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Reviews
Ripley (2024)
Miserably FAILS Bechdel Test, among other faults
I really wanted to like this. Andrew Scott is great, as usual, as Tom Ripley, the scheming schlub who tries to find a few dollars in stealing checks. When he is lucky to get hired by Dickie Greenleaf's parents, his plan goes into motion to steal this seemingly idyllic life that Dickie leads, far from his over-bearing father's reach.
The problems? Johnny Flynn is meh and woefully miscast (no society man in the '60s would have a scar like that on his face), Andrew Scott is WAY too old (and therefore, unfortunately, miscast), and Dakota Fanning is an afterthought.
In fact, women are an afterthought. I'm shocked that in 2024, there isn't a single, fleshed-out female character, nor two who can have a discussion about something other than a man (I don't even think two women ever really spoke to another, other than in a subservient manner).
Why are white, cisgender men like Steve Zailian continually outputting this outdated, insulting material?
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Film Marred By Julia Robert's and the Soundtrack
This is a superb film, minus the casting of Julia Roberts (playing unconvincingly against type) and the soundtrack of songs that were mostly unfamiliar with, because director Sam Esmail didn't want viewers to have memories of the songs from previous movies. Fine, that's great. But choose something that has mass appeal, instead of forcing anyone over 18 to mute the music. And then there's the dance scene...remember how Elaine on "Seinfeld" was an awful dancer, using her thumbs and body very specifically? Well, Julia Roberts tries her darnedest to recreate the dance while dancing to Next's "Too Close" with a wonderful Mahershala Ali. That song does evoke memories for me, and the memories are that of 1998. Sam, you failed. That being said, this is a tense, well-paced thriller in which the viewer is just as confused as the players in their reality, and it's best to just pay attention and go for a ride.
Breeders (2020)
Televised Child Abuse for Laughs. Not Funny.
I was looking forward to BREEDERS-great concept: parents who love their children, but also want to kill them (the supposed paradox of parenting). The first few episodes were amusing, seeing our worst desires played out on screen (screaming at your children with expletives), trying to alleviate a child's fears by managing to introduce a million more fears in the process, etc. But after a few episodes, the abhorrent behavior on the part of the parents continued and worsened, becoming downright abusive. When social services are called because their boy repeatedly injures himself, it seems like a mistake. They're "great" parents. They aren't. They are awful sociopaths who only think of themselves, model reprehensible behavior, and should have their children taken away. Furthermore, the time jump from seasons 1 to 2 was unnecessary and destroyed the flow of the show.
A Murder at the End of the World (2023)
Not your grandmother's Agatha Christie...
I commend Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij for attempting to create their own version of a true whodunit-Agatha Christie style. The only problem is they failed. One of the elements of Christie's stories that is instrumental to its success is the development of characters; most of the characters in this show were there for window dressing, wasting the talents of Joan Chen, Raúl Esparza, Jermaine Fowler, and to some extent Alice Braga, as well as others. As a result, none of the (extraneous) characters seem like viable murderers. Also, the show seemingly veers into creepy-Elon Musk and his bizarre custody battle with singer Grimes midshow: is this a murder mystery or a custody battle concerning the world's greatest megalomaniac? Ugh. And then there's the american accents of non-American actors.... STOP CASTING NON-AMERICANS AS AMERICANS. THEIR ACCENTS ARE NEVER GOOD. Emma Corrin's Rs gave her away with almost every word and her portrayal lacked soul. Is this watchable? Yes, but it would be better as 4 episodes or a movie.
The Afterparty (2022)
Great first season. OFFENSIVE, disgusting second season.
I was excited when I got my free Apple TV trial, because it meant I could finally enjoy The Afterparty. Season one is fun and fresh. I 100% recommend season one.
Season two, on the other hand, is offensive: apparently, adoption is a big joke and should be mocked. Anna Konkle's Hannah is adopted; every instance her adoption is mentioned, a gross, disgusting, and reprehensible trope follows. Siblings hating one another because one is biological and other isn't? Check. Sibling incest? Check. Not knowing anything about your parentage? Check. Having a cruel, adoptive parent who doesn't care about the you? Check.
I cannot believe this season made it to air without ONE person questioning the content. The point of comedy is to make everyone feel welcome, not to PUNCH DOWN AND ATTACK PEOPLE FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN BEING KINDA DIFFERENT. Shame on Apple TV and everyone involved with season two!
A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)
Pass.
I love Vietnam, and I was so pleased that this movie was shot there; I was able to relive moments I've had, sites I've visited, and the warm, wonderfully welcoming Vietnamese people.
But the movie is STUPID. It's Eat, Pray, Love, the Light Version. Boy breaks up with girl, girl goes on trip and finds herself and maybe love, original boy tries to win her back, blah blah blah. Any woman could've played the role of Amanda (Rachel Leigh Cook); the performance was underwhelming. The one bright part in the film is Scott Ly, portraying Sinh. He has so much charisma and lights up the screen every time he's on it. I'm not sure why he hasn't had too much of a career, but hopefully this movie will lead to more work.
Chevalier (2022)
This should be called "Chevalier: Not Based on a True Story or History"
This should be called "Chevalier: Not Based on a True Story or History". Why you ask?
1) last time I checked, Marie Antoinette was an Austrian archduchess and Louis XVI was the monarch of France. This film would have you think otherwise as Louis's existence is entirely sidelined for MA.
2) chevalier (Joseph bologne) spent the majority of his life-child and adult-in the company of his mother, even living with both parents for years in France. (A very, very, VERY simple wiki search would've told the makers of the film this.)
3) the dialogue is horrifically anachronistic. A violin is "in the shop"? Awful.
The film is an absolute mess. I wanted to like, but putting 21st century ideas onto historical 18th century events is gross.
Moonage Daydream (2022)
Shocked at how bad this is
Apparently this was shortlisted for the Academy Award. Why? It has zero intellectual value: there is no context to place images, visuals, or interviews; there is no mention of anything happening in his life that could've influenced particular songs/albums; nothing discussing the stages of his careers and battles with his record label; no mention of his son or first wife; no mention of drugs. NOTHING.
Is this what we get when we get documentaries authorized by the artist or their estate: surrealist fluff with no content, superficial examinations of the artist and what drove them, juxtaposed and non-linear images? This was absolute rubbish. PASS ON IT!