Serenity Lady Reviews

Keeping Up with the Joneses (2016)

Fun movie!

[10/10 · 19 August 2018]

I LOVE THIS MOVIE! Funny, great acting, comedy as well as action. And the Joneses are awesome to look at. Sure it's a little far-fetched, but that's what makes fun movies and good comedy.

Six Feet Under: All Alone (2005) Season 5, Episode 10

Incredible hour of television: Raw and Authentic

[10/10 · 21 August 2009]

I just watched this episode for the first time. Some of the best acting, writing, directing and camera work I've ever witnessed, not only in this series, but EVER! The words that kept going through my head: RAW and AUTHENTIC. I cried when David started to shovel the dirt. I could feel Ruth, David, and Claire's pain, and George's eulogy was touching. The poem Nate picked out was interesting and thought provoking.

I only have 2 criticisms: (1) the scene where Ted is driving Claire was a little weak in the writing or acting; I felt there were a couple of awkward moments (the "mix tape," and it seemed out of the blue, Claire said, "I need to go back"). And (2) I don't understand why the family seemed to be ignoring Brenda at the burial site. I understand they were experiencing their own unbearable pain, but Brenda seemed so isolated. Perhaps that is what the writers were trying to portray, which sets up what may happen next and what Nate says to Brenda (her lack of friends/support system). But it seems to me at least Ruth would hug Brenda or express concern about the weight of Brenda's emotional burdens: having lost her husband, discovering infidelity, Nate wanting to leave her, all while being pregnant.

I've loved almost every minute of this series, but this episode blew me away! Enjoy, but you might need a Kleenex, if you love this family like I do.

The Last Days of Frankie the Fly (1996)

This film in one word: "Quirky"

[6/10 · 15 November 2001]

Is this a great movie? No. Is it a bad movie? No.

Michael Madsen and his henchmen are the mob guys you love to hate. Daryl Hannah is very believable. I was quite impressed with Frankie's ability to pull off a complicated "job;" I didn't think he was smart enough, and he master minded the entire thing! I witnessed Kiefer Sutherland in a role like I've never seen him before (although he was rather annoying), and he played it very well! This movie is not as good as "Pulp Fiction," but it does have a little of that flavor.

As other reviewers have said, this shows the seamier side of life. If you like that, rent it. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend this movie. But if you like "all things quirky," DEFINITELY rent it.

Hollow Man (2000)

Too dark for me

[4/10 · 9 November 2001]

I love special effects and witnessing new technologies that make science fiction seem real. The special effects of this movie are very good. I have seen most of this movie, since it's been airing on HBO for the past couple of months. I must admit, I MAY have missed a few scenes, but I'm usually drawn into movies, and have seen some scenes more than once. But every time I see some of "Hollow Man," I feel depressed, almost like a "film noir." I'm not sure why; perhaps it's that I don't want Kevin Bacon to be evil, and there's disappointment in that. But I think it's witnessing just HOW relentlessly evil he becomes. Regardless, I can recommend this movie for excitement (although some parts move slowly), but I do NOT recommend for youngsters under the age of 14 (perhaps 12, if they are mature).

Nurse Betty (2000)

I do not recommend

[5 November 2001]

I LOVE movies, and can almost always find a good reason to watch one. However, I was VERY disappointed in "Nurse Betty." If you like Rene, you probably need to see it. The only thing I really enjoyed about this movie was Greg Kinnear. He is very handsome and has some good dialogue. I was frustrated by too many questions: WHY did Morgan Freeman's character have an obsession with Betty? It seemed more because of his belief in her altruism than a sexual attraction. At the end of the movie, I discovered why Morgan Freeman hadn't killed Chris Rock in their motel room earlier, when Chris was being ugly and disrespectful. Even the two of them seemed mismatched. I did like Crispin Glover, Kathleen Wilhoite and Betty's LA roommate, however: they were all excellent characters and acted well. But one other thing I was frustrated with was that normally, in this type movie, SOMEONE will give a diagnosis of some sort: PTSD, partly, but what about "fugue state?" I wanted to know the clinical term for Betty's condition.

Although the movie was well made and I have little criticism of the cinematography, I consider the poor script a waste of my time.