Change Your Image
minxxy-36849
Reviews
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2020)
It's time for Borat to grow up
Like many of the people who have commented on here, I have enjoyed Cohen's previous work... but this is frankly appalling and I am not sure what film the people who have this anything over a 5 have been watching as it certainly wasn't the same one that I watched.
Ok, the film is trying to expose the ridiculous politics and clash of cultures, but what really stuck out to me was a complete lack of respect for those who have lost people to COVID, or have suffered sexual abuse from Hollywood stars. These are all fairly raw subjects and I see no reason why this film needed to be released now. Why would amazon put money into this disgusting display is beyond me.
Aside from the topical faux pas, this is the same old jokes and the same old gig of getting abhorrent people to get in to situations which make them look ridiculous, which, ok, can be amusing at times, but just watching this just left me feeling annoyed rather than the piece of escapism I was hoping for.
Cohen has lost his way and probably should settle back for a life off camera now as the 90s is over and the world is moving in from childish satire.
Silhouette (2019)
Waste of time
I'm not sure who wrote the good reviews for this movie... but there are no subtle undertones, the performances are not good. The cinematography is not magical.
This is nearly 2 hours of nothing happening except for a women suffering from grief and depression go through some stuff and her husband trying it on with the neighbour.
The horror element is not "horrory" enough, the mental health part was not well done and the "religious vibes" needed some form of context.
All in all, this is simply just a terrible movie which if I had paid to watch it, I would have been demanding my money back.
The Lodge (2019)
Solid thriller... but a bit long
This started with the well known plot traits of step mother and biological father wanting to spend time with kids to warm them up to living together, after biological mother's suicide. From here it takes an unexpected twist and turns what you think is going to be a paranormal event film on its head.
Despite other reviews on here which say this film has style over substance, there is a heap of symbolism and things happening in the background which will push you towards a more in-depth viewing of this film.
The pace is slow at times, but this is compensated by good acting and a logical story line.
Worth a watch.
Vivarium (2019)
The epitome of bizarre in the best possible way
I have seen that the reviews on this film are a complete mixed bag. Let's start by saying, if you like sci-fi and love a metaphor with a load of symbolism thrown in, and you have some understanding of the way birds learn... then this is the film for you.
There is a reliance on understanding that cuckoos are parasitic, from the first scene, and you do need to understand the premise that things in nature are preprogrammed to know what they need to do.
You also need some appreciation of the artwork of Rene Magritte.
There are many other themes in this, around the cycle of life, the misunderstanding of material possession by another species and the premise that a parasite will only keep the host alive as long as it is needed.
I personally loved this film, but it is far more complex that you first may think.
The Room (2019)
Room for improvement
Over all this film was far better than I expected, but the pace lets it down.
The storyline is actually well thought out and fairly well executed, with a twist that you can only see coming around the corner, rather than miles away.
The acting is solid although did start a little shaky.
More psychological thriller than anything else and keeps a nicely structured approach, which plays on greedy over humanity.
Underwater (2020)
Underwater is where the script should have stayed.
This film has no logical throughput. It starts with an explosion and then catapults the audience from one disaster to the next.
There is not one likeable character as you never get to know anything about them, apart from a guy carrying a stuffed bunny... which I couldn't help thinking he could have been doing something a lot more useful... rather than worrying about the bunny.
The action the characters go through is flimsy at best, with no real explanation for the viewers other than they are trying to get to an unused section of the drilling platform they are in.
Perhaps I just prefer films with a more in-depth storyline and thought through characterisations.
Would have preferred to know more about the creature... but there is never enough of the creature in these sort of films.
Kristen Stewart is parades around in her underwear A LOT, where as the other women seem to be under contract to at least keep their T-shirt's on.
Frankly think film belongs with the fishes.
The Boat (2018)
No good comes to one man in a boat
I guess you could surmise that this boat is possessed... or you could see it as a boat with some sticky doors and a great self driving sat nav.
If you like dialogue in a film, this definitely isn't for you.
Guy spends an extraordinary amount of time locked in a toilet that magically has a window that is close to everything he needs to get hold of.
Despite his night locked in the toilet... he doesn't learn and decides to close more doors which just get him stuck in other places.
Circular story line with no real meaning, except don't take boats that aren't yours (at least there is a moral high ground).
Probably would have worked wonderfully as an episode of a series rather than the elongated bilge I sat through.
Not sure if the other reviewers actually watched the same film I did...
The Vast of Night (2019)
The Vast Disappointment
Let's start with the positives. The filming of this was awesome. Long rolling shots and Twilight Zone vibes adding to the era it is set in... the sets are lush and filed with the American memorabilia which is attributed to the time... but this is where my enjoyment of this film ended.
The speech patterns within this, making it very difficult to follow what is going on to begin with, especially as the characters talk over each other a lot.
I think that what the director felt was building intensity, just worked out as lulls in the film and made me lose interest very quickly.
Part of the action really didn't make sense and felt that they were only done to cause an issue for the characters.
Also why get in a car when you can run down the street while someone else starts the car, just forcing them to pick you up once they have the car started... this was a ridiculous element, which drew way too much of my attention to what the action was actually going on.
All in all, pretty to look at, but was happy when the main characters reached their untimely demise.
The Wind (2018)
Storyline was blowing in the breeze
This film has opted to spend the majority of its time in flash back form. Unfortunately there is no context to when the flash backs happened, or really what is the big problem now.
The story ambles through an awkward set of events, which you won't really care about, as you won't know why they are happening, nor will you feel any form of connection or empathy to the characters involved.
I got excited at one stage, as a character uncovers a pamphlet about demons... but this seemed just a ploy to hang you out to the end on the premise you might get some demonic entity cause uproar. Sadly you'll find it is more like a rainy day in Clacton than terror on a ranch.
You will come away from this film feeling confused and underwhelmed.
The Dinner Party (2020)
The actors parents must have written the other reviews
I am usually one to enjoy a bad horror movie, but this film has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Doleac strolls around with an East London/South African accent that waivers in and out, making him one of the most annoying characters within the piece.
The rest are insipid and tiresome, and frankly it's more of a sweet relief when they start getting picked off.
It was nice to see that they didn't waste budget on high tech filming, or high end music, favouring perhaps one of the actor's children who is currently studying film and learning how to play a synthesiser.
This "borrows" plot lines at will, and clumsily clumps them together, in a fairly poor and semi cohesive manner.
At some points, the film tries to be edgy, but again, fails miserably, leaving the audience wishing that they had never started watching.
So... all in all, even if you like bad horror movies this is one to avoid.