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elizziepassa
Reviews
There Is a Monster (2024)
Pretty Good... for maiden indie effort!
So, guys... "There is a Monster." What can I say about this movie? I came across it on Amazon and didn't know what to expect. Paid the fee and watched. And... liked it a lot. It ain't a perfect movie by any means. But at least the filmmakers (Mike Taylor who wrote and directed; the DP; and the producers) tried to do a subtle horror film where the main villain is this dark force/presence. So no, you will not see axe murders or chainsaws here. But that's been done. I liked the performances by both lead actors. Writer/director Taylor does a good job building paranoia and fanning the flames of his concept. "There is a Monster" is psych horror on a budget, done indie style, a main character locked in a battle with something no one else sees, with a nice surprise ending I didn't expect.
The Holdovers (2023)
It's Okay, No Great Shakes
I have seen Paul Giamatta play much more layered characters, and Alexander Payne has directed more complex movies than this one. It was just okay for me. A lot of people rave about it but I found it very ordinary. I did not care about any of the wealthy boarding school boy characters. The most interesting character is the cook, Mary Lamb, played by Da'vine Joy Randolph. If filmmakers had just focused on her character and Paul Giamatta's for the entire movie, that would've been infinitely more interesting to me. I don't see this movie holding up particularly well over time. Not as powerful or insightful as Dead Poet's Society or Scent Of A Woman.
Anatomie d'une chute (2023)
Compelling Murder Mystery
This is a very well-written and acted movie. A woman discovers her husband, apparently budgeoned and fell or was pushed from a window to his death. She has a blind teenaged son who discovers the body. This movie has so many layers of intrigue and suspense to it. For me it's the closest thing to Ingmar Bergman doing a crime drama. The director, writer, and cast walk a razor's edge navigating our suspicions, always modulating the unfolding drama at a near-perfect pace. I loved its setting, a remote ski chalet (peaceful) which becomes tainted by death. Lead actress Sandra Huller and her attorney, played by the suave Swann Arlaud, are just amazing together.
UN-RESOLVED (2022)
Epic Family Drama Well-Told
Bruce Carlton Cunningham wrote and directed this excellent entry into the crime family saga movie genre. Cunningham portrays the lead character of Tremaine Willis with patience and heart. Supporting him are Morgan Pierce playing his older daughter Carlissa, and Cetris Ivy Sr as his brother. This is a violent family drama about feuding gangs in the streets of St. Louis, MO. The crime lord is portrayed by a woman, which I appreciated. A raw, gritty depiction of criminal life that delivers the goods. The lead character tries his best to mend his own past and stay out of the fighting, but bad choices on the part of his older daughter Carlissa pull him in. Excellent music and cinematography. Fighting and gunplay was suspenseful. This filmmaker really cared abut his message and he had something to say.
Introspectum Motel (2021)
Infidelity and Revenge
This movie is a decently-produced thriller that explores two men, and the consequences of infidelity and betrayal. One is a businessman, the other a possible colleague. But when secrets emerge, the tables get turned pretty drastically. This is ultimately a contained thriller w/ two main characters and 2-3 female supporting characters. The lead character, Philipe, is completely self-centered and unlikable. From that standpoint, he deserves what happens to him. His opponent Paul (Joseph Steyne) takes control of the situation (and the screen; he is the better actor of the two). There are several sexually explicit scenes and blunt language. Introspectum Motel is an interesting premise that quickly turns dark. Would love to see more action/fight scenes peppered throughout. Maybe in the Director's Cut?
Hemisphere (2023)
Two Good Female Leads in a Space Thriller
I'm not a feminist or anything, but I did appreciate this movie. It has a good set up/situation where there's an empty space station and no clue about what happened. One dead body. The whole drama comes out of this... and builds out from there. Not "the" most scifi of anything I seen - but, seriously, that is not why you should watch a movie like this. The two women reminded me of my own sister and my relationship. Constantly arguing about whose right or wrong, whose idea is the best one to follow. I was very involved, especially in the second half. There is one crazy plot twist and afterwards, I was like ??? "I I still want to know more." 9 stars for being a smart "ladies movie." 1 star taken off for the set design which seemed so-so in some scenes. For sure worth watching.