Change Your Image
haroldf-30871
Reviews
Two Lovers (2008)
One Simple Word: Terrible
"Two Lovers" is a film that fails to live up to its potential. While it features an impressive cast and a promising premise, the execution falls short, resulting in a disappointing viewing experience.
The film follows Leonard, a troubled young man torn between two women - Michelle, the volatile daughter of a family friend, and Sandra, a sweet-natured woman chosen by his parents to be his bride. While the setup is intriguing, the characters are poorly developed, making it difficult for the audience to feel invested in their struggles.
Joaquin Phoenix's performance as Leonard is unconvincing, with his character's emotional turmoil coming across as contrived and unearned. Gwyneth Paltrow's Michelle is similarly one-dimensional, lacking the nuance and depth needed to make her a compelling love interest. Even Vinessa Shaw's Sandra, the most sympathetic of the three, is given little to work with, reduced to a caricature of a naive, innocent woman.
Furthermore, the film's pacing is sluggish, with long stretches of nothing happening interspersed with sudden bursts of melodrama. The script feels half-baked, with loose threads left dangling and unresolved plot points. By the time the movie reaches its unsatisfying conclusion, it's hard not to feel let down by the wasted potential.
Overall, "Two Lovers" is simply a waste of time. The ending is particularly disappointing, and casts the entire film in an uninspiring light. Definitely a "skip".
Wedding Crashers (2005)
Great Perfformances, But....
Wedding Crashers is a 2005 romantic comedy that follows the adventures of John Beckwith (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn), two divorce mediators who crash weddings to meet women. The movie's plot is predictable, but the actors' performances are top-notch.
The comedic timing and chemistry between Wilson and Vaughn are spot-on, and they play off each other's strengths brilliantly. The movie's funniest scenes come from their banter and zany antics.
However, the movie's biggest flaw is its lack of a satisfying conclusion. The final act feels rushed, and the resolution feels unearned. The movie's attempts to balance raunchy humor with genuine emotion also fall flat, making the film feel tonally inconsistent.
Overall, Wedding Crashers is an enjoyable comedy that delivers plenty of laughs, but its flaws prevent it from being a truly great film. Despite its shortcomings, it is worth watching for the chemistry between its two leads and ffor the many times where the humor is simply laugh-out-loud quality.
Molly's Game (2017)
Blew Me Away
"Molly's Game" is a captivating and well-acted film that tells the story of Molly Bloom, a former skier who becomes the organizer of high-stakes, underground poker games. The film, directed by Aaron Sorkin, features outstanding performances from Jessica Chastain as Molly and Idris Elba as her lawyer, who helps her navigate the legal challenges she faces. The fast-paced dialogue and the tension-filled scenes keep the audience engaged throughout the entire film.
The story highlights Molly's journey from an Olympic-hopeful skier to the "Poker Princess" of the underground gambling world. Her perseverance and determination to succeed are admirable, and Jessica Chastain does an excellent job of bringing these qualities to life on screen. Idris Elba is also a standout in his role as the lawyer who helps Molly navigate the complex and dangerous world of high-stakes gambling.
In addition to the strong performances, the film also raises important questions about the line between right and wrong, and the consequences of living life on the edge.
Overall, "Molly's Game" is a well-made film that is sure to keep you entertained and engaged from beginning to end. The excellent acting, engaging story, and thought-provoking themes make it a must-see for fans of drama and crime films. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable film.
About Time (2013)
Just Watch It!
There aren't many movies that I rate ten stars. Ten stars implies perfection, and this movie is not perfect. Admittedly, the acting is very good. And the idea behind it is wonderful. And the writing is charming. And the direction is very good. And it is all put together and done very well.
But. Some of the details of the plot turns are a bit hard to logically follow. And there is no killing or even shooting. No CGI special effects. And it's not based on a comic book.
And. I highly recommend watching it. It's about time, and it is certainly worth two or so hours of your time to see its take on time.
Leap Year (2010)
Sweet, And Rightly So
What a nice, sweet movie!
In the day where movies are made for many hundreds of millions of dollars, it is a real pleasure to see a much simpler movie like this.... it just left me feeling good and happy.
Yes, I have my quibbles. While I thought that their first kiss was handled REALLY well, I would not have ended the movie with their getting married so quickly (or perhaps I would have showed that over the credits). And those cliffs used at the ending seemed suspiciously like the Cliffs of Moher, which were not near the village with the pub.
But these are quibbles. Overall, the movie is very sweet and just leaves one with a smile on their face.
If you like the genre, take the time for it.
13: The Musical (2022)
Ohmy!
I thought that this movie was seriously and unbelievably bad. I did not see the Broadway musical that this movie was based on, but I can't imagine it was really as bad as this adaptation. There was some very minor redeeming acting in the movie, but even that was just some actors standing out from a surround that provided a very low standard of comparison. I've read that the Broadway musical's songs were butchered in the making of the movie... based on what the movie songs sound like, that seems quite reasonable. All in all, it almost doesn't pay to over-analyze this effort.... this is a "skip" if there ever was one!
The Little Traitor (2007)
Simple Yet Eloquent
This film has no car chases, and no people jumping out of planes. It is simply done, yet manages to leave you with a smile on your face.
The film deals with the Middle East, which exists with many divergent viewpoints. In its own way, the film treads lightly, which turns out to work well. You may disagree with some of the underlying message, and yet be taken in by its simple charm.
If you are looking for a major Hollywood blockbuster, this film is very not that, and you should skip it. But if you want to spend ninety minutes and smile softly afterwards, it is a nice way to spend those ninety minutes.
The Best of Me (2014)
The First Part Versus The Second Part
It.feels like I just watched two movies. The first one (the first part of this movie) was soft and romantic. I could talk about the acting or the plot or the dialog, but overall, it just made me FEEL good.
And then they had to go for the lousy ending. And I felt like I never wanted to watch another Nicholas Spark movie again. Ironically, it's not like the ending felt anything but contrived. By the time we got there, I think the happy ending would have fit infinitely better.
So. If you like unhappy endings, this movie is for you. If you don't, it's probably a skip despite the fact that it was heading right THERE all the way through.
Ticket to Paradise (2022)
Go For It!
Do you want to see a film that attempts to raise your dismal social consciousness. Is serious and perhaps preachy, and Knows How Important It Is?
If so, this is not the film for you. On the other hand, if you want to see a film that will make you chuckle and laugh, a film that you will actually enjoy, a film where the two leads actually seem to LIKE each other, and a film that would be characterized with romance as its basis, then you will enjoy this film.
It is not the most original film, and it has elements in it that I would characterize as downright puzzling. But those are minor details that get lost in the charm of the whole. We were a group of four, and every single one of us liked it. It was well-executed, exactly the right length, and left us feeling happy.
Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
Are Movies Supposed To Be Enjoyed?
Without going into a lot of spoiler-type details, I would rate this movie a pass. While the first ten minutes or so showed a continuation of the interesting style adopted by the first move in the series, it got boring very quickly, and seemed to me like it was focused on lecturing instead of entertaining. IMO, the film was at least somewhat rescued by the last twenty or so minutes, where the story line and direction seemed to somehow transcend the "lecture tone" and it actually coalesced and became a *movie*.
Unfortunately, it was simply too little too late for me to say that I was glad that I spent the time involved in watching it.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
There's A Reason
There is definitely a reason that a three-hour movie gets the acclaim that this movie has gotten. The acting, the writing, the direction... all of it comes together in what is, quite simply, an excellent movie. While Leonardo. DiCaprio gives a bravura performance that steals the movie, all of the actors and actresses involved in the movie were very good.
Before watching it, I was wary of the movie's length. And then the first hour passed. And the second.
I could quibble. I didn't totally love the way the ending was handled, for example. But all my quibbles add up to very little. Overall, the movie completely deserves those ten stars. Bravo!!! .
Wanted (2008)
Weird.... But Riveting
So there is me. I like movies with plots. That make sense. That draw me in.
And then there is Wanted. The plot is sorta minimal. It doesn't make much logical sense.
But, oh man, did it draw me in!
I sat there, almost open-mouthed, just staring at the screen as the movie played. Bullets that went bent around corners, plot lines that made little sense, but oh-so-incredibly well-done!
I liked it a lot. And, interestingly, if you can deal with something quite different, I would recommend it.
The cast is good, the direction is fabulous. And the action sequences are in a class by themselves.
Enjoy it!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Vintage Woody Allen
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is one of those movies that is just the right length, and somehow says just the right words. Insightful, well-meaning, and the perfect ending when it had no more to say. Did it change my life? Definitely not. Did I enjoy watching it? Well, "enjoy" might not be exactly the right word here, but it was definitely worth the time spent watching it. And it left me more than a bit thoughtful.
Good cast, good direction, and good writing... it's rare to see that all together in a movie. If you don't expect any kind of "greatness", I heartily recommend taking the time to watch it.
Wedding Season (2022)
It Was.... Very Likeable
I found this movie simply outright enjoyable. Yes, there were cliches; yes, it didn't break new ground. But the leads were very likeable and had good chemistry, and the whole movie left me feeling GOOD. Which is a HECK of a lot better than I can say for most movies today (and especially made-by-Netflix movies),
Burlesque (2010)
Repetitive But Also Well Done
The movie seems to suffer from slow pacing, especially in the middle of it... nothing much seems to HAPPEN. But the cast is eminently capable and appealing in their roles.... and the musical numbers are mostly well-staged, energetic, and dynamic. The movie is not breaking new ground, but is definitely a pleasant diversion.
Friends with Benefits (2011)
One Movie... Or Two?
Oddly enough, this felt like it was a combination of two movies. The first third of the actual movie was extremely good... fresh, creative, different, clever. But then it slowed down, rather dramatically. It felt somehow like the creative team had mostly run out of ideas, but felt obligated to "finish up" the movie.
The cast, when supported by the screenplay and direction, was excellent. But as the movie developed, and the direction and screenplay seemed to "lose its way", the actors were left hanging.
No Strings Attached (2011)
Simply Adorable
The mixture of Ivan Reitman directing and Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher as the leads worked really really well and made the screenplay come alive. It was a fun movie, thoroughly enjoyed with wide smiles on our faces.
Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
Sweet, But Also "Dense"
I thought this movie had two "faces". On the one hand, it was appealingly sweet, and especially so when it tried to make its "points". But on the other hand, the word "dense" kept on coming to mind... it seemed to try to tell too many tiny sub-plots within the overall movie. So, overall? I thought "mixed", tending to the positive.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008)
Pleasant Diversion
While this is certainly not going to be the best movie you ever saw, it is a pleasant way to spend a bit of time. The cast is appealing, and the various plot lines are reasonably well executed. It's relaxing and will probably make you smile.