Change Your Image
KSantee
Reviews
Secrets & Lies (1996)
Adoptees beware! It'll have its way with you.
As an adoptee, the desire to know is overwhelming and unexplainable. That urge is captured so well by Marianne Jean-Baptiste. Brenda Blethyn embodies the conflict and longing that must be present in every mother that adopts out of necessity or unfortunate scenario. Her response to nearly every situation made me laugh as much as every other emotion.
After meeting my birth mom, I understand the volumes of emotion that are inherent in the situation. No matter what scenarios you've cooked up in your head about your birth family, reality will overwhelm you. This movie captured so much of it in all its funny, sad, depressing, and beautiful glory. It is authentic and a work of art. Absolutely love it!
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Uhhh, yeahno.
The first movie of the trilogy was earthshaking and groundbreaking. This movie feels like Zack Snyder writing, producing, and directing Meet the Spartans right after making 300. Maybe Lana consulted Weird Al for the story and he decided to play a joke and she didn't notice. Insane.
In this movie, the callbacks are unnecessarily long and detailed; the jokes fall flat, and the story feels like it's making fun of the original trilogy instead of honoring it.
Not sure why this was made at all. Probably just to pay some bills, although the poor box office might have just created some more bills to pay!
I watched the whole movie out of respect, but it wasn't worth it.
Band of Brothers (2001)
Especially Given the Subject Matter, Nothing Compares
My personal opinion is that this is one of those rare pieces of cinematic literature of which Edward R Murrow would be proud. Simply. The. Best.
3 Days to Kill (2014)
Sometimes we suffer from USAitis
This was not the slickest, sassiest, or smoothest storytelling ever. It was, however, a good example of how, in most places outside the US, there is an element of respect and honor in even the most dastardly of dealings (see "A Gang Story {Les Lyonnaise}"). It captured the crossover between personal and professional well.
The action was a little forced and there were some improbable ticks that always seemed to swing the tide. There was also too much focus on the drugs effects a la "Crank." Amber Heard seemed to know a little too much with no real explanation for it - if you can do it yourself, why hire it out and add to the risk...
Regardless, still made me appreciate fatherhood similar to "Matchstick Men." If only Hailee Steinfelds character had been a little less schizophrenic and had transitioned a little slower and more reluctantly it would have seemed a little more authentic.
Overall, pretty enjoyable...