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Dunkirk (2017)
Boring, meaningless characters, lame action... walked out with 10 min left
This movie was flat out boring. I don't even know why they bothered to put Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy in this because anybody could have played the two characters. Cillian Murphy does absolutely nothing and Tom Hardy flies a magic plane with a broken fuel gauge because Hollywood had to figure out some way to make his plane fly forever while all his wingmates flamed out long before. Tom Hardy flies the ONLY plane to make it all the way to Dunkirk and he heroically saves everyone on the beach single handedly in plane that has absolutely no fuel left in it. Kenneth Branaugh paces up and down the pier in immaculate naval uniform dispensing folksy wisdom and showing grave concern while everyone else is getting the **** bombed out of them and strafed. Mark Rylance doesn't do squat either except show you how a timid pleasure boat yachter can still get up the nerve to steer his boat over to Dunkirk to pick up a few of the lads. Yet another in a long string of "audience favs" that I just didn't agree with.
T2 Trainspotting (2017)
Blew my expectations away. Loved every minute of this movie.
To be honest I didn't go out and see this movie when it was first released because I expected it to be a letdown as most sequels are. The start was a bit shaky because I got a bit frustrated that I wasn't able to pick up on every bit of Bigby's dialect and language and then I remembered that much like the original, you have time if you love this film to dissect it later. You remember it's the cadence and the flow of his speech and a few key words that help you get the gist. After that the movie just carried me away. I loved all the story lines that ran in so many different directions before you figure out the truth of what is really happening with our beloved characters. The music was outstanding just like it was in the first film. One character who is deceased in the first film is missed... I feel bad for Kevin McKidd not to take part in this glorious reunion but they made a nice homage to him. There is another central character that I really wished had more of a role in this film but I can understand the way the story is crafted that there really wasn't any room for her to make more of a contribution than what they have her doing. Sorry for the rest of you who didn't like it, I felt so strongly about this film I made the rare instance of trying to write an actual review and not just put my "points" down just so some others might take the chance on it and not be discouraged by the negative or dismissive reviews.
--- Oh yeah, I also popped a piece of my favorite Delta9 espresso crunch before I watched it, that always helps how much I enjoy my films as well but it never misleads. I know I will continue to watch and love this film in future years much as I do with the first one.
Eye in the Sky (2015)
Good Performances but rubbish premise and somewhat tedious
I think the title says it all. Rickman and Mirren never disappoint when you see them and do well for their respective roles (love the zinger Rickman throws at someone near the ending) but like the top reviewer said, the idea that much agonized thought goes into the process by which drone strikes are carried out is such rubbish and unbelievable that the rest of the movie is just a drawn out agonizing exercise in the absurd. Which kind of makes the performance by Aaron Paul as the drone pilot and person who physically has to pull the trigger on a drone strike with civilian casualty consequences (sorry) a waste. Those of you who want to believe, then enjoy the movie and have a good cry. Somewhere there's a drone pilot who just released his payload and is now munching on a bagel.
The Hard Word (2002)
Good Aussie Crime Romp
Glad I ran into part of this movie on TV and enjoyed enough of what I saw to stop and get the entire movie to watch.
It's a romp in that some segments are a bit cartoonish and comic in nature and the violence in it isn't anything emotionally jarring or tramautic.
Fans of Pierce and Edgerton will probably watch this while going through their catalog of films and I think they won't be displeased although my favorite character was the sausage making good-natured and lovable 3rd brother Mal played by Damien Richardson.
For those still skeptical, just give it a watch and see if it doesn't catch you in the first 20 or so minutes.
La graine et le mulet (2007)
There wasn't enough grain and mullet to last throughout the film
At first I was taken in by the almost sacred reverence the characters had for what the main dish of which the original title contains which is grain and mullet or fish couscous. Some of the characters and their relationships are truly compelling with moments that seem so real, you really feel like you truly are getting a glimpse of the lives of real people and their dreams and wants and flaws.
But ultimately the movie drags on way too long and 2/3 through you really just want everything to end... the last third is just torture to watch because they try to extend the drama way too long and when you finally come to the release you've been looking for which is the end of the story, it is way to unsatisfying and there's not enough couscous to save it.
Alexander (2004)
Refuting the "Worst Movie in 10 Easy Steps" in 10 Easier steps - OK maybe 8
1. Casting was excellent with the exception of Jared Leto who can't act his way out of a wet paper sack. Angelina Jolie is always a pleasure to behold but perhaps a bit too hot for a mommy.
2. I don't remember a harp playing through the entire film. What I remember is an amazing, powerfully sweeping score by the master Vangelis.
3. Shows Alexander as the troubled, egotistical but brilliant and beloved warrior, commander and king of the Macedonians.
4. Possibly the most epic filmed battle scene in cinema history - the Battle of Galgamela. True to historical accuracy from the mighty phalanx formations down to the lowliest peltast and his sling.
5. Clever use of the Irish accent in contrast to the many films we are used to that always portray Greeks and Romans with proper British accents. Kind of shows the Macedonians as distant clannish "cousins" of the Greeks in this manner. Whoever criticized this point must have something against the freaking Irish.
6. The point was well made and also contemporary and topical at a time not long after the events of 9/11. It was about Alexander's dream and attempt to reconcile the peoples of the East and West.
7. Alexander was one of, if not THE most brilliant field commanders in history. This we know. He was also a visionary so we did not NEED to have the entire 3 hours devoted to battle and slaughter. (See Point #4 - good enough for me)
8. The most stupid and ridiculous criticism of a long list of stupid criticisms - not even going to bother with this one.
9. Ditto to the rest...
I'll just end by saying, Oliver Stone does not make pointless horrible movies. The only thing that made me cringe in this movie was Jared Leto whispering sweet nothings into Collin Farrel's ear... this was a brilliant movie and one of my most favorite by Oliver Stone. I'm just glad there's as much controversy about the quality of this film as there was about Alexander's life.
To the person who wrote the original "10 Step" critique - if you can't understand films like this, maybe you should stick to films like Animal House or Transformers.