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Reviews
Black Mirror: Beyond the Sea (2023)
Interesting mistake ridden concept and filled with a sad trope
The basic technical underpinnings of the story in alt 1969 make no sense. No alt year in that era would give you on one hand more primitive crt television, rudamentary onboard spacecraft computers, no cell phones, society of internal combustion cars along with on the other end of the spectrum sophisticated human looking replica robots that can take on the brain of a human mind at great distances from its source, and at a moments notice. So watching from that point requires suspension of total stupidity of disbelief.
Next, the story line takes on the old trope told of what happens when a great friend befriends your wife. Yes, a lust occurs and more mayhem. Wait, the fact that astronauts in their 62 year some year history have never committed a murder says much for the fact that they are very carefully screened for both mental, and physical abnormalities. The series takes those facts and turns them on their head over a simple jealous spat. Very difficult to believe. What happens when this murderer lands on Earth? Why would he destroy his career? Just to make his friend live in his misery? A good looking, successful, smart guy, with fame, knows they will have an easy time finding a mate upon their arrival back on Earth. There is just no rhyme or reason for his crazy actions.
Flaked (2016)
If this was real life why bother trying
Will Arnett is a capable actor caught in a series that makes little sense. He's plays a late 40's guy named Chip disconnected from an estranged relationship a decade earlier. His non-sensical world includes getting more tale than Valentino. His secret for getting gorgous women 20 years his Jr? That would be being a sparsely paid independent stool maker living apparently for free in his friend Dennis' guest house. Never clear on the rent agreement. Plus, a free building space for his low volume business, provided by former relationship. The clincher is being a recovering alcoholic that hosts AA meetings. Women love that. He is very well liked by the community and nicknamed by some as the mayor. This attention and his zero future prospects to support a family financially are more than enough to be a chick magnet. Given his lackluster ambition, and no cash flow he never gives up on having a real relationship in- between one-nighters. It's always good to start a relationship when you can't afford to eat. His constant social mistakes upset his loser friends that are much like him. This requires him to become a serial apologizer. This is old by season 2. It had to end. Lessons learned by the audience end of season 2 include -stay away from leeching characters like Chip, and friends Dennis, or Cooler. You will NOT have a cool, carefree, sex filled life if you don't earn an actual living or have real goals. Ambition is more interesting than laziness disguised as entertainment. Especially when the lazy person just uses everyone he can.
Zeros and Ones (2021)
Unwatchable
I enjoy most films Ethan Hawke is in, but this one is not a fully realized film, rather a hodge podge of thoughts and ideas. Half way thru and I was not even sure what it was about. Unmistakably, the script needed work. The lighting was dark with little contrast. Who and what am I watching? What happened? Perhaps the need for a different perspective would have changed this story. I can't even discuss the main problems with plot because it is devoid of one. To capture the audience's attention you need a sense of emotion, and the simplest of what drives the character. I rather watch a B action flick with Segal. At least it would have entertainment value.
Citadel (2023)
Boring
I have seen 5 decades of spy movies and this one is lacking. If ChatGPT AI wrote a script I am pretty sure this would be the result. Nothing new. Nuclear codes, uranium stolen. Also what's worse is that there is no sense that the characters are real people. Your watching from the outside, and nobody is letting us touch with any characters emotions. Up to episode 2 and no connections, but lots of disconnect. The script, music score, the direction are mediocre.
If this were a high school production then I would not be so critical. This is Netflix, an original production, home to the biggest streaming client base on earth. The company needs their studio heads to be more discerning.
Suits: The Statue (2017)
Whoops
Donna begs Harvey and is made a named partner despite the fact she is not a lawyer. Also, her main duties at firm involve reading peoples minds, wearing low cleavage attire that no law office on earth would allow, smart quips, and providing emotional pats on the back when needed, and getting out of proofreading jobs. Here is the major problem. New York has yet to make reforms to its "no nonlawyer as partners in law firms" rule. Yes, I looked it up. She cannot be a partner. The episode still is very strong as Harvey tries to build a relationship with his psychologist. Probably a bad idea but fun to watch. Mike tries to repair his reputation and move forward his personal penance through taking pro-bono as half his work.
Pitch Perfect (2012)
Perfect
The haters have to realize this movie is a parody of musicals. It flirts with that, and has enough seriousness to make you respect the talent of performers.
The comedy is adult and cutting. The idea that Glee is the only format to explore music sitcoms is thrown on its head. If you don't like it, then you are too deeply in love with the function of music and not the fun. I dislike sitcom type musicals with all the predictable Dawson Creek drama. This movie was a breath of fresh air. Unafraid to examine its ridiculousness. Brave enough to look in the mirror and make fun of itself. You know this new showing by its love of the genre, and quick wit.
La Brea (2021)
Allot of unlikelies
You have a sinkhole and a child living 12k years in the past. This child is the same guy who lives in the present time as an adult. We have out of millions of people in present time, this guys wife and kids who fall into sinkhole. The odds of that happening are about the same as getting struck by lightening three times in one day, all while in your basement, lol.
The series is strewn with how are you feeling emotional breakdowns. Focus is on broken families and many coincidences, too many to list.
If you are looking for B level entertainment that is serviceable but not fascinating, you will be ok.
By the Gun (2014)
A love story for ignorant women
Yes, if you are a pretty girl we learn from this movie, you may fall in love with a handsome made guy aka mafia member. Don't matter if he kills for a living or that he can't entertain you with any stories or jokes. He is a wolf in prince clothing. Love is in the air, and some women fantasize about this.
The acting is good and tension holds throughout. It's harkens back to old irrational school thinking. It still exists but the truly intelligent may chuckle at this premise for love.
The classic overtones of revenge are kept intact and thoughtful production of color and mood are consistent. Some flashback scenes may have helped the audience feel closer to the main characters, despite their flaws. Instead we are dropped into the middle of their lives. No context. It may at times lack current believability in it's portrayal of love since it takes place in 2022, yet the feel was retro.
We're Not Married! (1952)
Not entirely believable but has moments
First you have to believe these men, who for the most part are not only incredibly unattractive physically, but have the same in personality but each landed a model level beauty wife. How exactly did that happen? Money? And I am speaking from a man's perspective. That makes the suspension of disbelief harder than anything. If you can get past that the movie has some funny parts.
The issues of money are addressed in a somewhat familiar way. A nullified marriage makes for a funny premise. The acting is very good. Marilyn Monroe's short time on screen has a magnetic presence.
If you enjoy a light hearted comedy and a not too serious character study you may not have such a bad time.
Deep Water (2022)
Dark and interesting.
What happens when a psychopath man marries a schizophrenic? Did I tell you the wife flaunts her cheating in his face? Here is their life. It's a dark game of chess.
The Weeknd x the Dawn FM Experience (2022)
Bubble gum music dressed up
"Its like a dream what she feels for me" and "take my breath away and make it last forever". If superficial lyrics like this bother you then you may still enjoy the rhythm since it's catchy, that is for night club music. Also Weeknd is made to look like a Sr citizen yet is moving around on the floor like a young Mick Jagger. That is a bit jarring to say the least. Thought it would have visually made more sense if he de-aged while singing, then at the very end while Carrey is doing the commentary he ages back to an old person. That being said this is a vid mostly for preordained fans.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Anything less than a 10 is a lie
Starting from his childhood to the wars Logan fought throughout American history there is allot to appreciate just in the first minutes. This movie is a masters class in story telling. I can't think of any film that tells so much about a character in so little time. The complex and rich characters that are portrayed make this film worth watching multiple times. If this film isn't a 10 then no film is.
Time Is Up (2021)
Bad to the bone
I thought with the title this was a time travel movie. Instead it is a high school drama full of cliches and storylines that were old even when Moses was around. 20 minutes in you can can predict the ending. Why Thorne's character has to be studying Quantum Physics except to make some comparison of particles and relationships. She doesn't pass the smell test portraying this. If you need something to hate watch this, and I am a fan of hers.
Lost in Space (2018)
Entertaining and that's what matters
Leaps and bounds better than the original. The original series is unwatchable. This series brings realistic looking special effects, compelling storylines and good acting. Fun to watch.
CSI: Miami (2002)
Fake Occupation but good stories
In the CSI series agents go out in the field, collect DNA evidence, interview witnesses, suspects, and go back to the lab to test DNA or examine evidence. Then, they make arrests. And the superior drives a Hummer. Women wear low cut dresses, cleavage showing and high heels. Guess what, in real life it's illegal to be involved in both testing evidence plus interviewing suspects, witnesses, and making arrests. This job occupation simply does NOT exist. It is made in series for sake of consolidating cast members. If the occupation did exist forensic technicians could gerry rig any case they wanted. Imagine the power you would wield? In real life forensic lab people do NOT interview witnesses, suspects or make arrests. Women in the office typically do NOT wear revealing clothes and superior's don't drive gas guzzling Hummers for their field car.
I give the series a good rating for interesting storylines and compelling direction. The actors are picked because they down play their personality so the story itself aka crime, takes center stage; as it should.
Paternity Court (2013)
Great show for what it is
Yes, each episode could be done in 2 minutes since the DNA test is really the only concrete evidence the courts will accept. This show is about the drama leading up to the test results revealed at the end. Judge Lake does a good job navigating the chaotic and dynamic relationships presented on the show.
Foundation (2021)
Who cares about the books? Enjoy!
To the haters comparing the series to the books. This series never would have made it to the screen if not for the needed rewrites to make sense of a drawn out complex saga, taking place over many years. Accepted at it's face value the series is beautiful, and also innovative in its
own unique way. Sci-fi lovers can quickly fall in love with this impressive reimagination bought to a new audience.
Nightflyers (2018)
Not great and slow moving
If this were your first ever sci-fi movie you would be slow on the uptake Some things are easier understood from a similar cinema genre experience as the writing is meant to be efficient and not overly explanatory. The series showcases Jodie Turner-Smith's cleavage and slim thoroughbred body. In the future an attractive women can apparently prance about a starship with less clothes then what you wear in a gym or pool. They can also have relationships with the male captain or other same sex companion. Ok series but spends too much time on telepath and his adverse affect on crews visions.
The One (2021)
Don't look under the hood
The premise that genes determine your match in life is disproven by identical twin studies. These reveal that twins more often than not, have distinctly different personalities. Family hierarchy between siblings actually has more affect on personality. Therefore, if you are to believe in gene love matching then one would have to believe you have few choices in life and nature already decided what kind of person you will be.
Swing Low (2019)
Entertaining!
Riveting, gross and compelling. What more can you ask for? Enjoy, it's entertainment!
The Boys (2019)
This is a very realistic superhero series
I remember watching the first release of Superman with Christopher Reeves and at the time it was about "believing a man could fly". Since then CGI has taken that aspect and other special effects to a level where it's no longer a draw for audiences. The real magnetism to the superhero genre is a great story and awesome actors. This acting ability was first of kind with Christopher Reeves so much so that he is considered by many to be the gold standard for a believable Superman. Anthony Starr plays Homelander, and it is uncanny how much he brings, in the complexity and nuances to the superman like character. He is in my opinion as good an actor as Chris Reeves.
The good vs evil may be the basis for this series, but there is more told then what you use to see at early comic book levels, from other superhero dramas. The internal struggles seem real, not just superficial. This adds more layers Also, the spices of dark comedy sewn throughout make the show fun to watch- in a serious way.
The series shows how the real deep depravity of power can corrupt, and absolute power can corrupt absolutely as is with Homelander. The series explores how the counterinfluences of politics, greed, and ego shape the seeming beautiful shiny exterior surface of the superheroes persona and company named Vought they work for. All along many are pulled along by the corporate strings that have its own agenda.
Joker (2019)
Lacks one main thing- entertainment value
Yes, Joaquin Phoenix does a wonderful job in his portrayal of the Joker. Albeit this Joker is plain and simple just mentally ill. He is generally portrayed in previous genres as a criminal genius mastermind. A person with wit, and masterful comprehension of trickery, and chemicals.
This Joker is no fun, and highly delusional. You may question his intellect as he has to look up simple jokes in a diary he keeps. Yes, for the most part his jokes fall flat. Jack Nicholson' clever portrayal in Batman raised the bar that in my opinion has never quite been reached.
I found myself uncomfortable with this portrayal as you would with someone acting out next to you on a subway. In that respect, Joaquin portrays this bit of brazen craziness to a tee. Craziness for the sake of craziness does not make for entertainment. If a sane person were locked up in a mental institution, you would not be entertained. And that is a bit how this movie felt.
Maniac (2018)
Direction and soul were missing
Emma Stone and Jonah Hill are the sizzle, the steak that is served as the first meal to entice the viewer into the dystopian retro reality film Maniac. Only after the audience has sat thru 4 episodes do you realize it's too late. You are being served bouillon cubes in a soup bowl and someone is still trying to call it steak. At this juncture you have so much time vested, you don't want to shut it off. So, you hope upon hope that the writer/director figured out a clever way to get themselves out of the fix their in. Unfortunately, there is no twist in the last episode, and nothing is explained to satisfaction. You realize that it was all meant to be one big mess, and the script was just a haphazard attempt to make something called art. Much of the film is spent with nothing of interest to move the story along.
Creator and Director Cary Joji Fukunaga made a number of mistakes that are as apparent as the facade surrounding the world he created. Speaking of, there is no explaining to the viewer of this retro world that takes place after 1999 -since one character makes a reference to something that occurred in that year. The look is a mash up of different time periods where a lab has an Artificial Intelligence based computer managed thru a 1980's DOS based CRT. AI that can read the state of your mind. Virtual Reality software for the mind somehow is hyper real, yet the CRT monitors don't have the ability to render anything greater than low quality graphics. Dot matrix printers are the best printers available. Sophisticated robots monitor animal waste on the sidewalks. People can buy temporary friends or partners. There is a dichotomy throughout that is never explained. The world is never built with a premise. Perhaps because no premise would ever make sense.
In the comics- Batman's Gotham City uses retro realities from different time periods. That world was built on comics going back to the 1930's. With so many styles, tech and fashions since, the mind's eye can accept their vision, along with obtuse characters. Gotham never pretends to be called New York. Maniac takes place in New York. There is another statue besides the Statue of Liberty with no explanation, a winged one called Extra Liberty. I believe, there are creative choices like these that destroy the credibility to an intelligent viewer like myself that has watched countless movies over 5 decades. Only the less versed will be wowed by the cinematic quality of the film and not question if anything really fits together. Are we watching a parallel world? Does this world premise really add to the story? It added more confusion and was a distraction.
Fukunaga decides to use the same camera angles he has with his prior dramas. It is as though Fukunaga can't get away from his strict formulaic style- linear filming of drama. Notice I said drama, not dark comedy as it was sold to the public. The relatively little comedy sprinkled throughout does not make it a comedy. The Godfather had more humor, and no one is calling that a comedy.
In order to exploit this non-linear material, it requires the director to use more finesse and have an innate understanding of the nuances of each character's moods. He falls flat. Instead, he chooses to keep the camera level with the heads of each actor. Not adding any intonation to what is going on. There is at many times confusion as to if something is supposed to be funny, satire, or a perhaps a metaphor. I question if the director really knew what he was trying to express. There was a disconnect between the script and the actor.
Justin Theroux plays an unorthodox doctor who goes off into wild lectures. Has a strange facial tilt when he speaks. Yet he is filmed in a manner that tells the audience nothing of what is going on inside his head. What is more strange is how there is a serious tone at times, other times you feel as if it is all over the place.
This is a movie that Woody Allen would have reveled in. A more humorous script was needed since the dramatic approach was not warranted with this shallow material. His Sleeper movie had a collection of some of the same futuristic ideas of a pill nation and disconnected society in it but was done 100 % better.
Prodigy (2017)
Beautifully written
The most compelling parts of this movie are the two main characters; a prodigy child named Ellie and her psychologist Dr Fonda. Their interactions, the stories they must tell, and the way it is presented is unique.
In a tense moment, a seemingly innocent game of chess between Ellie and Dr. Fonda provides an insight into the subconscious of Ellie that was before locked up. A master of chess, yet she loses the game. Ellie's Queen was a metaphor for her mother, a necklace and trinket she remembered as a child she kept with her. She could not win the game without sacrificing her Queen, and that to her was her mother. So how is it she could have possibly murdered her mother?
Dr. Fonda is able to break down the emotional barriers of a reluctant child, whose only crime is the preservation of mankind. Her lies are for her own life sacrifice to man, her ego a shield to bury the benevolent nature of her being. She needed to understand that her guilt for accidently killing her mother did not go unpunished.
Some may wish for the well-polished Hollywood style that some movies have. But even this story with some of its sharp edges, provides so much more than what is on the surface.
Mother! (2017)
Pure Chaos does not make compelling art
Whether you are privy to the biblical metaphors is pointless while watching this movie. The movie spends such an extraordinary amount of time in chaos that it fails to provide a degree of compelling cinema. This movie makes Passion of the Christ look like a comedy.
The movie is told from the point of view of Mother Earth. Anxiety prevails in nearly every scene. The director and writers got a bit confused and were caught up in the obtuse presentation of man as pure evil. Whereas, the true nature of man is not evil. Yes, a small single digit percentage perform evil, and intolerable acts. But, the movie portrays man as mainly evil and inheritably difficult and constantly at odds with good. As a consequence there is nobody to root for.
There was nothing for us to like, even God was portrayed as incredibly odd and indifferent. Some stories were not meant to be in long form- at 2 hrs, and this script was one of them.