I've been sorely missing Ethan's glorious dialogue. We haven't heard any onscreen since Buster Scruggs. Any Coen brothers fan who hasn't read Ethan Coen's collection of short stories (Gates of Eden) and one-act plays (Almost an Evening) should consider doing so. They are every bit as darkly hilarious and thought-provoking as his feature scripts with his brother.
I remember when that collection came out but I've never read it. Thanks for the reminder. I loved Buster Scruggs, in particular the first segment at the opening. I watched it over and over.
Good review, James. And while I was listening, I looked up the working title of Welcome to the Dollhouse, and it made me howl with laughter at the thought of the hysterical cringing and wincing it would have caused in certain quarters. .
I really loved this movie because of how funny it was, but I actually thought it didn’t even need the crime elements at all. I feel like it could have been more Linklater-esque where nothing happens in the plot that much, but there’s still loads of character development
WHOA! The alternate title sure is old fashioned😂 So nice to see so many nice movies lately. I’m all over that 80s noir movie with Ed Harris like stink on a monkey and this one and the Nunsploitation movie too. Super sweet!
I dug this quite a bit. Saw it back-to-back with Stopmotion and it's probably the best double feature I've had in a theater. No idea what the rest of the year brings as far as movies go, but it's off to a better start for me this year than the past couple.
The Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn is building 5 more theaters?? I assume they must have gotten another floor in that same building, because I can't imagine another way they could do that. Thats great news, I live pretty close to that place. And I agree it's a cool place to see a movie for a bunch of reasons, not least of which is their pre show line up of related shorts and/or interviews or specials. Ace programming. Maybe I'll go and see "Drive-Away Dolls" there, instead of the usual AMC experience!
I go to the AMC in Times Square from time to time for their IMAX screenings and I always say I'm never going back. Too many bed bugs crawling around. I'm thrilled to see the Alamo in Downtown Brooklyn getting the chance to expand. They've been doing an amazing job for years. I like the location in Lower Manhattan as well. If you see me at either in the future, say hello!
Nice! I thought this was a strange choice for a Coen brother, but now it makes so much sense. Gives me Raising Arizona vibes. Excited to see it. Last year Bottoms was a fast 92 minutes (and also very gay and chaotic). My favorite less than 90 minute movie is probably Frances Ha which is just easy and breezy and delightful. Edit: Also just to add to the nudity conversation lol, the first time I ever saw boobs was in AIRPLANE! of all things.
Thanks for the review I’ve seen so many reviews on this movie and your review is the best one. I’m going to go see the movie now and see what’s all the hate about.
I was pissed when it got delayed last Fall but maybe it will work out in its favor. There are so few good options right now that perhaps it has a chance to make a big impression on folks.
@geekinwithJamesHancock I've loved them ever since I first saw blood simple on ifc. The place I went to see challenging movies and also where me and my mom would watch zatoichi on samurai Saturday s.
Goddamn I wish I had a cinema like the Alamo. I have to wait to comment until the video is over so I stop leaving so many gosh darned comments. (Hopefully counts as engagement for the algorithm)
I haven't read it but I have a feeling he's had his fill of Frank Herbert for a while and wants to dabble with another brilliant sci-fi writer's material. I'm embarrassed to admit just how little Arthur C. Clarke I've read. I've read 'The Sentinel' and that's it.
I find it intriguing and apt that the film was conceived in the 90s and is set in the 90s (if I got that right...): my first, admittedly underwhelmed, reaction to the trailer was, this would have been edgy and on point a quarter century ago, but just feels old hat today. However, if it is a period piece, then that changes the stakes entirely: at any rate, based on this review, I'm curious... ...also curious to know James's take on another film with M Qualley: Sanctuary (which has its naughty and daring moments...)
Many thanks! I hope this movie finds the audience it deserves. I keep seeing ads all over the place so at least Focus Features is putting some marketing muscle behind it.
I disagree that movies are solely a passive experience, while paintings and comics are not. Artists use different techniques to draw your eye in certain directions around the canvas or page. And directors use a lot of that same visual language to compose and frame their shots. And just like a canvas or comic page, you are still free to move your eye anywhere on the giant movie screen.
It says theater release date is 2022, but filmed 2020. It is a movie that got kind of misplaced and overlooked cause of the pandemic. Director Adam Rahmeier, lead Kyle Gallner and Emily Skeggs. Amazingly awesome movie if I do say so myself.@@geekinwithJamesHancock
Dude, I review new movies when they come out. If I tackle an older movie, it has to be a special occasion. If there's anything coming out soon that you want to put on my radar, by all means. But any recent movies that I watch are solely for entertainment or as research for upcoming reviews of movies by the same filmmaker.
Sans the Coen moniker attached to this film, Hancock would have panned this movie. IMHO, many people are wont to give this film a positive review because it features members of the LGTBQ+ community; I get that. However, what one should be questioning is why Coen and Tricia portrayed lesbians women as either simple minded, oversexed, or sexually repressed. You'll be hardpressed to find a lesbian in this film that has depth of character. And in one very short scene someone is murdered over an accidental homosexual encounter. I'm an ally, and this movie does a poor job of lifting the LGBTQ+ community. Don't watch this movie. The one regret I have is that I didn't walk out of the theater. I thought at some point it was going to get better. It never happened. And way too much gratuitous sex. I don't mind porn, I love comedy, and perhaps you could combine these genres with fun, this doesn't happen. The sex could've worked, but it was relentless. They kept coming back to sex scenes. Why? It didn't advance the script. DON'T WATCH THIS MOVIE.
One of the worst movies I have ever seen. Extremely tedious characters and just so boring. At an hour and 24 minutes I barely finished it. Has to be the lamest movie linked to the Coens.
Check out the original title for 'Welcome to the Dollhouse' at the beginning of the 5th paragraph: www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/23/how-we-made-welcome-to-the-dollhouse-todd-solondz-heather-matarazzo-interview
Worst movie I'll see all year (i pray): Drive-Away Dolls That's my opinion of this pile of very unfunny gags. And Margaret Qualley, I pray, will never try to duplicate her mother's accent again. She was the worst thing in a bad movie.
Lesbian?!? No Thanks ;-) There was a time I wouldn't care, but nowadays ... no more!!! I can NOT see and tolerate any LGBT... movie anymore! I have young kids in my family and occasionally watch the kids TV program with them ... Have you ever done this? Do you know that there are "new" children TV movies, holiday/adventure stories like Tom Sawyer, about/involving primary school children talking about their LGBT... feelings!?!?!?! It is crazy! I know you and most of the other RU-vid movie reviewers talk about cinema, big productions and art, and that's ok ... ... but seeing how deep this LGBT-BS infiltrated the TV topics and productions is insane!
You have a lot of interesting things to say, but your constant use of the f word makes you unwatchable for me. I know you can't please everyone, I just thought I'd give you some feedback. I'm always looking for movie reviewers who don't give spoilers and you were great about that.
I had high hopes after the first episode but I liked each new episode less and less and stopped reviewing the show. I hated the big reveal in the finale. I won't be back for the next season unless HBO recruits a new creative team.
