mgeorgeson-35737 Reviews

Disturbing the Peace (2020)

Wasted talent decorating no talent

[3/10 · 17 April 2023]

Aside from a few good performances, Pearce's being one, this is the sum total of anything positive about this mess proposing to be a movie.

What Guy Pearce was doing bothering with this is a mystery. Maybe it was a favour, bet or boredom; who can tell. Regardless, this is a derivative waste of time populated with year 1 film school acting, sound, writing and directing.

The premise is unoriginal. The writing rubbish and some of the performances could have been upstaged in a primary school play. The plot seems to have had about 5 minutes thought put into it excluding the time spent watching the numerous other films it has drawn from. Overall, an unbelievable mess.

Just don't waste your time.

The Night Clerk (2020)

When A Performance Makes A Movie

[7/10 · 29 October 2021]

This movie has been on my watch list for ages and I wish I'd watched it sooner. Tye Sheridan turns in a superb performance bringing real belief to his character. He gives us a touching and powerful view of a world most would fail to understand. He is very well supported by the rest of the cast.

Whilst based in study of his character the story, nonetheless, is intriguing and engaging with a surprisin, tragic and simultaneously, happy ending.

Slender Man (I) (2018)

Derivative, Predictable & Unengaging

[4/10 · 28 October 2021]

Slender Man is only just watchable and then quite unengaging. It is so forgettable a film I am not even sure I hadn't already seen it. The plot and direction are so derivative and predictable, one could be mistaken for thinking it was computer generated.

The actors put in perfectly good performances but ultimately can't make this much more than a distraction from time better used.

The Wraith (1986)

Impressive car and that is about it.

[5/10 · 3 December 2020]

The Wraith (1986) is a derivative '80's revenge movie with some interesting elements but ultimately though the vehicle as it's focus is very cool (both in look and actuality apparently), anyone along for the ride is likely to be disappointed.

The story line here is very familiar with a largely unexplained SciFi twist added. Visually it is passable though much of the lighting and staging makes most of it look (if it wasn't actually) look like it's in a sound stage. There are scenes which a very over-lit and some of the framing is unnecessarily close.

The acting is boring from basically everyone involved. Clint Howard puts in regular oddball character which, if not too familiar lends something unique. Randy Quaid wanders in and out of scenes in a virtually pointless role which is delivered with a frustrating lack of commitment. Charlie Sheen turns what could have been a screaming passion driven cry for revenge into an old dry declaration of annoyance someone wrote on the back of a napkin and left in the bottom of a draw and later found when they were in their 50's.

Barely watchable to the end and not engaging.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)

Charming, barmy and an utter joy!

[9/10 · 3 December 2020]

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) is one of my all time favourite films. It is rich in a way many movies could not dream to be, it is populated with wonderfully created and performed characters and is visually magnificent. The story telling here is top notch and it is no wonder with Terry Gilliam and Charles McKeown behind it.

To point of any one aspect of this terrific piece of art would almost undermine the many aspects of it which are simply fabulous, particularly given the casting is so spot on and there is one fine performance after another. Having said that, the late, great John Neville absorbs himself in the role with such utter totality that you are left immersed with him in every scene. The same could be said for so many others in their roles but his is truly amazing. Other standout performances include a young Sarah Polly, Robin Williams and Uma Thurman but frankly the list goes on.

This is a watch and what again movie for anyone with a quirky sense of the absurd, a strong inner child and a love for all things Gilliam.

Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981 TV Movie)

A very solid stab at '80's Horror

[7/10 · 2 December 2020]

Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) is a very good entry into the horror genre from the 1980's particularly given it is made for television - so many entries that made it to screen were outperformed by this film. It is also an example of horror that is not reliant on overdoing violence and gore while still making it a good thrill.

The movie is greatly supported by uniformly strong performances with Charles Durning displaying his talent well (as usual) and Larry Drake (Benny Stulwicz from L.A. Law) providing a believable and sympathetic character in the same vein as the one that would made him famous 6 years later. Jocelyn Brando and young Tonya Crowe round out the main characters and both were well done.

This is a movie which is clearly a bit derivative and follows a slightly standard path, particularly for the era, but is done well enough that you really don't care. It is engaging, entertaining and thrilling if not al that horrifying. The short and sweet twist at the end is an added bonus which adds to the thrill as well.

Terror Train (1980)

If Terror is the destination, this one is a bit of a slow ride.

[6/10 · 1 December 2020]

Terror Train is is a fairly standard '80's horror flick with one of my personal favourites of the genre, Jamie Lee Curtis, and for me the notable inclusion or Hart Bochner. It's a watchable and mildly entertaining entry to '80's horror but is let down by the fact that some of the acting is more horrifying than the film itself.

The premise is familiar with a young student wronged during a hazing prank who returns to seek revenge. The story unfolds in an unoriginal series of events which are, overall, very predictable. Some of the characters are mind-numbingly unbelievable as well as being poorly performed. Hart Bochner is better than this but to be fair it was his 4th credited role. Magician, David Copperfield leaves us with no illusion as to his acting skills which vanished before the script was started. Jamie Lee Curtis gives her standard scream queen performance of the day and lives up to the roots her reputation. Her penultimate scene with the killer is actually quite good and throws some confusion into who the killer actually is and the final scene is a bit of a thank god moment as it delivers the film.

The redeeming twist to the tale saves the film but may come too late for some. In my view it makes this worthwhile in the end, is well done and tightens an otherwise lose storyline.

Overall the film is watchable to the end particularly if the period and genre are of interest but, of Curtis's catalogue from the period, there are far better entries.

The Dead Don't Die (2019)

Ponderous

[5/10 · 17 November 2020]

With the name and profile Jarmush has, perhaps expectations are high. The Dead Don't Die (2019) is slow of pace and barely interesting enough to finish. It is held together with some good and interesting performances and oddities but in the end ponderous was the word that kept coming to mind.

Warlock: The Armageddon (1993)

No Magic Here.

[6/10 · 17 November 2020]

This is a disappointing follow-up to the far superior original. Julian Sands continues his strong presence as the Warlock but is nonetheless somewhat monotone in this entry. There are some good performances holding it together and a so-so storyline making it watchable.

Negatives - Special effects; even for the day these are in the "are you kidding me?" area. More gore and blood than necessary putting it too far in the horror side of the scale.

Positive - not a lot but Julian Sands is quite good here though not well used.

Blink and you'll miss Zach Galligan!

NOS4A2 (2019–2020)

Lacking in bite.

[7/10 · 10 November 2020]

An enjoyable entry to vampire lore with some real potential which, disappointingly, is not fully realised.

The interwoven aspects of vampire lore, despite some discrepancies, with other supernatural themes was clever regardless of not being fully fleshed out. One of the most interesting aspects though is the fact that two of the most heinous characters are entirely human. It is perhaps that fact, as alluded by Manx (Zachary Quinto), that makes those characters more horrifying than Manx himself.

The series is worth a look and had another season in it easily. The lack of a season 3 only adds to the disappointment.

Fantasy Island (2020)

Wasted Fantasy

[5/10 · 2 November 2020]

There was a real opportunity here to revisit the iconic TV show and the recreation of the format in the horror genre could well have led to a strong result: what we have a simply a watchable, passing effort.

This was an unengaging, meandering and weak effort soft on fright, limited on surprise and overall, frustrating. The performances were average in most cases and where solid were monotonous. This is a pity particularly in the case of Pena and Rooker (MVP here) who are wasted. Whilst an original take on the classic, it leaves on a bit bored and disappointed.

On the upside, the "who done it" aspect was a surprise.

The final scene is optimistic. Obviously looking to a sequel, one would have to ask, "why"?