VoR
Take it or leave it
Martin Scorsese's (very) epic movie about ageing mob guys. It's had a short cinema release before it rolls out on Netflix next week, so I decided to see it on the big screen, because I knew I'd struggle to do it in one sitting if I had distractions.
Despite the bum-numbing length, it was very good. Doesn't feel especially like anything he hasn't done before, but I think that's kind of the point. There was something quite moving about all the old stars (DeNiro, Pacino, Joe Pesci) turning out one last time to play the hits, so to speak.
It's De Niro's story and while his performance is fairly low-key and opaque, it's so nice to see him actually trying again after decades of phoning it in. Al Pacino is as hammy as ever, but it absolutely fits the character and I can see him having the best shot at an Oscar from the cast. Joe Pesci was maybe my favourite though, maybe it's because he's been virtually retired for so long, but he still has the most amazing ability to be super scary without raising his voice above a murmur.
Not a great movie for female characters, but despite the controversy over Anna Paquin's 8-word part, I felt like keeping her mostly silent genuinely did work as an artistic choice, and there are other women who speak more, even if none of them had anything much to do.
It was also fun to play 'spot the Sopranos actor' throughout. I think at least six showed up.
Despite the bum-numbing length, it was very good. Doesn't feel especially like anything he hasn't done before, but I think that's kind of the point. There was something quite moving about all the old stars (DeNiro, Pacino, Joe Pesci) turning out one last time to play the hits, so to speak.
It's De Niro's story and while his performance is fairly low-key and opaque, it's so nice to see him actually trying again after decades of phoning it in. Al Pacino is as hammy as ever, but it absolutely fits the character and I can see him having the best shot at an Oscar from the cast. Joe Pesci was maybe my favourite though, maybe it's because he's been virtually retired for so long, but he still has the most amazing ability to be super scary without raising his voice above a murmur.
Not a great movie for female characters, but despite the controversy over Anna Paquin's 8-word part, I felt like keeping her mostly silent genuinely did work as an artistic choice, and there are other women who speak more, even if none of them had anything much to do.
It was also fun to play 'spot the Sopranos actor' throughout. I think at least six showed up.