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Reviews
Barbie (2023)
Overrated and uneven
I saw Barbie twice. I thought it deserved a second chance given the hype, like maybe I missed something, but upon viewing it a second time, it only reinforced my initial impressions. The costumes and set design were amazing but those were the best things about the movie. The script was awful! The first half was fun and silly, then it descended into preachiness and wordy dialogues that felt condescending. Whatever happened to show don't tell? Ken was way too sympathetic and I found myself rooting for him more often than not. He also had a much more interesting arc - props to Gosling - but not sure that's what Gerwig intended. In fact, I'm not really sure what she intended at all with this flick other than to pontificate. The story was all over the place. The plot line with the Mattel execs went nowhere and America Ferrara's arc felt lacking despite that monologue. While I'm happy that a women's film became a blockbuster, I'm baffled by the praise this film is getting. Robbie's acting was good but not great. I found her rather shallow and not especially sympathetic - just, meh. Gerwig needs to tone down her messaging and focus more on story.
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021)
A strong indictment of conspiracy theories
Wow! I'm a little surprised with the venom of some of these reviews. I thought the show was well put together and worth the four hours. It purposely leads the viewer down a rabbit hole of possible scenarios to demonstrate how people can become fixated on a theory when they don't have all the information. I though it was a strong indictment of these self-aggrandizing web sleuths who, obsessed with solving the case, got sucked into thinking that some pretty creepy coincidences and a lack of information must mean that foul play and a cover-up are involved. Think COVID-19 + speculation = conspiracy theories... something must be up!
I found the show incredibly relevant. Everyone wants answers! But in this age of self-styled armchair expertise, fake news and people with too much time on their hands, conspiracy theories can take on the power of truth and run rampant. They can also ruin lives. Yes, the show does exploit a tragedy to make a point, but it's a point that needs to be made.
Lost Child (2017)
Suspenseful and moving drama - not horror
If you're expecting zombi-like creatures and blood and guts, you'll be disappointed. If you want a compelling mystery with characters you can care about, you'll be pleasantly surprised. There is little to fault here. Leven Rambin and Landon Edwards are superb as the two damaged main characters who find each other in the woods. The script is also extremely well-conceived. The folkloric backdrop against which the plot plays out is intriguing and convincing. The story demonstrates the power that superstition and false narratives have to draw in not just the gullible and uneducated, but the sceptical and world-wise as well, and how damaging they can be to young minds. My only complaint is the inclusion of "horror" with reference to genre. It's misleading and may be a factor in some of the lower ratings attributed to this gem. I didn't get what I expected, but I was more than happy with what I did get, a well-wrought tale with elements of suspense that made me think as well as cry. Bravo!
The Postman (1997)
Give it a chance
As Trump attempts to dismantle the US Postal Service in a thinly veiled attempt to hold onto power, now is the time to dust this movie off and take another look at it. I liked the film when I first saw it on the big screen in 1997, although I admit, it could have used a good dose of editing. The audience had seemed receptive too. However, the film suffered from the critical backlash that followed Costner's other epic flop, Waterworld. Costner had become "box office poison" and the public wasn't buying. The Postman was too hopeful, too saccharine, too human, too grounded for the apocalyptic sci-fi genre. It was also a little too sci-fi for the epic genre. But to me, the inability to pigeon hole it is part of its attraction. I don't care for films about aliens and zombis.
Perhaps today, audiences are ready for something a little different - a cautionary tale with a little decency and hope to counter the negativity and divisiveness of the Trump era. Themes which are more relevant now than ever, and a hero who is in danger of extinction.
The Irishman (2019)
Disappointing
I don't understand the 9-10 star reviews here. Scorsese is better than this overlong, drawn out, too much dialogue (except notably for Anna Paquin) and too much voice-over effort at the gangster genre. Just dull and plodding. And I agree with the comments that point out the incongruous movements of older actors playing much younger characters - de-aging does NOT help here! It's embarrassing. And Pesci referring to DeNiro as "kid" when they meet? Who's kidding who here. Extremely disappointing!
Galveston (2018)
Logline does a disservice to this AMAZING film
If I had read this logline first, I would have passed on watching this incredible film. It is NOT an action drama about a hitman seeking revenge, and anyone thinking it is will be sorely disappointed (likely the reason for the low rating and some of the negative reviews here). It is a poignant, gritty crime drama about a mob enforcer seeking redemption. Heartbreaking, haunting and hopeful in the end, it is worth watching for the performance of Elle Fanning alone. The characters are well-drawn, the acting superb, the writing is compelling and the directing is intelligent - focussing on the aftermath and reactions to acts of extreme violence rather than going for visual shock value. The soundtrack also deserves a mention, supporting the plot without overwhelming it, in particular Fanning's a capella impromptu solo. This film deserves way more attention than it got and if it suffers from anything, it's poor marketing. Highly recommended.