Change Your Image
pattyrusciano
Reviews
Cabrini (2024)
Remarkable woman
What a beautiful story of this nun. She truly loved and served the downtrodden and forsakes! Just so happened to be the Italian immigrants in NYC around 1900. Same politics, prejudice and crime then as is now. She was brave and heroic. The movie was made well enough, some lovely ,but repetitive, shots of silhouettes in doorways. This movie is wonderful in that it gives attention she deserves after doing so much for so many. But I am still scratching my head over how a Christian production company can make a film about a devout nun and never show her praying or giving God any glory. I think she mentioned Him once at the beginning of the film to the Pope.
For Prophet (2024)
Not sure how to label this
Just finished watching the movie an I am not sure how to label it. Quirky? Odd? Weird? All of the above. The plot was portrayed in too chaotic a way for me to support here. Some of the characters were written well, real struggles and then some were more caricatures so I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be amused or not. Things got repetitive to the point of annoying for me. The ending was not climactic in that there was no clear reason for it to me. I only kept watching to see if it was going to turn humorous like I expected but it was quite uneven, a few chuckles and a number of head scratchers on things that didn't play well enough to me. I think I realize what they intended to portray, it was just unattractive and unappealing. I couldn't invest in or root for any character.
Fly Me to the Moon (2024)
Refreshingly different
I give this movie an 8 first because it is a clean, interesting and entertaining film, a rare thing these days, even this decade! So hurrah for those who approved, produced and directed something we could go out and totally enjoy!!! Scarlet played her role perfectly with spunk and sas and an obvious sex appeal without needing gratuitous low cut clothes or filthy language. Channing was well cast as tough teddy bear and the other top 5 characters very well liked. Plot was a little thin but the environment it played out in was fascinating about going to the moon. It was great for a date and when we went, 11 am on a teusday morning the theater was full, mainly of senior citizens who I bet enjoyed it as much as we did. First time in years we actually liked a movie, no sex, no demeaning men, no sexism, minimal profanity and cursing, lots of smoking, but that was the 60s. Couple or triple plot twists, a few good laughs, a few good tender moments all made it a simple winner. Reminded me of a Doris Day movie.
Presumed Innocent (2024)
Couldn't get through the first episode
I watch a lot of tv and when the rating is MA I thought I knew what to expect, but this one pushed the envelope for me. Do people really use the f bomb constantly in their professional lives? Is this really how lawyers and medical examiners conduct themselves? We just could not get past all the cursing to consider the acting . The rating for profanity it reviewers on this site have given it is a "moderate" surprisingly too. Too close to severe for me. Doesn't add a thing to the story to me, only diminishes it for me. Sad this is totally acceptable and common for our world now. A little more warning is needed for me.
The Boys in the Boat (2023)
Glad to learn this story
Glad to be shown this true story. Unfortunately I have to agree with the other average 6/7 ratings given. It was good, just not great. There were a few scenes in the beginning that I thought were going to be an indication of greatness to come, but it didn't. Something slow and undramatic about it. Better than 99% of violent, profane stuff offered these days for sure, just not a blockbuster. The best part of it to me was the music, perfect for the era and just lovely. Actors well cast but stories slim at best. I can't determine what the theme is: Rantz? The coach? The team? A little of each but not enough of any one.
Tracker (2024)
Wish it were better
It's got all the ingredients but it falls flat and I can't pinpoint why. I watch it because it is not weird, fantasy, evil or superhero. It's average, not great, not awful . But I also play a game or read a magazine while watching because it doesn't keep my attention. We were really hoping it would be an 8 or 9, but I can't go above a six. Does it need new writers? More suspense? I can't figure out who the target audience is, teen? Young adults? Middle Ages? It doesn't even come close to shows I think it try's to stand beside like Will Trent and the Rookie, Lincoln Lawyer, Old Man, Blue Bloods, or Wild Cards, So Help Me Todd. It's just under the dried up NCIS. And as a side note, living in Kentucky, it was an insult to film in Canada and call it Lexington 🙄.
RFDS (2021)
My favorite show
Season two is a 10+! Even though the setting is medical, the characters are so well written and the plots snd characters intertwine seamlessly. It's so easy to like all of them, quirks , perversions and all. I wonder if there are new or additional writers because season 2 is quite better than season 1. Season 1 kept our interest at about a 7, enough to watch the next episodes, but it was a little less mature introducing everyone to us. But season 2 has found its pace, a great show, also no cursing violence or wokeism. But season 2 is better, we are invested in these characters and lives. So real.
Five Blind Dates (2024)
Better than Hallmark
We enjoyed this movie. While it was basically predictable, it had some unexpected secondary plots that played out well enough. Parts we sweet, crazy, queer, and gentle. The tea plot was interesting to me (but it appears to offend some Chinese). I enjoyed the lead actress, think she is very talented and likable as well as the 2 lead men. The best friend truly was a best friend once they got past the silly caricature of him. All the dates had surprises to them, very funny. There were a couple of situations that got ridiculous but it all evened out and brought good results. The pace was so much better than any hallmark movie thank goodness or we would have turned it off. Great? No, but good for an entertaining few hours. I recommend it over most of the usual and poor stuff on tv today.
Jules (2023)
Wonderful and quirky.
Simple and quirky story with obvious and subtle themes. We Laughed out loud several times. Nothing cliche here except a few age related scenes. Hit home on several levels as a senior citizen. Endearing and entertaining and totally unpredictable. Certain things resolved differently than one would guess. Perfectly cast and nearly believable story. The absurd just suited it perfectly and nothing else would have worked if the wrote it differently. You just have to see it to appreciate it. Have no idea if it was successful in theaters but watch and pass the word so all your friends can enjoy it also.
Reacher (2022)
This season not for me
The first season was a gentler introduction to Reacher with the story being more about relationships than violence. We watched and enjoyed the show as a senior citizen couple. Husband enjoys the books like millions of others. This season is way too dark and violent for me. From the opening scenes on, it's a dark story. Very well made, suspenseful etc, all the things that make a good film and probably stays true to the book and character, but I do not care to watch such content. So , that is quite disappointing to me. I also do not enjoy the sidekick Frances Neagly character or perhaps it is actress? At all. I am usually in the room while he is watching so I get the gist but it's disturbingly different now for me.
The Family Plan (2023)
Better than most tv films
Very cute and violent, unusual mix plus the gnome and a sex scene, so not for under 12 in my book though many probably may not agree. More than average laugh out loud moments and as someone else wrote, suspend your belief system and just enjoy the ride, literally. A long car ride across the USA makes for a united family. The pace moves along really well and each character has a story of their own, 2 predictable, 2 not. Adorable toddler. Highly enjoyable especially compared to most of the usual evil theme or violent offerings out these days. Don't know what would have made it a higher rating, cannot pinpoint anything missing but it was a solid 7 to us.
A Gingerbread Christmas (2022)
Ridiculous
Most Christmas movies are very predictable, a little corny, generally slow, and of course getting a bit politically correct but rarely offensive like this one to me. Someone had the idea to insert a Muslim character into a Christmas contest, and then many more people had to approve it! Then make her say she understands Christmas is about spreading love! Doubtful that a Muslim would associate in any way at a Christmas event exceeds the imagination as the reason the season is about love is from Christ and Christianity, whom Muslim oppose. So ridiculous it is offensive to both cultures! Worst concept for a movie I have ever seen. We turned it off.
The Buccaneers (2023)
Decent entertainment
I appreciate this production for several reasons. I enjoy this era like everyone else for the beauty of England, the romance, costumes, etc etc, and I am thankfully enjoying it much more than the Bridgerton series, which was so far off from the books and vulgar and miscast to me i could not enjoy it. This has a plot twist of "gauche"Americans in England. The fine cast are like racehorses, young, strong and silly, perfect for the roles and spirit of the story. Sure there are obvious and cliche plot lines but what story doesn't. And some of the music is just divine! It's lovely, mindless entertainment without violence, language, perversion, evil or politics like most television today. Thank whoever for producing it even if they are just trying to cash in on the Bridgerton popularity wave. Having never read the book I can't comment on how well it sticks to it.
The Mother (2023)
Oh so bad
I am in the room doing something else while my husband watches this, meaning I would never choose it on my own1. Because Jennifer Lopez just cannot act, they promote her well but why does she make movies much less Rambo movies??? 2. I prefer happy movies but even her happy movies are mediocre at best. I have to agree with all the other 3 and below ratings that Netflix can't seem to make much good, this is one of their worst and don't waste your time. Of all the stories that could have been reviewed, not sure how this one got chosen to be produced and which target group likes to see JLo kill people, but it's not my idea of entertainment, spare yourself.
The Last Thing He Told Me (2023)
Tooooo dragged out
I have to agree with all the other poor reviews. The acting is as poor as the script. Jennifer's character repeats the same lines continuously about how the dad loves the daughter, and we WILL figure this out. The story moves so slowly it is really hard to stay interested, I only watch it to see how it ends. The only thing I don't agree with is that the step daughter is overly annoying. Her character is rude but is accurate I think. Very disappointed Jennifer Gardner can't save it, it's not saveable, it's too unrealistic and like someone else mentioned, this story seems very familiar but I can't place it.
The Company You Keep (2023)
I want to like it
I wanted this show to be a great new show, but its just ok. It is missing something. Leads are great , don't particularly like his mother, she does not do Italian well at all, none of them do really but I think sister is a good character and actress. Niece is a cliché added on. Plots are sexy and intriguing at times but then also get a little goofy all of a sudden. Not sure what I am watching, it doesn't flow or come together for me but I can't put my finger on what is lacking . A mash up of Leverage, White collar and another show about a detective figuring out her lover is a con man she is hunting. Better than a lot of shows on, but Overall still on the disappointing side.
1923 (2022)
Should carry a warning for nudity and perversion!
Not only is this series slow slow slow and mostly boring, the inclusion of full female nudity is pretty alarming without a warning! Prostitution and perversion, the F bomb every 10 seconds in no way add to the story . The story of Spenser is so far fetched we just laugh and imagine what could possibly happen next. The only character worth caring about is the Indian girl. Sure hope she gets a happy ending, all the rest are hard to have any sympathy or concern about. The worst part about this is that there will not be a conclusion, like there was to 1883 a far superior show in all ways, there will be a second season of this baloney.
That '90s Show (2023)
Oh no
Was ready to laugh but we just groaned from minutes 6-15 then turned it off. Who wrote this? All the new characters are less than appealing. I thought/hoped it was going to be mainly just the old characters come back home but they were in it less than the new teens, so second big negative. It had a few laughs the first scene but not after that. Maybe the original was only funny due to being the same age as the characters way back when, so now as an adult it seems stupid, but I don't even think you can blame it on that. It's just plain stupid without any cute characters to crush on or rout for.
Matilda: The Musical (2022)
Off the mark
This was too bizarre, too strange and dark for a family film. No comedy relief whatsoever. If I had to try to explain it to my kids I could not. So far removed from the theater version, just such a disappointment to our family. The additional scenes, songs and characters added nothing to the plot and there was too little of Miss Honey. Every scene and song was either too over done or too boring. Somehow there was no continuity, it never kept me wondering what was going to happen next as there didn't seem to be a next, just a series of weird scenes sometimes going together sometimes not, very hard to care to follow.
Glass Onion (2022)
Worth a few hours of your time
Mixed feelings. I can agree with all the points made in every other review from 1-9 here. Parts were good, funny even, parts were ridiculous and some boring, but I thought the plot and characters stories was more interesting than the first, it had me more intrigued than the first. Was it cast well and acted well? To each his own. Did Kate Hudson look terrible to portray her character or is she not aging well? Hard to tell. Benoit's accent much more natural so not so distracting. The ending took a turn for the worse, point could have been made in a more sophisticated way for sure. So you will just have to see it and decide yourself.
Just Add Love (2022)
Another slow one
Initially attracted to it for setting in Italy and cooking topic. And it was beautifully set in Italy, wish I could find out where, but the story was just blah. The actors were ok given that they did not have much to work with. The story lacked interest, no build up, no twist, no chemistry, nothing to draw you in and want to know more. Her character was a blah cook so how were we supposed to believe she could be successful, and why would he think he could successful in Italy too? The lead male didn't have a lead quality, not enough charisma, would be better as the leafs friend. And the female lead had no spark either. A very tally movie but with little interesting content. I would have turned it off if I had not paid for it and I did enjoy visiting Italy.
Spirited (2022)
Really dispirited
Hard to describe where this movie fits. Not family, too much offensive stuff -female ghost seduction and discussion not suitable for kids, then I can't understand the point of the good afternoon song and dance, it was proudly offensive. It was a schizophrenic movie, a good scene interrupted by a poor song or rabbit trail. Not being a past fan of Will except in Elf, he was actually the best part of the movie. Ryan was his typical smart mouth adding crass to the movie. We started with high hopes, checked to see how much more there was after the good afternoon number and groaned when we discovered only half way through. Could not finish it. Not sure who the target audience is for this but we did not fit it.
Falling for Christmas (2022)
Script fell down.
There was a lot of hype about this movie and it could have been very good. Lindsay Lohan was better than most of the actresses in these Christmas romances and the lead actor was also fine but why the ridiculous boyfriend and his odd story line, it did not add anything to the movie and it's absurdity dragged the rest of the movie down, it did not fit with the style the rest of the movie was projecting of a homespun Christmas. I know he was meant to contrast but it just was absurd, not amusing. The little girl gave Lindsay some of her finer scenes. It was not the worst Christmas movie, the production was better than 90% of this type but it was a little overdone too and mainly it lacked something in the script unfortunately. It wasn't that it was predictable, we all know that going in, it just did not entertain or draw you in. So not bad, but not good either, just another average Christmas movie.
Catering Christmas (2022)
Better than usual
On its own it is like a hallmark movie, obvious plot where we already know the ending, but compared to most of the other movies offered up on Hulu, Netflix and Amazon, this one looks like a rare 9. Actors with talent and vitality, a better than usual plot, and a storyline that moved along at a normal pace. Most Hallmark movies are so slow in both dialog and timing I can't bear the boredom of finishing them. There was nothing remotely offensive in the dialogue or plot which is a change, no silly or jealous or conniving characters, just 4 mature and polite adults helping the community and being considerate of others.
Love Hard (2021)
Above average
A mix of cute and crass for me. Nina is perfect in the role as is the main actor. The second male is forgettable and the main family is easy to warm up to until the brother shows up. His character is written a bit far out for the rest of the story. Loved the Christmas atmosphere of the town they produced but was very confused on one theme running through it. It is not often Jesus is claimed to be the King and savior in movies these days instead of thevatheistic "Happy Holidays"so it was very sweet to hear the carols and see the displays and sweaters harking his name, but then the next line they would use his name as a profanity or in vain. Sad. Would have given it a better rating but that made me cringe.