HBO Max Recommendations

[babybear]

For some reason I also hate Steely Dan. My husband teases me about it. It just doesn’t work for my ears
I kind of like the chorus of Dirty Work because I can use it as silly pun songs but that’s about it.
Muted- this is for people like us [emoji38]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEpyl...duaDBiZXluMWYw

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Fwiw, I didn’t care for Steely Dan then I grew up.

[dookeyXXX]

A DIFFERENT MAN
Part Seconds, part Beauty & the Beast, and part Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this film never really goes where you think it should.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9CmC5Rmsdw

[AK47bp]

Started Generation Kill limited series.

Older but a great cast, about the US invasion of Iraq


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[SKIP IN7RO]

Groo-ming stan-dard!

[dookeyXXX]

JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX
I loved it.

Then again, I was one of the few who was not a fan of the previous film and never got why it was so heavily hyped and lauded. I had a sneaking suspicion that I’d like this one better given all the negative press from critics and audiences alike, contrarian that I usually end up being and all.

It had me hooked from the opening homage to Looney Tunes all the way through the Umbrellas of Cherbourg visual riff and the multiple name drops for my favorite musical of all time: The Bandwagon.

Joaquin Phoenix absolutely mesmerizes and his singing is a rough and tumble counterpart to Lady Gaga's sweet crooning. I ended up buying both the soundtracks (the official Joker: Folie a Deux soundtrack and the Lady Gaga companion album, Harlequin).

Anyway, it was easily one of my favorite films of 2024.

Oh, and it is really an anti-musical (like the antihero of musicals, to be more exact).

Interesting to note that many critics who slagged J:FaD gave Venom: The Last Dance fresh reviews on RT (For the record I have not seen this film, but I begrudgingly watched the previous two and am the worse for wear because of that, therefore I have no intentions of seeing the final one; plus the trailers looked horrendous ).

[dookeyXXX]

LOVE LIES BLEEDING
Aside from the obvious comparisons—Thelma & Louise, Bound, Wild Things—director and co-screenwriter Rose Glass’s latest genre blast has more in common with the early work of John Dahl (Kill Me Again and Red Rock West) and Of Mice and Men than anything else. She also seems heavily influenced by Nicolas Winding Refn.
On the surface it’s an unabashed love story laced with quick flash lurid sex and ultra-violence. And if one wishes to get academically introspective, it also examines toxic femininity and what happens when women adopt the traits of toxic masculinity in order to navigate the twisted patriarchy of bodybuilding and the late ‘80s underworld of Albuquerque gun running.
Lensed in a neon like dream haze that’s more hallucinatory nightmare gonzoness than anything else, the film is additionally drenched in a sonic maelstrom of electronic oomph! courtesy of Clint (Pop Will Eat Itself) Mansell, not to mention mind-numbingly intense sound design.
As for the Steinbeckian connection? Read into it as you will, but I found the lead characters of Lou (fantastically portrayed by Kristen Stewart) to be akin to George with Jackie (played by an uber ripped Katy O’Brian) taking on the role of Lennie. Feel free to draw your own conclusions, but this story follows many of the same themes as the 1937 novel.
Honestly though, when stripped to its core, this is a wickedly paced, slick, and frenetic ode to steamy 1980’s noir influenced B-movies. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

RIYL
Good Time; Vengeance; Rumble Fish; Wild At Heart


https://youtu.be/BF_J3-DmiS0?si=wwsdzRvdWL4mvuY6

[warthog]

<p>

Started Generation Kill limited series. Older but a great cast, about the US invasion of Iraq Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Love that show. The jittery little funny guy that is always cranked on red bulls is my favorite.</p>

[jameesmmillerr@gmail.com]

Check out &quot;The Raid: Redemption&quot;. It&#39;s an Indonesian martial arts film that&#39;s basically non-stop intense action.

[dookeyXXX]

MAXXXINE The conclusion to writer/director Ti West’s X trilogy is an engaging homage to giallo, cheesy 1980’s Los Angeles based neon procedurals (think Hero and the Terror), and soft-core Skinemax thrillers. West, like his contemporary Eli Roth, isn’t so much an original filmmaker as he is a patchwork artiste who expertly stitches together bits and pieces of other films into a wink-and-sly smile-drenched tribute to those films. Here he dives deep into 1985 Los Angeles during the “reign of terror” created by Richard Ramirez (aka The Night Stalker). This serves as the backdrop for lead protagonist Maxine Minx'’s quest for legitimate fortune and fame as a Hollywood star. From there West saturates the film in lambent lights, ominous shadows, and Tyler Bates’ blazing score (as well as a smattering of iconic 80s synth pop). The film is populated by horror film nerds, sleazy gumshoes, pugnacious cops, ambitious directors, and a leading performance from Mia Goth that is nothing short of mesmerizing. Her supporting cast is bonkers good, too. This may be my favorite entry in the series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALNV4mdHGEE

[AK47bp]

Mia Goth is so good in these. Love the trilogy.


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[dookeyXXX]

<p>
DREAM SCENARIO This Nic Cage cinematic vehicle is worth a watch. It ended up being much different than I expected, but it&rsquo;s very inline with previous A24 horror/thrillers (it was produced by Ari Aster and has a similar vibe to his Beaux Is Afraid). The story is multi-layered, examining social media &ldquo;fame,&rdquo; cancel culture, and fly-by-night trends. There&rsquo;s a wee smidgen of neo-incel/entitled white male persecution tossed in for good measure. Cage is legit as a sad sack professor.<br />
RIYL Manodrome, Men, Beaux Is Afraid, The Art of Self Defence, Vivarium </p>

[Dantheman]

Has Penguin been mentioned yet? The first episode was pretty great.

[AK47bp]

Has Penguin been mentioned yet? The first episode was pretty great.

It has. Deserves its own thread if you ask me.


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[dookeyXXX]

<p>
FLOW<br />
This is a wonderful and beautiful little film that is rich in heart, has some deep subtextual messages of an environmental, social, political, religious, and philosophical nature. Above all else it is heartwarming and poignant. Although the film was animated using Blender software, it has a look and feel that wavers between hand drawn and computer animation, which gives it a slightly surreal feel.</p>
<p>
RIYL The Wild Robot; The Incredible Journey</p>
<p>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgZccxuj2RY </p>

[t-the-east]

Just finished penguin last night. What a great show. Now I gotta watch “the Batman”

[dookeyXXX]

LADY SNOWBLOOD
If you are a fan of Kill Bill then this is a must see given that QT jacked quite a bit from this flick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIiuywU9ZJ4

[SKIP IN7RO]

A Body In The Snow: The Trial of Karen Read oh wait, this isn't the shit that annoys thread

[bennymac]

Started Generation Kill limited series.

Older but a great cast, about the US invasion of Iraq


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Also a great book - worth reading in advance of watching the series

[Jadams_]

I Know This Much Is True is the best miniseries I have ever watched. Its brutal and depressing but the writing and acting are top notch.

[dookeyXXX]

PRIMAL
This 2-season animated series is one of the coolest watches I've had in a long time. There is not a weak moment in its entire 20-episode run. The character are well fleshed out and the story starts simple and then just keeps getting weirder and better with each episode. The animation style is awesome, pulling from myriad sources. Ditto for the story, which unfolds like a brilliant mashup of Conan, Land of the Lost, Alley Oop, Ka-Zar, and Devil Dinosaur.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co28PDKv2VY

[buttahflake]

I tried watching it and it was so fucking bad.
Thumbs down