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Reviews
Therapy (2017)
Listen between the lines
The self dialog was interesting and one needs to pay attention to it. Not easy because the synopsis of this movie leads one a stray. It really is not about what the description says. It's about a self analysis. What appears to be real is coming from the view of the therapist, which is unreliable.
The end scene when the camera pans out to a reveal is extremely quick. I had to go back and stop the video to catch it. I'm not 100% if this is a spoiler for those reading this review. I didn't want to over spoil it and the reveal leaves one up to their own interpretations. Was there actually a murder?
Inclusion Criteria (2018)
Who was being manipulated?
The viewer! The viewer of this poorly ended flick was being manipulated. I didn't mind the story until the credits rolled.. What the hell happened? Run out of film or battery and decided to leave it as is with no conclusion. It would have garnered more stars depending on the ending - if there was an ending.
I came to look at the reviwes and hoped to find a spoiler on what the ending was and I found nada. I understand letting the end be interpreted by viewer,, but this is not that kind of movie.
So is this a spoiler? How could I spoil the ending if there was NONE. I had it selected as a spoiler but I can't spoil what didn't exist so I deselected it.
This film is not worth the time. If you think that my review is someone who doesn't like "thinking" movies or needs to be spoonfed - well, have at it and if you do, please write a review with a spoiler explaining the ending.. I can handle non-linea flicks, artsy flicks, etc ... this ended was a WTF.. Pretty much a TV movie with a few "F" words tossed in and no ending.
Altered Hours (2016)
7-8 stars actually
I gave this ten stars because I felt it needed a boost. Actually it's a 7.5 - 8 stars for my personal review.
I loved this movie and so glad I watched it before looking at the reviews. I thought the actors for most of the main characters was excellent, especially Will. I watched the this twice, I enjoyed it so much.
It reminded me of Momento mixed with Requiem for a Dream mixed with time travel. The budget much lower than he other two films and the script not as dark, but this was the writer's/directors first (?). Of course I wouldn't compare the casting with veteran actors either.
The premise was original and of course the time line jumps around as Will's time line jumped around. The film moved and never got boring or repetitious. It kept me at the edge of my seat. There were multiple twists and I didn't see the ending of coming.
If you can handle Momento with non linear story telling, you could handle this. And actually Altered Hours is more linear than not.
Oppenheimer (2023)
"Power stays in the shadows"
As long as this movie was (3hrs) there wasn't a moment wasted. The acting, the script, the cinematography are top notch.
If you get a large drink - take that bathroom break early as the movie rolls with increasing intensity and multi climaxes. I thought my bladder was going to burst but it was on the last half hour and there was not a second I wanted to risk missing.
Robert Downey Jr was totally unrecognizable to me and his performance was nothing less than stellar. All performances were stellar.
The way Nolan combined the black and white filming with the color kept the film well "compartmentalized" in my brain. No confusion or blurriness of point of view or time period. It was a tool in the hands of a master story teller and director.
I will watch this again and again. I went to the IMAX version, as Nolan intended for it. Stunning, riveting, relevant and IMPORTANT.
Nightmare Alley (2021)
Noir with a Nod to Tod Browning
Fully enjoyed this movie. Acting is excellent. Very well scripted. Loved the set and the time period (1941) used. Not quite Tod Browning Freaks but I felt the atmosphere of the film was an homage and certainly the "geek".
Didn't see previews or read much about this film and glad I didn't as it kept me guessing in which direction the film was going to go in such as: Leap of Faith, Freaks, or The Prestige. Nightmare Alley reminded me of all three of those flicks at certain points.
The psychiatrist played by Cate Blanchett was a classic femme fatale that would surely put a smile on the face of David Lynch.
I will watch this again for nuances. Nightmare Alley stands on it's own with it's own story and twist. Well done.
Next Exit (2022)
Not really a Sci-fi, but a premise worth watching
Interesting premise that I can't recall being done before. Being a person who had wanted to "exit" a good portion of my earlier life, I liked how this was approached and the main character's point of view. Believable. But that's not all. There's other layers to this story and I will be watching this movie again to focus more on those.
It brought in some interesting elements/concepts. Acting was excellent, again believable. This could have gone in a couple other directions and I kind of wish it did, but all in all it was satisfying and so was the ending.
Required minimum characters is 600. Why so many? Ok, I was expecting something different from the opening scenes and was hoping it was going in that direction but it didn't.
The Black Phone (2021)
Edge of Seat Thriller
I gave it ten stars because the execution of the story told could not have been better. At the edge of my seat throughout the whole story with one good little jump scare. Well acted. Wow this review is requiring at least 600 characters.
No gimmicks and I can't recall one boring scene. There's no dragging in this flick. I'm trying to review this without spoilers.
If you're looking for a good current little evening thriller, this is it. The time period is mid-seventies so no DNA testing or cell phones. You know the bits of sound track music are going to be good - it's the 70's!
One of the most satisfying movies I enjoyed from 2022.
The Eternal Daughter (2022)
Great Sleeper or snoozer rather
Knocked me right out cold. I liked the atmosphere but whoever created the synopsis did an injustice to this film. I went into it thinking I was settling into watching a good old fashioned ghost story. So excited when it started, had my snacks, tea, and was all cozy. Loved the spooky atmosphere and waited and watched ... Where's the ghost? Nodded off a few minutes, came to ... where's the ghost? Nodded off cold and came to at the end when the eternal daughter is celebrating her mother's birthday.
Oh, there it is. Well, titled. Well acted. Mundane dialog. Lot's of atmosphere and could have been a good movie, if I settled in to watch a drama of a woman going through memories and internal conflict she had with her dying mother. But, I was looking for a thriller, a mystery, a GHOST! BOO!