Beginthebeguine Reviews

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again (2016 TV Movie)

Disaster or how Rocky Horror died

[23 April 2017]

A remake should bring something to the table and I was hopeful when they started out with the usherette singing Science Fiction which is the high point of the movie. Everything goes down from there as the most miscast movie struggles to not look like the worst amateur dress rehearsal ever of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Poorly staged, directed and some of the worst acting I have ever seen. It seems that the producer (Adler trying to milk Rocky for whatever is left) Casts Cox (OITNB) for what I can only guess is to exploit her own personal, sexuality. It is a colossal mistake since she is far to opposing of a presence to gain sympathy as Frank N Futter which is necessary to sell the end of the play. She is not the worst in the film, that would probably be the actor who plays Brad, with Magenta a very close second (I do not want to mention Columbia since just reading off your lines with no emotion is not acting at all.) The thing that really brings the show down is Ben Vereen and Tim Curry, two wonderful stage actors, who now in various stages of illness, seem pathetic in these supporting parts as they struggle against a senseless, and poorly executed production that should have been aborted before the first set was built. My suggestion is to watch the first number and then watch the classic Rocky Horror...

The Monster (2016)

Guy in a cheap suit terrorizes young girl and mother

[26 February 2017]

What should be an atmospheric horror movie about a young child and her mother caught on a lonely highway and attacked by a "monster" tries desperately to be a tale of the emotional conflict of mother and daughter relationships. It jumps back and forth to past conflicts between the two, yet never gives any depth to the relationship. The acting is hollow, except maybe for the child who delivers her lines with some confidence, unlike her co star, but mostly they are stuck with pointless dialogue and changing visual perspectives that might reflect either bad directing, bad photography or maybe just bad editing.

In the end it is obvious that the "Monster"-- looking like a tiny Godzilla --is a man in a suit crawling around on his hands and knees.There is no menace whatsoever and the confrontation between the child and the monster is laughable..especially since the "monster" has already dispatched a number of adults with little fanfare.

I see so many positive reviews on this page for this pathetic entry into the man in a suit monster genre, that I must wonder how many of these posters are related to the writer/director.

Not worth your time

The VVitch: A New-England Folktale (2015)

What went we out in this wilderness to find

[25 May 2016]

At first viewing I really didn't know what to make of this movie. I thought perhaps that it was an attempt at an art house horror film. Some of the scenes made me think of the art of John Atkinson Grimshaw and others of Fuseli. Almost at times too disturbing to look at, and too disturbing to look away. The story is of some mad fairy tale, as if puritan America had be somehow correct in their witch-madness and crones haunted the woods in search of babies in which they might steal for their unholy rituals.

I had to watch it again.

The second time I realized that it was not really an attempt at an art house horror film, but rather beautiful in itself as a piece of art. It lacks compassion however and views the harshness of life as the horror itself as this family comes apart in the situation they find themselves. They really are good people, for their time at least, and they try to love each other as their fantasy of life-- where good conquers evil-- erodes over the course of a few weeks.

A Stylized fairy tale with no clear moral, though exceptional photography and acting. My biggest criticism would be the black-outs that the director uses to change certain scenes. They are quite long. That is a pretty petty complaint and really not worthy of this beautiful, yet disturbing film that has long lingered in my thoughts well after the final credits.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Improvising vignettes amuse at times, seem awkward at others.

[1 August 2015]

I suppose that if you were not expecting much this film might amuse at times. If you are a horror movies fan, this is meant to be a comedy, maybe a dark comedy, but certainly not a horror movie. What it turns out to be is some Kiwi actors improvising vignettes about what some old -time vampires might experience in modern days. There is really no plot but the film makers are good at following the characters as any documentary should, waiting for the story to unfold itself. Unfortunately, it never really does. What it delivers is some one-liners, lots of fake looking gore and stiff wire work. At times the actors appear uncomfortable in their roles and possible funny moments are lost as the actors appear to not know what to do with a scenario, trip over each others lines, or give us awkward face mugging at the camera.

I see from the reviews that many New Zealanders like the film, and that is fine. They should support their film industry. However, New Zealand is responsible for Peter Jackson, so we know that they are much more capable than this type of amateur production.

Left Behind (I) (2014)

Cage does not get rapture, but annoying wife does.

[10 June 2015]

The bad news is that the world is ending and all the evangelical Christians are being "raptured" even down to the homeless man who carries around "The End of the World is Near" sign...no wait, that is not the bad new, that is the good news. This is precisely why I found this movie to be hopeful. The only problem is how to get God to take away all the other radicalized, fundamentalists from the other Abraham theme religions too. I wondered, as I laughed my way through this film, what the producers would think of a propaganda film by The Islamic Nation or other radicalized Islamic group whose major point would be a big "I told you so, but you thought we were crazy" film plot.

Crazy is what this film is and it really is just a validation of some pretty outlandish ideas that were born out of millennial cults and other cults that splintered off the main religion centuries ago. I cannot blame Christians, Islamics or Jews for the nutters among them, nor will I discount the intelligence of a person who believes what others might consider myths, but the evangelical Christians and their kind are just a few cards less of a deck.

I also will not blame Cage for appearing in the film, after all like De Niro said when as asked why he did The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle...hey, this is what I do for a living. He does a very understated performance, which for him must have been difficult. He could have gone over-the-top, as he usually does, but he reigned back his emoting and puts in a fair performance even with some pretty corny dialogue. The direction is amateurish, the lighting is bleak. However, the CGI is pretty good and some pretty good cash was spent on the stunts.

Unbroken (I) (2014)

Not a waste of film or my time.

[1 May 2015]

I thought it might be amusing to check out the profiles of the people who seem to be attacking Ms. Jolie personally on their reviews. Seems that they all joined IMDb four months ago and have only reviewed this particular film. Interesting...hmmmm

This is a beautiful film to watch, the vastness of the ocean verses the bleakness of the prison camps is astounding. The film moves along, including some flash backs, in a really good tempo. The acting is great and I cannot see all the poor film making that Ms. Jolie detractors have talked about here.

Is it a good story ? I suppose, although I was much more taken with the beauty of what was on the screen. I think Jolie has some talent and she certainly was able to run a big production with no real flaws to what is seen on film. Good for her.

Son of God (2014)

Romy Downey's Savor movie mundane rehash of familiar epic.

[9 November 2014]

Well...I don't have to tell you how this film ends, however, for those who live on Mars: a young girl gets pregnant by a storm god and gives birth to his son. The son goes on a journey of enlightenment and shares his findings with his people. Typical conventions of the time period that the source material was written in. Where this story changes is that the people reject the "enlightenment" and crucify the Storm God's son. Being a demigod the man is resurrected and sends his followers out in the world to teach his "Gospel".

I thought Mel Gibson's movie told the story better and even the long ago "Greatest Story Ever Told" was a more interesting version of this particular story. The problem, I suppose, is the fact that this film is made by fundamentalist Christians. I am not saying that Mr. Gibson is not a little "out there" too, but his film is delightfully filmed by Caleb Derschanel one of the greatest cinematographers alive today. This film is an extended, re- edit, of a television program (that I did not see) and looks a little sliced and diced.

Nevertheless, I think it is a film that true believers will like. Jesus still is whipped (which I always hate seeing), has to carry that darn cross while fainting along the way, and is finally crucified is a very graphic way. There is lot's of blood and gore, much more than the original Friday the Thirteenth slasher film so I would advise to let the Christian kiddies sit this one out.

Outside of a mundane telling of a familiar tale, the acting is pretty good. Otherwise there is not much here for non-believers, historians, film enthusiasts or just about anyone who does not buy into the idea that The Bible is relevant. If you fit in this latter category -- skip this film. I suggest Hamlet II just for the song "Rock Me Sexy Jesus"...oh heck, I'll just provide it here for you>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSVR94c0bqM

Byzantium (2012)

Neil Jordan's other Vampire movie...not bad but lacks teeth.

[2 November 2014]

Not at all a follow-up to Interview With The Vampire, Jordan explores vampire mythos again with this tale of two female vampires living in modern Ireland. This film is lovely to watch and both main actresses,Gemma Arterton (Clara) and Saoirse Ronam (Eleanor) are wonderful in their craft. The former a mother, who, as a child is forced into prostitution and later illness, she escapes by becoming a vampire. Eleanor, the daughter Clara gave up in the brothel she is forced to work in, is also given the dark gift which is against a very masculine-run Vampire code.

Forgive me for using the word vampire, a word avoided in this film-- as it is with all art vampire films, but the word fits better than any other. Although Jordan is generous in giving us the back story, the real story is in the "now", as these two ladies are drawn into conflict with each other due to their opposite personalities.

For me this film suffers from lack of fangs, it misses the "bite" of a true vampire film. It is fun to watch, but it is just another part of a vampire legacy I do not care for. Personally, I believe as humans move toward a more secular world devoid of the old myths it is harder to pay homage to evil...and without evil, good cannot overcome in the end..

Repentance (I) (2013)

Not much of a horror film, more of a fable.

[20 October 2014]

Walking away from this movie I learned one thing...no, not what the director meant for me to learn, but rather, that Anthony Mackie is a really good actor. Otherwise the script is predictable and weak. It has too much new age religious overtones and that obviously has to do with Forest's involvement as producer (I get it he is a deep guy with deeper religious feelings.)

The problem is I had no idea that this was a horror film till I visited this page. The director makes cuts and uses camera angles that are not suspenseful at all, neither is the music. In fact, I thought it was a pretty up-film with some unnecessary gory scenes. The dialogue is very weak and unfortunately gives a pretty good cast little to do that is interesting. I would have to say that Ghost Dog was a much better investigation of a disturbed man with a life journey (Forest is good in both films, and he has nothing to prove anymore, but this film was not his best exploration of his craft.)

Mike Epps was also good for his first role and I had wished he had more of a chance to explore his character because it seems like he was on to something. So, the acting is good, but the film is weak, and poorly directed for such a strong cast.

It Was You Charlie (2013)

To view or not to view...its too late for me.

[23 September 2014]

The movie has a beginning, a middle and an end...but not in that order. The filmmaker does not reveal much about the accident that starts the hero's journey until the end. It is necessary to make it through the whole picture to understand what he did that made him such a basket case, and, halfheartedly, looking to end his life. He tries to shoot himself in the bath tub and he tries to hang himself, but is interrupted by a taxi driver, who, for her own reasons, has taken an interest in him. Naturally, when she knocks, he answers with the noose still around his neck.

The story, of the last few years, is replayed in his head. From his failure in love to his failure in the accident he confronts the question of his own manhood and humanity. A minor subplot of sibling competition is explored and left unsatisfied, of parental differences also unsatisfied in a script by writer/director Emmanuel Shirinian in his first full-length film. I think he was not ready to take on this challenge...but in the future, who knows ?

That reads pretty good on paper and there is really no technical problems with the film or its cutting. It just did not do it for me. I liked the questions asked, but it did not sell me on the character of the hero/Abner (Michael D. Cohen). I found myself not caring about his story, in fact, he annoyed me. This is no reflection on Mr. Cohen as an actor. The character is just not likable. Outside of Mr. Cohen and a landlady/Ethel (Phyllis Ellis) who throws herself at Abner in a last ditch effort to get some comfort out of life that is not found at the bottom of a bottle, none of the other performances are note worthy.

It is advertised as a dark comedy, but although the subject matter is dark, the film is not dark and rarely funny.

I will give it four stars two for Michael D. Cohen, and two for Phyllis Ellis.

After the Dark (2013)

Argggggggg this movie killed my soul !

[16 September 2014]

Evolution has always favored self-interest. Collectivism only works when the self-interest of the majority is satisfied. That is all you have to know to survive the end of times, I mean, if you even want to survive the end of times...because, let's face it, it is pointless... just like this movie.

As I watched the movie it came to me that the guys who wrote, directed and produced this film were in a bar one night when they decided that this was a worthwhile film. You would have to be fall- down drunk to think this film had any depth or even answered the most shallow philosophical questions of existence.

The acting was bland, the lead actress was a desert of emotions. The other actors just stood there without expression. I don't suppose that the director or the films cutter had sobered up from their night of drinking yet and I do believe that the music was written for some other movie...maybe a cartoon.

Please do not watch this film or you might hurt your artistic soul...there, I have warned you.

Blue Caprice (2013)

French director tries to make sense of American violence

[27 August 2014]

The film begins where our two beltway killers meet and slowly become one in their hate and lust for murder. It is entirely speculative in its dialogue and development. The one thing I liked is that it was not acted like some Charlie Manson crazed mass killer. Nevertheless, the characters never really reach a believable characterization of the type of anti social personality disorder that makes it possible to behave in such a way. I would suppose that it would be hard for such a young writer to lose himself in such a mind as that.

The editing of this film is laughable and there really is no rhythm to the cutting, it jumps around which makes me think that the director was not experienced enough to get enough coverage. There is a lot of running through the forests, proclamations about why people are no good, but none of which have any impact or gives the feeling of menace. In fact, menace is lacking in every part of this film.

Any thought that there would be a payoff for the time spent watching this movie is lost with a uninteresting and boring final scene that could have been cut from the film without any consequence. I say skip this one...

Rosemary's Baby (2014)

Remake of Polanski thriller turned to horror TV show

[24 August 2014]

I think Agnieszka Holland did an interesting job on directing a film with unavoidable comparison to the Polanski film of the same name. Cinematography by Michel Amathieu is well lit and looks professional. The problem that I have is that such horror film, thriller, and such look like cheap CW television shows when not filmed on film stock. That is my problem, but I just cannot adjust to the look of Gothic story painted on such a canvas.

Otherwise, Zoe Saldana (Rosemary) hands in her usual above board acting job, but I must admit that I never liked Mia Farrows work, I found her to be without depth. So Ms. Saldana did not have to reach far, into her vast acting repertoire, to out act shallow Farrow, nevertheless she gave the part a good shove in the right direction. Patrick J. Adams (Guy), on the other hand, had to compete with John Cassavetes who was amazing in the role. He did not really rise to it, but his part was limited to very few emotions...which I did not feel he really reached, but it did not really distract from the film's plot.

That's it for comparisons to the Polanski flick, other than I live across the street from the Dakota and it will always be the Rosemary's Baby building to me. The building in the film has an equally eerie facade and the inside with its maze of connecting rooms create a sinister set from Ms. Saldana to explore. OK that is enough comparisons!!! It is hard, is it not ? Taking on a classic film and putting it on television makes it impossible not to compare.

As far as subject matter, does it really fit today's sensibilities. Whereas the Polanski film places loose with the supernatural overtones, this film jumps right in to all the trimmings of a full-out horror tale. It is a tragedy where the hero is consumed by the evil it seemed innocent enough to overcome. The hero is not saved by innocence, she is destroyed because of it. The underlining theme of both the book and this film (not so much in Polanski's tale) is betrayal. Rosemary is ultimately betrayed by her new friends, her apartment, her husband and finally herself. She is dammed. Does that make sense in a secular world where religion is greatly deflated ? Maybe not everyone's cup of tea anymore.

Finally, this was produced by Saldana and her family. Perhaps that was too much, in the end, for her to chew.

The Grandmaster (2013)

Beautiful opus to Ip Man by Kar Wai Wong

[23 August 2014]

This is a beautiful film to watch full of grace and pathos. Tony Chiu Wai Leung does a fine job as the central character Ip Man, although most of his story is told with voice overs in the English version. Through this character we experience the conflict of Martial Arts politics in the 1920's, the ruthlessness of the Japanese occupation and his life in exile. Starring beside him is the always beautiful and graceful Ziyi Zhang as Gong Er, a young woman forbidden to train, yet trained anyway by her father a master of the arts. The battle scene between Gong Er and her enemy, at a train station, was like a ballet. I was quite taken by the movements, the way the scene is lit, and the wonderful way it was cut together; showing great insight into cadence and rhythm.

I am not a fan of martial arts films, but like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon this is a film to be enjoyed not only for its action scenes but for its undeniable beauty.

God's Not Dead (2014)

Saccharine Christian Drama...not too bad.

[21 August 2014]

Wow, that Hadeel Sittu is beautiful and she acts the heck out of her part as a young Muslim girl who converts to Christianity regardless of her devout Islamic father. She was the most impressive actor in this cast with former Superman Dean Cain and Hercules whats-his-name...Kevin something. I watched this movie knowing it was Christian, and not really caring what someone believes in if it helps them get through the misery of their daily lives, I watched it for the story's sake.

It was typical of the David vs Goliath fable where a young man, poorly equipped, stands up against, a seemingly, mightier opponent.This type of myth structure has existed, more than likely, since before the people in Sumer began to write. In the end the hero wins and the opponent is destroyed...which is exactly what happens here. Did the director tell the story in a way that was appealing ? I think so. I was on the side of the hero, I wanted him to slay the dragon-- Metaphorically.

Where the movie fails is that it throws in stories that are meaningless. The Dean Cain role and his girlfriends cancer, the relationship between the professor and his girlfriend was simply devices to make atheists look bad...which is exactly what the atheist professor was trying to do to the Christian hero. Should I say hypocrite? nay, what's the point. Everyone finds ways to justify their own actions. Self-interest rules the day--always, regardless of the method of rationalization.

The movie looks better than most religiously produced movies (outside of the Mormon movies of the late 1970's and early 1980...I think they were called their "Home Front Series", but they were produced with high quality, well directed and edited also). The problem with these films is that often someone is producing who demands screen time for themselves and family members (I thought that the duck dope and his blond wife were such, but I could be wrong. People like him is one of the reasons that Christianity has such a bad name.) Other low budget movies have been ruined by such people (Think of Plan 9 From Outer Space.

I don't care to discuss religion with religionists (I will not call them Theologians either, since that suggests scholarship and let's face it most Christians--as we have found out--are dumb as dirt about their own religion outside of some bashing verses from the Bible), but I really do not give any credence to militant atheists. It is popular to be an atheist and I am beginning to see that some of the stupidest people I have ever met are part of their crowd now. Anyone who is militant about their beliefs suffers from anti social behavior disorders and should be shunned by society...regardless of what they believe.

The Wait (I) (2013)

Indie pic stars to great actresses but lacks power

[19 August 2014]

So...we wander through life until something happens that shatters the illusions that we have created for ourselves. Emma (Chloe Sevigny)the elder sister has been acting as Hospice nurse for their ailing mother, who in the opening of the film has finally died. The younger sister Angela (Jena Malone) has come to aid her sister. Also there are Emma's two children, who have their own subplots. Emma is not ready to let go of her mother and after a real or imagined phone call (you decide) which can be interpreted as saying her mother will soon be resurrected, Emma begins to prepare for the event.

The dynamics between the sisters is never really explored in a satisfactory way. We do learn that Emma is married and that Angela had a long-term relationship, that Emma considered toxic, that ended recently. Angela meets a younger man who she begins to develop a crush on. This relationship is also not explored to any satisfactory conclusion. If fact, I can see no reason for these subplots, and to be honest, would have though that the plot should have been less diluted by these meaningless subplots. Oh well, I am sure the writer/Director (M. Bash) know exactly what he was trying to say and as he continues in his career I really hope he gets that chance.

The film is pleasant to look at and visually it tells the story better than the plot does. Forest fires, sunlight falling through the forest, a horse being cleaned of the chemicals sprayed on the fire and finally two shocking videos played on the computer. The first of a young girl being hit by a train and a demon face (a la The Exorcist). Life shocks us back from our illusions to the reality of death and suffering. Far too film school in its approach, the director does get technological kudos for his ability to paint a picture that distracts from some serious plot and dialogue issues.

Red Lights (2012)

Spain thriller hides behind American credits and flops in BO and DVD

[17 August 2014]

I think that no matter how well the main cast did with their roles, in the end what ruins this film is the cutting choices. Sigourney Weaver plays an intelligent, successful woman investigating a ridiculous subject (parapsychology)and you have to ask why ? Nobody in the sciences takes pseudo-science nonsense seriously enough to warrant the waste of such a brilliant mind. She has a secret,however, her son, who at age four takes a tumble in her office and is in a coma, and has been for many years. The interesting turn of events is that she was investigating Robert De Niro's character (Silver) at the time of the accident. There is one quick scene, a passing mention and poof it is gone from the film. This would be the only rational for her activities...it is almost completely lost in the editing of the film. Instead Cortes gives us another quick turn at the end that is not satisfying or even really explained. Just dumped on the audience with a few quick cuts to some re-angled shots from earlier in the film.

De Niro, is De Niro; powerful actor. Weaver, real talent; Murphy, first rate; and Olsen one of the best new actresses of our time. All of these actors do well. Maybe the problem is that Cortes, the director--writer--editor--producer, is not at home doing American films. He is not used to editing for American audiences. Maybe he is wearing far too many hats for a new director. Maybe this is the way things are done in Spain. Unfortunately, I did not go to see a film from Spain. You wonder why these actors did this film...it was filmed in Barcelona one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Outside of thinking of what Weavers motivations might have been, I did not find this film to be of any interest as a thriller. It was not thrilling, interesting or well made.

Contracted (2013)

Great actress bad movie

[8 June 2014]

Really poorly directed and edited movie. Amateur all the way. The one rose in this bush of thorns is the main actress who seems out-of-place among the rest of the cast. She looks good and she has the ability to draw out of herself the emotions that would be necessary to reach the conclusion of her character arch. I also like her smile.

The idea begins as a morality tale of a girl whose relationship with her lover is breaking down. She goes to a party and either is drunk, given a roofie, or just decides to sleep with some strange guy (and even worse actor). She begins to get sick and over the course of three days begins to fall apart. The main problem with the story is the script, it is terrible. Don't get me wrong, the idea is there, but the problem is that it is never developed. There are far too many unnecessary scenes, ridiculous dialogue, plot holes and stairs to nowhere. It is a shame that this director/writer did not have the money to find a script doctor to save the life of his idea. In the end it was a terminal case.

Not Fade Away (2012)

Chase(ing) the 1960's in New Jersey get's a little lost.

[22 March 2014]

I don't want to say much about this film. The acting is above board which is to be expected from this cast and director Chase. The music is also top notch,Steven Van Zandt and 2 million dollars even buys you The Beatles to play during the credit roll.

This is a coming of age film set in the 1960's from the time of JFK's assassination till just before the time psychedelic rock (starting around 1967). It is not the best coming of age film I have ever seen and the 2nd act is all over the place leading to a very weak 3rd act and unsatisfactory conclusion. Speaking of the conclusion, I could not help thinking of David Byrne's conclusion to his 1986 True Stories. A young woman dancing in the middle of the road. I liked True Stories a lot, this film not so much.

There is one scene which blew me away, it's execution was wonderful. When the main character is driving away with his girlfriend, his father played by James Gandolfini is standing in the snow covered street. The camera is framed so perfectly at that moment and the actor is so at the top of his craft that I could not breath till the camera moved away. That is what film is about to me. To be carried away into the art I am seeing and trapped for a moment in it's arms is inspiring. For that alone I give the movie a 7.

See you next time...

Red State (2011)

Smith returns to Indy roots with 4 million budget Horror/Drama

[14 December 2013]

I have not been so interested in Smith in the last few years. His films have seemed self-indulgent and dull.

I was not going to bother with this film, but I had nothing else to kill some time with... so I watched it. I was surprised. It was a very good film and after you get past the tedious Michael Parks speech the film moves along at a quick pact. The three young men are pretty terrible, but the performances from the rest of the cast were exceptional. Special shout- out to John Goodman who is definitely the MVP in this production. I know Smith has made a big deal out of Parks, but he just plays the same character in every film.

a little sanctimonious at the end, but that is the intellectual trend at this time and so you have to put up with it. I say you should give it a go, what the heck ? Till next time.

Lovelace (2013)

Sharon Stone is that you ?

[7 December 2013]

OK...first off, I never saw Deep Throat...I know... I guess I have been living under a rock. I do know who Linda Lovelace was, but she never was of any significance in my world...well...I was about ten when she caught her 15 minutes of fame. Why did I watch the film you may ask(or maybe you should ask why I think I have something important enough to say about it.) I was at the library and there it was in the DVD section so I thought I would give it a try. So with absolutely no expectations this is what I thought.

The film started out with a step back into what seemed like The Brady Bunch set. The lighting, the tint of the film and even the set decoration was so 1970's television that I had to laugh. Two young girls talking in the back yard, one unsnaps the back of her bra to get some sun while the other acts embarrassed. See, it could be Marcia and one of her friends. I thought this opening was genius.

Enter the great Sharon Stone, I thought it was just the make-up, but her acting is so spot-on as a suburban housewife of the era that she is unrecognizable in the role...she disappears into the character. She has always been a wonderful actress, but here she deserves awe. The rest of the cast does a good enough job at selling the story and I know that many, here, have complained that the story is not truthful...but, what do I know about the truth of this woman's life ? The film is a device to paint a picture of Linda Lovelace that the Director(s) saw. Truth, well this is Hollywood baby...

The problem is who cares ? In the end I just do not care about Linda Lovelace... no matter how interesting they made the look of the transitions from 1970's to the blatant depth of reality in act two.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a sociopath, I understand that she went through some tough times, but it is one of the weaknesses of the film that I, in my humble opinion, do not believe the editing sold. There are too many cuts away from the sadness of her situation. I also believe that showing the positive view of the story, in the way they did, in act one and then flipping to the negative view in act two would have needed a strong third act which is missing in this film. The third act is very weak and dissolves into emotional tricks to get the audience to feel sorry for Lovelace. The screen writing should have been working on that sympathy all along and not trying to give it to us in one shot. Doing so reminded me of another 1970's stable on Television....the Afternoon Special.

I do think that Ms. Stones portrayal of Linda's mother is worth a view or two and maybe even an Oscar nod. I understand that the director(s) are former documentary filmmakers and I have not seen their work, but I am surprised that people with such a background could not come up with a stronger third act or assembled a better narrative. If, for some reason, Linda Lovelace is important to your life (I simply do not see it), please do buy many copies of this film so that the directors will have a chance to make a better one when the suits see how well it did in DVD.

Finally, It is hard to make a film today, especially with such big names as are in this film. I do not think that Ms. Stone or any of the other actors, the crew or any company would care what I have to say and neither should you. If you think you might want to watch the film, do so. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....

Carnegie Hall (1947)

How do you get to Carnegie Hall ? buy the DVD.

[27 August 2013]

Taken from an idea by Silent Screen Star Seena Owen low budget director Edgar G. Ulmar pays homage to classical music and captures the performances of many of the greatest living soloist and conductors of the 1940's. The plot is simple and somewhat sweet. Cute little Irish immigrant moves to the New York during the opening of the great hall. By coincident her aunt works there and she is allowed to watch the performance. Struck by it's beauty, she develops a life-long obsession with Carnegie Hall; where she eventually begins work as a cleaning woman. She marries a pianist, and during the weakest part of the script they shoot from many years of bliss to a marriage ending fight when he decides to quit the Hall. Conveniently, he falls down the stairs drunk and dies. While their son is growing up mom continues to guide his life toward The Hall. Studying, practicing finally becomes a burden for him and in his late teens or early twenties meets a young singer and he runs off with her and joins a dance band. Time goes by and our mom has become old, she has risen through the ranks of Carnegie Hall and has become rich, but she does not have her son. She realizes that she has made mistakes and when the young wife of her son asks for her help she rushes to make everything alright...of course we end up back at The Hall for a happy ending.

All this is merely decoration for the directors true purpose, the music and the artists. I had the chance to meet Marsha Hunt many years ago when I was a young man in L.A. She was a very pleasant women and still attractive, but I never had any idea how beautiful she was as a young woman. She is stunning and her talent is no less so. I am not amazed that such a talent is lost in early Hollywood. I have heard so many stories about similar destruction of great talent, by less talented studio heads of the time. They had no idea what to do with intelligent and talented women. It was all of our loss, however, that Ms. Hunt was not able to command a career that would have been fitting. In this movie, she alone carries the story. As ridiculous as the script is, and the ton of plot holes she makes the film watchable when the musicians are not on screen.

Little Ghost Grabbers (2012)

Post toddler film delivers back seat quiet time time in your SUV.

[26 August 2013]

Director Mark McNabb and writer Barry Cowan make direct to video children's movies. This particular type of film has one goal and that is to keep children interested. It has children slightly older than the target audience as the main characters and a goofy adult for comedy relief. The effects are unpolished as is most of the whole production because it does not have to be. It plays to an unsophisticated audience who still have imagination and wonder about everything. It has no other redeeming qualities, nor does it need them. If you want to keep your children occupied in the back seat of your SUV on a trip, or even at home this film will fill that need. Trying to dissect this film in adult terms is ridiculous.

The film adds some elements of science by making the adult a science teacher. When he speaks about science he is not goofy. I think it is a good idea to use such a character(non threatening adult) to perhaps interest the target audience in science and to make the main character(the older lead) interested in science is a plus. My only negative criticisms are that they use electricity as an experiment and I would be concerned that some young children might consider investigating electricity without adult supervision. It might also be a concern for atheists who do not want their children to think of ghosts or some type of mythological spirituality especially at such a young age. The ghosts are non threatening, however, and the old lady/witch is really just a nice old lady who misses her dead husband.

Under the Dome (2013–2015)

King sells out to the evil CBS Empire

[6 August 2013]

Probably my least favorite Stephen King book. I found the book far too political in it's opinions which made the true evil in the world an actual political party from the U.S. That is far too real for a Stephen King Fantasy. Nevertheless, I decided to watch the television adaptation because it was a Stephen King franchise. Even with not liking the book, I have liked the series even less. No, it is not political, but, besides, that, it has very little to do with the book at all. Stephen King's characterization are missing, these characters which are typically vibrant in his books are lacking in the T.V. drama. I do not blame the actors, but rather the script which appears lethargic at best. King is executive producer on the series, but that, as we know, is an honorary title used so he can rake in the dollars. So that makes this series an exploitation of his constant readers. CBS is a money hungry exploitative network and I would love to see King return to ABC where, at least, his work has been treated with some dignity and the same, his fans.

The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

Talent lacks in film debut

[13 May 2013]

RZA cannot act. RZA cannot direct. These two statements are made painfully obvious by this terrible film that stars RZA as some sort of EX slave mega martial artist in China.For some reason, Russell Crowe and the Lovely Lucy Lui are also in the film, although it would not have changed a thing if they were not. Crowe walked through his scenes and added nothing to the film except some rather dull delivery of some pretty bad dialogue, he also looked bloated (Although not as bloated as Pam Grier looked in her flash back scene playing RZA'a mother...you see, RZA was a slave in the USA and somehow--after a long exposition scene that dragged on forever--he ended up on a ship that wrecked near the coast of China and everyone died but him.) Lui, who I adore, could have just sat there and did nothing and I would have still thought she was fantastic...so I will not say anything about her. Oh I have to...she was fantastic.

I am sure that Tarantino sent RZA to that silly week class on film making that he brags he went to and is all you need to become a film maker. That may work for someone with talent and some intellect, but obviously does not work here. There are many, many black American student film makers across the USA that would have loved to have the chance to make a low budget film, not to mention one of this type of big bucks. They gave it to this guy instead. Wasted money>

RZA stick with the music, you are actually good at that. Good dancers do not always make good painters and sometimes good musicians do not make good actor-directors. In your case that is true.

My advice it, if you must, watch this with the sound off and add your own words as Woody Allen did with "What's Up Tiger Lily", at least you will get a laugh...oh yes, but not while the divine Ms. Lui is on because she is fantastic (sigh).