relaxalot Reviews

4th and Goal (II) (2010)

Why is this film showing as released in 2022???

[2/10 · 2 April 2022]

I was a part of this "movie" and we shot this in 2009. It was a "short" and is arguably one of the worst 30 minutes you will ever spend watching a "movie." I give it 2 stars because it's so "bad" it is entertaining. My only guess is someone is trying to convince people that this is a viable project again but it's not. Dylan Baker already made this story into a feature called."23 Blast" in 2014. It made no money. Look it up. Nothing to see here. None of the actors listed in the credits wants to have anything to do with this and years later are still trying to live it down. Let it go...everyone involved with this mess has have suffered enough...

Dreaming Hollywood (2021)

Impressive and entertaining!

[10/10 · 7 July 2021]

I was able to see this at a screening for The Erie International Film Festival (where it won The Audience Award.) This movie is so well written, shot and acted that you would think it had a huge budget. It creates it's own universe with dark humor, great characters richly written and a fantastic soundtrack. It feels to me like a potential cult classic that would warrant future viewings.

Gypsy (2017)

Disappoiting to say the least...

[3/10 · 7 July 2017]

Man, I really wanted to like this show. I like many of the actors from previous work they have done. But this show, while not "horrible", is certainly not good. First off, none of the characters in this show are likable at all leaving the viewer with no one to root for. Especially loathsome is the lead played by the usually bulletproof Naomi Watts. Her character "Jean" is a messed up psychotherapist for sure but does she have to be so uninteresting? I could not stand her and after 4 episodes shut this show down because I cannot imagine it getting much better and by Episode 4 I was openly mocking the characters. "Jean" has something for a gal named "Sidney" who is also unlikable so the two make a great boring pseudo train wreck of a couple flirting but offering zero appeal. They are both so annoying I could not understand why they were on my TV prancing around looking vacuous and not in a good way. Billy Crudup tries to make a difference but when he only employs "twinkle" and "wince" in his facial acting arsenal he comes off like a dishrag you want to throw away. Yeah, I did not like this show and won't waste another minute thinking about it. I hope these actors find better project in the future.

I Dream Too Much (2015)

A winning gem of a movie!

[9/10 · 5 July 2016]

As someone who craves movies about interesting people and who has no love for movies about "superheroes" or movies that glorify violence I was delighted to see this lovely heartfelt movie "I Dream Too Much." The movie revolves around a charming young woman played winningly by Eden Brolin who has a unique presence void of clichés and who has a fertile imagination which serves her in navigating her post college path. Her counter point in this movie is her irascible Great Aunt played with great charisma and conviction by Diane Ladd who is a standout in this production. The movie is shot in Saugerties, New York which is captured beautifully by DP Alex Rappaport. Writer/Director Katie Cokinos has made a movie you can enjoy for it's subtle currents of evolving sensibilities about the things that matter in navigating the contours of lead character Dora's life and may remind all of us about the importance of what we already have when we are searching for what we desire.

Love and Skin (2013)

"Love and Skin" delivers big time....

[10/10 · 12 January 2016]

I recently saw a screening of "Love and Skin" and was blown away by it. It is a short that carries a big emotional punch and it the work of a gifted and talented filmmaker, Virginia Cassavetes. Her skill in telling a story about people, love and it's many concourses is both funny, touching and ultimately personal and maybe even devastating. So much packed into a luminous short that is shot beautifully and features wonderful performances all around. Nick Cassavetes reminds us that he is an actor with incredible nuance and his larger than life portrayal of "Uncle Nicky" make you want to see more of him in front of the camera as well as behind it. Heather Wahlquist is captivating and mesmerizing and bring so much vitality to her role you are left shaken by it. Great movie! This is a director to watch.

Rampart (2011)

Woody Harrelson is an amazing actor!

[10/10 · 14 November 2011]

Woody Harrelson has had that rare kind of career that few people ever have. He has been at it for decades and been in some of the coolest movies ever made. But in "Rampart" he takes his formidable talent to a whole new level. As Dave "Date Rape" Brown he gives the performance of a lifetime, one that will be talked about for a long, long time. This is "Brando" territory here. Mr. Harrelson inhabits the dark psyche of this character with a fearlessness that few actors possess. His intelligence and primal force propel this movie in ways that make this a "must see" for anyone that longs for an experience that will linger in their heads for days. All the best performances do. Robin Wright also shines as does Ben Foster and Brie Larson. Bobby Bukowski's cinematography is out of this world. It's a fever dream of bad intentions humanized by an excellent script and a powerhouse performance by Mr. Harrelson. Bravo!!!