danielgraves Reviews

Spaceman (I) (2024)

Will be a hit only when dubbed into Polish language.

[3/10 · 7 March 2024]

OK, nice things first: the special effects were good, and gave the movie a genuine "outer space" feel. Also kudos to the stunt trainer for creating several believable "zero-g" shots.

Now for the real rundown: What was Adam Sandler thinking? Im all for actors trying to stretch their acting skills, but this script was garbage. He's Produced other better films, with bigger budgets.

They went cheap on this script. The talking spider was bad enough. Then you have to endure the 2 hours of regurgitated grief for his failing marriage. The good reviews of this movie all liked this film on an "artsy" and symbolic level. I am willing to do that, but first you have to make it believable in reality.

This will only be a hit movie in Poland, after they dub it into Polish language, and they can be proud of their robust manned space program.

Moonfall (2022)

Mystery Science Theatre needs to narrate this one

[2/10 · 3 January 2024]

On, Halle, what have you done? I remember just a decade ago, when you got your Oscar for a great performance. Now you're doing this campy piece of crap? Did you just need the money?

OK, I should start with the good news: FX did a respectable job for 2023 technology and they were a big part of this movie. Just look at the thousand names under the FX section of this cast list. That's the ONLY positive about "Moonfall". That's it.

To say this movie is "formula" is being kind. None of the formulas were even original! We've seen ALL these plot points, and heard all these catchphrases in other movies. There is nothing interesting or unexpected. Was this written as a High School film project?

I've seen these actors give great performances, so I'm going to lay this blame for bad acting squarely on the Director/Writer. Writers create great words (hopefully). Directors pull the story together and elicit great performances from the actors. There is a natural tug-of-war between Writers and Directors. When the Writer and Director are the same person, you get huge flaws that sneak thru into the final product.

And the science in this film is blatantly stupid. E.g. When the moon's gravity is pulling buildings and tops of mountains off the earth, how are the people able to stand there and watch it, without also being sucked up?

This million dollar piece of crap should only be watched when Mystery Science Theatre does a commentary on it. Because, yes, its so bad, its funny.

National Champions (2021)

good plotline and acting but premature ending

[6/10 · 31 October 2023]

Writer Adam Mervis put out a pretty good plot on this one. The flick was interesting with little dead time. But the ending was abrupt. It felt like they just ran out of money, or couldn't think of a way to end the movie. What a let-down! At least they have room for a sequel. But kudos to Adam Mervis for an original plot and near-real storyline. Director Rick Roman Waugh did a good job getting interesting and believable performances from his actors, but the continuity needed some polishing. Some scene cuts and actor emotional transitions were a little confusing. Kudos for the producers choosing to shoot in New Orleans, where they could use the money influx.

Women Talking (2022)

Possibly good film drowned in sappy emotions

[2/10 · 6 May 2023]

OK, I will catch hell for that title above. This screenplay had great potential to show the pain at horror of rape and enslavement of women in these primitive religious cults. It started to illustrate how Religion and patriarchy are used to dominate and abuse women. Rightly done, this film would make any sane and civilized person outraged that this criminal behavior still exists in our world today. But the film directing and screenplay (by the same person) was so drippy with unspoken character pain, tears and sobbing, that the plot never gets up to speed. This story could have been told in a 30 minute short film. P. S. And the Monkees soundtrack, WTF, totally a stupid,distracting choice.

The Beyond (2017)

Worst PBS Documentary, Ever

[2/10 · 12 April 2023]

First of all Visual Effects were commendable! That is what this guy is famous for. Sadly, if this project is indicative, he will never be a writer or director. How does someone get funding for something so awful?

Its obvious the Documentary style was a cheap way to reveal storyboard rather than with action or character interactions. They might have pulled it off if they could have cast and directed some good quality actors. What we got was cringe-worthy. I had to fast forward thru most of the "interviews" because it felt worse than "student film projects". And the ending, though valid in our time, was just waay too sappy.

The Courier (2019)

Blame this hot mess on one guy

[2/10 · 16 March 2023]

Classic example of why the Writer and Director SHOULD NEVER BE THE SAME PERSON. Writers provide the words and plot. Directors distill that down to something believable. This writer was so in love with his words, he totally failed to get believable performances from his actors. Even Oldman was over the top! And i think i counted over 350 "f" words in the film, apparently to spice up the deplorable script. The only way to make it thru this waste of talent is drunk or stoned, so you can laugh at the cliche lines. Its difficult to find anything redeemable about this catastrophe. Oh, yes, the Cinematographer and Stunt Coordinators did their jobs well.

Facing the Giants (2006)

Religion Propaganda - Evangelism hiding behind a fake "true to life" story

[1/10 · 21 January 2023]

This "film" can only be enjoyed if the viewer's objective is to get reinforcement for their religion, and feel like a righteous warrior against the rest of the world. For viewers who like the craft of movies, and enjoy seeing artists create works of value, this "film" is a total waste of time and money.

The plot is transparent, the actors are mediocre at best and the crew appears to be hired for their religious stance, rather than their skill.

When will these schysters stop making this rubbish? And when will they stop trying to hide their true Evangelism purpose behind a fake "true to life" story?

Blacklight (2022)

One man tanked this film ... Mark Williams

[2/10 · 15 December 2022]

Classic example of why the Writer and Director should be separate people. This script had serious flaws, and the Director did nothing to fix it, BECAUSE IT WAS HIS SCRIPT!! Cinematography, stunts, locations etc. Were all good, but this movie was Dead-On-Arrival because of one man. Didn't he have any friends to tell him what crap he was creating?

Multiple scenes of "story boarding". Characters making illogical uin-motivated decisions. Undeveloped/poorly developed characters. Dialog taking huge jumps as if several sentences were edited out. LOTS of over-used cliché lines. How did this large budget film end up in the toilet?... Writer/Director Mark Williams seems to be the culprit.

Captain Nova (2021)

Destroyed by Dubbing

[3/10 · 18 August 2022]

I felt like I was watching a classic episode of Mystery Science Theater. The dialogue was ridiculously slow, with hundreds of pregnant pauses, for no dramatic reason. There's no way this movie was any good in its native language either.

How It Ends (2018)

good EFX, fair plot, terrible ending

[3/10 · 30 July 2022]

The ending was abrupt, with no explanations of the catastrophe, and no resolution for the heroes. It just quit, as if they exceeded their on-location shooting budget, and it was abruptly terminated. Maybe the director was trying to make a point "when the world falls apart, you'll never know why". But the viewer just felt cheated.

Nothing But the Truth (I) (2008)

Ignore the Low Number reviews, they are driven by political polarization in the US.

[9/10 · 21 June 2022]

This is a reminder of how powerful and sinister government can become without a Free Press keeping it in check. Not a perfect movie, but a very believable fiction inspired by the jailing of Judith Miller for refusing to reveal her source, Scooter Libby on George W Bush's staff. I read all these ratings and the extremely low numbers were obviously politically motivated, in defense of the then president, and his questionable invasion of Iraq. I advise everyone to get beyond that political chaff and enjoy the movie, the message and the artists bringing it to life.

Same Kind of Different as Me (2017)

"Meh"...

[3/10 · 17 December 2021]

This was a best selling novel? The book must have been better. All the elements were there for a good movie (acting, directing, production quality) except the screenplay. It just fizzled out.

Debris (2021)

Another "sucker" show, like LOST?

[4/10 · 10 March 2021]

The "Fringe" feel is undoubtedly from Producer J.H. Wyman. And the effects are very well done. However, "fool me twice". Lets hope this show doesn't degrade into LOST (2004-2010), with a million non-sequitur questions every week, designed to keep the viewer coming back, only to realize, several seasons in, that the writers are just trying to perpetuate their jobs, and sell tons of commercials, and the viewer just LOST several years of their lives with no value received.

The Critic (I) (2018)

Performance by Alan Smithee

[2/10 · 27 February 2021]

Good production value, but Alan Smithy's character is entirely not credible and sours the first 15 minutes. Was that fault the Director, Writer, or Actor? Mr Smithy should credit this to Alan Smithee to save face.

Time Limits (2007 TV Movie)

Interesting photography clips, 50's style documentary

[3/10 · 16 February 2021]

A collection of slo-mo and time-lapse photography with a non-sequiter boring narrative

Ammonite (2020)

when the Writer is the Director, the film Sucks

[1/10 · 15 January 2021]

Its the time-tested rule of good film-making: the Writer and the Director need to be two different persons. Writers want to put more words and scenes into the film. Directors remove unnecessary footage/dialog to distill down to the best story. Like all Francis Lee films, were he insists on being both writer and director, this film fails. Ammonite is too long, too boring, and not about the historical significance of Mary Anning. Why did Francis Lee even bother making this love story about a real person? Just make all the characters fictional...

Constitution Alive (2015)

PROPAGANDA - distorted and subversive

[1/10 · 22 November 2020]

Right wing propaganda from Evangelical Christian Nationalists, trying to rewrite the US Constitution to suit their politics.

Coda (I) (2019)

It was a "9" until

[7/10 · 19 August 2020]

It was a "9" until she kissed him, now it's a "7". The plot would have been just as interesting, maybe more, if they had kept the relationship platonic.

A Vigilante (2018)

If you liked "Sleeping with the enemy"...

[9/10 · 9 August 2020]

...then this an excellent movie for you. Excellent production, story and acting. Initially I thought we should see less of Olivia Wilde's suffering, to make it more poignant. But, having seen the entire film, I commend the editor and cinematographer for the interesting choices that kept the suspense alive throughout the movie.

Salute (2008)

It's all about the 3rd man, not the American athletes

[6/10 · 9 August 2020]

It's a post humus tribute to the Australian athlete Peter Norman, written and directed by his nephew Matt Norman. Some interesting interviews with all three men, but don't expect to see much about the stories of the two American athletes. Good production value.

Hover (2018)

It's a B, but not a zero

[3/10 · 8 August 2020]

It's definitely a B grade film but not as bad as the ones and two ratings I've seen here

The Frame (2014)

Clever camera work

[8/10 · 1 August 2020]

Very clever camera tricks in the last quarter of the Film, which brings full meaning to the title

Chronological Order (2010)

Huge waste of time

[1/10 · 31 July 2020]

It sucks you in with the interesting time-travel premise, then bores you to death with snails-pace editing, mediocre acting, and an indecipherable plot. What a waste of potential.

Honey Boy (2019)

Cathartic... only for the writer

[2/10 · 5 December 2019]

Yes, the acting was top notch. Several reviews called the movie "cathartic". I disagree. NOT cathartic for the audience, who has to endure 90 minutes of depression, child abuse, disappointment and repulsion. Then in the final 10 minutes, the only relief comes from the abused kid realizing he should make a movie about his horrible childhood. The entire flick just seemed like a project for one of the 12 steps, with little reward for the viewer. I know that sounds cold. And I'm truly sorry for your tragedies, and I'll help you with living your life today, but other than helping people to understand how horrible child abuse can be, this movie is not entertaining at all.

I Am Sam (2001)

Laugh, cry, leave the theatre feeling good.

[10/10 · 29 January 2002]

If you need a reminder about the inherent goodness of human beings, don't miss this movie! We laughed, cried and went through a box of tissues. Frank Capra(Its a Wonderful Life) would have been proud. Yet, it was not a sugar coated Disney-type film. The premise and plot were very believable, and the performances were on-the-money. I only found flaw with one scene where I wasn't really convinced by Michelle Pfeiffer's crying. Most incredible, was that I never once saw the 'bad-boy' Sean Penn image peak through in his portrayal of the mentally diminished Sam. I was afraid that I was going to see another Dustin Hoffman 'Rain Man', but Penn's protrayal was completely different, and actually more intriguing. I Am Sam is a wonderful alternative to the gritty, depressing, ultra-reality style of many films of recent release.

Occasionally I hear putdowns of the movie, but in all cases it comes from persons not liking this gendre of feel-good movie.