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mctiernan34
Reviews
Into the Deep (2020)
Needed to be a lot shorter & missed the point
It could have been a very interesting documentary but the director seems more interested in a co worker & "friend" of Peter Madsen than in the death of the actual journalist which is a serious flaw in the film. She is emphasised far too much - she wasn't the victim but is almost portrayed as one. There is no real mystery either. It felt overly long and drawn out to expand the running time.
There are aspects of the story that should have been covered for instance why did Kim suddenly leave her going away party to go on a submarine ride with Peter? We get a fleeting idea of who this woman is which seems odd to me considering the story is about her murder.
The most interesting part is the creepy interviews of Peter himself who is clearly very odd.
Overall the docu could have been better.
SAS: Red Notice (2021)
Well that was terrible
I'm not sure if it was the terrible acting, script or editing or a combination of all of them but this movie isn't very good. It's chock full of eye rolling dialogue like 'who is that?' 'I don't know... but he's trained'. Not to mention the incoherent action scenes with bullets that don't richochet and an impossibly posh SAS agent who acts like he's in a different movie to everyone else.
Special mention to Ruby Rose as a moronic mercenary for hire who isn't very convincing.
The ending was suitably silly involving travelling at lightening speed for miles inside a gas pipe using a metal cart that produces no sparks, yet the hero suddenly appears right after, presumably crawling on his hands and knees without protective equipment to battle the bad guys again.
Hannibal (2013)
Brilliant in parts, frustating in others
Season 1 & 2 were interesting (although they push suspension of disbelief quite a bit in season 2) Season 3 was frustratingly mediocre, particularily the telling of 'red dragon' which was disjointed and not very interesting. It teetered on boredom on. Few occaisions. Shame really as the players are uniformly good in their roles. I can see why it was cancelled after season 3, however.
A Slice of Life on Barcelona (2015)
Overlong and a little bit boring
Overlong and a little bit boring . Didn't care about any characters in the movie. An attempt to be edgy and cool but it felt Juvenile and forced. Overall the movie needed to be trimmed down quite a lot. Scenes carried on for ages without any point. A kitchen sink drama done better in any amount of indie features previously.
Booksmart (2019)
Unfunny. Bit of a mess.
For something claiming to be so smart the movie is completely inane and simplistic. The filmmaker decided to use every comedy cliche and ramp it up to 90 aswell as every camera technique. The two leads unscripted asides are deeply unfunny and irritating. Critics really have lost touch.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
The force is not strong with this one
Where does one begin to review Star Wars: the last Jedi? Having sat eagerly awaiting the next installment of a Franchise I'd grown up with and enjoyed, (at least the original 3 movies and most of the Force Awakens at any rate) finally seated in a gloomy cinema watching as the opening scroll so familiar traversed across the darkened screen ended my enthusiasm for a movie that was so poorly written to be almost infantile in its execution. That may seem like a harsh criticism but allow me to explain:
As we open on Domhnall Gleason's General Hux sneary scowl dolling out lines like an evil villain from a Christmas panto play I couldn't help but think there was somehow a mistake - someone in the projectionist booth had keyed up a funny behind the scenes outtake instead of the actual feature film by accident Surely this couldn't be the actually movie, could it? I sank deeper into my seat and tried my best to focus on the positives but it continued to shock with its failed attempt at 'dropped telephone connection' humour between Rebelion hotshot pilot Poe Dameron and general Hux . To say that this exchange was more akin to a part of Space Balls: the movie than Star wars would be an understatement. Having glossed over some reviews they lead you to believe that this installment was closer in tone to the Empire strikes back while in reality it was more akin to an unintentional comedy than a space opera. I sat there and wondered where they watching the same movie as me.
This weird structure was to continue with humour that failed seemingly every time it was attempted. Gone was the laconic smart ass-ness of Han Solo being replaced by a slap stick humour that just wasn't funny. We have a scene involving Princess Leia that was quite simply silly - it would have been better served for her to simply die at that point at least it would have created some gravitas as it stands she comes across as some sort of super hero who cannot be killed.
Minor plot holes I can forgive but a blatantly poorly written plot I cannot. What ensues for most of the movie is a slow motion chase across space that makes literally no sense. The rag tag rebellion fleet is quickly running out of fuel and has only enough to make one more light jump but the only snag is that the 'First Order' can track them through the 'light jump' and remain on their tails. This begs the question: why didn't the first order simply surround them and obliterate their ships into tiny particles? In the original movies the star destroyers where incredibly fast moving. In this they are a hulking beasts traveling at a snails pace while the rebellion ships have shields that can continuously repel bombardment for hours on end. The logic here is simply bad and just an excuse to create a subplot for Finn to go to attempt to rescue the ship.
The muddled plot continues when we visit Luke Skywalker and Rey. She wishes to try to bring Luke Skywalker back with her to balance the force and rebuild hope in the rebellion which is fine. I can even get on board with the fact that Luke is now a loner and doesn't want anything to do with the rebellion, having made drastic mistakes training the future Jedi knights. But the motivations of Rey and her temptation at the hands of the dark side of the force seem laboured and without character. It is just a matter of convenience to try to bring Rey and Kylo Ren back together again. Luke Skywalker as a character is now wasted and what was considered by many to be an iconic screen hero is reduced to a bumbling old man who has divorced himself from the force in favour of living a life as a hermit.
It just makes me wonder how a script like this could be read and not notice all of the plot holes in it. With so much money gambling on a movie as big as this do Disney simply just believe they will make a ton of money no matter what sort of Star Wars movie they cobble together? Ensemble movies are notoriously difficult to get right. The ability to hit the highs while maintaining the tone of the original is incredibly difficult. With the advent of more impressive special effects and the ability to blow up everything into a million impressive pieces we've forgotten the golden rule of cinema: Character. Impressive special effects will never gloss over the fact that a screenplay is poorly written. Motivation is key. Conflict is paramount and character is king.
In Star Wars we have forgotten that sense of wonder where the continuous battle of good versus evil hangs in the balance and love and faith are what holds the universe together, binds us in an ever increasing circle. Spectacle has replaced poignancy and motivation and it is a lesser movie because of it.
The force is not strong with this one.
What Richard Did (2012)
decent film with good performances but somehow not managing to be great
During the screening for What Richard did I was transported back in my minds eye to review the trailer for the movie. It featured glowing reviews by Irish critics announcing it to be the most important Irish film of the decade. Some may argue that that is simply a marketing tool to get the cinema-goer to purchase his/her ticket but in reality is it a true statement on the actual film?
Having finished watching the movie I pondered that question. I found myself reviewing the plot/characters and finally the ending and the answer I came up with is no. What Richard did is a well made film with some good cinematography and performances from the principle cast. But somehow I felt there was a missed opportunity that dropped it from being a great movie to simply being OK.
The central Triangle of Richard, Lara and her ex boyfriend for this reviewer just fell short. Perhaps the improvised nature of the performances at times hurt it a little as the actual act of violence when perpetrated felt a little strained and not immediate enough to sustain what follows. In fact you could say it was so brief to be deemed unimportant by Director Abrahamson. Strange as its the selling point of the entire movie and what the audience was waiting to witness 'what Richard did'. This distancing approach failed in that scene to illicite the power necessary to hold together the rest of the film.
Perhaps the biggest flaw seems to be the running time as it felt that the plot didn't quite survive the full length of the movie. some would argue then that It might have been even better as a short movie. The setup itself is not exactly original having been used many times before in other movies.
On a positive note there are some standout performances at times affecting and unsettling. Not quite as good as the critics would have you believe as there are flaws present.
Storage 24 (2012)
And I thought Skyline was bad....
Based upon the trailer I saw I had reasonable expectations of this movie, not the dizzying heights of Aliens or Alien, but perhaps an entertaining little movie/homage. I was wrong. We were treated to a poorly written script with poor Direction and confusing shallow depth of field close ups for the entirety of the running time.
An opportunity was squandered by the writers and director to create an intense experience in a claustrophobic setting with a vicious Alien creature that is hell bent on killing every member. Sounds interesting. Sign me up to watch that movie. But sadly we are not treated to this instead we focus on a group of whiney thirty somethings who look bemused and uninterested, perhaps due to the shoddily written dialogue, who casually saunter through the film with the occasional lapse into hysteria when the "Alien" attacks. Otherwise they argue about a break up scenario involving Noel Clarkes character and Antonia Cambell- hughes, who incidentally somehow channels the Audiences reaction to the film with her disinterested performance to the material. In truth if I'd have dated Noel Clarkes whiney character too, He'd have been dumped and cheated on as well.
Now to get on to the Alien in question... a hybrid creation which resembles a poor version of the cockroach creatures from District 9. In that movie they looked menacing and creepy, in this it just looks silly. Every attack is shown in an extreme close up... by the end I was begging for the director to please give us a medium shot so at least I could get some indication of surroundings/bearings/anything! The worst travesty has to be the final showdown with the Alien involving a usually fairly talented and reliable Irish actor named Ned Dennehy. He usually gives quirky characterizations and in this to a certain degree he does as well with one key difference: it just isn't believable. You may say its not supposed to be, that he's there for comic relief. Fine, perhaps. But then again it isn't particularly funny either, just another blip on an already blemished film. He courageously sacrifices himself so that the three others can escape the Alien creature near the end of the movie. That would be fine if we cared or indeed we were shown that he cared for any of the characters he sacrificing himself for. Only twenty minutes previous he attacks them and now they are life long buddies sacrificing life and limp for... hmmm anyone else think thats poor writing? I expected a bit more from this movie than it delivered. It sorely lacked direction and a properly cohesive script that had proper set pieces and interesting characterizations instead it fails even as a B movie instead slipping into a category of its own somewhere close to C. I'm surprised Universal studios is releasing this to cinemas its home clearly belongs on DVD.
Uncertainty (2008)
uncertain writing and direction
The writing directing pair of Mcgehee and Siegel outing titled "uncertainty" is a mixed bag. Coupling two possible outcomes from the toss of a coin we are witnesses to two separate story lines about choices and outcomes. This premise in itself is interesting, however the delivery of the story is not.
We never truly get to find out anything about either character except longing glances and pitted silences which could fall in no small part to the improvised script. This I believe is the greatest failing of the film apart from the cinematography and bland direction.
The blackmail storyline is littered with plot holes and "scream at the TV moments: why did you do that?" The scenario of trying to blackmail a murderer after they witness this fact implausible at best and at its worst poor writing.
Both leads do their best but at times the improvised scenario sees them lacking a direction and it shows clearly on screen. What could have been interesting turns bland and boring by the hour mark as all tension which was built up at the beginning fizzles away along with the viewers interest.
This could be down to the directors "uncertainty" about where they intended to go with both stories which is a fitting and ironic name for the movie. In the final scene we are left with a coda from the main character bobby after they throw the mobile phone onto a floating rubbish dump something along the lines of we will keep plugging away. The tragedy is the fact that we had to wait an hour and forty minutes to find this gem out which totally negates the entire film before it and viewing it pointless.
Inception (2010)
dreams within dreams... exciting tour the force of ideas and visuals
Having followed the films of Director Christopher Nolan from his low budget beginning with such films as Following and Memento he quickly established himself as a director with vision and a writer with flair. Inception is no exception in fact it seems as though the previous films in his catalogue have been a stepping stone to getting to this point, honing a visual style that has become synonymous with class.
Inceptions true genius lies in the fact that a very complex storyline involving multiple dreams within dreams is handled with so much ease and simplicity. This type of storytelling can only be accomplished by those who are master fabricators of Illusion.
While the movie itself is not without flaws it is however provocative and powerful enough to hold your attention. The one chink in the armour I feel is the casting of Ellen Page who seems slightly below par here in places as the other actors performances surrounding her are effortless hers seems a little forced as though she is "trying" to keep up with them.
The snow capped portion of the dream within dream is at times cut a little oddly as we are abruptly brought back to the sleeping occupants in the van falling into the icy water below. Overall these are minor blemishes on what is a modern day classic.
Hans Zimmers score is at times beautiful, haunting and exciting in equal measures. Technically brilliant and accomplished this movie is sure to be remembered for years to come.
Skyline (2010)
Great effects - Poor movie
The premise of skyline starts off like every other sci-fi invasion movie. Strange lights transcend to the surface of the earth with menace and power harvesting unsuspecting victims from their beds. In the movie this sequence holds the most power and entertains but unfortunately that takes place in the first 20 minutes. What follows is a journey with cardboard cutout characters and their relationship problems.
We are introduced to the lead character "Jarrod" as he is invited to LA by his special effects wizard friend for a weekend visit. During the course of the night he falls out with his girlfriend and we find out that his "friend" is a persistent womanizer who beds every and any woman he can find. OK concept. Nothing wrong with that. But where the movie starts to fall apart is when the aliens attack the building where the five protagonists dwell. The entire movie's premise is set up that it will be a nerve shredding tension induced hour and a half as they suddenly come to the realization that they are surrounded with little chance of escape.
But this is not what happens instead we are treated to an hour and a half of clichéd characters with even worse clichéd dialog. The directors have badly homaged the superior works of Alien, invasion of the body snatchers and war of the worlds to name but a few. It is a hodge podge of other movies which never feels right nor original.
By the time David Zayas character comes into proceedings we are teetering on the edge of boredom as we have been subjected to a series of "close calls" with aliens that hold no tension. We care very little for any of them and their constant whining and bickering between one another makes matters worse.
When we finally do manage to escape we do so to the roof top of the building. In a finale that is unexciting and unthrilling the character of "Jarrrod" must take on an alien single handedly squashing the human brain that is contained within its outer casing using his bare hands. This shocking Revelation is in stark contrast to the other 60 minutes previous when we have seen a legion of army f16s bombard them with smart bombs and even, at one point, a nuclear device - both times failing miserably to even so much as put a dent in the aliens Armour. But "Jarrod" is super human he has what no other human being has on the entire planet - a red glowing brain - yes you've read right a super saturated red glowing brain that the aliens desperately want to add to their ever growing arsenal of glowing brains. Yes it is that hilarious.
To differentiate the importance of "Jarrods" brain and every other the filmmakers treat him to a different color - red versus normal green. In the finale "Jarrod's" brain is harvested and placed neatly within the cavity of an alien's casing, after much twoing and froing we suddenly realize that Jarrod's brain is alive and has taken over the alien. Go Jarrod. Just before the final credits roll we see as Jarrod is single handedly going to take down the alien hive from the inside...
End credits.
A shocking conclusion indeed but a more shocking one is the fact that I watched this movie until the end credits rolled. Avoid so we don't have to sit through Skyline 2.
Monsters (2010)
misleading trailers.. misleading title = boring movie
I think its a fair argument to state that if this movie had been marketed truthfully and given its rightful proper title then I would be fairly certain that it wouldn't have the kind of notoriety that its been getting. Not to say that the filmmaking in it is bad. Not at all in places the digital HD photography looks impressive and considering the scale and budget of the movie itself even more so.
But making a low budget movie in itself doesn't excuse a poor storyline. We are asked to go on a journey with two single dimensional protagonists who have uninteresting conversations and uninteresting adventures based simply and purely on the fact that nothing happens. The premise suggests that these two world weary warriors are thrust into an adventure together that units them on a journey of love and self discovery. But this premise falls apart within minutes of the movies runtime and deteriorates even further as both characters are wafer thin and what they have to say about the world around them is equally so.
The movie maker would like you to believe that the discoveries the characters make about themselves and the world around them is profound and exciting but watching them through a shallow depth of field in medium closeup does not create a sense of connection. The potential for sense of wonder is squandered with characters we don't know nor care about.
The "monsters" are infrequently seen and hold no real sense of danger about them. The whole premise of the movie being that they have to travel through a dangerous environment known as the "quaranteen zone". I didn't feel at any time that the protagonists were in danger so all tension was lost being replaced with tedium and boredom in equal measures.
It is quite a shame as the outline of this movie seemed very promising: A road movie filled with danger and excitement as a journalist is desperate to get his employers daughter safely through a harsh monster ridden environment where danger lurks at every turn and the darkness is your enemy. That is the movie I really wanted to see but sadly it was not to be. Instead we get treated to an hour and a half of relationship troubles guaranteed to have you slipping into a coma.
So in conclusion the premise was great but the marketing and title of the movie was a major let down as it wasn't a true reflection of what the actual movie was like.