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Asteroid City (2023)
Disjointed
It's a film for the distracted in my opinion. If you like to look at your phone and glance up at a film with pleasing images. No plot. Visual story-like vignettes. Sometimes witty banter. A collection of funny thoughts. His films are becoming more and more collections of video loosely strung together. Unfortunately for me, they are too loosely strung together, last couple of his films. Big fan of his earlier films with more closely woven plots which are still often a series a funny short videos, with some sort of overarching connection. Grand Budapest and Isle of Dogs were the last 2 I liked and found a definitive enough plot. Films prior to hat were great too.
Hunters (2020)
Over the Top, But Necessary
Quite a show. They build the theme and drop you in. Season 2 I heard the best rationale for the show, the theme of the show. "They all know, the police know, the government ment knows, the politicians know..." . It's true, the US government harbored Nazis considered valuable. Wernher von Braun is the best example. He built missiles for the Nazis, shot at GB. He was part of the slave labor programs to build these mistakes but we welcomed him into our space program and our ballistic missile program. They all knew, that Nazis of value were welcomed to our shores and hidden from view. Whether you accept the other story line, the fact that we helped criminals is true and an organization of vendetta is certainly reasonable. The Israeli special forces pursued them as we all know. This year, an administrator in a nazi death camp was convicted, a secretary (and more). My country let so many worse go, live here in freedom. So this show hits it for me. I skipped Auschwitz in Poland at the recommendation of locals due to some protests at the time....but I regretted it so much I visited Dachau to see it for myself because we must never forget. The ovens, the gas chambers, the camps, all of it is so much young people question the reality. This show is a vendetta show. And it is so right. Action, mystery, all of that with a purpose! Of course the story line is fiction, but the big picture is truth.
Locke & Key (2020)
Season 2 is a teen drama
So we watched season 1 and it was decent. Season 2 starts out with a storyline which is designed for a 13 yo fantasizing about a boyfriend, first kiss, party, etc. Its rather transparent. Kids can fool parents easily with lock and key magic tricks, etc. It's like a Disney kids show. Almost unwatchable. I'd give season one a 6.5-6.7. Season 2 opener, a 5.0 and that's generous. Hopefully follow on episodes are not designed solely to catch the early teen audience. I think the writers or staff became wildly more flamboyant in gratuitous horror for season 2. For a fan of plot line, intelligent stories this has degraded to a gore fest, laugh at it storyline, which they try and educate viewers on in episode 1.
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
Good scifi, tooanybother agendas
So this is pretty good scifi, but so many other agendas. They 20% of the show for promoting African Americans. They take at least 30% of the show in season 3 for trans gen promotion. Seriously, star trek has been about sci Fi not thes alternate agendas. While not offensive, I don't have a problem philosophically, it's just too much and I've been tempted meany times it just turn it off. You don't need to force feed me trans equilization agenda nor a race equalization agenda which are flagrant here. Just make it about the sci Fi themes please. The medical staff gay issue promotion are there too, but really not the dominant theme at this point. They're not making it las this season with this offshoot agenda(s).
Mank (2020)
Cinematography Extaordinaire
The first thing we noted was the superb cinomatography, period sets and costumes. It's the essence of who this guy was rather than a direct biography. The feel of the 30s, the tempo of the times is revealing and awesome.
The political aspects are intriguing and the characterization foreshadows the McCarthyism of the future to come after this timeline in the film.
Just captivating film!
Sideways (2004)
Super Wine Film!
First saw this when it came out. It's good.
This time we watch it as amateur, conniseurs. We checked all the wines. Many are not out of reach, 20-30ish. Some are thousands they mention.
The plot is good with the 2 reaching middle age in the way anybody would. The bad guy is bad. Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen are the stars.
It's really funny how much this affected the pinot noir and Merlot sales in the wine market which has really exploded since then, since this film.
The Vintner's Luck (2009)
Slow, but rewarding
The film is slow, ethereal, yes. It's interesting with too notch acting. I rather like it. Religious, thought provoking, a bit. Very French! Focus on the small, emotional things. Unsaid the larger pragmatic points of the plot. I am not sure how you could speed up the pace of a film like this. I like the slowness for a slow afternoon film. I feel it culminates.
A Star Is Born (2018)
Horrid
OMG, what a horrid misery of a film. For women who put up with a horrid male partner, its probably a wondeful representation. For normal human beings its an observation of privalage and horrid waste. Why do I want to see a rich person waste their life because of supposed early life unhappiness or whatever? F this. F the folks who make and support this. You are weak and worthless. I grew up in a sh_t home, horrid parent for whatever reason and i have over come their weakness. F folks like those shown inthe film. Know when to say f u to a bad partner. I film in support of weak individuals who stay in abusive relationships. I hated this and hate the folks who promote this as inspirational. its horrid.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018)
Its Good
This is good and interesting. The lead draws you in with her story. Her family is likable. Not believable but interesting. A new take on this whole topic.
Detectorists (2014)
A Dry Comedy, Grows on You Fast
So dry. You cannot be in the mood for excitement, but you will build enthusiasm to watch it. Funny things happen. Watch for their references, they parallel movies and such. Its a story of normal people, with surprises. I like this show.
Homecoming (2018)
Conspiracy, Done Well
Really well done conspiracy plot. They put the idea, the means, the plot in front of you in different subtle ways until you get it all the while telling the individual stories. As a veteran, it is even more telling. You get to the end of your time and you just want out. Well this handles that angle to a terrifying end. On veterans day, I don't mind saying I was so ready to be done at the end of my time. Many of my fellow crewman were too. We brought the ship to the end of its life safely, by the book.
The Aliens (2017)
Indie Primo
This is a low budget Indie primo. Well done looking at it from an indie perspective. The characters develop, its a character based film. Sure theres the UFO theme, but not in the sense one would think. Love story more likely. The underdog gets the girl type of thing but so well done, I like it.
Delicatessen (1991)
One of my favorites!
Just love this film. Its not that long, but he conveys so much across the screen without words, language, just visuals. The cast here is used over time in future films. These are very steam punk in my opinion! Its funny how this subject matter can be sexy, funny, and visually as well as story line interesting! I am just fan of this director! The dialogue and plot are wonderful. Think about the bouncy bed scene and all it conveys, funny sexual, plot, its just one amazing scene out of many!
A Cure for Wellness (2016)
Horror Flick
This is really a horror flick and apparent fast. There is some plot though thin. Horror is far from my favorite genre. There is some plot in this film. It drags a bit after they show the face of the plot and the movie follows through. Wow, played out for quite a while. Kind of a gimmick movie.
Lion (2016)
Great Story
What a great story. I recommend this film! Heart warming, sad, so much there. Most folks probably soul search at some point. This is the ride of a person going through that. However, the history is such that it is a story we all want to see. Where do I come from? All that. But there is a lot too his story. Really amazing.
Alone in Berlin (2016)
Eye Opening
This is not a happy story. It is story that opens your eyes. We have talked about it a lot since. We felt like it was something that should be seen. I would recommend it for folks curious about that era and that place in time. It seems impossible now, but you know its not. Real life stories like this tell something more for me than the big picture story.
The Zookeeper's Wife (2017)
Good
This was a good story. I wonder about the blanks in the plot.....so many of those, 'one year later' etc. What happened then? I know the city of Warsaw was destroyed so I don't understand some of the plot, how did they remain? I don't want to give away to much of the plot but the film does take place in Warsaw during WWII. The movie focuses on the detail they want to talk about but like I said, there are some big holes I am still curious about. The movie is not boring nor does it seem disconnected. Kind of non stop action actually.
The Expanse (2015)
Good TV Sci Fi
I think this was pretty good TV grade sci fi. The detective angle was good too but then there is a lot of sci fi out there like that. The sets and effects were definitely B grade for some things pretty good for others. TV feel about it. Fans of TV Trek or the sci fi channel shows will like it, I think.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Thriller mystery listing but pure Horror
This was a horror flick without a lot of cost to make it. Takes place in a couple of rooms, sets. I looked up one character who never moved the whole film and she is listed as an actress, one of the main actresses in this film. Hmmm....I would not recommend this one. A gimmick horror film that is not good. B movie.
Life (2017)
Thriller, Horror
This thing is just a horror movie and not that well done. There is no mystery here, nothing of that sort. I find this to be disturbing and quite frankly, just not necessary. I was trying to compare this to horror movies I've seen that are sci fi, scary, good. Nothing really comes to mind. I don't recommend this one.
Deep Water (2016)
Pretty Good Show
This show was pretty good. The plot was complex enough. Some things to distract you. If you like mystery detective shows this one is pretty good. Based in Australia this adds to some interest. Just a different location. The stars are very good. They dig deep into some cultural problems of the past that ends up driving them to the end of the story. I found that part the most interesting.
Festen (1998)
Many Years Since Viewed
I will still call this one of my....I am not sure if favorite is correct, but most remembered films. The story is a surprise. The reactions are a surprise. Anyone who sees this will feel the piercing pain of the story. I saw this without knowing, only the rating. The filming style was new at the time. If you can handle the drama check it out.
Sneaky Pete (2015)
Excellent Crime Drama
This is an excellent mystery, crime drama, con game series. I think folks are learning that the 1 hour, 2 story crime drama format used in the US for the last 20 years might not always be the best. This story is told over numerous episodes with numerous plot twists. Unraveling as they go. The characters appear cold and unattached but you get attached and they get attached over the series. The show works on a few different levels. You, I end up cheering for the bad guys.....or are they good guys? I found the plot twists and their ability to twist my view very entertaining! The first 2 episodes are the slowest and the last 4 or so are the fastest, you can't stop watching! Truly, those last ones are cliff hangers, each one.
Taboo (2017)
Intriguing, Captivating
We have just watched a couple of these. As others mention, the cinematography is breath taking. The period costumes and sets are wonderful. Hardy is either slow mo mental or so adept and unobtrusive he fools everyone. I believe the want us to believe the latter while constantly presenting the former. Hardy is awesome and he gets the awesome roles. Everything is very graphic in this series. I looked up the characters on IMDb to see who'll be in the series for a while and they are the most colorful they have presented to date. Meaning, seems pretty juicy. This show covers the grittiness of life. Scrapping amongst the semi to very wealthy class. Will update once we see more.
Victoria (2016)
Period, Authentic
We watched the first 2 episodes and they were great. Costumes were very good. Settings were great. Sometimes it seems like Britain has such a very limited pool of actors and actresses, recognize them from other work quickly. The plot line can be researched but the smaller turns they show to get to the bigger mile markers are what they focus on. Well, we'll be watching this to the end and commenting then. The actors and actresses are all top quality, no cheesy work here. Thoroughly enjoyable if you go for period series like this. The queen is played by a new face to us, but excellent so far. So far, the series plays it out very believably.