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Sparky-Jay
Reviews
Problemista (2023)
Really fantastic storytelling, acting, editing!
I was lucky enough to screen Problemista last night in Miami Beach with Julio Torres present at the end for a Q&A. I was pleasantly surprised-the story "made sense", flowed and was well told through the characters in a way that was fresh and surprising to most audience members (people were gasping and laughing out loud together).
I have a habit of making mental tick-marks when there's something seen or said that doesn't make sense when watching movies. The more I notice, the less I walk away feeling satisfied by the work. I really only had one: the scene where we see a red purse stuck in a NYC subway door-it's owner apparently walked out and their purse got stuck in the door- and 3 prescription bottles drop out onto the subway car floor. But nothing happens with the purse or the pill bottles (?) What was that about?
If I'm still thinking and talking about a film the day after is, for me, the true test if it was a great film. I can't seem to shut up about Problemista to co-workers, friends and family.
Both my husband and I keep texting and talking about the film today. It was nice to have Julio there in person afterwards for the Q&A. He was relaxed, focused and engaging. Great film, lots of fun.
Hypnotic (2023)
Recycled Hollywood Money Grab
So many of the tropes from money-making films of the past 15 years combined into one pretty painful time suck of a movie. Pretty predictable to the point that, 1/2 way thru, the viewer has no curiosity as to what happens next. If you leave the theater for 10 minutes like I did, you can catch up with little effort.
I know there's a lot of movie goers who pay just to see the pretty explosions, green screen scenes, big guns a blazing, but I don't. I really couldn't get interested in what little story there was, and the ending "twists and turns" that were designed to make the audience go "woah! I didn't see that coming!" were uninspired and boring, and really didn't make sense.