re: What is the most pretentious movie you've ever seen?

Another poster called to my attention I answered your comment about Green Book thinking you were referring to The Green Mile. My mistake. To compound the error I posted to him my Green Book thoughts intended for you. Trying to tidy this up.

I think he’s talking about Green Book

Of course he was. I had listed The Green Mile as one of several good films on the topic and thought he was referring to that.

He was right though, Green Book is a mess that does much of what I was talking about.

The acclaimed pianist is barely a three dimensional character and the film uses a trope commonly referred to as the "magic negro". Dr. Shirley's almost sole function serving as an instrument for the elevation and salvation of the main character, white man, Frank Vallelonga.

Dr. Shirley's family never approved of the film on several fronts.

1. The close friendship is bogus. It was an employer/employee relationship which ended with Dr. Shirley firing his chauffeur and family members claiming no chauffeur ever lasted 18 months with him.

2. The portrayal of family. Frank Vallelonga's family is given significant screen time (Frank's son is a co-writer) yet Don Shirley says in the film he doesn't keep in touch with family. Don's brother Maurice says in the early 60s Don had three living brothers and stayed constantly in touch with them.

3. Don Shirley never wanted the movie made. According to his nephew, Don adamantly refused in large measure because he feared he'd lose control over his story and his portrayal in the film.

Another general objection is that the title is a throw away loss leader and that The Negro Motorists Green Book is never discussed or given any emphasis or respect. It's not significant or important to the white guys making the film so the feeling is they used it as a title that's little more than a shiny hook.

So a movie that a bunch of white guys put together, apparently mostly made up by them, that the world class concert pianist's family hates, disputes, and claims that Don Shirley never wanted made because of what he feared it would become, which it did indeed apparently become, is supposed to point the way out of racism and open our eyes to truth and justice?

Hard pass. Tripe whitey made up that lied, exploited Dr. Shirley and his story using it to make some money and exercise some high profile self congratulatory virtue signaling.

Want to open some eyes Hollywood? Do a truthful film about The Negro Motorists Green Book

Only God Forgives

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About every one of Wes Anderson's 

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Came here to say The Royal Tenenbaums. While I did like it overall, it felt like the kind of movie a dumb person would name-drop to feel smart

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All of Woody Allen's movies are to me.

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It’s the whole reason I watch them.

I like his movies TBH but Noah Baumbach (Kicking and Screaming and Mr. Jealously are great; Squid and the Whale and Greenberg are not.)

He oozes pretentiousness as a director.

Northeastern kid, raised by two film critics...went to fricking Vassar College, raised in Yuppies 80's NY, dry NY obscure comedy references, angst where there should be none...sort of the less funny Woody Allen because he's trying to be somewhat serious.

For every College Grad that graduated and had no clue what to do with their life, Kicking and Screaming is great...watch it...but his style is very inside joke Northeastern...we're smarter than you crap.