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Reviews
The Devil All the Time (2020)
Atheism isn't the same as anti-theism
I'm an atheist. This movie doesn't expose christians. It just paints a distorted picture of them. This film is selling anti-theism. It's like watching something that tries to say all atheists are lacking morals.
Any one of the crimes in this feature is a possibility. To weave this many heinous crimes together in a tapestry doesn't allow for a suspension of disbelief.
Also wanna say that I've never been to this area of the country, yet I know for sure that people living there aren't a thing like depicted in the movie. Blatant stereotyping.
Cinematography, music, acting, direction, props are all excellent. Now find a writer...
Lucifer: Super Bad Boyfriend (2019)
Misguided Thinking
So the solution to Caleb's problem is to return the drugs to the dealer Tahir so they can be redistributed and do damage to others. Not only that: Let's make sure he profits even more by promising the dealer money for having roped in an innocent kid. Then when the police stop Caleb for being a drug dealer, which he was, let's argue with police about justice that can only be served by the judicial system, not the executive branch of law. Upon not obeying police commands and actually charging towards officers, let's have Amenideil assume racism when they pull a weapon to contain the situation. The icing on the cake: Let's not have Caleb inform anybody of anything that would allow for law enforcement to protect him against the clear and present danger of the dealer's domain.
The Patient (2022)
Just take it in samples
The easiest way to stomach this is to jag forward to the next main moving part, get the synopsis and move ahead to the next actual active something. This is quite, quite boring and really has no point. The acting, at times, is very good; however; there seems to be a tendency to use long pauses and pointless gestures as "filler". I did watch the first 6 episodes without skipping, and once I was frustrated enough, I adopted the aforementioned technique of skipping 3-5 minute segments.
I have to say I was able to accept Steve in a more dramatic role. He should try his hand at something else dramatic.
The Jewish cultural stuff was okay, but back when I was doing my Boy Scout's God and Country program, and I went to Synagogue meetings to learn about the religion. It felt much more upbeat and not nearly so bleak. 'Course that was back a few decades, so who knows? Maybe they were just putting on the dog for me, but I don't think so. It seemed more enjoyable than just pretense at the time... I was raised a bit on the redneck side, and we tended to tell jokes. The fellows I met there seem to "live" their humor. Through the years, it's something I've not forgotten, and always appreciated trying to imitate. I guess that might be cultural appropriation... in a good way, I hope.
The Eyes of My Mother (2016)
Slightly off-kilter
Far too much disbelief to suspend... Far too Slow... Far too many questions, not only unanswered, but not even ask. How does she run a farm? How is she not known to anyone? How does she renew her driver's license; for that matter, how did she even get one? Who does her maintenance? Where does she shop? Who wrote this drivel? Is this supposed to be shocking? How does predictability result in shocking? I will say there was one point in this so-called movie that was a complete relief... that final, wonderful, curtain-closing, put-it-to bed, torture-ending, end-of-the-line and end-of-the-horror of bad movie-making... GUNSHOT...
Shut Eye (2016)
Needed writers
Money for actors. Money for direction. Money for cinematography. Money for music. They just forgot to pay the writers.
No continuity. We wander in one direction for awhile. Then we drift over to another plot. We have a 'gift.' Oh no, it disappeared! Oh wait -- it's back. These visions indicate something. Well, maybe they indicate nothing. Maybe it's better if we don't try to make heads or tails out of any of the intuitions.
For two or three episodes we'll do soap opera; the next, we'll do action. No evolution of characters. We'll just change a character to do complete shifts of personality to create 'interest.'
No inventive, fresh cons. No real discussions of philosophy, religion; we'll just regurgitate all the buzz words that bring up these thoughts of something thoughtful. And of course, no conclusions.
Yeah I watched it all the way through. Kept hoping there would be a change in the commitment by the producers.
Be assured, not rewatchable and certainly no word-of-mouth recommendation to friends.
The Fall (2013)
Slowly slowing slowness
Irritatingly slow. Full of stock fillers; i.e. automobile gate falling slowly or rising slowly, holding a facial shot (that doesn't transition) for far too long after a dialog has finished, exterior building views extended far past recognition of place, etc. Extremely slow dialogues that are far too predictable.
Almost all spoken words are whispered or spoken in very low tones. This is even true during the many tape-recorded sessions. Nonsensical.
Emotions are done in a baroque style of terraced dynamics -- either full on or full off. These feelings are often highly unbelievable -- reflecting more of what one should feel than what one actually feels.
And I will never believe that investigating agencies across the pond are that slipshod or have staff that are so unethical.
Poorly written, filmed and acted series.
Charm (2012)
Cheaply Made Movie with a Rich Theme
I'm almost 70, and at last I see a movie that is truly fresh, original, and completely out to lunch. If you don't want to watch the entire movie (and I highly recommend you do), just watch his girlfriend's explanation of the importance of the attempt to discover God. Her reasoning is par excellence.
If you watch the movie to the conclusion, please don't tell others. This is just as good as any Hitchcock ending, and he did it on a thin dime. There are so many things that I normally hate in a shoe-string movies such as this. The shaky, POV camera; the quick, quirky dialogue that's hard to comprehend in one sitting; and the harsh violence that's casual. But this baby transcends all of that by miles. Give this a go. Stay with it for 30 minutes and see if you don't agree with me. My cup of tea. Hope it's yours.
Arrested Development (2003)
Poor writing poorly executed
This is my first. With the rating this had, I wanted to see this. And for awhile, I was mystified how this received such a high rating. Then it hit me that this probably had something to do with Florida. The racial "humor" is just plain transparent. No comic timing. The voice-over is extremely irritating. And we're talking about real talent being wasted. Is it the the editing? Is it the big interfering hand of Rudy Murchant? Strange it is just how little comic relief can be wrung from environmental issues, gay rights, and a myriad of other quite serious issues that face us as a nation (USA). This is the last product I purchase that is presented in foxy wrapping paper. I get a feeling they just went above, beyond and down under. I certainly hope I am not accused of holding a kangaroo court, but when in Rome. Even the language bleeping had the hollow ring of protecting family values, when in essence, no such values were ever presented or even intended.
Sublime (2007)
boringly slow
My daughter and I watched this and slowly got the point. There is no point! Didn't care about the characters. Didn't care about the story. And the dialog was insulting to any but the most phony of human beings. At best, the lessons learned here are: doctors with foreign names are dangerous, black men are put here to intimidate white men, black women don't get to be in a movie of such high caliber, and music should lull the viewer into a stupor from which there's no escape except to jump out a window (or leave the film). Subliminal messages should be (like colonoscopies) quick and painless. This is long and tortuous, like a preacher who goes on into the afternoon and ruins the football game.