SHOWDOWN AT THE GRAND (Orson Oblowitz, 2023)

[Jox]

German back cover

[Jox]

4K version available on German AppleTV and Amazon Prime
https://www.moviepilot.de/movies/showdo ... and/stream

[Jox]

DTV Connoisseur review
https://dtvconnoisseur.blogspot.com/202 ... -2023.html

It was almost like he was giving us this role as a gift to us. We always talk about his larger-than-life presence, which we see in the clips of the fake movies, but to then pull that back when the character is unsure about talking in front of a large group after all this time, only to find some of that old magic when the theater is under attack, was all great stuff showing his range as an actor.

[Jox]

Colorist Asa Fox nominated at FilmLight Colour Awards for SHOWDOWN AT THE GRAND
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXouNdizm4 ... 2bcedb&g=5
https://www.cinematography.world/filmli ... -nominees/

[Jox]

[Jox]

It's been a pleasure to watch it again, in this day and age it's almost a miracle it exists and is this good. Easily top 5 of Dolph's best DTVs in the last 10-15 years.

[bomaz]

Well, what's not to like in this movie. Hard to believe it has been on such a small announced budget ($1.8M). Cinematography is nice, editing is wisely done, sets are well used, every actor in it is good (even the goons, which are sometimes over the top or not interesting in Dolph movies are here how they should be). I like the characters, the subtext as an ode to analogic vs digital, the way the characters interact and how they evolve. I especially liked how when he's knocked out, george fuller has a "dream" of him in Iraqnophobia, which for me is a nod to how maybe he has some PTSD or trauma from the war, and caring about this theater is a way to cope with it. But maybe I over analyse it.
Music is also quite good, even if it's mostly songs.
My only complaint : how the tone changes a bit, using the "suspension of disbelief" to the max in the third part (such a mayhem in a theater without any authorities intervention is a bit much) but it doesn't spoil the movie at all.
And let's face it, a movie that quotes "They Live" by Carpenter is necessarily good.

Quick fact : Piper Curda, who plays Spike the trainee, will headline the new Pixar animated movie about gophers