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swmoncur
Reviews
Batman Begins (2005)
Why do we fall?
The concept here was great-the execution, not so much. It had been ~15 years since I'd seen this movie so it was essentially a first watch for me.
I'll start with the good:
The origin story in and of itself is compelling and builds a strong foundation from the very start. I love having context for how exactly Bruce Wayne becomes Batman.
The storyline flows quite naturally and builds upon itself, avoiding any drastic leaps or plot holes.
The character arc of Bruce Wayne is enjoyable to watch and you feel satisfied as he faces his past and conquers his fears. I also think Christian Bale fits the mold of the Bruce Wayne character they were going for here.
Unfortunately, I thought the production quality and direction of the film detracted from the conceptual value.
The bad:
Portrayal of Bruce's early years is well-written but the acting is quite poor and the setting doesn't age consistently with Bruce's growing from adolescence to adulthood (this is admittedly pretty nit-picky). The sequences during Bruce's stint in Bhutan and the League of Shadows are corny and shallow, and I have no idea why Liam Neeson was chosen for the role of Ra's al Ghul-just seemed so out of place to me. In fact, there really wasn't a single acting job that stood out as above average in this movie. A few were good, but most were mediocre at best.
I didn't find the villains to be effective at all either-Cilian Murphy wearing a knapsack mask and spraying gas into peoples faces? Not my cup of tea.
Finally, there were numerous scenes where the dialogue just didn't come across very well, and I think the writing was to blame rather than the actual delivery. Would've expected a little higher quality from Christopher Nolan.
Overall, a good origin story that was hampered by poor execution.
Django Unchained (2012)
Sweet as white cake and candy
There is so much to be appreciated in this movie.
First and foremost, the acting job by Christoph Waltz is absolutely incredible. I can't decide if he is better in this or in Inglorious Basterds--but really, who cares? He blows me away in both. His lines are perfectly crafted and amazingly clever, not to mention his delivery is flawless. The prowess of this movie is due in large part to his performance.
Jamie Foxx, DiCaprio, and Samuel L. All do an exceptional job as well--each playing such nuanced and fascinating characters. You'll be hard-pressed to find a single actor who fell short here and that's what makes it so special.
As for the plot, who doesn't love a story of revenge and romance, with continuous touches of wit, humor, and sadness? It's a range of emotions that creates an amazingly vibrant viewing experience.
Never a bad day to watch Django Unchained.
Phantom Thread (2017)
A love untailored
What a peculiar love story. Far from your typical romance and one that highlights the darker shades of a nuanced relationship. On the slower end in terms of pace, but this perfectly matched the underlying storyline and didn't detract IMO.
Daniel Day-Lewis is amazing as per usual. His attention to even the most minor details and his ability to personify such complex characters blows me away.
Beautiful story, cinematography, costumes, and acting all around.
The Batman (2022)
"Vengeance won't change the past... people need hope"
A uniquely captivating and raw take on the Batman we all know. Where the Dark Knight and others have been overwhelmingly fast-paced and action-packed, this movie slows the tempo, dims the lights, and takes you on a gritty ride through Gotham.
The production quality here was truly exceptional. Stunning shots and scenery throughout, perfectly paired with an AMAZING score from Michael Giacchino. Seriously, the soundtrack was sensational and I can't imagine it won't have a shot at winning Best Original Score in next year's Oscars. Can't remember the last movie score that stood out to me like this one did.
I didn't know what to expect from Pattinson in his role as Batman but he was surprisingly effective, as was Kravitz and Paul Dano. Very well casted. Storyline had some great depth to it and the way it comes together in the latter half of the movie MADE the movie.
Can't say I enjoyed it quite as much as The Dark Knight (Heath Ledger's performance alone tips the scale for me) but, objectively, almost everything about The Batman is done equally as well with certain elements being even better; just not as much my cup of tea.
By all means a great movie... and one that makes the recent Marvel films look like child's play. We need more of this!
The Pianist (2002)
A beautifully tragic story of survival
This was excellent. There is a sobering effect that many WWII movies have that just seems to put everything into perspective. This was no exception. A timely reminder of how much our first-world problems really do pale in comparison to the wars and hardships that plague the less fortunate. We certainly have a lot to be grateful for.
An incredible story of a prolific Jewish musician whose life and family is abruptly destroyed by the Nazi invasion of Poland-his survival being nothing short of a miracle.
Adrien Brody does a masterful job as the lead actor and the overall plot and screenplay was so solid. The movie as a whole has a similar feel to many other WWII films but the execution was top-notch. I love a good true story and this didn't disappoint.
The Man from Snowy River (1982)
The Man from Snowy River
I love a good western-not because they're always incredibly well made or deep, but because of their simplicity. Man From Snowy River wasn't anything especially praiseworthy, but it had a good storyline, solid acting, and was an easy watch for a lazy weekend at the cabin.
Goodfellas (1990)
Classic gangster film with a killer trio
Raw, relentlessly violent, and peppered with that distinctive humor that seems to give all of the classic gangster movies their unique charm.
The storyline here was simple and gave what I figure to be a broad look at mob life in the early- to mid-20th century; their social and love lives, their deep-seated values of respect and loyalty, and their no-nonsense way of carrying out business and handling problems... all with a touch of Italian culture and class.
The main cast carried their weight and then some. Ray Liotta is the up-and-comer, learning the ropes as he grows from boy to man and doing a fantastic job narrating the majority of the movie. DeNiro is his classic self; cool, calm, and collected but never afraid to bring down the hammer. Pesci is hilarious, as per usual, whose volatility gets him into constant trouble. This trio has loads of chemistry!
Having just watched Casino, I'll give my brief comparison of the two. With Pesci and DeNiro appearing in both movies, they have very similar feels; the main difference, IMO, being the plots. Casino has a more pointed and robust storyline of the mob in Vegas while Goodfellas paints a more general picture of what gangster life once entailed. Both were well-acted and clearly had stellar direction from Scorsese. Hard to pick a favorite here as both have such iconic scenes and can easily stand alone as forever classics.
Casino (1995)
Pesci and DeNiro *chef's kiss*
Pesci and DeNiro are an iconic duo-every scene between the two just feels so authentic and serious.
DeNiro is the level-headed yet complicit casino boss trying to maintain his public image. Pesci is the volatile behind-the-scenes man who doesn't hesitate to get his hands dirty-cleaning up (or creating) messes and racking up cash. Tensions rise as they both step on the other's toes in their sticky web of business and lifelong friendship.
The 2.5 hour runtime was bolstered by a strong plot that showed the skewed reality of the early Vegas days. I loved the fact that it was all based on true events. Acting was obviously top notch, and the overall flow and structure of the movie was enjoyable.
Moving on to Goodfellas now, which I probably should have watched first.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Napalm in the morning
No doubt, a stunning film when it comes to the visual effects--all of which were created without the use of CGI. There was an abundance of real explosions, planes, helicopters, napalm, etc. That all added to the visual beauty of the movie. This aspect alone deserves a very high rating.
Where I think the movie fell short was with regards to the plot and pace. The storyline is interesting enough, but the execution was lacking IMO and the pacing didn't help. Development of the plot was very slow. Surely this was on purpose (meant to mirror the film's setting / subject matter), but I felt that it detracted from the enjoyability. Acting performances were good across the board, but nobody stood out in particular.
Wish I had loved this one as much as the general populations seems to, but I just felt there were too many elements that were just OK to justify a GREAT rating (8+).
The 355 (2022)
Predictable and a little cheesy... but entertaining enough
Ocean's 8 vibes but not quite as good... and since I didn't particularly love Ocean's 8, this one didn't do much for me.
I love an action movie that is entertaining and pushes the limits of my imagination, but still remains grounded enough in reality to keep me "bought in." I think this movie fell short on that front; lots of sensationalized action scenes and unrealistic elements (plot, screenplay) that made it feel somewhat cheesy. It wasn't overbearingly so... just enough that it didn't sit quite right with me.
I'd rate this movie a 2.5 if it weren't for the lead cast, who I actually thought did a solid job together and were entertaining throughout. It was mainly the plot and screenplay that had some significant weaknesses.
Overall, this is a decent option if you're in the mood for a light, girl-power, action movie that you don't have to think too much about.
Dunkirk (2017)
"All we did is survive" ... "That's enough!"
Christopher Nolan did a solid job depicting such a terrifying and helpless event from WWII. You could really sense the utter desperation that the soldiers must have felt. Pace was a little slow in the first half of the movie and at times it was tough to understand how separate storylines were connected. That said, the disjointed beginning made for a cool culmination at the end. The underlying messages of compassion, sacrifice, and duty made a strong impression and put the bow on top. Not the most captivating film you'll ever watch, but heartwarming and strong nonetheless.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
PTA has range - an enjoyable, light-hearted romance
A quirky love story with an authentic, lighthearted feel. The storyline was fun and had really good flow to it. The character development was a joy to watch, and there were moments throughout that made me laugh and left a smile. Nothing tacky or cheap; all well-crafted dialogue and great production. Some great shots and sequences that really evoked that retro-70s California vibe.
I do think the last 20 minutes could have been eliminated without detracting from the story; 133 mins was on the brink of being too long. Of course, the climax (kiss!) at the end was necessary, but the storyline about the campaign immediately preceding the end seemed a bit underdeveloped and excessive. To be fair, though, even the final 20 minutes were enjoyable... this was just my main criticism.
A job well done by Paul Thomas Anderson, who really shows his versatility in creating such a warm, feel-good movie to go with his more serious works.
Gangs of New York (2002)
Great by Day-Lewis, but not as a whole
Despite the general praise for this movie, I didn't find it particularly enjoyable or well done. At just under 3 hours, the plot wasn't nearly as strong as it needed to be to keep the audience engaged. Slow moving and uninteresting at numerous points.
Daniel Day-Lewis gives the only "really good" performance in the movie, while the others (DiCaprio and Diaz) are merely decent. Stylistically, I also found it to be a bit strange. There were several scenes where I thought the shots and overall direction was tacky (mostly overly dramatized battle scenes)... maybe they were good in 2002 when the movie was released, but they certainly didn't age well.
Overall, a movie I struggled to get into despite an strong performance by Day-Lewis.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Royale with cheeeeeese
This movie ages better the longer I think about it (it's been three days now since I watched). Wildly entertaining from start to finish. The unpredictability that we have come to associate with Tarantino is present throughout and give it that unique flavor of satisfaction. It reminded me of a loose hybrid between Fargo and The Big Lebowski. Dark comedy with a more-than-healthy dose of violence.
As with most, if not all, Tarantino films, the plot is out of left field and is filled with unexpected twists and turns. This is compounded by the fact that you're following three unique storylines (not in chronological order!) whose common thread is largely unclear until the end of the movie. It does come together in the end, which showed the genius of the plot and helps to fully appreciate the bizarre, yet crafty, storyline.
Samuel L Jackson especially stood out in his role, accompanied by strong performances by Travolta, and Willis. The character interplay was amusing throughout and really kept you glued to the screen. There are several iconic scenes that I can tell will always stick out in my mind: the hamburger / apartment interrogation scene, the date night dinner and dancing scenes with Travolta and Uma Thurman, the "Royale with cheese" dialogue, and the epic diner showdown at the end with Pumpkin and Honey Bunny. Some awesome lines throughout.
The piecing together of the film was among the best aspects IMO. The shattered start, followed by a winding journey that makes the viewer wonder if there is any cohesion at all, ending with a bang. The rollercoaster experience is what makes it so enjoyable, and creating such a well-designed rollercoaster is no easy feat-so kudos to Tarantino and company for such an entertaining ride.
Mother! (2017)
Frankly, not good at all
This movie hardly feels deserving of a review. The plot was seemibgly non-existent, and at the very least, intangible. Acting by Lawrence was annoying and monotonous; she is in an unrealistic state of despair and helplessness and repeats the phrases "what are you doing?!" and "get out!!" dozens of times throughout the entire movie. Javier Bardem does a fine job but ultimately the horrible storyline obliterated any good that his performance brought.
The first half of the movie was bearable and kept enough curiosity alive to keep watching; but the last 45 minutes are an absolute train wreck. There is no sense of meaning to be derived. Some may say this is the point... although if this is the point, it certainly wasn't a great catalyst for deriving meaning. A low quality film that gets increasingly more obnoxious as the minutes drag on.
The Revenant (2015)
"Revenge is in God's hands...not mine."
Leo's first-and as of yet, only-Oscar. And after watching this film, there is no question why. His performance throughout is impeccable. He was stellar in his ability to convey the brutality of the setting and scenario while speaking very little. Most of the feeling of his character comes from his facial expression and body movements. Amazing to say the least.
There was also beautiful cinematography throughout. The barren mountainous setting in the depth of winter is enough to make you feel chilled throughout the movie... even under a warm blanket. I felt mildly uncomfortable the entire time while watching the hell that Leo and others endure.
The plot is simple, yet powerful and inspiring. The story of a man, battered by loss, heartache, and misfortune but whose will to enact justice empowers his painstaking fight to live. "As long as you can still grab a breath, you fight. You breathe... keep breathing."
Slow-paced, grueling, and worth every minute.
Se7en (1995)
Remarkable ending to an overall good movie
At times, the movie felt somewhat drawn out to me. Most of the details and scenes were necessary to the buildup, but I felt it could've been done in a more concise manner. The setting and feel of the first 3/4 of the movie also began to feel repetitive and, at times, boring.
With that said, the acting and plot in this movie were fantastic-especially the latter. The grand finale, which transpires over the last 20 minutes, deserves a 10/10 rating. Truly chilling the way it all comes together at the end. If it were all accomplished with a bit more brevity I think the desired effect would have been even more powerful.