Change Your Image
bergmansmithee
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Pieces of a Woman (2020)
Beautifully cast, acted, directed, despite nonsensical Kirby character
As others has written, Kirby's character's behavior is bizarre, she's completely detached through most of the movie; the underlying reasons for her detachment aren't explored. The rest of it is a wonderful experience of acting and direction. I love the film, and LaBeouf is fantastic.
Above Suspicion (2019)
It gets better as it goes along
I wouldn't say it's a good film, but it succeeds in holding your interest.
Criminal (2016)
Costner's character saves it
Most of the movie is a by the numbers spy thriller, but Costner's character really makes it a compelling movie. He makes it a memorable film.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020)
It's just pure boring rubbish
Terrible in every way imaginable, bad acting, bad script, slow, boring, going nowhere fast.
Population Zero (2016)
Starts out great, then gets ridiculous.
I thought the first 30 minutes were excellent, and it's hard to tell it's a "mockumentary" and seems real. I thought the whole story was real. But then the director himself starts acting more aggressive and ridiculous, some of the acting starts to seem "off" with secondary characters, it goes way way over the top. Shame is, it would have been great if they kept up the realism. It just gets too ridiculous. I did lose interest once it was clear it's all fake.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
I unironically wish it were longer.
It is a masterwork. It is timeless. I still think about it from time to time. One of the greatest Hollywood productions of all time. Full credit to cast, crew, director.
Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)
A comedian who is "woke" isn't doing his job.
I can see why fans might like it, it's not unwatchable, either, but I'm a fan and I immediately had a poor reaction to it right away. Others with low rating reviews have fleshed all the issues with this out, and I recommend reading those reviews.
Ozark (2017)
Season 3 is exceptional. What's with the haters?
The show has gotten better and improved. It is worthy of being compared to Breaking Bad. I have no griefs or complaints and I'm baffled at the people who want to find reasons to whine and complain about this show. Just enjoy something that is so interesting for what it is.
Mr. Mercedes (2017)
A masterpiece, one of the great TV series of all time
I have to say I'm baffled at some of the bad reviews and reactions. Most of it seems to stem from the "supernatural" aspect that is introduced to the show, but is that not classic Stephen King? The acting, script, pacing is exceptional, it's enjoyable from beginning to end, and full credit to all involved in putting so much passion into the project. It's a terrible shame it has not received more acclaim.
Untraceable (2008)
Notable for a look at 2008 internet tech and cybersecurity, but lacking in empathy
It's fun to go back in time and see how things were as the internet evolved. This film offers a very realistic look at the level of internet tech around 2008. It's a good story and keeps you interested, but a few things struck me as a bit off. Many of the main characters fail to express any real shock or empathy for the horrors being done by the perp. The film is also pretty violent and gruesome. It does make it's point, though.
Better Call Saul (2015)
Show needs to be judged by its seasons
Seasons 1-3 are legitimate. The Chuck and Jimmy story arc is interesting and all three seasons have very memorable moments.
Season 4 is a giant time-waster, with a lot of filler and gangster plot lines that I completely checked out of. Jimmy's transition to Saul takes all season long to finally reach its end point. It'd not "bad" and there are some bright spots, it's just a lot of filler.
Season 5... haven't started but my hopes aren't high. They really screwed this all up after Season 3.
Castle Rock (2018)
It's a top-tier production, Season 2 is excellent.
Now keep in mind, my GF watched this while I played computer games, but it's an A-list production, great actors, compelling storytelling.
The Leftovers (2014)
It's slow and meandering, but melodic almost like AMSR television
My GF watched this while I played computer games, so I didn't pay much attention to it but we went through all three seasons. It's masterful, and I loved the ending. So well acted. I would put this on a "Top 10" all time TV list.
Upload (2020)
Terribly shallow, moronic, depressingly unfunny characters.
Nicely visualized plausible near-future world, but the writing is a bit on the nose. The characters are shallow, brainless Millennial types who are unlikable, no depth, hard to stomach watching them navigate this empty, plastic, digital world. I love the concept, but I found it extremely depressing and sad (though it's trying to be cheerful and heartwarming).
Ghost in the Shell (2017)
Bland.
Alita Battle Angel did it better. It's hard to care about what's going on. Special effects in the new Blade Runner had real impact, this is derivative.
Midsommar (2019)
A masterwork. Stunning.
The final moment, that smile... perfection. The film is a masterpiece. I only wish it had explored some of the intriductory characters a bit more.
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
You'll need a few whiskey sours to really enjoy this.
Tarantino fell in love with a weak script here and unfortunately wasted a lot of time and talent that could have been spent elsewhere with a better story to tell.
As a director, he should think about challenging himself more. This isn't a challenge, it's an homage, recreation, retread, and while technically an achievement in terms of the time period re-creation (they did a fine job of envisioning 1969, and maybe it deserves an Oscar for art direction), the storytelling takes no risks and breaks no new ground. It's simply boring in too many parts, where I found myself asking why I should care?
Whether it's Tarantino-esque or not misses the point, it's simply not a "great" film because the script is lacking and it wouldn't matter who directed it. It drags. The narrative meanders. It's a simple film with ordinary characters. The weak script sucks the life out of it.
As for the Manson murder re-imagining, it's satisfying enough, though not quite as bombastic as I expected it to be.
Vice (2018)
This is one of the best movies of the 2010s.
It is near perfection, and the last scene, Cheney's monologue to the camera -- "You chose me" -- nothing could be more fitting or perfect. It is highly entertaining, creatively shot and edited, engaging, and captures the arrogant jingoism of the Bush era with near pitch perfect accuracy.
The Dark Knight (2008)
The film is ridiculous.
It has not aged well. Multiple viewings reveal such a pedestrian affair, full of over the top cartoonish scenes. Batman Begins is in fact a better movie.
Joker (2019)
It's a rather boring film with a terrible ending.
The performance by Phoenix is excellent, and it's really all this film is about. The message is subjective, as the actor has noted. That said, it's really not that great, drags a bit toward the end, and ends with a thud.
It has its moments, but by the end of it, you sort of find Joker to be a bit of a loser . You wonder if all of that was worth two hours of your time.
Knives Out (2019)
The problem with the film is its unfulfilled potential.
Others have mentioned the old house might have held some secrets (it didn't). Or that it might present a more structured "Whodunit" that leaves you guessing (it didn't). Or that the main character might offer a bit of verve, cleverness or pizazz, that might have livened up the whole affair (she doesn't, at all).
I also take some issue with the director's choices in scene framing, especially in the beginning. There should have been more close-ups, and better initial intros for each character's little idiosyncrasies so we would could warm up to them. I simply don't care for how it was shot; it's terribly pedestrian. The fast, quick edits of the trailer are totally absent! There's something missing here. Todd Solondz, Tim Burton or the Cohen Brothers really could have drawn these characters out more and given the actors something real to work with.
I thought it would sparkle with a bit more witty, dark humor. It wasn't quite as funny or snappy as I was expecting it to be. Instead, it settles on delivering more of a "message" about this girl, who does good, while the others do bad.
There's also no need for Daniel Craig's poor Southern accent. He should have just done a British accent, it would have been fine and enjoyable, maybe given the film a bit more weight it seems it was shooting for, in the end, with its messaging.
Additional viewings might reveal there's more to it, but I suspect such might reveal there's less.
Joker (2019)
It's a rather boring film with a terrible ending.
The performance by Phoenix is excellent, and it's really all this film is about. The message is subjective, as the actor has noted. That said, it's really not that great, drags a bit toward the end, and ends with a thud.
It has its moments, but by the end of it, you sort of find Joker to be a bit of a loser . You wonder if all of that was worth two hours of your time.
The Pledge (2001)
Not a single false moment.
The actors all deliver superb performances, and the director never tries to make the story anything more than it is. It should be viewed as a work of cinematic art, and not necessarily an attempt to thoroughly entertain or enthrall. It is a quiet, subtle, and absolutely beautiful film.
Happiness (1998)
Iconic, timeless, utterly fearless, a top "10" film on ANY list.
The film is a black comedy that has stood the test of time, aged with grace and still packs of wallop with its dysfunctional characters and awkward moments. It is a work of cinematic art, and transmits deep, uncomfortable truths about our relationships.
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Too long, too many cliches, but good fight scenes
It's cool stylistically but it begins to drag and it's 20 minutes too long.
The fight scenes are quite good, because it becomes believable Theron could actually beat up all these men. That's the high point, especially one long-cut fight and shootout that is quite intense.
The biggest drawback is simply that the "spy" story is rather boring and derivative, just various spies with codenames all backstabbing each other, to the point of, "Who cares? Who are these people?"
No real investment into any character other than Theron's, yet the film treats these other "bad guys" as though we should think seeing them die or go down is a big deal -- it's not. The spy cliches also get old, fast.
Certainly not a great film but worth a watch if one is bored.