css-89951 Reviews

Let's Make Love (1960)

Dreadful and cringe inducing to watch

[3/10 · 26 February 2022]

Really awful MM vehicle. Marilyn, looking bloated and overweight, seems detached from the entire proceedings. Who could blame her? She and Montand have absolutely no onscreen chemistry and the whole production looks cheap.

An Unexpected Christmas (2021 TV Movie)

A mess....skip it

[4/10 · 29 November 2021]

By-the-numbers Hallmark Christmas romance marked by an unoriginal script, interminable pacing, and fatal case of the 'cutes'. Lenz dtrjies, but leading man Hynes is a bust. He gives a very sluggish performance.

Christmas in Rome (2019 TV Movie)

Charming holiday romance....this one has a solid story line, and Franco Nero

[8/10 · 26 November 2021]

Lovely holiday romance with a solid story line, lush Rome backdrop. Chabert and Page are likeable leads and they have good chemistry. Chabert herself is wonderful to watch, but the real draw is seeing Franco Nero again. His participation brings extra class to the proceedings.

B Positive (2020–2022)

Freakin' Hilarious!!

[9/10 · 6 November 2020]

I loved the premiere - i haven't laughed this much in quite a while. My 90 year old father loved it so much, he watched it twice. Bravo!

Run (I) (2020)

Wants to be clever, but ends up as very pretentious

[3/10 · 2 June 2020]

This show is a mess - poor writing, unlikeable characters, and absolutely no chemistry among the cast. Seriously, does anyone really care about the two main characters? Skip it, and watch something else on HBO that has is more creative and engrossing.

Ready or Not (I) (2019)

Brilliantly twisted. I am still LMAO!!!!

[9/10 · 24 May 2020]

Great film with a very clever script. Just give in to it and enjoy the ride. BTW, the real horror of this film is how unflatteringly Andie McDowell is photographed. But she is so good in this.

Hollywood (2020)

Ryan Murphy: Ross Hunter Redux

[5/10 · 8 May 2020]

HOLLYWOOD is so over the top it follows in the footsteps of some of those Ross Hunter's glossy melodramas that he made for U-I during the late 50's and early 60's (MIDNIGHT LACE, PORTRAIT IN BLACK, BACK STREET). Like hunter's crop, HOLLYWOOD boasts excellent production values, a veteran cast, and a plot that could be easily dismissed as 'wish fulfillment'. Unlike Hunter's classic IMITATION OF LIFE, the ending does not pack a wallop or a whimper. This series is like cheap liquor - it does the trick at the time, but you yearn for higher quality afterward. . The younger members of the cast deliver good performances but it's the vets - Patti LuPone, Holland Tyler, Joe Mantello, and Dylan McDermott walk away with the top acting honorsl

The Plot Against America (2020)

Stay with this all the way through

[9/10 · 7 May 2020]

Yeah yeah.....it moves slowly at first, but the reward is in following members of a Jewish family in suburban New Jersey 1940-1942 dealing with maniacal anti-Semitism under the fictional presidency of anti-Semite Charles Lindbergh. The entire cast is phenomenal. I've always been a fan follower of Spector, Ryder, and Turturro. And now I am fanatic about Zoe Kazan, Anthony Boyle and three young actors portraying Philip, Sandy, and Seldon. Magnificent Kazan is the series' heart, it's strength. Spector, it's fire. Boyle, it's pain. The series finale is as riveting as it is heartbreaking. Beautifully done all the way around.

Westworld: Crisis Theory (2020) Season 3, Episode 8

Sophomoric finale for a disastrous season 3, but thank you Thandie Newton

[2/10 · 6 May 2020]

I am giving this barely watchable finale two stars for two reasons only: the stunning Thandie Newton who commands every scene she's in, and for Thomas Kretschmann's ten minute appearance at the beginning of episode 1. This whole season has been marred by a bloated, generic, convoluted scenario. By finale's end, this season had about the same effect as some cheesy C- grade throwaway sci-fic flick with a 'message'. The usually wonderful Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores delivers her performance in annoying breathless monotone. Aaron Paul's presence was neglible, but that wasn't his fault. Give the writers credit for that. So, so, disappointing.

Underwater! (1955)

Solid adventure film. This film has aged well.

[7/10 · 1 May 2020]

Originally, I watched this on televison during the Renaissance in B&W, and was quick to dismiss it. Watched it recently in TCM and liked it - a lot. Brilliant technicolor print with vivid underwater scenes. Russell and Egan made a great team. They have great onscreen chemistry. WATCH THIS ONE IN COLOR ONLY!

Hot Blood (1956)

Unbelievably bad...not even fun as camp

[1/10 · 1 May 2020]

Unbelievable that director Nicholas Ray is attached to this turkey. Even Russell and Wilde look embarrassed. The technicolor is vibrant, but the whole enterprise looks cheap.

The Russell Girl (2008 TV Movie)

Memorable and very moving with three standout performances

[9/10 · 6 April 2020]

A very different and exceptional Hallmark entry dealing with grief, guilt, blame, and hope. The entire cast is fine, with the wonderful Jennifer Ehle, Amber Tamblyn, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantono standing out in pivotal roles.

Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Ugly Section (2020) Season 10, Episode 7

Perfect episode....'magical' from start to finish!

[10/10 · 11 March 2020]

Nick Kroll owned this episode as the restaurant manager you love to hate. Loves me some Susie and Leon (whose comment about a pop tart is classic).

Cats (2019)

Poor, unnecessary film version of an excremental play

[3/10 · 28 December 2019]

Yes, this film version of the play is every bit as horrid as the reviews have indicated. But what did anyone expect? The play is a interminably ponderous, oh so precious, pretentious piece of dross that somehow was elevated to high art making it unfilm able. The only crime that the filmmakers made was agreeing to put this horror to film. They did their best, but virtually NO ONE could succeed in doing so.

Watchmen: This Extraordinary Being (2019) Season 1, Episode 6

Stunning blend of narrative and art

[10/10 · 27 November 2019]

Simply brilliant in all aspects. Kudos all the way around.

American Horror Story: Sojourn (2018) Season 8, Episode 8

Insipid and just plain stupid....an insult for AHS fans

[1/10 · 2 November 2018]

Worst episode of the season in a series that is going down,down, down. Not even Billy Eichner was worth the watch.

Sodom (2017)

Don't be misled by the titillating title...this film is a hypnotic gem

[9/10 · 3 October 2018]

A low-key, intimate character study of two men, an older gay man and a younger, not so straight guy who meet under a unique circumstance late one evening and spend the night together discussing their pasts, their present, and maybe their future. Jo Weil's performance as Michael, the handsome, seasoned older man, is a revelation. A haunting piece of cinema that stays with you long after the film is over.

Lazy Eye (2016)

The gaining of wisdom without the valentine

[9/10 · 1 October 2018]

A lush California desert backdrop frames the story of two former lovers, out of touch for 15 years, who reconnect for a weekend idyll. Each has his own agenda. The script is sharp, biting, and perceptive. The two leads, Luca Near-Verbrugghe and Aaron Costa deliver spot on performances. A highly recommended addition to your 'watch next' list.

Phantom Thread (2017)

Lesley Manville is great. The move, well, not so much.

[5/10 · 30 September 2018]

An overly mannered, deliberately slow-paced film, sumptuously filmed, with a knockout performance by Lesley Manville as Daniel Day-Lewis' sister. However, despite the posh trimmings, the film underwhelms.

BearCity (2010)

Dull and mediocre

[4/10 · 15 September 2018]

Barely passable film with the usual gay stereotypes and a not very cohesive storyline (if you can call it that). Skip this one.

Book Club (I) (2018)

Woefully mediocre and generic...no suprises

[5/10 · 9 September 2018]

The tip off that this film has a one joke premise - four friends reading "Fifty Shades of Gray" should be enough warning. This is a bland film, with few redeeming features despite a game cast. The dialogue is juvenile and the situations are forced and oh predictable. Of the cast, Diane Keaton and Andy Garcia come off best, but neither can save this one.

Godless (2015)

Well executed in spite of weak editing.

[9/10 · 7 September 2018]

The film handles a controversial subject sensitively. Both the leads, Craig Jordan,and most especially, Michael E. Pitts, deliver beautiful performances. The editing is weak, but does not take away from film's emotional impact.

No Night Is Too Long (2002 TV Movie)

Solid thriller...intricate and intense

[9/10 · 1 September 2018]

Very good suspense thriller. Well done all the way around.

Eating Out: Drama Camp (2011)

Amateurish, cheesy, campy, crass....and fun. I laughed out loud!

[6/10 · 19 August 2018]

Ok film snobs, this film doesn't make any pretenses about being Ibsen, O'Neill, or even Kaufman. Take it for what is and enjoy. Chris Salvatore is incredibly easy on the eyes, and there is a solid, warm performance by Tiffany Santana.

God's Own Country (2017)

Outstanding film with breakout performances by O'Connor and Secareanu

[10/10 · 19 August 2018]

A film for the ages, with two amazing and gritty performances by Josh O'Connor and Alec Secareanu.