Bydmoc Reviews

Eighth Grade (2018)

Gucci

[8/10 · 27 August 2023]

There is so much truth in this movie that at times it feels as if you are watching personal moments of this girls life that you really have no right to see. It is uncomfortable, embarrassing, and at times incredibly unsettling yet none of it feels as if it was exaggerated for the sake of the movie. Somehow Bo Burnham has managed to take one of the greatest lie-based mediums and used it to create an incredible and honest experience. For some viewers this story will fail to connect, but for those who have grown up feeling alone there is opportunity to see their own experience on screen.

The realness of the movie at times can be it's biggest turn off. During Kayla's (played by the phenomenal Elsie Fisher) video segments there are plenty of "um" and "like" that can be distracting, and the character dialogue sometimes feels unfocused and occasionally fails to land that truly powerful punch that you typically find in movies. While this can be unsatisfying it creates a situation where these characters feel like real people, and more often than not in real life we are met with unsatisfying moments where we look back and wish we could have said something more profound. Life is not scripted, and the fact that this scripted movie somehow manages to imitate that is strangely beautiful.

Not all of it is good. The score is distracting and overbearing at times, and the honesty in the narrative occasionally makes some scenes feel as if they serve no greater purpose. Despite this at the heart of this movie is an emotional reflection of a real middle school experience that will resonate with many people who were lonely and simply longed to find a connection.

Moon (2009)

I'm Here To Help You, Sam

[7/10 · 16 August 2023]

An exploration of humanity is what we have here. Sam Rockwell delivers two fantastic performances here as a set of clones, one nearing the end of his life and the other just entering the world. Being able to see the subtle differences between both of these versions of what was intended to be the same person is a fascinating way to show not only a character arc within the framework of the narrative but also the potential for every person to grow and change.

Rockwell's stunning display of acting is accompanied by a haunting and beautiful score from Clint Mansell as well as some phenomenal establishing shots that I would be more than happy to frame for display on my wall. Unfortunately there are some noticeable shortcomings in the strange transitions and inconsistent cutting around dialogue which both affect the passage of time within the movie. At moments it is difficult to understand where we are in the countdown provided by the story.

Overall a slow burning suspense story with great atmosphere and a knock out performance from the lead.

Becky (II) (2020)

There Once Was A Little Girl

[6/10 · 11 August 2023]

As a general concept there is a lot of promise here. Turn Home Alone into a gore filled revenge movie with a sort of Die Hard setup while also allowing a traditionally comedic actor give a darker serious villain performance. So much here works.

Kevin James is a surprise as he manages to come across as an intimidating antagonist despite battling against years of Paul Blart typecasting. Lulu Wilson also does well as the titular character with the dramatic moments. Unfortunately it does seem like the script had a younger actor in mind when presenting the character of Becky which makes some of the characterization feel off. At times she seems like a 9 year old, but because of Wilson's actual age they had to change her to 13.

As far as the editing and actual filmmaking on display, while the slower moments are shot particularly well with interesting angles and some really solid shot transitions in the opening scene the action sequences are choppy with some shaky camera work that can be nauseating at times.

This is a fun and gory mixture of Home Alone and Die Hard. Nothing truly incredible, but not at all a disappointing watch.

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Muh-muh-makes Me Happy

[8/10 · 4 August 2023]

Stellar comedic performances all around (mostly). Each character is a solid criticism of a specific style of actor, and each of the performances really hits the mark with one notable exception. Ben Stiller has his typical "trying too hard" comedic styling, and unfortunately he just doesn't fit the role of the action star trying to stay relevant by switching to drama. We also see what could have been a fantastic turn from Tom Cruise, but unfortunately the joke wears thin with the more screen time he has. Robert Downey Jr is the real standout here, and he absolutely kills it with a masterful comedic performance that in a year with less competition may have actually gotten him the win for Best Supporting Actor.

While the movie is offensive, it never goes for the simple shock value joke which allows it to age surprisingly well. There are many taboo joke subjects in here, but the movie never punches down and smartly focuses on and makes the jokes at the expense of the actors/industry as opposed to the real world aspects that the characters within the movie are attempting to portray.

A very fun watch with a funny and interesting exploration of what it means to be an actor in Hollywood.

Buried (2010)

I Have Anxiety

[6/10 · 23 July 2023]

It is quite a challenge to make a feature length film set in one single location, and featuring only one character on screen. Ryan Reynolds is very capable of carrying the movie through to the end of its run time and manages to give his character enough to keep the audience interested in his well being. Unfortunately most of the other characters heard through phone calls made by the lead end up feeling far too one note for there to be any interesting character dynamics at play.

Had this been half as long I feel that we could have had an incredibly effective thriller, but much of the movie ends up feeling spread thin in an attempt to reach the 90 minute mark. While some of the camera work is engaging, there are many sharp zooms and slow motion shots that feel jarring while you watch. The main themes and concept are solid, but the pacing ruins much of the impact. What we have is a script that offers twists and reveals that have had little to no setup resulting In lackluster payoffs.

Overall it's a decent claustrophobic thriller with some major issues holding it back from being truly great. Still a fine watch but nothing to rave about.

A Taste of Whale (2022)

Good And Bad Guys Are Only In Movies

[7/10 · 14 July 2023]

First off, if you are someone who is sensitive to animal cruelty then this movie is not for you. No punches are pulled in regards to showing the actual events of the Grind which makes some scenes very uncomfortable and difficult to sit through. While the documentary shows us these events in full it is always very careful to not choose a side or show any bias towards either argument. Both sides are shown (flaws and all) which allows the viewer to take in the opinions and arguments from everyone involved and then come to their own opinion which is refreshing in todays world in which even the news stations have a spin on every story.

There are truly stunning shots in this film showing off the natural beauty of the land. Unfortunately the movie falls short with pacing issues and redundant interviews. Instead of expanding on one of the few new points introduced within the final 30 minutes of the documentary we continue to get variations of the same three statements we have already heard. Overall this documentary is well made and gives the viewer some tough philosophical questions to ponder, but it is tough to recommend because of the pacing and graphic scenes involving the killing of pilot whales.

Blackfish (2013)

Tragic

[7/10 · 13 July 2023]

Emotionally manipulative? Yes, but that is the entire point of a well edited movie. Through the use of dramatic music this documentary manages to take you on a journey to prove that animals are living creatures that deserve respect and freedom. It is tragic and truly despicable what these orcas go through all for the amusement of us humans. While the movie does a great job proving its thesis (that Seaworld is bad and captivity is bad for the health of the animals) it unfortunately fails to really think about how to solve the problem and instead provides under a minute at the end of the movie in which we hear a few lines of dialogue with buzz words about the topic.

Some of the archival footage used is not clean in terms of the audio, and even the video itself is glitchy and pixelated which makes it almost not worth having the footage to begin with. Narratively the focus jumps back and forth throughout and the transitions do not always provide a natural flow which makes it feel more like a school report hitting bullet points instead of a linear narrative. With that being said, this documentary is incredibly effective at what it sets out to do. By the end you feel anger towards Seaworld, you feel sadness for the orcas, and you feel guilty for getting amusement out of going to see captive animals.

Spotlight (I) (2015)

Who Am I Going To Tell, A Priest?

[7/10 · 8 July 2023]

This best picture Oscar winner is an interesting look at the Boston Globe investigation that revealed the corruption in the Boston Archdiocese. While the score is fantastic the editing feels inconsistent. There are some abrupt cuts and lack of transitions which make the movie feel too quick, giving some of the more dramatic scenes not enough time to breathe. Most of the performances from the cast are incredibly restrained and the characters never truly go through any substantial change because the focus is more on the story events. This is great if you are interested in the real events that inspired the story, but it unfortunately makes the characters feel flat. Luckily the cast has enough natural charisma to make it at least a little engaging. All of this is capped off with an abrupt and lackluster ending. While technically well made, I feel the entertainment factor is lacking unless you have an interest in the real events that inspired the movie.

Doubt (I) (2008)

Doubt Can Be A Bond As Powerful And Sustaining As Certainty

[8/10 · 7 July 2023]

Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis are all phenomenal in this movie. The scenes in which Streep and Hoffman share the screen are masterpieces in their own right, and the fact that Davis can steal the scene while acting alongside Streep is mind blowing! Great use of Dutch angles in specific shots adds to the feeling of unease and doubt the viewer has while watching the movie without being too overused.

It is truly incredible how relevant this movie is in todays world. "You don't like him... and you are letting that convince you of something that's terrible!" The world today sees so many of us ready to believe the worst of someone without actually looking for any proof of any kind. So many people make up their minds just based on whether or not they share an opinion with someone rather than actually looking for any type of evidence, but is that truly right? To jump to conclusions and demonize someone simply based on your own gut feelings and certainty can surely only lead to more doubts further down the line.

Royal Wedding (1951)

What A Feelin, To Be Dancing On The Ceilin

[6/10 · 25 June 2023]

Fred Astaire is a tremendous talent, and most of the enjoyment of this movie really comes down to the dance numbers in which he gets to really show off. Dancing in a rotating room set to appear as if he is defying gravity, and using a coat rack as a dance partner are two of the more impressive moments that stand out in the film. Unfortunately it is everything else surrounding the movie that feels bland. None of the songs are particularly memorable, most of the comedy falls flat, and the love interests are incredibly bland.

There is nothing necessarily wrong with the movie. It is perfectly enjoyable with some terrific dancing on display, but otherwise it is simply unremarkable and easily forgotten.

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

The Sun's In My Heart, And I'm Ready For Love

[9/10 · 25 June 2023]

This movie puts a smile on my face from the first second, and that smile does not leave until the credits roll. Watching this movie is an injection of pure joy directly into the veins. Fantastic and memorable music/dance numbers such as "Good Mornin", "Make 'Em Laugh", and of course the titular "Singin In The Rain" add to the long lifespan this movie is enjoying, but I feel like that is only a small piece of what makes it special. The script manages to satirize the Hollywood landscape of the golden age while also playing into every romantic concept present in the industry. In a post #MeToo era the character of Don Lockwood becomes a bit uncomfortable in some scenes, but Gene Kelly has enough charm to successfully beat the allegations.

This is just one of those feel good movies that you cannot help but have fun with.

Pacific Heights (1990)

You Wanna Get Nuts?! Let's Get Nuts!

[6/10 · 23 June 2023]

A mostly serviceable thriller with a terrific performance by Michael Keaton who gets to go all out as the antagonist. While there are some well shot moments, a majority of the movie feels very by the books with much of the line delivery feeling flat. Narratively this is a mix of multiple cautionary tales: if it seems too good to be true it probably is; don't judge a book by its cover; don't treat a house as an investment when it's meant to be a home. It could have been a stronger if the script really focused on one of these ideas and did more to support the theme. At the end of the day, it's a very simple movie that wants the audience to connect with and feel bad for these young landlords which is a pretty big ask in this day and age (especially when one of them has obvious racist biases).

Overall it's good enough background noise, but other than Michael Keaton there's not much of note here.

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

A Sweet & Simple Stroll

[7/10 · 18 June 2023]

This movie surprisingly ages fairly well for a 00's comedy. There are a few uncomfortable moments (one use of the R word, and a few moments with Uncle Rico that don't age well in a post Me Too era), but overall this is a simple and sweet casual stroll through the life of an awkward teenager. The music works well with the tone of the movie, and much of the absurd humor actually fits in with the meme culture and tik tok humor of today.

Most importantly this movie has a strong emotional core as it reminds us of what it's like to search for a connection with someone who will accept you for who you are and play tether ball with you.