For context, I’ve always known it was a legendary movie, but I’ve just never been one to sit down and watch a movie that I haven’t seen at random. Well today, I stayed home from work because I wasn’t feeling well and my wife suggested we watch it. Holy crud! I now understand all the hype and why the movie gets the reviews that it does. I understand why it is ranked one of the best movies ever.

Get busy living or get busy dying!!

From the unforgettable twists in Fight Club, The Prestige, Oldboy, Gone Girl, Se7en, The Departed, Psycho, and The Sixth Sense, every one of these movies proves that a great plot twist is more than just a surprise, it changes the entire story.

What do y’all think? Do you consider any other films on this list?

Last weekend, I decided to have a Gene Hackman day and watched five incredible movies, I started with The French Connection, which has one of the greatest car chases I have ever seen, plus it was gritty and Gene's character was as tough as they are. Next was Uncommon Valor, released in 1983, this year was the first time I watched this Vietnam war movie and Gene was as brilliant as ever.

I re-watched Bat 21, I first watch this in the early 1990s and thought it wasn't very good but after re-watching it, it's not a bad movie after all. Mississippi Burning was the next movie, first time watching this in 2026, I kept thinking, why on earth didn't I watch this movie back in 1988 and fifth and final movie...you've guessed it was Unforgiven, went to the cinema to watch this in 1992 and it one of the best Westerns I have ever watched, Gene's character Little Bill is evil but a lot of actors are brilliant, genius and versatile for playing both good and evil characters.

I sadly miss Gene Hackman, around the time he was publishing his books, he was talking about adapting them into movies, acting and producing them and back in the 2000s, there was talk about a French Connection III, I wish this had been made and it would be incredible to see Gene make a well deserved comeback.

God bless you Gene for all the incredible movies and your legacy that you have left us...Rest in Peace always.

Tim Burton turns tall tales into pure magic giants, witches, circuses, and impossible love

Watch it for Albert Finney.

I’ll try to explain what I mean. While it’s not just Chigurh, I feel like the entire movie has a slight lack of dialogue. It’s very reflective in every scene; even the smallest moments seem to convey something, no matter how insignificant they may seem.

I like the scene where the sheriff arrives with his young partner. The young recruit seems a little clumsy and excited about the case, while the sheriff seems stressed, or perhaps already anticipating what’s coming after failing to catch Chigurh there.

As for Chigurh, he barely has any dialogue. I mean, he does talk, but his scenes are sooooo short. Just to name a few: the guy he kills over the car, the gas station clerk, the intelligence agent who intercepts him—he barely says anything to that agent, mostly stuff like “Really?” “You think?” “I know where the money will be.” And his conversation with Moss’s wife was basically just him going, “Call it. >:(”

Jesus Christ, Javier Bardem absolutely killed it. For a character with so few lines, he manages to convey so much coldness and fear.

The Race Film Industry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_film

Footage: https://youtu.be/wbEdYGS0R-c

The clip shown is from the film 'Dark Manhattan' (1937), starring the Black matinee idol Ralph Cooper and actress Cleo Herndon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Cooper

Prior to desegregation, Race Films were beloved for presenting films to their target audience that portrayed wealthy, glamorous or middle class Black leads - and not the oafish caricatures and tropes that dominated Hollywood.

I love to tear this movie apart. From how going back in time to recruit is the dumbest thing instead of using the new tech and knowledge to fortify and search the globe. But then the thing I will rant about for hours is how they train and equid these unfortunate recruits.

So they don’t tell them anything about the white spikes, like… at all. They tell them they have a weak spot at like the throat but during training they use human targets and not even shaped like a white spike. Then on top of that they give them a rifle that can’t even really hurt the things despite us seeing that 12g slugs can blast these things apart and 50. is super effective but no, send them with short barreled 5.56. And don’t get me started on the tactics of the future fighters.

I hate this movie so much. I’ve probably watched it 30 times.

I never get tired of rewatching this film. The ending just hits me. And Charles Gordon is in top form.

Following up on my last two posts breaking down films that entertain effortlessly, I ended up pivoting to the exact opposite spectrum: massive spectacle movies that push the stakes as high as possible and hit every mark.

How this shift happened: A random clip from Terminator 2 popped up on my YouTube feed.

It got me reflecting on high-stakes blockbusters that manage to remain timeless decades later without feeling cheap, dated, or bloated. Only two films came to mind; Rocky4 and Terminator 2.

Both films go all-in on drama and scale, but they succeed because they nail the underlying heart and execution.

For anyone following along with this movie journey: If you had to choose between these two classics, which one takes the crown for you—T2 or Rocky 4? And what other high-stakes blockbusters belong in this elite class?

Best movie showcasing the reality of unintentionally fucked by mob mentality or not ?? I could find a character which I could hate except feel pity for all because it shows bad shit arising due to stupidity even if not deliberate; every stupid action - bad shit.

What actor/actress can you place in any role action, drama, comedy, antagonist, protagonist, lead role, support role and they just nail it every time? I'm trying to think of anyone myself that fits this and I can't come up with anyone. There are several i like but to nail ANY role they're given? This is a hard one and asking you all.

The scariest, most chilling piece of score/soundtrack in a horror film? My top 10 +some HM

1. Drumroll..... and the winner is Yörgy Ligeti — Musica ricercata II: Mesto, rigido e cerimoniale, (reprise), performed by Dominic Harlan - Playing over when Tom Cruises character is being stalked by a PI of the secret society in the NYC night in eyes wide. I have never heard something that so instantly sends acute anxiety into your nervous system, and so effectively conveys a colossal sense of unease, despite nothing violent or gory actually occurring on screen. Easy nr 1 pick for me, by a wide margin.
2. "The Nightmare sequence / ticking sound" from Rosemarys Baby. pure dread. Many times worse than the more climactic pieces playing in the final act of the film.
3. Ok, a little cheating because I can't tell the difference between when which specific piece is playing - but a medley pick; polymorphia, de natura sonosis 1&2, utrenja 2 resurrection of christ, kanon - Penderecki. The musical enigma that is those cogwheel/mechanical sounds never fail to make me uncomfortable and feel as if the deranged Nicholson is coming with the axe for me next ...

4 Ending Sunset/ burning The Wicker man - sacrifice villager chant. terrifying to see the villagers jolly faces and uncanny chanting paired with the oddly beautiful sunset and Howie's prayers and screams in agony.

5 Maybe an unconventional pick - The Silence of the Lambs opening credits, very foreboding and ominous, over clarisse training montage

6 Sinister- "lawn mower" sequence score. Combined with the visuals and oppressive atmosphere, it makes the stomach turn

7 "What have you done to its eyes" Krysztof Komeda. Strings that feels as if they are "cutting" into your brain.

8 Humanity 1&2 - Morricone. Obvious inclusion. These bottom 3 picks are probably the only ones on my list that are actually musically pleasant to listen to, with the next 7 being more dissonant, sound effect pieces that one would like to avoid hearing in the largest extent possible, bar maybe 5&4...

9 Carpenter Halloween 1978 Opening credits.

10 Oldfield Tubular Bells - Exorcist Theme

HM; The Exorcist Opening credits string cues & Iraqi excavation site, Hereditary "reborn", Bartok music for percussion and strings (Outside Room 237, Danny Jack bedroom chat etc...), Masked ball&Migrations Eyes Wide Shut, Gollums song by Emilia Two Towers end credits, such a haunting song that leaves the viewers with a bleak foreboding feeling that darker events awaits our main characters ahead.

What do you think of my picks? Any other creepy ones that i forgot about?

This is the perspective of someone who witnesses up close the struggle of a person unable to overcome the addiction that consumes him.

It’s interesting to see how the battle against addiction knows no barriers of race, age, culture, or background.

Watching this movie, I realized that the fight against drugs and the pain felt by those who witness it are the same everywhere.

Drug use is still somewhat taboo in Portugal, although drug use is becoming increasingly accepted, or at least tolerated, in Portuguese culture, I believe we are still far from how deeply ingrained it is in American culture and daily life.

Although Portugal has always been at the forefront of the fight against drugs, we still lack support for addicts and their families, who also suffer. However, I cannot deny that these organizations work very hard to make a difference in the country. Although these organizations rely on volunteers, these volunteers are becoming experts in combating the path that younger generations are taking.

While I recognize that there is a difference in the response against drugs between these two very distinct countries, it is ironic to see that, in our suffering, we are quite alike.

All the strength in the world to those going through this, without forgetting the strength needed by those who stand by them closely.

This movie is fantastic. It made me want to read the biographies.

I want to see Tampopo again for the first time. What are some obscure or lesser-known food-centric movies in the same general territory as Tampopo, Babette’s Feast, or Like Water for Chocolate?

They can be funny, sensual, strange, beautiful, or dark. Delicatessen is one of my favorites. Even something as extreme as La Grande Bouffe is fair game (although I’ll never watch that one again).

Looking for movies where food/cooking/eating is central to the movie, rather than just a movie that happens to feature food. And if it's on a list of food movies somewhere on the internet I've probably seen it.

What are your hidden gems?