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Reviews
What Jennifer Did (2024)
Shockingly Disturbing, but lacking in Context and Nuance.
From the title of the documentary one can deduce that Jennifer is fully or partly responsible for what happened to her parents that night. However, the documentary is solely told from the point of view of those involved in the investigation, painting a pretty black and white picture of the event and leaving out key details about Jennifer's live at home and outside her home. There's a few comments from a friend of Jennifer (who doesn't appear to be a close confidant), an older friend of the family, and a private tutor, but nothing substantial to paint a complete picture of who Jennifer is, and how complicated her relationship with her parents was. There isn't enough context and nuance for us to better understand what lead her to commit such an unspeakable...and though her parents were the victims of this crime, it feels as though they don't get a pass - since they're not the only victim here. I wonder what someone like David Fincher would do with this story if given access to dig deeper into Jennifer's psyche. We need her side of the story for better or ill.
Panic Room (2002)
Basic, Funny, and Thrilling Entertainment
Panic Room is as close as Fincher ever got to making a mundane, purely commercial movie. This is as straight forward as you could get - no twists, turns or intrinsic subplots. This is a home invasion film done with surgical precision by an artist in full command of the language of cinema. Fincher is the ultimate master of tension, rhythm and aesthetics. With clever camera movements (seamlessly tethered together with CGI), good pacing and musical cues, Fincher elevates this B-thriller well beyond its basic elements. Jodi Foster is great as ever, Jared Leto's comedic performance is a perfect counterpoint to the tension-filled plot, and Forrest Whitaker brings a little warmth to the story. And yeah, even as a young teenage girl, Kristen Stewart has an undeniable screen presence.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Poorly Conceived Murder Mystery Dressed up In HBO's Euphoria Style
The writer and the director of Bodies Bodies Bodies took an interesting concept and did absolutely nothing with it. The setup for the movie is pretty simple and cliche-a bunch of rich kids get together to party, argue about stupid things, do drugs and play games. The cast is appealing and capable enough to make it work, but the film is so poorly structured, and the direction so fragmented it becomes repetitive and distracting. At times it feels like watching raw footage shot on iPhone and edited by an amateur-it's quite a mess. The characters lack purpose and intention, and there's an underwhelming lack of tension. Maybe the movie is meant to be silly and absurd even in its "shocking moments" but falls completely flat. Bodies Bodies Bodies is a juvenile murder mystery Dramedy dressed in HBO's Euphoria colors and style, but the characters are too bland and superficial for anyone to even care.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
A Gripping, Intense, and Powerful Sci-Fi Epic
If art wasn't so subjective I would consider Dune: Part Two a perfect work of science fiction fantasy. There were a few things that could've been done better, such as Denis Villeneuve's choice of rushing Paul Atreides transformation without much nuance, probably to keep the film's running time under three hours. But, there's more than enough tension, drama and spectacle to push this amazing Dune adaptation beyond anything we've seen in the science fiction genre in recent memory. While the first film was a bit flat and understated, everything in Dune: Part Two is amplified, all the elements fall into place gracefully: the unfolding mystery, the inner workings of the characters, revelations and building tensions. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya's characters dominate most of part two-there's palpable chemistry between Paul and Chani, infused with love, tension, and a level of complexity rarely seen in this kind of movie. The world of Dune feels distant yet strangely familiar, a testament to the Villeneuve's creative choices and unique visual style. He also gets great performances out of his actors, and seeing them so invested in this type of setting, is quite refreshing.
3 Body Problem (2024)
Bold, Ambitious but Ultimately Underwhelming Adaptation
If you're familiar with the books this series is based on, and you were able to at least get through the first book (The Three-Body Problem), then there's a good chance you liked that book but won't enjoy this Netflix series. I say this because reading that book can be challenging, not because it's boring or uninteresting, but because the story is so science-heavy and the otherworldly concepts so overwhelming. The most interesting character in the story is Je Wenjie, the link between the past and present and well presented in this TV adaptation. Then there's Wang Miao, a nanotechnology professor and the single protagonist driving most of the story in present day China. Benioff, Weiss (and Netflix) decided to turn this single protagonist into the circle of friends you see in the show, living in present day London. There's a lot of tension, anxiety and paranoia in the book, as the single protagonist, along with detective Shi Qiang, try to figure all these stuff out--it's a lot like reading a Philip K Dick short story. Unfortunately, all this is lost in the TV adaptation. The show creators decided to water everything down for a wider audience by diluting the story concepts and rearranging some of the characters and events. Yes, there's more character depth in this Netflix adaptation, but they often distract from the story rather than driving it. The characters added to the show weren't structured well enough for the story to make sense. What makes the book grandiose and intellectually challenging--from figuring out the three-body phenomena in the virtual game, to the ingenuity aliens and humans use to manipulate or one-up one another--is kind of lost here. You want your audience to figure things out along with the characters, not random characters revealing major plot points for the general audience. Most of the spectacle, secondary characters and major story points are presented well, so if you haven't read the books, this adaptation is probably worth a watch.
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Slowly-paced and Poorly Structured
Let me start by saying that Marti is one of the few cinema purists working in Hollywood who also embraces the avant-garde. Unfortunately, his late work is plagued by poorly structured, slowly paced stories with little or no tension. Killers of the Flower Moon is kind of a Crime Mystery without the mystery, structured more like a domestic drama. Scorsese appears to be more interested in the performance of his actors than the overall effect of the overarching narrative. It feels as though the individual characters are pulling the story in different directions without a clear objective-everything feels forced and out of place. Maybe it's the hypocrisy and pretentious nature of its characters, but honestly I was bored by the lack of nuance and tension, especially in a crime story. Killers of the Flower Moon is too straight forward and too bland. DeCaprio's character is too passive and inert to play against the ruthlessness and cynicism of Deniro's. And Lily Gladstone's character-the one with the will and power to defy him-is sedated through most of the film. There's a redundancy to the way things play out. The film is an exercise in repetition and a test in patience, further complicated by an exceedingly long run time.
The Creator (2023)
Poorly Written but Sweet Sci-fi Story
The Creator had all the ingredients to be a superb science fiction story about AI. Unfortunately, the writers failed to dig into more profound territory and decided to keep things light. The result is a somewhat dull, uninspiring take on Artificial Intelligence, leaving too many ideas afloat and characters unexplored. The story can be engaging at times but there's a randomness to the way events are stitched together, as if part of the film has been cut or restructured. Nonetheless, "The Creator" is worth a watch-thanks in part to John David Washington's undeniable screen presence. He turns Joshua (a character lacking in both nuance and complexity) into a lovable hero of sorts. Ken Watanabe injects some much needed fire into the story, and the young Madeleine Yuna Voyles does a fine Job as a child humanoid. It's her scenes with Washington that kind of salvage the film. The Creator leaves too much to be desired, and Gareth Edwards does bring some of the flair that made Rogue One such an interesting and compelling film-the difference being the better writing. Beyond the brilliant "Ex Machina," most films and TV shows about AI seem to fall short; "Westworld" is over complicated and soulless, "I Robot" main plot was changed in order to cast Will Smith in the lead role, and "Alita: Battle Angel" is kind of a water-downed version of the manga. "Her" is an interesting take on AI and virtual reality.
The Killer (2023)
Stylistically Superb and Highly Subjective
If you're a fan of David Fincher and Michael Fasbender, and you're not familiar with the source material, the Killer might disappoint you. Similar to the French graphic novel, The Killer is told from the perspective of a single protagonist, simply called "The Killer" so in comes in a little short in terms of scope and narrative. The graphic novel does a better job at establishing the secondary characters as well as their interactions with the killer, but Fincher and Andrew Kevin Walker (SE7EN, The Wolfman) decided to stay inside the killer's head and tell a highly subjective story-without much nuance or emotional depth. This is a rare film coming from Fincher, given how nuanced and character-driven his films and TV shows are. Once you come to terms with Fincher's choice, you can loose yourself in Michael Fasbender and embrace this highly stylized, well executed tale of revenge and self contradiction.
Andor (2022)
An Awesome Addition to the Star Wars Universe
Three episodes in and Andor has already accomplished something that none of the Disney-produced Star Wars TV content have; it delivers a tightly-knit story with excellent writing and acting (the best since Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), and visuals and spectacle not seen since the theatrical films. The world of "Andor" feels real and organic, and there's a sense of cohesiveness between indoor sets and the outside world-something missing in other Star War TV series, which look artificial or low-budget in comparison-kudos to the production design team. This first three episodes blend together nicely, building enough tension and drama, but sustaining a pretty descent pace. Writer-creator Tony Gilroy brought a new level of realism and humanity to Star Wars with Rogue One, and here, working alongside Diego Luna once again, he's created a back story with enough weight and emotion to keep us engaged and mesmerized for an entire season. Fingers crossed.
The Lost City (2022)
I can't sayI didn't enjoy it, but....
The movie was fun to watch, until it wasn't. Sandra and Channing have chemistry and Daniel Radcliffe does a pretty good job as villain. Unfortunately, the creators didn't know what to do with them, except to throw them into familiar, sometimes funny situations, and cliché action sequences. Let's just say that this movie really doesn't have a reason for existing, as it lacks imagination and originality. I really don't understand it. How is it that the big movie studios keep recycling the same material over and over. They just don't care about the lasting impact a well told story may have as long as it makes a profit. This is Dora the explorer for adults.
Jaws (1975)
Falls a bit flat.
It must've been incredibly difficult and frustrating for Spielberg to put together this groundbreaking film. It doesn't take long for things to get interesting; the setup is simple yet effective. The subtle suspense of the opening scenes, along with Spielberg's masterful command of the film set, makes this film shine. There's a lot going on in the frame (actors talking over each other and frantic extras moving around) but Spielberg manages to keep everything in perfect harmony. Unfortunately, it gets boring as things move along; the characters are not particularly interesting, and the shark effects don't always work. Spielberg pulls a few tricks at the end, but it would've worked better if the shark was more believable.
Stranger Things (2016)
Stranger Things 4 is....a bit long, but good.
Season 4 came roaring like a thunder - bringing the same magic, but switching to a more mature and darker tone. The episodes are long, I mean, super long, but the season steamrolled through the first five episodes. It all comes together nicely at the end, but loses a lot of momentum by episode 6 - It feels as though the show creators decided to over indulge us with lots of detail and excessive (often mushy) character interactions. I would have prefer a more tightly knit storyline and faster pace, but I had no trouble investing myself in these characters amid all the chaos and spectacle.
Westworld (2016)
Good but Frustrating Sci-fi Show.
Westworld is an intelligent and challenging TV show, and for the most part it works. It overwhelms your brain with fascinating ideas and complex storylines, but struggles to establish a meaningful and emotional connection with its audience - it tries to, but it fails. Its tone is similar to that of Ghost In The Shell. Despite its shortcomings, Westworld is a solid science fiction show, though it has lost most of its essence since season 1 and its characters are too bland to keep us interested. Season 4 is looking like a reset - probably not the best idea - but let's wait and see.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
Got to the finish line, but stumbled its way though.
Rian Johnson has made one of the most visually compelling Star Wars films in the series, though I really dislike the retro look in this trilogy. Sadly, the The Last Jedi spends the first two-thirds of its running time recycling material and clichés from Star Wats or other films-the rebels are still devising the same plan from earlier episodes, but with a new twist; the reluctant or disillusioned master (Luke) that refuses to train a younger apprentice, and so on. Having said that, Rey's interactions with Luke felt rather flat, and uninspired, and her connection with Kylo Ren was more of a plot device. The last 40+ minutes were thrilling and well executed. The thing is, Rey is not convincing as a Jedi, it's not Daisy Ridley's fault-she's up to the part-but the filmmakers fault.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Amazing Cast, Disappointing TV Series!
I know, I know that Star Wars fans are raving about the "grand finale" but as we all know, this fan base is so easily satisfied-that's why Lucasfim and Disney don't put much effort, or money into their TV content Honestly, a nice finale can't save an empty and poorly executed storyline. George Lucas' films are far from perfect but one can tell that a great deal of time and effort was put into them. The main flaw in this TV series was a lack of focus, especially when it came to Obi-Wan and Darth Vader's conflict, which we expected to be at the heart of the story, not Princess Leia (beautifully played by the young actress, but totally unnecessary for this story), or Reva-what a pointless character for the amazing Moses Ingram to play. "Oh, we should be grateful we're getting more Star Wars," some would say. Please, you need a reason to tell a story, not an excuse to make more money. You have the opportunity to bring the same amazing cast back, but can't come up with an interesting story to justify their return.
Irma Vep (2022)
Very addictive.
This Tv show is about people making a TV show, so if you dislike anything Hollywood (spoiled movie stars, eccentric filmmakers, etc), annoying french artists and classic cinema/theatre, then look somewhere else. But if love this kind of thing, you're in for a treat. The show's writing and acting feels natural and fluid, and Alicia Vikander has an undeniable screen presence. . We've only seen the first two episodes, so don't expect me to give you my take on the first 30 minutes of a movie-You gotta watch the whole thing before you can talk crap about the story or characters.
The Flight Attendant (2020)
Fresh, funny and cool, but....
I really enjoyed the first season; it was well written and the cast really nailed it. I love intricate plot and sarcastic humor, but there were some missteps-though not significantly bad to ruin the show. The second season started well, but became unwatchable after a few episodes. It's a shame that the creators couldn't put together another thrilling season-there's was so much promise in the plot. Spoilers aside, I think that they went to.the wale to many times (Cassie's conscience) to fill screen time, instead of moving the story along. Maybe shortening the number of episodes would have work. I hope they make a third, and better season.
Ted K (2021)
A dull, uneventful fim.
I rented this film thinking I was going to see a interesting portrayal of a disturbed man. After watching the trailer, I was curious to see--or at least have some idea--how this man became radicalized. Instead , you get a dull, un-engaging film, filled with nothing but the man's thoughts--and his thoughts are not that interesting to begin with. Maybe the filmmakers should've dig deeper into the man before the events in this film. Some background facts are given before the start of the film, but nothing about the events of circumstances that might've lead this man to become a monster, he's just a disillusioned man enraged with the industrialized world and anyone with a connection to modern technology.