gdalesmith Reviews

Magellan (2017)

Lots of flaws, but...

[4/10 · 19 July 2021]

Other reviews cover the plot holes, etc., in this movie, so no point in going over them again. Magellan's enigmatic and unsatisfying ending deserves added attention, however.

At the real risk of giving more credit than due, there is a possibility that York and Baird actually wanted the angry buzz that Magellan's ending has generated. Since nearly all low budget movies quickly fade into obscurity, they may have decided to end theirs in a way that would leave viewers wanting answers. Someone with deep pockets might decide a sequel would have enough potential to take a gamble.

Something similar happens often on YouTube, when a group produces a science fiction short to showcase their screenwriting and technical talents in what is effectively a teaser for a full length movie, in hopes that a backer will be intrigued enough to finance it.

Cosmos (I) (2019)

A fresh twist to the First Contact genre

[7/10 · 18 July 2021]

It's ironic that this movie gets a 7 rating from someone who agrees with many criticisms of other reviewers. Cosmos does have WAY too long a run time. At least 30 minutes could easily have been shaved off, while still telling a good story. Plot holes aplenty, like why leave a car's headlights on all night while it's simply parked? The technique of using subtle facial expressions to supplement what a viewer learns via dialogue about the characters and background is fine up to a point. After that watching three guys stare at each other gets wearisome.

On the plus side, all three actors did a great job fleshing out their characters, especially when considering fully half the movie has them sitting in a car. There were a couple of scares, and the directors used background music and lighting to great effect (that headlights thing notwithstanding). All in all, Cosmos is worth watching to the end, which automatically makes it better than well over half the small budget movies being made these days.

Holler (2020)

Fine entertainment!

[8/10 · 4 July 2021]

If you haven't seen the movie yet, please do so before reading this review, as it might have a negative impact on your experience.

Given the gritty premise and setting, Holler could easily have been a boring movie. It certainly wasn't, in large part because of top notch acting by everyone in it. Not only were the characters believable, but there was a hard-to-define 'energy' in the way they delivered their lines which, let us remember, probably had to be repeated multiple times in retakes. Kudos to the director as well, for getting such great performances from the cast. The script's writer is especially to be commended for emphasizing the terrible impact of American jobs being offshored. Generally this subject is ignored by Hollywood's movers and shakers.

The plot development was comfortably linear and predictable, up to a point - that point being the ending. Just didn't work for me. Ruth's action is completely out of character with everything she's done and said and been said about her throughout the movie.

Vicious Fun (2020)

Not really worth a watch, but...

[4/10 · 2 July 2021]

First and foremost - WAY too much dialogue. The I40 minute run time should have been cut in half, mainly by chopping numerous wearisome conversations. The lead actors are another major problem. If either the wimpy male or female serial killer were offed at any point in this movie, most viewers wouldn't care. If only Rooney Mara been give the female lead.

On the plus side, there is understated humor at times, and some interesting visual effects.

I Blame Society (2020)

Not your grandmother's chick flick

[9/10 · 14 February 2021]

A truly entertaining story about a woman who is determined to follow her dream and will drive across your lawn to do it, if necessary. Humor abounds as she struggles to make an indie movie while dealing with numerous relationship issues and career obstacles.

I Blame Society is one of those rare movies that succeeds when a screenwriter also directs the production. In part this is due to a clever plot and well-paced tempo. Even when characters are just sitting and talking to each other, the dialogue is interesting and relevant, rather than simply filler. It also helps that Gillian Wallace Horvat has a lot of experience at making documentaries. That she is a fine actress adds even more to her film's appeal.

Special mention should be made regarding the many small roles Horvat gave to actors in her movie. Some lasted no more than a minute, but none were superfluous. This gave a lot of hopefuls something for their resumes when applying for parts in future movies.

Tideland (2005)

Utter drek, except for

[3/10 · 15 January 2021]

The performance of Jodelle Ferland, who was about ten years old at that time. A gifted actress whose expressions and activities are the only positive elements of an otherwise unwatchable cinematic train wreck. Ironically - or perhaps symbolically - a train wreck is depicted in this movie.

Besides Ferland, Tideland's other standout feature is the disturbing insight it provides into director/screenwriter Terry Gilliam's thinking. Even the title is senseless. Most of the story is set somewhere in Canada's vast prairies, probably a thousand miles from the nearest sea, so 'Tideland' apparently refers to something psychological rather than physical. Maybe, but that connection is swamped in a hopelessly confused story populated with characters - other than Jeliza Rose - who are utterly repulsive and/or flat out insane. Extraneous scenes and an enigmatic ending do not help.

Tideland had a disastrous box office. Perhaps that's why Gilliam reportedly suggested people should try to watch it through the eyes of child trying to cope with a terrible home life. A high concept with great potential had the scenes been shot from a first person point of view, namely that of Rose. Gilliam, however, chose to record it all from a third person POV, which severely muddled things. As if anything by Gilliam needs still more muddle.

Given Ferland's talent, this movie could have garnered lots of awards. Too bad Gilliam himself didn't concentrate on trying to see his scenes through the eyes of a normal adult.

Shrew's Nest (2014)

About a seamstress with serious issues

[9/10 · 9 January 2021]

And agoraphobia is the least of them.

This movie is worth watching just for Macarena Gómez's performance alone. Such an actress! Others in the cast pulled their weight as well. Some critics are dissing Hugo Silva, but an actor can only do so much when his or her onscreen time mostly involves just lying prone in a bed. Silva did fine in scenes when his character was more or less mobile.

Clearly this is a horror movie, but it has a low key comedic element as well. Only someone with Gomez's talent, and that of the director who turned her loose, could get away with the 'shenanigans' she portrayed (as Montse) and not have the audience simply shrug off the show as a silly slasher flick.

For those interested in making a low budget indie movie themselves someday, note how practically all the scenes took place in one apartment. Far less expense dealing with lighting, weather, set up time, transportation, etc. Lots of movies use one or two indoor sets for the same reason, but they rarely even approach the same energy level as Musarañas, aka Shrew's Nest.

Shadow in the Cloud (2020)

WASP with an attitude

[7/10 · 3 January 2021]

This movie's premise, gremlins on a plane, would seem to put it in the superhero genre, like Wonder Woman or Batgirl. That's not a good fit, however. While Maude Garrett certainly has plenty of luck - starting with being unharmed after blithely walking under a bomber's wing as its propellers begin to spin - she doesn't have superpowers, or even a cape for that matter. She does have a leather jacket, kind of like Indiana Jones, but while Jones willingly puts himself in danger time and again, Moretz's character tries to evade it. So Shadow in the Cloud is somewhere between the two genres.

Overall it's a fun watch, although the blatant social messaging gets wearisome at times. That said, Women Airforce Service Pilots ferried more than 12000 military aircraft of all types around the US during WW2, so a female piloting a B-17 shouldn't be a problem for viewers to accept. As for flying it upside down - well, there's nothing in the opening credits stating the movie is 'based on a real incident.'

For those interested in making a movie themselves some day, this one's end credits are an eye opener. Even a relatively simple, small budget production requires the combined efforts of several hundred individuals, including those associated with post production.

The Abyss (1989)

Close encounters of the worst kind

[5/10 · 1 January 2021]

Including a near death experience by leading man Ed Harris during production. If life was fair, The Abyss would have swept the Academy Awards just for what the cast and crew went through in making it.

Off-screen drama aside, the movie is merely okay, entertainment-wise. The plot, which features highly intelligent creatures that dwell on the sea floor, is only modestly intriguing. Several other films were released in roughly the same time period that also involved scary, ocean-based lifeforms, so that new wears off fast. Lots of impressive special effects, sets, and props, yes, but given roughly $150 million in 2020 dollars almost any director could turn out impressive visuals. Try to imagine what the people who made Hardcore Henry could have done with a budget like that!

More importantly, despite heroic efforts by Harris et al, the screenplay they had to work with was shallow. Plot holes aplenty, like having a relatively tiny, one-person submersible tow a massive, megaton oil rig to a new location near the Cayman Trench. Dialogue and character interactions are generally unimaginative, which soon becomes painfully evident despite a furry of shouting and profuse profanity. A few twists as the story progresses, but they resolve into predictable outcomes, as does the film's ending. And for the record, SEALS are not 'Jarheads; i.e., Marines.

Hardcore Henry (2015)

Mayhem to the max!

[10/10 · 31 December 2020]

This is a breakthrough action movie in the same sense that 2001, A Space Odyssey was for science fiction. Non-stop violence practically from start to finish, with everything seen from a first person point of view (recorded by Go-Pro cameras). Henry is a newly-minted bionic man trying to save his wife from the clutches of people who can best be described as intensely anti-social. That is essentially the plot, but the plot is overwhelmed by a steadily building body count, snippets of humor and irony, and amazing feats of derring-do.

'Amazing' actually doesn't do justice to some of the stunts made for this movie, a surprising number of which were performed by the actors themselves, rather than stunt professionals. In fact, behind the scenes accounts of how Hardcore Henry was made is nearly as fascinating as the movie itself, which is saying a lot! Example: They really were running atop those bridge girders. No FX, and no safety lines. Welcome to the world of PARKOUR.

HH was supposedly made for just two million dollars. Maybe, or maybe the accountants were just as creative as the people who produced this excellent movie.

Starlight Hotel (1987)

Fine, family-friendly entertainment

[8/10 · 26 December 2020]

It's hard economic times in New Zealand amidst the 1930s depression, so a man leaves home to find work in Wellington. His young daughter doesn't want to be left behind, so she leaves home herself to reunite with him. She soon teams up with a man being chased by the law, and on the run to Australia. At first neither are enthused about each other's company, but a series of challenges eventually results in a good working relationship. It's a completely platonic one, however.

Lots of adventures during their odyssey, and plenty of interesting people along the way. Exceptional performances by both Greer Robson-Kirk and Peter Phelps make their characters believable and interesting.

One issue with this movie is it has too many subplots. Perhaps the screenwriter added segments so more New Zealand actors could get exposure in a locally-made production. Several of the segments added little to the story, however, but did cost it momentum.

Reaptown (2020)

Slowburn horror

[6/10 · 25 December 2020]

Reaptown is perfect for in depth analysis by people who hope to make a micro-budget independent movie themselves some day. Apparently Dutch Marich produced a very inexpensive film based on his own screenplay, and edited it as well. He also appears onscreen, sort of. Unlike many movies that have a virtual army working behind the scenes as it is made, or during post edit, here Marich is an army of one.

He certainly hit a home run with his choice of setting, a run down railroad equipment repair yard. An eerie place at night, made even creepier with the lighting effects Marich employed. It's possible all the scenes recorded there were completed in one or two days. Same for the motel room segments. Expansive drone camera shots provide a refreshing contrast to that depressing railroad yard, and Chrissy Carpenter adds some sparkle to a generally gloomy atmosphere.

In any case Brooke Bradshaw is quite believable as the ill-starred protagonist. Unfortunately, her role is severely limited by a simplistic script that has serious logic problems. Nearly every film has some, but here they are easy to spot (unlike a Shapeshifter). The last scene she appears in is a perfect example. Baldwin did what she could with what she was given, however, and her performance in Reaptown will be a nice addition to her resume when seeking future roles.

Hunter Hunter (2020)

A truly exceptional movie!

[9/10 · 21 December 2020]

Another fine movie out of Canada. 93 minutes of building suspense, intense action, plot twists, great acting, mystery, horror, professional work by the crew - with an extra nod to those responsible for establishing ambience with lighting, camera angles, etc. Who needs Hollywood anymore?

Let It Snow (2020)

Definitely worth watching

[7/10 · 19 December 2020]

Ivanna Sachno does an outstanding job portraying Mia, an extreme snowboarder who has to deal with someone who really, REALLY doesn't like snowboarders. Given the winter conditions in which much of this movie was made, some of her pained and haggard expressions may not have been theatrics. She did many of her character's stunts as well.

Plenty of snowy mountains and rugged terrain in this movie, but those are by no means the only examples of excellent cinematography. Check out the scene where she struggle to escape after being buried in an avalanche. Or later when she's running away from some nutter on a snowmobile.

Yes, there are issues with Let It Snow. Flashbacks repeatedly interrupt tense scenes, ruining the pace and atmosphere. This happens all too often in movies. Perhaps directors and editors become so familiar with the story that they no longer see it with 'fresh eyes,' as do viewers watching it for the first time. Also, the supernatural element seems like an afterthought, rather than integral to the plot.

Faults notwithstanding, this movie is way better than the average nowadays, many of which had enormous budgets compared to Let It Snow.

Breaking Surface (2020)

Awesome!

[10/10 · 17 December 2020]

In Breaking Surface we get a thriller that has plenty of action scenes, some of them literally breathtaking as the story becomes ever more intense. Breaking Surface deals with scuba diving, an activity not often depicted in movies, at least not with the attention to accuracy like this one. Most of it takes place in a Norwegian fjord, which makes the plot even more unusual. We are also treated to spectacular Norwegian scenery above ground, and eerie underwater imagery. It's probably impossible to imagine the headaches and challenges that director Joachim Hedén and his crew had to overcome to pull off the underwater scenes. His two lead actresses, Moa Gammel and Madeleine Martin, create three-dimensional characters that viewers will start to care about after a few minutes. Twists to the plot? Yes indeed!

Long to short, Breaking Surface is 82 minutes of entertainment at its finest.

Silent Night (IV) (2020)

Not completely silent, actually

[8/10 · 16 December 2020]

Because this movie has plenty of gunfire and violence, surely enough for most fans of the crime thriller genre. The cast all make their characters believable and interesting, even those with small roles like the cop. The dialogue has some clever bits, and Silent Night's director, Will Thorne, did a fine job dealing with all the challenges of making a by no means simple gangland revenge story entertaining. If this comes out as a DVD with a director's cut, it could well be worth buying just to see how movies are made in gritty urban settings.

What really sets Silent Night apart, however, is a twist in the plot. Can't say much about that without taking this review into spoiler territory, but the twist certainly puts Mark in a whole different light. Not necessarily a better light, however.

Europa Report (2013)

Wait, what?

[5/10 · 15 December 2020]

No safety lines or tethers when working outside the ship, or walking on the unstable surface of Europa?

Diversity among the characters does offer entertainment advantages, but do we really need a fellow who tries to hide his flab with a partially-peeled down jumpsuit, and probably isn't much into personal hygiene judging by his bewhiskered countenance - extreme close ups of which viewers are treated to as often as possible?

Hats off to the people who designed the ship's interiors, and the special effects team, and those responsible for the unusual camera angles. That said, a lot of scenes basically involve crew members confined to a small space, talking to each other or to onboard cameras. Even amidst exotic surroundings, conversations should be dynamic enough to maintain viewer interest between crises. Unfortunately Europa Report's dialogue didn't meet that challenge. Many exchanges were low energy iterations of what we've all heard in Deep Impact, Armageddon, etc.. In any case, wouldn't characters in action movies be better employed Doing, rather than Discussing?

On the upside, this movie certainly has a nifty ending. Tons of action there!

Ed Wood (1994)

Well done, Ed Wood!

[9/10 · 13 December 2020]

Sixty years since it was released, Plan 9 from Outer Space remains the (more or less) undisputed champion of 'so bad it's good' movies. Countless other quality-challenged movies have been made since 1959, but none have reached - let alone topped - the bar that Plan 9 set. Almost all fade into oblivion, while Ed Wood's signature work remains a classic that by now has been watched by many millions of people.

The movie and the man himself were ridiculed mercilessly, but Tim Burton and Johnny Depp give us a different view of Ed Wood, and a refreshing one it is. Now we get a sense of the obstacles he faced, such as a continual lack of funds and issues with actors. In the end, he got his movie made and seen despite everything, which is more than can be said for practically all the freelancers who submit thousands of scripts each year to producers and agencies.

Joyride (1997)

Mellow entertainment

[6/10 · 12 December 2020]

Perfect for a relaxed evening after a hectic day at work. It's what might be described as a crime drama that doesn't take itself too seriously. The actors fleshed out their characters very well, and one gets a sense that they were having fun during the production. The interplay between Detective Lopez and Sheriff Cork is an example.

Quinton Peeples wrote the script for Joyride, and also directed it. He did a fine job. Yes, there's more than one plot hole in the story, and Adam West's character was something of a drag, as he had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. None of that significantly detracts from an enjoyable viewing experience.

Monsters of Man (2020)

Maybe the Gamers will like it

[2/10 · 12 December 2020]

In 1973 a groundbreaking science fiction movie was released entitled Westworld, written and directed by Michael Crichton. If the Monsters of Man script had been slightly revised, the title could have been SouthEastworld, written and directed by Mark Toia, featuring a bunch of college students on spring break visiting a sci-fi theme park in a Florida swamp, and getting way more excitement than they paid for.

If nothing else, this movie serves as a warning to new writer/directors, even those who feel they are at Crichton's level, to confer with straight-talking critics, and do so often. Some of Monster's many problems might be avoided, including an overlong run time, dialog appropriate for potty-mouthed adolescents rather than adults, and the vomit scene that appears to be obligatory in all action movies these days.

Ending on a positive note, the lead actors did fine considering the script they had to work with; e.g., some of them sitting at desks for half the movie looking really stressed, and others looking even more stressed as they try to escape trigger-happy robots.

Kill the Habit (2010)

Comedy gold

[8/10 · 11 December 2020]

Sometimes disposing of a drug dealer's body can be a hassle. In defense of the three women doing the disposing, none of them had much experience in such matters.

Deadpan humor permeates this movie. The dialog sparkles, which is a particularly good thing because there's a lot talking involved. The plot is logical, in a funny sort of way, and the story progresses smoothly except for a very few scenes where some momentum is lost.

Another outstanding attribute is how the writer, Laura Neri, seamlessly spliced in numerous small roles for a supporting cast. None lasted more than three or four minutes, but they added color and substance to the movie, and also gave several hopeful actors a nice addition to their resumes.

Side Effects (I) (2013)

Worth a watch, despite the flaws

[6/10 · 9 December 2020]

This movie has taken a lot of flak here at IMDb over the years, but for the wrong reasons. It's a cerebral crime drama that involves sticky moral issues in modern society, mainly related to prescription drugs. With one or two brief exceptions there's no serious violence or scary scenes. This might be a letdown for those expecting something like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, or Frances. Also, Side Effects does take some liberties with medical and police protocols. Oh, well. It's a work of fiction intended as entertainment, not an instructional video.

Jude Law shines in his role as Dr. Jonathan Banks, giving his character and the story lots of energy. Rooney Mara does a good job as always, but in this movie she portrays a depressed, low-energy person. Quite a contrast between Emily here and Lisbeth as The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Unfortunately, two other characters radiate negative waves almost non-stop. If for some reason that's what the director called for, Catherine Zeta Jones (as Dr. Victoria Siebert,) certainly got the message. About 80 minutes into the movie she hits Banks in the back of his head with her briefcase. I mean, Jones really whacked Law. It might have been a fake, foam rubber briefcase, but Law did a great job of acting shocked. In any case, a character can be unpleasant or even downright evil, yet still interesting. Siebert was unpleasant. Period.

Banks' wife is another character whose onscreen presence soon becomes tiresome. Clearly a woman who's having none of that Stand By Your Man nonsense.

All in all, a good but not great movie.

What Lies Below (2020)

At long last

[8/10 · 6 December 2020]

A creature feature starring lampreys. Certainly one of the nastiest aquatic animals out there, both in looks and lifestyle. Perfect for a tale of horror, but What Lies Below also has science fiction and supernatural elements, which adds to the punch - or more accurately suction power.

Ema Horvath does an outstanding job in the lead role. Although actually 25, she is quite believable as Liberty, a 16-year old just home from summer camp and beset with major monster issues. Mena Suvari also turns in a great performance as Liberty's mom. The two interact really well on screen.

Kudos for this movie would not be complete without mentioning the excellent lighting effects, creepy background music, and totally unexpected ending.

Two stars deducted because several times the story went from horror to horribly gross, but all in all this movie is definitely worth a watch.

Black Bear (I) (2020)

Smooth takeoff, bumpy ride

[4/10 · 6 December 2020]

Stars for the performers, including the supporting cast. Another for the brief but ambience-rich scenes featuring Plaza contemplating a fog-shrouded lake. Also a star for showing cast and crew activities while a second movie is being made within the overall Black Bear framework. That was interesting and even educational, at least for those of us who hope to produce a movie ourselves some day.

Big applause for the writer/director's departure from a normal drama by having his lead actors radically change roles about half-way into the movie. Two related stories in one.

Unfortunately, what probably seemed like a clear high concept to Levine actually isn't, judging by reviews here at IMDb and many other sites. Are one or both stories simply the imaginings of Plaza's character, since both start and end with her returning to a table to write a new screenplay? What's up with that odd look she gives the camera in the final scene? And the 'Black Bear' title? One bear is seen twice in this film, for a grand total of maybe five seconds. The bear thing was significant to Levine, but not necessarily to an audience.

Even one unresolved enigma can alienate a viewer. It's like authors who throw an occasional foreign word (often French) into the text, but leave it undefined. The implication is that people who really count will know what the word means. As for Black Bear, people who really count will figure out the enigmas, no problem. The rest should maybe go watch a rerun of Smokey and the Bandit.

The Quick and Dirty (2019)

A mixed bag, entertainment-wise

[3/10 · 4 December 2020]

Canada turns out plenty of fine movies, such as A Fire in the Cold Season, but making one supposedly set in the USA's deep south circa 1970s wasn't a great idea. Evidence aplenty for that, starting with a near total absence of southern drawls. As a screenwriter myself (thus far undiscovered, unfortunately), I could almost feel the actors doing their utmost to make the script work. It just wasn't happening, even as a spoof action movie. Beyond that, multiple flashbacks were employed, which made the unfolding story confusing, especially since it involved a lot of high-energy scenes which left little time for a viewer to sort things out.

Judging by Quick and Dirty's lack of polish, short run time, and its enigmatic ending, this movie may have been released sooner than the producers would have preferred, perhaps due to budgetary restraints or deadlines of some sort.

In any case, the actors did their best.