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JestaCat
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Under the Cover of Cloud (2021)
Family portrait of Australian life.
I had little expectation coming in to UNDER THE COVER OF CLOUD; not particularly being a cricket fan - but as a fan of Australian cinema I decided to dive in.
I admit, I checked the remaining time a few times through the viewing, not so much that I was bored but I wondered had I given it enough time to get to the point...
The point was more that I was looking too hard, the substance in this film isn't "story", it's heart and character. Forget the cricket sub-plot (it's not clear the book ever eventuated), this is a touching portrait of Australian family life. I'm sure these people have their trials too, but that isn't what we needed to see here.
Notwithstanding a few conversations about cricket, and a nice chat with a cricket legend; this is a loving document for the Wilson family to cherish.
Freeheld (2015)
Inspiring and emotive.
Films about illness or inequality generally have a common detractor - they strive to contrive manufactured emotions to underscore the intention and the importance of the story and therefore don't allow the viewer to reach their own emotional decisions. FREEHELD at all points presented a well balanced tale of the lives of two people in love and the test they required to endure simply to be granted the same benefit as others in their position.
I came to this movie without backstory, but admiration for the previous work of the lead actors; the performance by Page and Moore was impressive. The script and the performances encourage viewers to connect with the characters and allows that connection to inspire an emotional response to the pivotal moments.
FREEHELD is well designed and shot, an enjoyable watch, and an important story to be documented for posterity.
The Road (2009)
Just "ok"
As other reviewers have commented the actors were under-utilised, not enough meat in the script for them to show their craft.
The Boy character is an annoyance for me - suggested to be 8-10 years old and raised post-apocalypse, but with no concept of stealth or staying quiet around strangers - what a liability in a world of cannibals! Unsure if this is bad screenplay or from the source book (night have worked if the character was 5-7, maybe?)
Wren Boys (2017)
Great storytelling.
The character development and story-line built in this short film but all the right chords and left me wanting to know more, where to next for these characters?
The Golden Girls (1985)
Binge-able.
No matter how much I like a show, generally after a few episodes I get "binged-out" by the end of a season and have to watch something else for a while.
Not so for Golden Girls, so far I've binged five seasons without any breaks! Looks like I'll have watched the whole thing within two months.
Thoroughly enjoyable; funny, poignant, at times ridiculous but never unwatchable. Their "social conscience" episodes are caring and enjoyable. The content of some episodes is no longer "politically correct", but taken in context for the time it was created, all is forgiven.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
6 stars, for the actors
Fantastic, engaging performances of a work best described as poorly conceived.
I shouldn't have to read a book to understand any movie; to provide extra subtext and character history, sure - but not for the primary storyline.
A subsequent watch of the same film in this genre should uncover overlooked hints to the purpose, the "plot twist" - maybe starting the film with the janitor in the car might've provided an anchor to uncover the rest of the film? I don't know, I guess I'm disappointed that these fine performances will be lost to the ages from the vehicle unlikely to inspire a second watch from many.
Yes, that's just my opinion, that's what a "review" is.
Pacific Rim (2013)
Accent distraction
"OK" story, if over the top; good effects; another film in the "America saves the world" series.
Features the worst "Australian" accent of any movie I've seen - Robert Kazinsky should fire his dialect coach and listen to the actors around him - Max Martini had me (an Australian native) fooled - didn't pick Max as a New Yorker. Kazinsky sounded South African, via Europe, via Ireland and somewhat American (or Canadian?) - with a hint of Aussie twang making irregular and obviously intentional appearances. Which wouldn't have been an issue if both father (Martini) and son (Kazinsky) used a similar conglomerate accent.