Change Your Image
jeffreygwilliams
Reviews
The Godfather Part III (1990)
Coulda been a contender....
It took me 18 years since I saw G2 to bring myself to see G3.
The press and the overall sentiment towards the movie made me think this was the Rocky V of the Godfather trilogy.
This is not Rocky V, and it's really not Part 3. As the director said, this is an epilogue to the Godfather story. If you view G3 through that prism, I believe that will enhance your experience and adjust your expectations accordingly.
It doesn't contain the visual richness of the first two, and the story is more dialogue driven than previous installments. With Michael C., you are seeing progression in his character and morals for the first time. Sofia C. gets much hate for her role.
Where the story falls short for me is the ending. I thought taking out Michael C.'s daughter is a cruel, cruel twist that I certainly did not see coming. It seems even Michael C., for all his sins, didn't deserve that.
The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
Great watch and takes you back to a different place and time
For millennials like myself, it is shocking to see Gary Busey, whom for most of my lifetime has been known more for peculiar behavior, transform himself in Buddy Holly.
This movie doesn't get the respect it deserves, mainly because of Busey's performance of Holly ranks up their with Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles or Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash. I would even venture to say Busey's achievement in this film is superior to both.
The Buddy Holly Story sets the standard for Biopics with it's amazing portrayal of Buddy Holly and 5-10 minute uninterrupted performances as Buddy Holly which steal the show. This is as close as you and I will ever get to seeing the real thing and understanding what America was like in the mid-to-late 50's.
Where it lacks is in supporting cast. The supporting cast isn't extremely memorable, but maybe that is by design. This is Busey's vehicle as he explores the music, romance, and short music career of one Buddy Holly.
The movie shows both small town American life (Lubbuck, TX and Iowa) as well as New York City life. It was surprising to see NYC play such a pivotal role in Buddy Holly's brief life and career.
Of course, there are things I about Buddy Holly and the Crickets I would like to explore further to see about their accuracy. Was a Buddy Holly and the Crickets reunion on the verge of happening? Where was Buddy Holly's career going? Was he going to be a crooner, or was rock'n roll still in his future?
In the final and best scene, we are introduced to the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens on that fateful night. These are again flawless performances and that night could be a movie in of itself.
The most brilliant aspect of the film is the brave decision to not show the plane crash, nor the aftermath. It may have been too much to bare. Instead, we are treated to a 10-minute performance of Buddy Holly bringing life to Iowa in middle of winter. By focusing on the haunting and brilliant final performance, the storyteller reminds us of the fragility of life, instead of the tragedy of the day music died.
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Out of the demographic of the movie, grading on a curve
I am completely out the demographic of this movie but I ended up watching this.
This is obviously a tearjerker meant for primarily teenage girls, so adjust accordingly.
But I will say this movie has a really good heart and solid message. It's refreshing to see a female teen character who attracts a guy through her smarts and wits. It's also refreshing seeing a male character who isn't all horned up and actually believes in courtship and respect.
A special shout out to Shailene_Woodley, who has an amazing and convincing performance.
If you are parent of teenagers, I this would be a mostly positive movie for kids to watch. There is just old-fashion courting that you never see in teen sex comedies. It almost has a religious feel and overtones but avoids that path. This will certainly be a 'classic' movie in a young adult genre.
American Sniper (2014)
Best movie and story of the Post-911 World
American Sniper is not pro-war nor anti-war. It's just war movie.
It's not a flag-waving patriotic movie, but it does feature characters who display patriotism.
It does not re-litigate the Iraq War or the handling of the Iraq War. But the effects and the doubts are there on the peripheral.
Now that we have that out of the way, lets talk about the movie. It has a perfect blend of war scenes, humor, and romance. It is not a 'guys movie' anymore than "Frozen" is a kids movie.
It is an intense, suspenseful movie that does not overwhelm you with busy war scenes. It is intense movie in the same vein of The Hurt Locker.
This story defines our time. Not just the 'snipping', but the effects of war on families and our veterans. Just go see it and see it in IMAX.
The Late Shift (1996)
Fascinating movie for Media Junkies
This could also be a twin movie of Howard Stern's "Private Parts."
This is a movie that excels because of the fantastic depth of the supporting cast and a strong performance from Kathy Bates. I've been hearing about this movie for literally 20 years and I'm glad when I finally got to see it.
There are real lessons to learn from this movie about corporate politics. While media critics and I-95 corridor may prefer Dave Letterman's wise guy antics over Leno's more 'play it straight', style, Leno won because he was easier to work with, courted the affiliates, and wasn't afraid of country music as a music guest.
I seriously wonder whether Conan watched this...
30 for 30: You Don't Know Bo: The Legend of Bo Jackson (2012)
Another solid doc, forgot how big Bo Jackson was in the late 80's
Another great doc by ESPN and the 30 for 30 crew.
What I forgot is just how big Bo Jackson was in the late 80's. He might not of been as popular as MJ, but he probably came close.
Another thing is checking out his stats, he never was great or elite in either sport, but he showed flashes of greatness, with baseball being a better overall career.
What I didn't realize is Bo was thought of as a football player first, and no one gave any thought to him being a baseball player. Baseball is a sport where you see players nurtured for years and years regardless of physical gifts. Bo was basically able to step right in and make an impact with Royals almost immediately. He didn't use baseball as leverage, he seemed like he honestly enjoyed the game.
Finally, what's sad is Bo is probably the last of the all-around athlete. Today, players must choose between baseball and football. Bo wanted to play both because he was a specimen and it just seemed natural.
What Bo might be remembered for is the "Bo Knows" campaign. I remember when it first appeared and I was like "holy crap!" moment. It was hip, edgy, and effective. It was one of the great ad campaigns ever.
The Dotted Line (2011)
"Fly on the Wall" look at the less glamorous side of agents
I'm not a huge Morgan Spurlock fan. In retrospect, "Super Size Me" is a silly premise and I certainly don't subscribe to his Michael Moore-esque anti-corporate message.
That being said, Mr. Spurlock made the brave choice by focusing on Eugene Lee, an agent who tries to lock up the lower-rung of NFL clients. We're talking 5th, 6th, and 7th round prospects where commissions pay in the four-figure range.
There is something off about Eugene Lee, but he seems to do things the right way, albeit with little results He also goes to the opposite end of the spectrum, to David Faulk, Michael Jordan's agent. Mr. Faulk is impressive how he details the weaknesses in agents today and how they are intimidated by clients.
Finally, Josh Luchs brings us to the shady side of being a sports agent. He shows us how he prospected for players and how the NCAA and colleges turn a blind eye to these practices.
The lesson is every agent cheats to some degree.
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
Fantastic movie and chronicle of the battle against terror
It's tough reviewing a movie based on true events because I obviously enjoyed the ending.
What was enjoyable from a movie fans perspective is the unpredictability of the film. Just when it hit a lull there would be another crazy plot twist.
Truth is often stranger than fiction.
What I also enjoyed about the film is it didn't sugarcoat the War on Terror and the impact torturing. It's a fairly apolitical film. The movie suggests the reason we captured Bin Laden is not because of a political promises, but because of the bravery of Seal Team Six, intelligence gathered from detainees, and the rugged persistence of intelligence officials.
The only complaint was during the raid on Bin Ladens house (and this might be my TV), was that it was super dark and hard to see anything when they landed. I did like it when they should night-vision glasses.
Sound City (2013)
Must see for music fans on many levels
If you're on this page, you should check it out. The style of the movie is fast-paced, cool graphics, and testimonials from rock/punk musicians.
It's got a couple of major themes: Analog vs Digital = how music made today with pro tools and digital recording eliminates the human element. There are some 'pros' to the digital era: it's easier for people to make music, less expensive, more 'perfection' The movie discusses though endless and endless takes artists like Tom Petty had to do to achieve a 'perfect' recording, which has imperfections that make them classic.
The movie also takes you through the crazy history of Sound City recording studio. I'm always looking for interesting business stories and this film provides that. Not to often you 'connect the dots' with Rick Springfield, Tom Petty, and Nirvana. I also liked learning about how a studio works, from the 'runner' to the producer. That fascinates me.
The final part of the movie is recording of the Sound City soundtrack. The one criticism I have is it trashes pro tools but says Trent Reznor uses them more artistically but never explains how.
Finally, one thing I realized is that musicians are some of the best entrepreneurs we have. They take HUGE risks that can have huge rewards/payoffs. They also think big. The idea of 'Nirvana' was a bigger, longer lasting, and had more impact than a new line of Tide or a soft drink.