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Reviews
The Age of Adaline (2015)
Smart, Gorgeous, & Poignant
What a gorgeously told film! I loved it. Romantic, of course, but it was smartly acted and beautifully produced. Lively and Huisman play off each other perfectly. The brief turns by Burstyn and Ford add soul to the movie and the story is fascinating. I'd like to have seen the script give us a little more of a nerdy sidebar into the science of Lively's character. I thought just having to accept the narrator's explanation of the title character's circumstances felt a bit hollow. But this is nit-picky. I felt throughout the film the tug of longing that the romance would resolve in favor of this couple.
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)
Luminous Story
I just walked out of the theater. I don't know if I can say enough that will do justice to the absolute magical quality of this movie. The central character story is both suspenseful and touching. And the narration spools out at a beautifully measured pace. It's the best this year.
Low Winter Sun (2013)
The show deserved a better spotlight.
This was one of the darkest, best acted dramas I've ever seen. I was surprised that it only lasted one season. It's a shame that it didn't find its audience before being canceled. It's excellent. Mark Strong and the entire cast gave chilling performances all the way around.
Jackass Forever (2022)
Bottoms Out Going Over the Top
Hey it is what it is. I got what I expected. Crashes and launches and freaking dangerous animals. And I laughed lot. But I wasn't expecting - well yeah a penis sighting maybe - but this level and frequency of male genital abuse is harrowing in the aggregate. It was just weird how much of it there was. It was like their brains defaulted to their dicks when they couldn't think of more creative ways to sustain a concussion. For this crew there is shame only in shyness. Bro humor deserves a finer hour.
Nightmare Alley (2021)
A Respectful, Gorgeous Nod to Noir
Cooper tells us who he is near the beginning of the film without saying word. He's an actor who would have really been perfectly cast in the 30s as he has been in this new noir masterpiece. Yes I hesitated before I said masterpiece, but when I look back, every facet of the film is so carefully constructed. Characters are embodied in an a-list cast from the smallest part to the leads. The film is gorgeous to look at. Production design both in the muddy carnival and the polished, beautiful Art Deco sets is completely immersive. The costumes are perfectly fascinating too. I'm afraid it's going to be a while before this film gets its proper recognition. In the meantime I will remain haunted by it.
Stillwater (2021)
Damon's Best
Great story and it's Matt Damon's best of career I think. He plays an opaque character but still manages to tell us everything through this stoicism. He's steady in the character and never seems out of place.
Black Widow (2021)
Charasmatic Actors Find a Way Through a Muddy Story
The plot escaped me and only came into focus halfway through the picture. Could not understand why the two sisters had to duel to a death grip in sheets, or was it curtains, when they meet after many years apart. Nevertheless, Johansson and Pugh click with each other in a back and forth that's fun to watch. But when I smiled the most was when I was watching David Harbor taking not a bit of this seriously.
Romeo & Juliet (2021)
Direction Lends Astonishing Newness to R&J
The shots in this film embrace not just the essence of a sacred space in the theater but take advantage of the best technology can contribute to intimacy. I couldn't take my eyes off this production for a single moment. It is amazing visually and exceptionally acted by those in every role. Trim and confident in its execution, this production will remain noted and inspirational in many futures to come.
Hollywood (2020)
High Stakes & High Production
Hollywood as reimagined here is inspiring and moving. Performances by young and old veterans are convincing and immersing. And the look of this piece is absolutely gorgeous; the best in mid-century design and costuming. And the storytelling is marvelous. I'm hooked on this one. I hope they can continue into the second season and beyond.
Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors (2017)
Chatfield is the best part of their documentary
A moving survey of Austen's life. And the actress, Gwendolen Chatfield, was so perfect as Jane, I believe a movie about Jane's life should be written around her.
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
Totally Satisfying Execution of a Compelling Story
I watched this twice. The second time was even more satisfying. This is a tense, beautifully executed, even thoughtful, fulfillment of Jesse's story. The narrative moves the story logically, with flashbacks that tell us more about who Jesse is and make even more sense of his journey. Not only that, but Gilligan's dark humor ignites a few bombs as well. And Aaron Paul's skills are even greater than they were in BrBa. Loved it.
Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
Shower After Viewing
I never saw the first one released ten years ago.
Nevertheless, the main takeaway for me was that the movie id just distastful on a lot of levels: Harrelson's snarky smugness,; Breslin's creepy little girlishness; Eidenberg's detachment; Stone's mugging; the script full of gratuitus vulgarities (and I'm not a prude); subliminal hippy bashing; the squirming required while you wait for the movie to finish flushing. An hour and a half I'll never get back.