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marlon_jackson
Reviews
C'mon C'mon (2021)
No one likes spoiled children ...
... so always use an airtight container for leftovers.
Joking aside, this abjectly humorless, supposed uncle/nephew bonding story was grueling for me to watch. I guess I'm the old guy yelling at kids on his lawn now, because that kid was annoying me 50% of the movie. And the navel-gazing by all the adults in the movie on the best ways to placate him was annoying me about another 25% of the time.
Is that really the degree of freedom a parent would allow an out-of-control little brat? I don't think so. The only rule for this kid is there are no rules.
The 25% of the movie that appealed to me were the very realistic interviews with young people interspersed throughout..
Seems like some people ate this one up, but for sure it is not my kind of movie.
1917 (2019)
Outstanding cinematography
Enjoyable movie if only for single shot vehicle. You can see the seams if you're observant, like when the camera passes a close prop like a tree. The relationship between the two soldiers is fairly well done. Not super exciting, but worth the ticket price.
Uncut Gems (2019)
Sandler's Leaving Las Vegas
This is a near perfect suspense movie. It reminds me of one of those dreams where you can never get where you need to go. It's almost exhausting to watch so make sure you're in the right mindset. Every player gives a great performance, and Adam Sandler is going to be remembered for this one. Big time.
Cats (2019)
I guess my wife and I are the only ones who like this movie
When saw Cats on Broadway two decades ago, we walked out of the theatre confused as any first timer as to what the heck a Jellicle Cat is. The series of musical numbers attempting to explain it is difficult from the stage. With the movie the settings are flexible and I can say we have more clarity now. I was very impressed with the lead cat Victoria. All the cats' movements draw your eyes like magnets, but Victoria is mesmerizing. Had to look up that she is an accomplished ballet dancer. Just like when I saw the musical 20 years ago, I still think Memory and the Mr. Mistoffelees songs are the strongest, but in the movie I'm able to appreciate the weaker numbers as well. If you hate this movie, I recommend avoiding the play as well. It's the same exact story. I'm of the opinion the movie is far more approachable for most people. And for me far more enjoyable.
Richard Jewell (2019)
Performance driven gem
Imagine being Paul Walter Hauser playing lead over Kathy Bates and Sam Rockwell. Not to mention Jon Hamm.
This kid gave the performance of a lifetime!
The bomb blast happens early on so most of the screen time is spent on the breaking news story giving way to the FBI probe, but the pacing was close to perfect. I never felt like the movie was going on too long.
On the downside, I was almost cussing the Richard Jewell character unwittingly doing everything possible to make it seem like it really was him. But I think that was intended.
Kathy Bates doing Barbara Jewell's news conference defending her son was very moving. What a monologue! That and Hauser finally coming to life at the FBI headquarters was worth the price of admission by themselves.
I recommend this movie.
Bombshell (2019)
Great performances all around
I'm not invested in the background story of Roger Ailes, though I do know the basics. I viewed this movie as entertainment, not a statement.
The performances by the 3 main actors are top notch, especially Theron who gives a Monster performance, disappearing completely into character.
I think the pacing was good as could be for a movie based on what was essentially a months long legal battle. The human element needed for fill was well done and the supporting cast hit it out of the park.
For me the only weakness was that the devastating impact of submission to quid pro quo sexual harassment was left completely to Margot Robbie, and it was only really a single scene. The film makers probably didn't want to go overboard, but they could have done, I think.
My favorite quote: The fish rots from the head.
The Happytime Murders (2018)
Hard Boiled Detective Story
This is a solid detective flick in the vein of The Maltese Falcon, The Big Lebowski, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. You have a hard drinking private detective with smoke hanging out of his mouth every scene. Sure, he has a past. He was a cop who was run out of the force by bad luck. His having to team up with his former partner sets the stage for him trying to stop a killing spree by a maniac with personal vendetta against the world.
I think I understand a lot of the negative reviews. Some meat sacks can't stand to see a strong and proud puppet in a leading role. They don't even view puppets as people! Just because someone is made of felt and stuffing does that mean they don't bleed? Do you think just because someone has glued on eyeballs, they don't cry?
Maybe you don't like detective stories. That's fine. Maybe you don't like Film Noir at all. Not everyone does. But don't let your prejudice clould your view of what boils down to a very good crime story.
Winter's Bone (2010)
This is the kind of movie I like
I don't really know what the definition of an "indie" movie is though I've probably seen many. It seems many reviewers said that it was clichéd in that it tried too hard to be an indie movie.
For me the lack of clichés made me like this movie. I truly get sick of movies where I can predict what is going to happen because of scenes that set up other scenes coming later. For example, in one scene the main character teaches her younger siblings to fire a rifle. I was thinking, "Great. Now one of the kids is going have to save the day by shooting attacking meth-dealers." But no. They just want to shoot some squirrels to eat. In other scenes, you think the main character is being set up to be murdered, but no again. The "bad guys" really are just giving her a ride in a truck or canoe. No southern-fried incest. No rapes. No shootouts. No car chases. No concocted motivation for revenge. And all the while this young girl is flirting with disaster which to me is more scary because it's implied and not overt.
And the acting is superb. Yeah the girl never smiles because she has pretty much nothing to smile about. She can barely keep her siblings fed. And Hawke as the uncle is downright scary. The relationship with her sister and her friend, and really all the female relationships in this movie are really well done.
This is a real slice of life movie with no other motivation than to tell the story of a girl trying to get out of a jam. No fairy tale. No preaching. Just a really good movie.
The Kids Are All Right (2010)
Good acting can't overcome ridiculous plot line
I think all the actors did a decent job in this movie. I especially liked Mia Wasikowska as Joni. And Mark Ruffalo seemed very natural as the neo-hippy veggie restaurant dude.
But holy cow! Maybe if would have known this was an attempt at a sex farce, I wouldn't have had such high hopes for the movie. There is no pretense of realism at all. Lesbians that watch gay male porn in order to get in the mood? A long-married lesbian that at the drop of a hat will quickly jump on the nearest penis? The sex scenes are only slightly more realistic than those in Zoolander.
But this movie even fails as a sex farce. It also tries to be a slice of life of a modern family, but the pitiful attempts at humor get in the way. Even big life lesson questions are dealt with in an dismissive fashion.
"Now that you're 18, why don't you call our bio-dad?". "No! You call when you're 18!". "Please!" "OK", and hilarity ensues. Ridiculous.
The sad thing is, given a reasonably realistic screenplay, this concept had potential.
Machete (2010)
Very funny movie!
Some comments on some of the reviews:
I have to agree with the reviewers that thought this was a hilarious movie. Every scene had something funny about it. Most had multiple jokes embedded. And many of the jokes were completely non-PC and stereotypical of races. And I'm sure all of the jokes were intentional. Half the Mexican protagonists in the movie are carrying some sort of gardening or janitorial equipment. If you aren't amused seeing an old Hispanic dude running into battle with a toilet plunger, this isn't the movie for you.
But I got a few laughs reading reviews who thought this movie is an attempt at serious political statement. It's completely stereotypical on purpose and for laughs. It's not a movie that is trying to change anyone's mind. Get real! In the same way that "The Man" is the antagonist in the Blacksploitation genre, evil rich white and Hispanic men and stereotypically stupid rednecks are the antagonists in this movie. There is no attempt to make these characters resemble reality. They kill anyone they come across for the fun of it. This isn't an exercise in real race relations like the Milagro Beanfield War or The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada anymore than Foxy Brown is like The Color Purple.
Gizmo! (1977)
Anyone deciphered the meaning of the dedication and closing comments?
I love this movie/documentary. The first time I saw it was when VHS videos first became available to rent in my area in the late 1970's or early 1980's. The soundtrack is compelling and the end when they play the Canon inspired me so much I talked my then fiancé to use this for our wedding.
However, one thing has bothered me for decades. And now that I've finally been able to get a copy of the movie and the internet has been invented ...
I've had many discussions with friends who've seen the moving regarding the opening dedication and the comments at the end of the movie.
What the heck is the narrator saying?
Is it a different language? Is he just making up words? "crianisus", "those who craminate in this movie", "man's rexiphor"?
Someone must know.