Roobin3358 Reviews

The First Omen (2024)

Finally a worthy prequel!

[8/10 · 6 April 2024]

Kudos to the filmmakers for having the guts to do a straight up prequel to such a classic horror film. Rather than another re-boot, the events in The First Omen take place directly before the classic film.

The film is delightfully creepy and weird, including a sequence that legitimately gave me goosebumps. Fantastic cinematography and atmosphere actually makes the film feel like it could've come out in 1971.

Not only does it give context to the original but also answered some lingering questions I had after watching the original. A prequel that is not only worthy, but actually feels necessary.

Tell Me Your Secrets (I) (2021)

Needs More Focus

[2/10 · 24 February 2021]

This show was filmed for TNT in 2018 and after it was filmed the deal fell through and Amazon picked it up for cheap. I can see why. A really great setup and great acting is wasted on too many subplots and tangents. A compelling opening but no payoff worth hanging out for. Difficult to get a handle on exactly what job certain characters have or motivation to do what they do. There are far too many characters with little or no connection to the central mystery to even try and care about. I could really go into it but suffice to say it's just a mess. TNT was smart to drop it.

The Wedding Guest (2018)

Tense and terrific!

[9/10 · 16 March 2019]

I gave this a shot despite only so-so reviews and was pleasantly surprised. Tightly directed with a central performance by Dev Patel that is uncommonly committed and intense. The cinematography is gorgeous including parts of the world not often committed to film. Every time I thought this would turn into a basic action movie it surprised me by sticking to the characters motivations and deepening the story. I loved it.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Most generic biopic I've Seen

[3/10 · 28 February 2019]

The acting is great by Eami Makek but that is the only redeemable quality of this generic rock film. From any filmmaking perspective this film fails. Has the odd feeling of being cheaply made, especially during an early montage scene of Queen touring America where it appears that they are on the same stage wearing the same clothes shouting out different cities- "Thank You New Orleans!" Thank you Portland!" I honestly thought this whole sequence might have been filmed in an afternoon. Not even sure they're actually in front of an audience at any point during this nonsensical thing. Freddie Mercury is the only band member given a personality. The other members just wander around and play basic character types- mostly just being annoyed by Mercury's antics. It's easy to see why the living members of Queen authorized this- the film does nothing but adore its' subjects and the only member of the band under any scrutiny is not around to defend himself. It's really bad.

Assassination Nation (2018)

Great Internet Age Satire!!

[8/10 · 24 January 2019]

I really enjoyed this film. Really great perspective on the current state of social media, it's effects on teenagers, and the warped sense of self-worth that has permeated in this environment of selfies and micro-celebrity. And my favorite point- how much of our lives are lived online in secret and what is the price of those secrets being revealed? Can We Not Live As Honestly As We Browse?

Revenge (II) (2017)

Badass Revenge Thriller!!

[10/10 · 27 April 2018]

This was the last film I saw at The Overlook Film Festival, and they clearly saved the best for last. My absolute favorite of the fest. Lean, mean, grotesque and over the top, but somehow very controlled in its storytelling at the same time. The cinematography is fantastic, the performances far better than you'd expect from this sort of film. Only recommended for those with a strong stomach, an incredibly strong effort from a first time director.