criterionforum.org

movielocke wrote: Wed Oct 03, 2018 4:26 pm

DarkImbecile wrote:First Trailer

Welp, I see nominations straightaway here for actor and supporting actor.

The scene we see with Rockwell is his only main scene, he won't be nominated

I've been really critical of this but that is a really fun trailer. I'll see it on the strength of that.

I was no fan of the Big Short, but I think with the actors involved this looks very promising and the trailer piqued my interest. That said, I'm good on reliving the Bush years and think I will need a long stretch of time from this current administration to be able to enjoy any kind of American political satire.

domino harvey wrote: Wed Oct 03, 2018 5:00 pm

movielocke wrote: Wed Oct 03, 2018 4:26 pm

DarkImbecile wrote:First Trailer

Welp, I see nominations straightaway here for actor and supporting actor.

The scene we see with Rockwell is his only main scene, he won't be nominated

Ah, that is good to know, I had no idea as I no longer follow awards season, and this is the first I've become aware of the film.

However, knowing the academy political predilections (inclined to laugh at W), and nominations going to the memorable scene-killing performances, and past behavior including nominations and wins for even 5 minute supporting performances, and the possibility of adding Bush back in if that's what the test screenings clamor for, I'd say nothing is set in stone.

Not to say it's going to happen, but just that ruling it out at this point seems premature?

I'm basing it on word from the many test screenings and critical rumblings. Sure, anything could happen, who knows, but I wouldn't bet on it is all

Aunt Peg wrote: Wed Oct 03, 2018 4:33 pm Bale's make-up makes him look more like Chevy Chase than DIck Chenney.

I would totally watch a movie where Chevy Chase plays Dick Cheney.
Or where Christian Bale plays Chevy Chase.
Or where Christian Bale plays Chevy Chase playing Dick Cheney.
Or where Chevy Chase plays Christian Bale playing DIck Cheney.
Or where Chevy Chase plays Christian Bale playing Chevy Chase playing Dick Cheney.
Or where Christian Bale plays Chevy Chase playing Christian Bale playing Dick Cheney.

Let's go CBCCDCCU!

I still think this looks lame but this finally screened and it killed, even with those who disliked the Big Short. Based on these responses, Adams and Bale will no doubt quickly find their odds of winning rising, and it's now a major contender for Best Pic

Having offered my thoughts on the Green Book trailer in that thread, I'll offer here that the Vice trailer kills with audiences in my experience. I'd expect this to do pretty well box office-wise, at least in heavy blue areas.

Liberals are apoplectic after McKay says that he would choose Trump over Bush and Cheney "any day of the week" and called Bill Clinton one of the worst presidents of the modern age: "I think his presidency has aged so poorly: the deregulating of the banks. His personal life [in light of] the #MeToo movement. Like, shame on all of us."

Maybe this movie will have some teeth bared for those who have puzzlingly tried to rehabilitate the image of George W. Bush of late, which ups my interest level substantially.

He's expanded on those thoughts on Twitter: "Bizarre that with nearly a million killed in Iraq based on false intelligence, 9/11, the world economy collapsing, national debt tripled and on and on anyone would find this opinion surprising. So far, and that's the key, SO FAR the W administration did way more damage. Maybe the question of "who would you pick?" is the problem. Who would I pick between W and Trump? Neither. A million times out a million, neither."

I mean, he's not wrong about any of that. And I appreciate his calling out of Clinton because, I mean, yeah.

We'll see how the rest of the Trump presidency plays out, though, because there's still plenty of time for plenty more damage.

I'm glad to see someone remind us all of the evil of George W. Bush -- can we send that particular memo to Michelle Obama?

But... the candy

Under the comment section of The Hill, the stopping stone for cutting-edge film criticism.

anonymous Disqus wrote:Here's the decision tree for this movie:

DOES AMY ADAMS HAVE A NUDE SCENE?
Yes: Go see movie
No: Stay home

Yes: Go see movie
No: Stay home
Pregnant: I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid!

Let's compromise and demand a nude scene of Bale screaming about how torture is always justified regardless of what science and army officials say. He has to do all this in his Batman voice too.

Somehow it's been hidden 'til now that

Spoiler

Naomi Watts

has a substantial supporting part in this.

And now whiplash sets in, as after more recent screenings critics are dragging this all over the place. Based on the overall consensus, it now looks like this may not get in at all save a nom for Bale. What a ride this Oscar season's been!

Still hasn't reached the levels of last year where the bestiality implicit in old Universal films became explicit and that was the safe choice.

Final nail in the coffin

Do you have some examples of the negative critical buzz? Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places but I can't really find it, though it certainly doesn't help that Vice has an article about how bad The House That Jack Built is circulating right now

The AwardsWatch forum is posting them

The embargo has finally lifted and the reviews are as scathing as promised. Vanity Fair called it a bad fusion of Michael Moore and American Hustle.

Some reviews may be scathing, but overall they're mildly positive. It's currently 65 on Metacritic with 13 reviews, including a Hollywood Reporter rave.

The Daily Beast ponders whether it's the worst movie of the year in a roundtable-style review, calling it "Borowitz-level satire," which is about the most insulting burn I've ever read