kennethdower Reviews

Maestro (2023)

A Convoluted Boa Constrictor of a Film

[1/10 · 24 December 2023]

I don't dislike this film because its focus is on Bernstein and his wife, not on the music and his career. I'm disappointed because the film is a mess; it's a confused concoction with copious amounts of crap thrown in for good measure (pun intended). Cooper is usually a fine actor, but he should leave writing and directing to those whom have actual talent in those areas. Perhaps the most egregious moment is the Ely Cathedral scene. An embarrassing six-minute take that took Cooper six years to learn. . . Do we need any more proof that the film is a vanity project? His acting is mostly cartoonish and cringeworthy, while his attempt at imitating Bernstein's voice is atrocious; one would think the composer/conductor had a sinus infection his entire adult life. Mulligan is superb, and the sole saving grace in what can only be construed as Oscar bait.

Cocaine Bear (2023)

You'll Laugh So Hard, You'll Snort!

[9/10 · 15 March 2023]

Cocaine Bear is a very funny film featuring a high bear and a high body count. I love Elizabeth Banks, so I'm not surprised she made not only an entertaining movie, but, a pretty good one at that. Sure, there's plenty of stupid and silly stuff, but that's to be expected. This may be a bloody horror movie, but it's bloody funny as well. Think of it as black comedy horror and you'll enjoy it immensely. The cast is uniformly excellent, including a couple of child actors who aren't horribly annoying. It was bittersweet seeing the late Ray Liotta in his final role; he was superb and quite droll.

Enjoy!

Once Were Warriors (1994)

The Other Kiwi Masterpiece of 1994

[10/10 · 6 March 2023]

1994 was a great year for Kiwi cinema. Two masterpieces were released that year, Peter Jackson's "Heavenly Creatures" and Lee Tamahori's "Once Were Warriors". The latter film deals with issues we are still grappling with today: alcoholism/substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, rape of a child, poverty, and the deleterious effects of colonialism. While many movies are referred to as "powerful" and "raw", "Once Were Warriors" is one of the few that truly lives up to those labels. Its gut-wrenching story unfolds with an operatic intensity, juxtaposing scenes of mirth against scenes of incredible violence. Unless you're a sociopath, you will be horrified by the abuse. In one scene, however, the father unleashes a torrent of extreme brutality that leaves the viewer cheering him on, in effect, making one complicit with the violence. The characters are drawn with genuine complexity, and the acting of the leads is jaw-dropping. "Once Were Warriors" is, undeniably, a very bleak film, but it also offers a vision of strength and hope. I guarantee, this is a film you will never forget.

Funny Woman (2023– )

Funny Lady

[10/10 · 14 February 2023]

Loved this mini-series. These days, they usually go on for too long, but there's not an ounce of fat on this one and it breezes by in six episodes.

Gemma Arterton shines as the funny woman, and Rupert Everett is quite hilarious, seemingly channeling Alastair Sim a bit. The rest of the cast is excellent, and the script is very fine. I haven't read the book, so I cannot compare the two, but I found this totally enjoyable and highly entertaining. The recreation of the 1960's was very good, including some imaginative use of vintage films of London with Arterton skillfully inserted into them. Highly recommended.

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

An Absolute Abomination

[1/10 · 22 January 2023]

Absolute trash. Not only does the film barely resemble the novel which it purports to be based on, the writing is hilariously awful and contains zero character development. None. The only thing served is "war is muddy, messy, and hellish". That's it, along with a lengthy side-story about negotiations for the armistice and another about some bellicose nutjob general, none of which is in the book. The most important parts of the book? Yeah, those were left out. The ending is a travesty and renders the title of the film meaningless. If you like films where you get to actually care about the characters, go watch the original 1930 version or the 1979 TV film.

Flux Gourmet (2022)

Peter Strickland does it again!

[10/10 · 28 August 2022]

Strickland never ceases to amaze, and his latest film, Flux Gourmet, does not disappoint. For all the ninnies crying it's "not horror" or "not a comedy", you need to not be so horribly rigid in your thinking, and stop with the low ratings because the film didn't meet your unrealistic expectations. Strickland is a unique filmmaker and his work is definitely not conventional.

Flux Gourmet is actually quite hilarious and highly entertaining. I've seen it twice already and will happily watch it again. The acting and the cinematography are all superb, and of course the soundtrack is fascinating as well. If this if your first Strickland film experience, then do check out his other work. Have fun!!!

Father Stu (2022)

Judas Priest, this film is a stinker!

[1/10 · 1 June 2022]

Judas Priest, this film is a stinker! Not like Catholic incense stinker, but like dog doo-doo stinker!

This probably won't win any serious awards, but maybe the Vatican will canonize Wahlberg and Gibson. If you're Catholic and you think your religion beats every other one mankind ever invented, you'll probably love it!

If you have a rational brain, you will want to avoid this drek.

Nitram (2021)

Difficult Story Handled Deftly

[10/10 · 5 April 2022]

Whenever I've seen Caleb Landry Jones appear in a small or supporting role, I've always said to myself, Damn, this young guy is a helluva great actor. It was, therefore, no surprise to me that last year he won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival. "Nitram" is Landry Jones' first major role, and it is the greatest acting I've seen in sometime. Not only is his performance of a difficult character (who is on screen virtually 100% of the time) multi-layered and terrifying, the Texas born and raised actor delivers such a pitch-perfect accent that some Australian filmgoers were left wondering 'who is this Aussie actor I'm not familiar with?' An old favorite of mine, Judy Davis, plays the mother in an equally superb performance. The rest of the cast, cinematography, and direction are also first-rate. While none of the infamous shootings are shown, the scene in the gun shop is blood-chilling in its cool, casual depiction.

Minari (2020)

Pretty Much a Rip-off of The Southerner

[1/10 · 30 March 2021]

This film is beyond overrated; not very good and not terribly original. Its story is virtually identical to Renoir's 1945 US film, The Southerner, and while that is not one of the celebrated Renoir films, it's still pretty good and a great deal better than this wan rip-off.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

Almost As Funny As Cancer!

[1/10 · 15 February 2021]

Atrocious acting with two of the most annoying voices since the advent of recorded sound. A script so devoid of humor you could probably write a funnier one employing a Ouija board and having your cat move the planchette. Avoid at all cost.

Speaking of cats, if you want to watch a totally zany film with nutty characters that is actually funny, check out Bringing Up Baby.

In Fabric (2018)

Hilarious and weird!

[9/10 · 28 August 2019]

Wonderfully hilarious, fantastical and strange, with superb visuals and sound along with razor sharp editing and great acting. If you're a dolt who has to have the script explain everything to you and it has to be 100% logical, then don't bother watching this; you will hate it. Also, there's nothing "scary" about the film so if you're looking for horror you may want to pass as well. For those who enjoy offbeat and imaginative films, simply watch and enjoy!

Hot Air (2018)

The only propaganda are the one-star "reviews" from whiny conservatives.

[8/10 · 27 August 2019]

Steve Coogan's conservative talk show character is portrayed as intelligent, clever, and witty. Yes, he's also an angry schmuck, but he's definitely not a "cartoon" or a two-dimensional character. Interestingly, the liberal protestor character who winds up on Coogan's talk radio show is portrayed as a genuine dolt; you would think the conservative folks with the one-star "reviews" would have loved that, but that would require some thinking on their part. They are here just to bash the film, no matter how nuanced it is. Is it a great film? No, the script is quite flawed in spots, not the least of which is a cringe-worthy cornball ending, but overall it is a decent film. Coogan is superb (no surprise there) and most of the other performances are excellent. The speech Coogan's character delivers at the end of his TV appearance is scathing and pretty much spot on about today's culture and society. Again, you would think the "conservatives" would love it, but they only love attacks presented in black and white; if they are included in the critique, then the entire thing must be some "liberal propaganda" garbage. That's the reactionary, oh excuse me, "conservative" way.

***Hot Air is really about a 6 star film, but I upped my rating to offset the bashing from the snowflake reactionaries.

Plus One (I) (2019)

Plus One = Big Fat Zero

[1/10 · 18 June 2019]

Take two leads with zero charisma and even less acting talent, an assortment of cardboard cutout characters including two stereotypical gay men, a script that thinks it's funny but is totally witless, add some super lame direction and you get Plus One; a film that sucks more than a Hoover.

Making a Killing (II) (2018)

Two "Brothers" Breaking Bad in New Mexico

[7/10 · 24 August 2018]

A very effective low budget true crime story. A tad rough and rather flat in a few spots, but overall the direction is fine and the acting is quite good. It's a deliciously sordid story that's served up in a straightforward style. There aren't really any surprises in store, it's pretty obvious what's up with the brothers, but the tale is fairly crazy enough to keep one's interest throughout.

The Handmaid's Tale: Smart Power (2018) Season 2, Episode 9

Ottawa is the capital of Canada, not Toronto.

[6/10 · 20 July 2018]

The commander and his wife fly to Canada on a diplomatic trip which, absurdly, takes place in Toronto. Did the writers not know Ottawa is the capital or did they just not care? Still a pretty good episode considering it brings both Gilead and "Little America" characters together for a change.

Where Is Kyra? (2017)

Queens is the locale, folks, not Brooklyn.

[9/10 · 7 July 2018]

Where is Kyra? is one of the best films I've seen in ages. Masterfully shot, it's a superb rendering of a life in quiet desperation descending into bleakness. Michelle Pfeiffer is heartbreaking.

-When she's handing out flyers, just in the distance you can see the sign for Fresh Pond Road, which is in Queens; later, she boards a M60 bus which runs only in Manhattan and Queens. Not every film taking place in an outer borough is set in Brooklyn. ;)

Noah (2014)

THE BOOK WAS WAY BETTER!!!

[1/10 · 5 March 2018]

I know, I know, I sound like everyone else on this site that always thinks the book is way better, but hey, it WAS written by God(!) whereas the screenplay was just written by some mere mortal, so there's that. Watching Noah, I felt a flood of emotions wash over me, like a tide pulling me this way and that in a great tempest. I really wanted to love this film, but I almost ran screaming like someone abandoning a sinking ship. Not to rain on the parade of those who loved it, but this story simply had no believable arc to it. It seemed like a vast ocean separated me from the folks whom poured a torrent of praise upon Noah. Feeling like I could be missing something, I was compelled to return to the theater for 40 days and 40 nights, but ultimately realized it was a total wash. I'll never get that 100 hours of my life back!