jeomo Reviews

UFO (2018)

It's not really about UFOs, but about intellectual obsession

[6/10 · 8 September 2018]

If you are looking for a typical UFO movie, this isn't it. Special effects are almost non-existent. You will not see any aliens, typically or more creatively imagined. That's because this movie isn't really about UFOs; it's about intellectual obsession, which is what drives the main character and also the character played by David Strathairn. It's what drove Michael Burry in the Big Short. In the movie, it is argued that it's what drove Thomas Edison. Could very well be.

From that perspective, I thought the apparent need to justify the main character's intellectual obsession with UFOs by a childhood experience to be a waste of film time. Whether the intellectually obsessed are born or made is neither known nor of much interest, IMO. The interest is in how it affects them, those around them, and, potentially, society at large.

The movie conveys the impact on personal relationships, as well as the reaction of those impacted. Intellectual obsessed can be inspiring and admirable in their quest; they will also let you down. In my experience, that's true of those with other types of obsessions, such as sports. The difference is what is likely to come from the obsession. In this movie, it is key to answering what the main character describes as one of the Three Great Questions of humankind. It is also argued indirectly that it can have more practical benefits, such as the invention of the light bulb.

It's a subject that is rarely tackled in movies, and this one does a reasonably good job of it, on a modest budget. I would have cut out the childhood back story and replaced it with more depth and details about the current story, and better developed some of the characters and their relationships, but it's easy to criticize a finished work in retrospect.

Book Club (I) (2018)

Very mildly entertaining. And puzzling.

[4/10 · 8 September 2018]

I can't imagine hating this movie. There isn't enough to it to hate. Not enough to it to like very much, either, but there are plenty of much, much worse movies out there. I was looking for very mild entertainment to watch at home while I worked on some tedious chores, and I found this movie very mildly entertaining.

I found the question of why, given its cast, this movie was so very mildly entertaining to be part of the entertainment to be found in watching it. I didn't come up with an answer to that question, so I moved on to trying to describe "very mildly" as it applies to this movie.

What I finally came up with is...imagine the cast and crew have gathered before beginning to make the movie. The actors are relaxing and chatting amongst themselves, talking shop, catching up. The crew is working on camera angles and lighting, so, every now and then, one of them says something like, "Hey Mary and Craig, could you come over and walk through the scene where X happens. Mary and Craig obliging break off their socializing and walk through the scene. They are both strong actors, so even as a walk-through, they don't do it badly. But they don't do it well, because they aren't trying to actually do the scene. They are just walking through it for the crew.

They don't have a script yet. We know this because a script for a comedy has a lot of lines and incidents that are intended to be funny and they either succeed or fall flat, and this movie didn't seem to have either. So no script, just an outline of the scene. The actors might have tried to have fun with it and improvise, which any of these actors could have done ably, but their minds are on the socializing they were doing and will be returning to shortly, so they don't try to improvise, they just talk their way through it.

It was like that. Still, if I had the opportunity to watch this cast do exactly that, I wouldn't hate it. I would find it very mildly entertaining. And that's how I found this movie.

The plot is, as other reviewers noted, cheesy, ridiculous, etc. But hey, it's a comedy. Or, had they gotten around to actually making it, it was supposed to be a comedy, not a documentary.

Why a movie with this cast never got around to actually being made, but only walked through, remains a mystery to me.

Upgrade (2018)

Expectations Rule...As Always

[6/10 · 1 September 2018]

I noticed a lot of the reviews associated with high ratings were posted by people who had no great expectations going in. If you don't, you'll probably be impressed. If you expect another Blade Runner or Payback, you'll probably be woefully disappointed.

This movie was good in all the ways that those who liked it have said it was good. It was also "bad" in the ways that those who didn't like it say it was. It was done on a modest budget, so special effects, while respectable, are not going to blow you away. It leans more toward cerebral than adrenal, so action scenes are unlikely to get your adrenalin pumping. The story line may make you think, though. If you watch a lot of these types of films, you will not find the plot to be that original, but then there is nothing new under the sun. They put together a good solid story, regardless. And there is always more than one way for these stories to come out. This one didn't give itself away.

I gave it a 6 compared to all movies. If I were to compare to other sci fi films made on similar budgets, I'd rate it an 8.

The Bleeding Edge (2018)

Been there, done that

[5 August 2018]

For those who aren't too put off by a few facts now and then, here's the chronology:

Essure was approved in 2002.

By 2010, everyone who pays attention to these things was painfully aware of the growing number of reports of safety issues associated with the device, and problems with other implants were also getting attention.

The head of FDA's Office for Device Evaluation resigned in 2010. A number of other top FDA medical device officials resigned in the 2009-2012 time period.

The Institute of Medicine did an extensive evaluation of the 510(k) process and, in July 2011, released a 245-page report with criticisms and recommendations.

Congress took the IOM recommendations to heart and, in July 2012, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act was enacted into law. It including the most significant legislation affecting the regulation of medical devices since the 1976 legislation that first gave FDA authority over the safety and efficacy of these products.

Whether the extensive changes that were included in the 2012 legislation will be effective in reducing the number of medical devices that are associated with safety issues post-market, only time will tell. But FDA oversight of medical devices has been under new management and new regulations for over five years now.

In 2016, FDA required Bayer to include a "black box warning" on Essure. A black box warning is also known in the industry as the "kiss of death," because of its typical impact on sales. So it came as no surprise to anyone, when, on July 20, Bayer announced it was withdrawing the product from the US market, due to declining sales.

The documentary was released on Netflix one week later. Hmmm. I wonder if Netflix might have held it for release because, in order for Bayer to sue for libel, it would have had to show that it incurred damages as a result of the libel. Now that there are no sales to be lost, no damages can be incurred.

Acrimony (2018)

A Pleasant Surprise

[7/10 · 9 July 2018]

I wasn't expecting this kind of depth in a Tyler Perry movie. It isn't your typical revenge psycho stalker movie, but more of a psychological drama. The main characters are more complex and realistic. I had some sympathy for both husband and wife at times, while being dismayed by both of them at times. I thought Henson's performance bordered on Oscar worthy. Her performance had to carry the film, and she had no problem with the heavy lifting.

Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018)

It was a successful sequel

[6/10 · 26 June 2018]

I saw Pacific Rim but remember little about it, except that I thought it was a cut above most movies of this genre. I wasn't exactly looking forward to the sequel, but I enjoyed the original enough that there was no question that I would see the sequel when it came out.

The sequel had a younger cast and lighter weight characters than the original, with just enough plot to tie the action (which was the whole point) together. It was more of a fun movie than the original, as I'm sure it was meant to be. I enjoyed it, perhaps as much as the first, but in a different, fun kind of way.

Usually a sequel is aiming to be just good enough to support a third movie. This sequel did its job. I have no doubt there will be a third, and no doubt that I will watch it, too.

Annihilation (I) (2018)

Not great doesn't make it bad

[5/10 · 8 June 2018]

I had no expectations for this movie, so I thought it was okay. It is intellectually driven, so if you are looking for special effects and firepower, you should probably keep looking.

I didn't have a problem following the plot, but I don't think the plotting was particularly well done,, either. I liked the basic premise, which may have been key to liking the movie.

The most recent similar movie was Arrival, which was much better on all levels, but I found this movie to be interesting and enjoyable, nonetheless.

Boss (2011–2012)

A Very Different Comparson

[8/10 · 15 March 2018]

I noticed a lot of people have compared this to The Wire. I think they must see it as yet another gritty urban reality series. Some have compared it to Houee of Cards. I think they must see it as yet another show about unbridled greed for political power. Certainly Boss has some of both in it, but to me the appropriate comparison is to neither of these series, because (based on the first season only), I don't think either one was at the core of this series, just part of the context.

I think the appropriate comparison is to The Enemy Within.. Yes, yet another government takeover plot, but with an interesting twist. In this case, the enemy isn't a faction within the government, but within the brain of the government leader whose power is to be usurped. This is the role of power in this series, not over others, not simple greed for power, but power over the mind of the Boss himself. Essentially, the Boss begins to transform into his own imposter, and his core personality struggles to resist that takeover and retain its control...not over the government, but his own mind. Thus we see him act sympathetically one moment and cruelly another, as he wages battle with The Enemy Within.

I don't know if the series continues to play out this way in the second season, and I may never know. I was so taken with the premise, I may just leave it there. Plus, in spite of the clever premise, and KG's tour de force performance, I didn't actually enjoy watching the series all that much. (But don't mind me. I wasn't especially impressed with The Wire, either, so what do I know.) Still, an astonishing performance + clever premise = 8 stars.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

I didn't want it to end

[9/10 · 15 March 2018]

I can't remember the last time I saw a movie that I didn't want to end, but I was distressed when the credits started to roll on this one.

I think mostly people want movies to end, because that's what most movies are essentially driving to, an ending, and you want to know how it all turns out. I think the rare exception is a movie in which you are enjoying the acting, the characters, the dialogue, and the unpredictable turns of events (as opposed to a linear plot) so much, you don't care how it all turns out; you just want it to go on, so you can keep on enjoying it.

If it were a Hollywood movie, I might have some hope thet the ending set things up for a sequel, but...they don't do that with artsy movies, do they?

Too bad.

I, Tonya (2017)

Sort of a Sad Parody

[4/10 · 15 March 2018]

I didn't enjoy this movie. Sometimes I like the docudrama style, but in this case, it seemed more like a substitute for a real script.. I thought the characters were one dimensional and the docudrama script was pretty uninspired.

But mostly I found the movie to be a sad parody of Harding as she was portrayed by much of the media at the time. I followed the story with mild interest, and without strong feelings about any of it--not pro-Kerrigan, not pro-Harding, nor with any guesses as to what actually happened. That said, Harding never struck me as anything like the (as another reviewer put it) "white trash hillbilly" the media tried to portray her as, any more than Kerrigan stuck me as the smug ice queen, although it seemed there could have easily been some truth at the core of both portrayals.

I thought the movie portrayed Harding as far harder and trashier than she came across at the time. I remember her more as unpolished than trashy, and with an underlying vulnerability that the movie talked about, but which I didn't think Robbie ever conveyed. I saw it even in the brief film clips of the real Harding at the end, but perhaps that's just because I remember her that way.

The movie seemed to be trying to give a more balanced portrayal of Harding than the media had at the time. I thought it was kind of sad, that, instead, it ended up portraying an exaggerated caricature of the media-induced Harding.

The Crash (2017)

It was OK. Really.

[5/10 · 17 August 2017]

I like financial/corporate thrillers, and I enjoyed this one. I was looking for entertainment, not a documentary, so I didn't try to spoil it by noting technical errors or assessing the plot for realism. The acting was decent, and, realistic or not, technically accurate or not, the plot held together reasonably well. It's an evening's entertainment, nothing more, nothing less, which is all I think it aspired to be. If that's all you are looking for, and also like financial/corporate thrillers, you will probably think it's OK, too.

Nocturnal Animals (2016)

Good idea for a movie

[6/10 · 26 March 2017]

Yes it was stylish, but it was a long way from "all style no substance."

The story within a story was good, even though not original. Gyllenhaal and Shannon made it a bit better than good.

The two stories were woven together nicely.

Adams did fine at middle-aged angst, but that story was of course boring, because all stories of middle-aged angst are boring. Some kind of actual plot here would have done this movie a world of good.

The ending was so weak, I thought the movie makers must have gotten to that point and realized they didn't really have a main story, just a bunch of middle-aged angst. So they decided to get it over with as quickly as possible, always the best thing to do when dealing with middle- aged angst.

If the movie had been written by grownups, he would have shown up reeking of happiness, not because that's the best revenge, but because he actually was happy. Their marriage would have been a fond but distant memory, an error of youth, a growth experience that really did make him a better writer, for which he is genuinely grateful, but hardly the big experience of his life. He would have found the love of his life, just didn't happen to marry her. Been there, done that.

Then she would have been left with the ridiculousness of ever having imagined that it was all about her.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

10-Star Story; 5-Star Movie

[5/10 · 22 February 2017]

I can only assume that the high ratings reflect a confusion between the story this movie attempts to tell, and the movie itself. Plus maybe some die-hard Gibson fans.

I thought much of the first half of the movie was too long and sometimes painfully slow. And yet, for all the screen time expended, not that much was accomplished. Yes, it established that his girl was pretty and sweet, his father tortured by personal demons, his mother warm and supportive. But not at a depth or complexity that justified the screen time. Even more painfully slow was his period with the rifle company. Yes, it established that they didn't like COs, but that was pretty much of a given, and 10 minutes in, hey, we got it already.

I think they missed an opportunity to explore the reason he wasn't courtmartialed. He got a note excusing him from prison? I don't think so.

The only part of the movie I found compelling was his efforts to get "just one more" throughout the night.

I'm a long way from a combat veteran, but I was left wondering if it were true, that no one taught WWII soldiers to fire from behind cover in a prone position, instead of standing up like targets on a shooting range.

I thought an opportunity was missed when he discovered the tunnels. Di they already know that they were there, or was that potentially a break-though piece of intel? Did he even tell anyone?

But the thing that left me truly gaping is that, all through that long night, NOT ONE SOLDIER on the ground felt compelled to climb to the top of the net to at least help lower the wounded. If that were really how it played out, I would have courtmartialed all of THEM. But it probably went quite differently.

I'm giving this movie 5 stars, every single one of them for Andrew Garfield's performance, which was excellent, and carried the film. If I were rating only his performance, I'd rate it much higher.

The Divide (2014)

What a shame it was canceled

[6/10 · 3 January 2016]

I'm giving it a cautious rating of 6, because I was able to catch only a couple of episodes of the first season and because, based on what I saw, it appeared that this might be a series that was just warming up in its first season.

I didn't watch any TV at all in 2015...not on strike, just one of those "life got in the way" things. With the new year starting, and life settled down a bit, I decided it was time to catch up on what I had missed.

This was the first series I looked for, having been sufficiently impressed by those couple of episodes to have remembered it all this time. I was very disappointed to learn that it had been canceled, probably not long after the couple of episodes I watched.

I can't give you an in-depth review, because by now I've forgotten the details of those couple of episodes. What I remember is that the series seemed to have great potential for both characters and plot of above-average nuance, complexity, and intelligence. Perhaps it would never have lived up to that potential, but I wish it had been given more of a chance.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

Didn't expect the series and I was not disappointed

[6/10 · 31 December 2015]

I watched the original series in junior high. I later grew up to understand that most Hollywood "remakes" are not efforts at remaking anything, but are instead efforts to lure timid investors by wrapping a movie in the security blanket of a recognized brand. I had no expectation that the movie would be much like the series, and therefore I was able to watch it unencumbered by false expectations.

I enjoyed it. The action grew a bit tiresome now and then, but at least it was well done. The story line was adequate, the script more than adequate. Where the movie fell somewhat short was in its characters. I never know exactly where this particular weakness lies...actor, script, director, or some combination thereof.

Solo's character was just too slick and one-dimensional. They wanted a thief-turned-agent, they would have done much better to transfer Matt Bomer directly over from White Collar. Gaby's character was acceptable, but nothing special. I don't think she brought enough to the table to warrant expanding the team from two to three. Ah, but Kuryakin...he was great. Newly invented, yet somehow with a bit of the same appeal as the original, and a bit of the same mysterious nature. Given that everyone had the same director and writers, I credit Hammer for this. I was impressed...not just another pretty face, this one.

I'm not sure how much Grant was actually acting. He seems to always play the same character, not that I'm complaining. That same old character fit surprising well into this rather different context. For that, I credit casting.

Ant-Man (2015)

Ho-Hum

[5/10 · 30 December 2015]

I could care less about Marvel, so my review of Ant-Man is not influenced by how it fits into the Marvel scheme of things.

As a movie, I found Ant-Man to be decidedly so-so. I watched it at home and, while I wasn't bored, I found my attention wandered from time to time. I didn't think anything about the movie (plot, script, characters, acting) was good or bad...just so-so.

I thought Michael Douglas got the best deal in terms of an actual role to play. I think Rudd's talents were somewhat wasted, perhaps because he spent a lot of time being Ant-Man rather than a regular guy, which is his strength. Corey Stoll was reasonably cast as the bad guy, but didn't have much to work with, and didn't do much with it. Pena worked a bit too hard to try to bring some humor to the movie.

I gather the CGI was technically good. I leave the CGI to others to critique. My perspective is that, typically, the more people talk about the CGI, the less good the movie. Ant-Man hasn't made me reconsider this perspective.

The Interview (II) (2014)

Pretty Close to Perfect

[8/10 · 19 July 2015]

I rarely like comedies, but I thought this one was great. The script was great; the acting was great; the story line was...a fantasy.

This is not a movie about North Korea or Kim Jung-Un, any more than Head of State was a movie about the American presidency, Dick was a movie about Richard Nixon, Dr. Strangelove was a movie about nuclear armament, or Snakes on a Plane was about either snakes or planes. Gimme a break, people.

It was just a funny movie, and, as funny movies go, I thought it was just about perfect. I liked all the characters, where I tend to think the characters in a lot of comedies are just plain stupid. Some of these characters are goofy, but not stupid. And they came across as human, not the mindless wind-up toys you see in a lot of comedies.

Dying of the Light (2014)

More disappointing than bad

[5/10 · 19 July 2015]

I think this movie is being rated a bit lower than it should be. I think that's because some reviewers are comparing it to the movie it could have been, rather than rating it as the movie that it was.

As it was, it was decidedly so-so. Easily the only genuinely good thing about it was Cage's acting. I'm sure he took the part specifically as a welcomed opportunity to get out of the action rut. He did a wonderful job in the role. Yelchun and Karim did okay with what they had to work with. Irene Jacob's talents were never give a chance, but she still managed to bring enough to the table (literally) to make you wish they had been.

What is bad is the pain of seeing what it could have been, but was not. As you can see from the other reviews, it is painfully clear that someone had a really good idea for a movie, and that Schrader failed miserably to bring to life. Maybe it wasn't his idea. I'm pretty sure some decent editing could have made room for another 30 minutes or so; had the additional time been used to add some depth to the story, that would have gone along way to improve the quality of the movie per se, although still no guarantees it would still have been the movie it could have been. Looking over Schrader's filmography, I think he would be wise to give up trying to both direct and write the same film.

I will add that I had to laugh at one reviewer (and wouldn't be surprised if there are more I didn't see), who predicted this movie would irrevocably damage Cage's career. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that one in the past 25 years! Something about Cage (much like Costner) seems to attract a jealous fringe that loves to forecast doom at every turn. For the record, as I write this, he has 5 films in post-production, 2 just completed, 1 filming, and 1 recently announced. This doesn't include National Treasure 3, where his return to the role of Ben Gates is still at the "rumored" stage.

Every actor should have such a doomed career, lol.

Dig (2015)

It's kept my interest

[6/10 · 30 April 2015]

It hasn't lived up to the hype, but that's why they call it hype.

It has a reasonably complex and sophisticated plot, so those who had trouble keeping up with the plot of first Mission Impossible, or who got stressed watching 16 Monkeys because its plot wasn't intended to be kept up with, should probably pass on this one.

It moves a bit slow, but that gives you time to ponder what just happened, and it picks up speed slowly from episode to episode. I didn't invest any effort in trying to guess what was going to happen next. With that mindset, a few developments took me by mild surprise and one didn't. I would not describe the plot in general as either imaginative or predictable.

The acting is respectable. I thought Lauren Ambrose was especially compelling as Debbie.

All in all, it's kept me interested. I just watched the 9th episode and am looking forward to the final episode with moderate expectations. Given how many things were left unresolved at the end of the 9th, I'm expecting it will wrap things up too hastily, but perhaps I'll be mildly surprised again.

Little Boy (2015)

Wonderful Example of The Genre

[7/10 · 26 April 2015]

**NO SPOILERS HERE, and if you can possibly rush right out and watch it before you know anything at all about it, the more you will enjoy it.**

This is a wonderful example of a "heart-warming" movie. Some people describe it as "faith-based." Eh. It is about love, hatred, friendship, loss, anger, pain, denial, faith, acceptance, and forgiveness. It is certainly far more about believing in yourself than in a deity.

The movie could have been more than carried by the outstanding performances of a few of the leads, but the entire cast is astonishingly strong and all were at their best. The premise is innovative and the story is well told.

If you don't like heart-warming movies, please do us all a favor and just move on. Don't rate a movie poorly because it's not the kind of movie that you like. Nobody cares what kind of movie you like.

A Knight's Tale (2001)

Fun, delightful, and I loved the music too

[7/10 · 19 January 2014]

OK, some people around here seriously need to lighten up.

This is a wonderful movie. It is full of fun, great action, great music...really, how tightly wound do you have to BE to actually be UPSET that the music is modern while the setting is medieval?... wonderful actors, strong performances, excellent script, an uplifting theme, and a never-say-die, stand-up-and-cheer kind of ending. It's entertainment, not a documentary. What more could you possibly want?

As for historical accuracy...are you kidding? Since when has history ever been accurate? I thought Paul Bettany's portrayal of Chaucer alone was well worth the price of admission. He actually brings Chaucer...I mean, Chaucer, for heaven's sake...to life, something no staid history book has ever been able to do. Bravo!

PS If only we could sort the reviews of this particular movie from "Has actually read Chaucer" (this would include me) to "Huh? Chaucer was a real person?" That might be very telling indeed...

The Glades (2010–2013)

Delightful

[6/10 · 18 January 2014]

I don't watch many series, and almost none of them regularly, but this is a rare exception. The stories and writing are solid, but, like most TV series, it's the characters that keep you coming back.

Passmore and Sanchez are both very likable, well cast in their respective roles, and they have great on-screen chemistry. The supporting actors are also great...the interplay between Gomez' and Passmore's characters is witty and entertaining, and Jordan Wall hits just the right tone as endearing young nerd.

As a crime drama, it's fine, but I don't especially recommend it for the crime or the drama. In fact, I don't recommend it at all; I just enjoy it. It's got a delightful cast of characters, and I look forward to seeing them every week.

Prisoners (2013)

Stupid and Boring

[3/10 · 17 January 2014]

Before I rented this movie, I looked at the reviews and got my first clue...older women didn't rate it as highly as young males. That's weird for a movie about the kidnapping of two little girls. But now I get it.

This movie is long, boring, dark, and violent. Some of it is just plain old torture porn, trying to masquerade as something more meaningful. The plot, which isn't really about the kidnapping of two little girls, borders on the ridiculous, as do most of the characters. I fast-forwarded through a good bit of it without missing any of the story, and still it was too long.

As to why some people thought this was a 7- or 8-star movie...I don't even want to know. Really.

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

If You Don't Need the Dots Connected for You

[7/10 · 15 January 2014]

This movie doesn't need another well-thought-out, well-written review. There are plenty of those here already. However, in reading these reviews, I found that there are also a good number that portray the film as being the exact opposite of what it is. This seems more than merely not helpful, but outright unhelpful.

Perhaps it would be useful to clarify that this is not a movie for people who need dots connected for them. It is a movie that lays the dots out for you and leaves it to you to connect them. If you can do that, you will easily understand that this movie has no illusions regarding the ultimate results of Charlie's efforts, and it is most definitely not a movie about America saving the world again.

It is also useful to remember that "connect the dots" is a reference to cheesy "art" projects designed for those who have no artistic ability. This is a movie for people who can think, rather than those who must rely on others to do the thinking and then spell everything out for them.

The Heat (I) (2013)

I rather enjoyed this rather bad movie

[4/10 · 20 November 2013]

Although I agree with many of the criticisms of this movie, and disagree with most of the praise, I still rather enjoyed it. I thought it was funny, but not very funny and not nearly as funny as it should have been.

I liked it better after the two women joined forces than when they were at odds. Perhaps that should have happened sooner. While they were at odds, it was often too much like Miss Congeniality IV, with Sandra Bullock falling back on old habits. I attribute this to weak direction. Once they joined forces, they left Miss C behind, and it had a fresher feel to it. I found watching the former Miss C flipping the bad guys a double bird while screaming the M-word to be oddly satisfying.

I can appreciate why many viewers would cringe at the thought of a sequel, but having seen this one get better as it went along, I'd be interested in seeing a sequel, especially with a different director.