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Reviews
Palm Springs (2020)
Instant classic
Occasionally I watch a movie where I literally want to watch it again when it's over. A very funny, existential, and human movie. Andy Samberg absolutely nails both the drama and comedy of this absurd premise. He's having so much fun in the time loop you're not sure you want to leave it either.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
A tonal mess but wins you over with heart and music
Not sure what to say about this movie. It's kind of satire at times, but not exactly when it should be. The music and production is quite good. Will Ferrell (who I love) is terribly miscast and I almost think his comedic voice weighed the movie down. He should have played a villain or an eccentric rather than the romantic lead. His awkwardness in the role just doesn't help when the movie is trying to be sincere. It didn't spend enough time establishing the characters and relationship which is kind of forgivable in comedy, but it's kind of not a comedy at times. I feel like if they removed all the Ferrell-brand absurdities they could have just made a musical dramatic comedy. Dan Stevens chews up his scenes and I appreciate how they subvert some of the tropes of competition movies. The final song really helps the movie land, despite all the aforementioned issues.
Dave: Jail (2020)
Boundlessly creative
I was enjoying this show quite a bit until the finally, but this season finale is among the best episode I've seen of any show. The song at the beginning had me crying with laughter.
Dongducheon (2017)
Haunting and powerful
I stumbled onto this film at the VR arcade at the True/False Film Fest a couple years ago and thought about it for months afterward. A powerful example of how the immersive nature of VR can be used to affect the viewer both emotionally and conceptually/politically.
Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Just not that good.
I had hope for this film since it was directed by Lost creator, JJ Abrams and although the 3rd MI is an improvement over the 2nd film, which was simply horrible, it just left me feeling flat at the end. The action was fast-paced and entertaining, but it came at the expense of any character development. While the movie resolves around Ethan Hunt's new marriage and balancing that with his job, they dedicate so little time to developing Ethan and Julia's relationship it's hard to care what happens to either of them.
No MI movie would be complete without a twist, and the twist in this one was revealed somewhat awkwardly and fell flat once again because we didn't know or care about any of the characters. If you're going to add "human" elements to your action movie you have to spend time addressing the characters. However there's a part when Ethan is stealing something called the "rabbit's foot" and instead of showing you how he gets it, the movie shows his team just waiting for him. They attempt in developing these residual characters during this scene, but it's too little, too late. Not to mention Ethan is pulling off quite a heist to get this damn rabbit's foot and we don't get to see what in the crazy he's doing!
Elizabethtown (2005)
Bad impersonation of a good Crowe film
I would like to preface this review by saying, as a lot of other reviewers have, that I am a huge Cameron Crowe fan. But this movie was only the shell of what a good Crowe movie is. A messy combination of all the things that make his films great...insert successful, detached guy add a quirky girl who will show him what is really important, overlay a bunch of good tunes, mix in some scenes where someone is singing in the car. These are all things I have come to love about Crowe, but it didn't work here. At all. Orlando Bloom was obviously pushing his capabilities here. He doesn't have the range to say Crowe's quirky lines and pull off the obscure behavior. Kirsten Dunst was charming but the script seemed a little forced for her. The whole premise of Drew failing at being a shoe designer was unnecessary. The lesson learned was so obvious from the beginning, it was hard to care for the revelations within the movie, especially since they spent no time really letting us get to know Drew's character, just a little voice-over narration at the beginning. The rest of the movie had things going for it, but seemed choppy and glossed-over. I can only hope Crowe returns to form on his next movie.