Visible Alex mojo! Thanks for the memories of the old channel 12.

I'd love to watch "Support your local sheriff" again. So of course, Netflix streaming has "Tank" but not "Support your local sheriff"

*sigh* I'll just have to add it to the queue.

I believe Tank was one of those movies that just begged the critics to have a cheap laugh off its prophetic title.

I gave The King's Speech another chance last night.


Really? THIS won Best Picture? It's a fine movie, but really?!?


I enjoyed it better than my first go-round (where I fell asleep within half an hour), but was not all that impressed with it. Enjoyable though.

HOWEVER, since Netflix must have fallen asleep at the switch and sent me a Real Disc with actual EXTRAS, I rapturously listened to the Director's Commentary - which I usually save for movies I like a whole lot better.


Lo and behold, the commentary was fascinating and I enjoyed it about a thousand times more than the actual movie.

Ugh. #FailedOnceHopefulFilmmaker



Oh, and it was a wonderful treat to see Helena Bonham Carter in a role that didn't require her to act insane!

We just watched it (bringing our total to 7/10 of the Best Picture nominees!)

It wasn't my favorite of the nominees, but that comes down to personal taste. It was good enough that I can't argue with its victory. Sure I found 127 hours more powerful, and Social Network a more interesting story. But King's Speech told a great story, with great personalities, while doing a good job of painting a picture of the culture of the British monarchy and the specific politics of the time without distracting from the strength of the character piece. All things the make it well qualified to win the prize.

And yes, HBC was great, and underutilized.

Has anybody else actually seen Winter's Bone? (Which was my favorite of the nominees though it never had a chance.)

I rather think HBC was the heart of the piece, and her warm strength and obvious affection for Bertie were, for me, central to the film's charms.



I couldn't make it through Winter's Bone, Alex. Granted, I did not give it a fair shake - but the same crappy shake I give most movies I watch at home (i.e., you are on in the background and have 45 minutes max to grab my attention from all the other stuff I'm doing while I purportedly "watch" you.)


(The King's Speech did grab that attention - I stopped it in background mode, and sat and watched it from the beginning - so I'll give it that.)


What did you like about Winter's Bone, Alex? Maybe I should give it a much more fair shake and a second chance (King's Speech had a second chance, after all).

I'm with Alex on Winter's Bone. Easily my favorite, with Social Network a close second (as far as I can recall, at least).

For me, The King's Speech was only enjoyable to watch the two leads playing off each other. I guess I just don't give a crap about the British monarchy, which might have contributed to my less than engaged attitude.

What's a great movie out now? I really liked Point Blank, but not in a Best Picture sort of way...

The finely crafted characters and slowly building sense of place is what I loved about Winter's Bone. Probably not something that would come across with distracted watching.