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Keep Sweet (2021)
They lost me at "Ethnic Cleansing"
Let's start by saying that this is for the 2021 documentary FILM. It is not for the brilliant 2022 Netflix documentary SERIES. That is an eye opening and incredible watch that is well done. This attempt is disjointed and a little tone deaf. The filmmaker started the project ten years earlier with the goal of focusing on FLDS "Lost Boys" and the lack of direction is evident in the final product. While it's interesting to hear from current FLDS members (notably: none of the other docs out there that I have found include that point of view) it makes the entire point muddled and messy. If a viewer came into this film cold, with no prior information about FLDS, one might think they just had quirky beliefs and were being unfairly persecuted but that is just not true. It is absolutely possible that some people grew up in FLDS and had purely positive experiences there but that does not negate the very real abuses that occurred since Warren Jeffs became "prophet". This documentary paints the remaining members in a sympathetic light; a light they deserve as who can say how they might be if they had grown up in the same environment? The problem is not the sympathy; it's that the documentary seems to want to be willingly ignorant of the underlying poison within FLDS. A documentary cannot be balanced when you sanitize the facts.
The big sticking point is the reaction to the evictions taking place. All the residents are allowed to literally take back their homes (as they had transferred ownership to the church) as long as they agreed to pay taxes and signed a two page form. Despite this low threshold, many have refused to do it because it violates their religion. One of the outsiders that has chosen to help current FLDS members was appalled at the evictions and called it "ethnic cleansing". As much as it is okay to sympathize with the leftover members, it is not okay to refer to a simple request to follow the law as "ethnic cleansing". It's borderline disrespectful and once again is an example of choosing to ignore the horrors this "culture" allowed, produced, and (in some ways) condoned.
Der Fall Jens Söring - Tödliche Leidenschaft (2023)
Decent other than the "footprint" expert
This is not a bad docuseries. It's an easy watch and I was not familiar with the case. I'm not sure four episodes was warranted. It did drag a little. It certainly presents a lot to think about though both were clearly lying and there's no way that she wasn't there when it happened. My biggest gripe was with a "footprint" expert that was presented. Fingerprinting is borderline junk science in terms of its reliability so I have a hard time taking footprint evidence seriously. It was especially telling when the "expert" said that there was no significant difference between a bare footprint and a sock footprint. At that point I just rolled my eyes.
The Killing (2011)
If you want to be a bad mom or a bad cop, this is your blueprint
For the sake of transparency, I wrote this after watching the ENTIRE show. The cases themselves were interesting and I stuck it out because I wanted to know what happened in each. The first murder dragged on far too long. It should not have taken two seasons to figure it out. The second murder(s) was far more interesting and well-paced and I was much more invested in the characters and the outcome. Season 3 was a high for the show. Season 4 just found the two main characters acting appallingly to the point where I wanted them to both go down for their roles at the end of season 3. I found it hard to connect with the regular cast. I know this show gets compared to Broadchurch a lot, probably unfairly, but the similarities are there. And Broadchurch is simply the better show with the better cast.
The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker (2023)
Documentary without a story or a point of view
I had never heard of this guy prior to watching this doc. Although his story seemed intriguing on its face, unfortunately this documentary is just not well done. It doesn't dig deep enough on Kai or his background. It only scratches the surface. I think the biggest let down is the lack of interviews with people who actually knew him. Most of the interviews are with people who met him while he was going viral which gives us a tragically incomplete picture. There's also precious little about the victim. It's just an interview with the guy's neighbors. It offers literally no insight into whether there is any credibility to Kai's story about the sexual assault. There's a story to tell here but it wasn't done by this documentary. It was also somehow too long and too short. It felt like it was leading up to a climax that never came.
Menorah in the Middle (2022)
Do yourself a favor and make some rugelach instead
For some reason I've been in the mood to watch all the garbage (i.e. Hallmark/Lifetime and their ilk) holiday movies this year. Most of them are watchable even if they are forgettable. I was genuinely excited for this one since there are few Hanukkah options. But sadly, it is just truly bad and it starts right at the opening scene where the protagonist is in "Paris" with a mime taking up half the scene. There's also this awkward minstrel that shows up at odd intervals to add narration that in no way fits with the tone of the movie. It seems like the soundtrack was taken from the rejected score from Fiddler on the Roof. The director also apparently doesn't believe in lighting. It was just rough from start to finish. It was like they looked at a list of Yiddish words and placed them at random intervals in the script and called it a day. The plot is bordering on nonsensical and absolutely no one broke a sweat coming up with the business names in this movie (Panda Bread, Becker Family Bread). If I wasn't such a glutton for punishment, I would have turned it off.
Ride the Eagle (2021)
Worst dog owner ever
I really enjoy all the cast involved. I adore D'Arcy Carden. There were certainly things to like about this movie however, from the second the dog went missing I had a really hard time caring about anything else. While the main character did seem genuinely worried, he's later shown in bed sending flirty texts to his crush as his dog is still presumably missing in the woods. There is no way in hell that I'm thinking of anything but my missing dog until they're found. I certainly wouldn't be able to sleep or have the mental energy or capacity to flirt. Not to mention there is absolutely no way that I would go on a random hike to appease my dead hippie mother. The hike can wait! Find your dog! When the dog does finally show up there's little in the way of explanation of what happened to her and just a vague implication that maybe J. K. Simmons stole her after all?
Perfect World: A Deadly Game (2022)
Interesting story, paint by numbers format
This is a shocking and tragic story and is worth a watch. It is not a perfect docuseries. It's pretty basic and essentially all talking heads. Despite this, unlike a lot of recent true crime docuseries, it didn't feel like this one dragged on unnecessarily which is always a plus.
Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. (2022)
The only innocent is the puppy
I was so excited for this series because the story sounded so intriguing. Unfortunately, it was very disappointing. It was far too long and completely disjointed and unorganized. I feel like I still don't have a clear picture of what happened. It almost felt like a knock off (and much longer) Tindler Swindler. Although that doc wasn't perfect either, it had a point of view. This one just feeds us a rambling narrative from Sarma without really ever saying anything. The only good part was the poor puppy at the center of it all.
The Problem with Apu (2017)
There's an argument to be made here but the movie fails to deliver
Despite the dismal user reviews, I wanted to give this doc a fair shake. I like a lot of the comedians that participated and the snippets of their interviews tended to be the strongest part of the film. Overall, the filmmaker seems to ignore the context in which this character was created. He treats Apu as almost an insidious attack when the character was born of ignorance in a room full of white men who never had to worry about the effect of representation (or lack thereof). The whole film could have been stronger if it chose to focus on the effect of having Apu as one of the only representations of Indian culture that Americans were exposed to on a regular basis.
This idea is touched on by the interviewees but the filmmaker seems to choose to focus on Hank Azaria instead and his choice to continue to play the role without much criticism. The reality is that yes, it is worse because this character is played by a white man. However, even if an Indian actor played the part, the same effects and the same damage would still exist. It's a voice-over part. As many of the people Hari interviewed demonstrated, the public at large is likely not aware of the fact that a white man plays this Indian character. So while it's worse and makes the whole thing more offensive, it has literally no effect on the damaging impact Apu had on representation. Yes, arguably an Indian actor may have pushed back on some of the jokes or stereotypes. But assuming nothing on the show changed other than the ethnicity of the voice actor, the character itself would still be problematic. Because unlike the stereotypical Italian chef in the movie, for many years there weren't readily identifiable examples of Indian characters in the media. Certainly there were not many that went beyond stereotypes.
Ultimately, I found it foolish that Hari believed Hank would sit down with him on camera. He's been on the show for three decades. He's made a good living off of it. He continues to be on the show. There was no way he was going to bite the hand that feeds him, regardless of his personal feelings on the character. There's no way that the powers that be at the Simpsons would have let him.
Sex Education: Episode 3 (2021)
Unnecessary opening
Look, violence or physical harm to animals shouldn't be played for comedic effect. I'm sorry if you disagree but it was unnecessary. It's not funny. It's messed up. There's no reason to use it as a device. It added nothing to the plot. It's just sad. If you really feel the need to include something close to that then let the cat live and just be injured. It's still horrible. I still wouldn't like it. But at least that poor woman who loves that cat more than anything wouldn't have to lose it entirely. If you have to resort to killing an animal to get a laugh then you need better writers. Period.
Cruel Summer: Proof (2021)
A quivering lower lip doesn't count as acting
This is far from the weakest episode of the season. We get a few answers here and there. The problem is that this is episode 8...out of 10. We should be barreling towards the finish line. Instead it feels like we're inching along and being subjected to more and more filler. More questions were raised than answered in this episode. I just hope everything gets satisfactorily resolved in the final two. Unfortunately I do not plan to hold my breath.
As an aside, the acting on this show is just...painful. Most of the characters are genuinely wooden. Then Jeannette spends at least 30% of the time with a quivering lower lip (and at least another 40% scowling). I knew to lower my standards for this show. I watched Pretty Little Liars. I knew what to expect. But even that show had largely engaging actors even if the plot and writing was cuckoo bananas.
Cruel Summer: Happy Birthday, Kate Wallis (2021)
Expected more
Overall this is not a bad episode. It moves the plot along and gives us a few answers. Unfortunately none of the answers are all that surprising, groundbreaking, or satisfying. It feels a tad too predictable. My expectations were higher for this episode and unfortunately it did not meet them.
Cruel Summer: An Ocean Inside Me (2021)
Bouncing back
Last week felt like a misstep in my opinion. This week we finally got a consequential Jeannette episode. We were given a bit more backstory regarding her character arc and finally received a little more explanation for what's going on with her mom. It was far from the best episode of the season so far but for the first time in several episodes we were no longer treading water. Next week promises to ramp things up so we'll see how that goes.
Cruel Summer: As The Carny Gods Intended (2021)
Limitations of the format are starting to show
Up until this point we have seen each episode largely devoted to one of the two leads. The first episode focused on Jeannette, the second on Kate, and so on. This is the first episode where the time appears to be split between the two girls and unfortunately it resulted in a much weaker inconsequential episode.
The storylines are already fractured due to the confining format of showing glimpses of the same date in three separate years. It's an interesting concept but it has proven to be severely limited. The recent addition of flashbacks for Kate muddles things even further and can occasionally make the chronology difficult to follow.
When the show then tries to divide its time even more by following both girls in divergent storylines you end up with almost no meaningful narrative movement. Out of a 45 minute episode, I would say that 5 minutes provided us with information that was actually new and consequential. I agree with the other reviewer that several of these episodes have felt like filler leading up to some big reveal. Let's hope the show doesn't entirely lose steam before then.
Cruel Summer: You Don't Hunt, You Don't Eat (2021)
This show is absurd and I want to know more
This was another really strong Kate-centric episode. I've found the two episodes that focused on Kate to be much more engaging than the Jeannette heavy storylines. I think this is partially due to Olivia Holt's performance and partially due to the uncertainty surrounding Jeannette's character arc. We still don't know what made her shift from lovable geek to queen bee and then to jaded outcast. We can make assumptions but without more context, I find it difficult to sympathize or connect with her character. Kate's arc follows a more traditional path and it's easier to see how she got from A to B to C.
Like many Freeform shows, Cruel Summer is watchable garbage and I'm here for it. I was drawn in by the fact that it was created by Bert V. Royal (writer of Easy A). So far, I continue to be hooked and intrigued and am anxious to see where this goes.
The Innocent Man (2018)
Fascinating story/clunky execution
As you can surmise from the title, this show deals with a wrongful conviction. Actually, four wrongful convictions that all took place in the 1980s in the small town of Ada, Oklahoma. The story is gripping, maddening, and nearly unbelievable. Unfortunately, the story itself is hampered by an over-dramatic score and a few too many TruTV-esque re-enactments. It could use more organization and editing. Some episodes seemed to be leading somewhere but ended up largely retreading the same path with different characters. I still give it 9/10 because the story itself is worth hearing. Sadly, it's a story we've all grown too accostomed to.
Castle Rock: Romans (2018)
I should have known better
I was so hesitant to watch this show because I couldn't deal with another Lost. I didn't want to fall in love with characters and a unique concept only to watch it unravel at the seams because no one bothered to think it through. But I couldn't resist this cast and, alas, I fell victim again.
The rest of the season was so good! I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I kept waiting for the disappointing, hokey, reveal. Sure, there were a couple of misfires along the way but, generally, it held up. Last week's episode was great and the insane explanation was executed in a way that I could buy it. I was satisfied. But then this week happened.
Are we literally supposed to believe that last week was one giant lie? Like the equivalent of a dream sequence? Or are we supposed to believe that adopted Henry just doesn't believe the truth yet? Either way, it's the laziest ending I've seen that wasn't on a show created by Ryan Murphy and that's saying a lot. Sadly, I don't think I can abandon the Prom King and Queen of Horror ( Bill Skarsgård and Jane Levy) that easily so I'm sure I'll be back for more abuse in season 2.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
Most Grounded and Poignant Star Wars Movie
First, lots of negativity here guys, damn! Who hurt you?
Yes, it is long. But despite needing to pee during more than half of it, it didn't feel that way to me. The Last Jedi kept a lot of the lightheartedness from the Force Awakens but also gave it some depth.
This is really all about Rey and Kylo Ren. It's their connection and their shared struggles that ultimately make the film worth watching. I've never been an Adam Driver fan and I found Kylo Ren in the Force Awakens to be annoying and grating. That changes in the Last Jedi. He's still fundamentally the same character but he has layers. You can see the human underneath; conflicted and confused. His is the strongest performance in the movie. I also kind of loved the reveal that Rey's parents were nobody. We've all been speculating for ages about how Rey fits into this story...and the truth is that she doesn't. It's perfect really. It's a very human thing to want to feel special...to feel important. That's what Rey wants. Sometimes realizing that you're neither is a hard truth you learn as an adult. Though, in reality Rey is, in fact, special. It just has nothing to do with her parents.
A lot of people seem to be complaining about Snoke dying. I am not one of those people. I personally thought Snoke was the worst part of the Force Awakens. He was lame, lifeless and added nothing to the plot. Dr. Claw would have been a more nefarious foe. (yes I referenced Inspector Gadget...what are you going to do about it?) Some people apparently wanted to learn more about Snoke. Who was he? What was his background? How did he meet Kylo Ren? I just wanted him to die. At least one of us is happy.
Are there things I would change? Of course. As much as I lit up at the sight of Yoda I just couldn't take the scene seriously. It looked like a bad B movie. I also didn't love Kylo Ren flip flopping so quickly back to the dark side. However, I do understand that if he completely gave up villainhood we wouldn't have an antagonist for IX. I don't like Laura Dern being used as a red shirt. She's better than that. Rose kissing Finn was also a bit much. I can't tell whether they're trying to build a love triangle or just quash hopes for a Finn-Rey pairing. Finally, I wasn't a fan of the anticlimactic exit for Luke. He didn't need a violent death but just disappearing seemed like a poor finale for the heart of the series.
Overall there's way more to love about this movie than to criticize. Poe continues to be predictably awesome as does BB-8. The porgs alone should merit 5 stars (I'm only halfway joking because they're kind of amazing).
Drive (2011)
Truly breathtaking if you can stomach it
Drive is surely not for everyone. What starts out as a mild film evolves into a genuine bloodbath with a quirky, sort of eighties, soundtrack.
If you can handle the gore, by all means, see this film. It is beautiful and haunting. Gosling delivers an incredible performance even though his character is unnamed and barely speaks throughout the movie. He brings the character of "the driver" a depth that I would not have thought possible before seeing it myself. While watching this movie you to come to respect, fear and love Gosling all at once. Stacking up nicely is Bryan Cranston in his supporting role, which is a far cry from his character on Breaking Bad. Carey Mulligan is not brilliant in this film but the great thing is that she doesn't need to be.
Aside from the acting, the film is a beautiful masterpiece. The driving sequences are incredible and the music, though unorthodox, fits in somehow. The directer conveys a story to the audience by using visuals and conveying emotion without heavy dialogue. It truly is what makes this film a stunning work of art.
If you're looking for a stereotypical action flick, this is not it, if you're looking for a beautiful doe eyed love story, this isn't it either. If you're ready for something different, beautiful, intense, and mesmerizing, this is what you should see. It definitely deserved more than one Oscar nod.
The Woman in Black (2012)
Creepy, dark, and beautiful
First, I must say that I have not read the book so I don't know whether the film adaptation follows it or not. All in all this movie surpassed my expectations. Initially I was worried about Daniel Radcliffe carrying a movie and if he could strip himself of his Harry Potter shell. I was pleasantly surprised.
Daniel Radcliffe plays a young lawyer who is brought to an old manor house by his firm to organize the legal papers of a deceased client. Once there he encounters many things that seem out of the ordinary and strange things begin to happen. I will not disclose anything further for that might give away some of the plot.
This movie uses some elements that have been lost in more recent horror films. It makes use of the dark, almost colorless, lighting as well as superb music that sets the tone for the film. The woman in black also avoids tasteless gore and nudity, but instead relies on subtlety and the viewers own imagination. Also, it is fairly light in dialogue. This movie prefers to tell its story with the use of music and images which, in my opinion, is incredibly affective.
As far as critiques, I only have a few. I wish that the film would have expanded on the background story a little more or used more flashbacks. Also, I would have liked a more solid climax in the story. However, as I said, I have not read the book so I do not know whether they were just following that.
Bottom line, this is Gothic horror at its best. It is a true horror FILM rather than trashy shock nonsense. Definitely creepy and worth a watch.
Community (2009)
Perhaps my favorite show of all time
My brother was the one who told me about Community. His taste and mine don't always mesh so I was reluctant at first...until he showed me the epic Spanish rap that we now all know and love. He then sat me down and had me watch the first sixteen episodes of season 1 and I was instantly hooked.
I can't explain what makes this show so perfect but it truly is. Maybe its the fact that it makes fun of itself at every turn or the fact that they have goofy adventures usually reserved for preteen shows but whatever it is, it works. Every episode is another escapade and yet, somehow, you still learn more about the characters and watch them grow.
If anything scared me about Community, it was Chevy Chase. I wasn't sure how I felt about him but my fears were quickly abated when I realized he basically plays himself; a pathetic, bitter, aged man who, somewhere deep down, is a decent person trying to find acceptance.
Chevy, along with the rest of the cast, is phenomenal. Joel Mchale works perfectly as the charming narcissist Jeff Winger who does everything he can to fight the urge to care for anyone but himself. Gillian Jacobs does a great job as the incessant crusading philanthropist hippie Britta Perry. Allison Brie plays naive to a t as neurotic Annie Edison. Yvette Nicole Brown is sugary sweet with just a little liquor hiding underneath to bite you as the overly Christian housewife Shirley Bennet. Then, of course, you have my two favorites; Danny Pudi and Donald Glover as Abed Nadir and Troy Barnes respectively. They have a bromance that cannot be outdone. Watch just a handful of episodes and try not to fall in love with this quirky mismatched pair. They are ridiculously adorable and hysterical.
Community has gotten quirkier as time has gone on but, as creator Dan Harmon put it, he and the writers have simply been attempting to "jump the shark" every episode as long as NBC will allow the show to continue. Every ridiculous and insane plot that they come up with is going to be made until someone pulls the plug. For my own sake, and, hell, for the sake of humanity, let's hope that it doesn't happen soon (or at least they kill Whitney first)
Man on a Ledge (2012)
Perfect? Maybe not but its entertaining
Let me preface what I'm about to write with this, when you're in the theater to see an action flick you have to be willing to suspend reality for the duration. You wouldn't go into a Jason Statham movie expecting it to be perfectly realistic would you? So don't go into a movie like Man on a Ledge expecting the plot to be airtight.
Having said that, it was a decent movie. The action sequences were filmed well, and you have all the predictable tension when a character just barely escapes time and time again. If you're a dude you have a pretty Latina girl both half naked in one scene and in a skintight jumpsuit for another. There is a surprising amount of comic relief from Jamie Bell who manages "charming" without losing a beat and yet a surprising lack of it from funny girl Elizabeth Banks. She seems to pull off a more serious role fairly well, however, even though her back story is more than cliché and bordering on cheesy. Sam Worthington is what he is; eye candy. Though, sadly, somehow I found him more appealing as a blue American in Avatar. He plays the role well enough, though there isn't a whole lot to work with; stand on a ledge and have a devilish grin every so often. Ed Harris is believable as a two dimensional villain character (what action movie would be complete without one?)
All in all Man on a Ledge plays more like a comic book than a thriller. There are plot holes galore and my suggestion (if you can't simply overlook them) is to laugh at them afterwords. Here are a few to get you started 1) Australian brother + English brother=American Dad? 2) 3 prison guards + 1 felon= 1 gun? 3) small British guy and the hot Hispanic chick just happen to have recently graduated from MIT or the James Bond Academy of Science and Infiltration. There are a myriad of others I will let you find for yourself.
Moral of the story; its worth a watch and a laugh or two if you feel like dissecting the plot for the massive craters that lie within
The Others (2001)
Awesome movie...until the ending
I saw The Others several years ago in the theater. It was so packed that me and my two friends had to sit separately from one another because there simply were not enough seats. The movie did not disappoint.
The Others was just subtle enough to lure you into a sense of security before it through another jump at you. The music was perfect because, in most mystery/thriller types the music gives it away but in The Others you keep thinking that you know what you're getting and just when you're ready to call it a false alarm, something else comes out of the shadows. The kids are deliciously creepy and the servants make you wonder what secret the house and its occupants truly hold. I was particularly intrigued by the mute servant. Throughout the entire film I could not wait to hear what dreadful secret she possessed that would compel her to give up speech.
Then the end came and I was so disappointed. Not only did the Sixth Sense literally just come out a few years before so the twist was completely played out, but the way they did it was so damn cheesy! Nicole Kidman is ripping up a piece of paper and then it cuts to a piece of paper ripping in midair in front of a séance group. The effect was lame and lazy. The whole thing was lazy. Cool, I'm glad you realized you killed your kids (which was creepy, I'll give them that) but she probably still should have been alive. Or something, I don't know. All I know is that I was let down. The rest of the movie was brilliant and the ending felt like a wrap up from a scooby doo episode. Boo!
S. Darko (2009)
Dear God why?!?
As soon as I read that a sequel was being made to Donnie Darko, I knew it was a bad sign. Once I found out that, with the exception of Daveigh Chase, none of the original cast was signed on to the project, my worst fears were confirmed. I had the misfortune of watching this train wreck of a movie just today.
The acting is sub-par at best and, since the script leaves much to be desired, there's not much to work with from the get go. The movie as a whole tries way too hard. It reminds me of one of those straight to DVD Disney sequels like the little mermaid 2 or lady and the tramp 2; those really crappy sequels that recycle the same plot with different characters. That's what S. Darko does except that the recycled plot has more holes than swiss cheese! It also misses the entire point of the original and takes all of the elements that made Donnie Darko great and turns them to meaningless crap. You would never know it was made 7 years later. James and Ed should stick to television and pray that this film will not haunt them for the rest of their careers. If this is all casting directors have to go on, they will never hit the big screen again.