I wasn't there but Quentin Tarantino showed up at The Hollywood Theater in Portland last night during the intermission of The Hateful Eight to ask people what they thought of the movie so far.
I went to a showing of Sling Blade at the Portland International Film Festival where Billy Bob was supposed to be there, but he chickened out due to the snowy/icy weather and didn't want to fly.
I watched Straight Outta Compton last night, really liked it. Ice Cube being played by Ice Cube Jr. was awesome to watch. I didn't really know anything about Eazy-E and even though people say they left a lot out about him I liked his story. FUCK THA POLICE
Ex Machina. For when Blade Runner is a bit too much for you. That's damning so I will say that it's actually a good movie (although it misuses the Mary in the Black and White Room example, and doesn't mention that Frank Jackson came up with it. Aesthetically it's more 2001 than Blade Runner, but the whole "who's a replicant" thing... Also Oscar Isaac is really good at playing assholes. A movie I saw a while back that is similar in the mind-boggling department is The One I Love, and I suspect fewer people have seen that one. A good double bill.
Am I the only one who thinks that Tarantino is seriously overrated? I'm not really in a position to say that, though, as the last one of his I saw was Kill Bill vol. I. (Let's just say I was never motivated to see vol. II.) I really loved Resevoir Dogs, but Pulp Fiction was not as good (and had Bruce Willis in it, which people seem to either forget or forgive). Woo - non-linear story telling! (Yes but pretty crappy story!). Jackie Brown was good, but that's because Elmore Leonard wrote it so it had, y'know, actual characters, not simple mouthpieces for "clever" dialogue. Everything I've seen of the WWII one and the plantation one makes me avoid them like the plague. And now people say that this one's three hours long and pretty draggy....
If we're including TV shows... Master of None is excellent. Fargo is excellent (season 2 may even surpass season 1). Jessica Jones? Meh. And I couldn't stick with Mr. Robot - does it suddenly get gripping after the 3rd or 4th episode? Smartest show on TV by far? Rick and Morty. More ideas in each episode than in entire seasons of other shows. It's as smart as actual science fiction, not dumbed down like just about every movie or TV adaptation. Sometimes too painful to watch, though - seriously. Which also applies to the also-excellent Transparent. But is there a single likable Pfefferman?
Tons of people think Tarantino is "overrated" but I'm not one of them. Inglorious Basterds is absolutely fantastic and I really enjoyed Django Unchained as well. What makes you not want to give Basterds a try? I guess maybe Tarantino's style just isn't for you if Reservoir Dogs is the only one you loved.
Here's a TV show thread: http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/ot-your-favorite-tv-shows.263398/page-2 But I agree with your post. Fargo is fantastic and I absolutely love Rick and Morty. I can pretty much watch it over and over.
My favorite movies of 2015: 10. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation 9. Inside Out 8. The Big Short 7. Kingsmen: The Secret Service 6. Spotlight 5. The Martian 4. Sicario 3. Ex Machina 2. Mad Max: Fury Road 1. Creed I feel like I'm forgetting something but oh well.
I just saw the new 'Macbeth.' Lovely, lovely screen adaptation, and once again Fassbender 'kills it.'
I didn't forget about that, it's just outside my top 10. I've never been a huge Star Wars fan and while I certainly enjoyed The Force Awakens, it wasn't anything special for me. I got Mission Impossible for Christmas so I rewatched it and really liked it, especially considering how disappointing Spectre was.
Have you seen this: https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/3rw710/im_amazed_at_how_similar_mission_impossible_rogue/