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abrooks0622
Reviews
Cidade Cinza (2013)
Inspiring and still relevant today
For years, I've seen the pieces by Osgemeos and they were a big inspiration of mine to paint murals in the first place, but I've never really known anything more about them. I stumbled upon this film thanks to a playlist that somebody made on here specifically pertaining to graffiti.
Anyways, for the film, I think that a lot of the conversations that were had in 2008 when they repainted the wall are just as present and plaguing the world of art today. Whether or not graffiti is art or a nuisance and who decides that in the first place. This film, like the paintings and artists that it highlights, is a monument to the culture of graffiti and public art as a whole. I wish that I had found it a bit sooner, but better late than never, eh?
Folk med ångest (2021)
Off to a rough start
I recently finished reading the book that this is based on and when I stumbled upon the series on Netflix, I thought it could be interesting to watch. If nothing else, I was curious (and still am) about how they would adapt the storyline which relies heavily on the reader not having a visual, but instead forming their own (mis)conceptions about the various characters. It's written in a way that kind of puts you into the narrator's and several of the characters' shoes.
That said, I'm only on the first episode and not finished with it, but there are some glaring issues that I can't quite understand. They completely took away Jack's intelligence and made both of them into some variant of stooges. They also completely swapped roles in some events for Jim and Jack, which changes an entire story arc and how the audience perceives these two characters and their relationship.
Lastly, the bank robber so far hasn't spoken any words. I'm guessing that this is how they hold some semblance of suspense as to the identity of the robber, but it deletes the opportunity for preconceived notions rather than allowing the viewer to form them. Again, this, even so far in to the series, feels like a kick to the teeth compared to the experience of reading the book.
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All of this said, I am still early in the series, so I'll update this when I'm finished to have a bit more to say and to give a full review that is more about how the series is as a whole rather than simply how it compares to the book. Also, if you haven't read the book, I recommend it.
Rushmore (1998)
The main character doesn't need to be likable
I realize that I'm a couple of decades late in watching this film, but felt it necessary to throw my own thoughts into the mix on this.
This film was well-written, meaningful, and had fantastic cinematography. The main character, while quite unlikable for much of the film, is still relatable and original. The movie is his story and very much from his perspective/mindset. While narcissistic and a bit overbearing, he has dreams and ideals of what he would like to be, and essentially embodies the concept of "fake it til you make it". The other adults in the story are basically reacting to Max in whatever ways they can, and I think for many of them, they are not only reacting, but relating. After all, however unlikable he is, it is not difficult to empathize with him, his struggles, motivations, or actions. In this, I find my reasoning why I feel that it's a fantastic film.
There are a number of moments that I laughed whole-heartedly and for the better part of the hour-and-a-half, I was curious what would happen next and where he would go from there. Of course, this film has its eccentricities and quirks, many of the same that are present in other Wes Anderson films, and I think anyone going into this in 2021 or later will surely come to expect many of these. Similarly, I can to a degree understand why people in 1999 wouldn't know how to take this movie or how to feel about its characters.
In the end, I would say it's a fantastic film. The story is full of life, emotion, and can be interpreted a number of ways depending on how you empathize with the different characters. As I said, you may not like Max, but I think anyone who watches this will be hard-pressed to say that they don't like the film itself.
Woke (2020)
Wake Up
I started watching this a few days ago after finding it on a list on Rotten Tomatoes and just finished it tonight. The writing, cinematography, acting, and message are all spot on. So many reviews seem to be hung up on someone playing the "poor victim", yet are willing to stick their head in the sand and act as though they've been deeply offended. The message rings true and hits home for a reason - it's real. It isn't fantasy. None of the episodes are far-fetched or unrealistic and it's sad that so many are so unable to empathize.
I think it's a great show and I'm looking forward to a second season.
Uncut Gems (2019)
Had high hopes, but ultimately was just stressful
I went into it after hearing about the film for the past few months and wanted to see what the hype was about. What ensued was a trainwreck of fast-paced camera work with SO MANY loud scenes of shouting or scuffling, followed by an ending that I expected (granted, I didn't know when it would come, but as it was the end, it didn't leave many other times for it to happen).
As for Sandler's handling of the role, I think he did a fantastic job. To give some insight into how someone in his position would feel and the surrounding factors, I really felt that he conveyed it perfectly. If the point of the film was simply to transfer his character's stress to the viewer and make them feel like they're in his position, then I think the film was relatively successful. If it was to tell a story, I don't.
As many of the other reviews state, it's a film that you either love or hate, and it's just not something that I'll ever watch again.
Daybreak (2019)
It started okay, but gradually went further downhill
The first 4 or 5 episodes were good. Entertaining and put together well enough that I had zero hesitations on whether or not to continue watching. After that, however, the writing just... plunged. Characters made really stupid decisions that go against all of their better judgement. They survived in a post-apocalyptic world, yet now they're just acting like petty brats. Angelica, who just previously had been working to gather everything to save Miss Crumble, just randomly forgets the urgency of whatever the hell was happening and heads off to join the Cheermazons? There are so many more examples, but it feels unnecessary to list them all. In short, everyone that previously acted as you would expect now made decisions that any viewer will just cringe at, like any other drama aimed at 10 year old audiences.
I still have 3 episodes to go, so maybe it won't end as complete rubbish, but I'm not holding my breath. As for the "wokeness" that so many are whining about, there's nothing political in this. There are a couple of gay guys and mentions of consent. If those are so offensive, I suggest doing some soul searching as you have deeper issues.
Bonding (2018)
Could have been good, but just wasn't
The premise was promising and interesting, but the characters were so predictable and uninspired, especially after the first couple of episodes. Stereotyped one after the other, what started with a hint of promise ended as little more than a cringe.