AMC A-List & other theater subscriptions (1 Viewer)

[Tino]

Well since my membership actually expires today, I’m going to mask up and make one last trek (for now) to see Shang-Chi.

 

[Colin Jacobson]

I was on a beach vacation last week and used A List to see movies 4 nights in a row! (Then saw Foo Fighters in Coney Island Monday!)

Quick thoughts:

-Together: interesting depiction of the material but a little too heavy-handed. Great acting. B-.

-Candyman: better than expected sequel/reboot that reworks the material for 2021 in a satisfying manner. B+.

-Shang-Chi: never liked the character's comics and didn't really look forward to this one, but it's a lot of fun. It drags a bit in the middle but overall is a pretty terrific flick. A-.

-Card Counter: had high hopes for this as a character study but thought it was slow and superficial. Oscar Isaac brings some substance to his cliche character but the movie doesn't go anywhere especially interesting. C-.

 

[benbess]

My A-list movie tonight was The Eyes of Tammy Faye. The subject matter isn't my cup of tea, but a powerhouse performance by Jessica Chastain as this bizarre real-life character somehow mostly won me over. My rating: B

‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ Review: As Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain Put a Human Face on the Infamous Saga of Televangelism

Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain bring us close to Jim and Tammy Faye, but the film's really about how Christianity turned into showbiz.

variety.com

 

[Colin Jacobson]

My A-list movie tonight was The Eyes of Tammy Faye. The subject matter isn't my cup of tea, but a powerhouse performance by Jessica Chastain as this bizarre real-life character somehow mostly won me over. My rating: B

‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ Review: As Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain Put a Human Face on the Infamous Saga of Televangelism

Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain bring us close to Jim and Tammy Faye, but the film's really about how Christianity turned into showbiz.

variety.com

I didn't know that one was out yet!

It's not at the 22-screen AMC near my abode, but the "art house" AMC a few miles farther away has it.

Kinda surprised because a) the closer AMC has so many screens that it tends to get "smaller" films a lot of the time, and b) the "art house" AMC isn't as "art house" as it used to be.

That was an independent theater for years until AMC bought it, and with that purchase, it started to play a lot more blockbusters. Right now they have "Shang-Chi" and "Candyman" - not exactly art house fare, though the other screens are a bit more esoteric.

Also, it only has 7 screens, so they have to be choosy!

 

[benbess]

My A-list movie tonight was Cry Macho, a low-key Clint Eastwood film with some good moments. My rating: B

 

[benbess]

My A-list movie last night was a revival of the 2006 movie Casino Royale, which is considered by many a classic James Bond film. My rating: A-

 

[Colin Jacobson]

My A-List yesterday: "Eyes of Tammy Faye".

Meh. The movie attempts to strip away the cartoon image of Tammy Faye but only does so with limited success, as it fails to paint a strong portrait of who she ways.

Mainly Tammy Faye comes across as a cipher, and I think the movie lets her off the hook for her role in the scandals that PTL went through in the 80s.

I appreciate that the filmmakers want to give us a view of Tammy Faye the person and not just the much-parodied overly-made up clown we remember, but I don't feel like I understand Tammy Faye any better after I saw the movie than I did before I viewed it.

Mostly the film feels like an excuse for Jessica Chastain to try to win an Oscar.

 

[Malcolm R]

Mostly the film feels like an excuse for Jessica Chastain to try to win an Oscar.

As you mentioned, TFB is largely a joke to the mass public. I'm not sure what Chastain was thinking by taking the role. Portrayals of historical figures can often be Oscar bait, but I don't think TFB is at that level.

 

[Colin Jacobson]

As you mentioned, TFB is largely a joke to the mass public. I'm not sure what Chastain was thinking by taking the role. Portrayals of historical figures can often be Oscar bait, but I don't think TFB is at that level.

Oh, disagree - this felt like a total Oscar-bait move by Chastain.

A) Render maligned public figure human
B) Play public figure across many decades
C) Make beautiful actor look unattractive.

That's the Oscar playbook!

 

[Patrick Sun]

Oh, disagree - this felt like a total Oscar-bait move by Chastain.

A) Render maligned public figure human
B) Play public figure across many decades
C) Make beautiful actor look unattractive.

That's the Oscar playbook!

But everyone knows you don't go full TFB!

 

[benbess]

My A-list movie last night was Dear Evan Hansen, which somewhat strangely was being shown in IMAX. There were a total of five people in the theater, including me. It's been mentioned in several reviews that the actor playing the title character, who was 27 when the movie was made, doesn't look much like a high school student, and that's true. There are also a lot of extreme close-ups on his face that reveal he's wearing make-up. There are other flaws in the movie, including the sometimes painful songs, and yet for me there were still some moving moments in this strange and rather grim film. In the end the character seemed even more alone than he was at the start, even though he had a better attitude about it. My rating: B-

 

[benbess]

My A-list movie last night was a revival of the James Bond movie Skyfall. This was only my second time seeing this movie, and since it was released in 2012 I confess I'd forgotten quite a bit of it. As it played things would come back to me a bit as they happened. Anyway, for me this is one of the best of all the Bond movies. Solid direction by Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition, 1917, Revolutionary Road, etc.), good screenplay, fine cinematography by Roger Deakins, and an intense and sometimes vulnerable performance by Daniel Craig. The Skyfall song by Adele is one of my favorites in the whole series, up there with Live and Let Die and Goldfinger. My rating: A

 

[Jeff Adkins]

A-List is starting to feel like the old days once again. I'm actually having trouble keeping up with everything for the first time in a long time.

 

[Chris Will]

I really want to sign up for A-List again, especially since they are offering the first month for $5 but, the 2 theaters in my area do not have showtimes late enough. They both stop showing movies around 7:30 - 8pm. My kids aren’t in bed yet. My ideal movie time is something after 9:30. My theaters do not even go that late on weekends right now. I just cannot get to movies that early on a consistent basis. Once later showing come back, I’ll be all in again. I hope it is soon.

 

[Jeff Adkins]

I really want to sign up for A-List again, especially since they are offering the first month for $5 but, the 2 theaters in my area do not have showtimes late enough. They both stop showing movies around 7:30 - 8pm. My kids aren’t in bed yet. My ideal movie time is something after 9:30. My theaters do not even go that late on weekends right now. I just cannot get to movies that early on a consistent basis. Once later showing come back, I’ll be all in again. I hope it is soon.

I'm hoping that they bring those back too. The only showtime at my AMC in Dolby for the new Bond this Thursday is 6:00 which is way too early. I'm going to do it because it's Bond, but I wish a much later screening were available.

I've listened to AMC's investor phone conferences every quarter and they are always bragging about how much money they are bringing in while reducing hours to save money. Now that we've got the pandemic mostly behind us, I hope that competition will help bring those back. I'm already seeing earlier times come back at my local AMC.

 

[benbess]

My A-list movie last night was the grim drama The Card Counter, starring Oscar Isaac and Tiffany Haddish. My rating: B.

 

[benbess]

Saw No Time To Die for the second time in 3D. The 3D is fairly good in some scenes. My personal rating for the movie: A

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Saw No Time To Die for the second time in 3D. The 3D is fairly good in some scenes. My personal rating for the movie: A

"NTtD" doesn't appear to be 3D at any AMCs in the DC area.

I didn't even realize there was a 3D release until I saw it mentioned on the HTF!

 

[benbess]

Yeah, it's very limited 3D in my area. There are 3 Cinemark theaters near me, all showing NTTD on several screens, and yet no 3D. It's worth seeing it in the format if you can find it imho, although the 3D has gotten very mixed reviews. Some say it's bad/weak 3D, but then I also found this very positive review (which I think is a bit too positive)...

"FINAL VERDICT - 31/35

With almost three hours of movie to run through, No Time To Die plays so damned beautifully in 3D. Personal moments, as well as action-packed spectacles, feel more intimate and invigorating, and there’s never a time where the 3D feels cheated or rushed. Even in its minor imperfections, this new dimension to James Bond filmmaking is something that absolutely should return, along with whomever sees Bond into his next era of missions. This is a 3D conversion to look up to, as it may just change your understanding of what the format can do for a movie that might not feel instantly fitting for such an approach. If you can see No Time To Die in 3D, you have no time to waste in purchasing tickets."

To 3D Or Not To 3D: Buy The Right No Time To Die Ticket

Is No Time To Die worth the extra 3D ticket money, or would you be better off toasting with a Negroni at your local bar?

www.cinemablend.com

 

[Malcolm R]

"NTtD" doesn't appear to be 3D at any AMCs in the DC area.

I didn't even realize there was a 3D release until I saw it mentioned on the HTF!

I was also surprised it existed, as the Bond people had never shown any interest in 3D previously. Seems like Skyfall and Spectre would have been 3D, rather than waiting until this film. The format was more popular back then.

No 3D showings of NTTD anywhere around here, even at the theater that often offers 3D when it's available.