Papa: Hemingway in Cuba

This was a good story that could have been great. The acting was very solid - Ribisi is as marvelous as ever. The direction was also solid and compelling. The problem was that I felt the script lacked depth in both story and character. I wanted more roundness to the people I was invested in and more insight into their motivations. I feel like many things may have gotten lost on a cutting room floor that would have made this picture much stronger. Still, a good film that tells a true tale. 3/5

Papa: Hemingway in Cuba on Netflix

Contraband

Seriously, when did Mark Wahlberg decide he was going to actually act again? I've been disliking and avoiding his films for so long that I apparently missed when he discovered he really liked acting and wanted to do it well. This 2012 heist film had a snappy script and great acting across the board, including Wahlberg. Of course, I had to see it, because Caleb Landry Jones is in it, but it was definitely worth the watch. Solid film, I enjoyed it. 4/5

Contaband on Netflix

Ted 2

The first "Ted" film was funny, had a plot-line that made sense, and characters that maintained an arc throughout the film. This sequel made little to no sense, had characters that fell apart, and no real cohesive plot to speak of. It was too much like "Freddy Got Fingered" for me. Not good. 2.5/5

Ted 2 on Netflix

Selma

So let me get this straight. In a year where Oscar bait films dominated the awards pictures, and lackluster films like "The Imitation Game" and "The Theory of Everything" got awards and nominations left, right, and center... no one nominated David Oyelowo for Best Actor? Really??? I thought his performance was superior to Carrell and Cumberbatch and equal to Redmayne, and "Selma" as a film was far more solid and nuanced that the two I previously mentioned. If you are going to nominate actors from Oscar bait films, David Oyelowo deserved a nomination. At least "Selma" got a nomination, which is comforting. 4/5

Selma on Netflix

Gangster Squad

I was completely surprised at how good this action thriller was - I was totally captured from minute one. Nice. 4/5

Gangster Squad on Netflix

The Rum Diary

Wow... what and astonishingly average movie! What the hell happened to Depp? This was so... meh. Too bad. 3/5

The Rum Diary on Netflix

Middle Men

Time for another special FTRQ review for another Potentially Bad Movie Night with Emilie Staat (@emofalltrades on Twitter)! This week we have "Middle Men", the true-to-life story of a Southern businessman who gets involved in the development of Net porn! How did our movie night turn out? Read on!

DONNA:
Okay... WOW that was so not the movie I was expecting & I mean that in all the best possible ways! Yes, it was funny but also poignant, dramatic, really well acted, detailed & wonderfully directed. I'm so pleasantly surprised. 4/5


EMILIE:
Middle Men wasn't what I expected. I don't know why, but I thought it'd be more comedic and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't just a silly light-hearted romp. It was funny and interesting and ended just about the best way it possibly could. 3.5/5 stars.

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DONNA'S RATING: 4/5
EMILIE'S RATING: 3.5/5

So... another potentially bad movie night averted! We're two for two in finding really good films disguised as bad ones... but will our luck continue? Stay tuned! ;)

Middle Men on Netflix