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In an earlier draft I sent Tyler 87 different movies so this is my favourite of those 87 movies. House of Games is a perfect movie about confidence art, which really is the same as visual art. My dad was a con artist, so I like this nonviolent way to revisit my childhood. Joe Mantegna (I smoked a joint with Mantegna in 1994 on the set of a film I was working on) and Lindsay Crouse are perfect, the writing is perfect, tight as a fucking trampoline like all Mamet stuff but not as sweary and unnecessarily verbose as his other stuff.I like seeing anything where smart people get played by people they think they’re smarter than. I like confidence art (The Grifters also v good) because (at least ideally), the victims are just idiots who want an easy buck, not fundamentally vulnerable, although that clearly happens also, and really this likely isn’t an accurate take on con-art but just some romantic reimagining on my part. Also Ricky Jay was one of the greatest character actors of all time.
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Jul 14, 2025
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I am very struck by this film. I think the performances are stellar. Unflinching, mean, and cruel at times. Also, messy and cliche, but I love it. There is something to be said about this poster, too. I totally see why others might not feel the same, though. Definitely of its time. Even so, wow. This is my Mike Nichols' pick, tbh.
Mar 9, 2025
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90s robert altman entertainment biz satire/thriller - v good viewing after last year’s writer‘s strike. tim robbins plays a hollywood exec who’s receiving death threats from disgruntled screenwriters. great snapshot of LA in this era (tho altman gets LA right in every movie he does) and endless massive cameos. one of my fav little details is the background conversations, they have nothing to do with the plot - they just add to the ambience and enhance getting immersed in the show biz deal schmooze-control zone.
Jan 26, 2024
Top Recs from @brad-phillips
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⭐Refutation is exhausting. What if everyone was right and everything was true? Big load off my back honestly
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⭐I play this 12 hours of applause when painting or writing it helps me feel encouraged. Nobody applauds at an art show which has always been a bummer to me
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