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Reviews
Oppenheimer (2023)
Waste. Of. Time. And money.
Robert Downey Jr said see Oppenheimer in IMAX so I did. It cost extra to see it in IMAX so probably just a way for Nolan to make more money. Because it was not worth it. I was in row H and I kept walking up and up the stairs and it was the very top row. So I don't feel I got any benefit of seeing it in IMAX as I was that far away from the screen. The movie itself: so extremely boring. What was the point of it? To show how Oppenheimer was persecuted in the 50s over Communism? Who wasn't? Big deal. I could not wait for it to be over. It was hard to follow what was going on with so many characters. It took a lot of concentration to follow what was going on and all we wanted to see was the explosion. The only plus of this movie was seeing what was under those taped spots on the test bomb (and I'm not telling because that was the only interesting part of this movie). What a waste of 3 hours. Read all about it on Wikipedia and save your money. It's not worth it. But I am sure it will win lots of Oscar's. The boring movies always do.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Review for first-time M:I viewer
Yes, this is the first Mission:Impossible film I've seen. Mainly because I don't like Tom Cruise (too short to be an idol). But, I do like movies where things are blown up. And the movie does not disappoint in explosions, gun fire, car chases, and hand-to-hand combat. All pretty predictable for an action movie. The first thing I noticed was the close-ups of the faces. Having been aware of Tom's tirades while filming during the covid pandemic, I am sure these closeups are down to that. It's a long movie, so you get you're money's worth, but the sequences are too long. I think if they'd cut these down the movie would've been a reasonable length and just as exciting. It's going to be brutal watching this again to remember what happened when part two comes out. So, I'm still not a fan. Maybe I would be if I'd seen all the other ones. But definitely if Cruise wasn't in it. He's just too short to be an action hero. He should stick to dancing in his underwear. If I were you and you haven't seen it, wait for it to be on video and fast forward through the car chase, and the train fights. The whole idea of an AI taking over the world is prophetic concerning the movie was filmed years before the 2023 explosion of AI in all things. Maybe part two will tell us how to stage an uprising against the robots. Hopefully, part two won't be as long.
Hypnotic (2023)
So good you forget it's Affleck
I like Ben Affleck as a person. I've never met him, but he seems like a nice guy with oodles of talent for writing and directing. Unfortunately, either he makes bad choices for movies to act in, or he is just not as good an actor as he is a writer and director. But, bless him, he keeps trying. Well, I think he did extremely well in his choice and his acting with Hypnotic. A subtle, sci-fi mystery with a jaw-dropping revelation. I was captivated by the story, the acting, and getting to look at Ben for a couple of hours. Ben did a very fine job; I almost forgot he was Ben Affleck. I don't like Alice Braga. She just didn't come across as Ben's character's friend, lover, protector, adversary, whatever she is it would have been better if she selected one of those to portray. A great mystery movie as was The Minority Report.
Jesus Revolution (2023)
Disappointing.
I waited with bated breath for months for this movie to get to the U. K. Unfortunately, it was not worth the wait. Who is this movie actually about? The pastor? The street preacher? The kid who becomes a pastor? It is not clear. I think it was supposed to be about the kid and his journey to become a devout Christian, but there is a serious lack of "revelation" moments to explain his conversion and ultimate dedication to Christ. If the movie is supposed to be about the Jesus movement in the 60s, then I think Jesus should have been more prevalent in the story. There was no love for Jesus, no devotion to him, no praise for the increase in followers. I'm glad they left out the backstory of Lonnie Frisbee, because the movie was to be a story about his contribution to the Jesus movement, and I think it did that quite well. I just think Jesus should've been in it more. Because it was really about Him.
The Whale (2022)
Like an onion: so many layers and brings a tear to your eye
Apparently, Brendan Fraser talked to morbidly obese people when researching this role. And he does a fantastic job. This movie is about love-hate relationships. Not with each person, with the person and themselves. For example, Charlie hates being fat, but loves food which makes him fat. His friend Liz hates the church for what it did to her brother, but loves Charlie for being the ultimate reason for the church hurting her brother. This is evident in each character and makes for a fascinating study of human emotions. Yea, yea, yea. But the story, though, the story? It moves through the characters and keeps you in the edge of your seat without frustrating you waiting for answers and resolutions. You live in each moment with the characters. Their stories are so intricate that you want to dwell on each one, chew it slowly, and enjoy the feeling. Like eating the best chocolate you've ever hate. (However, Fraser's 100 pound prosthetics suit definitely inspires one to put down the nachos.) The script is from a play and you can see that which is disappointing because a movie should bring more if a cinematic experience. The story has to stay in one physical place in the play, but here they could've included seeing the characters in their own environments. That's minor, though. At the end of the movie, the entire audience just sat there for several minutes. We couldn't move. We didn't know if we should be happy or sad at the ending. But it doesn't matter. If you like analysing the characters, peeling back the layers, looking for the double meanings in every single thing, this should be on your list of things to do, immediately. Fraser definitely deserves an Oscar, even if he doesn't win. 10/10 for entertainment value. 10/10 for the acting. 10/10 for the story.
Magic Mike's Last Dance (2023)
Wow wow wow! (You know why you'll go see it.)
The movie starts with Mike (Tatum), saying he doesn't dance anymore. This would have made for an interesting plot, but it was only a sub-plot, because Mike DOES dance. Thank the heavens above. After seeing him in The Lost City, it was well worth seeing him be serious again. Both roles he did well. In both, he's kind and caring, likeable and endearing. But, wow, can he dance. I don't go to movies to study the depth of characters and the movie as an art form. I go to be entertained. I enjoyed this movie (the plot, not just his dancing). The acting was as good as the dancing, and believable. One criticism: Tatum could do with some other facial expressions than just irritation and dumb-founded. He's a serious guy. Which was nice to see him be ridiculous in The Lost City. Ladies, dancers, romantics, go see The Last Dance. The story is good and the dancing superb. It will make you forget your troubles for two hours. You know you want to see Mike bring the magic.
Glass Onion (2022)
Why was Daniel Craig even in this?
I went to see the first Knives Out movie because it was one of the very first new movies after lockdown. Daniel Craig's southern accent was markedly better in Glass Onion than it was in the first Knives Out movie. But, just like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Daniel's character was not required in this latest Knives Out movie. Janelle Monáe Did all the heavy lifting. Take out Daniel and the movie would turn out exactly the same. Of course, it has the usual twists and surprises of a mystery, all nicely explained at the end by Daniel (seemingly his only purpose). I'm no good at mysteries so I was surprised, but my husband said he knew whodunnit from the beginning. Overall, it was better than the first one, but was that because Daniel's character had a minor role or the plot was better? Thanks, Netflix, for showing it much cheaper than going to the cinema.
A Man Called Otto (2022)
Enduring entertainment
Who doesn't like Tom Hanks? Ok, not everyone, so this movie isn't for them. He's not very believable as a grumpy old man with his sarcastic growling and condemning muttering. So if we are supposed to be offended or sympathetic, we aren't. It is, however, quite mirthful to watch. I did find Mariana Treviño as Marisol the best part of the movie. She is determined to warm Otto's cold heart and uses her quick quips and strong personality (not to mention quite a few food offerings) to help Otto see his own humanity. The movie progresses as you'd expect. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll have those conflicting "I don't know if I'm happy or sad" feelings at the end. But it is a very pleasant way to spend your time. Especially if you like Tom Hanks.
Tár (2022)
so wrong it's absolutely right
This is very very good. Great to see a woman not shown as a snivelling pile of snot while she undergoes the destruction of her reputation, relationships, and role as mentor. The music theory discussions are fascinating; you do need either an understanding of music history or a love of classical music. My husband likes main stream music and he's hate sitting in this movie listening to the successful talk about musical influences. But, for depth in a reversal of roles, I highly recommend it. Cate Blanchard beautifully plays Lydia with all her skills and sins. I loved her confidence. And I appreciated the message that, in a role typically filled by men, Lydia Tar does not feel privileged or entitled to be a maestro. Being a woman in this position is not even an issue for her or anyone who knows her. We accept her position because she accepts it. It's interesting to see a woman in a situation typically dominated by men, using her power as abusive. I read a review by a woman that said it was wrong to show a woman in the situation we tend to find men. But why? Women do it also. So, let's see it. Let's digest it. Let's believe that this is what powerful women are capable of. We are not just snivelling piles of snot when things go wrong. I found this movie to be enthralling.
M3GAN (2022)
A movie for teenage girls
Robotic genius Gemma and her niece Cady are thrown together after a tragedy. Gemma is the typical genius who has no idea how to parent. Or grieve. Her work on AI is her passion and the sole focus of her life. So much so, she uses her lack of maternal abilities to maximise her computer skills to create a "friend" for Cady. Typically, things go very wrong and in the end it brings aunt and niece closer. What is fascinating is M3GAN. It's not creepy to watch her. In fact, it's fascinating to see her development, as well, in the family dynamic. The movie is pretty tame as far as horror goes, and the plot is pretty typical. What is missing is why M3GAN turns out like she does and with a main subject so sophisticated it should be expected for this to be explained. They probably spent all their money on the tech effects of M3GAN, which was cool and the reason I even wanted to see this movie. Interestingly, the theatre audience was predominately young teenage girls. No doubt a dream of theirs to have a friend to wreak vengeance on their enemies and stand up to their parents for them. If I were a parent, I wouldn't let mine go to this movie so they wouldn't get any ideas. Just saying.
Till (2022)
Tragic, shocking, and predictable.
Injustice/inhumanity to man/discrimination plot based on real events. As if a trial of white men in the American South would ever find them guilty. The film is supposed to be about how Maimie Till helped with the Civil Rights Movement. What she did by showing pictures of her dead son, was a kick in the backside for anyone with a conscience in the USA. However, much of the film just shows Maimie quietly staring off into the distance as she suffers the loss. And the ending has the traditional blurbs about the rest of her life. What would have been interesting is to skip the trial and.show what she actually did after the trial/the rest of her life. These type of movies focus too much on the reason why there was a trial and the main character's demeanour. It needed to show more of her transformation from a grieving mother to a civil rights influencer because you never actually see what convinced her. Mostly, she resists it. I hated the despicable treatment of her 14-year-old son and applaud her resolve to stand up against what was done to him, as I applaud it in current events. Unless you live in a bubble, you know about discrimination. There just should have been more in this movie about afterwards instead of focusing on the before. It would have made the movie much more powerful and show people how things can be changed instead of just showing the reason. We know the reasons. Would be nice to know the processes they used to actually changed things. Stellar acting.