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johnl1957
Reviews
Unfrosted (2024)
Don't Even Try To Take This Seriously
This is just a fun movie. I won't say it's a funny movie. I laughed quite a bit, but it wasn't laugh out loud funny, it was just a chuckle and a smile. Do not get hung up on the historical inaccuracy. This is not a documentary, it's just fun.
There are so many cameos it was distracting. I kept trying to remember who each one was. Many are in make-up or costumes that make it difficult to just say, "that's Bill Burr"....for example. However, all the cameos also add to the fun. I think the people making the movie were having fun with the script and the situation they were put in to make the movie enjoyable.
This is not a masterpiece, but it was a fun, lighthearted, diversion for about 90 minutes. These days, that makes for enjoyable entertainment.
Extended Family (2023)
Unoriginal
It has only been one episode, so this may be unfair, but it looks very unfunny with lame, hackneyed attempts at jokes. Abigail Spencer showed she can act on "Suits". I am not sure she can be funny.
Jon Cryer is still playing Alan from "Two and a Half Men". That shtick is old.
I may tune in again, just because there already no new episodes of any other network shows, but episode one was terribly disappointing.
There really isn't much more to say. Read the other reviews that are all saying the same thing. The jokes just are unoriginal and I don't think I laughed once in the whole half hour of the show.
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Doesn't Age Well
This movies is about 90 minutes too long. Most of the scenes are drawn out way past the point needed to understand what they are trying to convey.
I remember the Viet Nam era, but I am not a vet. God bless those who served, but in my opinion there are much better depictions of that time in our history. Coming Home was made the same year. It is also depressing to watch, but it should have won the Oscar over this movie.
Since it won the best picture award I felt I should watch it. Netflix has it on currently. I knew it was not a happy movie. Sadness would have been watchable, boring was not. I am glad I watched it, just to know what it was, but I won't watch it again.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Nothing Special
I didn't know anything about this, other than the fact that the approval ratings were high. I had also knew it had Oscar buzz, so I thought I would check it out. I watched it on-demand. I actually had to fight not to fall asleep.
I am giving it a five because it is imaginative, but otherwise I probably would have given it a 3.
The story itself was all over the place early, but by the end it became predictable. To me, It was shot in the style of The Matrix. Lots of fight scenes with fast cuts then going to slow motion.
The story itself was quite original for about 45 minutes. They took you in all kinds of directions and it was hard to follow. Then they seemed to realize they needed to pick a story and they settled on a common, somewhat boring, family drama. They were still doing The Matrix style with more fighting, but it really didn't move the story along as quickly. The second half of the film ran out of steam.
The Humans (2021)
Good Cast, Poor Story
Depressing and meandering. I would have rated it it lower, but it was performed well.
The director's technique was distracting and took away from our ability to concentrate on the dialogue, and this movie is all about dialogue. It was originally a play and it still feels more like a play than a movie, but your attention is constantly being led away from the dialogue by the director. This makes the flow very choppy.
It is a Thanksgiving movie about a dysfunctional family and it is not very original. We have seen it all before and the "surprises" are telegraphed way before the information is formally divulged.
Whiplash (2014)
J.K. Simmons Like You Have Never Seen Him
J. K. Simmons dominates the movie. His acting is outstanding and it's nothing like anything I have seen him in before. He terrifies his students, as his way of teaching them to strive for their best. He won the Oscar for the Best Supporting Actor, but it is hard to look at him as the "Supporting Actor" in this film.
It will make you uneasy. There is lots of cussing and verbal abuse. If that will offend you, avoid this movie. If you are a jazz musician you also may not be happy with the movie. I am not someone who can judge the quality of the music. I am not really a fan of jazz, but I still was drawn into the story of student and teacher. I found it well worth seeing. I had heard about the movie and have people I know who reference it all the time. I am glad I finally saw it. I now understand the hype.
Feeling Through (2019)
18 Minutes Well Spent
You will be very happy you spent the time to watch this movie. It will make you feel good, but it is not a simple feel-good movie. It will make you think and the ending leaves you wondering many things.
I found it streaming on YouTube after seeing an interview with Marlee Marlin. It's been nominated for an academy award for best short film and I wholeheartedly agree it deserves the nomination.
The Favourite (2018)
Two Hours I Will Never Get Back
I like the three main actresses and they did a good job in this movie, it just was a muddled story. The ending was not satisfying and left a lot of loose ends, to a story that just didn't come together. Two conniving women trying to win the Queens favor with no morals and no interest in anything except themselves. It was a bit like an episode of Real Housewives of who cares. The costumers had a big job and they probably enjoyed working on a piece from this period, but I just kept thinking, when is this going to start being interesting. A lot of great reviews, but this movie wasn't worth the time or money. If you must see it, wait for it to come out on pay-per-view.
The Other Guys (2010)
Just Awful
Having seen this movie I feel like the people writing these positive reviews didn't. I liked the previews and thought this was a great concept. I kept waiting for something funny. I was patient, even when several people walked out of the theater. I was tempted to join them, but I hung in there thinking, "this has to get better." Sadly it never did.
There were no big laughs from the audience and only a few slight chuckles. It's a good cast, but there is no chemistry. It's not even silly, as many of Will Ferrell's best movies are. It's predictable and boring.
If you have to see it wait until the DVD comes out. It is not worth the price of a ticket.
Wahlberg is attempting to be funny. If you want to see him be funny go find "Date Night". If you want to see him at his best rent "Boogie Nights". Here he seems very uncomfortable and forced.
Tropic Thunder (2008)
Just Horrible
I really om shocked that this movie has a 7.8 rating. I smiled a couple of times, but I almost walked out and I have only done that twice. I saw it with a small crowd. Nobldy laughed and one third of the audience did walk out before the end. Maybe it was a great inside joke for film makers, or actors, but I was very disappointed.
Ben Stiller fans are probably getting their fix, but it has been awhile since he did anything really funny. Jack Black was underused. He was truly a third wheel.
Some interesting cameos. However, I am amazed so many beg name actors were willing to play a part in this awful movie. If I could have rated it a zero I would have.
Closer (2004)
There is only one reason to see this movie Natalie Portman
From the previews I was not expecting this movie. This was one of the most disappointing movie experiences I have had in a long time. From the beginning of the movie you wonder where it is going and at the end you wonder where you just went. Nobody, and I mean nobody in this movie is likable and by the end you don't care about anyone in the movie. The movie is not really about people, it's about sex. It is even more about talking about sex, in ways that are boring, and how people can mess up relationships in a lot of different ways. These are also some of the dumbest people I have seen on screen in a long time. Nobody seems to have the ability to learn from past experiences.
All that aside, it is nice to see Natalie Portman finally get a role that shows she can act. I was afraid she was going to be thought of as the Queen in the latest Star War movies. She must have taken those movies for the paycheck. Awful!!! Here she shows the potential she showed in Beautiful Girls. She stole that movie, and she was only 15. She should have a great future.
I would not waste your money on this movie. Wait until it is in the $.99 aisle in the rental section if you have to see it. Based on the reaction of the people I heard talking outside the theater, it will be in the rental stores soon enough.
One last comment, if you were one of the people who actually liked this movie, you should look for Your Friends & Neighbors starring Amy Brenneman. It was a very similar movie.
The Paper Chase (1973)
The Best College Movie Ever
I saw this movie before college and liked it. During college I thought it really fit a lot of what I was feeling. I see it now and it takes me back to those long study sessions, the college professors, the competition and the people that were trying to pull you in other directions. I have seen this movie so many times I almost have it memorized, but to me it is still fresh and real. I didn't go to Law School and I didn't go to Harvard, but I think this movie is universal for anyone who went to college and anyone who felt the pressure of competition for grades. Some of the other comments are looking for a deeper meaning to the movie. I think it is very self-explanatory. For me, it is just the way it makes me feel. It just puts me right back in college sitting in a lecture hall. I really don't know any other movie that does that for me. I also thought Timothy Bottoms was going to go on to great things after this movie, but this was really the pinnacle of his career and he is perfect as Hart. Rent it and enjoy.