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Reviews
The Bye Bye Man (2017)
Let the haters hate.
Horror is for horror fans. You cannot judge a horror film with the same merits you judge any other genre. The goal of horror is simply to set up a premise, make the characters semi believable and then throw in your "monster" to rattle the chains and kill off all but one survivor. The reason horror gets the bad rap and low scores often is because fear is subjective. The bottom dwellers in scoring shouldnt be here in the first place. They dont like horror and jump on their uppity throne to stare down at those of us who do with great disdain pompously awaiting the next negative review they can set upon the horror world. BUT....
IF YOU LIKE HORROR FILMS, the BBM is actually fairly competent and great fun. There are good scares here for those who crave a good scare. But please ...those who give this film a one or two and spend hours writing their craft line..."say bye bye to this film", should go back to their joyless closed minds and await the next commercial big screen bubblegum for the brain film they so desire. The Bye Bye man is not for everyone. But those who adore the SET UP, the DEATHS and the PAYOFF will be solidly rewarded here. The formula rarely changes but horror is an art that only the true fan can love.
The Bye Bye Man is a fine little film and if you like horror it's a solid 7.
Frances (1982)
Fascinating and upsetting.
The amazing Jessica Lange just chews up every scene with pure gusto in this absorbing film biography of the tragic life that was Frances Farmer. Jessica is at the brim of her career here but the film becomes less about its star than about its subject with loving attention most quickly. At the end of this film I wanted nothing more than to read up on the life and death of Miss Farmer. The final brutal desecration is so horrifying that I was extremely relieved to find it was artistic license and not truth.
The film rambles a bit and sticks itself together like an abstract jigsaw puzzle but of course that is unfortunately necessary when jamming a life story into 2 hours. It flows nicely however and the ambient yellow brown tints complete the artistic vision ever so comfortably. By all means see this film. It is as rewarding as a biopic as it is a star making performance by Jessica Lange. Both are immensely fascinating.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Please God no more SPIDERMEN!!!
I came I watched. Another Spiderman movie from some brainchild over at Sony who feels somehow that we need ANOTHER reboot of this Marvel arachnified offering and of course the truth is that Sony doesn't want to give up the franchise hence they must honor Marvel film commitment. BUT the one thing I am most grateful for is that they didn't SHOW THE BLOODY SPIDER BITE ORIGIN SEQUENCE. Had enough of that already. The film is well made and well processed through the commercial filter that programs us to like what we see before us and that process seems ever so predictable as my body clock ticks onward. It does have some interesting juvenile based dialogue (because Peter Parker is only 15 in this film, why not SPIDER-BOY?)and the high school characters are all plausibly comical in their post pubescent glory. I felt manipulated and partially gangrene by the time this film was over yet I did enjoy the wondrous presence of Michael Keaton who thanks to Birdman (he practically reprises that role in this film), has again graced our panoramic vision of present day cinema and I am ever so grateful he has returned to us like the prodigal son or uncle might be more appropriate. The acting, the special effects are all well and fine and blah blah blah yet somehow I was sick a might in the core of my gut to have been back in a theater seat to gaze upon SPIDER-MAN predictably going to unravel the villain and return to Auntie May (nicely updated by the gorgeous Miss Tomei), and do the usual BS only to return 2 years later in yet another sequel coming soon in 3d Imax in 2019. I am saddened that Hollywood insists on putting out more recycled sludge and apparently doesn't have much of a unique idea in its hollow head anymore. Yet this film is what it is and the key factor for most of you is entertainment and that it is. Im just sick of this kind of entertainment.
Ass Backwards (2013)
Just God Awful
OK we get it. Your two idiots out on the road in this "road" picture. I like both ladies and of course more familiar with Casey as a former SNL alumni But....This film is nearly unwatchable. Dumb and Dumber...same premise but funny! Ass Backwards..Unfunny. And of course this is meant to be a comedy (I think). All in all I was lightly amused and do find both ladies likable in their pathetic squalor of loquacious losers. The big finale where they finally make it to the pageant is so poorly directed I was choking my own neck in disbelief. Perhaps in better hands Ass Backwards would have been rather comical but I do hope they don't plan a sequel to this mess as I will fondly pass.