Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Army of One

This is the best acting I've seen from Nicolas Cage in a long while. He was truly funny and captured the zany (and true) nature of Gery Faulkner perfectly. I adore Russell Brand and he was great as ever in this. However, the script was a bit spotty with enough holes to drive a dump truck through. With a touch more cohesion this would have been a four-star film, but it was good nonetheless. 3.5/5

Army of One on Netflix

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Scott Walker: 30 Century Man

I have to admit I'd never heard Scott Walker's music before watching this film. I'm a fan of nearly every genre and type of music, but, if I'm being truthful, Walker's work just isn't for me. I'm a Bartok fan, I like some discord in my harmony, but this was a little too much for me personally. Given that introducing new people to Walker's music was the main goal of this film, I deem it a success. The whole of Walker's career was sifted through and and I really got a sense of how he grew into the influential artist he is today. However, I do wish I could have understood more about Walker the man. I wanted to really know what made him tick, and in that regard the movie didn't work quite as well. This was just average for me. 3/5

Scott Walker: 30 Century Man on Netflix

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Pet

I really thought I knew where this horror film was headed. It seemed so obvious. Inevitable. Boring even - that's how predictable it seemed. And then, about half way through, the film took a HARD left turn and became something very different and far more interesting than I ever expected. The ending was spectacular. This was surprisingly good. 4/5

Pet on Netflix

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Hidden

A family of three has been hiding in and underground bunker for a great length of time, and now, circumstances force them to come out. That's all I'm going to tell you about this film, and all you need to know before you watch it. This little indie horror/thriller from the Duffer brothers who brought us "Stranger Things" has a tight plot, stellar acting, and great direction, especially given the restraints of the set. You've really got to see it to appreciate it - i highly recommend it for genre fans. 4/5

Hidden on Netflix

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Silenced

This drama about the sexual and physical brutalization of deaf children at a school in Korea is tremendously difficult to watch. The scenes of the abuse are incredibly graphic, disturbingly so. I honestly questioned how some of these scenes were shot, that's how realistic it seemed. The child actors were all tremendously talented. The script was well crafted, and the direction breathtaking. The fact that this is a true story of an at-the-time ongoing case is the kicker. If you watched and enjoyed "Spotlight" this is definitely something you should watch as well. It's a smaller story than in "Spotlight", but a better film in my opinion. Just... be prepared. This is gut-wrenching. 5/5

Silenced on Netflix

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Allied

Brad Pitt is a better actor than this. I know he is. I've seen it. But, both in this and in his movie before this, "By the Sea", he was just wooden. I cut him slack for it in "By the Sea" because I thought it might be a stylistic choice, but there was no reason for it here. Cotillard was lovely in this, as she is in all things, but Pitt's wooden boy routine left her hanging and the whole picture stale. This could have been a real home run if Pitt had shown up for work. However, I do know that this was made during the active dissolution of his marriage, so I'm guessing that's why. Still, a shame - this could have been much better. 3/5

Allied on Netflix

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Lovesong

This is such a lovely, touching, wonderful film. Riley Keough is rapidly becoming one of my favorite actresses. Jena Malone is wonderful as ever. It's a slow and tenderly drawn portrait of these two women, done with such grace and subtlety that I couldn't help but be drawn in. I hope that the Academy remembers Keough at awards time. Love this. 4/5

Lovesong on Netflix

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Officer Downe

Honestly, I don't mind campy cult films, but this was so out-of-this-world bad I only made it about thirty minutes in before I has to just turn it off. WAAAAAY too over the top for me. Just.... no. 1/5

Officer Downe on Netflix

Friday, May 19, 2017

Goat

This drama is chilling to the bone, especially because cases and situations like this are regular fare on college campuses today. I found myself wincing and covering my mouth in horror for much of this film. It portrays the concept of "toxic masculinity" perfectly and really gets across how travesties like this are fueled and why they happen. It's an important film, one that all young people should really see. I feel this very dark film is up there with "Kids" and "Bully" as films that may make the viewer very uncomfortable but are must-sees. Rent this, and prepare to be really disturbed. 4.5/5

Goat on Netflix

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Split

Well, I never thought I'd be writing these words, but... M. Night Shyamalan has made am extraordinary film that everyone really must see. The story of this psych thriller (I can't call it horror really) is quite well put together. Yes, there are holes in portions of it, but the reviewers who have made those their sticking points are missing the bigger picture. It's a good story well told, and he clearly did some research on popular theory of this subject. James McAvoy is, in a word, transcendent. He should absolutely get an Oscar nod for this. But, in all honesty, it was the direction that grabbed me the most. This doesn't look like a Shyamalan film - it truly looks like something Kubrick made. It's a visual feast, and so much of the story is told visually and through the soundscape. It's the total package, and, yes, there's something unexpected at the end. At least he stayed true to that convention. Seriously, this is amazing. You must watch it. 4.5/5

Split on Netflix

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Evolution

I have a pretty significant case of trypophobia (a proposed phobia of irregular patterns or clusters of small holes or bumps), so there were large swaths of this movie that were extremely physically difficult for me to watch. Difficult enough that, even though I was engrossed in what were happening, I became so queasy and ill that I nearly turned it off. So, be forewarned, if you have difficulty looking at things with holes or clusters of strange things (just look up the word trypophobia on Google and you'll know right away if this bothers you), I might not rent this. It is a fascinating story though, one I'm not sure I totally understood. So much of it is left to our imagination, as we see everything through the sight of one young boy. It's hard to get a full understanding of what's happening, and the end became a bit too confusing for me. Still, it was terribly intriguing, and, even though I can't watch it again, I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery. 3/5

Evolution on Netflix

Thursday, May 11, 2017

The Bye Bye Man

I've been waiting for a while to get this film, and it didn't disappoint me. What I find interesting is the complete dichotomy of the Netflix reviews. People either love this or hate it, but I've noticed that, if they loved it, like me, they were observant. There's a lot going on in the background of this movie. Things just slightly out of frame, in shadow, blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of things. The more I noticed, the creepier and more effective the film was. The direction was quite well done in this way, and it paid off for those who look for the little things like I tend to do. I bet if I watched it again and again, I'd still not catch them all. The acting was fairly solid, and the script compelling and well-paced. I enjoyed this, and I will be trying not to let "don't think it don't say it" live in my head for very long. 4/5

The Bye Bye Man on Netflix

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Southside with You

Perhaps the most amazing thing about this drama that chronicles the first date of Barack and Michelle Obama is that they found actors who look uncannily like the President and First Lady. It's actually eerie how much Parker Sawyers looks like Barack Obama. The downside, however, is that I feel the casting directors sacrificed talent for looks, as neither Sawyers or Sumpter really had the acting chops to make me really feel they were their counterparts. The writing was very uneven - great in some moments and less cohesive in others. The direction was simple and homey, which was an asset. On the whole, this was a good effort, but it was just average for me. 3/5

Southside with You on Netflix

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

I didn't mind the first Jack Reacher film because I have never read the books. However, I understood enough about the Reacher character to know that, while Cruise looks nothing like the part, he acted the part quite well. I cannot say the same for this film. This isn't Reacher as I understand him, nor did it resemble the Reacher from the first film. Added to that, the writing was sloppy and pedantic, the acting mostly trite, and the direction predictable. Whether or not you agree with the casting of Cruise in the role, one must admit that the first film was at least a decent action thriller at heart. This, sadly, was not. 2/5

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back on Netflix

Monday, May 8, 2017

Lion

This was, undoubtedly, one of the best pictures of last year. In my mind, it's nearly tied with "Manchester by the Sea" as possibly the best picture nominated for the top honor at the Oscars (the best picture of last year in my mind, "Swiss Army Man", wasn't nominated). The movie is sheer poetry to watch. The direction is graceful and lush, with an almost musical quality to the movement. Dev Patel has grown into a serious actor, and, for me, he should have won Best Supporting hands down for his tour de force performance here. There really is no flaw to this film. It's so moving and I doubt I will ever forget it. A definitely must-see. 5/5

Lion on Netflix

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Miss Sloane

I am of two minds of this film. The first mind is that it is an excellent thriller. I have loved Chastain since her very first role in "Jolene", and I still think she's an unrated and brilliant actress. The whole of the cast was spot on, but they'd have to be to keep up with Chastain and the amazing performance she gave in this. The plot is also expertly written, and I never saw half the twists coming. But here's the thing, the thing with which the other half of me is troubled. I don't know why it was necessary to demonize everyone to the right of political center in this film. Yes, political posturing was inevitably going to be a part of this, but, how it shook out, everyone working for gun control had ethics and everyone against it were monsters, with one obvious exception of course. It wasn't necessary to the film - it in fact weakened it as I began to feel too many characters were cartoons instead of people. It was jarring and unneeded, and I wish the filmmakers had trusted in their script and cast to carry this film without it. Still, it was an excellent film, and I have to give it four stars. 4/5

Miss Sloane on Netflix

Friday, May 5, 2017

Assassin's Creed

First off, sorry for the long absence, I've had a slew of life problems happening. I will try to return to my regular reviews.

My husband is an avid gamer, and I have watched him play the Assassin's Creed games many times over. The game is so stylized in its look and action that I thought no movie could ever capture that. I was wrong. This movie lives so well in the Assassin's Creed world it could be a game itself. The direction, sets, and motion of everything was so spot on it was eerie. The acting was far better than what you normally see in video game films, especially Fassbender, who is quite good. The ending was a bit too open and got a little off track, but I know they did that to leave place for a sequel. I was surprised at how good this was. If you know the game, it's worth a watch. 4/5

Assassin's Creed on Netflix