Change Your Image
jamesrichy1961
Reviews
Learning to Drive (2014)
Nice contrast between lives, witty.
I thought it was clever and thought provoking. The two actors inhabit vastly different worlds, but are so similar in many ways. The message seems to be we are all the same under our veneers of jobs, status, where we live and skin. It's an old theme but really well done this time. Hilarious is the part, that I think many people miss, where the two women are talking about what scoundrels guys are, with all this cheating going on, asking, "why, why?". Then one says, in relation to performing a sex act, "I don't do that anymore. Those days are over. This mouth is retired with a pension". Explaining of course exactly why there is so much infidelity. Guys don't (and won't - ever, never ever - give up sex). The stars are both highly believable, and perfect for their respective roles. It's not over done, gushy, or sentimental. And it all does not work out perfectly in the end. I loved it.
The Green Prince (2014)
poorly executed
80% of the scenes in this movie are just straight on facial shots of two people telling a story. That is not interesting or creative film making. The rest looks like stock news footage. No interviews with other people, the affected families, people on the street - nothing. A film maker should bring a story to life, give it context, and make it exciting to watch. Having a camera on someone's face and getting them to talk for 90 minutes is not film making. If this was produced by a film student, I would give them an F. Too bad. It's an interesting idea, but told in the most dull, boring way imaginable. This is definitely one of the worst films I have seen in the last 5 years. It is so bad, it is almost unbelievable.