socrates4 Reviews

Cashback (2006)

Great Fun!

[9/10 · 29 June 2021]

CASHBACK is a movie that's a whole lot of fun and even tugs at the old heartstrings a little bit. It's got a fair amount of nudity in there, but I promise it is all tasteful. To be fair, it's right on the line of tasteful and obscene, but I like it either way. There are some really great shots, to be sure.

And it's funny! It's funnier than I was expecting. Included in the running time of this feature is the entire short film it was based on, and they did an excellent job of expanding on that. I think it's better than the original as it really fleshes out these characters. Recommend for fans of British humor.

Wow and Flutter (2004)

Charming Little Indie Short

[9/10 · 28 November 2020]

WOW AND FLUTTER is the kind of pitch-perfect short film that makes me love watching movies. I really enjoyed this one more than any other short I've seen in a long time.

I actually went back and watched it a few times, not because I thought I'd missed something or needed to get more out of it, but just because I felt like it. It really made me smile and it made me feel good. Highly recommend.

Freaky Friday (2003)

Not Worth Watching

[4/10 · 18 July 2020]

FREAKY FRIDAY is just another in a long list of body-switch movies. That is to say, two characters switch bodies and have to learn to walk in each other's shoes. There are so many film like this, and none of them are good.

This one was particularly bad, however. Others I've seen, such as ALL OF ME, are at least funny. This is not. The acting is decent for the most part, but a bit over the top at times. Do not recommend.

Lion (2016)

Excellent Biographical Film

[8/10 · 29 May 2020]

I understand that this film took some liberties with the true story it was based on, but it only did so in order to improve the flow of the film and heighten its dramatic impact. Base on what I've read, the actual story is still very intriguing.

And the fact that they changed a few details doesn't make the truth any less astounding. The important stuff was left intact. And it really is an amazing story. I don't want to give anything away, but you just can't make this stuff up. The acting and directing are wonderful, even if the story is somewhat predictable. It's not a perfect film, but it is very good. Highly recommend.

Man on the Moon (1999)

An Admirable Biography

[7/10 · 14 May 2020]

Andy Kaufman was a very funny man. Many would consider him to be a genius, and I would agree. His genius was in his brilliant originality. Jim Carrey captures some of that about as well as any actor could, I suppose, although there is just no substitute for the real thing in this case.

Carrey gets Andy's voice and mannerisms down pretty well, but of course he's just acting. It doesn't quite come across the same, as is so often the case with biographical films. However, there is still a wonderful and engaging story here about a rare comedic genius, and taken as a whole it is worth watching. Recommend.

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

A Good Animated Movie

[7/10 · 4 May 2020]

WRECK-IT RALPH does a good job of including nearly all that is good about animated films these days while still managing to stay on the tolerable side, for the most part.

Animated films can be a bit annoying with their humor sometimes, but WRECK-IT RALPH is actually genuinely funny most of the time and should appeal to all ages. Recommend for fans of animation.

Long Day's Journey Into Night (2018)

Great Chinese Art Film

[7/10 · 29 April 2020]

This film (which bears absolutely no resemblance to the well-known play with which it shares a title) is first and foremost an art film. Rather than containing a logical story, it is more about mood, tone, and memory. But it captures those things about as well as any film ever has.

It borrows a great deal from previous films in the art genre, including THE MIRROR as well as the films of Wong Kar-wai and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. So if you enjoy those kinds of films, this one is for you. It also has one of the best dream sequences of all time. Recommend for fans of Asian art films.

Tottaa Pataaka Item Maal (2019)

Excellent Hindi Film

[8/10 · 26 April 2020]

Most of us are probably used to the kinds of Bollywood movies that have a certain style to them. They may have a lot of singing and dancing and probably drag on for more than two and a half hours. You've probably only seen one or two of them, or maybe none at all, just because watching them can be so tedious.

Those films aren't bad, in my opinion, and I've even enjoyed a few of them quite a bit, but it's just hard for me to get in the mood for them sometimes. They can feel like this big event, and they don't have as much appeal for viewers who may not be from India.

This film, however, was a completely different experience. It tells a relevant and intriguing human story that all of us can relate to in one way or another. It does not feel at all like a typical Bollywood film, because it's not. It's not like anything at all, as a matter of fact, but it has more in common with European art films than anything I've seen come out of India. It is a true work of art. Highly recommend.

The Namesake (2006)

An Excellent Drama

[8/10 · 23 April 2020]

THE NAMESAKE is based on the very popular novel of the same name. I will say that the novel was not just popular, but it was also very good. It lived up to the hype. I feel like the film didn't get quite as much publicity, but it surely deserved to.

The story and acting are both very good. It is full of excellent drama and wonderful performances, and it is very faithful to its source material. It is a human tale that everyone can relate to in one way or another, one that will move you. Highly recommend.

Sexy Beast (2000)

Excellent Crime Thriller

[9/10 · 21 April 2020]

SEXY BEAST is a crime movie with a twist. It's got everything you'd want and expect from a British crime thriller, including some of the genre's most memorable faces from the era, plus a whole lot more.

This film is just so clever and original and full of tons of unique scenes that are unlike anything we've seen before. The story is very good and engaging and the acting is absolutely top notch. Highly recommend.

Point Break (1991)

Decent Action Flick

[6/10 · 20 April 2020]

If a good, mindless action film is what you're looking for, look not further. This has everything you could want. It's got the hunks and the action and the cheesy one-liners.

That's right, it's cheesy, but not too cheesy. As a matter of fact, it's the perfect amount of cheesiness. And there are plenty of cool stunts and action sequences that will blow you away. The acting is just alright, not great, but who cares? Recommend for action fans.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Great Comedy Adventure

[8/10 · 20 April 2020]

Taika Waititi keeps cranking out these great little comedy films. This one felt a little bit different to me than his previous films EAGLE VS SHARK and BOY. I think that was because it was based on a novel.

It's different in a good way, though. It's a great story and full of unpredictable twists and turns. The two main actors in this are great together. Recommend.

Three Amigos! (1986)

Classic Comedy Fun

[6/10 · 20 April 2020]

This is not a great movie by any means. But it's some good old eighties comedy for sure. I have to admit, part of the appeal for me is the nostalgia, as this is a film I've watched and re-watched several times over the years.

There are some good jokes and some that don't quite work, but after you've seen the film enough times it's hard to tell the difference. It's just a comfortable little comedy film, and the chemistry between the actors is great. Recommend for fans of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase.

Scream (1996)

Decent Horror Film

[6/10 · 19 April 2020]

SCREAM is a well-known horror classic by this point in time. It was a milestone when it first came out, and it has held up with time. There are a lot of things that were original to this film that we've seen a hundred times since, but SCREAM did it first.

Of course, there are a few things that it stole from earlier horror films, as is the case with most movies. There are bits that it borrowed from elsewhere that everyone else forgot about, so SCREAM gets all the credit in most folks' minds. There are some cheesy bits, and bits that didn't seem cheesy when this came out but do now. Overall, it's a must-see for those who enjoy the genre. Recommend for horror fans.

The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)

Not for Me

[5/10 · 18 April 2020]

I can't imagine anyone enjoying this family film. It is not even acceptable for family night. I'm sure it's appropriate in terms of content. I can't recall any swearing or violence or anything else too offensive. And honestly the premise is pretty clever, in my opinion.

But the execution is bad. Most notably, the acting is terrible. I understand that there were child actors, and normally I can tolerate a bit of bad acting, but it was just too much here. Do not recommend.

Johnny Got His Gun (1971)

Very Interesting WWI Film

[8/10 · 18 April 2020]

JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN, based on the novel of the same name, is a very interesting film. It is about a WWI soldier who is badly wounded and it has a very clear anti-war message.

What makes the film so interesting is that it was made in the seventies and has a very obvious seventies vibe to it. It's made by filmmakers of the seventies and comes complete with seventies feelings and sentiments that were probably not the same during the time period depicted. I find it both unrealistic and fascinating for that reason. Apart from that, the film is well-acted and has a good story. Recommend.

Deadly Prey (1987)

Fun Action Film

[6/10 · 17 April 2020]

A lot of these types of cheesy action films are all too aware of their cheesiness and they turn out bad for that reason. On the other hand, some try too hard despite a low budget and bad script, and they turn out bad as well.

DEADLY PREY is the perfect balance of the two, in my opinion, with all the good things about cheesy action films, but not too much of anything. It looks like they had a lot of fun making this but also put in a lot of hard work. Still, of course, you have to have a taste for that sort of thing to enjoy it. Recommend for fans of cheesy action films.

Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979)

An Oddball of a Film

[5/10 · 17 April 2020]

This movie certainly has its moments. It's quirky and weird, with some truly original scenes, which is what makes it intriguing. Unfortunately, that is the only thing that is good about it, and it's not enough to keep it entertaining for its entire runtime.

Those little bits of weirdness might work better in a short film, but ultimately I was bored with this feature very quickly. The acting is bad and the goofiness of the whole thing gets annoying after a few minutes. Do not recommend.

Wrongfully Accused (1998)

Decent Spoof Movie

[7/10 · 16 April 2020]

I admit this movie is very stupid. But I found myself laughing again and again at all the stupid jokes! The humor here is solely in the way it references other films and puts a spin on things, so if you haven't seen many of those other films you may not enjoy this one.

The main film referenced here is of course FUGITIVE. Also referenced to great hilarity is THE USUAL SUSPECTS, but many many others are included as well. It's just good mindless fun. Recommend.

Knives Out (2019)

Fun Mystery Film

[7/10 · 15 April 2020]

KNIVES OUT borrows from countless other whodunit films that have come before it while still managing to put a fresh and original take on it. It's everything that's great about the genre with just the perfect amounts of satire and parody added for good measure.

It's one thrill after the next. It's hilarious and a whole lot of fun. Don't try to figure it out yourself. Just enjoy the ride! Recommend.

8 Mile (2002)

Good Hip-Hop Film

[7/10 · 14 April 2020]

I'm not of rap music in general and I didn't think I'd enjoy a film starring rapper Eminem. But I did enjoy it very much. It is very enjoyable and intriguing. I even found myself enjoying a lot of the rapping, much of which was improvised I believe.

There is a lot of rapping in the movie but it is crucial to the story. The story and acting are both very good. It tells an honest story about a man struggling to make ends meet in the ghetto. Recommend.

Super Troopers (2001)

Dumb Comedy Done Right

[6/10 · 13 April 2020]

There's smart comedy and there's dumb comedy. The latter category is the kind that includes a lot of fart jokes and things of that nature. It's the kind we see in films like AUSTIN POWERS and DUMB AND DUMBER. And it's so very basic that it often ruins most films that rely on it.

But every once in a while it's done right. SUPER TROOPERS has that quality. It's very enjoyable and it succeeds in the balancing act of giving us good jokes and genuine laughs through dumb comedy. In a way it reminds me of those good old Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd films, but it has its own things going on at the same time. Recommend for comedy night.

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)

I Didn't Find This Funny

[4/10 · 13 April 2020]

This film is based on the memoir of the same name by Toby Young, but the plot was apparently changed so much that they had to even change the main character's name to Sidney. Instead of using the real life humor offered in the book they decided to go for dumb humor instead.

So now they can't even call it a true story. It's just a boring, unfunny mess that's hard to watch. And I am normally a fan of Simon Pegg. I've enjoyed his other films. This one was just bad though. Do not recommend.

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)

An Absolutely Wonderful Film

[8/10 · 11 April 2020]

This movie was made quickly and on a very low budget, and it turned out great! They say you can make films fast, cheap, or good. As a matter of fact, you can have any of the two, but you can never have all three. This one seems to defy the odds.

Fassbinder was well known for working very fast, turning out film after film in record time. This one was not expected to be his masterpiece; it was merely intended as an exercise between other films, hence the very low budget. It turned out to be the one he'd be most remembered for. The story, acting, and camerawork are all wonderful. Highly recommend.

Fly Away Home (1996)

Decent Family Film

[7/10 · 10 April 2020]

The premise may seem a bit corny for some. Others may view it as too much of a feel-good movie. It's not. It is a thoroughly entertaining film with a good story and great acting.

I admit, it's just this side of corny at times, but the story is very well-written and the dialog is very good. You can tell they did a lot of research for this one. Recommend.