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dwengertsman
Reviews
Black Box (2020)
Had potential, but the twist as horrible
This movie started out mysterious and creepy. I was interested in the story and I was rooting for the main character. But then it turned into a typical sci-fi cliché. I wanted it to be deeper, psychological, a journey of the mind in the struggle to remember identity, to overcome trauma and loss, to question life after death. It had so much potential. But alas, it just wasn't that deep. In fact the second half, the real story, was stupid and elementary. The second half of the story felt forced and artificial. I gave up on caring what would happen. It was hard to keep watching it until the ending.
Encounter (2021)
Not Sci fi but still excellent
Yes, this movie leads you on to thinking it's sci fi. It probably needs to just be called a thriller. But the writers brilliantly fooled us so we can experience what it's like to struggle with PTSD and mental illness. We see the first half of the film through the eyes of the main character. It was well done. He was an unreliable narrator. We all thought it was sci fi. However, I was still invested when the story changed and we wondered if he was dangerous. I was stuck in that car too questioning where it could go. I was worried for the characters. It was well written and beautifully acted.
Workin' Moms (2017)
A surprising hit!
I was not expecting to like this show as much as I did. The humor and heart comes from a real place in the lives of the characters struggling to raise their kids. Yes, there's some silliness to some of it. But what makes this comedy a success is the realistic dysfunction in the relationships and the unapologetically provocative topics. I loved every season.
Clickbait (2021)
I couldn't stop watching
This was better than I thought it would be. The story was interesting and the plot episode by episode was outlined well. It certainly kept me watching. I thought the acting was good and I enjoyed the development of the characters. The writing was clever starting me off believing one thing about a character only to find out that he/she is someone totally different. It was a good comparison to the false identities we play online. There were a lot of twists in the story and it kept me questioning the mystery throughout. The twist ending was a surprise too. Definitely well done!
Infinite (2021)
Definitely entertaining
I agree that some decisions made by the characters were a little off. I don't know where he was taking the egg at the end instead of just blowing it up. But he doesn't shoot himself in the head with the digital bullet because he still would not be dead. His soul would be trapped on the disk. He wants to die.
Anyway, I still enjoyed watching this movie with its Fast and the Furious action and Matrix like fight scenes. They were cool and the cinematography and digital effects were awesome! I thought the idea of reincarnation was interesting. So it wasn't that deep. If I don't like a movie, I turn it off. This movie was worth the watch until the very end.
The Woman in the Window (2021)
A great mystery thriller
I haven't read the book either and that's probably a good thing, because I never like the movie when it's made from a book. But I thought this film was great. I definitely didn't know what was going on until the very end and the mystery of the story kept my interest throughout. I enjoyed following the confusion with the lead character, wondering what was real and what wasn't. The acting was good too. And I loved the camera juxtaposition of old black-and-white Hollywood films on tv with the close up of her sleeping face. It's definitely worth watching if you like a mystery thriller with twists and turns.
Disarm Hate (2020)
A moving insightful film
This is a powerful documentary. I felt like I was in that RV on this emotional journey with the cast members who were so courageous sharing their personal struggles and belief systems in a country filled with hate, fear, and guns. I was so proud to watch Jason speak up and fight for our gay community as he put together the rally. The filming and editing was excellent weaving this story together to cross the US and stop along the way to learn about the history of guns and violence in our community. I thought it was a clever idea to bring this cast to a gun range first, so they can understand what makes their power so enticing and why people are so passionate about guns in this country. I found myself questioning my own beliefs and thinking of my own story. The first thing I did after I watched this film was to call my mother and thank her for accepting me when I came out of the closet because as I heard in the film, not everyone is awarded that.
Midnight (2006)
Worth Experiencing
The cinematography in this film was fascinating. It was presented in two frames with two story lines happening simultaneously through one continuous shot. Brilliant! I enjoyed how the filmmakers played with the idea of action; while one frame's action was in the dialogue, the other frame's action was in movement, like one character shining his shoes, or someone walking through a hallway. I did enjoy the theatrical aspect of his shots and of the acting. It seemed to me like I was watching a play take place on film in two frames. It was visually beautiful and I would assume technically difficult. However, I do think the film was too long. The concept was brilliant but the film in its entirety needs editing. Many scenes went on for too long, as if the filmmakers were a little too self indulgent and forgot to consider their audience. Also, one of the story lines was difficult to follow because the sound quality was poor in the beginning. I was impressed with the cast. However, I do wish that Holly's character was developed a little more. I think more of a storyline with her and the screenwriter was needed. All in all, I was impressed with this film as an incredible first draft. It is worth experiencing. I do look forward to what these guy dream up next!