solaris

Just out of a showing in Dublin. 100% full. On a Tuesday night. At 6pm. In a predominantly arthouse cinema (The Light House). Total gross UK and Ireland will be monstrous.

Loved it and looking forward to watching it again. I've been listening to the score all day - Anthem (the opening credits track) is iconic. Initially I wasn't sure about the final twist, but having slept on it I love how it forces the viewer to confront your own prejudice/opinion of the Tethered (and in turn, the 'underclass' they represent) Lupita is godlike. Not quite as good as Get Out - messier and clearly more divisive. But I love how wacky and weird it gets. I cannot wait to see what JP does next.

Reading the reviews:

First reactions trickling in https://twitter.com/arcticninjapaul/status/860227862749696002?s=09

I need to go back and rewatch this in light of Logan now. I remember being pleasantly surprised upon the initial viewing. Great score too.

100?! Jesus. I'll give it a shot.

saw this being filmed in London today... couldn't see much but managed to get a few photos on my twitter

STID was a fine movie, but wasn't the sequel I wanted (or felt was promised) after ST09 (which remains one of my all time favourite holy-shit-that-was-fun-I-wanna-see-it-again experiences in a cinema). Anyway, thinking Antman-ish numbers. Slightly higher OW, slightly lower total. 65/175/475

I know its already been said like a million times BUT Jesus H Christ - the first 20 mins of this episode is one of the best scenes/set pieces I have ever seen (in film or TV). Sapochnik is a genius (as is Djawadi, The Light of the Seven has been on heavy rotation on my Spotify today). All in all definitely one of the stronger seasons - despite a bit of a lull eps 6 through 8, for the most part I think the show runners have done a good job of getting all the pieces and players lined up right where they want them for the end game. And technically/artistically this season has been superb - so many beautiful shots throughout the season. April 2017 cannot get here fast enough (D+D please don't make us wait any longer!)

This episode was inevitably going to feel like a step back after 'The Door' (and the pretty relentless pace thus far this season). For the most part I actually enjoyed the change of pace. Jack Bender continues to be a great choice of director, and a lot of the 'smaller' scenes really worked for me. If anything, it was the bigger stuff that disappointed this time. The Benjen/Cold hands (Benhands? Coldjen?) reveal was fun but felt like yet another Deus ex Machina this season. And don't get me started on Dany's speechifying.... my honest hope is that they are well and truly setting Dany up to be a Walter White esque dark antihero. That would be the only worthy pay off for all this cringe-worthy speechmaking she does all the damn time. Looking forward to the Riverlands, and to Arya's storyline finally getting a bit of traction.

What an episode. Proof (alongside Hardhome) that the show can excel on its own terms. I barely breathed for the last 15 minutes! Some other thoughts: - Jack Bender was an inspired choice for director. As with the best moments of Lost, a potentially head scratching moment goes for the emotional jugular and just utterly SLAYS. - The music this season has been excellent. Ramon Djawadi is out doing himself. - I'm loving the breakneck speed with which the narrative is advancing although I hope we get a little bit of breathing room over the next few episodes. Bastardbowl needs a bit of build up.

so much this and this Tormienne GET HYYYPE

A better episode than the premiere for sure, but it still feels like we're rattling through a bunch of disparate scenes too quickly and with too little 'weight'. I know it's sympotamic of having so many storylines to juggle, but these 5 minute check ins feel consistently rushed and unsatisfying. That being said, the individual scenes themselves all 'worked' for me. Wun Wun the giant grabbing that poor Nights Watchman made me giggle. I've got a feeling the name Hodor will derive from something to do with a door. And that we might we said door in the episode of the same name (ep 5) via a Bran flashback (a Branback?).

Not quite as good as TWS but a lot more satisfying than AOU. I think Bruhl may have been the MVP for me... his presence added a lovely level of depth, bleakness & realism that helped to rein in the 'bigger' elements of the film.

Saw it yesterday at Cineworld West India Quay at 12:50. I'd say it was about 40% full - pretty busy for an earlier showing. OT(ish) but some of that 40% appeared to drug dealers & customers (doing deals there and then in the screening). Apparently that's a thing now.

The optimist in me hopes that D&D actually listened to the feedback on Dorne last year, and that the coup is essentially a reset. Whilst I agree they killed the wrong Dornish characters, my hope is that we now won't need to hear anything of these characters for several episodes, and only then There wasn't much of the Martells/SS in any of the trailers, so fingers crossed this is it. Also, HBO has confirmed titles and synopses for episodes 2 & 3:

I don't think STID is nearly as loathed by the GA as it is by trekkers (myself included). Most of my friends who saw it really liked it. I guess if you don't re-watch Wrath of Khan on a weekly basis (like me), those groansome lines of dialogue lifted wholesale don't feel nearly as clunky. That being said, I think we're mostly looking at a SKYFALL > SPECTRE type situation here. Slightly milder opening and legs. I know we're 3 months away but the buzz and awareness for this compared to a lot of other summer tentpoles feels thin. In fact, Spectre's OW and total ($70m / $200m) feel like realistic targets right now. OS is another matter. ST09 was at $127m, STID nearly doubled this to $235m. Ex rates will hold back a similarly exponential growth this time round but $300m feels do-able (is this planned for a China release?)

Why are we throwing about $200m OW predictions for CW and Rogue One like it's nothing? If this weekend has proved anything, it's that $200m remains a very tought barrier to crack. Not saying that either of those films can't make it, but I would hardly call it a foregone conclusion either. I'm thinking CW will have a $160ish opening. Rogue One I still have no idea.

I hope I'm wrong but CW feels more like a $150m opener than an uber $200m one.

On it. This is gonna be fun.

Whaaaaaaa

I love Kristen Wiig.

goodness... I really can't call this one. I wouldn't be surprised if the Oscar noms match the DGA noms 5/5. I think we might be heading for a split year between BP/BD winners. I'd love to see Miller win but I think Scott may get it as a bit of a lifetime achievement award. Miller should win the DGA though. Innaritu doesn't feel like a double BD winner but it is a VERY showy film so... I dunno. McKay and McCarthy will be happy just to be here I think. They COULD pull a Tom Hooper if either film starts to gain more traction in the precursors but if anything they feel like they're losing steam. If there is a deviation from the DGA list then I think Spielberg might edge out one of the Mc's.

100% IN Spotlight The Revenant The Big Short The Martian Mad Max Carol LIKELY Room Brooklyn COMPETING FOR POTENTIAL 9TH & 10TH SLOTS Bridge of Spies Sicario Straight Outta Compton Ex Machina I think Ex Machina's shot at a nom are basically nil at this point. They'll reward it with a screenplay nom instead. I'd love to see Sicario make it but it'll prob just get a clutch of techs/cinematography/score & a poss BSA for Del Toro. Bridge of Spies feels like it's losing heat and feels less and less essential for a BP nom. Spielberg may edge out one or two of the directors of my top 6 to get a nod there (McKay & maybe McCarthy). Straight Outta Compton feels like a likely curveball. I'm counting on the Academy to throw something in totally out of left field.... I hope it's TFA but it'll probably be Trumbo or something.