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Reviews
Oppenheimer (2023)
Phenomenal achievement
Oppenheimer is a mesmerizing film from start to finish. Superbly directed and cut the movie makes sense of a complicated American genius. From its visceral sound track and visuals to the tremendous acting of Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. The three hour run time flys by. The cast is a veritable who's who of great actors. Emily Blunt is also astonishing as Kitty Oppenheimer.
The many contradictions in Oppenheimer's life fits so well with Nolan's directorial style. There is movement in time, but not to be distracting. The movie peaks with The Trinity test, but then has a gut wrenching final act showing the destruction of Oppenheimer at the hands of small men with petty agendas and motives. The path from the peak of triumph at building the bomb and ending the war to the depths of Oppenheimer losing his clearance is gut wrenching.
I highly recommend this movie. See it in IMAX.
Black Adam (2022)
Unwatchable
Dwayne Johnson is a likable actor and his charisma is totally wasted in an emotionless role as the 'bad guy'. An origin story that so quickly blows through the origin as to be senseless. The Mediocre CGI is reflective of the mediocre story line. The best superhero movies are kept small with good characters and personal stories. This movie doesn't have really even have characters. Black Adam seemingly appears and is hell bent on something. The backstory of an oppressed, conquered city is flimsy and not motivated at all.
Well, that's my review of the first 45 minutes when I turned this dreck off.
The Hot Zone (2019)
Tony Goldwyn Makes the Show
Well paced, fascinating story for anyone of age after 9/11. I'm not an acting judge, but Tony Goldwyn is phenomenal as Bruce Ivin's. I think they could have dove a little deeper in the science the FBI used. There was some controversy in the real world if the FBI had a solid case or not. Some of the scenes with Daniel Dae Kim and Goldwyn are really good. Some great interplay between his PTSD and Ivin's insanity.
Definitely worth watching!
Greyhound (2020)
A Missed Opportunity
As just an action movie of North Atlantic destroyer vs. U-boat it isn't bad. It doesn't do enough with the fear and uncertainty of a first combat command. The personal demons that Captain Krause has are non-existent. I don't know why they wasted 5 minutes of screen time with Elizabeth Shue. There was so little follow up in the film. Lulls in action could have had some nice flashbacks to their relationship. Let us get to know Krause. The only character developed is Krause, so without him it is just a series of action scenes. Keeping the Nazis as a largely absent foe might have added to the reality of what the convoys faced, but it missed a chance for more of a cat and mouse game too.
Watchable, but I probably gave it two extra stars for Tom Hanks and the subject. Greyhound is a missed opportunity.
The Invisible Man (2020)
Laughable
The ability to build an invisible suit is not far fetched but this plot is. They should have called it The Invisible Man meets Sleeping with the Enemy. Hard to believe a multimillionaire genius obsessing over mouse-y Elizabeth Moss (Julia Roberts yes). Oh, if only one of the dozen or so people that are attacked would grab on! Somehow the invisible suit makes him Superman in strength and speed. Ridiculous plot twists and action. Waste of Moss's talents and our time.
Geostorm (2017)
Shockingly Bad
Andy Garcia, Ed Harris, Gerard Butler have made lots of fine movies. I hope they got paid a lot of money for trashing their reputations in this horrible movie. The science is atrocious even for Hollywood standards. The plot 'twist' was so predictable no one would be fooled. Even the action scenes were repetitive with a car being chase by a storm being used several times. It even takes itself too seriously for camp value.
Run like a geostorm is chasing you and avoid this junk.
In a Valley of Violence (2016)
Dreadful
This movie is terrible. The dialogue is completely incongruous with the 'characters '. Completely predictable, lacking any suspense or interest. The only redeeming feature except to laugh at is some decent music. I can't believe Ethan Hawke and John Travolta made this movie. It is almost as bad as Battlefield Earth.