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She Came to Me (2023)
Way better than I was expecting! A solid 8/10.
I nearly passed on this due to the IMDB rating (6.2/10), but was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
The acting, cinematography, sound, theatrics, etc., were all excellent. Peter Dinklage was superb, Anne Hathaway wore the coolest clothes, and Marisa Tomei's performance was my favorite.
If I'm looking for a negative- I'd say that the storyline was written a bit imperfectly. There were certain things that were added and interwoven into the story for dramatic effect that seemed unrealistic or unnecessary and probably could have been left out.
But overall, this is a real solid 8/10.
Crimes of the Future (2022)
This film is very bad. Skip it.
I have been an IMDB member for 15 years. I frequently rate films, although I rarely ever leave reviews. I am typically very forgiving when it comes to my rating system. If I think a film is bad, I will usually give it a "4" or a "5" because leaving a "1" or a "2" feels like a cop-out or a troll move.
But this "Crimes of the Future" film was so bad and so boring and so poorly written that I felt an obligation to our IMDB society to leave a quick review. It is well deserving of my "2-star" rating.
Perhaps my expectations were a bit too high. I saw some of the recognizable names ("David Cronenberg", "Viggo Mortensen", "Kristen Stewart"), along with genres that appeal to me (Sci-Fi, Drama, some elements of Horror), and I figured it would be worth a try. Boy was I wrong.
This film is a disaster in almost every way. The underlying concept- uninteresting. The dialogue between characters- boring and poorly written. The scene stages- unappealing and cheaply made. The acting- maybe decent at best, but below average at worst.
I would suggest that you do not watch this film. Even if you've enjoyed some of David Cronenberg's films of the past (as I have), you're better off skipping this one. I hope this helps.
Infinite Storm (2022)
Two people freezing their butts off...
This is one of the most boring films that I have watched in years. Two people freezing their butts off in cold snowy weather. The dialogue is boring. The characters are boring. The scenery is boring. The film is boring. I would suggest that you watch something else.
Archive (2020)
The best AI Sci-Fi since Ex Machina.
Ex Machina has been the gold standard in AI Sci-Fi since its release in 2014. While Archive does not boast the on-screen prowess of a irresistible vixen like "Alicia Vikander", you could make the argument that in its totality, Archive is a better-written, more creative, and more forward-thinking film than Ex Machina was.
No spoilers or in-depth analysis here. Just a longtime IMDB'er who came to say that if you enjoyed Ex Machina even just a little bit, you should 100% go watch Archive right now. I cannot promise that you will love Archive as much as I did (9/10), but I guarantee that you will be blown away by the end of the film. Enjoy!
Fantasy Island (2020)
Incredible Cinematic Getaway
Ignore the trolls that are pounding this film with 1 star ratings.
My theory is that many of these trolls are homophobic and did not approve of one of the characters being implied to be gay early on (this character proceeds to get excited about some of the clandestine dress, physically men on Fantasy Island). No big deal.
Look at my profile- I'm a real, longtime IMDB'er. I PROMISE YOU that this film is creative, thrilling, adventurous, exciting, and it keeps you engaged the entire way. Give it a try, and ignore the trolls.
P.S. Wow, Maggie Q is SUPER hott!
The Upside (2017)
A sparking gem!
I came into this film as I always do with the "Comedy/Drama" genre- with moderate expectations. I was totally blown away. This film is immensely funny, superbly fun to watch, and even has its own tear-jerking moments.
To be clear, I am a "Crime/Mystery/Thriller" kind of guy, and I typically shy away from comedies because they don't entertain me as much. But I gave this a chance due to the ensemble of Cranston, Hart, and Kidman. I am so happy I did. This film was hilarious and it made me appreciate the struggles that people go through, whether poor or wealthy.
If you're debating whether or not to watch this film.. watch it! You will probably enjoy it even more than I did.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
A Haunting Cinematic Marvel
Haunting without horror. Eerie without ghosts. Symbolic without cliche Hollywood metaphors.
This film is not for everyone, and I'm shocked that it even (as of this writing) has a 7.1 IMDB rating. It could never be targeted at the masses, but if it were it would be treated as an insult to conservative family values and attacked with disdain, confusion, and "1" star ratings.
What I loved most about this film was its ability to strip me bare of my moral conscience and force me to analyze how karma and justice are interpreted in the eyes of others.
"Is that fair?" "Who does fairness apply to?" "Should I give something because I took something?" "Is there a real force on Planet Earth that implements justice outside of courtrooms and public opinion?"
These are the questions that I asked myself during this film. Beyond that, the acting is superb, the atmospheric tone is calculated to be cold and cruel, and the stage setup and background music are flawless in every scene.
I came in with VERY modest expectations and was treated to a marvelous psycho thriller that nearly blew me away. The true acting "Ace" of this film is Martin (the antagonist, played by actor Barry Keoghan), whose teen character constructs the unwavering foundation of the entire film.
You will either love this film, or you will hate it. And after reading this review, you probably already know which category you'll fall into.
Personal Shopper (2016)
A film about Kristen Stewart texting iMessages on an iPhone.
If you would LOVE to watch Kristen Stewart spend an entire film sending and receiving boring anonymous text messages (which have zero relativity to the plot and character development), then boy ahoy you are in for a real treat here!
I can't bring myself to waste much time on writing a review for this. The biggest takeaway from this film is that Kristen Stewart sends and receives a lot of text messages with an anonymous person on the other end. That's it. There's really nothing else in this film. It's not scary, it's not mysterious, it's not adventurous, it's not thrilling, it's not dramatic, it's nothing.
Hopefully this helps you make your decision if you're considering whether to watch or not to watch.
The Discovery (2017)
The most fascinating concept of the afterlife that I've ever seen in a movie.
No spoilers here, and the title pretty much sums up my sentiment towards this film.
I have always been interested in the concept of things like afterlife and reincarnation (or the exploration of a lack thereof), but rarely do I find a film that creatively and honestly explores this subject. This is an absolutely marvelous film if you're interested in these concepts.
However, if you're the god-fearing type or a hardcore fanatic of any western religion, this film might not be for you. This seems to be a film for people who try to look beyond what their religion explains to them, or perhaps people who do not follow a religion at all.
I rated this a 10 out of 10. Does that mean that this is equivalent to the best films I've ever seen in my life? No it does not. But because it explores such a magnificent concept that many of us tend to ignore while being surrounded by our material lives, it is well-deserving of a 10/10.
Side notes: The acting was superb, and Rooney Mara is adorable!
Bonus: If you enjoy this film, I would highly suggest that you watch "I Origins" (2014), as it explores the same type of topic.
Enjoy!
Mean Dreams (2016)
Well-acted indie thriller with an amazing landscape.
As a low-budget thriller/drama, I came into this film with modest expectations. I was very delighted to be treated to a well-acted film with an incredible landscape (filmed in Ontario).
The acting was perfect. Sophie Nelisse has the makings of a world-famous box office smasher someday. Josh Wiggins was superb in his lead role. And the late great Bill Paxton played his role flawlessly.
I will not include any spoilers as to why I'm "only" giving it an 8 out of 10, but I will say that this indie thriller is definitely worth watching.
Rest in peace, Bill Paxton.
Brimstone (2016)
Wow, this is what cinema is all about!
I came into this film with moderate expectations and was completely blown away by the quality of the cinematography. The unorthodox yet ingenious order of the character development, the magnificent scene settings and backdrop, the sound and scoring, and the superb acting by EVERY actor (including the children)- it all paved the way for a spectacular cinematic experience.
**SPOILERS | DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE FILM**
I really wanted to give this film a 10 out of 10, and at one point I was sure that I would give it a 10/10.
The reason why I only gave it a 9 out of 10 is simple: the screenplay writing was flawed and lent itself towards some annoying moments where the characters made excruciatingly dumb and illogical decisions that either got them killed or at least resulted in extreme consequences.
-Example 1: Liz (Dakota Fanning) should have shot The Reverend dead while she was outside on the porch with the Winchester Repeating Rifle aimed at his chest. Instead, she stupidly chose to put down the rifle and run inside to check on her daughter. Thus she got tied up and her daughter got whipped.
-Example 2: Matthew (the son) stopped the horse carriage and then proceeds to be killed by The Reverend's perfect sniper fire ambush in zero-visibility snowstorm conditions. It was very hard to accept that this was written into the screenplay.
-Example 3: Samuel (Kit Harington) has a chance to free Joanna in the church, and points the pig-killing pistol at The Reverend but walks right up next to him at point blank range, and then turns away briefly only to have The Reverend wrestle the gun back at him, thus resulting in Samuel's death.
Aside from these screen writing flaws, the film was marvelous and represents everything that cinematography is supposed to be.
Acting: 10/10 Cinematography: 10/10 Sound/Scoring: 10/10 Scenery/Setup: 10/10 Screen writing/Character Decisions: 6/10
Movie Overall: 9/10
Thank you for such a great film.