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joshjeffords
Reviews
Proof of Life (2000)
Oddly low overall rating
This movie has a lot going for it strong cast, above average touch with reality.
Well directed/produced and little held back.
Biggest detractor is that it's overly busy.
There are plenty of pointless for cinematic effect twists.
Also Meg Ryan is not meant for serious roles.
All in all an enjoyable drama with a pretty intense conclusion.
Reminds me of 50s 60 drama or thrillers they build and build then bam.
Crowe is very convincing as per usual, Curuso would not be my choice but does well.
Decent support cast as well all carry their weight.
I had not seen this movie in years and was glad to revisit it.
The Descent (2005)
Well it is another one of these.
Without spoiling the "PLOT" this is actually a very common bad slasher direction.
You will get it very quick after the movies gets done with bad acting intros for the extreme sports chicks who mostly aren't.
I actually like this premise and if they had 2 actors in the whole movie it might have been good.
Sadly it is apparently supposed to take place in North Carolina but is in Scotland. "failed plot twist or weird error"
Every actor has a different and thick british/uk accent and that will bother some.
As with all these movies there is no balance or precedent.
Just silly scenarios that are missed opportunities.
Funny I waited 19 years to be bored to death for what felt like 2 hours.
This may be better for Women, I cannot speak to that.
I would not watch again.
Dip huet seung hung (1989)
HUGE Chow Yun Fat fan, Also Woo /Hark
So I have seen loads of his movies and always enjoy his performances.
I have seen a lot of John Woos movies and Tsui Harks.
As great of a movie as this is a lot of details don't make sense to me.
I imagine a good deal is cultural differences but some messy chaotic parts here.
I feel like people who say "The Killer" "is in it's own league" "the best blah blah" are just repeating what other people have said.
Personally I prefer Better Tomorrow quite easily and that series is older and more universal.
This also has little or no SloMo which is the calling card of John Woo movies.
The plot here is amazing I have to admit it is abstract, insane and beautiful.
Melding so many genres to make one crime movies is awesome!
I just watched the uncut dual language dvd so maybe the regular rental/theatrical is cut down and more concise.
Point is watch it for yourself don't just repeat other people who clearly don't watch many movies.
Outside of being very bloody it is fairly clean for family viewing reasons.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Great movie can't believe I only saw it recently.
GWH is a great drama about an extremely unlikely scenario.
Read Synapsis for that but Genius Mat Damon lol.
This is a great script and the writers play main characters really cool move.
Robin Williams is amazing as per usual in one of his most powerful but deep roles.
Teaching youngish people about life outside their tiny bubble is a heck of a thing.
Math, Art, Love everyday toil and dark childhood are all covered .
Parental warning this is a rated R movie about young men.
The detail are also wrong R for strong language sexual innuendo and sexuality, also violence peril and a good bit of drinking.
Smoking would be included today but not really back then.
Honestly the math stuff was way over my head but enjoyed the movie very much.
Fallout (2024)
It's your classic not quite right but good enough.
So first off been a Fallout fan actually since Wasteland.
I went into this show with low expectations based on the plummet the games have seen recently.
I noticed it only had one major actor I know Walton Goggins.
Without spoiling much the first Ep was awkward.
However once things got going like in the real games, it was dark and dirty outside.
I enjoyed a good many nods to various games though out of base context.
I liked the usage of Pipboy which was a staple in games.
The FX are weird some are good some seem a bit cheap but ok for a show.
The thing that makes this show a 9 to me is even though they screw up a lot, they make up with fun characters and good recoveries.
So many videogame or any other media based shows are just filler with little else.
I am looking forward to the next season.
Michael Clayton (2007)
Awkward, Edgy and intense on purpose.
A friend loaned me this picture yesterday stayed up late watching it.
The tempo or pace is confusing as are a number of elements in the movie.
I believe all purposefully raw and un edited for artistic and natural effect.
George is really good as titular role and mainish character.
There a many great roles here and without giving any spoilers can't be much more specific.
Truly a must watch for non procedural legal dramas.
This is a pretty stacked genre so even more impressive.
I'd recommend this to anyone with time to take in a great drama.
There is very little filler or bad political views forced on the viewer only normal human emotions.
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
A strange affair more midlife crisis.
Based on reviews I revisited this 90s caper flick, it's a fun low IQ type deal.
You pretty much have to turn your brain off or just be obsessed with one of the aging stars.
Without spoiling anything the plot is weak to be nice.
Pretty much a rich with little else to offer midlife crisis.
With oh are your bored, not bored dialogue through out.
Some very weak attempts at intrigue and art appreciation.
Don't get me wrong it's funny probably more than intended.
I doubt I will ever watch this again, I may see the original.
Caper movies are my thing so I was very disappointed with this eye wide shut wanna be.
Don't Breathe (2016)
Whoa that got weird right quick and keeps down the rabbit hole.
I had seen the sequel if that is what it was, it does not work based on first but whatever.
So I went back and watched this "Horror" flick.
First off it's a psychologic thriller with limited realism.
Aside from Lang I never heard of the actors in this movie.
I did notice Sam Raimi was involved at some point.
The base premise is pretty weak but works.
However the characters make this movie pretty deep and dark.
There are all kinds of what the moments that make you wonder what you would do.
Or what they should do in said situation.
I will say this is not at all what I was expecting or my cup of tea.
It is well done and it catches you so you don't look away and think.
Domino (2005)
Yikes bad cinematography choices..
So yeah elephant in the room if you are sober this movie will hurt your head.
Having gotten that out of the way, this is a decent crime drama.
Do not watch this thinking it is an action movie.
Do not watch this thinking it is a true story.
Do not watch this if you are prone to seizure or eye pain.
Ok so the cast is great love it weird, quirky but great chemistry.
Mickey the old vet super tough cool guy.
Rando younger guy too hard to explain.
Domino main char 'kinda' female bounty hunter.
Various supporting cast will not be named to avoid spoilers but cameos and support is awesome.
I think all the strange maybe artistic elements provide a satisfying drama with a good ending.
Road House (2024)
Just Another Action Movie
Of course all the wanna be critics are bashing the lack of quality and story.
Many go after the acting and cast as well.
Not seen anyone address the problems, they story is better than the orig.
However they leave too many loose ends and never finish a thought.
This actually had the chance to be a good movie but too rushed and weird FX/flow problems.
The UFC tie in adds very little aside from an acronym so people name assoc.
Positives it is pretty funny at times by accident.
Far cleaner and maybe a tad less violent than the first.
Less character development but with a better ending.
For essentially a free on Amazon made for TV level movie it is fine.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Why are certain movies..
Well I love westerns and I love crime movies, don't hate historical either.
Sadly this is maybe the most over rated movie of either category.
Big fan of Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee is good, Stephen Root and tolerate Woody in serious parts.
Without spoiling the horrible plot, this is a strange graphically violent rather silly affair.
I'm sure someone will crawl out of the background and claim it's based on true event well not anything here sorry kiddo.
To be fair the acting is good and some of it is very strange so props for being freaky.
Overall it mostly passes for 80 or the 80s without being critical.
This is just one of those movies people rave about because they probably need professional help.
Unnatural (2015)
Disrespected Unique monster movie
This is actually not bad, James Remar and Graham Green are good actors.
The use of mostly TV actors or models for the rest of cast did not help much though.
Monster FX are one par for B movies nothing mind blowing.
Gore is pretty unbalanced some stuff pg13 some very blood gibs parts etc.
I watched and enjoyed it once being from Alaska it was less offensive than most.
There is a good deal of dialogue that would be offensive to some.
If you liked Grizzly watch Unnatural.
Let's see definitely not a family night movie.
There is some sex and nudity and scantily clad as with most horror movies.
It's free on Amazon Prime by the by.
The Northman (2022)
OMFG another Viking Flop
I had minimal expectations going into this, did not even know the cast.
Once I realized the only decent actor would die early not a spoiler. "in the trailer"
Alex is maybe the worst leading man in Hollywood or bollywood or whatever Icelandic movies are called.
I am not familiar with the story so maybe if your Norse you could dig that it is absurd though.
The complete failure to make a action movie which is what this looks like in the trailer is funny.
Essentially it is a 2+ hour drama about superstition and low infighting in small kingdoms in Scandinavia.
I would never likely rewatch this, and do not watch with your family.
For a point of reference Beowolf "Ange Jolie" was better.
Oblivion (2013)
Wow Tom in another under rated gem
Yes I am a scifi fan so little biased, but this is a fun and dark thrill ride.
I has all the elements and is pulled together with plenty of cast doing good work.
I doubt anyone won and award for this and it gets over looked by many.
But it has a rich and deep peek at humanity in a unique situation.
Sure the story is completely insane but that is part of the fun, and they hold it together.
Tom does well, Morgan is memorable and lots of smaller chars.
Great imagination and an almost 60s-70s style of mixed with modern fare.
Well paced not much dull or frantic points to lose the plot or interest.
I give this a big thumbs up if you have not seen it do!
The 6th Day (2000)
Just removed from my collection
Looking for a movie I had not seen in a while, I happened upon this "scifi/drama"
With the cast and budget this should have been a classic.
What it churned out was equivalent to spoiled milk and that's how this aged.
I was like oh ok maybe 1997 B movie nope 2000 82 million US.
Poor pacing, poor and inconsistent acting, weak plot zero science involved.
Basically a failed cloning shock movie, Arnie is old action is stale jokes were ok but out of place.
I will probably not watch this again or at least for 5-10 years.
Bottom line just go back and watch Running man, Total Recall or even Eraser don't waste time on this.
Trading Places (1983)
Good dark comedy not aged well though.
This movies is a common 80s theme with some odd twists.
Without any spoilers Jamie and several other actors are not proud of their parts in this.
As stated about the cultural and political state of the 80s does not translate to any other time.
So situations and a lot of the dialogue is off taste and tempo.
Minor warning this is not typical acting from either Dan or Eddie so don't expect a gonzo comedy performance.
There is a good deal of dark deep and dramatic plot points also very R not family friendly at all.
Glad I finally watched this but would rather have done so a long time ago.
No real spoilers.
Guyver (1991)
The Guyver kinda based on or adapted from anime.
Which may be from a manga, the anime is fantastic though.
Anime was ultraviolent with a dark horror scifi theme mildly antihero character.
This is both dumbed down for violence and oddity.
With strange campy humor and such added.
Also Americanized a little but not a lot.
The effect makeup and costumes are good.
Most of the fights are good martial arts style mostly.
Mark Hamill is a major character but not in the suit.
The Directors cut is for fans only juat adds dialogue expands few scenes.
The sequel is much better more like 80s anime.
You can watch this movie on family night or just for campy scifi fun.
Drive (1997)
Not seen since video store days..
As I remember this is one of the best cheesy light scifi actioners of the 90s.
Add in the usual odd comedy and good fight choreography.
I have not seen a copy of this nor seen on any streaming service so not sure when I will get to update this if need be.
Simply put if you like Marks martial arts and general cool demeanor you should like this.
If you wan to watch a $100 million explicative dumpster fire like Avatar don't watch this.
No spoilers your welcome, except the title is a play on words at a grade school level.
PS I guess I am too efficient for IMDB, if you like this be sure to see The Base not good but fun, Cradle to the grave fair mid budget actioner.
John Wick 3 Mark does well here in popular film.
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
One of Quints better movies.
For me Tarantino is a both simple and strange type of writer.
You should expect him to subject you to tons of drug content often out of blue here seems fitting.
Always tons of racial and sexualization like seen in 70s movies.
Over the top violence and some solid action mashed together.
Some would call this artistic but it is just his style and it doesn't work on plenty.
All these little pieces come together great here, and the main cast all perform well.
Even a few twists in this one not just the obvious plot jogs.
Minor spoiler Brad does steal the spotlight here.
The real artistic masterpiece is his usage of real and mocked up or fictional characters and situations.
Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
LMAO
Umm yeah just saw this it felt like a made for Amazon special.
I am completely in disbelief how much money this cost for a horrendous product.
First of there is no story it is a pile of random new age and environmentalist lines.
Being dropped at random intervals with poorly scripted action to keep people awake.
Second most of the acting was bad or weird and awkward.
Third minor spoiler Dinos are no longer scary WT!??!#$
It kinda refers to first JP and JW and forgets the rest.
The CGI is pretty bad again I really felt like I was watching some low budget streaming thing.
For the record Jurassic Park is one of my favorite movies.
This the second JW are garbage I would not watch again.
Go watch Carnosaur for like a million bucks it is better.
Black Adam (2022)
Very poor Super!#$% movie
If you want to see another super hero movie don't watch this.
If you want story acting or marginally plausible anything don't watch this.
If you want over the top FX cringe and bad acting horrible culture jamming this might be for you.
The Rock aka Dwayne does a very bad job acting tough, misanthropic and underlying sad.
The only acting is done by a kid and James Bond, who is painfully past it.
The rest of the cast are TV actors I've never seen before, aside from guy in Leverage.
To sum this movie up without any spoilers it is a completely mindless but after your brain turns off pretty fun "BADScifi" Fantasy.
I will avoid all of the topical reasons this is bad and why it was made.
Disturbing the Peace (2020)
Its a b movie get over it!
Yeah the story is mediocre acting is ok not good.
Pretty sure the story is mostly stolen from older show or movie.
Guy does ok not his best or worst work, he has really declined in last 10 years.
Devon sawa is about the only other recognizable face he does ok.
I have seen a lot worse movies with bigger budgets and cast.
If you are to good to watch a b movie, don't watch this that is the only spoiler.
Robin Hood (2018)
70 million of the budget went elsewhere and it sucks
This movies was actually hard to sit through, zero chemistry with an actors.
Painfully lobotomized historical action movies should be illegal.
Also the effects and cast do not warrant the budget feel like a b movie.
Fox is just above mediocre, everyone else was bad especially the titular actor.
Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)
Yeah its pretty goofy..
I have seen all the cris highlanders they are all bit off this and 3 are the worst.
Haven't seen the one with the new guy probably made for tv like the show.
Back on point I remember when this came out the fx and atmosphere was raved about like it was ground breaking.
Not so much maybe that was advert jargon for weird and awkward with little plot.
I think the third is the worst and will probably not watch either again.
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Not comparing to novel.
I liked this movie, haven't read the book so unbiased opinion.
Well acted, directed and good enough effects but not a lot.
As I did not care for the shining nor have I seen the tv or other spinoffs I had low expectations.
As with most king's stuff not family friendly, but fairly tame for him.
One last note be in mood for a drama average length, not horror or overly scifi.