jhighfie Reviews

Love Hard (2021)

Share the joy of catfishing, la, la, la

[1/10 · 3 December 2021]

An utterly delightful holiday film that teaches the valuable holiday lesson that if you are lonely, you should create a false identity online and you'll find true love by New Years!

Rim of the World (2019)

Four great young actors

[6/10 · 31 October 2021]

Yes, the script is pretty bad. Yes, most of the deaths are predictable. And, yes, the monster is a rip off from Predator and Venom.

But, the four young leads are terrific. They are believable, can play humor, action, and pathos. I hope to see more of all of them in the future.

Sinatra: All or Nothing at All (2015)

Hagiography

[5/10 · 29 September 2021]

I liked the first 45 minutes of this documentary. After that, it shrouded Sinatra in celebrity. Why did the filmmakers access Sammy Davis Junior's reaction to the turn to racist skits? Or were they always racist? Why did the relationship between Sinatra and his almost exclusively Black musicians get discussion? I totally respect Harry Belafonte, but he is the only voice that says Sinatra abandoned civil rights. Was that the case? If so, that is a much better story. Why did Sinatra, who made MLK cry, abandon the drive for racial equality? Did he? Was that related to his relationship to organized crime or to reagan? There are too many questions that lead to assumptions by the viewers because the second half of this film is weak. I honestly feel like the second half of this was whitewash. It did not interrogate his relationships with much younger women or his relationship with jazz musicians, very few of whom spoke about the recording or performing process.

Sinatra is someone I admire. I am sorry that this documentary does not show him warts and all.

Lost Girls (2020)

Stunningly acted

[9/10 · 16 March 2020]

I thought this was completely gripping and the end, particularly the update on the family, was gut-wrenching.