This show is weird and cool and different. Is it sometimes non-sensical and does the agent played by Sandra Oh sometimes seem like the worst agent ever? Yes, she does... BUT that's not really the point. The point is the obsession that develops and the fun of all the psychological weirdness. The comedy of this show also saves it, because just when you're starting to roll your eyes at how dumb these people seem, they say something LOL funny, and all is forgiven. Jodie Comer as the "villain" is so interesting to watch. I'm not sure that I'll continue with s2 because I don't know that I feel a sense that I need to see this storyline stretched out any further, but s1 was good fun.
Reviews
29 Reviews
Daddy's Home
(2015)
Good Silly Fun
19 October 2020
This is good, classic comedy at its best. Will Ferrell vs. Mark Wahlberg for the attention of Will's wife (Mark is the baby daddy). It's absurd at times, but absurdly well done. I laughed out loud A LOT, and that's the point of comedy.
Knives Out
(2019)
Overrated
19 October 2020
I love the atmosphere and style of this movie... but that's where the accolades stop. Okay, shots are nice and acting is good too. The main problem is the storytelling. You find out so much about the "mystery" so early that it completely deflates the tension. Rather than the story building toward an exciting conclusion, it plods along to the inevitable. To call this is a mystery is not accurate. It's a character story where characters lie and try to outmaneuver each other. But it wears thin, because it mostly feels like an acting showcase.
Cheer
(2020–2022)
Crazy Coaches Drive Hard-working Kids to Do Crazy Things
17 October 2020
This docu-mini-series is interesting and well-done by the filmmakers! The series is 6 episodes, which feels like just the right length. It's a little bit slow to get going, but once it does, it is well worth it. It's TV drama gold because of how crazy it is, yet clearly none of it is manufactured by the filmmakers. This cheerleading program is just off-the-rails nuts.
The cheerleaders compete with broken ribs and coaches refer to it as some made-up word called "rib-e-osis." They get irritated when the cheerleaders go to the ER with injuries. It is some of the worst coaching I've ever seen in any sport, yet the head coach is put on a pedestal almost like a cult leader.
These kids are sweet, they work really hard, and unlike most reality shows where the drama lies in the interpersonal conflict, there is little of that type of conflict here. Instead, the conflict is just in how demanding and unsafe this sport is. Eye-opening and worth a watch! You'll root for the kids but you'll drop your head in your hands as you watch the coaching.
The cheerleaders compete with broken ribs and coaches refer to it as some made-up word called "rib-e-osis." They get irritated when the cheerleaders go to the ER with injuries. It is some of the worst coaching I've ever seen in any sport, yet the head coach is put on a pedestal almost like a cult leader.
These kids are sweet, they work really hard, and unlike most reality shows where the drama lies in the interpersonal conflict, there is little of that type of conflict here. Instead, the conflict is just in how demanding and unsafe this sport is. Eye-opening and worth a watch! You'll root for the kids but you'll drop your head in your hands as you watch the coaching.
Wish Man
(2019)
Inspiring indie film
4 January 2020
I stumbled across this gem on Netflix, and it's a good movie if you're in the mood for an uplifting story. It's based on a true story, and it was interesting to see who the boy in the story grew up to be as a man (no spoilers...!)
Whitney
(2018)
Very, very good
5 November 2019
This was a very well-made documentary. It had a lot of present day interviews with Whitney's family and closest friends interspersed with tons of footage - behind the scenes, intimate family videos, concert footage, her talk show interviews, and quick news clips from the 80s to give you a real feel of time and place. Whitney Houston was an incredible talent. But drugs were eventually her downfall.
This documentary paints a well-balanced picture, not making her troubles seem attributable to any one thing but a result of her lifestyle, fame, her family relationships, her background, childhood trauma (abuse), and just plain poor choices that spiraled out of control. It's a shame because she not only had one of the best musical voices of her generation, she also seemed like a genuinely sweet person. This documentary will make you wish that things had turned out differently for Whitney.
This documentary paints a well-balanced picture, not making her troubles seem attributable to any one thing but a result of her lifestyle, fame, her family relationships, her background, childhood trauma (abuse), and just plain poor choices that spiraled out of control. It's a shame because she not only had one of the best musical voices of her generation, she also seemed like a genuinely sweet person. This documentary will make you wish that things had turned out differently for Whitney.
Halloween
(I) (2018)
Honors the old; brings in the new
1 November 2019
This will not disappoint fans of the original, but you can appreciate this movie with only a basic understanding of the back story. Jamie Lee Curtis's character has plenty of depth in this story (unlike the original, where she's just a scream queen). Her conflicted relationship with her daughter and granddaughter give this story both heart and dark humor. Plenty of scares, creepiness, and gores, but it's also smart.
The Limehouse Golem
(2016)
Amazing sets, good performances... should have been better
1 November 2019
I wanted to love this. And I feel like I should have. But I didn't. I was interested in it enough to see it all the way through the end to find out the conclusion of the central mystery. Why was it just okay? I'm not sure. The performances were strong, and the period sets and costumes were amazing, but I would find my mind drifting throughout it, a lot. Too much. So I can only chalk it up to the script and the directing. The shots themselves in the movie were good. It looked beautiful.
But for whatever reason, I was never fully pulled in. And I think this was in large part because the crimes of the Limehouse Golem were all told as flashbacks essentially, there was no real suspense, except for one scene near the very end that I won't spoil. So yeah, ultimately I think the storytelling structure diminished the sense of suspense that should have been present in the story. The movie is also pretty violent/gory in those flashbacks, btw. That neither raised nor lowered my overall score of it, but it was violent enough that it's worth noting.
But for whatever reason, I was never fully pulled in. And I think this was in large part because the crimes of the Limehouse Golem were all told as flashbacks essentially, there was no real suspense, except for one scene near the very end that I won't spoil. So yeah, ultimately I think the storytelling structure diminished the sense of suspense that should have been present in the story. The movie is also pretty violent/gory in those flashbacks, btw. That neither raised nor lowered my overall score of it, but it was violent enough that it's worth noting.
The Wife
(I) (2017)
Thought-provoking
29 October 2019
This is a movie for people that like smart, thought-provoking stories with plenty of gray area; movies that make you question what you would do under the same circumstances. It's a drama with doses of real world humor and also its share of heartbreak. Glenn Close deserved all the recognition she got for those. I don't want to spoil anything. Just go watch it.
Under the Silver Lake
(2018)
Strange
23 October 2019
I started out very intrigued. I remained intrigued throughout (for the most part). But the end felt unsatisfying. At least if you watch this movie literally. Now if you watch it more as a metaphor, or you prescribe to an alternate interpretation of the events, it works better. But for me personally, I prefer movies that work on literal AND metaphorical levels.
Fyre
(2019)
WTF. But it makes for a great documentary!
14 February 2019
WTF is wrong with people? This documentary is very interesting but even shockingly hilarious as you watch the conman put together (ahem, TRY to put together) the greatest festival that never was. This documentary shows how people will fall for a shiny package and a smooth talker, though I'm not sure how so many seemingly intelligent business people were duped by this guy who would pass out on the beach in the middle of the day from drinking. I did feel sorry for the local laborers who were never paid for their back-breaking work and some of the vendors who got screwed out of a lot of money. As for the investors that trusted this guy, how about a little due diligence? This wasn't his first con rodeo. Just bizarre but definitely an entertaining documentary.
You Get Me
(2017)
Teenage Fatal Attraction
14 February 2019
Decent for what it's supposed to be: a teenage fatal attraction. The "hero" of the story played by Taylor John Smith makes some infuriating choices at time, but given that he's a 17-year-old operating with a 17-year-old's brain, you just have to go with his occasional stupidity. Overall, he's a likable character though, and villain Bella Thorne is highly entertaining to watch in all her craziness. Not really a true scary movie, but a fun, freaky one, especially for teenagers.
Florence Foster Jenkins
(2016)
Full of charm, humor, and heart
7 February 2019
This movie will win you over much the way that Meryl Streep's Florence Foster Jenkins' character wins you over. You will laugh, but never quite AT Florence Foster Jenkins because she has such a good heart that her obliviousness is ultimately a large part of her charm. Truly a delight from start to finish.
Mudbound
(2017)
Well done
6 February 2019
This movie does a great job of capturing the difficulties of the post World War II world in America - the struggle to make a living as a farmer and the problems that the deeply embedded racism brought to families, black and white. Set in rural Mississippi, the story follows two families (one white and in ownership of the land) and the other black (and working the land). It shows the intersection and power balance between the families, all leading to tragic circumstances. I thought it was well done and its one of the better "Netflix Originals" that I've seen. Not sure it's worthy of an Oscar nom, but I don't like many Oscar noms anyway, and I liked this one much better than most of the other 2018 nominated films.
Trafficked
(2017)
Felt Contrived
22 January 2019
The topic of human trafficking is a horribly disturbing one. So why did this movie feel almost silly instead of serious? In the first parts of the movie, a woman has acid dumped on her face, another has her virginity sold, and a group of young woman are sold by someone they trusted to traffickers. It's awful stuff, but it always felt very cliché and more like a TV movie than a theatrical one... As in, this is what bad guys do and say, and this is how vulnerable yet tough women find their resilience by carrying around stuffed animals and bonding with each other in between rapes....
For a movie in a similar vein, I recommend the mini-series Human Trafficking with Mira Sorvino. That actually WAS made for TV, but it's superior to this movie.
For a movie in a similar vein, I recommend the mini-series Human Trafficking with Mira Sorvino. That actually WAS made for TV, but it's superior to this movie.
Hostiles
(2017)
Incredible Gray Area Account
2 January 2019
There is no black and white in this movie. It is ALL gray area and that is what makes it so powerful. The story is that in the late 1800's an Army soldier (Christian Bale) has to bring a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous territory. Early on, they encounter a woman (Rosamund Pike) who's entire family has been slaughtered by Natives. There are no "cowboys and bloodthirsty Indians" here. And there is no statement about the evil white man taking over the innocent Natives. It shows how BOTH sides - all sides - have the capability for hostility and compassion. The late 1800's was a dangerous, heartbreaking time to be alive and this movie shows that. It's the kind of film that can open up deep conversations about the past, and despite its violence, I feel like it should be required viewing in high schools. Rosamund Pike's performance was brilliant.
The only reason I give it an 8 and not a 9 or 10 is because it's so sad and heavy that I won't ever rewatch it. So while it does its job of teaching amazingly well, it doesn't do as good of a job as a piece of entertainment. But perhaps all movies don't need to do that.
The only reason I give it an 8 and not a 9 or 10 is because it's so sad and heavy that I won't ever rewatch it. So while it does its job of teaching amazingly well, it doesn't do as good of a job as a piece of entertainment. But perhaps all movies don't need to do that.
The second half is better than the first
1 January 2019
I wanted to love this. I love WWII stories and I love true stories and I love movies about literature. While this ticked all those boxes, it didn't come together as an entire film. The biggest issue is that all of the elements of the story in the first half of the story that are ripe with the MOST conflict (the Nazis taking over Guernsey Island, a group almost being arrested for it, the formation of a pretend book club that in turn becomes a real book club) are told in flashback, which robs the story of immediacy and tension. Later, there is some conflict and drama that arises in real time, and it has a touching ending which save it from being a lower score. Great setting on the English channel, great actors, great concept - just not delivered in the most satisfying way.
The Final Girls
(2015)
Fun homage to old slasher films
25 April 2018
This retro throwback horror film is a nod to horror films past, much in the way Scream was in the 90s. This one takes it even farther in that the characters are transported to the set of a 1980s horror movie and they are stuck there.... This of course relates to a dramatic character arc for the main character who's movie played a part in this very film. So there's a pretty well-done mother/daughter element to the story. This movie has humor, including parody-type humor, and it has scares but not excessive gore. It really is an homage to the slasher genre. It feels like Friday the 13th meets Ernest Goes to Camp. Original and fresh and fun.
Last Seen in Idaho
(2018)
Twists and Turns - Fun Thriller
24 April 2018
Last Seen in Idaho is a fun thriller chock full of twists and turns. Just when you think you have it all figured out, another surprise is thrown into the mix. The premise of the story is that a woman named Summer witnesses a murder and while she's trying to escape the scene, she's pursued by the killers and wrecks her car. Later at the hospital, she can't recall the murder she saw, but now she's having premonitions about her own future murder. So there's a bit of fantastical element to it. Meanwhile, the killers decide that if Summer's memory shows any signs of returning, they will eliminate her.
An indie production, this film seems to have the ambition of larger films. There are some action and suspense scenes throughout the first two acts of the film, but mostly, it relies on tension and mystery that builds through those acts, leading to a massive final act with bigger action and spectacle.
Hallie Shepherd is a believable and relatable as Summer, a heroine who is continually facing down the worst possible news - You're going to be kidnapped... wait no, you're going to die.... Wait no.... She's brave and tough and resourceful. Casper Van Dien is creepy as all get out, as a killer who has no emotions about his murders, just bland curiosity. Wes Ramsey is complex character who uses his charm and good looks to get close to Summer. He shows range in this film, needing to have both likeability and a rough and dark criminal side. Shawn Christian is colorful and eccentric as a cocky bad guy. Alexis Monnie plays Summer's younger sister, a naïve young woman who doesn't seem to have the same street smarts her older sister does. This solid cast also has a variety of supporting characters that add to the overall mystery of "Who is the Big Bad Crime Lord?"
All in all, a really fun thriller! It kept me engaged the entire time, and I didn't see the end coming.
An indie production, this film seems to have the ambition of larger films. There are some action and suspense scenes throughout the first two acts of the film, but mostly, it relies on tension and mystery that builds through those acts, leading to a massive final act with bigger action and spectacle.
Hallie Shepherd is a believable and relatable as Summer, a heroine who is continually facing down the worst possible news - You're going to be kidnapped... wait no, you're going to die.... Wait no.... She's brave and tough and resourceful. Casper Van Dien is creepy as all get out, as a killer who has no emotions about his murders, just bland curiosity. Wes Ramsey is complex character who uses his charm and good looks to get close to Summer. He shows range in this film, needing to have both likeability and a rough and dark criminal side. Shawn Christian is colorful and eccentric as a cocky bad guy. Alexis Monnie plays Summer's younger sister, a naïve young woman who doesn't seem to have the same street smarts her older sister does. This solid cast also has a variety of supporting characters that add to the overall mystery of "Who is the Big Bad Crime Lord?"
All in all, a really fun thriller! It kept me engaged the entire time, and I didn't see the end coming.
Eerie and Creepy.... but...
2 February 2018
The atmosphere of this film is stellar. The setup of the family being ousted from their village and heading into the woods to live alone really drives home how incredibly lonely it must have been for many people back then. Without regular contact with others, some families only interacted with each other. This film sets up the extreme version of that, with the family deep in the woods. It is bleak and disturbing, even before anything supernatural happens. The acting is good, but it lacked the depth of character development that I needed to really care about the characters. Rather than feeling emotionally invested, I just felt like, "Hmm, that's interesting." And it often was. Though at times it was also quite slow. For such a hyped film, I though much of the critical lavish praise was overdone, but it's always nice to see a low-budget indie film breakout.
Lost in the Sun
(2015)
Gray area in life
28 May 2016
This is a well-acted film for sure. It's nice to see Josh Duhamel in a gritty, dramatic role (brown teeth for the part even). The actor who portrays the kid was excellent as well.
This is a road movie drama with suspense and intrigue. Slow-moving at at times, it's got a moody, eerie feel that just pulls you right in. Should you like Josh's character, should you not? Those answers are not all forthcoming immediately. It's interesting to watch the bond develop between his character and the boy, and at times, your perspective on that may change (true bond? Stockholm Syndrome?). In the extra features, Josh says this was a movie he was trying to make for a long time. It's a independent film definitely worth watching.
This is a road movie drama with suspense and intrigue. Slow-moving at at times, it's got a moody, eerie feel that just pulls you right in. Should you like Josh's character, should you not? Those answers are not all forthcoming immediately. It's interesting to watch the bond develop between his character and the boy, and at times, your perspective on that may change (true bond? Stockholm Syndrome?). In the extra features, Josh says this was a movie he was trying to make for a long time. It's a independent film definitely worth watching.
The Hangover
(2009)
I Couldn't Stop Laughing
4 August 2009
This is really very funny, provided that you like shock humor, crude humor, situational humor, ridiculous circumstances, etc. I didn't even think the preview I saw looked that funny, so I was surprised when the story got underway and I couldn't stop laughing. The main characters' personalities vary so much that much of the comedy too comes from the quirky character traits they have - and how that causes each of them to react differently the absurd situations they have gotten themselves into. This R-rated comedy is a nice departure from the films of Judd Apatow or the comedies of Will Ferrell or Adam Sandler. I'm not saying I don't like those other guys, but sometimes it seems like those are the main comedy options (along with romantic comedies or family comedies). Well, here's a new, original, hilarious comedy. Loved it!
G.P.S.
(2007)
Good for the Budget - Fun Thriller with Cool Bonus Features
1 May 2009
I saw this on DVD, which means I got to see the Behind the Scenes Bonus Features that go in depth into the making of this movie. There are more than 2 hours of special features.I didn't intend to watch them all, but they pulled me in so much I ended up watching most of them. After seeing those, I have a real appreciation of what the filmmakers went through to get their first feature made on a tiny budget, so I give them a '7.'
The movie itself is really fun, but it's not flawless. It had me laughing out loud at a couple of the funny characters, and there were some very suspenseful scenes in the second half of the movie. I think the biggest problem is that the suspense doesn't really start up until halfway through. The first half almost plays like a comedy, the second half like a thriller. If you know that going in, you can like it anyway. But it is a little disconcerting to the viewer as the tone changes dramatically at the midway point.
I'm glad they embellished GPS treasure hunting (or geocaching) to make it highly competitive, otherwise it wouldn't have been exciting. People are literally racing each other to get to the next hidden cache. There are some beautiful locations and some cool stunts. Overall, a really good first effort, and from what the director, producer, etc. said in the bonus features, it's obvious they learned a lot in the process to take with them to their next movie.
The movie itself is really fun, but it's not flawless. It had me laughing out loud at a couple of the funny characters, and there were some very suspenseful scenes in the second half of the movie. I think the biggest problem is that the suspense doesn't really start up until halfway through. The first half almost plays like a comedy, the second half like a thriller. If you know that going in, you can like it anyway. But it is a little disconcerting to the viewer as the tone changes dramatically at the midway point.
I'm glad they embellished GPS treasure hunting (or geocaching) to make it highly competitive, otherwise it wouldn't have been exciting. People are literally racing each other to get to the next hidden cache. There are some beautiful locations and some cool stunts. Overall, a really good first effort, and from what the director, producer, etc. said in the bonus features, it's obvious they learned a lot in the process to take with them to their next movie.
Finding Bliss
(2009)
Entertaining and Funny; At times, Shocking and Touching
26 January 2009
I saw this at Slamdance and I really enjoyed it.
It's about a struggling filmmaker (Leelee S) who takes a job editing porn, but it's really more about her character's journey into her own issues (of the past and present) ... and the fact that this self-discovery takes place amidst the porn industry, well, that adds a good dose of humor and a bit of sex.
There's some laugh out loud moments, usually in the form of shock/crude humor or irony. There's also some drama and romance mixed in there, so it's honestly hard to classify it to one genre of film.
It's a lower-budget indie, but it has a great cinematic look with great performances by all the actors. Jamie Kennedy adds some air-headed humor, and Kristen Johnston adds some cutting humor (loved her). The actor opposite Leelee (Matthew Davis) initial appears as a jaded, cynical character, but of course, there is more beneath the surface and it's rewarding to see his character slowly unveil.
Fun movie, overall. Why an 8 and not a 10? I guess my only criticism is that I got a touch bored somewhere around the middle of the film. Perhaps the shock of the shock humor had lost it's shocking value by that point but we weren't yet to the meaty drama. I don't know. To me, it kind of lagged briefly before getting back on track.
But that's a small thing. Most of the time, I "found bliss" when watching FINDING BLISS.
It's about a struggling filmmaker (Leelee S) who takes a job editing porn, but it's really more about her character's journey into her own issues (of the past and present) ... and the fact that this self-discovery takes place amidst the porn industry, well, that adds a good dose of humor and a bit of sex.
There's some laugh out loud moments, usually in the form of shock/crude humor or irony. There's also some drama and romance mixed in there, so it's honestly hard to classify it to one genre of film.
It's a lower-budget indie, but it has a great cinematic look with great performances by all the actors. Jamie Kennedy adds some air-headed humor, and Kristen Johnston adds some cutting humor (loved her). The actor opposite Leelee (Matthew Davis) initial appears as a jaded, cynical character, but of course, there is more beneath the surface and it's rewarding to see his character slowly unveil.
Fun movie, overall. Why an 8 and not a 10? I guess my only criticism is that I got a touch bored somewhere around the middle of the film. Perhaps the shock of the shock humor had lost it's shocking value by that point but we weren't yet to the meaty drama. I don't know. To me, it kind of lagged briefly before getting back on track.
But that's a small thing. Most of the time, I "found bliss" when watching FINDING BLISS.
Reservation Road
(2007)
Dark and Sad, but Well Acted
27 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Were Joaquin, Mark, and Jennifer all amazing in their roles? YES. Was the subject matter unbelievably depressing? YES.
I guess I should have expected that, given the plot circumstances Mark Ruffalo's character kills Joaquin & Jennifer's son in a hit & run. It's obviously going to be a bit dark. I could have done with a touch of hope sprinkled somewhere in there. Every scene with Jennifer as the grieving mom is filled with so much pain that it's almost unwatchable. I think because the entire movie stays at a sad, low level that it can cause the audience to turn off their own feelings and stop feeling for the characters because there aren't the ups and downs. There isn't a breather or anything lighter in quality before the story plunges into darkness again. It's all dark, so the darkest moments lose their intensity because there is no juxtaposition of emotions.
The best scenes were the ones between Joaquin and Mark, as Joaquin has no clue that Mark was the driver and Mark knows very well that Joaquin is the father. There's immense tension when these two people have to interact. Mark's character shows the audience the extreme pain of being on that side of the accident.
I guess I should have expected that, given the plot circumstances Mark Ruffalo's character kills Joaquin & Jennifer's son in a hit & run. It's obviously going to be a bit dark. I could have done with a touch of hope sprinkled somewhere in there. Every scene with Jennifer as the grieving mom is filled with so much pain that it's almost unwatchable. I think because the entire movie stays at a sad, low level that it can cause the audience to turn off their own feelings and stop feeling for the characters because there aren't the ups and downs. There isn't a breather or anything lighter in quality before the story plunges into darkness again. It's all dark, so the darkest moments lose their intensity because there is no juxtaposition of emotions.
The best scenes were the ones between Joaquin and Mark, as Joaquin has no clue that Mark was the driver and Mark knows very well that Joaquin is the father. There's immense tension when these two people have to interact. Mark's character shows the audience the extreme pain of being on that side of the accident.
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