cgallo Reviews

Remember Me (2014)

Great Cast, Production Values and Scenery

[8/10 · 8 January 2024]

I felt compelled to watch to the very end and was willing to overlook some repetitive elements to get there. The leads presented well and Miss Comer was obviously destined for high(er) visibility as this one seems to have been left off of her resume.

In particular I enjoyed the visuals and sound design, which supported the story effectively. Agree with other reviewers who felt the plot did not deserve the run time, but it may have been required by BBC to fill a slot and could be edited into a single piece and shortened.

Second unit shots of the ocean were beautiful and looked great for a 10-year old show. No overuse of drone shots was a bonus :-)

Would love to read the play that this was adapted from.

Born in a Ballroom (2019)

More Honesty Than Many Biographical Shows

[9/10 · 3 January 2021]

Nice to see a show that allowed its interviewees to speak their minds about the subject of the piece. So many times I have done more reading or a quick search and found evidence of censorship, whereas with "Born in a Ballroom" Eleanor Mailloux was portrayed as a real, complex person; not sanitized in the edit.

"Born in a Ballroom" also makes me want to visit Helvetia, a four-hour drive from where I live in Harpers Ferry, WV. Maybe in the spring ... after the vaccine takes hold.

Hopefully many will see this doc and balance out the images from "Hillbilly Elegy." Let's hope, anyway.

3 Days to Kill (2014)

A Few Hits, a Few Laughs, A Glass of Wine Down Your Pants

[8/10 · 30 December 2020]

The cast, writing and direction were aimed at entertainment and succeeded for me. Mr. Costner has the growly voice working full time and has mellowed with age. I liked his interactions with Hailee Steinfeld in particular. Director McG seems to have the shifting tone of the film under control and managed to get laughs with material that in places was deadly serious. Yes, there is significant body count going on.

Overall it wasn't a bad was to spend a couple of hours. I even turned my wife onto it and she agreed. While they left room for a sequel, I don't expect to see it as we are nearly into 2021 and no sign of "A Few More Days to Kill."

Mile 22 (2018)

This one you have to pay attention to

[8/10 · 18 March 2020]

Because it is moving fast and throwing lots of information at. you. It will not be everyone's cup of tea and doesn't attempt that sort of one-size-fits-all approach. The action reminds me of Paul Greengrass's style in the Bourne Supremacy, but a lower budget. Quite a wild ride that only takes 90 minutes so bring a snack and don't blink. Can't wait for the sequel.

The Wizard of Loneliness (1988)

Excellent "Small" Film, Solid Cast

[8/10 · 2 February 2020]

This director got natural performances from her younger cast and selected adults who provided anchoring performances. I will have to read the novel to see how much they adapted for the screen. As of February 2020 it is available as part of Amazon Prime so do take a look!

Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief (2015)

Effective, Gripping Interviews

[10/10 · 30 March 2015]

I was involved with Scientology from 1978-1990 and encountered some of the human rights abuses that Alex Gibney exposed in his documentary. The Sea Org people, who sign Billion Year contracts, bore the brunt of the mistreatment and are well represented in this film. Most former members will know of details that were not included in the show, but the topics that became the focus received a more complete treatment as a result.

The humanity of these survivors shown through in each interview and should evoke empathy in anyone willing to accept the truth in the story. I never felt that someone was embellishing or seeking attention; in fact, quite the opposite.

A huge thank you to HBO for having the guts to air this and not back down.

Hereafter (2010)

Requires Patience and Emphathy

[7/10 · 3 July 2011]

First of all, I would score this a 7.5 if that were possible. It's worthy enough to warrant a second viewing for me, but I have two wishes:

More screen time for Matt Damon; Some other music composer (sorry Clint)

The cast was excellent and the story fairly engrossing. Some tuning to shorten the individual character arcs and build up the 3rd act would have been helpful for audiences who are less patient. Curious to know what the preview audiences thought of this film and if any changes were made based on those scores.

Mature viewers (and or those close to death) will probably have a different take-away than the young folks who view this. The stories resolve in a satisfactory fashion, but again it would have been nice to see a bit more of Mr Damon, whose name after all is above the lights.

Not to be cryptic on the desire for a different music composer, there was key thematic material that felt too similar to the overall mood and tone of the movie. Can't Steven get a good deal from John Williams these days?

Invincible (2006)

Well Cast Sports Film With Realistic Dialogue

[9/10 · 20 February 2011]

Mark Wahlberg continues to surprise and impress. This ostensibly is a sports film based on a true story, but the excellent cast delivers effective character driven scenes that elevate the proceedings into a watchable relationship drama. I love a good "walk and talk" scene and there are several. The director and editor are not afraid to have a fixed 2-shot during dialog (director Ericson Core is also the Director of Photography), more of a treat today in a world of herky-jerky hand held photography.

Period music is blended into a realistic background, especially in the bar scenes which are a backbone to the first half (heh) of the movie. My only quibble might be the casting of Elizabeth Banks as the love interest. The first time we see them in the same frame, well, the outcome is obvious. Ms Banks does a credible job and it is no negative reflection on her that she creates an attractive bar maid.

There is an interesting interview with Vince Papale over at DVD Fodder: http://www.filmfodder.com/dvd/archives/2006/12/vince_papale_in.shtml

War Wolves (2009 TV Movie)

Coulda Been Much Much Worse

[5/10 · 27 February 2010]

I usually watch SyFy movies on weekends while editing video. More often than not they are easy to walk away from when I need to concentrate on my work or turn off the audio. Plots are template driven, characters are stock, effects are cheesy and you don't need a big screen plasma to laugh at them.

WAR WOLVES departs from the formula in several ways and I liked it a lot more than I expected to. Seeing John, Tim and Adrienne was a treat. Somebody cared enough to set up some nice atmosphere in several scenes such as the bar confrontation early on and understood the visual power of "magic hour" lighting. Some key characters had mysterious backgrounds, although this may not have been intentional. The formula and template was there but the stock characters were a little less "stock" than many shows where everyone is snack food for the big CGI or puppet monster.

This thing was shot in Inverness, California according to IMDb and I think they drew from LA for a decent crew and attempted a decent production design on a shoestring budget. They apparently spent more on cast and less on fake blood and needless explosions or maybe the director called in some favors.

Nobody turns on SyFy expecting OTHELLO, but WAR WOLVES was striving to be TERMINATOR or SWAMP THING and deserves credit. I would love to see them try it again with a 10x budget and I betcha the continuity, plot holes and bad makeup and cheesy fight scenes could be patched right up!

Carny (2009 TV Movie)

Above Average for Sci-Fi Ch

[7/10 · 25 April 2009]

I was pleasantly surprised by this Sci-Fi Channel entry. There were some credible makeup and physical effects, a number of competent actors supporting a script that avoided many of the more common clichés for what has become its own genre, the Sci-Fi Channel monster flick usually produced in Canada.

Lou Diamond Phillips stars, cast yet again as a small town sheriff battling things that fly and/or creep whilst chewing scenery, secondary characters and extras at will. It isn't BATS, but its not a crap fest either. Another treat -- the music did not appear to be library music but supported the scenes rather well. A genuine jump inducer in the 2nd act and some graphic gore and another jump in the 3rd made this a "7" in my book.

Oh yeah, and a minimum of shaky camera work and random zooming in and out. Bless the D of P for not inflicting that on the audience.

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Very Funny; Will Offend Some

[8/10 · 29 November 2008]

This kind of comedy is risky and there was some blow back from disability rights activists, but the result is a very funny movie that undoubtedly will offend some viewers. In fact, there is something for nearly every sensitivity so it is an equal opportunity offender. Watching APOCALYPSE NOW ever again with a straight face is going to be a challenge.

There's also tons of action so you can go along for the ride and not worry about inside jokes, subtext, etc. The acting is well covered in other comments, so I'll just say kudos to the effects team(s) for a visually engaging environment. When will the game come out? I gave this an "8.5" because I laughed at something in every scene. Be sure to watch the special features on the DVD for some great background on the film.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Coens Low Budget Crapola

[3/10 · 20 April 2008]

I haven't read the source material that is behind this movie, so I don't know if there is the potential for a decent film hiding in there or not. I did feel like rushing the DVD out of my house and back to the rental store as quickly as possible and told my wife in no uncertain terms to never buy this for me as any kind of gift.

Why? I think it is an ugly movie, which may have only been made because the Coens are able to get a film, any film, done on a smallish budget and with the knowledge that there is a built-in audience for their movies. Seems to me that they recognize the ugliness of the movie by hiding several murders of key characters off screen. Money shots exist here and there, but nothing feels truly wedded to the narrative. The story itself just dribbles to an end but, for me, not a resolution.

I have no respect for writers that handle character arcs by simply killing characters as the story winds down. It is careless writing which doesn't respect character or the audience. I really enjoyed several other movies by the brothers and I hope they can somehow get back to quality writing and directing.

Nomads (1986)

Transcends the Genre; genuinely eerie moments

[8/10 · 2 February 2008]

If you are in the right mood, this movie can really creep you out. Plot wise it's not perfect and the French accents are best viewed as comic relief. But some films have a moment that rises above the norm, and there are several in this piece. In a way I'm happy that every little loose end isn't tidied up and explained.

Wondering if Pierce would consider appearing in a sequel. After all, his wife could have had a baby that would want to meet daddy. There is a whole new generation of annoying music to license. A gritty, hand-held update (shot on HD video) could hit the spot.

Anyway, relax and suspend disbelief. It will all be over in 90 minutes anyway ...

[2015 update -- a U.S blu-ray release has been advertised for August. Hoping they will give it a 5.1 sound upgrade!]

Big Business (1988)

Situational Humor, Strong Point of View

[8/10 · 12 November 2005]

I rushed right out and located the DVD of "Big Business," even though I knew that Disney had a bad reputation for minimal value in extras on their DVD releases. That situation has improved over time, and seeing BB in wide screen made it all worthwhile. This movie started out funny for me and has gotten better with repeated viewings. It has an excellent pedigree with Jim Abrahams directing and Dean Cundey manning the camera, and the leads are definitely up to the challenge of dualie roles.

It is unusual for a comedy to have the strong viewpoint and values expressed in this movie. Fred Ward's Rune talks about the simple pleasures of living in the rural country and you know that somebody involved with the script knew those pleasures personally. The characters rarely become stereotypes. Even the secondary characters are treated with respect.

Dean Cundey, Director of Photography, must have been specializing in trick photography as he went on to shoot "Back to the Future 2" and "3" with even better results. The effects budget for BB was high enough to keep the believability intact.

To me this is an all-around enjoyable light comedy.

Lake Placid (1999)

Camping, Relationships and Thrills

[7/10 · 15 May 2005]

David Kelley knows about character development. I view LAKE PLACID as a two-hour TV show with pretty decent CGI, well drawn characters and cool lake cinematography. And I am a sucker for movies that feature helicopters, a conveyance that I would never ride in personally.

If you listen carefully when Bridget Fonda's character is flying to Maine, the strains of "I Love New York" can be heard in the music. Subtle touches like this make me smile and when you add the scenic vistas and evocative score, well that spells good TV in my book.

Wondering where in New England you can find a lake that nobody lives on, though.

Sister Act (1992)

Sister Act on DVD

[8/10 · 13 March 2005]

I have been a fan of this movie for years, having seen it numerous times on VHS. Today I found the DVD (widescreen!) at Wal-Mart for $7.50 and I highly recommend it. A decent transfer and you get the musical numbers in Dolby Digital surround. Extras include music videos of the choir material.

Other reviewers didn't mention Marc Shaiman's musical direction and the great voice casting. Disney seems to excel in this area, probably because their animation business depends on voice talent.

Hussle down to WallieMart today and grab your copy! Chip Gallo www.chipster.biz

Monster! (1999 TV Movie)

Walsh and Nacson Make a Unique Film

[29 December 2003]

I caught the second half of this film on the SciFi Channel. Bianca Nacson (Susan) seemed to be kissing her boyfriend goodbye in every other scene, and having fun. M. Emmet Walsh knew just the mood to hit for this kind of parody and kept things rolling to the end.

Cool car, too. Glad the CGI monster didn't scratch it up.

Squirm (1976)

Great Locations, Bad Accents

[5/10 · 5 April 2003]

I love the locations in this film, and Rick Baker was worth every cent the producers paid for him. Above average cast but the dialect wasn't from any South that I have heard of.

Cute little critters help us understand why they are called "blood worms." It was refreshing to see female characters who aren't treated like attractive furniture ...

Sadly, the woman who played the mom passed away in February 2003. She made 2 movies in the 1940's plus this one.

The Four Feathers (2002)

Held my interest; Abou was memorable

[9/10 · 3 March 2003]

I complained to my wife when she brought this DVD home, that it was going to be another 'sword n sand' epic weepie kinda thing. Not. There must be a reason why the book has been made into a movie seven times. I think it is because the characters are trying to get to an inner truth that many audiences are wanting to find too.

Once in a while a writer tells a story that transcends time and culture, beckoning to be retold again. From reading comments here it seems that many were drawn to the actors, and were surprised by the story. I know I was. Perhaps we can blame the marketing for that. I found the performances well nuanced and above average for modern film. Much of the location photography was beautiful, the music ably supported the story and the editing was concise.

What more can you ask for?

Road to Perdition (2002)

Parts Are Greater Than the Sum

[3/10 · 28 February 2003]

I am not a great fan of gangster movies and even less a fan of "Road to Perdition." I experienced boredom frequently during the film and felt that much of it had been done elsewhere, and to better effect. I kept asking myself why this film had to be made, and why Tom Hanks and Paul Newman wanted to be in it.

I guess it works best as a character study. One with lots of rain, lots of murdering and pretty monotonous music throughout. Well at least the period music in the honky tonk was ok, until the shooting started.

Imagine this script, in the hands of and rewritten by the Coen Brothers or even Sam Raimi. Maguire looked a bit zany when he smothered the nearly dead guy. That tone might have alleviated the ennui I experienced. Different movie, of course.

The photography supported the story well, and is fine memorial for the late Conrad L. Hall.

The Final Sacrifice (1990 Video)

Cult Exposed

[22 February 2003]

It was gratifying to see how a Canadian cult operates captured on film. Beware of all who drive pickup trucks. Is there a CD of the film's atmospheric music?

Ha ha, made you look. But seriously, will it be released on DVD with a DTS sound track? Maybe some alternate track narration by Gordon Lightfoot? I'm talking THX certified like EVIL DEAD, which is like comparing STAR WARS to BATTLEFIELD EARTH.

Sadly, THE FINAL SACRIFICE is what happens when governments get involved in film finance. Who knew?

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Never Seen Windex Funnier

[8/10 · 13 February 2003]

I laughed every time Gus sprayed Windex on somebody. Unless you are offended by cultural stereotyping, this movie should entertain. Tom and Rita have a great eye for material. Would love to see the stage piece that this was developed from.

Grab some souvlaki and enjoy!

Alligator (1980)

Great cast, fun story

[8/10 · 12 January 2003]

Like James Cameron in most of his action films, John Sayles has written a love story disguised as a funny horror flick. Forster and Riker SHOULD be together and the audience is rooting for them all the way. Mix in some snappy dialogue, a cop-with-a-history good guy, a terminator in an alligator suit and you have an exceptional low budget film.

Waiting for the special edition on DVD. Ramone Lives!