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Whiplash (2014)
Intense and brilliant
This movie is an honest reflection of the true competitiveness, intensity, and misogyny imbued into the jazz world. Simmons and Teller have such a great chemistry that all of their scenes left an imprint in my mind. Fletcher truly loves jazz (nightclub piano scene comes to mind) and he is on an agenda to create the next Charlie Parker. Why this movie is so powerful is that it doesn't end showing Andrew with fame, glory, and success. It ends with an unabashed monster drum solo, encapsulating his passion and commitment to jazz. It is the same level of passion that Fletcher displays, but obviously through a different medium (not hurling chairs at students). Although there are some hilarious exaggerations and hollywoodizations of the true dynamics of a jazz band, they all serve the effective purpose of building on the two main characters. Also, the editing in this movie is sharp and engaging. This is an easy 10/10. One of the best films I have ever watched.
Highlander (1986)
Some moments of cinematic brilliance
Let's face it. This movie is gimmicky, poorly acted, and even more poorly written. At the same time, its naivety and energy make for a thrilling, entertaining experience. You can tell that Lambert really committed to his character. As a native French speaker, it was a gargantuan task for him to take the role. Unfortunately, his strange accent and the poor writing make it difficult to take his character seriously. By far, the most entertaining character was the Kurgan - Brown just embraced that quintessential sociopathic, maniacal, witty villain. His iconic voice adds so much to the role, but his sense of humor is the highlight of the film. Most people wouldn't think this, but the scene of him recklessly driving Wyatt through New York is the best sequence in the film. It's well shot, well edited, the lighting is really cool, and Queen's "Dozen Red Roses For My Darling" instrumental (segueing into New York, New York) adds so much to it. A fantastic scene of the villain just doing whatever the hell he likes. Is there any impetus to his role? Absolutely not. This movie is not competent enough to answer those types of questions, but as a viewer I never really minded. Sometimes a villain is just a villain to be a villain. He is reckless. Careless. He likes chaos. Kind of like the joker, except the Kurgan is actually much more likable. The fast paced editing is enthralling at points, disorienting at other points. I was most anticipating the "apprentice" scenes between Connery and Lambert, which was ultimately disappointing. Intertwined with some great, cinematic shots were shockingly terrible, fuzzy, shots, that simply ruined the sequence. Queen's soundtrack is one the main reasons people keep coming back to this movie, and when you realize it constituted their least liked album (fans and critics alike) , that says a lot about their expansive discography. Sean Connery is disappointing as Ramirez, Heather and Rachel are simply unbearable (and there is no context to Connor's relationship with Rachel, which makes for an awkwardly sentimental departure between the two). Perhaps the acting would be more tolerable without the heavy-handed, mawkish writing that takes over the film. Oh yes, some of the fight sequences are brilliant, but Wyatt kind of ruins the Silvercup brawl with her nonstop shrieking. It's clumsy decisions like these that drag the film down. Overall, I love it for its cheesiness, but sometimes it is just obnoxious. And no, it does not stand the test of time.
Pete Holmes: Dirty Clean (2018)
Toilet humor isn't necessarily bad humor
His persona is refreshing amongst the barrage of deadpan, cynical, or outright nihilistic comedians these days. Although some of the jokes were glorified analyses of childish thought processes (voices in head, farting, etc), they were entertaining nonetheless. The mark of a good comedian is not only good content, but someone who can entertain with material ranging from trash to brilliant. Being able to engage an audience with utter trash (toilet humor) is one skill, and being able to harness good content and present it with poignancy and maturity is another. Holmes heavily demonstrates the former skill, but it is a nice break from most comedians these days. While comedians like Louis CK and Tom Segura are more like the complex, impactful dark rides at Disneyland, Holmes is like the 80 mph roller coaster with ten loops and sudden drops. It might not stick with you longer, but it will be way more thrilling while you're on it.
V for Vendetta (2005)
No real politics, just "poli-talk"
V for Vendetta comes off as a slightly adolescent view of the evils of government and the dangers of power manipulation... is it a bad message? Absolutely not. But when 2 hours of murky, over-wrought dialogue can be boiled down to two short sentences, problems arise. Many of V and Evey's lines sound like a politician trying to explain something so as to not explain it at all. The dialogue is indigestible, uncomfortable at times. Naturally, this makes the pacing awkward in many of their scenes... despite moments of acting brilliance from Portman. This culminates with the most cringeworthy and unnecessary scene in the whole movie: Evey's grandiose confession that "God is in the rain." Visually, the film succeeds, showing every camera angle in the dictionary. This isn't overbearing at all, and kept me engaged when the dialogue failed to do so. The colors, lighting, and set design also tastefully set the tone of the film. Overall, the acting impresses, with Portman and Fry deserving all around praise. To compare this to another film centered around a character representing chaos (Joker), this is where this film succeeds and that film doesn't. This film provides a more intimate look into the effect of that "idea" onto others. In Joker, the girlfriend represents a girlfriend, nothing more. In this film, Evey is more detailed and understood. Their relationship is rocky and nuanced, but we realize that she always agreed with him, she just never had the "artillery" to see those dreams materialize. The ending of V for Vendetta (everyone joins together, watches Parliament blow up) is frustratingly dramatic, but it works nonetheless. Overall, a solid, thought-provoking film with a stalwart cast.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
The best of its kind
Being a staunch opponent of drug use, this brand of humor doesn't usually suit my bill, but it is still one of the funniest movies I have seen recently. The camaraderie between Bridges, Goodman, and (kind of) Buscemi is excellent, although Buscemi's portrayal of the idiotic, unaware friend got old very quickly. Perhaps the funniest scene in the whole movie is Moore's character flying overhead to squirt paint on her abstract art... after reading that her character was influenced by Yoko Ono, it couldn't be more hilarious and true. I did love the cinematography and lighting, as well as the frequent dives into psychedelic episodes. The transitions into those scenes were especially well executed. All in all, the characters were casted near perfectly, and the constant juxtaposition of a stoner and Hollywood drama sequences was hilarious... that's what works with this movie. The bare concept is so hilarious that the entire movie is just soaking it all in, and even then it isn't overdone. The biggest surprise of this movie is that some of the humor is quite sophisticated, although there are plenty of the hackneyed stoner jokes as well. For those who appreciate a good comedy and can handle a boatload of profanity, this movie is for you.
The Green Mile (1999)
Great acting, compelling story... just a bit too long
Making a 3 hour film is fraught with over stretched character arcs, tired jokes, and a snoring viewer, but this film usually overcomes those common faults. The acting all around is impeccable, but Michael Clarke Duncan and Michael Jeter gave unforgettable performances. Every character was perfectly cast, which always supersedes the screenplay, set design, and directing in terms of making a film believable (but all of those aspects were outstanding as well). Tom Hanks as the wise, humble prison guard. Michael Clarke Duncan as the innocent, gentle, sensitive inmate. Doug Hutchison as the arrogant, spoiled wanna be prison guard... although the prevalence of his character type movies is a bit high for my liking. Morse, DeMunn, and Pepper serve as good sidekicks, and Rockwell gave a convincing performance as the psychopathic killer. However, Jeter undoubtedly stole the show, making his death the most heartbreaking out of all of them. Also, the simplicity of the storyline really allowed me to focus on the nuances of each character rather than worrying about plot points... taking its time with each character wasn't necessarily a bad thing. However, some things the movie could have cut down on: Edgecomb's UTI (which was arguably more painful to watch than the electrocution sequences, bravo Hanks), clearing out the isolation room for 10 minutes for a useless joke, and the discussion with Burt Hammersmith. The set design, cinematography, and overall aura of the film made it an experience I will never forget! Any movie that makes me cry automatically gets an 8, and in my opinion that's what this movie deserves.
Memento (2000)
An innovative way to present an endearing story
I thoroughly enjoyed the style in which this movie is shown. Going back in time made me question EVERYTHING from the character's intentions, deceit, and motivations. Although the cuts from
backward in time to forward in time did get confusing, it's an innovative way to keep the viewer engaged throughout the movie's entirety. The acting was superb, Guy Pearce really convinced the audience that he was solely alive to seek vengeance, and subtlety was used, but not overused. I recommend this film for anyone who wants a psychological thriller that involves lots of thought and speculation.
The Truman Show (1998)
An innovative plot with lots of heart
I was immediately interested when I found out there was a movie with Jim Carrey that wasn't a comedy. His performance is memorable, as we can sympathize with his lifelong struggle to figure out what is real. Basically, an illusory world is built around a man, simply to entertain viewers who watch the live footage of his life. This concept was so fascinating to me, and is even more ironic today, in that we have phones and are always connected with the outside world. Again, Jim Carrey's performance is amazing, the storyline is intriguing, and the direction of photography is top notch. I recommend this for anyone interested in an engaging drama, sci-fi flick.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Didn't ever check the time, so a success
I think at the core of this film is the satisfaction that culminates from the franchise of entertaining movies. Obviously, the movie gets to an emotional climax, where Iron Man loses his life, and this is done very carefully. This moment lives up to the character's reputation , and Downey is very convincing as a genuine person who saved many, but couldn't save himself in the end. The graphics are sharp, with fight scenes that live up to the predecessor's (Infinity War). The length scared me, but turns out to be used for good reason, which shows how consistent the movie is with its interesting plot. There were a few things that disappointed me in this movie, though. A common jab at the movie is the lack of importance given on Widow's death, and with this, I agree. It felt premature and honestly didn't have much of an impact on me, so I guess the writers just don't like Scarlett Johansson. Another issue is the humor........ it just didn't make me laugh, Thor, or Starlord being useless, I can let that slide but I was slightly disappointed. Anyways, a good movie, good acting, and a good swan song for a few highly respected characters.
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Any old western flick with modern refurbishments.
The most prominent thing I understand from the movie is that the actors look like they're having fun. Seven stereotypical characters from any western scene, while not original, are portrayed well by the likes of Chris Pratt, Denzel Washington, and Ethan Hawke. The camera quality is superb, and set design is convincing, I think this movie rides on these two characteristics. As for the script, nothing new, and that's where this movie fails. The storyline is forgettable, and not entirely intriguing. That gets boring when the movie is 2 hours and 15 minutes. The movie does create a strong atmosphere though, and the fight scenes are amazing. It's highly entertaining, highly forgettable, and well shot/choreographed. This is the type of movie to play while at a party or while you're not entirely focused, but it would be enjoyed as much by any age group.
Shazam! (2019)
Entertainment at its finest
Firstly, I'd recommend this movie for anyone wanting a boost, it's full of fun and exhilaration. This movie excels in acting, writing, and directing. Levi is able to pull off a perfect impression of a kid slowly coming to terms with the power he receives. He is supported by a strong cast that is able to further emphasize the loving nature the protagonists carry. The humor is consistently strong, and I'd like to note this is all tame, the movie doesn't rely of profanity or obscenity to get its message across. The last highlight I'd like to mention is the beautiful camera work, and the vibrant color scheme they pulled off, really satisfying. Yes, the villain is cliche, that wasn't really surprising and is not dwelled on too much where it bores the audience. The strengths of this film are strong, it is a humorous family movie that fashions great action sequences and develops the characters sufficiently. Although it's slightly lengthy, this movie was entertaining and reinstitutes the power of sharing your privileges.
Free Solo (2018)
Captivating, exhilerating, moving
This movie does its job of telling Alex's brave story, and is truly unforgettable. The movie is able to intertwine Alex's personal life, being antisocial and marred from childhood, and his amazing talent at being able to scale treacherous mounts with ease. Prepare, your palms will sweat! The fear that the movie put into me was crazy, even knowing beforehand that he is successful at climbing El Cap. . Obviously, a highlight of this film is also the camera work, which makes the climb even more interesting... the hard work definitely paid off here.
Green Book (2018)
A heartwarming story with a clear message
Heartwarming is a perfect way to describe the developed relationship between Ali and Mortensen. Both of their acting fully submerged me into the story, and the humor sprinkled into Mortenson's part is a reminder that this movie sends a good message. Nothing, race, family, skill, or sexuality can mar this relationship that takes us through a roller coaster of racially backed scenarios.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Surprisingly amazing
I am not a marvel fan or any superhero fan for that matter, so my expectations are low with these movies. This one, however, was a GOOD movie. Throughout the film, there was humor, development of characters, and good morale. This new style of animation took some time for me to get used to, but ended up being fun to watch. The look of it seemed fresh and fit the comic-style of the movie. Of course, although this had no bearing on my rating, the Stan Lee cameo was very emotional for many, but I think he would be proud for this to be the last movie he performed in.
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
The magic is still there, but not the music
They managed to bring back the magic, wonder, and fantasy that shone in the first movie. What was imagined is out of the box and glorifies the story that is merely a mirror image of the prescursor's. Blunt captures the mystery that her character is supposed to have, and she is as convincing is one could get to playing Julie Andrew's interpretation of the character. Miranda also does a very strong acting job with charm, and leads an impressive dancing scene, though not as shocking as the chimney sweeping dance. Also, the combination of cartoon and live action is as realistic as Disney has gotten in this type of filming. Trust me, you will be blown away with the vibrant visuals brought to life in this movie. Here is what gives this movie a modest 7/10. One, as iconic as the story was in the original movie, simply mirroring each facet of the movie, (i.e. the bird lady turned into balloon lady), is fun and certainly works, but still isn't a new concept, which expectedly wouldn't make it a breakthrough classic. Also, the music is good, but doesn't not match up in catchiness to the score of the 1964 version, and you'll probably forget every song by the time you're out of the theater. In my opinion, this movie is not slow or does not drag on. It is a joy to watch, certainly with a younger audience, and is successful in what it is trying to achieve - imagination
Where Hands Touch (2018)
Touching story with a weak script
I suggest this movie to anyone not feeling critical, because unfortunately, it's very easy to criticize this movie. An intense story about a biracial girl falling in love with a Nazi official's son is carried, but not successfully, by weak accents and some acting that got me questioning. The writing struggled to stay engaging and falls to useless conversations that have no effect on the plot. The story is interesting and ended with a twist, but I think this movie could be cut down by 30 minutes to the same satisfaction of the viewer. I do recommend you watch this movie, but know there are some visible flaws in the writing.
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Strong cast, storyline, and characters
I suggested this movie based off of the high reviews, but they turned out to be true. This movie soars with an outstanding cast, especially the top characters, Washington and Driver. The storyline is intriguing and lives up to its story with most accuracy. Humor is sprinkled into a seemingly serious flick, but a complaint is that there were many liberties taken on what would've actually happened at the time. Some of the jokes and gimics were not accurate and seemed to be there to bring more energy to the film. This turned out to be slightly distracting, but not too much of a problem.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Surprisingly exhilarating
When I decided to watch this movie, I was planning on stopping after 10 minutes, but immediately got glued after the engaging graphics ensued. Although some may think of the graphics as extra, they were comical, well executed, and not distracting. The cinematography was also superb and really exemplified an excitement that Wright seems to bring out in all of his works. Cera's classic innocent character works perfectly with Winstead's scandalous behavior and both manage to keep the movie's realness while in their one-on-one scenes. The Scott vs. 7 exes scenes could have been different variations of any marvel fight, but Wright makes each encounter unique with very unconventional qualities. Overall, the acting was strong, cinematography outstanding, and directing amazing, but the script was not perfect. Unfortunately, some of the dialogue seemed like it was taken out of the movie script I wrote in 5th grade, but was ultimately overpowered by the consistently strong relationship themes. Yes, I certainly recommend this movie, especially for young adults and teens!
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Great music, good acting, not-so-good script
Anybody who sees this movie will surely have a good time, but by no means is it a consistently strong film. For the lows of this movie, let's start with the script. The dialogue is a mix of cliche one-liners with some "heartfelt" moments that don't have enough impact on the film. This means, it doesn't dive deep into the more romantically dynamic life that Freddie had. Although this was NOT the intention of the movie, clearly the writers struggled to make each aspect of Freddie's chaotic life more meaningful. Also, some of the CGI effects were weak, most notably during live aid. To finish off with the cons, his teeth were cartoonishly large and should not have gotten as much attention as they did. For the pros, Rami Malek completely aced his part as Freddie Mercury! He was able to show his conflicting emotions with still highlighting the frontman's flamboyant and godly persona on stage. The crew did develop the character exceedingly well and Malek convinced the audience that Mercury was a one-off, that is for sure. Lucy Boynton also played her part very well, and was certainly the highlight of Freddie's "personal life" scenes. The rest of the band also crushed their roles and gave justice to the uniqueness of Queen and their music. Also, the cinematography deserves attention. I found the creative use of camera angles and effects very impressive. This could've easily been annoying and even distracting at times, but only added to my interest in the film. Of course, the music is phenomenal and despite what others have said, I didn't notice any problem with bringing his Freddie's voice to stage. I think this editing and mixing job was done very well. Lastly, does this movie do Queen justice? Yes, I think it does it's job at celebrating Queen and their achievements. No, it was not made to sweep the awards season, it was made to celebrate Freddie Mercury's life, and I think it does just that.
Incredibles 2 (2018)
Definitely worth the 14 year wait
I'm surprised I saw Incredibles 2 in theaters, but I'm glad I did. Starting the movie out where the last ended was a good choice by the crew, it refreshed the audience with the rhythm of the plot, with lots of action, and lots of humor. I think the emphasis on the "women can do it too" was a good way to spread the message to kids. This also created an opportunity to add humor to the whole "dad taking the traditional mother's job" but. Humor was sprinkled within every scene, and the voice acting was superb. The only reason I gave this an 8/10 was for the 14 year wait and the villain.
The Dark Knight (2008)
The joker steals the show
When you watch a superhero movie, you expect an okay writing job with a few big name actors taking the lead roles to attract a bigger audience. This movie is a work of art, and the joker is the cherry on top. Ledger's acting is so convincing it really grabs the attention of the viewer to the point where they feel they're in the movie. With good effects, a good script, and an outstanding acting performance by Ledger (and the rest of the cast), this movie deserves a 10/10
The Disaster Artist (2017)
At first I thought it was Tommy Wiseau with prosthetics!
This movie exceeded all of my expectations. The writing was in-depth and well thought out. The photography was easy to wast he and the storyline, unique. I think the star of the show was James Franco, who did an outstanding job. His accent gets me every time, and if you weren't a tommy wiseau fan before, you would be after this performance. He gives us this gullible, silly, and lovable mam who's accent you will not forget. This movie deserved more awards than it got, and I appreciate how it captures this cult phenomenon that so many have been waiting to see come to life. If you haven't seen it, go watch it NOW.