What are you watching tonight?

[Bruce Rioja]

The Best of Men: I initially looked at this film simply because Eddie Marsan plays the lead, supported by Rob Brydon. It's the story of Dr Ludwig Guttmann and his treatment of otherwise discarded partially paralysed patients and how his treatment of them as human beings and encouragement lead to what we know know as the Paralympic Games. Looking forward to this though I'm expecting no shortage of lump-in-throat moments.

I implore everyone to watch this - a truly life-affirming story, sad in many places whilst uplifting in others. Probably the best performance that I've ever seen Eddie Marsan give, and you know, he's set the bar pretty high with some of his other stuff. He's honestly outstanding in this. A fantastic story that's been done some justice here.

[KeyserSoze]

Watched Tarantino's new movie The Hateful Eight last night.

I like a lot of things about it, but there were also a few bits which I didn't get on with at all and ultimately I left the cinema feeling a bit bewildered. It is set up really well in terms of tension but the pay off was bit...hmmm.

Absolutely cracking opening song though.

[TANGODANCER]

Watched Sicario courtesy of a friend. Tense film on an iffy topic, ie Mexican drug cartels and their practises. Grim.

[Bruce Rioja]

Monster: The true story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Not sure how this ended up on the list?! General, is this one of yours?

Watched this yesterday as well, and although Wuornos went on to become a 'serial killer' I can't help feeling utterly sorry for her. The life she was born into and the lifelong abuse she suffered were absolutely atrocious. A really, sad, sad tale from beginning to, well, her execution.

[Harry Genshaw]

Monster: The true story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Not sure how this ended up on the list?! General, is this one of yours?

Watched this yesterday as well, and although Wuornos went on to become a 'serial killer' I can't help feeling utterly sorry for her. The life she was born into and the lifelong abuse she suffered were absolutely atrocious. A really, sad, sad tale from beginning to, well, her execution.

Was that the documentary one or the dramatisation?

Both very good but the dramatisation featured a former super model, I forget who, but she was outstanding and looked uncannily like Wournos

[Bruce Rioja]

Monster: The true story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Not sure how this ended up on the list?! General, is this one of yours?

Watched this yesterday as well, and although Wuornos went on to become a 'serial killer' I can't help feeling utterly sorry for her. The life she was born into and the lifelong abuse she suffered were absolutely atrocious. A really, sad, sad tale from beginning to, well, her execution.

Was that the documentary one or the dramatisation?

Both very good but the dramatisation featured a former super model, I forget who, but she was outstanding and looked uncannily like Wournos

It was the dramatisation. Harry, and the actress in question is Charlize Theron who I thought was utterly brilliant. After watching the film I read up on Aileen Wuornos. The film seemed to concentrate mainly on the time of the killings and any mention of her horrendous childhood was merely anecdotal. From Wiki:

Wuornos was born Aileen Carol Pittman in Rochester, Michigan, on February 29, 1956.[2] Her mother, Diane Wuornos (born 1939), was 14 years old when she married Aileen's father, Leo Dale Pittman (1937–1969), on June 3, 1954. Less than two years later, and two months before Aileen was born, Diane filed for divorce. Aileen's older brother Keith was born on March 14, 1955.[3]

Wuornos never met her father; he was incarcerated at the time of her birth.[2] Pittman was diagnosed with schizophrenia, later convicted of sex crimes against children,[4] and eventually hanged himself in prison on January 30, 1969.[1][5] In January 1960, when Wuornos was almost four years old, Diane abandoned her children, leaving them with their maternal grandparents, Lauri and Britta Wuornos, who legally adopted Keith and Aileen on March 18, 1960.[5]

By the age of 11, Wuornos began engaging in sexual activities in school in exchange for cigarettes, drugs, and food.[6] She had also engaged in sexual activities with her brother.[4] Wuornos claimed that her alcoholic grandfather had sexually assaulted and beaten her when she was a child; before beating her, he would force her to strip out of her clothes.[4] In 1970, at age 14, she became pregnant,[7] having been raped by a friend of her grandfather's.[4] Wuornos gave birth to a boy at a home for unwed mothers on March 23, 1971, and the child was placed for adoption.[5] A few months after her baby was born, she dropped out of school[4] at about the time that her grandmother died of liver failure. When Wuornos was 15, her grandfather threw her out of the house, and she began supporting herself as a prostitute and living in the woods near her old home.

[jmjhb]

Watched Tarantino's new movie The Hateful Eight last night.

I like a lot of things about it, but there were also a few bits which I didn't get on with at all and ultimately I left the cinema feeling a bit bewildered. It is set up really well in terms of tension but the pay off was bit...hmmm.

Absolutely cracking opening song though.

Certainly one of Tarantino's weakest, but a good watch nevertheless.

[General Mannerheim]

I was bored shitless. Was past caring by the time owt good happened. Need to give it another go.

[thebish]

saw in the new year with the family watching "Snowpiercer" on netflix - a 2013 South Korean science fiction action film based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette.

that's the weirdest film I have seen in quite a while!

[Annoyed Grunt]

went to see Star Wars, enjoyment overshadowed by the most abysmal 3d ever. im not a 3d adversary, I prefer 2d but the few 3d's ive seen have been fine. not this tho, dark, blury and gave me a headache! I assume it was the cinema? or the glasses? because I cant believe the studio would put it out looking like that! need to see the film again...

Saw that the other day, not in 3D though. Thought it was a rip off of A New Hope, personally.

[Gary the Enfield]

Watching Star Wars tomorrow at the Science Museum.

[LeverEnd]

PDC World Darts Champs, yet another classic contest between Van Barneveld and Michael Smith. The standard this year has been spectacular.
Only 1 word for it - magic darts!

[TANGODANCER]

Spent the whole evening watching the long, Once upon a time in America. Was it the General who recommended it? what a superb film. Fantastic performance by de Niro and the make up changes for flashbacks were unbelievable. Excellent stuff.

[Beefheart]

Spent the whole evening watching the long, Once upon a time in America. Was it the General who recommended it? what a superb film. Fantastic performance by de Niro and the make up changes for flashbacks were unbelievable. Excellent stuff.

I love that film, but it is a long 'un. Just finished 'Wild Tales' as mentioned by General not long ago. Loved it, if you're a fan of 'Inside No. 9' you'll love it.

Also recently watched 'Ilo Ilo' a film from Singapore that I'd also recommend.

[General Mannerheim]

Wild Tales is easily my favourite film of last year. Very Inside No 9 yeah

[Prufrock]

Ex machina. Thought it was excellent. Normally v wary of "concept" sci-fi films as they tend to think one interesting idea is enough to make a good film, but this was ace. Clever, sharp, not too ridiculous. The array of sexy robots did help too.

[General Mannerheim]

Yeah loved Ex Machina too, especially the dance scene!

[Prufrock]

Ha, aye that was fab.

[Jugs]

Spent the whole evening watching the long, Once upon a time in America. Was it the General who recommended it? what a superb film. Fantastic performance by de Niro and the make up changes for flashbacks were unbelievable. Excellent stuff.

Fantastic film. Sergio Leone was an incredible director who never took on easy projects. Have you seen Once Upon A Time In The West, too?

[Gary the Enfield]

Anyone watching Dickensian at the minute?

Cracking romp.