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sirieys
Reviews
Leave the World Behind (2023)
What was that about?
The big question here is: what on earth is the subject of this movie? My guess is that it's about how people would behave when confronted by some form of apocalypse. The problem is that it barely scratches the surface of this subject. Less than a handful of scenes are actually worth thinking about from that perspective. The rest is ... context? Maybe, but a context with such nonsensical yet elaborate situations that it's really pointless and feels like the writer or director just felt like trying some random ideas. So why a 3? Well, decent acting, and a good idea that would have deserved better than this lazy and unstructured execution.
Ancient Apocalypse (2022)
Fraudulent theory
Graham Hancock has no degree in archaeology (he is a journalist who studied sociology), and his theories are considered a fraud by all scientists in that field. In this series, he uses his typical modus operandi: discounting experts who know the topic thoroughly, ignoring context, ignoring the evidence that goes against his theories, coming up with spurious interpretation of facts. That he is given a voice on Netflix in such a way is plainly irresponsible. Experts are needed in scientific fields, even though they will sometimes disagree among themselves, and to think that you will see the truth with this docuseries is like thinking a naturopath can cure cancer.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Very poor
I was looking forward to this mini-series, seeing a bit about the years Obi-Wan was in hiding. The first three episodes were such a disappointment that I just stopped watching. Life is short, there are too many good shows to spend time on bad ones. So the question is, what's wrong with this one? I believe the answer is simple and it's been reported in pretty much all the reviews I have read here: the writing. It is extremely weak. Every twist feels either unrealistic or easily challengeable. It feels like it's been written by a sixteen-year-old. Or at best that it was written for an audience of ten-year-olds. In any case, just avoid it if you are a normal adult. How it got the 7.1 rating I am seeing now is beyond me.
Tenet (2020)
Beyond the acceptable complexity
There was always going to be a point from which Nolan would fail to capture and retain the attention of audiences. This is it. It's not a bad movie, the acting is good, even the concept is interesting, but I tried to get into the story and connect all the actions but at one point I just gave up and let go. I am sure others will have had the endurance. There is a bit of Lynch's Mulholland Drive here with the second part providing an opportunity to understand fully what's happening to be fair. Maybe it takes a second viewing but where with Inception or Interstellar (or even Memento) this was an exciting perspective, it feels like burden for this one. There had to be a way to make things more within reach, maybe with a simpler plot around the concept.
Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (2020)
Nice
I like Swift, I like this album, the narratives and fireside or lakeside conversations on what inspired the songs are great. The reason why I give it a 7 only is that the songs feel 'over-produced', they are just like on an album and lack the authenticity, the roughness I like to hear in such productions. It's totally a matter of taste I realise.
A Family Man (2016)
Save time: don't watch this
The acting is good. Everything else is an attempt at aligning as many clichés as possible in 90 minutes. The family man of the title is an utter failure of a human being and thoroughly uninteresting. I managed to watch till the end thinking with this IMDB score there had to be something else but no, there is nothing.
Time Trap (2017)
Worth watching ... and priceless "I know better" reviews
Granted, the acting is not great, dialogues are sometimes very weak, and the behaviours of characters in certain situations puzzling. But overall, the concept is interesting and it supports the movie throughout despite the other flaws. I enjoyed watching this
I also enjoyed the reviews essentially claiming "I hated it, it was poor, if you think differently then you must be fake." As this is December 2020, one feels compelled to see similarities with certain events unfolding somewhere in the world between 2 oceans, a "wall" and ... well I can't think of something for the last side but I am sure you've figured it out.
Breaking the Waves (1996)
Sanctity
Most movies, and I mean 99.9 % of them, slip on you without leaving long-lasting traces. They entertain you, make you laugh and cry, sometimes even make you ponder different aspects of life. But they very rarely go very deep into you. Perhaps it is just due to one's current state of mind...
This movie went into my heart, brain and guts like almost no other. Good and sanctity are not easily depicted. Here, it is a perfectly mastered demonstration. I have often wondered whether sanctity was possible without faith. It is probably not.
Not an easy movie, but a true masterpiece.
Mystic River (2003)
One of Eastwood's best ***SPOILER***
Great acting, great directing, great music, great editing. I give it a 9.5. One suggestion I want to make could answer some of the critics I have read in several comments : I see this movie as an allegory about the death penalty. In this case, the fact that we know very little about the actual culprits and that the scene were they are arrested is fairly short is unimportant. What really counts is not that they are guilty, but that Tim Robbins' character is not. Penn's wife speech after the death of Robbins is that of the people in favor of the death penalty to Justice represented by Penn: OK we make mistakes, but we show strength. Bacon's shooting sign is the weak and ineffective attempt of the people who oppose the death penalty to have the Justice system get rid of it...but maybe I am over analyzing here.