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Arctic Void (2022)
Rented equipment for 16 days
The suspense began early and I was engaged, studying every scene and listening carefully to the dialog trying to figure out what was going on. Supernatural? Extraterrestrial? Biological? It was brilliant. It was going places. Something is up with mysterious Sean and Alan has figured it out but he's too ill to warn Ray. This was edge-of-your seat viewing. Amazing that it was shot by sixteen people in sixteen days. I think if they had rented the equipment for a few more days they could have filmed the intended ending. It's like someone said on day sixteen, "Okay, let's wrap this up. We have to have the equipment back by 5:00." "But we just finished Act 3." "Too bad. Let's walk Sean out, put a bullet in him, roll credits."
I really loved everything about this film except the ending.
A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)
...a warm hug from old friends!
It was awesome to see Ralphie,Flick, Schwartz, Randy, Scut, and Grover together again! For nearly forty years these guys have brightened my life (and millions of others') each year during the holidays. And a wonderful tribute to The Old Man.
Budget: probably dug change from under the sofa cushions. Acting: Oscar's unlikely. No matter. The script was written from the heart and that is the value here. They have my gratitude for coming together again after all this time for our viewing pleasure. For those that experienced the magic back in 1983, this sequel was like a hot cup of apple cider and a warm hug from old friends!
Keep Breathing (2022)
Emotional Survival
This was a very good series. There is a lot of ire over the wilderness survival aspect, and understandably so if this were merely that. You have to dig deeper to appreciate this. The psychological trauma and wounds we carry from childhood, in this case a bipolar mother who abandons her daughter and an emotionally distant father, is the story here. The actual survival scenes were metaphoric to me as I watched. It was the emotional survival that was the powerful story line.
Liv evolves from seeking her mother's approval and tirelessly shoring up the emotional walls she has built around her, to letting those things go that she cannot control. The former wounded self let's go and allows new life to spring forth no longer living in fear. There are many other existential elements I found as well but suffice it to say there is more than one dimension to look at.
Anatomy of a Scandal (2022)
Had Potential but Face-planted the Landing
Four jaw-dropping episodes then...it wasn't the Queen's government that "imploded," it was this series. All the elements were there: cast, acting, cinematography, writing, directing, drama, cliffhangers, and bombshell revelations. ALL of it wasted on the silliest ending.
The last two episodes spiraled so far down with illogical decisions resulting in outrageous consequences that instead of solidifying the strong female characters, it reduced them to stereotypical "women scorned." Meanwhile the British government crumbles while Sophie frolics with the children on the green grass of Dover, and the children smile and laugh saying, "Daddy? Daddy who?" Then Kate / Holly returns powerfully to the courtroom with a smirk (and role credits). It was frustrating to see the first four episodes get flushed down the toilet with the trash that was the last two. In the end, criminal cases against the two of them are more solid.
On a positive note, Josette Simon shined! She played a convincing (and realistic) defense counsel. She was the reason I could give the two stars instead of one.
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Dark movie, but it "shines"
This movie passed my choke point on some scenes that were very disturbing, but I guess that is what a horror movie is supposed to do. Beyond that however, the movie was exceptionally good! The story development was perfect and the relationships among the characters were not forced or awkward. This was one of the most natural and flowing productions I have seen on screen in a long time. Everything came together in this production just the way it should. Flawlessly written, directed, and portrayed characters.
There are those far better than I that can speak to how well the movie honored the book or followed up on The Shining, but I can say is I flat enjoyed this movie.
All the Old Knives (2022)
Well, the old knives need sharpening
Not bad for online streaming, but I would have been upset watching this in a theater with a fifteen-dollar bucket of popcorn in my lap. The only real acting in the movie was from the quick flash scenes from the extras on the plane. Everyone else just whispered to each other with stoic looks on their faces while melodramatic videogame music played constantly throughout.
Instead of immersing myself in the plot, I found myself asking:
Why were a couple of the CIA agents / analysts crying?
Why did one of them leave an all-hands-on-deck situation because his wife wanted him home?
Why doesn't the damn music stop at least for a few seconds?
Why did not one of the parents say, "Oh hell no! You're not taking my kid from me!" no matter the consequence to themselves.
With a little effort this could have been a good movie but instead, the powers that be substituted writing, directing, and acting talent with Chris Pine's butt and Thandiwe Newton's boobs in flashback sex scenes that were just that, sex scenes, not romance.
Saying "I love you" no more makes a movie a romance than over playing dramatic music makes it a thriller.
This one was a miss.
Skyggen i mit øje (2021)
The Middle of an Epic Film
This was difficult to watch (for historical reasons). I saw it as "The Bombardment" on Netflix for its U. S. release March of 2022. So many productions have portrayed the horrors of WWII and without diminishing such a profound impact those events had on the world. I did not know this story, and it was a punch in the gut. What a tragic event!
I cannot be critical of this movie because I imagine it must be difficult dealing with the death of children on a large scale even portraying it on a movie set. Besides I was so caught up in the story I never looked for CGI or other technical errors.
The one thing that kept me from giving a rating of ten, was it gave you the heart of the story (which was great), dropping you in the action full speed, and then chopping it off while the rescue operation was just beginning.
Some may view sister Teresa as a romantic subplot, but I saw it as a nun seeing the horrors of war and losing her faith. She could not spur God to intervene in the human suffering through her prayer and self-punishment, so she tried provoking His wrath for an abominable act (kissing the Devil) to see if He was there. This was a very powerful element, leaving one to question, did her kiss bring the punishment she anticipated? Maybe a stretch.
It had a bittersweet ending that kept you from wanting to throw up and wrapped it up okay, but the film is too short. I would have loved to see more in the beginning about the background of why the operation took place and the aftermath maybe from a few perspectives. Another 15 minutes setup and 15 minutes conclusion could have done wonders, but then again, if it was not done just right it could have wrecked it.
Definitely recommend for historical value, but it is a really good film too.
Paranoid (2016)
Check The Ribbon!
This was entertaining. A bit of a departure from the cold and calloused detectives in most crime dramas where the job has hardened them. The characters are warmer and more vulnerable emotionally. Love or hate this approach, it made murder investigation a little more lightsome.
As the show progressed, it kept you guessing how big the conspiracy could be. It ended believably with it being a pharmaceutical company trying to cover up a previous drug trial that went horribly wrong.
There was not much in the way of impressive physicality for the cops, but the investigative skills were good with genuine efforts to find the truth and not just close the case.
But...
For several episodes they frantically chased the typed documents of the murdered GP. It was central to the investigation and in the end, they finally got a copy of two surviving pages. They had the typewriter. All they had to do was read the ribbon! This flaw was so distracting and unnecessary. The GP keeping a handwritten journal would have been better.
Reacher (2022)
Great Job Ritchson / "Just Reacher"
I have only seen the Tom Cruise as Reacher; I have not read the books. I thought it odd to pick Cruise with his smaller stature to depict such a bad a$$, but I loved the movies, and he was believable in the character. Alan Ritchson is a big guy and I felt he might come off as just a big bully, but he didn't at all. A hard-boiled character with a sprinkle of comedic moments and brilliantly designed silence was a perfect recipe for Reacher.
They did a decent job of selling small town Georgia too while filming in Canada. There are some annoying law enforcement procedural inaccuracies, but also some accurate but obscure aspects as well. A solid entertaining watch.
My Brother the Time Traveler (2017)
Good addition to your Christmas movie list
I look forward to this movie each Christmas season. It has a simple charm to it. And I do mean simple. Modern big budget films can have a total cast and crew of thousands (Titanic had 3K), this film had a hundred and shot in a week.
It is a movie you have to "watch" because it is making some points I admit I do not fully understand. It's quirky, with some dark elements, funny and heartwarming.
Two things: watch closely when the camera is placed on the table near the end and watch to the end of the credits.
Superb indie film.
La forêt (2017)
Very good, but for...
To start, I have to give praise to the acting. Samuel Labarthe as Captain Decker and Alexia Barlier as Eve were standouts. Labarthe had a command presence on-screen that made his character believable as a leader and the non-dramatic relationship with his daughter created a warm personal dynamic.
Barlier had a remarkable naturalism in her character. Her comfort and confidence in operating the motorcycle was beyond impressive and watching her glide through the forest was almost poetic.
I will go as far to say that all actor performances were commendable.
The writing is where this lacked. Lt. Musso was too emotional and dramatic for the role, not as a mother, but as a police officer. One need not know anything about police procedure to know her role was not plausible. Her daughter is missing and feared murdered. Her husband is a prime suspect in the serial murders and sexually involved with one of the victims.
Why is it a bad idea to have her second in command of the investigation? She might be tempted to impede the investigation (she does). She might overstep her bounds with suspects (she does). Her character would have been better written working on the case independently while on leave.
The other drawback was early on the killer (unrevealed) was shown to be a frail old man appearing hunched over. Once revealed he is totally different. He's sprinting injured through the woods with a shotgun chasing and keeping up with a teenage girl who by all appearances is in good physical condition.
On a positive note regarding the writing; there were no graphic sex scenes that are all to common. In fact there were no sex scenes at all. Not that there were no torrid affairs going on, but they were alluded to and left to the theater of the mind instead of slamming on the brakes to the suspense / thriller cutting to gratuitous sex aaaaaaand back to the movie.
A worthwhile watch. Talented performances. Beautiful cinematography. Good plot and suspense. Well done but for some writing flaws.
Midnight Mass (2021)
I liked the monologues, yes the monologues
An elderly priest suffering from dementia is sent on sabbatical in Jerusalem. He wanders off into the dessert when a sandstorm of the century blows in that uncovers an ancient tomb of some kind where he finds refuge, but a creature attacks him and drinks his blood, then the creature cuts itself and the priest drinks the creature's blood. The priest's youth is restored, and he takes the "angel" packed in a trunk back home to the island town with a population of a hundred or so.
Why? So everyone can drink poison and die and be resurrected to live forever. Sounds great! But... You will have an insatiable appetite for blood like a vampire and live like a zombie that cannot be caught in daylight or you will burn up and die, really die, not just for a few minutes like if you got shot or stabbed or poisoned. Oh, and to receive this version of eternal life through resurrection you must have been unwittingly drinking the creature's blood during communion at the church, OR, if one of the resurrected zombies attacks you, they can decide to let you drink their blood.
I could not tell whether this was a Jim Jones drink-the-Kool-Aid, the dead caught in Sheol, a miracle theist, or a why does God allow bad things to happen to good people story. It kept me guessing for a while, so the suspense was good. I am at a loss as to the books in the Bible as episode titles. There was a lot of Scripture quoted and the main setting was in the small Catholic Church, but it was not a Christian story. There were Muslim, atheist, and pantheistic perspectives as well, but they were not the story either.
There were many complaints about the long monologues, which I thought were the crux of the story. This was not about producing answers. With the world growing smaller and people of different beliefs / faiths walking alongside one another, we ask ourselves who is right and who is wrong? This was about the processing of doubts and struggles, pain and tragedy, the warm embrace or the misuse of religion. Some look at God as being in control, some look for answers in science, and others look within themselves. As one proceeds through life, one may look for answers in all of these at one time or another. This is about existential questions and demonstrates there are no simple answers. The monologues: searching for answers and solutions, blaming and forgiving, loving and hating, were what made this series.
The zombie / vampire ending was just absurd, but every actor did a great job playing their part. If you focus on the individual roles and performances, you can see some genius in there. It is worth the watch.
So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)
Weird "and" Funny
Charlie Mike Myers, who apparently makes a living at being Charlie has relationship commitment problems. He always finds a flaw in the person he is dating and ends the relationship. Harriet's Nancy Travis flaw could kill him. Charlie breaks up with her because he believes her to be the serial killer "Mrs. X," but after being convinced by his police detective friend, Tony Anthony LaPaglia, he is overreacting, Charlie asked for forgiveness, and they reconcile. But was Tony wrong? Is she in fact Mrs. X? Great plot!
In 1993 Mike Myers was very popular from his Saturday Night Live run and the box office hit Wayne's World (1992). The success did not translate in this film, at least at the box office. At the height of the video rental era, this may have been a movie that viewers would rather wait and rent for a couple of dollars to watch at home. It is what I did, and I thought the movie was great.
Decades later, it is still a good movie but for different reasons. In 1993 it was, "Mike Myers, Mike Myers, Mike Myers. He is so funny!" In 2021, it is the supporting cast that makes me laugh more. Phil Hartman, Steven Wright, and Alan Arkin among others were hysterical! Ranger John "Vicki" Johnson, that makes me laugh just typing it. It is not that Myers is not funny in this movie, he is, but the Wayne's World / SNL DNA detract from what could have been a much better film. Some have said that if Sharon Stone had been cast as Harriet the movie would have been much better. Maybe. There was a disconnect between the characters of Charlie and Harriet in the developing romance, but I will argue that it was more Myers' portrayal of Charlie. Nancy Travis, with her Julia Roberts type good looks, appropriately played the mysterious Harriet with a very good performance.
I guess there was no way "HELLO!!!" and the "Fat Bast..." character dad were not going to be a part of this movie. I still loved it. Add it to your October / Halloween viewing list for fun and you shouldn't be disappointed.
Unsere wunderbaren Jahre (2020)
Worth Watching / Could Have Been Great
This show is aesthetically pleasing and has great acting. It tackled some very tough material in post WWII Germany, so tough that as a viewer in the U. S. I did not think it could do some aspects justice. I cannot say whether it succeeded or not in that regard but some of the major elements were addressed: the treatment of the Jews, the still-present influence of Nazis, Soviet and British occupation, and a devastated economy and infrastructure.
There are some very powerful moments that truly tested the actors' abilities that were performed with excellence. In these aspects the production was well thought out, written and directed. As this focuses on the plight of the Wolf family, it is one of the best depictions of strong and courageous females. Unlike many films today, strong female roles are propped up by emasculated, incompetent men, but not here. The women persevere and overcome against the efforts of powerful and devious male counterparts. For the most part these strengths are used to redefine who the German people are postwar, but there are some who use their strength as a means to an end gaining personal desires. Either way the performances were strong and believable.
Unfortunately, the show was over sexed. The use of love scenes and passion can further the story. In this case they detract, all of them. Done properly, they can elicit viewers emotions in support of a relationship, or at least the understanding of what the character motivations are. Done improperly, as they were here, with prolonged grinding and humping, take you out of the story. Filmmakers giving an effort can allude to events artfully with tact and even get more of the vision across to the viewer (Think shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho that never showed one wound). Or they can do it the easy way and just show sex and bring down an otherwise good plot. Then, not one but two, devious business deals had to be consummated (pun intended) in a strip club with bare breasts hovering inches from the men's faces.
The destruction of one of the more admirable characters at the end becoming a rapist seemed completely out of place, like a last-minute correction. One writer says to the other, "How are we going to end the marriage?" The other writer replies, "Hmmm......er.... I got it! He rapes her!"
Hopefully, if the series continues, the producers will realize the talented cast they have is well able to carry the story and not give in to their insecurities and use excessive sexual content.
Force of Nature (2020)
Not great, but a respectable film
Watching this on Prime while eating dinner, this was very entertaining. I enjoyed the cast and no complaints with the acting. The action was exceptional. There was no annoying character doing stupid stuff screwing everything up. Quite the contrary, everyone was pretty bad ass, rising to the challenge. It stretched too far to be believable a few times and the budding romance between Hirsch's and Bosworth's characters was so awkward I had to look away. There are bullets flying outside, not to mention a hurricane, their partner's and father's lives are in danger and they are giggling with each other. Bosworth is beautiful, she has a magnificent smile, but c'mon, get back in the fight already! I would have given this an 8 had it not been for that. I hope to see Stephanie Cayo in the future. Hers, was my favorite performance in the movie.
McMillan & Wife (1971)
Really Good Show
I wish there was a term that distinguished a series of television movies from tv shows. The Love Boat, Dallas, and M. A. S. H. were tv shows. McMillan and Wife, Columbo, and McCloud were a lot more. I remember as a kid looking forward to which one was going to be the Mystery Movie as the three shows rotated airing each week.
The chemistry among the cast of McMillan and Wife was perfect. There was no awkward outsider among the four main characters: the Commissioner, his wife Sally, the housekeeper Mildred, and the right-hand man Sgt. Enright. They were comfortable together and believable, though not so much with the stories. The number of kidnappings and attempted murders of Mac and Sally was truly alarming. It was not as obvious seeing the show once a month as opposed to binge watching them today though. Mac also did not hesitate to include Sally in classified information and operations even from his former CIA days.
None of that really mattered though. The movies were well written and acted. They have stood the test of time; still enjoyable to watch today, nearly a half century later.
My compliments to Rock Hudson, Susan Saint James, John Schuck, and Nancy Walker for sharing their talents with the viewing public and brightening up Sunday evenings.
WARNING. SPOILERS AHEAD.
With that said, season six was quite different. Though Schuck still made minor appearances, Rock Hudson was really the only common denominator with the previous seasons. It was still a good show but not as good as it was. Hudson smoked often in the last season, but rarely in the earlier ones remarking at times of when he "used" to smoke.
The exception to this was in episodes Terror Times Two and Cross & Double Cross in season 2 and 3 respectively when Hudson also played his doppelganger, the heavy smoking sleazy wise guy Cladio Manton. The whole sixth season I could not get the image of Claudio out of my head seeing Mac suavely smoking around the ladies.
Thunder Force (2021)
Academy Awards Unlikely
I think many reviewers missed the point of this movie. It seemed clear to me that it was not a superhero movie; it was a spoof on superhero movies. I found it an enjoyable movie to watch. No, it wasn't terribly funny, but I wouldn't call it "unfunny." The elements were really quite clever if you understand classic comic book villains and superheroes. I did find humor in reviews from those who actually seemed pissed of Netflix even made this movie.
Disclainer- Not a paid reviewer for Netflix, producers, directors, or actors associated with this film.
Bliss (2021)
Unexpected Surprise
After watching the first third to half of the movie wondering how the hell the couple were going to break out of the cyber world and step into the beautiful Greek or Riviera scenery in the trailer, I realized it was not going to happen. Frustrating, but oh my gosh did they seem to nail the problem of mental illness and how it can spiral into drug addiction or vice versa. I often deal with those who are drug addicted and suffer from mental illness. Listening to them, it is clear that their reality is not the same as mine. To see this from their point of view (as best as can be done on a screen) was very powerful. I hated it. It was ugly. It was painful. It was sad and depressing. There is no other way to portray it and it was done magnificently. Owen Wilson and Selma Hayek; wonderful performances, no surprise, but the crown jewel of this film was Nesta Cooper. This was the first I had seen of her and she was fantastic. She is what made this movie moving and hopeful and inspiring. Too often families abandon those who are afflicted or give up on them (to illustrate, there are 40,000 unidentified deceased people in the U.S.). Not judging, I cannot imagine the difficulty in dealing with such a situation. I wish there was an easy answer to the problem. As a father though, Cooper's performance moved me to tears at the end. When she said "Daddy" with that smile backed by unconditional love for him it was beautiful. I have never seen a more convincing performance. I seriously would nominate her for an Oscar.
This movie is absolutely not what was advertised but is so worthwhile.
The Love Punch (2013)
Chemistry? No. Music...what?
This was the movie version of a DIY template website. No bells and whistles. Looks nice but doesn't wow you. No chemistry between Brosnan and Thompson. The acting wasn't bad, the movie just felt choppy and hastily put together. Didn't seem that anyone involved put their heart into it. And a lot of music that just left you confused.
Enola Holmes (2020)
Thoroughly Enjoyable!
Great cast, very well acted. A light-hearted movie. It's NOT "Sherlock." Any comparison is apples and oranges and you will be disappointed if that's what you expect going in to this movie. Brown is a remarkable young actor, her character is the central figure, and she delivers. A great afternoon movie.
A Little Help (2010)
Life sucks...then gets worse
The cast is good, the acting was good, but...
The movie: unhappy marriage, unhealthy coping habits, neglected kid caught in the middle; believable American story, no surprises there. The trailer leads you to believe this is a light-hearted, or maybe not so light-hearted comedy, but at least an enjoyable movie that would have, if not a happy ending, at least an ending that implies things are going to be okay. No. A tragic situation is compounded by not just bad decisions, but stupid bad decisions. There's a moral component of Jenna Fischer's character not wanting to take money from a lawsuit she feels would be based on a lie coupled with a dishonorable lie of epic proportions, dope smoking, sex with a loser, and an affair that would have devastating potential. The story goes nowhere. There's no growth, no maturation, no point to story. The credits rolled and their lives were still miserable with little indication they would get better.
And on the dope smoking note; wherever you stand on the issue, depicting a 9th grade student smoking weed is crossing a line.
Jenna Fischer: maybe a roll she took to shake the clean "Office" image? It didn't work. I still saw Pam and every other character was a Michael Scott scenario at some point in the series. She played the part well, it just seemed to be an extreme step of expanding her range.
For those who can see deep meaning and artistic expression you may love this movie. Other reviewers obviously saw something in it I didn't. It could have gone somewhere, ANYWHERE, but it just fell flat.
Magnum P.I. (2018)
Enjoyable, easy to watch
I like it. Glen Larson's tribute to veterans continues and is a nice compliment to the show. I was a young teen when the original series began and was a big fan. No, this show is not alot like the original, nor could it be. You have to like it for what it is, in and of itself. For that, it is well done. A very good cast, decent amount of action, not-to-dark story lines, and spectacular scenery that could have never been captured by 80's technology. The Magnum / Higgins dynamic was the hardest part for me to adjust to. I think Weeks does a great job in the role, and is perfect for the intent of the show today, but the nostalgia in me wonders what would it be like if someone like Ben Kingsley was Higgins.
Don't Let Go (2019)
Exactly what it was supposed to be
In the beginning it seemed that it may not be a movie that would come through but it started flowing and was thoroughly enjoyable with a good measure of action and suspense. So many things could have gone wrong with this movie but nothing did. It ended when and how it should, the plot was engaging not revealing what was around the next turn, and David Oyelowo and Storm Reid put forth commendable performances. A perfect example that you do not have to spend $150 million to make a good move. It was simplistically magnificent.
Logan Lucky (2017)
Didn't Think I Would Like It
I walked over to the theater while my car was being repaired and this was the first movie playing. I thoroughly enjoyed this it. It was funny and the entire cast gave great performances. Channing Tatum and Adam Driver were very funny. And Daniel Craig, wow!Loved him as 007 but thought he would make a fool of himself in this role, but he pulled it off magnificently!Everyone did well with their quirky southern (more redneck southern) accents and mannerisms. Great movie.
Aquarius (2015)
Loved it
I just finished watching both seasons on Netflix. This was a fantastic show. I was surprised when I found it had low ratings on NBC, then again, does anyone even watch network television anymore? I digress. Duchovny did a great job as did all the cast. Episodes ended with great cliffhangers. I was a kid when this all took place and remember the the hype and fascination over the Manson murders, the tumultuous activity surrounding the civil rights movement, and the beginnings of change in law enforcement practices. Sex and drugs? I can't say but this show incorporated all of these elements in a very intelligent way that gave you a taste of what that time was like. It would be impossible to cover every aspect and point of view from that time, so if that is what you are looking for don't bother. This is entertainment, and very good entertainment at that. What is fact or fiction, I cannot say but I found myself thinking, "I remember that" rather than "I didn't know that,"so they seemed to have pulled out at least some of the heartbeat from that time. I wish they had not canceled, I would have loved to see where they would have taken it. Watch it!