Reviews

Compliance is in a category all it's own. There is no movie on Earth that can or will ever compare. In the annals of morons, the manager of this fictitious fast food restaurant ( based on a real McDonalds ) in Ohio, has to be the dumbest moron that ever lived. Her level of stupidity is not measurable. She was and is an absolute moron.

This is a true story of a perverted prank caller pretending to be a police office investigating a theft of cash by a teenage female employee. This movie is very sad, outrageous, shocking and truly beyond belief. Within the first 15 minutes, I had to Google the validity of, "based on real events" banner at the beginning of the movie. I laughed at the script. I could not believe this was truly based on true event(s). Why would the teenage girl in question actually follow orders to strip? WTF? Really? This really happened? She was as much a moron as the manager.

The part of this movie that truly blew my mind is that the police station was only 1 mile away, but for hour upon hour, not 1 police office showed up at the restaurant. Yet the sexual indignation continued. I expected a Keystone Kop intervention to be the icing on the cake - no pun intended.

The final disgusting piece of tour de morons is the managers vile fiance. He is coerced into "guarding" the teen. He ( yes, is it really happened! ) spanked her for an astounding 10 minutes then ended up receiving oral sex from the accused teenager. You cannot make this up. Try reading that again without gasping. You should be asking yourself, why did she agree to let herself be humiliated and sexually assaulted - in the office of the McDonalds she worked at?

The perv perp was eventually caught - another moron and father of 5. He beat the charges in court. Of course he did. It all makes sense in the crazy ass country we live in.

When I got out of the USAF in 1984, my new friend, Mike and I began a rode trip from Biloxi Mississippi that ended in Salem New Hampshire. I had a new motorcycle, Mike had his cool Trans Am. It was a profound experience. I think about it quite often, still. It was incredible.

My journey was in many ways like Peter and Dennis journey. I believe this movie is a vastly underrated American movie classic. It is no cinematic classic, however it is a timeless lecture into American values and the spirit of freedom. In its purest form, this movie drives home family and friendships and how they interact and intertwine with the basic values we all want and need. The needs to be loved, wanted, accepted. Then it spins this notion on its head when the dynamic of pure American bigotry, sourced in antebellum fashion. I rode my motorcycle straight up Mississippi in 1984. I felt that connection. If you really watch this movie closely, I believe you'll agree, there is a racial inequality slant that begs the viewer to grapple with the south's awful slavery past. The contrast of film shots of grand plantation homes and black sharecropper shacks is daunting, sad, and jarring. This comes across as a pseudo documentary to me. The scene in the diner is, in my opinion, the most important scene. You have bigoted sheriff with the cast of ignorance blissed morons who have instantly judged our 3 protagonists. Add to this caustic setting, the waitress who never greeted or took their order, 6 innocent teenage girls who are absolutely overcome with joy and beg to be Taken for a motorcycle ride - a hidden gem of their quest for freedom - and you get a stunning mix of tension and uncertainty. The girls in this scene are, to me, a metaphor to a new south, free of bigotry.

The New Orleans scene, to me, is their zenith. Is this the ultimate accomplishment that they so eagerly chased? Or was the scene at the farm, which showcased how a farmer, his wife and large family can live off the land and be so happy? Or is it the commune? This could be deconstructed into many subplots in itself.

The ending is so profoundly sad. It's like waking up from that incredible dream you're having, right when something stupendous is about to happen. It is as anticlimactic as it is shocking.

This movie should be required viewing for all young Americans. It's that important. Oh yea, the soundtrack is grooooooovy awesome!

Affliction is a very dark, disturbing slow burn character study. Wade, the main character, is a deeply flawed "sheriff" in a very small Northern New Hampshire town. Wade is trying to live his life while dealing with divorce, a daughter who seems to despise him, a town that ridicules him as the "law" and mostly, his alcoholic father, an amazing James Coburn. I am from a small town in New Hampshire. I had 3 friends on my street that had 3 alcoholic fathers. This movie really hit home for me. I had many sad flashbacks of seeing my friends alcoholic dads lash out at them, verbally and physically back in the early 1970's.

Nick Nolte is simply stunning. His acting almost seems to flow like a docudrama.

This is am amazing movie. My only demerit is that no one tried to at least fake a New Hampshire accent. Willem Dafoe's introduction monologue was marred by his NO accent pronunciation of New Hampshire, where he announces, he grew up.

Imagine a action movie where an elite special forces team is almost eradicated by a few Al Queda types and the main character, a 30 year special forces veteran of multiple campaigns, show zero fighting skills and almost gets beat up by a 130 lb druggie. That's La Belva. I tried very, very hard to like this movie, but, it's impossible. The script is awful, the fight sequences are laughable and the plot holes are maddening.This is one of the worst movies of 2020.

When the husband of Hilary Swanks character has a stroke in episode 1, you won't wonder why. This series is AWFUL, full of tired cliches, tired stereotypes, and a teenage daughter who so aggravating you may stop watching all together, this series never left the launchpad. A third grade script completes the tragedy. Why did they show the thrust of flames as the rocket leaves the Moon. Anyone with a modicum of space logic knows that's not possible. Why are we subject to cell phone calls - in space? Absolutely ridiculous. But wait, there's more. The crew is so dysfunctional and at complete odds with Swank as commander of the mission, a mutiny seems inevitable. They are all miserable, conniving, mistrusting a**holes. The Russian cosmonaut is a likable as Stalin. Pure Lifetime Channel drama with little Sci-Fi.

The Company Men would could have been a GREAT movie, but, the realism is terrible. Case and point: 1. Ben Affleck - His character makes $160,000 a year. He lives in a $800K home, drives Porsche and belongs to a Country Club. BUT......he's basically broke when he gets fired. FAIL. Totally unrealistic. What did do with the $2 million he made over 12 years at the GTX? He plays a rude, arrogant, entitled moron. His wife is the nicest character in the movie. 2. Chis Cooper - His character, a senior manager, has worked at GTX for about 35 years. Lets say he made $300K a year, that's $105 million over that time span. Once fired, he tells us he can't afford to pay his daughter's tuition at Brown University. He lives in a multi-million dollar home. ABSOLUTE FAIL. So we have to believe he has saved $0.00 dollars in 35 years? REALLY? Beyond ridiculous. 3. Tommy Lee Jones - His character is a Senior VP making millions. He has a home on the coast that must cost $10 million or more, a collection of expensive cars - not to mention the $16,000 end table his spoiled and aloof wife has just bought. He cheats on his wife without a care and spars openly in board meetings with the owner/ceo of GTX. WHO WOULD CARE about this rich a**hole? NO ONE. This could have been a great movie, but the unrealistic approach at least Ben and Chris' characters completely makes a mess of having any real sympathy or belief in their personal situations. It is a very watchable movie, just not too believable. 5/10 Stars.

Any fan of this timeless classic already knows the obvious; Vivien Leigh's performance is pure genius. Her performance is hands down one of the greatest movie performances in cinema history - period. What I believe makes this movie even greater is the deftness in it's handling of taboo subjects, underage sex, homosexuality, and rape. Early in the movie, Blanche lets it be known she had a relationship with a much younger man and possibly a student - who may have been gay. Wow. This got thru the Hay's Code. Even more startling is the purported rape of Blanche near the end of the movie by Stanley. Tennessee Williams play - which won a Pulitzer Prize - had to be greatly revised to comply with the censors ALA Hay's Code. it's an amazing feat that these subjects, while vastly muted, are represented at all. What a scandalous and erotic movie - all those years ago! Amazing movie!

I just watched To Kill a Mockingbird again for the first time in at least 20 years. I was stunned and very emotionally moved. This movie is a masterpiece. This move elicits an emotional reaction and attachment that is hard to explain. The music perfectly embodies the mood - from innocence and carefree to brooding and climatic. It is one of the greatest scores I've ever heard. Gregory Peck is stunning but Mary Badham as Scout is the true star to me. She had no prior acting experience and should have won the best supporting actor Oscar in 1962. At times her acting seems so real, almost like she's not acting. Her facial expressions alone show her natural talent - sublime. Robert Duvall ( in his first role ) is a silent force as the misunderstood, gentle giant Boo Radley. The plot of racial injustice and false accusations in the Great Depression-era deep south is tough topic to broach. America's constant struggle with the ghost of slavery and the indignation suffered by African Americans intertwined with the plot of the accused, Tom. The cinematography is sharp and beautifully rendered. This is such an important movie that it should be required viewing by all Americans - at an early age. See this movie! A 10!

Gravity could have been so much better with more character development, accurate physics and most of all, a better script - which is absolutely terrible. Gravity is visually stunning but you feel a lack of oxygen yourself when trying to grasp the banal dialog and preposterous shortcomings of the Sandra Bullocks' character, Dr. Ryan Stone. George Clooney as the bad boy goof ball astronaut Matt Kowalsky is a ridiculous caricature of what a real astronaut would be.

This movie could have been one of the all-time greatest sci-fi movies if Director Alfonso Cuaron had more human tension to the script, added 10-15 minutes of self reflection with more character development and - please - a better ending. The ending is one of the most inaccurate and sappy I've ever seen. Terrible. Just terrible. I've seen better Twilight Zone endings.

I'm still angry at the 2 hours of my life lost and the fact I threw $5 out the proverbial window. The Hangover Part III is without question one of the 10 worst movies I have ever seen. What an absolute travesty of movie making this heap of rubbish is. How did this happen? How the hell did this script get past all the Hollywood executives? How did Ken Jeong's character get to be the main character and the center of the plot? Are you kidding me? This is not a comedy - let's get that straight. No movie that starts out with a giraffe getting decapitated on a highway can be considered a true comedy. Can it? That's in the first few minutes - later, dogs are killed, roosters are smothered - always a funny moment there! Bradley Cooper should be ashamed of himself. He seemed uninterested and it's obvious he was not enjoying himself. Ed Helms was, oh well, Ed Helms. Ho hum. Justin Bartha must have really, really, really, really needed the paycheck because his role is embarrassing and non-existent. Zach Galifianakis' role put him front and center as the man-child idiot savant who has a bigger role being more aggressive, arrogant, and dare I say, assertive. John Goodman's role as the bad guy heavy who got robbed of $42 million in gold bullion by ( applause, whistles and klieg lights please ) none other than Ken Jeong's "Mr. Chou" is mean, ugly and disturbing. Well, I saved the worst for last - Ken Jeong. His character is the main character. That right there is enough to know this train wreck is going nowhere near comedic enjoyment. He is a nasty, evil little punk. How's this for comedy - he blows Goodman and his associates head off with a .45 auto. How funny!! I laughed for hours! No. I was disgusted. I firmly believe 100% , that anyone can write a script that can be get made into a movie - anyone. I wouldn't watch this steaming pile of wretched refuse again if it was the last movie on Earth.

Flight is a very, very well made film. I love the brutal honesty and emotional toil that is very palpable throughout the movie. Denzel Washington is an American icon of acting. His total dedication to his craft is as impressive as any actor I've watched in the last 20 years.

The premise of a hard drinking, coke snorting woman chasing alpha male airline pilot smacks of what James Bond may have been if he flunked out at spy school. The plot is very straight forward and absolutely believable - on all levels. Denzel's character is so flawed, and so honest that at times, this movie resembles a documentary.

The supporting cast is very good. I love John Goodman's character. It places a modicum of well needed humor in an otherwise very dark and disturbing narrative. Don Cheadle seemed a bit wooden, but overall, very done.

I love the honesty. I love the emotional toil that so many in this movie must wrestle with. Don't look for this movie on the in-house movie list on your next red-eye to London. Highly recommended!

It's very, very simple. OHF is one of the worst movies ever made. it is beyond any realm of drug induced believability and paints the United States military as being anything but competent - let's not delve into politics. First point; the POTUS would NEVER travel in a raging snowstorm with 4 entourage vehicles out of Camp David at night - absolutely ridiculous. Second point; any plane - especially an unmarked C 130 "SPOOKY" gunship - infiltrating the most restricted air space IN THE WORLD would be shot down MILES from the white house by more US Air Force F- 22's, F-16's, and F-15's than any terrorist could possibly imagine. This movie is really a noir- comedy. It has to be - how can anybody take it seriously. The screen play seems to have been written by middle school kids who wrote this while watching The Terminator or something. Other than the obvious "for money" why do such great actors agree to sully their reputation and "star" in this junk? I would give this "movie" no stars if I could. Terrible. Just terrible.

I had high hopes at the beginning of "The Road." I was less than thrilled by the end. This post- apocalyptic journey of a man and his young son is rife with non-sensical decisions and stereotyped insertions, it ruins what could have been a dreary but thought provoking masterpiece. Viggo Mortensen is an amazing actor and he shines, Charlize Theron is wasted as a self centered bitch. The cameo by Robert Duval is really interesting and cool. I wish there was at least 5 minutes of back story as to how the Earth was turned into a gray wasteland - this was my early indicator of dissatisfaction to come. Wow, was I right. Where are the "meaning of life" conversations between father and son? Who is their right mind leaves a bomb/Tornado shelter stocked with non-perishable food just because someone or something walks around it? That is the most ridiculous scene in the movie - absolutely ridiculous. The stereotypes include the "trucker" gang that is obviously a slant on southerners, and why, oh why is the "thief" a black man? Are are kidding? I think I would have eaten the kid - for his whining. He was way to healthy looking to pass a sick malnourished little kid. the road to boredom.

Croupier is an excellent icy-cool noir film. The movie has a David Mamet feel to it. I really enjoyed this movie, but the last 30 minutes left me a bit bewildered. Clive Owen is fantastic as the calm and cool Jack Manfred. A struggling writer, Jack takes up an offer from his seemingly estranged relationship with his bizarre dad to interview at a Casino for a Croupier job. Jack gets the job to the consternation of his girlfriend, Marion, who seems to be bi-polar. The requisite cast of delicious characters at the casino elevates Jack's coolness factor as he narrates in the 3rd person throughout the movie - to great effect. Croupier is a classic character study. The ethics & rules that Jack has placed upon him thru his employer get strained and blurred. The robbery scene was very disjointed and confusing - what happened? The death of Marion left more questions than answers and the revelation that Jack's dad was in fact behind the casino robbery was not developed enough. The movie flows so neatly and clean, I think it could have gone another 10 - 15 minutes with more development of the loose ends.